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Young World
DESIGN MARVEL
When ideas travelled in the past
A. SRIVATHSAN
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Built within a span of 100 years, these three temples in Kanchipuram, Pattadakal and Ellora have some amazing similarities.
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Miles apart: One modelled on the other. The Kanchi
About 1,300 years ago how would ideas have travelled? Visualize this: Three places — Kanchipuram, Pattadakal and Ellora, approximately 500 miles apart, have temples that served as a model for the other. Ideas did travel, through travellers, craftsmen, poets, and kings. Not to mention the texts, which were written, memorised and read.
Inspiration
The Pallava king, Rajasimha and his son Mahendra Varma III, built Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuarm. This temple built in the first quarter of the eighth century was well crafted and admired even by the archenemies of the Pallavas — the Chalukyas. When Vikramaditya II invaded Kanchipuram and defeated the Pallavas, he did not destroy or ignore this temple. He added a mandapa or pillared hall to the main shrine and left an inscription. The story does not end here. His two queens decided to commemorate his victory by building two temples in Pattadakal. One of them, the Virupaksha temple built around 740 A.D was modeled on the Kailasanatha temple. What followed Virupaksha temple makes the story even more interesting.
Pattadakal
Rashtrakutas, who ruled from Ellora, extended their empire and defeated the Chalukyas. After this, Krishna I, the most well known among the Rashtrakuta kings, built the impressive monolith temple at Ellora. Not only was it named Kailasa, but it also resembled the Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal. Historians remind us that, Dantidurga, ruled before Krishna gave his daughter in marriage to the Pallava king. Kailasanatha temple in Kanchi would have impressed him too.
Built within a span of 100 years, these three temples demonstrate that art appeals across boundaries and ideas did travel in the past, in this case through the kings. In the case of the Pattadakal temple, crafts men from south travelled and participated in temple construction. While it is true that one temple inspired the other, studies show that the ideas were not entirely copied nor reproduced.
Ellora temples
There were similarities such as the vimana or sanctum tower, small entrance gateway or gopura and architectural style. But there were also creative variations and an uniqueness to each one of them.
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