ANTARALA- intermediate space in Hindu Temple design

Dr Uday Dokras. PhD Stockholm SWEDEN

In the temples of South India, the Garbagriha , generally, is followed by four types
of Mantapas or pavilions. Mantapa means any roofed, open or enclosed pavilion (hall)
resting on pillars, standing independently or connected to the sanctum of the temple.
The first of the Mantapas is the Antarala (sometimes called sukanas or
sukanasi or Ardha-mantapa), a narrow pavilion connecting the Garbha-griha and
the Navaranga. It usually will have niches in the north and south walls, occupied by a
deity, with attendant divinities in secondary niches flanking the central niche. In a
few temples the Antarala serves as the navaranga too.

The next Mantapa is Nrtta-mantapa or Navaranga, which is a big hall used for
congregational services like singing, dancing, recitation of mythological texts, religious
discourses and so on. The Navaranga will usually be on a raised platform and will
have nine anganas (openings) and sixteen pillars.

This is followed by Sanapana mantapa, a hall used for ceremonial purposes. This
leads to Mukha mantapa the opening pavilion.
Antarala (Sanskrit: अन्तराल, lit. intermediate space) is a small antechamber or foyer
between the garbhagriha (shrine) and the mandapa, more typical of north Indian
temples.
Antarala are commonly seen in Chalukyan Style temples in which the 'Vimana' and
the 'Mandapa' are connected through the 'Antarala'.
Antarala (Sanskrit: अन्तराल, lit. intermediate space) is a small antechamber or foyer
between the garbhagriha (shrine) and the mandapa, more typical of north Indian
temples.
Antarala are commonly seen in Chalukyan Style temples in which the 'Vimana' and
the 'Mandapa' are connected through the 'Antarala'.

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Antarala Antarala are commonly seen in Chalukyan Style temples in which the

'Vimana' and the 'Mandapa'

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are connected through the 'Antarala'

Antarala Antarala (Sanskrit: अन्तराल, lit. "intermediate space") is a small

antechamber or foyer between

the garbhagriha (shrine) and the mandapa, more typical of north Indian temples.

Manwal It consists of a Garbhgriha (sanctrum) and an Antarala with square Mandapa.

The walls of the Mandapa

have eight niches.

Hindu temple Antarala is a small antechamber or foyer between the garbhagriha/ garbha graha
architecture
(shrine) and the mandapa,

more typical of north Indian temples.

Mahadev The temple consists of garbhagriha, antarala and a pillared Nandi mandapa built
Temple,
Tambdi Surla of basalt. The four pillars,

embellished with intricate carvings of elephants and chains support a stone ceiling

decorated with finely

carved Ashtoken lotus flowers.

Lakkundi The second storey, as in the Jain temple at Pattadakal, is functional and has an antarala-mantapa

in front over the

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vestibule of the lower storey. This raises the total height of the vimana considerably.

Gudimallam The floor of the sanctum is below the floor level of the Antarala and Mukhamantapa.

The figure of Siva carved

on the linga resembles a vigorous hunter. These two names however are not mentioned

in the inscriptions.

The village is referred as Viprapita (Brahmana Agrahara).

Kanchi The temple complex is complete in all respects as it has "garbagriha" (sanctum sanctorum),
Kailasanathar
Temple antarala (inner enclosure), mandapa, a high compound wall, and an entrance gate, the gopuram.

The mandapa, which was initially detached, was made part of the main shrine by interposing

an "ardhamantapa"

(smaller hall). The pillars of the mandapa have the repetitive features of mythical lion mounts.

Bisaldeo The architectural plan of the temple measures . The building comprises a "garbhagriha" (sanctum),
temple
a "shikhara" (tower), an "antarala" (vestibule), a square "mandapa" (hall) with a hemispherical dome,

and a portico. It features a pancharatha projection. The sanctum houses a linga (a symbol of Shiva).

Example the Khandariya Mahadev temple at Khajuraho

The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, one of the best examples of temples preserved
from the medieval period in India, is the largest of the western group of temples in
the Khajuraho complex which was built by the Chandela rulers. Shiva is the chief
deity in the temple deified in the sanctum sanctorum.
The Kandariya Mahadeva temple was built during the reign of Vidyadhara (r. c.
1003-1035 CE).[9] At various periods of the reign of this dynasty many famous
temples dedicated to Vishnu, Shiva, Surya, Shakti of the Hindu religion and also
for the Thirthankaras of Jain religion were built. Vidhyadhara, also known as Bida
in the recordings of the Muslim historian Ibn-al-Athir was a powerful ruler who
fought Mahmud of Ghazni in the first offensive launched by the latter in 1019.
This battle was not conclusive and Mahmud had to return to Ghazni. Mahmud
again waged war against Vidhyadhara in 1022. He attacked the fort of Kalinjar.
The siege of the fort was unsuccessful. It was lifted and Mahmud and Vidhyadhara
called a truce and parted by exchanging gifts. Vidhyadhara celebrated his success
over Mahmud and other rulers by building the Kaṇḍāriyā Mahādeva Temple,
dedicated to his family deity Shiva. Epigraphic inscriptions on a pilaster of
the mandapa in the temple mentions the name of the builder of the temple as
Virimda, which is interpreted as the pseudonym of Vidhyadhara. Its construction
is dated to the period from 1025 and 1050 AD
The advanced typical Hindu temple structure consists of five compartments:
Entrance porch ( ardh-mandapa ), Main assembly hall ( Mandapa ), Ambulatory
passage hall ( Maha-Mandapa ), Ante chamber between shrine and hall
( Antarala ), Sanctum ( Garbhagriha )
The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, 31 metres (102 ft) in height, is in the western
complex, which is the largest among the three groups of the Khajuraho complex of
temples. This western group of temples, consisting of the Kandariya,
Matangeshwara and Vishvanatha temples, is compared to a "cosmic design of a
hexagon (a yantra or Cosmo gram)" representing the three forms of Shiva. The
temple architecture is an assemblage of porches and towers which terminates in
a shikhara or spire, a feature which was common from the 10th century onwards
in the temples of Central India.
The temple is founded on a massive plinth of 4 metres (13 ft) height.The temple
structure above the plinth is dexterously planned and pleasingly detailed. The
superstructure is built in a steep mountain shape or form, symbolic of Mount
Meru which is said to be the mythical source of creation of the world.[8] The
superstructure has richly decorated roofs which rise in a grand form terminating
in the shikara, which has 84 miniature spires. The temple is in layout of 6 square
kilometres (2.3 sq mi), of which 22 are extant including the Kaṇḍāriyā Mahādeva
Temple. This temple is characteristically built over a plan of 31 metres (102 ft) in
length and 20 metres (66 ft) in width with the main tower soaring to a height of 31
metres (102 ft), and is called the "largest and grandest temple of Khajuraho. A
series of steep steps with high rise lead from the ground level to the entrance to
the temple. The layout of the temple is a five-part design, a commonality with the
Lakshmana and Vishvanatha temples in the Khajuraho complex. Right at the
entrance there is torana, a very intricately carved garland which is sculpted from a
single stone; such entrances are part of a Hindu wedding procession. [4] The
carvings on the entrance gate shows the "tactile quality of the stone and also the
character of the symmetrical design" that is on view in the entire temple which has
high relief carvings of the figurines. Finely chiseled, the decorative quality of the
ornamentation with the sharp inscribed lines has "strong angular forms and
brilliant dark-light patterns". The carvings are of circles, undulations giving off
spirals or sprays, geometric patterns, masks of lions and other uniform designs
which has created a pleasant picture that is unique to this temple, among all
others in the complex.[14]

The main temple tower with 84 mini spires/Erotic sculptures on the external walls of the
temple

A section of the detailed sculptural decoration carved in the exterior walls of the
Kandariya Mahadeva Temple.
The interior of the temple was also provided with statues of divinities and very
beautiful ceilings, whose superimposed overhangs were used for decorative purposes
by using geometric compositions. The most beautiful temples of this type are, in
Bhubaneshwar, the Lingaraja temple (first half of the 11th century) -whose roof
culminates about 50 m above the ground- and, in Khajuraho, the Kandariya Mahadeva
temple (of this same period).

A view of the inner roof of the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple.

The
Kandariya Mahadeva Temple (meaning “the Great God of the Cave”), is the largest
and most ornate Hindu temple found at Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh, India). It is
considered one of the best examples of temples preserved from the medieval period in
India.
Another floor plan from the same period is that exemplified by the temples at
Khajuraho (temples of Vishvanatha, Lakshmana, etc.): over a common rectangular
terrace are arranged in a staggered pattern (pañcayatana) the sanctuary in the center
and four chapels at the angles.

In the interior space from the entrance there are three mandapas or halls, which
successively rise in height and width, which is inclusive of a small chamber
dedicated to Shiva, a chamber where the Shiva linga, the phallic emblem of Shiva
is deified. The sanctum sanctorum is surrounded by interlinked passages which
also have side and front balconies. Due to inadequate natural light in the
balconies the sanctum has very little light thus creating a "cave like atmosphere"
which is in total contrast to the external parts of the temple. In the interior halls of
the temple and on its exterior faces there are elaborately carved sculptures of gods
and goddesses, musicians and apsaras or nymphs. The huge pillars of the halls
have architectural features of the "vine or scroll motif". In the corners of the halls
there are insets which are carved on the surface with incised patterns. There is a
main tower above the sanctum and there are two other towers above the other
mantapas also in the shape of "semi-rounded, stepped, pyramidal form with
progressively greater height". The main tower is encircled by a series of interlinked
towers and spires of smaller size. These are in the form of a repeated subset of
miniature spires that abut a central core which gives the temple an unevenly cut
contour similar to the shape of a mountain range of mount Kailasa of
the Himalayas where god Shiva resides, which is appropriate to the theme of the
temples here.
The exterior surfaces of the temples are entirely covered with sculptures in three
vertical layers.[4] Here, there are horizontal ribbons carved with images, which
shine bright in the sun light, providing rhythmic architectural features. Among the
images of gods and heavenly beings, Agni, the god of fire is prominent.[14] They are
niches where erotic sculptures are fitted all round which are a major attraction
among visitors. Some of these erotic sculptures are very finely carved and are
in mithuna (coitus) postures with maidens flanking the couple, which is a
frequently noted motif. There is also a "male figure suspended upside" in coitus
posture, a kind of yogic pose, down on his head.[4] The niches also have sculptures
of Saptamatrikas, the septad of mother goddesses along with the
gods Ganesha and Virabhadra. The seven fearful protector goddesses include:
Brahmi seated on a swan of Brahma; Maheshwari with three eyes seated on
Shiva's bull Nandi; Kumari; Vaishnavi mounted on Garuda; the boar-
headed Varahi; the lion-headed Narasimhi and Chamunda, the slayer of demons
Chanda and Munda.[4] The image of Sardula, a mythical creature with lion face and
human limbs in lower panel is a unique figure seen in the temple
 The design and the architectural elements of the Nageshwar temple have a unique
symbolism and it’s interesting to know more about it. The Nageshwar temple has a
lot of spiritual significance that seeps in through its design elements.

Conceptual Design of Temple

The Nageshwar temple has a unique design that follows the ancient principles of
Vastu Shastra and is in complete affirmation with conservative Hindu temple
design. The temple follows the western style of temple architecture and it faces
west. A devotee who prayers to the divine Shiva Linga in Nageshwara temple also
automatically faces the Sun God.
The temple is planned on the basis of the posture of Sayanam of the Human Body.
The Mahadwar, entrance and porch, prayer halls (Sabha Mandapa), Antarala
(Nandi’s Place), Inner Sanctum (Garbha Griha) are the portions of the temple. Here
the different structures have the following significance.
 Mahadwar is the body’s feet: devotee enters through the feet
 Entrance Porch is between the two sacred idols of Hanuman and Ganesh: hands of
the human body
 Sabha Mandapa contain the payer seats: they are the abdomen and chest of the
body
 Antaralaa is the worship place of Nandi
 Holy Shiva Linga in Garbha Griha i.e. the Body’s head
The total height of the temple is 110’ above Ground’s level and it has many
beautiful elements like arches, rounded flute shaped columns, lotus themed
capitals, jails made of pure marble etc., the whole structure is interspersed with
swastika and Kalash which are traditional Hindu worship signage.
The temple has three different levels. The Garbhagriha or the first level is 6 inches
below ground level while Rangamandapa is 2 inches above the ground level
(second level). The Antarala is situated somewhere in between and it guards the
Shiva Linga in Garbha Griha. The Antaral is believed to be the transition place
between the God (Lingaa) and the devotees in Mandapa. The Antaral is therefore
called as the level of Pujari.

Architecture of the Temple

The temple is constructed according to the basic weather conditions of the area
and it gently slopes towards the Lake of Nageshwar. There is a retaining wall along
the Nageshwar Lake. The foundation of the temple is built in raft style as the size
is huge and there are no rock strata beneath. The whole temple is built out of RCC
or Reinforced Concrete Cement that have anti rust chemical coatings. Porbandar
stone of light and porous texture is cladded on the structure. Huge amount of
labor force was called in from Bombay to complete the temple.