Indian architecture

India for European man was, and still remains, the center of spiritual and material wonders, the subject of dreams and myths area. Culture of India - the result of the interaction of ancient religions, complex fusion of millennial traditions of the peoples and nations, which in India more than two hundred. Architecture of India presents a variety of styles, which is hardly possible to find even in the history of mankind. Without claiming to be a complete description of them, some notable features I would like to touch on.

The Indus Valley Civilization (XXIII-XX centuries. BC. E.) Has created a splendid culture of urban development, not inferior to ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. Opening of archaeologists in the early XX century ancient state Harrap (Punjab, Pakistan) continues to this day, showing the light patterns of brick construction of roads, drainage systems, wells, houses with bathrooms and sanitation.

In the depth of the 2nd millennium BC. e. goes the story of the first occurrence of Hindu temples in India, originally constructed of brick and timber. Construction regulated ritual Hindu texts. In a small altar was placed shrine (garbha graha) tower was erected over it (shikhara). Belonged to the altar assembly hall, then the anti-room and entrance portico.

In the 1st millennium BC. e. already there are two types of temples: the more southern regions characteristic Dravidian architecture, with high pyramid-shaped towers, with columns with elaborate carvings depicting gods, kings, warriors, dancers; and temples of North India style Nagara, had a tower in the shape of a beehive. Visara style is a combination of elements of Dravidian and Nagara style. In fact, they are very difficult to separate.

Development of Buddhist philosophy and religion supported artistic images in architecture, sculpture, stone carving and so on. D. The Buddhist architecture has several types of objects: the stupa (shrine storage, an object of worship), monasteries and temples. (By the way, the Far East Pagoda - the result of the evolution of the Indian stupa.) Plan Buddhist temple directly copied from the Hindu temple. Temples of early Buddhism were of logs and have not survived. But the influence of the traditions of wooden construction evident in some of the earliest specimens of stone carving, for example, on the gate (tories) stupa at Sanchi.

Buddhist king Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty (III century BC. E.) Great revered not only for his conquest, but also cultural achievements. A testament to his reign and to work for the spread of the Buddhist faith throughout Asia have become Buddhist relics, stupas, monasteries, columns with capitals in the form of lotus crowned figures of animals - cows, elephants, lions. In the context of Indian mythology, the column - the foundation of the world, the universe. Ashoka column symbolized the power of the royal power and at the same time bore the symbols of Buddhism. For many centuries, Buddhism coexist peacefully with the Vedic religion, but still to the X century BC. e. almost disappeared in India.

Carved Indian architecture - ie the creation of an architectural object by cutting out entirely from natural rock-monolith - are superior craftsmanship and a wide variety of artistic techniques. Art carved architecture was born thanks to the geographical and geological features of the country. Although the V century BC. e. already built freestanding temples, churches were created in parallel monoliths. The top of this art - the temple at Ellora Kailasa temple, Ellora. The temple, dedicated to Shiva, ironed as multi-storey complex, the size of which is comparable to the Parthenon. Sculpture, halls and temple columns were cut in the thickness of the rock for a hundred years.

Natural caves have always been considered sacred in India. On the man-made cave tolerated the same sacred significance. Hence comes the tradition of cave temples and monasteries in India. And, often coexist in the same complex monuments of different religions - Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It is interesting that on the stone detail carved into the cave monasteries, often mimic the structure of the tree. Apparently, the old ornaments were made of logs.

Since the beginning of the Islamic influence on the architectural traditions of India have undergone a number of transformations. Fusing elements of Islamic Persian, Turkish, Indian architecture has given birth to a magnificent Mughal style. Architectural treasures of this period have enriched the World Heritage List: Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Fatehpur Sikri, Red Fort and others.

This style is said in one of the historical areas of the architecture of the XVIII century - the second half of the XIX century, the so-called Indo-Gothic or Hindoo, popular in Britain and the colonies. Adopting the specific details of Indo-Islamic architecture - domes, cornices, arched windows, towers and pavilions, European architects have demonstrated the ability to perceive subtle foreign traditions and, perhaps, laid the foundation for multiculturalism.