North Indian Temple Archiecture

NORTH INDIAN TEMPLE ARCHITECURE
Basic form of a Hindu temple
• Architecture evolved slightly differently in different regions, such as the

distinct features of Orissa, Kashmir and Bengal temples, but two general
types are identified as the Nagara (North) and Dravida (South) styles.
The sikhara tower in Nagara temples have a

sloping curve as they rise, have decorative
arches known as gavakshas and are topped by
an amalaka – a large fluted stone disk – and also
a small pot
Shikhara is found in North Indian temples and Vimana is found in South Indian temples.
Shikhara has a curving shape while vimana has a pyramidal-like structure.
Classification of Indian Temples
Indian temples can be classified into two broad orders as
• Nagara (in North India)

• Dravida (in South India)
• At times, the Vesara style of temples as an independent style created through the
mixing of Nagara and Dravida orders.
The Nagara or North Indian Temple Architecture
• Nagara is the style of temple architecture which became popular in
Northern India.
• It is common here to build an entire temple on a stone platform with

steps leading up to it.
• Unlike in south India, it doesn’t usually have elaborate boundary walls

or gateways.
• Earliest temples had only one shikhara (tower), but in the later periods,
multiple shikharas came.
• The garbhagriha is always located directly under the tallest tower.

• Nagara temples can be subdivided mainly into three – based
on the shikhara type
1. Latina/ Rekha-Prasada:
•It is the simple and most common type of shikhara.
•It is square at the base and the walls curve or slopes

inwards to a point on top.
•Latina types are mainly used for housing the garbhagriha.
•Later on, the Latina buildings grew complex, and instead of

appearing like a single tower, the temple began to support
many small towers, which were clustered together like rising
mountain type with the tallest one being in the centre, and this
was the one which was always above the garbhagriha.
2. Phamsana type
shikhara:
• They are broader and shorter
than Latina type.
• Their roof is composed of

several slabs that gently
rise to a single point over the
centre of the building, unlike the
Latina ones which look like
sharply rising towers.
• Phamsana roofs do not curve

inwards; instead, they slope
upward on a straight incline.
• In many north Indian temples,

the phamsana type is used for
mandapas while the main
garbhagriha is housed in a
Latina building
3. Valabhi type shikhara:
• These are rectangular buildings with a

roof that rises into a vaulted chamber.
• The edge of the vaulted chamber is

round, like the bamboo or wooden
wagons that would have been drawn
by bullocks in ancient times.
• The form of this temple is influenced

by ancient building forms that were
already in existence.
We can also classify the Nagara Temples
on the basis of region as follows:
ODISHA (KALINGIA ARCHITECTURE)
EAST INDIA REKHA DEULA
• The main architectural features of Odisha
temples are classified in three orders:
A. REKHAPIDA/ REKHA DEULA/ RATHAKA DEULA:

• Rekha means line and it is a tall straight building
with a shape of a sugar loaf. It covers the PIDHADEULA
garbhagriha.
B. PIDHADEULA:
• It is a square building with a pyramid shaped roof
and is mainly found for housing the outer dancing
and offering halls.
C. KHAKRADEULA:
• It is a rectangular building with a truncated
pyramid shaped roof. Temples of the female
deities are usually in this form (garbhagriha
usually) and will have a resemblance with
Dravidian temples of the south.
• The Orissa temple is remarkable for its plan and elevation. As a rule, the interior
ground plan of the temple is square the most basic, rational and elementary of all
geometric forms, used by the Hindus. They adopted mainly trabeated style of
construction.
• The temples are distinguished by vertical offset projections called “rathas” (on
plan) or “pagas” (on elevation). Depending on the number of pagas, the temples
are classified into triratha, pancharatha, saptaratha and navaratha
• The main temple rests on high platform called
“Pista”.
• The temple is approached by an assembly hall,
known as “Jaga-Mohan” – one which pleases the
world.
• The main temple is called as “Rekha Deul”

because of its emphasis on vertical lines.
• The Jaga-Mohan is also called as the “Pida

Deul” since, it is composed of Pidas.
• The deity is placed in the garba-griha of

RekhaDeul over which rises the spire or
“Sikhara”
• The Hindus regarded the temple as the body

of Cosmic Man (Purusha). Sothe lower
upright part of the main Deul is known as
“Bada” (feet) and the upper tapering part is
known as “Chhapra” (trunk)
• Over the Chhapra, is a large melon shaped

feature called “Amalaka” (cap stone) crowned with
“Kalasa” (head) – called “Amrit – Kalasa”, symboling
the jar of Nectar.
• Similarly the “Jaga-
Mohan” has the lower
upright part – the “bada”
and upper tapering part
“Pida” in the form of
terraced pyramid which
is crowned with “Ghanta-
Kalasa”
• The interior is plain,

featureless but exterior
walls are profusely
ornamented.
Development of Temple form
Due to the religious ritual developments other buildings were added in front, in
one axial linesuch as “Bhog-Mandir”– offering hall in the front, and followed by
“Nat-Mandir” or Dancing Hall.
LINGARAJATEMPLE BHUBANESWAR,ORISSA
• The Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, dedicated to Lord Shiva, or

Tribhuvaneswar represents the perfect harmony between Orissa's
architectural style and decorative motifs.
• Lingaraj Temple is believed to be the oldest and largest temple of
Bhubaneshwar
• BHOGA MANDAPAM
SUN TEMPLE AT KONARK
•Located on the shoreline, now a little over 3 kmfrom
the sea, the temple takes the form of the chariot of
Surya (Arka), the sungod, and is heavily decorated
with stone carving.
•Theentire complex was designed in the form of the

god's huge chariot drawn by
seven spirited horses on twelve pairs of exquisitely
decorated wheels at its base.
•Thehuge wheels carved at the base of the temple are
one of the major attractions.
• Thespokes of the wheels serve as sundials and the
shadows cast by these can give the precise time of the
day. The wheels are 3m wide and it is
elaborately carved
•The Sun Temple, built in the thirteenth century.

It is oriented towards the east so that
the first rays of sunrise strikes the
principle entrance.
SUN TEMPLE , KONARK
PLAN
• Temple originally had a main
sanctum (vimana)which is 229
feet tall .Due to the weight of the
superstructure and weak soil of
the area , the main vimana fell in
1837.
• The audience hall
(jagmohan), 128 feet tall
• still stands . The sanctum
• and the nata mandir have
lost their roofs.
Towards the west of the temple ,
there are two ruined temples.
One temple is known as the
mayadevi temple , which has
mayadevi, wife of the sun god ,
as diety . The mayadevi temple
is dated back to 11th century
older than the main temple . The
other temple belongs to an
unknown vaishnava diety.
Temples of Gujarat

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NORTH INDIAN TEMPLE ARCHITECURE

Basic form of a Hindu temple

• Architecture evolved slightly differently in different regions, such as the

The sikhara tower in Nagara temples have a

• Nagara (in North India)

• It is common here to build an entire temple on a stone platform with

• Unlike in south India, it doesn’t usually have elaborate boundary walls

• The garbhagriha is always located directly under the tallest tower.

•It is square at the base and the walls curve or slopes

•Latina types are mainly used for housing the garbhagriha.

•Later on, the Latina buildings grew complex, and instead of

• Their roof is composed of

• Phamsana roofs do not curve

• In many north Indian temples,

• These are rectangular buildings with a

• The edge of the vaulted chamber is

• The form of this temple is influenced

A. REKHAPIDA/ REKHA DEULA/ RATHAKA DEULA:

• The main temple is called as “Rekha Deul”

• The Jaga-Mohan is also called as the “Pida

• The deity is placed in the garba-griha of

• The Hindus regarded the temple as the body

• Over the Chhapra, is a large melon shaped

• The interior is plain,

• The Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, dedicated to Lord Shiva, or

•Theentire complex was designed in the form of the

•Thehuge wheels carved at the base of the temple are

one of the major attractions.

• Thespokes of the wheels serve as sundials and the

shadows cast by these can give the precise time of the

day. The wheels are 3m wide and it is

•The Sun Temple, built in the thirteenth century.

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