Written by: Jacob N. Kinnard
Hindu gods and goddesses are understood to be active forces in the world. Through a variety of rituals, they are made present to their devotees. Usually, although not exclusively, they are made present in temples. Temples are sacred because they are where the gods and goddesses live, and where humans have access to them. Temples are also where many, although by no means all, Hindu rituals are performed.
Hindu temples are broadly called mandira, or mandir, a Sanskrit word that means, essentially, "house." A temple in the Hindu view is thus fundamentally the earthly abode of a god or goddess; it is sacred space because the deity is present there.
There are thousands of Hindu temples in India and elsewhere, temples associated with the major "high" gods and goddesses, but also local deities. Each temple is different, its style and structure dictated by the region in which it is located, when it was constructed, and the deity to whom it is associated. Hindu temples have been built for some 2,000 years. That said, there are some general commonalities.
At the center of the temple complex is the main structure that houses the main image, or murti—the physical image of the deity, which, unlike in many other religions, is not merely a symbolic representation. The murti is the deity; it is considered to be the living god, and is treated as such. It is often bathed, fed, and directly addressed by the god's devotees. This main image is typically located within the garbha griha (literally "womb chamber"), what in English might be called the "sanctum sanctorum." This inner sanctum is typically crowned with a tower, or shikhara. In some temples, these towers are tall, magnificent structures, while in others they are far more basic.
Around the central shrine area are often many other smaller shrines, often with images of gods and goddesses associated with the main deity of the temple, as well as meeting and worship halls, classrooms, administrative offices, etc. Usually the temple complex is surrounded by a wall, which is entered through a main gate. Often this gate is part of what can be a very elaborate tower or spire, called a gopuram or gopura, a sometimes very elaborate structure that is covered with sculptural images of gods, goddesses, and other divine figures. In southern India, in particular, major temples often feature elaborately decorated towering gopurams that soar over both the temple itself and the city in which it is located.