Mkteshvara Temple Analysis

The first building analysed is the Mukteshvara temple was built between the years 950 and 975 in the sacred city of Bhubaneshwar. Bhubaneshwar is the artistic and religious capital of Orissa. Orissa has a great and valuable heritage of Indian temples in particular of northern-style temple architecture of which the Mukteshvara temple is an example. In this case the temple is dedicated to Siva.
The second temple discussed is the Airavatesvara temple, which was built in the town of Darasuram in the 12th century. Along with other temples of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Alike the Mukteshvara temple it is also dedicated to Siva.
The Airavatesvara temple is referred to as one of the Great Living Chola Temples

The Nature of the Ornament
I.a. The Mukteshvara Temple

In order to put the discussion of the Mukteshvara temple in context it is firstly, necessary to provide north Indian temple architecture is also referred to as the nagara style.
The sanctum (garbhagriha) of nagara temples is built on a square floor plan. The rooms aligned to this sanctum, which can have a square or rectangular floor plan, are referred to as mandapas.
Mandapas are covered with corbeled roofs with successive grooves (pithas) while the garbhagriha rises into a monumental tower, the shikhara. The convex shape of the tower is characteristic to north Indian temples. On the top of the tower rests an amalaka, which is a flat cylindrical shade stone. An urn-shape stands on top of the amalaka which is known to be ‘the jar for the nectar of immortality (America)’.
The sides of the shikhara are ornate with horizontal projections (rate). These are organised in sections which divide the sides of the tower in three (triratha), five (pancharatha), seven (saptaratha) or nine (navaratha) parts.
Finally, nagara temples are characterised for their almost complete lack of ornamentation on the inside of the garbhagriha in contrast to the extensively sculpted outside