Gedong Songo Temple

Name : Gedong Songo Temple (Nine Temples)

Location : This is a resort on the slope of mount Ungaran, about 900 meters above sea level in Indonesia.

Legend : Queen Simha of the Kalingga Kingdom was in power when the Gedong Sanga complex was built. She was known for her fair and respectable reign.

The Queen taught her people to worship Sang Hyang Widi, the Powerful God, and in order to accomplish this, she ordered that a temple devoted to Sang Hyang Widi be built.

According to the belief, human beings must be able to control their desires to live a peaceful life. The desires were said to come from the nine orifices of the body, called Babahan Hawa Sanga in Javanese. The erection of the Candi Gedong Sanga could be thus considered a symbol of controlling these origins of desire.

Description : Gedong Songo (nine buildings), a group of small 8th century Hindu Javanese temples was built during the Syailendra Dynasty. It can be reached either by car or on horseback from the town. Built at about the same time as the temples of the Dieng complex, Gedong Songo is one of the most beautifully sited temple complexes in Central Java and the views alone are worth the trip.

Gedung Songo ('Nine Buildings') belong to the earliest antiquities of Java, they follow up the temples on the Dieng Plateau directly, for what about time. They were also built high in the mountains in an area full with volcanic activity; and they were also from Hinduist origin. But where the temples on Dieng Plateau are somewhat squeezed into a foggy valley, Gedung Songo are spread over the higher parts of the mountains, which guarantee a splendid view. On clear days, the horizon is one long row of volcanoes, from mount Lawu in the east, towards mount Sumbing, mount Sundoro and Dieng Plateau in the west.

The Nine temples were built between 730 and 780 AD, the first temple excepted, which could have been built some 30 years later. Gunung Songo is not the original name and also doesn't point at the number of structures. The number nine has a special meaning in the Javanese culture, in which there is a strong attachment to numbers. The temples are located at about the same distance from each other (100 meters, 200 meters) on a naturally formed terrace of edge of a mountain.

Trekking attraction : A number of sulfur springs exist inside the complex, where simple bathing facilities are available — at a small fee — for those wanting to bathe or wade in the hot water. It is said the sulfur hot springs can cure minor dermatological ailments.

A complete trip through the complex is roughly a 2-km hike. The journey, which ascends and descends through groves of pine trees, ravines and sulfur springs, surely requires a good deal of energy.

Website : http://www.planetmole.org/indonesian-news/gedong-songo-temple-complex-central-java.html

Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple - Kaligiri hills

Name : Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple

Location : Kaligiri hills near Puthalapattu is at distance of about 5kms from district centre chitoor

History : This is claimed to be the original spot where Lord Venkateswara first stepped on earth, before proceeding to Tirumala.

Apart from here foot prints of Srivari Padaalu still exist on the top of Narayanagiri Hill - Tirumala Tirupathi.

PALANI

Name : Arulmigu Dandayudhapani Swami Temple - Palani

Location : Palani is located about 60km from the District centre of Dindigul.

Legend : Sage Agastya wanted to take two hills—Sivagiri and Sakthigiri—to his abode in the South and commissioned his disciple Idumban to carry them. Idumban bore the hills slung across his shoulders, in the form of a kavadi one on either side. When he was fatigued, he placed the kavadi near Palani to take rest.

At this stage, Subrahmanya or Muruga had been outwitted in a contest for going round the world. Ganapati had won the prized fruit (pomegranate or mango) by simply going round His parents. Long after, this, Subrahmanya came sweating on His peacock to find that the prize had already been given away. In anger, the frustrated child left the divine parents and came down to Tiru Avinankudi at the Adivaram (pronounced Adivâram. It means foot of the Sivagiri Hill). Siva pacified Him by saying that He (Subrahmanya) Himself was the fruit (pazham) of all wisdom and knowledge; nee —you. Hence the place was called ‘Pazham Nee’ or Palani. Later, He withdrew to the hill and settled there as a recluse in peace and solitude.

When Idumban resumed his journey, he could not lift the hill. Muruga had made it impossible for Idumban to make it. In the fierce battle that ensued, Idumban was killed but was later on restored to life. Idumban prayed that:whosoever carried on his shoulders the Kavadi, signifying the two hills and visited the temple on a vow, should be blessed and he should be given the privilege of standing sentinel at the entrance to the hill.

Temple & Deity : Palani (Tiru Avinankudi) is the third Padai Veedu of lord muruga situated on palani hill

The deity of Palani is known as Dandayudhapani Swami, the Lord having the Staff in his Hand. The deity at the sanctum sanctorum is made out of an amalgam of nine minerals popularly called Navabashana. The deity is in a standing position with a baton in his hand. He has the look of a person who has renounced all worldly pomp. He has just a loincloth besides the baton. He is a mute messenger of the great precept ‘Renounce all to reach Me’. The icon is unique in the whole world. It was made by siddha Bhogar by combining nine poisonous substances (navabashana).

Rituals & ceremonies :

Vilaa Pooja (6.30 a.m.)
Siru Kall Pooja (8.00 a.m.)
Kaala Santhi (9.00 a.m.)
Utchikkala Pooja (12.00 noon)
Raja Alankaram (5.30 p.m.)
Iraakkaala Puja (8.00 p.m.)
Golden Car Darshan (6.30 p.m.)

Fairs & Festivals :

The major festivals at the temple are
Thai Pusam
Pankuni Uttiram
Agni Nakshatram
Kanda Sashti
Vaikasi Visakam
Tiru Karthikai

Official website : http://palani.org/

Blogsite : http://shanthiraju.wordpress.com/page/21/

LEPAKSHI

Name : Lepakshi - Sri Veera bhadra Moorthy Temple on the KURMA SHILA Hill.

Location : Lepakshi is situated at a distance of 110 km from district centre of Anantapur, Karnataka.

Lepakshi is a group of temples built, in the 16th century, on a single granite outcrop that is curved like the back of a tortoise. The hill was called Kurma-shila ( the tortoise-hill ).

Legend : Once Dhakshan the father of “Uma devi” performed a grand yagna. (Ritual before fire) Though Dhakshan was the father in law of Lord Shiva, he refused to invite Lord Shiva to participate in that yagna. But Uma Devi wife of Lord Shiva longed to attend the yagna. It was against the will of her husband. She went to Dhakshan’s yagna. She faced disrespect from her father, in the yagna function. She committed suicide at that yagna-sala itself. By knowing this matter Lord Shiva went to his father-in-law’s palace in the shape of Veerabhadra and killed his father in law by cutting off his head. Then Lord Shiva with his super power gave life to his wife to come alive. At that time the other deities prayed Lord Shiva to give life to Dhakshan being his father-in-law. All the deities wanted the yagna to be completed. So Lord Shiva placed a goat’s head to Dhakshan’s body and gave life to him also.

History : Sri Virupanna, who worked as a Treasury Officer of Penukonda Fort of Vijayanagara Empire, took up the construction of the Lord Veerabhadhra Temple at Lepakshi in the 16th-century.

Temple & Deity : Temple is famous for the seven-hooded coiled serpent carved out of a single stone and the Panchalingas. The Panchalingas are the five main lingas in the Leepakshi temple complex comprising of the Papanaseswara linga of sage Agastya, the Rama linga, the Nagalinga (17ft high), the linga consecrated by Hanuman and the Tandaveshwara(Veera bhadra Moorthy) consecrated by Virupanna.

The Natyamandapa or dance hall is supported by 100 pillars finely sculpted with figurines of a dancing Siva, Nandi, Tumbura, Rambha and other celestial beings playing the drum, veena and other instruments in accompaniment. The unfinished Kalyanamandapa on the other side contains sculptures of dikapalakas on the pillar.

From the centre of the mantapa emerges a dome, twenty-one feet high, like a great lotus of heaven. In this huge mantapa, the ceiling is divided into different panels by beams that are painted with some of the most exquisite murals of the Deccan.

Rituals & ceremonies : By worshipping this Veera bhadra Moorthy idol the devotees will be blessed with progress in all fields of life. Because the efforts of Lord Shiva took place in a war and involved in a nature of enemity, the devotees in their life facing such troubles should follow worshiping “Veerabhathra Moorthy” for the suitable remedy.

Website & Pictures : http://ssubbanna.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/12/the-legacy-of-chitrasutra-nine-lepakshi.htm

BAHUBALI HILL

Name : These hills are popularly known as 'Kumbhojgiri'

Location : Bahubali Hill Temples are situated 27 km south of Kolhapur, Maharashtra on the Bahubali Hills.

No of Steps : 400

Deity : BahuBali ( the sage who mediated here about 300 years before )

Description : Huge devotees come to the temple to worship the 28-feet tall marble statue of Bahubali and visit the temples of the 24 Tirthankaras or saints.

A fair is held here on the 15th day of the bright half of the month of Kartak, on the 15th day of the bright half of the month Chaitra and on the 10th of day the dark half of the month of Magasar.

Visitors can take a train from the nearest railway station at Hathkalangad, about 8 km away, on Kolhapur - Miraj railway line This temple looks very beautiful and splendid. The scene of the forest and the village farms looks full of delight and beauty.

TEMPLES OF BHARMOUR

Name : Shikara Temple of Brahmaur

Location : Brahmaur, Himachal Pradesh

Description : At Brahmaur, the ancient capital, there are two Temples. The larger of the two is dedicated to Shiva under the name of Mani-mahes. It is ascribed to Meru - varman, who reigned about A. D. 700, but it is very doubtful whether the present building goes back to so remote a time. This much is certain, that, the erection of a Shiva temple by Meru Varman is recorded in an inscription on the brass bull which stands in front 0f the temple.

The other shikhara temple of Brahmaur, smaller in size and plainer in appearance, contains a brass image of Narsingh, the Man-lion incarnation of Vishnu. Its erection by Rani Tribhuvana- rekha is mentioned in a copper-plate inscription of Yugakara, the son of Sahilla, and may, therefore, be placed in the lOth or I1th century. The Narsingh Temple suffered considerable damage in the earthquake of the 4th Apri1 1905.