Re: Kindly help identifying these images from recent India trip
Originally Posted by
Girisha
Hello, I sometimes make presentations on Hinduism and I've been to India researching several times, including in January. However I'm unsure about the following items and any light you could throw on them would be great! Many many thanks in advance.
Here a Shiva shrine has been built around a tree, I assume in combination of folk with Brahminical Hinduism?
Namaste,
Well,tree worship has existed in India for a long time.I am not a Vedic scholar but if any trees are mentioned in the Veda mantras I wouldn't consider it as exclusively folk.Also,many huge temples in Southern India have something called a Sthala Vriksha(temple tree) but I do not know the significance of it.
In the story of Maha Shivarathri,a hunter sitting on a tree branch drops Bilva leaves on a Shiva Linga at the base of tree.Though he doesn't know there is a Shiva Lingam he attains the merit of worshiping Lord Shiva with Bilva patras.So,Shiva Lingas could be found at near trees from very ancient times.
Brahminical Hinduism in my view is a divisive term.There are scriptures and there are local traditions,all scriptures are neither Brahminical nor are all local traditions totally distinct from scriptural Hinduism.Hinduism belongs to all people who wish to follow it.
How unusual is the tilted swastika? I've only seen it once before in India.
Is this the Birla Temple in Delhi?Yes,it is quite unusual,I haven't such a symbol so far.
What spiritual significance is the rosewater bowl?
It looks nice.Maybe its for decorative purpose.
Is this a balipeetha, the platform for leaving the ego behind before approaching a temple? It's usually inside next to the gumba flag post within the grounds but here it's at the base of a long set of steps up the hillside to the temple.
The Gumba?I think you mean the Dhwaja Sthamba.Here there is no Flag post close by,so I too don't know what it is.
Based on the architecture of the Gopura and Mandapa I think this temple is in South India,most probably Andhra region or Karnataka.
Which places did you visit?
He dances in the golden hall of Chidambaram, Let us worship His rosy anklet girt Feet.
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