Temples: history, architecture and distribution

[Guest]

<b>Hindu Temples and Associations</b>

[Guest]

Hello IF guroos,

Had a question - dont know if the right place for it or not. We have an ancestral property back in India - most of which has been rented out. Nobody lives there and now we are thinking about either renting out the rest of it or sell the property.

However, there is an old family temple in the property. We would all like to move the temple to another place. What do our ancient traditions say about such moves ?

Regards..

[Guest]

Well i have a question too <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

What purpose do these massive structures serve other than places of worship ?
I have heard some kind of theories like emitters of postive vibrations,capturing and propagation of cosmic/what_ever stuff !

[Hauma Hamiddha]

<!--QuoteBegin-rajesh_g+Jan 22 2004, 01:59 PM-->QUOTE(rajesh_g @ Jan 22 2004, 01:59 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin--> However, there is an old family temple in the property. We would all like to move the temple to another place. What do our ancient traditions say about such moves ?
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
There are traditional rules for temple relocations or demolition- the most general outline is given in the agni purANa. If it is a simple temple with a single idol inside it then the idol may be relocated to a suitable place with appropriate pacificatory rites at the new and old site. Care should be taken that the idol is not damaged. The old temple may then be dismantled. For more involved cases one may consult a special class of people called the sthapativid. These to my knowledge only exist in Tamil Nad these days (probably in Andhra too). Some lingas of shiva and shalagramans of vishNu should not be moved as this is supposed to bring misfortune to the doer according to tradition.

[Guest]

Hello HH,

The temple has a Shiva Linga (Parvati Idol + Nandi) along with idols of Hanuman and Ganesh. There are a dozen other small idols which look like oval shaped stones without any markings of any kind. Nobody knows what they are. Which Shiva Lingas cannot be moved ??

We were initially planning on moving all of them into one of the rooms in our present house and build an independent (and permanent) temple in parallel.

I currently live in southern calif. There is a Venkateshwara mandir in our area (Malibu). I can go and ask if there is a sthapativid or equivalent there ?

Thankyou and Regards..

[Guest]

Courtesy: takshshila@yahoogroups.com

The Temple of Sharada

1. The ancient temple of Sharada is located in Neelam (Kishanganga)
valley just beyond the line of control in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
The temple is located in a small village called Shardi near the
confluence of Kishanganga and Madhumati rivers. As far as I can
gather from my maps, its location seems to be 74.2 E and 34.8 N. It
is located northwest of the Wular lake about 40 miles as the crow
flies. Another way of getting an idea of its location note that
Kishanganga and Vitasta (Jhelum) meet in Muzzafarabad. Shardi and
Sopore are about the same distance from Muzzafarabad along two
different rivers.

2. It was important not only as a temple to Sharada in her triple
form as Sharada, Sarasvati, and Vagdevi, it was also a centre of
Kashmirian learning. The main pilgrimage used to be conducted on the
4th shudi of Bhadrapada. Shradha used to be performed by the
Madhumati.

3. The famous chronicler Al-Biruni (1130 AD) names Sharada, together
with Somnath, Multan, and Thaneshvar, as one of the most important
temples of Hindus in north India. In the 16th century, Abul Fazl, the
author of Ain- Akbari, similarly describes this as a temple dedicated
to Durga which is regarded with great veneration. He adds, "On every
eighth tithi of the bright half of the month it begins to shake and
produces the most extraordinary effect."

4. If you would like to read details about the temple see pages 279-
290 in the second volume of RAJATARANGINI translated by M.A. Stein,
who visited the temple in 1892. Stein has extensive notes regarding
the temple and his own description of it.

5. It is curious that during the fighting of 1948, the Indian army
made no attempt to control this region. I presume this was because
the memory of the Sharada temple was not very strong in the minds of
the main actors in the drama.

Remember the fame of Sharada was so great that the word became
synonymous with learning. Also remember that the native script for
Kashmiri is a script called Sharada. Some of you would remember the
zataks written in it. Sharada is somewhat similar to Devanagari but
not identical.

PART II: THE SHARADHA SCRIPT

Here I summarize current knowledge on the Sharada script:

Sharada, like other Indian and southeast Asian scripts, is derived
from Brahmi which was in use in India at least as early as 500 BC if
not earlier. New theories suggest that Brahmi, in turn, evolved from
the ancient Indus (or Sarasvati) script that was in use in India in
2500 BC.


The earliest records in Sharada have been dated to about 800 AD. You
find them all over northwest India. Incidently, Gurumukhi, the script
that was designed by one of the Sikh gurus for Punjabi, used Sharada
as its model. The widespread usage of Sharada has been interpreted by
scholars to mean that Kashmiri Pandits in ancient times, as now, were
fond of travelling outside the valley. The script of the Dogras,
called Takari, is also derived from Sharada.

PART III: MORE ON THE SHARADA TEMPLE

This information is abridged from Stein's account:

The temple is approached from the lower slope of the hill in the west
by an imposing stone staircase, now half decayed, which leads up in
63 steps to the main entrance of the quadrangular court enclosing the
temple. The staircase is about 10 feet wide and rises rather steeply
in six flights between two flanking walls of massive construction.
The entrance to the court is through a gateway with a double porch of
Kashmiri design.

The court of the temple forms an oblong accurately oriented and
enclosed by a massive wall 6 feet thick. The north side of the
enclosure measures 142 feet whereas the east side measures 94 feet
and 6 inches. Thus the quadrangle has proportion of 3:2. In the
centre of the northern wall is a small recess 3 feet 3 inches square
inside which opens by a trefoil arched door towards the interior of
the court. This recess contained two ancient lingas.

In the centre of the quadrangle is the temple raised on a basement of
24 feet square and 5 feet 3 inches high. The entrance to this inner
temple is from the west side and is approached by stairs five and a
half feet wide with flanking side walls. The interior of the inner
temple is a square of 12 feet and 3 inches and it has no decoration
of any kind. The only conspicous object inside is a large slab which
measures about 6 by 7 feet with a thickness of about half a foot.
This slab is believed to cover a kunda, or spring, in which goddess
Sharada appeared to the sage Shandilya. This kund is the object of
the special veneration of the pilgrims.

The main Sharada temple rises in a prominent and commanding position
above the right bank of the Madhumati on the terrace-like foot of a
spur which descends from a high pine-clad peak to the east.
Immediately below this terrace to the northwest is the spot where
the waters of the Madhumati and Kishanganga mingle. The view from
the staircase to the outer temple is magnificent. Not only can you
see the valleys of Madhumati and the gorge of Kishanganga but also a
stream now called Sargan that falls into Kishanganga.

The location of the Sharada temple in the village of Shardi is beyond
the mountains, immediately surrounding the valley north northwest of
Bandipur. It is beyond Lolab valley and beyond Drang so reaching it
must take a few days. Although it is only about 35 miles or so from
the northern reaches of the Wular, the journey in ancient times must
have been carried out entirely on foot. I suppose now it should be
possible to complete it rather quickly starting from Bandipur.

I am assured by the account that it has a beauty more dramatic than
that of Yosemite!

Dr. Subhash Kak, Louisiana State University, U.S.A.

[Guest]

<b>Pak to restore Hindu shrine in Punjab </b>
Asian News International
Lahore, January 28

The Archaeology Department in Pakistan's Punjab province has begun supervision of restoration work of the famous Hindu shrine of Ketas, which is located between Kallar Kahar and Choa Saidan Shah.

The first phase of the restoration work is likely to cost Rs 8 million and will be completed in the next few months, Faisal Ali, an official of department, was quoted by The News, as saying.

The nearly 250-year-old shrine is an important centre of pilgrimage for Hindus, who come here to bathe and pray for the well being of the community.

Ketas means "weeping eye" and it is a bunch of deserted temples, shrines, bath houses and ruined fort surrounding a pool, sacred to the Hindu God Shiva.

According to legend, when Lord Shiva wept over his wife's death, the tears formed the pool.

Ali also confirmed that he expected at least 300 Hindu pilgrims to arrive at Ketas in February to perform their religious rituals at the shrine.

The rituals, which last for three days, begin on February 18, he added.

[Guest]

<b>Badrinath Temple</b>
The Hinyaan did not believe in idolatry. On the other hand the Mahayaanis were idol worshippers. The road to the Tibet based Kailash Mansarovar passed through Badrikashram in those days. The people of the Mahayaan sect looked upon Lord Badrinath as another form of Buddha and paid their obeisance to him with reverence and faith. <b>But the Hinyaan who were not idol worshippers started disturbing the peace of the Badrikashram</b>. The situation worsened to the extent that the devotees found it difficult to protect the Lord’s idols. They came to the conclusion that since the earth is never seedless it will produce another great soul at some time. They put the idols of Lord Narayan back in the Naradkund. People of the mahayana sect fled from the Badri region to other places.

After reading above, it seems even Buddhist were trouble maker when Buddism was in its peak.

[Guest]

<b>Badrinath Temple</b>
Srimad Bhagvatam has explained the significance of the temple and the glory of Shri Badri Narayan. However, the history and origins of the temple have not been well recorded with due authenticity. The Kings of Garhwal built the present structure of the temple about two centuries ago.

<b>Certain beliefs consider this image to be that of the Buddha (given the seated posture and the placement of the arms). Local legends say that the original temple was desecrated by Buddhists and the image thrown into Narad Kund, near river Alaknanda, to be retrieved later by Adi Sankara. The image was then restored to its original position and protocols of worship were established. </b>
Legends associated with this temple:

Maha Vishnu is believed to have done his penance in this place. Seeing the Lord doing his penance in the open, Goddess Mahalaxmi is believed to have assumed the form of Badri (elandai) tree to provide him shelter to face the onslaught of the weather conditions, hence the name of Badri Narayan.

Legend has it that Lord Vishnu identified Nar & Naryan forms to be of his own to Narad Rishi. Narad Rishi did his penance here and is believed to be worshipping these forms of supreme God with the Ashtakshara mantra even now.

http://www.upportal.com/tourism/badri_history.asp

[Guest]

Kaushal or Hauma ji:

I seem to recall reading about one of the biggest temples in India that was in Gujarat called Rudra Mahal or something and was discovered in the late 1980s when somebody began digging in the gardens of a small mosque in a small town there. Needless to say it was all covered up. It was said to have been one of the if not THE biggest temples in India dating back to the 12th century or so.

I will post the details when I get home as it was mentioned in I think Dr. Goel's Hindu Temples and what happened to them.

Any updates on this story?

[Guest]

From the latest Simthsonian Magazine (PDF file - Acrobat reader required)
Rescuing Angkor

or see the webpage:Rescuing Angkor

[Guest]

Coming back to the RudraMahalya temple in Siddhpur, Gujarat.

Yes, it was one of the biggest Shiva temples, originally built in 943 AD, finally renovated and completed in the 12th century by Siddharaj Jaisimha, described by the scribes of the day as "rising 14 storeys, with 7000 pillars, 1800 statues,e tc" - which of course is mostly poetic license and exaggeration. Nevertheless, it was one of the most important spiritual and political centers of Gujarat. Destroyed and converted to a mosque in 1297-98 by Ulugh Khan and then again in 1415 by Ahmedshah.

The sad thing is that even though we cannot change what happened in the 15th century, we are unable to do anything about what is happening in the 20th and 21st century either, thanks to our pseudo-secular leadership. <!--emo&:furious--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/furious.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='furious.gif' /><!--endemo--> For the full details of the shameful cover-up of the findings of this beautiful and glorious example of our heritage, one needs to read the book by Sita Ram Goel, "Hindu Temples....vol II".

I urge every self-respecting Hindu to read the two volumes of this great work by Mr. Goel. It opened my eyes, I guarantee it will open yours. These and other books are available from Voice of India.

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The sad thing is that even though we cannot change what happened in the 15th century, we are unable to do anything about what is happening in the 20th and 21st century either, thanks to our pseudo-secular leadership.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


You can't change something that happend in 15th century in 20th century, those were diffrent times and ethos and now we are living in more tolerable times.

If you had killed my great-great granddad because some feud, can i kill you now, iam not supporting any party here, just that trying to find new solutions to age old events is futile <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

[Guest]

We can revive our lost culture. Bring back values. Learn lesson from History, Why every other culture tried to crush us, destroyed are temples, exploited are weakness. New generation should not let its guard down but move forward with lesson learnt from History.
Invaders were not gods but devil and should not be ignored by saying “those were different times and ethos and now we are living in more tolerable times”, Same external and internal invaders are still active but their style are different now.
By again exploiting are weakness and brain washing our new generation?
Do we have to wait for our future generation to pinpoint our error again?

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->You can't change something that happend in 15th century in 20th century, those were diffrent times and ethos and now we are living in more tolerable times.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Rytha:

Read my post again, I DID say that you cannot change what happened in the 15th century. What I was trying to say is that thanks to our impotent leadership, we cannot prevent the events taking place now.

The rest of the world is recognizing the wrongs done in the past and making some amends - witness the reparations to the Jews for the suffering of the holocaust; the discussions and in some cases actual steps to compensate the victims of slavery or punish the perpetrators at least (the city of Chicago has a law that bars any company from doing business there that has a history of profiting from slavery).

I am NOT advocating the replacement of mosques built on temples, even though the provocation is extreme and in any other country it would have happened overnight without all this discussion. All I am saying is, LET THE TRUTH BE KNOWN. If you discover a magnificent and glorious structure under an insignificant mosque that is and was a symbol of pride to the majority of the people living in a land, why don't you allow those people to witness it, rather than cover it up to please the very ideology that destroyed the same. In contrast, any historic site discovered during the process of construction in Manhattan is immediately preserved for posterity with any construction proscribed in the area.

Did you know that the oldest extant mosque in India, the famous Quwattul Islam mosque in the Qutub Minar complex is built from the remains of not one or two but twenty seven temples? This fact is displayed proudly by the Archaelogical Survey of India on a plaque outside the structure. If you have ever been there, you would see the idols of the temples buried in the walls of the mosque plainly. Would your heart not burn with the shame of it, and would you not want to do something about it instead of just walking past it and passing it off as idle curiosity? I know mine did.

It is one thing to read about the "invasion of Hindu India by the Arabs out of Persia" in a cold history book. It is another thing to imagine the brutal slaughter of the Hindu priests on the steps of the temple, the spraying of their life-blood on and the burial of the idols underneath the steps of the newly converted mosques to forever desecrate the place for Hindus. The relish with which these acts were commited and recorded for history, glorified in song and verse, handed down by generations as an example to follow by all iconoclasts to come, the continuing massacres of people just because we pray to a different God, this is what I think of when I see or read about our ancient temples and their ruinous outcome.

Perhaps I have a vivid imagination, perhaps I am too sensitive, perhaps I need to chill, but I can't help thinking, If we don't know about it, if we don't talk about it, if we don't read about it and if we don't educate our fellow Hindus about it, we will be doomed to repeat our sad history over and over again.

One thing I have learnt from living in the United States: The squeaky wheel gets the oil. How true. Hindus should learn from the jews. I have a partner who is orthodox, a fact that he proudly wears on his sleeve, and is willing to challenge anyone who questions it. He makes the world around him bend and accomodate to his needs and not the other way around. The holocaust is a part of him (both his parents were in the camps) and he never forgets it. This fact is a constant reminder to him and others like him, NEVER AGAIN!

There are almost a billion Hindus in the world. There are only eighteen million jews. Yet, they influence the world in ways we cannot imagine. Why can we not do so?

In my efforts over the years, guess what I have found is the most difficult thing? To make my fellow Hindu wake up and smell the coffee. We are the most pathetic creatures on the planet, forever apologizing for our Gods and Godesses with the dozen arms. When was the last time you said "I am a Hindu" with pride? We indeed are our own worst enemies, and do not need anyone else to drag us down.

So, get up my friend, educate yourself. Be proud of who you are. You don't need to destroy anything to feel good. Just learn to tell the truth and let it be known. Maybe this forum will help........

[Guest]

Imperial Chola Monuments - Part I (Periya Koyil at Thanjavur)

[Guest]

<b>Rs.100 crore for Rajasthan temples</b>

Jaipur, April 17. (PTI): The Rajasthan government has prepared an ambitious Rs.100-crore plan for renovation and development of historic religious places being managed by Devasthan department, it was officially stated here today.

Under the plan, renovation and development of 108 temple properties would be taken up by spending more than Rs.26.28 crores, Devasthan Commissioner Fateh Krishna Kalla said.

Proposals for development of Pushkar, Nathadwara and Rishabhdev temples at a cost of Rs.44.25 crores have also been prepared.

Another project for developing Nathadwara as a spiritual tourist centre at a cost of Rs.35 crores was on the anvil.

For inviting private participation in the ambitious plan, a conference of representatives of registered trusts and prominent industrialists would be held in Jaipur later this year, Kalla said.

[Guest]

From a yahoogroup:

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->> LIST OF TEMPLES DESTROYED BY MUSLIM TERRORISTS IN KASHMIR
>
> The following is based on a report published in Nav Bharat Times
> (Feb. 18, 1993) Nayee Dillee, the Hindi Daily of the Times of India
> Group of papers.
>
> According to a report from Home Ministry official, 36 temples were
> the butt of communal violence In 1986, 8 in 1988, 12 in 1989, 8 in
> 1990, 5 in 1991, and 24 in 1992. The report carries the names of
> the temples, their addresses, the mode of attack, date and the
> extent of damage done. The following is the 1ist of the temples hit
> by communal violence in J&K on the basis of Home Ministry Report:
>
> YEAR 1986:
>
> SHRINAGAR, FEBRUARY 20-21
>
> 1. Ganpatyar temple, Shrinagar - Stoned - Window panes
> broken.
>
> 2. Bhairav temple, Maisuma - Stoned - minor damage
>
> 3. Temple in front of Gurudwara at Amiradadal -
> ransacked - no damage to the building.
>
> 4. Shiv temple, Jawaharnagar - attempted arson - minor
> damage to a window,
>
> 5. Bhairav Mandir, Karan Nagar - attempted arson -
> Carpet burned, no damage to the building.
>
> 6. Shiv temple near secretariat - attempted arson -
> minor damage.
>
> 7. Shiv Mandir, Chota Bazar-60-70 rioter tried to attack
> the temple; police fired four rounds in the air - no
> damage,
>
> 8. Narayan Math Mandir in Tulsi Bagh - attempted arson
> and stoning - minor damage to windowpanes  and door.
>
> ANANTNAG DISTRICT, FEBRUARY 20 -21
>
> 9. Gautam nag mandlr at Sarnal - set on fire - heavy
> damage; 3 out of four rooms destroyed.
>
> 10. Shivalay Mandir, Nai Basti - heavy stoning, attempt
> to destroy and ransack - damage worth Rs. 10,000.
>
> 11. Temple at Wanpoh on Khanabal-Qazigund  Road - set on
> fire - extent of damage not known.
>
> 12. Another temple at Vanpoh - set on fire - extent of
> the damage not known.
>
> 13. Temple at Aishmuqam - attempt at ransacking - one
> idol damaged.
>
> 14. Temple at Dhanbogund, Kulgam - set on fire - extent
> of damage not known.
>
> 15. Navgam temple, Shangas - Heavy stoning - extent of
> damage not known.
>
> 16. Achhabal temple near Navgam - Heavy stoning -
> extent of damage not known. 7-20. Four temples in
> Lokbhavan village of Thana Qazigund - attempted
> ransacking
>
> 21. Harish Chandra Seva Mandir, Beejbehara - ransacking
>  - idols destroyed.
>
> 22. Devi Mandir, village Karebal Beejbehara -
> ransacking - Idols damaged.
>
> 23. Shivalay Mandir, Janglat Mandi, Anantnag town -
> ransacking - extent of damage not known.
>
> 24. Temple of Dyalgam - attempt at ransacking - extent
> of damage not known.
>
> 25. Temple at Fatehpura village, Qazigund Tehsil - set
> on fire - extent of damage not known.
>
> 26. Temple at village Siligam, Thana Aishmuqam - attempt
> at ransacking.
>
>
> PULWAMA DISTRICT, FEBRUARY 20-21
> 27. Shiv Mandir at village Koil, Thana Pulwama -
> attempted arson.
>
> 28. Temple at village Trisal, Thana Pulwama -AttPmpted
> ransacking - idols, microphone taken away; compoundwall
> of the adjacent cremation ground  broken.
>
> BARAMULLAH DISTRICT, FEBRUARY   20-21
> 29. Kali Mandir in Jamla Kadal Mohalla, Sopore -
> attempted arson, local people foiled the attempt - no
> damage.
>
> 30. Fatapura temple, Sopore - stoning - minor damage.
>
> ANANTNAG DISTRICT, FEBRUARY      24-25
> 31.Chandi  Puiarl temple, VYosu  Thana Qazigund) - Arson
> - - - damage worth Rs20,000.
>
> BADGAM DISTRICT, FEBRUARY 24-25
> 32. Sharda Devi temple, Yalkot (Thana 8adgam) - attempt
> to arson - one part burnt.
>
> 33.Shiv Temple, Sanghampura  - (Thana  Biru) - attempt
> to arson - verandah damaged in arson.
>
> 34. Shiv Mandir, Magam (Thana Vodura) - attempt to arson
>  - minor damage.
>
> BARAMULA DISTRICT,   FEBRUARY    24-25
> 35. Temple in Bandipore  - arsoned   - minor damage.
>
> 36. Temple  in Bandipore  - arsoned    - minor damage.
>
>
> YEAR 1988:
>
> SHRINAGAR DISTRICT, AUGUST 15
>
> 1. Ram Mandir, Maharajganj, Shrinagar - attempt to arson
>  - minor damage.
>
> 2. Shiv Mandir, Sarafkadal, Shrinagar - stoned - minor damage.
>
> BARAMULLA DISTRICT, AUGUST 18
> 3. Shiv Mandir, Bandipur - arsoned - Heavy damage.
> 4. Shri Raghunath Mandir, Barmulla - explosion in Mandir
>  - minor damage.
>
> PULWAMA DISTRICT, AUGUST 21
>
> 5. Shiv temple, Shopian - Fully destroyed; heavy damage.
> 6 . Local tempIe in Tral - Arsoned - Heavy damage.
>
> ANANTAG DISTRICT, AUGUST 19
> 7. Devi Mandir, Anantnag - arsoned - minor damage.
>
> DODA DISTRICT, OCT0BER 27
> 8. Basaknag mandir, Bhadrawah - arsoned - minor damage.
>
> YEAR 1989:
>
> SHRINAGAR DISTRICT (MARCH 24 TO NOV. 2)
> 1. Shri Ram mandir's Hall, Barbarshah Shrinagar -
> explosion - minor damage.
>
> 2. Shiv Mandir  Chota Bazar, Shrinagar, Fully damaged.
>
> 3. Shri Raghunath Mandir, Shrinagar - attempt to arson -
> minor damaqe.
>
> 4. Building of Ramkrishna Ashram, Chota Bazar,
> Shrinagar-arsoned-minor  damage.
>
> PULWAMA DISTRICT, OCTOBER 3
> 5. Suchcha  Nath Mandir, Shopian - arsoned - heavy
> damage.
>
> BADGAM DISTRICT, OCTOBER 21
> 6. Shri Ram Mandir, Badgam - destroyed; idols looted -
> heavy damage.
>
> 7. Rama Mandir, Udhampur - heavy damage.
>
> DODA DISTRICT
> 8. Supernag Temple - Idols looted and temple burnt.
>
> 9. Siv Mandir Kiratwar - explosion on 2nd Nov. - minor damage.
>
> 10. Buichhal Mandir - explosion on 10th Nov. - heavy damage.
>
> 11. Temple in Kulharad village - arsoned on 12th Nov. -
> heavy damage.
>
> 12 Temple in Bharat village - arsoned on 12th Nov. -
> heavy damage.
>
> YEAR 1990:
>
> SHRINAGAR DISTRICT
> 1. Arya Samaj Mandir and School, Shrinagar - explosion an
> 10th Feb. Minor damage
>
> 2. Shri Raghunath Mandir, Shrinagar - attempted arson on
> 24th Feb., minor damage.
>
> 3. Arya Samaj Mandir and School Wazir Bagh, Shrinagar -
> explosion on 21st July - heavy damage.
>
> 4. Shri Ram Mandir, Babarshah Shrinagar - Conference Hall
> attacked with rocket on 2nd Sept . - minor damage .
>
> 5. Shitalnath Mandir, Shrinagar - arsoned on 18th Nov. -
> heavy damage.
>
> ANANTNAG DISTRICT
> 6. Lakshmi Mandir, Bijbehara - arsoned on 4th August -
> Heavy damage.
>
> BARAMULLA DISTRICT
> 7. Sharda  Mandir, Kalusa, 8andipur-arsoned  on 7th
> Nov.- Heavy  damage.
>
> KUPWARA DISTRICT
> 8. Handura Mandir - Precincts desecrated and idols
> stolen on 13th Nov. - heavy loss in the form of
> disappearance of idols.
>
> YEAR 1991:
>
> ANANTNAG DISTRICT
> 1. Nagbal Mandir, Anantnag - Explosion - Minor damage
> 2-3. Shri Raghunath Mandir, Anantnag - Explosion,
> Grenade thrown - minor damage
>
> SHRINAGAR DISTRICT, APRIL 13
> 4-5. Shri Raghunath Mandir, Shrinagar - seven houses of
> Hindus and two temples arsoned - minor damage.
>
> YEAR 1992:
>
> All arsoned; and minor damages:
> 1. Raghunath Mandir, Karafali Mohalla, Shrinagar - 8 May.
>
> 2. Anantnag - 7 December
>
> 3. Shrinagar - 7 December
>
> 4. Kulgam, Anantnag - 7-8 December.
>
> 5. Shiv Mandir, Sherpore Kund - 7-8 December.
>
> 6. Temple at Karichhama - Tang Marg, Baramulla - 7-8
> December.
>
> 7. Temple in Baramulla on Kungar Tang Road - 7-8 December.
>
> 8. Shri Vishnu Temple,  on the Bank of River Jhelum 7-8
> December.
>
> 9. Kuvi Utraso Temple Anantnag - 7-8 December.
>
> 10. Temple of Chitergund, Anantnag - 7-8 December.
>
> 11. Temple of Bana Mohalla, Shrinagar -7-8 December.
>
> 12. Karfali Mohalla, Shrinagar -7-8 December
>
> 13. Samshan Bhoomi Temple, Karannagar, Srinagar - 7-8
> December
>
> 14. Narsingh Bagh - Shadipur Temple, Ganderbal, Shrinagar
>  - 7-8 December.
>
> 15. Nandkishore Temple, Sumbal, Baramulla - 7-8
> December.
>
> 16.Temple of Pahalgam, Anantnag - 7-8 December.
>
> 17-22. Verinag, Anantnag - 8 December.
>
> 23. Temple in Tragaon, Kupwara -9 December.
>
> 24. Temple in Pattan, Baramulla - 9 December.
>
> Courtesy of Kashyap Pandit
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[Guest]

*** ENDORSE THE PUBLIC PETITION AND SEND A PROTEST EMAIL ***
http://www.petitiononline.com/hl2O2700/

Dear Friends,

This is in regards to mis-management of TTD at Lord Venkateshwara Temple,
Tirupathi-Tirumala. We are fighting for the noble cause to protect and save our
tradition, history and culture of Lord Venkateshwara.

Our parents, great Acharyas, Sastras and great leaders always tell us not to
ignore the bad things happening in front of our eyes. It is your minimum duty to
at least show your concerns and protest for the noble cause.

Even "Bheeshma", the great warrior of Mahabharata could not escape from the
effects of keeping quite instead of protesting the ADHARAMA of Kauravas.
Bheeshma is one of the great warriors who kept quite and did nothing to protect
Draupadhi (Wife of Pandavas) while being insulted by Kauravas in front of every
one. Only Vidhura and Bheema protested that scandalous act.

We do not want our future generations to do the same things what we have done at
Ayodhya. We dont have any cruel ruler to blame unless the current TTD management
would like to be the one. We are stronger than anybody. Please join the fight
and pass the message that " GOD is somthing that dwells in our heart but not in
the markets".

THE LORD NEEDS YOU! WE NEED THE LORD MORE THAN HE DOES! RESPOND NOW! VOICE YOUR
CONCERN!

TTD IS TRYING TO COVER UP THE WHOLE DESTRUCTION OF TEMPLE, RITUALS AND
SURROUNDINGS! with a hidden agenda.

Money donated by you all is being swindled. Temples are being destroyed. Lands
are being sold by government.

LET US STOP IT!

PLEASE ENDORSE THE PETITION "SAVE LORD VENKATESHWARA TRADITION" AT
http://www.petitiononline.com/hl2O2700/

(more details at http://www.zeroguru.com)

This public petition will be sent to President, PM of India, Governer and CM of
AP, Major Indian News Papers.

For more facts visit: http://www.chinnajeeyar.org

[Guest]

http://www.lahore.gov.pk/history.htm



Lahore, Apr 16 (IANS) :

The oldest Hindu temple in Pakistan's cultural capital dedicated to
the elder son of Lord Ram is in a dilapidated state, as is an
ancient Sikh shrine.

"The city's oldest temple, dedicated to its founder Loh, is in an
atrocious condition in the Lahore Fort and has been closed to the
public for years.

"A Sikh temple in the fort is also deteriorating and has been closed
for a hundred years," Daily Times reported Friday, quoting sources
in the Archaeology Department.

Loh is how the elder of Ram's twin sons, Luv, is referred to here.
He is credited with founding this city, considered the cultural
capital of Pakistan.

Ram's second son Kush, known here as Kash, is believed to have
founded Lahore's sister town of Kusawar, or Kasur.

Loh's temple is near Alamgiri Gate beside the fort's old jails.

"The temple was closed until 1985 during General Zia-ul Haq's
regime, because the jails were controlled by the police and
civilians weren't allowed in.

"After that, the temple was opened occasionally for visits by the
fort officials. But in 1992, after the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya was
razed, the temple was closed because of the threat of vandalism,"
Times quoted the sources as saying.

"Magicians consider the mud around Loh's temple to be very powerful.
Pirs and magicians send their clients to get mud from around or
inside the temple to make potions," Times said.

Local and foreign Hindus have often tried to visit the temple but
found it closed. An introductory plate giving visitors information
about the temple was once found next to it, but has now been
removed.

Asked why the temple was closed, a guard at the fort said it was on
orders from above.

A fort spokesman told Daily Times the temple was closed for repair
and the gurdwara was shut because there was "nothing to see" on the
inside.

A Times reporter who entered Loh's temple with permission from the
fort administration was told by an employee it was the first time
anyone had ventured there in 22 years.

"The temple was dirty inside. Thick spider webs covered the walls
and it smelt bad. There were no signs of repair work being carried
out," the newspaper said.

The gurdwara in the fort was built when Maharaja Ranjit Singh ruled
Lahore. Located outside the Shish Mahal, the temple has been closed
for a hundred years.

Times said Lahore's Sikh and Hindu communities had officially and
unofficially requested the fort administration to open the two
temples.

"Sikhs from Gurdwara Dera Sahib, which is near the fort, even
offered to pay for the renovation of their temple, but they received
no response," the newspaper added.

http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?
action=fullnews&showcomments=1&id=12090