Famous Temples Of Kangra

Asapuri Temple-

It is situated nearly 20 kilometres to the south-west of Baiinath and is dedicated to Asapuri Devi.This temple was built by Vijaya Rama, the eldest son of Raja Chandrabhana.

Jayanti Mata Temple-

This temple is said to have been built in Dwapara Yuga at the highest mountain of Kangra. Jayanti Mata name signifies victory. This temples looks like an aeroplane when seen from the Kangra Fort. During the devastating earthquake of 1905 Mata temple remained intact. This goddess is known as the sixth arm of the Maa Durga, the other temples being those of Vaishnu Devi, Maha Kali, Maha Luxmi, Kalka Mai and Maha Sarswati.

                             

Jawalamukhi Temple-

Jawalmukhi is the place where the tongue of the Sati felt. The goddess is known as the Flaming Mouth Devi. At this place several flames appeared and continued burning day and night. A blue flame fed by natural gas shoots out of the rock in the sanctum in which the goddess, Jawalamukhi manifests herself. It is recognized as one of the 51 seats of the shakti peeth.The construction of the temple at Jawalamukhi is credited to Raja Bhumi Chand, a great devotee of goddess Durga. In his dream he is said to have seen the location of this temple. It also appears that Feroz Shah Tuglaq paid a visit to the temple on his way to Kangra. He was prompted simply by natural curiosity to see the flames of Jawalamukhi. Another story associated with the temple is that Jawalamukhi Temple was once covered by Emperor Akbar with thick metallic plates and yet the flames re-appeared through the plates. He visited the temple with his wife Jodha Bai and was impressed at the phenomenon of the shooting flame. Emperor Akbar was satisfied with the power of Shakti and gave an umbrella of solid gold to the goddess. Another legend associated with the temple is that the flames issue forth from the mouth of the demon Jalandhara whose head lies at Kangra and whose buried body extends to Multan, under the entire doab between the old bed of Beas and Satluj rivers,

 Baijnath Temple-

This remarkable rnonumental temple is at to be propitiated by Ravana Baijnath. It has been dedicated to Lord Siva and was originally built by the Pandavas. In one of the inscriptions at -Kiroram (Baijnath) the construction of the temple is assigned to Raja Jai Chandra ofJala.ndhara.The temple is dedicated to Shiva (Vaidyanatha). The situation of the temple on a comparatively flat plateau. at a fair distance from Dhauladhar, shows an instinctive appreciation of the site and the Baijnath Temple faces west, The ancient name of the temple was Vaidyanatha. It has a unique composite image of Vishnu and Laxmi. The temple compound contains a number of shrines seatiered here and there. There is also a myth about Jalandhara demon that is frequently referred to in the history of Kangra state. The body of the demon lies buried under the area known as the Jalandhara Peetha between Baijnath and Dehra circuit covering an area of 48 square kilometers. Other famous temples situated in the area are. Jadrangal, opposite Dadh and Shiva temple Baijnath

Chamunda Nandikeshwar-

This temple is located on the night bank of Baner Khad (Banganga), a tributary of Seas River. The place is 20 kilometres away from Kangra town. The legend about this temple goes that two demons. Chunda and Munda engaged themsetves in deep meditation and were blessed by Lord Brahma with immense power. They were destroyed ultimately by Jagadampa Devi, who was propitiated by Jadrangal village people.

Indresvara Temple-

This small temple of antiquity was built by Raja Indra Chandra. He is said to be 
the contemporary of Anant Deva of Kashmir, who must have lived between 1028-1031 A.D. in this temple there are a number of idols, of which two are ancient, and both these idols are at deities.

Mcleodganj Temple-

There is temple of Lord Buddha situated at Mcleodganj above Dharamsala. It is opposite to the present abode of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.

Masrur Temple-

 In Dehra tehsil Kangra district there lies the hamlet of Masrur, This has been excavated and sculptured into a series of temples unique in the entire Himalayan region. It can be compared to temples of Mahabalipuram, Ellora and Dhamnar caves. The material excavated is sandstone of varying fineness and strength. It almost gives the impression that the ornamentation has been done recently. However, it can be safely said that inaccessibility and remote situation of the temples saved them from ravages and destruction from Muslim invaders. Masrur temple form a group of 15 monolithic rock cut temples in the Indo Aryan style and are richly carved. These highly ornamented cave temples are the only rock shrines in the northern part of India. The main shrine contains three stone images of Ram, Laxman and Sita but the presence of  the figure of Lord Shiva in the centre of the lintel affords a strong presumption that the temple was originally dedicated to Mahadeva

The rock-cut technique and the place this temple-complex occupies among the rockhewn monuments in India is unique. The rock-cut style was perhaps started in the reign of the Pallava King Narsingha Varman I Mahamalla (630-668 A.D.) during the first half of the seventh century. It reached its climax in Kailasha temples at Ellora which were taken in hand during the reign of the Rashtrakuta King Dantidurga (753-756 A.D.) and finished during that of Krishna I (758-773 A.D.) Though rock-cut caves are common in South India, yet temples cut out of free standing rocks, known to archaeologists and art critics, are only four in number-'Rathas of Mammalapuram Kailashas at Ellora; 'temple-complex at Masrur in Kangra and the Dharamshala temple at Dhamnar; 65 miles to the south-East of Jhalra Patan in Rajasthan.  Rathas and the Kailashas are built in the Dravnian style, whereas the Masrur and Dhamnar ones are in the Nagara style. Masrur beats its Nagara rival in situation, size and execution. The Masrur complex has 15 temples, the Dhamnar has eight. At Masrur the temples are not separate from its surrounding central shrine, whereas at Dhamnar the smaller ones are entirely separate-from the main one. Carvings and ornamentation at Masrur are of a much superior order than at Dhamnar. The Masrur group Temple is on to of a 2.500 feet high hill range. One looks below, the other looks up, while one depresses, the other elates. In point of situation, Masrur beats the other two as well. Ellora Kailasha are built in a pit at hundred feet, however it is a supreme creation, one of the wonders of the world.

The limitation makes an artist's creation out of a rock a very difficult task and the ability with which the remote artist of 7th and 8th centuries carried out their purpose is beyond imagination. The main shrine dominates the centre. Although the remote location of these temples protected them from the invading army of Mahmud Ghazni and their stone construction prevented severe damage in the 1905 earthquake.

Siddhanatha Temple-

This Sikhara type temple, made in stone with a mandap in front, is situated in Kiragram (Baijnath). The construction of the temple according to a legend is attributed to two brothers of business community, known as Baiju and Siddhu. The name of this temple also finds mention in Shiva Purana. It is ascribed to the year 1296 or 1239

Brajeshwari Devi-

According to the Hindu mythology Maha Mai was a Sati and her main parts of body fell in Kangra region. The temple is surrounded by a number of deities. It is slightly inclined towards the, north.  Above the deity there's a silver dome and a number of silver chhatras.  The temple is supposed to have been founded after doing the Ashvamedha yaina which was he on the spot. Mahmud of Ghazni is said to have invaded the temple in 1009 A.D. and destroyed it. After leaving the temple he carried away huge amounts of gold, Silver and other precious treasures. In 1360, when Kangra was again invaded by Firoz Shah Tughlaq he also plundered and desecrated the temple. The temple is said to have been visited by in Akbar and his Diwan Todar Mal. Akbar restored the temple to its old glory. Yet another account mentions that this temple was built in the reign of Sahi Muhammada, who has been identified as the Muhammad Saiyyed who ruled from Delhi during 1433 to 1346. At the time of its foundation Sansar Chand was the Raja of Kangra invaders such as Ghazni and Tughlaq

Siddhanatha Temple-

 The temple probably belongs to the 16th century and is a massive building of Sikhara type. It is dedicated to Lakshmi Narayana, whose images are installed therein.

Brijraj Behari Temple-

This temple of Brijraj Behari in Nurpur depicts some of the most interesting and fascinating pictures ever done in Kangra valley. This temple shows some deviations from the traditional temples dedicated to devi and mahadevi. The paintings in the temple go back to the reign of Jagat Singh (1605-1627).

 Lakha Mandir-

It is situated to the northeast of Nagrota and is of much importance as the stones are fastened together with iron clamps. The bricks used in the temples are very rare and large, such as are never seen in any other Hindu temples in the area. The inscriptions engraved in the temple are dating the 7th and 8th centuries.  This temple may belong to Buddhist sect and points to the tact that Buddhist devotees must haven both powerful and wealthy during this period.

Ruined Temple at Nurpur Fort-

This temple, 117 feet long and 50 feet high was excavated in 1885. The peculiarity of this temple is that it is similar to the famous temples of Govindadeva at Brindaban and Harideva at Govardhan and Mathura. The representation in the temple is a good example of the mixture of Hindu and Muhammadan art. The temple was perhaps built by Raja Basu, the founder of the Nurpur Fort.