Ramanisblog

Tag: Shiva temples

  • Brahma Vishnu Shiva in Linga Moonreswara Temple Athanallur

    Brahma Vishnu Shiva in Linga Moonreswara Temple Athanallur

    The acrimony between those who follow Shaivism and Sri Vaishnavas, I thought, is a thing of the past.

    I saw a comment recently in a Facebook group of which I am a member that triggered a heated debate between Shaivites and Vaishnavas.

    It all started with a comment by a member that those who worship Lord Shiva, must boycott the Discourses by Sri Velukkudi Krishnan,a Vaishnavite,who delivers lectures and is quite popular.

    The comment observed that Sri. Krishnan ridicules Lord Shiva and insults Him, when He is extolling the virtues of Shiva.

    ( I discussed with Sri.Krishnan on his twisting Bhagavad Gita to suit Vaishnavism.

    His reply ”Swamin,Pressures’!

    I was attending a series of lectures by Sri.Krishnan on Bhagavata Gita in Malleswaram Bangalore,some three years back with my childhood friend who is a staunch Vaishnava)

    This is not something new.

    About three or four years back one of my friends,Sri.Srinivasan,( he is no more),from Bombay wrote to me that one of the Acharyas of Sri Vaishnavam, in his discourse had stated that visiting Shiva temple by a Vaishnava would attract Brahmahathi Dosha,that is a sin equivalent to killing a Brahmin ,and one needs to perform Prayaschitta,including Homa.

    He wanted my opinion on this.

    Dakshinamoorthy, Moonreswar temple,Athanallur.
    Dakshinamoorthy

     

    I wrote an article on this stating that there is no sanction for this in the Vedas,they do not speak of Shaivism or Vaishnavism.

    I followed up this article with Shiva Stuthi by Krishna and His caution to His followers and Vishnu stuthi by Shiva.

    And there is Mantrarajapadam, which wards off Evil,on Lord Narasimha by Rudra.

    It is foolish and ridiculous to differentiate between Shiva and Vishnu.

     

    There are many temples where Shiva and Vishnu exist togethet,though in different sanctums.

    Eg. Govindaraja in Chidambaram Nataraja temple.

    And there is Sankaranarayana Temple ,Sakaran koil,near Tirunelveli,Tamil Nadu,where Shiva and Vishnu are found in one Image in the sanctum.

    There is a temple in Suchindiram,near Kanyakumari,Tamil Nadu,where Brahma,Vishnu and Shiva are in one idol.

    There is a little known temple in Tamil Nadu where one can find Brahma,Vishnu and Shiva in one Shiva linga in the sanctum.

    This is called Moonreswarar temple,Moonreswarar meaning Three Gods.

    ‘

    • God – Moondreeshwarar
    • Goddess – Maragadambika
    • Dakshinamurti in a rare and different posture
    • Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva in the form of a Shiva Linga
    • Tombs (Samadhis) of Siddhars inside the temple
    Legend:

    As per the advice from Lord Shiva during his marriage, the sage Agastya travelled to South India. He first landed in Podhigai hills. Later, he visited this site. Many saints followed him. Some of the Siddhars liked the place and stayed here. Hence, this temple is also considered asSiddhar Peetham.
    This ancient temple of Lord Shiva is located at the outskirts of Athalanallur village on the way to Tirupudaimarudur. Unfortunately, this extraordinary temple, which is supposed to be the highlight of the village, remains unknown. It is not easy to locate this temple. Even the local people are unaware of this temple. It is located at a distance of around 400 meters from the famous Aadi Moolam Gajendra Varadan temple.
    The temple, which badly needs maintenance, is east facing. It does not have tower. Instead, there is a beautiful Nalkal (four pillared) mandapa in front of the temple.
    The prakara has the idols of Dakshinamurti, Chandikeshwarar, Surya, Chandra, Bhairava, Bhadra, Sura Deva, Sapta Matas, Durga and Adhikara Nandi. There are two sub shrines dedicated to Ganesha and Subramanya-Valli-Devasena.
    Dakshinamurti is in a rare and different posture. He is found in the sitting posture with his right leg hanging down and his left leg folded on top of his right leg; his left foot is facing upwards which is a rare posture.
    The temple also houses two samadhis of Siddhars; Shiva Linga idols are installed on those samadhis. Three sub shrines of Shiva Lingas are also found in this temple; it is also believed that due to these three sub-shrines of Shiva Lingas which are located together, the main deity is named as Moondreeshwarar.

    How to reach.

    Nearest Railway Station: Veeravanallur
    Nearest Airport: Tirunelveli
    How to reach: Well connected by road from Ambasamudram and Veeravanallur; public transportation is not dependable
    Hotel: Few options in Ambasamduram and no option in this village; more options in the nearby city Tirunelveli

    Restaurants: Only few options in the nearby Ambasamudram town.

    Source.

    http://indiancolumbus.blogspot.com/2014/07/Moondreeshwarar.html?m=1

  • Micro Drilling Machining Gear Technology 12 Century Hoysaleswara Temple

    Micro Drilling Machining Gear Technology 12 Century Hoysaleswara Temple

    I have written on the architectural marvels in the temples of India.

    Temples that have,

    The Sun’s rays falling on the Idol in the Sanctum at a particular day

    At a particular time,

    Idols that change in color five times a day

    Idol that changes color once in Fourteen days in coordination with the New and Full Moon,

    Pillars that produce the seven basic notes of Classical Carnatic Music,

    Vishnu idol looks as Vishnu but the back looks like a young woman,

    Idols that are of minimum twelve feet in height,

    Sculpture, where if\nI you drop a pin in the Bow of the sculpture falls to the ground,

    Thanjavur Big temple where Twenty ton Nandi is found,

    The top kalasam at the top of this temple’s Vimana is about 80 tons,

    Konark Sun temple

    …….

    ……… .

    You may find articles on each of these temples in this site.

    One must remember that the Thanjavur temple was built around 1010 AD and one wonders how they moved a Kalasa of such size and weight up the temple tower,

    And there are no rocks nearby and the temple is built with rocks!

    I will be writing exclusively on the architecture of Temples in India, Temple wise.

    The temples built by the Hoysalas were in no way lagging behind.

    The Hoysaleswara temple built by Vishnuvardhana , in Hampi around 12th century AD.

    Will write in detail later.

    Now let us look at the pillars in the temple.

    The surface is smooth and one can find grooves indicating drilling having been used in Twelfth century.

    Pillar in Hoysaleswara Temple. Image

    Pillar Hoysaleswara Temple, Micro drilling Technology?

    Not only this.

    One finds a Gear sculpture made in the exact ratio we use now!

    Hoysaleswara Temple Sanctum

    Polished Pillars with minute grooves, Hoysaleswara Temple Sanctum

    I had written on Micro drilling technology in Mahabalipuram temple in Tamil Nadu.

    We have Ajanta caves in Maharashtra where the technology used in building these temples in caves makes one suspect Alien technology!

    Shall write on Ajanta, UFO base!

    Reference and image of Gear sculpture.

    https://missiongalacticfreedom.wordpress.com/2017/08/26/evidence-of-ancient-machining-technology-900-year-old-hoysaleswara-temple-india/

  • Britisher Who Saw Lord Shiva Renovated Shiva Temple  Baijnath Agar Malwa

    Britisher Who Saw Lord Shiva Renovated Shiva Temple  Baijnath Agar Malwa

    Hinduism advocates God as A Principle,Beyond Attributes.

    The underlying principle of Life and Universe,both known and Unknown lies in all these,they in It,yet It is beyond them.

    It is the Reality,Brahman.

    This Brahman is without beginning and end.

    It is Infinite.

    It is beyond words,thoughts.

    It Immanent and as well all Pervasive.

    It can be felt and Realized.

    There are various methods tried to Realize Brahman,also known as the Self.

    There are as many paths,methods to Realize Brahman as many individuals and individual dispositions are.

    To understand this principle and realize Brahman as a Priniple,Beyond Attributes is possible only for a few.

    Brahman is Realized and not Known in the manner of our knowing mundane things.

    It is,for short of words, I use this term, Experienced.

    Experiences,all of them need not be through our sense organs alone.

    However as this understanding of Brahman as Principle,Hinduism has suggested the method of Realizing Brahman through worship of Personal God,called Easwara.

    Please read my article on Iswara Pranidhana,Yoga.

    In this method God is related as Preceptor,Father,Mother,Guru,Friend,Lover……

    The mind relates to things it likes.

    So one is advised to choose the Devatha as he pleases,in consultation with a Guru,who can guide him in choosing what is best .

    This worship of Personal God is called Saguna Aradhana,while the realization process of Brahman as The Absolute is called Nirguna Aradhana.

    According to Vedas,the authority for Hindus on Spirituality,Saguna Aradhana leads to Realization.

    Many Gods are found in Hindu traditions because of this thought,though the substratum of all is,One.

    Among many Gods/Goddesses,three are called the Trimurthis,the Trinity.

    Brahma,Vishnu and Shiva,representing Potential,Kinetic and Potentio-kinetic energy respectively.

    And the Trimurthis are attributed with all human and beyond human Attributes.

    The prayers addressed to them Delivers.

    I have written  articles on The Sage who spoke from the Grave,Goddess Meenakshi leads by hand,Goddess Abhirami plays,how,all documented.

    Here is another such recorded fact.

    A Britisher’s prayer to Shiva was answered and her husband saw Lord Shiva.

    And the couple renovated the Shiva Temple.

    Read on.

    ‘

    BAIJNATH MAHADEV MANDIR, AGAR
    • This Mandir is located on the bank of the Banganga river.
    • The construction of this Mandir was started 1528 and completed in 1536.
    • Height of this Mandir is about 50 feet from ground level with 4 feet High kalash.
    • There is 17 feet deep kund(well) on the back side of the Mandir.

    History:-

    The British ruled India for hundreds of years, and built many churches and cathedrals. But in the 1880s, a Shiva temple in Agar Ma lwa, Madhya Pradesh, was rebuilt by Lt. Col. Martin — the only temple ever made by an Englishman in India.

    Col. Martin was in the Afghan wars. He used to regularly write to his wife, informing her of conditions there. It was a long war, and gradually the colonel’s letters stopped. Mrs. Martin, who then lived in the cantonment of Agar Malwa, was besides herself with grief, fearing the worst.

    She would spend time riding for hours to calm herself. One day she rode her horse, past the temple of Baijnath Mahadev. It was in a decrepit state. It was the time of arti, and the sound of conches and the chanting of mantras compelled her to stop. She went inside to see the worship of Lord Shiva taking place. The priests saw the grief on her face and asked her what was wrong. Mrs. Martin narrated her sad story. The Brahmins told her that Lord Shiva listens to sincere prayers of all devotees and saves them from difficult situations. She was advised by one of the priests to start chanting the mantra: “Om Namah Shivaya” for 11 days. The Englishwoman prayed to Lord Shiva for the colonel’s safe return, promising she would rebuild the temple if he came home safe from the war. On the 10th day, a messenger arrived from Afghanistan with a letter from her husband. It read, “I was regularly sending you letters from the battlefield but then suddenly the Pathans surrounded us. I thought there was no way of escape. Suddenly I saw an Indian yogi with long hair, wearing a tiger skin carrying a trident. He had an awe-inspiring personality and he started wielding his weapon against the Afghans who ran away from the field in fright. With his grace what was certain death our bad times turned into victory. Then the great yogi told me that I should not worry and that he had come to rescue me because he was very pleased with my wife’s prayers.”

    Tears of joy and gratitude welled up in Mrs. Martin’s eyes as she read the letter. Her heart was overwhelmed. She fell at the feet of Lord Shiva’s image and sobbed. After a few weeks Lt. Col. Martin returned and his wife told him her story. The couple became devotees of Lord Shiva. In 1883, they donated Rs 15,000 to renovate the temple. This information is engraved on a slab kept in the Baijnath Mahadev Temple.

    The Martins sailed for England with the firm resolution that they would make a Shiva temple at their home and pray to him till the end of life. And they did.

    How to Reach:-

    01 By Air 109 km away Indore Airport (IDR)Indore, Madhya Pradesh
    149 km away Bhopal Airport (BHO)Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
    02 By Rail 50 km away Shajapur (SFY)Shajapur, Madhya Pradesh
    50 km away Tarana Road (TAN)Tarana , Madhya Pradesh
    65 km away Ujjain (UJN)Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

    ‘

    Nearest:-

    Nearest Name Distance ( in Kms)
    Airport INDORE 110
    Railway Station SHAJAPUR 50
    Railway Station UJJAIN 65
    Bus Stand AGAR 00

     Reference and citation.

    http://www.agarmalwa.mp.gov.in/baijnath-mandir/

  • Nineth Century Chola Temple Bethuru Davangere Karnataka

    As one reads Indian history one is amazed at the antiquity of India and its rich culture.

    The problem is that many are not aware of these facts thanks to Invaders and the manipulated History of India by them, who never seem to date anything about India before Christ and the self-styled left historians(?) of India, who have no time to check Indian sources and archaeological sites, but would accept a history of India by James Stuart Mill was by Rajaraja Chola. \nNow I find there is a Temple for Shiva in Bethuru, four kilometres from Davangere, Karnataka, on the way to Jagalur. \nThe temple is reported to have been built in the Eighth Century AD. from England, without visiting India!

    I have listed the Chola temples in Bangalore with the earliest being dated at 1035 AD.

    It was by Rajaraja Chola.

    Now I find there is a Temple for Shiva in Bethuru, four kilometres from Davangere, Karnataka, on the way to Jagalur.

    The temple is reported to have been built in the Eighth Century AD.

    However on checking up, it transpires that Vijayalaya Chola built this.

    ‘Vijayalaya Chola was a king of South India Thanjavur( 850 – 870 CE) and founded the imperial Chola Empire.[1] He ruled over the region to the north of the river Kaveri.'(Wikipedia)

    Not surprising.

    ‘

    This temple was built by the Cholas between the 8th and 9th centuries, post the weakening of the Badami Chalukyas and before the rise of Rashtrakutas. Later in the 11th century, this temple under went a few additions under the Kalyana Chalukyas. Many hero-stones found here which are now kept near the temple belong to the Kalyana Chalukyas. The most pleasing sight here is that of a beautiful carving on the ceiling panel of ‘Gajasura Samara/ Gajasurasamhara’ (depiction of Lord Shiva slaying the elephant demon Gajasura) in the central portion, surrounded by the Ashtadikapalas. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of a Linga, with murtis of goddesses Saraswathi and Sapthamatrikas and Lord Subramanya kept in the Navaranga of the temple. The Shikara of the temple is a perfect example of early Cholan architecture. This temple definitely needs and deserves more care and maintenance in order to be preserved for future generations.‘

    Source. http://teamgsquare.blogspot.in/2017/11/a-chola-temple-in-heartland-of.html?m=1

  • Five Burning Ghat Shiva Temples

    Five Burning Ghat Shiva Temples

    I wrote an article on Sri Vanchiyam Siva Temple where a burning ghat is located near the temple.

    And this temple is not closed when death occurs in the street where the temple is nor is the temple closed during Eclipses, which is a standard practice in Hindu temples.

    I shall be writing a clarification on this in a separate article.

    Shiva is His form as Rudra is associated with Death and described as living in Smasanam, Burning ghat.

    The ashes of the corpse is smeared by Him all over His body.

    The association of Burning ghat with Shiva is more prevalent in South India than North India.

    Th

    Thirukkadayur Temple.image
    Thirukkadayur Temple.

    ough there are Bhairava Temples in the North indicating Shiva’s association with Burning Ghats and there is the association of Varanasi, Benares with Burning Ghat, there seems to be no clear classification of such temples in Sanskrit texts as much as in Tamil texts.

    Tamil literature abounds in such references.

     

    And specific temples are grouped as Smasanam Temples.

    There are four such temples in Tamil Nadu.

    1.Thiruvattanam,Thirukkadavur,near Mayuram Tamil Nadu.

    This town is famous for the temple of Abhirami and அமிர்தகடேஸ்வரர். Amirthakadeswarar.

    The smasanam is located slighly away from the temple and many miss it.

    And one prays for longevity and has Sashtiapthapoorthy performed at Thirukarukavur.

    2.Kachi Mayanam. Mayanam in Tamil is burning ghat.

    One finds Siva associated with Burning ghat here too.

    3.Srivanchiyam..

    4.Navalur Mayanam.

    5.Sirkazhi.

    Shall be writing in detail on each of these.

    In some of these places streets have sprung between burning ghat and the temples