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32 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Pallava Dynasty
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500-750 CE
Ruled from Kanchi Hindu Art Flourished |
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Mamalla I
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Ruler during Pallava dynasty
Had rock-cut monuments carved at Mamallapuram during his reign |
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Rock Cut Monuments at Mamallapuram
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Granite outcrops/ Cliffs
Cover several square miles along Bay of Bengal coast Converted into series of monuments |
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The Mahabharata
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Great war epic
Arjuna (legendary Pandava brother) underwent penance beside river to enlist aid of Shiva in battle |
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The Mahabharata in The Descent of the Ganges/
The Parinirvana of Arjuna |
Episodes from the Mahabharata
Shows Arunja beside shrine to Shiva Not a Narrative Represents all space and time (eternal present) |
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Water in The Descent of the Ganges/
The Parinirvana of Arjuna |
During rainy season water cascades down center of relief over cobra headed spirits of water
Illustrates the descent of sacred river goddess Ganga to earth as it was filtered through Shivas hair |
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Animal/Human Sculptures on The Descent of the Ganges/
The Parinirvana of Arjuna |
Symbolize all of creation converging upon the sacred waters
Room for each created by carving out individual pockets of space along face of cliff |
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Elephants vs. Lions in The Descent of the Ganges/
The Parinirvana of Arjuna |
Elephants
Occupy prominent position Highly naturalistic Lions Schematic curly manes Recall heraldic style of Maurya period |
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Ratha
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"Chariot of the gods" shrines
Commissioned by Mamalla I Translate Wooden/brick/masonry buildings of the time into stone sculpture |
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Significance of Ratha
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Provide historical museum of the mid 17th century southern Indian Hindu architectural tupes used during Mamallas reign
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Ratha vs. Chaitya
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Rathas are masses in space not space within a mass
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Pandava Rathas
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named after 5 brothers
made from 2 giant Granite boulders show 5 kinds of temples |
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Draupadi Pandava Ratha
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dedicated to the goddess
wife of the 5 brothers curved roof, organic details resembles thatched roof |
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Bhima Pandava Ratha
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long temple
roof like karle barrel vaulted roof |
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Dharmaraja Pandava Ratha
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good illustrative example of early southern-style hindu temple
biggest one but same shape as Arjuna (square w/pyramid on top) not completed portrait of Mamalla I posed stiff like god |
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Appearence had the Dharmaraja Ratha been compleded
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pillared porches bordered by sculptures set in niches on all 4 sides
garhagriha incompleteness caused by death of Mamalla |
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Cosmic idea behind Ratha design
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every temple is exploding in slow motion
manifesting and assuming form like a linga it manifests gods into the world |
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Nakula-Sahadeva Ratha
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like Chaitya halls
elephant next to it because its shaped like one |
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King Krishna I
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ruled 756-753
Rashtrakuta Dynasty 32 cave temples @ Ellora begun during his rule |
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Kailasanatha Temple dedication
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dedicated to Shiva as the Lord of Kailasa
(great mtn in western tibet where his throne was located) temple originally whitewashed to depict snowcaps |
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a) high sculptured wall (entrance gate/gopura)
b) Nandi shrine (named for bull Shiva rides) c) pair of elephants flanking shrine d) mandapa (columned assembly hall) e) subsidiary shrines f) gharbhagriha |
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Kailasanatha inspirations
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plan reflects chaitya hall temples
rich detailing/decorative niches/statuary 4 tiered vimana=elaborations of Rathas @ Mamallapuram |
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Niches at Kailasanatha temple
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held statues
added drama to texture of highlights and shadows |
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Chola Dynasty
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Rajaraja ruled 985-1014 ("king of kings"
southern india able to continue indigenous artistic traditions post 1000 muslims took over most of northern india |
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Rajarajeshvara (Brihadesvara) Temple Appearance
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steps passing columnar shrine to Nandi lead to colonnaded porch
flat roofed mandapa halls inner ambulatory lit by windows |
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lingam
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in garbhagriha
symbol of male sexuality (specifically Shiva) earlier examples more explicit, later=abstract appear with yoni |
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yoni
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circular symbol of female sexuality
in some temples they are invisible and said to be made of ether |
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garbhagrihas
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plain and dark so nothing within distracts worshipper from lingam and yoni
heart of the temple circumambulation around lingum and yoni |
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Stupika of The Rajarajeshvara
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monolithic 8 ribbed capstone topped by gold plated finial
decorated w/ ribbed domes, chaityas, window motifs, statues of dwarfs looks like Hindu hilltown/densely populated World Mountain |
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Shiva as Nataraja, Lord of the Dance appearance
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Idealized, impassive god
Long hair Smooth features One raised leg-standing on demon Tribhanga pose Ring of fire circling him Lower right hand makes mudra of blessing Dancing Holds a flame and a drum |
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Shiva's dance representation
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destroys universe
born again in perpetual death+rebirth cycle dances to the rhythm of heartbeat of cosmos fire=destruction of samsara and maya drum= prime substance from which universe will be rebuilt |
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purpose of Shiva as Nataraja, Lord of the Dance
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carried through temple in ritual processions
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