The mahamandapa is an architectural element found in the Nagara architectural style's Khajuraho variant.
The Nagara style, which is mostly found in northern India,
emphasizes verticality, with the entire temple building culminating in a single
highest point; in the Khajuraho variant, the entire structure gradually leads
up to the central tower, much like foothills lead up to the mountains, with the
central tower's peak directly over the temple's primary image.
The mahamandapa refers to the temple's main entrance-hall,
which was separated from the main sanctuary (garbhagrha) by a small vestibule
known as the antarala in this architecture.
Discover more about Hindu Art, Architecture, and Iconography here.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.
