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Siva Lingam

South Indian Siva temple Iconography ...

Symbolism behind the structure of a Shiva Temple

  1. The temple is so constructed as to resemble the human body with all its subtleties.
  2. The five walls encircling one another are the koshas (sheaths) of human existence:
    • The outermost is the Annamaya kosha, symbolizing the material body.
    • The second is Pranamaya kosha , symbolizing the sheath of vital force or prana.
    • The third is Manomaya kosha, symbolizing the sheath of the thoughts, the mana.
    • The fourth is the Vijnanamaya kosha, symbolizing, the sheath of the intellect.
    • The fifth and innermost is the Anandamaya kosha, symbolizing the sheath of bliss.
  3. The sanctum which is in the prakaram symbolizing the Anandamaya kosha sheath, houses the lord, seated as the jiva within us. It is to be noted that the sanctum is an unlit space, just as if within the heart closed on all sides.
  4. The entry gopuras are likened to the feet, as resembling a person who is lying on theback with the toe up.
  5. The flag post depicts the sushumna nadi which raises from the muladhara (base of the spine) to the sahasra (vertex in the head).
  6. Some temples will have three prakarams. There they represent the stoola, sukshmand karana shariras (bodies) of a human being. Some temples have only one and they represent all the five.


Composition and structure

The Annamalaiyar Temple in Thiruvannaamalai, India

Dravidian style temples consist almost invariably of the four following parts, arranged in differing manners, but differing in themselves only according to the age in which they were executed:[1]

  1. The principal part, the temple itself, is called the Vimanam. It is always square in plan and surmounted by a pyramidal roof of one or more stories; it contains the cell where the image of the god or his emblem is placed.
  2. The porches or Mantapams, which always cover and precede the door leading to the cell.
  3. Gate-pyramids, Gopurams, which are the principal features in the quadrangular enclosures that surround the more notable temples.
  4. Pillard halls (Chaultris or Chawadis) are used for many purposes and are the invariable accompaniments of these temples.

Besides these, a temple always contains tanks or wells for water – to be used for sacred purposes or the convenience of the priests – dwellings for all the grades of the priesthood are attached to it, and other buildings for state or convenience.[1]


References

  1. ^ a b Fergusson, James (1997) [1910]. History of Indian and Eastern Architecture (3rd ed.). New Delhi: Low Price Publications. p. 309.
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