GONDESHWAR TEMPLE, SINNAR, MAHARASHTRA

The Gondeshwar Temple is an 11th-12th century Hindu temple located in Sinnar, a town in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. It features a panchayatana plan; with a main shrine dedicated to Shiva; and four subsidiary shrines dedicated to Surya, Vishnu, Parvati, and Ganesha.

was built during the rule of the Seuna (Yadava) dynasty, and is variously dated to either the 11th or the 12th century. Sinnar was a stronghold of the dynasty during their pre-imperial period, and modern historians identify it with Seunapura, a town established by the Yadava king Seuanchandra.

The Gondeshwar temple is built in the Bhumija style, in form of a panchayatana complex, which features a main shrine surrounded by four subsidiary shrines. The temple is situated on a rectangular platform that measures 125 x 95 feet. The plan of the temple is very similar to that of the Ambarnath Shiva temple, but the sculptures on its exterior walls are of inferior quality than those of the Ambarnath temple. The temple complex was originally surrounded by a wall, which is now mostly destroyed.

The main shrine is dedicated to Shiva, and contains a large linga. The shrine and the Nandi pavilion facing it are located on an elevated plinth. The mandapa (pavilion), which has porches on three sides, acts as the entrance to the temple. The shrine has a Nagara-style shikhara (tower), whose finial is no longer preserved. The walls of the temple depict scenes from the ancient epic Ramayana.

The subsidiary shrines are dedicated to Surya, Vishnu, Parvati, and Ganesha: all of them have a porch. They are rectangular in plan, and include a mandapa, an antarala (vestibule), and the garbhagriha (sanctum).

MADHAVRAYA TEMPLE, GANDIKOTA, ANDHRA PRADESH

Gandikota, a village and historical fort on the right bank of the Penna river, transformed into major fort after the emergence of Pemmasani Nayakas. Gandikota fort history goes back to the early 1120s when the picturesque gorge was brought to the forefront by a subordinate of the Chalukya king. 

Kapa Raja was the first to build a sand fort. The fort was annexed by the Muslim invaders of Tughlaq dynasty. Later, in 1336 – the famous Vijayanagara kingdom headquartered in Hampi, drove the Khilji clan out and took over the region. Gandikota was given to its commanders who came to be known as the Kamma Kings or the Pemmasani Nayaks. The Kamma Kings ruled for over 200 years and expanded the small Gandikota fort.

In the fort are two ancient temples, dedicated to Madhava and Ranganatha. They are in ruins and the fort area is full of the debris of ages and many ancient structures in varying stages of decay. However, whatever remains of the temples provides us a glimpse of beautiful Vijaynagra architecture and art.

Shrungagiri Shanmukh Temple

Shrungagiri Shanmukh Temple located in Raja Rajeshwari Nagar, is one of the important tourist destinations and religious places of Bangalore. Shanmukha Temple in Shrungagiri Hill has a Gopuram or temple tower which has the six faces of Lord Shanmukha or Murugan and is visible from around 2 to 3 km distance. Shringa Giri Sri Shanmuga temple is located at 13 km distance from Bangalore. It was built with the efforts and blessings of Sri Bharati Theertha Maha Swamiji. It was designed and built by Dr. R. Arunachalam. 

The abundant artistic wealth of the temple is really enchanting. The temple has been built in the shape of a star. The tower measuring 62 feet in height has an outer prakara, devotees hall and holy sanctum. The temple attracts more crowds during Panguni Uttiram and Karthigai. Though the temple is 14 years old, devotees visit it often. It has been designed in such a way that even when the sun changes its direction, the Lord would appear to be amidst the sun's rays. And for this purpose, a special sunlight sensor is to be fitted onto the roof

Jatmai Mata Mandir

Jatmayi Temple is a Hindu temple of Goddess Durga ji located in Gariaband district, 80 km from state capital Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Bharat.

The water streams just adjacent to the temple of Mata touch her feet and fall down from the rocks.

According to local beliefs, these water streams are the servants of the mother. Every year a fair is organized in the temple of Mata in the Navratri of Chaitra and Kunwar

There is a large Shiva Linga present on the temple premises. The Shiva Linga has enthralling legendary stories behind it. People believe that it was impossible to move the Shiva Linga from its place. The place belonged to a group of fishermen in ancient times

When the fishermen decided to move from the place, they wanted to take the Shiva Linga with them. They started to dig the surroundings deeper to take the Linga out

Every time they were digging the soil, the Shiva Linga was going deeper into the crack. It was becoming impossible to take the Linga out. Later on, they were tired of trying. So, they left the idol there. Eventually, the two temples were built surrounding the Shiva Linga

THE MONUMENT OF LOVE:

If you zoom in on the photo of the woman shown in the picture, you will see a huge diamond worn around her neck. This is a 254 carat Jubilee Diamond which is equal in size and weight to the world famous 'KOHENOOR' diamond.

This woman is Meherbai Tata who was the daughter-in-law of Jamshedji Tata and the wife of his eldest son Sir Dorabji Tata.

In the year, 1924, when there was a recession due to the First World War and Tata Company did not have the money to pay salaries to the employees.Then Meherbai had mortgaged her priceless Jubilee Diamond in Imperial Bank for Rs 1 crore, so that the employees get regular salaries and the company continues to run.

After his untimely death from blood cancer, Sir Dorabji Tata established the Tata Memorial Cancer Research Foundation by selling this diamond for better treatment of cancer patients in India.

This monument built for love is a gift to HUMANITY. Look at the irony, we keep glorifying Taj Mahal as a monument of love and don't even know about the history of the one, who gives us life.