Existence
or Cosmos is made up of the five elements that are – Earth, Water, Fire, Air
and Ether. All these elements are different forms of the same Existential
Energy.
The basic thirst of man is to find a connection with this Existential Energy. All religions have been born with the idea of finding a connection with Existence through the five elements.
If we understand the underlying concept of the five elements, we will be able to enjoy Existence continuously instead of getting stuck in different forms of worship. So, just try to understand this and start resonating with Existence
Symbolism behind the structure of a Shiva Temple
1. The temple is so constructed as to resemble the human body with all its subtleties.
2. The five walls encircling one another are the kosas ( sheaths) of human existence .
a. The outermost is the Annamaya kosa , symbolizing the material body.
b. The second is Pranamaya kosa , symbolizing the sheath of vital force or prana.
c. The third is Manomaya kosa, symbolizing the sheath of the thoughts, the mana.
d. The fouth is the Vignyana maya kosa, symbolizing, the sheath of the intellect.
e. The fifth and innermost is the Ananda maya kosa, symbolizing the sheath of Bliss.
3. The sanctum which is in the prakara symbolizing the Ananda Maya Kosa sheath , houses the lord, seated as the Jiva within us. It is to be noted that the sanctum is an unlit space, just as if within the heart closed on all sides.
4. The entry Gopuras are likened to the feet, as resembling a person who is lying on the back with the toe up.
5. The flag post depicts the sushumna nadi which raises from the Mooladhar (base of the spine ) to the sahasrar ( vertex in the head).
6. Some temples will have three prakarams. There they represent the stoola, sukshma and karana sareeras (bodies) of a human being Some temples have only one and they represent all the five.
The basic thirst of man is to find a connection with this Existential Energy. All religions have been born with the idea of finding a connection with Existence through the five elements.
If we understand the underlying concept of the five elements, we will be able to enjoy Existence continuously instead of getting stuck in different forms of worship. So, just try to understand this and start resonating with Existence
Symbolism behind the structure of a Shiva Temple
1. The temple is so constructed as to resemble the human body with all its subtleties.
2. The five walls encircling one another are the kosas ( sheaths) of human existence .
a. The outermost is the Annamaya kosa , symbolizing the material body.
b. The second is Pranamaya kosa , symbolizing the sheath of vital force or prana.
c. The third is Manomaya kosa, symbolizing the sheath of the thoughts, the mana.
d. The fouth is the Vignyana maya kosa, symbolizing, the sheath of the intellect.
e. The fifth and innermost is the Ananda maya kosa, symbolizing the sheath of Bliss.
3. The sanctum which is in the prakara symbolizing the Ananda Maya Kosa sheath , houses the lord, seated as the Jiva within us. It is to be noted that the sanctum is an unlit space, just as if within the heart closed on all sides.
4. The entry Gopuras are likened to the feet, as resembling a person who is lying on the back with the toe up.
5. The flag post depicts the sushumna nadi which raises from the Mooladhar (base of the spine ) to the sahasrar ( vertex in the head).
6. Some temples will have three prakarams. There they represent the stoola, sukshma and karana sareeras (bodies) of a human being Some temples have only one and they represent all the five.
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