Day 2 - begins with shaving hair

Shaving hair has significance in most religions Jainism Buddhism & even Islam

#KashmiriPanditYagonopavitCeremonies

#100templesofindia

Must Visit Temples of Vidisha
#GemsofVidisha

1. Neelkanteshwar Temple

https://x.com/MonaADhar/status/1731886215232630890?s=20

2. Gadarmal 42 Yogini Temple

https://x.com/MonaADhar/status/1730475902708973755?s=20

There is mention of temples & murtis in Ramayan & Mahabharat.

There is enough historical evidence to suggest that Idol worshipping wasn't unknown to Vedic Indians.

They were worshipping their gods in micro forms too.

Earlier temples might have been made of wood & bamboo which didn't survive with time.

And later on, they started carving them in rocks, to leave them till eternity.

They wanted us to remember or maybe were teasing us by saying - can you build something this wonderful ?😊.

Here I will cover the first (maybe among the surviving ones) Hindu Cave temple.

#Udayagiri caves in #Vidisha, have not only religious significance by a historic one too.

These were built by the Guptas between the 3rd century CE to the 5th century CE.

They are one of the most significant archaeological sites.

65. #100templesofindia #Udayagiri Cave Temple (#Vidisha - MP).
19. #Indianrockcuttemples
Udayagiri Caves (mountain of the sunrise)

Some historians suggest that the Iron Pillar at Delhi originally stood at Udayagiri.
As per the inscriptions, Udayagiri was called Vaishnupadagiri - the hill of Vishnu's footprints.

In Kalidasas Meghdoot he quotes Udayagiri as Nichairgiri

Udayagiri consists of 20 rock-cut caves on a sandstone hill.
Out of 20 - 18 are related to Hindu & 2 to Jains.

#100templesofindia

59. #Hindola Toran & #Chaukhamba (#Gyaraspur - MP).

This is what remains of a 10th-century Vishnu temple in Gyaraspur.

Hindola-Toran: The pillars are beautifully carved with 10 incarnations of Vishnu: Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vaman, Parshuram, Ram, Krishna, Buddha & Kalki.

Char-Khamba: 4 pillars near Hindola toran, they look like part Mahamadapa of an ancient temple which doesn't exist now.
1. Matsya 🐟

2. Kurma 🐢

#100templesofindia
#KhajurahoTemples

57. #Bijamandal (Vijay Mandal) Temple #Vidisha.

This 1100-year-old temple is now in complete ruins.
In its prime, this was one of the largest temple complexes in Central India.

Mahmud of Ghazni, after vandalising Somnath temple headed to Vidisha to reduce the grandest temple of that period to rubble.

After he left it was rebuilt by Paramara Kings.

Then in 1682 Aurangzeb desecrating this temple and broke its idols & used them to build a mosque over it.

Only base of this temple is left now.
Aurangzeb was a religious fanatic.

When the King of Vidisha lost to him & he offered Aurangzeb his wealth and requested him not to destroy the temple.

King even offered his eldest son to Islam in exchange for leaving the temple as it is.

Aurangzeb converted the eldest prince and after that started attacking the temple with special canons from every corner to maximize the damage.

#100templesofindia

55. #GarudaStambha Heliodorus pillar #Vidisha.

One of the oldest temples dedicated to Baghwan Vishnu (Vasudeva) dates back to the 2nd century BC.

Heliodorus, a Vishnu Bhakt came from Takshila during the reign of great king Antalkidas ~ 135 BCE & he set up Garuda-Dhvaj in honour of Vasudev.

Next to the pillar are ruins of one of the oldest temples of Vishnu.






The Inscriptions
In Sanskrit with some influence of Prakrit and script is Brahmi of 2nd BCE

1.
Devadevsa Vasudevasa Garudadhvajo ayam
karito i Heliodorena bhaga
vatena Diyasa puterna takshilakena
Yonadatena agatena maharajasa
kasiputrasa Bhagabhadrasa tratarasa
vasena chatudasena rajena vadhamanasa

2.
Trini amutapadanisu anuthitani
nayamti svaga samo chago apramado

#100templesofindia
#KhajurahoTemples

51. #Chaturbhuj Temple #Khajuraho
5. #KhajurahoTemples - Southern GOT.

Built in 1100 CE by Chandelas, temple is famous for its unique main diety of Shiv which is 10.3 feet.

He has gentle face of Buddha & stance of Krishna (tribhanga).

Tip - Please visit it 45min before sunset, the last rays of sun on the main pratima create magic.
Shiv in tribhanga

5 Sati Pillars

Location - #Sanchi Museum

Dating back to the 13th century, these 5 pillars were found in the area around Sanchi, they depict Chasity in Hindu society during that period.

4 significant scenes are depicted in all these Pillars

1) Shivling puja by the couple






2) Wife massaging feet of her husband.

Devi Abodes Outside India

#Devitemples.

1. Manāt (pre-Islamic Arabian goddess) - Arab

The attack on Somnath temple by Mahmud of Ghazni may have been inspired by the belief that an idol of Manat had been secretly transferred to the temple,
he wanted to destroy the idol.

pic: wiki
2. al-Lat / Allat (pre-Islamic Arabian goddess) - Arab

pic src: wiki

In these 9 days of #navratri, I will try to cover must-visit Devi Temples.

#Devitemples

1. Maa Mundeshwari Devi (Bihar) dating back to 108 CE, is the oldest functional Hindu temple in the World

https://x.com/LostTemple7/status/1249603477736570880?s=20

2. 64 Yogini Temple Morena (Madhya Pradesh)
The 11th-century temple dedicated to 64 manifestations of Maa Parvati\Durga

https://x.com/MonaADhar/status/1644329406037471233?s=20

16. #Tulja lena\caves Junnar (Maharashtra).

It dates back to somewhere between 2nd-1st BCE, the first of the Junnar rock cut series.

The highlight of these caves is the unique Chaitya, a huge stupa surrounded by 12 octagonal columns.



Simple in design but has traces of Polish, called Mauryan Polish found in imperial columns & caves of the Mauryan era.

Is Buddhism really lost from Bharat?

If as a Hindu you are visiting your religious sites you will definitely visit a Jain\ Buddhist or even a Gurudwara in the vicinity.
You pay your respects.
It comes naturally to us.
Your head bows down
Hands fold in gratitude
Eyes closed
&
You feel a deep internal connection & peace with the divine energy.

Buddhism might have declined but Buddha has found a special place in almost every home & every heart in India. Some claim Buddhist temples were taken over by Hindus, well some of it is true but taking over feels like throwing the Buddhist monks & murtis out and then controlling them.

This isn't true in most of the cases barring a few.

#100templesofindia

43. #Chausath Yogini Temple, #Morena ( Near Gwalior)

Also called #Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple, since not a single Yogini pratima is present in this temple now.
Shivlings have been installed in all small temples.

This temple is worshiped & visited on a daily basis.

This 64 Yogini temple was built by the #Kachchhapaghata dynasty in 1055 CE.


Built on a hill, circular in shape, with a radius of 170 feet.

This temple was used to provide education on topics of Astrology & Mathematics on the basis of the transit of the Sun

#Indianrockcuttemples

13. #Bedse Caves near Lonavala (Maharashtra).
Rock-cut caves date back to the 1st century BCE.

The entrance of Chaitya is adored with 4 massive pillars which are adored with pairs of animals & couples.

#Indianrockcuttemples

12. #Bhaja Caves near Lonavala (Maharashtra)

Rock cut caves dating back to 2nd century BC.

Main chaitya (prayer hall) is perfect example of early development of this kind of wooden architecture, supporting the main structure.

https://twitter.com/MonaADhar/status/1685177028503564288?s=20

We are #Brahmins because our ancestors dedicated their lives to exploring knowledge.

They shared & documented it for centuries.

Today we have so many mediums to share information, yet what we see & read is 90% trash.

Whatever small contribution we can make to this ocean of… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Destruction of Martand Surya Mandir

#IslamizationofBharat
#IslamicInvasions

Sikandar Butshikan 1389 -1413 AD
(Sikandar, the Iconoclast)
The darkest period for Hindus in Kashmir )

First Pandit Exodus https://t.co/9ogUdgsAtMtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…
-> Sikandar was a descendant of Shah Mirza the first Sultan of Kashmir (the First Muslim King of Kashmir).

-> #Sufi preacher Mir Muhammad Hamadani advised Sikandar to destroy all symbols of Sanatan to Islamize & forcefully convert the society.

->Sikandar was a religious bigot,… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

#100templesofindia

39. #Martand Surya Temple मार्तण्ड Mārtaṇḍa #Kashmir

One of the 4 most prominent #SunTemples of ancient India.

After successful campaigns against Arabs, Turks & Tibetans #Karkota King #Latitaditya wanted to leave a legacy behind.

Martand Sun Temple in… https://t.co/kw91noTgLYtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…






The main temple is in the centre.
A beautiful water Kund in the centre is surrounded by 84 smaller temples.

The ruins tell the story of an era when the glory of Kashmir was at its peak under the able hands of Digvijay Lalitaditya. https://t.co/4xTD6UekPBtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

How Hindu Kings Kept Arab Invaders Away for 3 Centuries

1. Post the fall of Sindh in 712 CE & death of Qasim
Junyad-al-Murri became the new governor of Sindh. twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 2. King #Lalitaditya of Kashmir was aware that Junayd might attack Kashmir in future.

3. He crossed the Punjab border, took on Junayd's forces - defeated Arab cavalry & returned triumphantly. twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

#100templesofindia

38. #JogeshwariCaves #Mumbai

Did you know this is the first Hindu cave temple in & around Mumbai?

Built in the 6th century (520 to 550 CE) - dedicated to Maa Yogeshwari ( incarnation of Durga ) - even called #Jogeshwari.

She is #Kuldevi… https://t.co/LBWfNPvD3Ytwitter.com/i/web/status/1…
https://t.co/AVXxt5xRQEtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

What do you find common in these ??

✍️Maharishi Panini पाणिनि - was a Sanskrit philologist, grammarian, and revered scholar in ancient India twitter.com/i/web/status/1… ✍️Acharya Chanakya चाणक्य - ancient Indian polymath who was active as a teacher, author, strategist, philosopher, economist, jurist, and royal advisor twitter.com/i/web/status/1…