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 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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Why are female counterparts in South Indian temples placed on the right?
Google search for Sri Rama temples in Tamilnadu returns many similar images, with Sita on the right of Rama, as well as many pictures with her being on the left, as usual elsewhere for Lakshmi-...
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Who maintains temples according to scriptures?
This answer says that temples are not owned by any one. But, do scriptures mention anything about a maintainer?
Is it king? Is it a person from a particular lineage? or other?
Maintainer can be viewed ...
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Do idols/deities in the temple have soul and consciousness or only prana
I have read about what happens exactly during a prana prathista ritual. I understand that certain procedure is followed for instilling prana in an idol. But I want to know if the idol does have any ...
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Why is it said not to eat before worshiping God?
Even for worshipping god everyday in the morning, it is said to have breakfast only after worshipping god. Or it can be said in other way that if one worships god, he or she has to complete pooja ...
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Why is lord hanuman worshipped in the form of stone, side faced & not in form of photo?
In many temples, we see lord hanuman carved on a big stone covered with sindoor and Hanuman facing sided. Why there won't be his vigraha just like other gods? Is there any story behind his side ...
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What is the significance of the float festival - Theppotsavam?
I came across a few videos of Theppotsavam, a festival celebrated in some temples of South India. The principal murti is decorated and floated on a nearby river or lake. As per Wikipedia it seems that ...
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Wife of Lord Hanumāna?
As per this QnA on this site itself, it gives complete details of Lord Hanumāna getting married and having family.
No, Hanuman was technically not a bachelor (Brahmachari). His wife was
Suvarcalā (...
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What's the story of Shri Krishna becoming Cuckoo bird to meet Lord Shani?
There's a temple in Uttar Pradesh named Shri Shani Mandir Kokilavan.
The popular story behind it being:
During the stay of Shri Krishna in the Gokula, Shani Deva was desperate to meet his ishta or ...
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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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Is it acceptable to sleep in same room as Murti (Idol)?
Naively speaking one might expect that it would be acceptable to sleep/ live in same place as a Murti of some God or Goddess, as can occasionally be seen in some temples. For example, the question ...
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Is it more helpful in any way to worship multiple deities?
I live in central India and I haven't met many people who only worship one particular deity or God. They may be partial to one over others, but they worship all dieties. Most temples also contain ...
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Can one do deeparadhana and pooja after 12pm? If not, why?
Is daily worship and deeparadhan after 12pm okay? Please give appropriate reasoning
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Position of a Hindu temple in respect to flowing water (specific bank of a river)
I am studying Hindu temples architecture, and I was wondering if the building place in respect to a river is something specific to the flowing direction of its waters.
The only answer I could find is ...
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Wearing masks inside temple
Is wearing masks during prayers in temple a right thing?
I went to tirumala 3 months back to fulfil my grandmother's vow of tonsuring my head.After tonsuring my head there I went to temple deity's ...
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What is Kapalika Observance?
What does it mean by Kapalika observance and where does Kapalika come from?
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How can one fulfill wishes through rituals?
Are there rituals (including vrat, tapa, japa, anusthan, purasharan,etc) through which one can fulfill one's wishes and overcome obstacles?
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Features in Temple architecture
What are the eight standard architectural features a Hindu temple should have?
The renowned archeologist KK Muhammed among others determined after long research that a large Hindu temple once stood in ...
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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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Does this sculpture of Lord Shiva really exist somewhere?
Does this sculpture of Lord Shiva really exist somewhere? Or is this only a painting. I found it online many weeks ago and have been awe-struck by its sheer beauty. I would like to visit the place ...
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Is this real image of Kaanchi Kamakshi?
I just want to know if this is the real image of Kanchi Kamakshi or an image of goddess from some other temple. Anyone who visited the temple please answer me. I am thinking this is not a real image ...
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Are pornographic sculptures part of sanatan dharma?
I stay in a small town in west bengal, india, I found a temple ruin/old temple of very low archeological importance which had orgy position. if you need will upload photos.
My question is since many ...
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How is the main deity at an ISKCON temple chosen?
For example, at the ISKCON London temple, the principal dieties are Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa according to their website.
About the Deities
On the right-hand side of the shrine, you will see Radha-...
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What do different Vaishnavite sects say about the sanctity of Siva temples?
I think Swaminarayans say Siva temples should be respected.
On the other hand there is a Srivaishnavite account posted here in which a Srivaishnavite preferred to starve to death rather than eat food ...
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What does a home mandir sit on?
Please allow me to preface the question because, as a foreigner who did not grow up with Sanatana Dharma, my practice probably differs from yours.
All of my life when traveling statues, stones, a ...
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How do modern-day temples preserve the purity of the Prana-pratishtha of the installed idols?
By law, no Hindu can be denied entry to temples.
In Tamil Nadu, the law says that anybody can be the priest as long as he/she shows the required scripture/agama knowledge.
Some temples allow ...
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Why are kumbhabhishekams of temples performed?
Basically it is pouring consecrated waters over a temple to energize a new temple or re-energize an existing shrine.
(1) which scripture lays out the procedures for kumbhabhishekam?
(2) these days, ...
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Is it forbidden to unintentionally enter temples during Sutak?
There was a death in my family (my grandmother's brother), which I was unaware of, when visiting a nearby temple.
I am aware that we should not be visiting temples during the after death rituals, ...
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Is destroying an idol of a god equivalent to killing an avatar of that god?
In Sri Vaishnavism, Brahman makes himself accessible to humans in 5 forms: Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Archa, and Antaryami.
Para refers to the form of Vishnu that exists in Vaikuntha.
Vyuha and Vibhava ...
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What is the punishment in hell for destroying the statues of gods in temples? [duplicate]
What is the punishment in hell for destroying the statues of gods in temples?
In Sri Vaishnavism, Brahman makes himself accessible to humans in 5 forms: Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Archa, and Antaryami.
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Is there any vedic statement which deny entry of Shudra in temple?
As per Parashara smirti, Shudras were considered less pure to perform some auspicious activities.
Is there any vedic statement which supports this claim?
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Are persons from lower castes allowed inside temples according to agama shastras?
In the pre partitioned era some temples placed ban on lower castes entering temples. Is there any basis for this prohibition in the agama shastras?
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The descriptions of pyramids in Vedic scriptures
Do Vedas (and any other Vedic scripture, such as Puranas) hold any information on pyramids? What is their function? What can they do?
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Where in Brahmanda Purana it is mentioned about Parthasarathy Temple?
The official website of Parthasarathy temple's history section states that according to Brahmanda Purana, king sumathi requested Venkatesha to grant him darshanam of Geethacharya.
I would like to ...
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Is there any temple where Shiva is worshipped in the form of a pillar without pedestal?
As mentioned in What does linga literally mean in Shiva Linga? post,
The pedestal shaped as the vagina and the phallus fixed therein are symbolical of the eternal creative forces personified as ...
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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 Sri Krishna idol turned towards a window in Udupi temple?
In most of the Hindu temples, the main deity faces towards east. The devotees seeking darshan have darshan directly from the front. But this is not followed in Udupi Krishna matha, Karnataka. This ...
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Why does Lord Vishnu also wear Yajnopaveeta in temples?
Yajnopaveeta should be worn for doing vedic rituals. Why is it that Lord Vishnu is also adorned with yajnopaveeta in temples?
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Reconsecration of deities
If the consecrated murti in a temple gets damaged or destroyed, what is the scripture-prescribed way to reconsecrate and reinstate the deity? Until such reconsecration is done, how should the temple ...
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How did some Jain Bunts became administrators of Hindu Temples?
From this Wikipedia Article,
Some Jain Bunts are hereditary trustees abd administrators of Hindu
Temples, an example being at the Dharamsthala Temple
How and why did Jain Bunts became the ...
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Vedic Temples on Earth's Magnetic Lines [closed]
Is there any mention of Vedic temples being built on Earths magnetic lines?
Longitude 79 meridian EAST seems to have very long list of Ancient Indian Temples built on this specific longitude:
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What is and where is story of Ahobila Nava Narasimhas found?
There are 9 deities of Narasimha in Ahobilam.
What is the story of each Narasimha and name of each deity? Is Ahobila kshetra described in any puranas?
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Sthala Purana of the Thiruneermalai Temple
In the Divya Desam called Thiruneermalai, Lord Vishnu resides in four different forms:
a) Sri Neervanna Perumal (literally meaning, Lord with the complexion of water)
b) Sri Ranganatha
c) Sri ...
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When did the worship of Sri Radha start?
Vajranava got three idols of Sri Krishna constructed and all three are in Rajasthan now.All three were recovered by the direct disciples of Mahaprabhu. But these images were worshipped without the ...
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Why is there a Bheem temple in Gorakhnath Mandir ,Gorakhpur?
There is a temple of Bheem also known as Bhimsena or Mahabali Bhim in the premises of Gorakhnath math in Gorakhpur. What is the importance of this temple? Give references from scriptures to validate ...
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What is the scriptural source of the DHYANA SLOKA of Sri Padmanabha Swami?
What is the scriptural source of the dhyana sloka of Padmanabha Swami as shown in the enclosed image?
Why is Shiva shown in Linga Form and not in His original form while all other deities are in ...
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What is the history of this Kali form of Lord Shyama-sundara?
Ths Shyama-sundara mandir of Khardaha, West Bengal was establised by Sri Virabhadra, the son of Sri Nityananda Mahaprabhu.The beautiful idol is believed to be carved out of a black basalt on which Sri ...
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Why are currency notes kept in the hand of Varanasi Annapurna?
The Golden Annapurna of Varanasi is seen to hold currency notes in the pot in Her left hand.
Mother Annapurna according to the dhyana-sloka is known to hold a pot of rice. Why are then currency notes ...
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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.
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Why is the idol of a lizard kept in front of the Divine Mother at Dakshineswar?
As the enclosed image shows, there is an idol of a golden lizard (svarna-godhika) to the left of Mother Bhavatarini at Dakshineswar.
What is the scriptural reason of this idol of lizard?
user17294