Development of bhitargaon temple
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The Bhitargaon Temple in Kanpur, built in the 5th century AD during the Gupta Empire, is one of India's earliest surviving brick temples, notable for its terracotta sculptures and architectural features like the 'Hindu arch' and a tall shikhara. It represents a transition from rock-cut architecture to brick structures in regions with limited stone availability. The temple is believed to have been dedicated to Lord Vishnu based on the depiction of the Varaha avatar, making it a significant monument in Hindu architecture.
Development of bhitargaon temple
- 1. DEVELOPMENT OF BHITARGAON TEMPLE K. Lavanya siri chandana 319106101011 2/5 b.arch
- 2. ABOUT BHITARGAON TEMPLE • The temple at Bhitargaon in Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) is one of the earliest surviving brick temples of India. • It was built in the 5th century A.D during the Gupta Empire. • It is the oldest remaining terracotta Hindu shrine with a roof and a high Shikhara (spire) which paved the way for elaborate Nagara style of temple architecture in North India. • The village Bhitargaon had been part of an ancient city called Phulpur. The temple was simply known as Dewal.
- 4. PLAN OF BHITARGAON TEMPLE
- 5. BRIEF HISTORY OF BHITARGAON TEMPLE • There is no evidence of the existence of temple architecture during the Vedic period. • Over generations, worshipping was systematised and paved the way for the evolution of temple structures. • Rock-cut architecture began to develop from the 3rd century BCE. Though the earliest rock- cut architecture is from the Mauryan dynasty, the Ajanta caves which belong to post Mauryan period are among the earliest rock-cut temples. • As man progressed and learnt new techniques, rock-cut temples gave way to stone temples and as stone was not easily available everywhere, it gave way to brick temples. • In the Gangetic plains, which have alluvial soil and paucity of stones and rocks, many brick structures came up. • Though rock-cut and stone temples withstood the vagaries of time, brick temples could not survive. That is what makes the brick temple of Bhitargaon so special.
- 6. ARCHITECTURE OF BHITARGAON TEMPLE • The entrance into the sanctum shows one of the first uses of a semi-circular doorway. • Alexander Cunningham (First Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, 1871) called this as the ‘Hindu arch’ which was peculiar to India. • The temple has a tall pyramidical spire (shikhara) above the inner sanctum (garbha griha). This shikhara became the standard feature of the Nagara temple architecture of India. • The walls of the temple are decorated with terracotta sculptures of God and Goddesses like Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Vishnu etc. on panels separated by bold ornamental pilasters (rectangular column that projects slightly beyond the wall). • According to Cunningham, because of the Varaha incarnation at the back of the temple, it was probably a Vishnu temple.
- 7. ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF BHITARGAON TEMPLE The temple is built on a square plan with double-recessed corners and faces east. • The entrance into the sanctum depicts one of the first uses of a semi-circular doorway, a false arch called the ‘Hindu Arch’. • The temple also has a tall pyramidical spire (shikhara) above the inner sanctum (garbhagriha). • This shikhara became the standard feature of the Nagaratemple architecture of India. • The walls are decorated with terracotta sculptures on panels fitted into nichesseparated by bold ornamental pilasters made for the purpose. • The panels are of Shiva and Parvati seated together, Ganesha, an eight-armed Vishnu, a MahishasuraMardini and many animal figures, flora and foliage. • A lightning strike damagedthe top of the shikhara sometime in early 1850’s
- 8. ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF BHITARGAON TEMPLE • The structure was reconstructed from the masonry in 1905 and is different from its original shape as it was rebuilt in unrelieved straight vertical lines.
- 9. DESCRIPTION OF THE ARCHITECTURE AND LAYOUT OF BHITARGAON TEMPLE The construction material is bricks and terracotta. The brick size is 18” x 9 x 3” and the other salient features are following: The size of platform on which the temple is built is 36 feet x 47 feet. The santum is 15 feet x 15 feet internally. The santum is double story. The wall thickness is 8 feet. The total height from ground to top is 68.25 feet. There is no window. The terracotta sculpture depicts both secular and religious theme such as deities like Ganesha and Durga Mahisasurmardini. Myths and stories representing abduction of Sita and the penance of Nara-Narayana. Shikara is a stepped pyramid and got damaged by thunder in 1894. The first story of sanctum felled in 1850.
- 11. ORNAMENTATION OF BHITARGAON TEMPLE • Ganga vishnu Over garuda
- 12. ORNAMENTATION OF BHITARGAON TEMPLE • Vishnu killing Madhu & Kaitabha Siva with Parvathi
- 13. MAIN ENTRANCE OF BHITARGAON TEMPLE
- 14. CONCLUSION • The conclusion that this ancient temple which stands on the east of the village of Bhitargaon was once a shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu was drawn on the basis of the representation of Varaha on a terracotta panel on the western wall of the temple opposite the entrance.