An Analysis of the Form of Hindu Temples and the Role of Myth in Shaping the Map and Facade of Temples

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Assistant Professor, Department of Art and Architecture, Birjand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Birjand, Iran

Abstract

India is one of the lands that have been the cradle of many beliefs and religious and philosophical ideas of human societies. Circles and squares are among the basic forms in ancient art and architecture that have been used in the design of Hindu temples. The sacred geometry used in Hindu temples is based on the famous knowledge known as Vastu Shastra. The current research was carried out with a descriptive and analytical method, and it aimed to study the knowledge of the sacred art of Mandala and its effect on the formation and expansion of the architectural spaces of Hindu temples. This research came to the conclusion that Hindu temples can be examined from two perspectives. From the first view, temples were studied in terms of infrastructure and the way their maps were executed. From this perspective, the implementation of the instructions of Vastu Shastra Mandala was one of the requirements. The second view is in terms of their form and facade decorations. The result of the study showed that the changes applied in the superstructure of the temples were influenced by Indian myths and archetypes and the form and content of this superstructure expressed mythical concepts.

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References

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