Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad

Akshardham Temple is located 28 km away from Ahmedabad in Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat. The temple was laid down by the foundation of Bochasanwasi Akshar-Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). The temple is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan and provided with one of the best architectures in India. The symbol of humanity this architectural masterpiece is visited by millions of devotees every year.

This beautiful 10 storeyed Akshardham temple is build up of 6,000 tonnes of pink sandstones and is also comprises of 93 sculpted pillars. The entire structure of sandstone is standing erect without the use of iron rod is the main attraction of the temple. Apart from that, the complex of the temple also holds a garden, lake and a waterfall that increases the beauty of this amazing monument.

Akshardham temple is an amazing way to discover the real Indian culture and religion.

Polo Temple

Polo Temple

An ancient place in a forgotten forest.

The Polo Forest region of Gujarat is a quiet retreat, nestled in the Aravalli hills bordering Gujarat and Rajasthan. The word "Polo" is derived from "Pol" which means "gateway" in Sanskrit. The forest was a gateway between Gujarat and Rajasthan.

The Polo Forest region played host to the ancient kingdom of Vijayanagar. Polo Forest conceals a number of amazing temples built during the 10th to 15th century A.D.

The Sun Temple, Modhera

The Sun Temple, Modhera

In the middle of the desert in Gujarat lie the haunting remains of what must have been one of the greatest temples of mediaeval India, the Sun Temple at Modhera. The most visible and famous ruin at Modhera is that of a ritualistic bathing tank in front of the Sun Temple. This tank, with its pattern of steps, has been the inspiration for many an architectural effort, even today. From this tank, a broad flight of steps goes up to the temple itself, through an ornate torana, or gateway.

The torana leads onto the mandapa that forms the heart of the temple. The shafts of the columns of this hall are exquisitely carved, almost embroidered. This temple is little more than a ruin now, yet the poignant remains are ample testimony to the magnificence that must have been the great Sun Temple of Modhera.

Sri Pandurangan temple

Sri Pandurangan temple

Moolavar : Pandurangan
Mother / Thayar : Ragumayee
City : Thennangur, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu

Lord Panduranga, 12 feet tall appears standing majestically in the sanctum sanctorum. It is specially noteworthy that all the deities related to Sri Chakra – Maha Shodasi, Rajarajeswari, Saraswathi, Lakshmi, Brahmma, Vishnu, Rudra, Easwara, Vinayaka, Bala, Annapoorani, Ashwaruda, Rajamadhangi, Varahi, Pratyangara, Sarabeswara, Chakkarathazhwar, Yoga Narasimha, Agoramurthy, Vanadurga, Parasaraswathi, Medha Dakshinamurthy, Subramanya, Chandi Mahalakshmi, Brahmi, Maheswari, Gaumari, Vaishnavi, Mahendri, Chamunda, Mahalakshmi are in the temple in idol forms.

Resembling the design of Puri Jagannath, this temple stands majestically with a 120 feet tall tower and Gold Kalasas of 9.5 feet with Sudarsana Chakra above. The saffron flag flying above the tower invites the devotees with blessings of the Lord. It is not simply wonderful but thrilling to see a tower of this stature facing east. Passing the Balipeeta, there is the 16 pillared Maha Mandap. Entering the Mahamandap, one feels that he/she had entered the gates of Paradise. Baghwan Garuda is occupying the centre space as a Gem. Lord Govindaraja Perumal enjoys and graces the Wedding festival in the mandap as in Tirupathi except on Saturdays.

The temple follows both the orthodox sampradaya of South and the Bajan Sampradaya of North.

The Brindavan of His Holiness Gnanananda Swamigal adds more sanctity to the temple.

Made of Salagrama stone, Lord Panduranga in this deity form is 12 feet tall in a standing form. Mother Raghumayee nearby is adding beauty to beauty. Lord Panduranga showers His blessing as a King of Mathura on Sundays, in a simple form showing His Lotus feet for the darshan of devotees on Thursdays, with silver coverings on Fridays and as Lord Venkatachalapathi on Saturdays.

Lord appears in fruit Alankara on the Tamil New Year day-Vishu Kani Utsav. On the Gokhulashtami day, Sri Vaishnava Muthagi Sevai is followed. Lord appears in many alluring forms as Rajagopala, Giridhari holding the Govardhana Hill, as Geethacharya, as Parthasarathy and Radhakrishna. It is said that Lord played his flute under the Thamala tree (the sacred tree of the temple) in Dwapara Yuga which drew Radha towards Him. It is noteworthy that this Thamala tree is brought to South. Dwarapalaka idols are made of Panchaloka – a mixture of five metals.

The structure of the temple resemble the Pandaripuram temple in Maharashtra with Lord Panduranga accompanied by Mother Raghumayee blessing devotees. The temple was built by the disciple of His Holiness Gnanananda Swamigal, His Holiness Haridasgiri Swamigal. It is being administered by His Holiness Namanandagiri Swamigal presently.

All the deities related to Sri Chakra worship are in this temple. Prayer is the best path to reach God. Every one can do the worship depending on their means and knowledge. The significance of the temple is the Nama Sangeerthana principles followed in worships because Music takes the soul to God.

Lord Panduranga is majestically 12 feet tall made of Salagrama stone. He graces in a standing posture.

Prasat Sikhoraphum

Prasat Sikhoraphum

Prasat Sikhoraphum is a Khmer temple located in Thailand, between the cities of Surin and Sisaket. It was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II for Hindu worship.

The temple is composed of five sandstone and brick towers, on a base made of laterite. There are sandstone bas-reliefs on the main tower depicting Shiva, Brahma, Ganesha, Vishnu and Uma. The door frames have sets of apsaras, devatas and dvarapalas. The temple was converted for use by Buddhists in the 16th century. Architectural contributions influenced by Laos are evident on the tower roofs. The name comes from the Sanskrit word of South India shikhara, meaning tower sanctuary.

Baladevjew Temple

Baladevjew Temple

Baladev Jew Temple is situated in Ichhapur (Tulasi Khetra), Kendrapara, Odisha. Baladevjew Temple is a very famous temple of Odisha and Balarama is its main divinity. However, Jagannath and Subhadra are also worshipped in the Ratna Sinhasan in the main temple. An idol representing tulasi as a goddess in a seated position is also present after the sacred seven steps.

The present shrine of Siddha Baladeva Jew was constructed during the Maratha rule in Orissa (1761 AD) of Ichhapur (Kendrapara). It was constructed by the king of Kujanga, Raja Gopal Sandha and Zamidar (land lord) of Chhedara killah, Srinivas Narendra Mahapatra. One saint (Santha) Gopi Das and Sairatak Giri convinced the then Maratha Chief Janoji and constructed the Jagamohan, Bhoga Mandapa of the main temple, temple of Gundicha and compound wall.

It is believed that Khan-I-Duran, the subedar of Odisha during the Moghul Emperor Aurangeb demolished the temple in 1661 and built a mosque on the remains of the temple. Devotees of Lord Baladev Jeu, took the deity in disguise in a boat through the river Govari and kept the deity in a secret place near Baranga (Chhedara) Jungle. Afterwards it was shifted to Balarampur village near Luna river at Sakhi Bata. Later it was transferred to the present day Icchapur temple.

The deities of Lord Baladevjew, Lord Jagannath and Goddess Subhadra wear different costumes and are decorated in different ways during different important festivals. This tradition is known as Besha (alankara). The Rath Yatra here is famous for the Brahma Taladhwaja Rath.

Some Important Alankara are -

1.Sri Raghunatha Besha on Chaitra Purnima Festival.
2.Padma Besha on Kartik Purnima Festival and Tulsi Vivah in Kartik.
3.Gamhabhisheka Besha – From Shraavana Sukla Dashami to Purnima,holy srinakshatra ceremony of Lord Balarama
4.Pushyabhisheka Besha on Pausha Purnima festival
5.Kanchi Kaveri Besha on Vasant Panchami festival.
6.Suna Besha (Bali Vamana Besha) on Bhadrapad Dwadashi Day
7.Krishna Balarama Besha on Phalguna Purnima festival
8.Dwibinda banara besha that was offered by Pandit Binod Behari Dash who was a famous Sanskrit scholar of Ichhapur, Kendrapada

Badami - rock cut temple

Badami - rock cut temple

Badami formerly known as Vatapi, is a town and headquarters of a taluk by the same name, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka,India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD. It is famous for rock cut and other structural temples. It is located in a ravine at the foot of a rugged, red sandstone outcrop that surrounds Agastya lake. Badami has been selected as one of the heritage cities for HRIDAY - Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana scheme of Government of India.

The Puranic story says the wicked asura Vatapi was killed here by sage Agastya.

The rock-cut Badami Cave Temples were sculpted mostly between the 6th and 8th centuries. The four cave temples represent the secular nature of the rulers then, with tolerance and a religious following that inclines towards Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. cave 1 is devoted to Shiva, and Caves 2 and 3 are dedicated to Vishnu, whereas cave 4 displays reliefs of Jain Tirthankaras. Deep caverns with carved images of the various incarnations of gods are strewn across the area, under boulders and in the red sandstone. From an architectural and archaeological perspective, they provide critical evidence of the early styles and stages of the southern Indian architecture.

The Pallavas under the king Narasimhavarma I seized it in 642 AD & destroyed the Vatapi. Pulakeshi son Vikramaditya I of Chalukyas drove back Pallavas in 654 AD. and led a successful attack on Kanchipuram, the capital of Pallavas. The Rashtrakutas came to power in Karnataka including Badami around 757 AD and the town lost its importance. Later it was ruled by the Hoysalas.

Then it passed on to Vijayanagara empire, The Adil Shahis, Mughals, The Savanur Nawabs (They were vassals of Nizams and Marathas), The Marathas, Hyder Ali. The Britishers made it part of the Bombay Presidency.

Badami has eighteen inscriptions, among them some inscriptions are important. The first Sanskrit inscription in old Kannada script, on a hillock dates back to 543 CE, from the period of Pulakeshi I (Vallabheswara), the second is the 578 CE cave inscription of Mangalesha in Kannada language and script and the third is the Kappe Arabhatta records, the earliest available Kannada poetry in tripadi (three line) metre.One inscription near the Bhuthanatha temple also has inscriptions dating back to the 12th century in Jain rock-cut temple dedicated to the Tirtankara Adinatha.