With the largest Hindu population in the world, India is blessed with myriad Hindu temples—known for their sculpture, architectural style, and arts. These temples remind us of the architectural brilliance of craftsmen from bygone eras. In this blog, we will discuss some of the most amazing ancient temples in the country.
1. Annamalaiyar Temple
Annamalaiyar Temple, one of the biggest temples in South India, is located at the foot of the Annamalai Hills in the city of Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple spans an area of 25 acres with 9 corridors and 9 towers.
The significance of the temple:
The majestic towers, broad quadrangles, huge rampart walls, vast gateways, and extensive mandapams set the temple apart from the rest of the temples in the country.
2. Venkateswara Temple
Located in the town of Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, the Venkateswara Temple—also called Kaliyuga Vaikuntham—is a Vaishnavite temple. With millions of people visiting, it is one of the wealthiest temples in the world. The temple is dedicated to Lord Sri Venkateswara, who is known by many names including Balaji, Srinivasa, and Govinda. The temple is believed to have been constructed in the early 300 A.D. The spiritual merit one acquires by a pilgrimage to this temple is mentioned in the Asthadasa Puranas and the Rig Veda.
The significance of the temple:
Venkateswara Temple draws millions of devotees from different parts of the world. Various activities take place every day in the temple, including hair tonsuring, prasadham, arjitha seva, thulabharam, and hundi.
3. Meenakshi Temple
Situated on the banks of the Vaigai River, the Meenakshi Temple is one of the most important temples of India dedicated to Goddess Parvati, also called Meenakshi. The temple has incredible architecture and has been nominated for the New Seven Wonders of the World.
The significance of the temple:
Every year, thousands of devotees come to pay their homage to the Goddess and to admire its Dravidian-style architecture. The Chithirai Festival, celebrated for 12 days in April/May, is one of the most important religious celebrations held at the Meenakshi Amman Temple.
4. Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple
Dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, the Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple is one of the most popular Sastha temples in the Indian state of Kerala. As the temple is located 4,000 feet above sea level on a hilltop named Sabarimala, devotees walk barefoot through dense forest to reach the shrine.
The significance of the temple:
The temple is open to all—irrespective of religion, creed, or caste. The shrine has 18 holy steps, also called Pathinettu Thripadikal. Climbing these steps is considered sacred and is believed to take the worshipper closer to self-realization.
5. Palani Murugan Temple
Situated in the town of Palani, the Arulmigu Shri Dhandayuthapani Temple is one of the six abodes of Lord Murugan. Dating to the 9th century, this ancient temple has 38 sub-temples associated with it. The deity of the 2,000-year-old shrine, Dandayudhapani Swami, is made of nine minerals, commonly called Navabhashana.
The significance of the temple:
Vaikasi Vishakam, Kandha-Sasti, Tirukkarthigai, Panguni Uthiram, and Thai-Poosam are some of the festivals celebrated here. The temple is closely associated with Panchamirtam—a mixture of five ingredients (honey, yogurt, ghee, jaggery, and milk) distributed as prasad.
