temple temple hindu temple dedicated situated town india temple town form pilgrimage sites temple dedicated holy open months year end april beginning november extreme weather conditions region temple located hill tracks district banks elevation mean sea level visited pilgrimage centres india having recorded visits image presiding deity temple tall black stone statue form statue considered self manifested statues commemorates descent river mother earth prominent festival celebrated located head priest traditionally chosen south indian state temple included state government act act later came known committee nominated state government temples seventeen members board temple mentioned ancient religious texts like early medieval tamil canon saints 6th 9th centuries location architecture temple located hill tracks banks district state hill tracks located mean sea level mountain located opposite temple located peak temple structures worship hall convention hall conical shaped roof approximately tall small covered gold roof facade built stone arched windows broad leads main entrance tall arched gateway inside large hall leads main shrine area walls pillars hall covered intricate carvings main shrine houses black stone image housed gold canopy image holds wheel arms lifted posture arms rested lap posture houses images god wealth sage images temple include consort manifestation different forms temple saints idols temple black stone group hot springs temple considered medicinal pilgrims consider requirement springs visiting temple springs year round temperature outside temperature typically year round water ponds temple called history historical record temple mention presiding deity scriptures indicating presence temple period accounts temple buddhist shrine till 8th century converted hindu temple architecture temple resembling buddhist temple brightly painted facade buddhist temples leads argument accounts originally established pilgrimage site ninth century believed resided place years resided months rest year hindu followers assert discovered image cave near hot springs traditional story asserts expelled region help ruler king hereditary successors king governed temple endowed villages meet expenses income set villages route temple feed accommodate pilgrims rulers held title meaning speaking titles including throne named presiding deity king enjoyed ritual proceeding shrine practice continued late 19th century 16th century moved present temple state divided temple came british rule king continued chairman management committee temple undergone major renovations age damage 17th century temple expanded significant damage great earthquake largely rebuilt renovation late 1870s completed time world war time town small consisting odd housing temple staff number pilgrims usually seven thousand festival held years raised number visitors temple enjoyed revenue owed villages bequeathed state government announced area construction zone curb illegal legend according hindu legend god sat meditation place keeping away place corrupted meat eating monks people meditation unaware cold weather consort protected form tree indian date pleased devotion named place according place forest found today form depicted temple sitting posture according legend sage saw consort feet went perform long time narrates version origins according tradition sons modern names mountains chose place spread religion valleys searching ideal place set came finally found hot cold spring named literary mention temple finds mention ancient books like according personality incarnation undergoing great time welfare living entities states sacred heaven earth hell shrine like area celebrated spiritual treasures revered holy place salvation arriving close holy places perform religious ceremonies temple revered hymns 7th 9th century canon hymns dedicated pilgrimage schools thought visit temple major monastic institutions like math branches guest houses temple related called dedicated worship temples temple located located located located temple considered divine sites comprising temple origins clearly known school established attributes origin monasteries located corners india attendant temples temple north temple east temple west south temples divided pilgrimage hindu affair called meaning small lie foothills added mid 20th century differentiate original number pilgrims places increased modern times called journey cardinal points india considered sacred visit temples traditionally pilgrimage starts eastern end proceeding clockwise manner typically followed hindu temples festivals religious practices prominent festival held temple commemorates descent river mother earth mother believed divided river channels welfare beings festival place river flowed holy land festival celebrated month june temple temple festival lasts days artists country perform function major religious activities performed morning evening include scripts like practiced rituals decorations removed image paste applied paste image given day rituals performed unlike hindu temples practices hidden sugar balls dry leaves common provided offering prepared locally packed local bamboo started temple closed winter day october november day closure lamp lit filled months special performed day chief priest presence pilgrims officials temple image transferred period temple located away temple temple reopened april day hindu calendar pilgrims gather day opening temple winter witness temple holy places offer ancestors help priests visit temple worship image hold dip general belief dip tank soul administration visit temple included state government act act later known committee nominated state government temples act modified appoint additional committee members including government officials vice chairman seventeen members board selected member members nominated state government temple records priests temple called belonged community religious group common modern died heir king invited non practice continues modern times till offerings temple went chief priest jurisdiction restricted religious affairs administrative structure temple consists chief executive officer orders state government deputy chief executive officer executive officer account officer temple officer publicity officer assist chief executive officer located head priest traditionally chosen south indian state tradition believed initiated south indian philosopher chief priest requested government formation state candidate possess degree sanskrit bachelor reciting sacred texts sect ruler head candidate sent government held april november temple remains open accorded high status state governments held high esteem april november performs duties temple priest stays returns native village duties starts day cross river adhere assisted belonging village group priests cook singer clerk water keeper temple guards temples follow ancient tradition common south temple administration introduced token system visitors temple indicating time visit provided stalls taxi stands visit presiding deity allocated seconds proof identity mandatory enter temple temple reached located away visitors follow route route
Badrinath Temple