The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-09-06
HINDU ARCHITECTURE.
The Infinite Labor Bestowed on Minute
Details


Details.
Ninteenth Century
Hindu architecture, strictly so called, first
makes its appearance about the fifth century,
A. D., at the time when Buddhism had begun
to decline and Brahmanism was beginning to
to take its place. The original purity OF the
Buddh1stic architecture was beginning to be
lost about this time by the absence of the
many higher aesthetic qualities, though very
considerable vigor is evinced by these works,
and rich effect is produced by the elaborate
and profuse ornamentation. The earliest
types of Hindu temples are to be ynet with in
Orissa, the most celebrated of which is the
great temple of Bhuvaneswura, which is sup
posed to have been built in the seventh CEN
tury, A. d. OF the elaborate carving and
splendid sculpture work of these earlier
temples. Dr. Ferguson speaks very highly:
sMost people would be of opinion that a
building four times as large would produce
greater and more imposing effect; but this is
not the way Hindu ever looked at the matter
Infinite labor bestowed on every detail was the
mode in which he thought he could render his
temple most worthy of the Deity, and,
whether he was right or wrong, the effect OF
the whole is certainly marveously beautiful.
The sculpture is of very high order''
Next there are some excellent specimens
OF architecture to be met with in Bundelcund,
Rajputana the Maratha country, and South
not commence till very late, at time when
the North was under Mohammedan rule The
earliest temple--that of Tanjore-was built so
late as the fourteenth century. Nevertheless,
during these five centuries numerous struc-
lures, bewildering in their richness, grandeur,
and beauty, have sprung up, Among these
may be mentioned the elegant and graceful
pagoda of Tanjore; the ancient and venerated
temple of Chidamburam, with it's gopuras, or
gateways; the elegant temple of Parvati, and
the magnificent hall of 1000 columns; the
magnificent temple of Sierangam, with it's
fifteen elaborately carved and ornamented
gateways; the great temple of Madura, with
its nine gopuras and an elaborately- -sculptured
hall of 1000 columns; the celebrated shrine
OF Rameswuram, with its four great
(though unfinished except one) gopuras the
glory Of which consists in its corridors, which
extend to total length of 1000 feet, and the
great temple of Conjeveram, with its large
gopuras, hall of 1000 columns, some fine
mantapas and large tanks.
Speaking of the corridors of the Rameswu-
ram Temple. DIR. Ferguson says:
"No engraving can convey the impression
produced by such display of labor when ex-
tended to an uninterrupted length of 700 feet
None OF our cathedrals are more than 500 feet
and even the nave of st. Peters is only 600
feet from the door to the apse. Here the side
corridors are ZOO feet long, and open into
transverse galleries as rich in detail as them
selves These, with the varied devices and
mode OF lighting, produce an effect that is not
equaled certainly anywhere In India. ~ II ii
Here we have corridors extending 1000 feet,
carved on both sides, and in the hardest
granite. 1t is the immensity Of the labor here
displayed that impresses us, much more than
its quality, and that, combined with certain
plcturesqueness and mystery, produces an
effect which is not surpassed by any other
temple in India, and by very few elsewhere f"