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Gupta Temples

Posted 16 Apr 2025

Updated 22 Apr 2025

3 min read

  • Gupta Empire (c. 320–550 CE) is often hailed as "Golden Age" of classical India as it marked a transformative era in temple architecture.
  • Structure combines elements of the Nagara (North Indian) and Dravida (South Indian) architectural styles.
  • Temples transitioned from modest, flat-roofed shrines to structured complexes featuring garbhagrihas (sanctums), mandapas (pillared halls), mukhmandapa, and towering śikharas (spires).
  • Royal patronage for temples dedicated to Vishnu, Shiva, and Shakti was prevalent from Gupta rulers like Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, and Chandragupta II.
  • Key Features of Gupta Temples
    • Early stage in development of temple architecture: Exhibiting architectural features influenced by both Buddhist and Hindu traditions.
    • Structural Permanence: This period saw a shift from perishable materials like wood to widespread adoption of stone alongside the continued use of brick. 
    • Emergence of 5 key temple typologies: Square flat-roofed temples, square temples with covered ambulatories, rectangular barrel- vaulted shrines, square temples with curvilinear śikharas, and circular/octagonal temples.
    • Pillars: Pillars in Gupta period had a new form of capital known as "vase capital" or "purnakalsa" which replaced Mauryan tradition of inverted lotus or bell capital.
    • Other Features: Terraced platforms, intricate decorative elements, and integration of religious symbolism.
  • Socio-economic Significance: Temples functioned as economic hubs through land grants (Devadana), agrarian management, and trade networks (attracted traders and pilgrims along routes like uttarāpatha (Grand Trunk Road)), fostering urbanization and specialized labour guilds.
Dashavtara Vishnu Temple Deogarh

Gupta Temples

Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh (Uttar Pradesh) 

  • It is a late Gupta Period type of temple built in early 6th century CE. 
  • It is situated on bank of Betwa River which encircles it from three sides.
  • It gets its name from 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu depicted on the temple.
  • It pioneered Shikhara form, symbolizing Mount Meru as the cosmic axis.
  • The tall curving latina or rekha-prasada type of shikhara indicates that it is an early example of Nagara style of temples.
  • It showcases Panchayatana style of architecture i.e. the main shrine is built on a rectangular plinth with 4 smaller subsidiary shrines at the 4 corners. 

Bhitargaon Temple, Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) 

  • It is an east-facing terraced brick temple built in 5th century. 
  • A key feature is brick engineering adapted to sacred geometry.
  • The temple is square in plan and has an ardhamandapa, antarala and garbhagriha.
Shiva Temple Nachna Kuthara Madhya Pradesh

Nachna temple, Panna (Madhya Pradesh) 

  • Built in the 5th-6th century CE, it is a temple dedicated to Shiva.
  • Popularly known as Parvati temple, it showcases a mix of Nagara and Dravida architectural elements.

Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya (Bihar) 

  • Original temple was built by Emperor Asoka in 3rd century B.C.E. Present temple dates between 5th-6th centuries.
  • It is one of earliest Buddhist temples built entirely in brick, still standing in India, from late Gupta period.

Other Gupta Temples

  • Madhya Pradesh: Vamana temple, Deori; Cave No. 1, Udayagiri; Temple No. 17, Gupta Temple in Sanchi 
  • Bihar: Terraced brick temple, Lauriya- Nandangarh; Gupta temples at Nalanda Mahavihara; Mundeshwari temple, Ramgarh (Built of sandstone with an octagonal plan)
  • Uttar Pradesh: Bhitari temple
  • Rajasthan: Bhim-ki-chauri (Dara)
  • Tags :
  • Gupta Temples
  • Dashavtar Temple
  • Golden Age
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