Hinduism Stack Exchange
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Questions tagged [temple]

A temple is a place and structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer, worship and sacrifice, or analogous rites.

Temple

A temple is a place and structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer, worship and sacrifice, or analogous rites. Temple is considered a dwelling place of a god or gods. A temple is maintained and supervised by a priest.

Hindu Temple

A Hindu temple incorporates all elements of Hindu cosmos - presenting the good, the evil and the human, as well as the elements of Hindu sense of cyclic time and the essence of life - symbolically presenting dharma, kama, artha, moksa and karma.

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Why do some temples require men not to wear shirts?

Some Hindu temples require men to remove their shirts before they enter. I don't remember the names of any temples off the top of my head, but I do believe that a few temples in and around Thanjavur had this policy, and I remember hearing that this…
senshin
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Why are many South Indian temple's walls painted in white and red stripes?

In many south Indian temples, especially in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, the temple's external walls are painted in white & red stripes. Why is it done so? For example:
Bharat
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What is the significance of different types of flag posts on the top of temples?

On the top of temples we often see different kinds of flag posts. On temples of Vishnu we see a chakra, on the temples of Shiva we see a trident, and also some other types of flag posts. For example, see the below pics: What is the reason behind…
Be Happy
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Is there a temple in India where devotees get rid of the "evil" in their selves by uttering abusive words before a deity?

I came across the following bit on this Christian Evangelist website []: [...]there is a temple in India where they have a festival every year. Devotees go there during this festival that goes for a week and utter curses and abuses to the god in…
chhatra
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What is the story behind Dhooli Darsanam in Srisailam?

In the Hindu religion, visiting a temple without ablution (cleaning dirt) is said to be sin. One should always bathe before visiting the temple. But in Srisailam, the story is completely different. A person should enter without cleaning the dirt…
Mr_Green
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Which is the largest Hindu temple in the world?

Which is the largest Hindu temple (in terms of area) in the world? Some say it is Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Although, others say it is a Buddhist temple.
Amit Saxena
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Why are black rats treated as sacred at the Karni Mata temple?

I saw an episode about the Karni Mata temple in a TV Show - Mano Ya Na Mano ("Believe it or not"). They showed black rats and said that people treat them as sacred, and that people also drink the milk left over from the vessels from which those…
Mr. Alien
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What is the significance of Chakra of Konark Sun Temple?

I read about Konark Sun Temple and it makes me proud that about 750 years ago Hindu sages could calculate the accurate time in day and night as well, as they know the weather changes by looking the chakras (wheel of Konark). But unfortunately I…
Sree
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What is the purpose of having a temple?

The answer I am looking for is more from a perspective of "What was the original purpose for which people used temples" how has it changed and has it changed for the worse or for the good. Any citation to literature would be preferred, but I am…
skv
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Why they depicted sex positions on temples?

Why they depicted sex positions on temples? we all know temples are considered as holy places, even footwear not allowed, then Why they depicted sex positions on temples?
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What is the need of temple in Hinduism?

Generally all Hindus Visit temple for to perform prayers. But according to Hindu ideology why we need temple as we can perform prayers at our home as well?
The Hungry Dictator
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Best practices to clean Panchdhaatu structures

Jay Shri Ram everybody, Can anybody please suggest what solutions should we use to clean PanchDhaatu structures as shown below. One option is to use Pitaambari powder but that takes a lot of time and after few days, the structure again shows black…
VAT
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Upper shape of Temples

Why all Temples, Mosques, Churches, Gurudwaras, etc have a structure such that the main area on the ground is broad and on top it is pointed something like '/\'. This upper part varies a bit in shape like rounded or conical according to the religion…
Aby
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What is the history of this Kali form of Lord Shyama-sundara?

Ths Shyama-sundara mandir of Khardaha, West Bengal was establised by Sri Virabhadra, the son of Sri Nityananda Mahaprabhu.The beautiful idol is believed to be carved out of a black basalt on which Sri Krishna stood during the Rajasuya jajna of…
user17294
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What restrictions should we follow when visiting temples?

What are all the niyama (restrictions) before, during and after visiting temples ? Regarding cleanliness, dress, prostration, pradakshan etc.
ram
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