Many forms of God are worshiped in Hinduism, for which there are religious places. There are many religious places in India that have ancient history. Some religious places or temples are associated with mythology. There are many grand, historical, and huge temples from north to south and east to west of India, which are famous not only for their antiquity but also for their unique architecture. If you are a lover of religion as well as history and want to experience the amazing architecture built in ancient style, then you can go to visit the 8 most ancient temples of India as Spiritual travel guide.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi
Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, has been in Kashi since time immemorial. It has also been mentioned in the Mahabharata and the Upanishads. In the 11th century BC, King Harishchandra renovated the Vishwanath temple. Later, Emperor Vikramaditya renovated it. In 1194, Muhammad Ghori looted this temple of Kashi and demolished it. Once again, in 1447, Sultan Mahmud Shah of Jaunpur demolished the temple. However, in 1585 AD, Todarmal got it rebuilt. In 1669, Aurangzeb ordered the demolition of the temple.
Suryanar Kovil, Tamil Nadu
There is a historical temple dedicated to the Sun God near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, named Suryanar Kovil. Suryanar Kovil is the only temple that has separate temples for all the planetary deities. According to the inscriptions found in the temple, it was built by the Chola king Kulottunga Chola Deva. This temple is an excellent example of Dravidian architecture.
Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand
The Jyotirlinga Kedarnath Dham, located in Uttarakhand, was built by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. It is believed that the Pandavas pleased Lord Shiva by doing penance here. There is something engraved in Pali or Brahmi script on the stairs of the temple, which is difficult to read clearly.
Brihadeshwara Temple, Tamil Nadu
Brihadeshwara Temple is one of the oldest temples of Hindus in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, whose history is said to be of 1002 AD. Chola ruler Raja Raja Chola I built the temple in Dravidian style. The height of the temple is 66 meters, which is counted among the largest structures in the world in its time.
Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha
The Jagannath Temple, located in Puri, Odisha, is an ancient temple dedicated to the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is considered one of the four Dhams of India. This temple was built in the 12th century by King Anantavarman Chodaganga of the Ganga dynasty. It is believed that the king had a vision of Lord Jagannath in his dream and ordered the installation of the idol in the cave. The Rath Yatra festival is celebrated every year in the temple, which is world-famous.
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Konark Sun Temple, Odisha
There is a Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha, whose history is said to be of the 13th century. King Narasimha Deva I of the Ganga dynasty built this ancient Hindu temple. This temple is an excellent example of Kalinga architecture. UNESCO declared the Konark Sun Temple a World Heritage Site in 1984.
Somnath Temple, Gujarat
The Somnath Temple is considered to be the first Jyotirlinga out of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Somnath Jyotirlinga is located in Gujarat and was built in the 7th century. It is believed that the temple was built by Chandradev himself. Although the Somnath temple has been demolished many times, its grandeur remains the same even today. This temple is also mentioned in the Rigveda.
Mundeshwari Devi Temple, Bihar
Mundeshwari Devi Temple is located in the Kaimur district of Bihar, which is considered to be one of the oldest temples in India. This temple is situated on Panwar Hill and has a unique tradition of bloodless sacrifice. Built in Nagar-style architecture, this temple was constructed in 108 AD and has been a protected monument since 1915. According to archaeologists, the inscriptions found here are from around 389 AD. According to legend, Mata became famous as Mundeshwari after killing the demons named Chand-Mund.
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