YUVA JMI organised a webinar on ‘Ancient Temples Eternal Civilization’. Pankaj Saxena, Chief Editor of Indic Varta & Lecturer, Centre for Indic Studies addressed the students on the topic.
Speaker categorised the lecture in 3 sections. In first section, he showed pictures of magnificent Temples across India. In second section, he described the symobolicism of Temples. He described every facet related to Temple culture. In the last section, he laid emphasis on Temple as socio-economic entity.
Pankaj Saxena described about architecture of temples of various states like “Gopuram” of Temples built by Chola and Pallava dynasty. He also explained about Kalinga architecture of odisha, Khajurao Temple and temples of Gujarat. In short, we virtually toured temples across India.
He explained that Temples were just not only about beauty but they also were the central point of learning and seeking your inner self. The architecture of temples denoted a “Parvat shila” which was like a ladder to the epitome of knowledge which the learner had to climb and reach the “Kalash” which denoted the topmost level of knowledge. When a temple was bulit, a Kalash with Navratnas was installed beneath the “garbhgrah” which denoted the seed of the God and the art around the four walls signified the branches.
He further explained about the significance of the temples as a socio economic, welfare and cultural entity. Each Temple was associated with various welfare works and numerous economic activities revolved around it. For example the handloom of Kanchipuram Silk sarees and Benarasi Sarees associated with Dharmic Nagars of Kanchipuram and Benaras. Various cultural forms like Dance and Songs also used to take place at Temples which form a important part of our culture.
Overall the session was very informative and enlightening which has created a sense of curiousity in all of us to know more about our Temples and culture. When we get so fascinated looking at the “debris” of which was once magnificencnt structure, it is a matter of no surprise what will happen when we go through the history of these marvellous centres of learning and Bhartiye Civilization.
