TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE OF INDIAN TEMPLE

TEMPLE

“The temple is nature’s womb, similar to a mother’s womb, and also the face of the five elements. Purity, like an infant’s smile, is a treasure trove of all positive sentiments, a symbol of our forefathers’ faith in goodness and well-being.” _ Deepalakshmi

A temple (from the Latin templum) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice.The word comes from Ancient Rome, where a templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word “template”, a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out on the ground by the augur.

What are the Functions and Importance of Hindu Temples?

Unlike other religions, Hindus are not required to attend their temple on a regular basis. Temples are more frequently visited on auspicious occasions and as part of pilgrimages than on a regular basis. This is due to the fact that Hindus have personal shrines where they can perform house puja, which is considered part of their dharma, whereas temple worship is not. Hindus in England, on the other hand, are significantly more likely to visit the temple on a regular basis since it allows them to interact with the country’s dispersed Hindu community. This is significant because the temple provides a social setting that helps to maintain community links and prevent Hindus from feeling isolated.The temple has a lot of symbolic value and may perhaps be termed a huge murti. It allows the worshipper to concentrate on God and develop a relationship with him. The priest-led worship strengthens this bond by serving as a bridge between the worshipper and God, allowing them to come together. This is not to argue that the temple is the only site where Hindus believe they can meet with God; Hindus believe God is everywhere and in everything, so they can meet with him at any time. The temple, on the other hand, is a place where the worshipper can be free of the distractions of regular life and focus solely on God. It is constructed according to vedic plans, and the shape is symbolic as well.

Mount Kailash, a Himalayan peak, is commonly represented by the tall central tower that towers over the centre area (considered the home of the Gods). The horizontal building represents God lying down, while the tall building represents God standing. This increases their murtis’ potential. The walls, especially in the garbha-griha, are said to be consecrated by God, making it a very holy and spiritual site. Worshippers keep them holy and treat them with reverence. For example, shoes are removed before entering since leather is considered impure, and thoughts are cleansed before entering the inner sanctuary to guarantee that nothing but God is the focus. Furthermore, sacred sites are frequently associated with myths, enhancing their value.

WHY THEY WERE BUILT TEMPLES?

King built temples to express their devotion to God as well as their authority and wealth; tall shikaras and temple architecture demonstrate the kingdom’s richness. Temples served as kingdom archives, preserving land records and dynasty treasures .The temple was a miniature model of the planet that the monarch and his friends ruled over. As they worshipped the gods together in the royal temples, it appeared as if they were bringing the gods’ righteous rule to earth. Kings built temples, but they frequently targeted these structures when attacking one another’s kingdoms. When the Pandyan King Shrimara Shrivallabha invaded Sri Lanka and conquered King Sena in the early ninth century, he grabbed all the riches, including a gold-encrusted Buddha statue and other golden images from various monasteries. This was met with vengeance by King Sena II. Temples were frequently the centre of townships that sprang up around them. These were hubs for the manufacturing of handicrafts. They were not simply places of worship, but also the centre of social, economic, and cultural life. The most notable of the temple crafts during the Chola period was the creation of bronze images.

ARCHITECTURE OF HINDU TEMPLE

Though the basic essence of the Hindu temple stays the same, with the key characteristic of an inner sanctum, the garbha griha or womb-chamber, where the major Murti or image of a god is placed in a plain barren cell, Hindu temple architecture has various types of style. This chamber frequently features an open area meant for rituals and prayers to be performed in a clockwise round. There are usually numerous constructions and buildings around this chamber, which could also cover many acres in the most extreme circumstances. The garbhagriha is capped on the outside with a tower-like shikhara, also known as the vimana in the south.A circumambulatory route for parikrama, a mandapa congregation hall, and occasionally an antarala antechamber and porch between garbhagriha and mandapa are all included in the temple structure. Other mandapas or buildings, connected or independent, may be found in major temples, as well as smaller temples inside the courtyard.
The architecture of Hindu temples displays a fusion of arts, dharma ideals, values, and the Hindu way of life. The temple is a Tirtha—pilgrimage—site. From fire to water, from images of nature to deities, from the feminine to the masculine, from kama to artha, from the fleeting sounds and incense smells to Purusha—the eternal nothingness yet universality—all of the cosmic elements that create and celebrate life in the Hindu pantheon are present in Hindu temple architecture. The shape and meanings of architectural features of a Hindu temple are intended to serve as a link between man and the divine, assisting his path toward spiritual understanding and truth, which is known as moksha.
Shilpa Shastras and Vastu Sastras define the architectural principles of Hindu temples in India.  The Hindu culture has emphasised aesthetic independence among temple builders, and architects have used other precise geometries and mathematical principles in Mandir design to depict the Hindu way of life.

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