Tamil Nadu Temples :
A spectacular destination of ancient wisdom bestowed with eternal grace
of nature!
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Tamil Nadu Temples :
A spectacular destination of ancient wisdom bestowed with eternal grace
of nature!
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Tamil
Nadu Temples
"A
land of temples", as Tamil Nadu is better known enchants divinity.
There are more than 30,000 temples in Tamil Nadu. The temples were
constructed by various dynasties. Tamil Nadu is the home of the legacy of
ancient Dravidian art and culture, characterised best by deliberately ornate
temples with their towers known as gopurams which aspire to touch the
heaven. 
The
most ancient temples were constructed of brick and mortar. Upto about 700 AD
temples were replicated out of caves. The Pallava Kings (upto 900) were
great builders of temples of stone. The Cholas (900-1250 AD) have a number
of monuments to their credit. It must be mentioned about the Brihadeeswarar
Temple in Tanjavur which unfurls history itself. The Cholas added many
ornate mandpams or halls to temples and built large gopurams - towers. The
Pandya Style (Upto 1350 AD) saw the emergence of the architecture of huge
towers, high wall enclosures and enormous towered gateways. The Vijayanagar
Style (1350 - 1560 AD) is recognised for the intricacy and beauty especially
for the decorated monolithic pillars. The Naik style (1600 - 1750 AD) is
known for the addition of large prakarams (circumambulatory paths) and
pillared halls.  |
Chidambaram is the seat of the cosmic dancer
Nataraja (Ananda Tandava pose ; the Cosmic Dance of bliss). Chidambaram
is one of the foremost Saivite shrines; the very name Kovil refers to
Chidambaram,
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In one of the largest temple complexes in India,
from her rambling maze-like palace the Goddess Meenakshi presides over
the ancient city of Madurai-the Athens of South India.
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Tirupporur (place of the sacred war) is one of the
33 major temples of Tamil Nadu dedicated to Lord Muruga, situated 25-km
away from Chingleput and 45-kmfrom Chennai.
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The sacred island town of Rameshwaram at the
extreme south-eastern limit of the Indian Peninsula. Rameshwaram is the
Varanasi of the south and a major pilgrimage centre for both Shaivaites
and Vaishnavaites as it was here that Rama offered thanks to Shiva.
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Kanyakumari was once referred to as the Alexandria
of the east. This place has been a great center for art, culture,
civilization, and pilgrimage for years.
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About a mile away the confluence of River Kaveri
with the sea, known as Kaveri- patnam, and two miles from Tiruvengadu,
there exists an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Siva revered as
Chayavaneswarar.
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Krishnapuram is a small village situated in
Tirunelveli District at a distance of about six miles from Tirunelveli
town. There are a plenty of images and idols of sculptural interest in
the temple, enticing hundreds of visitors.
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This is the largest and the oldest Shiva temple
located in the center of the town of Kumbakonam. The presiding deity of
this temple is Lord Kumbeswara and the presiding Goddess is Sri
Mangalambigai.
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Swamimalai is one of the six renowned abodes of
Lord Subramanya. The temple is built on an artificial hill and is
approached by a flight of steps. The presiding deity is worshipped as
Swaminathan.
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Swamimalai is one of the six renowned abodes of
Lord Subramanya. The temple is built on an artificial hill and is
approached by a flight of steps. The presiding deity is worshipped as
Swaminathan.
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It was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Turner, Bishop of
Calcutta, on November 5,1830,and was given the name of the Governor
since he was the driving force behind it. It was thrown open to public
communion on Easter Sunday-April 3,1831.
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The temple, constructed by Raja Raja II, 1150-
1173 AD, has now been recognised as a world heritage monument by the
UNESCO. It rises to a height of 23 meters.
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The inscriptions on the wall of the temple
contains the earliest known reference to Sankara Bhashyam, a commentary
on Sankara's philosophy, written by Chidaananda Bhattaara. The
inscription is in Tamil with a few Sanskrit words in between written in
Grantha characters.
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Built around 1005 A.D, this temple is an
outstanding symbol of Chola sculpture. It draws many foreigners keen to
interpret the rock wall edicts and study the sculptures.
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