Study of Transcendence in Sacred Spaces: A case of Shatrunjay Jain Temple Complex

Abstract

Transcendence has been studied in numerous studies, and it can be simply defined as the mental state in which a person loses focus on themselves and connects to something deeper and much higher than themselves. When we talk about transcendence in architecture, we mean something more significant and greater than its purpose and symbolism, providing with the quality of intangible greatness or contemplation. Though transcendence is not limited to sacred architecture, they have been closely connected throughout history and have been the tools to express religious beliefs. Transcendence in architecture aims to set a dialogue between the user and the architectural entity. Sacred architecture thus becomes a dynamic symbol for communicatingwith the user (who experiences it spatially and temporally) on three levels, namely associational, experiential, and sensory. Thus, the study is approached from two aspects: Path and Place. The Path is studied through Joseph Campbell’s universal theme, and various attributes to study place are derived from philosophers such as Norberg-Schulz and Eliade, as well as architects such as Thomas Barrie. The study takes the Shatrunjay Temple complex as a case study, which is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Jain followers. The temples on Shatrunjay Hill are various variants of the Maru-Gurjara style, which became popular in the Jain religion after the 11th century. The study thus aims to explore the nature of transcendence in sacred spaces through the established framework of path (separation, preparation, immersion, and arrival) and place(centre, boundary, spatial configuration, illumination, enclosure, material and texture, and other aspects) to comprehend the sensory qualities and how such sacred spaces have an impact on the mind.