A SEMINAR ON

TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
SUBMITTED BY
PULIVARTHI BHARGAVI(104P1A0139)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction
History
Design
Elements of Hindu temple
Different styles of architecture
Conclusion
Glossary
References

INTRODUCTION

Every style of building construction

represents a particular culture and era.
The word temple is from latin word
templum, it is a structure reserved for
religious or spritual activities.
In other words temple is describe a house of
worship.
The word architecture is from latin word
architectura, is the both process & product &
planning, designing of buildings.

INTRODUCTION

The Hindu temples commonly known as

mandir in hindi & derived from sanskrit word
mandira.
In some areas temple is also called as kovil or
devasthana.
The Hindu temple architecture is developed
from the creativity of sapthapatis and
shilpis.
In India all Hindu temples follows the
architecture defined in shilpa shastras.

HISTORY

The temple is a representation of

macrocosm(the universe) as well as
microcosm(the inner space).
Main forms and styles of hindu temples were
established during 600-800 AD.
Magadha empire rose with the shishunaga
dynasty around 650 BCE.
Vedic books describes the plan of temple to
be square.

DESIGN

The main article in designing the temple is

vastu shastra.
Vastu shastra is a science of construction
which is based on directional alignments.
There are five basic elements of vastu
shastra are pancha maha bhoota.
(earth,water,air,fire,space)
The temple architecture is designed on by
understanding the effectiveness of these
pancha maha bhoota.

ELEMENTS OF HINDU TEMPLE

In design/plan of a temple several elements
are considered,
1. JAGATI
Jagati is a term used to refer a raised
surface, platform upon which temple is placed.
2. ANTARALA
Antarala is a small antichamber between
garbhagriha and mandapa, more typical of
north Indian temples.

SIMPLIFIED SCHEME OF A HINDU TEMPLE

HINDU TEMPLE WITH ELEMENTS

ELEMENTS OF HINDU TEMPLE

3.Mandapa
. Ardha mandapam
. Asthana mandapam
. Kalyana mandapam
. Maha mandapam
. Nandi mandapam
4. Sreekovali or garbhagriha
This is the part in which the idol of diety in
a Hindu temple is placed.

ELEMENTS OF HINDU TEMPLE

5. Sikhara(or) vimanam
Sikhara or vimanam literally means
mountain peak. Rising tower over the sanctum
sanctorum where presiding deity is enshrined.
6. Gopuram
Gopuras are elaborate gateway-towers of
south Indian temples, not to be confused with
sikharas.
7. Urushringa
An urushringa is a subsidary sikhara, lower
and narrower, tied against the main shikhara.

STYLES OF
ARCHITECTURE
NAGARA ARCHITECTURE

NAGARA ARCHITECTURE

In nagara architecture tower gradually

inclines inwards in a convex curve.
This style is widely distributed over a greater
part of India.
The best example of nagara architecture is
kandariya mahadeva temple.

DRAVIDIAN
ARCHITECTURE
.Dravidian architecture
having four different parts.
.vimana
.mandapas
.gopurams
.chaultris
. Best example of Dravidian
architecture is tirumala.

BADAMI CHALUKYA
ARCHITECTURE
Badami chalukya
architecture originated
during 450 CE in aihole and
perfected in pattadakal and
badami.
Period of badami
chalukyas was a glorious era
in history of Indian
architecture.
Example virupaksha
temple.

GADAG
ARCHITECTURE
The gadag style of
architecture is also called
western chalukya
architecture.
This style originated
during the period of kalyani
chalukyas.
The best example of
gadag is trikuteshwara
temple.

KALINGA
ARCHITECTURE
The design which is
flourished in eastern Indian
style of architecture
Best example of the
kalinga architecture is
jagannath temple in puri.

MARU-GUJARA
TEMPLE
ARCHITECTURE
Maru-gujara temple
architecture originated
somewhere in 6th century in
and around areas of Rajasthan.
This architecture is entirely
western Indian architecture
and Is quite different from
north Indian temple
architecture.

CONCLUSION

The diversity of Indian culture is evident

from the different forms of artistic
expressions in its built heritage.
Among them is the temple architecture of
India which has given India a truly
magnificent form of architecture.

GLOSSARY

Adhisthana
----- Moulded base or "plinth" of a Dravida temple.
Amalaka
----- A flat fluted disc like stone representative of
the holy fruit of "amala", usually at the summit of the Shikhara.
Antarala
----- Vestibule, chamber in front of shrine or cella.
Ardha Mandapa ----- Chamber before the min "mandapa" or hall.
atman the soul
Garbhagriha
----- Literally "the womb", the most sacred inner
sanctum of the
temple where the deity is enshrined.
Gopurams
----- Monumental South Indian temple gateway
shilpis
------ Sculptor
sikhara
------ Literally mountain peak but generally the spire or
tower over north Indian Hindu temple.
stapati ------ Chief architect
Upanishad
----- The Hindu texts

REFERENCES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_temple_
architecture
http://www.indotemple.com/page/hindu-tem
ple-architecture
http://www.cs.okstate.edu/~subhashk/EarlyA
rchitecture.pdf