Know interesting facts about South Indian temples and North Indian temples?
The Mandir is a traditional Hindu temple based on India’s ancient texts. India has many temples, yet the religion varies from one part of the nation to another.
Temples are built differently depending on the location and deities being worshipped. Look at the differences between temples in different parts of the country.
North Indian Hindu Temples have more detailed engraving and are bigger. South Indian Hindu Temples are smaller, and with less external decoration. South Indian temples feature tall pyramidal towers while North Indian have one towering spire.
What is North Indian Hindu temples?
North Indian Hindu Temples are worship places that are usually dedicated to one or several Hindu gods. These temples are typically located in North India and feature distinctive architecture, including a tall spire called a shikhara. North Indian Hindu Temples usually have a rectangular or square floor plan with a central temple surrounded by a courtyard. Temple walls are decorated with miniature shrines, relief carvings or paintings. North Indian Hindu Temples can also have a firepit for ceremonial purposes, along with other features like an assembly hall or living quarters.
What is a South Indian Hindu temple?
South Indian Hindu temples are worship places dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Hindu god. The Dravidian architecture is predominant in South India. South Indian Hindu temples are characterized by the gopurams or pyramidal towers that serve as their main entrance. In the center of the complex is a shrine with a Vishnu statue. South Indian Hindu temples are some of the holiest places for Hinduism. They are popular tourist attractions, both among Hindus and those who are not Hindus.
We now know what the differences are between South Indian temples and North Indian temples
DIMENSIONS TEMPLES
Many of the North Indian Temples lack surrounding halls and corridors. However, many South Indian Temples such as the Meenakshi Amman Temple located in Madurai do have these.
The tallest towers in North Indian temples often rise above the sacred sanctorum. South Indian temples are different.
In addition to the main deity, many South Indian temples also have deities that are made from panchaloha (an alloy of five metals). North Indian temples do not have these processional deities.
North Indian temples are much larger than their South Indian counterparts. The temples of the South are usually much larger. South Indian monarchs have put far more money in their temples compared to their palaces.
Srirangam Ranganathar Temple in Tamilnadu, which occupies 156 acres and is located there, is the largest operational religious building in the entire world. This is because the entire land area of Monaco (which is only two square kilometers) could not accommodate more than three Srirangam Temples. The size of the temples is unmatched in North India.
North Indian temples have preserved their natural beauty, which is testament to its rich culture. These temples are enhanced by the majestic Ganga River flowing through Rishikesh, or the Himalayan panoramas in Kedarnath or Badrinath.
Sanskrit is an ancient Indian language. It contains a beautiful phrase which can be translated to “feeling close to God.” The word for this is “sanidhyam.” Sanidhyam comes naturally to temples in North India.
PRACTICE
North Indian Temples are more orthodox than South Indian Temples. In North Indian Temples everyone is allowed to enter the innermost sanctuary of the god, while South Indians temples have rules for entering the main and principal sanctum. Kerala temples have many rules and regulations for entering them. Most temples require men to enter with only a naked chest. The upper garment is not to be worn when entering temples.
The North Indian temples do not decorate the main deity with expensive jewelry because everyone is welcome to the principal sanctuary of the deity.
AGAMAM (RITUAL MODALITY)
When compared with the South Indian Temples, the North Indian Temples perform very simple rituals. South Indian temples use elaborate ritual methods.
In South Indian temples, rituals are performed strictly according to Sanskrit Agama scriptures.
Agamam, a South Indian cultural tradition, is followed with extreme strictness in temples. Agamams are a group of texts which outline worship, temple customs and ritual procedures. Three agamams exist: Saiva (for Shiva temples), Vaikanasam (for Vishnu temples) and Paancharaatram. Saiva is only used for temples that are dedicated to Shiva.
Shaiva agamam is known to be quite informal and straightforward. I find that the rituals of Vaikanasa Agamam and Paancharatra Agamam to be more complex. Temples in Kerala that practice tantric rituals are the exceptions to this agamic culture.
North Indian temples’ religious practices do not follow this framework. According to what I have observed, ceremonies at North Indian temples are more relaxed. The way in which the ceremonies are conducted varies greatly across North Indian temples.
It allows even regular people to interact physically with idols. It is possible to perform abhishekam at the Shiva Lingam of Kashi but it’s much more rewarding to embrace Pandurangan in Pandharpur. Temple priests can only touch idols in the South due to the strict agamam.
TEMPS CONTAIN MANY EXPRESSIONS ABOUT DIVINITY
In every South Indian temple, you will find both moolavar and utsavar, which are idols that were made from wood. They’re usually made out of the five metals panchalogam, or gold, silver copper iron lead. Moolavar is found inside temples. He is often shown to be made from hard rock and is dark in appearance. Utsavars are carried out of the temple at festivals, and also used in processions within the temple.
In some temples, Vishnu may be represented by as many as 5 different statues. The panchaperar includes the Moolavar (which can be used to process), the Utsavar, the Yaagaberar, which is often used during yaagams and the Kauthugar.
North Indian temples are largely devoid of utsavars and those that do exist, they’re displayed in a subdued manner. North Indian temples are the opposite of South Indian ones, which often depict the deities as black stones.
White marble is often used in the depiction of deities. The state of Tamil Nadu also has its own distinctive dance known as Nataraja. This style is very important to the Tamil Nadu people.
The formless manifestation Nataraja, the Hindu god of Chidambaram is worshipped. Hinduism does not practice this idea. Nataraja is said to dance in an eternal state of joy with his wife Shakti who represents the energy.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SAINTS
All of the South Indian Temples are influenced by saints. In temples dedicated Shiva, you can see idols of the 63 Shaivite Saints called nayanmars credited with writing Thirumurai (18549 Shiva hymns and 275 temples).
At Vishu temples (106 temples and 4000 hymns about Vishnu), you can see idols of Vaishnavite Saints called alwars. They are credited for writing Divya Prabandham. In Vishnu Temples, Vaishnavite pontiffs and thinkers, like Ramanujar are given a great deal of respect.
Due to the reverence for saints, the Vedas are not considered as important. Even the Tamil hymns written by Alwars or Nayanmars. The group reciting Tamil prabandham will always go in front, and the group chanting Sanskrit Veda, in the back, behind the idol. The purpose of this is to highlight the importance that these saints had in the tale.
ARCHITECTURE
A Dravidian Temple’s main entrance will usually have the “largest” tower, the Raja Gopuram. The sanctum sacrum would have a smaller one (except for Tanjore big temple). The gopurams in South Indian temples differ from those of other temples because they are more elaborate, and have a lot of figures. Tanjore Big Temple is an exception.
North Indian temples, on the other hand, gradually increase the height from the gate to the tower housing the sanctuary. South Asian temples are the complete opposite. The towers in North Indian temples often have a sparse and simple design, and may even be devoid of figures.
The amount of architectural detail varies greatly between states in South India. It is especially true for temples. Kerala’s temples are simpler and more straightforward in design than the intricate Chola or Hoysala structures. Northern India has so many rivers that it doesn’t need ponds. Gujarat is the only exception, as the state boasts some beautiful ponds.
In North India, prakarams are not common. South Indian temples, on the other hand, are made up of multiple levels with long hallways which surround the main temple building. Yali, a South Indian deity is frequently depicted on the walls of temples.
The creature is a mythical beast that has characteristics similar to lions and elephants. It also resembles horses and peacocks. Elephants are used in South Indian temples, as opposed to those of Northern India.
Use of Elephants
South Indian temples employ elephants for rituals and temple processes. This is not done in North India.
THIRUMANJANAM
North Indian temples do not follow the agamic system. North Indian temples, from what I’ve seen, have more relaxed rituals. The rituals are not uniform in North Indian temples. It allows even the common man to touch idols. You can perform abhisheka on Shiva Lingam in Kashi and, even better, hug Pandurangan’s idol in Pandharpur. Only temple priests in the south are permitted to perform rituals or touch idols due to strict agama.
There are some key differences between the Hindu temples of North and South India
There are many similarities between the temples of North and South India, but also important differences.
- The temples of both types are often brightly colored and decorated with intricate designs. They also feature many shrines, walkways and other features.
- South Indian temples, on the other hand, tend to be smaller and less elaborate.
- South Indian temples tend to be more focused on carvings and paintings, while North Indian temples are usually more adorned with statues.
- The main languages of North Indian temples are Hindi and Tamil, whereas those in South India tend to use Tamil.
- North Indian temples are characterized by a curvilinear, tall tower known as a shikhara. South Indian temples use pyramidal towers, called vimanas.
- South Indian temples have elaborately carved entrances, while North Indian temples don’t.
- South Indian temples are larger and more complex, with more elaborate sculptural ornamentation.
Both North Indian and South Indian Hindu Temples have great spiritual and aesthetic significance.
Note 2: As far as I know, almost the entire North India region was influenced by foreign invaders. Almost all of the original structures in North India were sadly lost long back and weren’t reconstructed/stopped constructing new temples since the new rulers didn’t care about Hinduism. South India has also been plundered many times, but the invaders mostly just ransacked and looted. South India was given a chance to recover and rebuild their lost glory, thanks in part to the patronage of Hindu kings.
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