This is the Bharmour temple which illustrates the pure Nagara style of architecture

Dhatu means relic and Stupa refers to a place which houses the Dhatu or where a Dhatu is buried. Relic can be physical remains or articles used or Dharma Cakra or miniature stupa.

Jagrut, Swapna and Susupti are the three states of our existence. In the Jagrut state we are connected to the world. In the Swapna state, our mind is active and we are living in the world created by the mind. In the Susupti State the mind switches off and we are at total physical and mental rest. We dont feel pain either. This state can be compared to the non rapid eye movement part of our sleep. The Garbha Grha represents the Susupti state where we see the main deity. Both physical and mental problems are forgotten. The external world does not matter. With intense devotion if we go to the deity we reach the Susupti state.

Moksha is the fourth state when we merge with the divinity in a spiritual sense.

Worship in a temple is referred to as a Purartha Puja. The prayers are for the well being of the entire community. The syllable Pura in Purartha or Purohit refers to the entire community. Puja at residence is generally for the well being of the family.

Temples and Sanskrit language are cultural edifices of our civilisation. Deliberate discrimination against these contribute to weakening of Indian civilisation. Princely States had strong practices of temples and Hindu tradition. With their abolishment, support and protection to temples and Hindu cultural practices also weakened.

The Thiruvannamalai Arunachalar temple is considered as Agni Linga. The mountain itself is considered as a Jyotirling and once in a year, a deepam is lit on top of the hill to mark this aspect. It is one of the five Panchabhootha lingas in South India.

Dharma Cakra, Triple gem, miniature stupa

As humans settled down in large cities, there was a need to establish order in governance which gave rise to Artha Shastra, need for entertainment gave rise to Natya Shastra and the need for worshipping divinity

Maharashtra has three Jyotirlingas – Bhimashankar, Triambakeshwar and Grishneshwar. Madhya Pradesh has two – Ujjain and Omkareshwar. Varanasi is the only Jyotirlinga in Uttar Pradesh.

India has lost thousands of antiquities due to conquest and invaders in earlier times. In recent times organised loot, Government connivance and terrorism have resulted in theft of thousands more deities.

UruSikaharas are smaller Sikharas that are placed below and around the Sikhara at varying heights. They sometimes also provide structural strength to the main Sikhara. The Kendriya Mahadeva temple at Khajuraho is an example of a Vimanaa with many urusikharas.

The foundation of the devalaya is only 5 feet. This demonstrated how advanced and experienced temple builders of the past were.

There are so many examples of villages that have been abandoned after the temple was destroyed. It illustrates the central role temples played in building the economic and social system in a village.

Govindanahalli is between Mandya and Hassan in Karnataka. The Panchalinga Shiva temple is in the Panchakuta form with five Garbha Gruhas arranged linearly.

Vimaana is also called Deul or Rekha Deul