Religious Articles
RAJA GOPURAM	Return to Articles Index
The term 'Temple' or ‘Ãlayam’ signifies the place where Aa (or Ãtma) - the individual soul 'Layam' - merges (with the Universal Soul). In other words, it is the place where the ego (I and mine) gives way to the Supreme Spirit, which is symbolically represented by the idol installed in the Temple. Hindu Ãgama Šãstras compare a Temple to the human body. Just as an individual soul is enveloped by five košas or sheaths - (Annamova, Prãnamaya, Manomaya, Vynãnamaya and Ãnandamaya) - the Deity installed in the Temple (representing the Supreme Spirit) is also enveloped by five prãkaras Just as our gross body has five sections - head, neck, chest, legs and feet - a Temple also has five corresponding sections. The Garbhagriham or sanctum santorum represents the head; Ardha Mandapam, the neck; Mahã Mandapam, the chest; Yãgašãla, the legs; and the Gopuram, the feet. Rãja Gopuram is erected at the front entrance of the Temple. It is so called because it is the tallest and the most majestic structure in the Temple. Usually, it will be visible even from great distances so that pilgrims visiting the Temple can spot it from afar. Rãja Gopuram is considered as the gross body of the Deity installed in the Temple and devotees unable to visit the Temple simply consider the Raja Gopuram itself as the Deity and offer their obeisance from wherever they are. A diversity of images like idols of gods, saints, humans, animals, birds, description of puramc events etc. are depicted in the Rãja Gopuram. bringing home the truth that the Universe has a place for all these forms of life. Generally, Raja Gopuram consists of an odd number of stories - 3, 5, 7, 9 etc. Three represents the three states - waking, dream and deep sleep - in which we gain all our experiences. Five indicates the five senses through which we experience the outer world; seven signifies, the mind and intellect in addition to the five senses; and nine represents the above seven to addition to ego and heart (not the mechanical organ `heart' in our gross body). The significance of entering through the Rãja Gopuram is that when one visits a Temple, one should turn his antakarana or inner equipment (consisting of the five senses, mind, intellect, ego and heart. through which he experiences the outer world), toward the Deity installed in the Temple and attempt to merge with the Deity Sri Mahã Vallabha Ganapan Devasthãnam in Flushing, New York has launched a project for the construction of a Rãja Gopuram at the Flushing Temple. Devotees are encouraged to support this project and send their generous contributions to the Hindu Temple Society of North America.
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