Floor Plan Parts Of Hindu Temple Architecture
A hindu temple design follows a geometrical design called vastu purusha mandala.
Floor plan parts of hindu temple architecture. The design especially the floor plan of the part of a hindu temple around the sanctum or shrine follows a geometrical design called vastu purusha mandala. Manduka mandala is the most common and sacred hindu temple format set on a 8 x 8 grid. The temple design includes the archetypal image of a cosmic person spread out yogi like symmetrically filling the gridded space of the floor plan his navel in the center and it includes the archetype of the cosmic mountain between earth and heaven of fertility planets city of the gods deities etc. This floor plan is common in large temples.
These are the nine planets which according to hindu religion have a significant influence on the life on earth. Manduka mandala is the most common and sacred hindu temple format set on a 8 x 8 grid. Ketu the ascending planet jupiter mercury venus moon mars and rahu the descending planet. The blue squares are brahma pada typically where the main and or largest idol of the temple resides.
The sun is in the center with saturn behind and going in the clock wise direction from saturn are. This floor plan is common in large temples. Large temples are often built on an 8x8 square grid consisting of 64 squares. According to vastupurushamandala the most sacred and typical template for a hindu temple is the 8x8 64 grid manduka hindu temple floor plan also referred as bhekapada and ajira.
The blue squares are brahma pada typically where the main and or largest idol of the temple resides. The circle that circumscribes this perfect square represents the earthly. The bright saffron center where diagonals intersect above represents the purusha of hindu philosophy. Hindu architecture evolved over the centuries from simple rock cut cave shrines to massive and ornate temples which spread across the indian sub continent and beyond forming a canonical style which is still adhered to today in modern hindu temples across the globe.
The name is a composite sanskrit word with three of the most important components of the plan. 12th or early 13th century navalakha temple plan ghumli gujarat hindu maru gurjara style jpg 1 142 1 686. The temple plan. The 64 grid is the most sacred and common hindu temple template.
Essential elements of the style are precise and harmonious geometry when viewed from all four sides and above the square form. These sub squares are called padas. The layout displays a vivid saffron centre with intersecting diagonals which according to hindu philosophy symbolises the purusha. The white squares surrounding the brahma pada are devika devaika padas the zone where gods devas reside.
The central squares are dedicated to brahman. This floor plan is common in large temples.