Top temples of India: (5 are selected)

1. Brihadeeswarar temple -- Thanjavur :

The Peruvudaiyar Kovil - Brihadeeswarar Temple, also known as Rajarajeswaram, at

Thanjavur in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is the world's first complete granite temple
and a brilliant example of the major heights achieved by Cholas in temple architecture. It
is a tribute and a reflection of the power of its patron RajaRaja Chola I. It remains as one
of the greatest glories of Indian architecture. The temple is part of the UNESCO World
Heritage Site "Great Living Chola Temples" and this temple is an ultimate testimonial for
the Vishwakarmas architectural cognizance in planning and sculpting this temple.

This temple is one of India's most prized architectural sites. The temple stands amidst
fortified walls that were probably added in the 16th century. The 'Vimana' - or the temple
tower - is 216 ft (66 m) high (about 70 meters) and is among the tallest of its kind in the
world. The Kalash or 'Shikhara' (apex or the bulbous structure on the top) of the temple is
not carved out of a single stone as is widely believed. There is a big statue of Nandi
(sacred bull), carved out of a single rock, at the entrance measuring about 16 feet long
and 13 feet high. The entire temple structure is made out of hard granite stones, a material
sparsely available currently in Thanjavur area where the temple is located.

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History:

The temple had its foundations laid out by the Tamil emperor Arunmolivarman,
popularly called Rajaraja Chola I, in 1002 CE, as the first of the great Tamil Chola
building projects. According to tradition, the temple was built by the Chola king Rajaraja
in compliance of a command given to him in his dream. Temples from this period and the
following two centuries are an expression of the Tamils (Chola) wealth, power and
artistic expertise. The emergence of such features as the multifaceted columns with
projecting square capitals signal the arrival of the new Chola style.The Brihadeeswarar
Temple was built to be the royal temple to display the emperor's vision of his power and
his relationship to the universal order. The temple was the site of the major royal
ceremonies such as anointed the emperor and linking him with its deity, Shiva, and the

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daily rituals of the deities were mirrored by those of the king. The temple maintained a
staff of 600 people in various capacities. Moreover as evidenced by the inscriptions that
found in the compound wall of this temple, the temple had always been serving as a
platform for the dancers who excelled in the traditional dance form of Bharatha Natyam.
Even today, the Brihadeeswarar Temple remains India's largest.

There are many myths about the temple; one of the most popular is that the gopuram does
not cast a shadow at any time of the day outside its perimeter - a testament to the early
Dravidians' mathematical prowess.

The temple is also an architectural exemplar showcasing the pure form of the Dravida
type of temple architecture and representative of the Chola Empire ideology and the
Tamil civilisation in Southern India. The temples "testify to the brilliant achievements of
the Chola in architecture, sculpture, painting and bronze casting".

2. Tirumala Venkateswara Temple--Tirupati:

Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is a famous Hindu Temple of Lord Venkateswara

located in the hill town Tirumala of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is built on the
Venkatadri hill, one of the seven hills of Tirumala, and hence is also known as the
Temple of Seven Hills (Saptagiri in Sanskrit,. The presiding deity of the temple, Lord
Venkateswara, is also known by other names - Balaji or Srinivasa. Built is said to be in
the Earliest records date to 300 A.D (probable)

The temple is the richest and the most visited place of worship in the world. The temple
is visited by about 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims daily, while on special occasions and
festivals, like the annual Brahmotsavam, the number of pilgrims shoots up to 500,000,
making it the most visited holy place in the world.

According to the legend, the temple has a self-manifested idol murti of Lord Vishnu, with
the Lord believed to have resided here for the entire Kali Yuga. In Sri Vaishnava
tradition, the temple is considered one of the 108 Divya Desam sites.

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History:

The Tirumala Hill is 3200 ft above sea level, and is about 10.33 sq miles in area. It
comprises seven peaks, representing the seven hoods of Adisesha, thus earning the name,
Seshachalam. The seven peaks are called Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri,
Vrushabadri, Narayanadri and Venkatadri. The sacred temple of Sri Venkateswara is
located on the seventh peak, Venkatadri (Venkata Hill), and lies on the southern banks of
Sri Swami Pushkarini.

For worshippers, the deity Venkateswara symbolises goodness. When people travel to
Tirupati, they chant "Yedu Kondala Vada Venkataramana Govinda Govindaa" (in
Telugu).

Thondaiman, ruler of the ancient Thondaimandalam (present day Kanchipuram), is

believed to have first built the temple after visualizing Lord Vishnu in his dream. He built
the Gopuram and the Prakhara, and arranged for regular prayers to be conducted in the
temple. Later on the Chola dynasty vastly improved the temple and gave rich
endowments. To date, you will find the various Tamil Grantha script within the Temple
prakara walls. The Sangam literature of Tamil such as that of Silapadikaram and Satanar
Manimekalai, dated between 500BC and 300AD, mentions Thiruvengadam (now named

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Tirupati) by the appellation "Nediyon Kunram" as the northernmost frontier of the Tamil
kingdoms.

It was under the regime of the Vijayanagara emperors that the temple attained the
majority of its current opulence and size with the donation of expensive jewellery made
of diamonds and gold. The coronation ceremonies of the emperors were also held at
Tirupati. In 1517, Krishnadevaraya, on one of his many visits to the temple, donated gold
and jewels enabling the Vimana (inner shrine) roofing to be gilded.

Laddu is the world famous prasadam given at Tirumala Temple. Recently the Trust has
taken copy right of Laddu prasaddam, hence, no one can prepare the same Laddu. Many
other delicious prasadams are also available including curd rice, pulihora (tamarind rice),
vada and chakkera-pongal (sweet pongal). Free meals are given daily to the pilgrims, and
on Thursdays, the Tirupavadai seva occurs, where food items are kept for naivedyam to
Lord Srinivasa.

3. Somnath Temple -- Gujarat:

Somnath at Somnath Patan, near Veraval in Gujarat is a pilgrimage center held in great
reverence throughout India. Somnath is considered to be the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas of
Shiva. Somnath is situated on the south coast of Saurashtra.

The construction of the present temple in Junagadh district began in 1947. It is the
seventh temple built to commemorate the glory of Lord Somnath who is said to have
known as Bhairaveshwar in the Satya Yug, Shravanikeshwar in Treta Yug and
Shrigaleshwar in Dwapar Yug.

Somnath temple, 1869

History:

According to the legends, Soma, the moon God built the temple in gold, Ravan in silver,
Krishna in wood and king Bhimdev of Anhilwad in stone. Soma constructed the temple
as a gesture after Lord Shiva cured him of his illness. This illness was caused by his
father-in-law Daksha Prajapati's curse. Daksha cursed him to wane as he was infatuated
with Rohini and was neglecting the other 26 wives, all 26 of whom were the daughters of
Prajapati. It is said that Brahma advised him to build the temple in honour of Shiva.

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The present temple is the seventh temple reconstructed on the original site. The first
temple of Somnath is said to have existed before the beginning of the common era. The
second temple, built by the Yadava kings of Vallabhi in Gujarat, replaced the first one on
the same site around 649.

In 725 Junayad, the Arab governor of Sind, sent his armies to rebuild the second temple.
The Gurjara Pratihara king Nagabhata II constructed the third temple in 815, a large
structure of red sandstone.

In 1024 A.D., the temple was once again destroyed by Mahmud Ghazni who raided the
temple from across the Thar Desert. Ghazni was challenged by the king, Ghogha Rana,
who at the ripe age of 90, sacrificed his own clan fighting against Ghazni. The temple
was rebuilt by the Paramara King Bhoj of Malwa and the Solanki king Bhima of Gujarat
(Anhilwara) or Patan between 1026 and 1042. The wooden structure was replaced by
Kumarpal (r.1143-72), who built the temple of stone.

In 1296 A.D., the temple was once again destroyed by Sultan Allauddin Khilji's army.
According to Taj-ul-Ma'sir of Hasan Nizami, Raja Karan of Gujarat was defeated and
forced to flee, "fifty thousand infidels were dispatched to hell by the sword" and "more
than twenty thousand slaves, and cattle beyond all calculation fell into the hands of the
victors". The temple was rebuilt by Mahipala Deva, the Chudasama king of Saurashtra in
1308 A.D. and the Linga was installed by his son Khengar sometime between 1326 and
1351 A.D.

In 1375 A.D., the temple was once again destroyed by Muzaffar Shah I, the Sultan of
Gujarat. About 1400 A.D. it was reconstructed by the local public.

In 1451 A.D., the temple was once again destroyed by Mahmud Begda, the Sultan of
Gujarat. It was reconstructed again.

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In 1701 A.D., the temple was once again destroyed by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Aurangzeb built a mosque on the site of the Somnath temple, using some columns from
the temple, whose Hindu sculptural motifs remained visible.

Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore rebuilt the temple in 1783 A.D at a site adjacent to the
ruined temple which was already converted to a mosque.

4. Sabarimala – Kerala:

Sabarimala is a pilgrimage centre located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of

Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where Ayyappan
meditated after killing the powerful demoness, Mahishi. Lord Ayyappan's temple is
situated here amidst of 18 hills. The temple is situated on a hilltop at an altitude of 914m
above mean sea level, and is surrounded by mountains and dense forests. Temples exists
in each of the hills surrounding Sabarimala. While functional and intact temples exist at
many places in the surrounding areas like Nilackal, Kalaketi, and Karimala, remnants of
old temples survive to this day on remaining hills.

Sabarimala is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world with an estimated 45 - 50 million
devotees coming every year. The pilgrimage to Sabarimala is a singular example of one
where pilgrims, without consideration of religion, caste, creed, position or social status,
go with one aim, one desire and one mantra that is Lord Ayyappa. However no female

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between the age group of 10 - 50 are allowed to enter the temple. Among many other
reasons the fact that core story attributed to Lord Ayyappa prohibits the entry of the
women in the menstrual age group. This is because Ayyappan is a Bramachari. The
temple is open for worship only during the days of Mandalapooja (Approximately
November 15 to December 26), Makaravilakku (January 14- "Makara Sankranti") and
Vishu (April 14), and the first five days of each Malayalam month.

Golden Temple – Amritsar:

Amritsar, literally means the Pool of Nectar. Amritsar derieves its name from Amrit
Sarovar, the holy tank that surrounds the fabulous Golden Temple. The Sikh cult largely
dominate the city. During centuries, this complex of Sikh culture grew from a sacred
village pond into a spiritual-temporal center. The passionate pilgrims of the faith of Guru
Nanak (15th century), who united Hindu and Muslim elements and initiated a
reformation, flocked here generation after generation.

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History:

Guru Arjan Sahib, the Fifth Nanak, conceived the idea of creating a central place of
worship for the Sikhs and he himself designed the architecture of Golden temple also
known as Sri Harmandir Sahib. Guru Arjan Sahib got its foundation laid by a muslim
saint Hazrat Mian Mir ji of Lahore in December 1588. The construction work was
directly supervised by Guru Arjan Sahib himself and he was assisted by many other
prominent Sikh personalities.

Originally built during AD 1574, the site of the temple was surrounded by a small lake in
a thin forest. The third of the six grand Mughals, emperor Akbar, who visited the third
Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das, at the neighbouring town of Goindval was so impressed by
the way of life in the town that he gave a jagir (the land and the revenues of several
villages in the vicinity) to the Guru's daughter Bhani as a gift on her marriage to Bhai
Jetha, who later became the fourth Sikh Guru, Guru Ram Das. Guru Ram Das enlarged
the lake and built a small township around it. The town was named after Guru Ram Das
as "Guru Ka Chak", "Chak Ram Das" or "Ram Das Pura".

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During the leadership of the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1581-1606), the full-fledged
Temple was built. In December 1588 the great Muslim Sufi saint of Lahore, Hazrat Mian
Mir, a close friend of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, was asked to lay the corner stone (December
1588). The story has been told that a mason then straightened the stone, to which Guru
Arjan said, as you have just undone the work of such a holy man, who knows what
disaster might come to the Harmandir Sahib.

This story has been used to offer a reason why the temple has been attacked so many
times by the Afghans and Mughals and even Inspected by force by Indian Army in 1984,
during Operation Bluestar, which laid the foundation stone of Khalistan, the proposed
rebellious Sikh Homeland.

The temple was completed in 1604. Guru Arjan Dev Ji, installed the Adi Granth in it and
appointed Baba Buddha Ji as the first Granthi (Reader) of the temple on August 1604. In
the mid 18th century it was attacked by the Afghans, by one of Ahmed Shah Abdali's
Generals, Jahan Khan, and had to be substantially rebuilt in the 1760s. However, in
response a Sikh Army was sent to hunt down the Afghan force. They were under orders
to show no mercy and historical evidence suggests none was shown. Both forces met
each other 5 miles outside Amritsar where Jahan Khan's army was defeated, and Jahan
Khan himself is believed to have been killed by Sardar Dayal Singh.

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