yajvan
10 November 2007, 06:43 PM
Hari Om
~~~~~
Namaste,
This post was inspired by the first temple post of Yaruki. I thought perhaps a few words on the temple itself, as we can share ideas on this…
Please pitch in as you wish. My visitations to the diversity of the madirs is limited in the USA. Those in India can really lend a hand here and add value. As always please correct any blemishes you see in my posting.
http://bp2.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZJgwsTvuI/AAAAAAAAAcM/85jY2wGFmWU/s320/Temple-2.jpg (http://bp2.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZJgwsTvuI/AAAAAAAAAcM/85jY2wGFmWU/s1600-h/Temple-2.jpg) http://bp2.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZI6wsTvtI/AAAAAAAAAcE/EPh2FppQT4E/s320/Temple-1.jpg (http://bp2.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZI6wsTvtI/AAAAAAAAAcE/EPh2FppQT4E/s1600-h/Temple-1.jpg) http://bp1.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZJ2gsTvvI/AAAAAAAAAcU/CW0ca1DIfB4/s320/Temple-3.jpg (http://bp1.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZJ2gsTvvI/AAAAAAAAAcU/CW0ca1DIfB4/s1600-h/Temple-3.jpg) http://bp2.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZKMwsTvwI/AAAAAAAAAcc/sRNnWcIySdw/s320/Temple-4.jpg (http://bp2.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZKMwsTvwI/AAAAAAAAAcc/sRNnWcIySdw/s1600-h/Temple-4.jpg)
When we look at a temple what does one see? Northern India style called nagara, And in the south dravida, and some are combinations of both and called verara.What soes this mean? The nagara are the curvilinear towers we see. The dravidya are the truncated pyramids ( 4 sided) and the 3rd type is a combination of both. Are there other structures, sure as shown as the modern temple above.
They employ geometry of the square, [the 4 sided, as this is kendra in Joytish and the 4th house is a moksha house], the circle or 360° and infinity and octagon ( 8 sided, a moksha house and spiritual house in Jyotish). One will also see the numbers of the building Blocks of time within the structures e.g. blocks of time (60, 108), the yuga cycles, etc. [more on these proportions later.]
The styles do in fact point to the different regions in India.Here's a great site: http://www.indiantemplesportal.com/ (http://www.indiantemplesportal.com/)
Well what are these temples modeled from ? According to the Sthapatya Veda (the Indian tradition of architecture), the temple should mirror the cosmos. ( simple eh?). This is Vastu Sastra knowledge.
We know temples as, well temples, yes? They are also called Mandir (some write mandira); they are called Devalaya or the house of Devata. Some call the temple prAsAda प्रसाद of pleasing appearance, of offering, yet a gracious gift ( what can have more Grace then Blessings from the Divine?).
This prAsada when we think of it can be the offerings given during homam and puja… yet originally it was considered a mental state of the sage, the muni, the ones connected with the Divine - ones 'grace' in the mind.
VimAna - some write vimAnam or tower…what is of interest to me is 'mA'
http://bp0.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZKpQsTvxI/AAAAAAAAAck/XgEJtEgbn_c/s320/temple-5.jpg (http://bp0.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZKpQsTvxI/AAAAAAAAAck/XgEJtEgbn_c/s1600-h/temple-5.jpg)
to measure, as the VimAna is a 'proportioned structure'. This is also known as the garbhgrha, the inner sanatorium of the temple where the main deity e.g. Siva, Visnu, Devi,etc. resides.
The Devalaya represents the Supreme is His/Her cosmic form. So bhu loka (earth) forms His/Her feet. Satloka some call Brahmaloka forms His shika [sikha or shikha] or tuft of hair at the crown of the head. Like that the other loka forms various parts of His body as outlined in the Vedas/Upanishads.
Its also interesting to note that the temple represents Meruparvata or the golden mountain described in the shastras. This is considered the center point of the universe.
So we have the Universe (Macroscopic) and we have the temple made of stone and this is the microcosmic…and with the microcosmic, so is the purusa ( the person, the family of man). Various parts of the temple is then named as body parts e.g. the pada or foot , jangha or shank, the griva the neck ( some write gala), the nose or nasika.
The garbhagrbha is the heart of the temple. How many times have you read of the space in the heart? How many times have the devata suggested look to the space in the heart? Here we find the antaryamin [antar or within , the interior + yamin or guide] - the in dwelling Lord, both in the temple, and in the purusa, you.
Let me stop and let others that frequent these great places add their ideas and thoughts. I know I would have great interest in someone outlining the pranapratistha or in the infusion of life force into the murthi's.
[ more as usual if there is interest ].
pranams
~~~~~
Namaste,
This post was inspired by the first temple post of Yaruki. I thought perhaps a few words on the temple itself, as we can share ideas on this…
Please pitch in as you wish. My visitations to the diversity of the madirs is limited in the USA. Those in India can really lend a hand here and add value. As always please correct any blemishes you see in my posting.
http://bp2.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZJgwsTvuI/AAAAAAAAAcM/85jY2wGFmWU/s320/Temple-2.jpg (http://bp2.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZJgwsTvuI/AAAAAAAAAcM/85jY2wGFmWU/s1600-h/Temple-2.jpg) http://bp2.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZI6wsTvtI/AAAAAAAAAcE/EPh2FppQT4E/s320/Temple-1.jpg (http://bp2.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZI6wsTvtI/AAAAAAAAAcE/EPh2FppQT4E/s1600-h/Temple-1.jpg) http://bp1.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZJ2gsTvvI/AAAAAAAAAcU/CW0ca1DIfB4/s320/Temple-3.jpg (http://bp1.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZJ2gsTvvI/AAAAAAAAAcU/CW0ca1DIfB4/s1600-h/Temple-3.jpg) http://bp2.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZKMwsTvwI/AAAAAAAAAcc/sRNnWcIySdw/s320/Temple-4.jpg (http://bp2.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZKMwsTvwI/AAAAAAAAAcc/sRNnWcIySdw/s1600-h/Temple-4.jpg)
When we look at a temple what does one see? Northern India style called nagara, And in the south dravida, and some are combinations of both and called verara.What soes this mean? The nagara are the curvilinear towers we see. The dravidya are the truncated pyramids ( 4 sided) and the 3rd type is a combination of both. Are there other structures, sure as shown as the modern temple above.
They employ geometry of the square, [the 4 sided, as this is kendra in Joytish and the 4th house is a moksha house], the circle or 360° and infinity and octagon ( 8 sided, a moksha house and spiritual house in Jyotish). One will also see the numbers of the building Blocks of time within the structures e.g. blocks of time (60, 108), the yuga cycles, etc. [more on these proportions later.]
The styles do in fact point to the different regions in India.Here's a great site: http://www.indiantemplesportal.com/ (http://www.indiantemplesportal.com/)
Well what are these temples modeled from ? According to the Sthapatya Veda (the Indian tradition of architecture), the temple should mirror the cosmos. ( simple eh?). This is Vastu Sastra knowledge.
We know temples as, well temples, yes? They are also called Mandir (some write mandira); they are called Devalaya or the house of Devata. Some call the temple prAsAda प्रसाद of pleasing appearance, of offering, yet a gracious gift ( what can have more Grace then Blessings from the Divine?).
This prAsada when we think of it can be the offerings given during homam and puja… yet originally it was considered a mental state of the sage, the muni, the ones connected with the Divine - ones 'grace' in the mind.
VimAna - some write vimAnam or tower…what is of interest to me is 'mA'
http://bp0.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZKpQsTvxI/AAAAAAAAAck/XgEJtEgbn_c/s320/temple-5.jpg (http://bp0.blogger.com/_poozp2TeXhg/RzZKpQsTvxI/AAAAAAAAAck/XgEJtEgbn_c/s1600-h/temple-5.jpg)
to measure, as the VimAna is a 'proportioned structure'. This is also known as the garbhgrha, the inner sanatorium of the temple where the main deity e.g. Siva, Visnu, Devi,etc. resides.
The Devalaya represents the Supreme is His/Her cosmic form. So bhu loka (earth) forms His/Her feet. Satloka some call Brahmaloka forms His shika [sikha or shikha] or tuft of hair at the crown of the head. Like that the other loka forms various parts of His body as outlined in the Vedas/Upanishads.
Its also interesting to note that the temple represents Meruparvata or the golden mountain described in the shastras. This is considered the center point of the universe.
So we have the Universe (Macroscopic) and we have the temple made of stone and this is the microcosmic…and with the microcosmic, so is the purusa ( the person, the family of man). Various parts of the temple is then named as body parts e.g. the pada or foot , jangha or shank, the griva the neck ( some write gala), the nose or nasika.
The garbhagrbha is the heart of the temple. How many times have you read of the space in the heart? How many times have the devata suggested look to the space in the heart? Here we find the antaryamin [antar or within , the interior + yamin or guide] - the in dwelling Lord, both in the temple, and in the purusa, you.
Let me stop and let others that frequent these great places add their ideas and thoughts. I know I would have great interest in someone outlining the pranapratistha or in the infusion of life force into the murthi's.
[ more as usual if there is interest ].
pranams