KONARK SUN TEMPLE

KONARK SUN TEMPLE

Built in 13th century by King Narasimhadev I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. It is designed in the shape of a collossal chariot with seven horses and twenty four wheels, carrying the sun god.

Legend:  The uniqueness of the temple lies in the fact that between every two stone pieces there lies an iron plate. The temples higher floors have been re-inforced using massive iron beames. This fantastic effort in human preservance took 1200 workers about 12 years to complete and the peak of the main temple had to be installed by the 12 yr son of the chief architect. The bsaid peak being a 52 ton magnet, this magnet was the reason that the entire edifice endured the harsh conditions (being on sea front) for centuries without being affected. The idol of Sun God was believed to be floating in air because of the unique arrangements of the main magnets and other series  of magnets.

The placement of the temple had been aligned in a way that the first rays of the sun falling on the coast would pass through the Nata Mandir and would reflect from the diamond at the centre of this idol in the main sanctum. This phenomena would last for a couple of minutes during the early morning. these magnets were later removed by the Britishers for acquiring the magnetic stone.

HINDU TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

HINDU TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE

1.  India's temple architecture is developed from the creativity of Sthapathis and shilpis, both of whom belong to the larger community of craftsmen and artisans called Vishwakarma (caste).

2.  It consists of :-

     (a)  Inner Sanctum

     (b)  Garbha graha (in which the idol or diety is housed)

     (c)  Congregation hall

     (d)  Antechamber

     (e)  Porch

3.  Two major types of temples:-

     (a)  Nagara style:-  The tower/ shikhar is beehive/ curvilinear shape.

     (b)  Dravida style:-  The tower/ shikhar consists of progressively smaller 

     storeys of pavilions.

4.  Description of temple architecture:-

    (a)  Jagati-  It is a raised surface, platform or terrace upon which the 

    temple is placed.

    (b)  Antarala-  It is a small antichamber or foyer between the garbhagriha/ 

    garbha graha (shrine) and the mandapa.

    (c)  Mandapa-  It is a pillared outdoor hall or pavillion for public rituals.

    (d)  Garbhagriha-  It is the part in which the idol of the deity in a hindu 

    temple.

    (e)  Shikhara/ Vimanam-  It means mountain peak ie rising tower over

    the sanctum where the presiding deity is enshrined is the most prominent

    and visible part of a hindu temple.

    (f)  Gopuram-  These are the elaborate gateway towers  of south indian 

    temples.

    (g)  Kalyani (temple tanks)-Typically built near temples to accommodate

    bathing and cleaning activities before prayer.

4.  Examples of temples which combined two styles are:-

    (a)  Mahadeva temple at Itagi, koppal district in karnataka [ Dravida articulation with a Nagara superstructure]

    (b)  Agkor Wat- World heritage site

                        - World's largest religious building

                        - Present on Cambodia's national flag

    (c)  Shiva temple- Main shrine of Prambanan.

                           - UNESCO world heritage site.

                           - Largest hindu temple in Indonesia.

PARAD SHIVLINGA

PARAD SHIVLINGA

1.  Parad shivling when worshipped with proper procedure, belief, and enthusiasm helps human beings physically, spiritually and psychologically. Also protects people from natural calamities, disaster, external evil effects.

2.   If mercury shivling is placed in a house, society or a temple. It is considered that it leads to prosperity, positive strength and also considered that goddess lakshmi resides at that place for generations to generation. Also a person is relieved of physical, spiritual, psychological disorders.

3.     Holy blessing which is obtained by performing 100 Ashwamegh Yagya, donating Lakh of cows, donating ample of gold and taking holy bath in all the form pilgrimage place is equal to the sight of holy parad shivling.

4.     People who worship parad shivling with all the good virtues, attain theblessings of shivling present in all the 3 Loka's (Swarga Loka, and also destroys all bad sins.

THE MANTRAS_SHIV PARVATI STUTI

SHIV-PARVATI STUTI

MEANING:

The One who is pure as Camphor (kapur)

The avatarfull of compassion

The one who is the essence of the world

The one with the serpent king as his garland

Always residing

In the lotus of the heart

Oh lord and goddess (Parvati)

I bow to you both.

* This stuti is mentioned in Yajurveda.

THE MANTRAS_SARASWATI VANDANA

SARASWATI VANDANA

MEANING:

Oh Goddess Saraswati, who is fair as a jasmine flower, the moon or a snow flake who is dressed in white and whose hands are adorned by veena, who is seated in a white lotus, to whom Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara pray, please protect us.

THE MANTRAS_ DEVI MANTRA

DEVI MANTRA

I The Devi Mantra  II

Meaning: - To the divine goddess who rides in all existence in the form of universal mother. - To the divine goddess who resides in all existence in the form of energy. - To the divine goddess who resides in all existence in the form of intelligence. - To the divine goddess who resides in all existence in the form of true wealth. - We bow to her, continually we bow to her.

THE MANTRAS_GAYATRI MANTRA

GAYATRI MANTRA

MEANING:

We contemplate the glory of light illuminating the three world; gross, subtle and casual. I am that vivifying power, love, radiant illumination, and divine grace of universal intelligence. We pray for the divine light to illumine our minds.

Sage Vishwamitra is given the credit for bringing Mother Gayatri to earth. It is the mother of Vedas. It is said that even Trinities (Brahma, Vishnu and shiva) worship as their mother.

Gayatri mantra is mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavatam.

Gayatri depicted seated on lotus. she is depicted with five faces, representing the pancha pranas/ pancha vayus. she has 10 hands carrying the five ayudhas, shankha, chakra, kamala, varada, abhaya, kasha, ankusha, ujjwala utensil, rudrakshi mala.

Gayatri mantra is picked up from Chandogya Upanishad and Brahadaranyaka Upanishad.

The maximum benefit of chanting the mantra is said to be obtained by chanting it 108 times. The syllables of the mantra are said to positively affect all the chakras or energy centres in the human body.