TEMPLES
IN INDIATEMPLES IN INDIA
By
SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA
A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION
First Edition: 1957
World Wide Web (WWW) Edition : 1999
WWW site: http://www.SivanandaDlshq.org/
This WWW reprint is for free distribution
© The
Divine Life Trust Society
Published By
THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY
P.O. Shivanandanagar—249 192
Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh,
Himalayas, India.
CONTENTS
PUBLISHERS’ NOTE
SALUTATIONS TO SRI RAMA KRISHNA HARI
CLIMB THE HILL OF VEDANTA
PART ONE: HYMNS
Lord Vishnu’s Temples
1. Badri Narayan
2. Triyuginath
3. Lord Jagannath
4. Mathura
5. Brindawan
6. Lord Dwarakanath
7. Lord Pandarinath
8. Lord Venkatesa
9. Lord Varadaraja
10. Lord Renganatha
11. Sriviliputur
12. Anantasayanam
13. Guruvayur Krishna
14. Udupi-Krishna
15. Ayodhya Vasi Ram
16. Bhadrachalam Ram
17. Hanuman Ghadi
18. Alwar Tirunagari
19. Sri Vaikuntham
Lord Siva’s Temples
20. Kedarnath
21. Kashi Viswanath
22. Bheemsankar
23. Baijanath
24. Somanath
25. Ghusravesam
26. Nageswaram
27. Mahakal
28. Mallikarjun
29. Omkar Ishwar
30. Triambhakeshwar
31. Rameshwaram
32. Lord Nataraja of Chidambaram
33. Kalahasti
34. Arunachalam
35. Jambukeswaram
36. Ekambareswar
37. Amarnath
38. Muktinath
39. Pasupathinath
40. Tunganath
41. Gopeshwar
42. Sitakund
43. Gokaran
44. Madyarjuna
45. Madura Temple
46. Tiruvaniappan
47. Vaikkam
48. Tiruvalur
Lord Subramania’s Temples
49. Rockfort Temple
50. Kathirgama Murugha
51. Palani Andava
52. Swami Malai
53. Tiruthani
54. Tirupparan Gundram
55. Tiruchendur
56. Tiruchendur II
57. Ghand Kapur
58. Girnar
59. Pushkar
Devi’s Temples
60. Gangotri
61. Jwalamukhi
62. Vishnu Devi
63. Kalighat-Kali
64. Dakshineshwar
65. Kamakshi
66. Chamundi
67. Mukhambi
68. Ranganayaki
69. Kasi Visalakashi
70. Kanchi Kamakshi
71. Madurai Meenakshi
72. Kanya Kumari
Buddhist And Jain Temples
73. Buddha Gaya.
74. Saranath
75. Mount Abu Jain Temple
76. The Golden Temple, Amritsar.
77. Nagore Anadava
PART TWO: DESCRIPTIONS
1. Amarnath
2. Ayodhya
3. Alwar Tirunagari
4. Badrinath
5. Benares
6. Bhadrachalam
7. Brindawan
8. Bombay
9. Bhuvaneshvar
10. Chamundi Hill, Mysore City
11. Cape Comorin
12. Chidambaram
13. Conjeevaram
14. Calcutta
15. Dwaraka
16. Delhi
17. Gauhati
18. Gaya
Buddha Gaya
19. Hardwar
20. Jambukeshwaram
21. Jamunotri
22. Kaladi
23. Kalahasti
24. Kumbakonam
25. Kurukshetra
26. Konarak, The Black Pagoda
27. Kedarnath
28. Madras
29. Madura
30. Mount Abu
31. Muttra
32. Mahabalipuram
33. Nasik
34. Nathdwara
35. Nepal
36. Palani
37. Pandharpur
38. Prayag
39. Puri
40. Pushkar
41. Rameswaram
42. Saranath
43. Sringeri
44. Suchindram
45. Suryanar Koil
46. Swamimalai
47. Srirangam
48. Srivilliputur
49. Srivaikuntam
50. Tirupati
51. Trivandrum
52. Tirukkalikunram
53. Tirupparan Kunram
54. Tiruttani
55. Tiruvadaimarudoor
56. Tiruvannamalai
57. Trivadi
58. Tiruchendur
59. Ujjain
60. Varkala
61. Vaikom
STORY OF SWAMI SIVANANDA
PUBLISHERS’ NOTE
In these days life has become very complex. The different spheres of
human
activity have been multiplied. Practically speaking, there is hardly any
time,
nor the mood, even to think of God. An ideal temple serves the purpose
well to
make one entertain the divine thoughts, at least during the time he is
in the
temple. The sanctity of the place soothes and revitalizes his worn-out
nerves
with a unique spiritual aura. His entire being is sanctified by the
divine
vibrations, springing forth spontaneously. He enjoys the divine ecstasy.
Only
with this view our ancients have built temples all over this country.
Pilgrimage is indeed a religious, nay, a spiritual act, enjoined upon
all
sincere devotees of the Lord. It gives us a great scope for periodical
drastic
flushing of the worldliness and impure tendencies that are being
accumulated
in our day-to-day life through constantly living in the material
atmosphere,
filled with worldliness, greed, passion, malice and delusion. Our nature
becomes regenerated, re-vitalized and ultimately spiritualized.
In this little volume, Sri Swami Sivanandaji, in his usual supra-poetic
style,
gives short descriptions of the prominent temples in India. They are in
the
first part of the book. Obviously, they are not merely an informative
list of
the various temples in India, but they are actually a garland of
elevating
hymns to the different deities, representing the Almighty Lord.
In the second part of the book, brief descriptions of the prominent
places of
pilgrimage in India, their location and the important spiritual legends
that
are connected with them, are given. They will be indeed a valuable guide
to
those who are interested in pilgrimage.
We sincerely hope that this volume will inspire more and more people of
this
great country to undertake pilgrimages and form the temple-going habit.
Thus
would the spirit of Bharatavarsha live for ever in the heart of the
India; and
thus would the culture of the land enshrined in the Temples be revived.
Shivananda Nagar,
llth July, 1957. The Publishers.
Holy Guru Purnima.
‘eS:v:-Av:t:ar eS:v:an:nd’
rag: m:D:Øv:nt:i--t:in:t:al:
(Sri Sivananda-Sushila, M.A., B. Mus.)
j:y: j:y: eS:v:an:nd s:dÏg:Ø- .
'eS:v:' kñ Av:t:ar eS:v:an:nd ..
din:n: kñ t:Øm: n:aT: eS:v:an:nd .
B:Vt:n: kñ B:g:v:an: eS:v:a .. 1.. j:y:-
dÙeK:y:n: kñ A:D:ar eS:v:an:nd
)ðem: kñ t:Øm: ')ðm:' eS:v:a .. 2..
ty:ag: raj: kñ s:ax:atkar
s:ög:it: kñ t:Øm: n:ad eS:v:a .. 3..
t:Øm:ri m:him:a k:ðI n: j:an:ð
t:Øm:ri m:him:a b:K:an:i n: j:an:ð,
t::ðri l:il:a Am:rmp:ar .. 4..
t:Øm:t::ð kht:ð "eS:v:an:nd hÞú m:ò",
t:Øm: h:ð 'eg:ri-kól:aS:-eS:v:a ' .. 5..
'S:il:' kñ t:Øm: )aN: eS:v:an:nd
c:rN:-km:l: b:el:hari m:òöðö .. 6..
'÷iva-avatàra ÷ivànanda'
ràga madhuvantã-tãnatàla
(Sri Sivananda-Sushila, M.A., B. Mus.)
jaya jaya ÷ivànanda sadgurå |
'÷iva' ke avatàra ÷ivànanda ||
dãnana ke tuma nàtha ÷ivànanda |
bhaktana ke bhagavàna ÷ivà || 1 || jaya-
dukhiyana ke àdhàra ÷ivànanda
premi ke tuma 'prema' ÷ivà || 2 ||
tyàga ràja ke sàkùàtkàra
saügãta ke tuma nàda ÷ivà || 3 ||
tumarã mahãmà koã na jàne
tumarã mahãmà bakhànã na jàne,
torã lãlà amarampàra || 4 ||
tumato kahate "÷ivànanda hå.N mai",
tuma ho 'girã-kailà÷a-÷ivà' || 5 ||
'÷ãla' ke tuma pràõa ÷ivànanda
caraõa-kamala balihàrã maiü || 6 ||
SALUTATIONS TO SRI RAMA KRISHNA HARI
O Lord Krishna of Guruvayur
O Panduranga Vittal of Pandharpur
O Lord Jagannatha of Puri
O Bhadri Narayan of Bhadri
O Lord Rama of Ayodhya
O Lord Venkatesa of Tirupathi–
Salutations unto Thee.
O Lord Ranganathan of Srirangam
O Padmanabha of Trivandrum
O Dwarakesa of Muttra
O Sri Rama of Bhadrachalam
O Vatapatrasayi of Srivilliputtur
O Varadaraja of Conjeevaram–
Adorations unto Thee.
O Govindaraja of Chidambaram
O Banki Bihari of Brindavan
O Lord Vishnu of Vaikuntha
O Lord Krishna of Gokola
O Lord Rama of Saketpuri–
Prostrations unto Thee.
SIVANANDA.
OM
CLIMB THE HILL OF VEDANTA
(An Autobiography )
1. This is my story, my readers dear,
A naughty boy I was, a playful urchin,
With full of mischief and a spirit of fighting
Then slowly changed my nature, serious I became.
2. Old good samskaras revived, subha vasanas came,
Virtues I developed one by one!
Purity, patience, courage and control,
Kshama, Karuna, daya to boot.
3. I served the sick with Atma-bhav
This gave me soon Chitta-shuddi.
I shared with joy what I had with others,
The spirit of sannyasa was ingrained in me.
4. I ran to Mahatmas for satsang,
I served them too with bhav and prem,
I took sannyas and cut off all ties,
And moved in the world as free as a bird.
5. I acquired the four means of salvation,
Then I did sravana, manana, nididhyasan,
OM OM I roared in the thick Tehri hills,
Then the hill of Vedanta I climbed.
6. I tore the veils one by one,
I pierced the five sheaths with difficulty
The three voids I crossed with strenuous endeavour,
The seven steps of Jnana I ascended with care.
SWAMI SIVANANDA.
PART ONE
HYMNS
Chapter One
Lord Vishnu’s Temples
1. Badri Narayan
O Lord Narayana of Badri Hills!
O Precepter of Nara !
Prostrations unto Thee.
Thou art my real Saviour.
Thou art in the heart of all beings.
Thou art the Supreme Deity.
Thou art the Highest Truth.
Thou art Infinite Bliss.
Thou art All-merciful.
Thou art All-bountiful.
Thou art one of the four Damas.
Thy door opens on Akshaya Trithiya in April
And closes in November.
Thy temple is on the banks of Alakananda.
Many years, very many years
Many billions of years unto Thee.
Many years to the charming Lakshmi.
Many years to Thy Shining Discus.
Many years to Thy conch.
O Lamp of Wisdom
That illumines the hearts of devotees!
O my Father, my King,
O Light of my life!
I have nothing but Thy Name,
Save me, guide me,
I am Thy slave,
Badri Vishal ki Jai!
Hail Badri Narayan!
2. Triyuginath
This is a Vishnu’s temple
In the Himalayas
Below Kedarnath.
O Lord Hari!
Prostrations unto Thee.
Destroy the fear in my heart,
Place your lotus feet in my heart,
Cut asunder the veil of ignorance.
Give me Light and Wisdom,
Thou art my inner guide,
I act as you direct me.
Thou art the refuge of the helpless.
O Lord! You vainly boast
Of killing Hiranya Kasipu
And others of meagre strength,
If you really have power,
Slay quickly the demon
Of my egoism.
OM Namo Narayanaya.
3. Lord Jagannath
O Lord! Who dwells in Puri
Who was dear to Jeya Dev
The author of the Gita Govinda–
Who dwells in one of the four damas
Silent adorations unto Thee!
You ran after the woman in the forest
Who sang the Gita Govinda.
Thou art the glorious Vishnu
Thou art the sole refuge of mortals
Thou residest in the heart of all beings
Thy Grace is invincible
Thou art the meaning of the Vedas
Thou art all in all.
Thy name has saved me.
I have obtained Thy grace;
By the sword of Thy grace
I have cut off all my bonds.
Hail Jagannath! Hail Grace
Om Namo Kesavaya.
4. Mathura
There is a temple of Lord Krishna here.
Jumna flows in this sacred place.
Lord Krishna did various lilas here.
Mathura is Brij Bhumi.
O Destroyer of Dhenuka, Aristaka,
Kesi, Kamsa and Putana!
O Lord of Satyabhama,
Rukmani and Radha!
O Protector of Draupadi;
The joy of Devaki,
The son of Nanda,
Friend of Arjuna,
Who played with the Gopalas,
Who danced on the head of Kalinga!
Prostrations unto Thee!
Give me light and wisdom.
5. Brindawan
O Brindawan Bihari!
O Kesava, O Narayana!
Prostrations unto Thee!
O Lamp of Brindawan,
Friend of the cowherd boys,
Who kicked to death
The wicked Sakatasura!
Take this curd and butter.
Play upon Thy flute
Which is sweeter than nectar.
Om Sri Krishnaya namah.
6. Lord Dwarakanath
O mighty Lord of Dwaraka,
O Achuta, O Ananta, O Govinda,
Salutations unto Thee, My Lord!
I have lost my thoughts in Thee
Thou hast cut the chains of my Karma.
Thou hast made me Thine.
Thou hast entered into me
And possessed my entire being
Thou hast been very kind to me.
I have not done any hard tapas
For such a great blessing.
O sweet Madhava!
Who dwells in one of the four damas!
Thou art the path,
Thou art goal.
I shall do Thy will.
My tongue shall glorify Thee alone.
My hands shall salute Thee alone.
My eyes shall see Thee alone.
My ears shall listen to Thy lilas.
My mind shall think of Thee alone.
My heart shall feel Thee alone.
Om Namo Krishnaya:
7. Lord Pandarinath
O Lord Vittal of Pandharpur.
O Lord Vittobha.
Consort of Rukumai,
Prostrations unto Thee.
Thy temple is on the bank of the
Chandrabhaga.
You ate the food of young Namdev.
You were the companion of Namdev.
Tukaram has sung Abhangas
In praise of Thee.
You dined with Barijan Choksee.
You were the water-carrier Sri Kanda.
You served Sri Ekanath.
You put on the form of Vittu,
Paid the money to the Nawab
And thus saved Dewan Damaji.
Thy glory is indescribable.
You were the charioteer of Arjuna.
We are all studying Thy Gita.
Thou dwellest in our hearts.
Thou art Murli Manohar,
In Viswanath Mandir.
Are you satisfied with our Kichadie-bhog?
It is hot, hot, nice and palatable,
Teach us Gita, O World-Teacher!
8. Lord Venkatesa
O Lord of Venkata Hill!
O Venkatesa, Venkatachalapathy,
O Venkataramana!
O Lord of Tirupathi Hills,
Consort of Alamelumangai:
Pratyaksha Devata of Kaliyuga:
O Glorious Vishnu!
Let me live up Thy golden Hill.
O coral-lipped Venkatesa!
Let me be a humble servitor
At Thy blessed Lotus Feet.
My heart melts
At the thought
Of Thy endless glory.
Om Nama Venkatesaya!
9. Lord Varadaraja
This is a Vishnu Temple
In little Conjeevaram.
It is two miles distant
From the Great Temple.
There is a hall of 96 pillows.
There is a tank.
Varadaraja is the deity.
O Kanchi Varadappa!
O Lord Narayana!
Sundara Varadha
O my only Saviour!
In Thee all is born,
All move and into Thee enter.
Thou art everywhere,
Like whiteness in the milk!
My heart is thy temple.
Hail Divine Grace.
Hail Vishnu, Hail Varada.
10. Lord Renganatha
O Lord Renganatha of Srirangam!
O Seshasayi, Sleeper on the couch of serpent!
Beloved consort of
Renganayaki!
Salutations unto Thee, Hey Prabhu!
I am Thy humblest servant.
Installing Thy Holy Feet
In my heart, I move and work.
Let Thy will be done.
Reveal Thy true form to me.
Andal merged herself in Thy light.
Thou art the husband of Andal
Daughter of Vishnuchitta
Avatar of Neela Devi.
Munivahana or Tiruppanalwar
Also vanished in Thy flame of splendour.
Let me also lose myself in Thy effulgence.
Hail Ranga! Wake up Ranga!
Wake up in my heart.
Om Namo Narayanaya.
11. Sriviliputur
This is in Ramnad District,
There is a big Temple of Vishnu,
Vatapatrasayi dwells here.
Vishnuchitta or Periyalvar
Served Vatapatrasayi!
Andal, daughter of Vishnuchitta
Was born here.
She converted Srivilliputur
Into Brindavan.
She collected some boys
And made them cowherds.
O Lord Vatapatrasayi,
O Lord Vishnu!
Prostrations unto Thee
I got Thy Grace
I know today
That redemption is
At Thy feet alone!
Hail Hari! Hail Govinda!
Om Namo Narayanaya!
12. Anantasayanam
This is a Vishnu Temple
In Trivandrum.
The Lord is Padmanabha
He sleeps on the couch
Of Serpent, Adishesha.
O Lord Hari!
I bow before Thee
I will sing Thy name
In holy company.
I shall do Thy will.
Cut off my mortal bonds.
Open the way to Thy feet.
Thou art my life-breath.
Thou art my soul.
Thou art vigilant,
While I sleep.
Om Namo Narayanaya.
13. Guruvayur Krishna
Guruvayur is in Malabar.
There is a famous temple here.
Krishna grants great boons.
May Krishna protect me,
Who shines with Rukmani,
Who destroyed Kamsa,
Who did Rasa lila with gopis,
Who taught Gita to Arjuna,
Who gave instructions to Uddhava.
Let us sing Krishna’s name–
Yamuna theera vihari
Brindawana Chanchari
Govardhana Giridhari
Gopala Krishna Murari.
14. Udupi-Krishna
Udipi is in South Kanara.
This is one of the eight centres
Of Shri Yadava Sampradaya.
Lord Krishna is the presiding deity.
O Lord Krishna
Who uplifts all!
Prostrations unto Thee.
Make me Thy own,
Ignore my faults,
Make me Divine.
Who in this universe is flawless?
Let not the singing of Thy Glory
Ever cease on my tongue.
OM Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.
15. Ayodhya Vasi Ram
Prostrations to Lord Rama,
The Jewel of kings,
Who is the Lord of Sita,
Who is the friend of Sugriva,
Who is the master of Hanuman,
Who is the Avatara of Vishnu.
Who is the Destroyer of Ravana.
O Lord Rama! O Raghava!
Thou art an ocean of mercy.
Thou art Mariyadha Purushottama.
Thou art the refuge of devotees.
I have filled my being,
With Thy love.
I installed Thee