Temple Entry architecture
SRI SANKARA MATTHAM – AN ACCOUNT OF TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
Thanks to the detailed account of Stapathi Shri Devalingam, we can even today appreciate the
philosophical meaning behind the architecture of this temple.
We first pay obeisance to Lord Varasiddhi Vinayaka on the left & Lord Anjaneya on the right. Looking up the Raja Gopuram referred to as Stula Linga, we can see that it is in 5 parts representing the five elements or Pancha Bhutas – Space, Air, Fire, Water & Earth. On the Salai Kara Vimanam or Gopuram, we see Ganapathi, Vyasa & Agastya on right side & Muruga, Valli & Devasena on the left.
As we climb a few steps to reach the Ardhamandapa, we see the two elephants, Aryanam & Pushpadantam, facing West & South West besides which are images of Vayu & Varuna, the Dishadipatis.
The scene of the Gitopadesha is depicted on the wall facing us. We see the life story of Adi Sankara depicted on the wall panels as we alight the 22 steps to reach the Mahamandapa. As we enter the Mahamandapa and or the main hall, there is a beam with 36 lotuses, each with 36 petals in the decorated “Torana Vasal”. This represents the 36 Tattvas of our Hindu religion. Copper plates bearing these inscriptions have been placed under the lotuses. On the sides of the wall are Hamsapakshis facing the Garbagraha. Hamsapakshi or Annapakshi is the only bird that can separate milk from water, to indicate that we should develop Vivekam, to distinguish Satyam from Mithya.
As suggested by Kanchi Paramacharya on either side of the hall, we see on the pillars – Dattatreya, Narayana, Padmodbhava, Vasishta, Sake, Parasara, Vyasa, Suka, Goudapada, Govinda Bhagavathpada representing the Guru Peetham of Adi Sankara himself.
Panels on the wall depict disciples of Bhagavatpada namely Sureshvaracharya noteable among his works being Naishkarmya Siddhi, Padmapadar who wrote Panchapadika, Hastamalakar who fed us with Hastamakiyam, Totakacharya who composed the famous Totakashtakam, Sarvajna Sricharana who wrote Sankshepa Sarirakam, Vivaranacharya – Panchapadika Vivaranam, Vajaspathi Mishra – Bhamathi, Amalananda Sricharana – Kalpataru, Vidyaranya Swamigal – Aparokshanubhooti Deepika, Madhusudhana Saraswati Swamigal – Vedanta Kalpalathika, Appayya Dikshitar – Nyaya Rakshamani, Tryambak Sashtri – Advaita Siddhanta Vyjayanthi & Mannargudi Raju Sastrigal – Nyayendhu Sekharam. They have all contributed immensely by writing and explaining about Advaita Siddhantha. On the ceiling is a legendary lotus with 1008 petals – the Bindukona in the centre is said to be the abode of Adi ParaSakti.
Under the shade of the holy drawing and surrounded by the Guru Sishya Parampara we now face the Garbhagrapha to have a darshan of Adi Sankara, the guru seated with a serene face.
Sruti smriti purananam Aalayam karunalayam
Namami bhagavad padam sankaram loka sankaram
The traditional Dwarapalakas stand guard on either side of the entrance and the image of Swarnalakshmi is at the top.