Important Temples in India

PRELIM BITS
Important Temples In India

For CSE 2023
By Roman
5/8/2023
https://t.me/prelimbits
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Contents
Lord Venkateswara Temple (Andhra Pradesh) ............................................................................ 4
Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar) ............................................................................................................ 4
Somnath Temple [Gujarat] ............................................................................................................ 4
Dwarkadhish Temple [Gujarat] ..................................................................................................... 5
Vaishno Devi Temple [Jammu & Kashmir] .................................................................................. 5
Amarnath Temple [Jammu & Kashmir] ....................................................................................... 5
Virupaksha Temple [Karnataka] .................................................................................................... 5
Gomateshwara Temple [Karnataka] ............................................................................................. 6
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple ................................................................................................. 6
Khajuraho Temples → Madhya Pradesh ...................................................................................... 7
Kandariya Mahadeva Temple ........................................................................................................ 7
Lingaraja Temple ............................................................................................................................ 8
Siddhivinayak Temple → Maharashtra ........................................................................................ 8
Konark Sun Temple ........................................................................................................................ 9
Jagannath Temple → Odisha ......................................................................................................... 9
Golden Temple → Punjab .............................................................................................................. 9
Ramanathaswamy Temple (Rameswaram,Tamil Nadu) ........................................................... 10
Meenakshi Temple (Tamil Nadu) ................................................................................................ 10
HOYSALA Temples ........................................................................................................................ 10
Chennakeshava Temple, Belur (Karnataka) ............................................................................... 10
Hoysaleshwara Temple, Halebidu (Karnataka) ......................................................................... 11
Keshava Temple, Somanathapura (Karnataka) ......................................................................... 11
Laxmi Devi Temple: Hoysala ....................................................................................................... 12
Ranganathaswamy Temple → Tamil Nadu ............................................................................ 12
Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple ................................................................................................ 13
Mahamritunjaya Temple .............................................................................................................. 13
Sri Govindarajaswamy Temple .................................................................................................... 14
Govindaraja Perumal Temple ...................................................................................................... 14
Brihadeeswara Temple → Tamil Nadu ....................................................................................... 14
Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple ............................................................................................. 15
Airavatesvara Temple ................................................................................................................... 15
Rajagopalaswamy Temple ........................................................................................................... 16
Martand Sun Temple [Pandou Laidan] ...................................................................................... 16
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Kashi Vishwanath Temple → Uttar Pradesh .............................................................................. 16

Vittala Temple ............................................................................................................................... 17
(Chidambaram) Nataraja Temple → Tamil Nadu...................................................................... 18
Kamakhya Temple ........................................................................................................................ 18
Vishwa Shanti Stupa (World peace pagoda) ............................................................................. 19
Markandeshwar temple ............................................................................................................... 19
Ramappa Temple / Rudreshwara Temple .................................................................................. 19
Bhagyalakshmi Temple ................................................................................................................ 21
Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi ................................................................................................... 21
Thousand Pillars Temple .............................................................................................................. 22
Bhimeswara Swamy Temple (Draksharama) ............................................................................. 23
Rajarani Temple ............................................................................................................................ 23
Modhera Sun Temple, Gujarat .................................................................................................... 24
Chamundeshwari Temple ............................................................................................................ 24
Mahakaleshwar Temple ............................................................................................................... 25
Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam ............................................................. 25
Angkor Wat temple ...................................................................................................................... 26
Unakoti - Angkor Wat of North East .......................................................................................... 26
Jatar Deul temple.......................................................................................................................... 27
Thirumandhamkunnu Temple ..................................................................................................... 28
Mundeshwari Temple ................................................................................................................... 28
Pattadakal [Raktapura] Temples Complex ................................................................................ 29
Lad Khan Tem [Karnataka] .......................................................................................................... 30
Sabarimala Temple ....................................................................................................................... 31
Ranakpur Temple .......................................................................................................................... 31
Dilwara / Delvada Temples .......................................................................................................... 32
Palitana temples............................................................................................................................ 32
Chandraprabha Temple ................................................................................................................ 33
Kulpakji [aka. Kolanupaka Temple] ............................................................................................ 33
Dharmanath Temple ..................................................................................................................... 34
Sammed / Sammet Shikharji Temple ......................................................................................... 35
Saavira Kambada Temple ............................................................................................................ 36
Bawangaja...................................................................................................................................... 37
Girnar Jain Temples ...................................................................................................................... 37
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Humcha [Jain] temples ................................................................................................................ 38

Navagraha [Jain] Temple ............................................................................................................. 38
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Lord Venkateswara Temple (Andhra Pradesh)

 The temple on Tirumala hills is also known as Tirupathi Balaji temple. It is also called a
temple of seven hills.
o Tirumala Hills are part of Seshachalam Hills range
(remember Pushpa movie)
 Dedicated to Venkateswara a form of Vishnu.
 The temple is in Dravidian Architecture style.
Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar)

 The Mahabodhi Temple Complex is one of the four sacred locations associated with the
life of the Lord Buddha, particularly his ENLIGHTENMENT (BODHI).
o Lumbini (Birth) in Nepal,
o Sarnath (Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana - 1st Sermon) in
Uttar Pradesh, and
o Kushinagar (Mahaparinirvana-death) in Uttar
Pradesh are the other three.
 The Mauryan emperor Ashoka erected the original
building. It was, however, completely rebuilt in brick during
the late Gupta dynasty. The current temple was built in the
fifth or sixth centuries.
 Temple site contains outstanding records of the events
surrounding Buddha's life and subsequent adoration.
 Near the temple, a descendent of the Bodhi tree, under which the Buddha is claimed to
have sat until he attained enlightenment.
 The Buddha's Vajrayana (meaning "diamond throne" or "thunder seat") is a stone slab
erected by Ashoka to indicate the exact location where the Buddha sat.
 In 2002, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Somnath Temple [Gujarat]

 It is lso known as Deo Patan.
 It is one of the 12 jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva.
 Constructed in Chalukyan style.
 In 1026, Mahmud Ghazni lent the precious jewels and property of Somnath temple &
destroys it.
 Somnath was destroyed when Delhi Sultanate occupied Gujarat in 1299. Afzal Khan,
the commander of Ala-ud-din Khilji, plundered it.
 In 1394 it was destroyed again.
 In 1706, Mughal ruler Aurangzeb again demolished the temple.
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 1947 – Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel ordered the reconstruction of the temple that completed
in 1951.
 The first President of India Dr Rajendra Prasad installed the Jyotirling in the new temple
on May 11, 1951.
 He was criticised by the then Prime Minister for displaying personal faith in public while
being on the highest constitutional post of a secular nation.
Dwarkadhish Temple [Gujarat]

 It is also known as Jagat Mandir.
 Dedicated to the god Krishna
 It has mythological origin but it was In 800 AD,
the temple was renovated by philosopher and
theologian Adi Shankaracharya, and a memorial
of his visit is placed within the temple‟s complex.
 It is one of the four Hindu pilgrimages (Char
Dham).
 The original structure was destroyed by Mahmud
Brgada [most prominent Sultan of Gujarat Sultanate ] in 1472.
 Presently, in the Chalukya architecture style.
Vaishno Devi Temple [Jammu & Kashmir]

 Formed from the combined energies of Parvati, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
 it is 5200 feet above sea level atop Trikuta Hills.
 It is a Cave temple.
Amarnath Temple [Jammu & Kashmir]

 A cave temple situated at an altitude of 3888 metres.
 Deity: Shiva as in Lingam from
o Here, the stalagmites considered as the lingam, a physical manifestation of Shiva,
form a solid-dome-shape. Parvati and Ganesha are also present here as two smaller
stalagmites
 It is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths.
o Temples throughout South Asia that commemorate the location of fallen body
parts of the Hindu deity Sati.
 It is believed that Bhrigu Muni (A great sage) was the first to have discovered Amarnath.
Virupaksha Temple [Karnataka]

 Virupaksha Temple is located in Hampi in the Vijayanagara district of Karnataka.
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 It is part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi, designated as a UNESCO World

Heritage Site.
 The temple is dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, a form of Shiva.
 The temple was built by Lakkan Dandesha, a nayaka (chieftain) under the ruler Deva
Raya II also known as Prauda Deva Raya of the Vijayanagar Empire.
 Hampi, capital of the Vijayanagar empire, sits on the banks of the Tungabhadra River
(Pampa hole/Pampa river).
 Virupaksha Temple is the main center of pilgrimage at Hampi, and had been considered the
most sacred sanctuary over the centuries. It is intact among the surrounding ruins and is still
used in worship .
 There is also a Virupakshini Amma temple (mother goddess) in a village called

Nalagamapalle, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, approximately 100 km from Tirupati
 In the month of February the annual chariot festival is celebrated here every year.
Gomateshwara Temple [Karnataka]

 It is also known as Bahubali temple.
 The tallest monolithic statue (Of Gomateshwara son of
lord Rishabhanatha) in the world carved out of a single
block of granite.
 It is a Jain temple that is 57 feet high.
 Bahubali statue is one of the largest free-standing statues
in the world depicting the prolonged meditation of
Bahubali.
 The construction of the statue was commissioned by
the Ganga dynasty minister and commander,
 The Mahamastakabhisheka Mahotsava is an anointing
[Abhisheka] ceremony of the statue of Lord Bahubali. Only once in 12 years
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

 Location : Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
 History : The temple dates back to the 8th century but the present structure was built in
the 18th century by the then Travancore Maharaja Marthanda Varma.
 The temple was initially made of wood but later it was constructed with granite.
 Feature : unique Chera style of architecture
 Deity : Lord Vishnu who is found in the Anantha Shayana posture (reclined posture of
eternal yoga) on Adishesha or king of all serpents.
 Significance : It is known to be one of the 108 holy temples associated with Vaishnavism
in India
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Khajuraho Temples → Madhya Pradesh

 They are a group of temples built by the rulers of Chandela Dynasty (950-1050 AD).
 Hindu and Jain temples.
 Famous for nagara style architecture and known for extensive erotic sculptures.
 UNESCO World Heritage Site.
 The first recorded mention of the Khajuraho temples is in the accounts of Abu Rihan al
Biruni in AD 1022 and the Arab 7traveller Ibn Battuta in AD 1335.
Kandariya Mahadeva Temple

 The Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, is the largest and most ornate Hindu temple in the
medieval temple group found at Khajuraho, Chhatarpur district in Madhya Pradesh.
 It is considered one of the best examples of temples preserved from the medieval period in
India
 Khajuraho was once the capital of the Chandela dynasty.
 The Kandariya Mahadeva temple was built during the reign of Vidyadhara (r. c. 1003-
1035 CE)
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Various features of the temple marked on the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple.
Lingaraja Temple
 Lingaraja Temple is a temple DEDICATED TO SHIVA.
 Built in 7th C. by King Jajati Keshari of Soma Vansh.
 It is built in RED STONE and is a classic example of KALINGA STYLE of architecture.
 It signifies the syncretisation of Shaivism and Vaishnavism sects in Odisha
 Bhubaneswar is called the Ekamra Kshetra as the deity of Lingaraja was originally under a
mango tree (Ekamra) as noted in Ekamra Purana, a 13th-century Sanskrit treatise.
 Located to the north of the temple is Bindusagar Lake
Siddhivinayak Temple → Maharashtra

 It is one of the richest temples in India.
 Dedicated to Lord Shri Ganesh.
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 It was constructed by Laxman Vithu & Dubai Patil in 1801.
Konark Sun Temple

 Konark Sun Temple, located in East Odisha near the sacred city of Puri.
 Built in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva I (Eastern Ganga dynasty about 1250 CE)
and is dedicated to the Sun God.
 It marks the highest point of achievement of Kalinga architecture.
 It was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1984.
 The temple is designed in the shape of a colossal chariot.
 There are two rows of 12 wheels on each side of the Konark sun temple.
 Some say the wheels represent the 24 hours in a day and others say the 12 months.
 The seven horses are said to symbolise the seven days of the week.
 Sailors once called this Sun Temple of Konark, the Black Pagoda because it was
supposed to draw ships into the shore and cause shipwrecks.
 Great poet Rabindranath Tagore wrote of Konark: “Here the language of stone surpasses
the language of man.”
 Chandrabhaga Mela around the month of February.
Jagannath Temple → Odisha

 Dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Sri Krishna
 The temple is believed to have been constructed in the 12th century by King
Anatavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.
 Jagannath Puri temple is called „Yamanika Tirtha‟ where, according to the Hindu beliefs,
the power of „Yama‟, the god of death has been nullified in Puri due to the presence of
Lord Jagannath.
 This temple was called the “White Pagoda” and is a part of Char
Dham pilgrimages (Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri, Rameswaram).
 This temple in Puri is famous for its annual chariot festival, Ratha Yatra, where Jagannath,
Balabhadra and Subhadra are a trio of deities worshipped.
Golden Temple → Punjab

 It is a gurudwara, built in the 15th century. It is also known as Harmindar Sahib.
 Temple was plated in Gold in 1980 from the wealth and material donated by Maharaja
Ranjit Singh.
o He is also credited with funding Hazoor Sahib gurudwara at the final resting place
of Guru Gobind Singh in Nanded, Maharashtra.
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 Guru Ram Das, fourth of the 10 gurus, founded the city of Amritsar. He started the
construction of the Golden Temple at Amritsar, the holy city of the Sikhs. He requested the
Muslim Sufi, Mian Mir to lay the cornerstone of the Harmandir Sahib
Ramanathaswamy Temple (Rameswaram,Tamil Nadu)

 One of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples built in the 12th Century.
 Dedicated to the god shiva
 It has the longest corridor among all Hindu temples in India.
 It is built in the Dravidian style of architecture.
 Creators – Pandyas and Jaffna Kings
 There are 64 Tīrthas i.e. holy water bodies in and around the island of
Rameswaram.
 It is also one of the Char Dhams. [other three @ Badrinath, Dwarka & Puri]
Meenakshi Temple (Tamil Nadu)

 Southern bank of the Vaigai River in the temple city of Madurai
 Dedicated to Meenakshi, a form of Parvati, and her consort, Sundareswar, a form of
Shiva.
 The temple is at the center of the ancient temple city of
Madurai mentioned in the Tamil Sangam literature,
with the goddess temple mentioned in 6th-century-CE
texts. This temple is one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams.
o The Paadal Petra sthalams are 275 temples of
lord Shiva that are revered in the verses of Tamil Saiva Nayanars of 6th-9th century
CE.
 The west tower (gopuram) of the temple is the model based on which the Tamil Nadu State
Emblem is designed.
 Chithirai Festival: It is an annual festival celebrated at Meenakshi Temple
HOYSALA Temples
Chennakeshava Temple, Belur (Karnataka)
 Construction of the temple commenced in 1117 AD and took 103 years to complete.
 Dedicated to Lord Vishnu known as Chennakesava, which means beautiful (chenna)
Vishnu (Keshava).
 The richly sculptured exterior of the temple narrates scenes from the life of Vishnu and
his reincarnations and the epics, Ramayana, and Mahabharata.
 However, some of the representations of Shiva are also included.
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 It was commissioned by King Vishnuvardhana in 1117 CE, on the banks of the Yagachi
River
 Proposed to be listed under UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Hoysaleshwara Temple, Halebidu (Karnataka)

 Most exemplary architectural ensemble of the Hoysalas extant today.
 Built in 1121CE during the reign of the Hoysala King, Vishnuvardhana Hoysaleshwara.
 The temple, dedicated to Shiva
 Most well-known for the more than 240 wall sculptures that run all along the outer wall.
 Halebid has a walled complex containing three Jaina basadi (temples) of the Hoysala
period as well as a stepped well.
 Proposed to be listed under UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Keshava Temple, Somanathapura (Karnataka)

 Magnificent Hoysala monument, perhaps the last.
 On the banks of River Kaveri
 This is a breathtakingly beautiful Trikuta Temple dedicated to Lord Krishna in three forms
– Janardhana, Keshava and Venugopala.
 Unfortunately, the main Keshava idol is missing, and the Janardhana and Venugopala
idols are damaged.
 The temple was consecrated in 1258 CE by Somanatha Dandanayaka, a general of the
Hoysala King Narasimha III.
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YiN:
Recently, the Union Ministry of Culture has nominated Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas
temples for consideration as a World Heritage site for the year 2022-2023.
The 'Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala' have been on UNESCO's Tentative list since 15th April,
2014 and stand testimony to the rich historical and cultural heritage of India.
Laxmi Devi Temple: Hoysala

 Built by the Hoysalas in the year 1114 CE during the rule of king Vishnuvardhana.
 Building material is Chloritic schist, more commonly known as soapstone.
 The main deity is Goddess Lakshmi whereas all Hoysala temples are dedicated to
either Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and in some cases to Jains.
Ranganathaswamy Temple → Tamil Nadu

 One of the most important of 108 (Divya Desam) Vishnu Temples.
 Its location, on an island between the Kollidam and Kaveri rivers
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 The inscriptions in the temple belong to the Chola, Pandya, Hoysala and Vijayanagara
dynasties who ruled over the region. These inscriptions range in date between the 9th and
16th centuries
 The temple complex has been nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is in
UNESCO's tentative list
 Its Gopuram is the biggest Gopuram in Asia. Also, it is the largest functioning Hindu
temple in the world.
 It was one of the hubs of early Bhakti movement with a devotional singing and dance
tradition, but this tradition stopped during the 14th century and was revived in a limited
way much later.
Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple

 Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
 The temple derives its name from the combination of topographical features and
mythology: gavi (cave) and Gangadhareswara (shiva) means the Lord who adorns
the Ganga.
 It is believed to have been built by Kempe Gowda I in its present form.
 Architecture Features:
o Celestial Oriented Architecture: Built in Vijaynagar style, it has unique celestial
oriented rock cut architecture due to which Surya majjana occurs
on Sankranti every year.
o Surya Majjana: Every year on the Makar Sankranti, the sun rays fall on the Shiv
linga located in the cave (gavi) making it shine for ten minutes.
 Two Monolithic Structures
o In the forecourt stand two monolithic structures, named Suryapana and
Chandrapana – each consisting of a massive disc atop a supporting pillar.
o They have engravings of sitting bulls on the discs face each other.
 Iconography of Shiva
o The compound of the temple is adorned with monolith structures associated with the
iconography of Shiva – the trishula (trident) and the damaru (an hourglass-shaped,
two-headed drum).
Mahamritunjaya Temple
 Hindu Temple dedicated to Hindu God Shiva, situated in Nagaon, Assam
 This Temple is special in its architectural sense as it is built in a form a
Shivling.
 It is the World's largest Shivalinga, at the height of 126 foot.
 The construction of the temple started in 2003 with the help of Acharya
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Bhrigu Giri Maharaj.

 Bhrigu Giri Maharaj chose this place afte r performing meditation.
 According to the Maharaj, in ancient times, demon guru Shukracharya performed Yagna at
the site of the temple.
 Massive earthquake reported on 28 April 2021 in Assam resulted some minor crack
Sri Govindarajaswamy Temple

 Sri Govindarajaswamy Temple is an ancient Hindu-Vaishnavite temple situated at the
heart of the Tirupati city in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh
 The temple was built during 12 century and was consecrated in the year 1130 AD by Saint
Ramanujacharya.
 The temple is one of the earliest structures in Tirupati and also one of the biggest temple
complex in Chittoor district. The Tirupati (down hill) city is built around this temple.
 The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who is referred to as Govindarajaswamy.
Govindaraja Perumal Temple

 Govindaraja Perumal Temple or Thiruchitrakoodam in Chidambaram in the South Indian
state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Vishnu.
 The temple is inside the premises of Thillai Nataraja Temple, constructed in the Tamil
architecture.
 The temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the
Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD.
 It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Govindaraja
Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Pundarikavalli Thayar.
 The Govindaraja idol is believed to have been uprooted outside the temple complex
during the period of Kulothunga Chola II. The Govindaraja idol was later found and
reinstated later by king Krishnappa Nayak (1564–1572).
Brihadeeswara Temple → Tamil Nadu

 Also known as Raja Rajeswara Temple located at Thanjavur.
 Dedicated to Shiva
 This Dravidian style temple was built by the Chola emperor
Raja Raja Chola I.
 One of the tallest temples in India that is completely made
of Granite.
 It is one of the Great Living Chola Temples, along with
Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara
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temple.
 It is also called Dakshin Meru and is situated on the bank of Cauvery river.
 It is a part of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple

 Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva in Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Jayankondam, in the
South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
o it also displays other Hindu deities such as Vishnu, Durga, Surya, Harihara,
Ardhanarishvara, and others
 Completed in 1035 AD BY Rajendra Chola I as a part of his new capital, this Chola
dynasty era temple is similar in design, and has a similar name, as the older 11th century,
Brihadeeswarar Temple about 70 kilometres (43 mi) to the southwest in Thanjavur
[Shiva].
 The Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple is smaller yet more refined than the Thanjavur
Temple.
 Sculptural Reliefs → Nataraja, Saraswati and Shiva garlanding a devotee
 UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2004, along with the Brihadeeswarar
Temple at Thanjavur and Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram. These are referred to
collectively as the Great Living Chola Temples.
Airavatesvara Temple
 Airavatesvara Temple is a Hindu temple of Dravidian architecture located in
Kumbakonam, Thanjavur District in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
 This temple, built by Chola emperor Rajaraja II in the 12th century CE is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, along with the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur, the
Gangaikondacholisvaram Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram that are referred to as the
Great Living Chola Temples.
 The temple is dedicated to Shiva. It also reverentially displays Vaishnavism and Shaktism
traditions of Hinduism, along with the legends associated with Nayanmars – the Bhakti
movement saints of Shaivism.
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Rajagopalaswamy Temple
 Tamil Nadu
 Dedicated to Vishnu
 It is created in Dravidian style; it is also called Dakshina Dwaraka.
 It has one of the largest temple tanks in India called Haridra Nadhi.
Martand Sun Temple [Pandou Laidan]

 Location- Jammu and Kashmir.
 is a Hindu temple dedicated to Surya (the chief solar deity in Hinduism) and built during
the 8th century CE.
 Built by the third ruler of the Karkota Dynasty, Lalitaditya Muktapida, in the 8th century
CE. It is said to have been built during 725-756 CE.
 It is now in ruins, as it was destroyed by the orders of Muslim ruler Sikandar Shah Miri.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple → Uttar Pradesh

 Dedicated to Lord Shiva.
 On the western bank of the holy river Ganga, and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the
holiest of Shiva temples.
 The temple is considered a central part of worship in the Shaiva philosophy by Hindu
scriptures.
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 It had been demolished by many Muslim rulers many times, most recently
by Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor who constructed the Gyanvapi
Mosque on its site.
 The current structure was built on an adjacent site by the Maratha ruler,
Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore in the year 1780.
 Since 1983, the temple has been managed by the government of Uttar
Pradesh.
Vittala Temple
 The Vitthala temple and market complex is over 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north-east of the
Virupaksha temple near the banks of the Tungabhadra River.
 It is the most artistically sophisticated Hindu temple in Hampi, and is part of the sacred
centre of Vijayanagara.
 It is unclear when the temple complex was built, and who built it; most scholars date it to a
period of construction in the early-to-mid-16th century
 Some of the books mention that its construction began during the time of Devaraya II and
continued during the reign of Krishnadevaraya, Achuytaraya, and probably Sadasivaraya
and it stopped probably due to the destruction of the city in 1565.
 The inscriptions include male and female names, suggesting that the complex was built by
multiple sponsors.
 The temple was dedicated to Vitthala, a form of Krishna also called Vithoba.
 The temple opens to the east, has a square plan and features an entrance gopuram with
two side gopurams. The main temple stands in the middle of a paved courtyard and several
subsidiary shrines, all aligned to the east.
 The temple is a unified structure in a courtyard measuring 500 by 300 feet which is
surrounded by a triple row of pillars. It is a low structure of one storey with an average
height of 25 height.
 The temple has three distinct compartments: a garbhagriha, an ardhamandapa and a
mahamandapa (or sabha mandapa).
 The Vitthala temple has a Garuda shrine in the form of a stone chariot in the courtyard;
it is an often-pictured symbol of Hampi
Garuda shrine in the form of stone chariot at Vitthala temple
18
 In the front of the stone chariot is a large, square, open-pillared, axial sabha mandapa,
or community hall.
 The mandapa has four sections, two of which are aligned with the temple sanctum. The
mandapa has 56 carved stone beams of different diameters, shape, length
and surface finish that produces musical sounds when struck
 The mandapa links to an enclosed pradakshina patha for walking around the sanctum.
Around this axial mandapa are (clockwise from east); the Garuda shrine, the Kalyana
mandapa (wedding ceremonies), the 100-columned mandapa, the Amman shrine and
the Utsav mandapa (festival hall).
(Chidambaram) Nataraja Temple → Tamil Nadu

 Temple dedicated to Lord Nataraja is one of the form of Lord Shiva as the lord of dance
and his consort Parvati as Shivakama Sundari (also called as
Shivagama Sundari).
 The temple wall carvings display all the 108 karanas from the
Natya Shastra by Bharata Muni, and these postures form a
foundation of Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance.
 Temple was built in the 10th century when Chidambaram was
the capital of the Chola dynasty, making it one of the oldest
surviving active temple complexes in South India
 A good number of metal images in the Nataraja temple of
Chidambaram belong to the age of Chola king Kulotunga-I.
Naralokavaira, who was the commander-in-chief under Chola
emperors Kulotunga I who participated in many wars, has contributed immensely to many
temples, particularly in Chidambaram, where he set up some metal images.
Kamakhya Temple
 It is located atop the Nilachal Hills, in outskirts of Guwahati, Assam.
 It is one of 51 shaktipeeths or seat of Shakti followers.
 The main temple is surrounded by individual temples dedicated to the ten Mahavidyas:
o Kali, Tara, Sodashi, Bhuvaneshwari, Bhairavi,
Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi
and Kamalatmika.
 It is a centrepiece of Tantrik Shaktism cult in India
 Being the centre for Tantra worship this temple attracts
thousands of tantra devotees in an annual festival known as
the Ambubachi Mela. Another annual celebration is the
Manasha Puja.
 It had been modelled out of a combination of two different styles, namely, the traditional
nagara or North Indian and saracenic or Mughal.
19
 Thus, being an unusual combination which came into its existence on this famous sakti
shrine of India, it has been named as the Nilachala Style of Architecture.
 The reason behind development of this new type by transgression of the orthodox nagara
tradition is stated in the Darang-raj vamsavali, a compilation of 17th century A.D.
Four Major Shakthi Peeths in India
 Jagannath Temple, Puri
 Kamakhya Temple near Guwahati
 Dakshina Kalika in Kolkata
 Tara Tarini near Brahmapur, Odisha.
Vishwa Shanti Stupa (World peace pagoda)

 Location : Rajgir, Nalanda District, Bihar
 Constructed atop the Ratnagiri Hill, it is the world‟s highest peace
pagoda.
 Conceptualised by renowned Buddhist monk Nipponzan Myohoji
and built by Japanese monk Fujii Guruji
 Built completely with marble, the stupa comprises Four Golden
Statues of Lord Buddha with each representing his life periods of birth, enlightenment,
preaching and death.
 There are 7 Peace Pagoda or Shanti Stupas in India, other Stupas are Global Vipassana
Pagoda Mumbai, Deekshabhoomi Stupa Nagpur and Buddha Smriti Park Stupa Patna.
Markandeshwar temple
 Known as the “Khajuraho of Vidarbha”, the temple of Markandadeo is situated on the
bank of River Wainganga in district Gadchiroli of Maharashtra.
 The temples belong to the Nagara group of temples of North
India.
 On stylistic grounds, their date ranges in between 9- 12th
centuries CE.
 The temples belong to Saiva, Vaishnava and Sakta faith. Most
of the temples have a simple plan, with ardhamandapa,
mandapa, antaralaand garbhagriha forming the component of the entire set up.
Ramappa Temple / Rudreshwara Temple

 Location : Telangana near Warangal. Located in the vicinity of Ramappa Lake
 Was constructed in the year 1213 CE by Recharla Rudra - a General of Kakatiya ruler
Ganapati Deva 1199–1262.
 It was built using sandstone and its construction believed to have continued for over four
decades.
 The temple is a Sivalayam, where Lord Ramalingeswara is worshipped.
 Marco Polo, during his visit to the Kakatiya empire, allegedly called the temple "the
brightest star in the galaxy of temples
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 It is UNESCO World Heritage Site
What is special about Temple

 UNESCO notes on its website that, “The building features decorated beams and pillars of
carved granite and dolerite with a distinctive and pyramidal Vimana (horizontally
stepped tower) made of lightweight porous bricks, so-called „floating bricks‟, which
reduced the weight of the roof structures. The Main structure is in a Reddish Sandstone.
 Mythical animals or female dancers or musicians, and are "the masterpieces of Kakatiya
art, notable for their delicate carving, sensuous postures and elongated bodies and
heads
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Bhagyalakshmi Temple
 The temple is a small shrine dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, adjacent to the southeast
minar of the iconic Charminar, the late 19th century monument located in the heart of the
Old City of Hyderabad.
 The southeast minar constitutes the back wall of the temple, which is made of bamboo
poles and tarpaulin, and has a tin roof.
 There is no definitive history of how and when the temple came up, but it has been there
since at least the 1960s, when the current idol of the goddess is said to have been
installed.
 The construction of the Charminar was begun in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah,
apparently to commemorate the end of the plague in his dominions.
Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi
 Veerabhadra temple is a Hindu temple located in the Lepakshi, in the state of Andhra
Pradesh
 The temple is dedicated to the Virabhadra, a fierce incarnation of Lord Shiva.
 Built in the 16th century, the architectural features of the temple are in the Vijayanagara
style with profusion of carvings and paintings at almost every exposed surface of
the temple.
 It is one of the centrally protected monuments of national importance and is considered
one of the most spectacular Vijayanagara temples.
 The fresco paintings are particularly detailed in very bright dresses and colours with
scenes of Rama and Krishna from the epic stories of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata
and the Puranas and they are well preserved.
 There is a very large Nandi (bull), mount of Shiva, about 200 metres (660 ft) away from
the temple which is carved from a single block of stone, which is said to be one of the
largest of its type in the world.
 The temple is home to many Kannada inscriptions as its located close to Karnataka border.
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 History →
o The temple was built in 1530 AD (1540 AD is also mentioned) by Virupanna
Nayaka and Viranna , both brothers who were Governors under the Vijayanagar
Empire during the reign of King Achutaraya, at Penukonda who were native to
Karnataka.
Thousand Pillars Temple

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/sculptors-from-tn-craft-the-restoration-of-1000-
pillar-shrine/article66247445.ece
Sculptors from Tamil Nadu involved in the restoration of the colossal mandapa of the
Rudreshwara Temple at Hanumakonda.
 The Thousand Pillars Temple is also called as Rudreshwara Swamy temple and the main
deity is Lord Shiva.
 It is located at the base of Hanumakonda hills in Warangal district, Telangana.
 The temple was built in 12th century by Rudra Deva(aka. Prataparudra), the first
independent king of the Kakatiya Dynasty.
 Its structure resembles the shape of a star and houses three major shrines of Lord Shiva,
Lord Vishnu and Lord Surya, known as Trikutalayam.
 Thousand Pillar Temple was constructed by using the sandbox technique and is known
for intricately carved pillars.
 The mandapa leads to the main temple with a majestic monolith Nandi seated on
the pathway.
 In the medieval period, the mandapa was used for holding the meeting of village
councils (Gram Sabhas) and dance performances.
 The mandapa was destroyed during the invasion by Muhammad Bin Tughlaq, who ruled
over the Delhi sultanate in 1323 AD.
 The restoration project of the temple mandapa is taken up by the Archaeological Survey of
India (ASI).
23
Bhimeswara Swamy Temple (Draksharama)

 Draksharama is one of the five Pancharama Kshetras that are sacred to the Hindu god
Siva.
 The temple is located in Draksharamam town of Konaseema district in the Indian state of
Andhra Pradesh.
 Bhimeswara Swamy refers to Lord Siva in this temple.
 Inscriptions in the temple reveal that it was built between the 9th and 10th centuries CE
by the Eastern Chalukyan king, Bhima.
 The big Mandapam of the temple was built by Ganga Mahadevi ,daughter-In-Law of
Eastern Ganga Dynasty king Narasingha Deva I of Odisha.
 Architecturally and sculpturally, the temple reflects a blend of Chalukyan and Chola styles.
Rajarani Temple
 11th-century Hindu temple located in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha (Orissa
previously)
 The temple is believed to have been known originally as Indreswara. It is locally known as
a "love temple" because of the erotic carvings of women and couples in the temple.
 Rajarani Temple is built in the pancharatha style on a raised platform with two structures:
a central shrine called the vimana (sanctum) with a bada (curvilinear spire) over its roof
rising to a height of 18 m (59 ft), and a viewing hall called jagamohana with a pyramidal
roof.
 The temple was constructed of dull red and yellow sandstone locally called "Rajarani".
 There are no images inside the sanctum, and hence it is not associated with a specific sect
of Hinduism but broadly classified as Saivite based on the niches.
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Modhera Sun Temple, Gujarat

 The Sun Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the solar deity Surya located at Modhera
village of Mehsana district, Gujarat.
 It is situated on the bank of the river Pushpavati.
 It was built after 1026-27 CE during the reign of Bhima I of the Chaulukya dynasty.
 No worship is offered now and is protected monument maintained by Archaeological
Survey of India.
 The temple complex has three components →
o Gudhamandapa, the shrine hall;
o Sabhamandapa, the assembly hall and
o Kunda, the reservoir.
 The halls have intricately carved exterior and pillars. The reservoir has steps to reach
bottom and numerous small shrines.
Chamundeshwari Temple
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 The Chamundeshwari Temple is a Hindu temple located on the top of Chamundi Hills
about 13 km from the palace city of Mysuru in the state of
Karnataka in India.
 The temple was named after Chamundeshwari or, the fierce
form of Shakti, a tutelary deity held in reverence for centuries b
y the Maharaja of Mysuru.
 Chamundeshwari is called by the people of Karnataka as
Naada, which means state Goddess. It is situated at the
elevation of around 3300 ft from the mean sea level.
 It is believed that Goddess Durga slayed the demon king
Mahishasura on the top of this hill which was ruled by him. The place was later known as
Mahishooru (Place of Mahisha). The British changed it to Mysore and later Kannadized into
Mysuru.
The Chamundeshwari Temple is considered as a Shakti Peetha and one among the 18
Shakti Peethas. It is known as Krouncha Pitha as the region was known in Puranic times as
Krouncha Puri. It is said that the hair of Sati fell here
Mahakaleshwar Temple
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-is-the-rs-600-crore-redevelopment-plan-for-
ujjains-mahakaleshwar-temple-8179285/
 Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and is one of the twelve
Jyotirlingas, shrines which are said to be the most sacred abodes of Shiva.
 It is located in the ancient city of Ujjain in the state of Madhya Prades
 The temple is situated on the side of the holy river Shipra.
 The presiding deity, Shiva in the lingam form is believed to be Swayambhu, deriving
currents of power (Shakti) from within itself as against the other images and lingams that
are ritually established and invested with mantra-shakti.
Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam

 Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam is a Hindu temple situated on the
Simhachalam Hill Range, which is 300 metres above the sea level in Visakhapatnam,
Andhra Pradesh
 It is dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped there as Varaha Narasimha.
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Angkor Wat temple
 Angkor Wat temple complex is located at Angkor, Cambodia.

 Angkor Wat is the world‟s largest religious structure, covering some 400 acres.
 The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu.
 The temple was built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, one of the greatest
kings of the Khmer dynasty.
 Angkor Wat has unusual orientation of facing west, rather than the traditional east.
 Theravada Buddhist monks maintained Angkor Wat after it was abandoned in early
15th century.
 Angkor Complex including Angkor Wat is an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992.
Other Temples that India restores outside India

 Thiruketheeswaram Temple in Mannar, SriLanka.
 One of the five sacred Ishwarams dedicated to Lord Shiva.
 This temple was closed for 12 years.
 Shreenathji Temple in Manama, Bahrain.
 It is a 200-year-old Sri Krishna temple in Bahrain.
 India launched $4.2 million project for the redevelopment of the temple.
Unakoti - Angkor Wat of North East

Unakoti, the chiselled „Angkor Wat of the North-East‟ is competing for a UNESCO world
heritage classification.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/travel/unakoti-the-angkor-wat-of-the-north-east-is-
vying-for-world-heritage-tag-101670680601782.html
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https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/destination-of-the-week/tripura-unakoti-angkor-wat-
north-east-unesco-world-heritage-tag-8319590/
 Unakoti means one less than a crore in

Bengali and in the local Kokborok
language, it is called Subrai Khung.
 Unakoti is a Saivite pilgrimage site with
marvellous rock carvings, murals with
their primitive beauty and waterfalls.
 The site is nestled in the Raghunandan hills
in Unakoti District of Tripura.
 The site dating back to the 7th-9th centuries is now under Archaeological Society of India
(ASI).
Rock Sculptures
 There are two types of images found at Unakoti
o Rock-carved figures
o Stone images
 Among the rock-cut carvings, the CENTRAL SHIVA head and GIGANTIC GANESHA
FIGURES are prominent.
 The central Shiva head - Also known as Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava.
o The head is about 30 feet high, including an embroidered head-dress which itself
is 10 feet high.
o On each side of the head-dress of the central Shiva, there are two full-size female
figures - one of Durga standing on a lion and another female figure on the other
side.
o In addition, 3 enormous images of Nandi Bull are found half-buried in the ground.
o Hindu mythology says that Lord Shiva once spent a night here on way to Kashi.
Unakoti or one less than a crore gods and goddesses followed him.
 Ashokastami Mela
o Thousands of pilgrims visit this site every year during „Ashokastami Mela‟ which
takes place in the month of April.
 Angkor Wat of North-East
o The structures of the rock-cut sculptures are gigantic and have distinct mongoloid
features.
o They display almost the same mystical charm as in the Angkor Wat temple of
Cambodia and hence got the name.
Jatar Deul temple

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/sea-winds-eat-away-11th-century-
sundarbans-temple/article66444082.ece
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 It is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

 Location: Located at Kanakan Dighi Village in South 24 Parganas District in West
Bengal.
 The Temple stands on a small hill in the landscape of the southern Sundarbans
settlements.
 A copper plate found near the temple in 1875 suggests that Raja Joychandra
constructed the temple in 975 AD.
 The temple has been classified as a Monument of National Importance by the
Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
 Structure →
o This temple is facing towards the east and follows
the Kalingan style of architecture.
o The temple is built over a raised platform.
o It has an arched gateway leading to the sanctum.
o The sanctum is situated below the ground level.
o The sanctum houses Lingas, pictures and idols of various gods & goddesses of
Hindu pantheon.
o The walls of the temple were intricately decorated with decorative bricks, but
most of it is lost due to unplanned reconstruction.
 Threat : The impact of climate change, especially the increase in air salinity, is gradually
eroding the outer wall of Jatar Deul.
Thirumandhamkunnu Temple
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/palakkad-temple-courts-controversy-over-fresh-
coat-of-paint/article66650196.ece
 Hindu temple in Malappuram district, Kerala

 The temple is also an important pilgrim center, especially for the 11 days long annual
festival celebrated in March and April months
 The "principal deity" of temple is Lord Shiva. But the famous deity is Sree Bhadrakali or
Sree Parvathy, locally known as Thirumandhamkunnilamma and Ganesha
Mundeshwari Temple
 The Mundeshwari Devi Temple (also spelled Mundesvari) is a Hindu temple, located at
Ramgarh Village, on the Mundeshwari Hills of Kaimur plateau near Son River, in Bihar.
 It is an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected monument since 1915.
 The ASI has recently dated the structure to 108 CE making it the oldest Hindu temple
in the country.
 An information plaque at the site indicates the dating of the temple at least to 625 CE and
Hindu inscriptions dated 635 CE were found in the temple.
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 It is an ancient temple dedicated to the worship of the goddess Durga and is considered
one of the oldest functional Hindu temples in India
Pattadakal [Raktapura] Temples Complex

 Pattadakal, also called Raktapura, is a complex of 7th and 8th century CE Hindu and Jain
temples in northern Karnataka
 Located on the west bank of the Malaprabha River in Bagalakote district, this UNESCO
World Heritage Site
 UNESCO has described Pattadakal as "a harmonious blend of architectural forms from
northern and southern India" and an illustration of "eclectic art" at its height.
 The Hindu temples are generally dedicated to Shiva, but elements of Vaishnavism and
Shaktism theology and legends are also featured.
 The friezes in the Hindu temples display various Vedic and Puranic concepts, depict
stories from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Bhagavata Purana, as well as elements
of other Hindu texts, such as the Panchatantra and the Kiratarjuniya.
 The Jain temple is only dedicated to a single Jina.
 The most sophisticated temples, with complex friezes and a fusion of Northern and
Southern styles, are found in the Papanatha and Virupaksha temples. The
Virupaksha temple is an active house of Hindu worship.
List of Temples
 Kadasiddheshwara temple
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 Jambulingeshwara temple
 Galaganatha Temple
 Chandrashekhara Temple
 Sangameshwara Temple
 Kashi Vishwanatha Temple
 Mallikarjuna Temple → By queens [of Vikramaditya II (Badami King)] Trailokyamahadevi
 Virupaksha Temple → By queens [of Vikramaditya II (Badami King)] Lokamahadevi to
commemorate the victory of her husband Vikramaditya II over the Pallavas.
 Papanatha temple
 Jain Narayana Temple.
Lad Khan Tem [Karnataka]

 The Chalukya Shiva Temple (earlier known as Lad Khan Temple), dedicated to Shiva, is one
of the oldest Hindu temples and is located in the group of monuments at Aihole
 Formerly dated to the 7th or 8th century, it is now dated to about the 5th century.
 It is located to the south of the Durga temple, Aihole.
 The temple was built in a Panchayatana style
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Sabarimala Temple
 Temple complex located on the Sabarimala hill inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve, Ranni-
Perunad Village, Ranni Taluk, Pathanamthitta district, Kerala
 It is one of the largest annual pilgrimage sites in the world, with an estimate of over 10
to 15 million devotees visiting every year.
 The temple is dedicated to a Hindu Brahmachari (celibate) deity named Ayyappan also
known as Dharma Shasta
 The Sabarimala temple prohibits women aged between 10 and 50 years from entering
the shrine.
 It is said that its deity, Lord Ayyappa, is a “Naisthik Brahmachari” and that allowing young
women to enter the temple would affect the idol‟s “celibacy” and “austerity”.
 But In [2018] a 4:1 judgment, 5-membered constitution bench of Supreme Court, in
Indian Young Lawyers Association vs. the State of Kerala, has allowed women of all
ages to worship in Sabarimala Temple.
Ranakpur Temple
 Ranakpur Jain temple or Chaturmukha Dharana Vihara is a Svetambara Jain temple at
Ranakpur dedicated to Tirthankara Rishabhanatha.
 Located in a village of Ranakpur near Sadri town in the Pali district of Rajasthan.
 Darna Shah, a local Jain businessperson, started construction of the temple in the 15th
century following a divine vision.
 The Ranakpur temple is one of the largest and most important temples of Jain culture.
 The campus includes various temples such as Chaumukha temple, Surya temple,
Suparshvanatha temple and Amba temple.
 Ranakpur along with Muchhal Mahavir, Narlai, Nadol and Varkana forms "Gorwad
Panch Tirth".
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Dilwara / Delvada Temples

 Are a group of Svetambara Jain temples located about 2+1⁄2 kilometres from the Mount
Abu settlement in Sirohi District, Rajasthan's only hill station.
 The earliest were built by Bhima-1 [Solanki dynasty]
 They date between the 11th and 16th centuries, forming some of the most famous
monuments in the style of Maru-Gurjara architecture
 Famous for their use of a very pure White Marble and
intricate marble carvings.
 Although Jains built many temples at other places in
Rajasthan, the Dilwara temples are believed to be the
most impressive.
 There are five temples in all & are enclosed within a
single high walled compound
o Vimal Vasahi, dedicated to the 1st
Jain Tirthankara, Shri Adinatha.
o Luna Vasahi, dedicated to the 22nd Jain Tirthankara, Shri Shri Neminatha.
o Pittalhar temple, dedicated to the 1st Jain Tirthankar, Shri Adinatha.
o Parshvanath temple, dedicated to the 23rd Jain Tirthankara, Shri Parshvanatha.
o Mahavir Swami temple, dedicated to the 24th Jain Tirthankara, Shri Mahavir
Swami.
 Among the five marble temples of Dilwara, the most famous are the Vimal Vasahi and the
Luna Vasahi temples.
 Dilwara Temples along with Ashtapad, Girnar, Shatrunjaya and Shikharji are known as
Svetambara Pancha Tirth (five principal pilgrimage shrine).
Palitana temples
 Large groups of Jain temples located on Shatrunjaya hills near Palitana in Bhavnagar
district, Gujarat. Also known as Padliptapur of Kathiawad
 Small shrines and large temples here has led many to call Palitana as a "city of temples"
33
 It is one of the most sacred sites of Svetambara tradition within Jainism. These temples
were built in and after the 11th century CE.
 The Palitana site contains nearly 1000 temples on the hills, some
being vast temple complexes, while most are small in size.
 The Main Temple is dedicated to Rishabhanatha, the 1st Tirthankara;
it is the holiest shrine for the Svetambara Murtipujaka sect.
 Marble is the preferred material of construction
 Jains believe that 23 of 24 Jain Tirthankaras, except Neminatha,
sanctified the Palitana hill by their visits.
 Digambara Jains have only one temple here on the hills. Hingraj
Ambikadevi (known as Hinglaj Mata) is considered as the presiding
deity of the hill, who is a Jain Yakshini (attendant deity).
Chandraprabha Temple
 Location → Sonagiri [Datia district of Madhya Pradesh]
 Sonagiri, a Siddha-Ksetra, is considered one of the most important Jain Tirtha
(pilgrimage site)
 There are total of 77 temples on the hill. Each temple are white in colour and features a
high spire
 The temple Number 57 is the main temple. In this temple, the principal deity is a 11 feet
(3.4 m) idol of Chandraprabha popularly known as Bade baba.
 There are two vedis (altar) with an idol of Sheetalnath and Parsvanatha on either side on
the main vedi.
 The temple also includes a 43 feet (13 m) Manastambha (transl. column of honour) and a
model of Samavasarana [Preaching hall of the Tirthankara]
Sonagiri Jain Tirth
Kulpakji [aka. Kolanupaka Temple]

 2,000 year-old Jain temple at the village of Kolanupaka in Aler City, Yadadri district,
Telangana
34
 The temple houses three idols: one each of Lord Rishabhanatha [Main Deity], Lord
Neminatha, and Lord Mahavira.
 The image of Lord Rishabhanatha, carved of a green stone has been historically famous
as "Manikyaswami" and Jivantasvami.
 Kolanupaka flourished as a Jain center [Svetambara] during the Rashtrakutas period
 The interior of the temple is made by red sandstone and white marble.
Dharmanath Temple
 Jain temple in the Mattancherry in Kochi, Kerala.
 Built in 1904 CE
 This temple is one of the major Jain pilgrimage site of India.
35
 The temple is beautifully tiled with white marble and adorned with artworks, sculptured
pillars.
 Main Deity → Dharmanatha, the 15th tirthankara.
 The temple architecture is inspired by the Jain temples of Gujarat.
 Festival → Paryushan [or Das Lakshana]
There is another Jain temple dedicated to Chandraprabha within the temple complex
Sammed / Sammet Shikharji Temple

 Location → Jharkhand‟s Giridih district.
 The highest mountain in the state of Jharkhand, Parasnath Hill, is where it is situated.
 Both Digambara and Svetambara consider it to be the most significant Jain Tirtha
(pilgrimage destination), as it is the location where 20 of the 24 Jain tirthankaras,
together with numerous other monks, obtained Moksha.
 The Jnatrdharmakatha, one of the 12 fundamental texts of Jainism, has the first
mention of Shikharji as a Tirth (place of pilgrimage).
o Shikharji is also mentioned in the Parsvanathacarita, a 12th century biography of
Parsva.
o A 13th century CE palm-leaf manuscript of Kalpa Sutra and Kalakacaryakatha has
an image of a scene of Parshavanatha's nirvana at Shikharji.
 It is one of the 5 principal pilgrimage destinations along with Girnar,Pawapuri,
champapuri, Dilwara, Palitana and Ashtapad Kailash.
 Vastupala, prime minister during the reign of king Vīradhavala and Visaladeva of
Vaghela dynasty, constructed a Jain temple housing 20 idols of Tirthankaras
 In 1768 CE, Jagat Seth rebuilt the temples at Shikharji to their present configuration.
36
Saavira Kambada Temple

 Location → Karnataka
 Is a basadi or Jain temple noted for its 1000 pillars in Moodabidri, Karnataka.
 The temple is also known as "Chandranatha Temple" since it honours the 13th
Chandraprabha, whose eight-foot idol is worshipped in the shrine.
 The town of Moodabidri is noted for its 18 Jain temples, but Saavira Kambada Temple
is considered the finest among them.
 The temple is considered an architectural wonder and is a major attraction of Moodabidri.
 The Basadi was built by the local chieftain, Devaraya Wodeyar in 1430 and took 31 years
to complete, additions to temples were made in 1962.
 The shrine has a 50 feet tall monolith manasthambha erected by Karkala Bhairava
Queen Nagala Devi
 The pillars inside the hall bear carvings of dragon and giraffe resulting from the influence
of trade with China in 15th century. The image of Nandishwar-dweep dated 16th century
is notable
 Saavira Kambada Basadi along with Shravanabelagola, Kamal Basadi and Brahma
Jinalaya are considerest the most important Jain centers in Karnataka
37
Bawangaja
 Location → Barwani district, Madhya Pradesh
 Famous Jain pilgrim center
 Located about 6 kilometers south of River Narmada, its main
attraction is the world's second largest megalithic statue (carved out
of the mountain) of Lord Rishabhadeva (largest being the Statue of
Ahims a), the first Jain Tirthankara
 The statue is 84 feet (26 m) high. The center is located in the Satpura
Range and is about 8 km from a Barwani town.
 The statue is supported from the back unlike the Gommateshwara
statue of Lord Bahubali at Shravanabelagola, Karnataka. Along with
the statue, the area has a complex of eleven temples
 The idol of Lord Rishabhadeva is made in brown stone in Kayotsarga posture.
Girnar Jain Temples

 Location → on the Mount Girnar situated near Junagadh in Junagadh district, Gujarat
 These temples are sacred to both Digambara and the Svetambara branches of Jainism.
 Main Deity → Neminath (22nd Tirthankara)
 The Neminath temple was rebuilt completely by Sajjana, the governor of Saurashtra
appointed by Jayasimha Siddharaja of Chaulukya dynasty, in 1129 CE.
 It is built in Māru-Gurjara architecture (Solanki style). It is west-facing and built from
black-grey granite.
 Other Temples
o Adabadji Adinatha temple
o Panchmeru temple
o Meraka-vasahi
o Sangram Soni's Temple
o Kumarapala's Temple
o Mansingha Bhojaraja temple
o Vastupala-vihara
o Samprati Raja temple
o Other temples
o Ambika temple
38
Humcha [Jain] temples

 The Humcha Jain temples or Humcha basadis are a group of temples found in Humcha
village of Shimoga district in Karnataka.
 They were constructed in the 7th century CE in the period of the Santara dynasty and are
regarded as one of the major Jain centres of Karnataka.
 The Padmavati Basadi is the most well-known of these temples
 Humcha has been a major Jain centre since the establishment of the seat of the Bhattaraka
(head of Digambara institutions in the 7th–8th century CE by Jinadatta Raya, founder of
the Santara dynasty.
 The current structure of the Padmavati temple was built by Vira Santara in 1061 CE.
Navagraha [Jain] Temple

 Situated at Varur near Hubli, Karnataka. Navagraha Teertha is one of the major pilgrim
spots for the Jain community in India.
 The temple features a 61-foot (19 m) tall monolithic idol of the Shri 1008 Bhagavan
Parshvanatha and the smaller statues of the other eight Jain teerthankaras.
 The statue is the tallest statue of the Jain deity Parshvanatha in India and weighs 185
tons. The statue stands on a 48-foot (15 m) high pedestal(109-foot (33 m) total).
 The construction of Navagraha Teertha began in January 2005 and the carving of the
monolithic statues was completed in one year.
39

Important Temples in India

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Important Temples in India

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PRELIM BITS

Important Temples In India

Kashi Vishwanath Temple → Uttar Pradesh .............................................................................. 16

Humcha [Jain] temples ................................................................................................................ 38

Lord Venkateswara Temple (Andhra Pradesh)

Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar)

Somnath Temple [Gujarat]

Dwarkadhish Temple [Gujarat]

Vaishno Devi Temple [Jammu & Kashmir]

Amarnath Temple [Jammu & Kashmir]

Virupaksha Temple [Karnataka]

 It is part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi, designated as a UNESCO World

 There is also a Virupakshini Amma temple (mother goddess) in a village called

Gomateshwara Temple [Karnataka]

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Khajuraho Temples → Madhya Pradesh

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple

Various features of the temple marked on the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple.

Siddhivinayak Temple → Maharashtra

 It was constructed by Laxman Vithu & Dubai Patil in 1801.

Konark Sun Temple

Jagannath Temple → Odisha

Golden Temple → Punjab

Ramanathaswamy Temple (Rameswaram,Tamil Nadu)

Meenakshi Temple (Tamil Nadu)

Hoysaleshwara Temple, Halebidu (Karnataka)

Keshava Temple, Somanathapura (Karnataka)

Laxmi Devi Temple: Hoysala

Ranganathaswamy Temple → Tamil Nadu

Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple

Bhrigu Giri Maharaj.

Sri Govindarajaswamy Temple

Govindaraja Perumal Temple

Brihadeeswara Temple → Tamil Nadu

Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple

Martand Sun Temple [Pandou Laidan]

Kashi Vishwanath Temple → Uttar Pradesh

Garuda shrine in the form of stone chariot at Vitthala temple

(Chidambaram) Nataraja Temple → Tamil Nadu

Vishwa Shanti Stupa (World peace pagoda)

Ramappa Temple / Rudreshwara Temple

 It is UNESCO World Heritage Site

What is special about Temple

Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi

Thousand Pillars Temple

Bhimeswara Swamy Temple (Draksharama)

Modhera Sun Temple, Gujarat

Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Simhachalam

Angkor Wat temple

 Angkor Wat temple complex is located at Angkor, Cambodia.

Other Temples that India restores outside India

Unakoti - Angkor Wat of North East

 Unakoti means one less than a crore in

Jatar Deul temple

 It is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

 Hindu temple in Malappuram district, Kerala

Pattadakal [Raktapura] Temples Complex

Lad Khan Tem [Karnataka]

Dilwara / Delvada Temples

Sonagiri Jain Tirth

Kulpakji [aka. Kolanupaka Temple]

Sammed / Sammet Shikharji Temple

Saavira Kambada Temple

Girnar Jain Temples