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Home > Temples of Kerala > Elevational Plan Elevational PlanThe elevation of the temples as stated earlier is called vimana or praasaada. They broadly divided into two, maha- praasaada and alpa- praasaada Maha praasaada mainly depend on the number of thalas (floors)(I) and fall under four types according to Thanthra Samucchaya from the point of view of their measurement and the number of floors that they have(II). They are Jaathi(2 to 12floors with 60 varieties); Chhandam(4 to 12 floors with 54 varieties); Vikalpa (5 to 12 floors with 48 varieties) and Aabhaasa (4 to 12 floors with 38 varieties). These type of temples are not seen in Kerala. The annexure I at the end of this volume gives the different varieties of maha-praasaadas depending on number of floors, odd and even measure and the futurity value of adhama (lowest), madhyama(middling) and uthama(highest). The common type of sreekovils found in Kerala is alpa-prasada and may have one to three flowers (eka-thala,dwi-thala, or thri-thala). The alpa-praasaada depends on the measurement of utthara and each side, starting with 2kolea 18 angulams and increasing by eight angulams and ending with 15 koles and 10 angulams. Accordingly there are 39 variables based on measurement of utthara of which 20 are meant for those facing east and 19 for those facing other directions depens on yoni. Generally temples face east or west. It is worthwhile to mention here that depending on the site and direction of the deity pancha-yoni or eka-yoni type of temple is constructed. Based on these measurement different praakaaras, dwaja etc are also built. It is seen that some temples of awe-inspiring deities (ugra-moortthis) like Bhadrakaali face north, while those face south are rare like Dakshinamoorthi temple at Edappal and Ganesa shrine in Sree Anantheswara-Vinayaka temple, Kasargod.A cross section of eka-thala temple is given as Diagram8 Alpa-praasaadas or alpa-vimaanas are based on the inner perimeter of the Sreekovil which is related to certain important characteristics like dasa(stage of life),yoni ,aaya,vyaya,nakshathra(asterisk),thithhi, karanam, vaaram(weekday)etc. (i) Dasa: The dasa is the seekovil is determined by multiplying the inner perimeter of the sreekovil by 8 and dividing it by 27. If the quotient is1,2,3,4or 5the dasa is taken as balya(childhood),kaumara(adolescence) yuvvana(youthhood)vaardhakya(old age) and marana(death)respectively. If the quotient is more than 5, divide it again by 5 as many times as possible and take the reminder which will be between 1 and 5 and this represents the corresponding dasa. Temples can be built falling in all dasas, but those in the last dasa(death)are very rare. As God is considered and called amaran or kaalaswaroopan, He has no death and there no objection to construct sreekovils with measurement of the last dasa is generally avoided as man always wants pleasure and happiness and not death. Therefore baalya, koumarya and yauvana are considered the best and Vaardhakya as indifferent. (ii) Yoni : The most important characteristics is yoni. For considering yoni the inner perimeter of the garbha-grha is multiplied by 3 and divided by 8. The remainder gives the yoni. Yoni determines the direction in which the temple has to face. Accordingly there are eight yonis viz (iii) Aaya and vyaya: Another aspect which is often looked into is the vyaya and aaya. When the perimeter is multiplied by 3 and divided by 14 the remainder gives vyaya. Similarly vyaya is also calculated when perimeter is multiplied by 9 and divided by 10, the remainder giving the vyaya. On the other hand if the perimeter is multiplied by 8 divided by 12 the remainder gives aaya. If aaya is larger than vyaya, it is considered as uthama (virtuous) and vice-versa it is adhama (lowest). In between it is considered as madhyama(ordinary). (iv) Asterisk: If the perimeter is multiplied by 8 and divided by 27, the remainder in whole number will give the asterisk. If the fraction of the remainder is converted as arigulam and multiplied by 60 and divided by 24 the quotient gives the naazhika. (v) Thithhi: For finding out the thithhi multiply the perimeter by 8 and divide it by 30. The remainder gives the thithhi counting from the sukla-prathi-padam. For the remainder in angulam follow the same procedure explained earlier to find out the naazhikas. Details of karunam in each thithhi under the sukla-prathi-padam and krishna-prathi-padam are available in all almanacs and therefore their details are not elaborated. (vi) Vaaram: The week day (vaaram) is determined by multiplying the perimeter by 8 and dividing it by 7. The remainder gives the day of the week, starting 1 for Sunday There are 39 types of sreekovils as shown above with perimeter ranging between 11 koles and 61 koles 16 angulams in the five dasas mentioned earlier. The perimeter relates to the inside measurement of the outer wall in respect of nirandhaara type and inner wall measurements of garbha-grha of saandhaara type of sreekovil. The wall thickness varies between temples and this will not therefore affect the perimeter as inside measurement is taken. Of these, the seven sizes of sreekovil falling in the shape of marana (death) are generally avoided leaving only 32 types of vimanas. Ie 8 under Baalya (childwood), 7 under kaumara (adolescence), 9 under yauvana (youthhood) and 8 under vaardhakya(oldage). The sreekovil can be constructed as eka-thala,(ground floor only), dwi-thala (two floors) or thri-thala(three floor) or combination of these and based on other characteristics. Based on futurity value of them , 14 types of sreekovils are considered as utthama (best of virtuous), 6 madhyama (ordinary) and the remaining 19 adhama (lowest). I. The term ‘thala’ means floor over the ground. Therefore Eka-thala means one floor over the ground, and Dwithala denote a structure over ground with first and second floors and Thri-thala with first, second and third floors over the ground. The interchangeable expression of ‘floor’ with ‘storey’ in some western countries are not applicable here.
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