 PAGODAS
AND TEMPLES
The
East is famed for many of its architectural marvels,
some being the pagodas of China, Burma, Singapore and
Indonesia and the magnificent temples of India. Both,
Pagodas as well as temples have their significance in
shape, size, uniqueness and both look majestic and
enchanting.
Temples
Tourists
to India are as enamored by her magnificent temples, as
by her palaces and titanic mountains. From Kashmir to
Kanyakumari and from Gujarat to West Bengal, to the
pagodas of the seven sister states, India is a tapestry
of myriad kinds of architecture.
Apart
from Hindus temples, Jains and Buddhists have left their
indelible mark too. While the Hindu temples are carved
out of ancient stones, Jain temples look alluring in
pure white marble. While North Indian temples have a
slightly cylindrical tower, South Indian temples have a
conical, trapezium like shape to their towers. In south
Indian temples, one usually finds the entire epic
translated in colorful sculpture on the towers.
Erotica
in temples
Vatsyayana’s
Kamasutra comes alive in the beautiful, tantalizing
walls of Kahjuraho and Konarak. A trip to both Madya
Pradesh and Orissa can be an exciting adventure to
honeymooners, as they discover the wonders of nature in
the most unabashed manner they are portrayed.
In
days of yore, temples were grounds where wisdom was
meant to be absorbed. Love as a way of life was
symbolized on stone carvings. Also, Hinduism has always
been of the view that there are various ways in
realizing God. The religion never has imposed a
regimented way of attaining salvation. Thus, Bhakti yoga
(salvation through devotion, Karma yoga( salvation
through the performance of duties and Kaama Yoga
(salvation through love) are many paths through which
man can realize God. Isn’t it true that whane you in
love, the whole world seems alive and beautiful? You’d
then never fail to notice the beauty in the ugliest
duckling, and suddenly yesterday’s enemies become your
friends and your purse strings suddenly loosen, as you
generously give away your booties to the unfortunates
around you.
Certainly, love has the potential to make the
world go round and has the potential to enable you to
realize God!
Temples of Kerala
God’s
own country has another unique style, where the towers
are shaped like a pyramid and are made of wood.
Well,
whether South Indian or North Indian, all Hindu temples
have a step like tower, converging towards the sky, yet
not piercing the heavens like a church. The idea behind
having a tower is mainly to point out the fact that all
our energies need to converge towards the one spirit of
God.
Again,
if you notice, in all cultures of society, when we pray,
the hands are joined together, with the fingers touching
each other to form a cone. This again, suggests the
convergence of body, mind, emotions, intellect and
senses. The temples of Kerala are slightly different
from other South Indian temples in that, the towers are
triangular and sloping and made of wood. The slope is
the feature, bearing in mind the heavy rainfall the
state is subject to.
Ancient
temples that have been existing since centuries were
built by pious Rishis (sages), who after years of
penance selected the spots meant for the edifice and
installed the idol too.
The
importance of the 7 chakras
It’s
an interesting fact that the several important temples
dotting the length and breath of India, from Kashmir to
Kanyakumari were erected in spots representing the seven
chakras of the human body!
At
the tip of India, where three mighty oceans the Indian
Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, is
the famous Kanyakumari temple, dedicated to the Virgin
Goddess-the consort of Lord Shiva. And at the base of
the human spine, lies the coiled Kundalini, which in
common man, lies dormant, but when awakened, is the seat
of divine consciousness! The virgin Goddess represents
the splendor of this divine energy when awakened.
In
the extreme North, atop Mount Kailas, is the Siva
temple, which is akin to the point in the brain that’s
called Sahasra Padma or the lotus with a thousand
petals. Between these two points lie all the other
energy fields. Through spiritual perseverance alone can
man reach the state of unblocking all the seven energy
fields and attaining enlightenment and merging with the
Almighty!
Not
only the several temples dotting India, but also the
sanctum sanctorum of every temple, has areas
representing the seven chakras. From the temple
courtyard, to the kumbh tower made of copper, to the
steps inscribed with the tortoise, to the actual
garbagriha or the sanctum sanctorum, everything
represents the seven chakras of the human body. When you
enter the actual sanctum sanctorum, where the idol is
installed, you get to see the deity and worship. This is
akin to the feeling one gets when the final chakra in
the brain is free of blockages.
The
idol
A
line must be mentioned about the beautiful image of the
deity that is installed in every temple. Although,
ancient deities were carved by master sculptors in
stone, many images are also made of Panchaloha or the
alloy of 5 metals-Gold, silver, brass, iron and copper.
The image made of these 5 important metals, is supposed
to have curative properties and the holy water that is
poured on the idol, is given to devotees to consume.
The
importance of temples
Man
has through eons sought the God within, by worshipping
the God without. We, as humans need to place our faith
in someone or something. Thus, the image of God, in
paper or stone is held in great sanctity and sacredness.
In a temple, when thousands worship daily, the
vibrations of each, is absorbed by the idol made of
stone or metal and is reflected back. Thus, along with
our supplications, special yearnings and prayers, verses
of hymns sung in praise of the deity is extremely
imperative, so that whatever is reflected is also
positive. Thus, a temple throbs with positive and
crystal clear vibrations, which are numerically strung
in meter, to infuse the worshippers with hope, peace and
enlightenment.
Pagodas
The
term Pagoda as many think does not have any Chinese or
Japanese roots, but has an Indian origin! These look so
picturesque, that every western tourist who happens to
come across one, will find the beautiful roof tweaked on
both sides, like a moustache of a man! Many pagodas are
situated in the middle of a pond.
The
tweaked roofs
Even
a child can spot a Pagoda, owing to the roofs tweaked
majestically! Ever wondered why? The Chinese and
Japanese believe that when any structure is angular and
points at something or someone, it emits destructive
energies. In order to avoid this situation, all pagodas
are tilted upwards! This belief has its roots in Chinese
Feng Shui, where the roof or terrace top of your
neighbor’s when pointing at your house, can emit sha
qi (killing energies).
Also,
unlike the church spires, that directly point
heavenwards, the pagoda does not aim at the heavens. The
belief is, you emit no poison arrows down towards earth,
towards other living creatures or even at the heavens!
Between two roofs of the pagodas, are portrayed many
folklores and the life of Buddha.
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