India is a land of many religions, cultures, languages, temples, and many more. It has the most ancient history in the world. The oldest temples in India have a resemblance to the ancient culture, religion, and heritage. The temples in India represent the diversity and history of Indian religion in each corner of the country. Indians are religious and believe in history and the establishment of the culture. Temples in India have huge respect and remind us of the knowledge and brilliance of the people who lived in the ancient past. In this article, we are going to learn about some of the oldest temples in India that are still standing intact. Let us explore these oldest temples in India in reverse chronological order from the date on which they were built.
Timeless Wonders: Unveiling the Oldest Temples in India
1) Konark Sun Temple, Odisha
The famous Konark Sun Temple is located in the state of Odisha, India. The temple was built in 1250 CE (13th century CE) by King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty that ruled Odisha. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu Sun God โSurya Dev.โ The temple depicts a chariot with 12 wheels and seven horses, the same as the chariot of Surya which he rides during the day.
The temple is an architectural brilliance that depicts the Kalinga style. Another uniqueness about this oldest temples in India is its wheels. The wheels of the temple can be used to calculate the time of day and night like a clock. Every bit of the sculpture has a unique meaning and represents something related to science and Indian culture.
Europeans called the Konark Sun Temple a Black Pagoda or Kala Pagoda because the temple was in dark color. The temple is completely carved in stone and attracts many tourists from across the world. The temple sculptures and carvings show the amazing work of that time. Most parts of the temple were demolished. The reason for the demolition is still a mystery. In the year 1984, the Konark Sun Temple was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2) Jagannath Temple, Odisha
The second temple in our list of oldest temples in India is Jagannath Temple located in Puri, Odisha. The Jagannath Temple was built in 1161 CE (12th century CE). The temple was built by King Ananta Varman Chodaganga Deva of the Ganga Dynasty. Lord Vishnu is worshipped in this temple. The temple is also one of the Char-Dhams in India. The main deities in this temple are Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. The temple includes 31 small temples and is spread across 4,00,000 square feet.
The temple is surrounded by a 6.1-meter wall. The temple architecture depicts 3 chariots pulling 3 deities. Despite being entirely carved out of stone, the temple had to be rebuilt because of vandalism. Science is unable to prove a number of things regarding the temple. The Sudarshan Chakra is located at the top of the temple and weighs 2 tons. Without any advanced technology how they placed that at the top? Also, the temple does not throw shadows for even a minute in a whole day.
3) Lingaraja Temple, Odisha
The third temple in the list of oldest temples in India is the Lingaraja Temple in Odisha. King Jajati Keshari built the temple in the 11th century CE. Lingaraja Temple is one of the oldest and biggest temples in Odisha. The temple was built by King Jajati Keshari in the 10th century and completed by King Lalatendu Keshari in the 11th century.
The Linga in this temple is a โSwayambhu,โ which means self-originated. The temple is built with red stone in Kalinga-style architecture. The temple is divided into four parts: Yagna Shala, Garba Griha, Natya Shala, and Bhoga Mandap. This temple is an example of pure Hindu art and culture.
The river originating under the temple fills the Bindusagar Tank. The water is considered holy and helps to cure mental and physical illnesses. The gate of the temple is closed to non-Hindus and if a non-Hindu enters the temple purification process is done.
4) Brihadeeshwara Temple, Tamil Nadu
The Brihadeeshwara Temple is located in Tamil Nadu. It was built in 1010 CE (11th century) by Raja Raja Chola I. The temple is one of a kind. The Brihadeeshwara temple is not only one of the oldest temples in India but also the largest too. The Shivalinga in this temple is 3.7 meters tall, which is the largest in India.
The templeโs original name was Rajarajeswar Temple but the Marathas changed it to Brihadeeshwara, which means the Great EEshwara. The temple structure is influenced by Tamil culture and the walls also contain Tamil mantras. The Vimana Tower is the tallest temple tower in India elevated to 200 ft. The Nandi at the entrance of the temple is carved out of a single stone. The Brihadeeshwara temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
5) Kailasa Temple, Maharashtra
The next temple in the list of oldest temples in India is Kailasa Temple in Maharashtra. The temple was built by the Rashtrakuta King Krishna I in the 8th century CE. The Kailasa Temple is an amazing and stunning piece of art and architecture. The temple is carved into the mountain from top to bottom. This is the only temple in the world that is carved from top to bottom.
Some theories say that the temple was built in stages by succeeding kings. The temple structure is built in resemblance to the Kailash mountains. The Ellora caves are carved out of one rock. These caves consist of 34 cave temples and monasteries. The Kailasa temple is one of the biggest and oldest monolithic structures in the world.
There is a conspiracy theory about the temple, saying that the temple construction is connected with the mystery of aliens.
6) Somnath Temple, Gujarat
The Somnath Temple in Gujarat was built before the 7th century CE. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The temple’s exact construction date and who built it was unknown. But the legend says that the Somnath temple is mentioned in Rigveda and existed over 2000 years ago. The Somnath temple has been raided multiple times since its construction by many foreign kings to destroy its legacy and steal the treasure.
But the temple was reconstructed again and again by the believers. The current temple construction was initiated by the first deputy Prime Minister, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, in 1947. The temple is built in the Solanki style and the tip of the temple rises 155 feet and the Kalash on the top weighs 10 tons. The interesting fact is that you will not find a piece of land between Somnath temple to Antarctica.
7) Meenakshi Amman Temple, Tamil Nadu
The Meenakshi Amman Temple was built-in 1190-1216 CE by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I. Lord Parvathi is worshipped as Meenakshi Amman and Lord Shiva is worshipped as Sundareshwar. The Meenakshi Amman temple is one of the oldest temples in India with a great history and cultural significance.
Legend says that Meenakshi was an abnormal three-year-old girl who emerged from the Yagna performed by the King and his wife. The couple prayed to Lord Shiva for a son, but a triple-breasted girl emerged from the Yagna. A divine voice asked them not to be concerned about the physical appearance of the girl and her third breast. It will disappear once she meets her future husband.
When Meenakshi was in charge of Madurai, she also conquered Indralok and other kingdoms. She encountered Lord Shiva while en route to seize the Kailash, and her third breast vanished. They returned to Madurai and got married. Meenakshi temple was attacked several times, same as Somnath temple. But the Indian rulers reconstructed the temple.
8) Lad Khan Temple, Karnataka
The next temple in the list of oldest temples in India is Lad Khan temple in Karnataka. It was built in the 5th century CE by the Chalukya king Pulakeshin I. The temple is now popularly known as Chalukya Shiva Temple. Firstly, it was devoted to Lord Vishnu, but now it has a Shivalinga and a Nandi. The temple depicts the style and culture of the Chalukya dynasty and the temple pillars were carved with Hindu mythologies. The Chalukya Shiva temple was formerly known as Lad Khan temple because once a Muslim prince named Lad Khan made this temple his residence for a while.
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9) Mundeshwari Temple, Bihar
The Mundeshwari Temple in Bihar was built in the 4th century CE. Lord Shiva and Devi Durga are worshipped in this temple. The oldest operational temple in both India and the entire world, according to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), was built in 108 AD. The temple is built in the Nagaraja style completely with stone. Many foreign travelers mention the Mundeshwari temple in their literature.
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10) Dwarkadhish Temple, Gujarat
The last in our list of oldest temples in India is the Dwarkadhish temple in Gujarat. The temple was built 2,500 years ago by Vajranabha. The temple was built in 400 BC by the grandson of Lord Krishna Vajranabha on the land reclaimed from the sea by Lord Krishna, known as Dwarka. The Dwarkadhish temple is one of the Char-Dhams and is located on the bank of the Gomti River. The temple is standing on 72 pillars and the pilgrims have to enter through Moksha Dwar and exit through Swarga Dwar.
It is said that Dwarka was submerged six times in the sea and we are seeing the seventh form today. The Dwarkadhish temple was destroyed by Mahmud Begada in 1472 and was rebuilt in the 15th -16th century. The temple is a symbol that Indian mythologies were true.