Nagara Style
Art & Culture › Architecture · Topic 1.6
The Nagara style is the northern Indian temple architecture, found from the Himalayas to the Vindhyas and beyond, and developed from the Gupta period (5th century CE) to the 13th century under dynasties such as the Gurjara-Pratiharas, Chandelas, Solankis and Eastern Gangas. Its signature is a curvilinear tower, the shikhara (rekha deul), over the sanctum (garbhagriha), crowned by an amalaka and kalasha, on a raised platform (jagati) with no boundary wall. Examples include Kandariya Mahadeva at Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh), Lingaraja at Bhubaneswar (Odisha) and the Sun Temple at Modhera (Gujarat). Subtypes are Latina, Phamsana and Valabhi.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Architecture
At a Glance
- Region North India, Himalayas to the Vindhyas
- Period 5th to 13th century CE
- Signature feature Curvilinear shikhara over the garbhagriha
- Subtypes Latina, Phamsana, Valabhi
- Sample temples Khajuraho, Lingaraja, Modhera, Konark
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Architecture
Where Does It Fit?
This is the first of the three main temple styles. The Nagara style grows out of Gupta shrines and is contrasted with the Dravidian and Vesara styles that follow. Regional topics such as Khajuraho, Odisha and Gujarat show it in practice. Previous topic: Buddhist Rock-cut & Stupa Architecture (Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta Caves; Sanchi, Bharhut, Amaravati Stupas; Chaityas and Viharas). Next topic: Dravidian Style.
What Are the Parts of a Nagara Temple?
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Garbhagriha | The innermost sanctum with the main image, a square room with a plain interior |
| Shikhara | The tower over the sanctum, a curving beehive shape, called rekha deul in Odisha. The tower is the highest part and gives the temple its look |
| Amalaka | A ribbed, stone disc shaped like the amla fruit, placed at the top of the shikhara |
| Kalasha | A pot-shaped finial above the amalaka |
| Antarala | A small vestibule joining the sanctum to the hall |
| Mandapa | A pillared hall in front for devotees, sometimes with a porch (ardhamandapa) |
| Jagati | A high stone platform on which the temple stands |
| Panchayatana | A plan of one main shrine and four smaller shrines at the corners |
What Are the Three Subtypes of the Nagara Style?
| Subtype | Roof shape | Examples and state |
|---|---|---|
| Latina or Rekha-prasada | A single curved tower with a square base, whose curve rises evenly | Dashavatara temple, Deogarh (Uttar Pradesh); Parasurameshvara, Bhubaneswar (Odisha) |
| Phamsana | A broader, shorter roof with slabs rising in a pyramid, with a straight slope | Mandapa roofs at Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh); Konark jagamohana (Odisha) |
| Valabhi | A rectangular building with a barrel-vaulted roof, shaped like a wagon, with an arched end | Teli ka Mandir, Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh); Vaital Deul, Bhubaneswar (Odisha) |
| Shekhari | A main shikhara with smaller ones attached along its sides | Kandariya Mahadeva, Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh) |
| Bhumija | A shikhara with miniature spires in horizontal rows and bands | Malwa and Maharashtra, as at Udayeshwara, Udaipur (Madhya Pradesh) |
What Else Should You Remember?
- Alternate name: Nagara is also called the Indo-Aryan style, and the term Nagara comes from the Sanskrit nagar, meaning city, in the sense of a style from northern cities
- Shilpa texts: The Shilpa Shastras and Vastu Shastra classify temples into Nagara, Dravida and Vesara
- Boundary wall: Nagara temples usually have no elaborate boundary wall or gateway, unlike the Dravidian style
- Water: No large temple tank is built inside, though stepped tanks occur in Gujarat, as at Modhera
- Ornament: Carved walls show sculpture in bands, with figures of gods, apsaras and animals
- Odisha version: Odisha divides the temple into deul and jagamohana, and uses khakhara and pidha forms, as in Temples of Odisha
- Khajuraho: The Chandela temples show the mature Nagara style with a rising mass of towers, as in Temples of Khajuraho
- Gujarat and Rajasthan: The Solanki or Maru-Gurjara tradition uses ornate carving in sandstone and marble, as in Temples of Gujarat and Temples of Rajasthan
- Early temples: Gupta shrines at Deogarh and Bhitargaon are the sources, as in Gupta Period Architecture
- Eastern Nagara: Bengal and Assam added local forms, as in Temples of Bengal and Temples of Assam
- Himalayan Nagara: Stone temples in Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir, as in Temples of Himachal Pradesh and Temples of Jammu & Kashmir
- Sun temples: Konark (Odisha), Modhera (Gujarat) and Martand (Kashmir) are the three famed sun temples
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Feature match: shikhara, amalaka, kalasha, garbhagriha with their meanings
- Subtype match: Latina, Phamsana, Valabhi with a roof shape
- Style comparison: Nagara against Dravidian in tower, gateway and wall
- Examples: Khajuraho, Lingaraja, Konark, Modhera and their states
- Common errors: treating the Nagara tower as a pyramid of storeys, which is the Dravidian vimana
As an analytical point, the Nagara style shows regional variation within a common idea, so Odisha, Khajuraho and Gujarat look different yet share the shikhara. This helps in Mains answers on unity and diversity in Indian architecture.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Prelims Features and subtype facts
- Mains Unity within diversity of temple types
- Comparison Nagara versus Dravidian questions
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Dravidian style of southern India. Next topic: Dravidian Style.
Key People and Terms
- Shikhara Curved tower
- Rekha deul Odisha name for the tower
- Amalaka Ribbed disc on top
- Jagati Platform
- Latina Single curved tower
- Valabhi Wagon-vault roof
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Region: North India, curvilinear shikhara.
- Top: amalaka then kalasha.
- Subtypes: Latina, Phamsana, Valabhi.
- Plan: often panchayatana on a jagati.
- Usually no gopuram or large boundary wall.
Do Not Confuse With
- Nagara and Dravidian Curved shikhara versus stepped pyramid vimana
- Shikhara and vimana Northern tower versus southern tower over the sanctum
- Latina and Phamsana Curved versus pyramidal roof
Memory Hook
Nagara rises like a curve with an amla on top; Dravida climbs like steps.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for a comparison of temple styles. These points give a clear frame.
- Evolution Gupta to medieval
- Regional variation Odisha, Khajuraho, Gujarat
- Patronage Dynasties
- Comparison With Dravidian and Vesara
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Compare the Nagara and Dravidian styles of temple architecture with suitable examples.”
How to Answer
- Intro Three styles in the Shilpa texts.
- Nagara Shikhara, subtypes, examples.
- Dravidian Vimana, gopuram, tank.
- Conclusion Regional blend.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Nagara style of temple architecture?
The Nagara style is the northern Indian temple style, marked by a curvilinear shikhara over the sanctum, topped with an amalaka and a kalasha. The temple usually stands on a raised platform with a mandapa in front. It developed from Gupta temples and reached maturity at Khajuraho, Bhubaneswar and Modhera.
What are the subtypes of the Nagara style?
The three main subtypes are Latina or Rekha-prasada, with a single curving tower, Phamsana, with a broad pyramidal roof of rising slabs, and Valabhi, a rectangular building with a barrel-vaulted roof. The Shekhari and Bhumija forms are later developments with clusters of smaller spires.
What is the difference between Nagara and Dravidian temples?
A Nagara temple has a curved shikhara, a plain boundary and usually no gateway tower or tank. A Dravidian temple has a stepped pyramidal vimana, a walled courtyard, tall gopurams at the gateways and a temple tank. Nagara is northern and Dravidian is southern.
Which are famous examples of Nagara temples?
Famous Nagara temples include Kandariya Mahadeva at Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, Lingaraja at Bhubaneswar and the Konark Sun Temple in Odisha, the Sun Temple at Modhera in Gujarat, and the Dashavatara temple at Deogarh in Uttar Pradesh.
Why is the Nagara style important for UPSC?
Prelims asks for features, subtypes and examples of the Nagara style, often as a match or a comparison with the Dravidian style. Mains uses it for answers on regional diversity of temples. The key terms are shikhara, amalaka, garbhagriha, Latina, Phamsana and Valabhi.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Nagara style has a curvilinear shikhara.
Its signature feature.
2 Gopurams are the main feature of the Nagara style.
They belong to the Dravidian style.
3 Konark is a Nagara temple.
In the Odisha tradition.
4 The amalaka is a ribbed disc at the top of the shikhara.
Below the kalasha.
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