Exploring Indian Temple Architecture
In this interview, historian Dr Pushkar Sohoni delves into the evolution and development of Indian temple architecture. In the conversation with Meenakshi Vashisth, Curator and Project Lead of the Temples of India project, Dr Sohoni expresses his view on the concept of sacred geometry in temple design, the integration of sacred geography and natural elements in building these sacred spaces and technological interventions influencing the development over time. Drawing from his paper ‘Mansions of the Gods and Visions of Paradise’, he discusses how architectural formations have been appropriated and naturalized into new contexts throughout history. Moreover, Dr Sohoni sheds light on the role of ancient texts in guiding temple construction, the contributions of architects and artisans, and the impact of patronage from royal families, merchants and local communities on the embellishments of temples.
Dr Sohoni identifies the gaps in the domain around lesser-known regions and periods and underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in enhancing our understanding of these historical structures. This session concludes with a discussion on how digital documentation and preservation techniques can address gaps in our knowledge and aid in the cataloguing and analysis of architecture.
About the interviewee:
Dr Pushkar Sohoni currently holds the position of Associate Professor and Chair in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune. He pursued training as a conservation architect and subsequently completed his PhD in the History of Art from the University of Pennsylvania in 2010. He is known for his extensive contributions to the study of the material culture of the Deccan sultanates, which include The Architecture of a Deccan Sultanate: Courtly Practice and Royal Authority in Late Medieval India, Jewish Heritage of the Deccan: Mumbai, the Northern Konkan, Pune and Aurangabad with Daulatabad, Khuldabad, Ahmadnagar. Moreover, Dr Sohoni’s ongoing works delve into the Maratha period temples. Beyond these achievements, his diverse interests encompass archaeology, numismatics, and socio-linguistics.