Temples: history, architecture and distribution

[Guest]

<img src='http://epaper.jagran.com/1952007/DEL/18del713-c-2.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

Delhi Police seized a rare Chaturbhuj Vishnu relic of 9th century Nepal origin, while a smuggler was trying to sell it to a foreign buyer. It is worth 20 mill in the international market. Arrested Nepali speaks fluent chinese. He says he obtains such rare relics from hill tribes of Nepal.

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->सब इंस्पेक्टर रितेश कुमार की टीम ने मजनूं का टीला से कैलसेंग नामक व्यक्ति को गिरफ्तार कर उसके कब्जे से भगवान विष्णु की मूर्ति बरामद कर ली। खुलासा हुआ कि नेपाल मूल के इस व्यक्ति को चीनी भाषा का अच्छा ज्ञान है। उसके इसी ज्ञान के चलते मेट्रो में उसे दुभाषिये के तौर पर रखा गया था। 12 मई को पकड़ी गई दो प्राचीन मूर्तियां भी कैलसेंग ने उपलब्ध कराई थीं। उसने बताया कि पहाड़ों पर रहने वाली जनजातियों से वह प्राचीन मूर्तियां खरीदने का काम करता है। http://epaper.jagran.com/main.aspx?edate=5...ode=2&pageno=3#<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>A temple-cum-school in Rawalpindi that serves the blind, but fails to look after them </b>
By ANI
Thursday May 24, 01:42 PM

Islamabad, may 24 (ANI): It is a magnificent 19th century Hindu temple that stands in Rawalpindi's Kohati Bazaar area, but its inmates cannot enjoy its magnificence for they are blind.

It is a shame for those who run the Government Kandeel Secondary School for the Blind in the Mandir Kalyan Das. They have eyes, but are blind to the plight of their inmates.

Built in 1880, the temple complex has been brutalised and vandalised over decades and is in a state of decay, losing fast its intricate paintings and carvings inside.

It was abandoned after Hindus left the city in 1947. The temple survived as a place of worship until 1958 when a school for the blind was started by Begum S.M.A. Farooq. At that time, according to the Dawn, it had a Baradari with rooms for worshippers, a pond and a hermitage.

In 1975, the school was taken over by the government. A new building was erected for the school after razing the Baradari and the Ashram in 1986 when Gen Zia-ul- Haq's Islamisation programme was in full bloom.

Today, the main prayer room in the temple complex is being used to store the broken furniture of the school. Idols of Hindu gods are all gone, but their images are still visible in paintings as are artistic floral carvings in the main prayer room.

Four small rooms of the temple have been closed because the roof leaks. That has saved some small idols from the vandals but the decoration work at the ceiling is fading in the dampness.

The many spires in the temple complex are still imposing but 60 years of neglect has made them colourless. White paint given to brighten a canopy inside the complex in fact buried its original floral work.

One could only sympathise with Kalyan Das and his brother who raised the edifice in his memory as Kalyan Das was childless.

Sultan Mirza, the school principal, says the law of the land does not permit changing the character of a religious place and wants the government to restore the temple for the tourists. (ANI)

http://in.news.yahoo.com/070524/139/6g707.html
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

Buddha stories first written in Gandhara: Pak scholar
From our ANI Correspondent

Peshawar, June 1: A former chairman of the Department of Archaeology and Fine Arts of the Peshawar University has claimed that stories relating to Lord Buddha, carved in stones, were first written in Gandhara.

Interacting with a visiting 15-member delegation of Friends of the Arts and Museums of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Fidaullah Sehrai said the Gandhara Stupa was the forerunner of Chinese pagodas.

He was quoted by the Dawn as saying that Buddhist art flourished in the times of Kanishka, a great Gandhara king.

Explaining the evolution of Buddhist architecture in South Asia, Sehrai said sculptural decoration was attached to the gateway of Sanchi and Bharhut in India. He added that in Gandhara, the main body of the stupa was decorated from top to bottom with sculptures.

"The writings of Chinese pilgrims Fahien, Sung Yun and Hiuen Tsang have added to our knowledge about the history, art and religion of Gandhara," he said.

The delegation later visited Buddhist sites and museums in Taxila, Peshawar and Takht-i-Bahi.

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/145913.php/...ra:-Pak-scholar

[Guest]

Varaha lifting the Earth Goddess, Muradpur. photo of 1905.
<img src='http://www.kerninstitute.leidenuniv.nl/content_images/Foto_illustraties/india.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[Guest]

Some temple wall paintings depicting rAsis:

dhanu

mithun

kanyA

(not sure - from Rameswar/Bhuwaneswar temple, Orissa?)

[Guest]

Thick tree roots cling to the ruins of Ta Prohm, once a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university, in Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

<img src='http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/4248/2656043440069620365S500x500Q85.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[Guest]

Question to HHji, AKji, others.

Some ancient vArAha shrines exist in central India, erected by rAshTakUTas. I had the opportunity to visit some, around Nagpur, Ramtek, Tumsar area. What strikes one the most is the huge statues of vArAha Bhagwan - elegant, brave, indeed beautiful, and abhayadA, confidence-inducing and sheltering. (One such in post 284).

One particularly beautiful statue is in the ancient temple of Ramtek, where Kalidasa said to have written meghadUtam. In this, there is a huge vArAha, of pitch-black stone, and very smooth surface. Striking thing is that in this huge statue, there is very small gap between the front and the behind legs of vArAha. Devotees postrate on the ground and pass through between his legs by sliding through the small gap. (I did too)

Even in the temples dedicated to other deities - such as Sri Rama - there is always a vArAha in rAshTrakUTa temples.

1. was vArAha the protecting deity of rAshTrakUTAs? Was there something between them, similar to Yaudheya-kArtikeya?

2. how prevalent was vArAha worship, and how did it decline?

3. Likewise, there are some ancient Bhagwan Narasinha temples, especially in AP and UP. Place where I come from, there is a Narasinha temple with a terrifying statue of Narasimha. How about Narasinha-worship - any dynasties promoted that? How did it decline? Where are important Narasinha shrines today?

4. Same question as above, but about bhagwan parasurAma. In UP, especially in east, there would be at least ten villages in every tehseel named after him - paraspur, parasnagar etc, which continue intact today even after mugal efforts of renaming every village after rasUl, dIn, and gAzI. But I am not aware of any temples dedicated to him. (Except for in Kerala maybe?). What about parasurAma-worship? Was it ever prevalent? I would guess so, going by the image that Hindu memory and psyche still has, at least in UP.

[Hauma Hamiddha]

Bodhi-ji I had posted on parashurAma earlier. I do not find those posts now but you can read them here:

http://manollasa.blogspot.com/2006/10/bhri...ional-epic.html
http://manollasa.blogspot.com/2006/11/para...yana-s-and.html
http://manollasa.blogspot.com/2006/03/de...enuka.html

At some future point I will write something on varAha mUrti and nR^isiMha.

[Guest]

Thank you HH ji. Those writings, as all others too, are awesome. manollasa indeed. Will eagerly await being educated on nR^sinha and vArAha.
============

In Amarnath cave, snow-Siva-linga has already formed, Amarnath yatra to start from June 30. This is a complete linga formation, unlike last year.

<img src='http://img.jagran.com/news/100607/11junct2007.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

JK governor S K Sinha prayed in Amarnath.

Two airlines have come forward to run the chopper services to Amarnath at a cost of Rs 5700 per person round trip between Amarnath and baalTaal.
http://www.jagran.com/news/details.aspx?id=3451920#

[Guest]

Stealing from temples, and smuggling abroad, of rare statues continues. So does the police nabbing...

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->गाजीपुर में करोड़ों की मूर्तियां बरामद

गाजीपुर, जाका : लक्ष्य कहीं था , निशाना सध गया कहीं और। यहां की पुलिस के लिए ऐसा ही हुआ। बिरनो थाने के बद्धोपुर की ठाकुरबाड़ी से लूटी गयी अष्टधातु की मूर्तियों की तलाश में कहीं और से लूटी व चुरायी गयी मूर्तियां पुलिस के हाथ लग गयीं। इस दौरान पांच लोगों को गिरफ्तार किया गया। पुलिस को यह कामयाबी सोमवार को पूर्वाह्न साढ़े नौ बजे नगर के स्टेशन रोड पर मिली।
  बरामद मूर्तियों की अंतरराष्ट्रीय कीमत दो करोड़ 36 हजार रुपये आंकी गयी है। बरामद मूर्तियों के साथ गिरफ्तार अपराधियों को पुलिस कप्तान तरुण गाबा ने अपने कार्यालय में मीडिया के सामने पेश किया। गिरफ्तार अपराधियों में शिव बदन जमानियां कोतवाली के टिसौरा गांव की प्रधान का पति है जबकि अन्य में अब्दुल कैश उर्फ गुड्डू व इमामुलहक निवासी मिर्चा थाना दिलदारनगर के अलावा तहसीलदार व चन्दि्रका उर्फ महाराज मुहम्मदाबाद कोतवाली के उसरी गांव के रहने वाले हैं।
http://epaper.jagran.com/main.aspx?edate=6...de=10&pageno=14<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Rare statues stolen from a temple, worth Crores of Rs, nabbed accidentally from a gang in Jaka village of Jaunpur distt in UP. Police was actually looking for the statues stolen from another temple - Baddhopur Thakurwadi.

In a separate report from Prayag:

A gang nabbed in Dhumanganj-Allahabad that has networks in Gorakhpur, Varanasi, and Nepal - for procuring the stolen statues and smuggling. A rare ashtadhatu statue of Bhagwan Buddha, stolen from a temple in Nepal, was recovered when police acted based upon the intelligence information.

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->इलाहाबाद : धूमनगंज पुलिस की गिरफ्त में आए मूर्ति तस्करों के तार वाराणसी व गोरखपुर से जुड़े हैं। तस्करों के पास से बरामद हुई गौतम बुद्ध की मूर्ति अष्टधातु की है जो अत्यंत बहुमूल्य बताई जा रही है। तस्करी में हाई प्रोफाइल लोगों की गिरफ्तारी के बाद से पुलिस कड़ी से कड़ी जोड़ रही है। समझा जाता है कि बरामद मूर्ति नेपाल से उड़ाई गई है। पकड़े गए बैंक मैनेजर व हाईकोर्ट के अधिवक्ता व टाइपिस्ट से पुलिस को काफी सुराग मिले हैं। पुलिस की एक टीम वाराणसी व गोरखपुर रवाना कर दी गई है।
  मुखबिरों की सटीक सूचना पर रविवार की रात एसओ धूमनगंज केके मिश्र ने महिला ग्राम पोस्ट आफिस के पास दबिश देकर मारुति कार से गौतम बुद्ध की अष्टधातु की कीमती मूर्ति बरामद की थी। मूर्ति के साथ पुलिस ने शहर के अलका बिहार कालोनी कैंट में रहने वाले कासिम अहमद खान, म्योर रोड निवासी प्रदीप श्रीवास्तव व लूकरगंज खुल्दाबाद निवासी चन्द्रशेखर यादव को गिरफ्तार किया था।
  कासिम खान पंजाब नैशनल बैंक भदोही में मैनेजर हैं जबकि प्रदीप श्रीवास्तव हाईकोर्ट में अधिवक्ता व चन्द्रशेखर टाइपिस्ट हैं। बरामद मूर्ति का सौदा 75 लाख में तय हुआ था। एसएसपी केएस प्रताप कुमार ने बताया कि पकड़ा गया गिरोह मूर्ति तस्करी में काफी दिनों से लिप्त है। इनसे पूछताछ में कई अहम सुराग लगे हैं। एसओ के के मिश्र ने बताया कि मूर्ति जिस बैग में रखी गई थी उस पर वाराणसी लिखा है। पूछताछ में इस गिरोह के तार वाराणसी व गोरखपुर से जुड़े पाए जा रहे हैं। फिलहाल यही सूचना है कि यह मूर्ति नेपाल से उड़ाई गई जो गोरखपुर से रास्ते ढाई माह पहले यहां लाई गई।
http://epaper.jagran.com/main.aspx?edate=6...de=10&pageno=2#
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I suppose we need to have a central crime prevention department to safeguard our heritage. Just the other day, a gang was caught with the original manuscript of a letter of Awrangzeb, trying to smuggle it out via Nepal.

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Seven "new wonders"
Angkor Wat too deserves your vote
By K.G. Suresh

The most important monument of the Khmer Empire and the world's
largest sacred temple complex, Angkor is famous for its complex
ornamentation and striking beauty. The temples at Angkor are spread
out over 64 kms around the village of Sien Reap, about 308 kms from
the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.

Indian television channels and websites have of late launched a
campaign asking people to vote for the inclusion of the Taj Mahal as
one of the seven "new wonders" of the world. With barely three weeks
left for the nominations to close, hectic efforts including celebrity
endorsements are on to get the most perfect jewel of Muslim art in
India into the elite club through sms, internet and phone voting.
Music wizard A R Rahman has even composed a theme song for the Taj to
canvass support for the historic monument in Agra built by Mughal
Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife Persian born princess
Arjuman Bano Begum popularly known as Mumtaz Mahal.

Notwithstanding the controversies surrounding the Taj, including
claims by some Hindu groups that it was built over a temple dedicated
to Goddess Yamuna and the alleged atrocities perpetrated on the
workmen (whose hands were reportedly cut-off by the Emperor who did
not want them to build any such grand mausoleum), the Mughal tomb
remains an integral part of our composite heritage and attracts
tourists from the world over, providing employment to lakhs of our
countrymen and millions of dollars in foreign exchange.

And as Indians, we should also undoubtedly join this campaign to
enable this enduring symbol of our country to make it to the top
seven. But equally significant, both for all Indians and Hindus across
the globe is the presence of the world's largest Hindu temple, Angkor,
among the 21 finalist candidates in the campaign to choose the New
Seven Wonders of the World.

The most important monument of the Khmer Empire and the world's
largest sacred temple complex, Angkor is famous for its complex
ornamentation and striking beauty. The temples at Angkor are spread
out over 64 kms around the village of Sien Reap, about 308 kms from
the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh.

Like many other aspects of their culture, the Cambodians adapted
Indian architectural methods and styles. The Hindu religion played an
important part in the Khmer temples. In fact, the Hindu monarch
Jayavarman II introduced the cult of `Devaraja' into Cambodia, which
saw the King as a representative of Lord Shiva. From then on, the
temples were built to honour both the Lord and the King. However, the
Angkor Wat temple was originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu though later
it was converted to a Buddhist temple.

Angkor is a vernacular form of the word nokor which comes from the
Sanskrit word nagara (city), while wat is the Khmer word for temple.

The most famous temple in Angkor is Angkor Wat, a huge pyramid temple
built by King Suryavarman II between 1113 and 1150, generally seen as
the masterpiece of Khmer architecture. It is surrounded by a 570 feet
wide and about 6.4 km long moat. With its water moats, concentric
walls and great temple mountain in the center, Angkor Wat symbolizes
the Hindu cosmos, with its oceans at the periphery and the Meru
mountain at the centre of the universe.

Other impressive temples include Ta Prohm in the midst of still dense
jungles and the Bayon built by King Jayavarman VII in the later part
of 12th century that features among other things 3,936 feet of
beautiful bas-relief carving.

There are other temples located in the area and Khmer temples can also
be found in many other parts of Cambodia, as well as China, Thailand,
Laos and Vietnam.

For the Cambodians, the Angkor Wat has become a matter of national
pride with the temple appearing even on its national flag, the only
building to appear on any national flag. In fact, riots erupted in the
capital city after a Thai artist claimed that the temple belonged to
Thailand.

For us Indians too, Angkor not only reminds us of our ancient glory
but also symbolizes the deep impact Indian culture had across the
globe, particularly South-East Asia. After the destruction of the
Bamiyan Buddhas by the fundamentalist Taliban in Afghanistan, Angkor
remains the most potent symbol of the glory of Hindu culture outside
of India.

The shortlist was chosen by a panel of world remowned architects and
ex-UNESCO Chief Federico Mayor in January 2006, out of 77 public
nominations.

In fact, only one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, the Great
Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, survives to this date.

The internet contest for the new seven wonders is aimed at raising
global awareness about the world's shared cultural heritage and was
conceived by Swiss film maker, curator and traveler Bernard Weber,
following the destruction of the giant Buddha statues at Bamyan in 2001.

Though Indian television channels are running a campaign for the
inclusion of the Taj in the list appealing to the nationalist
sentiments, much of the internet and phone text message voting so far
has avoided national preferences.

A visit to the site www.new7wonders.com would reveal that any
visitor can vote for any seven monuments of his or her choice. So, if
Taj deserves your vote, click the mouse for Angkor Wat too. It is as
much ours as is the Taj.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Please use http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php?id=409 to vote

I selected Angkor and Taj Mahal, besides others.

[Guest]

more:

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->
<span style='color:red'>RSS wants Angkor Wat included in seven wonders</span>

NEW DELHI: As a campaign to include the Taj Mahal among the seven new wonders of the world gathers momentum, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has pitched for including the 12th century Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia in the category.

An article in the party mouthpiece Organizer said: "We should also undoubtedly join the campaign to enable this enduring symbol (Taj Mahal) of our country to make it to the top seven. But, equally significant, both for all Indians and Hindus across the globe is the presence of the world's largest Hindu temple, Angkor, among the 21 finalist candidates in the campaign to choose the new Seven Wonders of the World."

It appealed to the people to also vote for Angkor Wat saying, "So, if Taj deserves your vote, click the mouse for Angkor Wat too. It is as much ours as is the Taj".

The article goes to say, "Angkor not only reminds us of our ancient glory but also symbolises the deep impact Indian culture had across the globe, particularly Southeast Asia. After the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas by Taliban in Afghanistan, Angkor remains the most potent symbol of the glory of Hindu culture outside India."

India had helped to conserve the Angkor temple complex between 1986 and 1993 when no other country was willing to volunteer because of the political instability in Cambodia. During this period, the Indian Government spent about Rs 30 million in carrying out renovation work.

The Angkor Wat, spread over 200 sq km, encompasses some 300 temples of varying styles and sizes. It is the largest archaeological site in the world and the scene of one of the most intensive restoration efforts.

It was built by King Suryavarman II between 1113 and 1150 AD and is seen as a masterpiece of Khmer architecture.

The shortlist of 21 for the new seven wonders of the world was chosen by a panel of world-renowned architects and former UNESCO Chief Federico Mayor in January 2006 out of 77 public nominations. Amongst those in the list are the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Alhambra castle in Granada, Spain, the Acropolis in Greece, the Great Wall of China and the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/RSS_for...how/2135819.cms
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

<img src='http://www.welcomenepal.com/brand/images/destinations_heritage_changu_narsimha.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

5th century(?) Bhagwan Narasimha statue from Changunarayan Vishnu temple in the Changu village, Bhaktapur, Nepal. A fifth century stone inscription in the temple proclaims it as one of the oldest shrines of the Kathmandu Valley. The temple has some of the best examples of stone, wood, and metal craft with murtis for all dashavatara and of Viratvishnu/Mahavishnu. link

<img src='http://personal.carthage.edu/jlochtefeld/picturepages/deities/narasimha.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

Narasimha, sculpted during the Sena Dynasty of Bengal (12th century CE), now in the National Museum of India in Delhi. Photo of September 1990.

And of course, the most famous Narasimha of Hampi:

<img src='http://photos6.flickr.com/8299664_7cf01a1d1e.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

Narsinhapur town of MP, located near Itarasi on Mumbai-Howrah railway line, gets its name from the 18th century shrine constructed by Jat kings, dedicated to Bhagwan Narasimha. Link

And also Narsimhawadi town of Maharashtra...has an ancient shrine to Bhagwan Narasimha... see this image

In the most beautiful Chamba valley of Himachal Pradesh, is not so accessable town Bharmaur. Here is a complex known as Chaurasi Mandir - having 84 temples in one complex - dedicated mainly to Narasimha, Shiva (Mani Mahesh), Ganesh and Lakshami. Deserves separate description later. See image.

[Guest]

Household of Mahadeva.

A wall-painting from a temple in Himachal Pradesh.

<img src='http://123himachal.com/chamba_files/chamba2.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->अष्टधातु की चार मूर्तियां बरामद,दो गिरफ्तार

बभनान (बस्ती)। गोण्डा पुलिस ने अष्टधातु की चार मूर्तियां बरामद कर अन्तरजनपदीय मूर्ति चोरों के एक गिरोह का पर्दाफाश किया है। पुलिस ने मूर्तियों के साथ दो चोरों को भी गिरफ्तार किया है। पुलिस अधीक्षक ने इस कामयाबी के लिये टीम को ढाई हजार का इनाम देने की घोषणा की है।
   पुलिस के अनुसार गोण्डा के सगरागढ़ स्टेट से गत चौदह जून की रात को अष्टधातु की राम, लक्ष्मण,जानकी व लडडू गोपाल की चार मूर्तियां चोरी गयी थीं। इसी बीच पुलिस ने राम बुझारत नामक व्यक्ति के पास से चोरी गयी एक मूर्ति बरामद की। पुलिसिया पूछताछ में उसने सारा राज उगल दिया।
   थानाध्यक्ष शमशुद्दीन ने बताया कि चोरी में सगरा स्टेट की नौकरानी का लड़का राकेश भी शामिल था। इन दोनों ने मूर्ति को सिद्धार्थ नगर के सियाराम तथा अन्य के हाथ बेच दिया। रामबुझारत की निशानदेही पर पुलिस ने अन्य अभियुक्तों पर नजर रखनी शुरू कर दी। मंगलवार को सूचना मिली कि चोरी में शामिल राकेश व सियाराम गौरा चौराहे पर मौजूद हैं और वहां से बस द्वारा कानुपर जा रहे हैं। इस सूचना पर पुलिस ने घेराबंदी की तो सियाराम मिल गया जबकि राकेश भाग निकला। सियाराम के पास से एक बोरे में राम जानकी व लक्ष्मण की तीन मूर्तियां बरामद हुर्इं। बरामद मूर्तियों का वजन आठ किलो छह सौ ग्राम था। इन मूर्तियों की अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय बाजार में कारोड़ों की कीमत है। पुलिस के अनुसार मूर्तिचोरी के इस गिरोह का सरगना राम बुझारत है।

http://www.jagran.com/news/statenews.aspx?...23079&stateid=1
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Gonda police in UP, captured some murtis stolen from the palace of Sagaragadh Estate of indo-nepal border. The 8.6 KG ashta-dhatu murtis are of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and are worth crores of Rs. Another stolen statue - of bala-Gopal is still not found.

boss, isn't this a bit too frequent! If the news of the succesful nabbing of murti-thieves is so frequent - then thefts must be even more!

and this is a bit funny - पुलिस अधीक्षक ने इस कामयाबी के लिये टीम को ढाई हजार का इनाम देने की घोषणा की है। - SP rewards the police team with Rs 2,500 cash prize. Rs 2,500 for the whole team!

No doubt the Indian police is so highly motivated to fight crime!

[Guest]

<b>$40 million temple ready to open its doors</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->A Hindu temple in Toronto that cost $40 million to built, one of the largest initiative of its kind ever undertaken by the Indian Canadian community, is all set to open its gates to the general public.

The Swaminarayan Mandir to be inaugurated in Toronto on Sunday has been completed in 18 months without government funding by craftsmen who used 24,000 hunks of Italian marble and Turkish limestone.

<b>It is also the first Hindu temple in Canada to be built according to ancient Indian Vedic principles. Most of the temple was carved using hammer and chisel by close to 2,000 craftsmen, 100 of them flown from India,</b> the National Post reported.

The local Hindu community offered up about 400 devoted volunteers and footed the bill for much of the temple.

<b>"It gives me a sense of pride, a reputation for first-generation Indian Canadians that we are integral members of this country," </b>said activity co-ordinator Aarti Patel.

<b>"In addition to Canadian winters, another major hurdle was convincing Toronto city officials that the temple, a completely steel-free structure, was sound engineering," </b>said Naren Sachdev, project manager of construction.

Virtually every inch of the place is embellished with carved deities -- cavorting horses, peacocks, elephants, lotus flowers and vines -- each representing different Hindu virtues.

"For me to try and describe it in words is not possible. It is something one has to experience. When you do enter the temple, you will see how <b>the whole atmosphere and ambiance creates that atmosphere within oneself," </b>Sachdev added.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

<b>Wat Thai Temple </b>
Prasat Muang Singh Historical Park : Kanchanaburi

One of the most important sites found in the Khwae Noi River basin is an ancient city site named Muang Singh. The important discoveries made near the ancient city remains include prohistoric human skeletons together with metal tools, vessels and ornaments; brick bases of the Dvaravati period architecture; and the laterite ruins of the 13th century.

This Muang Singh must have been an important outpost of Angkor as it was mentioned in the Prasat Phra Khan inscription made during the reign of King Jayavarman VII. At present, Muang Singh on the bank of Khwae Noi river is included in Muang Singh sub-district, Sai Yok district, Kanchanaburi Province.
...

[Guest]

http://indiatemple.blogspot.com/

[Guest]

Dear Kaushal,
I've been around lower India (Delhi on down) and hope to visit all the ancient most
beautiful temples eventually. TempleNet is very useful but it's hard to figure out
which are the prominent temples among all the Tamil ones.
Last Jan with a group, I visited some fabulously old Koils around Pudukkottai &
Trichy, all 10th century & earlier, of all 3 great dynasties: Pallava, Pandya & Chola.

If you have some favorite obscure temples please let me know. On my next list
for exploration are Ter, Chezerla, Modhera, Patan Vav, Kamakhya, Nandi Hill,
Markanda, Ramtek, Dipadih, & Tala, CG again . . . you get the idea how
far-flung they are.
Is this of interest? If you have time I'd love to hear.

Sivadasi

[Guest]

Dear Bodhi,
Your 1st Ra(?)si is from Jantar Mantar, Jaipur. (what is the word,
transliterated, for zodiac signs?)
Wow, you're doing just what interests me. Where do you think
Narasimha was 1st worshipped? Was Varaha from the region
around Vidisha? Did Ganesha originate somewhere in Maharashtra?

Are there any murtis you'd like from parts of India? I have lots.
Most recently from Pudukkottai dist. and Kaveri region. but earlier
Dwarka to Sundarbans, Delhi to Madurai, many many places between.
They aren't always 1st quality, but they are recognizable.
I have a murti from Kanchi, VaikunthaPerumal that I can't identify
of Vishnu, with yogiband around knees, floating over a big asur.
I'd love to contribute.
Sivadasi