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Home › Exam notes › OSSC Art Education Instructor › Temple Architecture

Temple Architecture

Art Education

Useful for: OSSC Art Education Instructor

Overview

Indian temple architecture follows Nagara, Dravida and Vesara styles; Odishan temples have distinctive rekha, pidha and khakhara forms.

Key points

  • The garbhagriha houses the main deity; mandapas are halls.
  • Nagara temples have a curvilinear shikhara topped by an amalaka and kalasha.
  • Dravida temples have a pyramidal vimana and large gopurams.
  • Vesara mixes Nagara and Dravida features.
  • Odishan forms: rekha deula (tall curved tower), pidha deula (stepped pyramidal roof, often the jagamohana), khakhara (barrel-vaulted).
  • Examples: Lingaraj (rekha), Konark jagamohana (pidha), Vaital Deula (khakhara).

Explanation

  • Temple sculpture includes deities, guardians and daily life.
  • Orientation and proportions follow shilpa texts.
  • Odishan temples call the assembly hall jagamohana.
  • Temples were also social and economic centres.
  • Conservation protects stone from weathering.

Step by step

  1. Identify the art concept, medium or movement asked.
  2. Recall the definition, artist, period or technique.
  3. Choose the option that matches the visual or pedagogical principle.

Examples

  • Barrel-vaulted roof temple in Bhubaneswar → Vaital Deula (khakhara).
  • Tall curved tower of Lingaraj → rekha deula.
  • Gopurams → Dravida style.

Traps and advanced points

  • Trap: Mixing rekha and pidha.
  • Trap: Placing gopurams in Nagara.
  • Trap: Calling Vesara southern only.

Quick revision

  • Nagara, Dravida, Vesara.
  • Rekha, pidha, khakhara.
  • Garbhagriha, jagamohana.

Practice MCQs

  1. The Konark Sun Temple was built in the 13th century by

    1. Kapilendra Deva
    2. Anantavarman Chodaganga
    3. Narasimhadeva I
    4. Kharavela

    Read chapter notes · Similar questions

    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Narasimhadeva I. It is designed as a giant chariot.

  2. In Kalinga temple architecture, the main sanctum tower with a curved spire is the

    1. bhoga mandapa
    2. pidha deula
    3. jagamohana
    4. rekha deula

    Read chapter notes · Similar questions

    Show answer

    Answer: (d) rekha deula. The pidha deula has a stepped roof.

  3. The Lingaraja temple, a major example of Kalinga architecture, is in

    1. Konark
    2. Puri
    3. Bhubaneswar
    4. Cuttack

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    Show answer

    Answer: (c) Bhubaneswar. It dates from the 11th century.

  4. The present Jagannath temple at Puri was begun by

    1. Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva
    2. Narasimhadeva I
    3. Kapilendra Deva
    4. Ashoka

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    Answer: (a) Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva. It dates from the 12th century.

  5. The northern Indian temple style with a curvilinear tower is called

    1. Dravida
    2. Nagara
    3. Vesara
    4. Indo-Saracenic

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    Show answer

    Answer: (b) Nagara. Dravida temples have a pyramidal vimana.

  6. In Kalinga temples, the porch or assembly hall in front of the sanctum is the

    1. rekha deula
    2. jagamohana
    3. amalaka
    4. garbhagriha

    Read chapter notes · Similar questions

    Show answer

    Answer: (b) jagamohana. It usually has a pidha (stepped) roof.

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Notes and questions are written by Kundali IQ for practice. They are not official papers; always check the latest official notification for the syllabus and pattern.