GOD IS GREAT

HINDUISAM IN INDIA

IN INDIA THE PEOPLE WHO LIVING THERE ARE ALMOST HINDU. THOSE PEOPLE BELIVE HINDU GODS.
THERE ARE SO MANY TEMPLES . I WANT TO TELL ABOUT THOSE TEMPLES.
A Hindu temple can be a separate structure or a part of a building. In most of the temples there is the presence of murtis or idols of the Hindu deity to whom the temple is dedicated. They are usually dedicated to one primary deity, called the presiding deity, and other subordinate deities associated with the main deity. Some of the temples are dedicated to several deities, whereas some have symbols instead of a murti.

The main focus of temple architecture in Vedic India was to blend the temple with its natural surroundings. A major consequence of this style of temple design, was the construction of several cave temples across the Indian subcontinent. The 5th century caves of Ellora are one of the most magnificent examples of Indian rock-cut architecture in the world. Most of the early Hindu cave temples were carved out of a single large rock. A prominent feature of these cave temples was the elaborate sculptures of various Hindu deities.

Temples in India were regarded as sacred places where man can forget all his sorrows and connect himself with almighty God. The temples are built on the principles of vastushastra. The vastushastras describe temple as a symbolic, miniature representation of the outer space. A typical Hindu temple consists of the following major elements - an entrance, often with a porch; one or more attached or detached mandapas or halls; the inner sanctum called the garbagriha, and the tower build directly above the garbagriha.

Some of the important Hindu temples in India are mentioned as below:
Lepakshi temple, Tirupati temple, Chattarpur temple, Akshar Dham, Lakshmi Narayan temple, Somnath temple, Dwarkadhish temple, Chamunda Devi, Sthaneshwar Mahadev temple, Jwalamukhi temple, Jhakhu Temple, Amarnath tmple, Raghunath temple, Bull temple, Vaishno Devi temple,Guruvayoor temple, Cave temple, Sabarimala temple, Tiruvalla temple, Khajuraho temple, Omkareshwar temple, Orcha temple, Kailash temple, Jagannath temple, Lingaraj Temple, Mahalakshi temple, Kalibari temple, Maha Bhairav temple, Hanuman mandir, etc are some of the significant one.

THIRUMALA THIRUPATHI
TIRUMALA TIRUPATI - THE ABODE OF LORD VENKATESWARA

Tirumala The temple town of Tirupati at the foot of Tirumala hills situated in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh, came into existence in the middle of twelfth century, with the founding of Govindarajaswamy temple.
Sri Venkateshwara temple, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, also known as Balaji in the north and Srinivasa in southern parts of India, is one of the most famous temples in India and is located at Tirumala. 18 km NW of Tirupati at a height of 874 metres above mean sea level amidst the high hills known as seven hills of the Eastern Ghats.

It is believed that Lord Vishnu (Balaji) enchanted by the charm of the high hill Seshachalam, settled down here to meditate and in course of time his body was transformed into stone. Also, according to the Puranas, the hills represent the body of Adisesha on which Lord Vishnu, the protector of the world, is said to rest. The seven hills denote the seven hoods of Adisesha on which Venkatachalapati resides. Tirumala Temple

Tirumala The origin of the temple is shrouded in antiquity and is regarded as one of the most ancient temples in India. It was patronised by the Pallavas, the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Vijayanagara rulers and later by the kings of Mysore. The idol of Lord Venkateshwara has the attributes of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, a happy compromise appealing at once to both Vaishnavites and Saivites. Sri Venkateshwara temple, the richest shrine in India, attracts a steady flow of pilgrims throughout the year eager to have a glimpse of Lord Venkateshwara in his bejewelled glory.

The main temple is a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture with its "Ananda Nilaya Vimanam", the granite canopy over the sanctum sanctorum, covered with gilded copper sheets. The temple flagpost is also gold plated.

The temple can be approached from Tirupati either by a 15 Km long foot-path or by road. The first road, connecting Tirumala was laid in 1944 and to ensure safety by one-way movement, a second one was constructed in 1974.
Tirumala Gopuram

Apart from the Lord Venkateswara temple, the other important places at Tirumala and Papavinasam and Akasaganga waterfalls. Varahaswamy temple, and Shila Toranam (Geological Arch) a very ancient rock formation supposed to be over 10,000 years old.

Govindarajaswamy temple, Kapila Tirtham and Rama temple are the other sacred places at Tirupati. Some other places worth visiting around Tirupati are the temple of the Goddess Padmavati Devi - the divine consort of Lord Venkateshwara at Tiruchanur, the Fort at Chandragiri built in 1000 AD and improved upon by the Vijayanagara kings and the two palaces in the vicinity formerly used by the members of the royal family and Kalyana Venkateshwaraswamy temple at Srinivasamangapuram 12 km from Tirupati.

Everyday is a festive day at Tirumala. Every devotee feels fully contented after visiting Tirumala, by the immense spiritual pleasure he derives by worshipping Lord Venkateshwara. Two customs peculiar to this temple are anointing the body of the Lord with camphor, saffron and musk and offering of hair by the devotees to Lord Venkateshwara.

For those who are looking for scenic beauty also, the Tirumala hills provide a treat. It is one of the better known and developed hill stations in Andhra Pradesh and can provide a calm, quiet retreat for tourists. The undulating rage of hills covered with lush green forests hold exciting possibilities for trekkers and rock climbers.

SRISHAILAM


Srisailam played a dominant role in our religious, cultural and social history from ancient times.



The epigraphical evidence reveals that the history of Srisailam begins with the Sathavahanas who were the first empire builders in South India. The earliest known historical mention of the Hill - Srisailam, can be traced in Pulumavi’s Nasik inscription of 1st Century A.D.



The Sathavahanas, the Ikshavakus, the Pallavas, the Vishnukundis, the Chalukyas, the Kakatiyas, the Reedy Kings, the Vijayanagara Emperors and Chatrapathi Shivaji are among the famous emperors who worshipped God Mallikarjuna Swamy.



Prataparudra of Kakatiya Dynasty strived a lot for the improvements of this Kshetram and granted Paraganas for its maintenance. Ganapathideva has spent 12000 Golden Nanyas for the maintenance of the temple.



The period of Reddi Kings is the ‘Golden Age’ of Srisailam that almost all rulers of the dynasty did celebrated service for this temple. In 14th Century Prolaya Vema Reddi of Reddy Dynasty constructed stepped path-way to Srisailam and Pathalaganga (Here the river Krishna is called as Pathalaganga) and Anavema Reddi constructed Veera Siromandapam in which the Veerasaiva devotees cut off their hands, tongue, limbs with devotion to attain the realisation of the God. This practice is known as Veeracharam.

The Second Harihararaya of Vijayanagara Empire constructed the Mukhamantapam of Swamy shrine and also a Gopuram on Southern Side of the temple.

In the 15th Century Sri Krishnadevaraya Constructed the Rajagopuram on Eastern side and Salumantapas on both sides of the temple.

The last Hindu King who strove hard for the improvement of the temple is Chatrapathi Shivaji who constructed a Gopuram on northern side in the year 1667 A.D.


THE PANCHAMATHAMS :

These are popular as the Panchamathas namely Ghantha Matham, Bheemasankara Matham, Vibhoothi Matham, Rudraksha Matham and Sarangadhara MatAHM.

The Mathas played an important role in the History and Cult of Srisailam. They are well associated with the religious and social activities of the temple in the medieval times. These Mathas acted as educational institutions dedicated to higher learing in various branches and catered to the intellectual and spiritual needs of the society. Srisailam became a powerful saivate centre because of the existence and activities both spiritual and profane of these Mathas. The origin of the Mathas seems to be as early as 7th Century A.D. The historical inscriptions related to Srisailam speak about eleven Mathas in Srisailam. But only 5 Mathas are still in existence and all of them are in dilapidated condition. These Mathas are rich in sculptural and architectural wealth, where several Sivalingas were installed and worshipped since centuries.

These Mathas also looked after the administration of the temple and its rituals along with the revenue accured from more than 70 Villages in various parts of Andhra which were donated to the temples by various rulers in the medieval period. The existing Mathas are located with in a distance of 1 Km to the west of the main temple.

The Devasthanam is planning to renovate all these Mathas.


SIKHARAM

This most sacred spot is located at about 8 Km from the main temple at a height of 2830 feet above the mean sea level. It is the highest peak of Srisailam Hills.

The Skanda Purana proclains that a mere glance of this Sikharam frees the human soul from the fitters of rebirth. (Srisaila Sikharam Drustva Punarjanma Na Vidyathe).

In ancient days people used to come to Srisailam on foot and those who unable to reach the shrine returned back by seeing this peak.

The Sikhareswaram temple is an ancient stone structure consisting of Garbhagriha, Antaralaya and 16 pillered Mukhamanda. The deity here is named as Veera Sankara Swamy and locally popularized as Sikhareswara Swamy

Historically the Reddy Kings have constructed a flight of steps to this temple in the year 1398 A.D. and also a tank (Pushkarini) at this place.

During the medieval times this spot was the centre for many secret sects of Saivisam who performed their rituals in the cave like chambers which can be seen even today.

This place give a panoramic view of the entire temple complex of Srisailam including the meandering river Krishna.



HATAKESWARAM

This picturesque spot is on the way to Srisailam of about 5 Km away in a serine atmosphere.

Tradition hopes that at this place God Siva appeared to a potter devotee in Atika (Piece of Pot) and hence named as Atikeswaram and later it became as Hatakeswaram.

Another tradition gives the name to this place from a particular yogic school known as Hatayoga, one of the form of Astangayogas (the eight yogas).

Some historians located a laboratory of Akhemy (Rasayoga) at this place during medieval times. The present temple dedicated to Hatakeswara Swamy is stone structure datable to 11th – 13th century A.D. and is consists of a Garbhagriha and opened pillered Mukhamandapa.




PHALADHARA – PANCHADHARA

The river Krishna.
his most beautiful scene spot in surroundings of Srisailam is located about 4 Km from the main temple. Tradition records that Bhagavan Adisankara performed penance at this place and composed the famous Sivanandalahari here. His Holiness Kanchi Paramacharya confirmed this and marble statues of Sarada Devi and Sankaracharya installed there and daily regular Poojas are being offered also.
This spot is located in a narrow valley approachable by a flight of steps where subterranean streams of pure water with musical sound reverberating the surroundings. According to local folk these streams are known as Phaladhara Panchadhara and these two signify their origin from the fore head of God Siva the Phaladhara (Phala = fore head, dhara = Stream) and denote the five aspects of Siva, the Panchadhara (Pancha = five, dhara = Stream). The water from this stream flows in interrupted at all seasons. The Skanda Purana describes the flow as ‘Bhogavathi’ and it joins in t

MAHANANDHI

Location: Nandyal, Kurnool
Deity: Lord Shiva

Legend: Rasa Siddha is said to have built the Vimana and for wages he made the workers set up sand mounds, which he converted into wealth by his power. Proof of this is seen on the main gate of the temple facing the west. A copper plate by Krishandevaraya states that Mahanandi is one of the sacred places where the king`s brother Simha Deva Raya gave valuable gifts. The Sthalapurana states that Nanda ruled over Navanandis where Mahanandi is situated. The king once thought to anoint the idol and perform abhishek with milk. Herds of cows were brought in which included a black cow. This cow gave a lot of milk and was allowed to travel freely and graze in the forest.

Mahanandi TempleThe cow always seemed to take far longer in the forest than usual and the milk supply seemed depleted when she returned. One day a cowherd followed the cow and found her grazing around an anthill and then she stood right over it letting the milk flow over the anthill. From it a young child emerged said to be Lord Krishna, after which the cow returned. The next day the king followed the cow and, hid in a bush expecting to catch a glimpse of the Lord. The cow arrived and circled the anthill, Krishna appeared and accepted the offering. The king in surprise moved forward, scaring the nervous cow, who stepped on the anthill in fright. The child disappeared, the hoof print remained on the anthill. The king realizing his mistake prayed for forgiveness and the Lord ordained the anthill after it dried would become a Swayambhu linga at Mahanandi. The two signs are still visible on top of the Linga.

TankArchitecture: The temple is at the foothill where a mineral spring flows into the fields from underneath the linga, into the tank in front of the temple. The temple is surrounded by mantapas on all sides. The Vimana over the sanctum is in Nagari style. It has a Shikara at the top. The architectural peculiarities show that the temple dates back to ancient times and it was repaired and rebuilt through the ages by many kings. This temple is famous for its curative powers found in the warm tepid mineral water found in the tank in front of the temple. It is a sixty feet square with a mantapa in the centre. The inlets and outlets of the tank are so arranged that the depth of the water remains constant at five feet for the devotees to swim in. The source of this water has never been traced. The water is said to come from five springs called Srisailadhara, Narasimhadhara, Daivodhinidhara, Nanditirtha and Kailasatirtha.

The sanctum contains a linga and is made from a rough uncut rock, with two sockets. Here the linga is seen just above the earth`s surface without the three Peethams underneath. All can touch and worship the Lord. A huge Nandi is at the front of the shrine and hence it is called Mahanandi Tirtha. The tank that lies behind is known as Rudra gundam and there are two more tanks called Vishnu gundam and Brahma gundam. Close to the main shrine is a shrine dedicated to the Goddess. The Srichakra in front of the deity is said to have been installed by Adisankara himself. The popular belief is that if one meditates upon the God then he will receive a darshan befitting his status in front of the mother. The mukhamantapa of the goddess is a recent construction.

Behind the main shrine there are three small shrines containing a Shivalinga each. It is stated that if these are worshipped, they will take one beyond the Sthoola, Sookshma and Karana Dehas to the Turiya stage. Within ten miles of Mahanandi there are other nine other Nandi temples -
1. Padma Nandi,
2. Naga Nandi,
3. Vinayaka Nandi,
4. Garuda Nandi,
5. Brahma Nandi,
6. Surya Nandi,
7. Vishnu Nandi,
8. Soma Nandi and
9. Siva Nandi.

Festivals: The Sivarathri is the most important festival. In the Kartika masa, pilgrims worship in the shrine of Mallikarjunaswamy and then at the shrine of Padma Nandi, which is two miles further ahead. They then go to the Naga Nandi that is a mile to the west, and then proceed to Brahma Nandi, Soma Nandi, and Siva Nandi, which are all nearby. They move on to Krishna or Vishnu Nandi, three miles to the northeast and from there complete the pilgrimage by worshipping Vinayaka Nandi, Maha Nandi, and Surya Nandi. The traditional belief is that the worship of these Nava Nandis should be finished in a day before sunset. The other festivals like Dasara, Ugadi etc. are also important.

KHALESHWARAM
Mukteshwara Swamy Temple, Kaleshwaram

The ancient temple dedicated to Mukteshwara Swamy is of special significcance as two Sivalingas are found on a single pedestal.


Mukteshwara Swamy Temple, Kaleshwaram Travels This picturesque spot Kaleswaram lies in the interior of thick forest at the confluence of the river Godavari and its tributary Pranahita. This place can be reached by bus from Karimnagar via Manthani or from Warangal via Parkal.

Accommodation
Executive officer of the temple

How to Reach This Place

Road : Kaleswaram in Karimnagar district is situated at a distance of 16 kms from Mahadevapur, 65 kms. from Manthani, 110 kms from Warangal and 130 kms from Karimnagar. Kaleswaram is well connected by Road and there are frequent buses and Private Transport from Mahadevapur and Manthani.
KRISHNA TEMPLES IN INDIA
Lord Krishna is one of the most commonly worshipped deities in the Hindu faith. Lord Krishna appeared over five thousand years ago in Mathura. He was the child of Devaki and Vasudeva in the jail of the dictator Kamsa. The place of His birth is known as Sri Krishna Janmasthana. He appeared with His brother Balarama in response to the demigods` prayers for protection from the widespread influence of demonic administration on earth.

Because of his great Godly power, he is accepted as the most famous deity. He is considered to be the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Shree Krishna delivered Bhagwad Gita on battlefield to Arjun.

He is known for his bravery in destroying evil powers throughout his life. The Lord is usually depicted as playing the flute or murali indicating spread of the melody of love to people.

He is also shown with his childhood devotee Radha. The Lord is usually remembered and worshipped as Radha-Krishna. The pair symbolizes the eternal love between people and god.

Lord Krishna is also shown with his pet whitecow. Lord Krishna performed many divine sports or leela as a child.

Krishna is full of life and regarded as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Lord Krishna gave the highest form of teaching on the battlegrounds of Kurukshetra to its disciple Arjuna.

Major temples dedicated to Krishna in India are Iskon Temples in Delhi and Tirupati, Guruvayoor Temple, Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka, Dwarka Temple, Mathura Temples, Vrindavan Temples, Ashvakranta Temple in Guwahati, Shri Govindji Temple in Imphal, Krishna Temple in Hampi, Ambalapuha Temple in Ambalapuzha, Govind Devji Temple in Jaipur, Khirachora Gopinath Temple In Balasore, Aranmula Temple in Tiruvalla, Nathdwara Temple in Udaipur, Lalji Temple in Haldia, Radha Shyama Temple in Kolkata, temple of Shreenathji in Nathdwara, etc.A
GANESH TEMPLES IN INDIA
This God of knowledge and the remover of obstacles is also the older son of Lord Shiva. Lord Ganesha is also called Vinayak or knowledgeable or Vighneshwer or god to remove obstacles. He is worshipped, or at least remembered, in the beginning of any auspicious performance for blessings and auspiciousness.

He has four hands, elephant`s head and a big belly. His vehicle is a tiny mouse. His fourth hand`s palm is always extended to bless people. A unique combination of his elephant-like head and a quick moving tiny mouse vehicle represents tremendous wisdom, intelligence, and presence of mind as well.

There are some other names for this deity like Ganapati, Ekadanta, Vinayaka, Heramba, etc. There are various temples dedicated to the god of wisdom across the country.

The major temples dedicated to Ganapati are: Ashta Vinayak shrines, Siddhi Vinayak Temple situated at Mumbai, Vatapi Ganapati, Pillayaarpati Ganapati, Girijatmaja Vinayak Temple in pune, Ganesh Tok in Gangtok, Chintaman Ganesh in Ujjain, Chinatamani temple in Pune, Ganapathy temple in Kottarakkara, etc.

Sidhdhi Vinayak Temple - Mumbai
Varasiddhi Vinayakar Temple - Besant Nagar, Chennai
Rockfort Temple at Tiruchirappalli
The Rockfort Temple at Tiruchirappalli:
Karpaka Vinayakar Temple at Pillaiyaarpatti
Sweta Vinayakar Temple at Tiruvalanchuzhi near Kumbhakonam
Ganpatipule Temple
Girijatmaja Vinayak Temple - Pune
Ganesh Tok - Gangtok
Chintaman Ganesh - Ujjain
Ganapathy Temple - Kottarakkara

HANUMAN TEMPLES IN INDIA
Lord Hanuman is renowned for bravery, power, selfless service, courage, devotion and loyalty. He is a great devotee of Lord Rama. He is the epitome of devotion, knowledge, valour, strength, courage, and humility and stanch dedication to virtue or justice. He is easily reachable just by chanting the name Ram. He is a noble hero in Hinduism as well. Hanuman is actually a monkey god.

This deity is a provider of courage, hope, knowledge, intellect and devotion. He is pictured as a robust monkey holding a mace or gada that is a sign of bravery and having a picture of Lord Rama tatooed on his chest, which is a sign of his devotion to Lord Rama. He is called as Mahaveera or the great hero and Pavan-suta or son of air. He is also called as Bajarangbali.

Hanuman acquired immortal fame after rendering invaluable service to Lord Rama. A character of highest morals, Hanuman is worshipped throughout the country with great zeal and fervor.

Some of the important temples are as follows: Jhakhu Temple in Shimla, Hanuman Tok in Gangtok, Hanuman Mandir in New Delhi, Sri Viswaroopa Panchamukha Anjaneya Swami Ashram in Chennai, Mehandipur Balaji Temple in Dausa, Sri Viswaroopa Adhivyadhihara Bhaktha Anjaneyaswami Temple in Chennai, Sri Bhaktha Anjaneya Temple, Sri Veeramangalam Anjaneyar Temple, Sri Yoga Anjaneyaswamy Temple, Sri Anjaneya Temple, Sankatmochan Temple are some of the famous Hanuman Temples in India.

SHIVA TEMPLES IN INDIA
Shiva is one of the most complex gods of India, embodying seemingly contradictory qualities. He is the destroyer as well as the restorer. He is the great ascetic and also the symbol of sensuality. Shiva was originally known as Rudra. He is the part of the trinity or trimurti with Vishnu and Brahma.

Shiva is responsible for change both positively and negatively. He make changes in the form of death and destruction as well as in the shedding of old habits. Shiva represents the most essential goodness in Satyam, Shivam and Sundaram which resemblances the truth, goodness and beauty. The snakes of Shiva show that he is beyond the power of death and poison and also responsible for the kundalini energy. The vehicle is white bull popularly known as Nandi.

The intangible Shiva is regarded as the supreme head in Hindu religion. Most of the Indian temples are dedicated to this powerful, yet kindhearted god. Being kind at heart he obliges its devotees and is popularly called Bhole Shankar, which means Innocent Shankar.

Some of the famous sacred temples of Shiva can be mentioned as 12 jyotirlingas, Tiruvannamalai, Chidambaram, Somnath, Vishwanath etc. Some other temples are: Lepakshi Temple in Anantapur, Thousand pillar Temple in Warangal, Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple in Kurukshetra, Amarnath Temple in Pahalgam, Bull temple in Bangalore, Cave Temples in Badami, Omkareshwar Temple in Omkareshwar, Kailash Temple in Aurangabad, Lingaraja Temple in Bhubaneshwar, mukteswara Temple in Bhubaneshwar, Eklingji Temple in Udaipur, Mahabalipuram Temples in Mahabalipuram, Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, Rameshwaram Temples in Rameshwaram, Kedarnath Temple in Kedarnath, Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, Sri Chandeshwar Temple in Margoa, Deoghar Temple in Deoghar, Ekambareswarar Temple in Kanchipuram, Umananda Temple in Guwahati, Fourteen Goddess Temple in Agartala, etc.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple
Amarnath
Kedranath
Rameshwaram Temples
Shankracharya Temple
Lingaraja Temple
Thanjavur Temples
Mukteswara Temple
Kailash Mansarovar
Baijnath Temple
Badami Cave Temples
Kailash Temple
Lepakshi Temple
Meenakshi Temple
Ganapatipule Temple
Omkareshwar Temple
Thousand Pillar Temple
Somnath Temple
Eklingji Temple
VISHNU TEMPLES IN INDIA
Lord Vishnu is the preserver god of the Trinity or trimurti has four hands. The first holds a conch shell or sankha indicating spread of the divine sound "Om"; one holds a discus or chakra, a reminder of the wheel of time, and to lead a good life; one holds a lotus or the flower Padma which is an example of glorious existence and the fourth hands holds a mace or gada indicating the power and the punishing capacity of the Lord if discipline in life is disregarded. He is basically eternal, unchangeable and immutable.

His vehicle is the swift-flying bird Garuda that can spread the Vedic knowledge with great courage. He rests on the bed of the powerful, coiled serpent, Seshanag who represents the sleeping universe. Lord Vishnu is also known as Hari, the remover. Goddess Lakshmi is the wife of Lord Vishnu, who is the Goddess of Wealth.

Lord Vishnu`s preserving and protecting powers have been evidenced to the world in a variety of forms, called Avatars. There are a number of avatars in which one or more of his divine attributes were embodied in the shape of a human being or an animal or a combined form of human-animal. All the avatars possessed great and sometimes supernatural powers. All these Avatars of Vishnu appeared in the world either to correct some great evil or to affect some great good on earth. These avatars are ten in number. But according to Bhagwad Purana there is innumerable number of avatars present in the ancient history. Of the ten universally recognized avatars, nine have already manifested whereas the tenth is yet to appear.

Some of the avatars can be named as Rama, Parashurama, Krishna, Buddha, Kalki, etc. There are a numbers of temples scattered in the whole country. Some of the important are as follows:

Thousand Pillar Temple situated in Warangle, Lakshmi Narayan Temple in New Delhi, Cave Temple at Badami. Guruvayoor Temple at Trichur, Tirubhalla Temple at Alapuzha, Badrinath Temple in Badrinath, Vithala Temples in hampi, Sri Mahalasa Temple at Mangueshu, Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Chamba, Deogarh Temple in Gwalior, Thirunavaya Temple in Malappuram, Thirunelli Temple in Wayanad, Ananta Vasudeva Temple in Bhubaneshwar, Sas Bahu Temple in Udaipur, Ulahalanda Perumal Temple in Kanchipuram, Parthasarathy Temple in Chennai, Varadaraja Temple in Chennai, Ananthapura Lake Temple in Kasaragod, Ranchhodraiji Dakor in Ahmedabad, Hayagriva Temple in Guwahati, Ananthasana Temple in Udupi, Keerthinarayana Temple in Mysore, Jagan Mohini Keshava Swami Temple in Rajahmundry, Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kubara Perumal Temple in Tiruvannamalai.
DURGA TEMPLES IN INDIA
Goddess Durga, also known as Parvati or Lalitha is the wife of Lord Shiva and exists in various divine forms. Two of her fierce but very powerful forms are Durga i.e. goddess beyond reach and Kali i.e. goddess of destruction.

Both have great power and energy i.e. Shakti. Durga rides on a lion and Kali rides on a corpse of a demon. Parvati was called Sati in her previous divine incarnation. The family of Lord Shiva, Parvati and their sons Ganesha and Kartikeya is an ideal example of family unity and love. Lord Durga has a charming personality and usually adored by married women for a happy married life.

Female aspect of divinity or expression of energy is referred to as Shakti. Parvati who is wife of Shiva and Lakshmi who is wife of Vishnu is respected in temples dedicated to Shakti. Kanyakumari, Kamakshi Amman, Kalikambal, Mahalakshmi temple, Vaishno Devi are the famous ones. Some of the other mentioned temples are Srisailam Temple in Kurnool and Lakha Mandal Temple in Dehradun.
BRAHMA TEMPLES IN INDIA

Lord Brahma is the creator God of the Trinity or trimurty. He appears seated on a lotus, which is a symbol of glorious existence. He has four heads as well as four hands. Each hand is holding a sacrificial tool or sruva, the Vedas or knowledge, a water pot or kamandalu and a rosary respectively. Thus it can be said as Lord Brahma is the first member of the Brahmanical triad, Vishnu being the second and Shiva, the third. Brahma is the god of creation and he is traditionally accepted as the Creator of the entire universe.

His vehicle is a swan or Hans, which is known for its judgment between good and bad. Lord Brahma`s accompany is Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning.

Destruction and creation go hand in hand. They are like two sides of a coin. For example, the destruction of morning is creation of noon and the destruction of noon is creation of night. This chain of continuous destruction and construction maintains the day. Similarly, the destruction of childhood is the creation of youth and the destruction of youth the creation of old age. In this process of birth and death the individual is maintained in a proper way. Hence the three gods of the Trinity viz. Brahma, Vishnu and Siva representing creation, maintenance and destruction, are essentially one and the same.

There is only one temple in India dedicated to Brahma situated in Pushkar valley. This somewhat somnolent town reverberates with hectic activity during the festivities. This temple is an important pilgrim centre for the Hindus.
ANANTHA VASUDEVA TEMPLE
sudeva Temple is one of the few Vaishnavite temples in Bhubaneswar. Dating back to the 13th century, to the period of Chandrika, the daughter of Anangabhima III, during the reign of the king Bhanudeva, it enshrines images of Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra. It is located on the eastern bank of the Bindu Sarovar Lake. It is positioned in a walled compound along with abundant structures. Balarama stands under a seven-hooded serpent, while Krishna holds a sword of state and a conch.

IN INDIA JAINS ARE ALSO HAVE TEMPLES.

JAIN TEMPLES IN INDIA
The founder of Jainism is Mahavira. All the Jain temples are dedicated to him. These uncountable temples are the places of Jain Tirthankars who are basically the Jain religious preacher. These Tirthankars spread the message of peace, non-violence, love and enlightenment. Thus in this way they attracted and molded the sentiments of millions of people across the nation as well as the world.

Today, around 3.2 million Jain devotees live in India. India holds immense attraction for all those who desire to see the great Jain architectural splendor. Tirthankars are the liberated souls who, through hard reparation, freed themselves from the cycle of birth and rebirth. To know and understand the teaching of The Tirthankars, is a great work. Tirthankars offered to humanity, the recourse to salvation and freedom from the ocean of Phenomenal Existence and liberation from the Cycle of rebirth through Jainism. The essence of this great religion and its preaching is clear in the cave temples. These are the elaborately decorated carved stones and in the numerous illustrated manuscripts. These Jain temples are spread across Uttar Pradesh and the best destination options for tourists and pilgrims. These temples help to explore history, religion, art and culture of the Jains in a proper way.

These temples also have idols of Hindu deities in them. An amazing example of Jain monumental splendor is found in the caves of Udaygiri & Kandhagiri, Dilwara temples, Ranakpur temples, Sri Digambar Lal Mandir, Ajit Nath temple, Palitana Jain temples, Gomateswara temple, Jain temple of Jainimedu, Chaubishi Jain mandir, Sri Suntinath Jain mandir, Rishabh Deo temple, etc.
DALWARTHA TEMPLES

The Jain Dilwara temples are located about two-and-a-half kilometers from Mount Abu, Rajasthan`s only hill station. These temples date back from the 11th to 13th century and are world famous for their use of marble. This is a pilgrimage site for the Jains. Mount Abu is on the Ahmedabad - Jaipur - New Delhi road, off Abu Road, which is also the nearest railhead. According to the inscription found at Mt. Abu, it was basically a seat of Saivism and Jainism made its appearance only in 11th century.

The door opens on to a blend of irresistible beauty and elegance. The temples are surrounded with mango trees and wooded hills and a high wall that shrouds the entire temple complex.

Although Jains have built some of the most beautiful temples in Rajasthan none come close to this. The ornamental detail is spread over the minutely carved ceilings, doorways, Ceiling of Dilwara Templepillars and panels and is truly stunning. The first of these temples was built in 1032 AD. History: Mount Abu located in the southwest part of Rajasthan is a part of the Aravali range and is separated from the Aravali by a narrow valley and Guru Shikhar is the highest point at the northern end.

According to legend, Hindus revere this place because once Nandini, the cow of the sage Vashisht was trapped in a deep gorge and could not free itself. The sage asked for Lord Shiva`s assistance. Shiva sent Saraswati, the divine stream, to help flood the gorge so that the cow could float up. Sage Vashisht then decided to ensure that such mishaps would not occur in future and asked the youngest son of Himalaya to fill the gorge permanently. He took the help of the snake Arbud. This spot came to be known as Mount Arbud since then and was later reduced to its present form Mount Abu. Ancient Hindu and Jain scriptures refer to it as Arbudgiri. The Dilwara temples are dedicated to the Jain Tirthankars and served as storehouses of illustrated manuscripts and treatises. The temples at Mount Abu were constructed between 800 AD and 1200 AD. Vimala Shah, Vastu Pala and Teja Pala contributed a lot toward the development of Jain art and architecture.

Temples of Dilwara
There are five temples in all, each with its own identity and these are named after the village in which they are located. These temples are Vimal Vasahi (Shri Adi Nathji temple), Luna Vasahi (Shri Nemi Nathji temple), Pithalhar (Shri Rishabh Deoji temple), Khartar Vasahi (Shri Parshav Nathji temple) and Mahaveer Swami (Shri Mahaveer Swamiji temple). The most famous of these are the Vimal Vasahi and Luna Vasahi temple. The Vimala Vasahi temple: is the earliest and most important temple here and is dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankara, Adi Nath. It stands in an open courtyard with 58 cells containing the small icons duplicating the saint`s image found in the main shrine. The plan of the temple resembles that of Sun temple found at Martand in Kashmir. It is elaborately columned with porticoes surrounding the main shrine and front cells that line the courtyard. The entire temple is carved out of white marble.

Deity: Adi Nath or Lord Rishabdev as he is known.

Architecture: The corridors, pillars, arches, and mandaps are richly carved. The ceilings feature engraved designs of lotus-buds, petals, flowers and scenes from Jain and Hindu mythology.

Rang MandapThe Rang Mandap - the grand hall is supported by 12 decorated pillars and carved arches with a spectacular central dome - having 11 concentric rings, five having patterns of figures and animals; the lowest contains 150 figures of elephants with intertwined trunks. The pillars have carved female figurines playing musical instruments and 16 Vidhya devis or the goddesses of knowledge each holding her symbol. The Navchowki - collection of nine rectangular ceilings, each contains beautiful and different designs carved and are supported on ornate pillars.

The Gudh mandap is a simple hall with a heavily decorated doorway. Installed here is the idol of Adi Nath. The mandap is meant for Arti to the deity. The Hastishala (Elephant Cell) was constructed by Prithvipal, a descendant of Vimal Shah in 1147-49 A.D and features a row of elephants in sculpture.

Legend: According to the local legend before becoming the minister, the two brothers Vastupala and Tejapala went on a pilgrimage carrying huge wealth, which they decided to bury under a tree, but while digging they found more gold. At this point Anupama Devi, wife of Tejapala advised them to build temples at Satrunjaya and Girnar with their wealth. During their term in office they heard about the holiness of Mt Abu and decided to build a temple there dedicated to Neminatha to commemorate their dead brother Luniga.

It is also believed that when the elaborate and intricate carvings were finished, Tejapala asked the carvers to add greater delicacy to the floral patterns by more chiseling, offering them reward in silver weighing as much as the marble filed. Later Tejapala offered gold in weight to the marble if it could be chiseled further. It must have taken a good deal of encouragement to complete a monument of such beauty and refinement.

The Luni VasahiThe Luni Vasahi or Tejapala temple resembles the architectural plan of Vimala Vashi temple (built nearly 200 years ago), it stands as the last of the monument built in the Solanki style, which came to an end with the occupation of Gujarat at the end of the 13th century. Vastupal and Tejpal built this temple in 1230 AD.

Deity: Dedicated to the 22nd Tirthankara Shri Nemi Nathji

Architecture: The striking feature of this temple is its dome, which stands on eight pillars. The pendant of the dome drops from the ceiling looking like a cluster of half open lotuses. Next is the Grabagriha, which when lighted reveals the massive idol of Naminatha. There are 39 cells here each containing one or more images. Most of the ceilings in front of the cells are highly ornamented. The reliefs in the porticoes of the cells depict incidents from the life of Neminatha, his marriage, deification etc. The representation of the marriage pavilion describes the scene and portrays the reason for the conversion of Neminatha who was betrothed to Rajimati, the daughter of the king of Girnar.

The Rang mandap has a central dome from which hangs a beautifully carved ornamental pendent. 72 figures of seated Tirthankaras are portrayed in a circular band and just below this band are 360 small figures of Jain monks.

The Hathikhana has 10 carved elephants inside the cell. Formerly these elephants carried the idols representing the members of Vastupala`s family, but these have now disappeared. Behind the elephants are 10 panels, each bearing a male and female figures on it (representing Vastupala`s family). In northern end, the 7th and 8th panel carries the figures of Vastupala with Lalitha Devi and Viryta Devi and Tejapala with Anupama Devi, the guiding spirit behind this venture of Tejapala and is rightly described in the inscription as a "flower of celestial beauty, whose whole family was distinguished for prosperity, modesty, wisdom, decorum and talent."

The Navchowki features the most magnificent and delicate marble stone cutting work in the temple. Each of the nine ceilings exceeds the other in beauty and grace. The Gudh mandap has a black marble idol of the 22nd Jain Tirthankara Neminath. The Kirthi Stambha - black stone pillar stands on the left side of the temple and was constructed by Maharana Kumbha of Mewar.

The remaining three temples are smaller but just as elegant.

Pittalhar Temple: This temple was built by Bhima Shah, a minister of Sultan Mohammad Begada of Ahmedabad. A massive metal statue of Rishab Dev (Adinath), cast in five metals is installed in the temple. The main metal used in this statue is `Pital` (brass), hence the name `Pittalhar`. The shrine consists of a main Garbhagraha, Gudh mandap and Navchowki. The temple is also known as Shri Rishabh Deoji temple.

Parshavanath Temple: This temple is dedicated to Lord Parshavnath and was built by Mandlik and his family in 1458-59 AD. It is a three-storied building, and is the tallest of all the temples at Dilwara. On all the four sides of the sanctum on the ground floor there are four big mandaps. The outer walls of the sanctum comprise of beautiful sculptures in gray sandstone, depicting Dikpals, Vidhya devis, Yakshinis, Shalabhanjikas and other sculptures. The temple is also known as the Khartar Vashi temple.

Mahaveer Swami Temple: is a small structure constructed in 1582 A.D. and is dedicated to the 24th Jain Tirthankara, Lord Mahaveer. There are pictures painted by artists from Sirohi on the upper walls of the porch in 1764 AD.

Other attractions close by: here include the Bikaner Palace, the Nakki Lake, the Adhar Devi temple, Achalgarh Shiva temple and the Gaumukh Shiva temple.

How to get There
By Air : Maharana Pratap airport, Udaipur is the nearest airport. Daily flight form Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur are available to Udaipur.

By Train : Abu Road is the nearest railway station and is about 22 kms from Mount Abu. And well connected by Ahemdabad, Jaipur, Mumbai and Jodhpur.

By Road : Rajasthan Roadways run very comfortable deluxe buses from Jaipur and Abu Road to Maunt Abu. It is also connected by road to Delhi, Udaipur, Ajmer, Bundi and Udaipur.
SIKH ARE ALSO HAVE TEMPLES INDIA
SIKH TEMPLES
Most of the Gurdwaras are present in the Northern India. These are the place of worship of the Sikhs. Guru Granth Sahib is the book consists of the words of saints. People usually visit Gurudwara to pay obeisance to the sacred book Guru Granth Sahib, which is the basis of Sikh religion.

India has some of the beautiful Gurudwaras in the world. Golden Temple, Hemkunt Sahib, Anandpur Sahib, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Sis Ganj Gurudwara, Gurudwara Nanak Piao, Gurudwara Manju Ka Tila, Gurudwara Rakab Ganj, Poanta Sahib, Gurudwara Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Manikaran Sahib, Manak Jhera, Nangli Sahib Gurudwara, Guru Nanak Darbar, Dashmesh Darbar, Ganesh Peth Gurudwara, Gurudwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha, Nagpur Chawl Gurudwara, Jai Jawan Nagar Gurudwara, Ramgodia Shivajinagar Gurudwara, Sapras Gurudwara, Sri Guru Nanak Sat Sangh Sabha, Manikaran Gurudwara, Hemkund Saheb, Gurudwara Alamgir, Gurudwara Kiratpur Sahib, Gurudwara Sisgang Sahib, Gurudwara Harminder Sahib, are some of the finest ones
GOLDEN TEMPLE
The gilded gold dome and small minarets is the center of Sikh faith. Originally it was just a mud-house constructed by Guru Amar Das. He is said to have found a magical herb at the edge of the pool, which cured skin ailment. This Amrit Sarovar remained a village tank, until the fourth Guru Ram Das began to build a permanent structure.

Legend: Amritsar according to various legends is regarded as an ancient site. Valmiki is said to have written the Ramayana, near this Pool. It was here, that Sita is said to have stayed during the period of her vanvas (banishment). Yet another legend identifies this pool as the place where Lord Rama`s army was restored to life with the help of a jug of nectar that descended from heaven after being killed by Ram;s sons. Valmiki`s ashram is also said to have been a short distance from this Pool. The area was thickly forested and near the ashram was a hexagonal tank called Ram Tirth, approximately one kilometre from Amritsar; the other tanks nearby were Ramsar, Santokhsar, Ram Talai and Durgiana now centers of pilgrimage for Hindus and Sikhs.

Guru Ram DasHistory: In 1574 AD Guru Ram Das made his home by this poolside and it came to be called Guru-ka-Mahal. In 1577, Guru Ram Das purchased the pool and the surrounding land from its owners. Akbar is said to have offered a grant of twelve villages to the pool, many times but the Guru always declined the gift. Guru Ram Das got the tank excavated to construct a shrine at its centre.

In 1588 AD, Hazrat Mian Mir laid the foundation stone of Golden temple. The followers built their homes in the neighbourhood creating the town of Ramdaspur. The town derived its name Amritsar from the pool of nectar - amrit. The project was chalked out by Guru Amar Das and the plan was executed by Ram Das under the counsel of Baba Buddhaji.

The work was started by Guru Ram Das and was completed by his son and successor Guru Arjan Dev. It was in 1802 the town got incorporated in the dominion of Maharaja Ranjit Singh who donated extensively for its gold exterior. The architectural shape of the temple was also redesigned in 1808 AD with the help of skilled Muslim architects, masons and wood-carvers from Chaniot, now in Pakistan. The entire Naqqashi (floral decoration) and Jaratkari (stone inlay) work was done by these artisans under the supervision of Badaru-Mohiudin, the chief architect. After the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1839, the task of completing the work fell on three Sikhs.

The courtyard of the Golden Temple has been extended and remodeled many times in the present age.

Architecture of Golden temple
The boundary line of the pool was laid in AD 1570. The tank was named Amritsar and the town also came to be called by the same name. While the tank was under construction, Guru Arjan Dev consulted Baba Buddhaji and expressed his wish to raise a beautiful permanent structure in the pool of nectar. The object of Guru Arjan Dev in planning the structure was to combine both spiritual and temporal aspects, the combination of Nirgun and Sargun.

Places around the temple
Akal TakhtAkal Takht
It faces the temple and was built by Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru in 1609. The semi-circular platform on a large square is the Durbar hall. All important gatherings are addresses from the Akal Takht. The structure has marble pillars, with a semi-circular platform with an open view towards the courtyard. The ceiling is gilded with ornamentations which have been added much later. The wall paintings also belong to a later period for many show Europeans. All the commandments affecting the community as a whole is issued from here. It has been pulled down many times and rebuilt. Weapons of Guru Hargobind and other Sikh heroes are preserved here.

Guru Ka Langar
The community kitchen is served here 24 hours of the day and all are invited.

Guru Ram Das Niwas
This place is a free hostel. It has 228 rooms and 18 halls.

Other places of interest include:
Dukh Bhanjani Ber - Jujube tree that heals all and women with no issue are always granted their wish.
Thara Sahib
Ber Baba Budhaji
Gurudwara Ilachi Ber
Ath Sath Tirath - 68 holy places
Gurudwara Shaheed Bunga Baba Deep Singh

How to go:
By air: Amritsar is well connected by air and has national and international flights.

By road: Bus services for the various cities and towns in and around Amritsar and Lahore too. Within the city taxis, rented cars, auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are available.

By rail: nearest railhead is Amritsar.

Best time to go: Between November to March

MUSLIMS ARE LIVING IN INDIA
MOSQES IN INDIA
The mosques or religious centers of Muslims are not only a place of worship but also a learning center. Basically India`s religious tolerance has made lots of religion to flourish. There are tombs such as Taj Mahal that shows the depth of undying love while Mughal Emperor Humayun`s Tomb is considered the most perfectly planned octagonal building in the history of Indian Architecture.

Agra and Fatehpur Sikri are not mere rich legacies of Mughal History. They can be said as the finest examples of architecture, which combined both Hindu and Muslim elements in it. The remains of seven cities in Delhi include the remnants of Shahjhanabad and Qutub Minar, which are worth a visit. Lucknow and Hyderabad`s Nawabi legacy is still being in the monuments such as the Bada Imambara and Charminar.

Thus the mosques can be described as the enclosed space that provides relief from distractions from outside. Jamma Masjid, Humayun Tomb, Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Tugluquabad, Sikandra, Bada Imambara, Chota Imambara, Haji Ali Dargah, Atala Masjid, Ajmer Sharief, Jumma Masjid, Dargah of Bu Ali Shah Qalandar, Kabuli Bagh Mosque, Lat-ki Masjid, Pathar Masjid, Solah Khamba Masjid, etc are some the gracious mosques in India.