Context: The upcoming inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, designed by Chandrakant Sompura and his son Ashish, has drawn attention to the Nagara style of temple architecture.

Background

• The Nagara style, one of the two great classical languages of Indian temple architecture, originated in northern India around the fifth century CE.

• Its development coincided with the emergence of the Dravida style in the southern regions during the same period.

Nagara Style of Architecture

Distinguished by a Towering Shikhara

• Nagara temples are elevated on a plinth, with the garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum) as the sacred core.

• The towering shikhara, resembling a 'mountain peak,' is the defining characteristic of Nagara style temples.

• Shikharas symbolize the natural and cosmological order in Hindu tradition, with references to Meru, Mandara, and Kailasa.

Architectural Elements

• A circumambulatory passage surrounds the garbha griha, and mandapas (halls) are often present on the same axis.

• Elaborate murals and reliefs depicting deities and mythological scenes adorn the temple walls.

Five Modes of Nagara Architecture

• Valabhi: Masonry rendering of the barrel-roofed structure.

• Phamsana: Multi-eave towers with slabs.

• Latina: Single, slightly curved tower, a dominant mode for three centuries.

• Shekhari: Shikhara with attached sub-spires or spirelets.

• Bhumija: Miniature spires in horizontal and vertical rows, creating a grid-like effect.

• Evolution of Latinas: Composite Latinas emerged in the 10th century, leading to Shekhari and Bhumija styles.

Comparison with Dravida Style Architecture

Vimana vs. Shikhara

• In Dravida style, the counterpart to the shikhara is the vimana.

• Vimanas are typically smaller than the gopurams (gatehouses), a distinctive feature in southern temples.

Presence of Boundary Walls

• Dravida style features boundary walls, while Nagara style complexes often lack them.

• Ayodhya’s Ram temple incorporates a 732m-long wall, showcasing a hybrid architectural approach.