Some basic facts

How many people who write Hindu as their religion have tried to learn about Santana Dharma, at least the basics?

How many know & have taught the next generation about Devas/Puranas/itihasas.

How many go to temples?

How many contribute yearly for H causes? If we do not do these, aren’t we responsible for the present situation that exists?

All other religions start from childhood to teach about their religion. What do Hindus do?

They don’t want to appear religious bcs it would not be ‘cool’
They want to be known as Secular.

Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy - Annavaram.

#WalkToTemple

Annavaram Satyadeva kshetram is located on the Ratnagiri hills, East Godavari district, AP.

In 1891, a brahmin named Earanki Prakasam had a dream where Swamy instructed him to find his murti & install it. That brahmin informed the then zamindar Sri Raja Ramarayanam of Kirlampudi estate of his dream & both of them along with other villagers searched and found the idol on the Ratnagiri hill. It was installed in a shed initially & later a temple was built. It was reconstructed in

#MahaShivaratri
#IndianHeritage

On the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri, I am compiling a list of the ancient Shivalayams I have had darshan at.

All ancient, close 2 1000 yrs old, the newer being 300 yrs old.

Starting with the 1000 yr old Lingaraja temple of Bhubaneshwar 4 of the Pancharamas,
Somarama, Ksheerarama, Draksharama & Kumararama.
The present structures are built by Chalukya Bhima between 9th & 10th century.
The shivalingas of the Pancharamas are made from a single Shivalinga belonging to Tarakasura. A fascinating sthala purana.

Ganapeshwara aalayam - Ghanpur

#WalkToTemple
#IndianHeritage

Ganapeshwara aalayam is the main gudi of the Ghanpur group of temples, locally called Kota gullu.
Ghanpur is 62 km from Warangal and 11 km from Ramappa temple.

Pic credit - Wikipedia Kota gullu are a group of 20 temples. While some are small temples, Ganapeshwara gudi is the major gudi and 2 more temples big sized temples are there. Sadly all are in ruins.
Built during the time of Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva, it is of the 11th - 12th century.

Ramappa temple - Warangal

#WalkToTemple
#IndianHeritage
#BharatiyaVastukala

Ramappa temple, also called Ramalingeshwara temple is located in Palampet, 76km from Warangal. It was completed in 1213 CE during time of Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva & built by General Recharla Rudra. The main structure is in reddish sandstone and it has brackets of black basalt. It stands on a 6" high star shaped platform.
It is the only temple that is named after its sculptor.

On entering the compound we see a smaller shivalay called Kateshwara gudi is in ruined state.

Padmakshi temple - Warangal

#WalkToTemple
#IndianHeritage

Padmakshi temple is an ancient temple built by the Kakatiyas.
Situated on a hillock, it is very near Sri Siddeshwara aalayam.

The steps to go up are a little steep. Seeing the board saying that it was the way for darshan, with a little bending we went through the rocks. The way leads to a cavern. On the way we can see stones piled one on top of another by devotees. It is said that devotees pile stones when asking for a particular wish.

Warangal - Ruins of Swayambhu Shivalayam

#WalkToTemple
#IndianHeritage

When I had planned a trip to Warangal, searching for places to see, I saw that Warangal fort is an important sightseeing place. So I was waiting to see a ruined fort. But when I went to the place called + +Warangal fort, I realised that it was that section of the fort where previously a Swayambhu Shivalayam existed and now had relics which were excavated. On 4 sides v can see the famous Kakatiya thoranams, one of which v can c in above pic. Smaller thoranams r also there.

Rudreshwara temple - Hanumakonda

#WalkToTemple
#IndianHeritage

Famously known as 1000 pillar temple, Rudreshwara temple is in Hanumakonda, which is right beside Warangal.
It showcases the famous Kakatiya architecture & was built in 1163 by Rudra Deva 1. The temple measures over 31*25m & stands on a platform which is 1 meter above the ground.
The temple is called 1000 pillar temple bcs of the pillars used for the temple. The entire wall of the gudi is made up of pillars which are joined.

On the eve of Vaikuntha Ekadashi, I am compiling the temples of Sri Vishnu and his avataras that I have visited. Each temple is ancient.

I have made a temple thread on each of these temples.

#VaikuntaEkadashi Toli Tirupati

In East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh is a very ancient temple of Sri Vishnu. He is called Sri Srungara Vallabha Swamy over here.
It is not well known but is thousands of years old.

Sri Endala Mallikarjuna Swamy - Ravivalasa

#WalkToTemple

Situated in the Ravivalasa village of Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh lies the largest Swayambhu sivalingam.

The Shivalinga here is 20m tall and 3m wide.
There is no enclosed temple for this shivalinga. According to sthala purana, in tretayuga after Rama killed Ravana & was returning to Ayodhya, Sushena who was their physician expressed his desire to stay back at Sumancha Parvata & do penance for Lord Shiva. People around the area were with Ill health & he wanted to help them.

Somnath Jyotirlinga - The story of unbeatable resolve of the Dharmics in our Bhaarat.

Somnath Jyotirlinga gudi is situated in Prabhas Patan in Veraval municipality in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. This is the 1st of the 12 Jyothirlingas. Somnath kshetra is an ancient teerth sthal with references in Skanda purana, Srimad Bhagavad & Shiva Purana.
This place has been also called Bhaskar teertha, Prabhas teertha, aarka teertha, Soma teertha among other names during mahabharat time.

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple - Korukonda

#WalkToTemple
#BharatiyaVastukala

Korukonda is a village in the Korukonda mandal of East Godavari district of AP.

Here lies the divine gudi of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. There are 2 gudis. 1 atop the hill & 1 at the foot of hill The gudi at the foot of the hill is old but not ancient. The pillars of the temple signify its age.
There is a mandapam in the Prakaram. It has been cemented around parts of the pillar.

Kunti madhava temple - Pithapuram

#WalkToTemple

Kunti Madhava Swamy temple is one of the Pancha Madhava temples.
The other 4 Madhava temples being - Bindu Madhava of Varanasi, Venu Madhava of Prayaga, Sethu Madhava of Rameshwaram & Sundara Madhava of Tiruvananthapuram. The Pancha Madhava temples were consecrated by Indra to rid himself of the Sin of Brahmahatya.

Acc to the purana, Prajapati Twasta had a devout and pious son named Vishwarupa. He had immense spiritual power. The king of Devas, Indra became insecure and killed Vishwarupa.

Pancharama 1 - Somarama

#WalkToTemple
#IncredibleIndia

Sri Someshwara Janardhana Swamy temple also known as Somarama is one of the Pancharamas.
Located at Gunupudi, at Bhimavaram, the present temple with Gopuram & Prakaram was built in 9th century by Eastern Chalukya Bhima. The history of Pancharamas is thus.
Tarakasura was a powerful Asura who had the boon that he would die only at the hands of a child of Shiva. He had after penance to Shiva acquired an atmalingam which he wore & became invincible.
It is for Tarakasura samhaara that Karthikeya+

Sri Bhimeswara Swamy temple - Bhimavaram

#WalkToTemple
Sri Bhimeswara Swamy temple of Bhimavaram, which is more than 1000 yrs old, is often confused with another illustrious temple of Bhimavaram, the Soma Rama, which is one of the Pancharamas. As soon as we enter through the gopuram, we are in the Mandapam of the Rama temple which is in the complex. The Sri Bhimeswara Swamy temple is straight ahead. This temple has many more gudis constructed in later years in the same complex.

Jagannath Swamy temple - Vizianagaram

#WalkToTemple
#BharatiyaVastukala

Right in center of Vizianagaram, lies a beautiful ancient temple. Ignored & neglected, this temple went into a sorry state, but was restored & brought back 2 glory in past couple of years.
Old pic Google The temple considered 2 b a replica of Puri Jagannath temple, was constructed acc 2 rules of Pancha Ratra Agama Sastras. Along with Jagannath, Balabhadra & Subhadra, there are smaller temples 4 Venugopal Swamy & another for Mahalaxmi ma in the temple.
Dasavataras on the new walls

Today seeing a tweet saying that H are fine, if M after 300 years and British after 200 years of invasion couldn’t harm H, what can happen now? I started thinking as to how blind can educated people be.
In the past 800 years we have been attacked repeatedly. But H believed in the Sanatana Dharma and they followed the principles. They took pride in being H and did everything to protect their Gods and temples. They taught the basic principles of our Dharma to their children. The sanctity and goodness of our religion was maintained.

Alampur Temple Diaries 4
#WalkToTemple
#Bharatiyavastukala

Papanasi Temples

From the Sangameshwara temple, we went to the Papanasi Temples which is a cluster of 23 temples. The Papanasi Temples are also relocated to avoid damage by the Srisailam hydro power project. These temples built between 9th & 11th century CE. Some started at the time of early Chalukyas but completed during the time of Rashtrakutas & later Chalukyas. The site has two main temples with carved pillars, the rest are small temples.

Alampur Temple Diaries 3
#WalkToTemple
#Bharatiyavastukala

Today I will share with you a temple showcasing the splendor of the Chalukyas.
The SANGAMESHWARA temple was first located at the Sangam of Krishna & Tungabhadra rivers at a village called Kudavalli, 16km from Alampur. Though the board mentions that it was built during the time of Vikramaditya I (655-81CE), it is believed to have been built by Pulikeshin.
Dwajastambham stamba and Nandi in a mandapam opposite the steps to the temple.

Alampur Temple Diaries -2

#walktotemple
#Bharatiyavastukala

Continuing with the Nava Brahma temples, the next one was
4. Garuda Brahma Temple
Built between 848-891 CE during the time of Vijayaditya.
Pillared mandapa leading into the temple. The dwara palakas at the entrance.
The board says Ganga and Yamuna are on either side. But if it is Ganga & Yamuna, y r they holding a vinjamara like an attendant? Correct me if I am wrong experts.
I liked the Gandharvas floating above and the latticed windows.

Alampur Temple Diaries - 1
#WalkToTemple
#Bharatiyavastukala

Alampur is a jewel in the state of Telangana. Situated in the Gadwal district near Kurnool district of AP. It is a temple town with Divinity, history and architectural beauty.

First we shall speak of Jogulamba Talli. Jogulamba is one of the 18 Shakti Peeta's. It is where Sati Devi's Upper jaw with tooth fell. It is on the bank of Tungabhadra river.

The old temple was destroyed by Bahamani sultans and the idol of amma was safeguarded in the Bala Brahma temple. A new temple was built in 2005.