The Hindu Temple: an introduction
Discover more about the development, history and sacred geometry of the Hindu temple in this weekend course which includes a guided visit to a local temple.
Choose a starting date
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
- Start Date: 04 Oct 2025End Date: 11 Oct 2025Sat (Daytime): 10:30 - 13:30In PersonFull fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
This course introduces you to the history, the development and the religious ideas, beliefs and sacred texts connected with the purpose and form of temple in India.
Please note the class times: the Saturday session will be from 10.30 to 16.00; the museum visit on Sunday will be from 11.00 to 14.00. There is wheelchair access to the back of the temple.
What will we cover?
The main topics to be covered are:
- The short history of temple building in India from circa 4th century AD to the 11th c AD. A small group of temples from recent colonial and contemporary times will also be briefly covered.
- The religious ideas, beliefs and sacred texts connected with the purpose and form of the temple in India.
- Some iconographical sculptural programmes often placed around and inside temples.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Understand the symbolism, purpose and meaning of the Hindu temple in a ritual setting.
- Be familiar with the two main architectural styles of temple architecture in Northern and Southern India.
- Understand how and why religious icons are placed in and around the temple and temple complex.
- Have a basic grasp of the main developments of Indian temple architecture from circa 401 AD to 1100 AD.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for those who have completed Art and Architecture of Ancient India. However, it can also be enjoyed by those completely new to the religious arts of India. Complete beginners are advised to read a brief survey history of Indian art, though this is not compulsory. Indian Art: A Concise History by Roy C. Craven, Thames and Hudson: London, 1997 will provide a broad introduction. Fluency in English is required for this course.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course will be taught by a mixture of lectures (using slides), short films and an on-site visit to a London temple.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
A pen and notebook may be useful for both days of the course.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Taught by the same tutor: The Amaravati stupa: an ancient, colonial and contemporary history | Culture, history & humanities course | London | City Lit
Also suggested are any other Ancient civilisation or ancient language courses, Sanskrit, Hindi.
Arjmand is a teacher and researcher in the fields of contemporary Indigenous Australian art and South Asian art. She has been teaching at City Lit since 2016. She holds Honours degrees in Political Science and Law from the Australian National University and an MA in Art History from SOAS University of London. She was Tutor of Indian art for many years for the Diploma of Asian Art programme at SOAS. In 2024 she was awarded a PhD from SOAS University of London. Her doctoral thesis examined how private galleries in London have represented contemporary Indigenous Australian art over a thiry year period. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2020.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.