History of Temple in India (North Indian Style)

Most of the architectural remains that survive from  are religious in nature.In different parts of the country, distinct architectural style of temples was result of topographical,ethnic and historical diversities.  

There are two broad orders of temples in the country are known as Nagara in the north and Dravida in the south.At times, the Vesara style of temples is also found as an independent style, created through the selective mixing of the Nagara and Dravida orders.

Today we will discuss about Nagara Style .

Nagara or North Indian Temple Style

In North India it is common for an entire temple to be built on a stone platform with steps leading up to it.Further, unlike in South India it does not usually have elaborate boundary walls or gateways.

While the earliest temples had just one tower, or shikhara, later temples had several.The garbhagriha is always located directly under the tallest tower.

There are many subdivisions of nagara temples depending on the shape of the shikhara.There are different names for the various parts of the temple in different parts of India; however, the most common name for the simple shikhara which is square at the base and whose walls curve or slope inward to a point on top is called the 'latina' or the rekha-prasada type of shikara.

The second major type of architectural form in the nagara order is the phamsana, which tends to be broader and shorter than latina ones.Their roofs are composed of several slabs that gently rise to a single point over the centre of the building, unlike the latina ones which look like arply rising tall towers.

The third main sub-type of the nagara building is generally called the valabhi type.These are rectangular buildings with a roof that rises into a vaulted chamber.

KALINGA SCHOOL OF TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE 

The art and architecture of a nation is considered as her property. The history of Odishan art and architecture starts with her dated history i.e. from 261 B.C., when Asoka conquered this land, then known as Kalinga. The art and architecture of Odisha, in its formative phase took a new turn. The style was so elegant, balanced and beautiful that it carved a new identity for itself. This was famous as Kalinga School of art.

In Kalinga Architecture, basically a temple is made in two parts, a tower and a hall. The tower is called deul and the hall is called jagmohan. The walls of both the deul and the jagmohan are lavishly sculpted with architectural motifs and a profusion of figures. The most repeated form is the horseshoe shape, which has come from the earliest times, starting with the large windows of the chaitya-grihas. It is the deul or deula which makes three distinct types of temples in Kalinga Architecture.

The Deul 

In Odia language a shrine is called Deula. Accordingly, the temples in Odisha are three types of Deula viz. Rekha Deula, Pidha / Bhadra Deula and Khakra Deula.

Rekha Deula

Rekha Deula is a tall building with a sikhara. The most distinct example of Rekha Deula is the Lingraj Temple of Bhubneshwar. The Rekha Deula means a shrine with different parts in a line. The Lingraj Temple has a vimana (structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), natamandira (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings), each increasing in the height to its predecessor.

Pidha Deula

Pidha Deula refers to the square building with a pyramid-shaped roof, like the vimanas. The assembly hall of the Konark Sun Temple is an example.

Khakhara Deula

The Khakhara Deula is altogether a different style of architecture closely appearing similar to the Dravidian Gopuran design. The word is derived from Khakharu (Pumpkin, gourd) as the crown looks like a barrel- vaulted elongated roof. 

It is a rectangular building with a truncated pyramid-shaped roof, like the gopuras. The temples of the feminine deities as Shakti are temple of that type. One example is the Baitala Deula of Bhubneshwar, dedicated to Chamunda. The Sakta temples are generally of Khakhara order. Brahmi temple of Chaurasi in Puri and Gouri temple of Bhubaneswar are two other glaring examples of Khakhara temple