Devayatanam: An odyssey of Indian temple architecture

Context: Recently, Union Culture Minister inaugurated Devayatanam, a one-of-a-kind conference on temple architecture of India, at Hampi, Karnataka.

About Devayatanam

• It is an international conference which is organised by the Archaeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture. 
• It will deliberate on philosophical, religious, social, economic, technical, scientific, art, and architectural aspects of temples. 
• Various discussions on temple architecture and their importance will be held by the experts and eminent scholars.

The focus of the discussion will be on:

• Temple- Formless to form
• Evolution of temple architecture
• Regional developmental forms 
• Different Styles of architecture
• Temples as epicentre of art, culture, education, administration and economy
• Temples as the protector of environment
• Culture diffusion in Southeast Asia

Furthermore, it is a step towards the initiation of a dialogue on the evolution and development of the various styles of temple architecture such as the Nagara, Vesara, Dravida, Kalinga, and others.
Indian Temples and their architecture

• Indian Temples are known worldwide for their magnificent architecture. These architectures exhibit India’s rich history, culture, and heritage and are an integral part of Indian life and its ecosystem. 
• Temple construction was practiced as a pious act not only in the subcontinent but the idea also traveled to the nearest neighborhood such as south-east and East Asia. There are more than 2 million Hindu temples in the country. 

There are three main kinds of temple architecture in India: Nagara or the Northern Style, Dravida or the Southern style, and Vesara or the Mixed styles. Kailasa Temple, Maharashtra, Konark Sun Temple, Odisha, Virupaksha Temple, Karnataka are some of the many examples of prominent temple architectures in India.