The Vamana Temple of Madhya Pradesh, the Taranga Jain temple of Gujarat, and the Konark Sun Temple of Odisha, have miles between them physically, but are not too dissimilar as they may seem to an onlooker. Sharing their roots in the Nagara Architecture style the three monuments each represent a unique school within the superset, viz, The Chandela School, or Khajuraho School, The Solanki School and The Odisha School,, respectively.
The Nagara Style is a Hindu Architectural style, which can be traced back to the Guptas, or at least the Post-Gupta period. The Post-Gupta period, scholars say, saw the smaller geographical regions being broken up to form principalities, and a number of ruling families came up which controlled them. The Prtiharas took up from where the Guptas left, during the 8th and 9th centuries. Then came the Solankis of north-west India. Later the illustrious Guhila’s of Mewar extended their influence as well as the Nagara style.
The three major schools of Nagara Temples are:
- Odisha School – The most obvious characteristic trait is the Shikara which extends vertically before curving inwards at the top. The main type is square while the upper reaches are circular. These temples have intricately patterned surfaces and normally open interiors. Unlike Nagara temples of the north, most Odisha temples have boundary walls. These are some important features; While the exterior walls were elaborately decorated with excellent sculptures, the interior walls were plain. The roof of the porch was supported by iron girders rather than pillars. They had roofs that dramatically curved inward from nearly vertical.
- Chandel School – Unlike the Odishan style, these temples are considered as a single unit and have Shikaras that are curved from bottom to top. There are a number of miniatures Shikaras arising from the central tower and towers that slowly rise up to the main tower cap both the patios and halls. Some important features are; These temples have intricate carvings that adorned both the interior and exterior walls. The sculptures frequently have sensual themes and were inspired by Vatsyayana’s Kamasutra. Sandstone made up the temples’ construction.
- Solanki School - These temples in particular frequently have very low domes with extremely detailed rosette carvings on the inside. Another distinguishing feature is the intricately carved "flying" arch-like features that appear between the pillars and contact the horizontal beam above in the middle. These are entirely ornamental and serve no structural use. The style is distinguishable from other north Indian temple styles of the time on the exteriors by the fact that the external walls of the temples have been built by an increasing number of projections and recesses, accommodating sharply carved statues in niches. These are typically positioned above the lowest molding bands in overlaid registers.
