Classification of Nagara-Style Temple Architecture

1. Rekha-Prasad or Latina: These temples are characterized by simple shikhara with square bases and inwardly curved walls with pointed apexes. Early medieval temples such as the Markhera Sun Temple in Madhya Pradesh (MP). The Sri Jagannath Temple in Orissa was built in the Rekha Prasad Shikhara style.

2. Shekari: A variation of Latina, the Shikhara consists of a main Rekha-prasad Shikhara and one or more rows of his smaller towers on either side of the central tower. In addition, the pedestal and corners are equipped with mini Shikhara. Khajuraho Hokandari Yamahadev Temple is one of the most famous temples in this style.

3. Bhumija: Another type of Nagara temple that evolved from the Latina style was the Bhumija architecture developed in Malwa during the reign of the Paramara dynasty. These temples have flat, upward tapering projections consisting of a central Latin cusp and a miniature cusp on the quadrants formed by tapering spires. It is a mini Shikhara with horizontal and vertical carving. Example: Udayeshwar temple (MP).

4. Valabhi: This kind of style of temple is rectangular with barrel-vaulted roofs. Vaulted room roofs have earned the nickname wagon vaulted building/structure. His ninth-century temple, Telika Mandir, in Gwalior was built in this style.

5. Phamsana: A short, broad structure consisting of a roof with numerous slabs rising with a gentle slope above a straight slope, like a pyramid that meets at one point above the center of the building. 

An Important topic that keeps asking in many government exams is the different forms of Temple architecture. In this topic, there is a subtopic called the Nagara style of temples. We have seen many questions coming from these topics and students need to focus and study thoroughly. In this article, we are going to discuss features of the Nagara style of Temples.