Gangaikondacholapuram Temple, Tamil Nadu

Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple is an architectural work of some genius peoples. Situated at Thanjavur (Tanjore) in Tamil Nadu, Gangaikondacholapuram can be visited easily through regular buses that are acquirable from the main towns and cities of Tamil Nadu. In the early 11th century, the temple got reinforced by Rajendra Chola, who was the son and successor of Rajaraja Chola. The luscious temple stands next to the popular Brihadisvara temple at Tanjore. Gangaikonda Cholapuram is considered as the reproduction of Brihadisvara Temple that was constructed by Rajaraja Chola, father of Rajendra Chola. Gangai Konda Cholapuram was upright to surpass the temple made by the father. The temple is popular for having the largest Shivalingam in the Southern part of India.

The holy sanctorum clenches the 4 meter high lingam which is in the phallic form of Lord Shiva. To provide a cliquish worship area for the royal family, the holy place is surrounded with two walls. The baronial entrance of the sanctum is decorated by the beautiful image of Goddess Saraswati. The power of Chalukyas is also echoic from the icons of 'Navagrahs' (Nine planets) and 'Suryapita' (Sun worship).

The precise accounts of the Cholas are written on the copper plates and temple walls. Preferred place of wreathed heads, the unusual structure took about 9 years to complete. Gangaikondacholapuram has been looted for several times, but the sculptural and architectural wealth remained alive. The temple was rampant to extol the achievements of a belligerent king. Gangaikondacholapuram is a testimonial to the artisans and architects who created this outstanding testament.

 

The brilliant architecture of the temple self-praise of a 9 storey vimanam that widens to the height of 185 feet. Facing the east direction, Gangai Konda Cholapuram clenches incredible carvings and sculptures. Not less than 54.86 m in height, the temple construction follows the sort of Brihadisvara Temple. The whole temple is boomed with rich and complex carvings that are sole to Chola style of artistry. Known to consist a little northern style, the structure grasps complex carvings in the Vimanams.

The architecture is a portrait of complex carvings on the hard granite stones, regardless of the simple style of Cholas. Mind-blowing carvings adorn the walls and ceilings of Gangaikondacholapuram. The creativeness of sculptors is pointed in the figures of peaceful Saraswati and dancing Nataraja. However, the sculptures rampant here are as artistic as found in any other temples of Cholas. The most interesting are of Ardhanareshwar, Shiva-Parvati and Ganesha. The stupendous shrine also addresses several momentous bronzes of the Chola age.

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Ekambareswarar Temple, Kanchipuram

The Ekambareswarar Temple is the first of the 32 Tevara Stalam construction in the Tondai region of Tamil Nadu state in India. Anticipated as one of the venerable temple, it is the biggest temple devoted to Lord Shiva in Kanchipuram. It is cited as one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalams which are dedicated to the 5 elements like water, wind, Fire, Space and Earth. The temple henpecked the historical capital of the Pallava rulers.

As per the history, once while Lord Shiva was contemplating Parvati naughtily covered his eyes with her fingers which resulted in absolute darkness on earth for many many years. Shiva being enraged by her act cursed Parvati to go to earth for repentance. Parvati went to earth and made the earth linga and worshiped it below the mango tree in Kachipuram giving outset to the temple. This ancient temple has been in existence from nearly 600 AD and has been praised in opuses by the Saivite deities.

 

A part of the main temple was constructed by the Pallava Kings while the other temple complex was built in the 17th century. The temple tout of a lofty 60 meter high Gopuram constructed by Krishna Deva Raja of the Vijayanagara kingdom in the year 1509. There can be found no two towers paired each other nor are the wall of the temple collateral to each other. The temple campus has nearly 540 pillar hall all elaborately planned and attractively carved. The pillared hall were built by the Vijayanagara Sovereign.

A 3500 years old mango tree has the spot having 4 branches each devoted to the four Vedas. The Divinity infers its name from the Mango tree from the words Eka-Amra-Natha, which meant the Lord of the Mango tree. The itinerary to the tree has a Shiva Lingam made of nearly 1008 tiny lingas .The Huge linga is famous as the the earth Linga or Prithivi Linga. A Somaskanda plane attributing all three Shiva, Parvati and Skanda altogether cherish the back end of the main enshrine, which has been adored for many centuries.

The famous festivals held in this place are Adi Kritikai and Avani Moolam in the month of August  and Ani Tirumanjanam in the month of July. The Vaisakhi and Chitra Purnima are held in the months of May and June grades the temples yearly calender. The Panguni festival is celebrated for almost 13 days and during this time the nuptials of the controlling deity is ascertained.

 

There are nearly 6 types of Puja daily in the temple by the name of kaalasanrhi, Ushadkalam, Uchi kaalam, Sayaratchai, Prodosham and Ardhajamam. The six types of services have various type of importance to the followers offering the prayers.

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Laxmi Narayan Temple, Himachal Pradesh

The Laxmi Narayan Temple is considered as the one of the oldest as well as the largest temple in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. This temple attracts many pilgrims throughout the year. The six different temples in the Laxmi Narayan Temple complex are organized from north to south and are consecrated to either Lord Vishnu or Lord Shiva. There are also several other temples dwelt in the complex which collective make it highly captivating. These other shrines include the temple of Shiva Temple of Chandergupta, Gauri Shankar Temple and Radha Krishna. 

Though this temple was built in the 10th century, the Laxmi Narayan Temple seemed to be adorned by kings who engaged the throne of Chamba subsequently. Raja Balabhadra Verma made the metallic icon of Garuda on a high pillar at the main entrance gate of the temple while Raja Chhatra Singh added the specious steeples on the temple tops. The latter was done as a objection against the commands of Aurangzeb to demolish the temple. The legend of the temple authorizes that Raja Sahil Verma, who built the temple, sent nine of his sons to the Vindhyas peaks to get marble which was appropriate for the construction of the Vishnu idol. 

The marble that were brought contained a frog. This was considered unfortunate and the sons were again sent back to get back the marble blocks. However, all the sons died while on their way back. The king did not gave up and he again sent his eldest son to get the marble. He was also onslaught by the robbers, but with the aid of a saint succeeded to save himself and kill his attackers. Yugkara, the eldest prince came back safely with the needful slab which was used to make the idol of Lord Vishnu in the temple. The temple is built in the Shikhara style. There is Bimana that is Shikhara, garbhgriha and also a mandapa like construction. The wooden chattris and the shield roofs indicate the climactic condition of the place where snowfall is quiet anticipated. The Lakshmi Narayan Temple complex is opened between 6 am to 12.30 pm and then from 2.30 to 8.30 pm. In between this period, the divinities are expected to be taking rest and at night they retire to the indoors of the temple for rest.

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Atala Masjid, Jaunpur - Uttar Pradesh

Atala Masjid is a 15^th century mosque in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is one of the major tourist attractions in Jaunpur. The mosque delivers the evidences of the times in which it was built. The Atala Masjid is a helpful specimen of mosques, not only in Uttar Pradesh but also in India.

The main feature of Atala Masjid is that in spite of being a mosque and built by the Muslims rulers, the Masjid shows a lot of determinants of Hindu architecture. In fact, there is a clear likeness of Hindu style of architecture, in the entire Masjid. The reason for such similarity is due to the fact that the Atala Masjid is located on the site of a temple of Atala Devi. Hence the Atala Masjid, Jaunpur also gets its name from this Hindu Temple. On the other hand, the Begampur Masjid in Delhi is also believed to have influenced the construction a great deal. The presence of inclined walls, niches, the form and structure of beams and pillars, matches the mosques, tombs and other buildings that were built by Firoz Shah Tughlaq and Sultan Muhammad Shah Tughlaq of the Tughlaq Dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate.

The central portico of Atala Masjid in Jaunpur, India has a impressive arch. Inside, there is a massive hall, which is the main prayer room. The three domes of the Atala Masjid differ in size. The 'mihrab' which is the niche in the wall of the mosque indicates the direction of Mecca, the decorations of the prayer room as well as the two-tiered corridors are the other features of Jaunpur Atala Masjid, which are noteworthy. Some distinct features of the mosque are square-shaped mosque with robust appearanc which is the influence of circular tapering turrets of Tughlaqs resolved into rectangular shape. On the either side of Maqsura pylon are two identical mini-pylons and 3 separate gateways are also installed in northern, eastern and southern liwan.

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