Mahamandapa

A ''mandapa'' or ''mantapa'' () is a pillared hall or pavilion for public rituals in Indian architecture, especially featured in Hindu temple architecture and Jain temple architecture.

''Mandapas'' are described as "open" or "closed" depending on whether they have walls. In temples, one or more ''mandapas'' very often lie between the sanctuary and the temple entrance, on the same axis. In a large temple other ''mandapas'' may be placed to the sides, or detached within the temple compound.

Temple architecture

In the Hindu temple the ''mandapa'' is a porch-like structure through the (''gopuram'') (ornate gateway) and leading to the temple. It is used for religious dancing and music and is part of the basic temple compound. The prayer hall was generally built in front of the temple's ''sanctum sanctorum'' (''garbhagriha''). A large temple would have many ''mandapa''.

If a temple has more than one ''mandapa'', each one is allocated for a different function and given a name to reflect its use. For example, a ''mandapa'' dedicated to divine marriage is referred to as a ''kalyana mandapa''.
Often the hall was pillared and the pillars adorned with intricate carvings. In contemporary terms, it also represents a structure within which a Hindu wedding is performed. The bride and groom encircle a holy fire lit by the officiating priest in the center of the ''mandapa''.

Classifications

When a temple has more than one ''mandapa'', they are given different names.
* Artha Mandapam or Ardh Mandapam – intermediary space between the temple exterior and the '' ''sanctum sanctorum'' or the other ''mandapa'' of the temple
*Asthana Mandapam – assembly hall
*Kalyana Mandapam – dedicated to ritual marriage celebration of the Lord with Goddess
*Maha Mandapam – (Maha=big) when there are several ''mandapa'' in the temple, it is the biggest and the tallest. It is used for conducting religious discourses. Sometimes, the ''maha mandapa'' is also built along a transversal axis with a transept (bumped-out portions along this transversal axis). At the exterior, the transept ends by a large window which brings light and freshness into the temple.
*Nandi Mandapam (or Nandi mandir) – in the Shiva temples, pavilion with a statue of the sacred bull Nandi, looking at the statue or the ''lingam'' of Shiva.
*Ranga Mandapa or ''rangamandapa'' – a larger mandapa, which can be used for dance or drama, with music
*Meghanath Mandapa
*Namaskara Mandapa
*Open Mandapa

Nomenclature

In Burmese, the term ''mandat'' (), which has etymological origins in Pali ''maṇḍapa'', is an open platform or pavilion from which people spray water to passers-by during the Buddhist festival Thingyan.

In Javanese, the mandapa is known as a ''pendhapa'' (). Unusually, Indonesian pendopos are built mostly for Muslim communities. Many mosques follow the pendopo design, with a layered roof.

In Khmer, Mandapa is pronounced to be ''Mondup'' (), means pavilion. Khmer people often refer it as a small shrine with high crown-shaped like tower, decorated with exquisite ornaments in various styles.Khmer dictionary, word ' (Mondup), p.767, published in 2007, adapted from Khmer dictionary that was published by Buddhist institute of Cambodia in 1967. In Khmer temples during Angkor era, A Mandapa is generally attached to the central tower of a temple and lied longitudinally to one of each main direction.

In Tamil, this platform is the ''Aayiram Kaal Mandapam'' – a distinctly thousand pillared hall close to the vimana of the Koil which forms a distinct part of the site plan of classical Dravidian architecture.

In Thai, it is called a ''mondop'' (). It features often in Thai temple art and architecture, either in the form of a Hor Trai (a temple library) or as an altar shrine such as the one in Wat Chiang Man in Chiang Mai.

Gallery

File:Jain Temple 05 (5342731535).jpg, Mandapa interior and ceiling
File:The Chitragupta temple, Khajuraho 03.jpg, Chitragupta Temple, Khajuraho, 11th century, mantapas at the entrance.
File:Ranakpur (2155233007).jpg, Mandapa interior ceiling
File:Thommanon Temple, Angkor, Cambodia.jpg, Madapa of Thommanon temple connected its main shrine tower, facing to the east, Cambodia
File:Cambodge-1000a.jpg, Chau Say Tevoda's mandapa and main tower enclosed by its wall and 4 gopuras, Cambodia
File:Pasat Khaw Phanom Rung - panoramio - JAMRAT (6).jpg, Phanom Rung temple's prang and its mandapa, Thailand
File:P5254889พนมวันโคราช.JPG, Mandapa of Phanom Wan temple, Thailand
File:2019 02 Prasat Hin Phimai 22.jpg, Mandapa and tower of Phimai temple, Thailand
File:TMII_Central_Java_Pavilion_1.JPG, Royal pendopo in Java, Indonesia, commonly found in sultans' palaces
File:Bhaktapur Durbar Square Premises 2016 (61).jpg, Chyasilin Mandap in Bhaktapur, Nepal
File:Kasthamandap GP3.JPG, Kasthamandap in Kathmandu, Nepal

See also

* Pendopo
* Wedding mandapa
* Zayat

Notes

External links

{{commons category, Mondop in Thailand
Photo of four-pillared Kakatiya mandapa
Hindu temple architecture