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Subha

@Life_Is_Dutiful

Stunner

+ 40

Posted: 13 years ago

#41

SHRI KASHI VISHWANATH MANDIR

Visit Website: www.shrikashivishwanath.org

A Brief History

Standing on the western bank of India's holiest river Ganges, Varanasi is the oldest surviving city of the world and the cultural capital of India. It is in the heart of this city that there stands in its fullest majesty the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in which is enshrined the Jyotirlinga of Shiva, Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha. Here gravitate the teeming millions of India to seek benediction and spiritual peace by the darshan of this Jyotirlinga which confers liberation from the bondages of maya and the inexorable entanglements of the world. A simple glimpse of the Jyotirlinga is a soul-cleansing experience that transforms life and puts it on the path of knowledge and bhakti. Vishweshwara Jyotirlinga has a very special and unique significance in the spiritual history of India. Tradition has it that the merits earned by the darshan of other jyotirlinga scattered in various parts of India accrue to devotee by a single visit to Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Deeply and intimately implanted in the Hindu mind, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple has been a living embodinent of our timeless cultural traditions and highest spiritual values. The Temple has been visited by all great saints- Adi Shankaracharya, Ramkrishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekanand, Goswami Tulsidas, Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati, Gurunanak and several other spiritual personalities. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple attracts visitors not only from India but abroad as well and thereby symbolises man's desire to live in peace snd harmony with one another. Vishwanath being a supreme repository of this spiritual truth thus strengthens the bonds of universal brotherhood and fellow feeling at the national as well as global levels. On January 28, 1983 the Temple was taken over by the Govt. of Uttar Pradesh and it's management ever since stands entrusted to a Trust with Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh. Former Kashi Naresh, as president and an Executive Committee with Divisional Commissioner as Chairman. The Temple in the present shape was built way back in 1780 by Late Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore. In the year 1785 a Naubatkhana was built up in front of the Temple by the then Collector Mohd. Ibrahim Khan at the instance of Governor General Warren Hastings. In 1839, Two domes of the Temple were covered by gold donated by Punjab Kesari Maharaja Ranjeet Singh. Third dome but was remained uncovered, Ministry of cultures & Religious affairs of U.P. Govt. took keen interest for gold plating of third dome of Temple.

RITUALS

The Temple opens daily at 2.30a.m. in Mangala Aarati 3 to 4 a.m. ticket holders are permitted to join. From 4 to 11 a.m. general Darshan is allowed. 11.30 to 12 a.m. mid day Bhog Aarati is done. Again 12 noon to 7 p.m. devotees are free to have darshan. From 7 to 8.30 p.m. evening Sapta Rishi Aarati is done after which darshan is again possible uptill 9 p.m. when Shringar/Bhog Aarati starts. After 9 p.m. Darshan from out side only is possible. Shayana Aarti starts at 10.30p.m.The Temple closes at 11p.m. Most of the Prasad,milk,clothes and other such offerings are given to the poors.

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mnx12

@mnx12

Channel Moderator

+ 14

Posted: 13 years ago

#42

The Shaktipeethas of Maharashtra

The four Shaktipeethas of Maharashtra are well described in Devi Bhagavata Purana. Himavanta (Lord of Himalayan mountains), worshiped Jaganmata for a long time to get her as his daughter. Pleased by his devotion, she appeared before him and gave the boon. Himavanta was very happy. But, he was clever. He asked her another boon to give Bhakti and Jnana so that he can take care of her properly. Jaganmata told him that one who wishes Bhakti-Jnanas from her is a real devotee and she will be more interested to bless them than any other. She told Devi Geeta to Himavanta.

In the Devi Geeta she mentioned few important places on the earth which she likes a lot. Out of them the top most priority goes to the four Shakti peethas present in Maharashtra. They are:

Jwalamukhi (Sapta shringi mata) in Saptashringam (Saptashringi)

Significance of four Shakti peethas:

What does four Shakti peethas resemble? We can't tell why Jaganmata categorized these four shaktipeethas into a group. But many devotees gave explanations for this number four. The number four resembles the four parts of holy AUM. A kara, U kara, Ma kara and Mmm kara (Ardha matra). That is why they are also called as "Three and half Shakti peethas".

Shakti	Part of AUM	Guna	Resembling God
Tulja bhavani	A kara	Rajas	Brahma
Maha lakshmi	U kara	Satwa	Vishnu
Renuka mata	Ma kara	Tamas	Maheshwara
Saptashringi mata	Ardha matra	Trigunateeta	Adi Shakti

According to Yoga shastras and Tantra shastras, Shakti is present in our body in the form of Kundalini. It is described as a female serpent which is sleeping in Muladhara Chakra turning it's body into three and half (3 1/2) circles. If it is activated with the help of Spiritual practices, it raises and passes to Sahasrara through Sushumna, a small passage in Spinal cord. The three and half folds of Kundalini are compared with the four forms of Shakti present in this list of Four Shakti peethas of Maharashtra.

These four Shakti peethas are worshiped in Chandi Upasana. Navakshara Mantra and Chandi Yantra are important for Chandi. In that worship, we come across Nanda, Shakambari and Bheema Shaktis. The physical resemblances for them are:

Saptashringi mata is considered as the combined power for these three.

All these belong to Brahma prakriti, So Brahma maya, Brahma shakti Brahma ganana & Brhmi Shakti

The Mahalakshmi temple Kolhapur

The Shri Mahalakshmi Mandir Kolhapur in Maharashtra, Bharat, is one of the Shakti Peethas listed in various puranas of Hinduism. According to these writings, a Shakti Peetha is a place associated with Shakti, the goddess of power. The Kolhapur Shakti Peetha is of special religious significance being one of the six places where it is believed that one can either obtain salvation from desires or have them fulfilled. The temple takes its name from Mahalakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, and it is believed that the divine couple reside in the area.

The temple belongs architecturally to the Kannada Chalukya empire and may have been first built in circa 700 AD. Mounted on a stone platform, the image of the four armed and crowned goddess is made of gemstone and weighs about 40 kilograms. The image of Mahalakshmi carved in black stone is 3 feet in height. The Shri Yantra is carved on one of the walls in the temple. A stone lion, the vahana of the goddess, stands behind the statue. The crown contains an image of the Sheshnag ' the serpent of Vishnu. In Her four hands, the deity of Mahalakshmi holds objects of symbolic value. The lower right hand holds a mhalunga (a citrus fruit), in the upper right, a large mace (kaumodaki) with its head touching the ground, in the upper left a shield (khetaka), and in the lower left, a bowl (panpatra). Unlike most Hindu sacred images, which face north or east, the image of this deity looks west (Pashchim). There is a small open window on the western wall, through which the light of the setting sun falls on the face of the image for three days around the 21st of each March and September. There are a number of other shrines in the courtyard to the Navagrahas, Surya, Mahishasuramardini, Vitthal-Rakhmai, Shiva, Vishnu, Tulja Bhavani and others. Some of these images date back to the 11th century, while some are of recent origin. Also located in the courtyard is the temple tank Manikarnika Kund, on whose bank is a shrine to Visweshwar Mahadev. Special Events: A festival image of the deity is taken out in procession around the temple courtyard each Friday, and on full moon days.

Shri Renuka devi temple Mahurgad

Mahur or Mahurgad is a religious place in Maharashtra, India. Mahur is the birth place of Hindu Goddess Renuka, mother of Lord Parshuram. The Shakti Peethas of Maharashtra are Tuljapur enshrining Bhavani, Kolhapur enshrining Mahalakshmi, Mahur enshrining Mahamaya, and Renuka and Saptshringi enshrining Jagadamba. Other Shakti temples in the state are those at Ambe Jogai and Aundh. There are many temples in Mahur like Anusaya Temple, Kalika Temple. The most important one is the temple of Renuka Devi. A big fair is held here every year on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami (Dasara). Mahur is the birth place of God Dattatreya. There is an ancient temple of Dattatreya. Every Year on Datta po*nima Thousands of people visit Mahur.

Mahur finds mention in the ancient, Devi Bhagawatam as Matripura, where it is mention as one of the famous pilgrimages, further in Devi Gita which the final and most important chapter of the text, it is mentioned as one the important places of Shakti worship. Mahur is situated on the Sahyadri Ranges, also known as the Western Ghats. All three important temples "Renuka Temple", "Dattatreya Temple" and "Anusaya Temple" are built on three mountain ranges. Mahur is surrounded by jungles rich with trees and wild life. You can see the teakwood trees everywhere. Peacocks, deer, black bears, panthers are very common in the jungle. On one of the mountains is the ancient "Mahurgad Fort" constructed in the 12th century. Mahur was one of important fort in ancient history.

AttractionsThe main places in Mahur are:- Renuka Temple, Dattatreya Temple, Anusaya Temple, Devdeveshwar Temple, Parshuram Temple, Sarvatirtha, Matru-Tirtha,Bhanutirth, Hati darvaza,Bal samudra, Pandav Leni, Mahurgad Fort, Mahakali Temple (In the fort),

Devdeveshwar Temple Devdeveshwari mandir belongs to [Mahanubhav Panth], Basically called a Nidra sthan (sleeping place) of Jagat Guru Shree Dattatreya Prabhu, it is situated at elevated outskirt of mahur town, 2 km from mahur bus stand. Daily Shree Dattatreya Prabhu will take nitya snan (daily bath) at meruwada talao (Tank) in Mahur, Bhiksha (the meal served to a sadhu or Indian Monk)at Kolhapur, Bhojan (Lunch) at Panchaleshwar and get back to sleep in Devdeveshwar mandir Mahur (Nidra sthan of God Dattatreya Prabhu) Jagat Guru Shree Dattatreya swami is a chiranjiv avtar (Immortal) so it is believed that even today Shree Dattatreya swami comes to sleep here.

Tulaja Bhavani Devi temple, Tulajapur

The temple town of Tuljapur, a tehsil in Osmanabad district of Maharashtra, is located at the end of the plateau where the state highway from Aurangabad descends in the Solapur plains. It is a centre of trade in grains and lies 45 km (28 miles) north of Solapur, the biggest textile manufacturing centre in Maharashtra, and 22.54 km (14 miles) due south of Osmanabad, the district headquarters. Tuljapur is situated at 2150 feet (approx.) from the sea level & has a population of about 30000.

The town is administered by municipality, which was established in 1942 but started functioning with an elected council from 1952.

The town has derived its name from the ancient TuljaBhavani temple located on a hill known as Yamunachal. It is a small town with roads paved with concrete and lighting provided by electricity. Tuljapur is considered as one of the three and half Shakti Peethas of Maharashtra, where the mother Goddess, Shakti is worshipped. Each day thousands of pilgrims and devotees from all over Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and other parts of India come to Tuljapur to have Darshnam of and seek blessings from goddess TuljaBhavani.

The Great Maratha king, Shivaji, was an ardent devotee of Bhavani, who used to take her blessings before embarking upon any expedition. He built this temple in 1661 but it is said that he could not visit the temple due torrential rains. According to legend it was here that the Goddess gifted him a sword-the Bhawani sword for success in his expeditions. Goddess Bhavani is considered to be an embodiment of the ugra or ferocity, as well as a Karunaswaroopini - filled with mercy and compassion.

Saptashringi Devi temple, Vani

The Saptashrungi Devi temple is at Wani village some 60kms away from Nashik, on the Nashik-Saputara road. It is a temple where Goddess Bhagawati dwells. Saptashrungi Devi is one of the 51 Shakti Peeth of India and the prime Goddesses in Maharashtra. The Goddess is called as Saptashrungi Devi since her temple is located on the seven mountain peaks. The idol of the Goddess is carved on a single rock face and is 8 feet tall. The Devi is saffron colored and has 18 arms with a weapon held in each. One of the hand of the Devi is placed on her left ear as if listening to the prayers of her devotees. In front of the Saptashrungi Devi temple stands Markandeya Rishi's hill where he had done tapa. As per mythology the Devi Mahatmaya or Durga Saptashati was composed by Sage Markandeya here . The Saptashrungi Devi temple is located in lush greenery and high mountains. The journey to the temple itself is very beautiful and breath taking. This place becomes more heavenly during the monsoon season when the clouds come down to kiss the mountain peaks.

Edited by mnx12 - 13 years ago

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Arunima

@arunima_LUIT

Dazzler

Posted: 13 years ago

#43

Originally posted by: mnx12
@arunima_luvdsky, thanks for sharing about this wonderful temple. What is the popular name of this temple, is it called The Mahabhairav temple? Need the name to add in the index.😊

Yes its called the Mahabhairav Temple & has world's largest stone Shiv Linga😊

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Leo92

@Leo92

Beginner

Posted: 13 years ago

#44

Tarapith-Abode of Maa Tara

This temple of Ma Tara is located near the town of Rampurhat in the Birbhum district of West Bengal. Tarapith is believed to be one of the 4 adi (main) shakti peeths (other 3 are Bimala Devi temple in puri, Kamakhya temple of Assam and Kalighat temple of Kolkata). It is believed that the third eye of Ma Sati fell here (though there are many scholars say aginst it).

Legend

During Samudra manthan (churning of the ocean) by devta and daityas, deadly poison known as halahal came out of the ocean. Halahal began to poison whole universe, making it difficult even to breathe. No one exept our Mahadev was capable of digesting this poison. All devtas and danavs prayed to him for mercy. Benevolent lord Shiva drank all the poison and stored it in his throat. His throat became blue in color due the effect of the poison. Hence he got the name Neelkanth (one with blue throat).

But, under the effect of poison insides of Mahadev started burning, his pain was unbearable. To cure Mahadev, Maa Tara came and fed him her milk. This cured Mahadev.

Iconography

Maa Tara is sometimes shown with infant Shiva suckling her.

But generally she is shown standing on corpse of Shiva, wearing a tiger skin. She has 4 hands two of which carry kharaga and sword. She wears garlands of snake in her neck and arms. She is often shown roaming in cremation grounds. Her appearance is similar to that of Maa Kali, with notable difference which is Maa Kali is shown wearing garland of severed heads and hands whereas Maa Tara wears tiger or dear skin.

Tarapith Temple

The Construction of Tarapith temple is very simple. Inside the sanctum there are two images of Maa Tara, one of stone and other of metal. Ancient stone image of Maa Tara shows her nursing Shiva, is hidden behind the 3 feet metal image.

Maa Tara is worshipped not only by Hindus but also by Buddhists according to tantric rituals. Sacrifices of goat are a very common affair there. The holy tank near the temple is believed to have divine powers.

Saint Bamakhepa

Saint Bamakhepa also known as Mad Saint lived here in late nineteenth century. He was ardent devotee of Maa Tara. He meditated upon her in the cremation ground adjacent to the temple. Maa used to give him darshan in the cremation itself. Later he was made chief priest of the temple.

Legends say that the Saint was unaware of the vedic mantras and used to worship her in very unorthodox and spontaneous fashion. Once he was seen eating the Prasad of Maa before offering it to her first. On asking he simply replied that Maa has asked him to do so. Temple officials thrashed him out of the temple and beat him. Later chief of the village had a dream in which Maa Tara wounded and bleeding was leaving the temple. On asking she replied that her son was beaten very badly for eating the Prasad he was acting only on her orders. She as a mother took his pains upon her. She also said that she has not eaten since past few days because her son is hungry. After this divine dream, Bamakhepa was reinstalled as the chief priest of the temple and nobody questioned his ways ever again.

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Leo92

@Leo92

Beginner

Posted: 13 years ago

#45

@Samana: This story of Maa Tara is told by the priests of the temple.

Our lord Mahadev works in his own mysterious ways...its really hard to understand his Leelas.

Perhaps he visited Gosaikund first to drink water, but the pain did'nt leave him.So Maa Tara cured him , who knows...😆

As it is said "Hari Anant Hari Katha Ananta"

God is endless so are his stories...

Edited by Leo92 - 13 years ago

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Leo92

@Leo92

Beginner

Posted: 13 years ago

#46

@Samana: Many people have claimed to have seen Mahadev during there journey to Mt.Kailash and Manasarover Lake...

It is said that you can see ripples in the calm water of the lake during early hours of dawn. It is belived that gods themselves come to bathe in the holy water of the lake...

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Leo92

@Leo92

Beginner

Posted: 13 years ago

#47

Another unique feature of Pashupatinath Temple is that the shivling has four faces facing four cardinal directions.

The shivling is kept covered in a gold cover...

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Leo92

@Leo92

Beginner

Posted: 13 years ago

#48

Dakshineshwar Kali Temple

Dakshineshwar Kali temple is situated at the eastern bank of river Hoogly in the city of Kolkata. It was built in the year 1855 by Rani Rashmoni. Ma Kali is worshiped in the form of Bavatarini, which means the one who liberates. The temple complex also houses a Krishna Temple also known as Radhakanta temple.

LEGEND

Rani Rashmoni, the founder of the temple was widow of a very rich zamidar of Kolkata. In the year 1847, she decided to go on pilgrimage to Kashi. Journey was to be completed by boats through the route of Ganga. On the night before the journey, she had a dream in which Maa Kali gave her darshan and said that she doesn't need to go so far. Instead she must build a temple here on the bank of Hoogly. The pilgrimage was cancelled and preparations for temple construction began. Construction of temple began in 1847 and finished in 1855.

Architecture of this temple is very unique. It contains 9 spires or domes. There is also row on 12 Shiv temples facing the Maa Kali's temple along the riverfront.

Dakshineshwar Temple is famous for its association with Saint Ramakrishna Paramhansa, the greatest devotee of Maa Kali. He was appointed as chief priest of the temple in 1856.The mystic saint Ramakrishna had vision of Maa in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple when he threatened to Maa that he will cut his throat with her Kharga (sword) if she doesn't give him darshan.

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Krishna

@kkr531

Explorer

Posted: 13 years ago

#49

Om Namah Shivaya

today i would be introducing to you the SriKalahasthi Temple

SriKalahasti temple is located 36 km away from Tirupathi in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradhesh, India. The inner temple is constructed around 5th century and the outer temple was constructed in the 12th Century.
Srikalahasti is a holy town and a municipality near Tirupati in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the river Swarnamukhi. Recently, it has been included in the TUDA (Tirupati Urban Development Authority) region
.

Kalahasti is surrounded by two hills. The Durgamba temple is on the north hill and the shrine of Kannabeswara on the south hill is in memory of the Sage Kannappa, who offered an eye to the Lord. There is also a temple dedicated to Subramanya on one of the hills. A river flowing in the north washes the foot of the temple. The main linga remains untouched by human hands; even the priests do not touch it. Abhishek (bathing) is done by pouring a mixture of water, milk, camphor and panchamrita. Sandal paste, flowers and the sacred thread are offered to the utsava-murti, and not the main linga. It has an enormous, ancient gopuram over the main gate, which is 36.5 metres (120 feet) high and the entire temple is carved out from the side of the hill. King Krishnadeva Raya built this temple in1516. The temple is very ornate with elaborately designed pillars, altars, etc.

The temple occupies the area between the riverbanks and the foot of the hills and is known as Dakshina Kailasam. The three gopurams are remarkable in their architecture. A hundred-pillared mantapam is another important feature of this shrine. The tower was established nearly a thousand years ago. The various stupas and temple testify to the antiquity of the place.

SriKalahasti got its name because in days of yore a spider (sri), serpent (kala) and elephant (hasti) elephant worshipped Shiva with great devotion. A spider lived in the inner sanctum and worshipped the Lord by weaving elaborate temples and images of Shiva. One day a breeze came up and caused the altar fire to destroy the spider's offerings. It became angry and was about to gulp down the flame, (realize the Self) endangering its (ego's) life. Appreciative of its devotion, Shiva appeared and granted the spider a boon. The spider requested moksha, release from the cycle of births and deaths. Accordingly it became one with Shiva, the Self.

A cobra worshipped Lord Shiva by offering rare gems, pearls and rubies that it brought from Nagaland, a mythical place where Nagas (serpents) dwell. Serpents are one of India's most visible symbols of the spiritual power of the Self. The spiritual power of the Self, called Kundalini, the latent electricity of Consciousness, is hidden in the dark recesses of the unconscious like a snake hidden deep within the earth. After the snake had worshipped, an elephant, fresh from its purifying bath in the nearby river, came to worship. In preparation it sprayed the altar with water from its trunk, scattering the gems. It then proceeded to decorate the altar with leaves from a holy tree. When the cobra returned it was angered to see its offerings disrespected and replaced by mere leaves. So it replaced the leaves with gems. This charade repeated itself every day until the cobra became fed up and decided to punish whomever was destroying its offerings. When the elephant returned to worship with its leaves the cobra slithered up its trunk and injected its venom. In agony the elephant dashed its head on the stone altar in an attempt to kill the snake. The snake fell out of the trunk and died from its wounds and the elephant succumbed to the poison. Understanding that both had sacrificed their lives for the sake of their love of the Lord, Shiva resurrected them, gave them liberation and took them into his own body. At the foot of the linga one can see a spider, two elephant tusks and a five-headed (the five elements) serpent to remind the devotee of these acts of supreme devotion.

further information can be had from following website

http://www.srikalahastitemple.com/home.html

Edited by kkr531 - 13 years ago

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mnx12

@mnx12

Channel Moderator

+ 14

Posted: 13 years ago

#50

Trimbakeshwar Jyotirling Temple in Nasik

Trimbakeshwar temple of Lord Shiva

Trimbakeshwar Temple

Shri Trimbakeshwar Temple is located at a distance of about 30-km from Nasik in Maharashtra near the mountain named Brahmagiri from which the river Godavari flows. Trimbakeshwar Temple is revered as one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva and as the source of the river Godavari. Just as Ganga is known as Bhagirathi and is one of the most important river in North India, in the same way, Godavari is also known as Gautami Ganga and is the most sacred river in South India.

According to Shiv Purana, it is because of the earnest request of Godavari, Gautam Rishi and other gods that Lord Shiva agreed to reside here and assumed the famous name Trimbakeshwar. Interestingly, locals refer to the river here as Ganga and not as Godavari. All the heavenly Gods promised to come down to Nasik, once in twelve years, when Jupiter resides in the zodiac sign of Leo. On this a grand fair is organized at this place. Devotees take a holy bath in the Gautami Ganga and then seek the blessings of Trimbakeshwar.

Legend Behind Trimbakeshwar Temple
Legend goes that a sage name Gautam Muni resided on the Brahmagiri hill with his wife Ahilya. By virtue of his devotion, the sage received from Varuna, a bottomless pit from which he received an inexhaustible supply of grains and food. The other rishis, jealous of his fortune, arranged for a cow to enter his granary and caused it to die as Gowtam Rishi attempted to ward it off with a bunch of Darbha grass.

Gautam Rishi, therefore, worshipped Lord Shiva to bring the Ganga down to his hermitage to purify the premises. Pleased with devotion, Shiva requested Ganga to flow down and make Sage Gautam pure. After that Ganga flowed down. Lord Shiva told Ganga to stay there eternally for the good of everyone. All the Gods started singing the praises of Gautam Rishi, Ganga and Lord Shiva. On the request of all the Gods, Lord Shiva resided by the river Gautami by the name Trimbakeshwar (one of the Jyotirlingas). Hindus believe that Trimbak Jyotirlinga is one, which fulfills everyone's desires. It emancipates all from their sins and miseries.

Another popular legend behind Trimbakeshwar Temple is the legend of Lingodbhava manifestation of Shiva. It says once Brahma and Vishnu searched in vain to discover the origin of Shiva who manifested himself as a cosmic column of fire. Brahma lied that he had seen the top of the column of fire and was hence cursed that he would not be worshipped on earth. In turn Brahma cursed Shiva that he would be pushed underground. Accordingly, Shiva came down under the Brahmagiri hill in the form of Tryambakeshwar. Trimbakeshwar Temple is the only place where Shivlinga is not out but it's inside the floor.

Some scholars say that Goddess Parvati also came down along Lord Shiva and Ganga. The place is therefore called Tryambakeshwa (three lords). Others believe that the place is so called because of the presence of three Shivlinga of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. The Shivlinga of Lord Mahesh has always-flowing water among the three Shivlingas.

Structure of Trimbakeshwar Temple
Trimbakeshwar Temple is an ancient shrine, however the current structure is a result of the reconstruction efforts undertaken by the Peshwa Balaji Bajirao in mid 18th century. The temple is built of black stone in the Nagara style of architecture and is enclosed in a spacious courtyard. The sanctum internally a square and externally a stellar structure houses a small Shivalingam - Tryambaka. The sanctum is crowned with a graceful tower, embellished with a giant Amalaka and a golden kalasha. In front of the garbagriha and the antarala is a mandap with doors on all four sides. Three of these doorways are covered with porches and the openings of these porches are ornamented with pillars and arches. Curvilinear slabs rising in steps form roof of the mandapam. The entire structure is ornamented with sculptural work featuring running scrolls, floral designs, and figures of gods, yakshas, humans and animals.

The Shivalingam is seen in a depression on the floor of the sanctum. Water constantly oozes out from the top of the Shivalingam. Usually, the Shivalingam is covered with a silver mask but on festive occasions a golden mask with five faces, each with a golden crown covers it.

Edited by mnx12 - 13 years ago