Indian temples by Religion set the parameter of the congregation of the various religions in India that reside in seasonal harmony. Temples in India is one concept that perhaps is no more novel or pioneering in contemporary times. India has been blessed enough to be the home to lakhs of religious institutions since uncharted periods, times when even man did not much comprehend about existence or daily life. Archetypal temple architecture from ancient times re-described massiveness or structural epitome in rock or pure stone. Every religious faith had a story to essay; every religion had a point to establish through their impeccable builds. It also becomes quite evident that emperors and dynasties reigning in various epoch, has forever made their view etched in pages in Indian history. As such, be it in Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Vaishnavism or Islamic, Indian temples by religion is a broad and panoptic perception which perhaps will never cease to exist. Temple building and veneration is everlasting, as long as humanity exists to have faith in the almighty. There survives and persists temples for every religion in India.
India fundamentally being a religious country has its huge population rooted to one or the other religion. That is why it possesses an extensive range of temples on various religions like there are Buddhist Temples, Sikh temples, Hindu temples and Jain shrines. India, referred to as a `sovereign socialist secular democratic republic`, people from every religion has equal liberty to offer prayer to their respective faiths and Lords. Indian temples by religion become, thus, a mind-blowing concept that can perhaps only be envisioned virtually.
Hindu temples
Hinduism is absolutely predominant in India, paving way for the maximum of temple architectures for long. With primeval sages and saints scripting the sacred texts, annals or religious manuscripts from fear of Godly wrath, it is perhaps only Hinduism that holds thirty-three crores Gods and Goddesses; and this is not a hyperbolic statement, but just fact. Quite unmistakably, Indian temples by Hindu religion find itself in overwhelming numbers in almost every possible corner of the country. The uniqueness about Hindu temples is the progressive mode that can be witnessed in each temple structure. Pre-Christian era temples vastly differ from post-Christian sculptures. Hindu temples are specifically designed to represent the symbol of pristine purity. Sometimes only one deity is worshipped in various instances, but in many other cases numerous deities are worshipped at the same temple simultaneously. Some fascinating temple structures that deserve to be praised and are still as much revered as was erstwhile are: Tirupati Balaji temple in Andhra Pradesh, Akshardham temple in Gujarat, Somnath temple in Gujarat, Dwarkadhish temple, Sthaneshwar Mahadev temple in Haryana, Lakshmi Narayan temple, Chamunda Devi Temple and Jwalamukhi temple in Himachal Pradesh, Konark Sun temple, Lord Jagannath temple and Lingaraja temple in Orissa, ISKON temples, Vaishno Devi in Jammu and Kashmir, Lotus temple in Delhi, Meenakshi temple in Tamil Nadu, etc.
Mahabodhi Buddhist Temples
Buddhist temples are all concentrated and focused upon the single `path-finder`, Gautama Buddha. Buddha was that single soul who had dared to shun his lavish empire and begin that journey to quest for truth and right path. Believing firmly in nirvana and methods to leave the worldly cycle of rebirth, Buddhists today strive to follow the path of their leader Gautama Siddhartha. Buddhist temples, which convey the message of peace and harmony throughout the country, rebound in serenity and tranquility, evoking a sense of peace and faith from within. Indian temples by Buddhist religion is securely grounded in various parts of the country. There are umpteen number of Buddhist temples that are responsible for lessening internal and external conflict by promoting spiritual knowledge and awakening. Some of the stellar examples are: Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Sanchi Stupa, Mahabodhi Temple, Sarnath, Guru Ghantal Monastery, Bomdila Monastery, Rumtek Monastery, etc.
Jain temples
Continuing in the prestigious lineage of Indian temples by religion, Jainism runs almost parallel to making their presence felt in Indian religious institutions. With several Tirthankaras paving a proper path for winning over one`s inner enemy, Jainism is one of the oldest established religions in the country. Jains firmly believe that every soul is divine and possesses the potential to accomplish God-consciousness. Jain temples are principally dedicated to Mahavira, the foremost of the Tirthankaras and the founder of Jainism. The temples are legendary for their interior decorations and embellishments. It is believed that the Tirthankars who have liberated their souls and freed themselves from the cycle of birth and rebirth, had rendered their lectures on spirituality in these temples. These help to explore the history, art and culture of the Jains. Jain temple instances can be witnessed in the caves of Udaygiri and Khandagiri in Orissa, Dilwara temples and Ranakpur Jain temples in Rajasthan, Sri Digambar Lal Mandir, Palitana Jain temples, Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, Ajitnath Temple in Gujarat, etc.
Sikh temples
Indian temples of Sikh religion or Sikhism represent out-and-out intrinsic principles from the Guru Granth Sahib and of course revering Guru Nanak. The Sikh religious monuments are also known as Gurudwaras, the reminiscent of a vast, serene, quiet and peaceful and atmosphere. Gurudwaras basically work as the social institutions of Sikhs, where religious teachings and discourses are also discussed on a daily basis. People often come to visit a Gurudwara to pay curtsey to the Guru Granth Sahib. Some of the major temples for the Sikhs in India are: Golden Temple or Darbar Sahib in Amritsar, Hemkund Sahib, Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Damdama Sahib, Patna Sahib, Sri Akal Takht, Takht Sri Hazur Sahib, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Gurdwara Rakab Ganj, etc.
Even if Hinduism is the major religion in India, other religions and their religious places have equal importance. The intricate decoration in the ancient religious monuments presents the leading artistic heritage in the world. The designs of major temples, churches and mosques have augmented into huge architectural splendor.
