The Hindu Temple v1.c8.s7.46

v1.c8.s7.46

Tamas, darkness, is the descending tendency, it is the quality proper of the underground crypt. Above it, the Prāsāda arises, ascends in height according to the Sattva-guṇa, and expands its perimeter as far as Rajas, requires it.¹⁰⁹ Tamas, darkness, is the causal body, the ‘kāraṇa rūpa’. As it was in the beginning when out of primordial darkness evolved all things that be, so also from the deep, central darkness of the Garbhagṛha the meaning of the temple shines forth on its walls and reaches the high point of the finial. Thus in certain temples there are two Garbhagṛhas; above the crypt-Garbhagṛha is the upper sanctuary, accessible or visible to all. The secret chamber of the Sūrya temple at Modhera, Gujerat, built in 1026-1027 A.D., is sunk to eleven and a half feet below the level, and is underneath the floor of the Garbhagṛha of the temple.¹¹⁰ At Aundh, the principal Liṅga is in the crypt below; in the upper Garbhagṛha is another Liṅga; steps lead down into the crypt from an opening in the floor of the upper shrine.¹¹¹ The present-day temple of Somanātha, Pattan, Kathiawar, also has a lower shrine. It surrounds the Somanātha Liṅga, symbol of the self existent Omphalos. A ‘duplicate’ for every day worship is in the upper shrine.¹¹² In the Jambukeśvara temple, near Trichinopoly, in South India, the Garbhagṛha below the level of the ground enshrines a Svayambhū Liṅga standing in water. The great sanctity of the non-man-made Liṅga, the hidden darkness of the not only innermost, but also of the lowermost, Garbhagṛha, are proper to the Guhā, the secret chamber, around the omphalos, the navel and centre of the Earth and of Being; of this the Ādhāraśilā is one symbol and its place is the same.¹¹³ Above it is the Garbhagṛha for the daily rites, and above these graded levels of secrecy and sanctity is the superstructure. The finial above it shines golden, high up, straight above the omphalos, or centre of the Garbhagṛha, the womb and cave in the mountain. Or else no floor separates the lower and the upper chamber, they are one; only the sunk level is preserved. The one and only Garbhagṛha is often much lower in level than the hall, the Maṇḍapam by which it is approached; stairs lead down to it, to a depth of seven or eight feet, or less;¹¹⁴ the actual extent into depth finally is immaterial as long as the descent is marked by the level of the floor being lower than that of the threshold, be it even by one step only. In Orissa, the name for the Garbhagṛha is Gambhirā, the deep lying.