Ayodhya Ram Mandir is built in the "nagara" style. What is this unique style?

January 22 is a special date for everyone in India, as it is the date of the inauguration of Ayodhya's Ram Mandir. The beautiful complex of the temple architecture is designed by Chanrakant Sompura and his son Ashish. The style of the temple architecture is known as the "Nagara" style. What is this unique style? Let's understand.

The look of the Nagara style

It is on the garbha griha, the sanctum sanctorum where the idol of the Lord Rama deity will sit. The garbha griha comes with a raised plinth. The garbha griha is the part of the temple that is of the utmost sacredness. Over the garbha griha stand the shikhara.

The shikhara which translates to the "mountain peak" is actually a distinguishable part of Nagara-style architecture.

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In the Hindu tradition, these shikhara are man-made representations of the cosmological order.

One may also find a circumambulatory passage surrounding the garbha griha of the temple made in a Nagara style. In a typical Nagara style, there also exist mandapas on the same axis. What makes the Nagara style even more beautiful are the elaborate reliefs and murals on the walls of the architecture.

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 Do all Nagara-style temples look the same?

While there are a few distinguishing factors of a Nagara-style temple, not all Nagara-styled temples look the same. In fact, there exists huge variation in the temples on the basis of the geography and time period in which the piece of art is designed. For instance, one may find variations in the shikhara. Therefore, there exist five modes of the architectural style of Nagara. These modes are the Latina, Valabhi, Phamasana, Bhumija, and Sherkhari.

The Valabhi and Phamsana are linked with the Early Nagara style. Then, after some time of their emergence, the Latina style emerged. The Latina is the style in which there exists a slightly curved tower of the shikhara. Then, in the tenth century came the Bhumija and Shekhari styles. The Bhumija style comprises miniature spires and has a grid-like structure on each face. The Shekhari shape has spirelets and sub-spires. 

It was in the fifth century CE when the Nagara style of temple architecture came into being. During this time, the rule of the Gupta Empire prevailed in the north India. It was during this period only that the Dravida style emerged in southern India as well.

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