Antarala
In the north Indian architecture of the Nagara style, the Antarala is a small-scale, double-sided closed vestibule, which is sometimes also characterized as a vestibule , directly in front of the cella ( garbhagriha ) of a temple. The term sukhanasi is more common in southern India .
history
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The first free-standing temples in India ( Gupta temple ) only had vestibules open at the sides ( mandapas ). In a few temples, however, the entrance area was extended to the outside - initially hardly noticeable (Parvati temple in Nachna , approx. 460), but then more clearly (Shiva temple N ° 2 in Mahua , approx. 670). Both at some temples in Naresar (approx. 700–725) or Bateswar (approx. 750–900) as well as at the Ramesvara Mahadeva Temple in Amrol (approx. 750) and at the Teli-ka Mandir in Gwalior (approx. 770 ), porches ( antaralas ) can be clearly seen, which were preserved in most of the later and clearly more articulated temples, and which formed an architectural connection with both the sanctum ( garbhagriha ) and the vestibule ( mandapa ). Already at the Kalika Mata Temple in Chittorgarh (approx. 700), later at the Chandella temples of Khajuraho (10th / 11th centuries), the development has advanced so far that the area of the temple is almost entirely made up of mandapas seems to exist and the antarala hardly appears in the exterior; even inside the temple it is hardly noticeable as an independent structure.
function
If the anteroom ( antarala ) originally had the function of a heat and rain protection for the visitors of the temple, who were not allowed to enter the actual sanctum, this necessity was better taken over by the laterally open vestibules ( mandapas ) and, above all, more extensive. Nevertheless, the antarala was also retained in the later temple buildings in northern India; Usually two or three steps were integrated into it, which led up to the slightly higher cella ( garbhagriha ) with its cult image or lingam .
literature
- Michael W. Meister, MA Dhaky, Krishna Deva (Eds.): Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture. North India - Foundations of North Indian Style. Princeton University Press, Princeton 1988, ISBN 0-691-04053-2
- Michael W. Meister, MA Dhaky (Ed.): Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture. North India - Period of Early Maturity. Princeton University Press, Princeton 1991, pp. 12ff ISBN 0-691-04094-X
- RD Trivedi: Temples of the Pratihara Period in Central India. Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi 1990
