Gopura, Go-pura: 22 definitions

Introduction
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In Hinduism
1. Vastushastra
2. Shaivism
3. Shaktism
4. Purana
India history
Languages
1. Pali
2. Marathi
3. Sanskrit
4. Kannada
5. Nepali
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Introduction:

Gopura means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

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In Hinduism

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstra

1) Gopura (महाद्वार) refers to the “tower” built above the main entrance (mahādvāra) of the prākāras (‘enclosure’) of the temple complex. There are five kinds of gopuras defined:

dvāraśobha,
dvāraśāla,
dvāraprāsāda,
dvāraharmya,
dvāragopura.

To match the seven types of prākāras (‘enclosure’), the following are added as per tradition:

dvāramaryāda,
mahāmaryāda.

2) Gopura also refers to a tower build above the gateways of houses, palaces and Buddhist monasteries. There are various types of gopuras defined:

śrīkara,
ratikānta,
kāntavijaya,
vijayaśālaka,
viśālālaya,
vipratīkānta,
śrīkānta,
caturmukha,
keśaviśālaka,
svastika,
dvisvastika,
mardala,
mārtāṇḍa,
śrīviśāla,
śrīkeśa.

Source: Shodhganga: Temples of Salem region Up to 1336 AD

Gopura (गोपुर) is a tower built above the mahādvāra of the temple. This term is also applied to the towers built above the gateways of the houses, palaces and Buddhist monasteries. The method of construction of the gopura is almost similar to the construction of the main shrine of the temple. Here also, from foundation to the entablature, the method followed is one and the same. Gopura, in almost all cases, is provided with an upapīṭha. Occasionally double upapīṭha is also provided.

The Texts classify the gopuras into three categories i.e. adhama, madhyama and uttama based on the number of talas built above the mahādvāra. Texts prescribe that the shape of the coping of the gopura should be of sabhākāra i.e. rectangular on plan and the coping is of śāla type. Texts also prescribe that they can be provided with gavākṣas and jālakas.

Gopura in Sanskrit means a “town-gate”. The etymology of the term gopura is obscure. The word obviously presents a sense connected to ‘go’ i.e. cow. It is possible that all the towers of south Indian temples possess, at the two ends of their coping, a pair of semi circular cresting in the form of a cows horn. It is possible that due to this ornamental member, the name gopura is given for this structure.

Source: Knowledge Traditions & Practices of India: Architecture (1): Early and Classical Architecture

Gopura (गोपुर) refers to an “elaborate gateway”, a common concept found in the ancient Indian “science of architecture” (vāstuvidyā).—Gopura is an elaborate gateway, especially in south Indian temples, generally in the
form of a tower.

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: DSpace at Pondicherry: Siddha Cult in Tamilnadu (shaivism)

Gopura (गोपुर).—The gopura is principally a development of the 11th century middle-Colā period of temple construction in Tamilnādu. After a long gap of hundred years, the Vijayanagara architects revived the gopura structures as well as they made it a pan-south Indian feature of temple architecture, spreading across the whole of Tamilnādu and much of Āndhra Pradesh and Karnātaka, in which most of the Tāntric images portraying the tāntric rites, images of Nātha-siddhas are sculpted in different styles and forms, either in stucco in the upper part of the gopura or in the granite in the lower parts of the gopura.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Gopura (गोपुर) is the name of a saṃdoha (meeting place) [or upasaṃdoha—secondary meeting place?), according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra verse 3.135-138, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—The first saṃdoha of the Yoginīs was emanated near to Śrīgiri and the second near the town of Ujjayinī. The others are Trikūṭa, Tripura, Gopura, Bhadrakarṇa ([Manuscript] Kh: Bhadrakaṣṭa; [Manuscript] G: Bhadrakīrṇa), Kirāta, the region of Kaśmīra, Sauvala (kh: Sauvara, g: Śaivāla) and Sindhudeśa.

2) Gopura (गोपुर) refers to “archways”, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “(Jālandhara) is in the southern corner of (Kailāśa). It shines (like) the moon and has the moon’s radiant lustre. Its form is that of the city of the Half Moon. It has deep lakes and rivers full of waves. It contains the ocean of the six planes, and is fearsome (with the many great) waves that wash against its shores. That city of the Supreme Lord is on top of the lord of the principles. It is adorned with snow (white) moonstones and varied enclosing walls, archways [i.e., gopura], and palaces (aṭṭāla). It possesses many qualities and wonders. [...]”.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Gopura (गोपुर) refers to the “towers (of the palace)”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.23 (“Outraging the modesty of Vṛndā”).—Accordingly, as Sanatkumāra narrated to Vyāsa: “[...] Then the lady Vṛndā (the wife of Jalandhara) woke up still thinking of the dream she had had. She saw the rising sun with a hole in the middle and fading repeatedly. On realising that it was a bad portent, the terrified lady began to cry. She did not feel happy at all in the spacious terraces and towers of the palace (gopura-aṭṭāla-bhūmi). [...]”.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Gopura.—(EI 3, 19, 24) a gateway; the gateway of a temple; a tower. Note: gopura is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

Source: Heidelberg: Glory of the Tiruvanantapuram Padmanabhasvami Temple

Gopura (गोपुर) refers to the “towers at the entrances” of Hindu temples, according to the Syānandūrapuravarṇana-prabandha by Svāti-Tirunāḷ (1813-1846) (one of the rulers of Travancore) which deals with the different activities of the Thiruvananthapuram Temple, including ceremonies and festivals.—[...] The fifth chapter also gives a detailed sketch of the temple and its components, such as the balipīṭha (pedestal for food offerings) (5.8), various maṇḍapas (pillared halls) (5.9–10), vimānas (towers on top of the sanctum) (5.10), the single stone maṇḍapa (5.11), the dhvajastambha (flag-post) (5.12–14), the gopura (towers at the entrances) (5.14–15), the kulaśekharamaṇḍapa (5.15), etc.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

gopura : (nt.) gateway; gate tower.

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

gōpura (गोपुर).—m n (S) The building over the gate (of a city, of the encircling wall of a temple, palace &c.) 2 A gate so overbuilt. 3 A gate gen. 4 The figures drawn by women on the walls in the month caitra. 5 A grass, Cyperus rotundus.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

gōpura (गोपुर).—m n The building over the gate (of a city, &c.). A gate so overbuilt.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Gopura (गोपुर).—

1) a town-gate; उत्तुङ्गसौधसुरमन्दिरगोपुरम् (uttuṅgasaudhasuramandiragopuram) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 9.1.

2) a principal gate; दधतमुच्चशिलान्तरगोपुराः (dadhatamuccaśilāntaragopurāḥ) Kirātārjunīya 5.5.

3) the ornamental gateway of a temple.

Derivable forms: gopuram (गोपुरम्).

Gopura is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms go and pura (पुर).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Gopura (गोपुर).—n.

(-raṃ) 1. A town gate. 2. A gate in general. 3. The ornamented gateway of a temple. 4. A kind of grass, (Cyperus rotundus.) E. para agragamane ka gavāṃ puraṃ gavā jalena pūryate pṝ ghañarthe ka vā .

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Gopura (गोपुर).—n. 1. a town-gate, [Rāmāyaṇa] 5, 27, 20. 2. a gate in general, [Kirātārjunīya] 5, 5.

Gopura is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms go and pura (पुर).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Gopura (गोपुर).—[neuter] town-gate, gate i.[grammar]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Gopura (गोपुर):—[=go-pura] [from go] n. a town-gate, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa; Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

2) [v.s. ...] (ifc. ā, [Mahābhārata iii; Rāmāyaṇa v])

3) [v.s. ...] a gate, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā lxxxix, 19]

4) [v.s. ...] the ornamented gateway of a temple, [Horace H. Wilson]

5) [v.s. ...] (= -narda) Cyperus rotundus, [Bhāvaprakāśa v, 2, 123]

6) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a physician, [Suśruta i, 1, 1; Ṭoḍarānanda]

7) Gopurā (गोपुरा):—[=go-purā] [from go-pura > go] f. = -puṭā, [Demetrius Galanos’s Lexiko: sanskritikes, anglikes, hellenikes]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Gopura (गोपुर):—[go-pura] (raṃ) 1. n. A town gate; a gate; a kind of grass.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Gopura (गोपुर) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Goura.

[Sanskrit to German]

Gopura in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Gōpura (ಗೋಪುರ):—

1) [noun] (gen.) a gate in gen.

2) [noun] the main gate of a town.

3) [noun] a structure that is relatively high for its length and width and of conical or pyramidal type standing on the main gate of a town or temple or on the sanctum sanctorum of a temple or on a palace building.

4) [noun] the grass Cyperus rotundus ( = C. hexastachyus) of Cyperaceae family; sedge.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

Gopura (गोपुर):—n. 1. a town-gate; 2. heaven;

context information

Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.

Relevant text

Search found 54 books and stories containing Gopura, Go-pura, Go-purā, Gōpura, Gopurā; (plurals include: Gopuras, puras, purās, Gōpuras, Gopurās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

1. Definition and Etymology of Gopura (gate-house) < [Chapter 5 - Gopura Lakṣaṇa]

5. Measurement for the Storeys of the Gopuras < [Chapter 5 - Gopura Lakṣaṇa]

8. Śālā, Sabhā and Mālikā-kāra Lakṣaṇas < [Chapter 5 - Gopura Lakṣaṇa]

+ 21 more chapters / show preview

Temples of Madura, the final phase (from 1600 A.D.) < [Chapter 12 - History of Hindu Temples (Prāsādas and Vimānas)]

Chapter 10 - Vimāna-Vāstu < [Volume 5 - Temple Architecture]

Pāṇḍya Prākāras and Gopuras < [Chapter 12 - History of Hindu Temples (Prāsādas and Vimānas)]

+ 24 more chapters / show preview

Dwarf Gopura < [Chapter 4]

Conclusion

Introduction: Architecture of the Temple < [Chapter 4]

show preview