The Vijayanagara, Chola and Pandya rulers of past era were great builders of huge fascinating Hindu temples with unique architecture using hard stones. Among the many attractive features, they introduced the concept of building halla/ mandapas supported by musicall pillars Such fantasies or imaginative features in temple architecture attract international architects because they throw light on the vibrant highly advanced Indian civilization that had been around for more than 2000 years. This post makes a comparison between the dynamics of Musical Pillars of hampi, Ka and Tirunelveli, TN.
1. Overview of Architectural Significance The Vittala Temple in Hampi, Karnataka, and the Nellaiappar Temple in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, are renowned for their musical pillars, a unique testament to ancient South Indian architecture. These pillars, carved from single stone blocks, demonstrate the remarkable craftsmanship of artisans who could create structures that produce musical notes when struck. Both temples showcase how music was integrated into the spiritual ambiance of sacred spaces.
2. Structural Features and Composition The musical pillars at both temples are carved from granite and are part of larger, finely sculpted mandapams (halls). At Vittala Temple, the pillars are found within the Maha Mandapa, a grand hall that features 56 primary musical columns. These pillars are sometimes grouped to resemble small shrines, with smaller, “tuned” columns arranged around them. Each pillar, when struck, emits a specific tone, producing a sound akin to musical notes on percussion instruments.
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| Vittala Temple,Musical pillars ,Humpi,KA youtube.com |
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| Vittala Temple, Ranga Mandapa, Humpi, KA/hemantsoreng.com |
Above image Vittala Temple, Ranga Mandapa, Hampi, KA; Every main pillar is surrounded by 7 minor pillars. These 7 pillars emit 7 different musical notes from the representative musical instruments...........
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| Musical pillars, Nellaiappar kovil, Tirunelveli,TN |
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| Musical pillars Nellaiappar kovil,Tirunelveli,TN deccanchronicle.com |
In contrast, the Nellaiappar Temple features two sets of musical pillars located in the Mani Mandapam. While the pillars at Vittala primarily resonate with percussion tones, the Nellaiappar pillars create more varied sounds, such as those resembling the veena, a traditional stringed instrument. These intricate pillars add to the mandapam’s acoustic appeal, particularly during special temple ceremonies.
3. Sound Dynamics and Acoustic Engineering The sound dynamics of these pillars illustrate the ancient understanding of acoustics and material properties. In Hampi’s Vittala Temple, the Maha Mandapa's architectural layout amplifies sound resonance, enabling soft vibrations to echo across the hall. Each strike produces distinct notes with a percussive quality, which some attribute to the hollow structure inside the columns. This characteristic, coupled with the vast open structure of the hall, allows for clear, resonant sounds that can be heard across a significant distance.
Meanwhile, at the Nellaiappar Temple, the acoustic effect is more subdued, tailored for smaller gatherings in an enclosed mandapam. The pillars produce a range of tones, from low to high frequencies, often mimicking stringed instrument notes. This tonal variation is attributed to the artisans' skill in sculpting the pillars with varied thicknesses and lengths, enabling a richer musical range than the Vittala Temple pillars.
4. Cultural and Ritualistic Role Both temples’ musical pillars serve more than just an architectural purpose; they are integral to the temple’s ritualistic life. In Vittala Temple, the musical pillars once played a role in temple festivals, with the sounds said to please the presiding deity, Lord Vittala. The Nellaiappar Temple, on the other hand, still utilizes these pillars during religious festivals, where the musical tones are believed to invoke divine blessings.
Conclusion While both the Vittala and Nellaiappar temples showcase extraordinary musical pillars, they differ in sound dynamics and tonal range, reflecting the artisans’ regional preferences and spiritual interpretations. These pillars are a testament to South India’s rich cultural heritage, demonstrating a fusion of architecture, music, and spirituality.
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