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Lions in the Decoration of Temples in West Bengal
Lion as an animal attracted man from ancient times, and civilizations and cultures across the world portrayed lion in their literature and art. Lions are used as an important component of temple-decorations in India. In this article the presence of lions in Bengal temple decorations is discussed.
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Nrisingha Deva, the 4th Avatar of Lord Vishnu in Bengal temple decoration
Nrisingha Deva, the half-man half-lion god is the 4th Avatar of Lord Vishnu. His presence in the decorations of temples of West Bengal is a fascinating subject.
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Animal Moms in Bengal Temple Decorations
Though animals and birds are plentiful in the decorations of the temples of West Bengal, India, the depiction of animals or birds with their offspring are rather rare. In this article, such findings are presented.
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Paita or the Sacred Thread in Bengal Temple Decorations
"Paita"/"Janeu" is the Sacred Thread worn now-a-days by the Brahmin males of the Hindu community, though on the distant past anyone following the Veda could wear it. The present article is an analytic study of the depiction of persons wearing the sacred thread in Bengal temple decorations.
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Workers of Different Professions in Bengal Temple Decorations
Decorations of temples in West Bengal is a fascinating subject. Decorations are done in terracotta, stucco, stone, wood, metal and murals/frescos. The subjects include gods, religious texts, social events and floral and geometric designs. Here professionals in temple decorations are discussed.
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Tiger Hunting in the Decorations of Temples in West Bengal
Hunting tigers was a favorite sport from ancient times in India. This caused extreme survival problems for tigers .A total ban of tiger hunting along with Conservation measures have some good effects. Many pictures of tigers and tiger hunting are present in the decorations of temples of West Bengal.
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Rhinoceros hunting in the decorations of temples of West Bengal
Rhinoceros, restricted to the reserve forests in the northern parts of West Bengal today, was frequently found in the southern parts of Bengal especially in Sundarbans forest up to the 19th century. Rhinoceros hunting was prevalent in Bengal at that time. This is represented in temple decorations.
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Pakhmara, the tribal bird hunters of Bengal and their presence in decorations of temples in West Bengal
Pakhmaras are tribal bird hunters of West Bengal and adjoining areas of Jharkhand. They are expert bird hunters who hunt birds by traditional methods for their own food and business purposes. Their importance in the society is demonstrated by their presence in decorations of temples in West Bengal.
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Hunters and Hunting in the Decorations of Temples of West Bengal
Hunting is older than human existence, the ancestors of Homo sapiens engaged in hunting. Hunting is basically of 3 types - Subsistence, Therapeutic and Sport. Depictions of hunters and hunting in temple decorations in Bengal are of great historical as well as artistic values.
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Shadbhuja Gauranga : The 6-armed form of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Gauranga) was a 15th century great Hindu saint and social reformer. He was the fountainhead of the Bhakti Yoga (Devotion cult), and is regarded as an Avatar of Lord Krishna. "Shadbhuja Gauranga" (6-armed form of Gauranga) is a popular form in which he is worshipped.
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Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Bengal temple decorations
Though the influence of The 15th-century Indian saint Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (also known as Shri Chaitanya Deva) on the construction of temples in Bengal was immense, his presence in the decorations of Bengal temples is negligible. In this article, this is described briefly.
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Mandapeshwar caves - one of the rock cut caves of Mumbai
Mandapeshwar is one of the five rock cut caves of Mumbai, India. Situated in a busy area of the Dahisar suburb of the metropolis, it is a group of ancient rock-cut caves bearing a long and interesting history.
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Parel Shiva - an excellent monolithic stone sculpture in Mumbai
A 5th-6th century CE monolithic stone sculpture of Lord Shiva in seven of his iconic or anthropoid forms (Saptamurti) carved on a big (3.06 meters tall) piece of stone can be seen in a small temple in Parel, Mumbai. Some other old stone statues can also be seen close by.
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Chiranjivi or Immortals in Hinduism and their presence in Bengal temple decorations
In Hinduism, there are 8 "Chiranjivi"-s (immortal characters). They are Hanuman, Bibhishan, Parashurama, Kripacharya, Ashwathama, Vyasdeva, Mahabali and Markeyanda. 2 more can be added to this list - Jambuban & Kak Bhushundi. Their presence in Bengal temple decorations is fascinating.
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Shiva, Shivalingam, Mukhalingam and Ketekeshwar Devalaya, Tezpur, Assam
Ketekeshwar Shiva temple in Tezpur, Assam is an important Shiva temple with a rare type of Shiva Linga. In this article, a brief discussion on Shiva and Shiva Linga is done along with a description of Ketekeshwar temple.
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Balarama - in Scriptures and in Temple Decorations
Though Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Krishna was himself an Avatar of Lord Vishnu and took part in many of Lord Krishna's Leela (deeds) except the Battle of Kurukshetra which he intentionally avoided keeping himself neutral, Balarama is rather neglected in mythology as well as in Arts.
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Dirgheshwari - the Second Most Important Shakti Shrine of Assam, India
Dirgheshwari temple, situated on Sitachal hill on the north bank of Bramhaputra near Guwahati, Assam is the second most important temple belonging to the Shakti (Feminine Supreme Deity) cult after Kamakhya and considered as the place where Goddess Durga appeared before the ancient sage Markandeya.
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Petroglyphs of Shukreshwar rock, Bishwanath Ghat, Assam
Petroglyphs are ancient rock carvings, found in all the continents except Antarctica. In India we have innumerable petroglyphs strewn across this vast country, many of which are famous and well known. In this article, a little known petroglyph of Bishwanath, Assam is discussed.
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Nartiyang Durga Temple, Meghalaya, India - One of the 51 Shaktipeethas Called Jayanti
The Durga temple of Nartiyang, West Jayantia Hills, Meghalaya, India is a very important temple dedicated to Goddess Durga. It is considered as one of the 51 Shaktipeethas, the most important places associated with Shakta cult of Hinduism.
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Bhimashankar of Assam, the Little Known 6th Jyotirlingam of Lord Shiva
Bhimashankar is the 6th of the 12 Jyotirlingams, the 12 most potent manifestations of Lord Shiva. However, there is a controversy about the "real" Bhimashankar. Two places claim to be the original Bhimashankar - one near Pune, Maharashtra and the other near Guwahati, Assam.
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The tallest PANCHARATNA temple of Murshidabad district, West Bengal - Vrindavan Chandra temple, Gobarhati
Vrindavan Chandra temple of Gobarhati village in Murshidabad district, West Bengal, India is the The tallest PANCHARATNA temple of the district. Constructed in 1694 AD and renovated in 1994, this beautiful temple is dedicated to Lord Madanmohan (a form of Lord Krishna) and his divine consort Radha.
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Nrisinghadeva Temple, Gokarna, Murshidabad, West Bengal, India
Temples dedicated to Lord Nrisinghadeva (Narasingha/Narasimha), the 4th Avatara or reincarnation of Lord Vishnu is rather rare in this vast country with innumerable temples dedicated to different gods and goddesses. In this article one such temple from West Bengal is discussed.
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Kaleshwar - the tallest Siva temple of West Bengal, India
Kaleshwar temple is the tallest Shiva temple in West Bengal, situated in a remote village in the district of Birbhum. Besides being an architectural beauty, the temple, along with the satellite temples accompanying it, has a rich history, and is a very important temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
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"Mrityulata" (Death-vine) - a mysterious decorative terracotta panel in Bengal temples
“Mrityulata” is a vertical panel in temples with human and animal figures arranged in such a way that each figure is seen attacking the figure immediately beneath it. This type of panels are usually placed at the external angle of the temples, though in some cases these are on front walls.
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Temples on Lord Shiva's Body Parts
There are stories about Lord Shiva’s different body parts being present at different places. Of these stories, one is well known and associated with legends of Panch Kedar but in another lesser known story, Shiva’s navel, chest and footprints are present at 4 different temples in Assam.
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Birds in the Decoration of Temples in West Bengal
Temples in India are decorated with carvings, statues and mural/fresco. The medium of these carvings are stone, stucco, terracotta and wood. In West Bengal, the decorative carvings are mostly of terracotta, as most temples are brick-built. Birds occupy a large portion of these carvings.
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"Mata No Madh" : the temple of Ashapura Devi - the goddess who fulfils all your hopes
"Mata No Madh" is the main temple of Goddess Ashapura Mata situated in the village of the same name in Kutchch, Gujarat. Ashapura Mata is considered as the Guardian Deity of many families in Gujarat, including the ex-Royal family of Kutchh. Devotees believe Ashapura Mata fulfils all ASHA (hopes).
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Koteshwar Shiva of Gujarat, India - the divine consort of Goddess Hinglaj Mata of Pakistan
Koteshwar, situated at the mouth of Kori Creek of the Arabian Sea in Kutchch district of Gujarat, India is an important temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Legends associate it to the temple of Hinglaj Mata in Hinglaj in Lasbela district of Balochistan, Pakistan and also to Ravana, the King of Lanka.
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Bindu Sarovar - the Sacred Lake in Siddhpur, Gujarat, India
Bindu Sarovar is one of the five most sacred lakes (Panchsarovar) of Hinduism. It is situated at Siddhpur, 130 km from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Bindu Sarovar, also called MATRUGAYA is the place where millions of Hindus go to perform religious rites like "Pind Daan" to their deceased female ancestors.
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Lakhpat in Kutchch - a Semi-Ghost-Town With a Difference
Lakhpat is a semi-deserted walled city at the mouth of Kori Creek in Kutchch district of Gujarat, India. Once a busy port-city, after a devastating earthquake in 1819 the business failed, and most people left the city. Lakhpat has some important historical landmarks which deserve tourist attention.
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Gurudwara Pehle Patshahi, Lakhpat
Gurudwara Pehle Patshahi is a very important Gurudwara (Sikh temple) situated at Lakhpat, Kutchch, Gujarata, India on the mouth of Kori Creek. Guru Nanak-ji, the founder of Sikhism, visited this palce thice in the 16th century CE. The gurdwara houses his wooden shoes used on his trip to Mecca-Medina
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The Mystery of 79 Degrees East Meridian: Part IV
There is a mysterious relation between 79 degrees East meridian and a large number of Hindu temples and religious places, which are situated along different collaterals but surprisingly on the same meridian - 79 degrees East. Here is a discussion on this subject.
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The Mystery of 79 Degrees East Meridian and Hindu Religious Sites : Part III
There is a mysterious relation between 79 degrees East meridian and a large number of Hindu temples and religious places, which are situated along different collaterals but surprisingly on the same meridian - 79 degrees East. Here is the Part III of a discussion on this subject.
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The Mystery of 79 Degrees East Meridian and Hindu Religious Sites: Part II
There is a mysterious relation between 79 degrees East meridian and a large number of Hindu temples and religious places, which are situated along different collaterals but surprisingly on the same meridian - 79 degrees East. Here is the 2nd part of a discussion on this subject.
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The mystery of 79 degrees East Meridian and Hindu religious sites : Part I
There is a mysterious relation between 79 degrees East meridian and a large number of Hindu temples and religious places, which are situated along different collaterals but surprisingly on the same meridian - 79 degrees East. Here is a discussion on this subject.
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A Short Tour of Temples of West Bengal, India
West Bengal, an eastern state of India, has a rich tradition of temple architecture which is a little different from the standard North Indian style. A short trip to some of the finest examples of Bengal temples are depicted here with representative photos (all photos are by the author).
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GIRI VALAM – The circumambulation of the Arunachalam hill
Giri Valam is the ritualistic circumambulation of the sacred hill Arunachalam Giri, considered as the Lord Shiva Himself. Arunachalam Giri is situated in Thiruvannamalai in the state of Tamil Nadu.