SUGREEVA VENKATESHWARA TEMPLE, Bangalore

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SUGREEVA VENKATESHWARA TEMPLE


Sugreeva and Venkateshwara appear to be a strange combination, yet two temples with their names are found on Balepet Main Road in the Majestic area- Bangalore.Secondly, a temple exclusively for Sugreeva, an important character in the epic Ramayana, is very rare.

This temple is dedicated to Sugreeva, who was the monkey King who had played an important role in the Lord Rama’s war against demon Ravana after he had kidnapped Goddess Sita.

It is associated with the legends from the Hindu sacred epic Ramayana. According to the legend Sugreeva had assisted Lord Rama during the Lanka war to put an end to demon Ravana and rescue Goddess Sita who was in his capture.

A casual glance would make one assume that the idol is of Hanuman but a closer look will show you that there are two teeth protruding from the mouth and it is only this that distinguishes this idol from Hanuman.
Located on the Balepet main road, the inner shrine has a beautiful  idol of Lord Venkateshwara on a pedestal. The idol of Sugreeva, which is six feet in height, looks strikingly like Hanuman. The long teeth on either side of the mouth are the only thing which differentiates it from Hanuman.
Both Venkateshwara and Sugreeva face each other in two separate temples constructed for them. Incidentally, Venkateshwara is consecrated in the temple facing the smaller door. The locals believe that the Sugreeva idol was submerged in the Kempambudhi tank and one of the devotees got a dream asking him to lift it from the waters and place it in the temple.
Local residents say that the temple was built by Kempegowda-I for the Uppara community.

The Hadimba Devi Temple ,Himachal Pradesh

( Dear regular readers of the blog, due to Some Error in my Blogger account I was not Able to update the data on my blog I am Updating all past blogs in a series today, Apologies for the same.)
Good morning.(26th May 2017)

The Hadimba Devi Temple is one of the famous Hindu temple in Himachal Pradesh and is dedicated to the wife of Bhima, the Pandava. The Hadimba Devi Temple also called as the Hidimba Devi Temple.

Maharaja Bahadur Singh built the Hadimba Temple in the year

1533. It is an first cave temple dedicated to Hidimbi Devi, sister of Hidimba. Hidimba was supposed to be live here with her brother Hidimba. Born in the Rakshas family, Hidimbi Devi promise to marry one who would  conquer her brother Hidimba, who was supposed to be very adventurous and fearless.

The Hadimba Temple is associated with the legend of the Mahabharata. The Hadimba Temple is built to pay homage to Devi Hadimba. Hadimba Devi Temple is located in a hill station.

The another Narration is The Indian epic Mahabharata narrates that the Pandavas stayed in Himachal during their exile. In Manali, the strongest person there, named Hidimba and brother of Hidimdi, attacked them, and in the ensuing fight Bhima, strongest amongst the Pandavas, killed him. Bhima and Hidimba's sister, Hidimbi, then got married and had a son, Ghatotkacha. When Bhima and his brothers returned from exile, Hidimbi did not accompany him, but stayed back and did tapasya (a combination of meditation, prayer, and penance) so as to eventually attain the status of a goddess .

This temple constructed in pagoda style displays the finest example of wood carvings on it. The special feature of the Hadimba Temple is the roof that has the shape of a four tiered pagoda roof. The temple also swaggers, of its beautiful carved door made of wood.

In May every year, a fair is arranged in the temple of Hadimba. Another fair is held during Dussehra. The Hidimba Devi temple is built around a cave where Hidimba performed mediatation. It's sanctuary is built over a rocky crevice covered by a large rock that is worshipped as a manifestation of goddess Durga, an image of the goddess is also enshrined here.

Intricately Carved doors made of wood andhka "shikhar" made of wood with 24 meters tall is in the Hidimbi Devi Temple. The tower consists of three square roofs covered with timber tiles and a fourth brass cone-shaped roof at the top. The theme of the main door carvings is about the earth goddess Durga forms. By using whitewashed and mud-covered stoneworks, the base of the temple was made. It can be called as Dhungri Temple because of its location.

The Chaurashi temple Bhramour Himachal Pradesh.

( Dear regular readers of the blog, due to Some Error in my Blogger account I was not Able to update the data on my blog I am Updating all past blogs in a series today, Apologies for the same.)

Enjoy reading.....

Good morning.(25th May 2017)
Chaurasi Temple


The Chaurashi temple is located at Bhramour and a famous temple in Himachal Pradesh. The chief Chaurasi temples are dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesha, Lord Manimahesh and Narasimha. Chaurasi temple Complex, built approximately in 9th century. Eighty-four ancient beautifully carved pillars has carefully festooned the temple and thus obtained the name Chaurasi chamba temple. There are 84 big and small temples in Chaurasi temple complex.

Lord Ganesha temple is situated near the entrance of chaurasi temple. The temple was constructed by Meru Verman in circa. The temple of Ganesha is enshrined in a bronze image of Ganesha. The shrine stands near the entrance to the Chaurasi compound.

The temple of Lakshana Devi is the oldest temple at Chaurasi Temple. It retains many of the old architectural features of wooden temples. The temple was constructed by Raja Maru Varman. The temple is built on the rectangular plan. The astadhatu image of goddess Lakshana devi is enshrined inside this small cella. The roof of this temple slides sideways from the central ridge and is thatched with slates.

Manimahesh temple which stands in the centre of Chaurasi temple. Manimahesh Temple is main temple in Chaurashi complex, enshrining a huge Shiva Linga. In reality it is identical with the lord almighty which has been described as creator, protector and destroyer of entire universe.

Chaurasi Temple was built around 1400 years ago. Life of people in Bharmour centres around the temple complex-Chaurasi, named so because of 84 shrines built in the periphery of Chaurasi Temple. Chaurasi is hindi word for number eighty four. The beautiful shikhara style temple of Manimahesh occupies the center of the complex. It is believed that when 84 Siddhas, who had come from kurukshetra, were passing through Bharmour to visit Manimahesh, they fell in love with the calmness of Bharmour and reconciled to meditate here. Chaurasi Temple Complex was built approximately in 7th century, although repairs of many temples have been carried out in later period.

There is another legend associated with Chaurasi temple complex. It is believed that shortly after Sahil Varman’s accession of Brahampura (ancient name of Bharmour), 84 yogis visited this place. They were greatly pleased with the King’s hospitality. As King had no heir, Yogis promised him ten sons. They were requested by the King to stay back in Brahampura till the prediction of Yogis was fulfilled. In due course of time the king was blessed with ten sons and a daughter. Daughter was named Champavati and because of liking of Champavati new capital Chamba was established. It is believed that Chaurasi temple complex in Bharmour was built to honour these 84 Yogis and named Chaurasi after them. There are 84 big and small temples in Chaurasi temple complex. Chaurasi is a spacious level ground in center of Bharmour where the galaxy of temples mostly in the form of Shivlingas exists. The Chaurasi Temple Complex offers a delightful, clean and a scenic view.