Vastu-shastra (5): Temple Architecture
by D. N. Shukla | 1960 | 69,139 words | ISBN-10: 8121506115 | ISBN-13: 9788121506113
This page describes Temple architecture in Prambanam [Prambanan] of the study on Vastu-Shastra (Indian architecture) fifth part (Temple architecture). This part deals with This book deals with an outline history of Hindu Temple (the place of worship). It furtherr details on various religious buildings in India such as: shrines, temples, chapels, monasteries, pavilions, mandapas, jagatis, prakaras etc. etc.
Temple architecture in Prambanam [Prambanan]
In this very period (the golden age of Java as enunciated by Sailendra of Sumatra), Restoration also took place—a reveresion [reversion?] to the creed of Hinduism. It began about A. D. 860 and continued until the middle of the succeeding century when several important temples dedicated to the Hindu deity Śiva were built. Representing the Restoration phase in a complex of shrines known as the prambanan which in view of its size and importance, was probably conceived and constructed as a Hindu rival to the Buddhist Borobudur.
“This great Brahmanical temple-scheme in Mid-Java was completed about A.D. 900 and was clearly designed with the object of reviving the practice of Hinduism throughout the country. And just as the Borobudur made its appeal mainly on account of its colossal size, so the Hindu hierarchy realizing that in this respect it could not be surpassed proceeded in an attempt to rival it by a numerical effort for the Prambanam [Prambanan] consists of an expansive composition aggregating over one hundred and fifty individual shrines arranged in rows on a commodious terrace, and, so that its influences should be as wide as possible, the main buildings were consecrated respectively to the deities Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma, thus providing an all-embracing dispensation. Further, in order to be abreast with the sculptured reliefs proving so effective at Borobudur, a long frieze was carved on the walls illustrating the mythology of these age-old Indian divinities”.
This 3rd or the last period began about 950 A.D. and continued until the later half of the fifteenth Century when it was gradually submerged by the approach of Islam. This phase is characterised as Silver Age.
Through-out its course the movement in the Eastern region resolved itself into three historical period according to dominant rule at the time. These are:—
- the Kadiri (11th and 12th Centuries).
- the Singasari (1250-1292).
- the Majapahit (1294-1478).
It is needless to dwell at length on these periods when we are already drunk deep with Javanese art.