iv. Temple Architecture

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iv. Temple Architecture

Evolution of Temples

The architecture of temples in India evolved from the structures of early dwellings, such as huts from the Neolithic period, and various ground plans including round, square, rectangular, apsidal, and oval shapes. This transformation took place during the reign of the Sunga-Kushana period, spanning from 200 BCE to 200 CE.
The architectural remains from this era, particularly from Mathura, reveal the influence of foreign rulers and traders, evident in the decorative elements and stylistic features incorporated into the temple designs.

Nagara Style Temples

Nagara style temples are the north Indian temples with curvilinear shikhara. They are majorly recognised as temples built by Guptas, Chandelas, Odishan temples, temples of Rajasthan and Gujarat and temples of Rajput period.

Features

Tallest Tower: The tallest tower is always exactly beneath the garbhagriha.
The installation of Amalaka or Kalash on Shikhara is a distinguishing element.
Examples: Kandariya Mahadev Temple in Madhya Pradesh, Sun Temple in Konark and Sun Temple in Modhera, Gujarat.
A main Rekha-Prasad Shikara and one or more rows of smaller steeples are located on either side of the main spire. Mini Shikaras are also present at the base and corners.

Dravidian Style Temples

Dravida style temples in South India have a stepped vimana with six or eight sides and a round stupi (well fashioned boulder) at the top.

Features:

The Chola temples have some similar elements of the Pallava and Chalukya architectural traditions.

A compound wall encloses the Dravida temple.
Gopuram: A Gopuram, or entrance doorway, is located in the middle of the front wall.
Vimana: Instead of the curved shikhara of North India, the vimana, or main temple tower, is shaped like a stepped pyramid that rises up geometrically in Tamil Nadu.
Stupika: As with the amalak and kalasha of North Indian temples, the name “shikhara” is only used to refer to the crowning part at the top of South Indian temples, which is typically formed like a tiny stupika or an octagonal cupola.
Entrance: The entrance to the garbhagriha is adorned with fierce Dvarapalas, or the doorkeepers, guarding the temple.
Examples: Shiva temple of Thanjavu, Annamalaiyar Temple in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, Meenakshi temple in Tamil Nadu, Airavatesvara temple etc.

Vesara Temples

The most recognized of all the temples at Belur is the Cennakesava temple built by the Hoyasala king Visnuvardhana in CE 1117.

Features:

These temples stand in an enclosure with a usual garbha-grha fronted by an antrala and a pillared mandapa known as navaranga/gudha-mandapa.

Some temples also have mukha-mandapa or sabha-mandapa.

The navaranga are specially known for its “lantern ceilings” because they have deep niches or domes constructed by means of stone beams placed diagonally across the corner of the square. The navaranga of the Amrtesvara temple has forty-eight domes with carvings.

Examples: Brahmadeva temple, Savadi, remarkable for being entirely stellate; Mallikarjuna temple, Sudi (and Joda-kalasha temple); Ramalingesvara temple, Gudur; Mahadeva temple, Ittagi; Kasivisvesvara temple, Lakkundi (and several other temples at Lakkundi);

The crowning achievement of Chalukyan architecture is the Virupaksha temple in Pattadakal, which was modelled after Kailashnath temple.