Temple architecture (Hindu).

The Hindu temple evolved out of manifold influences from the local and aboriginal styles mixed with the Vedic yagya alter.

1)      The first of these is the influence of the stone dolmen which gives its square, flat roofed style.

2)      The second is from the tabernacle of the forest, giving it the Shikhara.

3)      The Square vedic altar for Yagya.

The early temples were made of perishable material and so not many of them survive today. Gupta period saw the beginning of usage of non-perishable material like stone and bricks for making of temples. The period saw two distinct styles emerge, one in north and the other in south. There are five broad styles of temple architecture out of which first three are the predecessors of modern temple style -

a)      Flat roofed square temple; The examples of this are Kankali devi temple at Tigawa and Varaha temple at Eran.

b)      Flat roofed square temple with a second storey above; Ex-Parvati temple of Nachna Kuthara , Lad Khan temple of Aihole and shiva temple of Bhumara

c)       Square temple with sikhara; Ex- Dasavthara temple of Deoghar and Brick temple of Bhitargaon.

d)      Rectangular temple

e)      Circular temple.

Later temple styles.

The temple styles mentioned in Vastu shastra are-

1)      Nagara- It was the temple style  prevalent in North India. The temple is a square base with number of gradual projections (Rathakas) in the middle of each face forming a crucifix over the garbhagriha. The highest point is the Shikhara above the garbhagriha. The archetype of this style is the Khajuraho temple. Different variants of this style were developed in different parts of north India.

2)      Dravida- This style developed in southern India. It is the storeyed form of Gupta temple. The hallmarks of this style are the Vimana ( tall pyramidal structure over the garbhaha) and the Gopuran(the immense pile of the gateway leading to temple enclosure).

 Landmark developments in this style are-

a)      Shore temple at Mahabalipuram by Narsimhavarman II

b)      Kailashanatha temple at Kanchipuram by Narsimhavarman II

c)       Vaikuntha Perumal temple at Kanchipuram by Nandivarman II

3)      Vesara- Also known as Chalukya or Deccan style. Its hybrid of above two styles. It retains the Vimana and Mandapa from Dravid style but the storeyed stages of the Vimana were compressed. Also the ornamental motifs repeated one above the other simulate the vertical bands of northern shikhara. There are multiple shrines arranged in same Mandapa hall.  The Hoysala temples of Belur and Halebidy are good examples of the same.

Further reading - http://historyofvisualart.blogspot.in/2013/06/posts-being-edited.html