Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) is one of the oldest religions in India. Temples are not just a place of worship but an emotional experience for Hindus. More than 6.48 lakh magnificent temples are built in India, and lakhs of devotees visit them every year. Special poojas, Homs, yagnyas and rituals are performed in the temple on every festival and special occasion. Here is a glimpse of the top 10 biggest temples in India in 2024.
1. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, India
Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, built at Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, is India’s biggest temple. It covers a total of 156 acres of land. This temple is one of the eight self-manifested (Swayam Vyakta Kshetras) dedicated to Lord Shri Hari Vishnu. The main attraction of the temple is the idol of Lord Ranganatha on the Adhishesha sarp (snake). The seven prakaras (huge enclosures), gopuram, sacred kunds, and beautiful carvings on the walls are aesthetic. Ranganathaswamy Temple is built in the Dravidian architectural style with 73 meters in height and a total of 21 towers in it. The Rajgopuram, which is the main gateway of the temple, stands at an impressive towering height. This temple holds cultural importance for every Hindu pilgrim. It depicts the artistic grandeur of the South India Temple.
2. Akshardham Temple
Swaminarayan Akshardham is one of the second biggest temples in India. It is located in Central Delhi. This Hindu temple is dedicated to Shri Swaminarayan Bhagwan. It is built over 100 acres of land with a covering area of 240,000. An idol of Sita-Ram, Radha-Krishna, Lord Hanuman and Lord Shiva-Parvati is kept at the main temple. The central building architecture is made using Rajasthani pink sandstone. Overall, the building measures about 96 meters in width, 43 meters in height, and 110 meters in length.
3. Belur Math, India
Swami Vivekananda is the founder of this glorious Belur Math. Situated on the banks of river Hooghly in Kolkata the math is spread across 40 acres of land. This math marks the central headquarters of the Ramakrishna Foundation. The main temple is dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (teacher of Swami Vivekananda) and swami Vivekananda himself. This majestic temple is a blend of all religions, such as Hindu and Islamic. Buddhism and Christianity. Human ideologies and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa are taught in this temple. People of every religion are free to visit the temple.
4. Meenakshi Temple
Meenakshi Amman Temple is located on the southern coast of the Vaigai River in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. It is the biggest and most important temple in India. With a total land area of 17.3 acres, this temple is surrounded by large gopurams. The temple is dedicated to Meenakshi and Sundareshwarar, manifestations of goddess Shakti and Lord Shiva. Columns, mandapas, smaller shrines and holy kunds (tanks) surround the presiding area of the main temple.
5. Chhatarpur Temple
Abode to one of the 12 Shakti pethas of Mata Sati Chattarpur is dedicated to Shri Adhya Katyani Shakti. This temple is located in New Delhi and is carved out of spectacular sculptures, shrines and mandapas. The main idol is of Goddess Katyayani, a form of Goddess Durga riding a lion and holding a sword in hand. The Temple complex spreads across 60 acres of land. People visit the temple during Navratri, nine days dedicated to celebrating the nine forms of feminine energy Goddess Shakti.
6. Nataraja Temple
The fourth biggest temple in India is the Nataraja Temple. This temple is solely dedicated to Nataraja and Govindaraja, Lord Shiva’s dancing forms. Built in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, in the 10th century, it has five main sabagrahas where the god performs Tandava. These 5 main sabagrahas are Deva Sabha, Kanaka Sabha, Cit Sabha, Raja Sabha and Nritta Sabha.
7. Jambukeswarar Temple
Jambukeswarar Temple is situated in Thiruvanaikal, Tamil Nadu. It is well-known as Thiruvanaikaval temple, and Lord Shiva is the main deity. It is built around 18 acres of land on Srirangam Island. This alluring temple and its surroundings are an architectural wonder, and the credit goes to the Cholas dynasty. As the main element of this temple is water, it is one of the most important temples in the Tamilians.
8. Annamalaiyar Temple
Annamalaiyar temple, also known as Arunachaleshwara, is devoted to Lord Shiva. It is situated at the foot of Arunachala hill in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. This temple is spread around ten hectares and is one of the biggest temples in India. With a total of 11 stories and 66 meters in height, the eastern tower is the tallest of all. There are numerous shrines, with Arunachalesvara and Unnamalai Amman being the primary ones. A temple dedicated to the fire element ‘Agni’ (panch bhutas) is significant to the Shaivite Hindu sector.
9. Ekambareshwarar Temple
The main idol of the Ekambareshwarar Temple is “Prithvi Lingam.” In Sanskrit, “Prithvi,” being the earth element, is one of the Pancha Bhuta Sthalams. This splendid temple is spread across 23 acres of land in the town of Kanchipuram. The Pallavas demolished the main building of the temple, which was later rebuilt between 600 AD and 700 AD.
10. Vaitheeswaran Kovil temple
Constructed on 15 acres of land, the Vaitheeswaran Kovil is located in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the ancient Navagraha temples of India. Navagrahas are the nine planets, and it is believed that they have a huge influence on an individual’s life. Worshipping them can bring peace, happiness, and prosperity. Vaidyanathar, or Vaitheeswaran, an incarnation of Lord Shiva, is worshipped in the temple. It is believed that Lord Vaitheeswaran, worshipped, is meant to cure all dreadful diseases.
Conclusion
Hindu temples are not only religiously important but are also famous for their architectural beauty and cultural heritage. Many devotees from all corners of the world come to seek the blessings of the deity. Though these temples were constructed several years ago, they still stand high and firm. All these temples contain beautiful idols of Hindu gods and goddesses that the Hindus worship for inner peace.
