This paper focuses on how architectural forms adapt to regional changes, rather than being categorized solely based on religion and cultural practices. To discuss this argument, we will take the example of the Kamakhya Devi temple in Assam, India.

This institute of worship showcases a diverse architectural history, incorporating forms coming from various practices followed around different regions in Assam and India.

Colonial historiographies tended to categorize architecture stylistically, further dividing these categories along religious lines. However, a close look at some of the examples such as the Kamakhya Devi temple shows multiple regional influences that trouble these categories.

Kamakhya devi temple 

Kamakhya is one of the oldest examples of a spiritual and religious center located in the city of Guwahati, Assam. The city of Guwahati, often called the ‘gateway to the region of north east indian subcontinent’ has its distinctive architecture. The temple showcases a blend of diverse architectural styles, challenging the colonial approach of categorizing buildings. These stylistic elements coming from various regions shape the form of the structure which may have suitable affordances for any culture or religion. Over the years the temple was shaped with different regional forms which makes it unique. 

Kamakhya temple is famous for its spiritual and religious background in the northeast temple architectural history. The temple celebrates the idea of fertility which is reflected in its spatial form and expression. 

The Nilachal form 

Nilachal Hill also known as the Blue Hill is located in the western parts of Guwahati, Assam. The hill has one of the most sacred Shakti peethas among the four Adi Shakti Peethas of goddess Shakti inscribed in Hindu scriptures.

The temple of Kamakhya Devi situated on the top of Nilachal Hill, is the first experiment of architecture within the region dated around the 8th to 9th century. The Nilachal form of architecture came into existence during the rule of the Mleccha dynasty when the Kamakhya was built. This architecture has been named as Nilachali style of architecture which is often seen in this region of Assam. 

 Nilachal is a style of architecture used to build mostly temples in the belts of Assam. 

These are characterized by a set of different structural forms such as a bulbous polygonal dome over a cruciform Ratha-type bada.

It is highly relative to the Nagara style of architecture which is flourishing in the northern regions of the Indian architecture. 

Nagara style of architecture 

Nagara is a style of temple architecture prevalent in the northern region of India. This style was spread across the subcontinents. The categorization is mainly done based on its tall pyramidal-shaped tower called shikhara, the bulbous finale called kalasha, and the high-raised platform on which it is built. 

Basic components of the nagara form

Shikhara

Mandapa

Garbhagriha

Vimana

Amalaka or Kalasha

comparison and similarities between Nagara and Nilachal style of temple architecture 

The styles having originated in the northern region of India, have few common stylistic and spatial components.

1. Sculpting or carving on the walls. 

2. Raised platform above which the main structure stands 

3. The basic arrangement of spatial components such as mandapas and garbhagrihas.

4.the organization of this spatial component in the structure is according to the Sun's direction.

5. Use of the same stylistic elements such as Kalasha, flower carvings, Shikhara, and Badas.

6. The Nilachal type architecture uses different forms of iterative roof, then that of the basic type of roofs in the Nagara style.

7. the form of the Nandi mandapa in the Nagar style is similar to that of the mandapa with the movable idol in the Nilachal style of architecture.

History

The temple is dated around 2000 years old, during such a long period the temple complex went through numerous destruction and reconstruction activities. The temple was first destroyed during the invasion of the Kamata kingdom. Later on, the ruins of the temple were rediscovered and revived as the site of worship by the king of the Koch dynasty in the 1500s. at present the structure is dated around 500 years old and built by the Ahom king. The style of architecture developed under the Koch kingdom and later became popular during the period of the Ahom dynasty.

Contextual form 

Large human settlements concentrated around the complex of the temple on the edge of the Nilachal hill mostly street vendors, lodges, restaurants, and residential buildings with a large part of the complex covered by dense vegetation giving a sense of a tourist site more than a worship place. The streets going up to the complex provide various junctions for the devotees and visitors to gather or rest. entering the main complex of the temple we can witness the open space which is locally called mandir Prangan, mostly used for the practice of Pradakshina around the temple forming a place that can be occupied in different ways. The main structure comprises four chambers aligned from east to west, which follows the basic idea of a temple having an arrangement of the same structural components but in different styles of regional architecture. 

Type

The structural form of the temple follows the same typology as other mandapa but the interesting thing over here is that they always differ from each other because the form changes according to the region the structure is built in, and this style of components can also be found in the structures serving for a different group of community within the same or other region. Kamakhya and many other structures all around different regions of India have some resemblances within their architectural styles. For example, kamakhya has the style of ath chala, and ranghar style roof incorporated in it, which may not be found in the same region but got inspired and borrowed from the different structural forms in different regions. 

spatial formulation of the temple

Nata Mandira- The westernmost chamber of the temple having an apsidal frontage and ridged roof inspired by the roof type of the Ranghar form of architecture introduced during the Ahom kingdom. The roof of this form style resembles the back of the elephant and is called Gaja prishtha.  

This style of ranghar roofs is mostly found in the region of Bengal irrespective of structures with different belongings of communities. The roof on the top of the chamber has a sculpture of a garuda facing the eastern side of the complex. This idea of sculptures is mostly found in the northern region of India whereas the southern region has the practice of carving within the structures. As the structure was reconstructed, due to a lack of skilled artisans and failed attempts to restore old form the structure was built with brick masonry. Natamandira provides a large hall space that allows hosting bhajan, prayers, meetings, etc.

This style of ranghar roofs is mostly found in the region of Bengal irrespective of structures with different belongings of communities. The roof on the top of the chamber has a sculpture of a garuda facing the eastern side of the complex. This idea of sculptures is mostly found in the northern region of India whereas the southern region has the practice of carving within the structures. As the structure was reconstructed, due to a lack of skilled artisans and failed attempts to restore old form the structure was built with brick masonry. Natamandira provides a large hall space that allows hosting bhajan, prayers, meetings, etc.

Pancharatna- This is a square-shaped chamber connected to the Nata mandira on the eastern side. The roof on the top is a flat structure with five shikhara supported on it, one in the middle and the remaining four arranged along the square format around it. Two gates allow the inner moment within the temple, one on the eastern side connecting Nata Mandira and the other on the western side connecting Calanta. This hall is used for hosting events and rituals for praising the goddess.

Calanta- the square-shaped chamber made by the Atchala type of architectural form is as spacious as the Pancharatna.  The north gate is used by the visitors and devotees, the south gate is used for the offerings to the goddess, the east gate connects to the garbhagriha and the west gate connects to the Pancharatna.

The chamber houses a movable idol god and goddess. The structure of the temple has a gabled roof which is locally called Chala, thus the gabled roof with eight faces of pyramidal structure is called “ath chala” or eight-face roof. This form of roof was a regional style of temple architecture in Bengal.

Garbhagriha- The Garbha houses the main idol form of the deity. The narrow passage formed by the steep steps made up of stones connects Calanta to the small room below ground level with very little light source in it, locally called Pitha-Sthana.

conclusion

The idea of regionality provides a vast and bigger approach towards the development of the forms of the structures. As in the case of Kamakhya temple the form(shape) is developed under many architectural influences and different styles of architecture coming from various regions allow the diversification of exploring the styles and the form of structure in a better way.