NCERT Class 11 Fine Art An Introduction to Indian Art Part-I: Chapter 6 — Temple Architecture and Sculpture
This chapter from NCERT's 'An Introduction to Indian Art Part-I' for Class 11 Fine Art delves into the religious nature of surviving art and architectural remains from Ancient and Medieval India. It highlights that while domestic art has largely perished due to materials like wood and clay, religious structures, primarily Hindu temples, have endured. The chapter introduces various types of temples across India, noting that religious shrines were also built for local cults but have vanished. It discusses the construction of Brahmanical temples and images of gods, often decorated with divine figures and Puranic myths. The text categorizes temple shrines into three types: sandhara (with ambulatory path), nirandhara (without), and sarvatobhadra (accessible from all sides). Key early temple sites like Deogarh and the Shiva temple at Nachna-Kuthara are mentioned, emphasizing the narrative representation of Brahmanical religion through sculptures. This chapter provides a foundational understanding of early Indian temple architecture and sculpture for CBSE students.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 11 |
| Subject | Fine Art |
| Book | An Introduction to Indian Art Part-I |
| Chapter | Chapter 6 — Temple Architecture and Sculpture |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 314 |
Learning outcomes
- Identify the religious nature of surviving ancient and medieval Indian art and architecture.
- Differentiate between various types of Hindu temples (sandhara, nirandhara, sarvatobhadra).
- Recognize the significance of Puranic myths in temple sculpture.
- Understand the reasons for the perishability of domestic art compared to stone temples.
- Identify key early temple sites and examples like Nachna-Kuthara.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Devalaya | Temple (in Hindi) |
| Deokula | Temple (in Hindi) |
| Mandir | Temple (in Hindi) |
| Kovil | Temple (in Tamil) |
| Deol | Temple (in Gujarati) |
| Deosthanam | Temple (in Sanskrit) |
| Prasada | Temple or palace (in Sanskrit) |
| Stupa | A dome-shaped structure erected over relics |
| Brahmanical | Relating to Brahmanism, an early form of Hinduism |
| Puranas | Ancient Indian religious texts containing stories about gods and goddesses |
| Sandhara | Temple type with an ambulatory path (pradikshinapatha) |
| Nirandhara | Temple type without an ambulatory path |
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Practice questions
- Why do most surviving art and architectural remains from Ancient and Medieval India tend to be religious? Answer: Domestic dwellings and their contents were often made of perishable materials like wood and clay, which have not survived over time, unlike stone religious structures.
- What are the three kinds of temple shrines mentioned in the chapter? Answer: The three kinds are sandhara (with pradikshinapatha), nirandhara (without pradikshinapatha), and sarvatobhadra (accessible from all sides).
- What role did the Puranas play in Brahmanical temples? Answer: Myths mentioned in the Puranas became part of the narrative representation of the Brahmanical religion, often depicted in the temples.
- Name two important temple sites from the early period mentioned in the text. Answer: Two important sites mentioned are Deogarh and Nachna-Kuthara (Shiva temple).
Practice MCQs
Q1. Which of the following materials used for domestic dwellings has largely perished over time?
Explanation: Domestic dwellings were often made from materials like wood and clay, which are perishable and have not survived from ancient and medieval periods.
Q2. The term 'devalaya' is a common word for a temple in which language?
Explanation: 'Devalaya' is mentioned as a term for temple in English context, often used in Hindi speaking regions.
Q3. A temple shrine with an ambulatory path (pradikshinapatha) is known as:
Explanation: The chapter defines a 'sandhara' type shrine as one that includes a pradikshinapatha or ambulatory path.
Q4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a type of temple shrine?
Explanation: The chapter explicitly mentions Sandhara, Nirandhara, and Sarvatobhadra as types of temple shrines. Mandapika is not listed among these.
Q5. The Shiva temple at Nachna-Kuthara belongs to which century?
Explanation: The text mentions the Shiva temple at Nachna-Kuthara, Madhya Pradesh, as being from the fifth century CE.
Frequently asked questions
Why are most surviving ancient Indian art and architectural remains religious?
Religious structures were often built with durable materials like stone, whereas domestic dwellings were made from perishable materials like wood and clay, which have not survived.
What does the term 'sandhara' refer to in temple architecture?
A 'sandhara' type temple shrine is one that includes a 'pradikshinapatha', which is an ambulatory path around the main shrine.
What is the significance of Puranic myths in Brahmanical temples?
Myths from the Puranas were incorporated into the narrative representations of Brahmanical religion, often depicted through sculptures and imagery within the temples.
Besides Hindu temples, what other religious shrines existed in ancient India?
Religious shrines were also made for many local cults in villages and forest areas, though these have largely vanished due to their construction materials.
What are the three categories of temple shrines mentioned in the chapter?
The three categories are sandhara (with ambulatory path), nirandhara (without ambulatory path), and sarvatobhadra (accessible from all sides).
Name an important early temple site in Madhya Pradesh mentioned in the chapter.
The Shiva temple at Nachna-Kuthara in Madhya Pradesh, dating to the fifth century CE, is mentioned as an important early temple site.
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NCERT Class 11 Fine Art — An Introduction to Indian Art Part-I — Chapter 6 — Temple Architecture and Sculpture. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.