Gopuram is a monumental tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of any temple, especially in Southern India. This forms a prominent feature of Koils, Hindu temples of the Dravidian style. They are topped by the kalasam, a bulbous stone finial. They function as gateways through the walls that surround the temple complex.
The Gopuram's origins can be traced back to early structures of the Tamil kings Pallavas; and by the twelfth century, under the Pandyarulers, these gateways became a dominant feature of a temple's outer appearance, eventually overshadowing the inner sanctuary which became obscured from view by the Gopuram's colossal size. It also dominated the inner sanctum in amount of ornamentation. Often a shrine has more than one Gopuram. They also appear in architecture outside India, especially Khmer architecture, as at Angkor Wat.
A koil may have multiple Gopurams, typically constructed into multiple walls in tiers around the main shrine. The temple's walls are typically square with the outer most wall having gopuras. The sanctum sanctorum and its towering roof (the central deity's shrine) is also called the Vimanam.
Seeing Gopura is as good as seeing God and therefore if one sees God, papa vimochana is done. Elders say that Morning Gopura Darshan is punniyam.
GOPURA DHARSHAN IN TEMPLES ;-
As soon as we enter into the temple (or even before entering) we should do pranams (Namaskarams ) to the Gopuram.
In fact those who are in a hurry and who do not have time to enter into a temple will have the blessing of the almighty just by doing worship to the Gopuram.
But some people take it for granted that it is just enough if they worship the Gopuram and they need not even enter into the temple.
In fact those who are in a hurry and who do not have time to enter into a temple will have the blessing of the almighty just by doing worship to the Gopuram.
But some people take it for granted that it is just enough if they worship the Gopuram and they need not even enter into the temple.
What is the significance of the Gopuram?
Our scriptures confirm that the Gopuram is nothing but the symbol of the feet of God!
When we have the darshan of the feet of God- what else do we need?
Now you can guess why the Gopuram was built so high! You can have the darshan of the Gopuram- rather the feet of god from any distance! Thus away from temple may not make us away from GOD! God's grace is very high! That is why Gopuram is very high!
Symbolically, the Gopura or the entrance to the temple represent he feet of the deity. A devotes bows at the feet of the Lord at the entrance as he steps into the temple and proceeds towards the sanctum, leaving behind the world of contradictions.
In concept, the crest of the Gopuram has the same significance of representing the central Brahmasthan which is the energy field of any building. This energy field in three dimension is taken to the top level of the gopuram and this confers spiritual benefits to the visitors of the temple.
In the Sri Rangam temple the seven concentric prakara walls are said to represent the seven layers of matter-earth, water, fire, air, either, mind and intelligence-that envelop the consciousness of the living entities in the material world. The Gopuras are symbolic of being liberated from the bondage of matter as one enters the temple and proceeds toward the central shrine
The Gopura also emphasizes the importance of the temple within the city.
Gopuras came in rather late during the mid-12th century in evolution of Dravidian or South Indian Temple Architecture and probably due to security reasons.
In the Sri Rangam temple the seven concentric prakara walls are said to represent the seven layers of matter-earth, water, fire, air, either, mind and intelligence-that envelop the consciousness of the living entities in the material world. The Gopuras are symbolic of being liberated from the bondage of matter as one enters the temple and proceeds toward the central shrine
The Gopura also emphasizes the importance of the temple within the city.
Gopuras came in rather late during the mid-12th century in evolution of Dravidian or South Indian Temple Architecture and probably due to security reasons.
With the increasing threat from invading armies, the temple cities found it expedient to erect a series of protective walls to safeguard and defend their temples, palaces and cities. The Gopuras constructed on the gateways leading from one enclosure to the next, initially, served as watch towers for defense.
Among the finest examples are the Sundara Pandya Gopura of the Jambukesvara temple at Tiruchchirappalli, the Gopuras of the great Shiva temple at Chidambaram and the Gopuras of the Meenakshi temple at Madurai.
Meenakshi temple has twelve impressive Gopuras over the three tier Prakara walls. The outer four towers are nine -storied with heights ranging from 161 feet to 170 feet.
Gopuras appear to have influenced revision in the temple design and layout. The spaces around the shrine became hierarchical; the further the space was from the main shrine, the lesser was its eminence. The outermost ring had buildings of a more utilitarian or a secular nature - shops, dormitories, sheds, workshops etc., thus transforming the temple from a purely place of worship to the hub of a vibrant living city.
Gopuras appear to have influenced revision in the temple design and layout. The spaces around the shrine became hierarchical; the further the space was from the main shrine, the lesser was its eminence. The outermost ring had buildings of a more utilitarian or a secular nature - shops, dormitories, sheds, workshops etc., thus transforming the temple from a purely place of worship to the hub of a vibrant living city.
A particularly interesting example of this is the Sri Ranganatha temple at Sri Rangam, which has seven enclosure walls and as many as twenty-one Gopuras, the seventh, the outer most enclosure encloses an area of about six hundred acres.
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GOPURAM :-
It is believed that construction of temples started in Kaliyug. In the earlier Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga and Dwapar Yuga, the devotees were able to make direct union with God.
Meaning of Go- Puram
In sanatana Sampradaya All Temples have a GOIPURAM or Sikharam on the sanctum sanctorum or Garbha gudi where MOOLA VIRAAT is there.
If One is unable to enter into Temple and Have Darshan of eswara or Parameswari there, the Shastraas say that have a DARSHAN OF THE GOPURAM.
On the Gopuram there will be a small Moorthy of moola Vit\raat.
This is Called VIMAANA MOORTHY.
it is equal to the Moola Viraat in the Garbha Gudi.
So those who could not have an opportunity to have a darshan inside the Garbha Gudi, for reasons of RUSH OR HEALTH OR ANY OTHER THING , they CAN SEE THIS VIMAANAM OR AALAYA SIKHARAM AND IT IS EQUAL TO ENTERING AND HAVING DARSHAN INSIDE.
So those who could not have an opportunity to have a darshan inside the Garbha Gudi, for reasons of RUSH OR HEALTH OR ANY OTHER THING , they CAN SEE THIS VIMAANAM OR AALAYA SIKHARAM AND IT IS EQUAL TO ENTERING AND HAVING DARSHAN INSIDE.
This Vimaana or GOPURA DARSHANAM IS SO PAAPA VIMOCHANAM as you are are we are seeing the Parameswara in GOPURA.
That is the meaning.
Tamil terms like 'ko' 'koil' in Tamil makes us wonder whether the word gopuram was
originally pronounced as 'kopuram' but transformed into 'gopuram' as the word came to symbolise the temple gopuram in sanskrit. The word 'ko' in Tamil stands for king and also God. In early works, ko+il
(koil) was meant for the king's palace and it came to signify temple only much later. Similarly, ko+puram might have meant the outer portion of the king's / god's dwelling
(koil) was meant for the king's palace and it came to signify temple only much later. Similarly, ko+puram might have meant the outer portion of the king's / god's dwelling
Another interesting theory :
"gopuram" comes from "go puram" where "gO" probably refers to cows or cow-shed, "gO shAla", and "puram" means "city", "neighbourhood" or "residence".
In ancient days, temples in India did have separate quarters inside the temple precincts to house many cow-sheds. Often these cowsheds were built abutting the temple tower (as can be seen even now in the Kanchi Varadaraja temple), giving hence the temple-tower its unique name of "gO puram" - the "residence of cows".
GOPURAMS. YES TOWERS OF PRAYER:-
When you have an opportunity to see such towers of Prayer just think about GOD/SUPER POWER and power of such Gopurams .Create Positive Senses
HAVE A STRONG BELIEF GOPURA DARSHAN PAPA VIMOCHAN
HAVE A STRONG BELIEF GOPURA DARSHAN PAPA VIMOCHAN
