History of Temples

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Ajanta cave-temples
Maharashtra, India
The Buddhist cave temples of Ajanta were excavated from a horseshoe-shaped cliff, overlooking a bend of the Waghora river in northern Maharashtra, between the 2d century BC and the 5th century AD. The caves are numbered (1-28) according to their sequential location along the cliff face, which does not correspond to the order in which they were constructed.
The caves were used as a refuge by monks in the monsoon season, when the dry riverbed seen here would be filled with running water fed by a pool and waterfall, and the surrounding valley would be blanketed in lush, green vegetation. (This photograph was taken during the dry season, in February.)
Although both Hinayana and Mahayana phases of Buddhism are represented at Ajanta, the site is best known for its stunning Mahayana murals in caves 1, 2, 16, and 17. These 5th century murals are well-preserved, and completely accessible to visitors; their beauty and antiquity distinguish them as one of the treasures of Indian, and indeed world, art. Unfortunately, lighting conditions inside the caves were too dim to photograph the murals (see Behl for a fine selection), but the following pages sample the cave facades and sculptures.

Entrance
Cave 9, Ajanta
Cave 9, an early chaitya hall, dates to the 1st century BC. Its entrance facade, like most of the chaityas, includes a large chaitya arch framing a window with imitation timber construction. The large window was usually the first feature to be cut into the rock of a chaitya. It served two purposes: it allowed light into the cave, and it permitted rock to be easily removed from the cave during the process of excavation.
Excavation then proceeded from the top down, a painstaking process which at least had the benefit of not requiring scaffolding during construction.

Hariti and Panchika
Cave 2, Ajanta
Cave 2, one of the beautifully painted viharas, dates to the late 5th century. This sculpture is from the right side-chapel at the rear of the hall. Hariti, with a child on her lap, was the goddess of smallpox, a child-eating ogress whom the Buddha converted into their protectress. To Hariti's left (in shadow) is her consort Panchika, also known as Kubera. Kubera is a yaksha, a god of wealth and the hidden treasures of the earth.

Lintel
Cave 2, Ajanta
This lintel surmounts the entrance to the right portico shrine. It portrays a naga king flanked by his family and yaksha attendants. Paint remains on the ceiling; the lintel, too, was probably painted.

Bracket Figures
Cave 16, Ajanta
These two bracket figures from cave 16, another late-5th century painted vihara, illustrate the care which was lavished upon even the least significant decorations. Left, a flying couple (the woman's breasts are decorously covered, rather unusually for this type of figure). Right, a gana.
Incidentally, these and previous photos also demonstrate how the ubiquitous Indian motifs (flying couples, ganas, nagas, yakshas) are taken up in Buddhist, as well as Hindu and Jain, iconography.

Miracle of Shravasti
Cave 7, Ajanta
This sculpture represents a miracle at Shravasti, a city where the Buddha multiplied himself a thousand times in a showdown with his religious rivals (including Mahavira).
Cave 7 is a late 5th century vihara.

Unfinished cave
Cave 24, Ajanta
This cave may not look like much at first glance, but is quite interesting because it was never finished. One sees the cave today just as it was left, when excavation was abandoned in the late 5th century.

(Click any image to enlarge it)

Entrance
Cave 19, Ajanta
Cave 19 is a fine late-5th century chaitya. The entrance is surmounted by a large chandrasala. The sculptural program on the outside is a bit obscure, but has to do with Buddha ordaining his successors.

Interior
Cave 19, Ajanta
A standing Buddha, with sheer drapery covering his body, appears on the front of the stupa, which is topped by an impressive three-tiered umbrella. A barrel-vaulted roof with stone ribs arches above the central hall. The band between the column brackets and the roof is decorated with sculpted panels of the Buddha.
The interior is generally similar to cave 26.

Brackets and roof panels
Cave 19, Ajanta
An impressive variety of decoration on the brackets and panels includes Buddha images, flying celestials, mounted riders, vegetation, and lion heads set at intervals above the panels. Comparable decoration is found in cave 26.

Interior
Cave 26, Ajanta
The interior of cave 26 (late 5th century) is larger than, but similar to, cave 19. The Buddha on the front of the stupa is seated rather than standing, and is framed by a straight lintel rather than an arch.

Seated Buddha
Cave 26, Ajanta
From the front of the stupa. Buddha is seated on a lion throne with legs apart, his left hand in vitarka mudra, his right forearm broken off. The Buddha's feet rest on a lotus footstool. He is flanked by riders and flying attendants.

Roof Panels
Cave 26, Ajanta
Like its counterpart cave 19, cave 26 is richly decorated with panels of Buddhas, attendants, flying figures, lion heads, and foliage.

Standing Buddha
Cave 26, Ajanta
The standing Buddha, wearing transparent garments, is flanked by chauri bearers in this niche sculpture

Parinirvana (detail)
Cave 26, Ajanta
A very striking sculpture in cave 26 is this very large (7m, or about 21 feet) reclining Buddha, in the pose which depicts his death or parinirvana. The peacefulness of Buddha's expression reflects his blissful leave-taking from the world of material existence.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

egypt temples

Temples of Egyptby Monroe Edgar
Writing an introduction to ancient Egypt temples is considerably more difficult then examining any specific structure, for a number of different reasons. First of all, the term "temple" is misleading, and secondly, the term covers a huge variety of different structures that evolved over such a vast period of time that many people have a difficulty comprehending just how long a time this period spans.
The Ramessuem on the West Bank at Luxor (Ancient Thebes)
For example, think of the Roman Coliseum (in Rome). It is almost 2,000 years old, and most of us would think of it as very ancient. Yet, when the Romans first came to Egypt, they were awe struck by Egyptian temples, some of which at that time were already more ancient to the Romans, then the Roman Coliseum is to us. So we must consider the effect that these temples had on the ancient Egyptians. Imagine the feelings of old tradition and holiness felt by a young priest when he first enters St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. How must a young Egyptian priest felt as he strolled the courts of the much more temple of Heliopolis, which was much more ancient to him then St. Peter's would be to a young priest of today.
Webster's New World Dictionary defines temple as "1. a building for the worship of god or gods, and 2. A large building for some special purpose". For the second definition, they provide the example, "a temple of art". Neither of these definitions fit the ancient Egyptian temple very well, and yet, almost every religious structure in Egypt outside of the various types of tombs are almost always referred to as temples.
Certainly some of these "temple" structures do embrace both of Webster's definitions. In fact, it is difficult to imagine most any large, ancient building not falling under the second definition, including palaces and governmental buildings. However, our modern readers are more likely to think in terms of the first definition, that of a temple being a place of worship. However, this definition is simply too limited to fit even the structures that many modern Egyptologists better define as a "god's mansion". Even these temples sometimes had many other functions, acting sometimes as fortresses, administrative centers and even concrete expression of propaganda or royal retreats. However, it is difficult to define some other religious structures that are called temples as houses of worship or "god's mansions". They may have other political or all together different purposes.
It was the ancient Egyptian temple that received endowments. It was the mortuary temple and the cult of the dead king that funded the entire pyramid complex of the early kings, for example. Temples owned land, livestock and received donations, sometimes including the spoils of war, in order to support often large populations of priests, workers, and sometimes even an entire support town.
The Temple of Karnak at Luxor
The Temple of Karnak today remains the worlds largest religious structure, but what is perhaps even more interesting is that it might not have been, or indeed was probably not Egypt's largest temple. Certainly the Temple of Ptah in Memphis, though for the most part completely gone today, may have been larger. It was older, and located in what was often the capital of Egypt, and more often the administrative center of the ancient country. Other temples in the Nile Delta might have been just as large as Karnak, if not larger.
Sites such as Karnak, Dendera and Kom Ombo would most likely fall under the category of "god's mansion". They were more then religious "temples" however. While the god may certainly have been worshiped in these temples, it was also his symbolic home, if not considered his physical residence, and the functions of the temple were as much to serve his or her symbolic physical needs as they were for the god's worship. There was probably little or no "preaching" as such, or carrying the message of the god to the people by priests associated with these "temples". Rather the efforts were directed inward, towards the care of the gods.
Also, though we often make a very specific distention between mortuary temples of kings, for example, and temples such as Karnak, they were actually very similar. Kings were considered gods, and after their death, they required a "mansion" and the same attention as other gods. Both regular and mortuary temples served to keep the name of the king or god alive.
Right: Temple of Dendera
The real distinction, religiously, seems to be in regards to structures that might not so easily be defined as "god's mansions". Nefertari's temple at Abu Simbel was certainly dedicated to the goddess Hathor, it would seem. But this also seems to be a situation where a "god's mansion" was built as much for political as for religious purposes. These great monuments at Abu Simbel, consisting of her temple, and the larger temple of her husband, Ramesses II, were not just temples. They were also reminders of Egypt's greatness to her southern neighbors. Other structures hardly fit within the "god's mansion" category at all. For example, Sed-festival Temples that celebrated the king's jubilees seem to have had a completely different purpose than "god's mansions", and ka Temples provided a residence not to the dead king, but for his soul.
Nevertheless, for convenience, we will refer to most religious structures other then tombs as temples in the remainder of this reference.
Dynastic era temples may be found throughout Egypt, though the ones that have survived time are mostly in the south. They were built for many different forms of worship, as well as other purposes. Some were major temples dedicated to major deities, while others were dedicated to a number of different deities. Some were mortuary temples, where the temple was dedicated to the deified dead king, and where he was worshiped and cared for by his cult. There were also valley temples, which were often no more then monumental gateways connected to the king's mortuary chapel by a causeway. There were all manner of specialized temples, such as Sed-festival temples, ka temples, sun temples, coronation temples and others.
Many of Egypt's temples became complex systems of buildings, added to by generations of pharaohs over sometimes thousands of years. Such temples include those of Luxor and Karnak, but others long destroyed, such as the Temple of Ptah. In fact, there are any number of northern temples, though long gone, that would have rivaled the southern temples that we most often visit today.
Left: Kom Ombo
Most Temples had some sort of organized structure that evolved into a traditional, if somewhat varied floor plan. For example, the mortuary temple of 5th Dynasty kings invariably had an outer section and an inner sanctuary. The outer section would consist of an entrance corridor, followed by an open columned courtyard. Often, the pillars were inscribed with the king's name and title, and the northern columns would have scenes oriented to northern Egypt's symbolic gods, with a similar arrangement on the southern columns. Various additional minor chambers might also exist within the outer section, including, for example, an entrance vestibule or a guard station. Between the outer temple and the inner section there was usually a transverse corridor, and in the center of the long, west wall a doorway lead to the inner sanctuary of which the front section consists of a chapel with five niches for statues. Behind the chapel would be an offering hall, notable for a false door on the west wall that faces the pyramid, and before the door, an offering altar. Within the inner sanctuary there might also be additional rooms, such as vestibules and antechambers. Associated with both the outer and inner sections of the temple would be storage and other annexes to one side or both of the main temple components.
Non-mortuary temples often also had courtyards, chapels, offering halls, vestibules, antechambers, just like the mortuary temples. They tend to vary considerably in their style and elements, though temples built for specific gods tended to be more uniform (though not always). One of the major differences between mortuary temples and others was that the non-mortuary temples were very often added to, built upon and even usurped by various kings. Though in rare cases a mortuary temples, such as that of Djoser at Saqqara, became places of high holiness, and were built upon by later kings, most mortuary temples were never added to or usurped. They therefore most often were much more simple than major non-mortuary temples.
Latter temples took the form of fortresses, with massive entrance pylons and enclosure walls, huge courtyards, columned or pillared halls and inner sanctuaries.
Topics Applicable to Temples and Chapels
The Columns of Ancient Egypt
Construction in Ancient Egypt
An Overview of Ancient Egyptian Cults
Foundation Ceremonies
Grand Festivals in Ancient Egypt
The Location and Orientation of Ancient Egyptian Temples
Mythology
Offering Formulas and Rituals
Pharaonic Egypt in Sketches
Priests in Ancient Egypt
Royal Cults of the Kings of Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian Temple Elements Part I: Approach and Entrance
Ancient Egyptian Temple Elements Part II: The Outer Courtyards
Ancient Egyptian Temple Elements Part III: On the Path to the Sanctuary
Ancient Egyptian Temple Elements Part IV: The Sanctuary and its Environs
Ancient Egyptian Temple Elements Part V: Associated Element
Specific Temples and Chapels
For Pyramid Mortuary Temples, see Ancient Egyptian Pyramids
Abu Simbel - Nubia
Aghurmi Temple and the Oracle of Amun - Siwa
Ain el-Muftella, Temple of - Bahariya Oasis
Alexander the Great, Temple of - Bahariya Oasis
Amada, Temple of - Nubia
Amenhotep III, Temple of - West Bank, Luxor
el-Amarna, Tell - Deir Mawas
Artemidos, Speos of - Mallawi
Aten, Great Temple of - Amarna
Aten, Small (Royal) Temple of - Amarna
Beit el-Wali Temple, Nubia
Bes, Temple of - Bawiti, Bahariya Oasis
Dakka, Temple of in Nubia
Deir el Bahari, Temple of - West Bank, Luxor
Dendera, Temple of - Dendera
Dendur, Temple of - New York
Derr, Temple of - Nubia
Dush, Temple of - Kharga
Gerf Hussein, Temple of - Nubia
Al-Ghuwaytah, Temple of - Kharga Oasis
Al-Hager, Temple of Deir - Dakhla Oasis
Hathor, Ptolemaic Temple of at Deir el-Medina - West Bank, Luxor
Hercules, Temple of - Bahariya Oasis
Hibis, Temple of - Kharga
Horemheb, Speos of - Kom Ombb
Horus, Temple of - Edfu
Horus, Temples of (at Thoth Hill) - West Bank, Luxor
Kalabsha Temple - Nubia
Karnak, Temple of - Luxor
Khnum, Temple of - Esna
Kom-Ombo, Temple of - Kom-Ombo
Luxor, Temple of - Luxor
Maru-Aten - Amarna
Medinet Madi (ancient Narmouthis) - Fayoum
Mentuhotep II, Mortuary Temple of - West Bank, Luxor
Merenptah, Mortuary Temple of - West Bank, Luxor
Montu, Rattawy & Harpcrates, Temple of - Medamud
Montu, Temple of - Tod
Nekhbet and Thoth, Temples of at el-Kab
Nile Delta, Minor Temples and Other Ruins of, Part IAbusir, Tell Atrib (Arhribis), Ausim (Letopolis), Behbeit el-Hagar, & Tell el-Dab'a
Nile Delta, Minor Temples and Other Ruins of, Part IIEzbet Rushdi, Tell Far'un, Kom el-Hisn, Kom Abu Billo & Tell el-Maskhuta
Nile Delta, Minor Temples and Other Ruins of, Part IIITell el-Muqdam (Leontopolis), Tell el-Qirqafa and Tell el-Rub'a (Tell El Robee, Greek Mendes)
Nile Delta, Minor Temples and Other Ruins of, Part IVTell el-Retaba, Saft el-Hinna, Samannud (Sebennytos) and Tell el-Yahudiya
Nubia, Lost Temples of
Nubian, Other Temples
Osiris, Temple of (and former temple of Khentyamentiu) - Abydos
Other Temples on the West Bank at Thebes, Part ITemples belonging to Amenhotep I, Amenhotep II, Siptah, the Colonnaded Temple of Ramesses IV, the Ramessid Temple, the Chapel of the White Queen and the private temple of Nebwenenef
Other Temples on the West Bank at Thebes, Part II - Temples of Ramesses IV (mortuary), Amenophis son of Hapu, Tuthmosis II, and the North and South temples at Nag Kom Lolah
Other Temples of the West Bank at Thebes, Part III: The Temples at Deir el-Medina - Temple of Amenhotep I, the Hathor Chapel of Seti I, the Ptolemaic Temple of Hathor, and a small Temple of Amun.
Other Temples of the West Bank at Thebes, Part IV - Mortuary Temple of Tuthmosis III, and the temples of Tuya and Nefertari, Tuthmosis IV, Wadjmose and Siptah and Tausert
Philae (Now on Agilika Island), Temple of - Nubia
Qasr Ibrim - Nubia
Qertassi, Kiosk of - Nubia
Ramesseum - West Bank, Luxor
Ramesses II, Portal Tempel of - Abydos
Ramesses II, Temple of - Abydos
Ramesses II, Temple of - Minya
Ramesses III, Temple of - West Bank, Luxor
Red Chapel of Hatshepsut at Karnak - East Bank, Luxor
Wadi al-Sabua (Sebua), Temple of - Nubia
Sarabit al-Khadim, Temple and Mines of - Sinai
Sarapeion, including Pompay's Pillar - Alexandria
Satis, Temple of - Elephantine (Aswan)
Senusret III, Mortuary Temple of - Abydos
Seti I Temple of Millions of Years - West Bank, Luxor
Seti I, Temple of and the Osireion at Abydos
Shepseskaf, Mortuary Temple of (Unique, at South Saqqara)
Shenhur, Roman Temple of
Sobek-Re, Temple of - Qasr Qarun
Sun Temples of the 5th Dynasty (Userkaf and Niuserre) - Abusir & Abu Ghurob
Taposiris Magna, Temple of - Alexandria
Temple of the Oracle - Siwa
Tuthmosis III, Temple of at Abydos
Tuthmosis III, Temple of Amun at Deir el-Bahari - West Bank, Luxor
Umm Ubayda, Temple of - Siwa Oasis
White Chapel of Senusret I, The - East Bank in the Open Air Museum, Luxor
Al-Zayyan Temple - Kharga
References:
Title
Author
Date
Publisher
Reference Number
Atlas of Ancient Egypt
Baines, John; Malek, Jaromir
1980
Les Livres De France
None Stated
Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt, The
Wilkinson, Richard H.
2000
Thames and Hudson, Ltd
ISBN 0-500-05100-3
History of Egyptian Architecture, A (The Empire (the New Kingdom) From the Eighteenth Dynasty to the End of the Twentieth Dynasty 1580-1085 B.C.
Badawy, Alexander
1968
University of California Press
LCCC A5-4746
Mythical Origin of the Egyptian Temple, The
Reymond, E. A. E.
1969
Manchester University Press
G.B. SBN 7190-0311-3
Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, The
Shaw, Ian
2000
Oxford University Press
ISBN 0-19-815034-2

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Ancient Temples
India, historically referred to the territory bound by the Hindu Kush and the Himalayas, is a country full of wonderful temples. These unmatched and artistic architectures contribute richly to the Indian cultural heritage. Temples are found everywhere in India, in villages and in towns. The earliest temples are the rock cut and cave temples in India. History They are traced at Barabar Hills in Bihar, Elephanta, Bhaja, Karla, Kanheri, Nasik and Ellora all in Maharashtra, Badami in Karnataka, and Pallavaram and Mahabalipuram in Tamilnadu. They belong to the 3rd and the 2nd century B.C. These are the caves directly cut out from the mountains. First scooped and then carved, they narrate the stories of the unmatched talents of the very first artists from the dawn of time. Since that very time Hindu temple architecture follows a set of fundamental rules. The sanctum containing the statue or symbol of the deity is a square cella. A pyramidal structure rises above that which symbolizes the Meru Mountain, the abode of the Hindu gods. This part of the temple is the holiest of all. In this part the rituals are performed by the Brahmins. In front of this central tower is a hall open from three sides, held on beautiful pillars carved intricately. In this hall the devotees gather in large number to participate in the rituals and the chants. This is where the dances are also performed. Surrounding the hall is a courtyard with or without boundary wall. Architecture This courtyard is reached through a gopuram or gateway. The levels of the main sanctum, mandapa or hall, courtyard and gateway are in descending order. The garbha-griha or the sanctum is the highest as it is believed to be the chamber of the deity. To this basic architecture, little variations can be observed but to see a temple totally different in design is not possible. Because above all else, it is the residence of god, that has to bear a common thread of design in all variations. Exclusive Temples of Ancient India Ancient era was the witness when religious practices flourished the most and temples became the world's storehouse of knowledge and culture. Here is an exclusive list of ancient temples that have been a symbol of faith and religion for ages.
Amarnath
Badrinath
Baijnath Temple
Dwarkadhish Temple
Har Ki Pauri
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Kedranath
Khajuraho Temples
Shankracharya Temple
Somnath Temple
Thanjavur
Vaishno Devi
Omkareshwar
Ananta Vasudeva
Ashvakranta Temple
Deogarh
Deoth Sidh
Hidimbeshwar Temple
Jhakhu Temple
Masrur Temple
Tirupati Venkateswara Temple
Tiruvalla Temple
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History of Temples

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

egypt temples

pilgrimage of historical india

Temples of INDIA in detail

Which is the oldest temple given below?

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