https://oldmadrasnthiruvottiyur-thyagaraja

 oldmadrasnr.blogspot.com/2025/12/thiruvottiyur-thyagaraja-temple.html?m=1

cauvery riverside temples

 Amirthakadeswarar

Pathanjalishwarar

SundarESwarar

 Palvannathar Temple, Thirukkazhippalai

Semmeninathar Temple, Thirukkaanur

Kundhaleshvarar Temple, kurakkukkA

AraNyasundarESwarar Temple, kIzaiththirukkATTuppaLLi

Sri Jagannath dham Puri

 

Sri Jagannath dham Puri, 

Cooking 

The temple is famous for its unique cooking technique, where seven pots are stacked on top of each other, and the food in the top pot is cooked first, and the one in the lowest pot is cooked last. This technique is known as "Anna Prasad Bhoga" and has been practiced for centuries. In this article, we will explore the science behind this cooking method.

The cooking of the food at Sri Jagannath temple is done in a traditional earthen oven known as "chulha." The chulha is a simple but effective way of cooking food using wood as fuel. The seven pots are stacked on top of each other, with the top pot being the smallest and the bottom pot being the largest. The pots are made of brass or copper and are designed to fit into each other seamlessly.

The cooking process starts by lighting the wood on the base of the chulha, which creates heat. The heat then rises up the chulha and heats the bottom pot. As the pot heats up, it transfers the heat to the food inside it. The food in the bottom pot takes longer to cook as it is the farthest away from the source of heat. The pots above it receive heat from the pots below, making the cooking process faster. This is known as conduction.

However, as the heat moves up the pots, it also creates a convection current, which speeds up the cooking process. Convection is the process by which heat is transferred through a fluid medium, such as air or water. In the case of cooking in the seven pots, the heat rises up the pots, creating a current of hot air that circulates around the pots. This current of hot air helps to cook the food faster, especially in the pots at the top.

The pots used in the cooking process are also designed in a way that aids in the cooking process. The top pot is small and has a narrow opening, which helps to trap the heat and cook the food faster. The pots in the middle are wider and have a larger surface area, allowing them to cook more food at once. The bottom pot is the largest and has the widest surface area, making it suitable for cooking larger quantities of food.

Another factor that contributes to the cooking process is the type of food being cooked. The food in the top pot is usually a liquid or a semi-solid, such as dal or kheer, which cooks quickly. The food in the middle pots is usually vegetables or lentils, which take longer to cook. The food in the bottom pot is usually rice, which takes the longest to cook.

In conclusion, the unique cooking technique used at Sri Jagannath temple is a combination of conduction and convection heating, aided by the design of the pots and the type of food being cooked. The heat generated by the wood fire at the base of the chulha creates a convection current that circulates around the pots, while the pots themselves conduct the heat to the food. The food in the top pot cooks first, and the food in the bottom pot cooks last, as a result of the combination of these factors. This cooking method is not only efficient but also adds to the unique cultural heritage of Sri Jagannath temple.

kolavizhi amman,

 

Some of the salient features of this temple are...

The temple faces north with an entrance arch. Stucco images of Saptamatrikas are on the compound walls. The temple and presiding deity are also facing north. In the sanctum, Amman’s stucco statue is on the back side wall with 8 hands holding various weapons. The abhishekam is done for the presiding deity BhadraKali Amman in front of the moolavar.

In prakaram Saptamatrikas,  Vinayagar and Naagars. The Simha Vahana and the presiding deity are a few feet below the outside ground level, which shows that the temple is very old. The Bootha Gana is half-buried. Karuppanna Swami is on a Pillar of the front mandapa. A Tortoise bas relief is on the floor, near the east side wall of the sanctum sanctorum. It is believed that this might have been donated by the fishermen's community since this place was thickly populated once.

HISTORY

During Kapaleeswarar temple Brahmotsavam / celebrations preference is given first to Kolavizhi Amman. Panguni Brahmotsavam of Kapaleeswarar temple will start after doing a pooja to this Pidari Kolavizhi Amman. The flag will be hoisted after doing pooja, for which the astram/Soolam - சூலம் - will be brought from Kapaleeswarar Temple to this Amman temple for pooja. In 63var processions, Kolavizhi Amman leads first, followed by Vinayagar and Sri Kapaleeswarar.

LEGEND

Lord Shiva stayed in Mylapore after getting permission from Kolavizhi Amman, one of the Village deities of the Grama Devatha. As per the historians, The Koba Muzhi Amman – கோப முழி அம்மன் -  which got corrupted to Kolavizhi Amman.  In 1855 CE, A British officer from St George Fort came and prayed to Amman of this temple to get cured of his eye problem.

There is a well covered with Iron grills. A lot of locks are locked with the grill. It is believed that Kolavizhi Amman will remove the hurdles like legal cases, etc. After prayer is answered the devotees will remove the lock.

 

The devotees praise Kolavizhi Amman as the Guardian angel and protect them from any danger including Natural disasters. So the devotees used to keep a share of the money to be offered before doing any important functions or any business. It was said that a Nagar ( Snake ) shape was observed in the Neem tree, a few months before.

FESTIVALS

The important functions held in this temple are Pournami Pooja ( the vegetables offered are hanged in the temple ), Poochoridal, carrying Poochatti (carrying the fire pots), and Milk abhishekam carrying in a procession, are celebrated in a grand manner.

veludharan blog/kolavizhi-amman-temple-

mangalambigai

 

மங்களம் தரும் மங்களாம்பிகை :

மகாப்பிரளய காலத்தில் உலகைக் காக்க இறைவனுடன் ஓடம் ஏறி வந்ததால், இத்தலத்தில் உள்ள இறைவியை லோகநாயகி என்று அழைக்கின்றனர். சகல மங்களங்களையும் தருவதால் மங்களாம்பிகை என்றும், மங்களேஸ்வரி என்றும் அழைக்கப்படுகிறார்.

கும்பகோணத்தில் சோமநாதன் என்பவர் தனது மனைவி, மகன் மற்றும் மகளுடன் வாழ்ந்து வந்தார். ஒரு நாள் இவரது வீட்டுக்கு வந்த ஜோதிடர் ஒருவர், ‘உங்கள் மகள் மங்களா 16-வது வயதில் விதவையாகி விடுவாள்’ எனக் கூறினார். அதைக்கேட்டு சோமநாதன் வருந்தினார்.

சிறிது காலத்தில் தஞ்சைக்கு அருகே உள்ள திட்டையில் உள்ள ஒருவருக்கும், மங்களாவிற்கும் திருமணம் நடைபெற்றது. திட்டைக்கு வந்த நாள் முதல் மங்களா, தனது கணவன் நீண்டநாட்கள் வாழ வேண்டும் என திட்டையில் உள்ள லோகநாயகி அம்மனை வணங்கி வந்தாள். பவுர்ணமி தினத்தன்று எமன் மங்களாவின், கணவனின் உயிரை பறிக்க நெருங்கினான்.

இதனை அறிந்து அலறித் துடித்த மங்களா, லோகநாயகி அம்மனை சரணடைந்து, ‘எமனிடம் இருந்து என் கணவனின் உயிரை காப்பாற்றி, எனக்கு மாங்கல்ய பிச்சை கொடு’ என கண்ணீர் மல்க வேண்டினாள். அவளது பிரார்த்தனைக்கு மனம் இரங்கிய லோகநாயகி, மங்களாவின் கையில் விபூதியை கொடுத்து ‘இதை எமன் மீது இடு. உன் கணவன் நீண்ட ஆயுளுடன் இருப்பான். நீயும் நீண்ட நாட்கள் தீர்க்க சுமங்கலியாக வாழ்வாயாக’ என ஆசி கூறி மறைந்தார். மங்களாவும், இறைவியின் ஆணைப்படியே செய்தாள். எமன் மறைந்தான்.

பின்னர் மங்களா நீண்ட நாட்கள் தீர்க்க சுமங்கலியாக வாழ்ந்தாள். மாங்கல்ய பிச்சை கொடுத்ததால் இத்தலத்தில் அன்னை மங்களாம்பிகா, மங்களேஸ்வரி என அழைக்கப்படுகிறார்

  thittai guru bhagawan

Tirupullani adi jagannathar

The Adi Jagannatha Temple in Thiruppullani, (a village in the outskirts of Ramanathapuram ) is dedicated to the Vishnu. 
It is believed that Rama used grass ('pul' in Tamil as a pillow (thalai annai in Tamil) to sleep and hence the village attained the name Thiruppullani.
It is one of the 108 Divya Desam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Adi Jagannatha and his consort Lakshmi as Padmasini.

https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=837

Video

Meenakshi sundareswar temple madurai

 Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, also known as Meenakshi Amman Thirukkovil, 

a historic Hindu temple located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. 

It is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, her consort Sundareśvarar, a form of Shiva and her brother Aḻagar, a form of Vishnu.

The temple represents a confluence of the Shaivism, Shaktism and Vaishnavism denominations of Hinduism.

The temple  with the goddess  is mentioned in 6th-century CE texts. This temple is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams, (Shiva temples praised in the verses of Tamil Saiva Nayanars of the 6th-9th century CE.)

Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple

அருள்மிகு திருக்காமக்கோட்டம் உடைய ஆளுடைய நாச்சியார் உடனாகிய திருவாலவாய் அண்ணல் திருக்கோவில் [1]

The city derived its name Aalavai, from the unique way in which Shiva's snake encircled itself with its tail in its mouth, marking a boundary around the city. The city derived its name Aalavai, from the unique way in which Shiva's snake encircled itself with its tail in its mouth, marking a boundary around the city. 

Temple tank: Potramarai Kulam (Golden-Lotus Pond)

Pandyan architecture over 40 Inscriptions

temple was built by Pandyan King Sadayavarman Kulasekaran I (r. 1190–1216). He built the main portions of the three-storeyed Gopuram at the entrance of Sundareswarar Shrine and the central portion of the Goddess Meenakshi Shrine, which are some of the earliest surviving parts of the temple. 

Maravarman Sundara Pandyan I built a gopuram in 1231, then Avanivendaraman, later rebuilt, expanded and named as Sundara Pandya Thirukkopuram.

Chitra gopuram (W), also known as Muttalakkum Vayil, was built by Maravarman Sundara Pandyan II (1238-1251). This gopuram is named after the frescoes and reliefs that depict secular and religious themes of Hindu culture. It was rebuilt after the 14th-century damage, its granite structure was renovated by Kumara Krishnappar after 1595.

Though the temple has historic roots, most of the present structure was rebuilt after the 14th century, further repaired, renovated and expanded in the 17th century by Tirumala Nayaka.

In the early 14th century, the armies of Delhi Sultanate led by Malik Kafur plundered the temple, looted it of its valuables and destroyed the Madurai temple town along with many other temple towns of South India.

Vijayanagara Empire rulers  rebuilt the core and reopened the temple.

In the 16th century, the temple complex was further expanded and fortified by the Nayak ruler Vishwanatha Nayakar and later others. 

The complex has numerous sculpted pillared halls such as Aayirankaal (1000-pillared hall), Kilikoondu-mandapam, Golu-mandapam and Pudu-mandapam. 

the temple includes Vishnu in many narratives, sculptures and rituals as he is considered to be Meenakshi's brother.This has made this temple and Madurai as the "southern Mathura", one included in Vaishnava texts.

According to the inscriptions found inside the temple, the deity goddess was originally called as Kaamakottam Udaiya Thiru Aalavaai Naachiyaar (Tamil : அருள்மிகு காமக்கோட்டம் உடைய திரு ஆலவாய் நாச்சியார்) which means the Goddess of Thiru Alavaai (Madurai).

Meenakshi (Sanskrit: मीनाक्षी, lit. 'Mīnākṣī', Tamil: மீனாட்சி, lit. 'Mīṉāṭci') is a term meaning "fish-eyed",derived from the words mina ("fish") and akshi ("eyes").

She was earlier known by the Tamil name Thadadakai ("fish-eyed one"), which was called later as Meenakshi.

Legend

The goddess Meenakshi is the principal deity of the temple, unlike most Shiva temples in South India where Shiva is the principal deity.

According to the Tamil text Tiruvilaiyatarpuranam, King Malayadwaja Pandya and his wife Kanchanamalai performed a Yajna seeking a son for succession.Instead, a daughter was born out of the fire who was already 3 years old and had three breasts. 

Shiva intervened and said that the parents should treat her like a son, and when she met her husband, she will lose the third breast. They followed the advice. The girl grew up, the king crowned her as the successor and when she met Shiva, his words came true, she took her true form of Meenakshi.

this may reflect the matrilineal traditions in South India and the regional belief that "penultimate [spiritual] powers rest with the women", gods listen to their spouse, and that the fates of kingdoms rest with the women.

The marriage of Meenakshi and Shiva was a grand event, with all gods, goddesses and living beings gathered. Vishnu is believed to be the brother of Meenakshi, giving her away to Shiva at the wedding.

History

The town of Madurai is ancient and one mentioned in Sangam era texts.[dated to be from the 1st to 4th century CE.

Some early Tamil texts call Madurai as Koodal, and these portray it as a capital and a temple town where every street radiated from the temple. Goddess Meenakshi is described as the divine ruler, who along with Shiva were the primary deities that the southern Tamil kingdoms such as the Pandya dynasty revered.

The early texts imply that a temple existed in Madurai by the mid-6th century.In medieval literature and inscriptions, it is sometimes referred to as Kadambavanam (lit. "forest of Kadamba") or Velliambalam (lit. "silver hall" where Shiva danced). 

It was described to be the Sangam of scholars, or a place where scholars meet. It is mentioned in the Tamil text Tiruvilayadalpuranam and the Sanskrit text Halasya Mahatmya.

Early Tamil texts mention the temple and its primary deity by various epithets and names. Thirugnanasambandar, the Saiva saint of Saiva philosophy for example, mentioned this temple in the 7th century, and described the deity as Aalavaai Iraivan.

The origin of the temple is mentioned in these early Tamil texts, some in the regional Puranam genre of literature. All of these place the temple in ancient times and include a warrior goddess, but the details vary significantly and are inconsistent with each other. 

Some link to it deities they call Aalavaai Iraivan and Aalavaai Annal, or alternatively Angayar Kanni Ammai. 

Some link its legend to other deities such as Indra who proclaim the primacy of the goddess, while some describe Hindu gods appearing before ancient kings or saints urging wealthy merchants to build this temple in the honour of a goddess. 

One legend describes a childless king and queen performing yajna for a son, they get a daughter who inherits the kingdom, conquers the earth, meets Shiva ultimately, marries him, continues to rule from Madurai, and the temple memorializes those times. 

Scholars have attempted to determine the history of the temple from inscriptions found in and outside Madurai, as well as comparing the records relating to South Indian dynasties. These largely post-date the 12th century.

before the colonial era, the temple complex itself was inside another layer of the old city's fortified walls. The British demolished this layer of fortification in the early 19th century. The surviving plan of the temple complex places it within the old city, one defined by a set of concentric squares around the temple.

The ancient temple complex was open. The courtyard walls were added over time in response to the invasion and the plunder of the temple complex. According to the text Thirupanimalai, the Vijayanagara commander Kumara Kampana after completing his conquest of Madurai, rebuilt the pre-existing structure and built defensive walls around the temple in the 14th century.

The four tallest gopurams on the outer walls alone depict nearly 4,000 mythological stories.

Nayaka Mandapam in the northeastern part of second courtyard in 1526. This mandapa houses the famed Nataraja statue with his "right" leg up in dance mudra, instead of the left leg typically found in Nataraja bronzes.

Who built? 

temples south

 an extraordinary confluence of religion and art, these famous temples in South India have become a shining example of the cultural heritage and diversity of India. Of all the existing ones, take a look at some of the finest architectural creations made throughout thousands of years by historic dynasties for the creators and preservers of this beautiful planet. In India, for hundreds of years, the only form of tourism that existed was purely religious and devotional. Even to this day, millions of devotees flock to these incredibly famous temples in South India every year in a quest for moksha and inner peace.

History and Origins South Indian temples

The origins of South Indian temples date back to the early centuries of the Common Era. The Dravidian style of architecture flourished under different rulers, each contributing unique elements to temple design.

• Pallava Dynasty (4th–9th century): They built rock-cut temples like those at Mahabalipuram.

• Chola Dynasty (9th–13th century): Known for grand temples like the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur.

• Vijayanagara Empire (14th–17th century): They added vast temple complexes like the ones at Hampi.

• Hoysala Dynasty (11th–14th century): Famous for detailed carvings, seen in temples like Chennakesava in Belur.

These dynasties were instrumental in promoting temple culture, encouraging both artistic expression and religious devotion.

temples-in-south-india

ஸ்ரீ அமரலிங்கேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில் | அமராவதி - ஆந்திரா | Amaralingeswara ...

Sri Komaleeswarar

 

Sri Komaleeswarar Temple / ஸ்ரீ கோமளீஸ்வரர் கோவில், Komaleeswaranpet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. 

09^th July 2017.

This 400-year-old Shiva temple is a little off from Adithanar main Road in the busy market area of old automobile parts, at Komaleeswaranpet, Pudupet on the banks of Vriddha Ksheera River, now called Holy River Cooum/Koovam.

sri-komaleeswarar-temple

vaikarai sivan

 

 

 

 Many Siddhas have worshiped this small but
ancient Shiva temple in the village of
Manniyar Jyoti.

 

Shiva’s name here is Vaikarai Ishwar yet He is also called fondly as  Jeevanatheeswarar.

 

 The local villagers have already pledged 7 lakhs for the renovation of this sacred temple as Shiva here also acts as their Kula Devata and Father

 

 

Avani betta sivan karnataka

According to legend, this hill was once the abode of the sage Valmiki, the revered author of the Ramayana. It’s said that Sita, wife of Lord Rama, gave birth to her twin sons, Lava and Kusha, at Avani. 

The hill is also believed to be the site where Sita performed the Ashwamedha Yagna.

 connection to the Lava-Kusha legend.

Local lore suggests that the twins were raised here, and their story is deeply woven into the fabric of Avani’s landscape. The hill is dotted with numerous spots believed to be linked to their childhood

avani-betta-a-day-trek-near-bangalore

Temple video

Another place of birth

sirghazi chattainathar

 

      தேவாரம் பாடல் பெற்ற சீர்காழி சட்டைநாதசுவாமி கோயில்

சட்டைநாதசுவாமி

புராண பெயர்கள்:பிரம்மபுரம், சீர்காழி

 ஊர்: சீர்காழி     மாவட்டம்: மயிலாடுதுறை

மூலவர்: சட்டைநாதர், பிரம்மபுரீஸ்வரர், தோணியப்பர்  உற்சவர்: சோமஸ்கந்தர்

தாயார்: பெரியநாயகி, திருநிலைநாயகி

தல விருட்சம்: பாரிஜாதம், பவளமல்லி  தீர்த்தம்:பிரம்மத் தீர்த்தம் முதலாக 22 தீர்த்தங்கள்

 பாடல் வகை: தேவாரம் பாடியவர்கள்: சம்பந்தர், அப்பர், சுந்தரர்

தொன்மை: 1000-2000 வருடங்களுக்கு முன்   அமைத்தவர்: சோழர்கள்

 சம்பந்தர், அப்பர், சுந்தரர் மூவரதும் பாடல் பெற்ற சிவத்தலம்.   சம்பந்தரின் அவதாரத் தலம் . 

சம்பந்தர் ஞானப்பால் உண்டமை, பிரமன் வழிபட்டமை, புறாவடிவில் வந்த அக்கினியால் சிபி மன்னன் பேறுபெற்றமை முதலிய அற்புதங்கள் நிகழ்ந்த தலமென்பது தொன்நம்பிக்கை. 

திருஞானசம்பந்தர் ‘தோடுடைய செவியன்‘ என்று  திருப்பதிகம் பாடியது இத்தலத்தில் ./ தேவாரப் பாடல் பெற்ற தலங்களில் காவிரி வடகரைத் தலங்களில் அமைந்துள்ள 14வது தலம் . 

 மாணிக்கவாசகர், அருணகிரிநாதர், கணநாதர், நம்பியாண்டார் நம்பிகள், பட்டினத்தார், சேக்கிழார், அருணாசல கவிராயர், மாரிமுத்தா பிள்ளை, முத்து தாண்டவ தீட்சிதர் ஆகியோரும்கூட இத்தலத்தின் மீது பாடல்கள் பாடியுள்ளனர்.

தொன்மம்

இந்தப் பேரண்டத்தைச் சுற்றி வளைந்து கிடக்கும் பெருங்கடல் ஊழிக்காலத்தில் பொங்கி எழுந்து அண்டத்தையே அழித்தபோது, உமாமகேசுவர் பிரணவத்தை தோணியாகக் கொண்டு கடலில் மிதந்து, இத்தலத்துக்கு வந்து தங்கித் திரும்பவும் அண்டத்தை உருவாக்கியிருக்கிறார் என்பது நம்பிக்கை. 

இரணியனது உயிர் குடித்த நரசிங்கம் அகங்கரித்துத் திரிந்தபோது அதனை அடக்கி, அதன் எலும்பைக் கதையாகவும், தோலைச் சட்டையாகவும் தரித்த வடுக நாதரே சட்டைநாதர் என்று தலவரலாறு .

 இது சிவனது பைரவ மூர்த்தங்களில் ஒன்று. இவரையே ஆபத்துத்தாரணர் என்று மக்கள் வணங்குகின்றனர். என்று தலபுராணம் . இதே சட்டைநாதர் முத்துச் சட்டைநாதர் என்ற பெயரோடும் கோயிலின் வலம்புரி மண்டபத்தில் யோக ஸ்தானத்தில் அஷ்ட பைரவர் உருவிலும் காட்சி கொடுக்கிறார்.

கோயில் அமைப்பு

இந்தக் கோயில்   மூன்று தளங்களைக் கொண்டதாக ஒரு மாடக் கோவில்  .

 பெரிய பகுதியில் இறைவன் தோணியப்பர், சட்டைநாதர் .

 வட பக்கத்தில் திருநிலை நாயகி கோயில் . அக்கோயிலின் முன் பிரம தீர்த்தம் உள்ளது. 

இந்தத் தீர்த்தக் கரையிலேயேதான் திருஞானசம்பந்தர் ஞானப்பால் உண்டிருக்கிறார்.

 இரண்டு கோயில்களுக்கும் இடையில் மேற்குக் கோடியில் ஞானசம்பந்தருக்குத் தனித்ததொரு கோயில் உள்ளது.

கோயிலில் நுழைந்து ஆஸ்தான மண்டபத்தைக் கடந்தால் கருவறையில் லிங்க உருவில் பிரமபுரி ஈசுவரரைக் காண இயலும். அவருக்கு வலப்பக்கத்தில் மகா மண்டபத்தில் ஞானசம்பந்தர் உற்சவ மூர்த்தியாக இருக்கின்றார். இந்த உற்சவர் சின்னஞ்சிறு குழந்தை வடிவில், பால்வடியும் முகத்தோடு இருப்பார். இவர் கையிலே வழக்கமாக இருக்கும் பொற்றாளம் இராது. இடது கையில் சிறு கிண்ணத்தோடு இருப்பார். வலது கையோ தோடுடைய செவியனாம் தோணி புரத்தானைச் சுட்டிக் காட்டும் வகையில் இருக்கும்.

இந்த மாடக் கோயிலின் மேற்பிராகாரத்தில் விமானம் வடிவில் உள்ள கட்டு மலைமீது எளிதாக ஏறலாம். அங்கே அந்த மலை மீது குருமூர்த்தமான தோணியப்பர் பெரிய நாயகி உடன் காட்சி அளிக்கிறார். அவருக்கும் மேல் தளத்திலே, மலை உச்சியிலே தென்திசை நோக்கியவராயச் சட்டைநாதர் நிற்கிறார். தோணியப்பரும் சட்டைநாதரும் சுதையாலான திருவுருவங்களே.

இங்குள்ள திருஞானசம்பந்தரின் கோயிலில் செய்யப்படும் அர்ச்சனையானது முருகப்பெருமானுக்கு உரிய அஷ்டோத்தரத்தைச் சொல்லி செய்யப்படுகிறது. காரணம் முருகனது அவதார மூர்த்தமே ஞானசம்பந்தர் என்று கருத்து உள்ளதே காரணம்.

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Little known temples

 

Some temples of India are world known.

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Some little known and

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ulagapuram

Indian temples statewise

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Temple desecration karnataka

The Narasimha temple on the Nijagal Betta hillock near Bengaluru, southern India is in ruins today. Its inside has been damaged by treasure hunters.2015  

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           Babri Masjid Demolition

India’s ancient temples, once bustling centers of worship and culture, have vanished over time due to invasions, destruction, and neglect. 

From the iconic Somnath Temple to the Keshava Deva Temple in Mathura, 

Read  the stories of temples that were destroyed or lost to history. 

Learn about the historical significance of these sacred sites and their lasting influence on India’s spiritual and architectural heritage.

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siva temples unesco

 The Great Living Chola Temples were built by kings of the Chola Empire, which stretched over all of south India and the neighbouring islands. The site includes three great 11th- and 12th-century Temples: the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram. The Temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram, built by Rajendra I, was completed in 1035

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Gangai Konda Choleeswara Temple

 

Gangai Konda Choleeswara Temple in Ariyalur, marking his triumph over the Pala dynasty;

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The city was founded by Rajendra I to commemorate his victory over the Pala Dynasty. It is now a small village, its past eminence only remembered by the existence of the Mahashiva Temple. The Chola Empire included the whole of southern India to the river Tungabhadra in the north. For administrative and strategic purposes, they built a new capital and named it Gangaikonda Cholapuram.

The surviving temple in Gangaikonda Cholapuram was completed in 1035 CE.^[6] Rajendra emulated the temple built by his father after his victory in a campaign across India that Chola era texts state covered Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Bengal. After his victory, he demanded that the defeated kingdoms send pots of Ganges River water and pour it into the well of this temple.^[3]

Rajendra I, according to Tamil tradition, thereafter assumed the name of Gangaikonda Cholan,

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 the Kadaram Konda Choleeswara Temple in Vellore, dedicated to his victory over Kadaram; and the

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