Thanjavur Temple ( Tamilnadu )

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Thanjavur was the royal city of the Cholas, Nayaks and the Mahrattas. Thanjavur derives its name from Tanjan-an asura (giant), who according to local legend devastated the neighbourhood and was killed by Sri Anandavalli Amman and Vishnu, Sri Neelamegapperumal. Tanjan’s last request that the city might be named after him was granted.

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Thanjavur rose to glory during the later Chola reign between the 10th and the 14th Centuries and became a centre of learning and culture. It is the headquarters of the disrict of the same name. Thanjavur district, the ‘ Rice Bowl ‘ of Tamil Nadu, is also known for its exquisite handicrafts, bronzes and South Indian Musical Instruments.

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The Great Temple of Thanjavur was the largest of its time and occupies a site, 800 feet long and 400 feet wide. the compound within its inner wall measures about 500 feet x 250 feet. the Temple is approached by two gateways with towers known as Gopurams. these towers stand on a rectangular base and tapering towards the top. the structure is seen at the middle in Fig. 3. the outer gate tower is a five-tiered construction and the inner one is of three tiers.

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Inside the compound the main features of the Temple building are the sanctum sanctorum and the tall tower that stand on it. This tower known as Vimana is the tallest structure in the Temple and rise up to 116 feet from the ground. Sanctum sanctorum is square in shape and the tower above is uniformly tapered towards the top. This can be noticed in the Figures 1 and 2. In front of the sanctum sanctorum there is a long rectangular hall with number of columns supporting the roof.

Shrdi Sai Baba ( Maharashtra)

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Sai Baba, one of the foremost saints of modern India, lived in the small village of Shirdi in the state of Maharashtra for sixty years. Due to his presence there even after his Samadhi, today the small village has transformed itself as a great spiritual center to people from all religions. Shri Sai Baba, inspite of his great spiritual stature, never publicized himself through discoursing, touring and preaching—unlike today’s many ‘so-called’ saints.

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Shirdi town is situated in Rahata Tahasil in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra State (India). It is located at 19o45′ North Latitude and 74o25′ East Longitude. It falls on Ahmednagar-Manmad State Highway No.10 at 83 Km. from Ahmednagar, and 15 Km. from Kopargaon. It (the Ahmednagar -Manmad road) was a very busy route in the old times. It is located at 185 Km. to the East from Western Seashore line.

India attracts millions of devotees of all religions, castes and creed who come to pay homage to Shri Sai Baba. The temple is a beautiful shrine that was built over the Samadhi of Shri Sai Baba. Thursday is the day Saibaba is specially worshipped. On this day devotees from all over India visit Shirdi for Darshan of Saibaba.

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The Temple opens for devotees at 5.15 a.m. (0515 hrs) with Kakad Aarti and remains open till the end of Shejarti. For more on Puja timings. For devotees across the globe, there are arrangements to get Pujas conducted on their behalf and the prasad sent to them. Shirdi is well connected by road. There are also a few religious places of tourist interest in and around Shirdi. Shirdi Saibaba Temple is managed by Shri Sai Baba Sansthan since 1922. The trust ensures that a strict code of conduct is maintained in the temple premises.

The SAI BABA has done many miracles of his Lifetime. The villagers of Shirdi and afar soon found out that this was no ordinary fakir but an avatar (incarnation) of a very high order. He demonstrated through his miracles and utterances, the purpose and intention for which he had come. He would often say, “My Leela is inscrutable”. To each one he met, he imparted knowledge according to the capacity of the recipient to absorb it.

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Some Assurance Of SAIBABA are like wise : If you look at me I look at you.. If you cast your burden on me, I shall surely bear it.. There shall be no want in the house of my devotees.. If you seek my advice and help, it shall be given to you at once.. and many more Sai baba gave.

Samadhi Mandir of Shri Sai Baba was actually owned by a millionaire from Nagpur, a famous Sai devotee Shreemant Gopalrao. Gopalrao wanted to keep an idol of Murlidhar here. However, Baba himself became Murlidhar and the Mandir became the Samadhi Mandir of Baba.

Pushkar Temple ( Rajasthan )

The Pushkar Temple is located at near Pushkar lake in pushkar, in Rajasthan. It was built in the 14th century. And it is dedicated to the Lord Brahma. It is the most famous temple in indai for the Lord Brahma in Rajasthan.

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The main shrine houses the life-size image of Lord Brahma with four hands and four faces, facing the four basic directions. An image of Goddess Gayatri, who is known as the milk Goddess, can be seen near the idol of Lord Brahma. The walls of the temple are adorned by beautiful images of Peacock and Goddess Saraswati. From the temple, there is a silver door that leads down to a small cave. This small cave comprises a temple of Lord Shiva.

Pushkar, located at 11 km northwest of Ajmer in the state of Rajasthan, is one of the most important pilgrimages in the country. The town is considered to be sacred by the Hindus because of the presence of some 500 temples, which encircle the lake. Some of the most visited temples here are the Brahma Temple, Savitri Temple, Rangji Temple, Varah Temple and Apteshwar Temple.

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The legend is that Lord Brahma performed a Yagna here, along with all the gods and goddesses. It is also believed that a lotus fell from the hands of Lord Brahma and fell in the valley of Pushkar. Immediately after, Sarovar Lake appeared miraculously at that place. The Brahma temple is constructed of marble, in southern style. Also, the floor of the temple is decorated with a silver turtle. The temple houses a statue of Lord Brahma in a palthi (seated) position. The temple also comprises of an image of Lord Vishnu, life sized dwarpals (door men) and Garuda pillars (a mythical bird, in gold).

Pushkar is regarded as a holy place by the Hindus, since all the Gods &  Goddesses of Hindu pantheon observed a ‘Yajna’ here. Moreover, the Pushkar Lake near this temple is believed to have been appeared when a Lotus flower fell from the hands of Lord Brahma in this valley. According to the Hindu mythology, once Lord Brahma was cursed that he would be not worshipped frequently by the people. Due to the reason, this is the only known temple in the world, where Lord Brahma is worshipped.

Savitri Temple :

This temple is devoted to the Godess Savitri, one of Brahma’s wives, and is located on the highest hill above the Pushkar town. One can climb a long series of steps to reach the shrine which offers a panoramic view of the Pushkar Lake and surrounding sand dunes.

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Varah Temple :

The Varah Temple is devoted to the Lord Vishnu, the preserver in the Hindu Trinity of Gods. The temple is houses an image of Vishnu in his fifth incarnation of wild boar and was built by the King Anaji Chauhan (1123-1150) and is equal in importance to the more well known, Brahma Temple. As per the legend, the Lord Vishnu came to earth to kill the demon Hirnayaksh who had stolen the Vedas and then took the shape of Varah (wild boar) and killed the demon thereby liberating the world from his atrocities.