Taj Mahal Hindu Temple Myth

One of the most popular myths regarding the Taj Mahal and one of the most controversial questions ever asked about the authenticity of the Taj Mahal, "Was Taj Mahal a Hindu temple?" The legend of Taj Mahal being a Hindu temple originally though has no evidence as such. Yet many historians have tried to come up with as many theories as possible to prove the Taj Mahal Hindu temple myth. Read on to know more about this controversial and debatable topic that has sent many historians and researchers in a tizzy.

It is said that the Taj Mahal was actually a temple palace dedicated to lord Shiva. It was built much before the Mughals came to India and was known by the name of Tejo Mahalya. It is said that Shah Jahan came here and plundered the temple and on that very site, built the Taj Mahal. In fact, it is said that every Muslim structure in India was actually a Hindu temple or building that was plundered by the Mughal rulers and converted into Muslim structures after some modifications. Though the Government of India does not support these allegations, as there is hardcore evidence to support the same, many researchers stand by what they think is correct.

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Temples in Himachal pradesh

amarnath Cave Temple at Pahalgam near Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir: A long and arduous trek takes thousands of pilgrims to this ancient shrine each year where Shiva is worshipped as a natural lingam of ice
2 Anjana Devi Temple at Haridwar in Uttar Pradesh: Located on top of a hill near Haridwar
3 Annapurna Temple at Uttar Kashi in Uttar Pradesh
4 Annapurna Temple at Haridwar in Uttar Pradesh
5 Ardhanari Temple at Mandi in Himachal Pradesh: A modern temple with a rare Ardhanari image with carvings of high order
.6 Badrinarayan Temple at Badrinath in Uttar Pradesh: One of the most revered shrines in the country, Badrinath is a well visited Himalayan shrine on the banks of the river Alkananda at a height of 11,400 ft above sea level.

7 Baijnath Temple at Baijnath near Dharmshala in Himachal Pradesh: A very ancient stone temple with intricate sculptural work - dedicated to Shiva. I

8 Bajreswari Temple at Kangra near Dharmsala in Himachal Pradesh: Large temple with lofty towers dedicated to Devi worshipped as a lingam. The Guptganga ghats are a km away from the temple.
9 Balaji Temple at Rishikesh in Uttar Pradesh: Modern temple built in the South Indian style.
10 Bharat Mata Temple at Shanti Kunj near Haridwar in Uttar Pradesh: A modern temple

housing images of several deities, religious leaders and national heros portraying unity in

diversity inaugurated by the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
11 Bharatji Mandir at Rishikesh in Uttar Pradesh: Oldest temple in Rishikesh dedicated to MahaVishnu.
12 Bijli Mahadev Temple at Bijli Mahadev near Kullu in Himachal Pradesh: Ancient Shiva temple accessible only by foot 11 km away from Kullu. Known for its lightning conducting flag staff.
13 Bisheshar Mahadev Temple at Kullu in Himachal Pradesh: A large stone monument with beautiful icons and carvings.

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Temples in Karnataka

Somnathpur Temple

The temple of Lord Krishna on the shores of River Kaveri situated in the tiny village of Somnathpur is said to be the last and the grandest of Hoysala monuments. This Kesava Temple was built about 740 years ago in 1268 and displayed all the former riches and splendor of the Hoysala architectural style as evident in their temples at Belur and Halebid (then Dvarasamudra). According to the stone inscription in old Kannada at its entrance, it was built during the reign of Narasimha III by his celebrated army commander, Somnath, after whom the temple and the village was named. However, the king bestowed Somnath with his generous donations to help him set up a grand temple to glorify Hoysala craftsmanship and also sanctioned an annual grant of 3,000 gold coins for the temple's upkeep and maintenance.The best and legendary sculptors who were hired for the construction of the temple included the famous Mallitamma, Ballayya, Chaudayya, Bharmayya, Kamayya and Nanjayya. It is said that Mallitamma contributed 40 out of the 194 carved images on the outer walls. Strangely, the images are signed unlike the practices of the time but similar to other Hoysala temples at Belur and Halebid. The main shrine is centrally located and is stellar in shape. Out of the beautiful carved idols that once housed the three sanctums of the temple, idol of Kesava is missing today. However, one can still witness the beauty of idols of Janardhana and Venugopala. Since, earliest Hoysala monarchs were Jains and later they terned to Vaisnavism and Shaivism, they had general tolerance of all faiths. The temple at Somnathpur is unique in design, has fabulous stone carvings and are perfect in symmetry.

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temples in hydrabad(hyd)

Birla mandir temple at hyderabad
Chilkur balaji temple at chilkur near hyderabad ranga reddy district
Peddamma temple at jubilee hills hyderabad
Astalaksmi temple in hyderabad
Sai baba temples at Hyderabad
Sanghi temple at sanghinagar in hyderabad

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Kalahasti Temple history

History

Worship of lord siva was there in India even before Christian era. Saiva saints of first century sang about this temple. The initial stracture of this temple was constructed by the great Pallava dynasty. Tamil Chola kings and the Vijayanagara kings also gave great help for the temple development. Like other great temples, the construction period of Srikalahasthi lasted centuries. Near about tenth century, the Chola kings renovated the temple and constructed the main structure. The outer walls and the four gopurams were constructed in the period of Sri Veera Narasimharayar in twelfth century. The 120 feet high main gopuram and the 100 pillar mandapam were constructed by Krishnadeva Raya, the great Vijayanagara king in 1516.

Nattukkotta Chettiyar of Devakkotta, developed the structure what we see today by spending on million dollar in 1912. This ancient temple dedicated to Lord Siva is one of the panchabhootha stalams (temples celebrating Lord Siva as the embodiment of the primary elements), air being the element in case here, the other five temples being Tiruvannamalai (fire), Chidambaram (space), Thiruvanikkaval (water) and Kanchipuram (earth) respectively.

Sri Kalahasthi is located near the pilgrimage town of Tirupathi and is visited by thousands of pilgrims. The temple is also associated with Rahu and Kethu (of the nine grahams or celestial bodies in the Indian astrological scheme). The river Suvarnamukhi takes the northerly course at Sri Kalahasthi almost washing the west wall of the famous Sri Kalahasthi temple in the Chittor district of Andhra Pradesh. Inside this very large temple situated between two steep hills – Sripuram and Mummidi-cholapuram - is the Sivalinga set to represent the element of Vayu (air or wind), whose presence is evident by a continuous flame which flickers though there is no loophole for air to enter the temple.

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Sri Kalahasthi Temple is in fact considered as the Kailash of the south or Dakshin Kailash. The protector of devotees, the granter of boons, the merciful Lord Siva, the Three-eyed, manifested in the form of Vayu linga in the Bilwaka grove on the banks of river Suvarnamukhi. Lord Siva, manifest in the form of Vayu linga, is known to the devotees as Sri Kalahastheeswara. The greatness of the temple at Sri Kalahasthi is mentioned in the Sivapuranam. There is legend associated with the manifestation of Lord Siva as Vayu linga at Sri Kalahasthi. According to it, Lord Brahama was asked by Lord Siva to create Kailash. As Brahma was struggling with the task, as piece fell on the earth in the south and came to be known as Dakshin Kailash and Lord Siva chose to manifest at Dakshin Kailash as Vayu linga representing wind, is one of the five elements of nature, to satisfy the desires and wishes of his devotees. Ever ready to provide succor to devotees in distress, Lord Siva manifested at Sri Kalahasthi yielding to the request by the three dumb creatures – the Spider, the Serpent and the Elephant.

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templesin karnataka

karnataka has innumerable sites in the Temple Map of India, with its some of its still surviving monuments going back to the 7th century CE. The Badami Chalukyas were the builders of rock cut caves and ancient temple complexes. At Pattadakal, there are Temples in the Dravidian style along with Temples in styles that were later adopted in Eastern and Central India. The sculptural quality in these temples is outstanding.
The subordinate rulers of the Chalukyas were the Gangas and the Kadambas. The colossal monolithic statue of Gomateswara was built by the Gangas in the 10th century CE.

The Badami Chalukyas were succeeded by the Rashtrakutas and the Kalyani Chalukyas. In Southern Karnataka, the Hoysalas reigned supreme. The Hoysalas (12th century CE) were great builders and they built great temples The Hoysalas built temples on raised complex star shaped platforms. This star shaped plan is carried all the way from the platform to the shikhara. Horizontal bands of sculptural motifs and monolithic pillars adorn these temples. There is a profusion of sculptural work in the Hoysala style of temple building.
Also in Southern Karnataka, are temples which benefited from the patronage of the Chola rulers of Tamilnadu. A notable example is the Kolaramma temple at Kolar.
Next, the Vijayanagar Empire founded in the 14th century CE marks the period of great Temple building activity in Karnataka and these temples are characterized by the building of pillared mandapas and lofty entrance towers. Vijayanagar temples have several of the features exhibited by the temples of Tamilnadu, such as a covered pradakshinapatha (circumambulatory path) around the sanctum, and a mahamandapam in front. The ornate pillars are a distinctive mark of the Vijayanagar style.
Several of the monuments in the capital Vijayanagar - now in ruins at Hampi are attributed to Harihara II, Sadasiva and Krishna Deva Raya. The Vijayanagar Empire was destroyed by the Deccan Sultanates in the 16th century and the ruins can be seen at Hampi.
The Mysore Maharajas (Wodeyars) who ruled from around 1400 CE through the British period, with the brief lapse during Tipu Sultans rule, have also made contributions to temples in this State, the Chamundeswari temple near Mysore being a point in illustration.
The temples of the southern coastal/ghat region of Karnataka (such as Kollur) are markedly different in architectural styles and they resemble the Keralite temples to a larger extent.

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Temples in Delhi

Delhi Temple >> Laxmi Narayan Temple
India's capital city, Delhi is the second most widely used entry point in the country, being on the route of most major airlines. It is well linked by rail, air and road to all parts of the country. The remains of seven distinctive capital cities - among them Shahjahanabad and Qutab Minar - can be seen. The one thing that dominates the urbane skyline of Central Delhi is apparently the soaring spire of the Lakshmi Narayan Temple. About 1.5 km due west of Connaught Place, this garish, modern, Orissan styled temple was erected by industrialist B.D.Birla in 1938 and was inaugrated by Mahatma Gandhi on the condition that people of all castes especially untouchables would be allowed in. The temple enshrines almost all the deities of the Hindu Pantheon, the presiding deity being Narayan (Vishnu, the preserver in Hindu trinity) and his consort Lakshmi, the Goddess of prosperity and good fortune. The revered shrine, nestling in the heart of the city, is as famous for its sanctity as for its architecture. Portraying an alluring blend of cream and red, the sacred shrine also affords a curious medley of Hindu mythology and ancient Indian architecture. Enjoy a visit to the temple to savour spirituality and legends, served in a different flavour.
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The architecture is amazing. Built in the Nagara style of architecture interspersed with modern influences, the Birla Mandir awakes from the womb of lush green Link Road reigning the whole terrain. The temple faces the east and is adorned with exquisite carvings depicting scenes from Hindu mythology. The other awe-inspiring thing is apparently the soaring spires of the shrine. You will be amazed to see the main spire (shikhara), nestling above the sanctum sanctorum, soaring with its head high at almost 160 ft. Enjoy a leisure walk through the spacious corridors and you will be overwhelmed to see such beautiful friezes and artistic sculptures that only add to the aesthetic beauty of this temple. Do you know that 101 skilled pundits from Varanasi, headed by Acharya Vishvanath Shastri, were employed to create this magic in stones. Remember to visit the Buddha shrine, the rippleless walls embellished with fresco paintings depicting the Lord's life and work. Children can also enjoy their hearts out at the miniature rock temples nestling at the backyard of the temple. There is also an arena said to be the erstwhile gym of Bhima, the second Pandava of the Mahabharata fame. An artificial landscape complete with mountains and cascading waterfalls makes for a perfect solitude.

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