Hindu temple architecture
Nagara style of Architecture
• The Nagara style has its origin in the structural
temples of the Gupta period.
• sandstone, soapstone or granite.
In Nagara style temples, the structure consists
of two buildings the main shrine taller and an
adjoining shorter mandapa.
• The temples mainly are formed of four
chambers the Garbhagriha (shrine), the
Jagmohan (mandapa) ,the Natyamandir (dance
pavilion) and the Bhogamandir (offerings hall).
Dravidian style of Architecture
• It consists primarily of temples with pyramid
shaped towers and are constructed of
• The majority of the existing structures are
located in the Southern Indian states
• Dravidian style temples consist of the three
following parts, the Gopuram, the Mandapa
and the Vimana .
Gupta Period is called the “Golden age of India” or the “Classical Age of India”
partially due to the unprecedented activities and development in the arts,
architecture, sculpture, painting and literature.
During Gupta Era, the rock cut architecture reached its zenith and this era marked the
beginn

Free Standing temple Architecture. Most of the temples built in the Gupta era were
carved with representation of Gods
Basic form of a Hindu temple
When you browse our earlier articles on Hindu Temple Architecture, you would realize one
thing. It was a gradual evolution starting from the rock cut- cave temples to monolithic
rathas which finally culminated in structural temples.The basic form of a Hindu structural
temple consists of the following.
Garbhagriha: Mandapa: Shikhara or amalka   Antarala Jagati:
Vimana: (vestibule)

It literally means It is the entrance to They are mountain It is a stone It is the Antarala is a It is a raised
‘womb-house’ the temple. like the spire of a disc like topmost transition area platform for
and is a cave like It may be a portico or free-standing structure at point of the between the sitting and
a sanctum. colonnaded (series of temple. the top of the temple and Garbhagriha and praying and is
In the earliest columns placed at Shikhara is found in temple and commonly the temple’s main common in North
temples, it was a regular intervals) hall North Indian they are seen in North hall (mandapa) Indian temples
small cubical that incorporates temples and common in Indian Vahana:
structure with a space for a large Vimana is found in North Indian temples. It is the mount or
single entrance. number of South Indian temples vehicle of the
Later it grew into worshippers. temples. temple’s main
a larger complex. Dances and such other Shikhara has a deity along with a
The Garbhagriha entertainments are curving shape standard pillar
is made to house practiced here. while vimana has a or Dhvaj which is
the main icon Some temples have pyramidal-like placed axially
(main deity) multiple mandapas in structure. before the
which is itself the different sizes named sanctum.
focus of much as Ardhamandapa,
ritual attention. Mandapa, and
Mahamandapa.
 TEMPLES AT KHAJURAHO, MADHYA PRADESH:

The temples at Khajuraho were made in the 10th century, about 400 years after the temple at Deogarh
and the complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The temples were patronized by Chandela kings.
We can see how dramatically the shape and style of the nagara temple architecture had developed.
The temples at Khajuraho are all made of Sandstone.
The largest temple at Khajuraho is the Kandariya Mahadeva temple which is attributed to king Ganda.
The Lakshmana temple dedicated to Vishnu was built in 954 by Chandela king, Dhanga.
All the towers or shikhara of the temple rise high, upward in a curved pyramidal fashion, emphasizing
the temple’s vertical thrust ending in a horizontal fluted disc called an Amalaka topped with a Kalasha
or a vase.
The crowning element Kalasha and Amalaka are to be found on all nagara temples of this period.
The Khajuraho temples are also known for their extensive erotic sculptures (about 10% of total
sculptures); the erotic expression gives equal importance in human experience as a spiritual pursuit, and
it is seen as a part of the larger cosmic whole.
Many Hindu temples, therefore feature Mithuns (embracing couples-erotic sculptures) sculptures,
considered auspicious.
Khajuraho sculptures are highly stylized with typical features.
There are many temples at Khajuraho, most of them dedicated to Hindu gods.
There are some Jain temples as well as a Chausanth Yogini temple.
Chausanth Yogini is a temple of small square shrines dedicated to esoteric devis or goddesses associated
with the rise of Tantric worship after the 7th
[Khajuraho dance festival is organized by MP Kalaparishad and is one week long (first week of February)
festival of classical dances celebrated annually against the spectacular backdrop of Khajuraho]
Chausanth
Yogini
temple
Pilgrimage Centers Ghats and Palaces Focus
Varanasi
 Shirdi
The holy town of Shirdi in Maharashtra is
synonymous with Sai Baba – the saint who
was revered by followers of all religions and
who is said to have performed several
miracles. Devotees throng his shrine year-
round and the main festivals celebrated are
Ramnavami, Guru Purnima and Vijayadashmi

Tirupati
The Tirumala Venkateswara Temple near Tirupati is one of
the holiest in India. The temple is dedicated to
Lord Venkateswara who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Millions of devotees visit the temple every year, especially
during the annual nine-day Brahmotsavan festival in
October.

The Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram is one of the

12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva and is also a part of the
Char Dham circuit. Located on Pamban Island and connected to
mainland India by a bridge, a trip to Rameswaram is a must-do
whether you’re religious-minded or
not. Mahashivratri and Navratri are especially popular festivals here.
 Somnath  and  Dwarka
The majestic seaside temples
of Dwarka and Somnath are truly awe-
inspiring. Dwarka is one of the four shrines
comprising the Char Dham and home to
the Jagat Mandir, also known
as Dwarkadheesh Temple dedicated to Lord
Krishna. The Somnath temple is one of the 12
holy Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva Vaishno Devi
One of the most important Indian pilgrimages is to the Vaishno Devi
shrine, near Katra in Jammu. The temple is at a height of 5,300 feet
and can be reached by an arduous climb. It’s dedicated to the
goddess Shakti and is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. Navratri is the
biggest festival celebrated here.

Puri
The sacred seaside town of Puri in Odisha is
famous for its Jagannath Temple. Dedicated to
Lord Jagannath, the temple’s Rath Yatra (or the
chariot festival) sees devotees in large numbers
from all over the world, celebrating the dieties’
procession from the temple to the ocean waters. 
 Amritsar
A shimmering golden façade reflected in the water,
soothing intonations of the Granth Sahib being read
out, the calming atmosphere. the langar where
thousands of pilgrims are fed daily. Guru Nanak
Jayanti and Baisakhi are some of the festivals that
are celebrated with great fervour here.

Ajmer
Dargah Sharif, the Sufi shrine of the saint Moinuddin Chisti at
Ajmer, Thousands of devotees come here to offer a chadar on
fulfilment of their wishes. The annual Urs Festival commemorates
the Sufi saint.

Mathura
Known as the birthplace of Lord
Krishna, Mathura and nearby Vrindavan are
home to hundreds of temples dedicated to the
playful, dark-skinned god. Keshav Dev Temple
and Banke Bihari Temple are amongst the
important shrines here. Janmashtami and Holi
are major festivals in Dwarka.

• One of the oldest cities of the world and the oldest
city of India
• Have several names: Varanasi, Banares, Kashi
• A place between Varuna and Assi is called VARANASI.
• Holy place for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains.
• Significance of the Ganga River
 History
• Varanasi was founded by the god Shiva.
• The Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic
Mahabharata are also stated to have visit the city in
search of Shiva
• These archaeological remains suggest that the
Varanasi area was populated by Vedic people.
• However, the oldest known text referencing the city,
the Atharvaveda, which dates to approximately the
same Kabir period, suggests that the area was
populated by indigenous tribes.
 Ancient period
• Varanasi grew as an important industrial centre,
famous for its muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory
works, and sculpture.
• During the time of Gautama Buddha, Varanasi was the
capital of the Kingdom of Kashi.
• The Buddha is believed to have founded Buddhism
here around 528 BC at nearby Sarnath.. .
Middle period
 Chandradeva, founder of the Gahadvala
dynasty made Banaras a second capital in
1090.
 During the Mauryan Empire period,
Varanasi was connected by a road starting
V
from Taxila and ending at Pataliputra.
A
 In 1194, Muslim rule under the Turkic king
Qutbuddin Aibak, who ordered the
R
destruction of approximately 1,000 temples
in the city.
A
 Feroz Shah ordered the further destruction
of Hindu temples in the Varanasi area in
N
1376. The Afghan ruler Sikander Lodi
A
continued the suppression of Hinduism in
the city and destroyed most of the
S
remaining older temples in 1496.
 Despite the Muslim rule, Varanasi
I
remained the centre of activity for
intellectuals and theologians during the
Middle Ages,
 Several major figures of the Bhakti
movement were born in Varanasi, including
Kabir das and Sant Ravidas,
• ModernHistory(1 Attractions of the City Sankat Mochan Temple
500 –present) • Temples
• Guru Nanak Dev •Sari
visited Varanasi • Roads
for Shivratri in • Gharana
1507, a trip that •Pan
played a large •Sadhu
role in the •The annual Ganga Mahotsav celebrates
founding of the rich cultural heritage of India
Sikhism.
City of Temples 23000 Vishwanath Temple
• Varanasi
experienced a
• Old Kashi Vishwanath
Hindu cultural •Sankat Mochan Temple
revival in the 16th •Durga Mata Temple (Durga Kund)
century under the •Manas Temple
Muslim Mughal • Bharat Mata Temple
emperor Akbar,
who invested in
• Kal bhairav Temple
the city and built • Mritunjay temple…
two large
 Durga Mata Temple
temples  Kashi Vishwanath
dedicated to
Shiva and Vishnu.
• The Raja of Pune
established the
Annapurna
Mandir and
Akbari Bridge
HISTORICAL TIMELINE
2nd CENTURY BC: traditional core of the city is established.
10-11th CENTURY AD: period of golden age.
12th CENTURY AD: city is bought under rule of Muslim
nawabs.
1585 AD: the traditional core is brought under Akbar's
Mughal empire.
1725 AD : the kashiraj dynasty establishes ramnagar.
1775 AD: British gain political control over the city.
1794 AD: the cantonment is established.
1862 AD: the first railway link between Calcutta and
Banaras is established.
1916 AD: Banaras Hindu University is established.
1950 AD : the first master plan for the city was prepared.
1974 AD: Varanasi Development Authority was formed.
1991 AD: “Draft Master Plan 2001” was prepared.
• The Great Living Chola Temples were built by kings of the Chola Empire,
which stretched over all of south India and the neighbouring islands.
• The site includes three great 11th- and 12th-century Temples: the
Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at
Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram.
• The Temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram, built by Rajendra I, was
completed in 1035. Its 53-m vimana (sanctum tower) has recessed
corners and a graceful upward curving movement, contrasting with the
straight and severe tower at Thanjavur.
• The Airavatesvara temple complex, built by Rajaraja II, at Darasuram
features a 24-m vimana and a stone image of Shiva. The temples testify
to the brilliant achievements of the Chola in architecture, sculpture,
painting and bronze casting.
 Cholas
The best example of Chola temple architecture is
the Brihadeswara temple at Tanjore.
The temple is also known as Rajarajeswara temple.
It was completed around 1009 by Rajaraja Chola and
is the largest and tallest of all Indian temples.
The temples pyramidal multi-storeyed Vimana rises a
massive seventy metres, topped by a monolithic
shikhara, and the kalasha on top by itself is about
three metres and eight centimetres in height.
The main deity of the temple is Shiva, who is shown
as a huge lingam set in a two storeyed sanctum.
Painted Murals and sculptures decorate the walls
surrounding the sanctum.