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Home > Kerala Temples > Carvings and Paintings > Namaskaara Mandapa in Kerala Temples Namaskaara Mandapa in Kerala TemplesNamaskaara Mandapa Namaskaara mandapa of most of the temples is unique in craftsmanship in wood. However, namaskara mandapa has attained popularity only from 11th century. The square namasakaara mandapa with granite base, pillars and a pyramidal copper or tiled roof is the common type and also became a detached structure since the fourteenth century. In fact the namaskaara mandapa is a treasure house of exquisite carvings. These wood works are seen on the pillars, ceilings and panels. Pillars are of different shapes, square, octagonal, circular or a combination of all. Motifs of gaja vyaalas are often seen in embellishments of the namaskaara mandapa. Similarly valabhi part of the ceiling has minute carvings, the themes mostly drawn from epics and puraanas, navagrahas, ashta dik paalas, lotuses and other elaborate motifs are often seen carved on the coffers of namaskaara mandapa. The carved images and symbols of namaskaara mandapa are seen painted with original colours and not by the modern paintings. This type of depiction is particularly evident in some of the temples of ancient Kolathunaad (northern kerala) where colouring of figurines in the namaskaara mandapa is done with natural colours. The absence of synthetic colours in such locations is very significant. Namaskaara Mandapa Important temples which have been acclaimed by all those having exquisite wood carvings .
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