Avimana is the structure over thegarbhagriha or inner sanctum in theHindu temples of South India andOdisha in East India. In typical temples of Odisha using the Kalinga style of architecture, thevimana is the tallest structure of the temple, as it is in theshikhara towers of temples in West and North India. By contrast, in large South Indian temples, it is typically smaller than the great gatehouses orgopuram, which are the most immediately striking architectural elements in a temple complex. Avimana is usually shaped as a pyramid, consisting of several stories ortala.Vimana are divided in two groups:jati vimanas that have up to fourtala andmukhya vimana that have fivetala and more.[1][2]
In North Indian temple architecture texts, the superstructure over thegarbhagriha is called ashikhara. However, in South Indian Hindu architecture texts, the termshikhara means a dome-shaped crowning cap above thevimana.[3]
A typicalHindu temple inDravidian style havegopuram in the four cardinal directions i.e. East - main entrance, North and south - side entrances, West - only opened on auspicious days where it is believed we will go directly to Heaven. The temple's walls are typically square with the outer most wall having fourgopura, 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 thevimana. Generally, these do not assume as much significance as the outergopuram, with the exception of a few temples where thesanctum sanctorum's roofs are as famous as the temple complex itself.[citation needed]
TheBrihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur and theBrihadisvara Temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram, both 11th-century constructions of theImperial Cholas, have massive and highvimanas, which is atypical in the south. These perhaps were intended to compete with the height of northernsikhara. 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 Cholavimana. This trend was well underway inVijayanagara architecture, and has remained the case subsequently.
Thekanaka-sabai (Golden Stage) atNataraja 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.
TheAnanda Nilayamvimana of theVenkateswara 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. TheMeenakshi Temple has two goldenvimana,[4] a huge one forShiva and the second one for his consort,Meenakshi.
TheJagannath Temple, Puri, has the Neelachakra on thesikhara, i.e., the top of thevimana. It is a representation ofVishnu's most powerful weapon, thesudarshana chakra.
Thevimana of theKonark Sun Temple was the tallest of allvimana before it fell.
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