India is the land of spirituality and all things holy. People from the far west come here for soul searching and are left spellbound by the temples in India. The grand architecture and the vibrant ways of worship have a profound impact on them.
Temple construction in India has been immensely instrumental in the addition of a new dimension to the Hindu culture. The art of temple construction evolved under many dynasties that were spread all over India. Different regions had different styles of architecture that became synonymous with them. For instance, the Dravidian style of architecture was mainly preferred in the Southern regions for the construction of many ancient temples in India.
While temples in India may differ in their style of architecture like Nagara style or Dravidian style, they all have some common features. All ancient temples in India have these components like -
Another common feature of these architectural styles is that they both have intricate and exquisite carvings depicting various divine beings like Gods, Goddesses, apsaras, floral patterns, mythical beings, etc, From the gateways to the walls and pillars, the entire temple is decorated with these beautiful carvings.
This style of temple architecture is popular in Northern states of India and beautifully depicts the Hindu culture. Some examples of this include the temples in Khajuraho and the Sun Temple in Odisha.
In the Nagara style of architecture, the temple complex is constructed on a large platform which is called a Jagati. It is surmounted by a smaller platform which is called Adhisthana. In this style of architecture, the garbhagriha is surrounded by a path meant for the circumambulation by devotees. It is called the Pradakshinapatha. There can be more than one Mandapas in a temple constructed in the Nagara style.
The Dravidian style of architecture is practiced in Southern states of India and is reflected in temples like the Brihadeswara Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.
Temples built in Dravidian style are usually multi-storeyed and are constructed in a hexagonal or octagonal pattern. Some features of this architectural style are -
From underground concealed chambers to architectural elements corresponding to astronomical phenomena, temples of India have many divine secrets hidden within their architecture. For instance,
The Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha has 24 magnificent wheels that represent still existent time cycles and calendars known to ancient astronomers.
Some of the secret chambers of the Mamallapuram Temple in Tamil Nadu can be accessed only during the sunrise on Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice.
The main tower at the Brihadeswara temple of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu is topped with an 80-ton Shaligram granite stone.
The pillars of the Ramappa Temple in Telangana have a musical quality. They produce certain sounds and vibrations when struck at specific points.
The ancient temples in India were not only centers for worship but were also hubs of social and cultural activities. Many features were incorporated in their architecture that could contribute to the welfare of the nearby communities, like water reservoirs were constructed not only to enable the devotees to cleanse themselves before worshiping the deities but also to harvest water and protect people from drought. For instance, The Sun Temple in Modhera, Gujarat has a step well.
Constructed as symbols of Hindu culture and faith, these temples can withstand everything from massive earthquakes to torrential rains and thunderstorms and have been standing strong for ages. Not only are these constructions beautiful to look at but they are also mathematically and astronomically accurate. The architecture of these temples depicts that not only did people from ancient India have knowledge of geometry, astronomy, and art, but they were also equipped with advanced techniques that helped them bring these magically grand structures to life.
The ancient temples in India are no less than magical megastructures. From possessing acoustic qualities to being in sync with astronomical phenomena, many mysteries surround them and the answers to these are still uncovered by modern minds. The grandeur they exude and the religious and cosmic symbolism they hold are two of the many qualities they have and this makes them perfect representatives of the Hindu culture.
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