A Hindu temple is a symbolic house, a body of the ultimate energy force. The basic design of any temple contains a Garbhagrha, or the sanctum cella. Literally, it means a ‘womb-house’. It houses the main deity of the temple which is a focus of much ritual attention. Śikhara or Vimāna – It is the superstructure or the tower of any temple which is always right above the garbhagraha. Śikhara is a term used in North Indian temples while Vimāna is used for South Indian temples. Ardhamaṇḍapa - It is the porch or entrance to the temple. It contains pillars and a staircase leading to the maṇḍapa. Maṇḍapa is the assembly hall that could contain a series of columns placed at regular intervals and incorporates space for many worshippers. Some temples have multiple maṇḍapas of different sizes. Mahāmaṇḍapa is the largest mandapa, nrtta maṇḍapa is a hall for dance, Bhoja maṇḍapa a hall for eating and so on. Antarāla is a transition area between the Garbhagraha and the temple’s main hall, the mandapa. Pradhakshinapatha is the circumambulatory passage for the worshippers to go around the sanctum. There are numerous treatises on architecture and sculpture called the Silpa sastras. They are the primary works on the design and building of Hindu temples. The number of works is said to be between 32 to 64 in number, although many have been lost. Apart from architecture they also give details on iconography, sculpture, and paintings.

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