🙏 Overview: Why Categorize Temples by Deity?

In Sanatana Dharma, temples are not one-size-fits-all. Each temple is a gateway to a specific aspect of the Divine — whether you seek compassion (Krishna), strength (Durga), detachment (Shiva), or wisdom (Saraswati).

Organizing by deity helps:

• Deepen devotional connection.
• Choose temples based on your personal Sādhana (spiritual path).
• Discover lesser-known but powerful temples.
• Create curated pilgrimages based on spiritual needs.

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🔱 Main Categories (By Deity/Theme)

Below is the extensive thematic list we’ll expand into dedicated posts.

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1. 🕉️ Shiva Temples

(Shaiva Kshetras – Temples of the Supreme Yogi)

• 🔸 12 Jyotirlingas
• 🔸 5 Pancha Bhoota Sthalas (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether)
• 🔸 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams (Tamil Shaivaite canon)
• 🔸 Kedarnath, Amarnath, Mahakaleshwar, Kashi Vishwanath
• 🔸 Unique forms: Bhimashankar, Lingaraj, Ramanathaswamy

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2. 🌟 Vishnu Temples

(Vaishnava Kshetras – Temples of the Sustainer and Preserver)

• 🔸 108 Divya Desams
• 🔸 Badrinath, Dwarka, Srirangam, Padmanabhaswamy
• 🔸 Narayana temples in Himalayas, temples of Vamana, Varaha, Narasimha
• 🔸 Vishnu forms: Ranganatha, Venkateswara, Jagannatha

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3. 🔥 Devi Temples

(Shakta Peethas – Temples of the Divine Mother)

• 🔸 51+ Shakti Peethas (Body parts of Sati)
• 🔸 18 Maha Shakti Peethas
• 🔸 Kamakhya, Kalighat, Vaishno Devi, Jwalaji, Meenakshi
• 🔸 Bhairavi, Mahakali, Durga, Annapurna, Lalita, etc.

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4. 🐦 Murugan Temples

(Skanda – Son of Shiva and Parvati)

• 🔸 Arupadai Veedu (6 battle shrines of Murugan in Tamil Nadu)
• 🔸 Palani, Thiruchendur, Swamimalai, Thirupparamkunram
• 🔸 Batu Caves (Malaysia), Kathirkamam (Sri Lanka)

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5. 🐘 Ganesha Temples

(Vighnaharta – The Remover of Obstacles)

• 🔸 Ashta Vinayaka temples (Maharashtra)
• 🔸 Siddhivinayak (Mumbai), Rockfort Vinayaka (Trichy), Ucchi Pillayar
• 🔸 Kanipakam Vinayaka (Andhra Pradesh), Madhur Maha Ganapathi (Kerala)

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6. 🦁 Narasimha Temples

(The Ferocious Yet Compassionate Avatar of Vishnu)

• 🔸 Ahobilam (Andhra), Simhachalam, Mangalagiri
• 🔸 Lakshmi Narasimha in multiple Divya Desams
• 🔸 Yadagirigutta (Telangana)

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7. ☀️ Surya Temples

(Temples to the Sun God – The Source of Life and Light)

• 🔸 Konark Sun Temple (Odisha)
• 🔸 Modhera Sun Temple (Gujarat)
• 🔸 Martand Sun Temple (Kashmir – ruins)
• 🔸 Suryanar Kovil (Tamil Nadu – Navagraha)

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8. 🪐 Navagraha Temples

(Temples to the 9 Planetary Deities)

• 🔸 Navagraha circuit in Tamil Nadu (Kumbakonam region)
• 🔸 Navagraha Mandir in Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh)
• 🔸 Dedicated temples to Shani, Rahu-Ketu, Surya

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9. 💫 Hanuman Temples

(Temples of the Bhakta Supreme – Devotion, Strength & Protection)

• 🔸 Sankat Mochan (Varanasi), Salasar Balaji, Mehendipur Balaji
• 🔸 Namakkal, Hampi, Jakhoo Temple (Shimla)
• 🔸 Hanuman Garhi (Ayodhya), Alattiyur (Kerala)

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10. 🐚 Krishna Temples

(Temples of Leela, Love & Liberation)

• 🔸 Mathura, Vrindavan, Guruvayur
• 🔸 Udupi Sri Krishna Temple (Karnataka)
• 🔸 Dwarkadhish Temple (Gujarat)
• 🔸 ISKCON temples worldwide

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11. 🏹 Rama Temples

(Temples of Dharma, Dignity, and Devotion)

• 🔸 Ram Janmabhoomi (Ayodhya)
• 🔸 Ramasethu (Dhanushkodi), Rameswaram
• 🔸 Bhadrachalam (Telangana), Kodandarama (Andhra)
• 🔸 Rama temples in Nepal and South East Asia

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12. 🖋️ Saraswati Temples

(Rare Temples to the Goddess of Learning)

• 🔸 Basar Saraswati (Telangana)
• 🔸 Koothanur Saraswati (Tamil Nadu)
• 🔸 Sharada Peetha (Kashmir – now in ruins)

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13. 💖 Lakshmi Temples

(Temples to the Goddess of Wealth, Fortune, and Harmony)

• 🔸 Mahalakshmi Temple (Kolhapur – one of the Shakti Peethas)
• 🔸 Padmavathi Temple (Tiruchanur)
• 🔸 Ashtalakshmi Temple (Chennai)

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14. 🔔 Regional Folk Deities & Grama Devatas

• Mariyamman, Yellamma, Karuppasamy, Muthyalamma
• Local traditions still vibrant in rural and urban India
• Often represent nature spirits, fertility, healing, and protection