India is the land of Temples and temples play a major role in our system of living. Irrespective of caste and region Temples are thronged by people. It is an inseparable part of our lives and we are accustomed to visiting the temple when we are in difficulties and when we are blessed. We believe that it is God who can sort out our miseries and in the second case, we throng the temples to thank God for the favors bestowed. While the temple in the vicinity of living serves this purpose, there are temples which have special powers like Tirupati Balaji Temple, Vaishnodevi Temple, Kailas Temple, Shiva Temple at Varanasi. There is another category of temples in India which hold mystery in them. This mystery is beyond science and has not been answered for ages and the Mystery of the temples attract people from far and wide!
Yes, you read it right. There are mysterious temples in India. The best example would be the Jwalamukhi Temple in Himachal Pradesh, where the lamp burns eternally without any support. There are many such examples which arouse divinity and curiosity. Read further if you are interested to know more about a few such temples!
1) Hasanamba Temple: Mystery of Hassan
Hasanamba Temple
This temple located in Hassan in Karnataka is famous for the mystery it holds. The temple, unlike other temples, is open only once in a year for 10 days. After 10 days the pooja is performed and the doors are closed which is opened again only next year. The mystery is that the oil lamp lit before closing the doors will be burning when the doors are opened. It is more interesting to note that the flowers offered to the Goddess Hasanambe will be fresh when the doors are opened as if they were offered just then. This is just an example of the miracles in India Temples.
Virupaksha Temple:
Shivagange Temple
The Virupaksha temple in Hampe, Karnataka is an architectural marvel. That apart, the temple is special because inside the temple premises there is a particular place where you can see the inverted image of the main Gopuram. This place is not close to the outer walls, it is in the interiors, but one can clearly see the inverted image of the Gopuram. The science adopted in creating this mystery is amazing.
Shivagange Temple: Where Ghee turns into Butter
This temple is also situated in Karnataka, at around 55 km. from Bangalore. The temple is located in a cave on a small hill which can be climbed easily. The entire hill looks like Shivalinga which gives the name to the place. The mystery of the temple lies in the fact that if you offer ghee to the God the priest puts it on the Shiva Linga which turns into butter. Ghee is the product of butter which is obtained by heating butter. Here it is reversed.
The Mystery of the Sabarimala Temple
Sabarimala Temple
This temple which is very famous and draws devotees from all over the country has many unique features and makes the best example of Indian Temple Secrets. Devotees throng this place from October to end of January. The special event is the sighting of light or Makaravilakku on the day of Pongal. Lakhs of devotees gather to see this light the origin of which is unknown. The devotees visiting this temple have to follow certain strict disciplines such as not wearing slippers, not talking bad words, eating only Satvik food and they climb the hill by foot with ‘Irumudi’.
Rameshwaram Temple:
Rameshwaram Temple
This ancient temple is an architectural marvel and vast. The main feature of this temple is the wells which are situated within the temple complex. Though they are in close vicinity with each other, the temperature of the water varies from one another noticeably. This unique feature has no explanation. Devotees believe that the water of these wells have medicinal properties and cures all diseases. It is a ritual to get the water from all the wells poured on them. There is also a belief that this bathing makes the person get rid of all his sins.
Panakala Narasimha Swamy Temple:
Panakala Narasimha Temple
This temple situated in Mangalagiri of Guntur in Andhra Pradesh makes you awestruck. The main deity of the temple is Narasimha Swamy. Devotees who come here offer ‘Panaka’ or Jaggery water to God. The Panaka is literally fed to God using a Conch. One can observe the sound of drinking which stops after some time and some jaggery water is thrown out which is distributed among the devotees as ‘Prasad’. The more surprising fact is that not a single Ant can be found here despite jaggery water being used everywhere in such huge quantity.
Jwala Ji Temple: The Temple of Durga Devi
The Mystery of the Jwalamukhi Temple
This temple dedicated to Durga is situated in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh. It is also known as Jwala Mukhi Mandir, this temple is unique in the fact that the lamp in the center of the temple itself is the presiding deity of the temple. This lamp keeps burning from time immemorial and keeps burning all the time. This flame itself is the Goddess and this place is one of the Shakti Stal. The amazing fact is that the blue flame keeps burning without any source!
Lepakshi Temple – Every stone has a story
The Footprint of Sita Mata, Lepakshi Temple
This temple is situated in Andhra Pradesh, close to Bangalore, has many architectural marvels. There is a hanging pillar inside the Lepakshi temple! Of the 70 pillars present in the temple complex, one pillar does not stand on the ground. A sheet of paper can be passed from the base of the pillar from one side to another. Also, there is a footprint on the stone which is said to be that of Sita of Ramayan. The amazing fact is this footprint is always wet and despite drying it any number of times, it still gets filled with water and is always wet. The source of water is unknown! The huge Nandi which is a monolithic structure is another attraction of the temple.
Puri Jagannath Temple: The Temple with Multiple Mysteries
Puri Jagannath Temple
Everybody knows this temple for its Rath Yatra which is an annual festival. But there are some amazing facts which make this temple unique. The flag at the top of the temple gopuram wavers in the opposite direction of the wind which is scientifically not explainable. The temple is unique in the fact that one can not see the shadow of the temple at any time of the day or from any angle. A similar fact is also observed at Bruhadeeshwara temple in Tanjaur of Tamil Nadu. The next amazing fact about this temple is birds do not fly above this shrine. There is another unexplained experience one can have in this temple. The sound of the ocean is not audible once the person steps on the first step, but amazingly the sound can be heard again once the person leaves the temple. The best and the most amazing fact come from the kitchen. Seven pots are used here to cook Prasad which are placed one above the other. Amazingly, the food in the top pot gets cooked which is against explainable knowledge!
Nanjundeshwara Temple
Nanjundeshwara Temple
Nanjundeshwara temple, situated in Nanjangud near Mysore on the banks of River Kapila is a well known Shiva Temple. There is an interesting fact in this temple. At one particular point the roof is open to the sky and if you see through this, you can observe Bilvapatra tree spread above the sanctum sanctorum. It is amazing that the roots of the tree cannot be seen anywhere in the ground. Also, in one of the pillars, the face of Gowri is emanating and those who visit the temple regularly confirm that the features of the face are improving and it is getting more clearer.
These are just a few examples from hundreds or even thousands of amazing facts associated with the temples in India. There are places where if you pray and hold your hands, in the pond you will get things like bangles, flower etc. which symbolizes that what you had in mind will come true. In Sosale, near Mysore, there is a grinding stone. People believe that you should pray and have a question in mind and lift the stone. If it comes to your hand easily, the answer to the question is positive. There are many such instances and people strongly believe in these omens.
