Essential Parts of a Typical Temple

There are many ancient texts laying down the formal architectural styles prevalent in the various regions so that the comprehensive text called the Vastu Sastra has its sources in the Sutras, Puranas and Agamas besides Tantric literature and the Brihat Samhita.

The most important part of a temple, its very heart as it were, is the garbhagrha or sanctum-sanctorum. This is usually square with a low roof and with no doors or windows except for the front opening. The image of the deity is stationed in the geometrical centre. The whole place is completely dark, except for the light that comes through the front opening. Over the roof of the whole shrine is a small tower. This tower is quite high in the North Indian temples and of low or medium height in the South Indian temples.

In some temples, a circumambulatory passage is provided just round the garbhagrha, to enable the devotees to go round the deity.

In front the garbhagrha and contiguous to its is the mukhamantapa, sometimes called sukanasi or ardhamantapa, depending upon its proportion relative to that of the garbhagrha.

Then comes antarala, a narrow passage connecting the garbhagrha and the mukhamantapa to the mantapa (pavilion or hall). The mantapa is a big hall and is used for congregational religious acts like singing, dancing, recitation of mythological texts, religious discourses and so on.

The dhvajastambha in front of the mantapa is another common feature. It represents the flagpost of the ‘King of kings. The lanchana (insignia) made of copper or brass fixed like a flag to the top of the post varies according to the deity in the temple. The figure on the lanchana is invariably that of the vahana (carrier vehicle) of the deity. For instance, in Siva temples it contains Nandi. In Devi temples it is the lion that finds its place. In Vishnu temples Garuda gets that honour.

The balipita (pedestal of sacrificial offerings) with a lotus or the footprints of the deity is fixed near the dhvajastambha, but nearer to the deity. Red coloured offerings like rice mixed with vermillion powder, are kept on this at appropriate stages during the performance of rituals. This indicates the feeding of the parivaradevatas (associate deities).

The whole temple is surrounded by a high wall (prakara) with one main and three subsidiary gates, opening in the cardinal directions. A gopuram (high tower, sometimes called as the Cow-gate) adorns these gateways.

Apart from these, the temple precincts include a yagasala (sacrificial shed), pakasala (cooking shed) and kitchen, place for the utsavamurti (processional image carried during the festivals), well or a pushkarini (tank), flower garden, stores and other essential structures connected with the management of the temple as also the rituals.

A dipastambha (lamp post) is another constituent of a temple complex often found in South Indian temples. It is situated either of the balipitha or outside the main gate.