When we talk of monuments none will disagree to the fact that in India religious monuments outnumber other monuments by a big margin. Whether they belong to old historical era of Indus Vally civilisation, period of Buddhism, medieval period or the modern time, religious monuments kept on adding to the number and still remains a major activity in the building construction sector.

One of the oldest religious monuments in India, which still survive, is stupa of Sanchi built during the rule of Emperor Ashoka. It is set on a hill-top in Sanchi, near modern Bhopal, close to Vidisha. Earlier semi-circular brick mound of stupa having 21.3 m diameter was built as a part of King Ashoka's historic architectural campaign. Later its size was almost doubled by building another stone-faced mound, increasing the diameter of the original to 36.5 m and its height to 16.4 m. Here use of stone can be seen in three-tired stone umbrella, set inside a square enclosure. While carrying enlargemen,t timber fence surrounding the original stupa had to be removed and replaced by a massive railing fabricated entirely out of stone. This reflects Indian craftsmen's decisive step toward the proficient use of stone as a comprehensive building medium. They had already shown their craftmenship and skill in sculpting and polishing of stone by successfully installing massive Ashoka Pillars.



According to Fergusson, there was no stone architecture in the Indian sub-contiment before the third century B.C. He contents that it was Ashoka who introduced stone as a building material at his capital city.



Building of stupa, stambha, chaitya, tornas continued for centuries symbolising growth and expansion of Buddhism across the Indian subcontinent.



Centuries ago when some followers of Buddhism started worshiping Buddha like a God, a great white marble stupa was built in Amravati to install the statue of Lord Buddha. Once a dazzling monument, the stupa does not exist any more except its irregular trench marking the site. Its few surviving marble slabs with fine carving can now be seen only in museums in Kolkata and London.



Taking Buddhism to the southern part of India the monks chose to settle in the Western Ghats and used living rocks to carve-out their places of worship named later as cave architecture of Buddhist India. The best of it can be seen in the famous mammoth hall at Karli and at Ajanta and Ellora Caves.



In the 5th century when Buddhism was on the ebb India saw resurgence of Brahminism under the patronage of the great king Chandra Gupta. For another hundreds of years Brahminism dominated the scene and several Hindu places of worship were built at Konark, Khajuraho, Tanjor, Puri, Mathura, Ujjain, Banaras, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madurai etc.



12th century onward when Mughals started settling in India defeating Hindu rulers, they, while demolishing hundreds of Hindu temples started erecting their own religious edifices (Mosques). They brought with them master craftsmen, experts in stone carving and architecture. Hindu architecture came under their influence. After all Mughals were ruling over most of the parts of India.



Later in the 18th century when Mughal might was dwindling Britishers started taking foothold on the Indian soil and ruled the sub-coninent till India achieved freedom on August 15, 1947.



During this period several religious monuments were built. Some of them are now regarded as great monuments showing synthesis of Hindu, Mughal and Western style of architecture.



From the period of Ashoka until now religious monuments in India have seen umpteen political, social and religious changes. While a good number of them are in ruins, several still survive reminding the great time they have seen. Stone Panorama is daring to publish details of some of them to make its readers know the amazing stone architectural legacy they carry for generations to come. Starting from some monuments in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Stone Panorama will continue to give in parts details of some of the selected monuments in its forthcoming quarterly editions.



JAIPUR

When Sawai Jai Singh (1699-1743 AD), the erstwhile Maharaja of Amber from Kachhwaha dynasty, thought of establishing Jaipur, a new city near Amber, he conceptualised the layout plan based on Kautilya's Arthashastra. An important aspect of city's design was building of some temples at strategic locations. After laying the foundation of the city on November 29, 1727 its construction work progressed on a fast pace and by 1734, the main wards (sections) of the city were completed.



Surya Temple

Sawai Jai Singh got constructed Surya Temple on a peak of the eastern hills in line with the ridge running from west to east. Surya the Sun God is regarded as ancestor of Rama as well as of the rulers of Jaipur. The temple was completed in 1734. In the month of spring every year there used to be an event organised on Basant Panchmi. The image of Surya used to be taken out in a procession inside the city. People from the city as well as tourists often go to see the temple, which is still there reminding of its glorious past. From here one can have a fine view of surrounding plains and the sprawling city of Jaipur.

 

Sita–Rama and Laxmi-Narayan Temples

Two important religious monuments of the Jaipur city, temple of Sita-Rama and temple of Laxmi-Narayan were built at the time when Jaipur city was being built. Both the temples are identical in design displaying Nagra style, which was quite popular with the architects of the period. Both the temples are located on city's strategic road crossings called Chaupar, situated in the western and eastern squares.



The temple in western square enshrines images of Rama and Sita facing eastward. The temple in the eastern squire enshrines image of Vishnu as Laxmi-Narayan, the consort of the Laxmi, the goddess of wealth.



Galtaji Temple

One of the famous religious places of Jaipur is Galta located at a distance of 10 km from the city in the east. Here sage Galav is supposed to have lived and meditated. The place is visited for Galtaji temple, a religious monument, which lies in a picturesque gorge amid low hills. It is built in stone. The walls and pillars have exquisite carvings and paintings. It is a highly revered religious place where people come for pilgrimage. Its natural reservoirs filled with water, flowing continuously from natural springs, are used by public to take a holy dip. The famous Surya Temple stands on the top of the highest peak here.



Govind Deoji Temple

Situated at the northern extremity of the city palace garden is Govind Deoji Temple, which is regarded as Jaipur's most significant temple, visited daily by thousands of city residents as well as tourists. It enshrines the images of Govind Deoji (Krishna as the cowherd Govind) and Radha, his beloved. The images were originally enshrined in Govind Temple in Brindavan built in 1590 by Sawai Jai Singh's ancestor Raja Man Singh. In 1669 the images were removed fearing destruction by iconoclastic Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, and were brought to Amber, erstwhile capital of Kachhwahas, in 1714. Later these holy images were enshrined in a newly constructed temple in 1735.

A legend about the temple recounts that the original structure was intended as a palace pavilion, but that the God appeared to Sawai Jai Singh in his dream, demanding residence. The Maharaja obediently followed the command and shifted himself to the main palace building to the south. This is why this temple is not like Shikhara toped Nagra style temples this is rather organised like a garden palace pavilion.



There is another story which recounts that after arrival of images from Brindavan they were first placed in a garden near Amber and soon were shifted to be placed in the hunting lodge (Jai Niwas) constructed in 1713. Some people believe that the present temple is a conversion and redesigned structure of the original structure where the images were kept inside Jai Niwas.



To accommodate the influx of devotees who come daily in thousands to pray and worship their Lord, the temple administration run by Govind Deoji Trust embarked on an expansion plan without disturbing the original structure and design of the temple. One of the major works completed recently is construction of a the Satsang Hall. It has found a place in Guinness Book of World Record for being the widest one in the category all over the world, measuring 36.27 m. The hall has no pillars in the centre part of it and is considered an amazing feat of RCC work. Designed to seat a capacity of 4,000 devotees its ground area covers 1467.85 sq m.



Jagat Shiromani Temple in Amber

While mentioning details of important religious monuments of Jaipur one cannot overlook to mention about the famous Jagat Shiromani temple which was built in Amber during the rule of Maharaja Man Singh (1591-1615). This temple even today stands as one of the most splendid examples of art of building known to us. It comprises all the salient features of the building science such as planning, architecture, construction, stability, aesthetics, colour contrast, expression, acoustics, sculpture, paintings etc. The entire construction built with stone is a rare Indian architectural marvel.



Steps of the temple basement are built of stratified micaceous quartz of greyish colour. Its Toran is entirely built of marble and consists of two built up pillars joined by lintel, which is supported at its ends by elephants carved brackets and surmounted in the middle by a square pillared canopy crowned by a Shikhar formed of receding and moulded steps.

The architecture of Jagat Shiromani temple is diversified. The architect seems to have combined all the examples of prominent features of Indian architecture prevalent in the mediaeval period.



There are many more old and famous temples, in Jaipur such as Ramchandra Temple, situated on the eastern side of Sireh Deorhi Bazar. Built in 1854, the building with its rich architectural design and fine carving on marble, clearly shows introduction of European architectural ideas in Jaipur's building practice. The other temples are: Radha Damodar and Shiva temples at Chaura Rasta, Ganesh temple at Moti Doongri, Hanuman Temple at Chandpole etc.



In recent years, Laxmi-Narayan Temple, commonly known as Birla Temple, built with white marble Swaminarayan Temple, built with red sandstone and Iskon Temple, showing large scale application of marble and granite are among the latest religious monuments where large number of tourists and local residents come daily.