Top 10 Lord Shiva Temples In India
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Economic Times
3 hours ago
- Economic Times
Hindu temple in China reveals trade flourished between the two countries
The long trade route from India to China was instrumental in the establishment of temples with Hindu imagery In the city of Quanzhou in Fujian province of China, there is a Buddhist temple, whose base and pillars are full of Hindu imagery. It reveals the long connection of trade between India and China via the sea route from western coast of India through the Malacca straits (Singapore). The images show lions, which is native neither to South India nor to China. Lions became symbols of royalty in India and China, and was a name adopted by the people of Sri Lanka (Sinhala, or lion people) and Singapore (Singha-pura, city of lions). This reveals how ideas travel along with per local lore, a merchant requested the landlord to grant him a piece of land to build a temple to the Buddha. The landlord, unwilling to part with the land, said he would do so only if the mulberry trees in his garden bloomed with white lotus flowers. That is precisely what happened. The landlord then granted the land to the Buddhist monk, and the temple was established. This became a place where different kinds of temples were built by monks and merchants of various Buddhist and Hindu a result, even today one finds images of Shiva in his iconic Shiva Linga form, worshipped by an elephant. There is another image of Shiva with matted locks. An image of Narasimha-an unusual South Indian form known as Purushavrigha (Vyaghrapada), a tiger-footed devotee of Shiva-is also present. There is even an image of Parvati with a demon seated at her feet, worshipped by locals who believe it to be a form of Guan Yin, the compassionate female bodhisattva of Chinese tradition. There is even a pillar resembling a Shiva Linga which local people believe to be a stone bamboo shoot-but it is most likely a Shiva trade routes connecting India to China were overland, via Central Asia. The sea routes taking advantage of monsoon winds came oldest Ramayana manuscripts do not mention China. But the oldest Mahabharata manuscripts do. China became familiar with India first indirectly via Central Asian tribes around 200 BC and then directly by 200 AD. This was in the time of the Han emperors (200 BC to 200 AD), when China had been unified. India was called Shendu (from Sindhu) and Tianzhu (heavenly Bamboo grove, from the Buddhist Venu-vana). Buddhism was welcomed, as it brought solace at a time of great turmoil when Chinese lands were torn by civil wars. In the Tang period (600 AD to 900 AD), when unification took place, Chinese encouraged the import of Buddhist texts and Buddhist relics from India. This is when Buddhist ideas, in Sanskrit, were translated into Chinese script-a complex process as both the sound system and the writing system, not to mention the language structure and meaning structure, was radically different. But by the end of this period, local Confucian scholars became hostile to Buddhism and practices like relic the Song period (1000-1300), China was seen as a centre of Buddhism. Buddhism had declined in India, and many people travelled to China which was seen as the land of Maitreya Buddha (future Buddha), Manjushri (sword-bearing Bodhisattva of knowledge) and Amitabha Buddha (saviour Buddha of pure land). The old land routes to China became risky due to the rise of Mongol armies. Instead, the sea became the preferred route to China. This is when Chola kings of Tamilakam established contact with the Chinese imperial court, via the monsoon winds, ships sailed from Arabia to the western coast of India in approximately 30 days. Ships then sailed from the eastern coast of India in another 30 days to the Malacca Straits. Then an additional 30 days to reach China. Effectively, in 100 days-around three to four months-one could travel from Arabia to the farthest edge of was a major trade route, with horses being transported from Arabia to South Asia, Southeast Asia and China via the sea, especially when land routes were exchange, China supplied silk, silver, tea and porcelain. Gold from Southeast Asia was traded for Indian cotton. Spices and aromatic plants were also exchanged. This was an extensive trading network. A powerful merchant guild in India (the 500) controlled much of this trade. This trade enriched the Rashtrakuta dynasty who controlled much of Karnataka around 800 AD. The wealth funded some of the earliest temples in India-as well as a cluster of temples in Southeast China.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Hindu temple in China reveals trade flourished between the two countries
In the city of Quanzhou in Fujian province of China, there is a Buddhist temple , whose base and pillars are full of Hindu imagery. It reveals the long connection of trade between India and China via the sea route from western coast of India through the Malacca straits (Singapore). The images show lions, which is native neither to South India nor to China. Lions became symbols of royalty in India and China, and was a name adopted by the people of Sri Lanka (Sinhala, or lion people) and Singapore (Singha-pura, city of lions). This reveals how ideas travel along with goods. As per local lore, a merchant requested the landlord to grant him a piece of land to build a temple to the Buddha. The landlord, unwilling to part with the land, said he would do so only if the mulberry trees in his garden bloomed with white lotus flowers. That is precisely what happened. The landlord then granted the land to the Buddhist monk, and the temple was established. This became a place where different kinds of temples were built by monks and merchants of various Buddhist and Hindu denominations. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Technology healthcare Data Science Artificial Intelligence Product Management Management Data Analytics Healthcare Operations Management CXO Project Management others Digital Marketing Cybersecurity MBA Others PGDM Design Thinking Leadership Public Policy Data Science Finance Degree MCA Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks MIT xPRO CERT-MIT XPRO Building AI Prod India Starts on undefined Get Details As a result, even today one finds images of Shiva in his iconic Shiva Linga form, worshipped by an elephant. There is another image of Shiva with matted locks. An image of Narasimha-an unusual South Indian form known as Purushavrigha (Vyaghrapada), a tiger-footed devotee of Shiva-is also present. There is even an image of Parvati with a demon seated at her feet, worshipped by locals who believe it to be a form of Guan Yin, the compassionate female bodhisattva of Chinese tradition. There is even a pillar resembling a Shiva Linga which local people believe to be a stone bamboo shoot-but it is most likely a Shiva Linga. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Hear better, live easier Amplifon Book Now Undo Early trade routes connecting India to China were overland, via Central Asia. The sea routes taking advantage of monsoon winds came later. The oldest Ramayana manuscripts do not mention China. But the oldest Mahabharata manuscripts do. China became familiar with India first indirectly via Central Asian tribes around 200 BC and then directly by 200 AD. This was in the time of the Han emperors (200 BC to 200 AD), when China had been unified. India was called Shendu (from Sindhu) and Tianzhu (heavenly Bamboo grove, from the Buddhist Venu-vana). Buddhism was welcomed, as it brought solace at a time of great turmoil when Chinese lands were torn by civil wars. Live Events In the Tang period (600 AD to 900 AD), when unification took place, Chinese encouraged the import of Buddhist texts and Buddhist relics from India. This is when Buddhist ideas, in Sanskrit, were translated into Chinese script-a complex process as both the sound system and the writing system, not to mention the language structure and meaning structure, was radically different. But by the end of this period, local Confucian scholars became hostile to Buddhism and practices like relic worship. In the Song period (1000-1300), China was seen as a centre of Buddhism. Buddhism had declined in India, and many people travelled to China which was seen as the land of Maitreya Buddha (future Buddha), Manjushri (sword-bearing Bodhisattva of knowledge) and Amitabha Buddha (saviour Buddha of pure land). The old land routes to China became risky due to the rise of Mongol armies. Instead, the sea became the preferred route to China. This is when Chola kings of Tamilakam established contact with the Chinese imperial court, via Indonesia. Using the monsoon winds, ships sailed from Arabia to the western coast of India in approximately 30 days. Ships then sailed from the eastern coast of India in another 30 days to the Malacca Straits. Then an additional 30 days to reach China. Effectively, in 100 days-around three to four months-one could travel from Arabia to the farthest edge of China. This was a major trade route, with horses being transported from Arabia to South Asia, Southeast Asia and China via the sea, especially when land routes were blocked. In exchange, China supplied silk, silver, tea and porcelain. Gold from Southeast Asia was traded for Indian cotton. Spices and aromatic plants were also exchanged. This was an extensive trading network. A powerful merchant guild in India (the 500) controlled much of this trade. This trade enriched the Rashtrakuta dynasty who controlled much of Karnataka around 800 AD. The wealth funded some of the earliest temples in India-as well as a cluster of temples in Southeast China.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Walk Of Faith That Brings City To Life. And Halt
New Delhi: For a few weeks each year, Delhi slows down, not the traffic, but the city's tone. The sense of urgency diminishes, the noise changes. Roads normally jammed with honking cars and office-bound buses now also echo with chants of 'Har har Mahadev!' This is time for the kanwar yatra and the capital, every year, surrenders to its fervour. Starting from July 11 this year and going on till July 23, the yatra sees lakhs of devotees from across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Delhi passing through the capital, most of them headed for Hardwar, Gaumukh or Gangotri to collect holy Ganga water. They carry the water back, most of them barefooted, to offer at Shiva temples in their localities. The last three days of the yatra tend to be the busiest, with massive movement of the kanwariyas. As many as three crore kanwariyas are expected to walk on city roads during the period. There's also transformation of the city's landscape: saffron flags flutter everywhere, loudspeakers blasting Bholenath's bhajans on loop, the air smells faintly of incense and fried snacks, and everywhere there are barefoot pilgrims garbed in orange, some carrying simple bamboo kanwars, others hauling elaborate, LED-lit, mirror-decked ones that brighten up the night. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo They walk for hours, often six or more, with a stick in hand for balance and safety, usually in groups. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Yellow and orange camps pop up regularly, some modest, others well organised. This year, Delhi has over 370 registered camps, more than double the number from last year. Many are equipped with air coolers, first-aid stations, fluffy mattresses and full meal arrangements. Some kanwariyas can be seen resting, bathing or just chatting after long hours of walking. The camp put up by Mayapuri Kanwar Sangh is so big that it can accommodate around 2,500 kanwariyas at a time. The elaborate food menu adds to the generosity of the organisers. The marchers enjoy fruits and plates of matar-kulcha or aloo tikki, handed out by local volunteers. Raju Mahajan, 57, one of the core organisers, knows that journey first-hand. His first yatra was in 1997. "Back then, there were hardly any camps for kanwariyas," he recalled. "That's how the sangh was born. To serve others — from devotion to duty." But not all camps are built for personal devotion alone. Some convey a different message. In Jaffrabad, one shelter stands out. Named Sadbhavna, it has been set up beside a mosque and is run entirely by members of the Muslim community. For them, it's more than just a resting spot for devotees of another religion. It's a symbol of harmony, of shared streets and common humanity. Seelampur MLA Zubair Chaudhary said the camp was first set up in 1994 in an attempt to curb communal disharmony in the area. It was the initiative of Chaudhary's father, Chaudhary Mateen Ahmed, a five-time Congress MLA. While the Chaudharys shifted allegiance to the Aam Aadmi Party before this year's assembly elections, the 31-year-old tradition of Muslims showering kanwariyas with rose petals continues. "Before 1994, when kanwariyas walked past our locality, fights, even riots, would break out. The resident here did not understand their chants of 'Bam Bam Bhole' or 'Har har Mahadev' and felt they were being provoked. The tension would carry forward to Seelampur, where Muslims were targeted in retaliation," disclosed the legislator. On Friday, when namaz was on, prayers were halted in respect of the kanwariyas when they appeared on the street. As the city vibrates to the annual rhythm of the yatra, every camp and every group along the road carries a story waiting to be told. For 18-year-old Krish, for example, it's his first yatra without his father, who died seven months ago. "He used to bring me for the yatra every year. It felt wrong to skip it," the teenager said. His friend Sachin walked beside him, both of them energised by the music accompanying their hike. Hazari Lal is out again with his male squad. In his 60s now, Lal has done the yatra 19 times. "Pehli baar jab aaya tha, kuch nahi tha, na paisa, na rasta," he smiled. "Didn't even know what I was looking for. But something clicked. Tab se har saal aata hoon." For some devotees, the yatra is routine. For others, preparation begins months in advance. And for Bhagwati and Chandraj, it's about companionship. "She won't go alone, so I come," says Chandraj. Bhagwati smiles: "It started with a mannat during a sad time. After its fulfilment, the wish to go on the yatra just arises from within." For them, it's not a ritual but a shared promise born in sorrow and now sustained by joy. Meanwhile, for Jeetu, the yatra has a sense of acknowledgement. He is a tailor in Ballabhgarh in Haryana. "I forget everything during this time. It feels important to go," he said. "There is a sense of belonging and empowerment among the kanwariyas." By July 23, most marchers will have reached their destinations. That's when the jal abhishek happens — the ritual pouring of the Gangajal over the Shivling on Sawan Shivratri. Till then, it's Delhi that encourages them, shelters them and watches them walk.
