Use of fractal geometry to analyse the architecture style of the Hindu temples

Fractals are never ending self-similar patterns. The study of fractal geometry
begun since early 20th century. Fractals can be found not only in nature but in it is also
presented in architecture. It is said that, in architecture having very small details is not
possible therefore, fractal architecture can never be built. However, those architectural
15 pieces that have fractal components can be found. Some of the architectural pieces that
have fractal components have been built before the study of the fractals. There are some
Hindu temples that have fractal components have been built years before the discovery
of fractals. Fractal components of ancient Hindu temples are built on the myth that the
god is infinite.
Belonging to a Hindu family from Nepal, but growing up in a secular society has made my
religious and cultural perspective wider. I have always been interested in the
understanding of different cultures and religion. Whenever, I have visited Hindu temples.
80 I have always found repeated structure in the architecture style of those temples. The
main architectural style of Hindu temples in Nepal are “the sikhara style” and “the pagoda
style “. Nyatapola temple is one of the famous pagoda style temple in Nepal which has
been built in 1702. Whereas Krishna temple which was built in 1637 is a sikhara
style temple.
They are shown in figures given below:
Krishna Temple

Nyatpol Temple

In first figure all the fives roofs look similar with each other only the size is getting
smaller from bottom to top. Whereas in figure second, we can see that there are smaller
replicas of the main temple built on the outside the temple. Hence, these two temples
100 represent the self-similarity. If parts of a figure are small replicas of the whole, then
the figure is called self-similar.