Temple Architecture- Prelims 2024

In News- The Ram Mandir, which is being supervised by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, is designed in the Nagara style of architecture.

NAGARA STYLE OF TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

The Nagara style of temple architecture, prevalent in North India, has several distinct characteristics:

• Shikhara: The most prominent feature is the Shikhara or the towering spire above the sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha). It is often beehive-shaped and gets narrower as it ascends.
• Amalaka: A stone disc-like structure at the top of the Shikhara, symbolizing a lotus, from which a Kalasha (pot) finial often emerges.
• Garbhagriha: The innermost sanctum housing the deity’s idol. It is typically square and sits below the Shikhara.
• Mandapa: The assembly hall or congregation space, which may be preceded by one or more subsidiary halls. The larger temples feature multiple Mandapas with increasing levels of exclusivity as one approaches the Garbhagriha.
• Antarala: A vestibule between the Garbhagriha and the Mandapa, often found in larger temples.
• Jagati: A raised platform or terrace upon which the entire temple structure is built, providing a circumambulatory path around the temple.
• Decorative Elements: Intricately carved sculptures and motifs depicting gods, goddesses, mythological stories, flora, fauna, and daily life adorn the temple’s exterior and interior.
• Panchayatana Plan: A common temple layout where the main shrine is surrounded by four subsidiary shrines at the cardinal directions, forming a quincunx pattern.
• Vertical Division: The Shikhara and walls of the temple are often divided into vertical sections or rathas, adding rhythm and visual interest to the structure.
• Circumambulatory Path: Many Nagara temples feature a pradakshina patha, allowing devotees to walk around the Garbhagriha.
• Gateway: The entrance to the temple complex, often marked by an ornate gateway or Gopuram, is less emphasized in the Nagara style compared to the Dravida style.

Examples

Kandariya Mahadev Temple, Khajuraho

Lingaraja Temple, Bhubaneshwar

Sun Temple, Konark

Jagannath Temple, Puri

Duladeo Temple, Khajuraho

DRAVIDA STYLE OF TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

The Dravida style of temple architecture, characteristic of South India, includes the following salient features:

• Gopurams: Large, ornate entrance towers that serve as the gateway to the temple complex.
• Vimana: A stepped, pyramidal tower over the sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha), which is more prominent than the shikhara in Nagara style.
• Mandapas: Pillared halls used for various purposes, such as the assembly of devotees or performance of rituals.
• Pillared Corridors: Rows of sculpted pillars that often run around the temple’s outer perimeter, forming prakaras or enclosed courtyards.
• Sculpted Pillars: Intricately carved pillars depicting deities, mythological scenes, and floral motifs.
• Complex Compound Walls: Enclosed walls that demarcate the temple complex, often adorned with carvings and sculptures.
• Water Tanks or Temple Tanks: Integral parts of the temple complex, used for ritualistic purposes and reflecting the importance of water in Dravidian architecture.
• Rock-Cut Architecture: Early examples of Dravida style include monolithic rock-cut temples, showcasing intricate carvings and spatial utilization.
• Sculptural Richness: Abundance of detailed sculptures adorning walls, pillars, and vimanas, depicting Hindu deities, legends, and mythological stories.
• Tiered Vimana: Unlike the curvilinear shikharas of Nagara style, vimanas are tiered, diminishing in size upwards, often capped with a dome-like structure called the stupi.
• Ratha: Chariot-shaped shrines, seen in complexes like the Pancha Rathas of Mahabalipuram.
• Use of Granite: Extensive use of hard stones like granite, enabling the preservation and intricate carving seen in Dravidian temples.

EXAMPLES

Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu

Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu

Airavatesvara Temple in Darasuram, Tamil Nadu

Varadharaja Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu

VESARA STYLE OF TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

The Vesara style of temple architecture, a hybrid that combines elements of the Nagara (North Indian) and Dravida (South Indian) styles, is primarily found in the Deccan region of India. Its salient features include:

• Blended Shikhara: The shikhara (tower) of Vesara temples incorporates both the curvilinear Nagara style and the pyramidal Dravida vimana, often resulting in a more rounded profile.
• Star-shaped Plan: Many Vesara temples exhibit a star-shaped plan, an innovation that adds complexity and aesthetic appeal to the structure’s design.
• Hoysala Influence: In regions like Karnataka, the Vesara style is heavily influenced by Hoysala architecture, known for its highly detailed and ornate sculptures.
• Sukhanasi: A feature resembling a nose, it’s an extension of the main tower over the vestibule that connects the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) to the mandapa (pillared hall), a characteristic feature in many Vesara temples.
• Lathe-turned Pillars: The use of intricately carved, lathe-turned pillars in the mandapas, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship.
• Decorative Sculptures: Extensive use of decorative sculptures that cover almost every inch of the temple, depicting various deities, mythological stories, and daily life scenes.
• Compact Layout: Vesara temples tend to have a more compact and integrated layout compared to the expansive complexes seen in purely Nagara or Dravida styles.
• Lesser Emphasis on Gopurams: Unlike Dravida temples, Vesara style temples do not emphasize towering gopurams (gateway towers); if present, they are usually smaller and less ornate.
• Use of Soapstone: In regions like Karnataka, Vesara temples are often constructed using soapstone, a material that allows for fine detailing in sculpture.
• Interlocking Squares Plan: The ground plan is often based on interlocking squares, which is a departure from the strictly rectangular or square plans seen in Nagara and Dravida styles.

EXAMPLES

Chennakesava Temple, Belur

Hoysaleswara Temple, Halebidu

Kesava Temple, Somanathapura

Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal

Durga Temple, Aihole