Sept. 21, 2007
The Hindu Temple

Temples (Home of God, but also the Body-Cosmos)
Mandala (geometric diagram of the cosmos)
Vastupurusa Mandala (“Site” and “Essense”)
Tirtha (ford)
Parts of Temple:
     Mandapa (porch), sikhara (tower), amalaka (sun-disk), garbhagrha (womb chamber)
     Metaphysical axis (cosmic axis of universe)
     Ritual axis (organized to funnel devotee toward darsan)

Shiva Temple at Elephanta (550-575)
Durga Temple at Aihole (675-725)
Kailasanatha Temple, 757-790 (a Shiva temple) at Ellora
  “Ravana Shaking the Foundations of the Sacred Mountain”
Khajuraho -- Kandariya Marahadeva Temple (1025)
mithuna (loving couple)
yantra (secret pattern)