Large Hindu Temples Across the World
Enlightenment is thegoal of every Hindu temple. Temples of Hindu deities are present not only just in India but around the world. It is surprising to see the ancient Hindu temples that are known for their enormity and amazing architecture. Even today various religious institutions are planning huge and tallest temples. I present before you a list of 10 largest temples across continents:
1. Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Situated on the banks of the Bagmati River, the Pashupatinath temple पशुपतिनाथ मन्दिर is the heart of the valley Kathmandu, Nepal surrounds about 24,60,000 sq meters of land including 518 temples and monuments, and is regarded as one of the most sacred temples of Hinduism. The temple functions as the chair of their central deity, Lord Pashupatinath or the ‘ lord of animals’.
The architecture of the main temple is the Nepalese pagoda style of architecture. All the features of pagoda style are found here like cubic constructions, beautifully carved wooden rafters on which they rest (tundal). The temple resides on a square base platform with a height of 23m 7 cm from base to pinnacle.
The priests or the pujaris are from India and have been heard reciting Sanskrit Slokas. The Pashupati Nath temple is also crucial for India and Nepal relationship.
2. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat Temple Complex with idol (Inset)
Angkor Wat (the city of temples) is the largest religious structure (temple complex) in the world by land area, measuring 162.6 hectares (1.626 km2; 402 acres), located in Cambodia. Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia is the largest Hindu temple in the world, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Angkor Wat was originally dedicated to Lord Vishnu and later, it became a Buddhist complex. It is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists in Cambodia and around the world. It is a UNESCO world heritage site and icon of Cambodia.
Unlike other Hindu temples, the main entrance of the Angkor Wat faces the West and the temple stands on a raised terrace above the rest of the city. The tower above the central shrine rises 65 meters (213 feet) above the ground surrounded by four smaller towers.
There is also a 3.2 meters high statue of Lord Vishnu made of sandstone. The central complex of Angkor Wat is a three-story structure. The temple has hundreds of images of Lord Buddha and the inner wall is decorated with important scenes from Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharta.
3. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam,Tiruchirapalli,India
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple with idol (inset)
Dedicated to Lord Ranganatha (a reclining form of Lord Vishnu), the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam is an important shrine that receives millions of visitors and pilgrims every year. With an area of 156 acres (6,31,000 m²), and with 81 shrines, 21 towers, 39 pavillions, and many water tanks integrate into the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple complex, making it one of the largest Hindu functioning temple complex in the world. At a height of 236 feet, the main gopura of the temple known as Rajagopuram. It is the second tallest temple tower in Asian continent. There is also a hall with thousand pillars and decorated with sculptures. Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the main sanctum of the temple.
4. Akshardham , Delhi
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Located on the banks of Yamuna river in Delhi, the temple was completed in 2005 by the spiritual organization BAPS. The building was inspired and moderated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the current head of Swaminarayan Hinduism.
The temple complex spreads across an area of 100 acres. The central monument is 43 meters (411 feet) high, 96 meters (316 feet) wide, and 110 meters (370 feet) long. It consists of 234 carved pillars and nine domes, 148 full-size elephants, 42 birds, and 125 human sculptures carved in Rajasthani pink sandstone and Italian Carrara marble, and has no support or concrete.
The central part of this religious complex houses murtis ( idols) of Sita Ram, Shiv Parvati, Radha Krishan and Lakshmi Narayan.
5. Belur Math, RamaKrishna Temple, Howrah,India
Belur Math with idol(inset)
The 40-acre (160,000 m2) campus of the Belur Math on the banks of the Hooghly includes temples dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna, Sarda Devi, and Swami Vivekananda. The Belur Math is a magnificent temple and international headquarters of Ramakrishna mission founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897.
The most interesting feature of Belur math is it looks like a temple, church or a mosque from every angle. The temple reflects a fusion of Hindu, Islamic, Buddhist, Rajput and Christian architectural styles. Belur math is also considered as a symbol of unity of all religions in the world.
6. Ekambareswarar Temple, Tamil Nadu, India
Ekambareswarar Temple with idol (inset)
The Ekambareswarar Temple is the largest temple in the holy city of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is one of ‘panchabhoothasthalam’ that represent Earth or Prithvi, one of the significant elements of nature. This enormous Shiva temple covers an area of 23 acres. Standing at a height of 59 meters, the gateway tower of the Ekambareswarar temple known as Raja gopuram. It is one of the tallest gopuras in India.
Another attraction of the temple is a hall with thousands pillars known as ‘Aayiram kaal mandapam’. It is also said to be a hidden underground holy river flows under the temple.
7. Annamalaiyar or Aunachalesvara Temple, Tamil Nadu, India
Annamalaiyar or Arunachalesvara Temple with idol (inset)
Annamalaiyar temple in Thiruvannamalai of Tamil Nadu is one of the grandest Shiva temples in India. This temple represents ‘Agni’, one of the main temples of Pancha bhoota stalas. The main Shiva linga of this temple is called as ‘agni linga’. The Annamalaiyar temple is also called as Arunachaleswarar, one of form of Lord Shiva. The Goddess Parvathy is also worshiped in this temple as ‘Unnamulai Amman’.
This temple complex covers 10 hectares of land and houses many halls and four huge gateway towers. The tallest gateway tower in the complex has a height of 217 feet. There is also a huge hall with 1000 pillars built by King Krishna Devaraya of Vijayanagar. The towers and pillars of the temple also decorated with excellent sculptures.
8. Prambanan Temple, Java, Indonesia
Located 17 kilometers northeast of the city of Yogyakarta on the boundary between Central Java and Yogyakarta provincePrambanan or RaraJonggrang is an 8th-century Hindu temple compound in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator ( Brahma), the Preserver ( Vishnu) and the Destroyer (Shiva).
The temple compound, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia and the second-largest in Southeast Asia after Angkor Wat.
Originally consisting of 240 temple structures Prambanan temple is characterized by its tall and pointed architecture, typical of Hindu architecture, and by the towering 47-meter-high (154 ft) central building inside a large complex of individual temples.
9. Dakshineshwar Kali Temple,Kolkata, India
Dakshineswar Kali Temple is a Hindu navratna temple located at Dakshineswar ( a locality in the north suburban region of Kolkata) situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, the presiding deity of the temple is Bhavatarini, a form of Kali, otherwise known as Adishakti Kalika.
The 20-acre (81,000 m2) plot was bought from an Englishman by Rani Rashmoni. The temple compound contains a large courtyard surrounding the temple, with rooms along the boundary walls. Close to the main temple is the row of twelve identical Shiva temples built facing the East in the typical Bengal architecture. A flight of steps lead to the columned verandah and into the temple where a silver throne rests with a 21+1⁄2-inch (550 mm) idol of Lord Krishna and a 16-inch (410 mm) idol of Radha.
The temple stands on a high platform with a flight of stairs, overall it measures 46 feet (14 m) square and rises over 100 feet (30 m) high.
10. Laxminarayan Mandir or Birla Mandir, Delhi
Birla Mandir with idol ( inset)
The Laxminarayan Temple, also known as the Birla Mandir is a Hindu temple, up to large extent dedicated to Laxminarayan, located on Mandir Marg, west of Connaught Place in New Delhi, India. Laxminarayan usually refers to Vishnu, Preserver in the Trimurti, also known as Narayan, when he is with his consort Lakshmi. The side temples are dedicated to Shiva, Ganesha, Krishna, and Buddha.
Spread over an area of 7.5 acres ( 30,000 sq meters) approximately, with a built-up area is 0.52 acres ( 2,100 sq meters), The highest shikhara of the temple above the sanctum sanctorum is about 49m( 160 feet) high. The temple faces the east and is situated on a high plinth. The three-storied temple is adorned with carvings depicting scenes from golden yuga. It also houses Geeta Bhavan dedicated to Krishna, for discourses.
The famous temple is accredited to have been inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1939. At that time, Mahatma Gandhi kept a condition that the temple would not be restricted to the upper-caste Hindus and people from every caste would be allowed inside.
So, friends, these remarkable structures were constructed several hundreds of years ago without any technical or mechanical provision, but still stand there to make us believe the skill our ancestors had.
Pics & inputs from Google, Wikipedia,turopia.com,Wikiwand.com
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