Question

Discuss in short some of the earliest Hindu temples.

Answer 1

(1) Along with the Buddhist stupas, we also find some of the earliest Hindu temples. Deities such as Vishnu, Shiva, and Durga were worshipped in these shrines.
For example: the Brick Temple at Bhitargaon in Uttar Pradesh.

(2) Bhitargaon's Hindu temples were built about 1500 years ago. These temples were built of baked brick and stone.

(3) The most important part of the temple was the room known as the garbhagriha. Here the image of the chief deity was placed. It was here that priests performed rituals, and devotees offered worship to the deity.

(4) Generally, a tower, known as the shikhara, was built on top of the garbhagriha.

(5) Most of the Hindu temples also had a space known as the Mandapa, where people could assemble.

(6) In south India Mahabalipuram and Aihole, two towns were very famous for their temples. Some of the finest stone temples were built in these towns.
Three of these temple are ---
(1) the Rathas,
(2) Shore Temple,
(3) Durga Temple.
These temples were built about 1400 years ago.

(7) Monolith or single stone temples are also very beautiful and impressive. These temples were carved out of a huge, single piece of stone.
- Making of these was very different from building with bricks.
- Brick structures are built up by adding layers from the bottom upwards.
In Monolith temples the stone cutters had to work from top downwards.