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Home > Temples of Kerala > Garbha Grha Garbha GrhaAccording to Isaanasiva Gurudeva(I) the alpa-praasaada is horizontally divided by length and breadth into 5 equal parts consisting of 25 padas (quarters).The central pada, is a raised peetha or pedestal of the seat of the image and its measurements relate to the height of the idol (vigraha). The central pada and the eight padas which surround the central pada constitute the proper garbha-grha(literally, womb of the house) which is the innermost sanctum, the Holy of the Holies.The outer 16 padas are meant for the thick wall (ghana-bhitthi.). In eka-thala Sreekovil the wall is built covering the entire 16 padas except the space for the door-way.The inner area of the sreekovil is also known as sreelakam. The garbha-grha may be enclosed by an inner wall (anthar-bhitthi) and an extemal wall (baahya-bhitti).The ambulatory passage in between these two walls is known as madhya-naadi or antharaala. This type of sreekovil takes the architectural name saandhaara. In case there is no inner wall it is known as nirandhaara type. Rajarajeswara temple at Taliparamba is a typical example of sandhaara type while Sabarimala temple belongs to the category of nirandhaara type. In saandhaara type the length and breadth of praasaada is divided into nine parts comprising 81 padas. The central pada is meant for the peethika and the eight surrounding padas for the garbha-grha. The outer 16 padas of garbha-grha is meant for inner wall, the next 24 padas surrounding it for ambulatory purpose and the outer 32 padas for external wall with provision for door (s). It is also seen that in saandhaara type the garbha-grha is sometimes on an elevated level with well-protected closed walls, and its access from the Madhya-naadi may be through a step or flight of steps, known as agra-koshta. Depending on the size and number of thalas (floors) the sreekovils have rows of pillars of varying heights inside the sreelakam, as seen in figure 31 of Diagram 7. (eg: Perumthrikkovil temple at Udayarmperoor in Eranakulam district). In the temples of Kerala only authorized priests have access to the sreelakam. Mode of determining the exact position of consecration (or prathishta) of idol is discussed in Chapter 5 (also see Diagram 32). I. isaanasiva Gurudeva Paddhathi, Kriya pada, Patala XXX, 54-58
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