Stupa is Dhatu Garbha. It is the place where a relic of a Buddha Bikshu is buried. An important article used by the Bikshu or their physical remains. Saririka Dhatu is a Stupa that contains physical remains.

Hoysala architecture is even more ornamental. The lathe machined pillars are characteristic of Hoysala temples.

Temples performed multiple functions and therefore temples hosted a variety of activities like education, art, charity etc. A temple complex was a representation and host for every dimension of the community’s life.

While Dravida temples have many prakaras, these were additions by various dynasties over a period of time. Compared to this, in Kerala temples, by definition, there are five prakaras called pancha prakaras. In smaller temples you may not find pancha prakaras

Pattadakal has multiple examples of Dravida and Nagara style of temples and is called the cradle of Indian temples. Mahabalipuram also has the Pancha Pandava Rathas but does not illustrate the variety that Pattadakal has.

It refers to the concept that the body itself is a devaalaya. Suddhi (cleansing of organs), Nyasa (invoking divinity within the body), Mudra (making effective gestures), Mandala (symbolic representation of divinity), Mantra (realising deity in one’s own heart), Pranayama (regulation of breath), Dhyana (contemplation) and Sohambhavana (becoming one with divinity). These refer to the various practices which help realise the divinity within the human body.

The picture is of Kamakhya Adi Shakti Peeth temple in Guwahati.

By law, Governments have the right to divert income, control appointments and deploy Govt officers to manage temples.

India has lost thousands of antiquities due to conquest and invaders in earlier times. In recent times organised loot, Government connivance and terrorism have resulted in theft of thousands more deities.

The deity corresponds to the area between the eyebrows or Agyachakra or the pituitary gland

Ancient devalayas were called Dharushilpa. They were not durable and perished. Stone pillars are durable.

Sonprayag is the sangam of Vasuki and Mandakini rivers, but is not considered as part of the Panchprayags which are, in descending order, Vishnuprayag (Alaknanda and Dhauli Ganga), Nandaprayag (Alaknanda and Nandakini), Karnaprayag (Alaknanda and Pindar), Rudraprayag (Alaknanda and Mandakini) and Dev Prayag (Alaknanda and Bhagirathi).

The Devaalaya is likened to the human body (both in the horizontal and erect form), the five elements and a tree (both upright and erect).

Balikallus are small stones of three or four inches in height and a few inches in diameter. These are used for placing offerings for directional deities who have a special place in Kerala temples. Each deity also has their own specific requirement of musical instrument, rhythm and dance. Nowadays musicians go around the prakaras while in the earlier times dancers also used to go around the prakaras.

Rig Veda explains the mahatmayam of Prayaga or Ganga and Yamuna rivers. Teerthsnaanam at Prayag fetches Swarga as well as Moksha. Matsyapuranam mentions that teerthayatra is for all humans. Vaman Puranam mentions that teerthayatra gives punya to seven generations of ancestors and descendants and to themselves.

The trees and plants at the site of the devalaya are shifted to the Nandanavana as a part of Vastu Samana. The nadanavana can be in the Prakara or even outside the Prakara. These provide supplies to the temple. This is a recognition that natural forces are the original inhabitants of the temple.