Emerged sometime in the 5th century CE, during the late Gupta period, in Northern India.
Seen in juxtaposition with the Dravida style of southern India, which too emerged in the same period.
Nagara and Dravida may be called ‘Styles’, but they cover vast areas and time spans.
Different sub-schools emerged in western, central and eastern parts of the country.
The temples are made in Panchayatana style i.e., a temple that has a central shrine surrounded by four other shrines. Examples: Brahmeshvara temple, Odisha, Deogarh, Jhansi & Khajuraho, MP.
Features:
Panchayatana style of temple making: Consisting of subsidiary shrines laid out in a crucified ground plan with respect to the principal shrine.
Garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum): Idol of the deity is placed and is most sacred part of the temple. Images of the river goddesses, Ganga and Yamuna, are placed outside the garbhagriha.
Assembly halls or mandaps, in front of the principal shrine.
Unlike Dravida temples, water tanks or reservoirs are not present in the temple premises.
Built on upraised platforms.
Shikharas: These are human-made representations of the natural and cosmological order, as imagined in Hindu tradition.
Depending on the period and geography, there is a large variation in what a shikhara looks like, or how it is used in a temple’s design.
Types of Shikharas:
Latina or rekha-prasad: Square at the base and the walls curve inward to a point on the top.
Phamsana: Broader base and were shorter in height than the Latina ones; Slope upwards on a straight line.
Valabhi: Rectangular base with the roof rising into vaulted chambers; Emerged in the Gupta heartland.
Bhumija: Miniature spires, in horizontal and vertical rows; Created a grid-like effect on each face.
Amalaka (horizontal fluted disc): At the vertical end of the shikhara.
Kalash: In spherical shape on top.
Vertical planes:
Triratha temples.
Later, pancharatha, saptaratha and even navaratha temples came into existence.
Used as different panels to make narrative sculptures.
Covered Ambulatory passageway (pradakshina path): Around the sanctum sanctorum.
Temple premises did not have elaborate boundary walls or gateways.
