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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Why do Hindus take Pradakshina (Circumambulation) around sacred idols?
Why do Hindus take Pradakshina (Circumambulation) around sacred idols?
What does it signify? Do the number of times of taking rounds and direction matter? It would be great to know how it started ...
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Why are women not allowed in the Kartikeya Temple at Pushkar?
Recently I went to Pushkar. I visited a temple of Lord Kartikeya where women aren't allowed.
What is the reason behind this?
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Who compiled the list of 108 Divya Desams of Vishnu?
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. The Alwars are crucially important figures in ...
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Importance of Priests in temples
Most of the Hindu temples are maintained by Priests. What are the qualifications that one need to become a priest? What are the duties of the priests towards the temple and god (if any)?
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Why are vahanas placed outside the main temple instead of near the deity?
For gods like Ganesha, Shiva, Vishnu and many others, the idol of the Vahana (animal or otherwise) is placed outside the garbagriha (the innermost sanctum of a Hindu temple) in most temples.
Yet 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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Are there temples where the deity is simply called "Vishnu"?
All Vaishnavite temples I have been to - the deity is called something other than "Vishnu", like "ranganatha" or "Venkatachalapati".
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Is it allowed to hug/touch the main idol at a temple?
Is it allowed to hug/touch the main idol at a temple?
In Southern India the idol is usually in a garbhagriha and as far as I know only the priest can touch the idol. I have seen sai baba temples ...
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What are some of major Shiva temples in Karnataka?
I'm planning for a trip to visit major Shiva temples in Karnataka. I have done some research and there are close to 54 prominent ones. Which are the ones which holds much importance in Puranas or ...
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Why Ganesha is covered with saffron(sindoor)?
We know Hanuman is covered with Saffron paste. But why is Ganesha covered with saffron paste. It is not seen in temples in southern part of India but most of the Ganesha's idols in northern part of ...
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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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Bhasma-Aarti at Mahakaleshwar temple Ujjain
I Have been visiting Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga for a couple of times this year.
Every time I visit there, it is a must for me to witness the awesome bhasma-aarti being offered to lord shiva i.e., ...
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What is the concept or History behind Shakti Ganapati?
Shakti Ganapati is a concept wherein Ganesha is accompanied along with Shakti.
There are some modern temples especially in Southern India, which attribute Shakti as wife of Ganapati.
Even, the ...
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Are there temples where Vishwaksena is the main deity?
Wiki article of Vishwaksena says:
"Vishvaksena or Vishwaksena, also known as Senai Mudalvar (Sena Mudaliar) and Senadhipathi (all literally "army-chief"), is the commander-in-chief of the army of ...
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What is the significance of this form of Sri Krishna at Udupi?
What is the significance of this form of Sri Krishna at Udupi? Kindly cite authentic source.
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Guidance about visiting temples after a 13th day of death of any family member
I am a Hindu and Maratha Kshatriya from Goa.
I just wanted to ask few questions which I believe to have different answers from different brahmans I consulted so far.
It's been a month, I lost my ...
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If giving Dana to anyone is adharma then why temples give AnnaDana to anyone?
EXPLANATION :
Scriptures oppose giving Dana to those who that does not deserves it.
In temples AnnaDana is given to Anyone who comes to the temple.
In my personal experience i had seen many people ...
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What do scriptures say about Irāvān (son of Arjuna) who married Mohini avatar?
In common folk manner it is told that a Warrior named Irāvān or Aravan (Reference from Wikipedia is because it is at folk manner) who was a great warrior and son of arjuna.
It is told that he was ...
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How did the Navagrahas come into existence?
I know very little about the navagrahas we see in our temples. To my understanding sukra is sukracharya and guru is Brahaspathi. Does other grahas have respective gods or rishis associated with them ...
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What is the story behind Padmanabha Swamy?
Recently I was reading about Padmanabha Swamy temple where the treasure was unlocked.
I have seen a statue of lord Vishnu where he is resting over Anant Naag and from his Nabhi, lotus is coming out ...
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What is the story of Trayambakeshwara Jyotirlinga?
Lord Shiva has been worshipped in Linga form from time beginning as described in answer here. Among the Lingas there are 12 Jyotirlingas which are of special importance.
Mahatmya of 12 Jyotirlingas is ...
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How were the rules for Devalaya Vastu forged?
There are very few references as to how the rules for Devalaya Vastu (देवालय वस्तु) were written.
Any insights on who the original authors were, how and why they wrote the very specific rules that ...
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Pandharpur Mahatmya, Importance of Pandharpur
Vitthala means the one who stands on veeta(Brick), is an avatar of Shriman Naryana aka Panduranga(whose colour is like that of mud pandu).
Vitthala is worshipped by Vaishnavas all over the world and ...
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What is Brihadishwara Temple?
I have heard from my teacher that there is a big temple of Lord Shiva named "Brihadishwara Temple" which is located in Tanjore which is in Tamil Nadu.
Who built this temple and what is its importance?
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What is the purpose of having a temple?
The answer I am looking for is more from a perspective of "What was the original purpose for which people used temples" how has it changed and has it changed for the worse or for the good.
Any ...
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Shankaracharya installed sri chakra in which temples?
It is said that Adi Shankaracharya installed the Sri Chakra in many temples. Is there a list and description of temples where Adi Shankaracharya installed Sri Chakra?
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What is the story of Bheemshankar Jyotirlinga?
Lord Shiva has been worshipped in Linga form from time beginning as described in answer here. Among the Lingas there are 12 Jyotirlingas which are of special importance.
Mahatmya of 12 Jyotirlingas is ...
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What is the story of Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga?
Lord Shiva has been worshipped in Linga form from time beginning as described in answer here. Among the Lingas there are 12 Jyotirlingas which are of special importance.
Mahatmya of 12 Jyotirlingas is ...
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Is there a particular way to accept Theertha given at temples?
When we go to temples, the purohit gives theertha which is the holy water to all the devotees. Is there a particular way to cup our hand to accept it? My grandpa believes there is a way where one must ...
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Which scripture explains Fire Walking practice in temples?
There is practice of walking in fire in temples by devotees. I have a few questions about that:
Which scripture explains Fire Walking (Themithi) practice in temples?
Why specifically wood is used and ...
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Which Puranas contain the story of Sri Kurmam temple?
Sri Kurmam is supposed to be very ancient and divine Kshetra dedicated to Kurma avatara of Sri Maha Vishnu. It was visited by Madvacharya, Ramanujacharya and Adi Shankaracharya. It is surrounded by ...
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Who is Khandoba Mahadev?
There is a temple in Maharashtra named 'Khandoba Temple'. In the temple, people worship Khandoba Mahadev. Who is he?
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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 ...
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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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