Panchayatana Style of Architecture: Gupta Period Temple Quiz and Flashcards

What was the primary feature of temple architecture during the Gupta period?

Which of the following was NOT a characteristic of the second stage of temple architecture?

What was the key feature that distinguished the third stage of temple architecture?

Which of the following was a characteristic of the Panchayatana style of temple making?

Which of the following temple examples is mentioned in the text?

What was the purpose of the covered ambulatory passageway around the sanctum sanctorum?

Temple Architecture Development

Temple architecture developed during the Gupta period with a square sanctum and pillared portico.
The progression of temple architecture can be divided into five stages.

First Stage

Temples had a flat roof.
Temples were square in shape.
Portico was developed on shallow pillars.
The entire structure was built on a low platform.
Example: Temple 17 at Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh.

Second Stage

Temples continued to have most of the features of the earlier phase.
Platforms were higher or upraised.
Some instances of two-storeyed temples were found.
A covered ambulatory passageway around the sanctum sanctorum or garbhagriha was introduced.
The passageway was used as a pradakshina path.
Example: Parvati temple at Nachna Kuthara, Madhya Pradesh.

Third Stage

Shikharas emerged in place of a flat roof.
Shikharas were still quite low and almost square, i.e., curvilinear.
Panchayatana style of temple making was introduced.
In the Panchayatana style, there were four subsidiary shrines along with the temple of the principal deity.
The main temple was square with an elongated mandap in front of it, giving it a rectangular shape.

Explore the evolution of temple architecture during the Gupta period from flat-roofed monolithic structures to sculptured 'shikhara' temples. Learn about the five stages of progression in temple design and development.