Arquitectura Hindu

Shweta Vardia
Building Science of Indian
Temple Architecture

Portugal I 2008

Building Science of Indian Temple Architecture

DECLARATION

Name:

SHWETA VARDIA

Email:

shwetavardia@gmail.com

Passport nº:

B5049552

Title of the

BUILDING SCIENCE OF INDIAN TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

Msc Dissertation:
Supervisor(s):

Dr. PAULO JOSE BRANDAO BARBOSA LOURENCO

Year:2007-2008

I hereby declare that the MSc Consortium responsible for the Advanced Masters in Structural Analysis
of Monuments and Historical Constructions is allowed to store and make available electronically the
present MSc Dissertation.

University:

Universidade do Minho

Date:

21 July 2008

Signature:

Erasmus Mundus Programme
ADVANCED MASTERS IN STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF MONUMENTSAND HISTORICAL CONSTRUCTIONS

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Building Science of Indian Temple Architecture

Acknowledgements

It gives me immense pleasure to express my deep sense of gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Paulo
Lourenco for his guidance and constant encouragement. It would not have been possible to
accomplish this work without his support, suggestions and patience throughout the course of this
thesis.I appreciate the provision of books and other materials which were made available promptly. It
is indeed a great pleasure to associate myself with Dr. Paulo Laurenco.
I am very much thankful to Ms. Paromita Desarkar for the help she provided right from the start of the
thesis work up to proof reading. I was also fortunate to have helpful discussions with Kuili Suganya
during the course ofthis work. Alberto and Chanakya Karan are greatly appreciated for their help in
the preparation of supporting information.
I take this opportunity to thank Ms. Sandra Pereira for the help provided at every stage of this course.
Administrative requirements needed to hand in my thesis and complete my MSc.were facilitate by
Prof. Oliveira. I would also like to thank the professors at CTU, Prague formaking this course a
memorable learning experience.
I sincerely acknowledge the European Union for the award of Erasmus Mundus scholarship, which
enabled me to gain a wide spectrum of knowledge.
During the course of this work, I had an opportunity to interact with many fellow students and friends
who are not related to this program. I take this opportunity to thank them for their friendshipand for
their support during this work and I hope to have long lasting friendship with these people.
Whatever I am and whatever I will be in future is because of love, sacrifice and goodwill from my
family. My parents have always been a great source of inspiration for me. Words are just not enough
to express my gratitude to my parents and my brother. I thank them for always being supportive.Erasmus Mundus Programme
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Building Science of Indian Temple Architecture

Abstract

Every style of building construction reflects a clearly distinctive basic principle that represents a
particular culture and era. In this context the Indian Hindu temple architecture are not only the abode
of God andplace of worship, but they are also the cradle of knowledge, art, architecture and culture.
The practices and traditions of temples exist not only in history but also in present time which greatly
influence the socio-cultural life of its people and gives continuity to traditional Indian values. The
evolution of Indian temple architecture is marked by a strict adherence to the original ancientmodels
that were derived from religious consideration- and that continued over many centuries.
The Hindu religion and its philosophy greatly influenced Hindu temple architecture in its evolutionary
process which continues till this date. Therefore this dissertation through archival research and other
documentary, literary works and theoretical investigation on ancient treatise and modern...