In art, design, and fashion, patterns refer to repeated decorative elements forming a design. This can include geometric patterns, floral patterns, stripes, and more.
In textiles, patterns can describe the arrangement of elements on fabric, such as in clothing or upholstery. In general patterns are arranged in repetitive way. It brings the feeling of harmony. In case of architecture of Ancient temples, patterns are decorative element that makes the temple architecture elegant like palace.
Circular shapes in the middle create the illusion of garland. rest of the curves create design of leaves. These patterns are inspired from nature.
Above sculpture panel depicts River Ganga on her vehicle Makara. She is holding sacred pot. Her expression is about having bliss. River Ganga is most purest and sacred in Hindu religion. People takes bath in Ganga to get rid of their sins. She is shown with repeated patterns which shows that she is very important. Such iconography is auspicious and helps the devotee to meditate upon her thought.
Here, There are series of men along with elements. They are not exactly same, but having slightly different poses. So here, living beings are used as design elements. That brings more life to the architecture. Viewer connects more to the living beings than patterns of shapes.
Modern pattern systems use same designs all over the shape. In case of ancient temple, artist created patterns with slight difference in each. In that way , they showed slight contrast in the design. When Repetitive elements are shown with contrast, that is most appealing to the viewer. Repetition brings consistency in the design. But there is probability that it will be boring . Hence when varations are added to the repetitive patterns, that makes the design interesting. Ancient artists in India knew this technique and hence they added in the designs of temple architecture.
Above sculpture is face of creature which eats all the sins. The name of the this face is Kirtimukha. It is considered as auspicious to have this on the wall of the temple. Hence it is at the entrance of the temple architecture. Also it is used as design elements. In above image, it is shown as if seen from the front side. Such series of faces are at all sides of the temple. It is interesting that, that here philosophy is projected using pattern design, it is done so that to create strong impression in the minds of the devotees. It is to purify mind of the viewers. Such arrangement is one of the amazing feature of Hindu iconography.
This is very complex design yet, it includes repetitive patterns. Here first and third are same, and second and fourth are same. It is hard to conceive how artist planned the design element, before deciding to repeat it. It is hard to repeat design element again, because it includes complex details. These circular curves includes repetitive small curves over it. So here larger pattern includes small patterns over it. Together this design looks attractive. This is work of expert artist who knows how to arrange design in interesting way.
This is just 0.000001 percent that is covered in this blog. There are ancient hindu temples all over the world. Each temple is having fantastic designs which were created many thousand years ago. Modern artist can learn, how to create best art in the world, by studying sculpture panels at the ancient temples.
If you have any special observations about sculptures ( from art perspective ), do share in the comment section.
