Correct Answer
(b) 2 and 3
Explanation of the Correct Answer
The temples having a Nagara-style shikhara are:
- Huchimalligudi Temple, Aihole
- Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh
- Huchimalligudi Temple, Aihole is associated with the Early Chalukyan phase of architectural experimentation. It is often noted for showing a curvilinear / rekha-nagara type shikhara, which is linked with the Nagara tradition.
- Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh is a Gupta-period temple and one of the important early examples of Nagara temple architecture in north India.
- Malegitti Shivalaya, Badami and Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal are mainly associated with Dravida-style superstructures, not Nagara-style shikharas.
Therefore, statements 2 and 3 are correct.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect
| Option | Verdict | Explanation |
|---|
| (a) 1 and 2 | Incorrect | Huchimalligudi Temple has Nagara-style features, but Malegitti Shivalaya is mainly Dravida in style. |
| (b) 2 and 3 | Correct | Huchimalligudi Temple and Dashavatara Temple are associated with Nagara-style shikhara features. |
| (c) 3 only | Incorrect | Dashavatara Temple is correct, but Huchimalligudi Temple is also associated with a Nagara / rekha-nagara shikhara. |
| (d) 3 and 4 | Incorrect | Dashavatara Temple is Nagara, but Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal is a major Dravida-style temple. |
Relevant Supplementary Information
Temple-wise Architectural Style
| Temple | Location | Period / Dynasty | Architectural Style / Shikhara Type | Verdict |
|---|
| Malegitti Shivalaya | Badami, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Mainly Dravida style | Not Nagara |
| Huchimalligudi Temple | Aihole, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Rekha-nagara / curvilinear shikhara | Nagara-style shikhara |
| Dashavatara Temple | Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh | Gupta period | Early Nagara style | Nagara-style shikhara |
| Virupaksha Temple | Pattadakal, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Developed Dravida style | Not Nagara |
The ASI notes that Pattadakal as a whole shows a blending of Rekha-Nagara-Prasada and Dravida Vimana styles, but individual temples differ in style. Virupaksha is generally treated as a Dravida-style temple, while other Pattadakal temples such as Galaganatha are linked with rekha-nagara prasada.
Nagara vs Dravida Style: Basic Differences
| Feature | Nagara Style | Dravida Style |
|---|
| Region | Mainly North India | Mainly South India |
| Tower over sanctum | Called Shikhara | Called Vimana |
| Shape | Curvilinear, rising vertically | Pyramidal, tiered storeys |
| Common shikhara type | Rekha-prasada / latina | Stepped pyramidal superstructure |
| Typical example | Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh | Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal |
| Crowning element | Amalaka and kalasha | Stupi / kalasha-like finial |
Key Takeaways from the Tables
- Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh is a clear example of early Nagara architecture.
- Huchimalligudi Temple, Aihole is important because it shows Early Chalukyan experimentation with rekha-nagara / curvilinear shikhara.
- Malegitti Shivalaya and Virupaksha Temple are not the right choices because they are primarily Dravida-style examples.
- In sites like Aihole and Pattadakal, one must identify the style of the specific temple, not merely the general regional style.
| Point | Explanation |
|---|
| Nagara = Shikhara | The tower over the sanctum is generally called shikhara and is usually curvilinear. |
| Dravida = Vimana | The tower over the sanctum is called vimana and is generally pyramidal and tiered. |
| Aihole and Pattadakal are mixed zones | These Early Chalukyan sites show experimentation with both Nagara and Dravida forms. |
| Dashavatara Temple is a standard Nagara example | It is one of the most important early North Indian structural temples. |
| Virupaksha Temple is Dravida | Despite being at Pattadakal, where both styles exist, Virupaksha itself is primarily Dravida. |
| Do not judge only by geography | Some temples in Karnataka, such as Huchimalligudi and Galaganatha, show Nagara-style features. |
Context and Current Relevance
- The Early Chalukyan sites of Aihole, Badami, and Pattadakal are important because they show experimentation between northern and southern temple styles.
- This question tests the distinction between Nagara shikhara and Dravida vimana, especially in regions where styles overlap.
- A note of caution: some recent answer keys have treated this question differently, but the stronger architectural reading supports Huchimalligudi + Dashavatara, i.e. option (b).
Table: Important Temples and Their Architectural Styles
| Temple | Location | Period / Dynasty | Architectural Style | Important Feature |
|---|
| Dashavatara Temple | Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh | Gupta period | Nagara | One of the earliest surviving structural temples of North India |
| Huchimalligudi Temple | Aihole, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Nagara / Rekha-nagara influence | Curvilinear shikhara over the sanctum |
| Durga Temple | Aihole, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Mixed / Vesara tendency | Apsidal plan with Nagara-style superstructure influence |
| Lad Khan Temple | Aihole, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Early experimental style | Looks like an assembly hall converted into a temple form |
| Malegitti Shivalaya | Badami, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Dravida | Early example of Dravida-type superstructure |
| Virupaksha Temple | Pattadakal, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Dravida | Built by Queen Lokamahadevi; inspired by Kailasanatha Temple, Kanchipuram |
| Mallikarjuna Temple | Pattadakal, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Dravida | Smaller but similar to Virupaksha Temple |
| Papanatha Temple | Pattadakal, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Mixed / Vesara tendency | Combines Nagara and Dravida elements |
| Galaganatha Temple | Pattadakal, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Nagara / Rekha-nagara | Curvilinear shikhara |
| Kashi Vishwanatha Temple | Pattadakal, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Nagara | Shows northern rekha-prasada type superstructure |
| Sangameshvara Temple | Pattadakal, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Dravida | One of the earliest large Dravida temples at Pattadakal |
Table: Nagara, Dravida and Vesara Styles
| Feature | Nagara Style | Dravida Style | Vesara / Mixed Style |
|---|
| Main Region | North India | South India | Deccan region |
| Tower over sanctum | Shikhara | Vimana | Mixed form |
| Shape of tower | Curvilinear, rising vertically | Pyramidal, tiered storeys | Combination of curvilinear and pyramidal forms |
| Common plan | Usually square sanctum | Square sanctum with elaborate enclosures | Experimental plans |
| Crowning element | Amalaka and kalasha | Stupi / finial | Mixed features |
| Typical examples | Dashavatara, Deogarh; Lingaraja, Bhubaneswar | Brihadeshwara, Thanjavur; Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram | Later Chalukya-Hoysala temples; some Aihole-Pattadakal temples |
| Associated dynasties | Gupta, Pratihara, Chandela, Ganga | Pallava, Chola, Pandya | Chalukya, Rashtrakuta, Hoysala |
Table: Early Chalukyan Temple Sites and Their Importance
| Site | Location | Architectural Importance | Examples |
|---|
| Aihole | Karnataka | Known as a “laboratory of temple architecture” due to experimentation with forms | Huchimalligudi, Durga Temple, Lad Khan Temple |
| Badami | Karnataka | Famous for rock-cut caves and early structural temples | Malegitti Shivalaya, Badami Cave Temples |
| Pattadakal | Karnataka | UNESCO site showing mature fusion of Nagara and Dravida styles | Virupaksha, Mallikarjuna, Galaganatha, Papanatha |
| Mahakuta | Karnataka | Early Chalukyan temple complex with Shaiva emphasis | Mahakuteshvara Temple |
| Alampur | Telangana | Early Chalukyan influence with Nagara-style temples | Nava Brahma Temples |
Table: Important Examples of Nagara-style Shikhara
| Temple | Location | Dynasty / Period | Nagara Feature |
|---|
| Dashavatara Temple | Deogarh, Uttar Pradesh | Gupta | Early Nagara shikhara tradition |
| Huchimalligudi Temple | Aihole, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Rekha-nagara / curvilinear shikhara |
| Galaganatha Temple | Pattadakal, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Rekha-nagara prasada |
| Kashi Vishwanatha Temple | Pattadakal, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Northern-style shikhara |
| Lingaraja Temple | Bhubaneswar, Odisha | Somavamsi / Ganga period | Mature Kalinga-Nagara style |
| Kandariya Mahadeva Temple | Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh | Chandela | Highly developed Nagara shikhara with clustered urushringas |
| Sun Temple | Modhera, Gujarat | Solanki / Chalukya of Gujarat | Western Indian Nagara style |
| Jagannath Temple | Puri, Odisha | Eastern Ganga | Kalinga-Nagara style |
| Konark Sun Temple | Odisha | Eastern Ganga | Monumental Kalinga-Nagara style |
Table: Important Examples of Dravida-style Vimana
| Temple | Location | Dynasty / Period | Dravida Feature |
|---|
| Malegitti Shivalaya | Badami, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Early Dravida-type superstructure |
| Virupaksha Temple | Pattadakal, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Developed Dravida vimana |
| Mallikarjuna Temple | Pattadakal, Karnataka | Early Chalukya | Dravida-style superstructure |
| Shore Temple | Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu | Pallava | Early structural Dravida temple |
| Kailasanatha Temple | Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu | Pallava | Important model for later Dravida temples |
| Brihadeshwara Temple | Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu | Chola | Monumental Dravida vimana |
| Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple | Tamil Nadu | Chola | Mature Chola Dravida style |
| Meenakshi Temple | Madurai, Tamil Nadu | Nayaka development | Famous for large gopurams |
| Ranganathaswamy Temple | Srirangam, Tamil Nadu | Chola–Vijayanagara–Nayaka | Large temple complex with multiple enclosures |