HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 87 : Model Answer

Question: Assess the influence of different rulers over the temple architecture of Himachal Pradesh.

Answer:

Influence of different rulers:

Infulence of Rajput Rulers – Gupta period was considered the golden age of Indian Art & Architecture, after them it revived under Chandelas of kannauj,Gurjara Pratihara’s, and the Pala rulers of Bengal & Bihar, whenever they lost their power in plains they hide in Himalayas and settled their rule here, when they left the hills they appoint their kith and kins there, Whenever it happened they didn,t move alone, their artisians move along with them and they introduced Nagara style of temple architecture with them in mountains.

Sikh’s Infulence – In the foothills of Himalayas a powerful empire raised first under Sikh guru’s and then under the reign of Raja Ranjit singh ,all the sikh Guru’s and ensuing kings have a faith in the divinity of the temples,and therefore they have always shown their devotion, whether dome of the Jawalmukhi temple was golden platted by Maha Raja Ranjit singh or reconstruction of the Barjeswari temple by Desha singh majitia

Mughal’s Influence – Pahari rulers were remained under the patronage of Mughal’s for a long time and therefore the impact of their architecture was quite obvious,the dome style of architecture ,Jaalidar windows and doors and the caligraphic art was originally belongs to Mughals which was later adopted in the temple architecture of Himachal Pradesh.

Tibetan Influence – Tibetan style of temple architecture has a distinct feature, wherein Pagoda style is popular under the distinct Tibetan culture. Many monasteries, Gompa’s and temples adorn the beauty of the temple architecture of the himachal Pradesh some fine examples are Key monestary Tabo monestary, Guru ganthal and trilokinath temple.