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ONE OF WORLD'S OLDEST LIGHTHOUSE![]()
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A temple, and deity inside, show us light, and helps us choose the right path. But this particular temple at Mahabalipuram has been doing it quite literally, for many centuries.![]()
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The Olakkannesvara Temple (lit “flame eye”)is situated on a high rock in Mahabalipuram, overlooking the Coromandel Coast of the Bay of Bengal. Like the Shore Temple, the Olakkannesvara Temple is a structural temple, built in the 8th century. It is situated directly above the Mahishasuramardini mandapa on a hillock which provides scenic views of the town. ![]()
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The temple functioned as a lighthouse, showing path to the ships that would be operating in sea and nearby ancient ports like Arikamedu, Veeraimunthurai, Nagapattinam and Sathurangapattinam. The temple probably had a wooden superstructure, on top of presently visible structure. The wooden part of the temple may have got decayed or destroved over time, leaving behind the stone base of the monument.![]()
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A new lighthouse was built next to this temple, in the 19th century. Until that time, for over 11 centuries,the Olakannesvara temple continued to show light and help ships and people discover the right path. It was included in UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, as one of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram.![]()
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#lighthouse #mahabalipuram #mamallapuram
🪨✨ Mahishasura Mardini – Power Etched in Stone | Mahabalipuram ✨🪨![]()
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This awe-inspiring bas-relief from the rock-cut cave temple at Mahabalipuram captures the ferocious beauty of Durga slaying Mahishasura, the buffalo-headed demon. ![]()
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Carved during the Pallava period (7th century CE), this panel is a testament to the mastery of early South Indian sculptural art and the enduring narrative of Shakti’s victory over evil.![]()
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With ten arms radiating strength and precision, Durga rides her roaring lion, flanked by divine warriors, as she charges into battle. Mahishasura, part human and part buffalo, resists — but the goddess’s energy is unstoppable. Every figure here pulses with dynamism, devotion, and symbolic force.![]()
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Located within the Mahishasuramardini Mandapa, this sculpture isn’t just stone — it’s cosmic storytelling in granite.![]()
A powerful reminder that the divine feminine is both protector and destroyer, mother and warrior.![]()
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📍Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu![]()
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#Mahabalipuram #UNESCOWorldHeritage #MahishasuraMardini #Durga #Shakti #PallavaArt #IndianTemples #TempleSculpture #RockCutArchitecture #IncredibleIndia #IndianHeritage #HinduMythology
The June 2025 edition of our monthly newsletter "The Heritage Diary" is out now. Check out from the link given below. Link also in description. ![]()
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indiantempless.in/3d-flip-book/the-heritage-diary-june-2025/![]()
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#heritage #newsletter #heritagenews
Jagannath, meaning Lord of the Universe, is a deity worshipped in regional Hindu traditions as part of a triad along with his (Krishna’s) brother Balabhadra, and sister, Subhadra. To most Vaishnava Hindus, particularly the Krishnaites, Jagannath is a form of Krishna, sometimes as the avatar of Vishnu. To some Shaiva and Shakta Hindus, he is a symmetry-filled tantric form of Bhairava, a fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation.![]()
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The idol of Jagannath is a carved and decorated wooden stump with large round eyes and a symmetric face, and the idol has a conspicuous absence of hands or legs. The worship procedures, sacraments and rituals associated with Jagannath are syncretic and include rites that are uncommon in Hinduism. Unusually, the icon is made of wood and replaced with a new one at regular intervals.![]()
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The origin and evolution of Jagannath worship is unclear. Some scholars interpret hymn 10.155.3 of the Rigveda as a possible origin, but others disagree and state that it is a syncretic/synthetic deity with tribal roots.![]()
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Jagannath plays a very important role in the Bhakti tradition movement of Odisha and Bengal. The Bhakti movement in Odisha, known as Jnana Misrita Bhakti or Dadhya Bhakti, was a powerful spiritual and social reform movement that began in the 12th century, becoming a mass movement by the 14th century. It emphasized personal devotion, challenged traditional hierarchies, and promoted an inclusive and egalitarian society. Key figures like Jayadeva and the Panchasakha (Balarama Dasa, Achyutananda, Jasobanta Dasa, Ananta Dasa, and Jagannatha Dasa) played a crucial role in spreading Bhakti through public sankirtans (mass chanting) across Odisha. Jagannath was the central deity of the Odisha Bhakti movement.![]()
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#jagannath #bhaktitradition #bhaktimovement
Tucked away on the peaceful banks of the river Yagachi in Karnataka lies Belur, a timeless town steeped in history, art, and devotion. Once known by names like Velapur, Velur, and Belahur, this was the proud capital of the Hoysala dynasty, a kingdom that redefined temple architecture in South India.![]()
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At the heart of Belur stands the Chennakeshava Temple, a masterpiece of Hoysala craftsmanship and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Commissioned in 1116 AD by King Vishnuvardhana to celebrate his victory over the Cholas, the temple was originally called Vijaya Narayana—a name that echoes triumph and divinity.![]()
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Dedicated to Chennakesava, or “the Handsome Kesava,” a form of Lord Vishnu, the temple has remained a vibrant center of Vaishnava worship for over 900 years. Its legacy lives on not just in faith, but in stone. Every inch of the temple is a canvas—its walls narrate epics like the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Bhagavata Purana, while its friezes bring to life dancers, musicians, warriors, gods, and everyday people of the 12th century.![]()
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But what makes Chennakeshava truly unique is its inclusive spiritual vision. Though a Vaishnavite shrine, it also pays homage to Shaivism, Shaktism, and even includes images of a Jina from Jainism and the Buddha. This beautiful interweaving of traditions reflects the cultural tolerance and theological richness of the Hoysala Empire.![]()
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To visit Belur is to walk through the corridors of devotion, artistry, and pluralism. It is where stone breathes, and where the sacred and the secular dance together in harmony.![]()
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🛕✨ A must-visit for every lover of Indian heritage.![]()
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#Belur #ChennakeshavaTemple #HoysalaArchitecture #UNESCOWorldHeritage #TempleTrails #IndianCulture #IncredibleIndia #Vaishnavism #HoysalaTemples #RamayanaInStone #SacredIndia #IndianHeritage #TravelIndia #TempleDiaries #CulturalLegacy