Temples of India: Menu
An Introduction to Hinduism
Known as “Santana Dharma” in Sanskrit, Hinduism is the world's oldest organized and most profound religion...
The Vedas
Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva Veda; mantras, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and more...
The Upanishads
Intuition over pure reason as a path to ultimate truth; principal Upanishads...
The Epics of India
Ramayana and Mahabharata—philosophy in stories and avatars of Vishnu...
The Bhagavad-Gita
Essence of dharma and duty; knowledge, charity, penance and worship...
The Dharma Sastras
Treatises on ethical and social philosophy; Sruti and Smriti as sources...
The Puranas
Parables and narratives—enciclopedia of cultural life and folklore...
Influence of Buddhism and Jainism
Four noble truths, ethics and cross-influences on Hindu thought...
Influence of Vaishnavism
Alvars, avatars and devotional movements...
Various influences on Hinduism
Shankaracharya and other pivotal reformers and philosophers...
On Hindu Gods and Goddesses
Creation, preservation and dissolution—divine roles and forms...
Hindu God - Lord Ganesha
Remover of obstacles; beloved at the start of all endeavors...
Hindu God - Lord Brahma
Creator aspect of the Supreme Reality; consort Saraswati...
Hindu God - Lord Vishnu
Preserver; avatars and symbolic attributes...
Hindu God - Lord Shiva
Regeneration and dissolution; cosmic dance and symbolism...
Hindu God - Goddess Durga
Protector of dharma; the Divine Mother...
Hindu God - Goddess Lakshmi
Wealth, prosperity and auspiciousness; the goal of life...
Hindu God - Goddess Saraswati
Learning, knowledge and wisdom; the creative force...
More Hindu Gods
Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman and others...
Influence of Navagraha on your life
Planetary influences, shanti and parihara...
Hindu Philosophy
Overview of schools and enduring ideas...
The Samkhya School of Philosophy
Purusha and Prakriti; dual realities...
The Yoga School of Philosophy
Karma, Buddhi, Dhyana and Bhakti Yoga systems...
The Nyaya School of Philosophy
Logic and epistemology in Indian thought...
The Vaisheshika School of Philosophy
Atomic pluralism and categories of reality...
The Purva Mimamsa School of Philosophy
Vedic authority and yajna-centered practice...
The Vedanta School of Philosophy
Upanishadic teachings and moksha pathways...
Hinduism as a Religion
A diverse, decentralized tradition with many paths...
Worship at Temple
The role of consecrated idols and ritual focus...
Temple Architecture of India
Evolution, symbolism and sacred geometry...
Temple Arts of India
Murals, sculpture and performing arts in temple culture...
Forms of Hindu worship
Mantra, tantra and yantra—three core techniques...
About Hindu Prayers
Vedic mantras and devotional practice...
Darshan in Hinduism
Seeing and being seen by the divine...
Pooja in Hinduism
Offerings, rites and devotional bridges...
Pradakshina in Hinduism
Circumambulation and cosmic alignment...
Prasad in Hinduism
Sacred offerings and grace...
Temples of Andhra Pradesh - Sri Venkateswara Temple, Tirupathi
Ancient shrine on Venkatachala—Tirumala...
Temples of Andhra Pradesh - Srisailam Temple
On the south bank of Krishna River in Nallamalai...
Temples of Andhra Pradesh - Bhadrachalam Sri Rama Temple
Abode of Lord Rama on river Godavari...
Temples of Andhra Pradesh - Sri Kalahasthi Temple
Pancha Bhoota Stalam—Vayu (air) element...
Temples of Andhra Pradesh - Amareswara Swamy Temple
One of the Pancharama temples in Amaravati...
More Temples of Andhra Pradesh
Warangal Thousand Pillar Temple and more...
Major Temples of Goa
Shri Shantadurga and other notable shrines...
Major Temples of Gujarat
Somnath and statewide sacred heritage...
Major Temples of Jammu and Kashmir
Amarnath and other Himalayan shrines...
Temples of Karnataka - Annapoorneshwari Temple
Horanadu's revered shrine amidst forests...
Temples of Karnataka - Badami Caves
Rock-cut cave temples from 6th–7th centuries...
Temples of Karnataka - Chamundeshwari Temple
On Chamundi Hill near Mysuru...
Temples of Karnataka - Shri Dharmasthala Temple
Dharmasthala's famed pilgrimage center...
Temples of Karnataka - The Gokarna Temple
Mahabaleshwar Aatma Lingam and coastal lore...
Temples of Karnataka - Mookambika Temple
Kollur's revered Devi shrine...
Temples of Karnataka - Sringeri Temple
Sharada Peetham on Tungabhadra's bank...
Temples of Karnataka - Vishnumurthy Temple
Ancient Vishnu shrine at Kulai, Mangaluru...
Temples of Karnataka - Udupi Sri Krishna Temple
13th-century Krishna temple and traditions...
Temples of Kerala - Ambalapuzzha Sri Krishna Temple
Famed for Palpayasam offering...
Temples of Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram Attukal Temple
The "Sabarimala of Women" and Attukal Pongala...
Temples of Kerala - Sree Guruvayoorappan Temple
Bhoolokavaikunta—heaven on earth...
Temples of Kerala - Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Ananthasayanam—Vishnu in yogic slumber...
Temples of Kerala - Sabarimala Temple
Sree Ayyappa temple in the Western Ghats (4135 ft)...
Temples of Kerala - Thirunavaya Temple
Navamukunda on Bharathapuzha; site of Mamangam...
Temples of Kerala - Thirunelli Temple
Ancient Vishnu shrine near Papanasini...
Temples of Kerala- Vadakkunnathan Temple
Thrissur's 1000-year-old Shiva temple...
Temples of Kerala- Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple
Renowned Rajarajeswari shrine near Kochi...
Major Temples of Maharastra
Mumba Devi and other major shrines...
Temples of Orissa - Jagannath Temple
Puri's famed Jagannath with wooden deities...
Temples of Orissa - Konark Temple
Sun Temple—UNESCO grandeur and sculpture...
Temples of Rajasthan - Ambika Mata Temple
Jagat's "Khajuraho of Rajasthan"...
Temples of Tamil Nadu - Chidambaram Temple
Nataraja in Chitsabha—Hall of Consciousness...
Temples of Tamil Nadu - Madurai Meenakshi Temple
Iconic gopurams, sculpted halls and shrines...
Temples of Tamil Nadu - Rameshwara Temple
Jyotirlinga pilgrimage on Rameswaram island...
Temples of Tamil Nadu - Palani Temple
Murugan's hill temple—Thandayudapani...
Major Temples of West Bengal
Dakshineswar Kali Temple and more...