Architecture
India's temple architecture is developed from the creativity of Sthapathis and Shilpis, both of whom belong to the larger community of craftsmen and artisans called Vishwakarma (caste).
Garba Griha (Garbha Graha)
A small Hindu temple consists of an inner sanctum, the garbha graha or womb-chamber/MainShrine, in which the idol or deity is housed, often called circumambulation, a congregation hall, and sometimes an antechamber and porch.
The garbhagriha is crowned by a tower-like shikara.
At the turn of the first millennium CE two major types of temples existed, the northern or Nagara style and the southern or Dravida type of temple. They are distinguishable by the shape and decoration of their shikhara (Dehejia 1997).
Nagara style: The tower/shikhar is beehive/curvilinear shaped.
Dravida style: The tower/shikhar consists of progressively smaller storeys of
pavilions.[5]
The earliest Nagar temples are in Karnataka (e.g. Galaganath at Pattadakal) and
some very early Dravida-style temples (e.g. Teli-ka-Mandir at Gwalior) are
actually in North India. A complex style termed Vesara was once common in
Karnataka which combined the two styles.
A complex style termed Vesara was once common in Karnataka which combined the
two styles. This may be seen in the classic Hindu temples of India and Southeast
Asia, such as Angkor Wat, Brihadisvara, Khajuraho, Mukteshvara, and Prambanan.
Glossary
In design/plan of a temple, several parts of Temple architecture are considered,
most common amongst these are:
[edit]Jagati
Jagati is a term used to refer a raised surface, platform or terrace upon which
the temple is placed.[7]
[edit]Antarala
Antarala is a small antichamber or foyer between the garbhagriha/ garbha graha
(shrine) and the mandapa, more typical of north Indian temples.[8][9]
[edit]Mandapa
Mandapa (or Mandapam) (मंडप in Hindi/Sanskrit, also spelled mantapa or mandapam)
is a term to refer to pillared outdoor hall or pavilion for public rituals.[10]
Ardha Mandapam — intermediary space between the temple exterior and the garba
griha (sanctum sanctorum) or the other mandapas of the temple
Asthana Mandapam — assembly hall
Kalyana Mandapam — dedicated to ritual marriage celebration of the Lord with
Goddess
Maha Mandapam — (Maha=big) When there are several mandapas in the temple, it is
the biggest and the tallest. It is used for conducting religious discourses.
Nandi Mandapam (or Nandi mandir) - In the Shiva temples, pavilion with a statue
of the sacred bull Nandi, looking at the statue or the lingam of Shiva.
[edit]Sreekovil or Garbhagriha
Sreekovil or Garbhagriha the part in which the idol of the deity in a Hindu
temple is installed i.e.Sanctum sanctorum. The area around is referred as to the
Chuttapalam, which generally includes other deities and the main boundary wall
of the temple. Typically there is also a Pradikshna area in the Sreekovil and
one outside, where devotees can take Pradakshinas.[9]
[edit]Śikhara or Vimanam
Śikhara or Vimanam literally means "mountain peak", refer to the rising tower
over the sanctum sanctorum where the presiding deity is enshrined is the most
prominent and visible part of a Hindu temples.
[edit]Amalaka
An Amalaka is a stone disk, often with ridges, that sits on a temple's main
tower (Sikhara).[9]
[edit]Gopuram
Gopuras (or Gopurams) are the elaborate gateway-towers of south Indian temples,
not to be confused with Shikharas.
[edit]Urushringa
An urushringa is a subsidiary Sikhara, lower and narrower, tied against the main
sikhara.
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INDEX : Religion November 27, 2015 01:14:02 PM |
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