The Sikhara of the Raghunath Temple at Jammu, India is built in the "Nagar" style of temple architecture.

Sikhara, a Sanskrit word translating literally to "mountain peak", refers to the rising tower in the Hindu temple architecture of North India. Sikhara over the sanctum sanctorum where the presiding deity is enshrined is the most prominent and visible part of a Hindu temple of North India. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (530x865, 84 KB) Summary A front view with Sikhara of Raghunath Temple, Jammu, India, dedicated to Rama - picture taken by me in 1988. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (530x865, 84 KB) Summary A front view with Sikhara of Raghunath Temple, Jammu, India, dedicated to Rama - picture taken by me in 1988. ... A view (1988) of Sikhara of Raghunath Temple, Jammu, India. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Sanskrit ( संस्कृतम् ; pronunciation : ) is an Indo-European classical language of India and a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. ... A Hindu (archaic Hindoo), as per modern definition is an adherent of philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, the predominant religious, philosophical and cultural system of the Indian subcontinent and the island of Bali. ... A map showing North India North India is a geographic and linguistic-cultural region of India. ... The sanctum sanctorum is the area inside a Hindu temple complex where the main deity is installed. ...

In south India, the equivalent term for "Sikhara" is "Vimanam". These are not to be confused with the elaborate gateway-towers of south Indian temples, called "Gopurams", which are perhaps the most prominent features of those temples. A map of South India, its rivers, regions and water bodies. ... Gopuram of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam Gopuram, a prominent feature of the Hindu temple architecture of South India, is the rising tower at the entrance of a temple. ...

Vimanam/Sikhara as against Gopuram in the Dravidian style of temple architecture. The temple at Tirupati, India.
The gold-plated tower in background is the Vimanam/Sikhara (under which the idol is enshrined), whereas the taller tower in fore-ground is the Gopuram, built over the temple gateway.

Image File history File links Tirumala_svtemple. ... Image File history File links Tirumala_svtemple. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

Major styles

Among several styles of Sikhara's that obtain in Hindu temple architecture, the two most common ones are the "Dravidian" style prevalent in south India and the "Nagar" style prevalent almost everywhere else. A Hindu (archaic Hindoo), as per modern definition is an adherent of philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, the predominant religious, philosophical and cultural system of the Indian subcontinent and the island of Bali. ...

While both styles feature a tall and tapering tower, the dravidian style is highly ornate, as seen at the Tirupati temple (left). The "Nagar" style (right) is simpler and consists of a conical dome. Very often, the cone-like shape is repeated several times, beginning with a broad base and tapering to the top; here is a fine example. In every style of Sikhara/Vimanam, the structure culminates with a "Kalasham", or sacred brass receptacle, at its peak.

See also

• Gopuram
• Stupa
• Hindu temple architecture

Gopuram of Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam Gopuram, a prominent feature of the Hindu temple architecture of South India, is the rising tower at the entrance of a temple. ... A stupa in Tibet A stupa (from the Sanskrit) is a type of Buddhist structure found across the Indian subcontinent, Asia and increasingly in the Western World. ... Temple architecture in the Hindu tradition is connected to astronomy and sacred geometry. ...

External link

• The Sikhara of the Lingaraja temple at Bhubaneshwar, Orissa