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Umananda Temple – Timings, Poojas, Ferry and History

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Umananda Temple is an extremely popular religious spot in the state of Assam in India. Umananda Devaloi is a Shiva temple that is located on the Peacock Island which is the smallest island that lies in the middle of the majestic river the Brahmaputra in Guwahati city of Assam. Umananda Temple was built in 1964 AD by the Ahom King Gadadhar Singha who used to be a devout Shaivaite.

The peacock island is the world’s smallest known inhabited riverine island with a minimal population and thus is a unique location for a temple. The island located amidst immense natural beauty is extremely blissful. It is reachable through country boats which are available on the River Brahmaputra’s bank and the boat takes the visitors to the temple on the island. Umananda Temple is built on the Bhasmacala Mountain in Guwahati. Umananda Temple is also sheltered by a small hill Bhasmacala.

Umananda Temple is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva and is the most revered temple of the entire state of Assam and thus, it entices tourists from many parts of the country who come here to worship the Lord as well as to enjoy the natural beauty of the place. Umananda Temple has been established and re-established many times in history to ensure a religious bliss for the devotees.

Umananda Temple 2

Umananda Temple History

According to popular legend, Shiva had resided on the location of the temple in the form of Bhayananda. Popular mythology according to Kalika Purana suggests that in the beginning of the creation Shiva had sprinkled ashes (Bhasma) on this location. Shiva had imparted knowledge to his consort Parvati here and when Shiva was in meditation here on a hillock, Kamadeva had interrupted his yoga. Thus, he was burnt to ashes by the fire of Shiva’s anger and the ashes were spread everywhere on the hilltop. Due to this, the hillock acquired the name Bhasmacala.

This mountain has another name Bhasmakuta as according to Kalika Purana, Urvasikunda was also situated here and the goddess Urvashi resides here who brings Amrit for the enjoyment of Devi Kamakhya and thus the island also acquired the name Urvashi Island.

Another legend says that Shiva lived here much to the Ananda (joy) of his consort Uma (Parvati) hence the name. Umananda is the presiding deity of the temple and it is believed that worshiping the Lord here on the day of the new moon or Amavasya day when it falls on Monday brings the devotee the highest bliss. One of the most colourful festivals here is the Shiva Chaturdashi. It is held here annually and many devotees visit the temple on the occasion to worship the deity. Maha Shivaratri is also a major festival celebrated here by the devotees.

Significance of Umananda Temple

The Umananda Temple was built in 1694 A.D. by Bar Phukan Garhganya Handique on the order of the King Gadadhar Singha who was one of the strongest and ablest rulers of Ahom dynasty. A devastating earthquake destroyed the original temple in 1897. Later Umananda Temple was reconstructed by some rich local merchant. He chose to inscribe interior part of the Shiva temple with Vaishnavite slogans.

When the Mughals occupied the region of Kamroopa, land, men and money were given to the priests of Umananda Temples from Mughal Emperors Jahangir and Aurangzeb and they used this to reconstruct the temple totally.

Structure of Umananda Temple

Umananda Temple has some rock-cut figures that are skilfully created by the master craftsmen of Assam and these figures speak passionately about the skill of these craftsmen. There are sculptures in the temple that show all the principal Hindu gods. The temple has representations of Shiva, Surya, Ganesha and Devi in addition to sculptures of Lord Vishnu and his ten incarnations. The main shrine can be reached by the flight of steep steps.

Apart from the mentioned ones, many sculptures of Lord Vishnu and his ten incarnations are also there in the vicinity of this temple.

Umananda Temple Timings

Umananda Temple is visited by devotees from all over the country and it remains open on all days of the week from 5:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

Festivals Celebrated At Umananda Temple

Every year, many devotees and worshipers come to the Umananda Temple during the yearly occasion of Shivratri. On this occasion every year, many worshipers especially visit the Peacock Island to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. Shivratri is the occasion which is a very auspicious festival for Shaivites as this day marks the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

Another popular belief in the region is that worshiping in the Umananda Temple on an Amavasya (New moon) day, especially if it is falling on a Monday, brings the highest bliss to the devotee. The day is marked by special Poojas and Havans that are performed to entice Lord Shiva and to attain all bliss and happiness in life.

Poojas and Rituals at Umananda Temple

Shivaratri is a major festival and many rituals are performed on this day in the Umananda temple. Many devotees visit the temple and perform Poojas for Lord Shiva. This includes extensive decoration in the temple and arrangement for worship as well as Prasad. The devotees celebrate in jubilation and offer special Bhoga (food offered to the deity) and fruits as well as flowers to their favourite deity.

The devotees perform special Bhajans (religious music) and the popular foods that are the favorite of Lord Shiva are consumed on this day in the temple.

How to Reach by Rail, Road and Air

The Umananda temple is located on the Peacock Island that can be accessed from the city of Guwahati as well as North Guwahati through ferries and steamers. A ferry can be hired from Sukleshwar Ghat or the Fancy Bazar Ghat. The ferry ride is a little expensive but it gives the feel of the river and also of its surroundings without interventions. The spot is most ideal for couples as well as family trips. However, the Inland Water Transport has provided a much convenient and cheaper transport which connects the Peacock Island to Guwahati from Uzanbazar Ferry Ghat. The temple lies just opposite the office of Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup or the Kachari Ghat in Guwahati. Thus to reach Umananda temple one can take a short ferry ride from Kachari Ghat, which lies near the D.C Office of Peacock Island.

Airways: The nearest airport from the temple is at Guwahati. One can take a ferry from Guwahati to reach the temple.

Railhead: The railway line closest to the temple is at Guwahati, The railhead of Guwahati is connected to all major cities of the country through day-night trains.

Road Transport: Guwahati is well connected to all the major cities of Assam as well as the nearby states through roadways. Guwahati can be reached by road from any part of the state.

Water Transport: As this temple resides on an Island which is amidst the Brahmaputra River, therefore one needs to take a ferry from the banks reach the temple. These ferries are arranged by state tourism department for all tourists who visit from all the parts of the country.

Guwahati being a major city has many eating hubs and restaurants. The popular food here is fish which is a major delicacy in Assam region and one can savour the mouth-watering curries in and around the popular Paltan Bazar at extremely cheap rates.

Hotels in Guwahati Where to Stay Where to Eat

Guwahati is a major city of Assam with all basic amenities in terms of lodging and boarding. There are many major hotels and guest houses in the city of Guwahati. The city also offers many private hotels which range from luxury to the budget-friendly ones. There are excellent accommodation facilities in and around Guwahati as well as in Assam.

The major hotels include Landmark Hotel, Hotel Prince B, Royale de Casa, Hotel Kalpa, Hotel Rajmahal, Hotel Atithi, Grand Bhabendra Alay, Hotel Tibet, Hotel Plaza Inn, Hotel Lilawati Grand, Fortune Hotel, Hotel Millennium, Hotel Aroma, Baruah Bhavan and Hotel Highway Palace. The hotels can be booked in advance as well as on visiting.

Nearby Temples

Guwahati is an excellent place for sightseeing as well as a popular pilgrimage due to the many important temples situated here. The city is situated on the banks of the holy Brahmaputra River and is a paradise for the nature lovers. The city lies amidst the majestic Himalayan ranges and the popular Brahmaputra River provides the stunning landscape to the city. It has a rich cultural background that is combined together to provide a unique experience to the visitors. The place will remain in the memory of the visitors forever. The place is never short of tourist attractions and places of significance. Guwahati is also never short of entertainment for the tourists. Thus, while visiting the city; it is a tough task to decide what to see

Here are some popular temples and sightseeing places in Guwahati:

Kamakhya Temple: Guwahati is extremely famous due to the Kamakhya temple which is located on the Nilachal hill which is located at a distance of about 10 km from railway station. This temple is known to be one of the most revered as it is a major Tantrik shrines for the worship of Shakti in the world. The temple was built in the 10th century by Koch king, Naranarayan. The temple has the ritual of animal sacrifice to appease the Goddess.

Bhubaneshwari Temple: Another small temple above the Kamakhya temple is the Bhubaneshwari which is also extremely popular. From this scenic temple, one can have a bird’s eye view of the city of Guwahati.

Navagraha Temple: This is a famous temple located atop a small hill in east Guwahati. The Navagraha temple meaning the “temple of nine planets” is an ancient seat and significant for practitioners of astrology and astronomy. The temple is housed in red beehive-shaped dome; the temple has a central lingam which is encircled by further nine representations of the planets (graha) – Sun (Surya, Ravi), Moon (Chandra, Soma), Mercury (Buddh), Venus (Sukra), Mars (Mangal), Jupiter (Brhaspati) and Saturn (Sani). Two more were added, Rahu and Ketu, the dragon’s head and the dragon’s tail, or the ascending and descending nodes of the moon.

Apart from the above temples, there are many other places for sightseeing in Assam:

Kaziranga National Park: Also dubbed as the Forest in Assam, the Kaziranga National park is famous for Rhinoceros unicorn which is a very common species in the forest. There are various kinds of bird species in the region and the place can be explored with Jeep safari and elephant safari is also available in the region in mornings.

Alfresco Grand Sunset Cruise: The sunset cruise is a fun place to visit in the region and the place is also famous for dinner cruises. There are also cultural programmes like Bihu dance that are performed on a cruise.

Purva Tirupati Shri Balaji temple: Located in Betkuchi, Guwahati, the Purva Tirupati Shri Balaji temple is a divine place in the city with the main deity Lord Balaji. The temple complex is located on 2 acres of prime land and has a clean and green environment.

The Umananda temple is extremely unique for not just one but many reasons. The environment that it lies in has been able to sustain one of the most endangered species of primates – the golden langoors. The langoors were long considered sacred by the people in the Himalayas. The golden langoors are mainly found in the parts of Western Assam and the neighbouring foothills in the Black mountains of the Bhutan region. The endangered species, otherwise hostile, totally adapted to the human beings especially the host of tourists who frequent the island. The number of these langoors increased to 13 earlier but now there are only 5 of them left.

Thus, the region and the temple are a wonderful place to spend a wonderful vacation. The wilderness, the species of natural birds and the wonderful natural environment make this place worth visiting; to enjoy all this on you need to be at Guwahati, Assam.

Draksharamam Temple Guide – Bhimeswara Pancharama – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Draksharamam Temple in Andhra Pradesh is the abode of Lord Bhimeswara Swamy and Goddess Manikyamba. The preceding deity at Draksharamam Temple is in the form of a “Linga”, 2.6 m tall of one large Crystal (known as the “Spatika Linga”).

Another popular name of the temple is Dakshina Kasi Kshetram. The literal translation of Draksharamam is ‘Abode of Daksha Prajapathi’, the father of Sati and the father in law of Lord Shiva. Sati was the wife of Lord Shiva. The Draksharama Temple is one of the Five Powerful Temples of Lord Shiva which are known as “Pancharamas” in Andhra Pradesh.

Draksharamam Temple History

Bhimeswara Swamy temple or Draksharamam temple is 25 km from Amalapuram and 28 km away from Kakinada on the Eastern bank of Godavari River. The ‘Skanda Purana’ of Shri Vyasa exhaustively describes the history of this pilgrimage destination. According to mythology, when Dasksha decided to perform a Yagna, he made a trip to Kailash Parbat. He did so with an intention to invite the Gods and Goddesses to grace the occasion and sanctify the ‘Yagna’.

However, the Lord was in a spiritual trance and did not realize that he had a visitor. Dasksha mistook this as being indifference on Lord Shiva’s part and returned without inviting the Lord and Sati. In spite of not getting the invitation, Sati expressed her desire to attend the pooja to the Lord. The Lord warned her that she will not be welcomed in her home but when Sati insisted, he let her go. As expected, Sati was not greeted warmly in her father’s house and everyone gave her the cold shoulder.

Humiliated by this, Sati decided to give up her life instead of returning to her husband with a fallen face. She dropped down dead in her father’s house. When Shiva learnt about this tragedy, he sent his son Veerabhadra to break Daksha’s ego and he himself came down to Daksha’s home. Veerabhadra, along with other Siva Ganas, including Kali, brought down Daksha and destroyed the Yajna. Lord Shiva carried Sati’s dead body over his shoulders and danced the ‘Pralaya Thandava’ or the destruction dance.

At this moment, Lord Vishnu descended and in order to redeem Lord Shiva’s grief, he cut down Sati’s body into 18 pieces with his ‘chakra’. The places on earth where the 18 pieces fell came to be known as the ‘Ashta Dasa Peethas’ and Sri Manikyamba of Draksharama is the twelfth of them and it is believed that the left cheek of Sati fell here.

Draksharamam Temple building is two storied and resembles a fort. There are 2 “Prakarams” or paths; outer and inner. The outer path has four entrances coming from four different directions. Each entrance has the most intricately carved Gopurams and is known to be in 4 different forms of Goddesses i.e. Gogulamma, Nookambika, Moodhambike, GhattambikeIn.

The main deity of the temple is Lord Bheemeswar Swamy, in the form of a 2.6 mts tall Shiva Lingam (the tallest Shiva Lingam in the world) which is made of crystal and has black stripes on the upper portion. Legend has that these stripes were the markings of the tiger skin that Lord Shiva was wearing when he found with Arjun under the disguise of a hunter. The early morning sun light falls directly on the Shiva lingam. Visitors can take a flight of steps towards the upper level of the Sanctum to see the upper structure of Lord Bheemeswar Swamy.

Towards the back side of the temple is the shrine of Manikyamba Devi in the left corner. The Goddess is looking towards the left which signifies her as Vamachara Devatha.

Lord Vishnu, present at the draksharamam temple with his consort Lakshmi Devi, is the Kshetrapalaka of Draksharamam. His shrine is at the entrance of main Temple.

There are other smaller shrines inside the main temple. Some of them are Praakara Bhairavudu, Viroopa, Natarajeshwar, Vaamana, Visheshwara, Dancing Ganapathi, Dundhi Ganapathi, Goddess Kanakadurga and Goddess Annapurna. The Kashi Vishweshwara Swamy temple faces south and is on the right side of Bheemeshwara Swamy temple.

The water from the Sapta Godavari Kundam (seven Godavari pond) is very sacred and is used for performing pooja. According to mythology, “Saptamaharishis” or the Seven Sages divided the Godavari River into seven streams in an attempt to end their penance. Of these seven streams, Draksharamam, Bharadhwaja, Viswamitra and Jamadagni streams known as the “Antarvahinis” and are believed to have gone underground. Later, these streams merged into a pond which is now known as Sapta Godavari Kundam.

Significance of Draksharamam Temple

The draksharamamam temple’s history can be dated back to the thirteenth century and it is one of the ‘Pancharamas’. It is an ancient and a holy pagoda and is a protected monument today. It is visited by thousands of devotees of Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati.

The Archaeological Department of India as taken the responsibility of restoring and renovating the beauty of the structure. Because of the inscriptions and epigraphs on the temple walls, this place is a paradise of historians and epigraphists.

The inscriptions on draksharamam temple date back to the 9th and 10th centuries during the reign of Chalukya King Bhima. During this time, the dynasty was under the attack by the Rashtrakotas. According to the inscriptions, Chalukyas had to fight over 360 battles. There are over 400 inscriptions that date back to the 11th Later this region was ruled by the Chola and Kalinga dynasty.

Devi Navaratrulu, Karthika Masam, Dhanurmasam, Birthday Celebration of Sri Bhimeswara Swamy varu, Subrahmanya Shasti, Maha Sivaratri and Kalyanam etc., are some of the important festivals celebrated at this Temple.

Draksharamam Temple follows an ancient South Indian Architectural style. Draksharamam Temple structure consists of 2 mandaps along with two walls. The sanctum or the inner garbhaalaya consists of intricate decor and crafting which showcases the work of master craftsmanship and represents cultural grandeur of the contemporary era. The temple also serves as a library for students of archaeological architecture.

This inner sanctum of draksharamam temple consists of a pedestal which has been built for priests to perform their rituals. Aurangzeb, when he invaded the temple, plundered the diamonds that had been studded into the walls. Ever since then this sanctum remains dark as the diamonds acted as a light source.

Inside the temple, the ventilation and illumination are rather impressive and proves the sensibility of the contemporary architects of that time. One can feel the inflow of rejuvenating air and the lightning arrangements within the temple.

The inscriptions and scripts are written in Dravidian, Tamil, Devanagiri, Telugu scripts in Sanskrit and Telugu languages. The inscriptions speak of the Chola, Sathvahanas, Vijaynagara and Reddy dynasties that once ruled over this region.

The draksharamam temple has been constructed in an area of over 12 acres and is surrounded by tall walls. 26 Lords reside in the temple as a family. The visitors are welcomed by Dundi Ganapati and Natya (Dancing) Ganapati at the main entrance. The trunk of Ganapati faces to his right similar to the Ganapati in Kasi.

The temples of Lord Lakshmi Narayana Swamy, Goddess Annapurna along with Lord Visveswara Swamy and Virupaksha Swamy, Bala Bheemeswara, Saptha mathrukalu, Lord Suryanarayana Swamy, Lord Subrahmanyeswara Swamy, Lord Lakshmi Ganapati, Lord Brahma installed by Krishna Devaraya exist here. Also, present in the temple are the halls for Navagraha and Ashta Dikpalakas.

Draksharamam Temple Timings

  • Draksharamam Temple opens at 6 AM and closes at 8 PM.
  • There is afternoon break between 12 pm to 3 pm during which the darshan is closed.
  • Once a month on Masa Shivaratri and once a year on Maha Shivaratri, the temple is open throughout the day starting from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.

Festivals celebrated at Draksharamam Temple

Maha Shivarathri is the busiest time in the temple. It comes in the month of February or March. Around the same time in the month, the marriage ceremony or “Sri Swamivari Kalyanam” is held on Bhishma Ekadasi. Following is the list of all the festivals that are celebrated at the temple, along with the months in which they are celebrated:

  1. Sarrannavarathri Festival from Asviyuja Suddha Padyami to Dwadasi every year (October)
  2. Kartheeka Monday Festivals and Jwalathoranam in Karteeka masam every year (November)
  3. Sri Swamyvari Birthday on Margasira Suddha Chaturdhasi every year (December).
  4. Shasti Festival in the Month of December every year
  5. Sri Swamyvari Kalyanam on Bhisma Ekadasi Day in Magha Masam Every year (February)
  6. Mahasivarathri Festival in Maghamasam every year (February-March).

Poojas and Rituals at Draksharamam Temple

  1. Laksha Patri Puja
  2. Laksha Kumkumarchana
  3. Laksha Vattula Nomu
  4. Surya Namaskaramulu
  5. Ekadasa Rudramu
  6. Mahanyasa Purvaka Abhishekamu
  7. Sahasra Kumkumarchana
  8. Laghu Vyasa Poorvaka Eka Vaara Abhishekam
  9. Ashtotthara Kumkumarchana
  10. Masa Shivaratri Abhishekam (Every month)
  11. Masa Shivaratri Kumkuma Puja (Every month)
  12. Abhishekam (Every Monday)
  13. Puja (Every Friday)
  14. Nomulu / Aksharabhyasam / Annaprasana
  15. Special Darshan Ticket (On Festivals)
  16. Keshakhandana
  17. Upanayanamu
  18. Abhishekam Ticket(Monthly)
  19. Kumkumarchana Ticket(Monthly)
  20. Abhishekam at the time of Dasara Festival(For 10 days)
  21. Kumkumarchana at the time of Dasara Festival (For 10 days)
  22. Rudra Homam
  23. Japam/Tarpanam /Nava Varaarchana
  24. Nitya Kalyanam
  25. Sthala Puranam
  26. Sri Swamy vari Archana
  27. Abhishekam/Kumkumarchana
  28. Ubhayam at the time of Dasara
  29. Nitya Samuhika Abhishekam, Kumkumarchana(For One Year)

How to reach Draksharamam Temple?

  • By Road: The bus route connects the temple well with the neighbouring cities. The temple is situated at a distance of 50 km from Rajahmundry, 28 km from Kakinada Town and 6 km from Ramachandrapuram and buses ply on a routine basis on these routes.
  • By Rail: The nearest railway stations are Kakinada, Rajahmundry and Samalkot Junction.
  • By Air: The nearest airport to the temple is Rajahmundry which is at a distance of 50 km from the temple.

Where to stay nearby?

In the Devasthanam, dormitories are available at a charge of Rs. 200.00/- per day. Devotees can also avail one of the two A.C. suites with attached Bathrooms at a cost of Rs. 700.00/- per day per suite. Other rooms are also available at reasonable prices and usually, the prices start from Rs.100 or 200 per day depending on the room sizes.

Right in front of the temple, a choultry is also available. Here the devotees can relax for some time and also avail food, free of cost. Accommodations arealso available in near cities like Kakinada, Samalkota or Rajahmundry and from these areas, one can take a day trip via the bus to Draksharamam.

Where to eat nearby?

In the front of the draksharamam temple is the Choultry where free food is available to all the devotees. There are other small restaurants located around the temple where local and South Indian food is available.

Nearby Temples

  • Kumararamam at Samalkota is one of the Pancharama Kshetras and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The presiding deity is Kumara Bhimeswara Swamy and the Linga here is made up of limestone. It is located at a distance of 44 km or 1 hour from Draksharamam.
  • Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Devastanam at Annavaram is built in the Dravidian style. The presiding deity Lord Satyadeva, with his consort Sri Anantha Lakshmi on one Side and Lord Siva on the other. The temple is located at a distance of 75 km or 1 and a half hour Draksharamam.
  • Sri Uma Markandeyeswara Swamy Temple at Rajahmundry is dedicated to Markandaya, the miracle child of a Muni called Mrukhanada. It is located at a distance of 48 km or 1 hour from Draksharamam.
  • Ashta Someswarulu – Lord Chandra, in an attempt to calm Lord Shiva, installed 8 Shiva Linga’s around the main Draksharamam temple in 8 directions. The collection of these lingas is known as Ashta Someswarulu. These 8 Lingas are Kolanka, Venturu, Kotipalli, Vella, Korumella, Someswaram and Penumalla.

Amaravati Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Amaravati Temple is in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is in honor of Amaralingeswara, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. There is a huge Shiva Lingam that is worshiped here. Another deity of the Amaravati Temple is goddess Bala Chamundika, the consort of Amaralingeswara Swamy. In this guide you will find out about Amaravati temple timings, history, poojas list, significance and how to travel to Amaravati.

Amaravati Temple Timings

Here are the timings of Amaravati Temple:

RitualAmaravati Temple Timings
Morning Darshan6:00 am to 1:00 pm
Evening Darshan4:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Special DarshanRs.20 per person
RudrabhishekamRs.500 per couple
Entry FeeFree

What is the history of Amaravati Temple?

The most popular historical legend that revolves around Amravati temple is that the 15 feet Shiva Lingam here was nailed to stop its growth. There is a red mark at the top of the Lingam which is the blood stain that oozed out when the nail was hammered into it.

The Skanda Purana narrates a unique story of the Amaravati Temple. As per the Purana, at the end of Dwaparayuga, almost 5053 years ago, the Sounakadi saints asked the way to liberation to Maharishi Narada. Maharishi informed that Lord Krishna created River Krishna so that saints can bath in its water and attain salvation. Any devotee, who stays here for three days, bathes in the holy waters of the river and worships Lord Amareswara, shall attain liberty. Anyone who dies here shall be absorbed into Lord Shiva; hence, the importance of the place led to the construction of the temple.

Another legend states that when the demons defeated the gods at Varanasi, Lord Shiva appeared to defeat the demons. Devotees also believe that God Indra established the Shiva Lingum at this temple.

As per some, the temple was actually a Buddhist stupa and hence the base of the Amaravati Temple is still in Buddhist architectural form. The Mula Virat within the sanctum is in the form of a white marble lotus medallion, which is a feature of the Buddhist architecture.

Amaravati Temple exhibits the Dravidian style of architecture, built on a small hammock, known as Krouncha Shaila. There are four gopurams encircling the shrine along with a Vimana, all built in the Dravidian way. The walls of the temple are contain inscriptions, which are similar to that of the Kota chiefs of Amaravathi and Sri Krishnadevraya, monarch of the Vijayanagara Empire. The wife of Proli Nayudu, the then minister of the Kota king, Ketaraja, inscribed the inscription on the Mukhamantapa pillar .

The temple contains three concentric circles. While the first circle houses the temples of Mahishasura Mardini, Veerabhadraswamy, Omkareswara Swamy, Guru Dattareya, and Agasteswara Swamy, the second circle contains the temples of Vinayaka, Kalabhairava, Anjaneya, Nagendraswamy, Kumaraswamy along with the statue of Lord Krishna under a tree. The third circle is a bit above the second circle and comes with the temples of Kasi Viswanatha, Mallikarjuna, Pushpadanteswara Swamy and Kalahasthiswara. At the heart of these three circles is the deity of Amaralingeswara Swamy. Kalahasti temple has the remedy for Rahu Ketu Puja.

Besides engagement in the daily worship of the Lord, the temple trust of Amaravati Temple also participates in various charities for the overall development of the society.

What is the significance of Amaravati Temple?

Significance of Amaravati Temple is that it is in honour of  Lord Shiva, as the destroyer of the universe. It is one of the five Pancharamas, or holy sites, the other four being, Kumararama, Ksheerarama and Bheemarama and Draksharama. Worshiping at this temple is believed to resolve family issues.

Amaravati is an important site of Hindu and Buddhist religion. It was a centre of Buddhist art and still bears many relics of the same.

River Krishna is pious and devotees often dip in its holy waters to cleanse their souls.

The Amaravati Temple is also unique in its style of worship. Unlike other Shiva temples, Abhishekam (the custom of pouring libations) is performed from upstairs as the 15 feet Shiva Lingam is too high to be reached from the ground floor.

Besides its religious significance, the temple is also historically important. The inscriptions which are engraved on the walls of the shrine describe the ruling kings of the region.

What is the Dress Code for Amaravati Temple?

The dress code for Amaravati Temple is:

  • The temple committee encourages traditional get up of men and women while visiting the temple. The temple does not permit short dresses.
  • One should not use footwear within the temple premises.
  • The temple also does not allow photography.
  • One should switch off their mobile phones as well. Visitors can keep their belongings at the temple office.

Which festivals are celebrated at Amaravati Temple?

The Amaravati Temple is crowded with devotees during different festivals and it is one of the best times to experience the true South Indian rituals.

  • Maha Shivaratri is the major festival of the Amaravati Temple. Celebrated during the Hindu month of Magha Bahula Dasami (which is generally the month of March), during this festival devotees bathe the Shiva Lingum with milk on all the four phases of the day.
  • Navaratri celebrations also take place with great pomp and show at the temple, during the Hindu month of Ashwin (September- October)
  • The temple celebrates the Kalyana Utsavs throughout the year. These are marriage festivals and hence, visitors can witness the typical South Indian style of the wedding during the wedding months at the temple.
  • Janmastami is the celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna. This festival generally takes place during the month of Bhadon (July or August).

Which sevas take place at Amaravati Temple?

Besides the festivities, there are regular rituals at the Amaravati Temple.

  • During the ritual of Dhoopa, Deepa, Naivedyam, the air of the temple complex fills with the aroma of incense and the sound of bells create a celestial environment.
  • Abhishekam is another important ritual of the shrine. The priest pours milk over the Shiva Lingam, chanting the holy mantras or just ‘Om Namah Shivai.’
  • As the Shiva Lingum is very high, hence pedestal is there for the devotees so that they can perform this ritual with ease.

What is the official website of Amaravati Temple?

There is no official website for Amaravati Temple.  You can find all the information you need here.

How to reach Amaravati Temple?

Amaravati is an important tourist destination of Andhra Pradesh and hence easily accessible.

  • Air: Nearest airport is the Vijayawada. It is 82 kilometres from the temple.
  • Train: Pedakurapadu is the nearest railway station; 19 kilometres from Amaravati Temple.
  • Road: State buses, APSRTC ply non-stop between Amaravathi and Guntur. Buses also connect the temple city with other cities, like Vijaywada, Mangalagiri, Sattenapalle and Hyderabad.

Where to stay near Amaravati?

Tourists can avail decent hotels at Amaravathi. For luxurious accommodation, they must arrange for a stay at Guntur. Amaravati Temple trust also has special guest houses. The government has also made special arrangements for thousands of pilgrims that visit the temple and they can find accommodation at PWD travellers’ bungalow.

Where to eat in Amaravati?

There are several vegetarian hotels available near Amaravati Temple. The food comes with the unique South Indian flavour. The food stalls are clean and the food is tasty.

What are some temples nearby?

Some of the temples near Amaravati Temple are:

  • Venugopala Swamy: This 1800 years old temple is near Amaravati Temple and is for Venugopal, an incarnation of Lord Narayana.
  • Sai Baba temple: One of the most popular temples of Andhra Pradesh, this temple is also popular by the name of Shirdi Sai and is in honour the saint, Sai Baba.
  • Lalitha peetham: Dedicated to Goddess Lalitha Devi, this temple is an abode of peace. Be here during Rama Navami and Vijaya Dasami to enjoy the colours of festivals.
  • Buddha stupa: Also known as the Amaravathi Stupa, this Buddhist relic depicts the wonderful art and architecture of ancient India. This stupa is adjacent to the Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple.
  • Buddha statue: Located at Hyderabad, this serene idol of Lord Buddha is a popular tourist destination. With a height of 17.5 metres, this statue is on the banks of the Hussain Sagar Lake.

Hence, a trip to Amaravati Temple is not only a pilgrimage but also an excursion to the ancient art and architecture of India. The site of Amaravathi depicts a wonderful fusion of Hinduism and Buddhism, amazing the tourists.

Virupaksha Temple Hampi Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Virupaksha Temple is located in the historic village of Hampi. The village of Hampi (historically called Hampi) lies within the limits of the ruins of the Vijayanagara city. The word Hampi is derived from the name Pampa (Lord Brahma’s daughter and the old name of River Tungabhadra), and one of the regions around Hampi is still known as Pampa kshetra. As one makes a foray into the ruins of Hampi, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one cannot escape the popularity and prosperity of the bygone era that existed in the empire of the Vijayanagara dynasty.

The holy Virupaksha Temple stands in the center as the symbol of this greatness and grandeur of the empire that flourished during the 14th – 16th century. The architectural wonder is a testament to the times of a great, well developed and well-administered city.  The history of the Virupaksha Temple is inseparable from the story of the great city. The name Virupaksha means “with oblique eyes”. Some also believe that the word means “misformed eyes” referring to the third eye of Lord Shiva. It can also be inferred that “Virupa” meaning “Distorted” and “Aksha” meaning “Eyes” refer to the occurrence of three eyes for Lord Shiva and consider that itself as a distortion.

Virupaksha Temple is also known as the Pampapathi Temple. The presiding deities of Virupaksha Temple are Lord Virupaksha, a form of Lord Shiva and Goddess Pampa, his consort. This is only fully functioning Temple among several ruins of other Temples in the Hampi area.

Vijayanagara architecture is a mixture of Chalukya, Pandya, Hoysala and Chola styles. Virupaksha Temple Complex consists of the Sanctum, three Ante-Chambers, two pillared halls, a pillared quadrangle walkway known as the Cloister, three Gopurams, courtyards and several smaller shrines. Besides the main shrine dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, other shrines are dedicated to Goddess Bhuvaneswari and saint Vidyaranya is located within the Temple Complex.

The pillared Mandapam was built under Krishna Deva Raya in 1510 AD as per scriptures on the walls. This Mandapam contains paintings and murals of several avatars of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The murals on the ceilings also depict scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Among the three Gopurams of the Temple, the Eastern Gopuram is the main entrance to the Temple. The Gopuram is nine-storied and has a cuboidal structure. The Northern Gopuram is five stories high and the inner-eastern Gopuram is three stories high.

The main sanctum houses the deity, Lord Virupaksha in the form of a Linga. The smaller shrines dedicated to Goddess Pampa and Goddess Bhuvaneswari, consorts of Lord Shiva are situated to the north of the Sanctum and are much older than most of the Temple.

The “Ruins of Hampi” or the “Hampi Complex” consists of several civil and religious buildings. The important Temples inside the complex that one must visit to experience the spirituality of the great kingdom are Vittala Temple, Ramachandra Temple, Underground Shiva Temple, Kodandarama Temple, Krishna Temple, and the Chandramouleeshwara Temple.

History and Legends of  Virupaksha Temple

  • The origin of the Virupaksha Temple predates the origin of Vijayanagara as a city and as an Empire. The main sanctum is believed to date back to the 7th century. Several inscriptions mentioning the greatness of Lord Shiva can be found on the walls of the Temple. They date back to the 9th and the 10th century.
  • Several additions and renovations were carried out by the Chalukyas and the Hoysalas. However, Virupaksha Temple flourished under the rule of the Vijayanagara Empire.
  • Hampi was the capital of the Empire and was known as Vijayanagara. According to most of the historians, the founders of the Empire Harihara I and Bukka (popularly known as the Sangama brothers) were commanders in the Hoysala military. They were patronized and supported by Sri Vidyaranya, a Saint belonging to the Sringeri monastery. Their main aim was to thwart the invasion of the Deccan regions by the Muslim invaders from the North.
  • The Empire reached its peak during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya (1509-1529 AD). During his reign, the whole of Southern India was brought under his control. His army fought off invasions by the Deccan Sultanates of Bijapur, Golkonda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar, and Berar. The Empire retrieved areas from the Deccan Sultanates in North and East regions.
  • The prosperity of the Empire began to decline after the death of Krishna Deva Raya. Rama Raya, his son-in-law took control of the Empire and made some ill-advised decisions on the political affairs of the Deccan Sultanate. Eventually, in 1563, the rivals from the North who were bitter with the Empire formed an alliance and declared war on the weakened Vijayanagara Empire.
  • During the famous Battle of Talikota, Rama Raya was captured and killed. The Sultanate’s army attacked Hampi and destroyed it into the present state of ruins. The Empire ceased to exist after the reign of Sriranga III in 1646. The Empire split into the Mysore Kingdom, Keladi Nayaka, Nayaks of Madurai, Nayaks of Tanjore, Nayaks of Chitradurga and Nayaks of Gingee.
  • Virupaksha Temple has been named after a local deity named Pampa, who is believed to be a form of Goddess Parvati. The origins of the Temple can be traced back to the references in various Puranas of the Daksha Yagna episode in Hindu beliefs. To refute the insult meted out by Daksha to Lord Shiva, Goddess Sati, Lord Shiva’s wife self-immolates. Hearing this, Lord Shiva becomes extremely angry and performed the Tandava Dance with Sati’s corpse in his hands. He destroys everything in his path. Eventually, to calm himself, he reaches Hemakuta in Hampi and starts meditating. All the Gods decide that the only way Lord Shiva could be happy again was to marry him again to Goddess Parvati.
  • The locals in Hampi believe that Pampa was the incarnation of Goddess Parvati who took up meditation on the opposite bank of the River Tungabhadra. The Kama, the God of Love and attraction brought Pampa to the attention of Lord Shiva. Pampa expressed the desire to marry Lord Shiva and he eventually agreed. It is believed that Lord Shiva and Goddess Pampa married at the place now known as the Virupaksha Temple.

Significance of the Virupaksha Temple

  • The main deity of the Virupaksha Temple, the Shiva Linga is believed to be one of the 64 Jyotirlingas that exist as per the Hindu religious beliefs. The Linga is believed to be Swayambhu meaning self-manifested. 5 of the 12 jyotirlingas are in the state of Maharashtra in India.
  • Virupaksha Temple is only a fully functioning Temple belonging to the Vijayanagara area. Other popular sites nearby such as the Vitthal Temple are masterpieces of architecture but the worshiping of Gods and Goddesses have been discontinued at these places.
  • The Eastern Gopuram which is the main entrance of the Temple is constructed in such a way that the inverted shadow of the structure falls on the western wall of the Temple through a small hole inside the Sanctum. The Gopuram is 160 feet tall. The Gopuram was constructed in the first half of the 15th century and was renovated by Krishna Deva Raya.
  • Virupaksha Temple has been constructed in such a unique way that River Tungabhadra flows along its terrace, descends to the Temple Kitchen and then flows through the outer courtyard of the Temple.
  • A three-headed statue of Nandi can be seen installed near the main temple entrance. This statue is unique and rare in India.
  • The ancient city of Vijayanagara was inhabited by about 500,000 people during the 15th century. That was 0.1% of the total world population. It was the second-largest city in the world after Peking in Beijing. The importance of the city can be inferred from the fact that the size of the city was about three times the size of Paris during that time.
  • The region of Hampi has been described in ancient scriptures as Kishkinda, the kingdom of Vanaras (Monkeys). It is believed the Hanuman Temple in Hampi was the cave where Lord Hanuman, his mother Devi Anjana, Kesari and Shabari resided. The holy pond Pampasarovar houses the cave where Sugriva, King of the Vanaras is believed to have made his home.
  • The Kodandarama Temple near the Virupaksha Temple marks the spot where Lord Rama crowned Sugriva as the King of Vanaras or Monkeys.
  • The Stone chariot among the ruins of the Vittal Temple is considered as one of the three finest chariots in India, the other two being in Konark and Mahabalipuram. The wheels of the chariot could be rotated. But to prevent the damage caused by curious visitors, the Government has now cemented the wheels. Another wonder of the Temple is the 56 musical pillars of the Temple. They are also fondly called as the SaReGaMa pillars. Each of the pillars that support the roof of the main Mandapam represents a musical instrument. Seven pillars surround this pillar. When struck, these seven stone pillars emanate seven notes of music from the respective main instrument.
  • The Badavi Linga is the largest Linga among the ruins of Hampi. The Linga is situated inside a chamber and the sanctum is perpetually filled with water. The Linga has three eyes carved on it representing the three eyes of Lord Shiva.
  • The Chakratheertha, a holy Theertha in River Tungabhadra is a sacred place for devotees to take a dip. It is believed that Lord Shiva gave the Chakra, a weapon to Lord Vishnu at the very spot.

Virupaksha Temple Timings

  • Virupaksha Temple opens at 9 AM and closes at 9 PM.
  • The Darshan remains closed from 1 PM to 5 PM.

Dress Code

The ruins of Hampi lie on barren open land and it gets extremely hot during the summers. Hence, it is recommended to wear light, airy cotton clothes for the visit. The Temple does not follow any strict dress code. However, it is recommended that decent and clean clothes should be worn to visit the holy site.

Festivals celebrated at Virupaksha Temple

  • Mahashivaratri – The day is celebrated with great spirituality and reverence. Thousands of devotees observe fast and pray to God for good health and prosperity. The devotees take a dip in River Tungabhadra and then visit the Temple for the divine darshan and blessings from Lord Shiva. Bhajans and cultural programs are held at night. The uniqueness of the celebration is that a huge Gold crown studded with rubies and diamonds is placed on the Shiva Linga. The Linga is believed to be donated by the mighty Krishna Deva Raya himself to commemorate his coronation. Shivaratri is one of the four special days on which the crown is displayed to the public.
  • Annual Ratha Yatra – The annual Ratha Yatra of the deity, Sri Virupaksha and his wife Goddess Pampa takes place during the months of March-April. The deities are placed in a huge wooden chariot and taken in a procession along the main chariot street in Hampi. This festival is the largest religious festival celebrated in the town of Hampi and is attended by thousands of devotees from nearby areas.
  • Phalapuja festival – This festival is held in December every year. Special Poojas are performed for the deities and Prasadam is distributed to the devotees. The day is celebrated as the engagement day of Lord Virupaksha with Pampa. The celebrations take place for three days. The Teppotsavam is conducted for the deities on the first day by taking them around the Manmukha Kunda in a small boat like a vehicle. A grand procession of the deities takes place on the third day to the Kodandarama Temple in silver Vrishabha Vahana.

Poojas and Rituals at Virupaksha Temple

  • Bilva Pathrarchana – The Archana is performed for the deity with the Bilva leaves on behalf of the devotee.
  • Karpoora Aarti – The Aarti is performed for the Lord with Camphor known as the Karpoora on behalf of the devotee.
  • Panchamrutha Abhishekam – The Lord is bathed with Panch Amrit (five elixirs) that are Milk, Curd, Ghee, Honey and Sugar on behalf of the devotee.
  • Sahasranama Archana – The Lord is worshiped by reciting his 1008 names and singing chants praising him on behalf of the devotee.
  • Maha Rudrabhishekam – This Abhishekam is done by reciting the four ancient holy texts; Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda and the Atharva Veda in front of the Linga.

How to reach Hampi

  • By Air – The nearest airport is situated in Bellary, 60 km away. However, the Airport does not operate commercial flights. The Vidyanagar Airport, also known as the Jindal Vijaynagar Airport located 40 km from Bellary operates sightseeing charter flights to Hampi. The Hubli airport, located 3 hours away from Hospet connects Bengaluru and Belgaum.
  • By Train – The nearest railway station to Hampi is Hospet, situated 13 km away. Several trains connect Hospet to cities like Bengaluru, Mysore, Goa, Vizag, Bhubaneshwar, Vijayawada, Howrah, Kolhapur, Tirupati, Belgaum, Surat, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Raichur, and Hyderabad. Other nearby stations are Guntakal and Hubli which are well connected to the rest of the country like New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata. One can hire a taxi or board a bus from Hospet, Hubli, and Guntakal to Hampi.
  • By Road – The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation runs several buses from cities like Hospet, Bengaluru, Mysore, Mangalore, and Bellary. Several interstate buses also operate out of neighboring states like Goa, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Private operators also run buses daily to Hampi.

Where to stay

There are no hotels situated in the immediate vicinity of the Temple. However, several hotels, lodges, and resorts have opened up in the surroundings of Hampi ruins. Some of the popular ones are Sri Lakshmi Golden Beach Resorts, Royal Orchid Central, Hampi’s Boulders Resorts and Hotel Malligi.

Where to eat

The town of Hampi is becoming a major tourist attraction lately. Hence, a lot of restaurants have been set up surrounding the world-famous ruins. The cuisine offered by these restaurants varies from simple south Indian to exotic cuisines like Italian and Portuguese. Some of the most popular restaurants are Mango Tree, Laughing Buddha, New Shanthi, Ravi’s Rose and Sagar Hotel.

Nearby Temples

  • Vittal Temple – The Temple is one of the most popular attractions of Hampi. The Temple is famous for the movable stone chariot and the musical pillars. The architecture of the Temple is immensely intricate and a wonder in itself. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Vittala, a form of Lord Krishna.
  • Chandramouleeshwara Temple – The 900-year-old temple is one of the most popular temples in Hampi. The intricately carved Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
  • Achyutaraya Temple – The architectural wonder is dedicated to Lord Tiruvengalanatha, a form of Lord Vishnu. The unique feature of the Temple is that it consists of two enclosures instead of one.
  • Hazara Rama Temple – The Temple is believed to be the site where Lord Rama killed Vali, the Vaanara King, and the Son of Indra. The sanctum lies empty. But the murals depicting the Ramayana are worth visiting.
  • Besides these Temples, several monolithic statues depicting Lord Shiva (Badavi Linga), Lord Vishnu (Lakshmi Narasimha) and Lord Ganapathi  (Kadalekalu Ganesha and Sasivekalu Ganesha) are a must-visit.
  • Anjeyanadri Hill – The shrine dedicated to Lord Hanuman is situated atop the hill. The small Temple is located at a distance of 5 km from Hampi. It is believed that Lord Hanuman was born here to Mother Anjana. It is one of the important pilgrimage sites for Hindus all over the country.
  • Badami Cave Temples – The world-famous cave temples of Badami are located 100 km away from Hampi. This historic group of five cave temples located on the banks of the Malaprabha River dates back to 578 CE. The beautiful cave temples display remarkable architecture and follow the Chalukyan style of sculpturing and construction. These Temples are some of the earliest known Hindu Temples in the world. Caves 1 to 3 is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The fourth cave is dedicated to Jain Tirthankaras and the fifth cave is dedicated to Buddhist monks.
  • An Aihole group of Temples – The Aihole group of Temples located about 140 km away from Hampi, consists of about 125 Temples constructed under the Chalukyan period. According to the legends, Aihole was the place where Lord Parashurama washed his ax after annihilating 21 generations of Kshatriyas.
  • Pattadakal Temples – The Pattadakal group of Temples are situated 97 km away from Hampi. The most prominent temple among a string of architectural wonders is the Virupaksha Temple. The Virupaksha Temple in Pattadakal is a declared UNESCO world heritage site. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and built around 740 AD. The Temple was constructed by Queen Lokamahdevi to commemorate the victory of her husband Vikramaditya over the Pallavas.

Brihadishvara Temple – Timings, Significance, and History

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Brihadishvara Temple, Thanjavur is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located on the banks of the river Cauvery(Kaveri) and has a rich historical heritage. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful architectural places in the sub-continent.

Brihadishvara Temple is also called Rajarajesvaram or Peruvudaiyār Kōvil.

Brihadishvara Temple is also a testimony to the achievements and the progress that the Chola dynasty had achieved during that time. The temple has a Tamil architecture and it reflects the power of the King Raja Raja Chola I who had built it during the 1010 A.D.

Intro
King Raja Raja Chola I built the temple during the 1010 A.D.

Brihadishvara Temple – Facts

Deity Lord Shiva
Location Thanjavur, Chennai.
Darshan Timings 6:00 AM–12:30 PM
4:00 PM–8:30 PM
Entry Fees Special darshan tickets for Rs 5/- on Sundays for a quicker visit.
Dress Code Traditional Wear
Festivals Maha Shivaratri, Arudra Darshanam, Kumbabhishekam.

The major reason for the construction of the temple refers to the fact that it can be used for royal celebrations and to exhibit the king’s vision. The minute details and the intricacy that has gone into forming this temple speak volumes about the Dravidian style.

And interestingly, the auspicious shrine has been built following the rules of axial and symmetrical geometry. The engineering part is so accurate that all the components of this holy place are aligned axially.

Brihadishvara Temple Timings

Here’re the timings of Brihadishvara Temple:

TimingsFromTo
Morning6 AM12:30 PM
Evening4 PM9 PM

There are special darshan tickets for Rs 5 each that can be purchased during Sundays for a quicker visit. The temple becomes extremely crowded during Sundays.

Poojas and Rituals at  Brihadishvara Temple

  • The deity is worshiped four times a day. Following are the timings of the poojas:-
PoojasTimings
Kala Sandhi or Morning Pooja 8:30 A.M.
Utchi Kalam or the mid-noon Pooja 12 P.M.
Sayaratchai or evening Pooja 5:30 P.M.
Artha Jamam or night Pooja 8:30 P.M.
  • Each of the pooja or rituals consists of three steps namely, ‘Alangaram’(decoration), ‘Neivethanam’ (food offering) and ‘Deepa Aradanai’ (waving of lamps).
  • There are many weekly, monthly and fortnightly poojas that are observed in this temple.
  • The pooja timings are subjected to alter during festivals.

What is the significance of the Brihadishvara Temple?

The significance of the temple:-

  • Brihadishvara Temple has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the list of ‘Great Living Chola Temples’.
  • An approximate of 130,000 tons of granite was used in the formation of this temple.
  • The holy shrine has a temple tower (vimana) which is built at a height of 216 feet. Being the tallest in the world, it symbolizes Mount Peru. ‘Gopuras’ or the two gateways are located at the eastern entrance of the temple.
  • The temple’s entrance has a large statue of Nandi (sacred bull) that measures about 16 feet in length and 13 feet in height. The statue has been carved out of a single stone.
  • ‘Kumbam’ is the topmost component of the holy shrine and weighs about 60 tons. It has been also carved out from single granite stone.
  • A huge idol of Lord Shiva with three eyes is present inside the temple along with the 108 dance forms or ‘karmas‘.
  • The exterior part on the other end is decorated with sculptures. There are 250 lingams in the entire temple compound.
  • This famous sanctuary is made up of a pillared hall and an assembly hall which is known as mandapas and many sub-shrines.
    • The inner part of the mandapas is highly significant and is divided into various categories with the help of sculptures and pilasters.
  • Being one of the rarest temples in India, the idols of ‘Ashta-Dikpaalakas’ or guardians of directions can be found here. The six feet effigies of Agni, Varuna, Indra, Yama, Isana, Kubera and Nirriti are placed in a separate temple.
  • Being a masterpiece in itself, the shadow of the tower over the gateway of the shrine never falls on the ground, more significantly in the premises of the temple.
  • The altar situated at the entrance of this holy shrine has two idols of Lord Ganesha. When a person taps on any one of the idols, a sound occurs that travels towards the other idol slanting through the stone at one end and the metal to another.
significance 1
The entrance of this holy shrine has two idols of Lord Ganesha.
  • There are many pillars of the temple that produce such musical sounds.
  • In order to mark the 1000th year anniversary of the Brihadishvara Temple, the state government of Tamil Nadu organized Bharathanatyam Yajna, a classical dance show under Padma Subramanian, a noted dancer.
significance 2
Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, an Indian Classical Bharata Natayam Dancer.

What are the of the legends of Brihadishvara Temple?

The legends of Brihadishvara Temple are:-

  • A popular legend about this temple refers to the Cholas who received help from a yogi named Karuvayur. This yogi had the idea of building a powerful energy center in a temple.
    • However, owing to some disagreements over certain aspects of the temple, the Cholas abandoned the yogi and faced with a predicament of the big linga of Shiva not fitting into the Peetha.
    • It is then that the Cholas asked the yogi for help. Karuvayur spat in his spittoon and asked them to keep it inside the Peetha so that the linga fits.
    • Although it fitted Peetha yet it became cursed forever which sent the dynasty to ruins.

What is the history of the Brihadishvara Temple?

The history of the temple states that:-

  • BrihadishvaraTemple or ‘Big Temple’ is located at Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. It was designed by Sama Varma.
  • The deity was initially named as ‘Rajarajeshwar’. It was the Marathas who gave it the name Brihadeeshwara or the Great Ishwara.
  • This holy shrine had been constructed to add charm to the throne of the Chola dynasty by the Tamil emperor Arulmozhivarman or Raja Raja Chola I in fulfillment to a command made to him in a dream.
  • It is on the 275th day of his 25th regal year did the King handed over a gold-plated Kalasam to mark the final sanctification of crowning the vimana.
  • A large number of artists, musicians, and merchants visited this holy shrine. Additionally, it also served as a major platform for the dancers who practiced Bharatha Natyam dance form.
  • The temple displays the emperor’s vision of power and his relationship to the universal order. The King was linked to its deity Shiva and the normal rituals of the deities were echoed by the king.
  • The sheer brilliance of this place of worship points to the perfection that the Cholas had with regard to the sculpture, painting and bronze casting of the idols.

Brihadishvara Temple Food Timings

  • After the mid-noon ritual, devotees are offered prasad.
  • Pilgrims can present their offerings to the deity during the pooja timings.

Festivals celebrated at Brihadishvara Temple:-

Festivals celebrated at the temple are:-

  • Arudra Darshanam– Arudra Darshanam is one of the biggest festivals that is observed in this temple. The holy shrine is a Chidambaram temple or a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. The festival is meant to celebrate the cosmic dance of Shiva.
  • Maha Shivaratri– Maha Shivaratri is an annual festival that is celebrated with great enthusiasm during the month of February-March.
  • Kumbabhishekam– Kumbabhishekam refers to a yearly festival when the dome and the gopuram are bathed with the sanctified divine waters. While Kumba denotes the Vimana or the Shikhara of the temple, Abhishekam is a ritual of bathing.
    • According to the Hindu calendar, in the month of Visaka, an annual celebration is celebrated in this holy shrine for nine days. During this auspicious occasion, pilgrims bath their deity with fragrance soaked water of Champaka flowers.
festivals
Maha Shivaratri and Arudra Darshanam are the festivals celebrated at the temple.

How to Reach the Brihadishvara Temple?

  • Air– The nearest airport is situated at Trichy(65KM).
  • Train– It is one of the easiest and convenient ways to reach Thanjavur. As the city has its own railway station, it is well connected with other major cities in India.
  • Road– Traveling to Thanjavur is also a good alternative. It is linked with all the towns of Tamil Nadu along with Ernakulum, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram. Even Bangalore has proper connectivity with Thanjavur.

Where to stay near the Brihadishvara Temple?

Some of the places where one can stay near the temple are:-

  • Thanjavur is one of the district headquarters of Tamil Nadu is located at 322 km away from Chennai.
    • There are various hotels in and around Thanjavur for tourists of all ages. So, if you are traveling on a modest budget, there are retiring rooms available at the Thanjavur railway station.
  • Apart from that, there are many luxurious hotels with all the modern amenities including private restaurants as well. Devotees can choose their preferences and accordingly can book their rooms in advance.

Where to eat near the Brihadishvara Temple?

  • Food lovers can prepare themselves for scrumptious lunch with the traditional South Indian food. From spicy curries to sambhar, rasam, and curd, there are a lot of options to choose from the dishes served there.
  • For people who love non-vegetarian food, there are many Chinese and Mughlai restaurants as well.
  • Tourists generally love gorging on the baked fishes and lassi before they leave Thanjavur. The food joints are moderately priced located at major tourist points.
food

What are some temples near the Brihadishvara Temple?

Some of the temples nearby are:

  • Thiruvayaru Temple– This holy shrine was built at the place where Thyagaraja, the famous saint resided. He is believed to attain Samadhi at this location. A music festival is organized every year in the month of January, to celebrate the life of this great saint composer. It is located at a distance of 13 km from the main city.
  • Darasuram Airavatesvar Temple– Darasuram is a small town, 8 km away from Kumbakonam is famous for the Airavatheswar Temple. The temple was built by Raja Raja Chola II. It is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Great Living Chola Temples’.
  • Kumbakonam– It takes around 42 km to reach this beautiful temple city of Kumbakonam. The city is famous for the Sarangapani temple which was built by the Nayak kings. The Ramaswamy temple depicts the paintings of Ramayana and is the only shrine where Lord Hanuman is playing a veena instead of reading the Ramayana.
  • Punnai Nallur Mariamman Temple- This sacred destination is only 6.5 km from the Thanjavur town. It is located in Punnai Nallur village. The temple was built by the Maratha rulers of Thanjavur.
  • Thirukandiyur– Being located at a distance of 10 km, it has temples of Brahmasirekandeswarar and Harshavimochana Perumal.
  • Swamimalai– It is referred to as one of the six Abodes that are dedicated to Lord Subramanya.
  • Darasuram – The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple was built by Rajendra Chola.
Nearby Temples

Frequently Asked Questions about the Brihadishvara Temple-

How much time is required to explore the temple fully?

One hour is required to explore the temple fully.

What are the timings of the temple?

6:00 AM–12:30 PM, 4:00 PM–8:30 PM are the timings of the temple.

Is photography allowed inside the temple?

Yes, photography is allowed inside the temple.

When was Brihadishvara Temple built?

Brihadishvara Temple built in 1,009 c. 1010 .

Who constructed Brihadishvara Temple?

Raja Raja Chola constructed Brihadishvara Temple.

Why Brihadishvara Temple Temple is so famous?

Brihadishvara Temple has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the list of ‘Great Living Chola Temples’.

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