A small Hindu temple consists of an inner sanctum, the garbha griha or womb-chamber, in which the image is housed, often circumambulation, a congregation hall, and possibly an antechamber and porch. The sanctum is crowned by a tower-like shikara. At the turn of the first millennium CE two major types of temples existed, the northern or Nagara style and the southern or Dravida type of temple. They are distinguishable by the shape and decoration of their shikharas (Dehejia 1997).
The earliest Nagar temples are in Karnataka (e.g. Galaganath at Pattadakal) and some very early Dravida-style temples (e.g. Teli-ka-Mandir at Gwalior) are actually in North India. A complex style termed Vesara was once common in Karnataka which combined the two styles.
This may be seen in the classic Hindu temples of India and Southeast Asia, such as Angkor Wat, Brihadisvara Temple, Khajuraho, Mukteshvara, and Prambanan.
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The Magadha empire rose with the Shishunaga dynasty in around 650 BC. The Ashtadhyayi of Panini, the great grammarian of the 5th century BC speaks of images that were used in Hindu temple worship. The ordinary images were called pratikriti and the images for worship were called archa (see As. 5.3.96-100). Patanjali, the 2nd century BC author of the Mahabhashya commentary on the Ashtadhyayi, tells us more about the images. Deity images for sale were called Shivaka etc., but an archa of Shiva was just called Shiva. Patanjali mentions Shiva and Skanda deities. There is also mention of the worship of Vasudeva (Krishna). We are also told that some images could be moved and some were immoveable. Panini also says that an archa was not to be sold and that there were people (priests) who obtained their livelihood by taking care of it.
Panini and Patanjali mention temples which were called prasadas. The earlier Shatapatha Brahmana of the period of the Vedas, informs us of an image in the shape of Purusha which was placed within the altar.
The Vedic books describe the plan of the temple to be square. This plan is divided into 64 or 81 smaller square, where each of these represent a specific divinity.
Amongst the foremost interpreters of Indian art and architecture are Stella Kramrisch, Vidya Dehija, M.A. Dhaky, Lokesh Chandra and Kapila Vatsyayan. The greatest living traditional temple architect is Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati (Chennai) the only living Shilpi Guru. He is followed by his grand nephew Santhanam Krishna Sthapati of Chennai. Both are associated with The American University of Mayonic Science and Technology.
The period of Badami Chalukyas was a glorious era in the history of Indian architecture. The capital of the Chalukyas, Vatapi (Badami, in Bagalkot district, North Karnataka in Karnataka) is situated at the mouth of a ravine between two rocky hills. Between 500 and 757 AD, Badami Chalukyas established the foundations of cave temple architecture, on the banks of the Malaprabha River. Those styles mainly include Aihole, Pattadakal and Badami, The sites were built out of sand-stone cut into enormous blocks from the outcrops in the chains of the Kaladgi hills.
At Badami, Chalukyas carved some of the finest cave temples. Mahakuta, the large trees under which the shrine nestles.
In Aihole, known as the "Cradle of Indian architecture", there are over 150 temples scattered around the village. The Ladkhan temple is the oldest. The Durga Temple is notable for its semi-circular apse, elevated plinth and the gallery that encircles the sanctum sanctorum. A sculpture of Vishnu sitting atop a large cobra is at Hutchimali Temple. The Ravalphadi cave temple celebrates the many forms of Shiva. Other temples include the Konthi temple complex and the Meguti Jain temple.
Pattadakal is a (World Heritage Site), where one finds the Virupaksha temple; it is the biggest temple, having carved scenes from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Other temples at Pattadakal are Mallikarjuna, Kashivishwanatha, Galaganatha and Papanath.
<gallery> Image:roofarchitecture_som.JPG | Roof architecture Image:Thanjavur_temple.jpg | Thanjavur Temple Image:Gopuram-madurai.jpg | Gopuram Madurai Image:DCP_4868.sized.jpg Image:Awatcornertower01.JPG | Awat corner tower Image:Ellora_cave16_003.jpg | Ellora cave Image:Rathas-Mahabalipuram.jpg | Rathas, Mahabalipuram Image:Madurai-tank.jpg | Madurai tank Image:R38569440811 Lakshmi Narayan Temple (aka Birla Temple) as viewed from the street.JPG | Lakshmi Narayan Temple (Birla Temple) as viewed from the street Image:Belur_Chennigraya_temple.JPG | Belur Chennigraya temple Image:Somanath_from_the_beach.JPG | Somanath from the beach Image:Shree Swaminarayan Sampraday, Ahmedabad.jpg|Swaminarayan Temple, Ahmedabad Image:Neasden_Temple_-_Shree_Swaminarayan_Hindu_Mandir_-_Power_Plant.jpg | Neasden Temple – Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir, Power Plant Image:Ranakpur-temple.jpg | Ranakpur temple Image:Rameswaram Temple Inside.jpg|Inside view of Rameswaram temple Image:Palitana.jpg | Palitana Image:Benares (Varanasi, India) - 1922.jpg | Benares (Varanasi) in 1922 Image:Ranakpur2.jpg | Ranakpur Image:Meenakshi_Temple_Gopuram_at_dusk.jpg | Meenakshi Temple, Gopuram, at dusk </gallery>
hr:Indijski hramovi ta:இந்துக்கோயில் கட்டிடக்கலை
Image:Vadakumnathan-two.jpg|Vadakkunnathan Temple gate. Image:Paramekkavu Temple.JPG|Paramekkavu Bagavathi Temple gate. Image:Thiruvambadi Sri-Krishna Temple.jpg|Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple gate. Image:Poonkunnam Shiva Temple 2.JPG|Poonkunnam Shiva Temple gate. Image:Gurovayoor.jpg|Guruvayur Temple entrance. Image:Koodalmanikyam1.jpg|Koodalmanikyam Temple and the big pond inside.
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Kabul was the capital of the great Hindu Shahi kings.
Afghanistan was a great center of Vedic culture.
There were many Hindu temples in Afghanistan. Some temples in Kabul have survived the recent turmoil.
In Kabul, there are several Hindu temples:The Asamai temple is at the foothills of the central hill Koh-i-Asamai of the Afghan capital. The hill is named Asamai after Asha, the goddess of hope said to be present on the hilltop since ancient times. The Akhand Jyoti (continuous fire) there has been burning uninterrupted for many centuries. The temple and the Jyoti have survived numerous conflicts in Kabul and are reminders of Afghanistan under the Hindu Shahi kings. The Asamai temples of New York, Faridabad, Frankfurt and Amsterdam are named after the famous Kabul temple.
In Kandahar, there were Hindu temples in Shikarpuri Bazaar, Kabuli Bazaar and Jhampeer Sahib (near Sarpooza) and Devi-dwara (near Dand).
There have also been Hindu temples and Gurudwaras at Chasma Sahib, Sultanpur, Jalalabad, Ghazni, Helmand (Lashkerga) and Kunduz.
The main Hindu residents of Afghanistan have been Mohyals[1], Khatris and Aroras, some other communities like Bhatias, and Brahmins other than Mohyals have also been present there.
