Temple

This body of ours is the temple of God - Kathoupanishad

The structure of the temple represents the macrocosm (the universe) and the human body as microcosm (the inner space).Temples' ground plan is described as a symbolic miniature of a cosmos.

Temples are built based on Vedic Shastras with a firm concept and aesthetic sense. The procedure for building a temple is called as Karshanadi Pratisthantam. According to our Veda agamas a temple should be built in a square shape. It would be divided into 64 or 81 smaller squares, each squares represent a specific divinity. The square in the centre house the main deity of the temple. Image of the deity that used is called archa (by Panini- great grammarian).

                                                    Prambanan Shiva temple in Indonesia

                                                         Cross section of a main temple

                                                               Ground plan o f a temple

The archa or the deity is housed in garbhagraha (womb of the temple). The garbhagraha is crowned by a Vimana. Pillared halls called mandapas is place in front of the garbhagraha.  It is joint together with the main temple to form a hall for public rituals . There are few type of mandapams -  artha mandapam, asthana mandapam, kalyana mandapam, maha mandapam. The mandapam are bulit to use as balconies, assembly halls and auditoriums.There are also outer pillars and pilasters known as gopuras which are the getaways for the temples.

A Stapathi (traditional temple architect)  is the one who has full authority in delivering and interpreting the Hindu temple art and architectural elements. Currently, the iconic Dr. V. Ganapathi Stapathi and his grand nephew Santhanam Krishna Stapathi are patronizing the knowledge of Sthaptya Veda architecture.