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Home > Temples of Kerala > Madhya Haara or Vilakkumaatam Madhya Haara or VilakkumaatamVilakkumaatam is a structure (C in Diagram 6) with columns (pillars) affixed with a galaxy of lamps fixed on it. It is located 1/2 or 1 dand (2 koles or 4 koles)from inner side of the wall of naalambalam. The outer limit of the measurement of this madhya-haara is upto the tip of.the flame of the lamps. In between the wall of naalambalam and the structure of the vilakkumaatam there is space for circumambulation, the width of which ranges between land 2 koles. The height of the base of vilakkumaatam is equal to the height of naalambalam with similar members of adhishtaana of sreekovil. Above the base there is a slightly projected platform on all sides used for perambulation and for lighting up of lamps fixed at the vilakkumaatam. The height of vilakkumaatam is determied in two ways. Firstly, its heightis in excess of either 1/4,1/5,1/6,1/7,1/8,1/9,1/10,1/11 or 1/12 of the height of vaarotthara of the sreekouil (ie height from the base to vaarotthara). Secondly the height (padamaana) can be of eleven type viz. 2, 2 ½ , 3, 3 ½ , 4, 4 ½ ,5,5 ½ , 6, 6 Y2, 7 koles. In regard to temples dedicated to Siva heights may be taken with a difference of 8 angulams instead of 12 angulams. ie. 2, 2-8, 2-16, 3, 3-8, 3-16, 4, 4-8,4-16,5,5-8,5-16,6,6-8,6-16 and 7 koles. The height of the adhishtaana (base) of vilakkumaatam is either 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 part of the pada-maana mentioned above. It can also be taken as 7/23 or 8/23 or 4/13 or 5/18 or 4/15 or 2/7 or 7/24 or 10/33. The heights of the members of its adhishtaana are paduka :2/19; jagathi : 5/19; kumuda-patta :1/19; gata :2/19; utthara: ¥:2/19; valabhi :1/19 and kapotha: 3 ½/ 19. The extent of vilakkumaatam should not exceed one-fourth of the perimeter of the sreekovil. The component parts of vilakkumaatam above. are vertical pillars (known as dandika), horizontal rafters and other decorations (called vedikas, utthara, lalata-naasika, bhadra-naasika etc). The principle for fixing the pillars is that on either side of the entrance they should be in even numbers and the width of the pillars is 8, 10 or 12 angulams. The rafters are firmly fixed over these pillars. Azhis (bars, generally made of wood) are fIxed parallel to these rafters and other decorations. The thickness of these cross-bars is 1/7, 1/9, 1/11, 1/13, 1/15 or 1/17 of the height of the basement or 10, 14, 18 or 22 yavams (1 yavam equals 0.147 inch). The width of azhi (bar) may be the same as the thickness. Alternatively the thickness may be 11, 13, 15, 17, 19,21 or 23 yavams and its breadth is in excess by 1/4 or 1/ 5 of the thickness. All the structural details are not elaborated here as it is seldom used. The lamps of vilakkumaatam are made up of brass; iron etc and are fIxed on these azhis, all equi-distant from one to the other. The excess space is left at the ends, ie, either at the corners or at the sides of entrances. It is to be remembered that no lamp should be fIxed below the utthara, to avoid possibility of fire. Further all the lamps are to be fIxed equi-distant for both appearance and beauty when they are lit. Further any type of decorations like hood of a serpent or head of an alligator, lion or elephant etc. may be fIxed at the outer tip of dandika. In between each dandika carved motifs of bhootha, lion, flowers, creepers or dancing forms can also be fixed. Every effort has to be done to make the madhya-haara beautiful and elegant in appearance. As stated earlier vilakkumaatam is not generally seen in all temples though galaxy of lamps are fixed on dandikas (pillars) and azhis (bars) on the walls of the chuttambalam. The fixing of dandikas and azhis on the walls are similar to that of vilakkumaatam but in such cases it is not treated as madhya-haara as there is no circumambulatory space in between the naalambalam (antha-haara) and its outerwall where lamps are fixed.
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