garbha gṛha & other interesting things
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
namasté
If one visits temples over the years they will see massive structures. With some research one will find that these temples (mandira¹ or devālaya¹) have a place in them called garbha gṛha:
- garbha - the inside , interior of anything ; some too call the 'womb'
- gṛha - the house or habitation
In western nomenclature this location is called sanctum sanctorum = the holy (place) of the holy (places)
Now I cannot say with any degree of certainty that all 3 designs that are employed e.g. nāgara,drāviḍa and vesara, have this same format, but many that I have visited did.
Many times you will experience massive stone/granite structures that are magnificent. Yet when you come to the garbha gṛha it is with a low entrance... in some temples one needs to bend down significantly to get though.
Now one would think, these great architects could have made a grand entrance way to this garbha gṛha( and many do) but why do many temples skimp on the opening ? Did they run out of granite, or is there something else that is going on ?
One must note - nothing is done without a reason. The whole design of the devālaya is to an exact size, purpose, direction, and maṇḍala¹ design. So why the small entrance way?
iti śivaṁ
words
- mandira some write mandir - habitation , dwelling , house , palace , temple
- devālaya - residence of the devāta-s
- maṇḍala - we know means circular; yet it too means division, surroundings
यतस्त्वं शिवसमोऽसि
yatastvaṁ śivasamo'si
because you are identical with śiva
_
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