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Top 50 Famous Temples in India

January 24, 2023, Sasidhar Darla Leave a Comment Filed Under: Blog

Top 50 Famous Temples in India display the variety in architectural styles the country has contained to date. India has been a subject of wonder for the entire world due to its ancient, unique and rich heritage. It has over 1000 rationalized mother tongues, an array of religions and mystic number of traditions, practices, foods and attires.

Out of its more than 6 lakh temples, here is a crisp list of top 50 famous temples in India revered as the most popular and prominent (in no particular order).

Top 50 Famous Temples in India List
  • 1. Badrinath Temple
  • 2. Rameshwaram Ramanathaswamy Temple
  • 3. Vaishno Devi Temple
  • 4. Kedarnath Temple
  • 5. Golden Temple
  • 6. Amarnath Temple
  • 7. Jagannath Puri Temple
  • 8. Meenakshi Temple
  • 9. Gangotri Temple
  • 10. Yamunotri Temple
  • 11. Tirupati Balaji
  • 12. Khajuraho Temples
  • 13. Dwarkadhish Temple
  • 14. Akshardham
  • 15. Siddhivinayak Temple
  • 16. Lingaraj Temple
  • 17. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple
  • 18. Iskcon Temple
  • 19. Har ki Pauri, Haridwar
  • 20. Konark Temple
  • 21. Sabarimala Temple
  • 22. Arunachalam Temple
  • 23. Pashupatinath Temple
  • 24. Durga Temple Aihole
  • 25. Lepakshi Veerabhadra Temple
  • 26. Kamakhya Temple
  • 27. Kalkaji Mandir
  • 28. Somnath Temple
  • 29. Naina Devi Temple
  • 30. Lakshmi Narayan Temple
  • 31. Baijnath Temple
  • 32. Hoysaleswara Temple
  • 33. Prati Balaji Temple
  • 34. Ekvira Aai Temple
  • 35. Ozar Ganpati
  • 36. Saptashrungi
  • 37. Aundha Nagnath Temple
  • 38. Brahma Temple Pushkar
  • 39. Varadharaja Perumal Temple
  • 40. Deo Krishna Mandir
  • 41. Annavaram Temple
  • 42. Draksharamam Bhimeswara Swamy Temple
  • 43. Srisailam Mallikarjuna Temple
  • 44. Chattarpur Mandir
  • 45. Sarangpur Hanuman Temple
  • 46. Sheetla Mata Mandir
  • 47. Jwalamukhi Temple
  • 48. Lakshmi Narasimha
  • 49. Badami Cave Temples
  • 50. Pandharpur Vitthal Temple

1. Badrinath Temple

Badrinath Temple List of Top 50 Famous Temples in India

Badrinath temple is a part of both Chhota Char Dham and Char Dham yatra. Hindu devotees have considered this temple of Uttarakhand a pious pilgrimage by Hindu devotees since ages. Badrinath is a small temple town located in Garhwal, Uttarakhand. Furthermore, the majestic River Alaknanda flows beside the temple. Two peaks surround the temple – Nar and Narayan. Apart from the immense religious importance associated with this temple, the scenic beauty of its location also attracts overwhelming number of pilgrims each year. This is one of the top 50 famous temples in India.

2. Rameshwaram Ramanathaswamy Temple

Ramanathaswamy

This beautiful temple makes an easy entry into top 50 famous temples in India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is believed to have been constructed in the era of Lord Rama. Centuries ago the rulers of the Pandya Dynasty expanded it. Furthermore, its prominence derives from the fact that it is a part of Charm Dham as well as the 12 Jyotirlingas. Out of the 12 jyotirlingas, five of them are located around Pune. While it is an ancient temple, it has such a beautiful architectural style that it stands at par with the beauty of modern architecture. This temple can be included in any list of top 50 famous temples in India.

3. Vaishno Devi Temple

vaishno devi

In the beautiful land of Jammu Kashmir is this famous temple of Vaishno Devi. Since it is on the peak of a Trikuta mountain, most pilgrims trek 13 km to reach the temple. This temple is in the form of a cave. Many believe that Vaishno Devi is the most prominent Shakti Peetha. It is the most visited shrine in Northern India which definitely makes it one of top 50 famous temples in India.

4. Kedarnath Temple

kedarnath

Kedarnath Temple is a part of Chota Char Dham. It is also one of the 12 Jyotirlingas (What are they?) and devotees worship Sri Kedareshwar avatar of Lord Shiva here.  Also one of the Paadal Petra Sthalams, the temple is close to the holy river Mandakini. According to belief, the establishment of this temple dates back to the era of Mahabharat.

5. Golden Temple

Golden Temple, also known as Sri Harmandir Sahib is very famous, stunningly beautiful and the holiest Sikh shrine. Since it is one of the very few monuments built with something as precious as gold, the beauty of this temple is legendary. The golden dome of the temple weighs 750 kg. Sikh gurus built this temple for a message of peace and acceptance to all religions.

6. Amarnath Temple

amarnath

Amarnath Yatra is one of the most difficult and yet it is one of the most famous temples in India. Amarnath cave is at an altitude of 3888 meters (12760 feet) in the Himalayan mountain range known as the Chandanwari Hills. The shrine receives more than 4 lakh pilgrims in a 45-day visiting period during the month of Shravan and the Shravani Mela.

7. Jagannath Puri Temple

puri jagnnath temple top 50 famous temples in india

Situated in Odisha, the Jagannath Puri temple is a very celebrated temple. It is also a part of Char Dham shrines. It is one of the most sacred Vaishnavite Pilgrimage sites. The temple’s deities are Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra. The idol of Lord Jagannath is wooden, which is unconventional. Another feather in the cap of this temple is that its kitchen is the largest kitchen in the world!

8. Meenakshi Temple

Meenakshi Temple

Meenakshi Temple of Goddess Parvati and Lord Sundareshwara has an estimated 33,000 sculptures in the temple. An ancient masterpiece of Dravidian architectural style, it is one of most famous temples in India. The Linga of Lord Sundareshwara is one of the 68 Swayambhu Lingas in India.

9. Gangotri Temple

gangotri_

In the town where the holiest of the rivers- the river Ganga- originates, Gangotri is one of the most famous temples in India. The temple is also dedicated to the river Ganga and is at an elevation of 3048 meters above the sea level. While the location makes the journey to this revered temple difficult, it is always worth it. The beautiful scenic beauty adds to its significance.

10. Yamunotri Temple

Yamunotri Temple

Another temple in Devbhumi (Land of the Gods) Uttaranchal is Yamunotri Temple. Often cited in close association with Yamunotri, it is the origin of a sacred river too- Yamuna. The Temple of Goddess Yamuna is at an altitude of 3291 meters. Dense forests of the Himalayan ranges surround the temple. It is one of the 4 temples that constitute the Chota Char Dham.

11. Tirupati Balaji

tirupati balaji famous temples in India

Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple is one of the most popular and sacred Vaishnavite temple in the world. Devotees worship Lord Venkateshwara in this temple. The Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple is at the peak of Tirumala hill also known as Venkatadri. It is a beautiful, ancient temple and one of the most famous temples in India.

12. Khajuraho Temples

Khajuraho famous temples in India

Khajuraho temples are a group of Hindu and Jain temples- exhibiting India’s cultural diversity. They are precious UNESCO World Heritage sites. Once spread over an area of 20 square kilometers, they are now a group of 20 surviving temples. The temples are extremely beautiful. Some of the notable ones are Matangeshwar, Devi Jagdambi and Kandariya Mahadeva.

13. Dwarkadhish Temple

dwarkadhish temple

The stunning architecture of this temple 2000-2200 years old, as the archaeological findings suggest. Hence, it is one of the oldest and most famous temples in India. Hindus believe that Sri Krishna’s grandson Vajranabha constructed the temple. Dwarka is composed of two words – “Dwar” meaning the Gate and “Ka” meaning Brahma or Moksh. There are two tours you can plan around this temple. Dwarka Somnath Tour and Pancha Dwaraka Yatra.

14. Akshardham

akshardham

The internationally famous Swaminarayan Akshardham temple was established on 2nd November 1992. There is a 7 feet gold leafed idol of Lord Swaminarayan in this temple. In addition, there are three exhibitions about Indian culture with light and sound shows. The temple is at the center of a beautiful 23 acre complex.

15. Siddhivinayak Temple

siddhivinayak temple top 50 famous temples in india

Siddhivinayak means “one who grants wishes”. It is situated in Mumbai and is very popular all over India. Like the word Vinayak in its name suggests, it is dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The Temple was constructed in late 1801. The Temple is one of the richest temple complexes in Mumbai city, receiving patronage from politicians, Bollywood and businessmen.

16. Lingaraj Temple

Lingaraj Temple

This ancient temple is preserved by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the temple’s Trust Board. The temple is one of the most famous temples in India and has 150 smaller shrines inside its huge courtyard. It has a captivating ancient architectural style. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva but Lord Vishnu is also worshiped here.

17. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple

Shirdi one of the most famous temples in India

Shirdi Sai Baba Temple is one of the richest temples of India owing to the offerings bestowed by Sai Baba’s followers. A great personality loved by all religions, Sai Baba continues to be popular in the nation. Many stories of him performing miracles are known. The Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Complex also has Khandoba Temple, Gurusthan, Samadhi Mandir, Dwarkamai, Chavadi and The Lendi Gardens. Easily one of the top 50 famous temples in India.

18. Iskcon Temple

Iskcon Temple has two more names – ‘Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathy Temple’ also known as ‘Hare Krishna Temple’. The temple is built to inspire people about Sri Krishna and his teachings. Since its establishment in the year 1998, the temple has become one of the most famous temples in India.

19. Har ki Pauri, Haridwar

haridwar

According to the Garuda Purana, Haridwar is one of the seven holiest places or Moksha Sthalas. Next to the holy river Ganga, this temple sees numerous devotees from all over the country. Moreover, the city is also the gateway of the famed Chhota Char Dham pilgrimage. Haridwar also hosts other famous temples.

20. Konark Temple

Konark Temple

Konark Temple is a jewel in the crown of Indian architecture. As a result, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its name forms from kon” meaning “angle” and “Ark” meaning “the sun”. King Narsimhadeva I of Eastern Ganga Dynasty constructed it in 13th century.

21. Sabarimala Temple

sabarimala

This temple is not only one of the most famous temples in India but also one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Sastha, popularly known as Lord Ayyapan. The Sabarimala Temple is located at the peak of a hilltop named Sabarimala. It is believed that the installation of the deity Lord Ayyapan was done by Parashurama himself on orders of Lord Dharmasastha.

22. Arunachalam Temple

arunachalam

This temple is one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalas- the five Shiva temples, each dedicated to the five elements. The Tiruvannamalai Arunachalam Temple construction dates back to 9th century AD, by Chola Kings. It is the largest Shiva temple in India.  The area is concentrated with several ashrams and samadhis dedicated to saints and spiritual leaders from all over India.

23. Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath Temple Top 50 Famous Temples in India

A World Heritage Site, the Pashupatinath Temple is not only a sacred temple, but also an attraction for tourists. The Shivalinga of this holy place of worship consists of eight faces. Thousands of pilgrims pay a visit to this temple every day.

24. Durga Temple Aihole

aihole

Although its name suggests Durga as the deity, the word in the temple name means “Durg” or “fortress”. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Durga Temple Aihole came into existence between the 7th and 8th century by the Chalukya dynasty. It is well maintained and visiting this temple is like a beautiful time travel.

25. Lepakshi Veerabhadra Temple

lepakshi

Lepakshi Veerabhadra Temple has three shrines of Hindu Gods Shiva, Vishnu and Veerabhadra. There are about 70 pillars at this fabulous 16th-century temple of stone in Vijayanagar style. Its shiva linga has a unique design. Many believe that it is the largest Nagalinga in India.

26. Kamakhya Temple

kamakhya

Kamakhya Temple is a Shakti Peeth. Furthermore, there are ten small sized temples around the premise of the main shrine. These are with respect to the ten avatars of Maa Kali. Many stories about this temple are popular. The devotees call the goddess as ‘Kameshwari’ who is also called as the ‘Great goddess of illusion’.

27. Kalkaji Mandir

kalka ji

Maa Kalka, an avatar of Goddess Durga, is the main deity of Kalkaji Mandir. This temple is made up of marble and black pumic stones. This temple is always crowded with devotees but the apex point is during the festival Navratri. The temple has been in existence since  1764.

28. Somnath Temple

Somnath-Temple

The beautiful Somnath Temple is one of the most famous temples in India. Its history dates back to 649 BC. However, it was attacked and rebuilt several times before reaching its present state. It is the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva.

29. Naina Devi Temple

Naina-Devi-temple

Naina Devi Temple is a Shakti Peeth. It is based on the mythological story of Godess Sati. Shri Naina Devi Temple is the place where eyes of Goddess Sati fell down. Famous land marks of Bhakra Dam,Anadpur  Sahib and Govind Sagar lake surround the temple. The temple is on a triangular hill which offers a great view of the foothills.

30. Lakshmi Narayan Temple

Laxmi Narayan temple complex, Chamba, Himachal Pradesh

Sahil Varman built the Lakshmi Narayana Temple in 10th century AD. It is the main temple of Chamba town, and has Shikhara style architecture. The ‘garbhagriha’ or the innermost shrine houses a mandapa (altar) but it is not for public access. In conclusion, it is a great experience to visit this temple.

31. Baijnath Temple

baijnath

Two regional merchants of Himanchal Pradesh constructed Baijnath Temple in early 13th century. It is an architectural marvel and its shiva linga and Himalayan location attract thousands of devotees. According to legends Lanka Ravana wanted to take away the lingam with him. Since it is a fine example of extremely attractive ancient architecture, it is one of the most famous temples in India.

32. Hoysaleswara Temple

Hoysaleswara Temple Top 50 Famous Temples in India

The Hoysaleswara Temple of Halebeedu is another masterpiece of Indian temple architecture. The temple worships Lord Shiva and exhibits Hoysala style of architecture. While built in the 12th century, it has beautiful intricate carvings. There is also a museum within the temple complex.

33. Prati Balaji Temple

prati balaji

The Prati Balaji Temple Narayanpur is a replica of the original Tirupati Temple. Its construction completed in 2003 after decades of work. It occupies 10 acres of land and Sahyadri hills enclose the beautiful complex. The entrance of the shrine is huge and has beautifully stone-crafts.

34. Ekvira Aai Temple

ekvira

Ekvira Aai Temple is not only a beautiful cave temple, but also one the country’s most popular ones. As per the legend, the Pandavas constructed the temple during their banishment period in the forest. The presiding deity of the temple Goddess Ekvira Aai is the family deity for the Agar Koli people.

35. Ozar Ganpati

ozar

Ozar Ganpati is an Ashtavinayak Temple. Furthermore, its construction dates back to the period of the Peshwa reign. Since Lord Ganesh defeated demon Vighnasur at this place, the Lord is called Vighneswar Vinayak – one who removes obstacles. Also, people believe that the Vighneshwar Vinayak idol is self-manifested and is covered in vermillion. This temple of Ganesha is one of the top 50 famous temples in India.

36. Saptashrungi

Saptashrungi

Saptashrungi is a Shakti Peeth and one of the most popular and religious places for pilgrims. In addition, the image of the Devi is huge-about 10 feet tall with 18 hands, holding various weapons. Since the temple is on a mountain, one has to climb around 500 steps to reach the shrine. Moreover, there are several other shrines close to it.

37. Aundha Nagnath Temple

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Aundha Nagnath Temple in Maharashtra is dedicated to Lord Shiva who is known as Lord Nagnath in this region. Most of all, it is the first Jyotirlinga on Earth. Mythology says that Yudhistra first built this majestic temple during exile of the Pandavas. A stone called Dwaraka Shila is used for the Shiva Linga.

38. Brahma Temple Pushkar

Brahma-Temple-Pushkar

Pushkar temple is the not only a legendary temple, but also most prominent of the few dedicated to Lord Brahma. Pushkar city is also famous for yearly Pushkar camel fair in Kartik Poornima. Pilgrims visiting this temple have a lot to see in nearby regions of Rajasthan.

39. Varadharaja Perumal Temple

Varadharaja-Perumal-Temple

Kanchipuram’s Varadharaja Perumal Temple is a popular shrine of Lord Vishnu. The Cholas built it in 1053; however, the great Chola kings Kulottunga Chola I and Vikrama Chola expanded it. As a result, it is spread on a 23 acres complex. Furthermore, this popular shrine is famous for its sculptures.

40. Deo Krishna Mandir

deo krishna top 50 famous temples in india

Deo Krishna Mandir is one of the most sacred sites as per the beliefs of Hinduism. The site on which the shrine has been constructed is believed to be the exact spot where Lord Vishnu manifested himself as the eighth avatar of Lord Krishna. The oldest mention of Mathura can be traced back to the age of the epic Ramayana.

41. Annavaram Temple

Annavaram-Temple

Annavaram is the second most popular pilgrimage after the Tirupati Temple in Andhra Pradesh. Annavaram temple’s presiding deity is Lord Satyadeva who sits with his consort Shri Anantha Lakshmi on a side and Lord Siva sits on the other side. The main temple is in the form of a chariot that has four wheels at each corner.

42. Draksharamam Bhimeswara Swamy Temple

Draksharamam

This is one the Five Powerful Temples of Lord Shiva which are known as “Pancharamas” in Andhra Pradesh. The literal translation of Draksharamam is ‘Abode of Daksha Prajapathi’, the father of Sati and the father in law of Lord Shiva. Furthermore, there are many smaller shrines inside the main temple.

43. Srisailam Mallikarjuna Temple

Srisailam Temple FI

The Mallikarjuna Linga is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. He is supposed to have appeared in a fiery column of light. The Linga is also supposed to be self-born in nature. The Brahmaramba temple is one of the eighteen Shakti Peethas in India. It is believed that the neck of the Sati Devi fell here when her corpse was cut through by the Sudarshana Chakra in the Daksha Yoga episode.

44. Chattarpur Mandir

chattarpur

The Chattarpur Mandir is spread over 70 acres of sprawling greens and comprises over 20 small and large temples. The sixth avatar of Durga, Katyayani was the one who slayed the evil demon Mahishasur. Also, The stunning white marble architecture with serene surroundings makes the Chattarpur Mandir all the more divine and admirable.

45. Sarangpur Hanuman Temple

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple is one of the sacred and holy temples in Swaminarayan Sampraday.  It is a belief that the statue of Lord Hanuman was found in this well before about 350 years and the temple was constructed at the same place. This temple is the place to get rid of the evils and is one of the most famous temples in India.

46. Sheetla Mata Mandir

sheetla mata

Sheetala Devi Mandir, Gurugram is in the suburb of Guru Dronacharya’s birth place in the state of Haryana. During the month of Chaitra (March-April), this place looks like a Kumbh-Mela, filled with devotees. Also, Sheetala is a sanskrit term which means ‘one who cools’. Tantric and Puranic literature have clear mentions of Goddess Sheetala. Since people from not only India but various other countries visit it, it is one f the most famous temples in India.

47. Jwalamukhi Temple

Jwalamukhi Temple Top 50 Famous Temples in India

Jwalamukhi Temple is a famous Shakti Peetha where Goddess Sati’s tongue fell. The temple consists of a copper pipe from where natural gas emits. Then, priests of this temple lit it to produce a flawless blue flame where worshipers pay respects to this flame- a menifestation of Goddess Sati.

48. Lakshmi Narasimha

The presiding deity of Lakshmi Narasimha Temple of Bhadravathi is Lord Narasimha. He is the protector of humankind and destroyer of demons and evil spirits. The temple has Hoysala architecture style. Soapstone makes up this temple; hence, there is a soapy feeling upon touching its walls.

49. Badami Cave Temples

badami caves

The Chalukya dynasty constructed the Badami Cave Temples during the 6th to the 8th century. There are four primary caves, namely, Cave 1, Cave 2, Cave 3 and Cave 4. Furthermore, two more caves were discovered. The 5th cave is a Buddhist cave. Each cave tells a different concept and story and is a precious Indian heritage. This temples finds a mention in our list of top 50 famous temples in India.

50. Pandharpur Vitthal Temple

Pandharpur

Pandharpur Temple receives the largest number of devotees in Maharashtra. Lord Vitthal or Vithoba (form of Lord Krishna) along with his consort Rakhumai or Rukmini preside the holy shrine. Furthermore, the earliest inscriptions of the Temple are the era of the Yadava dynasty in the 12th & 13th century. The Dindi Yatra is a unique feature of the Temple.

What are the timings of Horanadu Annapoorneshwari Temple?

June 30, 2022, Sasidhar Darla 2 Comments Filed Under: Blog

Horanadu Temple Timings goes on from 6:30 am in the morning to 9:30 pm in the evening with breaks in between. Find out exact timings now.

Here are the Horanadu Annapoorneshwari Temple timings:

Rituals Timings
Morning Darshan 6:30 am to 9:00 am
Afternoon Darshan 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Evening Darshan 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Annadanam 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Maha Mangalarti 9:00 am to 9:30 am
  • The dress code is that male devotees have to remove their shirts and vests before entering the Horanadu Annapoorneshwari Temple complex. Prefer to wear a towel or shawl that covers their shoulders. There is no particular dress code for women but we recommend everyone to wear decent apparel.
  • The Horanadu Annapoorneshwari Temple provides Annadanam to the pilgrims every day in the afternoon and the evening where devotees can eat. The meal is vegetarian with a desert too. Besides this, a few small hotels are present  outside the Temple Complex that one can visit for more food options.
  • If one wishes to explore Horanadu along with visiting the temple, the best time to visit is during winters. This is because the cool atmosphere allows one to visit more places without the scorching heat of the summers.

Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu

August 2, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 1 Comment Filed Under: Blog

Navagraha Temples in Tamilnadu. Most temples across the country and certainly almost every temple in South India have a black square stone pedestal with nine idols arranged on it. One of the enduring memories of childhood, apart from the pilgrimage vacations, is that absolutely pleasurable dizziness that comes with the nine circumambulations of this set of Navagraha idols! Another enduring memory is the navagraha homa conducted before every auspicious occasion at home and the mandatory trip to the Navagraha Temples.

The belief that there is some power beyond man that affects his life is an old one. Our ancient sages identified constellations and aligned their movements to man’s fortunes and marked nine celestial bodies, the sun, the moon, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus, Neptune, Rahu and Ketu, as the nine grahas that impact man’s life, based on their position and arrangement at the time of his birth. Ever since these nine planets have been worshipped by the man in his pursuit of happiness or in times of misery.

Navagraha Temples 2

The popular understanding of “Navagraha Temples” is the cluster of nine Shaivaite shrines, around Kumbakonam, in Tamil Nadu where each of the nine grahas, Surya (sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangal (Mars), Buddh (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu and Ketu have a temple assigned to them. The Navagraha Temples in Tamilnadu owe their origin to Sage Kalava, who was not only a seer but also an excellent astrologer.

On examining his horoscope, Sage Kalava found that the planetary arrangements predicted that he will be afflicted with leprosy. He prayed to each of the nine grahas and his fervent devotion caused them to reverse this eventuality. When Lord Brahma came to know of this he was enraged, since grahas are not meant to offer boons. He cursed them to have the dreaded disease instead and banished them to earth to a place called “vellurrukku vanam” or the ‘forest of the white flower’.

The navagrahas prayed to Shiva and begged him to free them from the curse. Convinced of their repentance, Shiva freed them from the curse and assigned the territory to them with the caveat that they should bless the devotees who pray to them there. Each graha was assigned a village which then became its sthala or abode. Subsequently, temples were built in their honour, with most of them dating to the 7th and 9th century except the Surya Temple which was built in the 11th century.

List of Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu

The Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu pilgrimage consists of a visit to all these nine temples and can be done in one, two or seven days with the visit being aligned to the day special to the graha. Each temple has its own legend and lore and its own method of worship.

1. Suryanar Kovil dedeicated to Sun

The temple dedicated to the sun is at Suryanar Kovil, which is supposed to be Vellurukku Vanam of yore. The interesting feature at the Suryanar Kovil is that this is the only Navagraha Temples in Tamilnadu where the main deity is the graha itself. In the other eight temples, the main deity is Shiva  while the graha is placed in an auxiliary shrine.

However, the first prayer, even here,  is offered to Vinayaka to whom the navagrahas prayed as part of their penance, then to Shiva and Parvathi and lastly to Surya who stands on a one-wheeled chariot driven by seven horses symbolizing the seven days of the week. Facing him is Guru (Jupiter) who is positioned so that he may absorb some of the intensity of the sun’s rays before they reach the devotee – a fact that ancient India knew from ages before. Today, research in astronomy has discovered that Jupiter protects the earth from many comets and other bodies that may strike the earth and possibly eradicate a significant portion of it. The shrine of Surya is surrounded by shrines of the other eight grahas.

2. Navagraha Temple – Moon

Chandran or the moon is worshipped at Thingaloor. Legend has it that during Amrithmanthan, an Asura assumed the form of a deva and consumed some nectar. This was spotted by Surya and Chandra who informed Vishnu about it. An angry Vishnu cut the asura into two with his Sudarshana Chakram. Since the asura had consumed a significant bit of nectar by then, he did not die. His head merged with the body of a snake while his body joined the head of another snake and thus were born Rahu and Ketu. Obviously, they went behind Surya and Chandra. Rahu caught up with Chandra and started swallowing him. It is believed that Chandra prayed to Shiva at Thingalur and secured his complete form, fifteen days after Rahu had swallowed him. This  explains the waning and waxing face of the moon. The main shrine at Thingalur is that of Shiva as Kailasanathar, while the shrine for Chandra, standing on a chariot drawn by ten horses, is an adjunct shrine. A very peaceful, almost somnolent temple, Thingalur attracts very few visitors except those on the Navgraha beat.

3. Navagraha Temple – Mars

Vaitheeswaran Temple is where Lord Shiva is worshipped as Vaitheeswaran or the “God of healing” and it is believed that prayers to Vaitheeswaran can cure diseases. It is one of the nine Navagraha temples in Tamilnadu associated with the planet Mars (Angaraka).

4. Navagraha Temple – Mercury

Budhan (Mercury), riding on a lion, is worshipped at the Shwetharanyeshwara Temple in Thiruvenkadu. Again, this is a very significant Shiva temple  and one forgets that one is at a navagraha temple. As Lord of the White (Shwetha) Forest (Aranya), Shiva is said to have danced the tandava, seven times here. He stands here with five faces and as Aghora (Furious) Murthy who destroyed the demon Marutwasura by opening his third eye. Legend has it that Shiva sent Nandi first to slay this demon not once but twice. However, Nandi was vanquished and injured badly, the marks of which are seen on the Nandi idol which, incidentally, stands outside Parvathi’s and not Shiva’s shrine as he does always. Thiruvenkadu is a small village. One ticks the box as having prayed to Budhan here and moves on to worship Guru at Alangudi.

5. Navagraha Temple – Jupiter

Guru (Jupiter) is worshipped at the Apathasahayeshwara Temple at Alangudi. As Apatha (crisis) Sahayeshwara (one who helps), Shiva is said to have drunk (kudi) the poison (Ala) that rose from the celestial churn, here. It is also believed to be the place where he taught divine wisdom to the errant Devas as Lord Dakshinamurthy. Guru is held by devotees in great esteem as he is believed to influence marriage prospects as well as wisdom and intellect. He rides on a chariot driven by eight horses representing eight branches of knowledge. Consequently, this temple at Alangudi attracts many devotees, especially on Thursday.

6. Navagraha Temple – Venus

Sukran (Venus) is worshipped at the Agneeswarar Temple at Kanjanur. This temple is easy to miss as it is in a small nondescript village and has no visibility other than being a Sukran temple. In fact, we had to call for the priest from his house, when we reached there. Believed to be the place assigned to Sukran, Shiva stands here as Agneeshwara who granted Agni an audience. It is also believed to be the place where Brahma had a vision of the marriage of Shiva and Parvathi. Although we were not privy to this, there is a firm assertion that the oil poured on the idol for Abhishekha is fully absorbed by the idol and nothing falls off. And yet, this is a very peaceful temple where prayer comes easily.

7. Navagraha Temple – Saturn

This is not something one can say about the Shaneeswara Temple at Thirunallar. If devotees throng to Vaitheeswaran Kovil for Shiva, hordes of them congregate at the Dharbaranyeshwara Temple at Thirunallar, not for Shiva but for Shani (Saturn), especially on Saturdays. Here one forgets that one is at a Shiva temple! From Amitabh Bachchan to the man-next-door, there are not many who can resist a prayer at this temple to propitiate Shani who is feared for his malevolence! Shani (Saturn) is the only planet to have the term of Easwara or Lord suffixed to his name. The most popular of the Navagraha temples in Tamilnadu, it is the richest of them all. It is believed that King Nala was rid of the malevolence of Shani when Lord Shiva as Darbharanyeshwara stopped Shani from following Nala into the temple. The Shaneeswara shrine is thus located in the inner courtyard of the temple. All those wishing to rid themselves of the evil influence of Saade Saati and the two and a half year influence of Shani, ensure that they visit this temple.

8. Navagraha Temple – Rahu

Rahu, familiar with many because of Rahu Kala, is worshipped at the Naganathaswamy temple at Thirunageshwaran. The distinctive feature of this navagraha temple is that Rahu is depicted with a human face with his consorts while in most other temples he is depicted in his supine form. It is also believed that the milk poured on Rahu during the Rahu Kalam Abhisheka turns blue as it falls on the idol before turning white when it touches the ground. We missed seeing this as the navagraha tour is quite time bound and one is not always lucky to be here at Rahu kalam. One possible explanation could be that the idol is made of blackish blue sapphire so that milk poured over that appears bluish. But then, when has faith needed an explanation?

9. Navagraha Temple – Ketu

And finally, Ketu is worshipped at a small village called Keezhperumpallum in the Naganathar Swami Temple. As the second half of the Asura who ate the nectar by deceit, Kethu is believed to have prayed to Lord Shiva for forgiveness here and received a pardon.

Conclusion

The Navagraha Temples in Tamilnadu tour, unless specified, does not follow the chronology from Suryanar Kovil to Keezhperumpallam. The route is based on the location of the temples and the time at one’s disposal. Most devotees, like us, use Kumbakonam as a base, as all but one of the temples are within twenty to thirty kilometres of Kumbakonam. Most hotels in Kumbakonam arrange Navagraha tours but it is advisable to equip yourself with some basic information that can be had from reliable websites of the temples.

A visit to the Navagraha Temples in Tamilnadu threw up many revelations and realizations. It was a revelation that the Shaivaite cluster of Navagraha temples is different from the Vaishnavaite cluster that is followed by Iyengars of the South. It was a revelation that despite the ubiquitous presence of technology, there is still one facet of man that has been untouched by it all and is governed by faith, myth, lore and legend. It was a revelation that despite the myth, lore and legend, the mobile phone has penetrated into the tiniest of villages and thank God for that. Finally, it was a profound realisation that the Navagrahas are the bureaucrats who administer the retribution for our karma, good or bad, for, in every temple, the prime deity is still the Lord who is the force within us.

Navratri 2019 – Start Date, End Date, Significance

September 27, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 6 Comments Filed Under: Blog

Navratri 2019: Navratri begins on Sunday, September 29 and ends on Monday, October 7. Navratri means 9 sacred days. These nine days are dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine avatars. A distinct avatar of Goddess Durga is worshipped on each of the nine days.

Navratri 2019 Dates

Navratri is celebrated from 29th September to 7th October this year. It is celebrated for 9 days.

Navratri DayGoddessTithiPoojasOfferings
Day-1 (29-September)ShailaputriPratipadaGhatsthapana, Chandra Darshan, Shailaputri Puja Ghee
Day-2 (30-September)BrahmachariniDwitiyaBrahmacharini PujaSugar
Day-3 (1-October)ChandraghantaTritiyaSindoor Tritiya, Chandraghanta Puja, Varad Vinayak Chauth Ghee
Day-4 (2-October)KushmandaChaturthiKushmanda Puja, Upang Lalita Vrat Malupa
Day-5 (3-October)SkandamataPanchamiSkandamata PujaBananas
Day-6 (4-October)KatyayiniShashthiKatyayini PujaHoney
Day-7 (5-October)KaalratriSaptamiKaalratri Puja, Saraswati Awahan Jaggery
Day-8 (6-October)MahagauriAshtamiMahagauri Puja, Saraswati Puja, Durga Ashtami, Sandhi Puja Coconut
Day-9 (7-October)SiddhidatriNavamiSiddhidatri Puja, Maha Navami, Ayudha Puja, Navami Homa Grains
Day-10 (8-October)—DashamiNavratri Parana, Durga Visarjan, Vijaya Dashami —
What is Navratri?
Navratri is dedicated to Goddess Durga

Why is Navratri celebrated?

Navratri or Durga Puja is celebrated as a symbol of victory of good over evil. As per legend, Goddess Durga defeated the demon king Mahishasura to save the world and restore Dharma. In South India, Navratri is celebrated to mark the victory of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana.

Vijaya Dashami
Goddess Durga killing Mahishasura

How to celebrate Navratri in 2019?

Navratri is celebrated with fervour and devotion all across India. People celebrate Navratri by praying to the 9 forms of goddess Durga during the 9 days and performing poojas. Garba dance is the most famous activity during Navratri and especially popular in Gujarat and Mumbai. The festival culminates in Dasara.

Celebrating Navratri
Women performing Garba dance during Navratri

What are the Navratri Colors?

It is a tradition to wear dresses that represent the colours of Navratri on each of the 9 days.

Navratri Colors for 2019 Infographic
Navratri Colours 2019

Use these colours as a guide and make this Navratri more colourful.

If you have any questions about Navratri, please leave your comment below and we will get back to you super-fast.

Sringeri Temple Sevas List

May 22, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 7 Comments Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Sringeri

Poojas and sevas that form a part of the Sringeri Temple rituals are:

  • Chandramouleeshwara Pooja – The Trikala Nitya Pooja of the holy Linga of Sri Chandramouleeshwara and of Sri Chakra  takes place every night at the Sringeri Temple.
  • Sri Adi Shankaracharya Ashtottara Shatanamavali – This is the list of 108 names of Sri Adi Shankaracharya that the previous generations passed down.
  • Gita Gyana Yagna –  Sri Sharada Peetham started The Gita Gyana Yagna scheme in which any individual who can recite the 700 Shlokas of the Gita will receive Rupees 21,000 and a certificate. One can also split the attempt into 3 days.
  • Ashtottara Seva – The devotees can perform the Ashtottara ceremony in all the temples of the complex to their respective presiding deities. Ashtottara means reciting of the 108 names of Gods such as Ganesha, Vishnu, Durga, and Shiva.

Other important poojas that are a part of the Sringeri temple rituals are:

  • Dindi Deeparadana (Suvasini Pooja) – Devotees can perform this pooja at the Sringeri Temple. The Suvasini Pooja takes place by worshiping a married woman as a representation of Goddess Durga. One offers the woman meals, fruits, clothes, and Dakshina.
  • Udayastamana Pooja – This is a unique Pooja that takes place for one full day, from dawn till dusk. Moreover, there is a total of 18 Poojas for the devotees throughout the day.
  • Rudrabhishekam – This Pooja is performed to please Lord Shiva and to get his blessings. The Pooja also relieves one of his or her sins and brings prosperity to the family. It can take place at the Sri Shankaracharya Temple, Sri Vidyashankara Temple and Sri Balasubramanya Temple.
  • Panchamrutha Abhishekam – It is a ritual in which the idols of the God bathe in five items (Panch amrit)- Milk, Curd, Honey, Sugar, as well as Ghee. The ritual can take place at all the Temples in the complex including the Sringeri Temple.

Here is everything you want to know about Sringeri Temple

  1. Sringeri Temple Timings and Dress Code
  2. Aksharabhyasam in Sringeri Temple
  3. List of all temples inside Sringeri
  4. Sringeri Temple History
  5. Sringeri Temple Sevas
  6. Festivals celebrated in Sringeri
  7. Sringeri Temple Accommodation
  8. How to Reach Sringeri Temple?
  9. Places to visit near Sringeri
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