EVOLUTION OF INDIAN TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

Indian temples have been a source of attraction, not only as a place of worship for the
devout, but also as an architectural marvel for the curious tourist. Indian temples with its
imposing towers, intricate carvings and awe inspiring size were in fact the result of a
gradual evolution over time. In the Vedic period (1500 to 500 BC) there were actually no
temples as such. They propitiated the Gods by performing yagas using sacrificial altars.
Details of how such altars may be constructed where meticulously mentioned in The
SULVASUTRA (literally meaning the rules of the cord). These YAGASALAS later got
transformed to temples.
Earliest temples were made of timber and clay, and though they were later replaced by
the more enduring granite, there are still temples in Kerala and Dakshina Karnataka
made with timber and which has withstood the ravages of time. Cave temples which are
found in profusion particularly in Central India, were a later innovation. Though the basic
temple patterns are the same, temple styles fall into two categories. North Indian style
called NAGARA and southern style called DRAVIDIAN. There is a derivative of the
above two styles which is called VESARA
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