|
Home > Temples of Kerala > Outer Bali Peethas and Kshethrapaala Outer Bali Peethas and KshethrapaalaIn the baahya-haara besides the principal bali-peetha there are seven other bali-peethas at cardinal points. There is also a belief that these seven bali-peethas in baahya-haara represent dwaja at these points with ashta-dik-paalakas and gana Devathas of the principal deity. In some of the old temples (like Kacchamkurissi temple, Kollengode, Palakkad district), valia-balipeetha has all members like paduka, jagathi, etc but is miniature in size. In certain cases they resemble the bali-peethas in the anthar-mandala. At the outside of these bali-peethas is the pradakshnai-vazhi or circumambulatory path, at a distance of 5,6,7 utthara-dands from the centre of the garbha-grha. In all important temples this path is paved with granite slabs of size 1 ½ to 2 koles. The balipeetha of Kshethrapaala is positioned outside the north-east comer ofthe circumambulatory path and this Devatha protects the sanctum. As per sankalpa his four or eight hands hold different weapons and his form is that of an eight-year old boy. During festival days a flag is raised on a staff. The flag-sign of the deity is the dog which also forms his vehicle. (Isaanasiva Gurudeva Paddhathi p. 123). In some o{the temples there are imposing structures known as sivelippura having granite pillars and roof (as in Sree Padmagabhaswamy temple, Thiruvavanthapuram).
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
