Architecture (Part 19): Indian Temples (layout & interior)
Indian temple layouts were carefully regulated, because it was believed that if the building was correctly proportioned, it would be in harmony with the universe and bring order to the community. Geometric diagrams called mandalas were used, and also the cardinal points of the compass (NESW). The temples were built on an east-west axis, to be in alignment with the rising sun.
The first temples comprised only a simple sanctuary, often with a separate pillared portico. Gradually, the sanctuary became more ornate, and the tower became more prominent. The portico turned into a hall (mandapa), which was joined to the sanctuary.
Between the 400's and the 600's AD, temple style in Northern, Central & Southern India diverged from each other, developing into the Nagara, Vesara & Dravidian styles (respectively). However, architectural traditions still varied from place to place.
The most sacred part of an Indian temple was the sanctuary or shrine, called the garbhagriha (womb chamber). This was where the deity was placed. It was surrounded by a pathway for pradakshina, and approached by a mandapa (assembly hall for worshippers). Between the mandapa and garbhagriha was a short vestibule called the antarala.
At Orissa (Eastern India), there is a distinctive group of temples which reached their peak in the 900's-1000's. Their plans followed the northern style, based on squares, and consisting of two spaces – the sanctuary and assembly hall.
Rajarani Temple
However, because of their separate regional development, different terminology is used. The part of the temple containing the garbhagriha is usually called the vimana, but in Orissa it is called the deul/deula. Sometimes the word deula is used to refer to the whole temple. The assembly hall is usually called the mandapa, but in Orissa it is called the jagamohan.
The garbhagriha had a tower/spire on top of it, but the mandapa roof was lower, and usually pyramidal. The diagram below shows an Orissan temple, with a pidha roof on the jagamohan – a characteristic Orissan form of diminishing tiers.
The pillars inside Indian temples (especially in the mandapa) gradually evolved over centuries. Below is an example from the 1600's: carving had become incredibly rich & varied by then. The drop-like corbel pendant is called a puspobodigai, and was favoured by the Dravidians.
The main temple styles were Nagara, Vesara and Dravidian, but there were regional variations, which were often named after the ruling dynasty. The Hoysala style was a variation of Vesara, distinguished by its stellate (star-shaped) sanctuary, and double-temple plans.
Chennakesava (Keshava) Temple. Shrine on the eastern side.
Hoysaleswara Temple. Shrines on the eastern side.
More complex temple layouts had more than one mandapa, all of them aligned on the principal axis. Each mandapa would have a specific function, such as dancing, eating, or making offerings.
Diagram of the Lakshmana Temple (c.930-950 AD), Vesara style.
The central open area of a mandapa was often carried up into a corbelled dome, which was richly carved. (A corbel is a projection jutting out from the wall, supporting something above it.) Below is the domed ceiling of one of the Jain Dilwara Temples, in Western India. It has 16 vidyadevis (goddesses of knowledge), and there is a pendant in the centre. The Dilwara Temples were built between the 1000's-1200's AD.
The garbhagriha was simple and didn't have much decoration. The mandapa/s, on the other hand, were richly-decorated. Pillars were carved with gods, demi-gods and other celestial beings.
