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Iconography of Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu is governed by the Shaiva Agamas (IAST:Āgama) that revere the ultimate reality as the Hindu deity, Shiva. Āgama (Sanskrit आगम, Tamil:ஆகமம்) in the Hindu religious context means a traditional doctrine or system which commands faith.〔 ( Siva sutras: The Yoga of Supreme Identity By Vasugupta, Jaideva Singh )〕 Temple worship according to Āgamic rules can be said to have started during the Pallava dynasty (551-901 A.D.) in South India, but they were fully under establishment during the Chola dynasty (848-1279 A.D.)〔Vasudevan 2003, p. 26〕 The temples during the Chola period expanded to Sri Lanka and islands in South East Asia. The temple complex was expanding with niches for various deities on the stipulated sides of the sanctum. ''Lingam'' was universalised and ''prakarams'' (precincts) with subsequent deities came up. The temple ''parivara''(deities related to primary deity) expanded considerably during the Chola period. The niches of following Āgamic rules for building Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu, a South Indian state continues even in the modern era. Some of the prime images like that of ''lingam'', Vinayagar and Parvati are present in all the Shiva temples. Almost all the temples follow the same custom during festivals and worship methods with minor exceptions. Most of the Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka (like Munneswaram temple, Koneswaram temple, Tennavaram temple, Ketheeswaram temple, Naguleswaram) are built in Dravidian architecture. ==Symbolism behind the structure of a Shiva Temple== The temple structure resembles the human body with all its subtleties.〔Rao 1989〕〔Subramuniyaswami 2003, p. 810〕 The five walls encircling one another are the ''koshas'' (sheaths) of human existence.〔Chakrabarti 1998, p.36〕 The outermost is the ''Annamaya kosha'', symbolizing the material body.〔 The second is ''Pranamaya kosha'', symbolizing the sheath of vital force or ''prana'' (breath).〔 The third is ''Manomaya kosha'', symbolizing the sheath of the thoughts, the ''mana''.〔 The fourth is the ''Vijnanamaya kosha'', symbolizing, the sheath of the intellect.〔 The fifth and innermost is the ''Anandamaya kosha'', symbolizing the sheath of bliss.〔 Dravidian Shiva temples invariably follow the structure, arranged in differing manners, but differing in themselves only according to the age in which they were constructed:.: * The principal part of the temple is called the ''Vimanam'' which is the roof of the sanctum sanctorum. * The porches or ''Mantapams'' (halls), which always cover and precede the door leading to the sanctum. * Gate-pyramids, ''Gopurams'' is the principal feature of the temple seen from outside. * Pillared halls (''Chaultris'' or ''Chawadis'') are used for festivals and daily gatherings. A temple always contains temple tanks or wells for water called ''theertham'' used for sacred purposes of ablution.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Iconography of Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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