Dakshineswar Kali Temple Kolkata

Dakshineswar Kali Temple is a Hindu temple located in Dakshineswar near Kolkata. Situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, the presiding deity of the temple is Bhavatarini, an aspect of Kali, meaning, 'She who liberates Her devotees from the ocean of existence . The temple was built by Rani Rashmoni, a philanthropist and a devotee of Kali in 1855. The temple is famous for its association with Ramakrishna, a mystic of 19th Century Bengal.
The temple compound, apart from the nine-spired main temple, contains a large courtyard surrounding the temple, with rooms along the boundary walls. There are twelve shrines dedicated to Shiva—Kali's companion—along the riverfront, a temple to Radha-Krishna, a bathing ghat on the river, a shrine dedicated to Rani Rashmoni. 'Nahavat-Khana', the chamber in the northwestern corner just beyond the last of the Shiva temples, is where Ramakrishna spent a considerable part of his life.

KATASRAJ TEMPLE(PAKISTAN)

Katasraj Mandir is a Hindu mandir or temple complex situated in Katas village near Choa Saidanshah in the Chakwal district of Punjab in Pakistan. Dedicated to Shiva, the temple has existed since the days of Mahābhārata and the Pandava brothers spent a substantial part of their exile at the site. In 2012, the temple pond is drying up due to heavy use of ground water for industrial purposes.

The Katas site houses the Satgraha, a group of seven ancient temples, remains of a Buddhist stupa, a few medieval temples, havelis and some recently constructed temples, scattered around a pond considered holy by Hindus. The temples at Katas are mostly constructed on square platforms. The Ramachandra Mandir is situated to the east of the Hari Singh Haveli. The mandir has two jharokas (balconies) that have been severely damaged. The Hanuman Mandir is on the western extreme of a high rectangular enclosure. The temple's ceiling is undecorated, and lime-plastered. The Shiva temple is also built on a square platform. Its entrance is a recessed round arch with faint cusps and a rectangular opening to the north.

The smaller temples, built in pairs around the larger central temple, were built around 900 years or so ago, although the earliest of them dates back to the latter half of the 6th century AD. The temple complex was not abandoned by Hindus when they migrated to East Punjab in 1947. It has always been the site of holy pilgrimage for people of various faiths. Even nowadays, worshippers of all faiths perform pilgrimage to the mandir. The pilgrims bathe in the sacred pool and seek forgiveness as Hindu belief holds that bathing in the pond (especially on certain occasions) leads to the forgiveness of sins and helps attain salvation. Until recently, it was believed that the pond had unlimited depth.

Many legends are associated with the temples. Legend says that the five Pandava brothers, heroes of the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, stayed here for four out of the 14 years that they spent in exile. The lake in the complex is believed to have magical powers and is supposed to be where Yudhisthira defeated the Yaksha with his wisdom to bring his brothers back to life. Another legend involves the death of Shiva's wife Sati; the story goes that when she died he cried so much and for so long that his tears created two holy ponds - one at Pushkara in Ajmer and the other at Ketaksha, which literally means "raining eyes" in Sanskrit. It is from this name that the word Ketas is derived. Another version of the legend mentions the two pools at Katasraj and Nainital. Yet another version of the Siva legend involves the death of Shiva's horse Katas instead of that of Sati his consort.

The Katasraj mandirs are located 40 kilometres from Chakwal District. It takes a little effort to reach Katasraj by road - one has to go off the M2 motorway - (Islamabad - Lahore) at the Kallar Kahar interchange, Then follow the road to Choa Saidan Shah for 24 km. just past the cement factory the road passes through the temple complex, with the major temple complex and the pond on the right.

Sun Temple of Multan - A LEGEND OF 5000 YEARS

 
Sun Temple of Multan also known as Aditya Sun Temple was an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Surya also called Aditya. This Sun Temple has been mentioned also by Greek Admiral Skylax, who passed through this area in 515 B.C. The Multan and its temple are also earlier known as Kashya-papura is mentioned by Herodotus.
The original Sun Temple at Multan is said to have been build by Samba, son of Krishna, to get relief from disease of leprosy.
Huen Tsang is said to have visited this temple in 641 AD and had described the deity made of pure gold and eyes of whom were made of large red rubies.The gold, silver and gems were abundantly used in doors, pillars and shikhara of temple. Thousands of Hindus regularly went to Multan to worship Sun God. He is also said to have seen several dancing girls (devadasis) in the temple. He further mentions the deities of Shiva and Buddha were also installed in the temple. Even after conquest of Multan by Umayyad Caliphate in 8th Century AD, under Muhammad bin Qasim, the Sun Temple was left intact, as it was a source of great income.Al-Baruni, who also visited Multan in 10th Century AD has also left glowing description of it. However, the temple is said to have been destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 AD.
Multan is the city where Holika was burnt in a bonfire and Prahlad son of king Hiranyashipu was saved. The festival of Holi involves King Hiranyakashyapu his sister Holika and King Son Prahlad. Prahlad father was angry on him and order him to sit on fire with his aunty Holika who was believed to be immune to the fire. When the fire started people watched in amazement as Holika was burnt to death and Prahlad survived . The burning of Holika is celebrated as Holi and the place where she was burnt becomes Prahld Temple of Multan where Sun Temple was next to it. There are only 10 oldest cities in the history of the world and Multan is one of them. It is time to urge Government of Pakistan to restore the Prahld Souram Temple of Multan. Once this City was known as one of the Holiest City on the earth and it is time to give it's cultural heritage back to the city and open it's doors to the world .

The Prambanan Temple, Indonesia

Candi Prambanan or Candi Rara Jonggrang is a 9th-century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator (Brahma), the Preserver (Vishnu) and the Destroyer (Shiva). The temple compound is located approximately 18 kilometres east of the city of Yogyakarta on the boundary between Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces.

SOMNATH TEMPLE

Signifies that the power of reconstruction is always greater than the power of destruction.
"It is my view that the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple will be complete on that day when not only a magnificent edifice will arise on this foundation, but the mansion of India's prosperity will be really that prosperity of which the ancient temple of Somnath was a symbol.".-- Rajendra Prasad

: Some interesting facts about Somnath Temple :
 

The Somnath Temple located in the Prabhas Kshetra near Veraval in Saurashtra, on the western coast of Gujarat, India, is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of the God Shiva. Somnath means "The Protector of the Moon God".
According to puranas Moon had built a golden temple, followed by a silver temple by Ravana, Bhagvan Shree Krishna is believed to have built Somnath temple with Sandalwood.
The Somnath Temple having been destroyed or looted sixteen times by Muslim invaders
In 725 CE Junayad, the Arab governor of Sind, sent his armies to destroy the second temple. The Gurjara Pratihara king Nagabhata II constructed the third temple in 815.
In 1024 Mahmud of Ghazni raided the temple from across the Thar Desert, killing over 50,000 people who tried to defend it. The defenders included the 90-year-old clan leader Ghogha Rana. The temple was rebuilt by the Gujjar Paramara King Bhoj of Malwa and the Solanki king Bhimadev I of Anhilwara. The wooden structure was replaced by Kumarpal (r.1143-72), who built the temple of stone.In 1296, the temple was once again destroyed by Sultan Allauddin Khilji's army. The temple was rebuilt by Mahipala Deva, the Chudasama king of Saurashtra in 1308 and the Linga was installed by his son Khengar sometime between 1326 and 1351. In 1375, the temple was once again destroyed by Muzaffar Shah I, the Sultan of Gujarat. In 1451, the temple was once again destroyed by Mahmud Begda, the Sultan of Gujarat.In 1701, the temple was once again destroyed by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb built a mosque on the site of the Somnath temple, using some columns from the temple. Later on a joint effort of Peshwa of Pune, Raja Bhonsle of Nagpur, Chhatrapati Bhonsle of Kolhapur, Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore & Shrimant Patilbuwa Shinde of Gwalior rebuilt the temple in 1783 at a site adjacent to the ruined temple.
“Among the wonders of that place was the temple in which was placed the idol called Somnath. This idol was in the middle of the temple without anything to support it from below, or to suspend it from above. It was held in the highest honor among the Hindus, and whoever beheld it floating in the air was struck with amazement, whether he was a Musulman or an infidel.”-- Zakariya al-Qazwini, a 13th-century Persian Arab geographer.
In 1782-83 AD, Maratha king, Mahadaji Shinde victoriously brought the Three Silver Gates from Lahore, after defeating Muhammad Shah of Lahore. After refusal from Pundits of Gujrath and the then ruler Gaekwad to put them back on Somnath temple, these silver gates were placed in temples of Ujjain. Today they can be seen in Two Temples of India Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Mandir & Gopal Mandir of Ujjain In 1842, Edward Law, 1st Earl of Ellenborough issued his famous 'Proclamation of the Gates' in which he ordered the British army in Afghanistan to return via Ghazni and bring back to India the sandalwood gates from the tomb of Mahmud of Ghazni in Ghazni, Afghanistan. These were believed to have been taken by Mahmud from Somnath. There was a debate in the House of Commons in London in 1843 on the question of the gates of the Somanatha temple. After much cross-fire between the British Government and the opposition, the gates were uprooted and brought back in triumph. But on arrival, they were found to be replicas of the original. So they were placed in a store-room in the Agra Fort where they still lie to the present day.
When Sardar Patel, K. M. Munshi and other leaders of the Congress went to Gandhi with the proposal of reconstructing the Somnath temple, Gandhi blessed the move,but suggested that the funds for the construction should be collected from the public and the temple should not be funded by the state.But soon both Gandhi and Sardar Patel died and the task of reconstruction of the temple continued under K. M. Munshi, who was the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies in the Nehru Government.The ruins were pulled down in October 1950 and the mosque present at that site was shifted few miles away. In May 1951, Rajendra Prasad, the first President of the Republic of India, invited by K M Munshi, performed the installation ceremony for the temple. This episode created a serious rift between the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who saw the movement for reconstruction of the temple as an attempt at Hindu revivalism and the President Rajendra Prasad and Union Minister K. M. Munshi, who saw in its reconstruction, the fruits of freedom and the reversal of past injustice done to Hindus.
The present temple is built in the Chalukya style of temple architecture or Kailash Mahameru Prasad Style and reflects the skill of the Sompura Salats, Gujarat's master masons. The temple's shikhar, or main spire, is 150 feet in height, and it has a 27 foot tall flag pole at the top.
The temple is situated at such a place that there is no land in straight-line between Somnath seashore till Antarctica, such an inscription in Sanskrit is found on the Arrow-Pillar called Baan-Stambh erected on the sea-protection wall at the Somnath Temple. This Baan-Stambh mentions that it stands at a point on the Indian landmass, which happens to be the first point on land in the north to the south-pole on that particular longitude

Bangla Temple Near Azimganj

Ramayana; Char Bangla Temple Near Azimganj is the fascinating Baranagar temple complex built by Rani Bhabani (1714 – 1793). The brick-built temples are considered to be amongst the best examples of Bengal Terracotta art

Lingaraj Temple

 
Lingaraj Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Harihara, a form of Shiva and is one of the oldest temples of Bhubaneswar, the capital of the East Indian state of Odisha. The temple is the most prominent landmark of the Bhubaneswar city and one of the major tourist attractions of the state. "one of the finest examples of purely Hindu temple in India”. ---- . James Ferugsson (1808 – 1886), a noted critic and historian.
The central tower of the temple is 180 ft (55 m) tall. The temple represents the quintessence of the Kalinga Architecture and culminating the medieval stages of the architectural tradition at Bhubaneswar.The temple is believed to be built by the kings from the Somavamsi dynasty, with later additions from the Ganga rulers. The temple is built in the Deula style that has four components namely, vimana (structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), natamandira (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings), each increasing in the height to its predecessor. The temple complex has 50 other shrines and is enclosed by a large compound wall.
Bhubaneswar is called the Ekamra Kshetra as the deity of Lingaraj was originally under a mango tree (Ekamra) as noted in Ekamra Purana, a 13th century Sanskrit treatise. The temple is active in worship practises, unlike most other temples in Bhubaneswar and Shiva is worshipped as Harihara, a combined form of Vishnu and Shiva. The temple has images of Vishnu, possibly because of the rising prominence of Jagannath cult emnating from the Ganga rulers who built the Jagannath Temple in Puri in the 12th century.
Lingaraja temple is maintained by the Temple Trust Board and the Archeological Survey of India (ASI). The temple has an average of 6,000 visitors per day and receives lakhs of visitors during festivals. Shivaratri festival is the major festival celebrated in the temple and event during 2012 witnessed 200,000 visitors

Difference between Om Nama Shivaya and Shivaya Nama

Om Nama Shivaya and Shivaya Nama are mantras dedicated to Mahadev Shiva. But is there a difference between them?

Om Nama Shivaya – Sthula Panchakshara

Shivaya Nama – Sookshma Panchakshara

Om Nama Shivaya is chanted to gain worldly objectives.

Shivaya Nama is chanted to attain Moksha – Liberation

Saint Vallalar wrote that when one applied sacred ash on the forehead, one should say ‘Sivaya Namaha,’ because it confers on a devotee good speech, good company, good qualities and moksha.

Meaning of the name Venkateswara

The name Venkata is exclusively used to refer to Balaji.There are two different meaning for Ventaka in Sanskrit – the first is ‘destroyer of sins.’ It is said that Brahma promised Vishnu that whoever visits the Tirumala hills will redeem their sins. Thus the Seshadri hill on which Venkateswara sits came to be known as Venkata and Vishnu came to be known as Venkateswara. This meaning of Venkata is based on the use of the term found in the Brahmanda Purana and Bhavishyottara Purana.

Another meaning of Venkata is ‘giver of worldly wealth.’ This meaning is found in the Vayu Purana. Scholars are of view that this meaning relates to one of the qualities of Venkateswara.

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http://www.hindu-blog.com/2011/02/meaning-of-name-venkateswara.html

Ravana Temples in India - Hindu Temples Dedicated to Ravan in Ramayana

There are several temples dedicated to Ravana in India. Ravan is one of the biggest demons in Hindu Scriptures. Although he is the chief of demons in the Ramayan, Ravana is worshipped for his intense devotion to Shiva and his scholarly trait. Known temples dedicated to Ravana are found in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka

45ft Ravana Murti at Khonpura Village in Madhya Pradesh - The huge murti of Ravan is worshipped on the open ground of the Khonpura Village. The murti is more than 200 years old.

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http://www.hindu-blog.com/2013/01/ravana-temples-in-india-hindu-temples.html

Udupi Sri Krishna Murti

Lessons from the Srimad Bhagavad Purana

The ocean does not either overflow or gets dried up irrespective of the flow of water from the rivers. Similarly a person devoted totally to the Lord remains unaffected regardless of his prosperity or poverty.

From all the directions happiness pours on a person who is self–controlled, who is free from the sense of all possessions and whose entire mind is happy with thoughts of God alone.

By going on looking at all beings as the Lord Himself, the impurities of the mind i.e. jealousy, competition, contempt etc. along with the ego will all vanish.