One Thousand Years Old Indian Temples

India takes pride in the country’s rich cultural and religious history as it is the birth land of the traditions of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism. India is a land where people of different religious beliefs live in harmony and brotherhood. Hinduism is believed to be the world’s oldest religion.  As one traverses the length and breadth of the country, one finds a rich India is home to an incredibly beautiful diversity of food, colour, smells, sights and architecture, while for many it is also a symbol of religious significance and history.

Apart from these factors ,1000 year old temples in India is also one of the factors for which India is famous for. Listed below are a few of them :

1.   Mundeshwari Temple, Bihar, India

                 The Mundeshwari Devi Temple (also spelled as Mundesvari) is located at paunra pahad, Ramgarh village in Kaimur district in the state of Bihar, India on the Mundeshwari Hills. It is believed that rituals and worship have been performed here without a break; hence Mundeshwari is considered one of the most ancient Hindu temples in India. The temple is visited by a large number of pilgrims each year, particularly during the Ramnavmi ( a spring Hindu festival that celebrates the birthday of the Hindu God Rama.

                      

 He is particularly important to the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism, as the seventh avtar of God Vishnu), Shivratri ( a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honour of  God Shiva. The name also refers to the night when Shiva  performs the heavenly dance) festivals.

It is also considered as the oldest functional Hindu temple of India. The information plaque erected by the Archaeological Survey of India ( ASI) at the site indicates the dating of the temple to 625 CE. Hindu inscriptions dated 635 CE were found in the temple The temple is a protected monument under ASI since 1915.

A big annual fair (mela) is held nearby during the Navratra (a Hindu festival that spans nine nights and is celebrated every year in the autumn. It is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of Indian cultural sphere) visited by thousands. The worship of Shakti ( the primordial cosmic energy and the personification of the energy that is creative as well as destructive) in the form of Devi Mundeshwari in the temple is also indicative of tantric cult of worship, which is practiced in Eastern India.

2.   Sri Rangathaswamy Temple, Karnataka, India

The Ranganthaswamy temple (usually referred to as "Sri Ranganathaswamy") in Srirangapatna in the Mandya district of Karnataka state, India, is dedicated to the Hindu god Ranganatha (a manifestation of the god Vishnu). It is one of the five important pilgrimage sites of Sr Vaishnavism along the river Kaveri for devotees of Ranganatha. These five sacred sites are together known as Pancharanga Kshetrams in Southern India. The town of Srirangapatna, which derives its name from the temple, is located on an island in the river Kaveri.

The idol of Lord Ranganatha is seen in a reclining posture over the Sheshanaga. An inscription at the temple reveals it was first consecrated in 984 A.D. by a local chief called Tirumalaiah. The temple is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India as a monument of national importance. 

3.   Dwarkadhish Temple, Gujarat, India

Also known as the Jagat Mandir, this Mandir is a Chalukya style architecture, dedicated to Lord Krishna, who is worshipped here as ‘ Dwarkadhish’ or ‘ Dwarkadheesh’ or ‘the King of Dwarka’.

According to a legend the temple was built by Vajranabha, Krishna’s grandson. The temple, 5 stories tall and with its main shrine supported by 72 pillars is considered to be over 2200 years old. The flag atop the temple shows the Sun and the Moon, which is believed to indicate that ‘Krishna’  would be there till the Sun & Moon exist on earth. The flag, triangular in shape is 50 ft ( 15 mtrs) in length is changed 4 times a day but the symbol of the sun & the moon remains the same. Hindus pay a huge sum to hoist it by purchasing a new flag and the money thus collected is credited to the trust of the temple to meet the operation and maintenance of the temple expenses.

Located at Dwarka, Gujarat, India, it is one of the destination of ‘Char Dham’ of the Hindu pilgrimage circuit, the other 3 being ‘Badrinath,Puri and Rameshwaram’. ‘ Char Dham’ is a set of 4 pilgrimage sites in India. It is believed that visiting these sites helps attain ‘Moksha’ or salvation.

4.   Sun Temple, Konarak 

The name Konark comes from the combination of the Sanskrit words Kona (corner or angle) and Ark (the sun). It is also known as the ‘ Black Pagoda’ is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also one of the prime tourist attractions in Odisha.

Konark is a small town in the Puri district of Odisha, India. It is located 60 kms from the state capital Bhubhanwshwar and is a site of the 13^th century ‘Sun Temple’ dedicated to the Sun God “ Surya”.

The temple complex has the appearance of 100 ft tall sun God Surya’s rath or chariot being pulled by a set of 7 horses , four on the left side and three on the right, all carved in stone. The twelve pairs or the 24 wheels are decorated with symbolic designs and it is led by a team of six horses. These twelve pairs of wheels symbolize the 12 months and each wheel is a sundial and accurately reads time observations.

It is so built that the sun’s rays reach the Nata Mandir from the coast  and reflect through the diamond at the centre of the idol. An engineering marvel the Sun temple has been standing stoically for the last 2200 years.

The temple famous for its erotic sculptures too ,transforms into a stage during the ‘Konarak Dance Festival’ which is held every year usually in the month of February and attracts a lot of foreign and also Indian tourists dedicated to the devotees of Sun God. It is a 5 day cultural extravaganza which invites unique dancing talent of our country’s rich cultural and artistic legacy.

5.      Badrinath Temple,Uttrakhand, India

The Badrinath temple situated at 10,279 feet and located in Garhwal hill tracts along the banks of the Alaknanda River  in Chamoli district  in Uttrakhand has no historical record, but  it is said that in the 8^th century Adi Shankara converted it to a Hindu temple from a Buddhist shrine and hence the architecture of the temple resembles that of a Buddhist vahura( temple) and the brightly painted façade typical of Buddhist temples leads to the argument.

The temple remains closed for six months from November to April each year. The temple is closed for worship on the auspicious day of bhatridwityia in October. On the day of the closure, an Akhanda Jyoti lamp is lit to last for six months and the image of Badrinath is transferred to Narasimha temple at Jyotirmath. Badrinath reopens on Akshaya Tritiya, an auspicious day in April every year.

The temple has three structures: the Garbhagriha (sanctum), the Darshan Mandap (worship hall), and Sabha Mandap (convention hall). The conical-shaped roof of the sanctum, the garbhagriha, is approximately 15 m (49 ft) tall with a small cupola on top, covered with a gold gilt roof. The walls and pillars of the hall are covered with intricate carvings.

The main shrine houses the 1 ft (0.30 m) Shaligram (black stone) deity of Lord Badrinarayana, which is housed in a gold canopy under a Badri Tree. The deity of Lord Badrinarayana shows Him holding a Shankha (conch) and a Chakra (wheel) in two of His arms in a lifted posture and the other two arms resting on His lap in a Yogamudra (Padmasana or Lotus position ) posture. 

Badrinath is known for the sacred Badrinath Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is one of the four Char Dham and is one of the most visited pilgrimages in India. 

Placed between Nar and Narayan mountain ranges, Badrinath Temple is situated in the backdrop of the mighty Neelkanth mountain and is known for stunning natural beauty.

The Tapt Kund, a group of hot sulphur springs just below the temple, are considered to be medicinal; many pilgrims consider it a requirement to bathe in the springs before visiting the temple. The two water ponds in the temple are called Narad Kund and Surya Kund.

    Badrinath Temple will open on 18 May 2021 at 04:15 AM.   

6. Brahma Temple, Pushkar, Rajasthan, India

Jagatpita Brahma Mandir  popularly known as the Brahma Temple Pushkar is a famous Hindu temple situated at Pushkar in the Indian state of Rajasthan, close to the sacred Pushkar Lake and is one of very few existing temples dedicated to the Hindu creator-god Brahma in India and remains the most prominent among them.

The sacred Pushkar Lake is situated close to the temple. This temple is about 2000 years old and is built of marble and stone stabs joined together with molten lead and is set on high plinth. It has a distinct red pinnacle (shikhara) 70 feet high and a hamsa bird motif. Marble floor (in black and white checks) and walls inside the temple have been inlaid with hundreds of silver coins by devotees (with their names inscribed), as mark of offering to Brahma.  

The temple holds the images of the creator Lord Brahma along with his second major consort Goddess Gayatri.

When Lord Brahma came to the earth, he named this place as Pushkar which is an amalgamation of the words Push (flower) and Kar (hands). Thus, since the place became the most significant place for the followers of Lord Brahma.

Brahma Temple Pushkar is the only temple that is dedicated to Brahma and holds a special place in Hinduism and among the holy men of the country.

The holy Brahma Temple Pushkar is dedicated to Lord Brahma and since Kartik Poornima ( full moon) is a major festival that is dedicated to Lord Brahma thus a major religious get together and a fair is held at Pushkar during this time. During this festival time, a large number of holy men and pilgrims visit this temple and set up camps to stay for the 5-day long fest. Devotees generally indulge in the ritual of bahing in the sacred Pushkar Lake after which they visi the Brahm temple and pray there.

The famous Pushkar Camel Fair is also held at this time. This is the time when camel trading is practiced and many people decorate their camel to make them participate in beauty contests held popularly here.

Camel Fair

Indian history tells us that temples in ancient times were once social hubs where people congregated. They were also sites where the arts of dance, music and combat were honed. Today, these temples remind us of our past and the architectural brilliance of craftsmen in those days.

Inputs & pics courtsey Google, Wikipedia,indiatimes

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