Glorious Hindu Temples and Their Unsolved Mysteries

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Hindu religion is probably the oldest religion with more than 900 million followers and 33 million gods. Yes, you read it right 33 million gods; now what you should be guessing is probably the number of temples that exists in the world. Well, I can’t really say about the world but there are around two million (and counting) temples in India where each temple is a masterpiece of beauty and devotion. But what a few of them have extra to offer are some unsolved mysteries. So, here we are talking about a few of such temples and their inextricable mysteries.

The Hanging Pillar of Lepakshi Temple

Located in a small village in Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh, the otherwise known as Veerabhadra temple is the most famous amongst the visitors for its architecture, more than any other thing. Among the 70 stone pillars, one of the pillars of the temple is mysteriously handing from the ceiling. The base of the pillar barely touches the ground, making it a point to wonder for the world. For many years’ researchers have been trying to find a possible way through which the pillar through which the pillar hangs mid-air without any support. A British engineer, in 1910, tried to uncover the mystery and managed to make one corner of pillar touch the ground, leading the ceiling to misalign and destroying of the Fresco Paintings. Visitors still pass paper and cloth through the gap between the pillar and ground and consider it a blessing from heaven. But the actual logic or science behind it still remains a mystery.

Flags At Jagannath Temple

While we try to find a logic behind everything, sometimes it isn’t that simple to hunt for one. The flags at Puri’s Jagannath Temple are one of those. The flag atop the temple strangely always floats in the opposite direction of wind. For years, the flags are being changed every day by the priest yet the new ones too follow the old routine of brings your scientific reasoning to a halt by flying in the opposite direction of the wind flow.

Nidhivan Temple

Located in Vridavan of the Madhura District, U.P., is the secret temple of Bankey Bihari known as the Nidhivan temple. Amongst the numerous stories associated with the temple the a one where Lord Krishna is said to visit the same every night. While the temple is open for visit during the day, it is believed that after the closure of Nidhivan Temple, Lord Krishna and Radha appears and performs Ras Leela in the Van (Forest). It is also believed that who so ever tried to peep in the Rang Mahal (i.e. the temple) is said to go blind, dumb or even deaf.  The priest of the temple is said to make the bed and put all the essentials like toothpaste, sari, water and even sweats after the evening prayer only to find everything scattered in the morning (as it might be used). No one, including the monkeys, are said to stay at the premises after the evening aarti while some people claim to hear the sounds of Ghungaroos (anklets) often. 

Padmanabhaswamy Temple Vault

Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram is considered to be the richest temple in the world. While the temple has stunning architecture and some interesting features like the clock tower, called Methan Mani constructed in the 1840s; the source of its mystery lies in one of the underground Vaults. As per official sources, there are six vaults under the temple, named A-F. While all other vaults have been opened, disclosing valuables worth ₹1.2 lakh crore or ₹1.2 trillion, Valute B still remains closed and a point of discussion as the door of the vault has no nob or handle or lock to open. Archaeologists surmise that it has never been opened since the 1880s. The carving on the door has led people to believe that the vault is protected by the snake god and can only be opened with a holy chant. While some proposed to break-open the doors, it is believed that doing so would bring utmost disaster to the state and mankind and hence the vault has been left in its original state as of now. 

I had always been told that the temples have a lot to offer, little did I know they even offered mysteries. Till the next time we meet, try and find an answer to any one of the above and make the world a little less mysterious.