Hindu temples were not meant for large congregational worship. Pillared Mandapas with elaborate sculptures, sadas for dancing & wide circumbulating passages with other deities placed around the main deity constituted a temple complex. The prominent forms of temple designs are the North Indian Temples & Southern Indian Temples. There were changes in styles, but certain basic rules fundamental to Hinduism were followed regarding the position of the garba griha, directions of the other deities, etc.,

::: North Indian Temples :::   ::: Central Indian Temples :::   ::: South Indian Temples :::

North Indian Temples

In the North Indian style, the shrine is a square at the centre, but there are projections on the outside leading to cruciform shape. When there one projection on each side, it is called triratha, 2 projections - pancharatha, 3 projections - saptharatha, 4 projections - navaratha.

These projections occur throughout the height of the structure. This style is found mostly in Orissa, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The temples of Orissa are the ones which can be described as the typical Nagara style. These temples escaped the destruction due to invasion. The temples as well as the literature laying down the rules and mode of construction have been well preserved in Orissa.

In this style, the structure consists 0f two buildings, the main shrine taller and an adjoining shorter mandapa. The main difference between the two is the shape of the Sikhara. In the main shrine, a bell shaped structure adds to the height. As is usual in all Hindu temples, there is the kalasa at the top and the ayudha or emblem of the presiding deity. Some of the temples of this style are :

1. The Parasurameswara temple at Bhuvaneshwar.
2. Brahmesvara temple in Bhuvaneshwar.
3. Lingaraja temple.
4. Anantha Vasudeva temple.
5. Rajarani temple.
6. Sun temple at Konarak.
7. Jagannath temple at Puri '

Central Indian Temples

The Central Indian temples, basically evolved from the North Indian style. Early temples of this style are :
Lakshmana temple at Sirpur
Vaidyanatha Mahadeva temple at Baijnath
Sikara temple at Baroli
Kesavanarayana temple at Amarkantak
Viratesvara temple at sohagpur
The temples at Kajuraho represent the typical Central Indian style. The Chandellas used the coloured sandstone ( pink, buff colour or pale yellow ) to construct these temples. Granite stone temples also exist. These temples dedicated to Saiva, Vaishnava and Jaina sects do not show great variation in style between one another. The prime temples of this tyle are : Lakshmana temple Parsvanatha temple Visvanatha temple Kandariya Mahadeva temple Charsath yogini temple ( rough granite ) Lalguan Mahadeva temple ( Partly granite & sandstone ) Brahma temple Matangesvara temple Vamana temple Jawari temple Devi Jagadambi temple Adinatha temple

South Indian Temples

This is the style that developed in the Dravida Desam. The Vimana and the Gopurams are the distictive characteristics of the Southern style. The Vimana is a tall pyramidal tower consisting of several progressively smaller storeys. This stands on a square base. The Gopuram has two storeys seperated by a horizontal moulding. The Prakara or the outer wall, envelops the main shrine as well as the other smaller shrines, the tank.
The Pallavas, the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Vijayanagar rulers, the Nayaks all contributed to the Southern style of temples.

Pallava temples
The Pallava shrines normally have a Somaskanda relief panel. Some of the Pallava temples :
Rajasimha temple Olakkanesvara temple Mukundanayanar temple Shore temple at Mamallapuram Talagiriswara temple at Panamalai in South Arcot Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram ( Rajasimha & his son Mahendravarman ) Vaikuntha Perumal temple by Nandivarman .

Chola temples
The Cholas erected several temples and also renovated earlier brick structures in stone. Early Chola temples are :
Sundaresvara temple at Tirukattalai ( Aditya I ) Vijayalaya Choleswaram at Narthamalai Komganatha temple at Srinivasanallur ( Parantaka I ) Brihadiswara temple at Tanjavur ( Raja Raja Chola ) Brihadiswara temple at Gangaikonda cholapuram ( Rajendra Chola ) Airavateswara temple at Darasuram ( Raja Raja II ) Kamaparharesvara temple at Tirubuvanam ( Kulotunga III ) .

Pandya temples
The Pandyas mostly concentrated on the Gopurams, the main entrance. The basic structure and style was maintained, but the decorations on the Gopurams and the size characteisises the Pandya Gopurams. The typical Pandya style can be seen in the Sundara Pandya Gopuram added to the Jambukesvara temple Eastern Gopuram, Great Temple, Chidambaram.

Vijayanagar temples
The main contributions of the Vijayanagar period were the tall massive gopurams and the multiple mandapas. Unlike the Chola style, where the entire temple structure was usually a unified whole, there were numerous mandapas, pillared halls, shrines to minor deities, tanks, etc. Another major feature is the carved pillars - with the rearing simhas ( lions ), yalis ( lions with elephant trunks ). The important temples from the Vijayanager period : Vitthala Swami temple, Vijayanager The pillars and gopurams of the Ekambaranatha temple

Nayak temples
The Madurai and Tanjavur Nayaks made great contributions - the main characterictics of this period being the elaborate mandapas of the hundred and thousand pillared type, the high gopurams with stucco statues on the surface, the long corridors. The main temples representing this style in various portions are the The Ranganatha temple at Srirangam - for the increase in the no. of enclosures The temple at Rameswaram - for the long corridors The Subramanya temple at the Brihadisvara temple court at Tanjavur - for the fine vimana with ardha and maha mandapas.