Temple Structures Research Articles

The Temporal Continuity: Temple, Theatre and Anthropology

Traditionally, temples have been spaces meant for religious and spiritual activities— meditation, sacrifice, devotion and worship. Historically, temples have been understood as the dwelling spaces of spirits/gods. Therefore, they were natural sites of the community socialisation and exchanges. In Hinduism, temples are designed to bring human beings and gods together in a spiritual destination. Gradually, temples evolved and represented the economy, art, belief, faith and traditions of community or communities. All of these elements of the cosmic world such as good, evil and human are incorporated in temples. Basically, these are for reflecting the powers of unknown forces that are present in nature. These elements of the cosmic world are incorporated in the temples along with the cyclic notion of time. The essence of life was represented symbolically through dharma, kama, artha, moksa and karma, and temples became naturally chosen sites to represent these aspects. However, throughout the ages, temples have undergone transformations. Due to this, temples are historical sites for understanding the historical processes and happenings around the temple structures. As time passed, temples became the surviving examples of temporal continuity. Through this article, an attempt has been made to highlight the temporal continuity around a few temples, cultures and shrines of Rajasthan. The constant—continuity and change—pushed temporality as an essential feature which needs to be highlighted for a fuller understanding of the heterogeneous nature of the Thar Desert and its society.

Modelling and protection of grotto temples based on iterative closest point and Poisson

As a non-renewable cultural heritage, grotto temples face many value threats and the crises of rapid extinction. Due to the unique environment, diverse volume and complex geometric structure of grotto temples, cultural relic protection faces huge challenges. Digitisation has become the most important and effective preventive protection method. This study proposes a comprehensive modeling method, which uses three-dimensional (3D) laser scanning technology to obtain the point cloud data of grotto ruins, close range photogrammetry to obtain multi-angle and high-resolution two-dimensional (2D) image data, and through the fusion modelling of the laser point cloud and image dense matching point cloud, a complete geometric model of grotto is obtained. The registration method of the improved algorithm is based on Euclidean distance residual. The performance is better, with residuals mainly distributed in the range of 0.02 to 0.03 mm. In terms of texture mapping, the accuracy of model mapping is adjusted by adjusting the constraints of control points. The gray values of 50 pixels around the control points show significant gradient changes in the X direction, while the changes in the Y direction are relatively small. These methods and technologies provide practical and effective means for the protection and preservation of cultural relics in grotto temples.

A Theocratic Approach To Governance In Ancient Times: Assyrıans

The organized belief systems, temple structures, and religion-state relations that emerged with the Sumerians in ancient Mesopotamia began to undergo Semiticization with the dominance of Semitic societies in the region. Sumerian cultural elements, which underwent Semiticization during the Old Babylonian period, assumed an Assyrian character with the rise of the Assyrian State in the Ancient Near East and its evolution into an imperial structure. The Assyrian society, known for its religious orientation, operated on a religion-based understanding of state organization and the formulation of state policies. It was believed that divine requests and orders influenced various situations, such as kings' legitimacy, heirs' determination, and decisions regarding wars and peace. The land was perceived as belonging to the gods, and the kings were seen as representatives of the gods on earth. This study aims to uncover the theocratic aspects of Assyrian state administration based on information gleaned from cuneiform sources and modern literature.

The Importance of Virtual Reality in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage: An Examination of the Penataran Temple Case Study in Blitar Regency, East Java

Introduction: Visualization of digital archives and applications play a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage. Utilizing efficient 3D scanning, modeling, and deep learning-based reconstruction techniques enables the revelation of hidden parts of Penataran Temple Sample in Blitar Regency, East Java. This research emphasizes the utilization of virtual reality (VR) systems as digital repositories for Penataran Temple Example, facilitating in-depth exploration of this cultural asset. The importance of applications such as guided tours, computer-aided design, and geographic information systems increases in the examination of cultural heritage, offering a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the preserved cultural wealth. Methods: The methodology used in this research includes photogrammetry, accurate photogrammetric assessment, and the utilization of deep learning. Information obtained from these three avenues is combined to construct a three-dimensional Point cloud, serving as the foundation for the digital repository of Penataran Temple Sample. Virtual reality (VR) platforms enable individuals to observe the temple through both first-person and aerial perspectives, featuring customizable interfaces within the virtual reality setting. Results: The research activities are dedicated to creating a digital repository for Penataran Temple Sample located in Blitar Regency, East Java using 3D Point cloud data. Data acquisition of Point cloud for comprehensive coverage of temple structures and hidden reliefs is achieved through the application of advanced photogrammetric measurements and deep learning technology. A virtual reality (VR) system is developed to offer deep visualization capabilities, including first-person perspectives and aerial views, fostering a profound understanding of the cultural significance and architectural design of the temple. To enhance the realism of the VR experience and enable mapping functions, a 3D simulation engine is incorporated. The utilization of the first-person perspective allows detailed virtual exploration and collision detection, while aerial views contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the temple architecture. Discussion: The digital archive system of Penataran Temple Sample leverages Virtual Reality (VR) technology to integrate 3D Point cloud data from various sources. This system facilitates both first-person perspectives and aerial perspectives, allowing comprehensive examination and in-depth understanding of the temple architectural layout. Accurate 3D data generation is achieved through the utilization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), photogrammetry technology, and deep learning techniques. Conclusion: The investigation focuses on the utilization of VR technology as a digital repository at Penataran Temple Sample, employing 3D Point cloud methodology. Its primary aim is to provide engaging visual encounters and comprehensive understanding of the architectural complex. Furthermore, this research will encompass detailed 3D measurements and the creation of high-precision VR renderings of the complete temple structures. Additionally, there are opportunities to design VR applications for remote utilization and to produce stereoscopic perspectives through holographic means. The anticipation is that VR will play a significant role in the preservation and interpretation of the heritage of Penataran Temple Sampled in Blitar Regency, East Java, while also demonstrating potential for diverse applications across various platforms and settings.

Merekonstruksi Candi Terkubur

Title: Reconstructing the Buried Temple Case Study: Candi Kimpulan Excavation and Restoration at Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) The discovery of the archaeological site, Candi Kimpulan, during the foundation excavation of the Central Library Building at Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) in December 2009 halted the ongoing construction. The agreement to conduct the restoration of this ancient site raised concerns about the duration and required space for the restoration process. Moreover, complications arose due to the location of the artifact discovery directly beneath the construction site. This article presents a literature review of various scholarly journals directly related to the reconstruction of buried temple structures. It aims to provide insights into the temple reconstruction process amid a comprehensive redesign of the university's library building. The study reveals crucial factors that significantly influenced the successful and relatively swift completion of the Candi Kimpulan restoration project. This endeavor serves as a positive benchmark for similar cases of buried temple discoveries, offering valuable lessons in planning and executing restoration projects.

Learnings for the Modern Architecture from the Disaster Immune Kedarnath Temple Structure

Learnings for the Modern Architecture from the Disaster Immune Kedarnath Temple Structure

Noah’s Ark and the Flood in Judaism and Islam: A Bi-optic Perspective of Salvation and Sacred Space

This article analyses Noah’s ark and the flood events from the sacred texts and traditions of Judaism and Islam in an integrative manner. After juxtaposing the Flood Narrative in the Tanakh and the Noahic sūrahs of the Qur’an, key cognate lexemes are examined and their ideological trajectories traced. It is argued, particularly, that, in addition to the evident message of salvation in the Flood texts and traditions, there is a discernible ideological motif of sacred space in both religions, specifically the ark of Noah equivalent to or associated with a temple structure. Further, the Noah’s ark tradition seeps into various ancillary religious practices, both in various eras of Judaism and in Sunnism and Shiism. Thus, the convergences and divergences between Judaism and Islam, the Hebrew Bible and Qur’an concerning the reception history of a common patriarch (Noah) and shared spaces (ark, temple/mosque) is richly variegated from a bi-optic hermeneutical perspective.

Preserving Candi Kidal’s Relief to Sustain a Cultural Heritage Site using ATUMICS Approach

Candi Kidal represents a cultural heritage structure that should be preserved. This temple structure is similar to the other temples in that it contains a foot section (Bhurloka), a body part (Bhuvarloka), and a summit portion (Swarloka). Some reliefs are read on the body using the Prasawya technique, and a story about the loyalty of a child named Garudeya to his mother, Winata, will appear. The story of a son freeing his mother from slavery is analogous to the Indonesian people's battle for freedom from Dutch colonialism. This study intends to introduce Garudeya's intangible reliefs at Candi Kidal and explain the moral message they embody. The Garudeya relief found in the Candi Kidal will be re-displayed on a sitting lamp as part of this research. The author did a site survey, interviews, questionnaires, and a literature review in this study. The author used the ATUMICS approach to create a prototype in the form of a sitting lamp, which aids in transforming traditions into contemporary contexts. The main focus of this study is on the concept of form, which is the transformation of Candi Kidal's silhouette into the shape of a sitting lamp. Furthermore, the lithophane technique, which converts a photograph into a 3D relief, is used on the body of the sitting lamp. As a result, the relief seen on Candi Kidal's body can be reproduced on the sitting lamp's body.

Review: Selling Black Brazil: Race, Nation, and Visual Culture in Salvador, Bahia, by Anadelia A. Romo, and Modernity in Black and White: Art and Image, Race and Identity in Brazil, 1890–1945, by Rafael Cardoso

Review: <i>Selling Black Brazil: Race, Nation, and Visual Culture in Salvador, Bahia</i>, by Anadelia A. Romo, and <i>Modernity in Black and White: Art and Image, Race and Identity in Brazil, 1890–1945</i>, by Rafael Cardoso

Храмовая архитектура и религиозная антропология

This article substantiates the possibility of using the material of temple architecture in studies of religious perceptions of man. In studying the religious teachings of man, we rely on the religious anthropology of K. I. Nikonov. We also used the methodology of L. Jones's "hermeneutics of sacred architecture" and A. Corben's temenology to study temple structures and sacred spaces. Our approach allowed us to explore believers' understanding of temple architecture as a self-understanding. It has been shown that temple architecture can be used to reconstruct the history of religious teachings on man, as well as to deepen philosophical knowledge of the essence, structure, and basic aspects of believers' understanding of themselves.

An Analysis of the Meaning Enshrined in the Architecture of the Tay Ninh Holy See of Cao Dai

In the 1920s, a new religion emerged in Tay Ninh Province, Southern Vietnam, under the name Caodaism; also known as the Third Universal Salvation of the Great Dao. It is the result of the typical combination of three main religions (Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism). Different ethnic groups populated Tay Ninh, such as Chinese, Khmer, Cham, and Kinh. Additionally, the core principle of Caodaism is known as The Three Religions Returned to the Origin, and it is also expanded as The Five Branches Reunited. The Five Branches are humankind’s five ways of self-cultivation: the Way of Humans, the Way of Deities, the Way of Saints, the Way of Immortals, and the Way of Buddhas. Although Caodaism was only founded in 1920, this religion is well known domestically and internationally. This is because Caodaism has a distinctive identity； it is a new religion that advocates a syncretistic combination of essential religious teachings that follow the harmonization and reconciliation between the East and West as well as between the past and present. Moreover, the Tay Ninh Holy See is the most important, first, and largest Cao Dai temple in Vietnam. The temple is located in Tay Ninh Province in southwestern Vietnam. This article aims to introduce the Tay Ninh Holy See as the birthplace of Caodaism and as the largest Cao Dai religious palace, not only in Vietnam but also in other countries that practice Caodaism. A brief overview of Tay Ninh Holy See’s origin, history, and planning will be provided. Most importantly, the style of the architecture at the Tay Ninh Holy See will be comprehensively analyzed to shed more light on the meaning of each section and the details of this temple structure.

고려 혜목산 高達寺의 소속종단 변천과 배경

I examine this thesis on grand masters' inscription and Godalsa's site excavation result. From 860s to 890s Godalsa kept Hyeoimogsan school's base. In Kyeongmyeong King Simheui moved its base to Kimhai Bonglimsa. In Goryeo Chanyu rebuilt Godal Temple. Also Gwangjong decided this temple as Bonglimsan school's base. It had the traits of Zen temple's structure with Sangwon. When Euicheon's establishing Cheontaijong, Godalsa became one of 5 Cheontai schools. Because Chanyu's Cheontai thinking was succeeded by his pupils. When making 6 Cheontaidarma's factions after Euicheon's death, Godalsa was its group. In this time its force was the best. When Guktong Jeongo reassociated 6 Cheontai mountains on the base of Gukcheongsa in Chungsuk King, Godalsa kept Cheontaijong's ethos.

Simulating a stone roof for the Maltese Neolithic temples: Analysing stress to understand specialisation

The Neolithic temples of Malta are large megalithic structures built between 3700 BC and 2400 BC. Around 30 temples have survived to present day, providing extensive evidence of Neolithic culture in the Maltese islands. However, while the temple walls are generally well preserved, there is a longstanding debate regarding the nature of the temples’ roofing, of which scarce indication remains. With material evidence existing both for wooden and stone roofs, new techniques are necessary to determine the overall plausibility of different roofing options. In this paper the possibility of a stone roof is tested using 3D simulation of stress within a temple model. By measuring the forces in play within the temple structure, and observing interesting architectural features in situ, the suggestion of a stone roof is reinforced. Temple walls appear to have been constructed with the direct aim of dispersing excessive weight, showing a complex understanding of architectural principles. Observations made by the study also have wider implications for the Maltese Neolithic, especially with regards to cultural transmission throughout the island and different generations.

Elements of Cultural Life of Hindu Nadars and Traditional Elements of Cult Deity worship of Hindu Nadars which give Rise to Social Reform Ideas – A Study

The feelings, actions, and habits of the individual are the first steps in the development of culture. Another stage is the cultural development of societies formed by individuals living together. Culture is the third stage when the lifestyle, habits, artistic sensibility, and maturity of thought formed when many communities work together to form a community and intertwine as a community are all manifested as a kind of social thought. No mention of Nadars is found in Sangam Tamil literature. The state of the Nadars is known from the references of Christian missionaries in the early nineteenth century. At the beginning of the 19th century, social reform movements emerged in many places around the world, and there was awareness among the people of society. At that time, the status of the people of the Nadar community was backward in the social hierarchy. The word "wise men" is another name for Chanars. It is no exaggeration to say that in the social and religious hierarchies, the Chanars were slightly superior to the lower castes and a little inferior to the upper castes, and the status of the Nadars, who were denied entry into the temple to worship, due to the democratic renaissance social strata in today's era, the present state that this community has reached in the social strata and religious hierarchies is a pioneering society for the various ethnic groups that may exist in the world. In this article, we will see the importance of cultural elements such as economic resources, education, artistic development, morals, constitution and traditional elements of clan deity worship such as temple structure, worship methods, festivals, and social participation, etc. in making social reform ideas flourish.

Lime Mortar, a Boon to the Environment: Characterization Case Study and Overview

Lime is an ancient construction material that has been utilized throughout the world in various forms, providing stable construction methods in usable conditions. Lime mortar is well known for its low carbon footprint in production and carbon absorption throughout its lifespan as a hardened material. The significant benefits of lime mortar were analyzed and reviewed for further research. Ancient lime constructions need proper maintenance for aesthetic and structural strengthening to preserve this cultural architecture of national pride. Hence, the characterization of ancient mortars is mandatory for renovation work. Here, we studied the various characterization methods available worldwide. We analyzed samples taken from the 1900-year-old Vedapureeswarar Temple of Thiruvothur, Cheyyar, and the 1800-year-old Lakshmi Narasimhar Temple of Parikkal, located in Tamil Nadu. Hardened samples from these two ancient temples were collected and analyzed. The mineralogical characterization of these mortars using SEM, XRF, FTIR and XRD gave immense knowledge of the mortar matrix. Experimental analysis indicated that using natural organic materials in the lime has made the structures more potent and stable. The characterization study provided information on the ratio of mortar mix used, the presence of organic ingredients, and the need for compatible repair materials for proper maintenance of the temple structures. The characterization study furthers the necessary knowledge to provide a compatible repair material and indicates the need for ancient construction technology in the current highly polluted environment.

Landscape Design and Architecture of Wooden Churches in Ukraine

The article examines the features of landscape design and architecture of wooden churches in Ukraine. Analysis of literary sources shows that the sacred wooden architecture of Ukraine is a source of inspiration for artists, art historians, writers, and other people interested in church buildings made of wood. During the research process, it was found that the natural landscape exactly complements the architecture of wooden temples, creating a natural environment for worshiping God. It is important to emphasize the following features, highlighted in the study of temple structures made of wood on the territory of Ukraine. First, the builders carefully selected the site for the location of the temple, as they tried to avoid creating artificial landscaping around the church building. Secondly, this was an attempt to accurately combine a religious man-made building with the creation of God, namely with nature. Thirdly, there are common features and distinctive features of the examined wooden temples in the external architecture and internal design of buildings. The commonality of the architectural features of wooden churches is associated with the life of the people and mentality of the Ukrainians, and the differences, in turn, were formed because in different periods the historical territories of Ukraine belonged to empires that had significant religious differences. The article focuses on the fact that wooden churches are national monuments of Ukraine, which attract researchers from all over the world.

Историко-архитектурная самобытность бурятских храмовых сооружений

The article deals with the peculiarities of the architecture of the Buryat Buddhist datsans of ethnic Buryatia. The author identifies the features of the constructive, decorative and ornamental elements of the external decoration, which are an important component of temple structures. The stylistic features of the cult architecture of Buryat monasteries are revealed in comparison with the samples of Buddhist architecture in Mongolia and Tibet. The author concludes that architectural ensembles of temples in Buryatia combine individual forms, elements of Russian church cult architecture and local traditions, schools and works of individual masters and concludes that Buddhist temple construction reached its peak at the beginning of the 20th&nbsp;century.

Wood Identification of Ancient Temple Structures in Ladakh, Located in the Western Himalayas

Abstract Microscopic wood identifications were performed on five Buddhist temple structures, three vernacular houses, two stupas, and two holy trees located in Ladakh, a region in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir in the Western Himalayas. Leh is Ladakh’s capital and is located along the Indus River, the backbone of Ladakh. The vernacular buildings, stupa, and holy trees are located in Leh. Ladakh is a high-altitude desert with extremely scarce vegetation. Natural vegetation occurs mostly along the watercourses. The temples are located in villages along the upper Indus river valley, or along confluent rivers. From the 110 wood samples, 4 wood species were identified: poplar, willow, juniper, and pine. Building type, local availability, specific physical and mechanical properties of the wood species, and religious considerations were apparently the leading criteria for timber selection.

Time and causes of submergence of ancient temple structures off Mahabalipuram, East Coast of India

As per traditional belief, some part of the ancient town of Mahabalipuram had been submerged just off the shore temple and this story has been recorded by the several British travelers during the 18th – 19th century. During the underwater exploration of Mahabalipuram area in 2017, three sites along with a large number of scattered dressed stones were found in the intertidal zone. Calcareous material grown over these stone structures after their submergence in seawater was subjected to radiocarbon (14C) dating to infer submergence time-periods of these structures. Submergence date for the site I is the late 14th century CE; whereas the submergence date from the site II comes ~ 1st century CE. According to the water-depths from where the studied structural remains were excavated, and obtained 14C dates of submergence, it could be surmised that these stone-structures off Mahabalipuram town were submerged in two phases. The submergence might have been induced by natural events such as coastal cyclone activity or Tsunami that flushed off sand around these structures and raised the sea-levels locally over the coast.

Construction of a Temple with Regard to the Rising Sun Ray

Using the example of a number of cultural traditions, the author considers a construction of the temple structure along a rising sun ray. There are two main types of temples built according to the rising sun ray: the temples oriented towards the sunrise by their sanctuaries, and the temples oriented towards the sunrise by the entrance portal. Examples of such a construction are given for the temples of Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Orthodox and Catholic Christianity, Hinduism and Shintoism. The first type of temple in Ancient Egypt is shown to represent the birth of the sun in its sanctuary. In Christianity, this type of temple represents a ray of the sun entering the temple from an apse window – from the God depicted there. The second type of temples in Ancient Egypt represents the revival of image of the pharaoh-god located in his sanctuary, with the rising sun ray. In the ancient tradition, this type of temple represents the meeting of the rising sun over the large pre-temple altar, along with a statue of a deity in the depths of the sanctuary. It is shown that the main cathedral of Catholic Christianity, St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, is oriented towards sunrise not according to Christian, but according to ancient tradition. In the Hindu Shaiva tradition, the meeting of the rising sun in front of the temple portal is associated with penetration of its ray into the sanctuary and the highlighting of the statue or the main attribute of the god. In the Shinto tradition, the ascendant is presented in a special portal. The welcoming sacrifice takes place on the pre-temple altar. In general, the paper deals with the semantic, spatial, decorative, and ritual aspects of the construction performed of both types of temples.