![]() Impact of religion on Indian Architecture Religion has all the time had a larger impact and influence on the lives of Indian people, their culture and Indian art. Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam are the three main religions which have had a clear impact on the country’s history with on the creative creations. Hinduism: Hindu temple architecture is based upon 'Stapatya Veda'. The temples are always at an elevated height than the other which demonstrates God as absolute. All the temples have east face or north-east facing which allowing God as it is the direction of head. A central Hindu temple is consists of internal chamber, the 'garbhagriha' which is shady with passages around. The chamber is crowned by 'shikhara' and the external walls of the chamber sculpted images represent a variety of aspects. There are high - raised pillars which are called 'Dwaja Stambam' which is generally there to establish a temple. ![]() Islam: Decorative art plays a prominent role in all the Islamic architecture in India. Architecture is one of the greatest Islamic art forms. An Islamic style is seen in mosques but also in Muslim houses and gardens. A traditional Islamic house is built around a courtyard. The key elements are geometry, calligraphy and foliation. The most famous example is the Taj Mahal, with its central pointed arch contained within a rectangle; a motif is repeated in a reduced form on the flanking niches. The repetitive use of this simple but powerful motif imparts a basic unity to the entire composition. The Muslims also brought with them mortar masonry, which offered far greater versatility in design than the primitive method of placing one stone upon another. By the time the first Muslim buildings were constructed in India, the constructional principles of Islamic architecture had been well established in the great mosques of Cairo and Damascus and elsewhere in the Islamic world. |