Abstract
This study examines the architectural and engineering principles underlying ancient Hindu temple traditions, with particular attention to their forms, functions, and philosophical objectives. By analyzing the structural logic, symbolic grammar, and socio-cultural roles embedded within these architectural traditions, the study aims to explore their continued relevance for sustaining harmonious cultural and social life in the contemporary world.
To illustrate the modern revival and reinterpretation of these classical principles, the paper presents a focused case study of the Swaminarayan Akshardham[1] temple in New Delhi, a monumental 21st-century temple complex created according to the principles of traditional Hindu temple architecture. The study argues that Swaminarayan Akshardham exemplifies how ancient architectural insights can be revitalized in contemporary contexts and restore the temple’s historical role as a dynamic center of spiritual growth, cultural expression, and social integration.
Based on Vāstuśāstra,[2] the sacred diagram (Vāstupuruṣamaṇḍala) integrates cosmic order, cardinal directions, the pañcamahābhūta, and presiding deities into a unified spatial system that harmonizes the natural environment with human consciousness. Within this framework, various maṇḍapas functioned as vibrant spaces for worship, learning, and cultural interaction, making temples integral centers of spiritual, communal, and social life.
This integrative role, however, was not to continue uninterrupted. Centuries of political upheaval brought widespread temple destruction, and the patronage and craft of temple-building declined accordingly, with consequent effects on the social fabric they had long sustained. This paper addresses this loss by offering an overview of ancient temple architecture, the engineering principles of its various styles, and how these principles have been revived in the construction of the Akshardham temple in New Delhi.
[1]. According to the Guinness Book of World Records-2007, the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in Delhi is the largest Hindu temple complex in the world. (“Largest Hindu Temple”) (Location- https://maps.app.goo.gl/M5B9XLHaAFttZNFR7)
[2]. A body of Sanskrit treatises that sets out the principles of architecture and construction, covering site selection, orientation, proportion, and design for temples, palaces, and dwellings.