KEY POINTS:

○ The Nayak dynasties emerged in South India after the downfall of the Vijayanagar Empire in 1565, when the Nayak
military governors declared independence; they then ruled from the 16th to 18th century.
○ Nayak rule was noted for its administrative reforms, its artistic and cultural achievements, and the creation of a
unique style of temple architecture. Nayak architectural style was characterized by elaborate hundred- and
thousand-pillared mandapas (outdoor temple halls), the high gopurams (towers) with painted stucco statues on
the surface, and long corridors.
○ Nayak civic architecture combines Dravidian and Islamic styles, as exemplified by the palace erected by King
Thirumalai Nayak of the Madurai Nayak dynasty in 1636 CE.
 INTRODUCTION

Architecture under the Nayaka Dynasty is mostly of Dravidian style and form. The major
architectures which evolved under the rulers of the Nayak Dynasty who were established with their
capital at Madurai in the 17th century are the shrine at Tiruvannamalai and the Great Temple at
Madurai. Other significant architectural wonders included that of the Temple at Rameswaram
(famous for its long corridors), Meenakshi Temple at Madurai and the Subramanya Temple at
Thanjavur District. The architecture of the buildings are distinguished by the expansion of the
temple precinct which is due to corresponding enlargement of Hindu ritual with specific reference
to the spiritual and temporal aspects of the deity.
 CIVIC ARCHITECTURE:

Nayak civic architecture combines Dravidian and Islamic styles, as exemplified by the palace
erected by King Thirumalai Nayak of the Madurai Nayak dynasty in 1636 CE. The palace features
an octagonal throne room topped by a dome that rises 70 feet, held up by massive circular
columns linked by Islamic pointed arches. The structure was constructed using foliated
brickwork and the surface details finished in stucco mixed from shell lime and egg whites to
provide a smooth and glossy texture.
NAYAK ARCHITECTURE – 1600 AD onwards
Evolution of the Temple- Complexity in Plan due to Complexity in Ritual

The Muslims started moving south which led to the shifting of the capital south at
Madurai
The architecture flourished principally under the rule of Tirumalai Nayak 1623 –
1659
The Madura Style as it is also known as was a revival of the Pandya style of
architecture

The expansion of the temples corresponded to the expansion of the temple

ritual :
• The forms and ceremonies became more elaborate leading to the arrangement
of buildings for the activities
• The increase in the structural form was due to the wider powers given to the
deity
Planning of the temple:
Deity :
• The cella or Garbagriha was dark, symbolic of
the return to the womb experience in temples
• The inner portions of the temples were hence
strictly reserved for the sacred habitation of
the god
• On certain occasions the deity is led in
procession to take part in festivals, for which
purpose temples utilized the outer precincts
• To hence satisfy the requirements of these
rituals the temple resolves itself to 2 main
primary formations
• 2 main parts of the temple:
• Inner covered sacred part
• Outer, open, more public less sanctified
part
INNER AREAS :
• Consisted of flat roofed courts, one enclosed within the other
• This normally covered a large rectangular space
• Within the inner of the 2 courts is the sanctum, the cupolas of
which covered in gilt projects out through the flat roofs acting as
the focal center
• There is a guarded seclusion to the inner area

OUTER AREAS:
• Concentric series of open courtyards known as ‘Prakarams’
• Enclosed within high walls, open to sky as they are too large to
be roofed
• Provide space for secular buildings connected with the
ceremonies.
EXPANSION OR GROWTH OF
TEMPLES:

1. Inner Areas or Cella: Wholly covered and sacrosanct

• The Cella and the Portico form the sanctum –

origin of temple
• Cella was enclosed within another flat roofed hall
to protect the original sanctuary and to
emphasize the sacredness
• Pillared aisles were added entrance through a
small gopuram in front on the east
• Later the covered court was enclosed within a
similar structure, division of the concentric
corridors by means of pillars and pavilions
• 2 entrances on the E and W with a larger
gopuram than the previous enclosure
2. Outer Areas:

• The entire composition was enclosed

within a rectangle by means of a high
wall
• The remaining space was left to
provide a wide open courtyard or
Prakaram
• The enclosure was entered by
Gopurams, one on the E and W
• The Gopuram on the E was the
principal doorway and largest
• Various structures were erected inside
- pillared halls or Mandapas and
subsidiary shrines
• Semi religious buildings such as
granaries, store rooms for ceremonial
supplies
• Later concentric rectangles were
added contained within higher
enclosing walls leaving another open
space between the inner and the outer
perimeters
• 4 entrances adorned the four walls in the center at the
cardinal points
• Each consisted of a Gopuram larger than the previous one
within the outermost enclosure 2 large important
structures were built- Thousand Pillared Hypostyle hall and
a Square Tank of water for ablutions, lined with steps and
surrounded by an arcade
• This formed the basis for temple layouts but layer temples
were sometimes disproportionately enlarged – Srirangam
which has 7 concentric rectangular enclosures the whole
resembling a town.

Concept of Temples:
• Spiritual nor Architectural
• The Gopurams induce a feeling of awe and majesty,
leading to progressive halls, smaller and dimmer than the
previous, till the mystery of the Cella or darkened shrine to
feel the presence of God
Elements of Temple
1.Gopuram in the exterior
• Characteristic of the southern style
• Most of them are 1st class Gopurams –
• 150’ high to 200’
• 16 stories
• central doorway 25’ high on longer side
• Forms a corridor through the gopuram
• Rooms on either side for guardian and the door keeper
• One of these rooms has a staircase to reach the gopuram
with a wide landing at each storey leading to the summit

2. External treatment
• Ht. of Gopuram emphasized by vertical lines
• Each storey has a perpendicular projection
• In-between each storey diminishing tiers, forming horizontal
lines
• Horizontal portion sometimes had figures- which were life
size.
Pillars or Colonnades
in the interiors
Moderate ht. of 12’
Presence of a 1000 pillared hall e.g. At Madurai

4 kinds of pillars –
I. Square molded patterned simplest one enlarged to a square pier normally with radiating brackets

II. Rampant dragon -Most common type 1000 pillared hall. Superstructures are cleverly composed above the dragon pillars Gryphon
bracket, capital or beam

III. Deity

IV. Portrait of the donor or family.

The third and fourth are similar, bigger than life size and attached to the shafts.No structural
significance, held by attachments to the shaft.Some cases provide additive support as seen at
Meenakshi Temple Madurai.
All of theses support massive structures which are complicated .
Crouching dragons and foliated brackets predominate
TERMS USED IN THIS STYLE: -

● mandapa
In South Indian architecture, a pillared hall or porch fronting a Hindu temple that may be attached or
detached from the building.

● dravidian
An architectural idiom that emerged in the Southern part of the Indian subcontinent or South India,
consisting primarily of temples with pyramid shaped towers that are constructed of sandstone,
soapstone, or granite.
embossed
With raised letters or images on the surface.

foliated
Having a structure of thin layers.

Gopuram
A monumental tower, usually ornate,
at the entrance of a temple, especially in
Southern India.

murals illustrate images of Nayak Kings

and Queens at Srirangam Temple, with
inscriptions in the Kannada language.
Thirumalai Nayak Palace, Madurai
.
MEENAKSHI SUNDARESWAR TEMPLE,
MADURAI

• The Meenakshi Sundareswaran temple (twin

temples) is one of the biggest temples in India.
• The original temple built by Kulasekara Pandyan
was in ruins. The plan for the current temple
structure was laid by Viswanath Naik and was
completed by Tirumalai Nayakar.
• The Aadi, Chittirai, Maasi, and Veli streets
surround the temple.
• Both temples are adorned with exquisite carvings
& sculptures and gold plated Vimana's.
• The temple has 2 main sanctuaries
dedicated to Shiva and his consort
Meenakshi
• The temple is hence a temple
within a temple
• The outer wall is almost a square
measuring
• 850’ x 725’ with 4 large gateways
towards the center of the 4 sides
• The main Gopuram is on the E

▪ The main Gopuram leads one to the

pillared avenue 200’ x 100’

▪ This leads to the smaller Gopuram

forming the eastern entrance to the
2nd Prakaram

▪ The 2nd Prakaram is a rectangular

enclosure 420’ x 310’ having 4
gopurams in the center of each wall.
▪ All the Gopurams are smaller than
the previous one as is the case
with all temples
▪ Most of the 2nd enclosure is
covered with a flat roof, partly open
in the N
▪ Within this is another court 250’ x
156’ with one entrance on the E
▪ The most elaborate part of the
temple and the most intricate
grouping of pillars is found outside
this entrance
▪ The sacred shrine is located inside
the last entrance
The Sanctum Sanctorum –
Shiva:
• The shrine consists of 3 components
• Assembly hall
• Vestibule
• Cella
• The cella is surmounted by a shikhara which
penetrates through the flat roof seen from outside
rising like a golden crown
• The courts, corridors, halls making up the enclosures
have colonnades of pillars arranged in long lines or
groups forming diverse vistas in all directions
Sanctuary of
Meenakshi:

• The other sanctuary of the temple is

dedicated to Meenakshi – fish eyed
• Enclosure on the S side of the temple at the
rear
• Half size reproduction having one
compartment within the other
• 225’ x 150’ entered by 2 Gopurams the one
on the W being larger then the E
• Rising above the flat roof is the cupola
Pool of Golden Lilies:

• Lies in front of the Meenakshi shrine

• Rectangular 165’ x 120’
• Surrounded by steps and a pillared portico on all 4
sides
• The great mass of the S Gopuram is seen in the
background over 150’ high and reflected on its
surface
• In the middle is a tall brass lamp column.
• The reflection of the granite pillars in the colonnade
adds beauty From the NE corner of the tank in the
outer enclosure is a Gopuram marking the
processional passage to the shrine indicating an
independent entrance. There are totally 11
Gopurams the 4 outer ones being 1st class over 150’
high.
Mandapa:

• Court of 1000 Pillars was added in 1560 on the

NE of the outer Prakaram
• 240’ x 250’
• Faces south alongside a wide pillared approach
of the main entrance
• The interior consists of a central aisle with a
double row of columns
• Small shrine on the N end – Sabhapati
• Behind the colonnades forming the aisle are
row upon row of pillars – 985 columns
in all
• Flat roofed remarkable only for the interior
with range of grotesquely carved piers
• Outside the main enclosure in
axial alignment with the E Gopuram
is the Vasantha or Pudu
Mandapam – Tirumalai Nayak’s
Choultry
•Parallelogram 330’ x 105’ built for
7 years
• Reception hall or temporary place
for the deity during festivals
• Central nave and 2 aisles with 4
rows of pillars elaborately carved
giving a wonderful
perspective of the interiors
•In the center is a separate group of
columns with sculptured shafts with
10 life size statues of
the Nayak house and Tirumalai the
builder of the mandapam
The Meenakshi Temple at Madurai built
by the Nayak Rulers is the most
beautiful example of 17th century style
of temple architecture. Containing two
separate sanctuaries – one dedicated to
Sundareswara and the other to his
consort, Meenakshi, the temple is a
massive structure and is enclosed by
four walls with four large gopurams.
The gopuram of nine storeys is
ornamented with elaborate sculptures.
On the top is a vaulted roof. A water
tank in front and large pillared halls are
its other features. East Gate, Meenakshi Temple, Madurai
Hall of a Thousand Pillars, Meenakshi Amman Temple :Each pillar in these Nayak, many pillared temple halls is carved in the shape of a god,
goddess, or mythical beasts such as the griffin.
Temple Structure

The temple occupies a huge area in the

heart of Madurai as it spreads over 14
acres. The temple is enclosed with huge
walls, which were built in response to the
invasions. The entire structure, when
viewed from above, represents a mandala.
A mandala is a structure built according to
the laws of symmetry and loci. There are
various shrines built within the temple
complex. Apart from the two main shrines,
which are dedicated to Sundareswarar and
Meenakshi, the temple has shrines
dedicated to various other deities like
Ganesha and Murugan. The temple also
houses goddesses Lakshmi, Rukmini, and
Saraswati.
The temple also has a consecrated
pond named ‘Porthamarai Kulam.’ The
term ‘Potramarai Kulam’ is a literal
translation of ‘pond with a golden
lotus.’ The structure of a golden lotus is
placed at the center of the pond. It is
said that Lord Shiva blessed this pond
and declared that no marine life would
grow in it. In the Tamil folklore, the
pond is believed to be an evaluator for
reviewing the worth of any new
literature.
Srirangam Temple

The culmination of the Dravidian style is to be seen in the

period of the Nayak Rulers of Madurai who continued the
building style and technique of the Pandyas and improved on
it. The notable features of the Nayak architecture are the
hundred pillared mandapas, the lofty gopurams embellished
with figures in their minute detail, the closed prakarams with
huge pillars on either side, the beautiful corbel brackets as in
Ramanatha temple in Rameshwaram and full-sized figures of
animals and riders on rearing horses in the Srirangam
temple.
The best examples of this style is
seen in the temples of Madurai and
surrounding areas. The Madura
style as it is called is marked by
high concentric boundary walls
around the temples, intervening
courtyards called prakarams which
contain pillared halls, store rooms,
other smaller shrines and square
water tanks for ritual baths. The
tank is surrounded by a pillared
cloister and has steps leading down
to the water.
STRUCTURE
The temple occupies an area of 155 acres
(63 ha) with 81 shrines, 21 towers, 39
pavilions, and many water tanks integrated
into the complex making it the world's
largest functioning Hindu temple. The
temple town is a significant archaeological
and epigraphical site, providing a historic
window into the early and mid medieval
South Indian society and culture.
Numerous inscriptions suggest that this
Hindu temple served not only as a spiritual
center, but also a major economic and
charitable institution that operated
education and hospital facilities, ran a free
kitchen, and financed regional
infrastructure projects from the gifts and
donations it received.
The Srirangam temple is the largest temple
compound in India and one of the largest religious
complexes in the world.Some of these structures
have been renovated, expanded and rebuilt over the
centuries as a living temple. The latest addition is the
outer tower that is 67 metres (220 ft) tall, completed
in 1987.Srirangam temple is often listed as one of the
largest functioning Hindu temple in the world, the
still larger Angkor Wat being the largest existing
temple. The temple is an active Hindu house of
worship and follows Thenkalai tradition of Sri
Vaishnavism. The annual 21-day festival conducted
during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–
January) attracts 1 million visitors. The temple
complex has been nominated as a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, and is in UNESCO's tentative list
Architecture of Ranganathaswamy Temple

Srirangam's Ranganatha Temple is famous for its vast number of temple enclosures, while Rameswaram Temple is well-known for its
beautiful, long corridors. The temple is protected by seven concentric walls known as 'prakarams'. 21 Gopurams exist in the temple,
which also contains 50 shrines, 39 pavilions and water bodies.
PLAN