Temples

A photograph, taken on a full moon night, of mount Kailash, south face, with the face of Lord Siva clearly visible on one half of the sacred mountain , the other half representing Uma, underlying the Ardhanareeswara thathva.

You will also find steps like rocks in the centre, but each step will be atleast about 500 feet in between. One of the closest view - the full south face of the mountain including the base portion of the mountain, which is described as Athma Lingam, right underneath the centre portion under the so called huge steps. There are Saptharishi caves in this region.
Received this information and image through  email
  
Some of the sthala vrukshams (sacred trees in temples)
- Fig Tree (aththi maram) 
- Mahua Tree (iluppai maram) 
- Kadamba maram 
- Mango tree (maa maram) 
- Makizha maram 
- Arjuna Tree (marutha maram) 
- Jack tree (palaa maram) 
- Paray maram 
- Vanni maram
- Margosa tree (vaebba maram) 
- Bael Tree
Information from http://www.shaivam.org/gallery/image/gsv.htm
 
Sri Narasimhar 
Information from Gopura Darisanam Deepavali Malar 2006 
  • An idol of Narasimhar carved out of a single stone with a seshnag hood can be seen in Hampi opposite the Spataswara mandapam.
  • Bhavana Narasimhar idol can be seen at a temple about 6 kms from Mel Ahobilam.  The Moolavar - Lakshmi Narasimhar is seen seated on the Adiseshan.  In his upper arms he holds the changu & chakram, the lower right hand is in abhaya mudra while he is seen holding Lakshmi seated on his lap with his left hand.
 
Akshardham temple on the banks of the Yamuna river in Delhi is now considered the worlds largest hindu temple. Built with a combination of marble, sandstone and wood the building is fabulously impressive. It is built to ancient standards without using any steel and as such is designed to last 1000 years. The intricate nature of the carving both inside and out is stunning and has lovingly restored an almost lost art and is already influencing other temple building projects throughout india and the world. 
* The temple building covers 32 acres 
* 11,000 people worked on its construction 
* It was completed in just 5 years 
* 850 volunteers work their daily 
* It receives 100,000 visitors a week. 
     Source: http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/adjudications/071220_largest_hindu_temple.aspx
 
The largest temple of the world, raised during the reign of Suryavarman-II (1113 to 1150) in 12th century is located in Angkor, a major archaeological site of Cambodia. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is also one of the two temples intact in Angkor, Cambodia. The other is a Buddhist Temple. The largest temple of Lord Vishnu in Angkor is built according to Khmer architecture, original to Cambodia. The temple was being used as a Buddhist Centre in 14th Century and was neglected from the 16th century. Currently, a German organisation is making efforts in renovating the temple's structure. 
     Source: http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2006/04/did-you-know-that-worlds-biggest-hindu.html
 
Sri Vaanchiyam 
Devotees can be rid of Kala Sarpa Dosham by offering worship at the Sri Vaanchiyam temple to both Rahu & Ketu at the same location.  The holy Ganges which is believed to rid the bathers from all sins is said to have got rid of her sins by bathing in the Guptagangai waters of Sri Vanchiyam.
 
Tirumalai Tirupathi - Some beliefs 
It is believed & accepted that all flowers that bloom in Tirupati is for the Lord's worship & hence there is a practice that no women adorn their hair with flowers while in Tirumala. 

There is a habit of giving the flowers used to worship the Lord to devotees as prasadam in all temples.  But in Tirupati, there are no idols or images of any God other than Srinivasa.  So all the flowers are offered to him in the name of other Gods too.  Hence these flowers are not the prasada of Lord Srinivasa alone & hence are not offered to devotees as his prasadam.  Ramanujar created the habit of placing these flowers in a well (Poonginaru - Poo - flower; Kinaru - well) near the sannadhi. 

The flowers for the Thomaala (Thol Maalai) & Poolaangi (Poovaadai) sevais are formed into garlands at a place called Yamunaathurai.  It is located near the spot where the ladoos are prepared.  A devotee of the Lord Yamunachaariyaar (also known as Aalavandaar) used to collect flowers, make beautiful garlands & offer them to the Lord.  The king Anantharaayan was impressed with his devotion.  Seeing him suffer in an old hut, he created a mandapam for him.  To date, garlands are being made in this mandapam.
 
Arupadai Veedu - The six most important temples of Lord Muruga 
1.  Palani near Madurai - Dhandayutapani 
2.  Pazhamudircholai near Alagar Koyil near Madurai - Solaimalai Murugan 
3.  Swamimalai - Swaminathanaswamy 
4.  Tiruttani near Tirupati and Chennai - Bala Subramanya Swami 
5.  Tirupparamkunram near Madurai - Subramanyaswami 
6.  Tiruchendur - Bala Subramanya Swami and Senthilandavar.
 
The five temples for Surya worship, in Tamil Nadu are known as the Pancha Baaskara Sthalangal.  
They are   
1.  Gyayiru, near Chennai  
2.  Thiruchirukudi, in Thanjai  
3.  Thirumangalakudi, in Thanjai  
4.  Thiruparidhiniyamam, in Thanjai  
5.  Thalaigyayiru, in Thanjai.
 
The saptha (7) Vitanka sthalams are Tiruvaarur, Tirukkuvalai, Tirukkaaraivaasal, Tirumaraikkaadu, Tiru Naagai, Tirunallaaru and Tiruvaimur. 
 
Paadal Petra Stalangal - Siva temples whose praise has been sung by the Nayanmars - also known as Devaram Petra Thirukoilgal.
 
Ashta Veerattaana Sthalams - The sthalams where the Lord Siva has destroyed evil asuras & danced in joy.  They are eight (ashta) in number.  Tiruvatikai, Tirukkadavur, Tirukkurukkai, Tirutturutti, Tirukkovilur, Vazhuvur, Tiruvirkudi and   
Tirukkandiyur.
 
Pancha Sabha Sthalams of Lord Nataraja - The five Cosmic Dance Halls of Lord Siva 
Chidambaram - Kanaka Sabhai (gold) 
Madurai - Rajata Velli Sabhai (silver) 
Tirunelveli - Tamra Sabhai (copper) 
Tiruvalankadu - Ratna Sabhai (ruby) 
Kutralam - Chitra Sabhai (mural) 
 
Pancha Bhoota Sthalams - Tiruvannamalai, Kanchipuram, Tiruvaanaikkaval, Kalahasti and Chidambaram. 
Tiruvannamalai is the Thejo sthalam - Fire 
Kanchipuram (Prithvi sthalam - Earth) 
Tiruvanaikaval (Appu sthalam - Water) 
Kalahasti (Vayu sthalam - Air) 
Chidambaram (Akasa sthalam - Space)
 
Nava Kailasam - There are 9 Siva temples in Neyveli-Thoothukudi.  All the shrines are aspects of a navagraham.    
1.  Paapanaasam - Suryan - Mela Kailasam  
2.  Cheran Mahadevi - Thingal - Mela Kailasam  
3.  Kodaganallur - Chevvai - Mela Kailasam  
4.  Kunnathur - Rahu - Keezh kailasam  
5.  Murappanadu - Guru - Keezh kailasam   
6.  Thiruvaikundam - Sani - Keezh kailasam  
7.  Thenthiruppaerai - Budan - Keezh kailasam  
8.  Raajapathy - Kethu - Keezh kailasam  
9.  Saendha Poomangalam - Sukran - Keezh kailasam
 
 
  
Snippets
 Home