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Manasara Silpa Sastra discusses the construction of Vimanas and Gopuras in temples. While discussing the temple architecture, it states that the Gopura, the Vimana and the Dwaja Stambha are to be constructed in such a way that all these lie in one line. It draws distinction between the Gopura and the Vimana. Vimana is the small tower usually built over the Garbha Griha (Sanctum Sanctorum). Whether big or small, all temples will have Vimanas and it varies from temple to temple. Only the main shrine will have the big Vimana and the auxiliary deities attached to the main shrine will have Vimanas of smaller size. Among the various parts of the temple, the Garbha Griha is the most important, as it is here, that the deity is worshipped. Further it will be interesting to note the origin of the inner dome i.e. the Vimana.
Etymologically, the word Vimana implies an object measured (from root ma) or prepared or made in various ways, conveyance, a heavenly car, a temple, the palace of an emperor, a tower surmounting the sanctuary (Garbha Griha) which is made in the centre of the temple.
There are many references to the Vimana in the Epic,Puranas, Agamas etc. Thus we see that the ' Vimana ' was known to our ancients and it was used in different meanings in the age of the holy scriptures. (Vedic and Post Vedic periods) Vimanas ' are the domes constructed over the Garba-Griha of the temples and Ananda Nilaya Vimana is the name given to the Vimana of Lord Srinivasa, of Tirupati.
In addition to those referred to above, we have a host of inscriptions wherein references to Vimanas are made. . During the period of Asoka the word Vimana was used to denote the car of the gods. As has been already stated, the members of the Royal family considered the act of associating themselves with the renovation of temples or making endowments to the temples as a special privilege and they believed that "if the measurement of the Temple is in every way perfect, there will be perfection in the Universe as well." So they took special care to see that the Garbha Griha and the dome over it were well maintained. We find from the Ranganatha Inscription of Soundara Pandya that the king "having covered with gold the shrine (Vimana) of Hari (Vishnu) at Ranga placed in it (an image) the highest being (Parama-pums)" built a shrine (Vimana) of Vishvaksena and also built three golden domes (Vimana) by which (the temple of) Sriranga glitters as he (the King) by the (three) crowns worn at (his) coronation. From the Yenamaridala Inscription of Ganapamba, we find that she duly placed golden pinnacles on the holy shrine (Vimana) of the brilliant Lord Amaresvara at Sri Dhanyankapura. From the fourteen inscriptions at Tirukkovalur, we find that the lord of Miladu...pulled down the temple, rebuilt the central shrine... placed on the shrine fine solid pitchers (dome) of gold...".
Jai Srimannaryana !
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