Pagodas and temples of China, Burma, Singapore, and Indonesia, as well as the great temples of India, are only some of the numerous architectural wonders that have made the East famous across the world. Temples and pagodas each have a special meaning due to their size, form, and overall design, and both types of buildings exude an air of majesty and allure.
Temples
Visitors to India are just as captivated by the country’s majestic temples as they are by its opulent palaces and towering mountains. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and from Gujarat to West Bengal, as well as the pagodas of the seven sister republics, India is a tapestry of a great many different styles of architecture.
In addition to the temples built by Hindus, those built by Jains and Buddhists have also left an unmistakable impression. While old stones are used in the construction of Hindu temples, beautiful pure white marble is used in the construction of Jain temples. The towers of South Indian temples have the appearance of a conical or trapezoidal trapezium, in contrast to the somewhat cylindrical appearance of the towers of North Indian temples. On the towers of south Indian temples, one may often discover colourful sculptures that depict the complete story in translated form.
Erotica in Temples
The walls of Kahjuraho and Konarak, both of which are stunning works of art, bring Vatsyayana’s Kamasutra to life. Honeymooners may find that travelling to both Madya Pradesh and Orissa provides them with the opportunity to have an exciting new adventure throughout their journey, as it allows them to enjoy the marvels of nature in the most unfiltered form possible.
In times gone by, temples served as places where people might go to learn valuable life lessons. On stone sculptures, the concept of love as a way of life was represented. In addition, the religion of Hinduism has always held the belief that there are many distinct routes to arriving to a comprehension of God. The faith has never before mandated a specific path to follow in order to achieve salvation. Therefore, Bhakti yoga, also known as salvation through devotion, Karma yoga, also known as salvation through the execution of obligations, and Kaama yoga, also known as salvation through love, are three of the various ways in which man might experience God. Is it not the case that when one is in love, everything around them seems to be vibrant and beautiful? You would then never fail to notice the beauty in the ugliest duckling, and suddenly your enemies from yesterday would become your friends. Additionally, you would find that your purse strings suddenly loosened, allowing you to generously give away your booties to the unfortunate people who were surrounding you. Love, without a doubt, has the power to keep the world turning and the potential to bring you closer to God.
Temples of Kerala
Another one of a kind architectural style can be found in the land of the living God, and it involves the construction of wooden towers in the form of a pyramid.
In any case, regardless of whether they are located in South India or North India, all Hindu temples feature a step-like tower that ascends towards the skies but does not pierce the clouds as a church would. The construction of a tower serves primarily the purpose of highlighting the fact that all of our individual energy should be directed toward the one spirit of God.
To reiterate, if you take the time to observe, people from all walks of life connect their palms together in the act of praying, bringing their fingers together so that they create a cone shape. Another indication that the body, mind, emotions, intellect, and senses are all convergent is provided by this. The towers of the temples in Kerala are triangular in shape, sloping in direction, and built of wood. This gives them a distinct appearance when compared to the towers of other South Indian temples. Taking into consideration the frequent and severe rainfall that occurs across the state, the characteristic is the slope.
Pious Rishis, also known as sages, were the ones responsible for the construction of ancient temples. After years of self-denial, these Rishis chose the locations where the temples would be constructed and also put the idols in place.
The Importance Of The 7 Chakras
It’s a fascinating fact that the many major temples that can be found all throughout India, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, were built in locations that correspond to the seven chakras that are found in the human body.
There is a well-known temple at Kanyakumari that is devoted to the Virgin Goddess, who is the wife of Lord Shiva. This temple is located in the southernmost part of India, where three powerful seas meet: the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal. And at the very base of the human spine, coiled up like a snake, is the Kundalini, which, in the average person, is dormant but, when activated, is the seat of divine awareness! The beauty that emerges from the reawakening of this heavenly spirit is symbolised by the virgin goddess.
The temple dedicated to Shiva may be found atop Mount Kailas in the far North. This location is symbolic of the spot in the brain known as Sahasra Padma, which translates to “the lotus with a thousand petals.” All of the other energy fields may be found in between these two places. Only by spiritual tenacity is it possible for man to achieve the stage of unblocking all seven energy fields, achieving enlightenment, and uniting with the Supreme Being.
Not only do many temples dot the landscape of India, but the innermost chambers of each temple, known as sanctum sanctorums, also include representations of the seven chakras. Everything at the temple, including the courtyard, the kumbh tower made of copper, the stairs etched with the tortoise, and the real garbagriha or sanctum sanctorum, is meant to be interpreted as a representation of the seven chakras that are located inside the human body. When you enter the real sanctum sanctorum, which is the room where the idol is kept, you will have the opportunity to pray and view the god. This is analogous to the sensation that one experiences when the last chakra in the brain is clear of all obstructions.
The Idol
There should be a sentence in there describing how stunning the picture of the god is that is placed inside each and every shrine. Panchaloha is an alloy comprised of five different metals: gold, silver, brass, iron, and copper. Although the ancient gods and goddesses were carved in stone by expert sculptors, many depictions nowadays are made of Panchaloha. It is believed that the image, which is composed of these five significant metals, has therapeutic abilities, and the holy water that is poured on the idol is then distributed to believers for consumption.
The Importance of Temples
Through the ages, mankind has worshipped external deities in an effort to find the God that resides inside. As human beings, we have a fundamental urge to put our trust in another person or institution. The depiction of God, whether on paper or in stone, is regarded as very holy and sacred for this reason. When tens of thousands of people visit a temple on a regular basis to do worship, the vibrations of each are absorbed by an idol made of stone or metal and then reflected back. In light of this, it is of the utmost importance that we, in addition to our supplications, specific yearnings, and prayers, sing verses of hymns in honour of the god. This will ensure that whatever is reflected is likewise beneficial. Therefore, in order to infuse the worshipers with hope, tranquilly, and enlightenment, a temple throbs with positive and crystal clear vibrations that are numerically strung in metre.
Pagodas
Many people are surprised to learn that the word “pagoda” does not come from China or Japan, but rather has its origins in India. These seem so attractive that any western traveller who chances to stumble across one would be surprised to see the magnificent roof tweaked on both sides, like the moustache on the face of a man. A large number of pagodas are clustered together in the centre of a pond.
The Tweaked Roofs
Because of the way the roofs are twisted in a pagoda, even a little toddler can recognise one! Have you ever questioned why? Both the Chinese and the Japanese have the belief that harmful energies may be released from any construction that has sharp angles and that is oriented in such a way that it aims towards something or someone. All of the pagodas have been constructed such that they face in an upward direction to prevent this problem! This idea has its origins in Chinese Feng Shui, which states that the roof or terrace top of your neighbor’s house might produce sha qi in your direction if it is directed towards your home (killing energies).
A further distinction between the pagoda and church spires is that the pagoda does not seek to reach the skies in any one direction. According to popular opinion, you do not release any poison arrows either towards the ground or towards other forms of life, or even towards the skies. Pagodas typically have two roofs, and between those roofs are depictions of various folktales and the life of Buddha.