Shapes, Patterns and Meanings in Indian Temple Architecture

Abstract

Art, in many contexts, is seen to have symbolic meanings, pertaining to the context and contributing to it positively. When the shapes and patterns used to create art, starts to acquire meaning contextually, it transcends into 'symbolism'. Therefore art contributes in the overall understanding of the structure and ambience. Also, shape evolving into patterns is, more often than not, an algorithmic process. These patterns in consideration are characterised to be fractal in nature. Therefore a logical connection can be made between patterns and their meanings, that is, fractals and symbolism. In Hindu religious architecture, the shapes have a set of meanings, their combinations have certain meanings, and the patterns evolved from them have, either a higher metaphorical meaning or a totally new interpretation. In this paper, symbolic art has been considered in the context of Hindu religious architecture and attempts to link the independent disciplines of 'symbolism' and 'fractals' in this context. Keywords: