Pura means city or human body. Purohita means the person who takes care of the well being of the entire community.

The picture is from Jakhoo Hanumanji temple in Shimla.

The Vimana is the most distinguishing feature of the various temple styles of India.

Yagyasala is the structure or a pavilion built out of wood or dried grass. We know that these Yagyasalas which were makeshift structures became permanent stone, wood and brick structures. Temples are believed to have evolved from Yagyasalas. There is commonality between Rathas and Devalaya, but Yagyasalas reflect the evolution.

The picture is the Heliodorus Pillar in Vidisha, near Bhopal. The earliest excavated remains of a temple in India are in front of this pillar.

The external temple is a manifestation of our own body and spiritual principles. The word Ratha in Upanishad is used as a reference to the human body which carries the Atma. Our mind is the reins that control the chariot. Temples are also considered similar to human bodies and therefore the term Ratha is used.

The picture is the Udupi SriKrishna temple Ratha.

Dhatu means relic and Stupa refers to a place which houses the Dhatu or where a Dhatu is buried. Relic can be physical remains or articles used or Dharma Cakra or miniature stupa.

The picture is Dhauli Stupa which overlooks the site of Kalinga war. This is very near Bhubaneswar.

Ellora has Buddhist, Jaina and Hindu caves which reflects how different faiths co-existed in India

Pattadakal has multiple examples of Dravida and Nagara style of temples and is called the cradle of Indian temples. Mahabalipuram also has the Pancha Pandava Rathas but does not illustrate the variety that Pattadakal has.

Vigraha is what captures the infinite divine principle into a physical structure. The eternal formless principle has been captured in a concrete form. It is not necessary for the Vigraha to be made of metal or any permanent material. There are also Devalayas where space or a depression or a flame is worshipped.

The picture is Vaduvur Sri Rama, near Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu.

A Shiv Linga has three parts, Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. The Rudra part is circular in shape. The Vishnu part is octagonal. These are visible from the top view. The Brahma part is below the yoni underground and is not visible.

The picture is Matangeshwara Temple in Khajuraho, the only temple which is still under worship in the group of Khajuraho temples.

Vijayanagara temples have tall Rajagopuras.

The picture is the Tenkasi temple in Tamil Nadu. The Raja Gopuram was completed in late 20th century.

Worship in a temple is referred to as a Purartha Puja. The prayers are for the well being of the entire community. The syllable Pura in Purartha or Purohit refers to the entire community. Puja at residence is generally for the well being of the family.

The picture is that of a Homa in Udupi SriKrishna temple.

It refers to the concept that the body itself is a devaalaya. Suddhi (cleansing of organs), Nyasa (invoking divinity within the body), Mudra (making effective gestures), Mandala (symbolic representation of divinity), Mantra (realising deity in one’s own heart), Pranayama (regulation of breath), Dhyana (contemplation) and Sohambhavana (becoming one with divinity). These refer to the various practices which help realise the divinity within the human body.

The picture is of Kandariya Mahadev temple in Khajuraho, considered as a pinnacle of temple building in India.

There are 12 Jyotirlingas, Kedarnath, Vaidyanath, Kashi, Somnath, Omkareshwar, Ujjain, Bhimashankar, Triambakeshwar, Srisailam, Grishneshwar, Rameswaram and Dwarka.

The picture is the bliss of Kedarnath.

The Aditya temple at Mulasthana was destroyed by Mohammad bin Qasim. The temple was used as a bargaining chip by muslim rulers to dissuade the fightback of Hindu kings.

The book of Sita Ram Goel ji documents the destruction in the words of invaders themselves.

In Jaina philosophy, Moksha is a constant movement upwards and culminates in Siddha Shila, a place in the skies where liberated souls reside. The first floor in Jaina temples denotes the constant movement upwards.

The picture is thousand pillared Jain temple in Moodbidri, Karnataka.  The rarest of Jain manuscripts are preserved in Moodbidri.

The foundation of the devalaya is only 5 feet. This demonstrated how advanced and experienced temple builders of the past were.

The picture is the scale and perfection of the Brahadeeswara Temple.