Articles
Written by Hitesh Sompura about

Temple Architecture


       The temples of Khajuraho  have existed for over a thousand years, and the centuries old Dilwara temples are still standing tall. Why is it that our traditional temples last for centuries against all calamities while RCC structures are guaranteed to survive for only 80 years! The answer is simple and scientific. 

          The first reason is that the traditional Hindu Temples are built as per Vastushastra, that is the traditional artist's imagination is confined within the permissibility of the rules of Vastushastra - for direction, time, constructional methods and proportion among others.

          Modern Architectural Manuals (for e.g.. Neufert Architects data which architects use as handbook) is a reincarnation of Vastushastra - both serve as reference source to architects to create functional and stable structures.

          Vastushastra takes into account astronomy, astrology, ergonomics, functions for designing.  While modern principles leave religion, astronomy, astrology, philosophy to the designer's own imagination, interpretation and creativity. Rules of Vastushastra render beauty, structural stability and quality of spaces by virtue of light, sound and volumes.

          The lighting of spaces inside a temple is orchestrated such that Pravesh Chowky (i.e. entrance porch) is semi-open with maximum light, Sabha Mandap (for worshippers) has moderate light with few openings.   Garbhagirha (i.e. sanctuary for God) is permitted to have only a single opening i.e. door in front of deity allowing light only on deity. This is for worshippers to concentrate fully on the deity.

          The dome above the sabha mandap creates a large volume so that humans feel small (insignificant) in largeness of the volume. In temples; they are supposed to feel small (insignificant) in front of the almighty.

          The rules of proportion give stability to structures. Say for eg.restricting Shikhara height to maximum twice the width of its base results in controlling its weight. As the size of 'pada' (bay, distance between two pillars) increases, the cross section of pillars also increases in size and width of beam has to be exactly same as that of the pillar. 

        Even difference of an inch is not permitted because size of garbha griha, height of beams and most of the elements are governed by calculation of constellations and 'Aya'.

          Even today, temple architects first visualize the temple to its minutest details. The process of temple construction can be divided into three steps. First is the planning of the temple by architect, second is the carving of different parts and the third is assembling the parts.

          In the first stage, the architect prepares a list of all the parts of the temple like the pillars, beams, and brackets etc. These parts are made of more parts. For example, the pillar is made or five parts, while the dome is made of many units (see diagram). This is one of the reasons why temples do not collapse in case of earthquakes or cyclones as its parts vibrate with land and do not remain rigid in their places to break. 

Construction of Dome

Inside Layer     Outside Layer

        

Structural Arrangement of Beams in Temple 

In the second stage the contractor carves these parts according to the temple architects’ drawings, specifications and guidelines, the parts are transported to the site.

          The third stage is assembling these parts i.e. actual construction of temple. The first and the third stage are common to modern-day buildings, while the second stage of carving provides much scope for correction and extra-supervision. Though this stage slows down the process but leads to elimination of the possible errors and precision in the final moment.

          The construction methods of temples are special. The dome is constructed of stone in its own style (see diagram). All the parts have mortise and tenon joint for strength. Cement is used only in those joints.

          Use of steel is strictly prohibited in structure of temple. This prolongs the life of temple as steel gets rusted over a period of time, thus reducing the life of the structure. Also stone has far longer life than concrete. Therefore materials of temple have major contribution in its long life.

          Various parts of temples are interlocked to hold them in place of eg. Slabs of koli mandap (space for pujari in front of sanctuary) have one edge below the dome of sabha mandap and the other below the Shikhara.

          Thus, temples stand intact withstanding the forces of nature. Simply because they are bound by the principles of unity, harmony and balance. For if one member of this family breaks, the entire structure is sure to fall. Hence, no member moves from its place, enabling the structure to stand tall even in the face of destruction all around, like in the case of the temples of Orissa.

Some startling facts about
Traditional Indian Architecture.

 

1.   Traditional Indian Temples are built inch to inch according to the rules of Vastu-Shastra (Ancient Science about the designing of buildings) which is a part of the Atharva-veda (A sacred Indian Scripture) . Vastu- shastra relating to temples is based on Astronomy, Astrology,  Theology, Science & Sacred Mathematics. The lengths, the breadths the heights of various elements of the Temple are related to each other by certain ratios
The rules of proportion were followed even in the Classical Greek Architecture where we find the Doric , ionic and Corinthian orders about which Vitruvius had written in his text.
Feng-Shui is the Chinese counterpart of Vastu-Shastra.

2.    The occult knowledge of the Vastu- Shastra is handed down orally from one generation to the next in certain communities of India. The owner of this web site also belongs to one such community of the Sompuras.

3.    Traditional Indian Temples of stone are guaranteed to survive for 800 years unlike R.C.C. structures which are guaranteed for 80 years. Traditional Indian Temples do not even collapse in Earthquakes because of special construction methods employed.

4.    Seemingly miraculous yet real incidents are observed in Traditional Indian Architecture.
e.g. musical pillars in Meenakshi Temple, the swinging minarets of Ahmedabad.