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 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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Where did Thirumangai Alwar meet Narasimha?
The Alwars (also spelled Azhwars) are a group of 12 ancient Vaishnava saints who lived in Tamil Nadu and are famous for their poetry in praise of Vishnu. One of the Alwars was Thirumangai Alwar, aka ...
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How are the River, Vimana and Sthala Vruksha appropriately associated with respective temples?
The divyadesams of Vishnu has a connection comprising River, Vimana and Sthala vruksha. Example God Ranganathaswamy of Srirangam temple has cauvery as river, Vimana is Ranga Vimana and Sthala Vruksha [...
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What is the oldest scripture which explains how a temple should be built?
What is the oldest (surviving) Hindu scripture which explains how a temple should be built, maintained, and what should be its day-to-day affairs?
Is an English translation of the same available?
Is ...
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Where did Ramanujacharya's statue of Varadaraja come from?
I just came back from a trip to India, and one of the temples I visited was the famous Ranganatha temple in Sri Rangam. The temple has a shrine called the Udaiyavar Sannidhi, which contains the ...
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A priest died inside the temple beside the valmiki sage idol
My question is nearly about 24 years ago a priest died inside the temple beside an idol of sage shri valmiki rishi and after the death of the sage the temple was open and alternatively pooja rituals ...
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Do idols that receive worship in temples lose power over time and have to be re-energized?
I have seen an idol re-energized. Yagnas were conducted with kalashas filled with water placed next to the fire. The idol was then bathed in the energized water. Are procedures like this mentioned ...
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do temple deities acquire power from devotees?
i understand the idols are empowered by vedic chanting that is drawn into water and the idol bathed in the potent water.
is there also a hindu tradition that the deity is empowered by the devotees ...
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Did Madhwas squat on an ancient Siva temple at Kudupu?
From a user review from here
As per historical inscription dated 1679 this is one of the Shiva Temple dedicated to lord shiva. The inscription captures that Chouta Queen Rani Chennamma during her ...
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Is it true that Navagrahas should be worshiped after offering prayers to other Gods at temples?
At Hindu Temples, we see many dieties like Ganesha, Kartikeya (Muruga), Lord Shiva, Hanuman and Navagrahas. I heard that Navagrahas should be the worshiped only after offering prayers to other Gods ...
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What is the story of Narasimha in the Varadaraja Perumal temple?
I'm currently visiting India, and I just saw the Varadaraja Perumal Vishnu temple in Kanchipuram. As I discuss in this question this is the site of a Yagna performed by Brahma which Saraswati tried ...
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Origin of Srisailam Hills
Srisailam is a Holy place known which is called kshetra, amongst other things, for hosting Sri Mallikarjuna Jyotirlingam and Goddess Bhramaramba Devi, one of the eighteen Mahashakthi peethas.
The ...
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Story of Mookambika Temple from Puranas
Mookambika Temple at Kollur, Karnataka is a temple dedicated to Mookambika Devi. The story of it goes like Devi killed Mookasura, so it is called Mookambika Devi. It is believed that the story of ...
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How Sri Raghavendra Swami's Vrindabana was built?
All, I am a devotee of Guru Raghavendra Swami, as most of you're aware of his moola brindavana is located in Mantralayam, Andhra Pradesh. My query is how the brindavana is built up actually?
Like ...
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What scriptures mention the location of Kartikeya's marriage to Devasena?
As I discuss in this answer, Shiva's son Kartikeya, AKA Skanda or Muruga, has two wives, Valli and Devasena. Now I just came back from a trip to India, and one of the places I visited was the ...
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What scriptures describe Vishnu freeing the Bhutas from the curse of Shiva?
I just came back from a trip to India, and one of the places I visited was Sri Perumbudur. As I discuss here, it is the birthplace of the famous Sri Vaishnava Acharya Ramanujacharya. But my question ...
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Where is the story of Upilliappan in the Brahmanda Purana?
Most people only know about the Venkateshwara form of Vishnu (AKA Balaji or Srinivasa) in connection to the deity of the world-renowned Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple in Tirupati. But that is not the ...
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Why people only visit or care Kashi after 60 years?
When we ask people what is the history of Kashi temple, why is it in such bad condition so long? People suppress by saying why do you think of it in early age. Kashi is the topic after 60.
So after 60,...
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What is the pauranika mahatmya of the Sri Katasraj Shiva temple in the Punjab?
There is a popular tirtha of Shiva in the Punjab by the name of Sri Katasraj Dhama. It is a large complex and like many pauranika temples, houses a kunda. Although now infrequently visited and without ...
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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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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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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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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 ...
user15963
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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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Temple bell : Animal horn for ringing
In a temple (Shri Raam Temple, Jaysingpur, Dist. Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India, to be exact), I have seen the bell having a piece of "deere horn"
(सींग in hindi) tied inside to strike and ring it.
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Do Agama shastras say anything about how small/big temples can be?
From website qz.com,
Angkor Wat could potentially lose its status as the world’s largest religious monument to a $78 million upstart being conceived in the backlands of Bihar, one of India’s most ...
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Why is the Sanctum Sanctorum called Garbha Griha?
The place where the deity in a temple is placed (prathishtana) is in english called Sanctum Sanctorum. We refer to it as Garbha Griha. The simple sanskrit meaning of this term is 'Home of the Womb' (...
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What is the percentage of vaishnavite temples that have anya-devata worship?
for example the anantapadmanabhaswamy temple in kerala
http://www.sreepadmanabhaswamytemple.org/pooja.aspx
you can see that worship services for
Sree Sastha
Agrashala Ganapathy
are offered.
...
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Are there any surviving poems from Thirumazhisai Alwar's disciple Kanikannan?
I'm currently visiting India, and I just saw Yatotakari Vishnu temple in Kanchipuram. The story of the temple is that Saraswati turned into the Vegavati river in order Brahma's Yagna in what is now ...
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What is the story of the seven young male figures shown in Tirupati's inner Gopuram?
I'm currently visiting India, and I just went to the world-famous Tirumala Venkateshwara temple in Tirupati. I noticed something interesting in the Nadimipadi Kavali, the white inner Gopuram of the ...
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Why is there a fight amongst Sri Vaishnavas regarding "namam" of Lord Venkateshwara?
There is a strong controversy going on since years about the forehead tilaka.style among both sects of sri vaishnava.
The rivalry between the Tenkalai and Vadakalai sects of Iyengar
Brahmins ...
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Why two Rakshasa idols are kept near the main idol of Govindaraja Temple, Tirupati?
I was listening to Chaganti Koteswara Rao's speeches about the Govindaraja Temple, Tirupati. He said that there 2 Rakshasas are kept near main idol.
Why 2 Rakshasas are kept near the main idol of ...
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Did Sri Rama visit Hatya Haran teertha (Prabhaskar Teertha) to purify himself?
Did Sri Rama visit Hatya Haran teertha (Prabhaskar Teertha) to purify himself of the sin of Brahma Hatya due to killing of Raavana?
The Sthala Purana of Hatyaharan Teertha as it is popularly known in ...
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Is it allowed to preserve a body in a temple's premises?
Ramanujacharya's body is preserved in Sri Rangam temple by mummification. Is it allowed as per agama or other shastra to bury/preserve a body inside a temple premises?
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What is the ritual procedure for linga sthapana in a temple?
In our native place we bhakthakodees are planning to place a shiv Ling in the existing temple. Can someone throw some light on the procedure of installing shiv ling in temple and also if there are any ...
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What are the mantras recited in a Prana Pratishtha pooja?
I was reading about the opening ceremony of a temple, that mantras are recited to welcome the divine to reside in the Murti. What are the mantras recited?
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What is meaning of this Ãgama-Kosha verse for bells?
There is an art and science of making bells to produce the requisite
sounds. There are bells specially made to produce the long strains of
the sound OM. The handle of a ghantadi signifies prãna – ...
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Are Vaikhanasa Agamas supposed to be followed in Swayambhu Vishnu temples?
As I discuss in this answer, one of the early movements that was important in the development of Vaishnavism was the ancient Pancharatra movement, whose sacred texts consisted of detailed procedures ...
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Navagraham in Vishnu temples
In many Vishnu or Vaishnavism temples, the Navagraham deities are not installed. You may find them in some temples, but in at least 70% of Vishnu temples, you would not.
Is there a specific reason ...
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visiting other temples after going to Shaneeshwar Temple
I heard that one should return home after going to Shani Temple. Tomorrow I planning to go to Thirunallar Shani temple after that Vaitheeshwaran temple and few others. Is it ok to go to Shani Temple ...
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Are there any rules for giving bhiksha (alms) according to the shastras?
I've heard that there is eligibility and rules for engaging in bhikshadana but are there any rules to giving bhiksha as well?
We see people begging around temples in India, both ordinary people and ...
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Are there any ancient temples dedicated to Radha devi in the South Indian states?
Many temples dedicated to Radhika devi, beloved of Krishna, are found in Northern India. Specially in Braj mandala region of Uttar Pradesh. These temples have either local folklore significance or ...
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Significance of Dwaja Sthambha (flag post) at temples
At the front of most temples we see tall flag posts (Dwaja Sthambha).
What is the significance of these structures? Why do some temples/deities have this while some don't?
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Ashtavinayaka locations names significance
Ashtavinayaka
What is the significance of the eight Ashtavinayak locations names ?
Example : Morgaon, Pali, Rangangaon, Theur etc
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Should we close garbhagruha of shivalaya with glass doors? Also any statues of deities?
Recently I established shivaling and trustees had closed shivaling garbhgruha and idols of Lord ganesha and hanumanji with glass doors,
I am not able to breath properly. Is something unwanted?
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How does one become a pujari?
How exactly does one become a pujari?
As in,I’d like to know what is the eligibility criteria, details of training undergone(like how interested Christians go to a seminary and become priests after ...
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Why do Ganesha temples house doves/pigeons?
Many temples in South India dedicated to Ganapati maintain dovecotes. For instance,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35ocltmUtEw
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g304556-d3268808-r151055818-...
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Isn't keeping the idol-murtis of non canonical hindu deities in temples specifically dedicated to hindu deities a sin?
Isn't keeping the idol-murtis or pictures, etc., of non canonical deities (like Saî Bâbâ, Santoșhî Mâtâ) in the temples dedicated to scripture defined canonical deities, a sin or a forbidden act?
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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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