Kodi Maram Temple, palani

Hindu Agama Shastras compare a Temple to the human body. Just as an individual soul is enveloped by five košas or sheaths – (Annamova, Prãnamaya, Manomaya, Vynãnamaya and Ãnandamaya) – the Deity installed in the Temple (representing the Supreme Spirit) is also enveloped by five prãkaras

Just as our gross body has five sections – head, neck, chest, legs and feet – a Temple also has five corresponding sections. The Garbhagriham or sanctum Santorum represents the head; the Sanctum is the Soul or the Jiva of the body; the Vimana over the Sanctum represents the tip of the nose. Ardhamandap in front of the Sanctum represents the neck; Mahã Mandapam, the chest; Prakaras around the Sanctum represents our five senses: the palibida where nivedana is offered to the deity represents the naval; the kodimaram represents the jeevadhara; and the Gopura, the main gateway of the temple, represents the feet.

TEMPLE AND HUMAN BODY

The main parts of a temple are:

1. Garbhagraha (Sanctum Sanctorum) containing the image of God.

2. The Vimana over the Sanctum.

3. Ardhamandap in front of the Sanctum.

4. Prakaras around the Sanctum.

5. The Gopura, the main gateway of the temple.

Indian temple is only a reflection of the physical form of the human body. According to the Tirumular “our body is a temple”. According to the Kathopanishad “This body of ours is a temple of the Divine.”