Consider the following temple architectural features:

1. Rekhapida

2. Pidhadeul

3. Khakra

To which of the following states do the above temple architectural features belong?

Solution

Nagara style of temples can be found in Odisha. The main architectural features of Odisha temples are classified into three orders, i.e. rekhapida, pidhadeul, and khakra. • Rekha in Oriya means a straight line. It is a tall building with a shape of sugarloaf, looking like a Shikhara. It covers and protects the sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha). Example: The Shikhara of the Lingaraja Temple in Bhubaneswar • Pidhadeul: It is a square building, typically with a pyramid-shaped roof, rather like the vimana towers over the sanctuaries of temples in southern Dravidian architecture. For the halls or service rooms of the temple. Example: The Jaga Mohan (assembly hall) of the Sun temple in Konarak • Khakra deula is a rectangular building with a truncated pyramid-shaped roof, like the gopuras. The name comes from Khakharu (=canteen (bottle)) because of the shape of the roof. The temples of the feminine deities as Shakti are the temple of that type. Example: Baitala Deula, Bhubaneswar (dedicated to Chamunda).