Metaphysical Aspects of Hindu Temples
There has been a lot of research into Hindu temple architecture, still, many aspects of this subject are still unexplored. My attempt was to collate all the existing research that has been undertaken in this field, and potentially contribute to the existing body of knowledge through a structural analysis of Hindu Temple architecture. The various stages of temple construction and construction techniques that have been employed in temple construction since ancient times have been studied not only though archival research but also through a comparative study of these important aspects and their relevance in modern-day Hindu temple construction.
Every style of building construction reflects a clearly distinctive basic principle that represents a particular culture and era. In this context, the Indian Hindu temple architecture is not only the abode of God and place of worship, but they are also the cradle of knowledge, art, architecture, and culture. The practices and traditions of temples exist not only in history but also in the present time which greatly influence the socio-cultural life of its people and gives continuity to traditional Indian values. The evolution of Indian temple architecture is marked by a strict adherence to the original ancient models that were derived from religious consideration- and that continued over many centuries. The Hindu religion and its philosophy greatly influenced Hindu temple architecture in its evolutionary process which continues till this date. Therefore, through archival research and other documentary, literary works and theoretical investigation on ancient treatise and modern research works on the temple architecture of India brings out the concepts that have been adopted since ancient times for the construction of the sacred Hindu temples, the science involved in the construction of the temple structure and the processes involved along with the skill it took to build such edifices. Together these aspects bring out the art, science, and philosophy behind the construction of the Hindu temple which is as relevant today as it used to be in the ancient times. A continuity of tradition and a science which has its root in the dawn of human consciousness.
TO FIRST UNDERSTAND THE TERM ‘METAPHYSICAL’ IN ITSELF
Derived from the Greek meta ta physika (“after the things of nature”); referring to an idea, doctrine, or posited reality outside of human sense perception. In modern philosophical terminology, metaphysics refers to the studies of what cannot be reached through objepistemology; active studies of material reality. Areas of metaphysical studies include ontology, cosmology. Metaphysics is a type of philosophy or study that uses broad concepts to help define reality and our understanding of it. Metaphysical studies generally seek to explain inherent or universal elements of reality which are not easily discovered or experienced in our everyday life. As such, it is concerned with explaining the features of reality that exist beyond the physical world and our immediate senses. Metaphysics, therefore, uses logic based on the meaning of human terms, rather than on a logic tied to human sense perception of the objective world. Metaphysics might include the study of the nature of the human mind, the definition and meaning of existence, or the nature of space, time, and/or causality.
In today’s world, however, the word metaphysics has become a description of many fields of interest. When one expresses an interest in metaphysics, that interest may be in any one or a combination of the following subjects: Philosophy, Religion, Parapsychology, Mysticism, Yoga, ESP, Dreams, Jungian Psychology, Transpersonal and Theocentric Psychology, Astrology, Meditation, Self-Help Studies, Positive Thinking, Life After Death, Transcendentalism, Mysticism, Reincarnation. The common denominator of these and all similar subjects, of course, deals with an exploration of reality, and in the idealistic sense, how such knowledge may benefit human life on this earth, both individually and collectively. If, then, this is the aim of such interests, it is why most professional metaphysical practitioners regard metaphysics as a spiritual philosophy or way of life. All but a very few practitioners in metaphysics today have a pivotal point of some sort of spiritual philosophy in whatever system or teaching of metaphysics they are engaged. It is important to understand this, especially when reviewing the legal technicalities of being in metaphysics professionally.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND VASTU SHASHTRA
Vastu, in the simplest words, is the science of direction that combines all the five elements of nature and balances them with man and materials. It has rules, formulas and patterns for the construction of houses. It is believed to bring in harmony and aimed towards drawing positive cosmic energy into people’s lives. The science behind this is that vastu calculates wind, rainfall, sunrise and sunset to figure out the ideal way to construct a house. A lot of people dismiss vastu as an archaic superstition but in actuality, it’s the architectural science put together by our forefathers for the construction of houses in accordance with best practices, purposes and rules. Anyone will agree to the fact that we, humans, spend most of their time inside a building be it our home, office or anything else. It’s also a fact that all things in the universe have a level of energy associated with them. Hence, it’s apt to say that all buildings and even the land on which a building is erected has vibrations of energy associated with it.
Deducing from above, it’s easy to visualize that we are constantly bombarded with energies 24×7. Some energies are positive (with pleasing effects) while others are negative (having terrible effects) on us. Vastu aims to eliminate negative and enhance positive energy present at a place or location so that a person, family or even business inhabiting a building become prosperous and progressive.
In simple terms we can say that, vastu aims to make harmonious buildings at places in tune with mother-nature, so that the human inhabiting the building, lives well balanced and happy life.
Some reasons behind its guidelines
1. Doors facing South West are to be avoided because they permit the entry of strong negative energies and this invites misfortune and struggles, hence, it’s highly recommended to buy a house in which the main door is facing North or East because they manifest success and harmony. If the house is north facing, then the harmful effect of UV rays is minimized at the place where the family members congregate. Similarly, if the house is east facing, then there is an added advantage of being exposed to the rays of the rising sun which bring in nutrients and vitamins.
2. The South East direction isn’t recommended for setting up the kitchen. Years ago, when thatched houses were more common than the ones made of brick, it was believed that the South Westerly wind could pick up fire and set the house on fire. That is why it’s recommended to set up kitchens in the East or North East corner to safeguard the house from the havoc of rogue winds. Another reason behind this is that kitchen is the first room in the morning that begins buzzing with activity. The idea is to let the rays of the rising sun grace the food and enrich it with nutrients and vitamins.
3. Good natural lightning is very important in the house. So, it is said to ensure that adequate sunlight enters the house and also that it has good cross ventilation option. Houses with East or North facing balconies or windows are ideal as per the guidelines.
4. It’s recommended that the bedrooms be placed in the South Eastern direction. The explanation behind this is that bedroom needs to remain fresh and requires a lot of air circulation. So, when placed in this direction the South East wind maintains fresh air circulation in the room.
5. The rays from morning sun help in purifying water. So, the water storage tank should be in the North eastern corner in a multi storied building. To facilitate absorption, plastic water tanks are to be avoided and in case it’s plastic, dark colours like blue or black must be used.
6. North east corner is to be avoided for toilet and bathroom placement. The direction of the wind all through the year is North East to South West. If the toilet is placed in north east, the wind enters the room after passing the toilet and hence, contaminates it.
THE GEOMETRY OF HINDU TEMPLE
It is evident that temple styles differed significantly from region to region. For example, a temple plan may be placed along a single linear axis or it may be placed in concentric rings. Although, the elements of Indian temples may differ across regions, the real motive was derived from a single philosophy of design. All small and large Hindu temples built since historic times have been following the same philosophy. This philosophy has apparently percolated to the remotest parts of India. The Vastushastra and Shipshastra along with other general manuals on Hindu architecture are still referred for the construction of the sacred Hindu temples.
COSMOLOGY AND HINDU TEMPLE
According to the ancient Hindu scriptures, the temple is the microcosm of the cosmos and the cosmic order is perceived as integral to the human body, mind and spirit; with the human being a microcosm. The Hindu temple structure presents the significant information about the science and cosmology of the period in which they were constructed. It is a symbolism of the outer and the inner cosmos where outer cosmos is expressed in terms of various astronomical connections between the temple structure and the motions of the sun, the moon, and the planets, whereas the inner cosmos is represented in terms of the consciousness at the womb of the temple and various levels of the superstructure correspond to the levels of consciousness.
The temple is a link between the physical world of man and divine world of God. And to connect them, the plan of cosmos was graphically copied in the foundation of the temples called as the Vastupurashamandala. The Hindu architecture, religious or vernacular, in the ancient times were based on the geometry of the Vastupurashamandala. In the words of Stella Kramrisch, “The temple is the concrete shape (mūrti) of the Essence; as such it is the residence and vesture of God. The masonry is the sheath (kośa) and body. The temple is the monument of manifestation.” The expansion may be seen either as proceeding from the central point of the garbhagrha in all the directions of space, reaching to the bindu above the finial of the temple and beyond, or as a manifestation held together by a tension between the bindu and the garbhagrha, with the axis joining the two being the world axis.
VASTUPURASHAMANDALA
The Concept: – Vastupurashamandala The Hindu philosophy was among the first to relate the human figure as the basis of a system of proportion, which was years later demonstrated by Leonardo da Vinci and by Le Corbusier in Modular system of measurement. In Hindu philosophy the form of the purasha (human) body was made to suit the abstract idea of the square, as the supreme geometric form. Ancient legend depicts this terrestrial form as a monster, wanting to swallow earth wo in order to be stooped had to be pinned down to the ground by 24 Gods and Goddesses.
The Vastupurashamandala is derived from three separate words each having a specific meaning where vastu refers to physical environment, purusha refers to energy, power or cosmic being, and mandala is the diagram or chart. The basic form of the Vastupurashamandala is the square and square is the important and ideal geometric form in Hindu philosophy, which represents the earth. All the necessary forms like the triangle, hexagon, octogan and circle, etc can be derived from the square. The four sides of the square represent the four cardinal directions. The square also symbolizes the order, the completeness of endless life and the perfectness of life and death. According to Hindu beliefs, man’s everyday life is also governed by the number four as in four classes(varnas), four phase of life, four great eras, four head of Brahma, the four Vedas, etc. Similarly, the circle represents the universe and is considered as the perfect shape, without any beginning and end, suggesting timelessness and infinity, a typically heavenly feature. The mandala is actually a square subdivided into smaller squares in the form of a grid with each square unit clearly marking the areas of respective gods. The most commonly used mandala is the square divided into 64 and 81 squares. Mostly the square of the mandala on its outer periphery are divided into 32 smaller squares, in accordance to the astrological calculation called nakshatra, representing the constellations or the position of planets through which moon passes in its monthly path. The closed polygon of thirty-two squares is symbolical to the recurrent cycles of time as calculated by the movements of the moon. The four directions lie outside the mandala which represents the meeting of the earth and the universe as well as the movement of the sun from east to west and its rotation to the northern and southern hemispheres. The central portion of the mandala is the place for the Brahma, the creator, and the rest squares are the position of other Gods as per their relevance.
INSTANCES THE REVEAL THE INFLUENCE OF SCIENCE BEHIND HINDU TEMPLES
LOCATION OF THE DEITY
Temples are located strategically at a place where the positive energy is abundantly available from the magnetic and electric wave distributions of north/south pole thrust. The main idol is placed in the core centre of the temple. In fact, the temple structure is built after the idol has been placed. The place of the deity is where earth’s magnetic waves are found to be maximum.
THE METAL PLATE BENEATH THE STATUE
In most the temples we find that the god’s statue is placed on a copper plate. It is widely believed that these copper plates absorb earth’s magnetic waves and radiates it to the surroundings. Thus a person regularly visiting a temple and walking clockwise around the Main Idol receives the beamed magnetic waves. This is a very slow process and a regular visitor will eventually start feeling the positive vibes.
MAKE OF THE CHAMBER HELPS YOU RELIVE STRESS
If you would notice, in a temple, the chamber of the god is closed on three sides. This increases the effect of all energies. The lamp that is lit radiates heat energy and also provides light inside the sanctum to the priests. The ringing of the bells and the chanting of prayers takes a worshipper into trance, thus not letting his mind waver. When done in groups, this helps people forget personal problems for a while and relieve their stress.
DIVINE AURA
The fragrance from the flowers and the burning of camphor give out the chemical energy that creates a good aura. The effect of all these energies is supplemented by the positive energy from the idol, the copper plates and the utensils used while worshipping the God. When people go to a temple for evening Aartis and when the doors open up, the positive energy gushes out onto everyone present there.
THE HOLY WATER (CHARNA-AMRIT)
The curd, honey, milk, sugar and coconut water by which we clean the copper idol is believed to make the charna-amrit a blessing. Moreover, the holy water that comprise of tulsi (Basil) leaves and camphor (Karpoor) helps to fight diseases like cold and cough.
THE MAGIC OF TEMPLE BELLS
A Temple bell is another scientific phenomenon; it is not just your ordinary metal. It is made of various metals including cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, nickel, chromium and. manganese. The proportion at which each one of them mixed is real science behind a bell. Each of these bells is made to produce such a distinct sound that it can create unity of your left and right brain.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU RING THE TEMPLE BELL?
The moment you ring that bell, bell produces sharp but lasting sound which lasts for minimum of seven seconds in echo mode good enough to touch your seven healing centres or chakras in your body. The moment bell sound happens your brain is emptied of all thoughts. Invariably you will enter state of Tran’s state where you are very receptive. This Trans state is the one with awareness.
EVER SEEN INSECTS IN OLD TEMPLES?
Bells had other reasons also, as most of the old temples never had doors and were located near hills and forest there would have been distinct possibilities for animals, Insects, birds to take shelter. But bell sound doesn’t allow any of the living creatures to sustain inside for a long time. So, don’t be surprised if you find Old temples still brimming with energy inside with less dust, no sign of insects or animals.
THE LOGIC BEHIND IDOL WORSHIP
Deities work as your focal point. Idea is to remind you of your womb and your nine months. In silence your thoughts have tremendous potential to become reality. This is why people say “My prayers have come true”. Indeed, every prayer has potential to come true provided you prayed in deep awareness. Deity itself has no meaning unless you create. Deity is used more as a focal point or to attack your Mind.
DON’T JUST VISIT, SIT
Traditionally, the belief is that when one goes to a temple one should sit down for a while before coming out, otherwise, the visit would be fruitless. This is so because, temples were built like a public charging place, by which people could charge themselves with an inner energy. People visited the temple before they entered into their daily work, so that they could go about with a certain sense of balance and depth in their lives.
NO FOOTWEAR IN THE TEMPLE
Temples are the place that contains pure vibrations of magnetic and electric fields with positive energy. In olden days, temples were built in such a way that the floor at the centre of the temple were good conductors of these positive vibrations allowing them to pass through our feet to the body. Hence it is necessary to walk bare footed while you enter the core centre of the temple.
CLEANLINESS IS GODLINESS
Another known reason is shoes and slippers are used everywhere hence they tend to get all the impurities like dirt, germs etc which spoil the pure environment of the temple and is the source of negative energy.
LIGHTING CAMPHOR
The inner core of the temple is usually dark where the idol is placed. You usually close your eyes to pray and when you open your eyes you should see the camphor which was lit to do the Aarthi in front of the idol. This light seen inside the dark activates your sight sense. The other reason of lighting camphor is for the idol to absorb the heat and vibrate within the chamber for certain period.
PARIKRAMA
The idol inside the chamber absorbs all the energy from the bell sound, camphor heat and vibrates the positive energy within the chamber for certain duration of time. When you do the circumambulation at this point of time, you tend to absorb all these positive vibrations once your five senses are activated.
"Architecture is that great living creative spirit which from generation to generation, from age to age, proceeds, persists, creates, according to the nature of man, and his circumstances as they change. That is really architecture." - Frank Lloyd Wright
Ancient temples were thus built not as places for prayer, but as a vortex of energy where, if people were receptive and willing, they could transform themselves in a very deep way.
The design and construction of these temples was fairly intricate, they were built according to a complex calculation involving physical and metaphysical elements. The parikrama (walkway into the temple), the garbha griha (the sanctum sanctorum), the shape and the size of the idol, the mudra held by the idol and the mantra used for the consecration of the temple, were all determined by the fundamental parameters of the design.
Based upon a deep understanding of the inner energies of the human system, these elements were built in order to create a powerful space for inner transformation. For example, it is held even today in some parts of Indian culture that when one visits a temple one should sit silently for a little while. Offering worship or prayers are not considered paramount but, if one were to leave the temple without sitting down for some time, the entire visit is considered fruitless.
This is so, because temples were built as public charging sites, where people could charge themselves with an inner energy. People visited temples daily before they started their day, so that they could go about their lives with an enhanced sense of balance and depth.
Over time, the underlying understanding of temples and the science behind their construction and usage gave way to rituals and traditions, making temples more than a place for prayer and worship.
Comments (4)
Deeksha
interesting and valuable insights into the metaphysical aspects of Hindu temples, bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern understanding. It serves as an enriching read for anyone interested in the intricate relationship between architecture, spirituality, and human consciousness.
shrijana gajjar
Thankyou so much for the kind words. In today’s era things like vastu shastra and deeper understanding of ancient methods of architecture are forgotten. A topic i’m glad you see the intrest towards!
Freya Mehta
Great read and interesting outlook!
shrijana gajjar
Thankyou!