| Temples are called aalayam or kovil in Tamil. The | | | | Hindus has chosen three places to worship the |
| word aalayam comes from anma which means 'soul' | | | | Supreme Being: in his heart, in his home, and within a |
| and layam which means 'a place where one's anma | | | | consecrated temple. |
| can find sanctuary'. Similarly ko means 'God' and vil or il | | | | The Temple structure itself is conceived of as the |
| means 'place'; thus, kovil means 'God's abode'. | | | | universe, and it's principles of construction, form and |
| A Hindu temple can be a separate structure or a part | | | | decoration , as well as the rituals that take place within |
| of a building. A feature of most temples is the | | | | it's walls, are all aimed at achieving the sublime. |
| presence of murtis of the Hindu deity to whom the | | | | Architecturally, Hindu temples are an ancient art form |
| temple is dedicated. They are usually dedicated to one | | | | born of a great religious tradition. Their design has |
| primary deity, called the presiding deity, and other | | | | changed little over the centuries. |
| subordinate deities associated with the main deity. | | | | The structure of the temple: - |
| However, some temples are dedicated to several | | | | The hindu temple is constructed to resemble the form |
| deities, and some have symbols instead of a murti. | | | | of a human body lying on its back with the head of the |
| To a Hindu, a temple is more than a place of worship. | | | | temple positioned towards the west and the feet |
| It is a place specially choosen as the residence of the | | | | towards the east. This composition underlies the |
| Supreme Being as the ruler of the universe. The | | | | symbolic functions of a Hindu temple. |