Gupta

Following the widespread expansion of Budhhist and Jain structures, a large number of rock-cut cave temples dedicated to Hindu deities started appearing across the Gangetic plain. The Gupta period witnessed the emergence of the free-standing Hindu temple. These temples were often made of brick, rubble, and mortar, and less frequently from stone masonry, using minimal mortar. These free-standing temples would feature a Square sanctum (garbhagriha), a small mandapa or porch, and simple shikharas (spires) or flat roofs. This period witnessed a continuation of the stone carvings which used to adorn the cave and rock-cut structures of the past, and introduced the concept of axial planning. The Dashavatara Temple in Deogarh, Temple No. 17 in Sanchi, the brick temple of Bhitargaon near Kanpur, the Lakshmana temple of Sirpur, and the Tigawa Temple are examples of this early temple form.