Making of the Temple

[Guest guest]

Making of the Temple

The first step towards the construction of a temple is the selection of land. Even though any land may be

considered suitable provided the necessary rituals are performed for its sanctification, the ancient texts

nevertheless have the following to say in this matter: “The gods always play where groves, rivers,

mountains and springs are near, and in towns with pleasure gardens.” Not surprisingly thus, many of

India’s ancient surviving temples can be seen to have been built in lush valleys or groves, where the

environment is thought to be particularly suitable for building a residence for the gods.

No matter where it is situated, one essential factor for the existence of a temple is water. Water is

considered a purifying element in all major traditions of the world, and if not available in reality, it must

be present in at least a symbolic representation in the Hindu temple. Water, the purifying, fertilizing

element being present, its current, which is the river of life, can be forded into inner realization and the

pilgrim can cross over to the other shore (metaphysical).

The practical preparations for building a temple are invested with great ritual significance and magical

fertility symbolism. The prospective site is first inspected for the ‘type,’ of the soil it contains. This

includes determining its color and smell. Each of these defining characteristics is divided into four

categories, which are then further associated with one of the four castes:

- White Soil: Brahmin

- Red Soil: Kshatriya (warrior caste)

- Yellow Soil: Vaishya

- Black Soil: Shudra

Similarly for the smell and taste:

- Sweet: Brahmin

- Sour: Kshatriya

- Bitter: Vaishya

- Astringent: Shudra (a reminder perhaps of the raw-deal which they have often been given in life)

The color and taste of the soil determines the “caste” of the temple, i.e., the social group to which it will

be particularly favourable. Thus the patron of the temple can choose an auspicious site specifically

favourable to himself and his social environment.

After these preliminary investigations, the selected ground needs to be tilled and levelled:

Tilling: When the ground is tilled and ploughed, the past ceases to count; new life is entrusted to the

soil and another cycle of production begins, an assurance that the rhythm of nature has not been

interfered with. Before laying of the actual foundation, the Earth Goddess herself is impregnated in a

symbolic process known as ankura-arpana, ankura meaning seed and arpana signifying offering. In this

process, a seed is planted at the selected site on an auspicious day and its germination is observed after

a few days. If the growth is satisfactory, the land is deemed suitable for the temple. The germination of

the seed is a metaphor for the fulfilment of the inherent potentialities which lie hidden in Mother Earth,

and which by extension are now transferred to the sacred structure destined to come over it.

Levelling: It is extremely important that the ground from which the temple is to rise is regarded as

being throughout an equal intellectual plane, which is the significance behind the levelling of the land. It is

also an indication that order has been established in a wild, unruly, and errant world.

Now that the earth has been ploughed, tilled and levelled, it is ready for the drawing of the vastupurusha mandala, the metaphysical plan of the temple.

 

 

[Guest guest]

very nice explanation.

very interesting too. i am happy about the whole write up.

 

thanks r.suresh jai prathiyangira!

 

 

 

Babitha Vasanth <babitha70Mookambika Cc: sanatana_dharma Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 6:07:12 PM Making of the Temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making of the Temple The first step towards the construction of a temple is the selection of land. Even though any land may be considered suitable provided the necessary rituals are performed for its sanctification, the ancient texts nevertheless have the following to say in this matter: “The gods always play where groves, rivers, mountains and springs are near, and in towns with pleasure gardens.†Not surprisingly thus, many of India’s ancient surviving temples can be seen to have been built in lush valleys or groves, where the environment is thought to be particularly suitable for building a residence for the gods. No matter where it is situated, one essential factor for the existence of a temple is water. Water is considered a purifying element in all major traditions of the world, and if not available in reality, it must be present in at least a symbolic representation in the Hindu temple. Water, the purifying, fertilizing element being present, its current, which is the river of life, can be forded into inner realization and the pilgrim can cross over to the other shore (metaphysical) . The practical preparations for building a temple are invested with great ritual significance and magical fertility symbolism. The prospective site is first inspected for the ‘type,’ of the soil it contains. This includes determining its color and smell. Each of these defining characteristics is divided into four categories, which are then further associated with one of the four castes: - White Soil: Brahmin - Red Soil: Kshatriya (warrior caste) - Yellow Soil: Vaishya - Black Soil: Shudra Similarly for the smell and taste: - Sweet: Brahmin - Sour: Kshatriya - Bitter: Vaishya - Astringent: Shudra (a reminder perhaps of the raw-deal which they have often been given in life) The color and taste of the soil determines the “caste†of the temple, i.e., the social group to which it will be particularly favourable. Thus the patron of the temple can choose an auspicious site specifically favourable to himself and his social environment. After these preliminary investigations, the selected ground needs to be tilled and levelled: Tilling: When the ground is tilled and ploughed, the past ceases to count; new life is entrusted to the soil and another cycle of production begins, an assurance that the rhythm of nature has not been interfered with. Before laying of the actual foundation, the Earth Goddess herself is impregnated in a symbolic process known as ankura-arpana, ankura meaning seed and arpana signifying offering. In this process, a seed is planted at the selected site on an auspicious day and its germination is observed after a few days. If the growth is satisfactory, the land is deemed suitable for the temple. The germination of the seed is a metaphor for the fulfilment of the inherent potentialities which lie hidden in Mother Earth, and which by extension are now transferred to the sacred structure destined to come over it. Levelling: It is extremely important that the ground from which the temple is to rise is regarded as being throughout an equal intellectual plane, which is the significance behind the levelling of the land. It is also an indication that order has been established in a wild, unruly, and errant world. Now that the earth has been ploughed, tilled and levelled, it is ready for the drawing of the vastupurusha mandala, the metaphysical plan of the temple.

 

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