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Thousand Pillar Temple
Thousand
Pillar Temple
Location : 4-km From Hanumakonda Crossroad
In Warangal District
Architecture : Kakatiya Style Of Architecture
Built
By : Rudra Devi
Dedicated To : Lord Shiva, Vishnu And Surya
A
Specimen Of Kakatiya Architecture
Noted today for its beautiful lakes,
magnificent temples and wildlife, the ancient city Warangal possess the marvelous
thousand pillared temple, built by King Rudra Deva in the 12th century. Thousand
Pillar Temple is 4-km from Hanumakonda crossroad in Warangal district. The temple
is a fine specimen of 'Kakatiya' architecture and sculpture. It is the main attraction
of Hanumakonda.
The temple is in shape of a star and has three shrines
dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Surya. There are many small lingam shrines
surrounding the gardens. The temple is famous for its richly carved pillars, screens
and detailed sculpture. The temple is built on a 1m high platform on the slopes
of the Hanumakonda hill. The black basalt majestic Nandi, a monolith, has a lovely
polished finish. The atmosphere is calm and serene with the sonorous ringing of
the puja bells, gentle chirping of the birds and the soothing cool breeze.
How
to Get There
Air : The nearest airport is at Hyderabad,
157-km away.
Rail : Warangal has a railway station and is
well connected by rail to important cities of India.
Road :
APSTRC and Private buses connect Warangal with Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Karimnagar,
Khammam and some other districts.
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Tirupati Tirumala
Balaji Temple
Location : Tirupati, 67-kms
From Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh
Famous as : Lord Venkateswara
Or Venkateshwara Or Venkatramana
Dedicated To : World's Richest
Temple
Significance : Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam
Tirupati
Balaji temple is famous for Lord Venkateshwara Deity. The Cupola over the sanctorum
is covered entirely with gold plate and is known as "the Ananda Nilayam".
The town of Tirupati-Balaji is one of the most sacred places in India. The name
Tirupati-Balaji means the 'lord of Lakshmi'. The shrine is located 853m above
the sea level on Tirumala hill range, a cluster of seven hills known as Venkatachalam,
and lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini. He is also called the
Lord of the Seven Hills. The epics like Rig Veda and Asthadasa Puranas describe
Sri Venkateswara as the great bestowed of boons.
The annual festival
called ‘Brahmotsavam’ is the most famous and is celebrated on grand
scale for nine days in September. It attracts pilgrims and tourists from all parts
of the country when everyday is a day of festivity at Tirumala. With the highest
daily offerings by devotees, Indians and foreign, it is said to be the richest
temple in the world. This temple is a vibrant cultural and philanthropic institution
with a grand history. The shrine consists of three 'Prakarams' or enclosures.
The other shrines that can be visited are Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple,
the only temple dedicated to Lord Siva; the Sri Govindrajaswamy Temple consecrated
by Saint Ramanujacharya in AD 1130; and the legendary Sri Kalyana Venkateswaraswami
Temple; and Sri Kothandaramaswamy Temple, which has Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana
as the presiding deities.
Tirupati - A Fine
Example Of Dravidian Temple Architecture
The
temple at Tirumala is believed to have existed from ancient times. The dynasties
like the Pallavas of Kanchipuram, the Cholas of Tanjore, the Pandyas of Madurai
and the Kings and chiefs of Vijayanagara, vied with one another in endowing
the Shrine and offering worship of the presiding deity. The Tirupati temple
with its 'gopuram' or tower is a fine example of Dravidian architecture.
The
elaborate rituals and mode of worship in the temple were prescribed by the saint
Ramanujacharya and are being followed even today. Anointing the idol with camphor,
and the offering by pilgrims of the hair on their heads by getting themselves
shaved by licensed barbers are the important customs in vogue at Tirupati Temple.
The 'Vimana' or Cupola over the sanctum sanctorum is covered entirely with
gold plate and is known as "the Ananda Nilayam". The Shrine consists
of three 'Prakarams' or enclosures. The outermost enclosure contains the 'Dhvajastambha'
or the banner post and, among others, the statues of Vijayanagara king Krishnadevaraya
and his consorts, and of Todarmal, the minister of Akbar. The idol of the deity,
the full figure of Lord Venkateswara or 'Venkataramana' or 'Srinivasa' or 'Balaji'
(as is called in various parts of the country) has the attributes of both Vishnu
and Shiva, preserving and destroying aspects of the Hindu Trinity.
Festivals
of Tirupati Everyday is a day of festivity at Tirumala. The most
famous is the annual festival called 'Brahmotsavam', which is celebrated on grand
scale for nine days in September, attracting pilgrims and tourists from all parts
of the country. The fifth and ninth days of the festival are especially significant
in as much as Garudostavam and Rathotavam takes place on those days.
The Daily Routines - Tirupati Tirumala Balaji Temple
The daily program starts with 'Suprabhatam' (awakening the Lord) at three in the
morning and end with the 'Ekanta Seva' (putting the Lord to sleep) at one in the
night. Daily, Weekly and Periodical 'Sevas' and 'Utsavams' are performed to the
Lord. Interested pilgrims can choose from the list and pay to get the Sevas or
Utsavams done on their name. Devotees offer their gifts and donations in the "Hundi",
which is the main source of income.
Kanyakumar Temple, Kanyakumari
It
is at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian
Sea where the sacred pilgrimage site of Kanyakumari is situated. It is the southernmost
tip and land’s end of Indian Peninsula. Kanyakumari is also known as Cape
Comorin.
The goddess Devi Kanya, an incarnation of Shiva's wife, visited
this place, to bathe in the sacred waters and worshipped before conquering demons
and secured freedom for the world. The virgin goddess did penance to obtain the
hand of Lord Shiva. It is one of the most sacred places where pilgrims visit in
great numbers to worship the Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu, and Isvara (Mahesh). The
Kumari Amman temple is dedicated to Parvati.
Southeast of the Kumari
Amman temple there are two rocks that reach out to the ocean. The footprints of
the virgin goddess are to be seen on one of these called Sri Padaparai, where
Swami Vivekananda sat in deep meditation. Vivekananda Rock Memorial stands here,
built in 1970.
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Bull
Temple, Bangalore
Constructed in 16th Century by Kempe Gowda, the Bull
Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
As
per the legend once a bull entered the fields of a well-grown crop and started
grazing. On seeing his crop being destroyed by the bull, the farmer hit it with
a club. The Bull suddenly transformed into a stone. It was quite a shock for
the farmers who thought that the atonement was possible only by building a temple
for the bull. The decision so taken was immediately implemented.
But
the farmers were shocked to see that the stone bull was growing taller every day!
The worried farmer then refuge and prayed to Lord Shiva who advised him to retrieve
a trident buried a few feet away from the bull. The retrieved trident be placed
on the forehead of the stone statue to stop it from growing. The temple is particularly
famous for the giant bull (4.6 metres tall), carved out of a single boulder.
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Kalpathy Temple, Palakkad
The
Kalpathy Vishwanatha Swamy shrine at 3 Kms from Palakkad is the oldest Shiva
temple. Kombi Achan, the then Raja of Palakkad built this temple around 1425
A.D. It is the oldest temple in Malabar dedicated to Shiva. It is famous for
the annual Chariot Festival, and this gala event lasts for seven days. Kalpathy
Car Festival is based on Vedic Tamil Brahmin Culture. Vedic recitals are held
in the temple throughout the festival.
Thousands of devotees ceremoniously draw three beautifully
decorated temple chariots through the streets amidst soul stirring chants rending
the air. The chariots are bedecked with flags and flowers, each sanctified by
the presence of the lord. The weeklong annual Chariot Festival begins in the month
of November, every year. Thousands of devotees attempt reaching out to be one
of the privileged to haul the huge, intricately carved temple chariots through
the streets proceeding in stately grandeur.
Kalpathy come alive with
the Vedic chants sonorously recited by the Vedic scholars escorting the god, makes
the festival spirit exude true devotion and joyous celebration.
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