Mandapa

The term mandapa ( Sanskrit: मंडप, also known as Mantapa or Mandapam ) referred to in Indian architecture a laterally open portico, which is upstream of a Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples.

Formation

Although no Indian temples have received from the time before the birth of Christ, we must still assume that such existed. There were probably roomed and windowless buildings made ​​of reeds, wood and clay - similar to much of rural India still encountered huts. The lighting and ventilation of these buildings was carried out exclusively via the always unlocked and opened the entrance. A porch of wooden supports, and with a covering of leaves and branches made ​​probably in many of these buildings for some weather protection.

Development

Some of the early Buddhist cult or caves possessed vestibule in the form of about two meters deep and up to ten meters wide portico ( mandapa ). Only in the time of the Gupta Empire (ca. 350-550 ) were also Hindu cave temple ( Udayagiri ) detached stone porches. At the same time the first ( received ) were built freestanding temples in India ( Gupta temple ), most of which vestibules ( antaralas ) or open porches ( mandapas ) had that in 5/6 Century - especially when covered whorls - could still be made ​​of wood (eg when Dashavatara temple in Deogarh ).

The construction of the Kalika Mata Temple in the fort of Chittaurgarh began - according to current knowledge - a development that should lead the way for the later North Indian Temple: entrance hall ( mandapa ) and Sanktumsbereich ( garbhagriha ) were designed in size and shape approximately equal and interconnected so that from the outside only be seen from the shikhara tower to which component it is. The planning principles developed here will culminate in the construction of Khajuraho (eg, Lakshmana Temple, Kandariya Mahadeva Temple and others).

In most regions of central and southern India such harmonization and fusion of the components did not take place. The mandapas stayed there architecturally largely independent components, but could be huge.

Placement

A small hallway ( antarala ) or a porch ( mandapa ) is regular outside the entrance to garbhagriha ( " womb chamber ", the Holy of Holies of a temple ). In the heyday of North Indian temple architecture (Khajuraho, Bhubaneshwar ) several mandapas were ( mukhamandapa or ardhamandapa = Hall; mahamandapa = large hall, often referred to as ' dance hall ') added, so that the greater part of the temple area from mandapas existed.

Function

The mandapa was probably originally mainly as a covered shelter for the believers, as these the Sanktumsbereich of the Temple - even in bright sunlight or during thunderstorms or monsoons - not allowed to enter. In later times the mandapa is regarded as a place of meditation, in which the believer spiritually collects before it - under the direction of Brahmins - the puja takes place in the actual sanctuary. The connecting several - also still in the ground level graded - mandapas prolonged and increased the way of the believers from the outside world for garbhagriha, that is, a cult image or Lingam.

Indonesia

The mandapa is different from the related Mondop, a cube-shaped building in a Buddhist Wat. From mandapa is also the word for Pendopo pavilions in the Javanese architecture is derived.