Hindu Temple Research Paper

Hindu temples represent a lot of ritual and symbolic context both inside and outside of the temple. These Hindu temples were first carved out of mountains that could also be seen as a simple umbrella shape. This symbolized the unbounded. The unbounded is known to be the connection with the first Hindu god, Brahma, in the triumvirate. The Hindu Triumvirate consists of the three Hindu gods. It consists of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma is the god of creation, Vishnu is the god of protection and Shiva is the god of destruction and renewal. The connection to the unbound is very important in Hindu temple architecture so later on when temples became freestanding with thick temple walls, the architecture still resembled a mountain range or simple …show more content…
These relief carvings depict images of deities, smaller shrines and other protective figural reliefs to protect Hindu temples from negative forces. Some of these protective forces include animals and objects such as mighty elephants, horses, enormous wheels and cobra people which depicted with human bodies and serpent heads. These protective guardians scare negativity away with their fires expressions and also give symbolic support to Hindu temples. Another very important symbolic protection carved into Hindu temples are Mithuna couples. Mithuna couples depict a semi-naked couple with the women being in alluring posture that expresses female sexuality. These images are meant to be an aid in meditating a path to redemption because of the pleasure, sweetness and erotic energy represented in the Mithuna couple is a representation of the divine union with the unbounded. Not only is the Mithuna couple a union with the unbounded but the image depicts the Hindu belief that the efficiency of sex protects the sacred temples. Plus the architectural structure of the temples looking like mountains to resemble the connection to the unbounded cannot be stressed enough since it is such an important structural element in the architecture of Hindu temples. Rajasthani paintings were paintings that did not follow Moghul art even though the Moghul empire had gained control over the Rasamanjari. Moghul art differs from the Rajasthani paintings because Moghul art is more realistic and more three-dimensional than the Rajasthani paintings. Such as the Babur Recieves a Courtier art piece almost seems as it depicts a realistic, three-dimensional court setting when Rajasthani paintings are flat and two-dimensional, but it tells a story in an imaginary realm. Rajasthani paintings are simplistic, with all forms within the painting are outlined and it is all depicted on a single ground line but most importantly the Rajasthani