The Styles of Temple Architectur E

THE STYLES
OF TEMPLE
ARCHITECTUR
E
Hindu temple architecture has many varieties of style, though the basic nature of
the Hindu temple remains the same. Hindu temple architecture reflects a synthesis
of arts, the ideals of dharma, beliefs, values and the way of life cherished under
Hinduism.
Influenced by early Buddhist structures such as the stupa, the first Hindu temples
were built from rock-cut caves. Then, with the arrival of Gupta architecture in the
4th to 5th century CE, the first free-standing Hindu temples were constructed with
features such as towers and projecting niches.
The architectural principles of Hindu temples in India are described in Shilpa

Shastra. Shilpa Shastra mentions three main type of temple architecture - Nagara
or the Northern style, the Dravida or the Southern style and the Vesara or Mixed
style.
NAGARA MAJOR VESARA
TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
STYLE
DHARAVID
Basic features of Indian Temples
The form and meanings of architectural elements in a
Hindu temple are designed to function as the place
where it is the link between man and the divine, to
help his progress to spiritual knowledge and truth, his
liberation it calls moksha.
NAGARA
QUALITY
• In North India, an entire temple is built on a high stone
platform and no large enclosures and entrances. Initially, the
temples had only one shikhara, below which is located
Garbhagriha. Later on, many other peaks were also built
along with the main shikhara. The main deity was installed
in the sanctum sanctorum. The sanctum was always located
under the tallest tower. Amalakh or Kalash which is installed
on the shikhara of the temple is another feature of this style.
Kandariya Mahadev Temple in Madhya Pradesh is a classic
example of Nagara style of temple architecture. It was also
included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986..Other
examples are Sun Temple at Modhera, Lakshman Temple of
Khajuraho, Sun Temple at Konark, JagannathTemple at Puri,
etc
STYLE
The Central Indian style in its
most developed form appears at
Khajuraho, as seen in the
Kandarya Mahadeva Temple (c.
11th century). There an overall
effect of harmony and majesty is
maintained despite the
exuberance of sculpture on the
outer walls; the rich profusion of
miniature shrines on the shekhari
spire reinforces the ascending
movement considerably.
SYMBOLISM
The abundance of details in the temples of
Laxman and Kandariya Mahadev displays the
characteristics of Gods who are very important in
Hindu cosmology and philosophy. Various natural
elements and number of figures displaying sexual
gestures on the temple fabrics symbolizes
creation among other metaphors. Naked eyes go
to the tiniest details up to some level, but the
story or the images of the gods makes a
passage of spiritual journey for the power of
imagination to perceive further to infinity.
Though geometrically the details are not the exact
repetitions of its parent body of the temple, but
it repeats the same concept/theme of the body.
Tiniest figures give the impression of
paramanu (atom), the smallest time unit, the
consciousness which acts as the microcosm of
the largest time unit, cosmos. Like the exterior,
the interior of Kandariya Mahadev temple is also
full of figures and floral details for protection
against demons and floral details depict the
cosmic events. On the ceiling of this temple, the
floral pattern of panels is most noteworthy for
depicting the cosmos where, again, fractal
assumes the main role for depiction and the
combination of some ceiling panels makes
the pattern such that it seems the flowers are
blossomed from buds recursively. The bloom
depicts the creation of universe from the lotus
bud sprouting from the navel of Vishnu.
JOURNEY
The temples at Khajuraho
are considered among the
highpoints of classical
Hindu architecture in the
northern (nagara) style .
This temple and more than
80 others were built by the
Chandella kings, who
ruled this area of central
India between 950–1050
CE.
History of Kandariya Mahadeva Temple
Khajuraho which was then the capital of the

Chandela dynasty has a whole lot of temples
which were built by the Chandela dynasty during
950 CE and 1050 CE. Chandela’s who had a great
contribution in construction of these temples
reached the zenith of their reign around 1030 and
had ruled as the most potent rulers from the era of
9th to 12th century. Historical evidences says that
there were around 85 temples during 12th century,
of which only around 20 temples have been left
which still stand. The biggest of these
surviving Shiva temples is Khandarya Mahadeva.
Dravidian
HISTORY
Dravidian architecture or
the south indian style
temple emerged in the
southern part of the
Indian subcontinent or the
srilankaTime period is
closing decades of the 7th
centuryIts final form by
16th century
• The temple is enclosed within a
compound wall.
• Gopuram: The entrance gateway in the
centre of the front wall.
• Vimana: The shape of the main temple
tower. It is a stepped pyramid that rises
up geometrically (unlike the Nagara style
Shikhara that is curving).
• In the Dravida style, shikhara is the word
used for the crowning element at the top
of the temple (which is shaped like a
stupika or octagonal cupola).
• At the entrance to the garbhagriha, there
would be sculptures of fierce dvarapalas
guarding the temple.
• Generally, there is a temple tank within
the compound.
• Subsidiary shrines could be found wither within the
main tower or beside the main tower.
• In many temples, the garbhagriha is located in the
smallest tower. It is also the oldest. With the passage of
time and the rise of the population of the temple-town,
additional boundary walls were added. The newest
structure would mostly have the tallest gopuram.
• Example in the Sriranganathar Temple at Srirangam,
Tiruchirappally, there are 7 concentric rectangular
enclosure walls each having gopurams. The tower at
the centre has the garbhagriha.
• Famous temple towns of Tamil Nadu: Kanchipuram,
Thanjavur (Tanjore), Madurai and Kumbakonam.
• In the 8th to 12th centuries – temples were not
confined to being religious centres but became
administrative centres as well with large swathes of
land.
Dravidian Architecture
– Subdivisions of Dravida Style
• Dravidian Architecture – Subdivisions of
Dravida Style
• Kuta or Caturasra: square-shaped
• Shala or Ayatasra: rectangular-shaped
• Gaja-prishta or vrittayata or elephant-backed:
elliptical
• Vritta: circular
• Ashtasra: octagonal
JOURNEY
Located about 10 km from Kottayam to Kumarakom,
Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple is a sacred and
revered Hindu place. Regarded as the oldest temple
in the state of Kerala, it is believed that this temple
was a common place of worship for Pandavas and
Sage Vyasa in ancient times. Dedicated to Lord
Shiva, the sanctuary is popular for its spectacular
murals, magnificent frescoes and excellent 16th
century wood carvings, taken from the classic epics
of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas. The old
lamp at the entrance of the temple is fed daily with
oil by the devotees; it was thought that it had ignited
450 years ago and had been burning ever since. The
name of the place has its origin from the word
‘manoor’, which means the land of deer.
EXAMPLE
Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple Ezhara Ponnana:
Located about 10 km from Kottayam to Kumarakom,

Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple is a sacred and revered Hindu
place. Regarded as the oldest temple in the state of Kerala, it is
believed that this temple was a common place of worship for
Pandavas and Sage Vyasa in ancient times. Dedicated to Lord
Shiva, the sanctuary is popular for its spectacular murals,
magnificent frescoes and excellent 16th century wood carvings,
taken from the classic epics of Ramayana, Mahabharata and
Puranas. The old lamp at the entrance of the temple is fed daily
with oil by the devotees; it was thought that it had ignited 450
years ago and had been burning ever since. The name of the
place has its origin from the word ‘manoor’, which means the
land of deer.
Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple:
Another story says that, although Marthanda
Varma promised to make the offerings, the
elephants were donated during the reign of
his successor, Maharaja Karthika Thirunal.
The reasons for donations are also
numerous. Some myths say that elephants
were compensated for the damage done to
the temple during the annexation of
Thekkumcore by Travancore. Others say
that elephants were given when Tipu
Sultan’s army was at the gates of Travancore
to loot it. Made of jackfruit wood, the
elephants are covered with 13 kg of gold
plates.
VESARA
HISTORY
While the north and central India was practicing Nagara and its
varieties and south India was practicing Dravida style, the
Deccan region was experimenting with something new with an
amalgamation of both, Nagara and Dravida styles.
Since it was an amalgamation, it was named Vesara or

Vyamishra which literally means hybrid. The Vesara style
temples in the Deccan region were built mostly between 1100 to
1300 CE
Since the Vesara is a hybrid style, there are no fixed rules

followed in the designs of plan and superstructure. There is a
huge variation across the region in terms of design and
architecture. Some Vesara temples have square plans while
some have stellate plans
JOURNEY
Chalukyas are one of the first dynasties of the
upper Dravida Desha and known as the real
builders of Karnata / Kuntala desa (present day
Karnataka) region. As the Chalukyan empire
started growing rapidly, more and more
neighbouring regions fell in the dominion of the
dynasty. From these two cities, elements of art and
culture travelled to the lands that the Chalukyas
newly conquered and the first monuments bearing
an authentic brand of the “art of Karnata” started
taking shape. This is the Vesara style or the
Chalukyan style of temple architecture. But of
course, this style didn’t take birth all of a sudden.
The extreme creative curiosity of Chalukyas
created marvellous pieces of architecture by
experimenting with different styles and forms.
Aihole,
Karnataka
Ravan Phadi
cave
Examples Lad Khan Temple at Aihole,

Karnataka
Bibliography
• Britannica
• Khan Academy
• PendulumEdu
• BBC
• Historyflame.com
• BBC
THANKYOU
Group 2
• Priya
• Chitra
• Ananya
• Anushka
• Bhavna
• Shubnit
• Anshika

The Styles of Temple Architectur E

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Styles of Temple Architectur E

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

THE STYLES

The architectural principles of Hindu temples in India are described in Shilpa

Khajuraho which was then the capital of the

Located about 10 km from Kottayam to Kumarakom,

Since it was an amalgamation, it was named Vesara or

Since the Vesara is a hybrid style, there are no fixed rules

Examples Lad Khan Temple at Aihole,

You might also like