File:64 grid Manduka design Hindu Temple Floor Plan Vastu Purusa Mandala Ancient Architecture.svg

Summary

Manduka mandala is the most common and sacred Hindu temple format, set on a 8 x 8 grid. This floor plan is common in large temples.

The blue squares are Brahma pada, typically where the main and/or largest idol of the temple resides.

The white squares surrounding the Brahma pada are Devika (Devaika) padas - the zone where gods (devas) reside.

The light green squares at the outermost periphery are Paisachikas padas - the zone of demons, fears, doubts, suffering. On the east edge are always Surya (Sun) and Indra present, who rythmically bring light and hope everyday.

The light saffron squares forming the second outer encirclement are Manusha padas - the zone where human beings live and symbolically make choice between good and evil, Devas (gods) and Paisachikas (demons), as they walk / journey towards the core of the temple for a darsana (darshan, vision).

The deep saffron circle in the center symbolically represents formless Universal One (or Universal Principle, also called Purusa) present in everything and everywhere, in Hindu tradition, the ultimately goal of all Hindu spiritual activity.

In Hindu temple architecture, the designs range from simple 1 pada (used for yoga, meditation with self as temple) to 1024 pada or 32x32 grid superstructure temples.

Further description about Manduka mandala: Stella Kramirsch, The Hindu Temple (2 Volumes) (Pt. 1 & 2), <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9788120802223" class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn">ISBN 978-8120802223</a>

Licensing

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