INDIA – A land of temples

By: Ashmita Banerjee

India, being part of the world’s oldest civilization, is extremely rich in history, with countless beliefs, traditions, and legends centering around its various religions. It is considered the land of origin of countless traditions of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, where people of different religious beliefs live in harmony and peace. Unlike other religions, Hinduism, which is believed to be the world’s oldest religion, does not have a founder; rather is a fusion of religions. The mention of the majestic temples of India – the heavenly abode of the Almighty is extremely important when we speak of Hinduism with great pride. They are not only a symbol of serenity and divinity but also an important source of history. The astonishing architecture, intricate sculptures, and vibrant paintings on the pillars and walls of the temple and elaborate gopurams have always proved to be a huge source of information for historians at large, tracing the history of ancient civilizations. India is blessed with such amazing creations from Kedarnath, Badrinath nestling in the ranges of the mighty Himalayas, to Rameshwaram in the extreme south, which are the true legendary evidence of the two great epics of Hinduism – the Ramayana and Mahabharata. The Sun temple, Brihadeshwara temple, Somnath temple, Sanchi stupa, Vaishno Devi temple, Siddhivinayak temple, Golden temple, Gangotri temple, Kashi Vishwanath temple, Meenakshi temple, Amarnath cave temple, Tirupati Balaji temple, Jagannath Puri temple are just a handful of the venerate treasures of India. These temples are the witnesses to many supernatural incidents and miracles even today, which are beyond any human explanation. The purpose of a visit to the temples varies a lot for people, for pursuing peace, offering prayers to the almighty, organizing family functions, seeking blessings, serving people, etc. To sum up, temples, each one being an architectural masterpiece, are a source of strength, divinity, peace, and spirituality for all Indians and a symbol of the rich cultural heritage of India as a whole.