Hinduism - What Is A Mahamandapa In Hindu Temple Architecture?

 

The mahamandapa is an architectural element found in the Nagara architectural style's Khajuraho variant.

The Nagara style, which is mostly found in northern India, emphasizes verticality, with the entire temple building culminating in a single highest point; in the Khajuraho variant, the entire structure gradually leads up to the central tower, much like foothills lead up to the mountains, with the central tower's peak directly over the temple's primary image.

The mahamandapa refers to the temple's main entrance-hall, which was separated from the main sanctuary (garbhagrha) by a small vestibule known as the antarala in this architecture.

~Kiran Atma


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