shikhara

The shikhara is the rising superstructure that crowns the sanctum (garbhagriha) of many Hindu temple buildings, especially in the North Indian Nagara architectural tradition. The word comes from Sanskrit śikhara, meaning peak, crest, or summit, and it functions as the principal vertical element that defines a temple’s silhouette and symbolic axis.

In typical forms, the shikhara sits above the garbhagriha and is often finished with a kalasha (a pot-like finial) and an amalaka (a perforated disk). The main shikhara is frequently accompanied by a procession of smaller subsidiary spires called urushringa or mini-shikharas, which ornament the upper façade and contribute to the temple’s complex skyline. The shape of the shikhara varies by region, ranging from curvilinear (becoming a characteristic beehive-like profile in many Nagara temples) to more angular or pyramidal forms in other local styles.

Regional variation has shaped how the sanctum’s tower is conceived. In North Indian Nagara architecture, the curvilinear rekha deula or similar forms are common. In South Indian Dravidian architecture, the sanctuary tower is typically called a vimana and tends to be a stepped or pyramidal structure distinct from the Nagara shikhara. Nevertheless, the shikhara remains a central symbol of the temple’s cosmic axis and Mount Meru-inspired ascent.

Notable examples include the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple at Khajuraho and the Lingaraja Temple in Bhubaneswar, both known for their prominent central towers. In Tamil Nadu, the vimana over the sanctum is a hallmark of major temples, illustrating the regional variation in sacred tower design.