Question

free standing temples are different from the rock cut temples by

Answer 1

Rock cut temples were built by carving out of a rock. So, a rock was carved out and cut until it gained the required shape.

Panch rathas complex at Mahabalipuram is a good example. Notice the build in the Dharamaraj Ratha:

The structural temple architecture began after the rock cut architecture. The rock cut architecture, as far as I know, saw its climax in Narasimha group of Pallava art of Dravidian School.

The structural temples were built using blocks of rock instead of a whole block and this became a popular architectural style since in rock cut architecture, carving out a whole rock was tedious.

Here is an example:

Shore temple at Mahabalipuram constructed by Rajasimha group of Pallava Art.