Showing posts with label temples. Show all posts
Showing posts with label temples. Show all posts
The ruins of Prabhagiripatnam lie on the Podalakuru Mohammadapuram at a distance of 45km. away from Nellore
The ruins of Prabhagiripatnam lie on the Podalakuru Mohammadapuram at a distance of 45km. away from Nellore. The ruins of the temple of Lord Siva and Perumallaswamy, which belonged to 1512A.D., remind the tourists of their former glory and excellence. An inscription denoting the royal gift(1512AD) of the Vijayanagara king Venkataryalu, is gathering dust at a place close to the temple of Perumallaswamy. This inscription enjoins that the income derived from the agricultural lands of the neighborhood should be spent for the upkeep of the temple. The sculptural and artistic pieces strewn around here have been recognised as the idols of Veerabhadraswamy, and Shanmugaswamy is that six heads, instead of being in a row are sculpted differently –there in the front and three in the rear.
Krishnapatnam:
Nellore District has 165k.m coastal line. Krishnapatnam, Ramayapatnam, Ramatheertham, Kodur, Mypadu, Thupilapalem etc., are some of the beaches. From out of which Krishnapatnam the port located place in the district. It is not a new port earlier it was flurished and famed but gradually becomes less importance due to some of factors. How ever, it is once again expected to emerge to its crown. There are Stratagic Plans to be develop industrial port City. Apart from this Dharmal power Station to be established, As a result and also due to lanching of various projects, the port city is expected to flurish in the near future as was seen in the olden day. It is located at about 25km. towards east form Nellore City.
ASpeta Dargha located at about 60 km. from Nellore City. A.S.Peta Stand for Anuma samudram Peta. There is a big Dargah here which is ancient and is known to be Khaja Rahamatulla Dargah. It is one of the unique place where Hindus and Muslims blend together and stand as an illustration of National integrity. Devoties from different parts of the Country used to come to this place without distinction. The ornamental work of thhe dome is worth to seen. Every year Urusu celebrated where large number of devoties gather here for blessings.
It is located at abovt 15 Km. from Nellore City which belongs to Venkatachalam Mandal. One of the Sage called Venkaiah lived earlier during middle of the 20th Century and got Mahasamadhi at this place. People worshiped them as Venkaiah Swamy or Baghavan Venkaiah Swamy, every Saturday there is a gathering to worship the Swamy. Similarly, during August every year “ Aradhana” or Annual function be celebrated where large number of devoties used to gether for the purpose of getting blessed. Devotees are provided free catering those who visited the Samadhi. It became one of the popular Pilgrim centre in the district.
The tomb of Syed karimulla Khadiri lies in Kasumuru village, which is situated on the west of Venkatachalam Mandal 35 km.away from Nellore. Devotees refer to him as kasumuru Msthanayya, agreat : Fakir” supposed to have belonged to 18th century. The ailing, the planet harassed, and the childs, worship at the fakir’s tomb. Every year, on the 26th day of the auspicious period of “kabbiul-aval”, “Urusu” (fair) is celebrated with fervour. One can reach the place by bus from Nellore.
The Temple of Sri Mulasthaneswara Swamy was built, 1400 years ago, to the west of Nellore. As the Lord manifested Himself under a “Nelli” tree, a temple was built there itself. Manumasidhi rulers constructed the “Raja Gopuram” (Royal tower of the temple). Legend goes that the poet Tikkana Somayaji translated Mahabhratam into telugu only after making his obeisance to the deity.
Malla village lies on the Nayudupeta – Duggarajupatnam road in the Chittamuru mandal and is 96 km away from Nellore. The temple was constructed by the Chola rulers of the 10th and 11th Centuries. The “Vasantala Mandapam” here is a shining example of sculpture of exllence. The “Vasantala Mandapam” is strikingly sculpted in the form of a chariot drawn by a pair of horses. Episodes and events from the epic of Ramayana and Siva puranam have been sculpted splendidly on the pillars of the Mandapam. The Veera Kallulu “ of the veera saivas are also found here. The 64 pillars of the Vasantha Mandapam are tastefully decorated with pictures pf creepers and tales from Ramayanam, Bharatham and Bhagavatam. Many lovely sculptures adorn the sides and lower part of the Mandapam. The temples of the consorts of Subramanyaswamy – Sri Valli, Her encourage abd Devaseba lie in the inner “Prakaram” (compound wall) and opposite the “ Dwaram” (entrance) of Subraanyaswami Idol.
Goddess Chengalamma Parameswari manifested Herself in the village of Sullurupet which lies 100Km. away from Nellore on the Kolkata-Chennai highway and the temple for Her was built on the bank of the Kanlangi river. History tells us that it was established during the fourth and fifth centuries. People also refer to her as the village goddess “Tenkali”. With the passage of time, she is being worshipped regularly by devotees as Chengalamma. Devotees turn up in large number to witness “Chengalamma Jatara” (fair).
The Village goddess who was called Tankali gained reputation as Sullurupet Chengalamma Thalli and her idol in the temple faces the sea. Devotees from different parts of the State visit the place and fulfil their vows, refering the goddess as the mother who grants boons liberally. The naturally-formed image of the goddess adorning the hanging roots (vooda) of the banyan tree is really an awe-inspiring spectacle.
Alghu Malluru Krishna Swamy temple is existing in the Mannarpoluru Village, right from the time of Telugu Chola rulers. The village is close-by to Sullurupet, at a distance of 103 Km. from Nellore. It was built in the 17th century by Bangaru Yadama Nayudu, the living place of mallayodas or wrestlers. According to a legend, it was here that Lord Sri Krishna defeated Jambavantha in a duel and married his daughter Jambavati and that Lord MahaVishnu deflated the bloated ego of Garutmata here alone. Apart from the idol of Satyabhama and Jambavati, the two consorts of Lord Krishna, the idol of Jambavantha creating the illusion of shedding tears are bound to amaze the viewers. One cannot help marvelling at the sculptural splendour exuded by the idols of the beauties.
This is a very ancient sacred place (pilgrim centre). Lord Narasimha manifested Himself here as a huge of rock in “Yoga mudra” (in an entwined contemplative posture) and hence it acquired the name of “Penusila” (huge rock) and in course of time became famous as “Penchalakona”. Legend has it that after slaying the demon Hiranya Kasipa, Lord Narsimha bathed in Penchalakona and withdrew that “Avatara”(incarnation) of Narasimha, shedding His anger and ferocity. The Lord here goes by the name of Somasila Narasimhaswamy and has become one of the Nava Narasimhas (nine manifestations). People belive that because the sage Kanva resided in this area in the past, the river flowing here acquired the name Kanva Nadi and that with efflux of time it became Kandaleru. It is also learnt that the temple was renovated in the 10th century.
Penchalkona lies at the foothills of Veligondalu (mentioned earlier), at a distance of 80 km., from Nellore. Narasimha Jayanthi is celebrated every year in the month of May and devotees flock specially on Saturday. The Devestanam choultries provide facilities to the piligrims and there is bus service too.
Vedagiri Lakshmimarasimha Swamy devastanam came into being nearly 500 years ago, on the summit of Narasimhakonad. According to the rock inscriptions, this temple was built by the Pallava king Narsimha Varma in the ninth century. Legend goes that the sage Kasyapa established the temple on the bank of Pinakini. And the vedic scripture “Brahmapurana” reveals that the seven sages (Saptarishis) performed “yagnam” (Sacrifice) on the top of Narasimhakonda. The seven (Koneru) tanks were renovated with Mandapas on the hilltop . The holy place lies 15Km. away from Nellore, on the southern bank of the river Pinakini. Every year “Brahmotsavams” are celebrated here in the month of May. Jonnawada is to the north of the river.
Mallikarjuna Swamu kamakshi tai temple, Jonnawada which is located about 12 kms from Nellore. The destination is also well connected for Railway station at Nellore. A famous Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Kamakhsi tai temple is located on the bank of river Pennar, 12 Km from Nellore. It attracts many piligirims. The Village is part of Buchireddipalem Mandal. In tretayuga Mahamuni Kasyapa Brahma performed yagna and pleased Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy thus this place is named as ‘Yagnavatika Jonnawada’. Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Kamakhsi tai grant to the innumerable devotes their desires, as their God head. Since then he continues conferring boons and his blessings on his devotees. This temple is constructed in the year 1150( Tretayuga). The goddess Kamkshi is belived as an incarnation of Shakti. A ‘Sri Chakram’ was installed here by Sri Jagadguru Sankaracharya. Pilgrims take a holy dip in the lake known as Kachpateertham, near the temple, which washes away all their bad karma. Brahma Rushi Sri Kashyap Mahamuni visited Bhoolokam (The Earth) and wanted to perform Yagna and chosen north of vedadri as Yagna Vatika (place to perform yagna) After successful completion of the Yagna a bright light appeared. It has spread over the whole bhoolokam. Later Lord Eswara appeared as Lord Mallikarjuna, who came out from fire of Yagna.
There is bus service from Nellore to Jonnawada. For the convenienc of the pilgrims there are choultries of the Devastanam and TTD and also private choultries. Every year, during the celebration of Brahmstsavam in the month of Vaisaka, lakhs of devotees throng the holy centre to worship the goddess to attain salvation and Friday is the day very dear to Kamakshitai. One can find persons, persecuted by evil spirits, circumambulating in the temple precinct. A bathing ghat has been built on the bank of the Penna, for the convenience of the pilgrims.
Sri Talapagiri Ranaganatha swamy Temple is located in Nellore city and is about 5kms away from Nellore Bus stand. RanganadaSwamy Temple in Nellore is more than 600years old. This temple is situated on the banks of the river Pennar and is marked by a huge 29 Mts tall Galigopuram with seven gold kalasams and its architectural splendour. The annual Rath Yathra of the God is a much awaited ritual in Nellore.
There are seven kalisams, which brings beauty to the temple. Every year during the month of March-April (varies according to Hindu calendar) grand festival is celebrated. These are called Brahmotsavam.
On the bank of river penna sri kashyapa Maharshi performed yagna and as a fruit of his penance conferred upon him the gift of establishing himself as Ranganadha Swamy at Nellore in 7th cebtury, by Pallava ruler Sri Rajaraja Narendra. Subsequently in 13th century Sri Jatha Varma has offered precious stones and metal to Lord Ranganadha Swamy. The Andhra Maha Bharatam i.e. from Viratprvam to the end of the epicwas written by the poet Sri kavi Brahma Tikkana, on the bank of pennar river. On the east there is seven storied Maha gopuram, south Sri Ranganayaki Lakshmi Devi) temple and beautiful mirror dias, west is sacred Pennar river and north Sri Andal Ammavari temple.
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| waterfall |
Lord Siva, Bhairavakona, (Kothapalli X Road | Singarayakonda | Pallevelugu | 16:30 | 48.00 | 25.00 | 115 |
Kandukur | Pallevelugu | 07:00, 13:00, 19:15 | 42.00 | 21.00 | 100 | |
C.S.Puram | Pallevelugu | 05:00, 05:45, 06:45, 07:30,08:45, 09:30, 10:45, 11:30, 12:30, 14:15, 15:30, 16:15, 17:30, 18:15, 19:30, 20:30,21:00. | 10.00 | 6.00 | 20 |
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| sweetwater |
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| hell view |
A 15-year-old Hindu shrine has been demolished by the city authorities in Kuala Lumpur even after an order by the Territories ministry banning the destruction of any temple without allocating alternate site.
The latest demolition of a shrine in Taman Desa, Seputeh, on Tuesday has raged anger among the Hindu community, who are now asking questions to explain the demolition act, media reports said here on Wednesday.
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) authorities had apparently issued a notice about the action to be taken in October and pasted the message on the temple's wall, reports added.
The notice was not handed over to the shrine authorities.
Leading ethnic Indian leader and President of the Malaysian Indian Congress, Samy Vellu, has asked the city authorities to explain their action and has warned of personally taking up the matter to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Deputy Federal Territories Minister M Saravanan said he was upset over the demolition and would meet Federal Territories minister Datuk Zulhasnan Rafique on Wednesday.
"I have an understanding with the Federal Territories Minister that no existing temples would be demolished unless an alternative site has been given. If there was any development on the land, then the temple would be relocated," he said.
Multi-religious and multi-ethnic Malaysia has a eight per cent ethnic Indian population a majority of whom are Tamil Hindus.
Saravanan has asked Hindus to give the ministry a day or two before the issue could be resolve amicably.
Chidambaram (PTI): It was an end of an era in the 1500-year-old Chidambaram temple with the Madras High Court rejecting the plea that it was a private temple, paving way for direct state administrative control.
The centuries-long hold of Podhu Dikshitars on the temple, a small well-knit Brahmin community which believes that its forefathers have directly descended from Lord Shiva's abode Mount Kailas to administer the Chidambaram temple, has finally ended last week following an order of the Madras High Court after a prolonged legal battle.
Justice R Bhanumathi's order rejecting the plea of the 3000-strong Dikshitars community that the 5th century AD temple was a private one and they had 'untrammelled rights', paved the way for direct administrative control of the state government. She upheld the appointment of an executive officer to administer the temple.
The temple with its four imposing towers rising 175 feet above the ground has a unique place in Hindu mythology as it holds the key to 'Chidambara rahasym' (secret of Chidambram). A small corner next to the idol of Lord Nataraja has a curtain with a golden garland in the shape of 'bilva' leaves, which according to scholars, is an example of permeating omnipresence of God.
Dikshitars who were not willing to give up their traditional hold on the temple have gone in for an appeal to the larger bench of the High Court.
C Navathandava Dikshitar, President of Thiruchitrambalam Annathanam Arakkatali Trust, said Dikshitars have been performing poojas and selling prasadams for many centuries and blamed the politicians behind the government's resolve to take over the temple.
The legal tussle began years ago when the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department appointed an Executive Officer (EO) to administer the temple which was challenged by the Dikshitars.
HR and CE officials said and EO had already been posted and he functioned from outside the temple and moved in, to takeover after the court's order.
The Janata party and Hindu organisations have opposed government taking over of the temple.
The ruling comes as a shot in the arm for the state government whose EO has been functioning from outside the temple for the past 20 years, after the Dikshitars declined him entry and challenged his appointment made in 1987, claiming full rights by virtue of maintaining the temple.
courtesy: The Hindu
An array of striking paintings has been whitewashed out of existence at the Rajagopalaswamy Kulasekara Alwar temple at Mannarkovil in Tirunelveli district. These were images of the coronation of Rama, the Dasavataram, Narasimha, Garuda, a wrestler fighting an elephant and so on. Estimates put their antiquity at 150 to 250 years.More recently, murals of the late Nayak period were whitewashed at Muthalamman temple at Kodangipatti, near Karur.
Over the past several years, similar mural masterpieces have been whitewashed at the Meenakshi temple in Madurai, the Arunachaleswarar temple at Tiruvannamalai, the Vishnu temple at Tiruvellarai near Tiruchi, and Siva temples at Patteeswaram near Kumbakonam, Tiruppulivanam in Kancheepuram district and Vedaranyam, all administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the Tamil Nadu government.
Similar vandalism has been witnessed at other temples in the State, including the Varadarajaswamy temple in Kancheepuram, the Lakshmi Narasimhar temple at Sevilimedu, and the Sanjeeva Rayar temple at Iyengarkulam, both near Kancheepuram.
The latest round of effacement that has been revealed took place about six months ago in the name of renovation, and it is still under way. Sculptures on pillars and inscriptions have also been “cleaned” by sand-blasting: it involves training sand on them at high pressure. This is in violation of a Government Order that bans sand-blasting in temples as it damages sculptures and inscriptions. A sign-board at the temple says Rs. 8,16,000 will be needed for “sand-blasting (chemical wash)” for the renovation.
The Mannarkovil temple was built by Chera king Rajasimha in the 11th century A.D. for the Chola emperor Rajendra. It has an independent sub-shrine, belonging to the 13th century, devoted to the Vaishnavite saint Kulasekara Alwar, who spent his last days in Mannarkovil. It has inscriptions of the Chola and the later Pandya kings. It has three sanctum sanctorums.
The murals that have been whitewashed existed on the side walls of the mantapa (hall) in front of the sanctum on the first floor. While the paintings on the sanctum walls remain, those that were whitewashed include the scene of Rama’s coronation (pattabhishekam) and the Dasavataram on one side. On the opposite side, a masterpiece of Narasimha too has disappeared under coats of lime. Murals on the wooden beams supporting the roof have received coats of paint. Murals on the second floor mantapa, which underwent a gaudy restoration some decades ago, have been whitewashed.
K.T. Gandhirajan, a specialist in art history, said murals in the temples at Mannarkovil and the nearby Tirupudaimarudur, Edaikal and Kalakkadu, exhibited the rare characteristics of “the confluence of Tamil Nadu and Kerala schools of painting.” What was special about the Mannarkovil temple was that it had paintings on both walls and wood.
“The idea was that the halls should be replete with paintings. The artists must have used two types of pigments — one for the wall and another for the timber — because the colour schemes are different, ” he said.
P. Krishnan, during whose tenure as temple Executive Officer the murals were whitewashed, said he never gave permission for such work.
courtesy: the Hindu
The Devalaya in Embekka is dedicated to the worship of Mahasen, popularly known as Katharagama Deviyo. A local deity called Devatha Bandara is also worshiped at this site. The shrine consists of three sections, the "Sanctum of Garagha", the "Digge" or "Dancing Hall" and the "Hevisi Mandapaya" or the "Drummers' Hall". The Drummers' Hall that has drawn the attention of visitors to the site, due to the splendid wood carvings of its ornate pillars and its high pitched roof.
Carvings and Wood Work
Carvings and Wood Work
It is said that some of the wood work utilized for the "Drummers' Hall" came from an abandoned "Royal Audience Hall" at Gampola. There is every possibility the hall has seen repairs during the reigns of the Sinhalese Kings of Kandy. The carvings, which adorn the wooden pillars of the drummers' hall, as well as the "Vahalkada" (the entrance porch of the devala, which is said to be older) are some of the best examples of Sinhalese art.
The roof itself has significant features. The rafters all slant from above towards the incoming visitor are fixed together and kept in position by a "Madol Kurupawa", a kind of a giant catch pin the like of which we do not find elsewhere.
"Madol Kurupawa", pins 26 beams together. |
Embekka Devalaya is situated in Medapalata Korale of Udunuwara in Kandy district. The easiest way to get to Embekka is coming from Colombo - Kandy main road at Pilimathalawa. There is a clear sign post hosted by the Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka at the start of the road to Embekka. It is about 7 - 8 km (5 miles) from Pilimathalawa to Embekka from the Colombo - Kandy main road. On the Daulagala road proceed about a mile and you will come to the Gadaladeniya junction, which you can see the famous Gadaladeniya Viharaya right at the junction. Both roads from the junction would take you to Embekka. The shortest would be the one to the right, but if you wish to see the Lankathilaka Viharaya you should take the road to the left. If you take the road to the left you can see the Embekka Ambalama [3] just before you arrive at the Embekka Devalaya.
Islamic literary sources provide far more extensive evidence of temple destruction by the Muslim invaders of India in medieval times. They also cover a large area, from Sinkiang and Transoxiana in the North to Tamil Nadu in the South, and from Siestan province of present day Iran in the West to Assam in the East. This vast area, which was long the cradle of hindu culture, came to be littered with the ruins of temples and monasteries, belonging to all schools of Santana Dharma - Baudhha, Jaina, Shaiva, Sakta, Vaishnava, and the rest. Archeological explorations and excavations in modern times have proved unmistakably that most of the mosques, mazars, ziarats and dargahs which were built in this area, stood on the sites of and were made from the materials of deliberately demolished Hindu monuments.
Hundreds of medieval muslim historians who flourished in India and elsewhere in the world of Islam, have written detailed accounts of what their heroes did in various parts of the extensive Hindu homeland as they were invaded one after another. It is alear from the literary evidence collected alone that all Muslim rulers destroyed or desecrated Hindu temples whenever and whereever they could. Archeological evidence from various Muslim monuments, particularly mosques and dargahs, not only confirms the literary evidence but also adds the names of some Muslim rulers whom Muslim historians have failed to credit with this pious performance.
Some of the literary evidence of temple destruction during Aurangzeb's rule is listed below.
[Emphasis mine.]
1. "Mir'at-i-Alam" by Bakhtawar Khan
The author was a nobleman of Aurangzeb's court. He died in AD 1684. the history ascribed to him was really compiled by Muhammad Baqa of Saharanpur who gave the name of his friend as its author. Baqa was a prolific writer who was invited by Bakhtawar Khan to Aurangzeb's court and given a respectable rank. He died in AD 1683.
Excerpts:
Muhiyu'd-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb 'Alamgir Padshah Ghazi (1658-1707) General Order
" ...Hindu writers have been entirely excluded from holding public offices, and ALL THE WORSHIPPING PLACES OF THE INFIDELS AND GREAT TEMPLES of these infamous people HAVE BEEN THROWN DOWN AND DESTROYED in a manner which excites astonishment at the successful completion of so difficult a task. His Majesty personally teaches the sacred kalima to many infidels with success. ... All mosques in the empire are repaired at public expense..."
2. "Alamgir-Nama" by Mirza Muhammad Kazim
This work, written in AD 1688 contains a history of the first ten years of Aurangzeb's reign.
Excerpts:
Muhiyu'd-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb 'Alamgir Padshah Ghazi (1658-1707) Palamau (Bihar)
" ...In 1661 Aurangzeb in his zeal to uphold the law of Islam sent orders to his viceroy in Bihar, Daud Khan, to conquer Palamau. In the military operations that followed MANY TEMPLES WERE DESTROYED..."
Koch Bihar (Bengal)
" ...Towards the end of the same year when Mir Jumla made a war on the Raja of Kuch Bihar, the MUGHALS DESTROYED MANY TEMPLES during the course of their operations. IDOLS WERE BROKEN AND SOME TEMPLES WERE CONVERTED INTO MOSQUES. ..."
3. "Mas'ir-i-'Alamgiri" by Saqi Must'ad Khan
The author completed this history in 1710 at the behest of Inayatu''llah Khan Kashmiri, Aurangzeb's last secretary and favorite disciple in state policy and religiosity. The materials which Must'ad Khan used in this history of Aurangzeb's reign came mostly from the State archives.
Excerpts:
Muhiyu'd-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb 'Alamgir Padshah Ghazi (1658-1707) General Order
"...The Lord Cherisher of the faith learnt that in the provinces of Tatta, Multan, and especially at Benaras, the Brahmin misbelievers used to teach their false books in their established schools, and that admirers and students both Hindu and Muslim, used to come from great distances to these misguided men in order to acquire this vile learning. His majesty, eager to establish Islam, issues orders to the governors of all the provinces TO DEMOLISH THE SCHOOLS AND TEMPLES OF THE INFIDELS and with utmost urgency put down the teaching and the public practice of the religion of these misbelievers..."
Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)
" ...It was reported that, according to the Emperor's command, his officers HAD DEMOLISHED THE TEMPLE OF VISHWANATH AT KASHI. ..." Mathura (Uttar Pradesh)
" ... During this month of Ramzan abounding in miracles, the Emperor as the promoter of justice and overthrower of mischief, as the knower of truth and destroyer of oppression, as the zephyr of the garden of victory and the reviver of the faith of the Prophet, ISSUED ORDERS FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE TEMPLE SITUATED IN MATHURA< FAMOUS AS THE DEHRA OF KESHO RAI. In the short time by the great exertions of his officers the DESTRUCTION OF THIS STRONG FOUNDATION OF INFIDELITY WAS ACCOMPLISHED< AND ON ITS SITE A LOFTY MOSQUE WAS BUILT at the expenditure of a large sum..."
" ...Praised be the August God of the faith of Islam, that in the auspicious reign of this DESTROYER OF INFIDELITY AND TURBULENCE, such a wonderful and seemingly impossible work was successfully accomplished. On seeing this instance of strength of the Emperor's faith and the grandeur of his devotion to God, the proud Rajas were stifled and in amazement they stood like images facing the wall. THE IDOLS, LARGE AND SMALL< SET WITH COSTLY JEWELS WHIC HAD BEEN SET UP IN THE TEMPLE WERE BROUGHT TO AGRA< AND BURIED UNDER THE STEPS OF THE MOSQUE OF BEGUM SAHIB, IN ORDER TO BE CONTINUALLY TRODDEN UPON. The name of Mathura was changed to Islamabad. ..."
Khandela (Rajasthan)
" ... Darab Khan who had been sent with a strong force to punish the Rajputs of Khandela and TO DEMOLISH THE GREAT TEMPLE OF THE PLACE, attacked on March 8th/Safar 5th, and slew the three hundred and odd men who made a bold defence, not one of them escaping alive. THE TEMPLES OF KHANDELA AND SANULA AND ALL OTHER TEMPLES IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WERE DEMOLISHED ..."
Jodhpur (Rajasthan)
" ... On 24th Rabi S. (Sunday, May 25th), Khan Jahan Bahadur came from Jodhpur, AFTER DEMOLISHING THE TEMPLES and bringing with himself some cart-loads of idols, and had audience of the Emperor, who higly praised him and ordered that the idols, which were mostly jewelled, golden, silver, bronze, copper, or stone, should be cast in the yard (jilaukhanah) of the Court AND UNDER THE STEPS OF THE JAMA MOSQUE, TO BE TRODDEN UPON..."
Udaipur (Rajasthan)
" ... Ruhullah Khan and Ekkataz Khan WENT TO DEMOLISH THE GREAT TEMPLE in front of the Rana's palace, which was one of the rarest buildings of the age and the chief cause of the destruction of the life and property of the despised worshippers. Twenty 'machator' Rajputs who were sitting in the Temple vowed to give up their lives; first one of them came out to fight, killed some and was them himself slain, then came out another and so on, until every one of the twenty perished, after killing a large number of the imperialists including the trusted slave Ikhlas. The Temple was found empty. THE HEWERS BROKE THE IMAGES. ..."
" ...On Saturday, the 24th January, 1680 (2nd Muharram), the Emperor went to view lake Udaisagar, constructed by the Rana, AND ORDERED ALL THE THREE TEMPLES ON ITS BANKS TO BE DEMOLISHED. ..."
" ...On the 29th January/7th Muharram, Hasan Ali Khan brought to the Emperor twenty camel-loads of tents and other things captured from the Rana's Palace and REPORTED THAT ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-TWO OTHER TEMPLES IN THE ENVIRONS OF UDAIPUR HAD BEEN DESTROYED. The Khan received the title of Bahadur Alamgirshahi..."
Amber (Rajasthan)
"... Abu Turab, who had been SENT TO DEMOLISH THE TEMPLES of AMBER, returned to the Court on Tuesday August 10th (Rajab 24th), and reported that HE HAD PULLED DOWN SIXTY-SIX TEMPLES. ..."
Bijapur (Karnataka)
" ... Hamiduddin Khan Bahadur WHO HAD GONE TO DEMOLISH A TEMPLE AND BUILD A MOSQUE (IN ITS PLACE) in Bijapur, having excellently carried his orders, came to court and gained praise and the post of darogha of gusulkhanah, which brought him near the Emperor's person..."
General Text
"...LARGE NUMBERS OF PLACES OF WORSHIP OF THE INFIDELS AND GREAT TEMPLES OF THESE WICKED PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THROWN DOWN AND DESOLATED. Men who can see only the outside of things are filled with wonder at the successful accomplishment of such a seemingly difficult task. AND ON THE SITES OF THE TEMPLES LOFTY MOSQUES HAVE BEEN BUILT..."
4. "Akhbarat"
These were reports from different provinces compiled in the reign of Aurangzeb.
Excerpts:
Muhiyu'd-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb 'Alamgir Padshah Ghazi (1658-1707)
Mathura (Uttar Pradesh)
" ... The emporer learning that in the temple of Keshav Rai at Mathura there was a stone railing presented by Dara Shikoh, remarked, 'In the Muslim faith it is a sin even to look at a temple, and this Dara Shikoh had restored a railing in a temple. This fact is not creditable to the Muhammadans. REMOVE THE RAILING.' By his order Abdun Nabi Khan (the faujdar of Mathura) REMOVED IT..."
Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh)
" ... News came from Malwa that Wazir Khan had sent Gada Beg, a slave, with 400 troopers, TO DESTROY ALL TEMPLES AROUND UJJAIN... A Rawat of the place resisted and slew Gada Beg with 121 of his men..."
Aurangabad (Maharashtra)
"...... The Emperor learnt from a secret news writer of Delhi that in Jaisinghpura Bairagis used to worship idols, and that the Censor on hearing of it had gone there, arrested Sri Krishna Bairagis and taken him with 15 idols away to his house; then the Rajputs had assembled, flocked to the Censor's house, wounded three footmen of the Censor and tried to seize the Censor himself; so that the latter set the Bairagis free and sent the copper idols to the local subahdar ..."
Pandharpur (Maharashtra)
"... The Emperor, summoning Muhammad Khalil and Khidmat Rai, the darogha of hatchet-men .... ORDERED THEM TO DEMOLISH THE TEMPLE OF PANDHARPUR, and to take the butchers of the camp there AND SLAUGHTER COWS IN THE TEMPLE ... It was done..."
On Way to the Deccan
" ... When the war with the Rajputs was over, Aurangzeb decided to leave for the Deccan. His march seems to have been marked with A DESTRUCTION TO MANY TEMPLES on the way. On May 21, 1681, the superintendent of the labourers WAS ORDERED TO DESTROY ALL THE TEMPLES on the route..."
Lakheri ( ? - means the place is not traceable today )
" ... On 27 Sept., 1681, the emperor issued orders FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLES at Lakheri..."
Rasulpur( ? )
"... About this time, April 14, 1692, orders were issued to the provincial governor and the district faujdar TO DEMOLISH THE TEMPLES at Rasulpur..."
Sheogaon ( ? )
" ... Sankar, a messenger, was sent TO DEMOLISH A TEMPLE near Sheogaon.."
Ajmer (Rajasthan)
"... Bijai Singh and several other Hindus were reported to be carrying on public worship of idols in a temple in the neighborhood of Ajmer. On 23 June, 1694, THE GOVERNER OF AJMER WAS ORDERED TO DESTROY THE TEMPLE and stop the public adoration of idol worship there..."
Wakenkhera ( ? )
" ... The TEMPLE OF WAKENKHERA IN THE FORT WAS DEMOLISHED ON 2 MARCH, 1705. ..."
Bhagwant Garh (Rajasthan)
"... The newswriter of Ranthambore REPORTED THE DESTRUCTION OF A TEMPLE IN PARGANAH BHAGWANT GARH. Gaj Singh Gor had repaired the temple and made some additions thereto..."
Malpura (Rajasthan)
" ... Royal orders FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF TEMPLES IN MALPURA TODA were received and the officers were assigned for this work..."
5. "Fathiyya-i-'Ibriyya"
This is a diary of Mir Jumla's campaigns in Kuch Bihar and Assam. "By looting," writes Jadunath Sarkar, "the temples of the South and hunting out buried treasures, Mir Jumla amassed a vast fortune. The huge Hindu idols of copper were brought away in large numbers to be melted and cast into cannon. ..."
Excerpts:
Muhiyu'd-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb 'Alamgir Padshah Ghazi (AD 1658-1707)
Koch Bihar (Bengal)
" ... Mir Jumla made his way into Kuch Bihar by an obscure and neglected highway. .... In six days the Mughal Army reached the capital (19th December) which had been deserted by the Rajah and his people in terror. The name of the town was changed to Alamgirnagar; the muslim call to prayer, so long forbidden in the city, was chanted from the lofty roof of the palace, and a mosque was built by DEMOLISHING THE PRINCIPLE TEMPLE..."
6. "Kalimat-i-Tayyibat" by 'Inayatullah
This is a collection of letters and orders of Aurangzeb compiled by 'Inayatullah in AD 1719 and covers the years 1699-1704 of Aurangzeb's reign.
Muhiyu'd-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb 'Alamgir Padshah Ghazi (AD 1658-1707)
Somnath (Gujarat)
"... The TEMPLE OF SOMNATH WAS DEMOLISHED early in my reign and idol worship (there) put down. It is not known what the state of things there is at present. If the idolators have again taken to the worship of images at the place, THEN DESTROY THE TEMPLE IN SUCH A WAY THAT NO TRACE OF THE BUILDING MAY BE LEFT, and also expel them (the worshippers) from the place. ..."
Satara (Maharashtra)
"... The village of Sattara near Aurangabad was my hunting ground. Here on the top of the hill, STOOD A TEMPLE WITH AN IMAGE OF KHANDE RAI. BY GOD'S GRACE I DEMOLISHED IT, AND FORBADE THE TEMPLE DANCERS (muralis) to ply their shameful profession..."
General Observation "... THE DEMOLITION OF A TEMPLE IS POSSIBLE AT ANY TIME, as it cannot walk away from its place. ..."
Sirhind (Punjab)
"... In a small village in the sarkar of Sirhind, A SIKH TEMPLE WAS DEMOLISHED AND CONVERTED INTO A MOSQUE. An imam was appointed who was subsequently killed. ..."
7. "Ganj-i-Arshadi"
It is a contemporary account of the destruction of Hindu temples at Varanasi in the reign of Aurangzeb.
Excerpts:
Muhiyu'd-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb 'Alamgir Padshah Ghazi (AD 1658-1707)
Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh)
"... The infidels demolished a mosque that was under construction and wounded the artisans. When the news reached Shah Yasin, he came to Banaras from Mandyawa and collecting the Muslim weavers, DEMOLISHED THE BIG TEMPLE. A Sayyid who was an artisan by profession agreed with one Abdul Rasul to build a mosque at Banaras and accordingly the foundation was laid. Near the place there was a temple and many houses belonging to it were in the occupation of the Rajputs. The infidels decided that the construction of a mosque in the locality was not proper and that it should be razed to the ground. At night the walls of the mosque were found demolished. next day the wall was rebuilt but it was again destroyed. This happened three or four times. At last the Sayyid his himself in the corner. With the advent of night the infidels came to achieve their nefarious purpose. When Abdul Rasul gave the alarm, the infidels began to fight and the Sayyid was wounded by the Rajputs. In the meantime, the Musalman residents of the neighborhood arrived at the spot and the infidels took to their heels. The wounded muslims were taken to Shah Yasin who determined to vindicate the cause of Islam. When he came to the mosque, people collected from the neighborhood. the civil officers were outwardly inclined to side with the saint, but in reality they were afraid of the Royal displeasure on the account of the Raja, who was a courtier of the Emperor and had built the temple (near which the mosque was under construction). Shah Yasin, however, took up the sword and started for Jihad. The civil officers sent him a message that such a grave step should not be taken without the Emperor's permission. Shah Yasin, paying no heed, sallied forth till he reached Bazar Chau Khamba through a fusillade of stones ...... THE DOORS (OF TEMPLES) WERE FORCED OPEN AND THE IDOLS THROWN DOWN. THE WEAVERS AND OTHER MUSALMANS DEMOLISHED ABOUT 500 TEMPLES. They desired to destroy the temple of Beni Madho, but as lanes were barricaded, they desisted from going further...."
8. "Kalimat-i-Aurangzeb" by 'Inayatullah
This is another compilation of letters and orders by 'Inayatu'llah covering the years 1703-06 of Aurangzeb's reign.
Muhiyu'd-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb 'Alamgir Padshah Ghazi (AD 1658-1707) Maharashtra
"...The houses of this country (Maharashtra) are exceedingly strong and built solely of stone and iron. The hatchet-men of the Govt. in the course of my marching do not get sufficient strength and power (i.e. time) TO DESTROY AND RAZE THE TEMPLES OF THE INFIDELS that meet the eye on the way. You should appoint an orthodox inspector (darogha) who may afterwards DESTROY THEM AT LEISURE AND DIG UP THEIR FOUNDATIONS..."
9. "Muraq'at-i-Abu'I Hasan" by Maulana Abu'l Hasan
This is a collection of records and documents compiled by (the above named author) one of Aurangzeb's officers in Bengal and Orissa during AD 1655-67.
Excerpts:
Muhiyu'd-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb 'Alamgir Padshah Ghazi (AD 1658-1707)
Bengal and Orissa
"...Order issued on all faujdars of thanas, civil officers (mutasaddis), agents of jagirdars, kroris, and amlas from Katak to Medinipur on the frontier of Orissa :- The imperial paymaster Asad Khan has sent a letter written by order of the Emperor, to say, that the Emperor learning from the newsletters of the province of Orissa that at the village of Tilkuti in Medinipur a temple has been (newly) built, HAS ISSUED HIS AUGUST MANDATE FOR ITS DESTRUCTION, and THE DESTRUCTION OF ALL TEMPLES BUILT ANYWHERE IN THIS PROVINCE BY THE WORTHLESS INFIDELS. Therefore, you are commanded with extreme urgency that immediately on the receipt of this letter YOU SHOULD DESTROY THE ABOVE MENTIONED TEMPLES. EVERY IDOL-HOUSE BUILT DURING THE LAST 10 or 12 YEARS, WHETHER WITH BRICK OR CLAY, SHOULD BE DEMOLISHED WITHOUT DELAY. ALSO, DO NOT ALLOW THE CRUSHED HINDUS AND DESPICABLE INFIDELS TO REPAIR THEIR OLD TEMPLES. REPORTS OF THE DESTRUCTION OF TEMPLES SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COURT UNDER THE SEAL OF THE QAZIS and attested by PIOUS SHAIKHS..."
10. "Futuhat-i-Alamgiri" by Ishwardas Nagar
The author was a Brahman from Gujarat, born around AD 1654. Till the age of thirty he was in the service of the Chief Qazi of the empire under Aurangzeb. Later on, he took up a post under Shujat Khan, the governor of Gujarat, who appointed him Amin in the pargana of Jodhpur. His history covers almost half a century of Aurangzeb's reign, from 1657 to 1700. There is nothing in his style which may mark him out as a Hindu.
Excerpts:
Muhiyu'd-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb 'Alamgir Padshah Ghazi (AD 1658-1707)
Mathura (Uttar Pradesh)
" ... When the imperial army was encamping at Mathura, a holy city of the Hindus, the state of affairs with regard to temples of Mathura was brought to the notice of His Majesty. Thus, HE ORDERED THE FAUJDAR OF THE CITY, ABDUL NABI KHAN, TO RAZE TO THE GROUND EVERY TEMPLE AND TO CONSTRUCT BIG MOSQUES (over their demolished sites)..."
Udaipur (Rajasthan)
"... The Emperor, within a short time, reached Udaipur AND DESTROYED THE GATE OF DEHBARI, THE PALACES OF RANA AND THE TEMPLES OF UDAIPUR. Apart from it, the trees of his gardens were also destroyed..."
courtesy: www.hindunet.org
The largest Hindu temple in northern Germany opened in Hanover on Sunday with a fire ceremony that began before sunrise. A Hindu high priest from Canada performed the ritual blessings, and a calf loaned by a local farmer served as a holy presence.
"This Hindu temple will enrich Hanover's religious diversity," said Hanover's mayor, Ingrid Lange, on Sunday. The Sri Muthumariamman Temple will serve the 300-member Tamil Hindu Cultural Association, founded in Hanover in 1994.
The Hanover temple has room for about 100 people. Its cost -- about €300,000 -- was financed through donations in addition to a loan taken by the association.
All told, about 5,000 Hindus live in Lower Saxony, where Hanover is located. An escalation of the Sinhalese-Tamil conflict in Sri Lanka during the 1980s led to a surge in Tamil asylum-seekers across Europe. A large Hindu temple in Hamm, in the western German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, opened in 2002, with space for about 300 worshippers.Around 1,000 Hindus from around Germany showed up for the blessings on Sunday evening. Hindus believe that ritual purification of a new temple can bring as much luck as many years of prayer.
