You know why you feel so tired ‘though you haven’t...
Read MoreDEVELOPMENT OF TEMPLES
GREETINGS TO ALL!!
Hello, I am Mridula Singh I am an architect by profession.
“To each, his faith” Continuing with my writings, I hereby, bring my second piece, Development of Temples…
As many religions are there in the world, so are the numerous ways to remember the Supreme One. While Muslims offer their namaz collectively in groups in masjids, Hindus worship individually.
Sanatan Dharam recommends the concept of: “one atma and one paratma”
So, the earliest Hindu temples built were in the form of a square rooms with the deity being located in the center. This room is known as garbha griha. The word gabha griha has its origin in Sanskrit and literally means womb chamber. “
With the passage of time, a porch-like structure on pillars was added in front of garbha griha to serve as reception or entrance. This porch is called mandapa. Garbha griha is connected to mandapa through a gallery called antralaya.
Later another small porch was added in front of the larger porch; small porch being called ardha mandapa functioning as an entrance and larger porch being called mandapa functioning as a platform for other religious activities like singing hymns, bhajans etc
Still later, a still larger porch, maha mandapa was added to the temple complex. We enter the temple through the entrance porch, ardha manadapa; then we move to a smaller porch, manadapa, where smaller religious activities take place; then we move to maha mandapa, where main religious activities take place; then we move to antralaya and garbha griha.
In course of time, other accessories like nat mandir or bhog mandir were added, so were the shrines of other gods and goddesses to the main temple. In southern temples, elaborate gateways called gopurams were added.
As temples became the hub of economic and social activities, the temple complex became more elaborate with more than one gopuram, large open areas enclosed for local gatherings and artisan markets, water tanks for harvesting water for locals, rest rooms for pilgrims, and places for imparting education.
Ram Mandir being constructed in Ayodhaya has the main shrine, garbha griha; group of three mandaps, the maha mandapa, mandapa and ardha mandapa and two more mandapa for prathana and kirtan on two sides of the main maha mandapa.
So, this is all for now. In the next piece, I will write how the shape of the temple represents the abode of God in human shape. Till then, rest, enjoy and have lots of fun…
Thank You
