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Nithyananda Temple Arts Preservation
Foundation
The Structure of a Temple - Nithyananda Temple Arts
Preservation Foundation
-Preserving the rich Vedic
heritage
Gopuram
Flagstaff and
Bali peetam
Prakaram
Garbha Mandir
Indian temples are a symbolic reflection of the human body.
The macrocosm is reflected in the microcosm. The great cosmos is reflected
in the human body.
Just as our gross body has five sections -
namely head, neck, chest, legs and feet - a temple also has five corresponding sections.
The garbha mandir or sanctum sanctorum represents the head.
The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is energized by great enlightened
Masters through the process of
prana prathishtha - where the deity is invested
with sight, life and breath, thus making it a virtual living force.
The Ardhamandap or hall space in front of the sanctum represents the neck.
The Prakaram or the space outside of the inner space represents the chest.
The Gopura, the main gateway of the temple, represents the feet.
The Bali Peetam is the ‘seat of offering’ symbolizes the surrendering of the ego,
at the altar of the Divine.
The Dhvajasthambham is the flagstaff at the entrance of the temple and represents
the
Jeevadhara or the Life Energy. The flag
that is hoisted atop this flagstaff stands
for all important functions of the temple.
