thanjai periya kovil

1. HINDUISM

2. • Hinduism originated in indian subcontinent and spread towards the south east Asia.
• It is arguably the oldest religion.

4. • There is no single founder of hinduism or a single place of origin.
• Earliest evidence can be found in excavations of harappa and mohenjo daro.
• The vedic people were responsible for introducing practices and beliefs
• The religious traditions practised by vedic people of ancient india became the basis of hinduism.

5. Hinduism- beliefs and social aspects
• It is estimated that between 11 and 14 percent of the world’s population are adherents to the Hindu religion It is the third largest religion in the world.
The vast majority of Hindus – some 750 million – live in India, where they account for 85% of the population.
• The origins of Hinduism can be traced back to around 1500 B.C. (prehistoric), in what is now India. In its origins, it is a ritualistic religion, while in its
modern form, it is rooted in internal meditation. Hinduism can be difficult to study because of the diversity of belief that is included.
• Vedas: The earliest, and most sacred documents in the Hindu religion are called the Vedas; the Vedas are a collection of prayers, chants, incantations,
and meditative musings
• Upanishads: Upanishads are a series of stories which expound the idea that behind the many gods of this world stands one Ultimate Reality, which the
Hindus refer to as Brahman .
• Upanishads were inner or mystic teachings which were passed down from guru to disciple.

6. • Hindus believe in a single Divinity or supreme God that is present in everything called Brahman.
• Hindus also believe in other gods who are aspects of that supreme God such as Shiva, Shakti, and Ganesh.

7. Categories
• POLYTHEISTIC= worships multiple deities: gods and goddesses
• MONOTHEISTIC = it recognizes only one supreme God: the pantheistic principle of Brahman, that all reality is a
unity. The entire universe is seen as one divine entity who is simultaneously at one with the universe and who
transcends it as well. Pantheism is a belief that Universe is identical with divinity and everything composes an all-
compassing, immanent god. Pantheists donot believe in individual god.
• TRINITARIAN= Brahman is simultaneously visualized as a triad -- one God with three persons: Brahma (the Creator)
Vishnu (the Preserver, Shiva (the Destroyer)
• HENOTHEISTIC= recognize a single deity, and recognizes other gods and goddesses as facets, forms, manifestations,
or aspects of that supreme God

8. Karma and reincarnation and Moksha
• Reincarnation is the belief that the soul repeatedly goes through a cycle of being born into a body, dying, and being
reborn again in a new body.
• Karma, a force that determines the quality of each life, depending on how well one behaved in a past life.
• Hinduism says we create karma by our actions on earth. If you live a good life, you create good karma. If you live a
bad life, you create bad karma.
• Each time a Hindu soul is born into a better life, it has the opportunity to improve itself further, and get closer to
ultimate liberation.
• This liberation is called Moksha.
• One attains Moksha when one has "overcome ignorance", and no longer desires anything at all.
• The ones who reach this state no longer struggle with the cycle of life and death.

9. Epics: Mahabharata and Ramayana
• Mahabharata, Sanskrit for Great Story, is one of the great epic poems of ancient
India.
• It was written between 300 BC and AD. 300.
• The story is about the battle of one family over a kingdom in northern India.
• The Bhagavad Gita (Song of God) is contained in the Mahabharata. It is dialogue
between Krishna and the hero Arjuna on the meaning of life.
• Ramayana was written in 3rd century BC, and tells story of Rama, and his wife,
Sita.
• Rama and Sita are generally seen as ideal examples of great manly heroism and
wifely devotion.
• Reciting the Ramayana is considered a religious act, and scenes from the epic are
portrayed throughout India and Southeast Asia.

10. The Bhagwad Gita
• The Bhagavad Gita is the highest expression of philosophical Hinduism. It is a chapter of the immense Indian epic, the Mahabharata, the saga of the
war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Arjuna, hero of the Pandavas, is about to confront the army of the Kauravas on the battlefield.
• The Bhagavad Gita is an expression of the Hindu philosophy that God is in all things, and all things are in God. It contains probably the most powerful
expression of pantheism in world scripture. The one God is the pinnacle of all things

11. Hindu goals and duties
• Hinduism is about the sort of life one should lead in order to be born into a better life next time and ultimately achieve liberation. There are 4
legitimate goals in life: (purusharthas)
• dharma (appropriate living)
• artha (the pursuit of material gain by lawful means)
• kama (delight of the senses)
• moksha (release from rebirth).
 The ultimate aim of all Hindu thoughts is to attain the universal soul or divine wisdom called Brahman
Hindu’s believe in the freedom to individually worship and guide own spiritual experience.
The goals of Hinduism consist of personal conduct and righteous living which equals to dharma
Goal to achieve moksha, (liberation) from endless cycle of rebirths called Samsara and reunite atman with Brahman

12. Key terms
• MAYA= all forms of existence are temporary and illusionary
• SAMSARA = endless cycle of reincarnation
• KARMA = Basic belief of cause and effect (all actions have a consequence)
• OM: Aum (also Om, ॐ) is the most sacred syllable in
Hinduism and Vedas
• Used in meditation and prayer as sound gives supernatural
power
• Represents the original sound of creation
• Swastik: Good luck symbol representing “well being”
• Usually illustrated in red
• Used on wedding invitations, drawings
• Used in rituals to bring good luck and protect against evil

13. Caste system
• Rigid, hereditary membership into birth caste
• Marriage only amongst member of same caste
• Occupation choices restricted
• Personal contact with other castes restricted
• Acceptance of fixed place in society
• Members of caste rely on each other for support
• Caste system born out of brahma
Brahmins- thinkers/ knowers
Kshatriya- doers
Vaishyas- provide food for belly
Sudra: do the work

14. • Each caste has an occupation(s) and contributes to the good of the whole
• Jajman—gives gift (landlord)
• Kamin—gives service to the landholder (lower castes)
• Brahmins – Priests, Teachers, Judges; usually don’t own land therefore need other castes to work the land and provide for them
• Kshatriyas – Warriors and Rulers (landowners)
• Vaisyas – Skilled Traders, Merchants, Farmers
• Sudras – Unskilled Workers—Laborers and Craft workers
• Below these four castes are people who belong to no caste
• Untouchables – Outcastes, Children of God

15. Important hindu terms
• Puja – the act of showing reverence to a god or to aspects of the divine through prayers, songs, and rituals. The essential part of puja for the Hindu is
making a spiritual connection with a deity. Home pujas do not require a priest; temple pujas typically are led by a priest.
• Ahimsa – doctrine of nonviolence to all life, which is the basis for Hindu vegetarianism. This stand was personified in Gandhi.
• Guru – one who shows by example a spiritual path to follow.
• Tilak – Generally, no religious work should begin without a tilak on the forehead. There are 13 places on the body where the tilak can be placed,
however, it is only on the forehead that it is noble. The head is the summit of the body with the brain being the axis of the entire body. The wearing of
the tilak is a symbol of worship and devotion, differentiated by color for the deity of the particular sect.
• Yoga (means “path”) – Bhakti (means intense love for God), Karma (is often called the path of right action), Jnana (described as the way to God through
intellectual ability).

16. Hindu temple architecture
• The Hindu temple architecture is an open, symmetry driven structure, with many
variations, on a square grid of padas, deploying perfect geometric shapes such as circles
and squares.
• The Hindu temple architecture reflects a synthesis of arts, the ideals of dharma, beliefs,
values and the way of life cherished under Hinduism. It is a link between man, deities, and
the Universal Purusa in a sacred space.
• The architectural principles of Hindu temples in India are described in Shilpa Shastras and
Vastu Sastras.
• Underlying principle in a Hindu temple is built around the belief that all things are one,
everything is connected.
• The pilgrim is welcomed through mathematically structured spaces, a network of art,
pillars with carvings and statues that display and celebrate the four important and
necessary principles of human life - the pursuit of artha (prosperity, wealth), the pursuit
of kama (pleasure, sex), the pursuit of dharma (virtues, ethical life) and the pursuit
of moksha (release, self-knowledge).
• The appropriate site for a Mandir, suggest ancient Sanskrit texts, is near water and
gardens, where lotus and flowers bloom, where swans, ducks and other birds are heard,
where animals rest without fear of injury or harm. These harmonious places were
recommended in these texts with the explanation that such are the places where gods
play, and thus the best site for Hindu temples.

17. Basic element of a Hindu temple
• Garbhagriha
• Mandapa
• Shikhara or Vimana
• Amalaka
• Kalasha
• Antarala (vestibule)
• Jagati

18. Layout of hindu temple
• A Hindu temple design follows a geometrical design called vastu-purusha-mandala.
The name is a composite Sanskrit word with three of the most important
components of the plan. Mandala means circle, Purusha is universal essence at the
core of Hindu tradition, while Vastu means the dwelling structure.
• The outermost layer, Paisachika padas, signify aspects of Asuras and evil; the next
inner concentric layer is Manusha padas signifying human life; while Devika padas
signify aspects of Devas and good.
• The Manusha padas typically houses the ambulatory. The devotees, as they walk
around in clockwise fashion through this ambulatory to complete Parikrama (or
Pradakshina), walk between good on inner side. In smaller temples, the Paisachika
pada is not part of the temple superstructure, but may be on the boundary of the
temple or just symbolically represented.
• The Paisachika padas, Manusha padas and Devika padas surround Brahma padas,
which signifies creative energy and serves as the location for temple’s primary idol
for darsana. Finally at the very center of Brahma padas is Garbhagruha(Garbha-
Centre, gruha- house; literally the center of the house) (Purusa Space), signifying
Universal Principle present in everything and everyone.
• 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.
• Predominant number of Hindu temples exhibit the perfect square grid
principle. However, there are some exceptions. The temple explores a number of
structures and shrines in 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 2:5, 3:5 and 4:5 ratios.

19. Different styles of hindu temple architecture
• Nagara architecture • Dravidian architecture

20. Different styles of hindu temple architecture
• Kalinga architecture style

21. Different styles of hindu temple architecture
• Badami Chalukya architecture • Gadag Architecture style

22. Sun temple, konark
• Konark Sun Temple is a 13th century Sun Temple (also known as the Black Pagoda), at Konark, in
Orissa.

23. Sun temple, konark
• Konark Sun Temple is a 13th century Sun Temple (also
known as the Black Pagoda), at Konark, in Orissa.
• It was constructed from oxidized and weathered
ferruginous sandstone by King Narasimhadeva I (1238-
1250 CE) of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.
• The temple is an example of Orissan architecture of Ganga
dynasty. The temple is one of the most renowned temples
in India and is a World Heritage Site.
• Legend has it that the temple was constructed by Samba,
the son of Lord Krishna. It is said that Samba was afflicted
by leprosy, brought about by his father’s curse on him.
After 12 years of penance, he was cured by Surya, the Sun
God, in whose honour he built the magnificent Konark Sun
Temple.

25. • Located on the shoreline, now a little over 3 km from the sea, the temple
takes the form of the chariot of Surya (Arka), the Sun God, and is heavily
decorated with stone carving.
• The entire complex was designed in the form of the God's huge chariot
drawn by seven spirited horses on twelve pairs of exquisitely decorated
wheels at its base.
• The huge wheels carved at the base of the temple are one of the major
attractions.
• The spokes of the wheels serve as sundials and the shadows cast by
these can give the precise time of the day.
• The pyramidal roof soars over 30 m (98 ft) in height. The temple complex
also contains erotic sculptures similar to the temple in Khajuraho.

26. • The entrance is guarded by two giant lions, which are each shown crushing a war elephant.
• Each elephant in turn lies on top of a human body. The temple symbolizes the majestic stride of the Sun God.
• At the entrance of the temple is a Nata Mandir. This is where the temple dancers used to perform dances in homage to the Sun God.
• All around the temple, there are various floral and geometric patterns.
• The temple is now partly in ruins, and a collection of its sculptures is housed in the Sun Temple Museum, which is run by the Archaeological Survey of
India.

29. Ancient texts
• According to the scriptures, Samba, the son of Krishna, was cursed
with leprosy.
• He was advised by the sage, Kataka, to worship the sun god to cure
his aliment
• underwent penance for 12 years in Mitravana near the shores of
Chandrabhaga.
• Both the original Konark temple and the Multan temple have been
attributed to Samba.

30. South Indian temples
• South Indian temples have a large gopuram, a monumental tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of the temple. This forms a prominent feature
of Koils, Hindu temples of the Dravidian style.
• The gopuram's origins can be traced back to early structures of the Tamil kings Pallavas by the twelfth century.
• The temple's walls are typically square with the outer most wall having gopuras. The sanctum towering roof (the central deity's shrine) are also called
the vimanam. The inner sanctum has restricted access with only priests allowed beyond a certain point.
• The temples considered of porches or Mantapas preceding the door leading to the sanctum, Gate-pyramids or Gopurams, which are the principal
features in the quadrangular enclosures that surround the more notable temples and Pillared halls used for many purposes and are the invariable
accompaniments of these temples.
• Gopurams became a dominant feature of a temple's outer appearance, eventually overshadowing the inner sanctuary which became obscured from
view by the gopuram's colossal size.

31. Brihadeshwara temple

32. • Brihadeshwara Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to
Shiva located in Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
• It is also known as Periya Kovil, Rajarajeswara temple and
Rajarajeshwaram. It is one of the largest temples in India and is
an example of Dravidian architecture during the Chola
period. Built for Raja Raja Chola I and completed in 1010 AD,
Brihadeshwara temple

33. Temple complex
• The temple complex sits on the banks of a river that was channelled to make a moat around the complex's outer walls, the walls being built like a fortress.
• The complex is made up of many structures that are aligned axially.
• The massive size of the main Vimanam (Shikhara) is ca. 60.96 meters high. Pilaster, piers(a raised structure), and attached columns are placed rhythmically covering
every surface ofthe Vimanam.
• The gopuram of the main entrance is 30 m high, smaller than the vimana.
• It is unusual in the dravidian architecture where the gopurams are generally the main towers and taller than the vimanam.
• There is a big statue of Nandi (sacred bull), carved out of a single rock measuring about 16 ft (4.9 m) long and 13 ft (4.0 m) high at the entrance.The entire temple
structure is made out of granite.

34. Histrory
• Brihadeshwara temple is made by Rajaraja Chola Chola I.
• This temple is 1015 years old .
• The temple is a tribute as well as a reflection of the power of RajaRaja Chola I.
• The temple is most famous due to its uniqueness as among the greatest glories of the Indian
architecture.
• Temples is a expression of the Chola’s wealth, power and artistic expertise.
• The architect and engineer of the temple, Kunjara Mallan Raja Raja Perumthachan is revered
today as a father figure to all craftsmen in his homeland of present-day Central Kerala.
• An axial and symmetrical geometry rules the temple layout.
• It is an architectural example showcasing the pure form of the Dravida type of temple
architecture and representative of the Chola Empire ideology and the Tamil civilisation
in Southern India. The temple testify to the brilliant achievements of the Chola in architecture,
sculpture, painting and bronze casting.

36. Brihadeshwara temple
• A first rectangular surrounding wall 270 m * 140 m marks the outer
boundary.
• Surrounding the main temple are two walled enclosures. The outer wall is
high, defining the temple complex area. Here is the massive gopuram or
gateway.
• The main temple is in the center of the spacious quadrangle composed of
a sanctuary, a Nandi, a pillared hall and an assembly hall (mandapas), and
many sub-shrines.
• The most important part of the temple is the inner mandapa which is
surrounded by massive walls that are divided into levels by sharply cut
sculptures and pilasters providing deep bays and recesses.
• Each side of the sanctuary has a bay emphasising the principle cult
icons. The karuvarai, a Tamil word meaning the interior of the sanctum
sanctorum, is the inner most sanctum and focus of the temple where an
image of the primary deity, Shiva, resides.
• Inside is a huge stone linga. Only priests are allowed to enter this inner-
most chamber.
• The entrance is highly decorated.
• The temple is said to be made up of about 60,000 tons of granite.
• The capstone itself is made of four pieces of granite and about 20 tons .