Rock-Cut Architecture

Notes

Site	Dynasty/Religion	Highlight
Barabar (Bihar)	Mauryan (Ashoka, Dasharatha), Ajivikas	Lomas Rishi, Sudama caves, polished interiors
Udayagiri-Khandagiri (Odisha)	Kharavela, Jain	Hathigumpha inscription, Rani Gumpha
Bhaja, Karle, Kondane (Maharashtra)	Hinayana Buddhist	Karle is the largest chaitya hall
Ajanta	Buddhist	29 caves, paintings
Ellora	Buddhist (1-12), Hindu (13-29), Jain (30-34)	Kailasa Temple (Cave 16), Rashtrakuta Krishna I, a monolith carved top-down
Elephanta (Mumbai)	Shaiva	Trimurti/Sadashiva, UNESCO 1987
Mahabalipuram	Pallava (Mahendravarman I, Narasimhavarman I)	Pancha Rathas (monolithic), Arjuna's Penance, Shore Temple (structural), UNESCO 1984
Badami	Chalukya	Caves with Vishnu and Jain images

Key points: Mahendravarman's style is the Mandapa style, and Narasimhavarman's is the Mamalla style (rathas). The Pancha Rathas are named after the Pandavas and Draupadi, but they are not dedicated to them.

186. Temple Architecture: Nagara

Notes

Region: North India, from the Himalayas to the Vindhyas.
Features:
- Built on a raised platform (jagati).
- Shikhara (curvilinear tower, also called rekha-prasada) over the garbhagriha, topped by amalaka and kalasha.
- Mandapa(s) and antarala.
- Generally no boundary wall or large gateway.
- Images of Ganga and Yamuna at the entrance in early temples.
- No water tank within the temple.
Sub-styles: Latina (single curvilinear shikhara), Phamsana (pyramidal roof), Valabhi (barrel-vaulted). Later forms are Shekhari and Bhumija.
Regional schools:
- Odisha: rekha deul + jagamohana (pidha deul).
  - Lingaraja (Bhubaneswar).
  - Jagannath (Puri).
  - Konark Sun Temple (Narasimhadeva I, Eastern Ganga, 13th c., chariot form, UNESCO 1984).
- Chandela (Khajuraho): Kandariya Mahadeva, UNESCO 1986.
- Solanki (Gujarat): Modhera Sun Temple, with a stepped tank (Surya Kund).
- Dilwara Jain temples (Mount Abu): white marble, intricate carving.
- Gurjara-Pratihara: Osian (Rajasthan).

Key points: The Gupta Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh is one of the earliest northern shikhara temples.