Bharatvarsha The Oldest Written Record

Over 2200 years ago, deep within the Hathigumpha cave in Odisha, an inscription by Emperor Kharavela marked the earliest known written mention of "Bharatvarsha"!

This powerful king of Kalinga wasn't just a fierce warrior who defeated the Satavahanas and marched into Magadha-he was also a great patron of Jainism and builder of temples, canals, and cities.

His rock-cut message in Brahmi script still echoes the glory of ancient India.

History carved in stone. Legacy that lives on.

Gangai Konda Cholapuram Temple

 Gopuram before destruction! The British army used it for training and destroyed it with cannons, and Later the remains of the gopuram are used to build Anaikarai Barrage.

Currently it is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites.

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

Rupnarayan Temple Diveagar

VISHNU WORSHIPPED IN TWIN TEMPLES

BHAGWAN VISHNU HAS BEEN CARVED OUT OF BLACK MARBLE IN BOTH SUNDERNARAYAN TEMPLE AND RUPNARAYAN MANDIR IN MAHARASHTRA. LOCAL RED LATERITE STONE HAS BEEN USED IN BOTH TEMPLES

In village Diveagar of Konkan region of Maharashtra is this beautiful complex of Sundernarayan and Rupnarayan temples. The complex is located on the road leading to the beach in the village. The temple sea beach (Sundernarayan) was constructed by the king of the Shilahar dynasty in the 13th century. Rupnarayan temple has been recently con- structed. Both the temples are constructed out of local red laterite stone, popularly known as 'chira' by the local people.

Deep stepwell near this temple is a landmark structure. Unlike many other temples of Konkan, this temple has a beautiful shikhar. Rupnarayan Mandir has a Sabha Mandap and the plan of the temple is very simple, it is rect angular, with the Garbha Griha included within. There are no walls to the Sabha Mandap of Rupnarayan Mandir. The roof is supported by the columns. The temple is an example of the achievement of aesthetic through simplicity and perfect proportion The Sundernarayan temple is anancient and The deity of the temples is Bhagwan Vishnu.

The Idols have been carved out of black marble in both the temples. These temples are on a plinth also made out of Chira stone. The plinth is hardly one feet in height. Deep stambha is also within the complex. Construction and design of the new temple is very sensitively accomplished and merges with the original composition.

Temple is in the vicinity of the sea and sur rounded by lush green coconut and betel nut trees. The entire ambience is just beautiful and serene. The complex does not have any protec tive compound wall. The old Sundarnarayan temple needs more care, attention and affection from the local people and the administration. More and more people can then take the experience of the serenity of our temples and have a calm and peaceful experience.

Dr.UJWALA CHAKRADEO

Demolition of Bindu-Madhav Temple by Aurangzeb

The  of the image is the farman, in persian issued by Aurangzeb to demolish Bindu-Madhav Temple.On the right is the mosque built in place of temple.

"Complying with the orders, Rafi-ul-Amin, the Diwan of Banaras has sent the report that the temple of Nand-Madho (Bindu- Madhav) has been demolished, and, after this affair, awaits whatever orders are given regarding constructing a mosque there. The Emperor ordered that a mosque be built there".

Temple of Bindu-Madhav – “The most important Vishnu temple in Varanasi since the fifth century A.D., finds mention, along with Adi Keshava, in the Matsya Purana, as one of the five most important tirthas in Varanasi. It was demolished during every inconoclastic storm and was every time rebuilt”. The deity was reconsecrated in a grand temple built by Raja Man Singh of Amber in the 16th century. The temple was demolished and a mosque was constructed here as the Akhbar of R.Yr. 26, Ramzan 20 / 13 September 1682, displayed here, records.

The present temple was built by the Raja of Aundh (Satara, Maharashtra) in the 19th century. The temple is highly respected among the South Indians; Bindu-Madhava is respected as Vishnu-Kanchi of South India. A large number of devotees visit the temple, especially in the month of March
.

The Bindu Madhav temple is presently housed in a simple nondescript building. The exterior of the building is just like any other house in the lanes of Varanasi. Inside in a low ceiling non ornamental hall at the farthest end stands the revered deity. The deity here is made of saligram stone. Due to the mythological references this temple holds great importance for the pilgrims visiting the holy city.

Shiva Unakoti Hill Tripura

 

Unakoti hill hosts an ancient Shaivite place of worship with huge rock reliefs celebrating Shiva. It is the prime tourist spot of Unakoti Tripura District in the Kailashahar Subdivision in the North-eastern Indian state of Tripura. It is Shaiba pilgrimage and dates back to 7th – 9th centuries if not earlier. The marvelous rock carvings, murals with their primitive beauty, waterfalls are not to be missed.

8th century Hindu temple, Pakistan.

Shree Sita Ram Mandir in Crossmoor, Chatsworth, SOUTH AFRICA.

Siewdass Sadhu's Temple In Trinidad & Tabago

Siewdass Sadhu's Temple in the Sea at Waterloo, Trinidad & Tabago (WEST INDIES)

Sunset At Hampi

Lord Krishna Was Tied by Mata Yashodha.

Sri Venkateswara Temple, Bridgewater, NJ, USA

Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple Prai, Penang in Malaysia.

Gollalamamidada Rama temple in East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh

Sanatan Mandir in London

Demolition of Somnath temple.

 

TheAurangzebAtrocities VII
About the time the general order for destruction of Hindu temples was issued (9th April 1669), the highly venerated temple of Somanath built on the sea-shore in Kathaiwad was also destroyed. The famous temple was dedicated to Lord Shiva. In the 11th century, the temple was looted and destroyed by Mahmud Ghaznavi. It was rebuilt by King Bhim Deva Solanki of Gujarat and again renovated by Kumarapal in 1143-44 A.D. The temple was again destroyed by Alauddin Khalji’s troops in 1299. In a rare description of the scene of a temple destruction, like of which continued to occur time and again during the long and disastrous rule of the Musalman rulers in India, we have the following account. “The Mlechchha (asura) stone breakers”, writes Padmanabha in his classic work “climbed up the shikhar of the temple and began to rain blows on the stone idols on all three sides by their hammers, the stone pieces falling all around. They loosened every joint of the temple building, and then began to break the different layers (thara) and the sculptured elephants and horses carved on them by incessant blows of their hammers. Then, amidst loud and vulgar clamour, they began to apply force from both the sides to uproot the massive idol by means of wooden beams and iron crowbars” (Kaanhadade Prabandha, Canto I, vss. 94-96).

After the destruction of Somnath temple during Alauddin’s time, it was rebuilt again. When Aurangzeb gave orders for its destruction, the scene must have been little different from the one described by Padmanabha. The artist in his painting has tried to recreate the scene.

Source: Aurangzeb.info exhibits

Hanuman Foot Trail at Thailand....