Temples
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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
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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 |
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Sri
Narasimhar
Information
from Gopura Darisanam Deepavali Malar 2006
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An idol of Narasimhar
carved out of a single stone with a seshnag hood can be seen in Hampi opposite
the Spataswara mandapam.
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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.
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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The
saptha (7) Vitanka sthalams are Tiruvaarur, Tirukkuvalai, Tirukkaaraivaasal,
Tirumaraikkaadu, Tiru Naagai, Tirunallaaru and Tiruvaimur. |
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Paadal
Petra Stalangal - Siva temples whose praise has been sung by the Nayanmars
- also known as Devaram Petra Thirukoilgal. |
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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. |
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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) |
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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) |
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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 |
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