This a photo of the gopuram of Sri Mariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in China Town, Singapore. Originally constructed by Indian businessman Naraina Pillai, the temple is as old as Singapore itself. It is a National Monument of Singapore and a major tourist attraction.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Ellora Caves - Kalissa temple
This Kalissa temple was hand carved from cliff top-to-bottom well over 1,000 years ago!
Backwaters of Kerala
Floating along the backwaters of Kerala State in South India marks a major contrast with the hustle and bustle of most other Indian towns and cities. This photo captures the tranquil side of traveling in India. Kerala is an incredibly beautiful place known also as 'God's own country'. It had the first democratically and freely elected communist Government in the world! Kerala also has the highest rates of education in the whole of India.
Cave 26 of Ajanta Caves
The first Buddhist cave monuments at Ajanta (India) date from the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. During the Gupta Dynasty period (5th and 6th centuries A.D.) many more richly decorated caves were added to the original group of caves. The paintings and sculptures of Ajanta, considered masterpieces of Buddhist religious art, have had a considerable artistic influence throughout the world.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Cave Temple of Lord Amarnath (Lord Shiva)
This is a photo of Lord Amarnath taken by Mr. Gangadhar Tambe, during his pilgrimage to Lord Amarnath (Deutsch: Foto der Eissäule von Amarnath - Autor: Gangadhar Tambe, auf einer Pilgerreise nach Amarnath aufgenommen).
This is the opening of the Cave Temple of Lord Amarnath (Deutsch: Die heilige Höhle von Amarnath im Norden Indiens).
The Amarnath cave shrine, dedicated to the Lord Shiva is over 5,000 years old according to ancient scriptures and other historical documents, and it is described in ancient Hindu mythology. The cave is situated at an altitude of 3,888 m (12,760 feet), at a distance of about 141 km (88 miles) from Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Inside the main Amarnath cave there is an ice stalagmite resembling Shiva Linga, which melts during May to August and gradually wanes thereafter. This Lingam is said to grow and shrink with the phases of the moon, reaching its full height during the summer festival. There are two more ice formations representing Parvati and Shiva's son, Ganesha.
Devotees generally take the 42 km (26 miles) pilgrimage on foot from the town of Pahalgam, about 96 km (60 miles) from Srinagar, and complete the journey in four to five days. There are two routes to the temple - the longer and traditional path from Srinagar, and the shorter route from the town of Baltal. Some devotees ride on horseback also to complete the journey.
This year, as reported by agencies, the annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine continued smoothly on Friday as Governor N.N. Vohra and about 6,000 pilgrims offered prayers there. Governor Vohra, who is also the chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), also interacted with the pilgrims there and later at the Baltal base camp.
The pilgrims expressed satisfaction at the arrangements made by the SASB and the state administration for their safe pilgrimage. The governor also visited Panchtarni on the Pahalgam route in south Kashmir to the cave shrine and took stock of snow clearance there.
The traditional south Kashmir route is yet to open as heavy snow still blocks the 34 km track from the Pahalgam base camp to the cave.
Ice Lingam inside the Holy Amarnath Cave
Hundreds of thousands of devout Hindus and other pilgrims undertake the arduous trek to Amarnath cave shrine every year in the months of June and July.
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