Temple Architecture And Components Of A Temple

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Temple Architecture And Components Of A Temple
Chaitanya Kumari Writes informational articles on
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• The architecture of any temple is focused on
  creating a place where a connection can be
  established between humans and God. Its a place
  where people can grow spiritually, realizing that
  the ultimate goal of life is to go beyond
  materialistic things and experience the divine.
• The architectural aspects of a temple mirror the
  values and principles of Sanatana Dharma, as
  well. This particular write-up is going to
  succinctly speak of the salient points of this
  architecture and components of a temple.
• Temple design Components
• Let us now look at some components of temple
  design and structure.
• The place in any temple having the utmost
  sacredness is the Garbhagriha. This is because
  the idol of the presiding deity is present in
  Garbhagriha.
• After that, a mention needs to be made of
  Vimana, also known as Shikara. It is
  considered to stand for Mount Meru, which is a
  significant mountain in both Buddhism and
  Hinduism. The Vimana is the tallest tower of a
  temple, positioned directly along the temples
  main alignment. This tower is indicative of a
  souls journey in the direction of God.

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• There are several mystic diagrams in a temple
  that are called Yantra and Mandala patterns.
  Here, a special mention has to be made of a
  geometric diagram, Sri Yantra. Sri Yantra
  denotes the balance that has to be there between
  physical and spiritual planes.
• A Mandapa is another significant area in a
  temple. This is a pillared hall where people
  gather, and it has carvings of many deities and
  significant scenes from mythology.
• The Prakara, which consists of walls
  surrounding the temple, and an entrance tower
  known as Gopuram are prominent elements of the
  temple, as well.
• Major architectural styles
• Now, it wont be inappropriate to take a glance
  at the major architectural styles.
• Firstly, we have to mention the Nagara style,
  which is majorly seen in temples located in North
  India. Here, the shikhara resembles a bee hive.
  Towers with curvatures, detailed carvings, and
  mandapas with a limited area are a few aspects of
  the Nagara architectural style. Here, the Konark
  Sun Temple and the Khajuraho Temples can be
  mentioned as examples.

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• Then, we have the architectural style specific to
  temples in South India this is the Dravida
  style. In these sacred places, the gopurams are
  very tall and the complexes of temples are vast
  and spacious, too. Here, a prakara encloses a
  temple, and the inner sanctum is accessed through
  many gopurams. This style can be seen in Madurai
  Meenakshi Temple and Brihadeeswarar Temple.
• After that, the focus has to move on to the
  Vesara style, which is related to the temples in
  the Central and Deccan regions of India. Here,
  there is a mix of the Dravida and Nagara patterns
  incorporating features such as stepped pyramids
  and tall vimanas. Examples include the Badami
  Temples and the Pattadakal Temples.
• Several complex principles of engineering and
  mathematics are seen in the design and
  architecture of Indian temples. Here, it has to
  be emphasized that most of these temples were
  built several centuries before the start of
  civilization in many parts of the world.
• The distinctive geometry of Indian temples has
  inspired many modern architects and engineers,
  who look to these principles for guidance.
  Unsurprisingly, these temples attract numerous
  tourists from around the world. Visitors often
  express awe at the profound knowledge and
  craftsmanship of our ancestors.

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