What were the main features of Hindu architecture?
Dravida and Nagara architecture
| Feature | Nagara architecture |
|---|---|
| Main temple spire (tower) | Sikhara above sanctum |
| Mandapa spire (tower) | Yes |
| Curvature of the spire | Curvilinear centred over the sanctum, also straight-edged pyramidal |
| Sanctum | Single or multi-storey |
How would you describe Hindu architecture?
Hindu architecture is the traditional system of Indian architecture for structures such as temples, monasteries, statues, homes, market places, gardens and town planning as described in Hindu texts. These architectures had influence of Ancient Persian and Hellenistic architecture. …
What are the three styles of temple architecture?
Three main styles of temple architecture are the Nagara or the Northern style, the Dravida or the Southern style and the Vesara or Mixed style.
What are characteristics of temple architecture in mediaeval North India?
North Indian temple architecture, style of architecture produced throughout northern India and as far south as Bijapur district in northern Karnataka state, characterized by its distinctive shikhara, a superstructure, tower, or spire above the garbhagriha (“womb-room”), a small sanctuary housing the main image or …
What are the parts of a Hindu temple?
The basic form of a Hindu structural temple consists of the following.
- Garbhagriha: It literally means ‘womb-house’ and is a cave like a sanctum.
- Mandapa: It is the entrance to the temple.
- Shikhara or Vimana:
- Amalaka:
- Kalasha:
- Antarala (vestibule):
- Jagati:
- Vahana:
Why Hindu temples are built?
Temples were built to house a sacred symbol of a particular god and were decorated with sculptural figures recalling episodes from mythology.
Which is oldest Hindu temple?
Mundeshwari Temple
What is the function and use of Hindu temples?
A Hindu temple can be a simple structure by the side of the road or a large complex including many buildings. Temples serve as dwelling places for deities, surrounded by markets selling offerings and flowers. The inner sanctuaries are small and intended for a few worshippers at a time.
What is the main entrance to a Hindu temple called?
Worshippers enter the Neasden mandir through a large entrance hall where they must leave their shoes. There is a grander, covered entrance called the roopchoki; this is where the guru may make appearances. It is important that Hindus purify their thoughts as they approach the inner sanctum.
What are the five Hindu beliefs?
Prominent themes in Hindu beliefs include the four Puruṣārthas, the proper goals or aims of human life; namely, dharma (ethics/duties), artha (prosperity/work), kama (desires/passions) and moksha (liberation/freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth/salvation), as well as karma (action, intent and consequences) and …
How does a Hindu choose which god to worship?
How do Hindus decide which Gods and Goddess to worship? Some will rely on astrology, see where their “stars” were when they were born and therefore, choose the Gods/Goddess accordingly.
Why do Hindu temples face east?
Since there was no electricity in the olden says and the houses were tiny and small, the source of natural light was sunlight from the windows. So made it sense to keep the idols in the west side of the room facing the east so that when the sunlight fell on the Gods idols, at least one could see their faces.
Which god idols should not be kept at home?
The idol of God should never be placed anywhere else in the house except the temple. Also, it should be placed in such a way that its back part is not visible. The idol’s front should only be visible.
Can God face east direction?
According to Vastu Shastra, it is considered appropriate to place the idol and picture of any goddess and deity on the wall on the east or north side of the house of worship. Never face the idol or picture of God towards the north, otherwise, the worshiper will face towards the south.
Which direction should a Hindu face when praying?
Use the right direction The direction of the temple should be such that the devotee faces east while praying. If east is not possible, the west can be another alternate location for the prayer room or temple. It is recommended to use the north-eastern or eastern part of the home for installing a home temple.
Which god idol should be kept in home?
Ganesha
What should be placed in front of main door?
What should be placed in front of main door? A clean house, especially the main entrance, attracts positive energy. Avoid keeping dustbins, broken chairs or stools, near the main door.
Why do we pray facing East?
Syriac and Arabic Christian apologetics of the 7th century explained that Christians prayed facing east because “the Garden of Eden was planted in the east (Genesis 2:8) and that at the end of time, at the second coming, the Messiah would approach Jerusalem from the east.” Saint John of Damascus taught that believers …
Which way should we pray?
If a person does not know which direction they are facing, that individual should pray in the direction that he/she feels is towards Mecca. All mosques are supposed to be designed to be oriented towards the qibla.
Where do you face when praying?
A Qibla compass or qiblah compass (sometimes also called qibla/qiblah indicator) is a modified compass used by Muslims to indicate the direction to face to perform prayers. In Islam, this direction is called qibla, and points towards the city of Makkah and specifically to the Ka’abah.
What direction is the Qibla?
Qibla is the fixed direction towards the Ka’bah in the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. It’s the direction which all Muslims face when performing their prayers, wherever they are in the world.
What is called the Qibla?
Qiblah, also spelled qibla or kiblah, the direction of the sacred shrine of the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, toward which Muslims turn five times each day when performing the salat (daily ritual prayer). …
Does the Qibla change?
Islamic tradition says that these verses were revealed during a prayer congregation; Muhammad and his followers immediately changed their direction from Jerusalem to Mecca in the middle of the prayer ritual. There are different reports of the qibla direction when Muhammad was in Mecca (before his migration to Medina).
Is Qibla finder accurate?
-✦- Qibla Finder helps all muslims around the world to find Qibla direction fastest and easiest way with 100% Accuracy works Online and Offline. …
What was the first Qibla before Kaaba?
First qibla The historical significance of the al-Aqsa Mosque in Islam is further emphasized by the fact that Muslims turned towards al-Aqsa when they prayed for a period of 16 or 17 months after migration to Medina in 624; it thus became the qibla (“direction”) that Muslims faced for prayer.
Which is the first Qibla?
Jerusalem
Which mosque was built by jinns?
The Mosque of the Jinn (Arabic: مسجد الجنّ, Masjid al-Jinn) is a mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, located near Jannat al-Mu’alla.
Which is the oldest mosque in the earth?
The Quba Mosque