Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple

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Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple in Tiruchirapalli is among the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Lord
Vishnu. One of the most illustrious Vaishnava temples in South India, it is believed to have been built
some time between sixth and ninth centuries. Spread across 156 acres, the temple is also regarded as the
largest functioning Hindu temple in the world!
Where: Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu

Kumbeswarar Temple
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Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Adi Kumbeswarar Temple is located in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.
Covering an area of 30,181 square feet, the temple was built in the 9th Century. The temple complex
houses many halls. The most well-known is the sixteen-pillared hall built during the Vijayanagar period.
It has 27 stars and 12 zodiacs sculpted in a single piece of stone.
Where: Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu

Brihadeeswarar Temple
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Also called Rajarajesvaram or Peruvudaiyar Koyil, Brihadishvara Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva. The temple is located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, and is said to have been completed in 1010
A.D. It is touted as one of the largest South Indian temples and is an exemplary example of Dravidian
architecture.
Where: Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
3. Shore Temple – Mahabalipuram

Photo by Swasti Verma on 500px.com

This temple at Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, is called so because it faces

the Bay of Bengal. One of the oldest structural temples in South India,
this temple was constructed sometime around 700 A.D. during the reign
of the Pallava king Narasimhavarman II. Shore temple is a complex of
three temples, one large and two small.

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Real

As the Shore Temple was initially identified as part of the Seven

Pagodas at Mahabalipuram, an ancient Hindu legend referred to the
origin of these pagodas in mythical terms.
Prince Hiranyakasipu refused to worship the god Vishnu. The prince’s
son, Prahlada, loved and was devoted to Vishnu greatly and criticized his
father’s lack of faith. Hiranyakasipu banished Prahlada but then relented
and allowed him to come home. Father and son quickly began to argue
about Vishnu’s nature. When Prahlada stated that Vishnu was present
everywhere, including in the walls of their home, his father kicked a
pillar. Vishnu emerged from the pillar in the form of Narasimha, One
with a lion’s head and killed Hiranyakasipu. Prahlada eventually became
the king and had a grandson named Bali. Bali founded Mahabalipuram
on this site.