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 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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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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Why does Periyalwar say that Krishna was born in Thirukottiyur rather than Mathura?
The Alwars (also spelled Azhwars) are a group of 12 ancient Vaishnava saints who lived in Tamil Nadu and are famous for their devotional poetry in praise of Vishnu. The collection of their 4000 poems, ...
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Why do temples have tortoise figurine at the entrance?
We see tortoise figurine at the entries of almost all the temples. What is the significance and origin of this custom?
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Do piśācas' (ghosts) exist in temples or in our homes?
I was once said by an elderly man that we should not touch the backside of a temple while doing pradakshina because ghosts and rakshasas live there and touching that part will wake them. Supporting ...
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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 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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How do Hindus justify depositing money in a Temple Hundi or giving money during Aarthi?
In almost all Hindu temples there is a Hundi (money pot) where people deposit money or offer it to God during an aarthi. Are they giving money to God? If yes, why? God creates everything, why would He ...
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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 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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Which scripture mentions Vishwakarma made the idols at Jagannatha?
I had always head that Vishwakarma was designing the deities at Jagannatha when he was disturbed that is why he left them incomplete. But I couldn't find any reference in the scriptures for the same. ...
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Which goddess (Ishta devi/Kula devi) sits legs folded & holding shiva linga?
Goddess sitting and holding shivling on one hand. And sitting folding both legs.Please help me find this goddess and details about the temple I'll find her if possible.
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Which scripture mentions Vasishth praying to Tantrik Goddess Tara?
The Tarapith Temple in West Bengal Goddess Tara, one of the Dash-Mahavidyashas, and has an interesting legend associated with it:
Another oral legend about the temple states that sage Vashishtha ...
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What is the need of temple in Hinduism? [duplicate]
Generally all Hindus Visit temple for to perform prayers. But according to Hindu ideology why we need temple as we can perform prayers at our home as well?
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What is the story of Somanath Jyotirlinga?
Lord Shiva has been worshipped in linga form from time beginning as described in answer here. Godesses Saraswati in Linga Purana states:
सर्वं लिंगमयं लोकं सर्वं लिंगे प्रतिष्ठितम् ।
तस्मा...
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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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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 the sculptures on hindu temples represent?
No offence, What do the sculptures of khajuraho and konark temples represent as they are too erotic(hope you understand,refer those pics once if not, westernized)? Not just sculptures of khajuraho and ...
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Why is Krishna portrayed with huge eyes at Puri Jaganath temple?
Krishna and his siblings Balarama & Subhadra are portrayed with huge eyes at the Jaganath Temple at Puri. This kind of portrayal is not seen in other temples. Is there any story behind this?
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Where is the account of Ramanuja recovering the Melkote idol from the Delhi Sultan originally recorded?
I have heard that Ramanuja went to Delhi to ask for the idol after it had been plundered. The idol was in a room with other plundered items but when he called out its name the idol came and sat on ...
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Are pregnant women allowed to go to temples?
Is it allowed for pregnant women to go to temples?
If not allowed, what are the restrictions?
And are those restrictions based on scriptures or just traditions followed?
Much appreciate religious ...
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Why is Gangotri so far from mount Kailash?
As I discuss in this question, Vishnu's incarnation sage Kapila burnt the sons of the Rama's ancestor Sagara to ashes. And at the time there was no sacred body of water in the area to put the ashes ...
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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 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 ...
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Why does some devotees clap at Lord Chandikeshwara?
Who is Lord Chandikeswara in Lord Shiva's temples?
Whats the purpose behind clapping in front of him?
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Why do people offer mustard oil to Lord Shani?
It is often seen that people offer mustard oil to Lord Shani, mostly on Saturdays and Tuesdays.
So, what is the significance behind pouring mustard oil over Lord Shani's Idol?
Image credits : blog....
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What is the story of the Thiruvalavendhai Varaha temple in Mahabalipuram?
I'm currently visiting India, and I may try to see the Adi Varaha Perumal temple in Mahabalipuram, more commonly known as the Thiruvalavendhai temple. It's a difficult temple to visit; it's closed ...
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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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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.
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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 ...
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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 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 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 ...
