Temples In South India: Fine Blend Of History And Civilization
One must visit the temples to explore the rich history of culture and civilization of South India.
South India has several spiritual destinations which embraces history of ancient India. The pilgrimage destinations of South India are very much popular and attract a lot of tourists every year. Temples in South India is widely known for its architectural style and its history. The temples mark the presence of several dynasties that have rules the place. They are fine examples of Indian tradition and culture. The temples have great importance in Indian mythology. One major temple of South India is the Guruvayur Temple present in the state of Kerala. It is located in Thrissur district. It is also known as Sri Krishna Temple. The temple was build around 5000 years back. It is believed that the idol of Lord Krishna in the temple was once worshipped by Lord Brahma. The idol of Lord Krishna is in standing position and his four hands hold sankhu, lotus, mace and Sudarshan Chakram. Legend has it that the grandson of Arjun, named Janamejaya, worshipped here and was cured of leprosy. This temple has beautiful paintings, nakkashi and murals which tell the story about different life stages of Lord Krishna.
One of the oldest temples in India is the Meenakshi temple Maduri. The temple is 2000 years old and is a master piece of Dravidian architecture. The temple was initially built by Kulasekara Pandyabut the magnificent look was given by Vishwanatha Nayaks. The temple is built on an area of 6 hectares. It is one of the largest temples in India. The temple has 12 gateways each having a height of 45 to 50 m. the legend has it that the wedding of Shiva and Meenakshi took place in this very temple. There are brightly coloures statues of Hindu deities, mythical animals and monsters. There is holy water in Golden Lotus tank where devotees take bath.
Kanchipuram is a main pilgrimage destination in Tamil Nadu. People from around the world the world visit this place to explore the Kanchipuram Temples which are beautiful and majestic in looks. The deity worshipped here is Ekambareshwarar who is worshipped as the Prithivi Lingam. It is believed that Parvati worshipped this idol of Shiva under a mango tree. She embraced the Lingam when Vegati river overflowed and was about to drown the Shiva Lingam. Lord Shiva was touched by this and married her. There are different statues of Shiva, Parvati and Skanda seen here. Trichy Srirangam temple is one of the most important pilgrimage centres in South India. Lord Vishnu is the deity worshipped here. The looks of the temple is gigantic and the different walls of the temple were built between 14th to 17th centuries. It is said that even muslims offered their prayers after the fall of Vijayanagar Empire. The Paradise Festival is conducted in mid-December.