The Bhojpur Line Drawings - what we can draw from them

Summary

Architect Adam Hardy discusses the role of architectural drawings in medieval Indian temple construction, focusing on the unfinished royal temple of Raja Bhoj at Bhojpur. The temple, intended to be the largest in India, features preserved architectural engravings on the site’s rocks. Hardy highlights the blending of northern and southern temple styles in the Bhojpur temple and its significance in Indian temple architecture. He also explains how the site’s architectural drawings offer valuable insights into building processes, some of which reflect structures that were never completed.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The video discusses the role of architectural drawings in creating medieval Indian temple architecture and how they can last for centuries if preserved.
• 🔨 The focus is on the unfinished royal temple of Raja Bhoj at Bhojpur, which contains a set of unique architectural drawings engraved on rocks.
• 👑 Raja Bhoj, a scholar and warrior, ruled from 1010 to 1055 in Malwa, Central India, and is remembered for his ambitious cultural and political projects, including temple construction.
• 📜 The Shiva temple at Bhojpur was part of Raja Bhoj's larger vision, aligning with his architectural treatise, the Samarangana Sutradhara.
• 🏯 Architects of the time consciously blended northern Nagara and southern Dravida styles to create a new temple form, known as Bhumija, adopted by Parmara rulers.
• 🪨 The temple site was both the quarry and the drawing board, with architectural sketches visible on the surrounding rocks.
• ✏️ Some of the rock engravings served as full-scale drawings used for construction, providing valuable insights into the building process.
• 🏗️ The temple was never completed, but drawings of pillars, ceilings, and temple facades give clues about the architectural plans and methods.
• 🔍 Some drawings at the site depict parts of the temple that were never built, such as intricate base moldings and plans for grand facades.
• 🛕 If completed, the temple at Bhojpur would have been one of the tallest in India, reaching up to 100 meters, symbolizing the cultural and religious vision of Raja Bhoj.

Q & A

What is the subject of the talk given by Adam Hardy?

The subject of the talk is the role of architectural drawings in the creation of temple architecture in medieval India, with a focus on the unfinished royal temple of Raja Bhoj at Bhojpur, Madhya Pradesh.

Who was Raja Bhoj and what was his significance in Indian history?

Raja Bhoj was the Paramara king who ruled in Malwa, central India, from about 1010 to 1055. He is remembered as an ideal king, a warrior, and a scholar, known for advancing various branches of human knowledge, including architecture.

What was the purpose of the architectural drawings found at Bhojpur?

The architectural drawings found at Bhojpur were engraved on rocks and served as a guide for constructing the unfinished temple. They provide insights into the temple's design and construction processes and illustrate both completed and unbuilt parts of the temple.

How did Raja Bhoj’s temple project fit into his larger cultural and political goals?

Raja Bhoj's temple project was part of his broader cultural and political ambitions to establish a monumental religious and architectural legacy, reflecting both his scholarly pursuits and his desire to unify different regional architectural traditions.

What is the 'bhūmija' temple form, and how does it relate to Raja Bhoj's temple?

The 'bhūmija' temple form is a temple style that combines elements from both northern Nāgara and southern Drāviḍa architectural traditions. Raja Bhoj's temple was designed in this style, which became the special form of temples built by the Paramara rulers.

What was the significance of the lake (Bhoj Tal) created near the temple?

The Bhoj Tal lake, created by Raja Bhoj, was a massive irrigation project intended to improve the agricultural productivity of the region. It played a crucial role in supporting the local economy and is linked to the temple's landscape.

How were the architectural drawings preserved, and why are they important today?

The drawings were engraved directly onto the rocks at the temple site, which helped preserve them over the centuries. These drawings are important today because they offer detailed insights into the design and construction methods of medieval Indian temple architecture.

What challenges do the architectural drawings at Bhojpur present to researchers today?

The drawings are quite worn and difficult to see in their current state, making them challenging to interpret. However, redrawing and documenting them has helped researchers understand their significance and the temple's intended design.

What role do the drawings play in the construction of the temple, and what kinds of drawings are present?

The drawings served multiple purposes during construction. Some were full-scale plans for carving pillars and other architectural elements, while others illustrated theoretical design principles. These drawings guided the masons and artisans in building the temple.

Why was the temple of Raja Bhoj never completed, and what remains of it today?

The reasons for the temple's incomplete construction are not entirely clear, but it is believed that it might have been too ambitious a project. Today, a massive cube of masonry with some pillars and an unfinished central structure remains at the site.