India is known for its ancient culture and craftsmanship, so today we will know about 5 ancient temples located in India.These architectural wonders not only showcase the country’s ancient religious practices but also serve as a testament to the craftsmanship and devotion of the people who built them.
Mundeshwari Temple, Bihar (2000 BCE):
Nestled in the Kaimur district of Bihar, the Mundeshwari Temple is believed to date back to 2000 BCE, making it one of the oldest functioning temples in India. It is an ancient temple which is believed to be dedicated to the worship of the goddess Durga and god Shiva is considered as the oldest functional Hindu temple of the World.
Architecture: The temple, built of stone, is on an octagonal plan, which is rare. It is the earliest specimen of the Nagara style of temple architecture in Bihar. There are doors or windows on four sides and small niches for the reception of statues in the remaining four walls.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi (1780 BCE):
A Hindu shrine to Shiva is called the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, it’s called Vishwanath Gali. Situated among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines, the temple is a Hindu place of pilgrimage.The temple had already been destroyed on multiple occasions, most notably when the Gyanvapi Mosque was built on its location by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. In 1780, Ahilyabai Holkar, the Maratha ruler of Indore, erected the present edifice on a nearby location.
Architecture:
Noteworthy about the temple is 15.5-metre-high gold spire and gold Onion dome. There are three domes each made up of pure gold, donated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1835. There is a Sabha Griha or Congregation Hall leading to the inner Garbha Griha or Sanctum Sanctorum. The venerable Jyotirlinga is a dark brown coloured stone which is enshrined in the Sanctum, placed on a silver platform. Structure of the Mandir is composed of three parts. The first compromises a spire on the temple. The second is gold dome and the third is the gold spire atop the sanctum bearing a flag and a trident.
Brihadeeswarar Temple, Tamil Nadu (1010 CE):
Constructed in Thanjavur by the Chola ruler Rajaraja I, the Brihadeeswarar Temple is a masterwork of Dravidian architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The temple’s elaborate sculptures and soaring vimana, which were finished in 1010 CE, are a monument to the mastery of Indian engineering at that time.
The temple is dedicated to Shiva in the form of a huge linga, his abstract aniconic representation. It is 8.7 m (29 ft) high, occupying two storeys of the sanctum.It is one of the largest monolithic linga sculptures in India.
Badami Cave Temples, Karnataka (6th-7th centuries):
The Badami cave temples are a complex of Hindu and Jain cave temples located in Badami, a town in the Bagalkot district in northern part of Karnataka, India. The caves are important examples of Indian rock-cut architecture, especially Badami Chalukya architecture, and the earliest date from the 6th century. Badami is a modern name and was previously known as “Vataapi”, the capital of the early Chalukya dynasty, which ruled much of Karnataka from the 6th to the 8th century.
The Badami Caves complex is part of a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site candidate under the title “Evolution of Temple Architecture – Aihole-Badami-Pattadakal” in the Malaprabha river valley, considered a cradle of temple architecture that formed the model for later Hindu temples in the region.
The Badami cave temples are carved out of soft Badami sandstone on a hill cliff. The plan of each of the four caves (1 to 4) includes an entrance with a verandah (mukha mantapa) supported by stone columns and brackets, a distinctive feature of these caves, leading to a columned mantapa, or main hall (also maha mantapa), and then to the small, square shrine (sanctum sanctorum, garbha ghriya) cut deep inside the cave.
Mahabalipuram Shore Temple, Tamil Nadu (8th century):
The Shore Temple (c. 725 AD) is a complex of temples and shrines that overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. Dedicated to Lord Shiva it is located in Mahabalipuram, about 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, was built in the 8th century AD. It is a structural temple, built with blocks of granite.At the time of its creation, the site was a busy port during the reign of Narasimhavarman II of the Indian Pallava dynasty.
India’s historic temples are living historical museums in addition to being places of worship. These architectural wonders continue to inspire amazement and devotion while providing a solid connection to the country’s spiritual past. Let’s consider the temples’ lasting legacy and the cultural diversity they contribute to our planet as we are in awe of their exquisite beauty and intricate design.