Doddabasappa Temple at Dambal, Gadag District, Karnataka

Doddabasappa Temple at Dambal, 12th century CE, Gadag District, Karnataka

The sanctum contains a Shiva linga, the symbol of the presiding deity, God Shiva. The temple interior is a standard construction and consists of a sanctum (cella), a vestibule (antarala) and a main mantapa (also called navaranga or hall). The vestibule connects the sanctum to the mantapa. The Western Chalukya monuments, regional variants of existing dravida (South Indian) temples, defined the Karnata dravida architectural tradition. 

Hindu temple in Kampala, Uganda

Hindu temple in Kampala, Uganda

Ramappa temple Warangal, Andhra Pradesh State

Madanika Sculpture of Ramappa temple, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh State

Shiv Mandir, Trinidad & Tabago [WEST INDIES]

A view of the stage of the Coromandel Shiv Mandir, SDMS Branch 370, Trinidad & Tabago [WEST INDIES]

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand State

Dedicated to Nilkanth (Lord Shiva). The temple is situated at a height of 1330 meters.

The temple is one of the most revered holy shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and is a prominent Hindu pilgrimage site. It is surrounded by dense forests and is adjacent to the mountain ranges of Nar-Narayan. It is enveloped between the valleys of Manikoot, Brahmakoot and Vishnukoot and is located at the confluence of the rivers Pankaja and Madhumati.

LEGEND:
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According to scriptures, the place where the Neelkanth Mahadev Temple currently stands is the sacred location where Lord Shiva consumed the poison Halahala that originated from the sea when Devas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons) churned the ocean in order to obtain Amrita. This poison that emanated during the Samudramanthan (churning of ocean) made his throat blue in color. Thus, Lord Shiva is also known as Neelkanth, literally meaning The Blue Throated One.

The Temple:
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The shikhara of the temple is adorned with sculptures of various Devas and Asuras depicting the Samudramanthan. Neelkanth Mahadev in the form of Shivalinga is the presiding deity of the temple. The temple complex also has a natural spring where devotees usually take a holy bath before entering the premises of surrounded by dense forests.

Madan Mohan Temple in VRINDAVAN

Madan Mohan Temple in VRINDAVAN

Madan Mohan Temple, located near the Kali Ghat was built by Kapur Ram Das of Multan. One of the oldest temples in Vrindavan, it is closely associated with the saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu . The original idol of Lord Madan Gopal was shifted from the shrine to Karauli in Rajasthan for safe keeping during Aurangzeb's rule. Today, a replica of the original (deity) is worshiped at the temple.

Floating Temple of Konark

Floating Statue of Konark Temple : Proof of Levitation in Ancient World In India

A temple constructed in the pyramidal style of Maya asura once had a huge capstone made from loadstone whilst another was said to be located underground which allowed the temples deity to float in the air.

Although damaged and missing its capstone the Sun temple at Konark temple still stands today.

Iron bands are incorporated with the courses of stone blocks which compose the temple wall as if to shape the magnetic lines of force created by the temples capstone.

The Uniqueness of the Sun Temple at Konark lies in the fact that it was built using the concept of magnets.

The peak of the temple was said to be a giant 52 ton magnet. The statue of the Sun inside the temple was said to be floating free in air based on the unique arrangements of the main magnet and the reinforced magnets around the temple walls.

Between every two stone pieces in the temple there lies an iron plate. The temple was constructed from oxidized and weathered ferruginous sandstone by King Narasimhadeva-I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.