Introduction
Architecture plays an important role in spiritually shaping spaces, understanding the rituals, and designing according to the worship patterns. Spaces can elicit strong emotions and the initial effect connected with space creates an ideal environment for the growth of sacredness. The architecture of sacred spaces is closely related to the symbolism associated with the faiths and beliefs of the religion. For example, Peaks are considered sacred in Hinduism; therefore, Hindu temples having shikhara are built in a way that mimics a mountain range. Water holds great significance across many religions as it is considered a symbol of purification and life. The Varanasi Ghat built along the holy river Ganga is worshipped, used as a cremation site, and is also a public space that stands as a testimony to an architectural response instilled with deep religious and cultural significance.
Sacred Spaces in Hinduism
Sacred spaces are tied to their association with the epics and the events that happened. An example of sacred spaces in Hinduism that worships the symbolic form is the Shaktipeeths. Several legends explain how Shaktipeeths came into existence. The most popular is based on the story where Goddess Sati immolated herself. Anguished Shiva carried Sati’s charred body and began the Tandava. To prevent destruction in the universe, Lord Vishnu intervened and severed the body of Sati into fifty-one parts with his Sudarshan chakra. These body parts fell at different places on earth and were later converted into holy shrines. Over the years, their devotees have renewed these sacred places, with the body parts of Sati, into temples. These temples are known as ‘Shaktipeeths’.
The mythological texts including the Kalika Purana recognize four Shaktipeethas as having divine energies. The place where the feet of Sati fell is the Vimala Temple in Odisha (Pada Khanda), Tara Tarini Temple in Odisha houses the breasts (Stana Khanda), Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati is the place where the genitals fell (Yoni Khanda), and the Dakshina Kalika (Mukha Khanda) in Kolkata. Shaktipeeths are scattered in various parts of India and surrounding countries. Although the holy shrines are dedicated to the same Goddess, the architectural style of the temples varies according to their locations.
The Kamakhya temple in Guwahati which houses the genitals of Goddess Sati is known for its symbolizing feminine energies. The emotion of a space and divinity in spiritualism can be induced by its design. The inner sanctum within the shikhara is below ground level and unlike most of the temples, it does not consist of any image or idol but a rock fissure in the shape of a yoni (female genital). The path to Garbhagriha is narrow and is not well-lit, making it a dark cave with high energy. There are specific areas in the temple that are created to perform specific rituals such as a place to offer coconut, a place to light a diya, a place to tie the sacred thread, and a specific place for sacrificial rituals. The outer walls of the temple showcase various sculptures and motifs depicting the religious beliefs associated with it.
Sacred Spaces in Buddhism
The creation of sacred spaces imbibing the divine energies in the form of earthly elements is across various religions. In Buddhism, Stupas are one of the sacred spaces. A Stupa is a mound-like hemispherical structure housing sacred relics associated with Buddha or other saintly persons. According to the Mahaparinibbana Sutta (scripture concerned with the end of Gautam Buddha’s life), after attaining Parinirvana, the body of Buddha was cremated, and ashes were divided among his lay followers into ten portions. They were placed in a reliquary and buried in a tumulus. Over the years, these tumuli were reconstructed to form large stupas. It is a solid dome above a tholobate or drum with vertical sides on a square base. Worship of a stupa consists of walking ar
ound the monument in a clockwise direction, this has been an important ritual and devotional practice in Buddhism. Therefore, a pradakshina path was designed for circumambulation around stupas. The Torana which is the entrance gate for the stupa has various carvings and motifs depicting Jataka tales, events from the life of Buddha, and popular mythological figures.
This design evolved into different-looking monuments throughout the Buddhist world. The sacred symbolism remains constant while the structure changes according to the architectural style of the location. Stupa architecture was adopted as Chorten in Tibet and multistoried pagodas of China, Korea, and Japan which became prominent as a Buddhist monument used for enshrining sacred relics along with the bell-shaped dagaba (“heart of Garbha”) in Sri Lanka, the terraced temple of Borobudur in Java, the variations in Tibet.
Conclusion
Architecture captivates the emotions of a devotee not only by the magnificent structure but also by the intricate symbolism woven into the details. Architecture forms a threshold where the design meets devotion, the divine unites with the mundane, and spiritualism communions with humanism.
Bibliography :
Shakti pitha (2024) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakti_Pitha#:~:text=Out%20of%20grief%20and%20sorrow,pay%20homage%20to%20the%20goddess. (Accessed: 10 March 2024).
Stupa (2024) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stupa#:~:text=Symbolism,-View%20of%20the&text=%22The%20shape%20of%20the%20stupa,the%20base%20is%20his%20throne.%22 (Accessed: 10 March 2024).
Kamakhya Temple (2024) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamakhya_Temple (Accessed: 10 March 2024).
Stupa (no date) Encyclopædia Britannica. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/stupa (Accessed: 10 March 2024).
