All Questions
438 questions
5
votes
2
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724
views
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. ...
- 927
0
votes
0
answers
361
views
Did Lingodbhava incident take place twice in this Kalpa?
In Thirukandiyur near Thanjavur district, there is a temple for Brahma dev by the name Brahma Sira Kandeeswarar temple. It is believed that lingodbhava incident of where Shiva appearing in linga form ...
- 3,491
8
votes
1
answer
10k
views
Why oil is offered to Lord Hanuman on Saturday?
If you visit Hanuman temple especially on Saturdays, we see a number of devotees offer oil (especially gingili oil).
Why oil is offered to Lord Hanuman
- 697
5
votes
1
answer
308
views
Are there any curse associated with Padmanabhaswamy temple & Sabrimala of Kerala, India?
Padmanabhaswamy kshetra and Sabrimala area are 2 of the most sacred places in the state of Kerala, India.
In recent years, there have been certain controversies associated with them, where the ...
- 19.9k
4
votes
0
answers
138
views
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 [...
- 4,945
0
votes
1
answer
353
views
At Hindu temples outside India, do people have to go barefoot outside on the grounds?
At Hindu temples in places that get really cold (e.g. New York City or London), do people have to go barefoot outside on the temple grounds?
I know many temples in the United States are all indoors. ...
- 109
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What body part of goddess Sati fell on Dakshineswar Kali temple and Kalighat Kali temple?
What body part of goddess Sati fell on Dakshineswar Kali temple and Kalighat Kali temple of 20 km from each other?
- 31
3
votes
1
answer
156
views
What is sankalpa seva listed in many temples' seva list?
Many temples have listed sankalpa seva in their seva list. Please explain what is this.
- 727
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
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.
- 89
4
votes
0
answers
81
views
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 ...
- 31.2k
13
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is sexual activity by *devadasi* sanctioned in Hinduism?
In a YouTube comments discussion between an American Christian and myself, he keeps bringing up the immorality of devadasi being forced into sex work. I know that such activity is illegal in India. I ...
- 2,102
3
votes
1
answer
436
views
What is the meaning of Karni Mata's description as a woman with a head in her hand?
What's the meaning of Karni Mata's depiction as a woman with a head in hand, a lion behind her and rats on the floor? What is her story?
Also known as Shri Karniji Maharaj, she is worshiped as the
...
- 433
9
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is the story behind the famous Shiva linga of Amarnath, India?
is considered to be one of the holiest shrines in Hinduism.
The cave is surrounded by snowy mountains.
Hundreds of thousands of Hindu devotees make an annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave on ...
- 2,057
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What is the actual birthplace of Sita ji according to scriptures?
Recently Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi was in Nepal at the Janaki Temple in Janakpur which is supposed to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita and I came to know about this place due to the news ...
- 19.5k
1
vote
1
answer
177
views
Please identify temple in this photo [closed]
I wish to paint following in future.
What temple is this?
Where is it located?
Here is the webpage I found it, https://www.aryagezi.com/gezi/204/tum-renkleri-ile-nepal-ve-hindistan
- 209
2
votes
1
answer
189
views
Parting gifts given by temple
After big prayer events in temple, we are given half a coconut, banana and a flower as a parting gift. What do I do with these?
- 29
2
votes
1
answer
105
views
Can the list of Divyadesams be added to or subtracted from?
Can new Divaydesams be created and/or existing ones derecognised as such?
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Menstruation myth in Hindu culture [duplicate]
Why are Hindu women not allowed to enter prayer areas like temples while they are menstruating?
I want to know that why are they not allowed to worship not asked to be separate from family for three ...
- 29
6
votes
3
answers
13k
views
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?
- 727
4
votes
0
answers
265
views
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 ...
- 98.5k
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
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 ...
- 1
5
votes
0
answers
89
views
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?
- 1
1
vote
0
answers
135
views
Do shastras sanction displaying idols of Hindu Gods as landscaping?
This Tripadvisor link shows idols of Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati used as landscaping at a Swaminarayan Temple.
(This photo of Shree Swaminarayan Temple Bhuj is courtesy of TripAdvisor)
A ...
- 1
4
votes
0
answers
93
views
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 ...
1
vote
0
answers
36
views
Is there any mention in the scriptures that every God has to have a temple of his/her own?
Is there any mention in the scriptures that every God has to have a temple of his/her own? I'm asking this because the number of temples have increased by a very large number in the past few years.
user13497
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why do some temples show Balarama as 8th avatar of vishnu
While visiting Kanchipuram temple in Tamil Nadu, I noticed that they displayed Balrama as 8th avatar of Vishnu, Krishna as 9th and skipped Buddha.
Balrama is actually an avatar of Sheshnaga with a ...
- 21
4
votes
0
answers
158
views
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 ...
- 1
6
votes
3
answers
2k
views
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 ...
- 1
3
votes
0
answers
101
views
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 ...
- 1
2
votes
2
answers
707
views
What is the story of Kameshwar Temple (Karon), Ballia?
There is a Shiva temple in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh at a place known as Karon, which goes by the name Kameshwar Dham. What is the significance of this place and what is the story behind this ...
- 756
3
votes
2
answers
8k
views
What is the location of Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga?
According to Wikipedia, the location of Vaidyanath Jyotirlinga is given at two places: Parli in Maharashtra and Deoghar in Jharkhand. Which of those is the correct location of the Jyotirlinga?
- 756
2
votes
0
answers
597
views
How did Tulukka Nachiyar become Ranganatha's consort at Srirangam temple?
https://navrangindia.blogspot.in/2015/11/sri-ranganathar-and-his-muslim-consort.html
Lord Ranganatha Swamy appeared in the chief priest' dreams and
pronounced that he had now taken Surathani (...
- 1
2
votes
0
answers
330
views
Did Krishna interact with any foxes in Vrindavana?
The Sarva Siddhanta Sangraha is a work by the Advaita philosopher Adi Shankaracharya describing the views of various schools of Indian philosophy which existed in his time. One of the schools he ...
- 98.5k
7
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What is Chidambara Rahasyam?
It is believed that the one who understands chidambara rahasyam attains jnanam and gets enlightened.
There are many books and TV serials on this topic.
It is related to Sri naTarAja swami temple in ...
- 19.3k
9
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Lord Shiva as Hatkeshwara in Hinduism scriptures?
Shreemad Bhagvat Purana is mentioning one form of Lord Shiva as
master of gold mines i.e. Bhagvan Hatkeshwara.
ततोऽधस्ताद्वितले हरो भगवान्हाटकेश्वरः स्वपार्षदभूतगणावृतः ।। SB
5.24.17 ।।
tato ...
- 32.2k
2
votes
1
answer
307
views
Is Varaha worshiped mostly in South India?
There is a famous Varaha temple at Srimushnam right next to a highway in Tamil Nadu. I don't recall any temples to Varaha in North India, are there any? Is Varaha worshiped mostly in South India?
- 1
5
votes
0
answers
677
views
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 ...
- 98.5k
7
votes
0
answers
778
views
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 ...
- 98.5k
3
votes
0
answers
330
views
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' (...
- 2,188
4
votes
0
answers
63
views
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 ...
- 1
4
votes
0
answers
181
views
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 ...
- 1
4
votes
1
answer
493
views
Are there any Madhwa temples famous for their architecture/history/popularity with devotees?
There are united nations world heritage sites thats are Siva temples. iyengar vaishnavites have tirupati venkatachalapati temple that has a large number of devotees and tons of money. Off the top of ...
- 1
5
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Is the Padmanabhaswamy idol at Trivandrum represented as worshipping Siva linga?
This book at page 212 says:
the lord in yoga nidra pose is offering bilva leaves to Lord Siva
So, is the Padmanabhaswamy idol at Trivandrum represented as worshipping Siva linga?
- 1
3
votes
0
answers
252
views
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.
...
- 1
17
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Is there any temple where deities are Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara?
Is there any temple where deities are Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara all the three supreme gods are worshipped at once?
- 6,933
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What scriptures describe Shiva whispering Rama's name to those who die in Kashi?
The Rama Bhujanga Stotra is a hymn to Rama composed by the Advaita philosopher Adi Shankaracharya. Here is what he says in verse 3 of the hymn:
yadāvarṇayatkarṇamūle'ntakāle
śivo rāma rāmeti ...
- 98.5k
4
votes
0
answers
313
views
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 ...
- 2,175
9
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Are there any temples exclusively for women?
I have listen that, there are some specific god's and temples where women are not allowed to go and touch the idols. And men only can worship them, or go to their temple or touch them like Shani Dev ...
- 6,933
1
vote
0
answers
333
views
Was one of Uyyakondar's shishyas a relative of Nathamuni?
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 4000 verses of the Alwars were compiled by ...
- 98.5k
8
votes
1
answer
2k
views
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 ...
- 19.5k