Temple Architecture in India

Temple architecture in India plays an important role in the preservation and development of the country’s cultural heritage. The temple designs in India are a combination of several architectural styles. India has two main types of temple architecture: Nagara in the north and Dravidian in the south. There’s also a third style called Vesara, which is a mix of both Nagara and Dravidian styles and is sometimes found to exist independently.

In this article, we will learn about Temple Architecture in India, the features, types, and different styles of temple architecture.

About Temple Architecture in India

Religious structures constitute the majority of the architectural remains from ancient and medieval India. Geographical, cultural, and historical diversity resulted in varied architectural styles for temples in different parts of the country. There are two major orders of temples in India, the Dravida in the south and the Nagara in the north. The Vesara temple style, which was developed by carefully combining elements of the Nagara and Dravida orders, can occasionally be discovered as a separate architectural style.

More surfaces were made available for sculpture as temples became larger and more complicated, all while keeping to the basic layout of the shrine and including an increasing number of symmetrical, rhythmically extending walls and compartments. The Gupta Period represented a new era in the development of temple architecture. The principles of Indian temple architecture are described in both the Vastu and Shilpa Shastras.

Basic Features of Temple Architecture in India

The basic features of Hindu temple architecture in India are as follows:

1. Sanctum or Garbhagriha

It began as a little cubicle with a single entrance and gradually expanded into a larger room. The main god is meant to be located in the garbhagriha and is the focus of significant ritual attention.

2. Mandapa

The entrance to the temple, known as a mandapa, maybe a colonnaded hall or a veranda that may accommodate a large number of worshipers.

3. Shikhara/Vimana

Usually found in freestanding temples, the tower resembles a mountain and is called a vimana in South India and can be shaped like a curving Shikhar in North India.

4. Dhvaj

A standard pillar, or dhvaj, is placed axially in front of the shrine, along with the Vahan, the temple’s principal deity’s mount or vehicle.

Types of Temple Architecture in India

The history of temple architecture reached a new phase during the Gupta Era. The architectural scriptures from the early Middle Ages are called Shilpashastras. The principles of Indian temple architecture are described in both the Vastu and Shilpa Shastras. Three well-known temple architectural styles are mentioned here. They are as follows:

• Nagara
• Dravida
• Vesara

1. Nagara Style or North Indian Temple Architecture

Temples designed in the Nagara architectural style were built in North India. This architectural style is open-air and elaborate. Amalarka, a structure resembling stones, is located at the summit of this temple type. This construction is made up of two buildings: the mandapa is the smaller one, and the shrine is the higher one. The Sun Temple at Madera, Gujarat, and the Mahadeva Temple in Khajuraho are two well-known examples of Nagara architectural-style temples.

Features of Nagara Style Temples

The main characteristics of temple architecture in the Nagara style are:

• It usually has no elaborate entrances or border walls.
• The highest tower is consistently situated precisely above the garbhagriha.
• Another feature that sets apart the Nagara style of temple design is the placement of Amalaka, or Kalash, on Shikhara.
• Different regions of India have different names for the main portions of the temple, but the ‘latina’ or rekha-prasada kind of shikara is the most often used term for the basic type, which is square at the base and has walls that curve or slope inward to a point on top.
• The phamsana, which tends to be shorter and broader than latina ones, is the second main type of architectural form in the nagara order.
• The valabhi type is the general term for the third major subtype of nagara architecture. These are rectangular structures having an arched room beneath the roof.

2. Dravida Style or South Indian Temple Architecture

The architectural style of the Dravidas originated in the seventh and eighth centuries AD. The temple architecture of South India’s Pallavas and Cholas is known as the Dravida style. The pillars and compound walls that surrounded the architecture were what made the Dravida Style appealing to architects. Dwarapalas’ images were sculpted for decorating the vimanas. This architecture is unique in that the temple is located inside an ambulatory hall. The Meenakshi Sundareswaratemple in Madurai, the Rajarajeswara or Brihadeshwara temple in Thanjavur, and the Kailasanatha temple in Kanchipuram are a few examples of Dravida-style temples.

Features of Dravida Style Temples

These are the primary characteristics of temple architecture in the Dravida style:

• The Dravida temple is surrounded by a compound wall.
• The center of the front wall is where the Gopuram, or entrance doorway, is situated.
• The vimana, or main temple tower, is built more like a stepped cone rising up linearly than like the curving shikhara of North India.
• Only the top portion of the temple, which is usually shaped like an octagonal dome or a little stupika, is referred to as a “shikhara.”
• The temple is guarded by terrifying Dvarapalas, also known as the doorkeepers, at the entrance of the garbhagriha.
• There is often a large water tank enclosed within the complex, commonly referred to as a temple tank.
• The subsidiary shrines are either adjacent to the main temple as separate, little shrines, or they are incorporated into the main temple tower.

3. Vesara Temple Style

In Vesara, the Nagara and Dravidian architectural traditions are combined. Several scholars say that the Vesara style originated in modern-day Karnataka. The Vesara style was created by the Chalukyas of Badami (500–753 AD) and was subsequently refined by the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta in Ellora, the Chalukyas of Kalyani in Lakkundi, Dambal, Gadag, and so on. The Hoysalas were the last to master the style. The structures have excellent polish and excellent finishing. Some examples of this architectural style are the Navalinga Temples in Kukkanur, the Kailashnatha temple at Ellora, and the Hoysaleswara temple in Halebid.

Features of Vesara Style Temples

The characteristics of temple architecture in the Vesara style are:

• Rather than having sloping tiers, the tower is vertical in design.
• The Dravida towers were modified by the Chalukyan architects, who lowered the height of each story and arranged them in a series of decreasing heights from bottom to top, with interesting decorations on each floor.
• Chalukya temples are distinguished by two features: pillars and mantapa.
• The Nagara School is reflected in the panchayatan style as well as the designs for the primary shrine and subsidiary shrine.
• The design of the entryway that connects the sanctum to the mandapa is derived from Odisha temple architecture.
• The architectural features of Dravida and Nagara are combined in the wall decorations and small decorative towers of Chalukya temples.

Different Styles of Temple Architecture in India

Aside from temples built in the Nagara and Dravida styles, India’s temple architecture differs considerably from one another and has certain unique features:

1. North India Temples

The stone platforms that lead to the temples in the north are constructed with stairs. Most of the temples in the north are built in the Nagara architectural style. In the north of India, temples now have many heads, although in the past there was just one.

2. Central India Temples

The predominant building material of central Indian temples is sandstone. A few ancient, still-existing temples in the state of Madhya Pradesh go prior to the Gupta era. The two most important features found in every temple from that era are Amalek and Kalash.

3. Western India Temples

In this region, there are several temples; the majority are located in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and western Madhya Pradesh. Temples are constructed using a variety of colors and kinds of stones. The most significant art historical site in the western region is regarded as Samlaji in Gujarat.

4. Eastern India Temples

These temples spread over the Northeast, Bengal, and Odisha. Terracotta is the primary building material used in Bengal to carve Hindu and Buddhist temples. While there are several temples in Eastern India, the goddess Kamakhya is honored in the 17th-century Kamakhya temple in Assam, which is among the most well-known. In addition, the Siddheshvara Mahadeva temple is situated at Barakar, in the Burdwan district.

5. Hill Temples

It is developed in the hills of Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Garhwal, and Kumaon. It is traditional for India’s hill temples to be made of wood and have pitched roofs. In the eighth and ninth centuries, Pandrethan was constructed.

6. South India Temples

South Indian temples have Dravida-style architecture. Unlike temples built in the Nagara style, these temples have compounded walls. The entrance gateway to the south Indian temples is called Gopuram. Tamil Nadu is the location of the most well-known temple in all of southern India. These are Kumbakonam, Madhurai, Thanjavur, and Kanchipuram.

7. Deccan Architecture

In a state like Karnataka, many different architectural styles from temples in north and south India were embraced. The Deccan region of India, or Karnataka, is home to several experimental hybrid architectural forms. Famous Deccan architecture temples like the Lad Khan Temple in Aihole, Karnataka, and the Hoysaleswara Temple in Karnataka were inspired by the dark schist stone and the wooden roofed temples found in the hills, respectively.

8. Buddhist Architecture

The most important Buddhist site is Bodhgaya. The Bodhi Tree, regarded as the first shrine in Buddhist architecture, was built by King Ashoka. These temples’ designs are distinct from all others; they are neither Nagara nor Dravida. In the fifth century CE, Kumar Gupta, supervised the monastery’s establishment. Vajragiti, Ratnagiri, Lalitagiri, and Nagapattinam are a few of the well-known Buddhist monasteries.

9. Jain Architecture

Jain architecture can be found all over India, except the mountains. Jains were equally talented temple builders as Hindus were. The earliest Jain pilgrimage is located in Bihar, while some of the most significant Jain architectural sites are located in Ellora and Aihole. Karnataka is the site of the renowned Jain structures with its rich past. At Mount Abu, Vimal Shah built the most well-known Jain temple.

Temple Architecture in India UPSC

The UPSC Syllabus’s History part covers the importance of temple architecture. This is a very crucial topic for the UPSC Prelims Art and Culture Section. Temple architecture is covered in detail in the GS Paper 1 syllabus. Students preparing for the UPSC examination can refer to this article for comprehensive notes on Temple Architecture in India.

Temple Architecture UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions

Q 1. Chola architecture represents a high watermark in the evolution of temple architecture. Discuss. (UPSC 2013)

Q 2. The rock-cut architecture represents one of the most important sources of our knowledge of early Indian art and history. Discuss. (UPSC 2020)

Summary – Temple Architecture in India

Temple architecture in India is diverse, reflecting geographical, cultural, and historical variations. The two main styles are Nagara in the north and Dravidian in the south, with a third style called Vesara blending both. The basic features include the sanctum, mandapa, shikhara/vimana, and dhvaj. Nagara style, prominent in North India, has elaborate towers, while Dravida style in the South features stepped cone towers. Vesara, a fusion, is seen in Karnataka. Temples vary across regions like North, Central, Western, Eastern, Hill, South, and Deccan, each with distinct characteristics. Jain and Buddhist architectures also contribute to India’s rich heritage.

FAQs on Temple Architecture in India

1. What is the Indian style of temple architecture?

According to Michell, the ancient Hindu architectural books, such as the Brihatsamhita, categorize temples into five orders based on their typological features: the Nagara, Dravida, Vesara, ellipse, and rectangle. There are three types of plans mentioned for each: square, octagonal, and apsidal.

2. What are the main features of Indian temple architecture?

Garbhagriha, also known as the sanctuary, is where the deity’s primary idol is kept. The mandapa, leads to the garbhagriha, the gathering place for worshippers. The spire rising above the sanctuary is called Shikhara. Vaahan, the temple’s principal deity’s mount or vehicle.

3. What are the basics of temple architecture?

The inner chamber (garbhagriha), the temple hall (mandapa), the entrance gates (gopuram), and the towers that sit atop the temple (shikhara or vimanam) are the fundamental elements of Hindu temple architecture.

4. Why are temples important in Indian architecture?

They offer a space for prayer, contemplation, and taking part in religious rites and celebrations. India’s Hindu temple architecture is well known for its rich spiritual significance, fine detailing, and profound symbolism.

5. What are the 3 styles of temples in India?

The country’s two main architectural styles for temples are Dravidian in the south and Nagara in the north. The third architectural style is called Vesara Style, and it combines Nagara and Dravidian design elements.