The human body can be broadly classified into two. One kind of body is visible to the naked eye (sthulasharira) and the second kind of body is not visible to the naked eye since it deals with the internal organs of the human body (sukshmasharira). Sthulasharira includes our legs, hands, head, and is visible to our naked eyes. When we take into consideration the parts of the human body from the hip to the head we can make out that the sukshmasharira is located in the vital nerve of the human system i.e. towards the middle of the backbone of the human body. The sukshmasharira consists of six chakras. From the bottom to the top, they are Muladhara (one of the prime centres situated between the anus and the genitals), Swadhinishtana, Manipuraka, Anahatham, Vishudhi, Aajna. Sahasrarapadma (a lotus with thousand petals) which is located in the forehead of human body is an abode of Lord Shiva. Goddess Parvathi (Tripura Sundari Kundalini) resides in the muladhara chakra in the form of a serpent in three and a half turns. The Yogashastra instructs that one can attain `Moksha’ or Salvation only when the spirit of the Goddess Parvathi is raised from the bottom of the body to the top (the head) by constant meditation and chanting of holy rites, where the fusion or merging of the masculine (Lord Shiva) and feminine (Goddess Parvathi) powers takes place. Thus human body can be said to be the union of Sthulasharira and Sukhshmasharira. The concepts of Sthulasharira and Sukhshmasharira are used in the construction of temples.

The exploration of the order of construction of the temples may help one in arriving at certain inferences. The major parts of the temple like `Prakara’ (outer wall), `Bahyahaara’ or `Sheevelippura’, ‘Madhyahara’ (the middle room of the temple where the holy lamp is lighted), `Anthahara’ (the room for offering sacrifices), and `Antharmandala’ are the five ramparts (prakaras) of the temple which depict the Sthulasharira of the deity. The sanctum, the idol consecrated in the temple and the ‘Shadadhara Prathishta’ placed beneath the idol symbolizes the Sukhshmasharira of the deity. The essential and the amazing part of the temple is the idol of the deity which symbolize the ‘Parabrahmachaitanya’ (the Supreme Soul) which resides in the body of every human being. The external ramparts (bahya prakara) of the temple represent the Sthulasharira of the deity and the consecrated idol in the sanctum (Sreekovil) of the temple depicts the Sukshmasharira of the deity. Beyond the external splendour and glory, an idol erected in the sanctum of the temple has an internal significance, especially the Shadadhara prathishta. The stone-seat designed for erecting this idol is fixed in the sanctum with a gum called ‘Ashtabandha’ (made of eight ingredients). The Shadadhara Prathista which lies deep below consecrated idol has greater significance. The six principal parts of the Shadadhara Prathishta are the stone-seat of the idol, `Napumsakashila’ (stone of eunuch), `Yoganala’ (made of copper), `Kurma’ (stone of tortoise) and `Adharashila’. The six parts of the Shadadhara Prathishta is usually sanctified before invoking the spirit of the deity. The six fundamental parts of the Shadadhara Prathishta are Adharashila (foundation stone), Nidikumbha (pot of gems), Ashtadalapadma (a lotus with eight petals), Kurma (stone of tortoise), Yoganala, Napumsakashila (stone of eunuch) and they simultaneously represent the Muladhara, Swadhinishtana, Manipuraka, Anahatha, Vishudhichakra, Aajnachakra of the Sukshmasharira in the human body. Before constructing the sanctum of the temple, a big square shaped pit is dug and its bottom is cleansed and a few religious rites are done to please Vasthupurusha, the god of land and fertility. This is followed by the consecration of Shadadhara Prathishta.