Temple Architecture

Temple Architecture of Chalukya Period

• From the 5thcentury CE onwards (535-757CE), the Chalukyas of Badami were the leading force in Deccan.
• They were indigenous Kannara family with Kannaras as mother tounge.
• Their early inscriptions indicate that they worship both Vaishnavite and Shaivite deities.
• The temple architecture of Chalukya Period is actually the mixture of Nagar and Dravida styles. However, this style has been termed as Besar style.
• This style originate and flourished at Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal of Karnataka state between 5th to7th century CE.

Kadamba Architecture

• The Kadamba have been regarded as one of the foundations upon which the Karnataka architecture is based. 
• The Kadamba style of architecture has many distinguishing characteristics, including a few things in common with the Chalukyan and the Pallava styles.
• They drew from the architectural tradition of the Satavahanas.
  • The Shikara, called KadambaShikara, constitutes the most prominent feature of their architecture.
  • The KadambaShikara has a pyramid-like shape and rises in steps with a Stupika or Kalasha at the top without any decoration. 

Nagara or North Indian Temple Architecture:

• Origin: 5th century AD.
• Region: From Northern India to Karnataka to parts of Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Gujarat, giving it its pan-India appeal.
• The Nagara style is mainly associated with the land between the Himalayas and Vindhyas.
• The basic plan of Nagara temple is square, with a number of graduated projections (rathakas) in the middle of each face which gives it a cruciform shape in the exterior.
• A temple tower or a conical or convex shikhara marks the elevation of the temples.
• The shikhara consists of several layers of carved courses usually crowned by an amalaka (notched ring stone).
• Earlier temples began with a single projection on each face and the plan came to be known as triratha. Later in the course of time, the number of projection was increased.
• The temple's architecture is characterised by its tower-like structures, known as 'shikhara' or spires, which rise vertically, symbolising the sacred mountain, Mount Meru, considered to be the centre of the physical, metaphysical and spiritual dimensions in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist cosmology.
• This temple architecture is also closely associated with both the Shaivite and Vaishnavite sects of Hinduism and known for its sculptural elements that echo scenes from Hindu epics like likeRamayana and Mahabharata.
• Examples:Dashavatara temple at Deogarh, UP, and the brick temple at Bhitargaon, UP.

Basic components of a temple: