The temples of India are famous for their extraordinary architecture, visiting culture and diversity. We will tell you about the 10 most visited and unusual temples in this country.
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It is very difficult to find a non-religious person in India. Almost 80% of the inhabitants of this country profess Hinduism, 13% - Islam. Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism and Christianity divided the rest of the population among themselves. Now there are about 1,000,000 temples throughout the country, and the best of them are on the UNESCO register. Many temples have still not been explored at all, and many have not even been discovered by tourists yet.
We will try to tell you about the 10 most unusual temples in India, but who knows, perhaps when you find yourself in this country, you will see something more amazing. So, get acquainted.
This temple is dedicated to Shiva, the supreme deity in Hinduism. He personifies the masculine principle of the Universe and the highest cosmic consciousness. Mount Kailash, according to Hindus, was a refuge for Shiva in the Himalayas. Kailasanatha is part of the cave temple complex and is the largest of them.
Cave temples in India began to be built before our era. Over the course of a century and a half, thousands of Indians carved the walls of Kailasanatha from a huge monolithic rock. Unlike other temples in the complex, Kailasanatha consists of two halls: underground and aboveground. Its area is twice the size of the Athenian Parthenon. Initially, the temple was completely whitewashed with white plaster, and this made it stand out from the surrounding rocks, but over time the whitewashing faded, and the temple remained in the form in which we see it now.
monks-n-monkeys.com
Another temple dedicated to the god Shiva is located in northern India. It was built at the beginning of the 13th century and represents the personification of space. Therefore, in its ornament we find an abundance of birds, lotus flowers, trees and animals.
On the territory of the temple there is the world's largest sculpture of Shiva sitting in the lotus position, 37 meters high. In the temple there remains an altar with a stone lingam, erected about five thousand years ago by the first Shaivists. Researchers believe that it was in this place that the tradition of worshiping the linga originated. Each pilgrim visiting this temple must ring a bell to notify Shiva of his arrival, and then perform the ritual of smoking a narcotic substance of plant origin in small cells located around the altar. The permanent residents of the cell are Kundalini snakes, symbolizing the feminine principle as opposed to the lingam - the masculine one. It is believed that performing such a ritual brings the pilgrim closer to enlightenment.
Zaikason.ru
This temple is famous for its origin. When Parvati, Shiva's wife, committed suicide, Vishnu cut her body into small pieces. He did this out of fear that his husband, furious with grief, would destroy the world. So, Parvati’s left breast fell exactly on the place where the temple is now located. Brajeshwari Devi is especially popular among pilgrims due to this legend and its fine decoration. The temple has been rebuilt many times after destruction and raids, so now it looks different from how it originally was.
new-traveler.ru
A huge lotus flower is located in the capital of India. 27 marble petals are surrounded by water pools. This is a temple of Baha'is who preach the teachings of Baha'u'llah, who advocated the synergy of all religions and the unity of God throughout the world. The building is open to everyone who wants to visit it, but any conversations, video or photography are prohibited. This, relative to others, is a fairly young temple; it was built at the end of the 20th century. There are no images, sculptures, pulpits or altars in the temple - only a clean space in which you can be alone with yourself and God. So absolutely everyone who is looking for harmony can come there. And it should be noted that since the founding of the temple in 1986, the temple has been visited by more people than in all the time visited Eiffel Tower. Now on average holidays The Lotus Temple is visited by about 150 thousand people.
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The temple is located in the sacred Varanasi - the city of the dead. Thousands of pilgrims come here every day to visit the temple and take a dip in the Ganges River. It is believed that by performing these two actions, one can achieve moksha - the end of the path of rebirth, exit from the wheel of samsara. This temple, like most others in India, is dedicated to Shiva. According to legend, he personifies one of his twelve aspects. Shiva created an endless joytirlinga, or an endless stream of light and energy.
This is the highest indivisible reality, primordial and infinite, which converges in this very place. It is impossible for non-Hindus to get into the temple; not even every believer manages to get into the temple. Many are content to simply be near him. Kashi Vishwanath is a temple complex of several sanctuaries. In the center of the sanctuary, the most important temple, there is the same Shiva lingam, which also protects Varanasi from all troubles.
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Kandarya-Mahadeva
An unusual temple complex is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Kandarya Mahadeva was erected in the 11th century and abandoned for almost seven centuries until it was discovered by European colonialists. However, there was no particular rush to resurrect the architectural structure, since all the walls of the temple are completely decorated with sculptures that depict erotic scenes. That is why Kandarya Mahadeva is also called the “Temple of Love”. Now the restored temple complex is visited not only by Indians, but also by tourists from all over the world, absolutely not embarrassed by its unusual design.
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This temple is located in the upper reaches of the Himalayas. To get to it, you need to cover a 14-kilometer road into the mountains on foot or on horseback. The doors of the temple are open only for six months, starting from the last week of April and ending with the first week of May. The rest of the time it is almost impossible to climb the mountains to the temple. It is believed that after visiting this temple the soul is completely cleansed of all sins.
merkulov.yoga
This is one of the oldest temple complexes in India. Its main structure of the 12th century is located on a six-meter dune. A wooden statue of the deity Jagatanha is kept here. The entire complex is surrounded by a wall, and entry to its territory is available only to Indians professing Hinduism. It is simply impossible for Europeans to get there, as one of the legends says that one day a white-skinned man will come and steal the statue of the deity, which will lead to terrible troubles.
This place is famous for its temple cuisine. Fifty-six dishes are prepared daily on it, which are first presented to the deity for his blessing, and then treated to pilgrims. To receive such food (prasadam) means to gain love of God. The kitchen runs smoothly from morning to evening, and about two thousand people work in it. Tourists can only observe all this from the side - next to the temple there is a library with an open roof, from where you can see almost everything that happens outside the walls of the temple.
jagannath.nic.in
Shri Karni Mata Temple
There is a rat temple in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. It is dedicated to the goddess Durga, who she helped poor and unfortunate people through her life in human form. One day she failed to save one of her sons who drowned in a lake, and she prayed to the god of death, Yama, to resurrect her son. But Yama refused her request and left the son of Karni Mata in his kingdom. The goddess became angry and ordered all her relatives to be reborn into rats after death, and not end up in kingdom of the dead. Having died in the body of a rat, they will have to be reborn again in human form. Thus, the kingdom of the dead will eventually be completely empty.
This is how the Karni Mata temple appeared - the refuge of all her followers. Today it is home to about 20 thousand rats. The temple is built with many tunnels so that rats can move freely there. If a sacred rat touched you, accidentally ran over your legs or ate from your hands, this is the most blessed gesture that every pilgrim visiting the temple dreams of.
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This temple is the most important for Sikhs. The temple is located in the center of the sacred lake. It is believed that Buddha Gautama himself visited and meditated here. Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, settled here 2000 years later. The temple building is gilded, and from its doors to the shore of the lake there is a marble road - a symbol of the path of the soul after death. Before entering the temple, pilgrims must take a bath in the water of Amrit-Saras, the lake of divine nectar. Since Sikhs stand for the equality of all religions, anyone can visit the golden temple. Before entering, be sure to wash your feet and put on a hat.
pikabu.ru
Chittorgarh (English Chittorgarh, Hindi चित्तौड़गढ़) - Small town in the north-west of India in the state of Rajasthan, famous for its ancient massive fort, rising on the ridge of a high hill on the left bank of the Berach River. It rises sharply above the surrounding plains to a height of 180 meters and occupies 280 hectares of land. The ancient structure has the status of the largest fort in India by area and, of course, is considered the grandest fortress in the state of Rajasthan. The former majesty and splendor, despite significant destruction, stretched through the centuries and were preserved within the walls of the fortress, presenting a beautiful and mysterious picture. Today, the ancient fort is considered one of the main attractions of India.
ma_zaika
"Rainbow" reveals the secrets of the ancient temples of the Indian state of Orissa
Wednesday, January 25, 2017 08:58 (link)Ma-zaika |
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On January 17, I attended the presentation of the photo exhibition “Planet Earth: India” at the Rainbow exhibition center. I note that the photo exhibition would not have attracted due attention if it were not for the guide, who spoke in detail about Indian temples. Students from India who study in Saratov were also invited to the presentation. They noted Good work over the material, they heard about some facts for the first time just as part of the presentation of the exposition. Excellent command of Indian dances "Parijata" was also mentioned. According to them, not all dancers from India are able to move like our girls. The presentation ended with a story about mehendi and a master class on this drawing technique.
Beautiful-Wise
The largest treasure in history was found in the Indian Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Sunday, July 24, 2016 10:19 (link)Located in the Indian city of Trivandrum, the Hindu temple of Vishnu Padmanabhaswamy is distinguished not only by its architectural beauty, but also by its untold riches. One of the largest treasures in history was found here in 2011, with a total value of $22 billion.
Scientists believe that for thousands of years, the rulers of Travancore collected and stored all this wealth in the temple for generations. Interestingly, only the palace of Jai Singh II in Jaipur can boast of treasures of this magnitude in India. The son of the last maharaja was present at the opening of the cache in the Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
The Padmanabhaswamy Temple was built by King Marthanda Varma, one of the most powerful rulers of Travancore. Construction began in 1731. In 1750, the Maharaja dedicated his kingdom to Padmanabha, the main deity in the kingdom, and he himself became known as Padmanabhadasa, which means “servant of Lord Padmanabha.”
The architectural style of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a harmonious mixture of Dravidian and Kerala. This is a seven-row gopuram with a height of 30.5 meters. Its façade is completely covered beautiful carving. Inside there is a wide corridor with 324 relief pillars and a 24.5 meter golden pole with a flag. The walls of the temple are covered with frescoes depicting mystical stories.
10 most interesting temples in India
India is a deeply religious country. Most of the population are followers of Hinduism - about 80% of the population, 13% of Muslims also live here, the rest profess Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Christianity and so on.
The country’s constitution allows any religion, and it is thanks to this tolerance, which must be said to be thousands of years old, that we have a chance to see the ancient temples of India and completely new masterpieces of architecture...
Every year, millions of tourists come to this mysterious country in search of spiritual enlightenment, wisdom, wanting to gain inexhaustible health or ask the ancient gods for the fulfillment of desires. Whatever the purpose of your trip, do not miss the opportunity to get to know the religious diversity of India better.
Cave temples of Ellora
The largest complex of cave temples in India is located in the village of Ellora, 30 kilometers west of the city of Aurangabad, Maharashtra state.
There are a total of 34 temples and monasteries in Ellora: twelve are Buddhist, five are Jain and the rest are Hindu.
The main attraction of the entire complex is the Kailasanatha rock temple, dedicated to Shiva. For more than a hundred years, several thousand workers carved this masterpiece from a monolithic rock using simple tools.
It will take you several hours to explore the complex, but it is undoubtedly worth it to get to know one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Kandarya Mahadeva, Khajuraho temple complex
In the temple architecture of India, the Khajuraho complex remains unique. A thousand years ago, under the generous patronage of the Chandela Rajput kings, 85 temples, magnificent in form and richly decorated with carvings, were built near the unremarkable village of Khajuraho.
In a remarkably short period of 100 years (from 950 to 1050 AD), all the temples were completed in a single creative impulse.
Today, out of 85 original temples, only 22 have survived the ravages of time, and now show the world a hymn to the joy of life and creativity, the final merging of man with his Creator.
The most interesting of them is Kandarya-Mahadeva, dedicated to the god Shiva. It took 100 years to build and was erected in the 11th century.
After a couple of centuries, the temple was abandoned and for more than 700 years the impenetrable jungle hid this masterpiece of Indian medieval architecture.
But when the colonialists discovered the temple, they were in no hurry to draw attention to the find. The fact is that external and interior walls decorated with sculptures depicting scenes of an erotic nature of a very diverse nature
What once scared off Europeans now attracts tourists. Nowadays Khajuraho is referred to as the “Temple of Love”, and the complex itself is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Somnath Temple
One of the 12 holiest temples in India. It is located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
According to legend, it was built by the god of the moon (hence the second name “Temple of the Moon”) in gratitude to Shiva for lifting the curse.
Six times the temple was completely destroyed, but each time it was restored. Last time it was rebuilt in 1947.
Every year, many pilgrims from all over India flock here; worship here takes place in the form of the Jyotirlinga - a pillar of light that permeates the Earth, which only spiritually developed individuals can see.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple (Varanasi)
The Kashi Vishwanath Temple or "Golden Temple" is located on the West Bank of the Ganges River in the holy city of Varanasi. Here is one of the 12 jyotirlingas (this unpronounceable word means a shrine where Lord Shiva is worshiped).
People from all over India strive to get to Varanasi at least once in their lives; for a Hindu, visiting a temple and bathing in the Ganges is one of the ways to get out of the cycle of samsara.
It is almost impossible for a non-Hindu to get inside. From the third floor of the neighboring building you can see the domes, the finishing of which took almost a ton of gold.
Jagannath Temple in Puri
From the title it is not difficult to understand that the Temple is located in the city of Puri, in the eastern part of Orissa. It is dedicated to one of the forms of Krishna to the deity Jagannath.
For every Hindu, it is one of the four places of pilgrimage that should be visited during one's lifetime.
Entrance to the temple is closed to non-Hindus; even Hindus of other religions cannot enter there.
Europeans are strictly prohibited from entering, since according to the prediction, representatives of the white-skinned race will try to steal the wooden statue of the god Jagannath.
However, there is a way out: the temple building can be seen from the roof of the neighboring library, and the wooden statues of gods stored inside
It can be seen at the annual Chariot Festival in Puri, when the statues are carried around the city on huge chariots.
Tirumala Venkateswara Temple
Built to honor a form of Vishnu, the sanctuary is located in the Tirumala Hills in the state of Andhra Pradesh in southeastern India and covers an area of over two hectares.
The Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is the most visited religious building in the world, it is also called the “Hindu Vatican”.
Tens of thousands of pilgrims visit it every day, and on holidays several hundred thousand people come here.
It is also the richest Hindu temple. Pilgrims often sacrifice their hair to Vishnu, which is shaved off at a barber shop in the area.
Over the course of a year, about 15 tons of hair are collected and sold, bringing in a profit of more than a million dollars.
Remarkable and the following facts: One day, 162 diamonds worth $230,000 were found in a donation box, and the largest diamond donated to the temple weighed 2.5 kilograms and was worth over $8 million.
Meenakshi Temple
The delightful temple complex is located in a square in the heart of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, and covers an area of 6 hectares.
The structure was erected in honor of the wedding of Shiva and Meenakshi, one of the avatars of Parvati. This event is celebrated annually to this day.
The Meenakshi Temple represents the entire colorful world of Hinduism: the walls are covered with figures of gods, mythical animals, guards, priests, musicians, men and women. The scale and diversity are amazing.
It is interesting to visit here for both adults and children; about 15 thousand people visit the temple every day.
Kedarnath Temple
The Shiva Temple is located in the picturesque upper reaches of the Himalayas in the village of Kedarnath. This is one of the most significant shrines of Hindus, the location of one of the 12 jyotirlingas.
Here complete cleansing from sins is granted and thousands of pilgrims flock here from all over the world.
From Gaurikund the ascent can be done either on horseback or on foot. Entrance to the sanctuary is open only 6 months a year: from the last week of April or the first week of May until Diwali, which is celebrated in November-December.
The rest of the time, the paths leading to the temple are covered with snow, and it is not possible to make this 14-kilometer journey.
Harmandir Sahib (Amritsar, Golden Temple)
Harmandir Sahib is main shrine Sikhs, as well as the most famous golden temple in India.
It is located in the city of Amritsar, Punjab, in the center of the sacred Amritsar Lake, into which pilgrims plunge before entering the temple.
The walls of the building are covered with gold slabs and precious stones, and the interior decoration is even richer than the exterior.
Sikhs preach equality and unity of all religions, so free entry is open to everyone, you just need to wash your feet and put on a hat.
More than 20,000 people visit Harmandir Sahib every day.
The temple has a free canteen where anyone, whether a tourist or a pilgrim, can eat simple Indian food.
You can also stay overnight here; there are special sleeping rooms for this.
Lotus Temple
One of the most striking landmarks of Delhi, one of the greatest architectural structures, one of the most beautiful temples India!
The building is a huge blooming lotus flower of 27 marble petals surrounded by nine pools of water.
The house of prayer was built with donations from adherents of the Baha'i Faith, which preaches the unity of all religions, and after 6 years of construction, in 1986 the temple was opened to everyone.
Entrance is completely free; loud conversations, photography and video shooting are prohibited inside the Lotus Temple, but meditation is encouraged.
A peaceful atmosphere, silence and soft light will help the traveler to renounce external stimuli, cast aside all worries and listen to his inner world,
In order to find harmony with yourself and, as a result, with everything that exists.
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They respect traditions and are very careful about preserving ancient artifacts, which is why temples built many centuries ago have survived to this day in all their grandeur, without losing their richness and splendor. In order to see the amazing temples of Ancient India, thousands of tourists from all over the world come to the country every year. What sanctuaries are definitely worth visiting if you find yourself on the territory of the largest state in South Asia?
Shiva Temple
In Hinduism there are a huge number of gods, the most revered of which is Shiva. Shiva personifies universal consciousness, as well as the masculine principle. Many temples in India are dedicated to this deity. The most famous religious building dedicated to Shiva is the temple, located in one of the oldest Indian settlements, called Baijanath.
The majestic structure was built at the beginning of the 13th century at the expense of the merchants Ahuk and Manyuk. The sanctuary is decorated with a huge number of figurines depicting Shiva and other gods. Inside the building you can see a sculpture of Shiva driving a chariot next to his consort, goddess Parvati.
What makes it especially unique is that on its territory there is the world's largest sculptural image of Shiva, the height of which reaches 37 meters. The main god of Hinduism is depicted sitting in the traditional lotus position. The monumental statue is painted gold and seems to be bathed in sunlight.
The sanctuary is open to tourists and pilgrims. Especially many pilgrims gather here during religious holidays, the main one of which is the celebration called the “Dance of Shiva.” At this time, Hindus come to Baijanath to spend time in prayers and meditation, and also pour milk on the sacred lingams, that is, images of the genitals of Shiva and Parvati, which also adorn this majestic temple.
Golden Temple
The Golden Temple, which the people of India call “Kashi Vishwanath”, is located near the banks of the Ganges in the city of Varanasi. The Golden Temple is one of the 12 sacred places where Hindus can pay homage to Lord Shiva.
Any Hindu who intends to leave samsara or the circle of eternal rebirth forever must perform a special ritual at least once in his life: visit the Golden Temple and take a bath in the Ganges. Therefore, the sanctuary is very popular. True, only people who profess Hinduism can get inside: for others, the road to this sacred place is closed.
Interestingly, almost a ton of pure gold was spent on finishing the domes of the temple. True, this splendor can only be seen from the upper floors of neighboring buildings.
Temple of Love
The majestic Khajuraho complex or “Temple of Love” can be called one of the most unusual and unique religious buildings in India. This refuge of the gods is located in an abandoned city that was swallowed up by the jungle many centuries ago. It is to this fact that Khajuraho owes its preservation.
It is unknown when exactly the complex was built, but historians believe that it appeared about ten centuries ago during the reign of the Rajput dynasty. When the country was conquered by the Muslims, many temples in India were destroyed, but Kajuharo miraculously survived. True, only 22 structures out of the once existing 85 have reached us. It is possible that the temple was not destroyed because local residents left the city, fearing the invasion of Afghan tribes, and the buildings were hidden from prying eyes by dense thickets of tropical vegetation.
The buildings were found only in 1838 by British engineer D.S. Bart. At the moment, the restoration of the temple continues and excavations are underway nearby.
Kajuharo is truly amazing. The walls of the temple complex are decorated with numerous bas-reliefs, made with filigree precision: the depiction of details amazes to the core. Several thousand bas-reliefs depict battle, mythological and erotic scenes, the latter surprising with their frankness and sensuality.
According to legend, the temple was erected in order to glorify the power of human love and passion, as well as feminine beauty. One can only imagine how much time and effort it took the ancient masters to create this mysterious, unusual and unique complex. He seems to embody the fullness of human existence in all its beauty and passion.
Brajeshwari Devi Temple
The majestic snow-white Brajeshwari Devi Temple is especially popular among Hindus. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the appearance of the sanctuary is shrouded in the mystery of a beautiful legend. When Shiva's wife committed suicide by throwing herself into the flames, Shiva pulled her body out of the fire and, losing his mind from grief, began his destructive dance. Vishnu, fearing that the maddened Shiva would destroy the world, cut his wife's body into fifty pieces and scattered them throughout India. The left breast of the goddess turned into the temple of Brajeshwari Devi.
Brajeshwari Devi became famous for its fine, exquisite decoration. Unfortunately, Brajeshwari Devi has not survived to this day in its original form: it has been destroyed more than once by both human hands and the forces of nature.
Lotus Temple
Not only the ancient, but also the relatively recently created temples of India are beautiful and worthy of admiration. The latter includes the magnificent Lotus Temple, the construction of which was completed in 1986. Perhaps it can be called one of the most majestic and symbolic temples in India. It is a monumental structure made in the shape of a giant blooming lotus flower, surrounded by nine pools of turquoise water.
It was built with donations from people who believe in the unity of all world religions. Really, appearance The temple and its decoration are conducive to philosophical reflection: dim light, peace and complete silence make you detach yourself from earthly vanity and think about the eternal. By the way, they take special care about silence in the temple: loud conversations and photography are prohibited here. Maybe this is the temple that is worth visiting if you find yourself in India: the idea of the unity of all world religious movements and the need to live in harmony with all that exists in our difficult times is more relevant than ever before...
Much has been written about the uniqueness of India: to Europeans the country seems like “another world.” We will try to touch on one of the brightest facets of this uniqueness: the features and secrets of Indian temples.
In the area of ancient temples in India, you can only “grasp the edge”: India is a rather large country, and there are about a million temples. Of course, they differ in importance and popularity, architecture and visiting features; we can mention some of those considered the most famous, the best and the oldest, “super-shrines” or unusual ones – at least “for white man. The religiosity of the people of India is impressive. Hindus make up about 80% of the population: the majority are Hindu temples dedicated to various gods and saints. There are also many followers of Mohammed - about 13%; there are Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Christians, etc.
All lovers of ancient civilizations are well aware that India is a country of gods and temples.
One of the most ancient is the Ajanta Temple
The Ajanta complex in the central part of the country is one of the most ancient. These are cave temples in India, mostly Buddhist: 29 rectangular halls carved in stone, with carved columns and wall decorations. All this was built over about 1700 years, in total: there are temples of the 3rd-1st centuries BC. uh, and the “youngest” is from the 14th century. In addition to the halls, there are many cells: the halls are surrounded by them along the perimeter. The monks lived here for a long time, but during the early Middle Ages the temples were abandoned due to Muslim raids; Only in the 19th century were they discovered by chance by the British. The unique paintings are amazing: the “persecutors” of Indian deities could not destroy them - they simply were not found, but time has not been kind to them. Colorful frescoes have been preserved in 13 caves, and everything was painted: in one of the halls, about 1 square meter is still covered with painting. km, counting the walls, ceiling and columns.
The best cave complex of Ellora
In the same state of India (Maharashtra) there is another famous cave complex, carved into basalt rocks - the Ellora temples, which were created over about 300 years, in the 6th-9th centuries AD. There are 34 caves in total, half of them are Hindu; the rest are Buddhist (12) and Jain (5). The most famous is the Kailasanatha temple dedicated to Shiva, surprisingly proportional (like most ancient Indian temples), all covered with ornaments and complex carvings: it occupies almost 2 square meters. km and is considered the center of the Ellora complex. Kailasanatha - consonant with the name of the legendary pyramidal Mount Kailash, a sacred place in Tibet for worshipers of Shiva and pilgrims of different faiths from all over the world. Temple carved into a monolith in the 8th century AD. – also a regular quadrangular pyramid; inside is a courtyard surrounded by arcades with columns, carved panels and huge figures of deities. There are also statues of animals, from lions to elephants, also huge - up to 3 m high. Kailasanatha is considered a shining example of the Dravidian culture - a mysterious people descended almost from the Lemurians; now their descendants inhabit South India.
The Virupaksha Temple of the same architecture in Karnataka was created by the Dravidians around the same time; it is also popular and actively visited by pilgrims.
Indian Tirumala Temple
The ancient Indian temple of Tirumala Venkateswara, a form of the god Vishnu, is located near the city of Tirupati in the southeastern part of the country. Built on a hill - a white carved pyramid rises above the area and occupies more than 2 hectares of area. There are also many pilgrims - hundreds of thousands flock to the holidays; It is interesting that in the Guinness book it is named as the most visited. And also the richest: pilgrims donate a lot of valuables, including precious stones worth millions of dollars. The most important source of income is the sale of hair: believers bring about a ton of hair to the temple per day. Haircut is ritual, although optional: it is believed that this way you can quickly free yourself from sins and receive Venkateswara’s blessing.
Khajuraho in central India
Many films have been made about the Indian temple complex of Khajuraho, which is located in Central India, thanks to the abundance of erotic sculptures, perfectly preserved, relief and expressive. Historians are still trying to explain why the temples are so decorated: they call them “illustrations for the Kama Sutra”, etc. In fact, the eroticism in the decorations is shown very “moderately”: there is no eroticism inside the temples, and on the outer walls there are about 3% of the figures , but for some reason people with a Western type of perception want to emphasize this fact. The light brown sandstone walls are mainly decorated with statues of deities and their consorts in rich decoration - crowns, bracelets, necklaces, etc. - with mounts and retinue, decorated no less richly. Most of all there are beautiful female sculptures of semi-deities: apsaras - Hindu nymphs, and heavenly beauties surasundari, dressed “to a minimum” or naked. Their figures decorate both the facades and interior spaces, including columns and ceilings.
There are also beautiful Gandharva men - beloved demigoddesses, images of social life (families of rulers, couples in love, everyday scenes) and many characteristic mythical animals. Khajuraho has been called "the pinnacle of medieval Indian architecture" - most of the buildings date from the period between the mid-10th and late 11th centuries; There were 85 temples, only 20 remain.
Somnath Temple
The ancient Indian temple of Somnath on the shores of the Arabian Sea, dedicated to Shiva, who protected the moon god Soma, is one of the oldest, although not the most famous. Built around the 4th-5th centuries AD. e. – this is very approximate. After several centuries, he became so rich and luxurious that he aroused the envy of many. As a result, the temple was robbed, desecrated and destroyed more than 15 times, but was always rebuilt, and almost in the same form, adding, however, details and decorations: sometimes Somnath is called “reborn from the ashes.” At the beginning of the 18th century, one of the Great Mughals finally destroyed the temple, sending it into oblivion for 250 years, until the middle of the 20th century. In 1950, the temple began to be restored: practically rebuilt, but based on a plan created from the remains of the foundation. The Somnath Temple is beautiful, especially at sunset, but photography and video shooting inside is prohibited.
Tourists can at least enter Somnath, but foreigners are not allowed into another Indian Shiva temple, Kashi Vishwanath in the city of Varanasi. But Hindus are obliged to get there if they want to free themselves from a series of rebirths: there is no shortage of pilgrims. Translation of the name – Golden Temple; it is really trimmed with gold: about a ton was spent on the domes alone. You can still see this splendor from the outside by climbing top floor(or onto the roof) of a neighboring building.
Golden Temple of Indian state of Punjab
But anyone can enter the other Golden Temple, owned by the Sikhs - Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, Punjab state of India, if they behave decently and maintain cleanliness: they must take off their shoes and wash their feet. Sikhs believe that all religions are equal, and not only let everyone in, but also feed and, if necessary, provide sleeping area. Harmandir Sahib was built in the 16th century; The gold and precious stones are real here too: ancient temple covered with them all and shines like a star.
Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are the main deities of the Hindus, but the cult of the first is not widespread - only a few temples. The most significant is at Lake Pushkar in Rajasthan, where a large festival is held once a year. But filming is also not allowed: everything is “only for Hindus.”
It is also worth visiting the Shiva Temple in Baijnath, the Meenakshi temple complex in the city of Madurai, the large stupa in Sanchi - considered the burial place of Buddha, the Lotus Temple in Delhi and many other amazing shrines: India in this sense is richer than any country in the world.
Country with ancient history, deep national traditions, many religions and rituals - India is still considered one of the most interesting places on the planet. Indian culture of antiquity gave rise to whole line wonderful, completely unique temples, among which there are buildings with a thousand-year past and temples built during the Middle Ages. There are also quite modern masterpieces built in the second half of the 20th century. Without exception, all Indian temples have enduring religious value; they contain shrines revered by the Indian people.
Undoubtedly, all temples in India begin with the Palace-Mausoleum built in the 17th century by Shah Jahan for his untimely deceased wife, whom he loved. more life. Allah gave the Shah and the beautiful Mumtaz 17 happy years of marriage, but the woman died during the birth of her last child. For more than twenty years, the palace in Agra was built from expensive translucent marble, precious stones and pearls. The huge ones were made of pure silver, the interior chambers breathed oriental luxury. After his death, Shah Jahan was buried next to his beloved Mumtaz. The Taj Mahal is the main temple in India, but there are many more masterpieces that deserve attention.
In the Indian city of Armitsar, right in the middle with the same name, stands the golden temple of Harmandir Sahib - the shrine of the Sikhs. The arriving pilgrims, before entering, perform the obligatory ritual of immersion in the waters of Armitsar. Sikhs are quite tolerant in their religious beliefs, so a representative of any religion is allowed to enter their temple, but only after washing their feet. You must also wear a hat upon entry. The temple is richly decorated with gold plates and many precious stones both outside and inside.
The stunning temple complex is located in the Indian village of Ellora in the state of Maharashtra. The temples of India in Ellora united as many as three religions: Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. In total, there are 34 monasteries in the complex, in which monks have lived for centuries. And the most significant in the Ellora complex has always been and remains common to all religions, carved into a monolithic rock, the Kailasanatha temple - the abode of Shiva. This temple was carved over a hundred years by several generations of stonemasons.
In the Indian state of Orissa, in the city of Puri, there is a temple of Jagannath, the deity personifying Krishna. This temple is extremely secluded and is restricted to Hindus only. A Hindu of any other religion cannot enter, and even less so Europeans. Hindus have a suspicion that people of the white race have long dreamed of stealing the wooden statue of Jagannath from the temple. To see this unique attraction, just climb onto the roof of a nearby building. And the deity of Jagannath and other gods from the temple can be observed during the chariot festival, which takes place in Puri every year.
The temples of India are also reflected in the state of Madhya Pradesh - a wonderful complex called Khajuraho. It consists of 22 buildings, some of which are dedicated to the god Shiva. One of the temples - Kandarya Mahadeva - began to be built in the 9th century and took about a hundred years to build. It so happened that two hundred years later the temple was consigned to oblivion and it disappeared for many 700 years in the dense Indian jungle. When European colonialists discovered the temple, they tried not to advertise their discovery, since all the walls of the building were covered with sculptures of an openly erotic nature. However, nowadays Kandarya Mahadeva is one of the most visited temples.
Vishwanath Kashi Temple (which means located on the banks of the Ganges in the city of Varanasi. The temple houses one of the shrines of the god Shiva. All Hindus in the country dream of going to the Kashi Temple; a non-Hindu cannot get into the temple, this is very strict. Hindus consider bathing in the Ganges with followed by a visit to the temple, the opportunity to completely cleanse the soul. Kashi Vishwanath is very richly decorated with real gold. About a ton of precious metal was spent on numerous domes.
And the magnificent House of Prayer in Delhi. A masterpiece of sacred architecture of the second half of the 20th century. Represents huge flower lotus of 27 petals, built of white marble. The temple is surrounded by 9 pools. Upon entering, each visitor is overcome with a feeling of peace; one wants to talk in a whisper; one does not even think about taking out a camera and clicking the shutter. One can feel the harmony of unity with the Lotus Temple. I want this feeling to last as long as possible. India doesn't end there, but for them full description More than one article will be required.
