What were the different styles of temple building in north and South India?

Two broad orders of temples in the country are known— Nagara in the north and Dravida in the south. At times, the Vesar style of temples as an independent style created through the selective mixing of the Nagara and Dravida orders is mentioned by some scholars.

What are the features of north Indian temple architecture?

North Indian temple architecture, style of architecture produced throughout northern India and as far south as Bijapur district in northern Karnataka state, characterized by its distinctive shikhara, a superstructure, tower, or spire above the garbhagriha (“womb-room”), a small sanctuary housing the main image or …

What is North Indian architecture?

What was common in the structures of the temples constructed during the ancient period?

Garbhagriha: It literally means ‘womb-house’ and is a cave like a sanctum. Mandapa: It is the entrance to the temple. Shikhara or Vimana: They are mountain like the spire of a free-standing temple.

What is the name of the regional architecture style of North India?

Nagara style of temple architecture that became popular in northern India is known as Nagara. In North India it is common for an entire temple to be built on a stone platform with steps leading up to it. Another unique characteristic is that it does not usually have elaborate boundary walls or gateways.

What is the difference between North Indian temples and South Indian temples?

In short North Indian temples are built based on Nagara style of architecture (temples above Vindhya mountains) while South Indian temples are based on Dravidian style of architecture. (Below Vindhya mountains).There are also vesara style of temples in South India which is a combination of both Nagara style and Dravidian style.

What is the difference between Dravidian and South Indian temple architecture?

Dravidian temple architecture usually has a Raja Gopuram (biggest tower) at the main gate and a small tower for the sanctum sanctorum (exception being Tanjore Big temple). South Indian temple gopurams are extremely intricate filled with statues, whereas most.

What are the different styles of temple construction?

The Vastu Sastras classify three types of temple construction – in the Nagara or Indo-Aryan or Northern Style; in the Dravida or Southern Style; or in the Vesara or Mixed Style. The distinctive styles are believed to be the product of climatic, geographical, racial, ethnic, and linguistic variations.

Why don’t North Indian temples follow the Agamic system?

North Indian temples don’t follow this agamic system. From what I have seen, North Indian temples have relaxed rituals. Moreover, the modality of rituals is not unified in all North Indian temples. This even allows common people to touch the idols.