Characteristic of Art, Temples Art of Katyuri Kingdom of Indian, Asian Medieval Period

History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar) - Part 116

   Early Medieval   Asian History of Katyuri Imperialism of Kartikeyapur in Kumaon, Garhwal and Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) -27

          (Early Asian Medieval History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar, Doti Nepal (Uttarakhand, India))

                          (Early Asian Medieval History (740-1100 AD)

                                              By: Bhishma Kukreti

              Indian and Uttarakhand Scenario in Temple Art in 7^th to 10^th Centuries

                  From seventh to tenth centuries, the temples were built mostly in each Indian village. Building temples, looking after temples, donating to temples, performing rituals in temples was sign of getting heaven.

                 People and kings built hundred of temples in Uttarakhand. However, earth quacks and landslides destroyed most of Katyuri or Indian, Asian medieval period temples. Many times or most of the times, the renovators of old temples of this period changed the structures of temples.   

  

Features of Art, Temples Art of Katyuri Kingdom of Indian, Asian Medieval Period

  Before Gupta era, the temples were built by wood. Building temples by stone started in Gupta period.

                The Katyuri temples were built by cutting rock stone or cliff as Gupta temples. The Katyuri temples were built on high stone platform. The stare cases were built to step in temples.  

 The outer and inner walls of Katyuri temples are simple.

There is single door to enter ‘garbha griha’. The door pillars are decorated by carving art. At Dwarpal of doors the Ganga and Yamuna idols are there as in Adi Badri temple.

 The passages surrounding ‘garbhagriha’ of temples are covered by roof.

The ‘garbha griha ‘of small temples as in Adi Badri and Jageshwar, are square and having ‘gopur’ too. There are places for small idols. The inner part of ritual performance are smaller in are.   

     The Vyal and Kirtimukh ar carved on door pillars as found in Gupta period temples. In a couple of Adi Badri temples, the Kirtimukh are outing garlands. There are carvings of a lion attacking elephant. The lion attack is symbol of knowledge winning over ignorance.  

 The doors or door pillars are made of stones and not wood.

 Shikhar of Katyuri temples of Indian, Asian Medieval Period

 Making Shikhar on temples started in Gupta era. There are Nagshikhar on Katyuri temples. The shikhar starts from flat roof of ‘garbha griha. The walls from four corners of roof shrink continuously till the top end of .shikhar’. The round stone is put on shikhar at top. The round stone is decorated by many circles forming ‘Chakra’. The lowest part is called ‘Amlak’ and top part is called ‘kalas’. These are called ‘Nagarshikhar’ temples and range from 10- to 15 feet in height.

     The local sculpture artists of Katyuri   period changed the ‘Nagarshikhar’ and created exclusive ‘Katyurishikhar’ temples. The ‘Katyuri shikhar ‘temples are from 20-30 feet height. 

The wall of Katyuri shikhar rises in a smooth curvature punctured by equidistantly provided ‘bhumi amaltak’ . The iron rods are not visible from outside. The large roof stones are covered by square stone plates. The wooden plates are below the stone plates. These structures are suitable for strength and snow fall protection.   

Most of the small temples are having Nagarshikhar as Jageshwar, Bageshwar,  Adi Badri, and Simoli. The major or big temples are having Katyuri shikhar as found in Uttarkashi, Kedarnath, Gopeshwar, Gangotri, Jageshwar, Joshimath, Tapovan, Triyuginarayan, Tungnath, Dharali, Dev Prayag, Devalgarh, Nalachatti, Pandukeshwar, Badrinath, Binsar, Baijnath, Baidyanath, Bageshwar, Ranihat, Lalkhamandal, Shrinagar or Someshwar.

            In one temple the name of builder is mentioned- Kalayn. The epigraph is of eighth century. The Navdurgamandir temple of Jageshwar has similarities with Bhuvneshwar –Orissa.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti -bckukreti@gmail.com 5/8/2013

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

                           

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand) to be continued… Part -117

Early Asian Medieval History of Katyuri Dynasty in Kumaon, Garhwal and Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued…28

        (Oriental Early Medieval History (740-1100 AD to be continued…)

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