Ancient Hindu Temples - Lets discuss their History..

[Raghu]

Dear all,

It would be a great idea to discuss the various Hindu temples in the Indian Sub Continent dating back to Duwapara Yuga(MahaBharth, times) , these should include all the mandirs in what is now called as (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indionasia,..etc)

It would be nice , if we discuss with proofs or scriptures from Vedas or Vedic Scripurures, and who (normaly kings) built such temples, and the story behind each temples.

Let’s Start with Temples like, Chithaparam Sivan Koyil?, Thirukoneshwaram(Sri Lanka), Thiru Keetheswaram( Srilanka), Rameshwaram(India) … Nalloor Kanthan…Guruvaayur temples,..etc.

Thanks
Raghu

[S.Balaji]

raghu dear

Excellent thread !! Definitely I will do my best to this God willing

There are umpteen number of ancient temples in India . Shall we set some pattern :

1. South Indian temples
2. North Indian temples
3. Temples in Srilanka and other countries

also to focus on a particular God . You know well, for Sri Vishnu , in South there are 108 special temples calleed Divya kshetrangal ( also called as 108 thirupathigal )

Besides, there are temples for Gods , goddess , special temples for 9 planets

Now pls confirm on this so that we can make a beginning in an organised manner

[Raghu]

Balaji anNe,

Can you start off with the History of Rameshwaram, I know this Lord Rama, made Shilinga to pray to Maheshwar prior to his battle againts Ravana, there he made Shiva linga out of sand along the beach, which is in the direction of Lanka, ie South East India.

Has this temple got 108 Shivlinga??, I know one temple in India which has this.

[Eelavar]

dear Raghu,

It's a good idea to open such thread.

Personnaly i know that there is at less five very anciant Iswarams in Sri lanka.

-Thiruketheeshwaram

Thiruketheeshwaram, near Mannar, is the Sthalam where thousands gather on Shivarathri night for veneration of Lord Shiva. They perform their sin dispelling ablutionary theertham baths in the sacred waters of Pal Theertham, the following morning.

The location became hallowed from the mythological era for it was here that Kethu Bhagavan performed thapas and obtained the benign vision of Lord Parameswara and Ambaldevi; hence the site became known as "Thiru-Kethu-lshwaram".

Agasthiya Maha Munivar

It is said that the Sage Agasthiya Maha Munivar, in his pilgrimage to Shiva Sthalams in the South, paid homage at Thiruketheeshwaram also, before proceeding to Dakshana Kailash (Koneshwaram).

-Muneshwaram

Muneshwaram Temple is situated about a mile East of Chilaw, a town about 50 miles North of Colombo. This Munna Nathar Shetram, housing Munnai Natharsametha Vadivambikai Ambal, is of very ancient origin, said to have been founded by Brahms for worship by Himself Vishnu Mahendran, Munivars, sages and seers (Dakshana Kailasa Puranam ). The name Muneshwaram is suggestive of it being an "Eshwaram" or Shivan Temple of the Munivars; as mythology would have it, it is said to have been venerated by Rishi Munivars in the ancient eras. Some claim a foremost place for it because of its name with "Mun" in front.

-Thondeshwaram

The original name may possibly have been "Thondar - Ishwaram" which became Thondeshwaram; the foreign invaders corrupted it to "Thondra" or Dondra. During the British era these were "Dondra" and "Dondra Head", the 8 southernmost promontory of the Island. Now the locality is known as "Devinuwara". A lighthouse has been erected there as the location has, through the ages, been a guide to navigation.

Apart from very limited information, not much is known about the Ishwaram Temple here, unlike the other Pancha Ishwaram temples. It is very likely the "Ishwaram" Shivan Temple went out of function early; in such an event, the local folks would have, however, "kept going" for their veneration, the Vishnu section of the Ishwaram Temple complex. The bell, pillars and other ruins there today may therefore be those of the last Vishnu temple erected there.

-Koneshwaram

Thiru Koneshwaram, the "Dakshana Kailash" of the ancients, "The Great Pagoda" or "The Pagoda with a thousand Pillars" of the Portuguese or simply Swami Rock" during the British regime, is the most ancient place of Hindu veneration in Ceylon. It has very interesting history behind it.

The Great Deluge ("Piralayam" in Tamil) Koneshwaram Shrine

During the very early legendary eras, geologists refer to oceanic bed upheavals or geophysical convulsion (Piralayam in Tamil), which are said to have engulfed parts of Kumarikandam, in the region of the Indian Ocean. It is believed to have occurred more than once, possibly three times.

I guess it's a very valuable remain of the flooded continent...
Nobody can imagine what means this temple..



- Naguleshwaram

Naguleshwaram (on the left as it was, and on the right, as it is today, after the armed conflict) was one of the celebrated ancient five Shiva Sthalams known to have existed even before the Vijayan era. It was situated on the northern seacoast of the Jaffna Peninsula, about three kilometres west of Kankesanturai. The ancient temple is now no more, only a rocky cave can now be seen at the site, about a kilometre east of Keerimalai. However, the modern Shivan Kovil at Keerimalai, known as Naguleshwaram, perpetuates the ancient name.

Those temples are the most anciant of Sri lanka. They are the remains that show us the fact that Hinduism(Shaivism) was practized long before the arrival of Buddhism with the missionnary Asoka, and after with Vijaya the first Sinhala Prince who married a Tamil princess, and founded the Sinhala civilisation in Sri lanka.

Please visit this link for further informations about those temples : http://www.tamilnation.org/heritage/fiveishwarams.htm

[Raghu]

Dear Eelavar

Many thanks for the VALUABLE information, I have a query, there were some facts that, Ravana Wells, is in the east of lanka, can you pls tell me which town it is in?

Ravana appearantly split the earth with his mighty sword to create a Fountain, pls clarify this?

thanks

[Eelavar]

This town is Thirukonnamalai (Trincomalee), where is situated the most anciant temple Koneshwaram.



Look at the photo, you can see that this temple is situated very high above the level sea, it can explain why it survived to the 3rd Great Flood ...
Maybe the legend of Ravana come from that.

I cannot answer you more about this legend, because i don't know more Rahgu.

[Raghu]

About RamEshwaram

Description: This Shivastalam is considered to be one of the holiest shrines in India. It represents the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlingams of India and has been a time honored pilgirmage center held on par with Banaras. The island-temple town is located off of the Sethu coast of Tamilnadu (south eastern). This shrine is regarded as the 8th of the Tevara Stalams in the Pandya region of Tamilnadu.
This temple is assocated closely with the Ramayana and Rama's victorious return from Sri Lanka.

Rameswaram is an interesting temple both from the standpoint of its association with Rama and from a structural standpoint. A. huge temple in the island of Rameswaram (reached via the Pamban bridge across the sea), Rameswaram is known for its long ornate corridors and towers and 36 theerthams.

Legend has it that Rama worshipped Shiva in the form of a Shiva Lingam made of earth by Sita, while returning to Ayodhya. Legend has it that Hanuman was entrusted with the task of bringing an image of Viswanathar from Benares. Anticipating delay in Hanuman's return from Benares, Rama is said to have offered worship at a pre-chosen auspicious moment to a Shivalingam fashioned out of earth by Sita. This lingam is referred to as Ramalingam and the town is known as Rameswaram.

There is yet another Shivalingam here - Viswanathar said to have been brought by Hanuman from Banares. This Shivalingam is referred to as Kasilingam and Hanumalingam. Prayers are offered to Viswanathar before they are offered to Ramanathaswamy.

Legend has it that Rama worshipped Tilakeswarar at Devipatnam nearby enroute to Sri Lanka.

There is also a shrine to SethuMadhava and Lakshmi in Rameswaram. Sethu Madhava is also referred to as Sweta Madhava, the term Sweta referring to the white stone with which the image is made.

The Gandamadana parvatam: is a hill on the island which bears a small shrine containing imprints of Rama's feet held in worship .

Architecture and History: This temple, spread over an area of 15 acres , has lofty gopurams, massive walls and a collossal Nandi. Rameswaram also boasts of a 4000 feet long pillared corridor with over 4000 pillars, supposedly the longest in the world. The carved granite pillars are mounted on a raised platform. What is unique about this corridor is that the rock is not indigenous to the island and it was brought in from elsewhere in Tamilnadu across the sea. The eastern Rajagopuram towers to a height of 126 feet and it has nine levels. The Western Rajagopuram, though impressive is not as tall as the Eastern one. The stuccoed image of Nandi is about 18 feet tall and 22 feet in length.

It is believed that the ancient shrine was housed in a thatched hut until the 12th century and that the 1st ever masonry structure was built by Parakrama Bahu of Sri Lanka. The Setupathy rulers of Ramanathapuram completed the rest of the temple. Some of the temple vimaanams resemble the Vimaanams of the Pallava period. Much of the additions were carried out between the 12th and the 16th centuries. The long corridor (3rd prakaram) dates back only to the 18th century. The Gandhamadhana Parvatam (hill) provides a good view of the temple. This temple has received royal patronage from several kingdoms such as Travancore, Ramanathapuram, Mysore and Pudukkottai.

Worship: Six worship services are carried out each day, the first being at 5am. Special worship services are carried out every Friday.

Festivals: Rama's worship is commemorated in the month of Aani (June 15-July 15); two annual Bhrammotsavams are celebrated in Aadi and in Maasi.

Theertham (Water springs): There are 36 Theerthams in Rameswaram of which 22 are in the temple and these waters are said to possess medicinal properties. Bathing in these is considered to be of great significance. The Agni theertham refers to the ocean while the Koti theertham is located within the temple itself.

Other points of interest: The Gandamadana parvatam (hill) provides a commanding view of the island. It also bears a shrine said to bear the footprints of rama. Dhanuskoti (struck by a ravaging cyclone in the 20th century) is the easternmost tip of the island, where legend has it that Rama with the tip of his bow destroyed the bridge that he had built between the island and Srilanka, during his victorious return. There is a Kodandarama temple located on the way between Dhanushkoti and the Ramanatha temple. Tiruppullaani nearby represents the site where Rama sojourned on his way to Lanka. Devipatnam is home to the Navapaashaanam stones installed by Rama.

[bingleguy]

Can somebody discuss about Bhiragadeeshwarar Kovil or Periya Kovil, Tanjore ! built by Raja Raja Chozhan !

[Raghu]

Can somebody discuss about Bhiragadeeshwarar Kovil or Periya Kovil, Tanjore ! built by Raja Raja Chozhan !

sorry Bingle, never heard of this Kovil b4, if I do hear anything, I shall post it here

[Eelavar]

Raghu,

The temple that bingleguy is talking about is certainly the biggest hindu temple of the world..

It was built by the Tamil King, Raja Raja !

I found an interesting video about this temple, if you want download it ask me it in PM . It's a wonderful temple !! So beautiful ! A real God's house !

This video learned me a lot about Tamil's and Indians in general.