A Research On The Hindu Temples In Southern India During The Vijayanagara Empire

During the Vijayanagara empire(a.d.1340-1565),A large number of Hindu temples were constructed in southern India,and it turned into an unprecedented flourish stage.Undoubtly,the contruction activity could not be separated from the support of the monarchs and the local chiefs.In addition,the period of Hindu temples are not only as a building,but also play an important role in the country's political,economic and social.In this paper,we put the Hindu temples in the social and political background with the view “Segmentary states” which advocated by some historians,notably Burton Stein.The social and political backgrounds form the new angle.Here we use the new angle to interpret the Hindu temples of southern India during Vijayanagara empire.Firstly,introducing the historical background for the construction of the Hindu temples of southern India during Vijayanagara empire.Thus revealing the country's shape which is “Segmentary states ” and its limited political centralization.Secondly,summarizing the basic situation of the Hindu temples of southern India during Vijayanagara empire,including its distribution,construction process,layout and decoration art.Revealing the layout's purpose and significance and the space atmosphere which is to create.Thirdly,analyzing the political oriented of the Hindu temples of southern India during Vijayanagara empire from two aspects: “ritual sovereignty” and “hierarchy”.Fourthly,analyzing the economic oriented of the Hindu temples of southern India during Vijayanagara empire from two aspects: “bank function” and “economic benefit”.Fifthly,analyzing the social oriented of the Hindu temples of southern India during Vijayanagara empire from two aspects: “social space” and social function.This paper argues that the Hindu temples of southern India during Vijayanagara empire which exist not only as a worship sites,but also as a republication of nation and a space shape of some country.At the same time,it is a powerful force to maintain national dominance and state order.