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Home > Temples of Kerala > Praakaaras PraakaarasOnce the selection and associated rites of the temple site are conducted the next step is to build a temple as laid down in the saasthras.Before attempting to discuss the various rites of consecration or prathishta of the temple it is essential to understand the constituent parts of the temple complex and their importance and significance.In its entity the temple complex of Kerala fall under the panchapraakaara scheme of temple architecture. Praakaara means enclosure or limit and therefore pancha-praakaaras denote five enclosures around the sreekovil or principal shrine.They are : A – Akatthe-balivattam A general lay-out of the temple denoting the above constituent units is given in Diagram 6.Only great temples have all the above five praakaaras.Examples:(Sree Krishna temple,Guruvayur,Sree Vatakkunaathhan temple,Thrissur;Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple,Thiruvananthapuram;Sree Sankaranarayana temple,Navaikkulam etc).Very few temples have vilakkumaatam as a separate structure while majority of temples have other combinations viz.A alone,or A and B,or A,B and D,or A,B,D and E.According to Thanthra Samucchaya distance of each praakaara from the sreekovil is taken from a specified measuring point ie,either from paaduka or kumuda or utthara (I).The measure of mukhayaama or façade is 1,11/4,11/2 or 13/4 of dand and this measure is prescribed for antha-haara(II).All prakaaraas except anthar-mandala is accompanied by a facade.The limit of anthar-mandala(the imaginary square),where in dik-paalakas are installed,is half a dand (2 koles)from the measuring point.The limit of antha-haara or naalambalam(Praakaara-B) ends at 1 or 11/2 dands (4or6koles).The mandhya-haara or vilakkumaatam(Praakaara-C) measures up to the tip of the flame of the lamp fixed on it,the distance being 2 dands(8 koles).The limit of baahya-haara(III) or puratthebalivattam(Praakaara-D),represented by the pradakshina-vazhi,or pradakshina-pathha(circumambulatory path),is 4 dands (16 koles)from the measuring point and the maryaada(outer wall-Praakaara-E) is 7 to 21 dands(28koles or 84koles)from the measuring point.The praakaara with 21 dands of maryaada is known as maha-maryaada.Except the anthar-mandala and maryaada which are squares the other praakaaras are generally rectangular in shape with greater length towards the front of the principle deity i.e,with sufficient space to accommodate namaskaara-mandapa,valiambalam,valia-balikkall,dwaja(IV) etc.As the temples in Kerala are unique in many respects it is essential to enumerate and explain the details of the constituent units of each praakaara and its importance.The concept of pancha- praakaara is distinct from pancha- praasaada(see paragraph 3.3). Key to Diagram 6
I.Paaduka and kumuda are mouldings of adhistaana(basement)and utthara is outer side of the principal horizontal beam above the wall or pillars.Paaduka-dand starts the measurement from the outer limit of utthara.Of all the three,paaduka-dand is the longest and utthara-dand the shortest.
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