Above the vastu-purusha-mandala is a superstructure with a dome called
Shikhara in north India, and Vimana in south India, that stretches towards the sky.Sometimes, in makeshift temples, the dome may be replaced with symbolic bamboo with few leaves at the top. The vertical dimension's cupola or dome is
designed as a pyramid, conical or other mountain-like shape, once again using principle of concentric circles and squares.Scholars suggest that this shape is inspired by cosmic mountain of Meru or Himalayan Kailasa, the abode of
gods according to Vedic mythology.
A Hindu temple has a Shikhara (Vimana or Spire) that rises symmetrically above the central core of the temple. These spires come in many designs and shapes, but they all have mathematical precision
and geometric symbolism. One of the common principles found in Hindu temple spires is circles
and turning-squares theme (left), and a concentric layering design (right) that flows from one to the
other as it rises towards the sky.
In larger temples, the central space
typically is surrounded by an ambulatory for the devotee to walk around and ritually circumambulate the Purusa, the universal essence.
Often this space is visually decorated with carvings, paintings or images meant to inspire the devotee. In some temples, these images may be
stories from Hindu Epics, in others they may be Vedic tales about right and wrong or virtues and vice, in some they may be idols of minor or regional deities. The pillars, walls and ceilings typically also have highly ornate carvings or images of
the four just and necessary pursuits of life– kama, artha, dharma and moksa. This walk around is called pradakshina.Large temples also have pillared halls called mandapa. One on the east side,serves as the waiting room for pilgrimsand devotees. The mandapa may be a
separate structure in older temples, but in newer temples this space is integrated into the temple superstructure. Mega temple sites have a main temple surrounded by
smaller temples and shrines, but these are still arranged by principles of symmetry,grids and mathematical precision. An important principle found in the layout of Hindu temples is mirroring and repeating fractal-like design structure,each unique yet also repeating the central common principle, one which Susan Lewandowski refers to as "an organism of repeating cells".
An illustration of Hindu temple Spires (Shikhara,Vimana) built using concentric circle and rotating-
squares principle. The left is from Vijayanagar in Karnataka, the right is from Pushkar in Rajasthan.
The ancient texts on Hindu temple design,the Vastupurusamandala and Vastu Sastras, do not limit themselves to the design of a Hindu temple.They describe the temple as a holistic part of its community, and lay out various principles and a diversity of alternate designs for
home, village and city layout along with thetemple, gardens, water bodies and nature.
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