Often this gate is part of what can be a very elaborate tower or spire, called a gopuram or gopura, a sometimes very elaborate structure that is covered with sculptural images of gods, goddesses, and other divine figures. Usually the temple complex is surrounded by a wall, which is entered through a main gate. In some temples, these towers are tall, magnificent structures, while in others they are far more basic.Īround the central shrine area are often many other smaller shrines, often with images of gods and goddesses associated with the main deity of the temple, as well as meeting and worship halls, classrooms, administrative offices, etc.
This main image is typically located within the garbha griha (literally "womb chamber"), what in English might be called the "sanctum sanctorum." This inner sanctum is typically crowned with a tower, or shikhara. It is often bathed, fed, and directly addressed by the god's devotees. The murti is the deity it is considered to be the living god, and is treated as such. That said, there are some general commonalities.Īt the center of the temple complex is the main structure that houses the main image, or murti-the physical image of the deity, which, unlike in many other religions, is not merely a symbolic representation. Hindu temples have been built for some 2,000 years. Each temple is different, its style and structure dictated by the region in which it is located, when it was constructed, and the deity to whom it is associated. There are thousands of Hindu temples in India and elsewhere, temples associated with the major "high" gods and goddesses, but also local deities. Hindu temples are broadly called mandira, or mandir, a Sanskrit word that means, essentially, "house." A temple in the Hindu view is thus fundamentally the earthly abode of a god or goddess it is sacred space because the deity is present there. Temples are also where many, although by no means all, Hindu rituals are performed.
Temples are sacred because they are where the gods and goddesses live, and where humans have access to them. Usually, although not exclusively, they are made present in temples. It is not a typical example of ancient Greek temple as it is aligned north-south rather than the standard east-west due to the limited space on the steep mountain. Through a variety of rituals, they are made present to their devotees. The Temple of Apollo Epicurius is located in the Peloponnese, southern Greece, on the archaeological site Bassae. Hindu gods and goddesses are understood to be active forces in the world.
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