Mathematical aspect of all the geometrical shapes used in the architecture of the temples of India

1. MATHEMATICAL ASPECT OF ALL THE
GEOMETRICAL SHAPES USED IN :
THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE TEMPLES OF
INDIA

2. INTRODUCTION
Ancient Indian mathematicians were very skillful in geometry . They used the knowledge of
geometry in other disciplines also. They derived many of the comprehensive conclusions with the
help of geometry. In Hindu temple architecture, geometry always plays a vital and enigmatic role.
FRACTAL GEOMETRY was used vastly in the architecture of ancient Indian temples
A fractal is a never-ending pattern. Fractals are infinitely complex patterns that are self-similar
across different scales. They are created by repeating a simple process repeatedly in an ongoing
loop. ‘Self-similarity’ is the phenomenon of each part being geometrically similar to the whole. It
is the core concept of the Fractal Theory. Interestingly, self-similarity is one of the basic principles
of organization in the Hindu Temple Architecture. During Gupta period and onwards the temple
architecture in India flourished in a much disciplined manner.

3. VINYASASUTRA [LAYOUT & ORIENTATION]
In Sanskrit ‘Vinyaasa’ means orientation and ‘sutra’ means thread, line or axis. It
is related with the lay out and orientation of temple plans.
Vastupurushamandala is the base of evolution of a temple plan. Vinyasasutra
comes into play after the initial evolution of the temple plan.
During the determination of the axis and orientation of the temple and its
surroundings, ancient architects used to follow the process described in Hindu
scripts like Vastushashtra, Manasara etc. However, all the plans followed
geometries with fractal character.

4. TEMPLE COMPLEX
To the trained eye, the miniature fractals of the main shrine stand
out in a well-designed temple complex. All the elements
including the Toranas, Gopurams, miniature shrines, Pushkarinis
etc. either have been repeated in a disciplined order or have been
constructed following the rules of fractal theory.
The above example of Minakshi Sundareswara Temple shows how
fractal has worked starting from the boundary wall to the main
shrine.

5. SOME EXAMPLES OF TEMPLES CREATED USING
MATHEMATICAL CONCEPTS OF GEOMETRY :

6. •Ramappa Temple –
is a 13th-century engineering marvel, named after its architect –
Ramappa. The structure is of the pyramidal type, consisting of four
storeys. Distinctive and pyramidal Vimana (horizontally stepped
tower)are made of lightweight porous bricks called floating bricks that
reduced the weight of the roof structures.

7. •Kandariya Mahadeva Temple-
Situated in Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. It is also
celebrated for its intricate sculptures and for the dramatic
geometric massing in its lofty towers that resembles a
mountain.

8. •Ranakpur Jain Temple -
Considered one of the largest Jain temples
in the country. Ranakpur Jain Temple stands
on a dense network of 1,444 carved pillars,
despite which the idol can be seen
unobstructed from all directions.

9. •Modhera Sun Temple -
Dedicated to Surya, the solar deity . the
Sun Temple at Modhera has 52 pillars
placed in a geometrical manner to signify
52 weeks of the year, a Mandap divided
into 7 sections for 7 days of the week &
365 elephants forming the Mandap's base
for each day of the year.

10. •Virupaksha Temple –
The Virupaksha temple is the largest and most sophisticated out of
the monuments in Pattadakal, a complex of Hindu and Jain temples
in Bagalkot district of Karnataka. Virupaksha Temple at Pattadakal is
seeded with mathematical concepts - from a triangular dome &
square layout to recurrent fractal patterns that echo the geometry of
nature.

11. • Kopeshwar Temple –
near Kolhapur in Maharashtra is a masterpiece
of Chalukyan temple architecture. The
Kopeshwar temple is divided into 4 parts in that
order – Swarga mandapa, Sabha mandapa,
Antaral Kaksha and Gabhara. All around this
window, just behind the large 8 idols, are
several different small idols, who signify the
numerous other gods from Hindu mythology.
The whole setup looks as if the gods are
looking down upon us from the skies. The
Swarga mandapa has 48 pillars in total. And
among them, the circular roof is supported by
12 pillars, that stand in a circle at the centre of
the Swarga mandapa. They symbolize the 12
zodiac signs

12. THANK YOU
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