A Mandapa (also spelled mantapa or mandapam) is a pillared outdoor hall or pavilion for the public in Indian architecture. It is used to deliver religious sermons. The maha mandapa is sometimes erected along a transversal axis with a transept. The word comes from Tamil manda meaning "big" and pa referring to an assembly area.
The maha mandapa is so called because it has five doors, each leading to a separate room where prayers can be offered. These rooms are known as jagati, meaning "worlds". They are named after planets of the solar system: Sunroom for the sun, Moonroom for the moon, Earthroom for earth, Natarajasthana for Shiva, and Vaikuntha Bhavani for Vishnu.
Mandapas were originally built for religious purposes but over time they became places where holy books are stored, debates are held, and sermons are given. They also serve as courtrooms, legislative bodies, and theaters.
In India, these structures are often found at temples. But they also exist at mosques, synagogues, and churches.
There are several types of mandapas. The maha mandapa is only one example. There are small mandapas for daily use within temples, and large ones for ceremonial purposes outside temples.
Locations for people to congregate in temples Garbhagriha: The location where the deity's picture is kept. The Pradakshina patha is a circular path that circles the stupa. It is necessary to visit the temple every day during a prayer session or ritual.
The garbhagrha of most Hindu temples is a room where the image is kept and is called the "deity's chamber". This area is usually roped off so that non-Hindus cannot enter it. It is also here that precious objects belonging to the temple - such as lamps, chariots, and flags - are kept.
People go to the garbhagrha to make prayers and offer gifts to the deity. During special days like Holi or Christmas, the room is often decked up with flowers and lights.
In larger temples, there may be several garbhagrahams. These are usually separate rooms but could be one large space if that was desired by the architect.
In Indian culture, it is customary for men to visit temples alone. Women are not allowed inside the garbhagrha unless they have a male guardian present. However, this rule is sometimes broken by priests who allow women in these areas unescorted to help them get away from distractions outside the temple complex.
The English word "MAHAM" should be spelled [m'ah@m], [m'ah@m], or [m 'a h @ m] (IPA phonetic alphabet). It is derived from the Arabic name Al-Mahdi, which means The Guided One. The prophet Muhammad is considered the last guided person by God and the seal of prophets.
The first three letters of the name Maham are used as a prefix in Islam to indicate that the person so named is a follower of Muhammad. Thus, Maham Ali is a follower of Muhammad Ali and Maham Thais a follower of Thais. The last letter of the name is used as a suffix to denote status or relationship.
The name Maham may also be written with out any punctuation marks. This is done when the name contains no accents or other special characters.
People with the given name Maham include:
Muhhamad Mahamud (1931–1999), Somali politician who served as Prime Minister from 1991 to 1992
Maham Ayyub (1280–1325), ruler of Mamluk Egypt who led an army that defeated a Crusader force at Nicaea in 1324
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