Temple Architecture in Northern India

Temple architecture had a very rich past in India. The temples architecture in India evolved with time since ages. The temples architecture took a proper shape during Gupta age in northern India. Thera are different stages and schools developed in temple architecture. There are mainly three style of temples architecture in India; Nagara style, Dravida style and Vesara style. But there are some regional styles of temples as well.

Also Read : Architecture During The Harappan Age

Gupta Age – Art and Architecture

Art During the Post-Mauryan Period

Different Stages of Temple Architecture

The temple architecture in India went through the number of phases. The first stage temples had flat roofs, square in shape, developed on shallow pillars and built on low platforms. During the second stage, the earlier features continued with platforms become upraised and even two-storied temples started to build. During this phase the concept of pradakshina path (covered ambulatory around passageway of sanctum sanctorum) emerged.

During the third phase, Shikharas were introduced in temples architecture with following the previous features. The Panchayatan style of temple making emerged during this phase. In Panchayatan style, there were four subsidiary shrines placed along with the principal deity. During the fourth stage, everything was almost similar except the main shrine which became more rectangular in shape. During the last phase, circular temples were introduced with shallow rectangular projections.

Basic Parts of Hindu Temples

The Hindu temples comprises different parts; Mandapa is the entrance of temple which may be hall or portico and built so big that large number of worshippers can be hosted for principal deity. Shikara was another important feature of the Hindi temples, is like a mountain like spire and the shape varied from pyramidal to curvilinear. Sanctum Sanctorum also known as Garbhagriha, is house to principal deity and generally cubicle in shape. Vahana is the main vehicle of the principal deity of the temple and was placed before the Garbhagriha.

Nagara School of Architecture

The Nagara school of architecture was emerged during the 5^th century AD and after that number of regional schools also emerged in different parts of India under the Nagara style. This school generally followed the Panchayatan style of temple architecture in which there were four subsidiary shrines along with the main principal shrine of temples. There were others features of this school like presence of assembly halls (mandapas) in temples.

There were no water tanks in these temple architectures and outside the Garbhagriha, the images of river goddess, Ganga and Yamuna were placed. They were generally built on the upraised platforms with pillared portico. There were three types of Shikaras; Valabhi (rectangular base with roof rising into vaulted chambers), Phamsana (broader base with shorter height) and Latina or Rekha-prasad (square at base and walls curve inward to point on the top).

The shikara was ended with a horizontal fluted disc known as Amalak and above that Kalash of spherical shape placed at top. The walls of temple from inside also divided into vertical planes which were used for different panels to make narrative sculptures. The pradakshina path around sanctum sanctorum was another feature and these temples did not have elaborated boundary walls and gateways.

Sub-Schools of Nagara School

Odisha School

The Odisha school was patronised by the Kalinga rulers and other regional rulers as well. In this school, the exterior walls of temples were lavishly decorated with intricate carvings, but interior walls of temples were plain. The iron girders were used instead of pillars to support roof. The shikharas in Odisha school known as Rekhadeuls and mandapas as Jagmohan. The ground plan of main temple was square and were surrounded by boundary wall as in Dravidian style of temple architecture. For example, Sun temple of Konark.

Khajuraho School

The Chandela rulers of Bundelkhand region developed a distinct style of temple making of their own known as Chandel school or Khajuraho school. In this school, the exterior and interior walls of temples were lavishly decorated and the sculpture were generally erotic in nature as they were inspired by the Kamasutra of Vatsyayana. They used sandstone for the construction of the temples.

Generally, this school’s temples had only three chambers; garbhagriha, mandapa and ardha-mandapa. But some temples also have vestibular entrance known as antarala. The Panchayatan style of temple making was followed with Rekha-prasad shikaras that made the temples look like mountain. The temples of these school were of Hindu and Jain religion and relatively built on high platform.

Maru-Gurjara Style (Solanki Style)

This school was patronised by the Solanki rulers of the Rajasthan and Gujarat parts. The walls of these temples were devoid of any carvings. Torans (decorated arched gateways) were used and garbhagriha & mandapa were connected internally and externally as well. A unique feature of this school was presence of step-tank known as Surya-kund and their small temples along the steps of tank.

The Solanki rulers used variety of materials like sandstone, black basalt and soft-marble for temple making. Most of the temples were east-facing and they designed such that every year, during equinoxes, the sun-rays fall directly into the central shrine. Fox example, Sun temple of Modhera in Gujarat.

Thus, the temples architecture in northern India went through number of changes during past centuries.