Temple Architecture- Different Styles - I

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November 4,
2014

Temple Architecture- Different Styles

-I

The history of Indian Sculpture and

Architecture is more than two thousand
years old. Many ancient texts describe
architectural designs for temples. Three
distinct architectural styles are
identifiable - Nagara, Dravida and
Vesara,-

i. Nagara (or Rekhā or Prasada) which

predominantly have a square design.
The deula - tower is beehive/curvilinear shaped. Most temples in North India and Odisha
are of nagara-style.

ii. Drāvida (or Vimāna) which predominantly have an octagonal design. The
vimāna/shikhara (or deula) - tower is progressively smaller storeys of pavilions. Most
temples of Tamil Nadu are of drāvida-style.

iii. Vesara,- which predominantly have a circular design and are typical of temples in
Karnataka.

Early temples were carved out of caves and rocks ( Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta).

Subsequ- ently, there was a shift to using stones to create temples. In structural temple
architecture, these three styles developed around 6th and 7 th centuries.

In the next thousand years, there was an explosion in innovative design in temple
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building. Initially, the South Indian Temples were more elaborate in design. Some of
them started to be built based on the design of a ‘Ratha’ – chariot (i.e. Mahabalipuram,
Konark, Hampi).

During 10th and 11th centuries, as the experience of the architects increased, more
elaborate shrines and towers were created, leading to the formation of some of the
grandest temples such as the temples at Minakshi Temple at Madurai, Sri Rangam at
Trichy, and Arunachaleswara at Tiruannamalai.

Nagara- or Northern Style

The Nagara style, which developed in the 5 th century, is characterized by the tower that
is shaped like a beehive, called the shikhara, which is topped by a large round cushion-
like structure called amalaka. Nagara-temples have two distinct features, in the planning
and in the elevation. The plan is based on a square, but the elevation/shikhara, i.e. the
tower gradually inclines inwards in a convex curve giving the impression of being
circular. There is strong emphasis on vertical lines in elevation, hence the style is also
called rekhā.

The Nagara-style is widely distributed over the north and east of India, exhibiting distinct
regional features, varieties and ramifications in lines of evolution and elaboration
according to each region. In Odisha, typical temples which have Nagara architectural
style are the Lingarāj Temple (7th century) at Bhubaneswar, the Jagannāth Temple
(10 th century) at Puri, and the Sun Temple at Konārk (13 th century). The main shrine of
all these temples has a typical square structure. (The existing Konārk Temple is the
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mukhasāla of the now non-existing Deula. The mukhasāla is in piḍhā - pyramid style, as
most of the jagamohanas in Odisha temples are. The imagined main temple of Konārk
is imagined to be in nagara/rekhā style). There are also two typical main structures. The
main shrine (deula in Odisha, vimāna elsewhere) which is taller, is usually of the rekhā
(curved, Deccan-style outline) type. The adjacent smaller structure, is a hall called
jagamohana, and is the entry hall to the deula/vimāna, wherein the devotees can see
the Lord. The jagamohana invariably has a typically pyramid-shaped roof, which is laid in
courses called piḍhā (as in Lingarāj and Jagannāth Temples, and almost all less popular
temples in Odisha). These two were subsequently supplemented by bhoga-maṇḍapa or
offering-hall, where naivedya is offered to the Lord, and nāṭya-maṇḍapa or dance-
pavilion, where dancers used to dance before the Lord (Now they dance in auditoriums,
and the Lord comes out of the temple, and sits on the stage, and watch). The latter two
structures are sometimes separate from (as in Konārk), and sometimes joined to (as in
Lingarāj and Jagannāth) to the deula/jagamohana complex. Only Lingarāj Temple and
Jagannāth Temple are complete with these four structures, whereas
the Parasurāmeswara Temple (7th century) has only the basic two structures.

Dravida or Southern Style

The Dravida style of temples are the most varied, and most fantastic to behold. Typically
having an octagonal design, they consist of several progressive smaller storeys. These
temples are massive in size, and are intricate in architectural design, using a variety of
shapes and colours. Examples of temples of this style are Madurai, Sri Rangam and
Rāmeswaram.

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The Drāvida or Southern style developed from 7 th century. Typically, it has a pyramid-
shaped tower consisting of progressively smaller storeys of small pavilions, a narrow
throat, and a dome on the top called shikhara. The repeated storeys give a horizontal
visual thrust to the Southern style.

Brief Chronological History of Development of Temple-Architecture

and the Dynasties that built them

Dynasty Period Caves/Templ- es Style Place

Vakataka King 2nd-1 st Ajanta Caves (30) Rock-cut Aura- ngabad,

Harisena century Maharashtra
BCE-650 CE (between 460- Caves/Temples
Intense activities 478 CE)

between 460-478 (World Heritage

CE. Site)

Chalukyas 500-753 CE Badami Caves (4) Rock-cut Badami,

Of Badami (600-1200 (cradle of Indian Caves/Temples Karnataka

CE) Architecture)
(Karnataka)
Pattadakal

(World Heritage
Site)

Chalukyas Aihole Temples Aihole

Of Badami Karnataka

(Karnataka)

Chaluk- yas Pattadaka- l Pattadakal

Of Badami (World Heritage Karnataka

Site)
(Karnataka)

King- Krshna I, 8th century Kailashnath Rock-cut Aurangabad,

CE Temple - Cave 16 Temple
Rashtrakootas Maharashtra
(World Heritage
Site)

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 - 8th century Ellora Caves (33) Rock-cut Caves Aurangabad,
CE
(World Heritage Maharashtra
Site)

Pal- lava 535-894 CE i. Rock-cut Cave Monolithic Mahabalipuram,

Tamil Nadu
Of Kanchi ii. Five Rathas Rock-cut
Temples
(Initiaters of Rock- (World Heritage
cut Temples) Site)

King Narasimha
Varman I/alias
Mamala

(r.630-668 CE)

Pallava 600-900 CE i. Rock-cut cave Mahabalipuram,

temples & Tamil Nadu
Of Kanchi
ii. Shore Temple
(Initiaters of Rock-
cut Temples) (Structural
temple)
King Narasimha
Varman II /alias (World Heritage
Rajasimha Site)

(r.700-728 CE)

Pallava Kailasanath Kanchipuram,

Temple
Of Kanchi Tamil Nadu

King Narasimha
Varman II /alias
Rajasimha

(r.700-728 CE)

Rashtrakutas 750-983 CE Ellora Ellora,

Of Manyakheta Maharashtra

Ch- alukyas 983-1195 Lakkundi,

CE Dambal, Gadag
Of Kalyani

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 Chola 900-1150 Brhadiswara Dravida Tanjavur,
Temple
Of Tanjavur Tamil Nadu
(World Heritage
Site)

Gondaikonda

(World Heritage
Site)

Darasuram

(World Heritage
Site)

Hoysala 1100-1350 Belur, Halebid Srngeri,

Of Karnataka Somanathapura Karnataka

(proposed as
World Heritage
Site)

Sa- rangapani Kumbakonam,

sanctum
Tamil Nadu

Vijayanagar 1350-1565- Hampi Andhra Pradesh

Empire (World Heritage

Site)

Sarangapani Kumbakonam,
Gopurams
Tamil Nadu

Rajagopuram of Kanchipuram,

Ekambareswar Ta- mil Nadu

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 Nayakas 1600-1750 Sri Rangam

Of Madurai (expansion)

(succeeded
Vijayanagara)

With each dynasty (Pallava - 600-900 CE, Chalukya 600-1200 CE, Chola - 900-1150 CE,
Hoysala - 1100-1350 CE, Chandela 500-1300 CE, Vijayanagara - 1350-1565 CE) the
architecture style underwent transformations. Sometimes with each individual king also
the style became unique as in Tanjavur, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, and Darasuram)
under Raja Raja Chola I. As per the scriptures, while building a temple, or renovating it,
or making alterations, the existing structures are not be destroyed. However, since each
king wanted to leave his own distinct stamp in the temple architecture, temple
construction evolved.

Initially, a temple had only a garbhagṛha - sanctum sanctorum and the antarāla/ardha-
maṇḍapa or an antechamber. Subsequently, the bhoga-maṇḍapa (jagamohana) -
portico, then agra-maṇḍapa (bhoga-maṇḍapa), and still later nṛtya-maṇḍapa were
added, mostly in the front, in the same axis (as in Lingarāj and Jagannāth Temples).
Some have sabhā-maṇḍapa - pillared halls (Madurāi, Rāmeswaram). Some temples in
the South added a Nandi-maṇḍapa (both the temples at Pattadakal, Halebid,
Bṛhadiswara, Dārāsuram) as well.

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When fortification began, Gopuram (Sri Rangam, Sri Sailam, Minākshi, Rāmeswaram)
construction started.

The present day temple therefore, is an amalgamation of numerous techniques that

grew and changed with ages, while following the diktats of the Āgama Śāstras. Besides
this, the vastness of India, and its diversity also provided regional variations.

Vesara or Mixed style

The Vesara style of architecture is a mixture of North Indian and South Indian style that
are found in the State of Karnataka, namely Badami, Aihole, Pattadakkal, and other
temple towns. The trend was started by the Chalukyas of Badami. In Vesara style, the
development was not in the size of the temple, but of the intricate designs on the ceilings
and walls.

Temples of Vesara style are typically made of sandstone or granite. These tend to give a
circular structure to the main shrine. These temples are very similar, and show very little
architectural differences from region to region. Examples of Vesara style are the
Ādināth Temple, Brahmā Temple, Vāmana Temple, and Pārswanāth Temple.

***

Times Point Know more

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