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Kar-Man-Ghat Hanuman Devasthanam, Hyderabad

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Sri Kharmanghat Hanuman Devasthanam In the 12th century, during the rule of the Kakatiyas in the Deccan region, the area now known as Hyderabad was primarily a dense forest. One day, while the king was out hunting in the jungle, he heard a faint sound in the distance. The sound seemed like someone was chanting the name of Lord Sri Rama. Intrigued, the king waited for a while, and as he moved toward the sound, he realized it was emanating from a rock in the area. Upon discovering this, the king immediately summoned his servants and ordered them to construct a temple at the site. The temple was later maintained and cared for by his successors, ensuring that the sacred place was preserved for future generations. However, the story takes a darker turn during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, who aimed to establish Hindusthan (India) as a Hinduism-free state. One day, Aurangzeb arrived at the temple and ordered the demolition of this sacred structure, as he had done to many other t...
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Dwaraka Tirumalesa !

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Do you know? Have you ever seen two Venkateswara idols in the same Garbhagudi? There are many temples in India, but why is this temple considered equally significant to Tirumala? You can even fulfill the vows (mokkulu) you made at Tirumala here, but the vows made specifically at this temple must be fulfilled here only. Let’s dive into more details in this blog. The History of Dwarka Tirumala According to the history of Indian dynasties, it is believed that this temple was built during the reign of Dasaratha, the father of Lord Rama. A monk named Dwaraka, who meditated to gain the blessings of the Kaliyuga Pratyaksha Daivam, Sri Venkateswara Swamy, played a significant role in its legacy. After years of penance, Lord Venkateswara Swamy was impressed and asked Dwaraka to make a wish. Dwaraka expressed his desire for the "Padaseva" (worship of the Lord's feet). In response, Lord Venkateswara Swamy offered his lotus feet, which can still be observed today. The self-manifested...
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Location: Dwaraka Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh 534426, India
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Hare Krishna Temple, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad

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 Hare Krishna Temple Did you know there is another Golden Temple, and it’s in Telangana? If not, you definitely need to read this blog! In the heart of Banjara Hills lies a magnificent temple known as the "Hare Krishna Golden Temple," which houses a Swayambhu (self-manifested) idol of Lord Narasimha Swamy. This ancient temple dates back to the 8th century and holds immense spiritual significance. Historically, this area was once a dense forest, adding to the mystical aura surrounding the temple. The presiding deity of the region is Panchajanyeswara (Lord Shiva), who is considered the Kshetra Palaka (protector of the temple). According to the Puranas, Lord Shiva performed rigorous penance dedicated to Lord Narasimha Swamy, chanting the powerful Mantra Raja Pada Stotram . Pleased with Lord Shiva’s devotion, Lord Narasimha blessed him with the divine conch (Shankha). As a result, the Shiva Linga at this temple came to be known as Panchajanyeswara, derived from the words Panchaja...
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Panakala Narasimha Swamy Temple, Mangalagiri

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Have you ever seen an idol accepting Prasadam, and that too exactly half of what is offered? At this temple, despite the presence of large quantities of jaggery water (Panakam) in numerous containers, there is not even a single fly around. No matter what, everyone must visit this temple at least once in their lifetime. The History of Panakala Narasimha Swamy In Kruthayuga, a demon named Namuchi prayed to Lord Brahma and gained a boon that he could not be killed by anything. Soon, he began tormenting the gods and people. Powerless against him, the gods approached Lord Vishnu for help. In response, Lord Vishnu, in the avatar of Narasimha Swamy, killed Namuchi and his massive demon army. To pacify the furious Ugra Narasimha, Goddess Lakshmi offered him Amritam (the nectar of immortality). This nectar transformed into different offerings across the yugas: Cow Ghee in Trethayuga, Cow Milk in Dwaparayuga, and Panakam (a mixture of jaggery, cardamom, and water) in Kaliyuga. The temple is kno...
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Kanaka Durga Devasthanam, Vijayawada

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Situated on the Indrakeeladri Hill, with a view over the energetic city of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, India, the Kanakadurga Temple is an exemplar of both architectural magnificence and spiritual importance. The history of the Kanakadurga Temple dates back thousands of years, yet scholars cannot agree on the precise year of its founding.  According to legend, the goddess manifested on this very hill to protect the land from evil forces, making it a sacred site of divine intervention and protection. Kanakadurga, a form of Goddess Durga, is depicted as a powerful and benevolent deity. The name "Kanakadurga" translates to "Golden Durga," symbolizing purity, prosperity, and strength.  According to mythology, goddess Durga killed demon Mahishasura and enshrined on the Keela Mountain with eight arms in the form of Mahishasura Mardini as she had given boon to Keela. Indra and all other gods worshipped the goddess Kanaka Durga on the hill which later known as Indrakeelad...
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Location: Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India
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A Journey Through Swayambhu and Votive Temples

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Welcome to a new chapter of my blogging adventure, "Exploring the Divine" ! While my past endeavors have taken me through movie recommendations and technical achievements on Twitter and LinkedIn. As I transition from sharing cinematic and tech insights to getting into the world of spirituality , I am thrilled to announce a special project close to my heart. I shall explore the surrounding Swayambhu (self-manifested) and Votive (wish-fulfilling) temples in this blog, but with a special twist: I want to visit at least 54 temples , which correspond to the 54 weeks in a year (starting from Guru Poornima) and also  frequently seen as a reminder to maintain an open mind to spiritual development,  This project not only fulfills a desire of mine to start a blog that dates back to my intermediate school years, but it also offers a chance to combine my love of writing with a great spiritual exploration . These kind of temples provide a perfect environment for this investigation b...
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Location: Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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