sandy437 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Posted January 14, 2013 [img]http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/554237_508100499214762_269642693_n.jpg[/img] [color=#333333]Exquisite Virabhadra Temple at Lepakshi was built in the mid-16th century by Viranna and Virupanna, Vijayanagara governors of Penukonda. It contains some of the finest sculpture of the period and has the earliest preserved cycle of mural paintings in the Vijayanagara style.[/color]
sandy437 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Posted January 14, 2013 [img]http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/374098_507688279255984_1527295929_n.jpg[/img] [color=#333333][size=3]Very ornately carved balcony at Mehrangarh fort, Rajasthan Built: 1459CE[/size][/color][color=#333333][size=3][color=gray] —[/color][/size][/color]
sandy437 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Posted January 14, 2013 [img]http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/544760_507617679263044_1245774859_n.png[/img] [color=#333333]SOMNATHA TIRTH ...THE FIRST JYOTIRLINGAM [/color] [color=#333333]SOMNATHA , NEAR VERAVAL ,GUJARAT - INDIA !![/color] [color=#333333]Somnath: celebrated city of India, situated on the shore of the sea, and washed by its waves. It is known as place for the first Jyotirlingam , and once upon as richest place in the world !!! The picture is of the temple after 17 times loot murder and destruction by muslims since 11th century !!! TECHNOLOGICAL WONDER OF SUSPENDED SHIVA LINGAM !!! The following extract is from "Wonders of Things Created, and marvels of Things Existing~ by Asaru- L- Bilad " , a 13th century Arab geographer. It contains the following description of Somnath temple and its destruction: Among the wonders of that place was the temple in which was placed the idol called Somnath. This idol was in the middle of the temple without anything to support it from below, or to suspend it from above. It was held in the highest honor among the Hindus, and whoever beheld it floating in the air was struck with amazement, whether he was a Musulman or an infidel. When the king asked his companions what they had to say about the marvel of the idol, and of its staying in the air without prop or support, several maintained that it was upheld by some hidden support. The king directed a person to go and feel all around and above and below it with a spear, which he did, but met with no obstacle. One of the attendants then stated his opinion that the canopy was made of loadstone, and the idol of iron, and that the ingenious builder had skillfully contrived that the magnet should not exercise a greater force on anyone side-hence the idol was suspended in the middle. Some coincided, others differed. Permission was obtained from the Sultan to remove some stones from the top of the canopy to settle the point. When two stones were removed from the summit the idol swerved on one side, when more were taken away it inclined still further, until at last it rested on the ground. The Hindus used to go on pilgrimage to it whenever there was an eclipse of the moon, and would then assemble there to the number of more than a hundred thousand. They believed that the souls of men used to meet there after separation from the body, and that the idol used to incorporate them at its pleasure in other bodies, in accordance with their doctrine of transmigration. The ebb and flow ofthe tide was considered to be the worship paid to the idol by the sea. The present temple is built on this site by Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel[/color] [color=#333333][img]http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/407679_507618109263001_1562678407_n.png[/img][/color] [color=#333333]as on today[/color]
sandy437 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Posted January 14, 2013 [img]http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/545499_507102575981221_187202868_n.jpg[/img] [color=#333333]Lord Vishnu’s Janjgir temple is situated in Chhatisgarh and is famous temple built by Raja Jajvalya dev. The temple is built by red sandstones and is also a famous architectural monument. People also call thie temple Nakta temple due to its incomplete architecture. Bheema lake is in close vicinity. It is believed that Bheem built this lake and hence it is called Bheema lake. A relationship between the temple’s architecture and legendary traditions is quite evident. [/color] [color=#333333]The temple has been built facing the eastern direction and shows a glimpse of the hindu mythology. Raja Jajvalya dev built this temple near Bheem lake in the 12th century. The temple walls comprise of beautiful pillars with magnificent carvings which are evidence of the time’s majestic essence. [/color] [color=#333333]The temple is full of such beautiful carvings in the walls and on pillars. Idols of Ganga and Yamuna can be seen at the temple gates. The inner temple has idols of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma. There are also drawings of Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshman and Ravan inside the temple. The drawings can be seen in the form of stories depicting the scenes from Ramayana.[/color] [color=#333333]The temple also shows glimpses of various incarnations of Lord Vishnu including Narsimha, Lord Rama, Lord Krishna etc. The temple is also full of various other drawings and carvings related to Lord Sun alongwith his chariot and seven horses. Various saints have also been shown on the temple walls. There are also other stories depicting Lord Krishna’s life on earth. The temple is full of traditional and cultural values of that time.[/color] [color=#333333]Janjgir Vishnu Temple STORY [/color] [color=#333333]This temple built by Raja Jajvalya dev is one of the most famous temples in India. The temple is believed to have been built in the 12th century. Various idols belonging to that period can be seen within and near the temple. There are various legends about the temple. One is that there was competition between Bheema and Vishwakarnaji to build the temple. [/color] [color=#333333]Both of them started working on the temple. Bheem had the company of an elephant and whenever Bheem needed something, the elephant used to help him. Once Bheem’s equipment fell into the lake and the elephant after many efforts was unable to retrieve it. This used up a lot of time and as a consequence, Bheem lost the competition. This made Bheem angry and he tore the elephant into two pieces. This was the reason why the temple remained incomplete and as a result two broken idols of Bheem and the elephant can be seen in the Janjgir temple. [/color] [color=#333333]According to another legend, there was a similar competition regarding the building of the Janjgir temple and the Shvrinarayana temple which is in close vicinity. It was decided that Lord Vishnu would visit the temple that would be built first. It is said that the Shivrinarayana temple was built first and hence the Janjgir temple was left incomplete. In the same way there are also other interesting stories about the formation of this temple[/color]
sandy437 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Posted January 14, 2013 [img]http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/665973_507090909315721_896119007_o.jpg[/img] [color=#333333]THE GLORIOUS NAVALAKHA TEMPLE ~NEAR BHANVAD , JAMNAGAR -GUJARAT [INDIA][/color] [color=#333333]The Decendants of Makardhwaja 'son' of Lord Hanuman ~King Bhan Jethva. He built a Temple of Lord Shankar in Ghumli which is called as NAVLAKHO which was Burned down by ALafkhan , the general of Allau-din- khilji in 1297 , the Muslim Fanatic of Idar on the orders of Delhi Sultanate and burne[/color][color=#333333]d to ground . The Navalakha [ nine lakhs ] temple at Ghumli and a group of the same name at other places . It has been described as the "first of all places of pilgrims, the bridal hall of those who would win everlasting rest." It is known that the "nine lakhs" refer to; it may possibly be intended to convey the idea that the building cost that amount of the current coin to build it. Though the temple is in a very ruinous condition, the crispness of the carving upon it is almost as fresh and sharp as when it left the sculptor's hand; and, being in a reddish-yellow sandstone of uniform tint, the appearance of the work, under a brilliant sun, is very pleasing. The entire hill, which has two summits with a valley about 360 yards wide in between, is covered with temples grouped in separate enclosures called tuks, each having a principal temple and a number of smaller ones surrounding it. There are doors to the entrance of these tuks which are closed at sunset. In all, the hill is said to have eleven tuks, more than five hundred temples, big and small, and about seven thousand separate images. Though not so large as Somanatha, being less than two-thirds the length and breadth, it supplies some of the missing parts of that temple. The tower has mostly fallen, but there is sufficient left in the miniature sikharas, in the base of the tower, to show what the whole tower was like, both here and at Somanatha. A large, open, two-storied hall takes the place of the closed hall of Somanatha. Jethwa or Jethva is a name of a Rajput clan that claim descent from Makardhwaja son of Lord Hanuman who appears in the Hindu epic Ramayan. They are a branch of the Suryavanshi Rajput clan and are one of the oldest clans found in Rajput history. The old geneologies of the Jethwa tribe include various Personages, and according to one account the present Radand is about the 1050th ruler .[/color]
sandy437 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Posted January 14, 2013 [img]http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/542903_506997089325103_1985932081_n.jpg[/img] [color=#333333][size=3]Ancient stepwell at Fatehpur Shekawati, Rajasthan[/size][/color]
sandy437 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Posted January 14, 2013 [img]http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/615484_506851856006293_1382513265_o.jpg[/img] [color=#333333]Very ancient Agrasen ki Baoli step-well, near Kanaught place in Delhi[/color] [color=#333333]It was originally built by the legendary king Agrasen during the Mahabharat era. It is among a few of its kind in Delhi . Some parts of the well, with 103 steps, are permanently immersed in water. The visible parts of this historical step well consist of three levels. Each level is lined with arched niches on both sides[/color]
sandy437 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Posted January 14, 2013 [img]http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/621354_506796332678512_1983114001_o.jpg[/img] [color=#333333]Intricate Stone carvings and stone chain carved out of single stone in the ceiling of a Hindu temple in Tiruchengode.[/color]
sandy437 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Posted January 14, 2013 [img]http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/665314_506620019362810_1111061598_o.jpg[/img] [color=#333333]11th century Exquisite Rajarani Temple, Bhubneshwar[/color] [color=#333333]Rajarani Temple stands on a raised platform. Its spire is decorated with clusters of turrets (replication of the spire itself) emerging form the rib of the spire. The sculptures have a depth that was lacking in the Mukteswara Temple sculptures. The Jagamohana (porch) though demonstrating a pyramidal structure is yet to take on as a complete struc[/color][color=#333333]ture of its own. Guardians of the Eight Directions project from the base of the temple in the eight directions, starting from the gateway in a clockwise direction around the porch and the deul to end back at the torana (entrance). The temple was constructed of dull red and turbid yellow sandstone locally called"Rajarani". The slightly projectedentrance is flanked by round thick columns entwined by naga on the left. The 18m(55 ft) vimana (tower) is clustered by miniature towers with double crowning elements and appearsround, like the towers of Khajuraho temples . The flat ribbed crowning amalaka and kalasa on the tower are surrounded by four squatting figures.[/color]
sandy437 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Posted January 14, 2013 [img]http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/664781_506121176079361_1221450454_o.jpg[/img] [color=#333333]7th-8th century Vettuvan Koil, Tamilnadu[/color] [color=#333333]A little known rock cut temple carved out of single piece of granite stone and thousands of tons of rock was scooped out. Even today when we have diamond tipped cutting tools it's one of most pesky job to cut granite. The amazing engineering effort done more than 1300years ago, to carve out the temple with finest details is unexplain[/color][color=#333333]able. Vettuvan Koil (English: a Sculptor's paradise) is a Hindu temple built in the 8th century. Kalugumalai is a priceless unfinished Pandyan monolith cave temple, part of the iconographic richness that helped chronicle the burgeoning richness of the Tamil culture, traditions, and sacred centres containing religious art. About 7.5 meter of the mountain is excavated in a rectangular fashion and in the middle the temple is sculpted from a single piece of rock. The carvings reflectthe southern temple style of the Pandya era. Only the top portion of the temple is completed. The temple has an entrance and centre hall for the main deity. In the later days Ganesha's idol is kept and worshipped. At the top of the temple beautiful sculpture of Uma Maheswarar, Dakshinamoorthy , Vishnu and Brahma can be found. This temple is of same style of Kailasnath temple in Ellora , structural shrines at Pattadakal in Bijapur , monolithic temples of Pallavas at Mamallapuram showing the close political relationship between Pallavas, Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas. There are around 122 sculptures in the rock cut temple. The intricately carved statues are from fine granite[/color]
sandy437 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Posted January 14, 2013 [img]http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/177213_504016866289792_1753241836_o.jpg[/img] [color=#333333]Ruins at Lepakshi Temple, Lepakshi(Andhra Pradesh)[/color]
sandy437 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Posted January 14, 2013 [img]http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/178215_503182713039874_1162599899_o.jpg[/img] [color=#333333]5th century Giant Jain Tirtharnkar(s) carved on rock, Gwoliar fort(Madhya Pradesh)[/color]
sandy437 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Posted January 14, 2013 [img]http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/22282_503024579722354_626217138_n.jpg[/img] [color=#333333][size=3]Exquisite Galta Temple, Jaipur(Rajasthan) The temple is famous for its natural water springs. The water of these springs is accumulated in the tanks (kunds). There are seven tanks, the holiest being the Galta Kund, which never goes dry. It is considered auspicious to take bath in the waters of Galtaji, especially on Makar Sankranti, and thousands come to bathe every year.[/size][/color][color=#333333][size=3][color=gray] —[/color][/size][/color]
sandy437 Posted January 14, 2013 Author Report Posted January 14, 2013 [img]http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/52703_502337223124423_1181818138_o.jpg[/img] [color=#333333]Very ornately carved Amar Sagar Jain Temple, Jaisalmer(Rajasthan)[/color]
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