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In this post we will familiarize ourselves with the basic plan and architectural elements of a South Indian temple. This is a simple approach for the benefit of those who have rarely or never visited one of these temples. To others this will be of little value or a refresher. The architecture of South Indian temples belongs to the Dravidian style and is distinctly different from those found in other parts of India, although they follow the same principles. The Dravidian style is the predominant style of temples in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra, Telangana, Kerala and Sri Lanka. Most temples have a similar layout and design but there are important differences and every temple is unique. They look similar because they were built according to a certain set of principles that were codified in the 8th century. There are several texts called the Shilpa Sastras and the Agamas that clearly lay out how a temple should be built. These temples are built according to the coordinates of Yantras, ancient and mystical diagrams that represent the universe. The most important part of a temple is the moolasthaanam or sanctum sanctorum. It is the womb of the temple or the Garbagraham. The primary deity resides here. It is usually a fixed, idol. This space is quite small in older temples. In Sivan temples it is usually but not always a lingam. In other temples, it is an idol made of stone or other material such as wood or metal depicting the primary deity. This small space can be square, rectangular, circular or apsidal and is capped by the Vimanam which also comes in many shapes. Just in front of this is an ante-chamber that is called the Arthamandapam. Surrounding these two structures is the great hall or Mahamandapam that has several subsidiary shrines. This complex has one or 3 entrances and is enclosed. Surrounding these are a series of often rectangular walled enclosures that are the circumbulatory pathways or Prakarams. The inner ones are enclosed with roofs but the outer ones are open. They are in a sequence of odd numbers and are up to 7 in larger temples. The outermost is usually not surrounded by a wall. The enclosures house several subsidiary shrines and the Uthsavamoorthy the processional idol which is usually a movable metal idol. The walls have alcoves or recesses that house a wide variety of deities called Koshta idols.. As you enter the temple the first structure is the gopuram or temple tower. It is usually built over the entrance of a walled enclosure. These were mostly later additions in time and in a lot of temples dwarf the height of the Vimanam. You then encounter the Kodimaram (the flagstaff), the Balipeedam (the sacrificial altar) and the Vaahanam ( Vehicle - Nanthi in Sivan temples and Garuda in Vishnu temples). The entrance to the Arthamandapam is flanked by two large guardian statues usually called the Dwarapaalakar. Historically the earliest temples were likely made of brick, wood and mud that did not survive the ravages of time and rebuilding efforts. Many sites are ancient and predate the actual structures that we see today. The original structures likely evolved from caves and dolmen-like stone structures and evolved into existing temples. The Saivite canonical work the Thevaram mentions many temples and some of it was compiled in the early seventh century. It does mention structural temples. The structure of these temples are unclear as they were probably built of perishable or impermanent materials. The structures that have endured were built from the seventh century onwards and start with the elaborate cave temples built by the Pallava kings. The Pandian kings further south also built some. The first structural temples that have survived, started to appear during the Pallava period and the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram built circa 725 CE, is an early example. During this period the temples started taking the shape, form and layout that have persisted to this day. During the tenth century the Chola kings were emerging as the preeminent power in the Tamil country and started to build grand structural temples of granite. Much of this effort has survived. They also converted most if not all existing important temples into granite structures. However. although the core of these temples were from this era, many additional structures were added on to in subsequent periods by Pandian, Vijayanagara and Nayakkan kings as well as others. The area of the temples were expanded by adding a series of walled enclosures creating circumbulatory pathways or Prakarams. Some of these temples became quite large in extent and occupied a central and important part of many towns which became known as temple towns.The Gopuram which is the towering entrance way became an important and prominent feature of the temple beginning in the twelfth century onwards under Pandian, Vijayanagara and Nayakkan rule and persist to this day. They trace their origins to early Pallava and Chola temples but were much smaller structures then.* Hope this will give the reader the context to appreciate these temples. The illustrations below will further explain this. They are examples and illustrate the common design but many variations exist. * George Michell - The Hindu Temple - An Introduction to Its Meaning and Form - University of Chicago Press 1988 1. The Moolavar - The Principal Deity 2. The Dwarapaalakar - The temple guards 3. Arumukar - Murugan 4. The Goddess Shrine 5. Durga 6. Brahma 7. Dhakshinamoorthy 8. Nadanavinayagar 9. Somaskanthamoorthy 10. Vinayagar- Ganesha 11.Naalvar-The Four 12. Saptha Kannis - The Seven Celestial Maidens 13. Balasubramaniyar - Murugan 14. The 63 Nayanmar 15. Athilingam 16. Uma Devi 17. Kannivinayagar 18. Lingothbavar 19. Chandikeshavarar 20. Saneeswarar 21. Sivasooriyar 22. Kaalabhairavar 23. Jooraharasvarar 24. Akora Veerabadrar 25. Navagragha - the nine celestial bodies 26. Oorthava Thandavamoorthy 27. Nataraja 28. Murugan Palliyarai 29. Secret passageway 30. 31. 32 - The Mummudi Vinayagar 33. Nandhi 34. Balipeedam 35. Kodimaram 36. Murugan 37. Sakasralingam 38. Karunambigai 39. Vinayagar 40. Avinasiyappar 41. Kalyana Mandapam - The Wedding Hall 42. Ganesha in Nine Pillared Hall 43. Entranceway 44. Brahmatheertha - the well 45. Brahmatheertha Vinayakar 46. Madapalli - The kitchen 47. Entranceway 48. The Sthala Viruksham - The temple tree 49. Yaaka saalai 50. Vaasakasalai - Reading Room 51. Pandaka Saalai - Store Room 52. Temple Office 53. Vinayakalingam 54. Akayalingam 55. Prithvilingam 56. Vayulingam 57. Theyulingam 58. Appulingam 59. Vinayakar shrine 60. The Gopuram அர்த்த மண்டபம் Artha Mandapam - the antechamber மூலஸ்தானம் - Moolasthaanam - The Sanctum Sanctorum மகா மண்டபம் - Maha Mandapam - The Great Hall