Temples of Odisha
Art & Culture › Architecture · Topic 1.11
The temples of Odisha, also called the Kalinga school, are a regional variety of the Nagara style built from about the 7th to the 13th century under the Bhauma-Karas, Somavamsis, Eastern Gangas and Suryavamsis. A temple has a curved tower, the rekha deul, over the sanctum and a pyramidal-roofed porch, the jagamohana, in front, with a dance hall (natamandira) and offering hall (bhogamandapa) added later. Famous examples are Lingaraja at Bhubaneswar, the Jagannath temple at Puri and the Sun Temple at Konark, a World Heritage Site since 1984 built by Narasimhadeva I.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Architecture
At a Glance
- School Kalinga school of Nagara style
- Period About 7th to 13th century CE
- Main towers Rekha deul, pida deul, khakhara deul
- Parts Deul, jagamohana, natamandira, bhogamandapa
- UNESCO Konark Sun Temple, 1984
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Architecture
Where Does It Fit?
Odisha temples are a regional variation of the Nagara style described earlier, just after the Khajuraho group. Gwalior, Gujarat and Rajasthan temples that follow show other northern regional types. Previous topic: Temples of Khajuraho. Next topic: Gurjara-Pratihara, Kachchhapaghata, Tomara Key temples Teli ka Mandir, Sas-Bahu, Bateshwar group…">Temples of Gwalior.
What Are the Types of Temple Structures in Odisha?
| Type | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Rekha deul (Rekha-prasada) | A tall curved tower over the sanctum, rising straight at first and then curving inward. This is the vimana | Lingaraja temple, Bhubaneswar; Jagannath temple, Puri |
| Pida deul (Bhadra deul) | A pyramidal roof of horizontal tiers, used for the jagamohana porch | Jagamohana of the Konark Sun Temple |
| Khakhara deul | A barrel-vaulted, oblong tower like the Valabhi type, used for Shakti shrines | Vaital Deul, Bhubaneswar; Varahi Deul, Chaurasi |
Which Temples Are Most Asked About?
| Temple | Place | Dynasty and date | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parasurameshvara | Bhubaneswar | Early, about 7th century | Best preserved early temple, with a rekha deul and a rectangular jagamohana |
| Mukteshvara | Bhubaneswar | Somavamsi, about 10th century | Called a gem of Odisha architecture, with a decorated arch gateway (torana) and no pillars in the hall |
| Rajarani | Bhubaneswar | Somavamsi, about 11th century | No deity inside, in fine grained sandstone with figures of women and guardians of directions (dikpalas) |
| Lingaraja | Bhubaneswar | Somavamsi, 11th century | Largest temple of the city, about 55 m, with a deul, jagamohana, natamandira and bhogamandapa. Dedicated to Harihara |
| Jagannath temple | Puri | Eastern Ganga, Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, 12th century | About 65 m, with a high boundary wall, an Ashtadhatu chakra (Nila Chakra) on top. Rath Yatra and Nabakalebara |
| Sun Temple | Konark, Puri | Eastern Ganga, Narasimhadeva I, 13th century | Chariot of the sun god with 12 pairs of wheels and seven horses. The jagamohana survives and the main deul has fallen. UNESCO 1984 |
| Brahmeshvara | Bhubaneswar | Somavamsi, 11th century | Panchayatana temple with fine carving |
| Chausath Yogini | Hirapur, Khordha | About 9th century | Circular, open-air temple of 64 yoginis |
What Else Should You Remember?
- Dynasties: The Bhauma-Karas built Ratnagiri and early temples, the Somavamsis built Bhubaneswar temples, and the Eastern Gangas built Puri and Konark. The Gajapatis later rebuilt parts of Jagannath
- Bhubaneswar: Called the temple city, it once had thousands of temples (Ekamra Kshetra), of which some hundreds survive
- Plan: The temple often has no ambulatory path, the walls are richly carved on the outside, and the interior is plain
- Enclosure: Odisha temples usually stand in a walled compound with subsidiary shrines
- Konark details: The Sun Temple is nicknamed the Black Pagoda by sailors. It is shaped as a chariot of the sun god Surya, with wheels that serve as sundials
- Konark UNESCO: Inscribed in 1984 as Sun Temple, Konârak
- Jagannath: The Jagannath temple at Puri has the Rath Yatra each year, and Nabakalebara is the renewal of the wooden images in certain years
- Emblem: The Konark wheel is a well known motif that has appeared on Indian currency notes and in official designs
- Udayagiri and Khandagiri: Rock-cut Jain caves near Bhubaneswar of the Kharavela period, including Hathigumpha
- Dhauli: Site of Ashokan rock edicts and the Shanti Stupa, in Khordha
- Shaiva, Vaishnava and Shakta: Bhubaneswar temples are mostly Shaiva, Puri is Vaishnava and Konark is a sun temple, while the khakhara temples are Shakta shrines, showing the mix of sects in Odisha
- Alternate spellings: Orissa was the official name until 2011, when it became Odisha. Konark is also spelt Konarak, and the temple is called the Black Pagoda
- Temple sculpture: Konark figures of musicians, dancers and animals, and the great elephant and lion groups
- Comparison: Compare with the general features in Nagara Style, and with the Chandela group in Temples of Khajuraho
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Terms: rekha deul, pida deul, khakhara deul, jagamohana
- Temple and dynasty: Lingaraja with Somavamsis, Konark with Narasimhadeva I
- UNESCO: Konark 1984
- Deities: Lingaraja Harihara, Jagannath Vishnu, Konark Surya
- Common errors: calling the Jagannath temple a Konark one, or placing the Mukteshvara temple in Puri
As an analytical point, the Odisha temples are a good case of a sacred landscape, where rituals like the Rath Yatra have kept architecture alive. For Mains, they link temple building with state patronage, pilgrim tourism and the care needed for a coastal monument like Konark.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Prelims Temple parts and dynasties
- Mains Pilgrimage and heritage care
- UNESCO Konark inscription
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the temples of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. Next topic: Temples of Gwalior.
Key People and Terms
- Deul Sanctum tower
- Jagamohana Porch or assembly hall
- Natamandira Dance hall
- Bhogamandapa Offering hall
- Narasimhadeva I Builder of Konark
- Kalinga Ancient Odisha
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Sanctum: rekha deul; porch: jagamohana.
- Konark: Narasimhadeva I, UNESCO 1984.
- Lingaraja: Bhubaneswar, Somavamsi.
- Jagannath: Puri, Eastern Gangas.
- Mukteshvara: gem of Odisha architecture.
Do Not Confuse With
- Konark and Modhera Odisha sun temple versus Gujarat sun temple
- Rekha deul and pida deul Curved tower versus tiered roof
- Lingaraja and Jagannath Bhubaneswar Shiva temple versus Puri Vishnu temple
Memory Hook
Deul rises, jagamohana sits, Konark rides: Odisha builds in the Kalinga way.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about regional variations and pilgrim heritage. These points give a frame.
- Regional school Kalinga features
- Living tradition Rath Yatra
- Patronage Dynastic kings
- Conservation Coastal Konark
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Describe the main features of the Odisha school of temple architecture with suitable examples.”
How to Answer
- Intro Kalinga school within Nagara.
- Features Deul, jagamohana, types.
- Examples Lingaraja, Konark, Jagannath.
- Conclusion Living pilgrimage heritage.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main features of Odisha temples?
Odisha temples belong to the Kalinga school of the Nagara style. They have a curved tower called the rekha deul over the sanctum, a pyramidal-roofed porch called the jagamohana, and later a dance hall and an offering hall. The outer walls are richly carved while the interiors are plain.
Who built the Konark Sun Temple?
The Konark Sun Temple in Puri district, Odisha, was built by the Eastern Ganga king Narasimhadeva I in the 13th century. It is shaped like a chariot of the sun god with 12 pairs of wheels and seven horses. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.
Where is the Lingaraja temple located?
The Lingaraja temple is in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It was built in the 11th century in the Somavamsi period and is dedicated to Harihara, a form combining Shiva and Vishnu. Its tower is about 55 m high, and it is the largest temple of Bhubaneswar.
What is the difference between rekha deul and pida deul?
A rekha deul is a tall curved tower over the sanctum, in the Nagara manner. A pida deul is a pyramidal roof of horizontal tiers, normally used over the jagamohana or porch. A khakhara deul is a third type, with a barrel-vaulted oblong roof used for Shakti shrines.
Why are Odisha temples important for UPSC?
Prelims asks about the parts of an Odisha temple, the dynasties and the temples at Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark, and the 1984 listing of Konark. Mains uses them for regional variation of the Nagara style, pilgrimage tourism and the conservation of coastal monuments.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Konark Sun Temple was built by Narasimhadeva I.
Eastern Ganga king, 13th century.
2 The Lingaraja temple is at Puri.
It is at Bhubaneswar.
3 A jagamohana is the porch or assembly hall of an Odisha temple.
In front of the deul.
4 The Konark Sun Temple was inscribed by UNESCO in 1984.
As Sun Temple, Konârak.
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