Evaluating the functional design of temple enclosures for communal practices.

This article examines the impact of spatial acoustics on the worship experience within two seventeenth-century Hindu temples in India—the Kashivishweshwar Temple and the Siddheshwar Temple—focusing on their inner sanctum (garbhagriha) and outer hall (ardhamandapa). Through non-destructive acoustic measurements of parameters such as Reverberation Time (RT), Early Decay Time (EDT), and Clarity indices (C50 and C80) using bell sounds, the study categorizes temple spaces based on their suitability for speech-related activities (e.g., prayers, religious discourses) or musical performances. Findings indicate that Kashivishweshwar Temple’s acoustics favor speech intelligibility with shorter reverberation and positive clarity values, while Siddheshwar Temple’s longer reverberation and negative clarity values make it more appropriate for musical events. The research underscores the importance of preserving the original acoustic characteristics of heritage temples and offers insights for architects and conservators to optimize worship spaces without compromising their cultural and historical integrity.