The great temples of India are a standing testimony to the richness of its heritage, art, and culture. From the Martand Sun Temple in Kashmir to the Bhagavathi Amman Temple in Kanyakumari, and from the Jagannath Temple in Puri to the Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka, India is studded with sacred and exquisite temples. Here we look at 5 ancient Indian temples which are functional and ritualistic worship performed daily.
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5 Great Living Temples Of India | Ancient Indian Temples
Here are 5 of India’s great temples, which are not only religious places of worship but also an integral part of the history of the land. They stand proudly as enduring symbols of the faith and resilience of the people of the country. They are statements in stone that represent the spiritual and cultural fibre of the nation.
Read about 5 of the ancient Indian temples. These beautiful ancient temples in India are temples that have stood the test of time and are symbols of India’s resilience.
Incredible Somnath Shiva Temple – Temples Of India | Ancient Indian Temples
The famous Somnath Shiva temple in Somnath, Gujarat is believed to be the first of the sacred Jyotirlinga temples. It stands as an enduring symbol of the country’s resilience. It was destroyed by invaders multiple times and always has risen back like the proverbial phoenix. The Somnath temple stands on the shores of the Arabian Sea, a symbol of the culture and heritage of India, drawing the devout in flocks to its fold.
There are many myths and legends associated with the Somnath temple that are truly inspiring The earliest temple at the site where the Somnath temple stands today, is believed to have been built during the tenth Treta Yuga of the Vaivaswata Manvanthara.
Click here to read details of the legends, history, and visitor information of the Somnath Temple.
Click here to read about the places to visit in Somnath.
Bhagavathy Amman Temple Kanyakumari – Temples Of India | Most Ancient Temples In India
The Bhagavathy Amman Temple of Kanyakumari stands literally on the tip of India. The temple is one of the Shaktipeethas. The temple is located where the right shoulder and the area around the spine of Sati fell. The mention of the sacred temple finds mention in ancient texts and also in historical accounts and is also mentioned in the “Periplus of The Erythrean Sea.”
The temple is famous as the Devi temple with a diamond nose ring. It is believed that the diamond ring that adorns the nose of the deity, shone so bright that it used to distract ships far out in the sea. A wall was built to block the view from the sea. The temple was also visited by Swami Vivekananda in 1892, who after spending time here, swam across to the rock that is today named after him, and meditated for three days and three nights.
Click here to read more details about the Bhagavathy Amman Temple in Kanyakumari.
Jagannath Puri Temple – Temples Of India | Ancient Indian Temples
The Jagannath Puri temple is one of the sacred Char Dham temples designated by the great saint and philosopher Adi Shankaracharya. The temple has a history that dates back to 1078 to 1148 CE. However, the existing temple structure was built in 117 CE by the Ananga Bhima Deva.
The temple is famous throughout the world for its Rath Yatra, which is even mentioned in the Skanda Purana as Shree Gundicha Yatra. The Rath Yatra is a spectacular annual festival in which the images of the deities, who are worshipped in the sanctum are carried in procession in a chariot specially built for the occasion. The principal deities worshipped at the Jagannath temple in Puri are Jagannath (a form of Krishna), Subhadra, Balarama, and the Sudarshan Chakra.
Click here for more details about the Jagannath Puri Temple in Puri, Odisha, India.
Click here to read about the amazing mysteries of Jagannath Puri Temple.
Madurai Meenakshi Temple – Temples Of India | Best Ancient Temples In India
Madurai in Tamil Nadu, India is often referred to as, the “Athens of the East,” its main claim to fame is of course the exquisite Meenakshi Amman Temple. This great temple where the goddess Parvati is worshipped as Meenakshi Amman stands at the centre of the city of Madurai and is its crowning glory.
There is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, where Shiva is worshipped as Sundareshwar, hence the temple is also referred to as Meenakshi Sundareshwar temple. The original temple structure is believed to have been built by the Pandyan king, Kulasekara Pandya, sometime between 1190-1216 CE. When visiting the temple do look out for the 1000 Pillar Hall and the beautiful frescoes that adorn the ceiling of the temple.
Click here to read a complete guide to visiting the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple.
Click here for a 2-Day Madurai Itinerary and the best places to visit in Madurai.
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple Srirangam – Temples Of India | Living Temples In India
The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu is studded with ancient and glorious temples that are a silent testimony to the grandeur of an age now relegated to the pages of history. One of the best examples of the great temples of Tamil Nadu is the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam. This massive temple complex is considered to be the largest functioning Hindu temple complex in the world.
The Ranganathaswamy temple is located near the city of Tiruchirapalli and the temple complex sprawls over an area of 156 acres. The temple complex includes 48 different shrines. The temple’s main deity is Lord Vishnu, who is worshipped as Sri Ranganathaswamy. The Sri Ranganathaswamy temple of Srirangam and similar temples to Vishnu in Srirangapatna, and Shivanasamudra, are a group of sacred temples along the banks of the river Kaveri.
Click here to read full details about the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam.
These are some of the few famous living temples of India that still attract hordes of devotees throughout the year with their aura. How many of these temples have you visited? Each of these temples are complete destinations in their own right and treasure troves of spirituality, architecture, art, and engineering. They are enduring marvels of India.
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