Stepwells - Architectural aspects
Geographical
Process
Style
Structural
Need
Gujarat being an Arid Landscape, there was a need to store monsoon rain
Raw materials
Motipura, 88.5 KM from Ahmedabad - Quarry provided stones for constructions
Distribution
Built with intervals, a Camel can travel without water. (40- 50KM)
Patron's wish for stepwell
Searching for the right location
Aalaj Stepwell, Fusion of Hindu, Jain and Islamic Style
Details
Patron's/ Women
Rani ki Vav - Queen Udayamati
Dada Harir Vav - Mahmud Begada - 1485
Spiral Stair case - side walls of wall shaft
Main Architectural Elements
Vertical Well - Kuva/ Kupa
Stepped corridor leading to ground water
Pavilions - Mandapa inbetwenn the steps
Bhonyesunghna - Gujarat, Kutch. Sunga -Punjab
Experts (PANIKALS) is recruited, who has special power to hear sound of running water water underground.
Sometime through dreams
Serviced at Rs. 1 - 4 Per well
Started getting built around 4th century but became architecturally complicated structures by 11th - More than just water
Auspicious day, Patrons, Priest (Brahmin), Water Diviner(Panikal),Well diggers and Labourers(Sompura Salat) arrive at location, ceremonies happen
THE FUSION OF HINDU - MUSLIM - JAIN ADDED MORE COMPLICATIONS, RESULTED IN BEAUTY
Varahamihir - Ujjain - Vasavada's link
Stones from old monuments - Steps to water or Vanishing stepwells (Jeta Bhai)
Along trade routes
The step well architecture has a close relation to the temple architecture. The beggining of temple construction in saurashtra started in 6th century same time when the first stepwells were started getting built
Mortar, Stone, Brick, Rubble, Stucco and occasionally marble.
Half built by Rana and then Mehmud
Nearly all villages had atleast one stepwell -Jutta Jain - Stepwells of Gujarat
Adalaj - Rana Veer Singh started - Mahmud Begada finished
Around 3000 stepwells in Gujarat- One fifth or more were commissioned by women
Queens, women of the royal families, wives of prosperous merchants, mothers, daughters, even servant girls and prostitutes
Vaishya ni Vaav- Built by a prostitute
As demanded by his step mother
Stepwell calssified based on number of entrances
1 - Nauda
2 - Bhadra
3 - Jaya
4 - Vijaya
Inspite of being a harsh climate place, Kutch has very less number of stepwells
Sompura Salat
Refer coggle Link Title
History of Stepwell construction
Stepwells built during British Rule
JetaBhai stepwell, Isanpur, 1860s/1890s
Wankaner Stepwell, 1923
Built as a private cistern, a part of Royal Oasis hotel
3 storied with extensive stone carvings
Often used as a Royal retreat place
Built bu Jetabhai Jivanlal Mujli
To obtain the materials, he purchased from the holder of Shah Alam the rauza belonging to a masjid known as that of Malik Alam...and from the late Qazi Hasan-ud-din of Ahmadabad he bought the Nenpurvada masjid at Rajapur-Hirpur together with its accompanying rauza.
Early stepwells date back to 6th century in Saurashtra, same time when temple architecture was also on full swing.
Often immediate wall of the well is lavishly sculpted- means Enclosure of water is more sacrd than the Sanctum sanctorum/ garba graha
embellish in step wells, showing activities from fighting and dancing to everyday acts such as women combing their hair or churning butter.
Around 3000 stepwells in Gujarat
“Everything is speculative and even scholars frequently disagree. While we know about the pre-industrial use of manpower, oxen and ramps, the engineers I’ve spoken with have differing opinions about how stepwells were constructed. They do, however, agree that building down into the earth is subject to more stress than building above ground, and is therefore more challenging,” says Lautman.
The Brahmin priests consulted for the date
Tuesdays and other days when earth sleeps are avoided
The 1st, 7th, 9th, 10th, 14th , 24th days following Sankranti are avoided
Ganpati deity - the protector of all auspiciosus ceremonies is installed with panchamrit and workshipped
Green colored piece of atlas (Silk cloth) about 2 feet is spread on the spot. A pound and quarter of wheat, Coconut, betels, dates and copper coins are placed on it.
Copper bowl with silver or gold coins filled with water also kept. The mouth of the bowl is covered with Ashoka leaves and a coconut is placed over the leaves
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Well brackets
How Hindu Architecture- the stepwells continued during Mughal rule also?
The scaled- down sculptures of stepwells were not as lavish as of the temple sculptures
The dialogue between the Hindus and Their gods happened outside the temples.
The wells' iconic sculptures were too small, even personal, obscure, archaic to carry any indelible Hindu imprint. Hence it might not have bothered the Mughal rulers.
Ganesh Statue
Henry Cousens - British engineer and surveyor of Gujarat said, his workmen had difficulty understanding the buildings, but because the names listed in the progress reports suggest his staff were India, the building tradition may already have partly forgotten by 1905.
Retaining walls
The side walls which holds the soil's lateral load