Vimana
(विमान)Literal Meaning
Temple tower
Etymology & Sanskrit Root
Sanskrit 'vimana', literally 'well-proportioned'; in temple architecture it names the superstructure above the sanctum, distinct from its unrelated modern sense of 'aircraft.'
Spiritual Insight & Context
In South Indian temple architecture, the vimana rises directly over the sanctum housing the deity, while the gopuram is the towering gateway at the temple's outer walls.