Style of Temple Architecture

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 Different Style of Temple Architecture



A. Nagara School of Architecture:
  • Location: Northern India
  • Timeline: From 500 AD
  • Panchayatana style of temple making
  • Mandapas/ Assembly halls in front of the principle shrine
  • Ganga and Yamuna river goddess are placed outside the garbha griha
  • No water tanks/reservoirs in temple complex
  • Upraised platform with pillared approach
  • Types of shikaras
    1. Latina: Square base with walls curving to the point on top
    2. Phamsana: broader base with walls sloping towards on a straight line. Shorter in height
    3. Valabhi: Rectangular base with roof rising to vaulted chambers. Wagon vaulted roofs
  • Shikaras are topped by horizontal disc called Amalak, which are again topped by spherical body called kalash
  • Walls of temples are divided into a number of vertical planes (rathas). If it is 3, then trirathas, 5 - pancharathas, 7 - saptaratha and even 9 - navarathas
  • Covered ambulatory passageway around the sanctum sanctorum.
1. Odisha school
  • Location: Kalinga emprise (modern day odisha)
  • No use of pillars on the mandapas aka Jagmohanas
  • Lavishly decorated exterior walls with plain interior walls
  • Shikharas aka rekhadeuls are vertical roofs with sudden inward curves at top
  • Temples are surrounded by boundary walls
  • Ground plan of temple is square
  • Example: Sun temple at Konark, Jagannath temple at Puri
2. Khajuraho school:
  • Location: Central part of India
  • Patronage: Chandel rulers
  • Lavishly decorated interior and exterior walls
  • Inspiration from Vatsyayana’s Kamasutra, so erotic theme is predominant
  • Three chambered temples - sanctum sanctorum, mandapa and ardha mandapa
  • Temples are north or east facing
  • Panchayatana style of temple making
  • Higher platform temples
  • Examples: Kandariya mahadeva temples and Lakshman temple at Madhya Pradesh.

3. Solanki School
  • Location: North western part of India including Gujarat and Rajasthan.
  • Patronage: Solanki rulers.
  • Walls are devoid of any cravings.
  • Garbha griha is connected to mandapa both internally and externally.
  • Porticos have decorative arched gateways called torans.
  • Presence of step tanks/ surya - kund in temple complex. Steps of the tank have small temple forms.
  • East facing temples.
  • Building material used: From sandstone to soft marble.
  • Example: Modhera sun temple, Gujarat.
B. Dravidian style of Architecture
  • Early dravidian temple architecture is developed under Pallava rulers Mahendravarman
  • They progressed in four stages:
    • 1st stage: Mahendra group - rock cut temples and mandapas
    • 2nd stage: Narasimha group - rock cut temples with intricate sculptures and mandapas as rathas
    • 3rd stage: Rajasimha group - Real structural temples in place of rock cut temples. Eg: Shore temple at Mahabalipuram, Kailashnath temple at kanchipuram
    • 4th stage: Nandivarman group - Smaller size temples
  • Dravidian style architecture achieved zenith during chola rulers regime
Major features:
  • Temples surrounded by high boundary walls
  • Gopura: High entrance gateway at front wall
  • Panchayatana style of temple architecture
  • Vimana: Spire is in the form of a stepped pyramid, rising linearly rather than curved. Present only on top of the main temple shrine, not on subsidiary shrines
  • Shikhara: similar to kalash in Nagara architecture. Octagon shaped
  • Antarala: Vestibular tunnel connecting assembly hall with the garbhagriha
  • Entrance of sanctum sanctorum has Dwaarpal, mithun and Yakshas structures
  • Presence of Water tank in the temple complex
  • Examples: Brihadeswara temple and Gangaikondacholapuram temple at Tanjore.

C. Nayaka School aka Madurai School:
  • Timeline: Between 1600 and 1800 AD
  • Patronage: Nayaka rulers
  • Major feature: Presence of Prakarns or huge corridors in portico
  • Major feature: large sized gopurams
  • Example: Meenakshi temple at Madurai has tallest gopuram in the world
D. Vesara School aka Karnataka School
  • Timeline: Mid 700 AD
  • Patronage: Later Chalulya rulers
  • Major feature: Combined features of Nagara School and Dravidian School.
  • Other features: Open ambulatory passageway; Intricate carvings of pillars, doorways and ceilings; Emphasis on Vimana and Mandapa
  • Examples: Dodda Basappa temple at Dambal, Ladkan temple at Aihole
E. Vijaynagar School
  • Timeline: Between mid-1300 AD to 1600 AD
  • Patronage: Vijayanagar rulers
  • Influence: Indo-Islamic style of Bijapur
  • Major features: Gopuram built on all the sides, More than one mandapa in the temple (main one is kalyana mandapa), secular buildings
  • Other features: Highly decorated wall carvings and geometrical patterns
  • Example: Vittalaswami temple, Lotus Mahal

F. Hoysala School
  • Location: Region of Karnataka with prime seats at Belur, Halebid and Sringeri
  • Timeline: Around 1050 - 1300 AD
  • Patronage: Hoysala rulers
  • Major features: Multiple shrines around central pillared hall, Stellate style for temple plan, one-metre-high upraised platforms for temples called Jagati
  • Other features: Major decoration of temple walls, walls and stairs follow zigzag pattern
  • Principle building material: Soft soap stone
  • Examples: Hoyasaleshwara temple at Halebid, Chennakeasava temple at Belur
G. Pala School
  • Timeline: Between 800 AD and 1200 AD
  • Patronage: Pala dynasty (Buddhist rulers) and Sena dynasty (Hindu rulers). Both religion influence
  • Location: Bengal region
  • Major feature: Bangla roof - Buildings had curve or sloping roof
  • Other features: Tall curving shikaras, Stone sculptures, lustrous finish in figurines
  • Principle building material: Terracotta bricks (Burnt bricks and clay)
  • Example: Siddhesvara Mahadeva temple in Barakar, temples around Vishnupur

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