| Title | Hindu Temple architecture style |
|---|---|
| Description | General style encompassing diverse regional expressions of sacred Hindu building traditions, characterized by garbhagriha, mandapa, shikhara/vimana, and sculptural ornamentation, reflecting pan-Indian cosmological principles and local adaptations. |
| Tags | Hindu temple Mandir Garbhagriha Shikhara Hindu Temple Vastu Shastra Deity Hindu Religious architecture Indic architecture Mandala Pradakshina Darshan Shilpa Shastras Temple architecture Temple Hinduism Sacred space Shastra Hindu art Devalaya Sacred architecture Iconography Temple Architecture Mandapa Hindu architecture Indian architecture Sacred Space Vimana Kovil Shrine Prasada Indic Architecture Religious Architecture Agama Mandira Deula Sacred Gopuram Deva Agama Shastra |
| Style ID | INHF-199080670-18-11-25-HC |
| URI | https://www.inheritage.foundation/aat/styles/hindu-temple-architecture-style |
| API Endpoint | https://inheritage.foundation/api/v1/aat/styles/hindu-temple-architecture-style |
| Total Sites | 84 |
| Primary Sites | 0 |
| Created | November 19, 2025 |
| Last Updated | November 19, 2025 |
| Regions | India Nepal Southeast Asia Pan-Indian Sri Lanka Indian Subcontinent Global Hindu diaspora communities |
|---|
| Time Periods | Ancient Medieval Modern 3rd century BCE to present Ancient to present 3rd Century BCE Present 2nd century BCE 3rd century BCE onwards 2nd century BCE - Present Early Modern 2nd century BCE onwards Ancient to Present Ancient-Modern 3rd Century BCE onwards 3rd century BCE-Present Ancient India Medieval India 3rd century BCE Ongoing Ancient times to present 3rd century BCE - Present Early Modern India 3rd century BCE - present Ancient Period Medieval Period Early Modern Period 2nd century BCE-Present Ancient period onwards Modern India |
|---|---|
| Dynasties | Maurya dynasty Gupta dynasty Chola dynasty Various Hindu dynasties Various Indian Dynasties Various Indian dynasties Maurya Empire Gupta Empire Chola Dynasty Vijayanagara Empire Various regional dynasties Maurya Gupta Chola Vijayanagara Rajput Various dynasties |
| Sacred Contexts | Hindu temples Shaiva temples Vaishnava temples Shakta temples Hindu Temples Shrines Vaishnava shrines Shaiva shrines Shakta shrines Hindu temple Temple Shaiva Vaishnava Shakta Smarta Domestic shrines Pilgrimage sites Hindu Temple |
|---|---|
| Associated Deities | Shiva Vishnu Devi Ganesha Surya Various Hindu Deities Various Hindu deities Durga Lakshmi Saraswati Brahma Shakti Kartikeya All Hindu deities |
| Primary Materials | Stone Brick Wood Timber Concrete Metal |
|---|---|
| Architectural Features | Garbhagriha Mandapa Shikhara Vimana Sculptures Vastu Shastra compliance Gopuram Garbhagriha (sanctum) Shikhara (tower) Mandapa (hall) Pradakshina patha (circumambulatory path) Pradakshina patha Iconography Shikhara or Vimana Pillars Shikhara (spire) Sacred geometry Dvarapalas Shikhara/Vimana Symbolic layouts Elaborate ornamentation Prakara Sculptural ornamentation Vastu Shastra principles Pradakshina Patha |
| Keywords | Hindu temple Mandir Garbhagriha Shikhara Hindu Temple Vastu Shastra Deity Hindu Religious architecture Indic architecture Mandala Pradakshina Darshan Shilpa Shastras Temple architecture Temple Hinduism Sacred space Shastra Hindu art Devalaya Sacred architecture Iconography Temple Architecture Mandapa Hindu architecture Indian architecture Sacred Space Vimana Kovil Shrine Prasada Indic Architecture Religious Architecture Agama Mandira Deula Sacred Gopuram Deva Agama Shastra |
|---|
| Title | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Hindu Temple | Book | Classic overview of Hindu temple architecture. |
| Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Celebration | book | Overview of Hindu temple architecture. |
| History of Indian Architecture | Book | Provides a historical context for the development of Hindu temple architecture. |
| Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Structure | book | General introduction to Hindu temple design principles. |
| Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Transformation | book | Overview of the evolution of temple architecture |
| Stella Kramrisch, 'The Hindu Temple' | Book | Classic text on Hindu temple architecture. |
| George Michell, 'The Hindu Temple: An Introduction to Its Meaning and Forms' | Book | General overview of Hindu temple architecture. |
| History of Indian and Indonesian Art | Book | General overview of Indian art history |
| Stella Kramrisch, The Hindu Temple | book | |
| Shilpa Shastras | text | Canonical texts on temple construction |
| Vastu Shastras | text | Canonical texts on spatial arrangement and design |
| Hindu Temple - Wikipedia | website | General overview of Hindu temple architecture. |
| Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Meaning | book | Comprehensive study of Hindu temple design principles. |
| The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent | Book | General overview of Indian temple architecture. |
| Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture | encyclopedia | Comprehensive multi-volume reference work. |
| Vastu Shastra: The Indian Art of Placement | book |