Hindu Temple Architecture

● India has a rich culture and varied heritage which has been evolved
from the Indus valley civilization.
● Two broad orders of temples in the country are known as Nagara in the
north and Dravida in the south.
● A Hindu temple design follows a geometrical design
called vastu-purusha-mandala.
● The 9x9 (81) grid ‘’Parama Sayika’’ layout plan
found in large ceremonial Hindu Temples. It is
one of many grids used to build Hindu temples.
Nagara Temples

Nagara style temple lies on the northern side of India.

structure comprises of 2 building- a taller shrine and a shorter one called mandapa.
The shape of the buildings is different.
Mainly are formed of four chambers-
• Garbhagriha
• Jagmohan
• Natyamandir
• Bhogamandir
Plan and elevation are the two most distinguishing features of nagara style.
Some examples of nagara temples are- Sun temple Modhera, Sun Temple konark
 Interesting Facts about Modhera Sun Temple

Modhera Sun temple has 4 main parts.

• Main temple with a Garbhagriha
• Mandapa called Guda Mandapa
• A detached Sabha mandapa,
• A stepped water tank.
The temple is built using the locking system that is said to be an earthquake resistant method.
The surya kund has pyramid shaped steps forming some intriguing geometric patterns on the steps with the presence of big and small temples on its
steps.
originally there were 108 shrines on these steps

World of Art and Design-II ARCHITECTURE - SURVEY | ELEMENTS | TRENDS

. Prof. Shaili Maam | TA. Arya nair FNDN B.Arch 2022
 Sabha mandapa
Surya kund

Guda Mandapa

Antarala
Dravidian style
Dravida style advanced in the South,
Vimana- shape of main temple tower
Shikhara is the crowning element at the top of temple.
From the 12th century it is seen that the temples were fortified with
three square concrete walls and four gates
Entrance sculptures of dvarapalas as gaurding the temple.
Temple tank within the compound.
Subsidiary shrines could be found wither within the main tower or
beside the main tower.
Some important examples of dravidian temples are brihadeshwar,
meenakshi etc.
•
 garbhagriha

gopuram

mandapa antarala

Water tank/ pushkarni

 Interesting facts about brihadeshwar temple

The brihadeshwara temple consist of 5 main parts-

● Garbhagriha
● Vimana
● Nandi mandapam
● Maha Mandapam
● Antarala
● Gopuram
The base of the temple has the pictures of dancing Shiva and stone
T

deities
This beautiful temple is made of granite

Prof. Shaili Maam | TA. Arya nair

 Mandapa

Garbhagriha dhawajsthamba

gopuram
Thank you