Explore Top Temples to Visit in Tamilnadu - Taxida
Olden days carry with them bygone splendors such as magnificent forts, eye-catching temples, and heroic tales that once adorned every nook of India with the splendor of regal rulers. As India used to tell stories through a variety of sculptures created by talented artisans, and when the mysterious myths and traditions of saints and Gods were used to hone the spirit of every Indian (as they still are today), India was fine-tuning the spirit of its people.
Today, we are discussing the former splendor of such a region that once existed. A visit to these temples provides visitors with a glimpse into the wealthy and lavish taste of the former royal kings, whether they belonged to the Pallava, Chola, or Nayaka dynasties. These temples are currently India's valuable jewels, adding to the country's already extensive cultural legacy. They stand tall as the foundation of the Tamil culture.
It is only in Tamil Nadu that you will not only have a profoundly spiritual experience but will also have the opportunity to luxuriate in the fascinating designs that continue to tell stories of the state's illustrious history. For those travellers who are looking to connect with the holy, here's a list of the top 5 temples in Tamil Nadu.
- Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai
- Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Kumbakonam
- Brihadeeswarar Temple, Thanjavur
- Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam
- Kapaleeshwarar Temple, Chennai
The Meenakshi Amman Temple is not only one of the oldest and most well-known temples in Tamil Nadu but also one of the oldest and most well-known temples in all of India. The temple is dedicated to Parvati inside the form of Meenakshi as well as her paramour, Lord Shiva inside the form of Lord Sundareswarar.
According to documents from history and archaeology, the temple was initially constructed in the 6th century AD. The primary component of the temple was damaged in the 14th century by Muslim invaders who conquered India at the time. The current form of the temple goes back to the 16th century when it was once more brought back to its original splendour by the Nayak dynasty.
The Glory of Architecture
The temple is a brilliant example of Dravidian design and construction. The intricately sculpted and elaborately ornamented 'Gopurams' of the temples are the temple's most prominent feature, and they could be seen from quite a mile away. The Meenakshi Amman Temple is an architectural marvel that is adorned by thousands of figurines of gods, goddesses, and devils. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Meenakshi.
HighlightsThe artistic allure of the temple is enhanced by the halls, which are decorated with figures and scenes from Indian mythology that have been intricately carved. The gods and monsters of the underworld churning the ocean of milk with their nine heads When you are within the temple premises, there are a number of sculptures that are worth noticing. Some of these include Ravana playing the veena, Rishi Markandeya clutching a Shiva Lingam, and the wedding of Sundareswarar and Meenakshi.
Popular Festival
There are thousands of devotees and visitors who visit the temple each and every day, but that number swells to approximately one million during the yearly Meenakshi Thirukalyanam festival, which is held between the months of April and May.
The magnificent Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, which was built during the Chola era, has preserved much of its original splendor. It is an excellent masterpiece designed in the Dravidian style that was refurbished in the 16th century AD by Govinda Dikshitar, who was the chief of Achutha Nayakar of Thanjavur at the time. Lord Shiva is honored at the temple that bears his name.
The Glory of ArchitectureThe temple of Adi Kumbeswarar is also considered the 26th Paadal Petra Sthalam during Chola Period. Devotees from all over the world take bath in the Potramarai tank during the Mahamaham festival which is celebrated once every 12 years (It is called Kumbh Mela in the North).
The divine Shiva Lingam will blow your heart away, it is narrow at the top like a needle and broad at the bottom. On the left side of Kumbeswarar, his consort Goddess Mangalambika showers her divine blessings on the devotees.
Apart from the main shrines, shrines of Lord Murugan, Lord Ganesha, Lord Kiratamurati, and others adorn the temple premises.
HighlightsWhen the curtain of life of the world was about to fall due to Tsunami, Lord Brahma asked Lord Shiva to know from where he had to start the creation of mankind. Lord Shiva suggested that sand collected from various sacred places should be placed in a magic pot and then leave the pot in water.
The pot stood in the place where the great temple of Kumbeswarar stands today. Lord Shiva shot an arrow at the pot and the nectar from the pot spread to all directions which were already mixed with sand and became a Linga. That Lingam is called Kumbeswarar.
The "Brihadeeswarar Temple" is a beautiful place of worship dedicated to Lord Shiva. It can be found in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the largest temples in the entire country of India. This extraordinary work of art, which was produced by the Chola dynasty in the 11th century A.D., is a resounding testament to the luxury and magnificence of the Chola monarchs.
Today, the temple is recognized as a Great Living Chola Temple by UNESCO, earning it a place on the organization's list of World Heritage Sites. As a result, it attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists each year.
The Glory of ArchitectureThe length of the temple tower, at 216 feet, earns it the title of the world's tallest temple tower. The "Kumbam," also known as the apex tower on top of the Vimana, which weighs 80 tonnes and was carved from a single piece of granite, merely adds to the overall splendour of the edifice.
In addition to this, the Brihadeeswarar Temple holds the distinction of being the very first temple anywhere in the world to be constructed entirely out of granite. Considering that there isn't a granite quarry within a radius of one hundred kilometres from the temple, pondering the logistics & difficulties that must have been required to carry tonnes of granite to this location is undoubtedly something that comes to mind after paying a visit to the temple.
HighlightsNot only was there a need for transportation, but can you imagine the difficulty that must have been involved in first carving such a massive rock due to the fact that granite is among the hardest stones to cut, and then later decorating a 216-foot-tall Vimana during the time when technology was still in its infancy?
Another outstanding example of Dravidian architecture is the "Ranganathaswamy Temple," which is found on Srirangam Island in the city of Tiruchirappalli in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This temple is devoted to the god Vishnu. The temple covers an area of more than 150 acres and is adorned with 21 magnificently carved Gopurams, which are tower entrances. The main Gopuram, known as the "RajaGopuram," stands tall at 236 feet, making it the highest Gopuram in Asia. There are 49 sub-shrines within the temple.
The Glory of ArchitectureIt is also the only one-of-its-kind shrine in which you will find a unique mix of a township and a temple co-existing; while a portion of the temple is actually dedicated to temple activities, the remaining portion serves as a township for humans. It is also the only one-of-its-kind shrine in which you will find a unique mix of a township and a temple co-existing.
The temple is also comprised of seven prakaras, which are essentially enclosures, and the presiding deity of Lord Vishnu, who takes the form of Lord Ranganathaswamy and reclines on a snake with five heads, is ensconced in the prakara that is the most interior. The tower that sits atop the innermost prakara is designed in the shape of an "Om" and is entirely covered in gold plating.
The temple is known as the first of the 108 'Divya Desams,' which are considered to be holy abodes of Lord Vishnu. As a result, it attracts an unimaginable number of tourists and pilgrims each year.
HighlightsAccording to archaeological records, the original building of the temple dates back to the 10th century when the region was under the dominion of the Chola dynasty. However, the exact date that the temple was consecrated is still not known at this time.
The temple was ravaged by Muslim invaders in the 14th century, and it wasn't until the late 16th century that it was brought back to its former glory by the monarchs of Vijayanagara and the Nayaka dynasty.
The Kapaleeshwarar Temple can be found in the Mylapore neighborhood of Chennai. Construction on the temple began during the reign of the Pallava Kings in the 7th century CE. However, the building of the temple that exists now goes back to the 16th century CE. This is because the original structure of the temple was destroyed by the Portuguese, and it was not until the 16th century that Vijayanagara Kings restored the temple to its former glory.
The Glory of ArchitectureThe temple is among the most important pilgrimage places in Tamil Nadu for followers of the Shaivite religion. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is worshiped here in the guise of Kapaleeshwarar. Every day, the temple is visited by a large number of devotees. The Kapaleeshwarar Temple is a wonderful illustration of the genuine Dravidian architectural style. It is adorned with a massive gopuram in a rainbow of colors, halls with pillars, and a body of water.
Highlights
Mythological accounts state that Goddess Parvati while assuming the appearance of a peahen (also known as 'Mayil' in Tamil), came to this holy location to perform a significant act of penance for Lord Shiva. Because of this, the main sanctum of the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva in the shape of a Shivling, but there is also a minor shrine dedicated to Goddess Parvati, who is worshipped here and in the form of Karpagambal. This shrine may be found within the complex of the temple.
On Fridays, the presiding deity at the Karpagambal shrine is adorned with a wreath of gold coins, which draws in large throngs of people each week. There is a little shrine in the temple's courtyard that is located below an old Punnai Tree. This shrine tells the narrative of Goddess Parvati taking the form of a hen in order to worship the Shivling.
A trip to this holy place, which is considered to be one of the holiest locations in all of Tamil Nadu, is certain to offer you a level of peace and spirituality that cannot be equalled anywhere else.
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