Architecture of South Indian Temples: A Study on Calamity-Proof Ancient Structures

Running head: ARCHITECTURE OF SOUTH INDIAN TEMPLES
ARCHITECTURE OF SOUTH INDIAN TEMPLES
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Abstract
The primary worship place of the Hindus is known as a temple. Temples are the abode of the
Supreme Lord according to Hindu theology. The main section of the temple is the sanctum
sanctorum in which lies the powerful deity of the temple. There are innumerable temples all over
the geographical area of India. These temples are not only aesthetically beautiful to look at but
are also architecturally stunning. The advanced architectural technique used by the ancient
builders amazes the engineers and architects of the modern day. In 2004 a severe form of natural
calamity known as tsunami devastated many countries like Sumatra, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and
coastal India. It was found that though the effect of the tsunami destroyed most of the
constructions around the coast, however, the ancient temples like Thiruchendur Murugan temple
was unharmed and untouched by the devastation. This was covered by the media extensively,
and various scientific communities came up with various explanations none of which properly
could explain the phenomenon. This paper strives in finding out reasons why the particular
temple was unharmed while taking examples from various other similar examples where temples
across India were protected miraculously from natural disasters. The findings highlight
architectural features that play an important role in protecting the temples and also spiritual
significance that explain the miraculous incidents. Recommendations include suggestions for
present temples under construction to take architectural knowledge from the ancient temple
architectural designs which will increase the safety of the modern temples in the face of natural
disasters.

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Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction..............................................................................................................................4
1.1 Background of the Project.............................................................................................4
1.2 Rationale of the project..................................................................................................5
1.3 Research Aims.................................................................................................................6
1.4 Research Objectives........................................................................................................6
1.5 Research Questions.........................................................................................................7
2.0 Literature Review....................................................................................................................7
2.1 Origins of Hinduism and Hindu temples...........................................................................7
2.2 Spiritual Approach in Hinduism about temple architecture.........................................10
2.3 Seismic activities in South India.......................................................................................15
3.0 Project Methodology........................................................................................................18
3.1 Research Philosophy.....................................................................................................19
3.2 Research Approach.......................................................................................................20
3.3 Research Design.................................................................................................................20
3.4 Data Collection Method................................................................................................21
3.5 Data analysis technique.....................................................................................................22
3.6 Ethical Consideration...................................................................................................23
3.7 Timeframe of Research................................................................................................23

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4.0 Data Findings and Analysis..............................................................................................24
4.1 Qualitative findings and analysis (thematic analysis)....................................................24
4.1.1 Site selection followed in the consecration of the temples.......................................24
4.1.2 The architectural characteristics of a temple acting as a deterrence to calamities
...............................................................................................................................................27
5.0 Conclusion and Recommendations......................................................................................30
5.1 Conclusion..........................................................................................................................30
5.2 Linking with the objectives...............................................................................................31
5.2.1 An appreciation of Hinduism and its reflection behind the power of religious
belief over the design of Hindu temple architecture.........................................................31
5.2.2 Identifying the geometry and structural systems of Hindu temple architecture
with precedents from the Dravidian style of Hindu temples...........................................31
5.2.3 Assessing the content characteristic, construction techniques and development
involved in the construction of a Hindu temple................................................................32
5.3 Recommendations..............................................................................................................33
5.4 Limitations..........................................................................................................................33
5.5 Future Scope of the Study.................................................................................................33
References:...................................................................................................................................34

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1.0 Introduction
The essence of India lies in the spiritual culture that prevails in the land. The country has been
home to almost all the religions of the world coexisting peacefully, including Hinduism which is
the oldest religion practised to date. The primary worship place of the Hindus is known as a
temple. India is dotted with temples, big and small all over its geography. Many of the Indian
temples are thousands of years old. However, their architecture and the precision with which
they have been built in those early ages with limited technical support and engineering
knowledge compels even modern architectures to be amazed. The Ajanta Ellora caves in
Maharashtra where the Kailash temple stands are completely carved out of the rock. The
compositional proof to some degree reinforces this - rock-cut temples, for example, Kailash is
made by unearthing the stone starting from the top (Lawrence 2009). Simply after they are done
are they put and painted: Kailash was once painted. In this manner doubtlessly unless there were
later plans for a nice veneer, Kailash was constantly expected to be about the internal
magnificence.How this was done is still a mystery to the world at large.
1.1 Background of the Project
Natural calamities are certain incidents caused by the wrath of nature. Earthquakes, floods,
tsunamis all are natural calamities. India is a country that is surrounded by oceans on its three
sides, western, eastern and southern, and mountains on the northern side. Therefore, the country
has a vast coastal line. The coastal areas are often affected by perilous calamities coming from
the seas.
In 2004 a drastic calamity had hit Indian coastline called the tsunami.Tsunamis happen when
there are underwater seismic activities, explosions or volcanic eruptions. The 2004 Tsunami was

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caused by marine seismic activities which had its epicentre near Sumatra.Countries like
Indonesia, Thailand, Sumatra, Java, Sri Lanka and India were drastically affected. In India, the
South Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh were highly affected. In India
estimated more than 20000 people lost their lives and about 1000000 lakhs displaced, and about
225000 people died cumulatively in all the countries that were affected (Britannica.com 2018).
The coastal areas were destroyed. The constructions along the coastlines were completely ruined
(Suppasri et al. 2012).
However, interestingly many of the ancient temples dotting the southern part of Indian
territory were unharmed and either not affected or affected to the least by the drastic calamity.
This is an interesting instance worth researching, that what exactly helped the temples to survive
the fatal waves in the face of which most of the other modern architecture failed? The
architecture of these temples are so fine and highly advanced, even if they were built in the early
ages, that modern human civilization is unable to construct buildings anything similar to them.
Even in Kedarnath, a pilgrimage in the northern part of India in the state of Uttarakhand, a
devastating flood destroyed almost all the other constructions and settlements causing lots of
casualties except the ancient temple of Kedarnath which was unaffected by the floods with only
some minor damages (Indiatoday.in 2013). Research is necessary to understand the reasons why
these temples are architecturally so strong and in what ways the ancient architects used to make
these temples calamity proof.
1.2 The rationale of the project
The world is in need of better architectural designs to help the civilization defend themselves
from the wrath of calamities in a better way. The research project examines the architectural
features of the south Indian temples that have survived the tsunamis whereas most of the modern

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day structures failed and succumbed to the fatal waves. In addition, it is in favour of the
architectural science to reveal the excellent knowledge of the early Indian craftsmen and
architects who used to build such marvellous, extravagant and highly secure structures with
limited technological advancement and knowledge of engineering. The knowledge that the
humanity possesses today is something on which the human civilization prides upon but yet they
cannot build structures which are as safe and stable as these ancient structures were. The
rationale of the research is based on the basic fact that architectural studies need to understand
these ancient engineering marvels to enhance its present method of building and construction.
1.3 Research Aims
This research endeavours to emphasize the design and physical competence from seismic
reception of the South Indian temples. There have been numerous explorations into Hindu
temple architecture. However, various perspectives that should have been researched in a more
in-depth manner is yet to be examined. This research attempts to amass all current sources that
have been utilized to potentially consume this information by conducting fundamental research
of South Indian temples and their architecture. The aim is to understand the construction of a
Hindu temple and how a few have survived the tsunami attack.
1.4 Research Objectives
“1. An appreciation of Hinduism and its reflection behind the power of religious belief over the
design of Hindu temple architecture.
2. Identifying the geometry and structural systems of Hindu temple architecture with precedents
from the Dravidian style of Hindu temples.

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3. Assessing the content characteristic, construction techniques and development involved in the
construction of a Hindu temple.”
1.5 Research Questions
1. Does the Hindu religious belief and faith affect the architecture of the temples built by
the Hindus in ancient India?
2. What are the structural systems and architectural designs that were adopted in the
construction of the temples in the Dravidian style of architecture?
3. Are the construction techniques and the designs of the temple the primary reasons why
these temples are unaffected or very negligibly affected by the large-scale natural
calamities like tsunamis?