Temple Architecture and Iconography- Cultural Role | DU Lit. Fest |

Bharat has a rich heritage of ancient temples that are rich in symbolism and cultural significance. In ancient society, the temple used to be in the centre of the city and the rest of the infrastructure used to develop around it. Since ages, the carvings and sculptures of these temples have been passing on the Puranic stories and cultural traditions. Monidipa Dey and Anuradha Goyal reveal the intricacies of architecture and the cultural importance of the temples in conversation with Pankaj Saxena at the Delhi University Literature Festival sponsored by the Sarayu Trust Foundation.

About the Speakers:
Monidipa Dey (Bose) is an author, columnist, independent research scholar, and blogger, mainly focusing on history & heritage subjects. She has worked as the Head of Publications for a Delhi-based NGO (‘Youth For Heritage Foundation’), which was working towards creating general awareness about heritage.

Anuradha Goyal studies the intersection of her three prime interests – Business Innovation, travel and books, by writing about them in books, blogs and columns. She is the author of many books and founder of IndiTales, a leading bi-lingual travel media portal where she documents her global travels in all formats with a focus on ancient India.

Pankaj Saxena is the Co-founder of Bṛhat & Author of Hindu temples, arts, literature, history and culture. Chief Editor, Indic Varta, Centre for Indic Studies. Has travelled and documented more than 400 ancient Hindu temples.

Topics Covered:
0:00 Indian Knowledge System and Temple Culture
1:35 Unity of Knowledge - Sciences and Humanities
3:45 Hindu Architecture
4:30 Garbhagraha of the Temple is where the Supreme Consciousness resides
5:50 By praying to the Divine one experiences moments of bliss or moksha
6:44 The Shikhara of a temple signifies Ekagrata or focus on the Supreme Deity inside
7:30 The Vastu Purush Mandala - Sanctum Sanctorum
9:28 The Hindu Temple is an abstract concept with a deep philosophy of Moksha
11:07 In the Garbhagraha the Vigraha of the Deity is on the Kalash with the Navagrahas
11:50 The Universal Consciousness descends from the Kalash on the top of Shikhara
12:18 The ascent and descent of Consciousness happens in front of the Lord and the Bhakt has Darshana
13:15 Temples functioning as centres of Learning
15:15 Yogmaya Temple, the oldest temple in Mehrauli Delhi, mentioned in Mahabharata
15:53 Societal Relevance of a Temple
17:10 Temples in Southern India have records of Court Battles solved in Temple
18:23 The caves on the trade routes served various purposes
19:00 The city was built around the Temple and the Temple was built around the Diety so the Dharma always prevailed
21:00 The Interaction of Architecture with Sculptures and Iconography
22:15 The Scriptures tell the Puranic Tales to connect people to Dharma
24:00 The bards travelled to villages singing and narrating stories that were passed on through generations
26:20 The Mithuna sculptures denote Moksha, union with the Divine
27:58 Different postures of the Lord have different meanings
29:00 Temple documentation of History and lifestyle
30:00 Nagarik is supposed to appreciate and promote art and artists
31:10 The King donated to the temple to create equity in society
31:50 Temple festivals involve each community and their contribution
35:00 Understanding the traditions established and passed on through generations is important
36:20 The Hindu ecosystem was built upon kartavyas and panch wrinas
38:26 We all are descendants of Shri Ram
Q&A
38:45 Temples are under government control, if Hindus take over will we be able to build the same ecosystem?
40:37 To maintain the Purushartha hierarchy of Dharma Artha Kaam Moksha Temples need to be free

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