A Comparative Study of Temple, Mosque, and Church Architecture as Religious Aesthetics

Abstract

This study explores the comparative dimensions of temple, mosque, and church architecture as profound manifestations of religious aesthetics. Sacred architecture, beyond serving as a physical space for worship, embodies theological doctrines, spiritual symbolism, and cultural identity. Temples represent cosmic order and divine presence through elaborate carvings, towering shikharas, and sanctum-centered spatial design, while mosques emphasize unity, simplicity, and transcendence through geometric patterns, domes, and minarets that reflect Islamic principles of aniconism and collective worship. Churches, evolving from early basilicas to Gothic cathedrals and modern structures, highlight the theology of light, verticality, and sacred proportion, symbolizing the soul’s ascent to God and communal devotion. By comparing these traditions, the research underscores both differences and convergences in how religious architecture articulates beauty, symbolism, and transcendence. The study contributes to interfaith understanding, cultural aesthetics, and the broader philosophy of sacred spaces as embodiments of humanity’s quest for the divine.