Research & Culture

This section documents journeys, temple visits, cultural explorations, and research travels undertaken across different regions of India. The aim is to preserve observations, experiences, and visual records related to heritage, traditions, and knowledge systems.

Photographic and video documentation from important temple visits and sacred locations.

Located near Bhubaneswar, Odisha, the 9th-century Chausathi Yogini Temple at Hirapur is a rare hypaethral (open-roofed) shrine dedicated to the sixty-four Yoginis. Its circular granite enclosure features sixty niches, each housing a sandstone Yogini image, with additional figures on a central Chandi mandapa. The Yoginis exhibit diverse iconography—benign or fierce, mounted on animals or severed heads—reflecting tantric traditions where they embody Shakti’s creative and destructive powers. Commissioned during the Bhaumakara dynasty, the temple served as a center for esoteric rites. Its unique circular design and complete Yogini set make it a monument of exceptional art-historical and religious significance.

Raja-Rani temple video link

Here is a concise overview of the major temples in Bhubaneswar, without references:

Bhubaneswar, often called the “Temple City of India,” is home to an exceptional concentration of Kalinga-style temples. The Lingaraj Temple (1st temple in the series), dating to the 11th century, is the city’s largest and most prominent shrine. Dedicated to Harihara (a fusion of Shiva and Vishnu), its soaring spire rises to 180 feet.

The Mukteshwar Temple from the 10th century is celebrated as the “Gem of Odishan Architecture,” renowned for its beautifully carved torana (arched gateway) that marks a transition to more refined craftsmanship. The Rajarani Temple, also from the 11th century, lacks a presiding deity and is distinguished by its sensuous sculptural figures carved from distinctive red-gold sandstone.

The Parashurameshvara Temple is the oldest standing temple in Bhubaneswar, dating to the 7th century, and exemplifies early Kalinga style. For those interested in tantric traditions, the Vaital Deul (8th century) presents a unique rectangular form and houses the fierce goddess Chamunda. Other significant structures include the Brahmeswara Temple (9th century) and the Ananta Vasudeva Temple (13th century), which is notable for its dedication to Krishna, a departure from the predominantly Shaiva tradition of the region. Together, these monuments illustrate the architectural and religious evolution of Odisha over nearly a millennium. Ram mandir (2nd in picture), is new addition to the temples of Bhubaneswar.

Sri Jagannath temple

The Jagannath Temple in Puri and the Sun Temple at Konark stand as twin monumental achievements of Kalingan architecture, each embodying distinct dimensions of Odisha’s medieval heritage.Constructed in the 12th century by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, the Jagannath Temple is a sprawling complex built in the deula style, dominated by a soaring rekha tower. It is one of the four dhams (sacred abodes) of Hinduism and remains a living pilgrimage center. The temple is renowned for its annual Rath Yatra, where colossal chariots carry the triad of deities—Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra—through the streets. Unique traditions, such as the waving flag that always appears to float against the wind, add to its mystique.Completed around 1250 CE under King Narasimhadeva I, the Konark Sun Temple is conceived as a monumental stone chariot for the sun god Surya. Its intricately carved wheels, drawn by seven horses, reflect both astronomical symbolism and exceptional engineering. Though the main sanctum has partially collapsed, the surviving jagamohana (assembly hall) and its walls, adorned with exquisite sculptures of divine figures, mythical creatures, and scenes of courtly life, attest to its artistic grandeur. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Konark represents the zenith of Kalinga temple architecture, blending sacred geometry with sublime craftsmanship.

Sarnath, located approximately ten kilometers northeast of Varanasi, holds profound significance as the site where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment, an event known as the Dharmachakraparvartana (the turning of the wheel of dharma). This foundational moment established the Buddhist sangha (monastic community) and set in motion the Buddha’s teaching mission.The Dhamek Stupa, a massive cylindrical structure dating to the Gupta period (5th–6th century CE), marks the very spot of this first discourse. Standing over forty meters high, its stone surface features exquisitely carved geometric and floral patterns, testament to the artistic sophistication of its era. Nearby, the Dharmarajika Stupa, though now largely in ruins, is recognized as one of the earliest stupas, originally enshrining relics of the Buddha. Excavations have also revealed the remains of monasteries and the famed Ashokan pillar, its capital—featuring four lions—now adopted as India’s national emblem. Together, these monuments establish Sarnath as one of Buddhism’s four principal pilgrimage sites, offering invaluable insight into the religion’s formative years and the architectural traditions that shaped early Buddhist sacred spaces.

Moments, traditions, and cultural practices encountered during journeys across regions.

The Ganga Aarti at Banaras is a revered ritual that honors the Ganges as a living goddess, standing as a profound expression of Hindu spirituality and devotion. Its origins intertwine legend with recorded history. According to legend, the tradition of offering fire to sacred rivers traces back to the Vedic period around 2000 BCE, with continuous observance in Banaras for millennia. Historically, the organized nightly ceremony at the main Dashashwamedh Ghat was formally established in the late twentieth century, evolving from earlier ritual practices into the elaborate spectacle witnessed today.The cultural relevance of the aarti extends far beyond its religious function. It serves as a vibrant communal gathering that reaffirms the eternal bond between the city of Banaras and the Ganges, a relationship that has defined the region’s identity for over three thousand years. Performed nightly by a group of priests in synchronised movements, the ceremony uses fire, incense, flowers, and mantras as offerings of gratitude and surrender. For pilgrims and visitors alike, witnessing the aarti is considered a deeply transformative experience, believed to purify the soul, bestow blessings, and connect participants to an unbroken tradition of river veneration that lies at the heart of Hindu civilization.

My visit to Kalsi, Uttarakhand in 2017

The Rock Edict at Kalsi, Uttarakhand, constitutes a seminal archaeological and epigraphic record, serving as the sole site in North India where Emperor Ashoka’s edicts encompass the full corpus of fourteen major rock inscriptions. Strategically positioned near the Yamuna River, this ancient frontier outpost embodies Ashoka’s doctrine of Dhamma, articulated in Pali using Brahmi script. The edicts advocate for non-violence, social welfare, and religious tolerance, revealing a sophisticated imperial strategy to unify a vast, culturally diverse territory through moral governance rather than martial might. Kalsi thus functions as a critical geographical and ideological marker, illustrating the Mauryan empire’s reach and its propagation of ethical administration as a tool of statecraft.