Questions tagged [temple]
A temple is a place and structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer, worship and sacrifice, or analogous rites.
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What scriptures describe Vishnu marrying a rebirth of the golden Sita statue?
I'm currently visiting India, and I just went to my Mom's Kula Devata, the Veeraraghava Perumal Vishnu Temple in Thiruvallore. Many things have happened in this location over the ages, including ...
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Do any scriptures apart fom Sabarimala Sthala Purana foretell the birth of Ayyappa?
One of the most popular religious destinations in the world is the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala; it gets far more visitors per year than Tirupati and the Vatican combined! The story of the temple ...
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Where can i find scriptural references for vaahan puja?
It is a custom to take the newly purchased car to a nearby temple, where the pujari consecrates it. It typically involves tying a lemon somewhere on the hood, breaking a coconut in front of car etc. ...
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What is the story of Indra being turned into an elephant by Saraswati?
I'm currently visiting India, and I just went to the Varadaraja Perumal Vishnu temple in Kanchipuram. It's such an important temple that Sri Vaishnavas refer to it simply as "Perumal Koil" or "the ...
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Why should temples be closed during an eclipse?
Any reference in the Hindu scriptures (Vedas, Agamas, shastras, etc.) on why temples should remain closed during an eclipse (grahana)?
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Why is the family deity of Venkateshwara the Sami tree?
As I discuss in this question, the book "Venkatachala - Its Glory" is a translation of the Sthala Purana (temple scripture) of the famous Tirupati temple, and this temple scripture consists of ...
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What is story of Ati Varadar Swamy?
The main deity (moolavar) of Ati Vardar Swamy of Swamy Varadaraja Perumal is immersed in nearby pushkarini . It is taken out for public worship every 40 years, next time this is going to happen in ...
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Worship of Lord Skanda in Varanasi
So there is a common story, in short, the one about Divodasa, in which the king removes Lord Shiva from his own city. All the devatas come one by one but end up staying in the city themselves. As ...
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Why did Krishna give Garuda's brother legs in Thiruthangal?
I'm currently visiting India, and I just went to the Nindra Narayana Perumal Vishnu temple in Thiruthankal. The story of the temple is that Vishnu's three wives Sri Devi, Bhu Devi, and Nila Devi once ...
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Why did Lakshmi become Bhrigu's daughter Vedavalli?
I'm currently visiting India, and I just went to the Parthasarathi Vishnu temple in Chennai. The main deity of the temple is a statue installed by the sage Vyasa depicting Krishna as the charioteer ...
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Who did Vishnu appear before in Thiruvahindrapuram, Bhumidevi or Bhumadevi?
I'm currently visiting India, and I went to the town of Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. It contains a place called Thiruvahindram, one of the 108 Divya Desams. As I discuss in this question, the Alwars (...
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What happened to Lord Ganesha's original head?
The story of Lord Ganesha getting an elephant head is well known. I am interested in knowing what happened to the original head.
According to this site, the head is in a cave:
The head is in a cave ...
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Where does Vedanta Desikan lament not being a priest in the Varadaraja Perumal temple?
The Sri Vaishnava sect has two sub-sects, Thenkalai and Vadakalai. Vadakalais follow the teachings of Vedanta Desikan, whereas Thenkalais follow the teachings of Pillai Lokacharya. My question is ...
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Whose Idol is this?
In the Sri Sri Taraknath temple,Tarakeswar, West Bengal (a very very famous Shiva Temple of Bengal), an idol with two hands holding a trident is seen just beside the anadi-linga of Baba Taraknath.
So ...
user17294
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What is the reason behind closing the village/street/agrahara temple in case of a death in the nearby area?
I have seen this several times, that temples are closed if there is a death in the houses in the vicinity. To clarify, vicinity has a variable scope here; sometimes it's a street, sometimes an ...
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Do any scriptures mention what would happen if temple restrictions are not followed?
The Supreme Court allowed the entry of women in the Swami Ayappa Temple at Shabarimala and ever since then a lot of protests have erupted in Kerala against the decision. One of the points that is ...
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Navagrahas with their consorts
In most of the temples of Karnataka, the Navagrahas are present with their consorts. In contrast at other places in India, only the Navagraha are there - without their consorts. Why is there such a ...
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What are the "Daśa bhāskara kṣetrās"?
Srisailam is one of the most ancient kshetras in our country. There are legends associated with this sacred place. Srisailam is one of only three kshetras which is a jyotirlinga Kshetra and also a ...
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What do the Snake Idols in Binded form Indicate?
In many Hindu Temples we can see Snake Idol which has two Snakes, bound to each other like a DNA.
QUESTION :
What does this form of two snakes indicate and why do we worship it ?
Below is a picture ...
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What is the location of Vishnu's sacred place of Mallakupa?
As I discuss in this answer, the Pancharatra Agamas are the foundational texts of Vaishnavism. Similarly, the foundational texts of Shaivism are known as the Shaiva Agamas, aka the Shaiva Tantras. ...
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Is Badrinath actually in India?
Varahaapuran (adhay 140:)
Bhagwan Varaha says -
I live in kokaamukh in the base of the mountain at the intersection of "kokaa river" and "kausiki river" and will be known as Badri
This ...
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What scriptures describe Narasimha turning into a mountain after killing Hiranyakashipu?
The most famous tenple for Vishnu's man-lion incarnation Narasimha, whom I discuss here, is Ahobilam, the place in Andhra Pradesh where Narasimha killed the demon Hiranyakashipu. But there's another ...
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What scriptures describe Shani as having six eyes?
I just came back from a trip to India, and one of the places I visited was my dad's native village of Kuchanoor. It's the site of the famous Kuchanoor Shanishwaran temple, one of the few temples in ...
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What is the significance of Chakra of Konark Sun Temple?
I read about Konark Sun Temple and it makes me proud that about 750 years ago Hindu sages could calculate the accurate time in day and night as well, as they know the weather changes by looking the ...
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What scriptures describe the story of Vishnu's Ranganatha statue?
As I discuss in this answer, the oldest Vishnu statue in the world, and probably the oldest Hindu statue in the world, is the famous Ranganatha statue in Sri Rangam. The story of Ranganatha goes ...
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Was the Sarangapani temple ever converted from Thenkalai to Vadakalai?
The conversion of the great Kanchi temple from Thenkalai to Vadakalai is a well known fact (lot of documentation in the court cases). Can somebody provide historic records (court records etc) or ...
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Details of Bhawani Mishra who build temple where goddesses speak
There is a temple of Goddess Tripura Sundari in Bihar where many people experienced goddesses talking at night times. I am quoting from this article
the deities present inside the temple speak like ...
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Mahatmya of the five shiva temples of Ceylon
In Ceylon, there are 5 main shiva shrines collectively called the pancheswaram. They are Naguleswaram, Thiruketheeswaram, Munneswaram, Thondeswaram and
Koneswaram.
It seems these places are among the ...
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What does the snake on the body of Srinathji signify?
The enclosed image of Srinathji shows a snake around His body which normally remains hidden under clothes.
What does this snake signify? Please cite proper sources.
user17294
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Which temple was built first at Puri?
Devi Vimala's temple within the Puri Jagannath temple complex is known to be a Sati-pith. Lord Jagannath is the Bhairava of Devi Vimala.
Jagannath temple is perhaps the only temple where the main ...
user17294
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What is the agama being followed by the Sri Nataraja temple in Chidambaram and why is it different from other Shiva temples?
Shaiva agamas form the basis of worship in temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. However, it seems like the Sri Nataraja temple in the town of Chidambaram, Tamilnadu is not built and/or not follows the ...
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Did Lord Vishnu build Sri Jagannath Temple situated at Puri?
Is there any story, that tells about who had built the Sri Jagannath temple at Puri?
Are these following facts true?
Lord Vishnu himself came to Puri to build the Jagannath temple.
After 10,000 ...
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Do Agama shastras prescribe rules regarding parivara-devatas?
Are they deities who are relatives/associates of the main deity at a temple? do agama shastras prescribe how their idols should be installed?
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What is the story of the Lakshmi Narayana statue in Srivilliputhur?
I'm currently visiting India, and I just went to Srivilliputhur, which is the birthplace of two of the 12 Alwars, namely Periyalwar and his daughter Andal. Srivilliputhur has two Vishnu temples: the ...
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Which Vishnu temples do Thailakappu at irregular times?
I'm currently visiting India, and I'm trying to visit as many Vishnu temples as possible. Unfortunately I'm being stymied in some places, for the following reason. Some time in the December-January ...
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What are the stories of Mhasoba and Khandoba?
Mhasoba and Khandoba are very popular Maharastrian deities. Their temples are popular pilgrim places.
What are their respective stories ?
Are they mentioned in any scriptures ?
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How was Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple wall constructed?
The task was assigned to Thurumangai alwar who was then a king turned to thief. He constructed the temple wall by acquiring a gold Buddha idol from srilanka.
Anyone knows the story how he brought ...
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What happens to the Idols in Temples at end of Kalpa as Rudra destroys Bhuloka at end of Kalpa?
Please don't get offended and i'm just curious. According to Skanda Purana, Goddess Sati self immolated in Swayamabhuva Manvanatara of Pitri Kalpa. She was born again as Parvathi Devi at beginning of ...
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What is the temple for a "family goddess" in Tirupati that was established by Vishnu himself?
I think there's a temple to some goddess in the vicinity of Tirupati that was established by Vishnu himself. Let me explain.
As I discuss in this question, the book "Venkatachala - Its Glory" by G.V....
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Do those who worship at Agastya's lake become devotees of Kartikeya?
In this chapter of the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata, the sage Pulastya, mind-born son of Brahma and the grandfather of Ravana, tells Bhishma about a variety of Tirthas or sacred places. In ...
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Attaining the 107th Divya Desam
The 107th Divya Desam - Kshira Sagara( Thriuppaarkadal having deities - Kadal Magal sametha Parkadal Natha Perumal.
This Divya Desam is not located on Earth, but in the higher realms. But it is ...
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What to do with lemon given at Durga temples?
Few temples in south India offer lemons to the Village goddess (a form of Durga/kaali) while worshipping.
When I went to a temple yesterday, they are giving lemons each to all the devotees.
What is ...
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Is there only single 'Gnana Saraswathi temple' In India?
When I search online, I can find only a single temple for Ganana Saraswathi in India. The temple is located in Basar, Telangana.
The legend of the temple is mentioned on the temple website
Legend ...
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What is the procedure to carry out temple renovations or relocation?
I read that a lot of temples have been demolished in Kashi in an effort to make the place visitor friendly. And that the same temples are now being relocated elsewhere in the kashi kshetra
I would ...
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Any Specific Reason for not having Raam Lala in Mandir at Home
Most of the Hindus, in there Mandir at home have Laddu Gopal, but very few (in fact I have seen none) who have Raam Lala (Bal Raam), is there any specific reason for such behavior? Are Hindus allowed ...
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What are some old temples dedicated to parshuram?
What are some old temples dedicated to parshuram,temples before medieval era will be appreciated.
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What is the Vedic ritual for Bhumi Puja of Mandir?
Recently the historic Bhumi Puja for Ram Mandir was conducted at Ayodhya, after at least 1000 years.
Which scripture details the exact method for doing Bhumi Puja, especially for that of a Mandir?
Is ...
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Do Rama's sacrifical posts still exist in Ayodhya?
The Sankalpa Suryodaya is an play by the 13th century Sri Vaishnava Acharya Vedanta Desikan. At one point in the play, a king goes around the world in a Vimana looking for a good place to meditate. He ...
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Why is Lord Jagannath shown as the Buddha Avatara in Puri?
On the inner wall of the Puri temple, a panel of the ten avataras are engraved (relief on stone).There we see Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Nrisimha, Vamana, Parashurama,Rama,Balarama, JAGANNATH and Kalki.
...
user17294
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What are the different hasta (hand-postures) which Sri Vishnu holds in temples?
Sri Maha Vishnu resides as Archa-avatara murti (idol form) in many temples throughout Bharata, especially in 108 Divya Desas, most of which are in Tamil Nadu.
There is a sthala purana (story) behind ...
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