Gupta Temples

Gupta Temples

Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh (Uttar Pradesh) 

• It is a late Gupta Period type of temple built in early 6^th 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.

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)