Essay On Sacred Space

A sacred space is often distinguished from other spaces by its atmosphere and connection to the transcendent or otherworldly. Many features of the space, such as its architecture, lighting, and décor, create an aesthetic that is conducive to one’s experience of spirituality within the space. While sacred spaces are frequently defined by religious institutions as either temples, shrines, churches, or mosques, they are not necessarily limited to such conventional categories. For example, Native American tribes regarded caves or other natural wonders as sacred; some spaces do not have to fit strict religious molds to be venerated. In certain ways, Hindu temples also reflect the idea that sacred spaces are flexible and cannot be assumed to possess one specific set of qualities. The Hindu

Architecturally, it is a large white building with small orange domes that surround the central dome. To access the sacred space within the temple, one must first take off his or her shoes, and walk up a flight of stairs to the information desk on the left. After speaking to the priest at the desk, visitors to the temple are offered an informational pamphlet with descriptions of the sixteen deities displayed and welcomed to experience the many rituals that are performed daily. The sacred space is a lofty white room that lets in much natural light through a series of windows adorning its right and left walls. Unlike the Hindu Temple of Kentucky, deities in the Cincinnati temple do not have separate shrines, but are instead displayed under an elaborate central shrine that stretches across the length of the room. This shrine is decorated in an immense amount of gold, and each deity is swathed in golden garlands, clothing, and ornaments. Deities are all the same size and are displayed at the same height. According to the priest, this is