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Home > Temples of Kerala > Gopura GopuraAccording to sacred texts gopuras can be constructed in anthar-mandala, antha-haara, madhya-haara, baahya-haara and maryaada each one has a separate name as dwaara-sobha, dwaara-saala, dwaara-praasaada, dwaara-harmya and dwaara-gopura respectively. The width of each gopura in each praakaara is related to the width of the sreekovil. In common practice gopura in temples of Kerala means the gopura at the maryaada. Most of the gopuras of temples in Kerala have very few number of floors. Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple is an exception to this. A few words must be said about the architecture of the gopuras of the Malabar coast. 'Compared to Tamilnadu, the gopuras of Kerala are insignificant as far as height and dimensions are concerned. Yet they are endowed with grace and nobility, and the architects in Kerala have never allowed them to outshine the temple proper. Like the temple, these are also built of laterite and wood. Roofs are made of tiles, and rise to a height of three thalas over the gateway. Sometimes, we find the use of reverse eaves here but the commonest use of such wooden eaves is in the balikkal-madapa of small proportions' 68. Of late, particularly in Southern Kerala a new trend is seen of adopting the Tamil architecture in building gopura with motifs of gana-devathas and bhootha-ganas. They are built according to the artist's taste. Further the figures made (mostly in concrete) do not conform to any sankalpa or measurements as laid down in saasthras. In fact all these structures have eroded the aesthetic excellence of Kerala architecture and it is high time to put an end to this modern trend and stick to the ancient tradition.
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