Architecture in Ancient India (Part-I)

The temple represents the quintessence of the Kalinga architecture and culminating the medieval stages of the architectural tradition at Bhubaneswar. The temple is believed to be built by the kings from the Somavamsi dynasty, with later additions from the Ganga rulers.

The temple is built in the Deula style that has four components namely, vimana (structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), natamandira (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings), each increasing in the height to its predecessor. The temple complex has 108 other shrines and is enclosed by a large compound wall.

The wood icon is re-painted every year before the Ratha-yatra. It is replaced with a newly carved image every 12 or 19 years approximately or more precisely according to the Luni-solar Hindu calendar when its month of Asadha occurs twice in the same year.

The gopuram's origin can be traced back to early structures of the Tamil kings Pallavas and by the twelfth century under the Pandya rulers.

These gateways became a dominant feature of a temple's outer appearance, eventually overshadowing the inner sanctuary which became hidden from the view by the gopuram's enormous size.

Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) was a place of pilgrimage even before the Pallava period and the Pallava king Narasimha Varman built these beautiful temples, including the present Shore temple. Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) was a famous centre of Pallava art and architecture.