Kailasanatha Temple (Kanchipuram) , Tamil Nadu

The Pallava kings of ancient Tamil Nadu in Kanchipuram built Kailasanatha temple. These Pallava kings ruled from their capital city Kanchi or Kanchipuram (75 km from Chennai). They were great patrons of art and architecture.

The Kailasanatha temple is one of the earliest structural temples of the Pallavas. This temple was built of blocks of sandstone. The temple was dedicated to Lord Siva. During the reign of Narasimhavarman II, better known as Rajasimha (691-728 A.D.), the Kailasanatha temple was constructed. This temple has its main sanctum facing the east side. The rear wall of the temple has a sculpture of Somaskanda (Lord Siva and Uma with son Muruga in the centre), which was always seen in Siva temples of the Pallava age. There is a large sixteen-sided `Siva linga` in the temple shrine here. This linga was polished of granite, about eight feet in height in front of this sculpture, which was placed here at a later date. There is a rare feature here, which is very narrow, winding circumbulatory (pradakslrina) passage around the sanctum. It is very difficult to enter and walk through as it has very low height.
Unique feature of the Kailasanatha temple is that it was built almost entirely of sandstone with only few parts like the foundation being in solid granite to bear the weight of the big structure. The shrine is situated just in front of the main entranceway to this temple and this is unique feature of it. No other Tamil shrines are situated like this. This shrine of the Kailasanatha temple blocks the view of the main sanctum. This small shrine was built by Mahendravarman III, a son of Rajasimha, and named after him as Mahendravarmeshvara griham.
There is a `Somaskanda` panel in the Kailasanatha temple, which is said to be the original image worshipped here. There is a linga on the rear wall, which belonged to a later age. The row of fifty-eight miniature shrines on all four sides of the courtyard of this temple-complex facing the main temple is very remarkable feature of the temple. All these shrines here are of square shaped and are of sandstone. There are very gorgeous sculptures found inside the inner wall and on some of them the `Somaskanda panel` can be found. There is small gopuram at the entrance of the temple.
The Kailasanatha temple has many attractive sculptures, which portrays the different manifestations of Lord Siva like Dakshinamurti, Lingodhbhavamurti, Gajasamharamurti and many others. These sculptures also depict Siva in various dance poses; speak of the skill and deftness of the Pallava sculptors and master craftsmen. There is a large stone image of Nandi can be seen at a short distance to the east of this temple on a square platform. This massive Nandi sculpture is about six or seven feet in length and faces the main temple. It is ornamented with carvings of bells and jewels and there are four pillars with the Vali motif, one on each corner of the platform. This indicates that probably there was once a roof over it.







The various inscriptions of the Kailasanatha temple provide a lot of information about the history of the Pallavas, especially of the reign of its patron, king Rajasimha. This temple gives a good idea of the history, archaeology, temple architecture and iconography of the South Indian history and culture.

Chidambaram Natarajar Temple Tamilnadu

Thiruvannamalai Temple - Place of Lord Shiva

Thiruvannamalai, a town of about 1.5 lakh people and a district head quarters is one of the numerous temple towns in Tamilnadu. Even in this state filled with many such places, Thiruvannamalai stands out. The gigantic Arunachaleshwara temple complex set against the backdrop of the majestic Arunachala (red mountain) hill attracts devotees and tourists in thousands. The whitewashed Raja gopuram at 218 feet is one of the tallest temple towers in the state. It may not be as colourful as the Madurai one, but is every bit as impressive with its scale.

While the temple, impressive as it is, is just a part of what makes Thiruvannamalai special. It is the holy Arunachala mountain, considered an embodiment of Lord Shiva himself that adds to the flavor of the town. It has been and continuing to attract countless saints / sadhus over the centuries . The more famous of the sadhus, Ramana Maharishi amongst the earliest, with their international followers brought a different dimension to TVmalai. Crisscrossing foreigners in their cycles and sundry sadhus (real and fake) jostling for space with the devotees give a unique feel to the town. A massive afforestation effort has even managed to green this grey mountain and climb up the hill is a nice trek.

Where it is Situated ?

"The Arunachaleswar Shiva temple in Tiruvanamalai situated at the foot of the Arunachala hill, is one of the largest (25 acres) and oldest temples in all of south India. The era of its founding is unknown; the complex grew over several millenia; and the large towers, called gopurams, were erected between the 10th and 16th centuries. The tallest gopuram is over 60 meters tall and has 13 stories..."

* "The hill temple Arunachaleswara temple is one of the largest shrines in South India, sprawling 25 acres. It is dedicated to Lord Siva and one of the 12 Jothilingams in India. The giant 200 ft Gopuram towers over the giant gateway..."

* "The ancient and vast Arunachaleswarar Temple as it stands today is the result of several centuries of building, alteration and extension. A Nandi faces the main shrine in each of its five prakarams. The outermost prakaram houses the thousand pillared hall and the Shiva Ganga tank and is pierced on four sides with colossal Gopurams..."

* "...When we observe the general structure of the temple, we notice that there are five small gopurams on the inner boundary and four big gopurams on the outer boundary. The inner gopurams are known as Kitti gopurams. There are two gopurams in the East and one gopuram each for the other three directions. The first of the two Eastern gopurams is called Kili gopuram. There are indications that this was built in the 11th century. The gopurams built during this period have no more than five stories. The Kili gopuram was built by Veera Rajendra Chozhan around 1063 A.D. He is referred to as Maharaja Thiribuvana Chakravarthigal in the inscription.This name was also given to the gopuram. The Kitti (smaller) gopurams, except the top of the western one, were built by the Hoysala King Vallala Maharaja III. His name is given to the biggest Kitti gopuram which is in the East..."

An interesting legend...

In India there are three major categories of pilgrimage temples dedicated to the god Shiva: the Jyotir Lingams; the Svayambhu Lingams, and the Bhuta Lingams. Located in five south Indian temples, the Bhuta Lingams are sa to be places where Shiva manifested himself as the natural elements. The temples and their respective elements are Chambaram: ether, Sri Kalahasti: wind, Tiruvanaikka/Jambunath: water, Kanchipuram: earth, and Tiruvanamalai: fire. Chambaram is also associated with the heart, Tiruvanaikka with the stomach, and Tiruvanamalai with the chest.

An interesting legend, told in the excellent book Pilgrimage in the Hindu Tradition by Alan Morinis, tells how the sacred hill of Arunachala came to be associated with the fire Lingam of Shiva. Mourning the loss of his wife Sati, Shiva was wandering nude in the forests of Daruvana and was seen by the wives of certain sages. The women were aroused at the sight and desired to unite with him. The jealous sages cursed the god's linga (phallus) to fall off. As it touched the earth it grew to immense size like a great shining column. The gods Brahma and Vishnu saw it when its top had reached upwards beyond the clouds and its lower end was buried deep in the earth. They deced to investigate. Taking the form of a boar Vishnu dived into the depths of the primeval ocean to reach the base of the column, and Brahma taking the form of a swan flew up to its top. When they returned Vishnu honestly confessed that he could not find the foundations, while Brahma boasted that he had reached the summit. At this moment Shiva appeared, denounced Brahma as a liar, praised Vishnu for his honesty, and declared that the column could not be measured because it was his Linga. At the request of Vishnu, Shiva left part of his Linga in its 'tejas', or fire form, on the Arunachala hill.

The Arunachaleswar Shiva temple in Tiruvanamalai (Tiruvanamalai is the Tamil word for the Sanskrit Arunachala), situated at the foot of the Arunachala hill, is one of the largest (25 acres) and oldest temples in all of south India. The era of its founding is unknown; the complex grew over several millenia; and the large towers, called gopurams, were erected between the 10th and 16th centuries. The tallest gopuram is over 60 meters tall and has 13 stories. The central temple enshrines images of Shiva as Lord Annamalai and his consort as Unnamalai. Every year during the Hindu month of Kartikai (November-December), the great Deepam festival is held to celebrate Shiva's manifestation as the light of Arunachala. For ten days the whole city of Tiruvanamalai is alive with celebration, processions, dancing and singing. On the final day of the festival, the eve of the full moon, a huge beacon fire is lighted atop the hill in commemoration of the fire left by Shiva. Many thousands of pilgrims flock to this exciting festival from all over southern India. Arunachala hill is consered a miraculous healing place, especially for ailments of the lungs and barrenness in women. The hill of Arunachala is also a symbol of spiritual knowledge and several great sages have lived here, including Arunagirinathar, the author of the Tiruppugal, and Sri Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950).

Access
Thiruvannamalai is 107 km from Kumbakonam and 185 km from Chennai.The nearest Airport from Tiruvannamalai is Chennai which is 182 k.m. Tiruvannamalai is situated in between Katpadi and Viluppuram Junctions on the railway line. It is well connected by road with various parts of country.

Guruvayur - The Gods own city

Small town in Thrissur District not far from the sea. There is no sea breeze, the sand has long been hidden under paving stones, and we can’t hear the roar of the ocean. All eyes, ears and hearts are drawn inward, to what is for many of us the centre of the universe. Life here revolves around the Sri Krishna or Guruvayurappan Temple.

The small idol, made of black bismuth, a magnetic stone, represents Mahavishnu carrying his conch, discus, lotus and mace. The pujas conducted here are said to be laid down by Adi Shankara. They are performed by celibate priests who, for the duration of their tenure (six months at a time), do not leave the premises. Much of this worship is carried out behind closed doors, and the silence and mystery enhances the effect of the sudden, radiant glimpses of the deity.
The temple is crowded nearly all year round and is a favourite stop on the way to Sabarimala. All this makes a good darshan quite an achievement, but the long, hot wait, the cutters-in, the unholy jostling, the confused stumble at the last, are all forgot ten in one timeless moment that leaves everyone with beaming faces.
In short
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Dedicated to the deity Lord Guruvayurappan, the temple at Guruvayur is one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Kerala, South India. Come and experience a special form of happiness as you get a darshan of Lord Guruvayurappan or Lord Krishna at the temple at Guruvayur, Kerala, and South India. The Guruvayur Temple is said to be the second Dwarka and according to a very popular local legend when the real Dwarka got submerged under the sea, a devotee of Lord Krishna saved this idol from drowning and this idol of Lord Krishna was established at the Guruvayur temple.

Another legend propagates the fact that the idol of Lord Guruvayurappan mirrors the form in which the deity appeared to the mortal parents of Lord Krishna just before he took birth. Locals believe that Lord Brahma prayed at the Guruvayur Temple and the tradition of serpent worship is very rampant here. The popular festivals that are celebrated at the Guruvayur Temple are Astami Rohini, Chembai music festival, Ekadsi and Ulsavam.
How to Reach Guruvayoor Temple

By Air
The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport located at a distance of 80 kilometers.

By Rail
Guruvayoor has an independent railway station just a few kilometers from the temple. Else, one can access the temple from the Thrissur railway station, which is just an hour's drive from here.

By Roads
Guruvayoor is well connected by a wide network of roads to all major towns and cities of Kerala and is easily accessible.

Sabarimala- Swamiyaee Saranam Ayyappaa

The south Indian state of Kerala, only 10 degrees above the equator, is a land of steep mountains thickly covered with splendid tropical forests. The early people of this region, of a Dravidian ancestral stock, lived amongst the trackless valleys and roaring streams in small tribal groups. Farming little, they hunted in the teeming forests, and their primary deity, Ayappa, was a youthful forest god. Various legends explain the birth of Ayappa (also known as Dharmasasta). One begins with Shiva roaming the mountain kingdoms of the Himalayas. There he sees a lovely maiden and, overcome with desire, he makes passionate love with her. But the maiden is married to another man, a tribal chieftain who vows revenge on the god. The tribal chieftain retires to an ice cave in the high mountains and practices austerities for a thousand years. Through these austerities he gains great psychic powers and finally goes forth to punish Shiva. From the heights of Mt. Kailash, Shiva sees the tribal chieftain approaching. The chieftain looks like a terrible demon and Shiva, overcome with fear, calls on the god Vishnu for assistance and protection. Vishnu manifests himself as a beautiful damsel, seduces the demon chieftain, and destroys him. But then Shiva, once again overcome with sexual desire, sees the radiant damsel (who is merely Vishnu in another form) and mates with her. Out of this union comes a baby boy named Ayappa. Embodying the qualities of both Vishnu and Shiva, Ayappa is an avatar (divinity in human form) born into the world to battle the demons of the hill tribes of Kerala. Shiva tells the magical child of his dharma-life (a life of service), and leaves him upon the bank of a mountain stream where he is discovered by a childless tribal king. Brought up by the king, Ayappa does many miracles, is a great healer and a defeater of demons. After fulfilling the purpose of his incarnation Ayappa entered the inner sanctum of the ancient temple upon sacred Mt. Sabari and disappeared. During his mythical life, Ayappa kept the company of tigers and leopards. Mystics living in the deep forests surrounding the Sabarimala Mountains have for a thousand years reported seeing Ayappa riding through the jungles upon a majestic tiger.

The shrine of Sabarimala is one of the most remote shrines in southern India yet it still draws three to four million pilgrims each year. Before beginning the multi-day walk through the mountain jungles to get to Sabarimala, the pilgrims prepare themselves with 41 days of rigorous fasting, celibacy, meditation and prayer. Finally arriving at the shrine, the pilgrims will wait in line for hours, even days, to have one or two seconds in front of the image of Ayappa. After seeing the deity, many pilgrims will complete a vow called Shayana Pradikshanam. In the Malayalam language of Kerala, Shayana means “body” and Pradakshinam means “revolution,” so Shayana Pradakshinam means “revolution with the Body.” This devotional practice is done not only in Sabarimala but also in other temples in Kerala.

The Sabarimala shrine is only open a few times each year: the Mandalam festival covering 41 days from November 15 to December 26; the Makaravilakku from January 1-14; on Vishu, the day of the vernal equinox in April; and during smaller festivals in May/June and August/September. The shrine, unlike many in southern India is open to persons of all religious callings, and there are no caste restrictions during the pilgrimage. However, women - unless they are younger than six or older than sixty - are not allowed to come to Sabarimala. This is explained by referring to the celibacy of Ayappa and the concern that he might be lured away from his shrine by a woman his age (if certain readers find this somewhat sexist, they are informed that there are particular goddess shrines in south India which men are forbidden to enter). It is said that during the pilgrimage periods no tigers are found along the forest trails leading to Sabarimala. This is explained as resulting from Ayappa’s power over tigers. Other holy places associated with Ayappa are Kulattupuzha, Aryankavu, Accankovil, and Kantamala.

Akshardham (Image Gallery) New Delhi

Akshardham History--

A mega temple complex, Akshardham, in New Delhi, one of the biggest and most intricate places of worship ever constructed, is drawing hordes of visitors and seems set to become a major tourist attraction. Constructed by the BAPS (Bochasanvasi Aksharpurushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) foundation, builders of more than 600 temples worldwide, on the banks of the Yamuna river, near Noida Mor in East Delhi, it is widely being heralded as one of the greatest monuments India has ever produced.

Highlights

The complex is huge … spread over 100 acres of land

• It is made entirely of white marble (symbolizing purity and peace) and the red sand stone so characteristic of Delhi monuments
• No steel has been used in its construction
• It is a fusion of several styles of North Indian temple architecture - Rajasthani, Orrisan, Gujarati, Mughal and Jain
• It is estimated to have cost Rs 200 crore
• It has been funded from donations
• It was completed in only 5 years, probably a world record of sorts
• Over 300 million man hours of service were rendered in its completion by 11,000 volunteers

Downloads..

Akshardham- Screensaver | Akshardham- 1 min video| Akshardham - 3 min video | Akshardham 17 min video|

map..

click the map to enlarge..

Contact details..

Major contact addresses where information regarding BAPS is available:

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New Delhi:
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (B.A.P.S.),
'Swaminarayan Akshardham', N. H. 24,
Near Noida Mor, New Delhi,
INDIA - 110092
Tel: (011) 2201 6688, 2202 6688
Fax: (011) 2201 5757

Murdeshwara Temple - Uttara Kannada Dist (Karnataka)

Murudeshwar Temple

Location : Murudeshwar is around 180 km from Mangalore on the National Highway. On the route along the highway is the alluring Maravanthe Beach with the Arabian Sea roaring on the west and a serene river on the east along this route for almost 2 km.


Temple : Bounded by the shimmering sea and rolling hills, the place is a favourite picnic spot. WIth the roaring sea to the west, the towering hills to the east and the coconut and areca groves nearby, the temple attracts a lot of devotees and tourists as well. The sea is an intrinsic part of the temple scape at Murudeshwar. The sea surrounds the temple towering on the small hill called Kanduka Giri on three sides.

Two life-size elephants in concrete stand guard at the steps leading to the temple. The Murudeshwar temple has a history that dates back to a few centuries. The temple, which embodies a linga, is believed to have erupted when Ravana flung the cloth covering the atmatlinga at Gokarana while lifting it. As one ascends the hillock, there is a shrine of Jattiga seated on a horse.
The locals here have an interesting legend to relate as to how the linga came to be established at Murudeshwar. It is said that Ravana’s mother expressed a keen desire to worship the atmalinga of Lord Shiva. Ravana, the ever-devoted son, set out to Kailash to fulfill his mother’s wishes and went into penance. Lord Shiva was pleased with him and asked him what he wanted. When Ravana told him that he wanted the atmalinga, Shiva willingly parted with it. But the atmalinga came with a warning. Shiva told him that the atmalinga would fix itself at the first site on which Ravana would place it. Had Ravana established the atmalinga, he would have become the all powerful, invincible and immortal.

Golden Temple A must Visit place,Sripuram (Vellore

Second largest Golden temple of hindus attracting many foreign tourists.

This below temple photos of Sripuram- near Vellore Tamilnadu State -India-


This is the Shakthi Amma Golden temple (vellore ) tamilnadu Eagles view. (A big Star) That is the path to golden temple.

This is the path side way garden in the golden temple.
This is the main Temple entrance of Great Naarayanee. (laxmi temple)

Zoomed view of the same temple above.

Back side view of the same temple..

To Reach Golden Temple:

Just Look at this.For Real time map.. click here

After getting down at the KATPADI railway station of Vellore. You can take taxi or auto rikshaw , just ask them to take you to Hotel River view, If he asks where it is..

Tell hime Its in New katpadi Road, vellore- take this number for reservation - +91-0416-25251,/ 25108 .. Very excellent hotel to stay .

They can provide a guide if you ask them . Otherwise its so easy to visit Sripuram which is just 15 km from the bustand of Vellore..

In vellore there is one more Great Ancient Siva Temple which is surrounded by the small back water. Must visit place. Temperature is hot so plan your trip in the months of Jan and Feb.