Vimana (architectural Feature)

''Vimana'' is the structure over the ''garbhagriha'' or inner sanctum in the Hindu temples of South India and Odisha in East India. In typical temples of Odisha using the Kalinga style of architecture, the ''vimana'' is the tallest structure of the temple, as it is in the ''shikhara'' towers of temples in West and North India. By contrast, in large South Indian temples, it is typically smaller than the great gatehouses or ''gopuram'', which are the most immediately striking architectural elements in a temple complex. A ''vimana'' is usually shaped as a pyramid, consisting of several stories or '' tala''. ''Vimana'' are divided in two groups: ''jati vimanas'' that have up to four ''tala'' and ''mukhya vimana'' that have five ''tala'' and more.

In North Indian temple architecture texts, the superstructure over the ''garbhagriha'' is called a ''shikhara''. However, in South Indian Hindu architecture texts, the term ''shikhara'' means a dome-shaped crowning cap above the ''vimana''.

Architecture

A typical Hindu temple in Dravidian style have ''gopuram'' in the four directions i.e. East - main entrance, North and south - side entrances, West - only opened on auspicious day where it is believed we will go directly to Heaven.The temple's walls are typically square with the outer most wall having four ''gopura'', one each on every side, situated exactly in the center of each wall. This will continue to next tier depending upon the size of the temple. The sanctum sanctorum and its towering roof (the central deity's shrine) are also called the ''vimana''. Generally, these do not assume as much significance as the outer ''gopuram'', with the exception of a few temples where the ''sanctum sanctorums roofs are as famous as the temple complex itself.

The Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur and the Brihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, both 11th-century constructions of the Imperial Cholas, have massive and high ''vimana''s, which is untypical in the south. These perhaps were intended to compete with the height of northern ''sikhara''. At this time the usual gopuram was a relatively small structure over a gateway, and the development of the very tall gopuram of later centuries was perhaps influenced by these Chola ''vimana''. This trend was well underway in Vijayanagara architecture, and has remained the case subsequently.

Famous Shrines

The ''kanaka-sabai'' (Golden Stage) at Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram, is another example. This shrine is entirely covered with golden plates, but is different in its structure and massive in size when compared to most other vimanas. Historical evidence states that during the ninth century, Parantaka I funded covering this vimana with ornamental gold and it retains its glory even today.

The Ananda Nilayam ''vimana'' of the Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala, is a famous example where the gopuram of the main shrine occupies a very special place in the temple's history and identity. Meenakshi Temple has two golden ''vimana'', the huge one for Shiva and the second one for his consort, Meenakshi.

The Jagannath Temple, Puri, has th
Neelachakra
on the ''sikhara'', i.e., the top of the ''vimana''. It is a representation of Vishnu's most powerful weapon, the ''sudarshana chakra''.

The ''vimana'' of the Konark Sun Temple

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