Dravidian Style
Art & Culture › Architecture · Topic 1.7
The Dravidian style (Dravida) is the temple architecture of South India, found south of the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers and developed from the Pallava period (7th century CE) through the Cholas, Pandyas, Vijayanagara and Nayakas. Its signature is a stepped pyramidal tower, the vimana, over the sanctum, a walled courtyard, pillared halls (mandapas), tall gateway towers (gopurams) and a temple tank. Examples are the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu), the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur built by Rajaraja I about 1010 CE, and the Meenakshi Temple at Madurai. Great Living Chola Temples are a World Heritage Site.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Architecture
At a Glance
- Region South India, south of the Krishna
- Period 7th to 17th century CE
- Signature feature Stepped pyramidal vimana, gopuram
- Stages Pallava, Chola, Pandya, Vijayanagara, Nayaka
- Sample temples Brihadisvara, Shore Temple, Meenakshi
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Architecture
Where Does It Fit?
The Dravidian style is the second main temple style after Nagara, and the third being Vesara. Dynastic topics on Pallava, Chola and other southern temples give details of each stage. Previous topic: Nagara Style. Next topic: Vesara Style.
What Are the Parts of a Dravidian Temple?
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Vimana | The tower over the sanctum, rising in diminishing storeys (talas) like a stepped pyramid, topped by a dome-shaped shikhara and kalasha |
| Garbhagriha | The sanctum, often within the base of the vimana |
| Mandapa | Pillared halls in front of the sanctum, including the ardhamandapa and the large kalyana mandapa for rituals |
| Gopuram | Tall gateway tower at the entrance of the walled enclosure, which in later temples grows taller than the vimana |
| Prakara | The surrounding wall, and later several concentric walls |
| Tank | A temple pond (pushkarini) inside or near the complex |
| Hundred or thousand pillar hall | A pillared hall (sahasra-stambha mandapa) for festivals, in later temples |
| Sculpture | Dvarapalas at gates, yalis (leonine beasts) on pillars and stucco figures on gopurams |
What Are the Stages of Dravidian Architecture?
| Dynasty and period | Features | Examples and state |
|---|---|---|
| Pallava, 7th to 9th century | Rock-cut phase of Mahendravarman I, monolithic rathas under Narasimhavarman I Mamalla, structural temples under Rajasimha | Pancha Rathas and Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram; Kailasanatha, Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu) |
| Chola, 9th to 13th century | Grand vimanas, large courtyards, bronze images, a tower taller than the gateway | Brihadisvara, Thanjavur; Gangaikondacholapuram; Airavatesvara, Darasuram (Tamil Nadu) |
| Pandya, 13th to 14th century | Gopurams grow bigger and the vimana smaller, more enclosures | Gopurams at Madurai and Srirangam (Tamil Nadu) |
| Vijayanagara, 14th to 16th century | Large pillared halls with sculpted pillars, musical pillars, chariot shrine, multi-storey gopurams (rayagopuram) | Vittala temple, Hampi (Karnataka); Lepakshi (Andhra Pradesh) |
| Nayaka, 16th to 18th century | Very tall gopurams, long pillared corridors (prakara), massive halls | Meenakshi, Madurai; Ramanathaswamy, Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu) |
What Else Should You Remember?
- Alternate name: The style is also called Dravida and is the Dravidian counterpart of the Nagara style in the Shilpa Shastras
- Brihadisvara: Thanjavur temple of Rajaraja I (consecrated about 1010 CE), whose vimana is about 66 m high with 13 storeys, and a large capstone at the top, with a huge Nandi in front. Part of the Great Living Chola Temples
- Great Living Chola Temples: UNESCO World Heritage Site: Brihadisvara at Thanjavur (inscribed 1987), with Gangaikondacholapuram and Airavatesvara at Darasuram added in 2004
- Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram: UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984, with the Shore Temple, Pancha Rathas, Arjuna’s Penance and caves
- Pancha Rathas: Five monolithic rathas named after the Pandavas and Draupadi, cut from single granite blocks
- Shore Temple: A structural temple of Narasimhavarman II Rajasimha on the Bay of Bengal with two shrines
- Kailasanatha, Kanchipuram: A Pallava structural temple of Rajasimha
- Meenakshi Temple: Madurai temple of the Nayaka period with 14 gopurams and the Hall of Thousand Pillars
- Srirangam: The Ranganathaswamy temple in Tiruchirappalli has seven enclosures and is one of the largest functioning temple complexes in India
- Detailed stages: The stages are described in Pallava Period Temples, Chola Period Temples, Pandya Temples, Krishnadevaraya of the Tuluva dynasty…">Vijayanagara Period Temples and Nayaka Temples
- Sculpture: Chola bronzes of this tradition are in Medieval School of Sculpture (Chola Bronzes – Nataraja)
- Contrast: For the northern counterpart see Nagara Style, and for the blend see Vesara Style
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Feature match: vimana, gopuram, mandapa, pushkarini and their meanings
- Dynasty and temple: Brihadisvara with Rajaraja I, Shore Temple with Rajasimha, Kailasanatha with Rajasimha
- UNESCO: Great Living Chola Temples and Mahabalipuram with years
- Evolution: gopuram taller than the vimana in later temples
- Common errors: calling the Dravidian tower a shikhara in the Nagara sense, or giving Meenakshi temple to the Cholas
As an analytical point, the Dravidian temple grew as a city-like complex, with temples serving as centres of economy, learning, art and charity. This explains why questions on medieval south India so often link temples with land grants, guilds and bronze casting.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Prelims Terms, dynasties and UNESCO sites
- Mains Temple as a social and economic institution
- Comparison Nagara versus Dravidian
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Vesara style, a Deccan blend of Nagara and Dravidian forms. Next topic: Vesara Style.
Key People and Terms
- Vimana Tower over the sanctum
- Gopuram Gateway tower
- Mandapa Pillared hall
- Pushkarini Temple tank
- Rajaraja I Built Brihadisvara
- Rayagopuram Vijayanagara royal gate tower
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Brihadisvara: Thanjavur, Rajaraja I, about 1010 CE.
- Mahabalipuram: Pallava, UNESCO 1984.
- Gopuram grows taller in Pandya and Nayaka stages.
- Meenakshi: Nayaka, Madurai.
- Tower: vimana; gateway: gopuram.
Do Not Confuse With
- Vimana and shikhara Stepped pyramid versus curved tower
- Gopuram and vimana Gate tower versus sanctum tower
- Pallava and Chola temples Early rock-cut and small structural versus grand imperial temples
Memory Hook
Vimana climbs in steps, gopuram guards the gate, tank lies near.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the evolution and role of the temple. These points help structure an answer.
- Evolution Rock-cut to gopuram
- Social role Economy and learning
- Patronage Dynasties
- Conservation Living temples and UNESCO
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Trace the evolution of the Dravidian style of temple architecture from the Pallavas to the Nayakas.”
How to Answer
- Intro Region and parts.
- Stages Pallava to Nayaka.
- Examples With state and dynasty.
- Conclusion Temple as living institution.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dravidian style of architecture?
The Dravidian style, also called Dravida, is the South Indian temple style. It has a stepped pyramidal vimana over the sanctum, a walled enclosure, pillared mandapas, tall gopurams at the gates and a temple tank. It evolved under the Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas, Vijayanagara rulers and Nayakas.
Which dynasty built the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur?
The Chola king Rajaraja I built the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, consecrated around 1010 CE. Its vimana is about 66 m high. It is part of the Great Living Chola Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site first inscribed in 1987.
What is the difference between a vimana and a gopuram?
A vimana is the tower over the sanctum of a Dravidian temple, and a gopuram is the tall tower over the gateway of the enclosure wall. In Chola temples the vimana dominates, but in Pandya, Vijayanagara and Nayaka temples the gopurams are taller.
Where is the Shore Temple located?
The Shore Temple is at Mahabalipuram on the Bay of Bengal coast, Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu. It was built by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman II Rajasimha in the early eighth century. It is part of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, a World Heritage Site since 1984.
Why is the Dravidian style important for UPSC?
Prelims asks about temple features, dynasties, and UNESCO sites in Tamil Nadu, such as Brihadisvara, Gangaikondacholapuram, Airavatesvara and Mahabalipuram. Mains uses it for comparisons with the Nagara style and for the role of temples in economy and society.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Brihadisvara Temple was built by Rajaraja I.
At Thanjavur, about 1010 CE.
2 The Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram is a Chola temple.
It is Pallava.
3 The Dravidian style has a stepped pyramidal vimana.
Over the sanctum.
4 The Meenakshi Temple was built in the Nayaka period.
At Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
5 Airavatesvara at Darasuram is part of the Great Living Chola Temples.
Added in 2004.
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