Around India Through 23 Of Its Most Unconventional Temples

The diversity of Indian culture can be witnessed in a range of things, from its various foods to its many languages, and even to its myriad forms of worship. And with so many different deities worshipped and rituals followed across the vast, culturally-diverse subcontinent, some of them are bound to sound a little peculiar, and some just outright bizarre. From mildly curious ones such as the temple dedicated to India’s martyrs, to absolutely baffling ones, like the Royal Enfield deity, India’s unconventional temples are equal parts fascinating and equal parts unique. While religion can take various shapes and forms, we’ve picked out 23 of the most interesting temples across India that encapsulate the essence of this country’s diversity when it comes to who/ what they worship, and where they decide to do it.

Some of these temples might point to a larger political issue, while others are standing proof that sports and entertainment tie the Indian community together. But, as bizarre as they might be, each and every one represents a side of India’s social and cultural context. So scroll on for the captivating compilation that will take you across the country.

I. Arulmigu MGR Alayam, Thiruvallur, Tamil Nadu

...where MGR is God.

Back in 2011, L. Kalaivanan built the Arulmigu MGR Alayam with the sole desire to create a memorial for his hero, one where he could be truly admired through devout worship. Over the years, this temple has become quite popular in the South for its religious rituals, and devotees from various parts of the state line up to pay their respects.

(Un)Usual Rituals: Devotees visiting this unique temple will find themselves listening to devotional songs from his movies echoing from every speaker around the temple. Further, while the whole country celebrates Independence Day on August 15, the patrons of this temple celebrates their annual festival with a procession, and proudly carry MGR’s idol through the streets. And while these festivities are a happy celebration, December, the month of MGR’s death anniversary, brings a shadow of mourning. This period sees at least 40 devotees observing a 41-day fast. They even adorn beaded garlands which they remove only upon visiting the temple on January 15 and praying to the MGR idol.

II. Baba Nihal Singh Gurudwara, Jalandhar

…where a miniature airplane is all you need to fulfil your dreams of going abroad.  

For many, the Shaheed Baba Nihal Singh Gurdwara in Talhan village, near Jalandhar on NH-1, is their ticket to the West. If you were to ask followers about Saint Nihal Singh or their martyrdom, you would find no answers, because people know this shrine for an entirely different reason.

(Un)Usual Rituals: The hundreds of devotees who flock to the shrine believe that if they were to offer a miniature aircraft to the Gurudwara, they would be assured a visa. People from across Punjab’s Doaba region, which has over six million of its natives settled abroad, will attest to this belief. Although the Gurudwara’s management believes this practice to be a mere superstition, for the staunch believers, this ritual is a ray of hope.

III. Bharat Mata Temple, Varanasi

…dedicated to India and its freedom fighters.

Located at the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidhyapeeth campus in Varanasi, the Bharat Mata temple is dedicated to, as the name suggests, Mother India, and pays tribute to the country’s martyrs.

(Un)Usual Rituals: Unlike most temples in India, this one does not feature the idols of any Gods or Goddesses. Instead, you will find a map of the country, made entirely of marble, depicting undivided India with all its mountains, plains and oceans. In the spirit of true patriotism, this temple pays homage to all those who took part in the freedom movement and sacrificed their lives for their motherland.

IV. Brahma Temple, Pushkar, Rajasthan

…one of the three Brahma temples in the world.

Even though Lord Brahma is believed to be the supreme creator, only a handful of temples are dedicated to him, and apparently, that’s not by chance. Legend has it that his wife, Savitri, cursed him such that he would never be worshipped, but his other wife, Gaytri, diluted the curse to exclude from its grips the area of Pushkar -- the city where this temple now stands.

(Un)Usual Rituals: The temple is visited by pilgrims, holy men and sages after taking a ceremonial sacred bath in the Pushkar lake. Usually a visit to the Brahma temple is followed by paying tribute to his consort Gayatri. Apart from the legend that surrounds it, another interesting facet of this temple is its rules. Such as, married men are not allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum to worship the deity, and only sanyasis can perform pujas. Once a year, on Kartik Poornima, a religious festival is held here in Lord Brahma’s honour.

V. Chilkur Balaji Temple, Hyderabad

…also known as ‘The Visa Temple’.

Chilkur Balaji Temple, popularly known as Visa Balaji Temple or Visa God, is one of the oldest temples in Hyderabad. According to popular belief, the deity Lord Venkateshwara has the power to grant his worshippers the coveted American visa.

(Un)Usual Rituals: As per tradition, the aspiring visa applicant is supposed to visit the temple before his visa interview. During the visit, the devotee goes through the usual rituals of prayer, including three circumambulations of the shrine, and makes a vow. And if the worshipper happened to get the visa after fulfilling this ritual, he or she is required to return to the temple and walk around it 108 times.

VI. Chinese Kali Temple, Tangra, Kolkata

…where the ‘bhog’ is chopsuey, noodles or rice-and-vegetable dishes.

Nestled in Tangra, Kolkata’s new Chinatown, you will find the Chinese Kali Temple -- a place of worship frequented by Hindus of the area. Earlier, the Chinese population living in the area used to worship sindoor-smeared black stones that were placed under an old tree. About 60 years ago, a boy from the community fell sick and when no one could cure him, they turned to these stones. Miraculously, the boy recovered and his parents erected a temple here, as a form of gratitude.

(Un)Usual Rituals: The Kali Puja, a prestigious ritual that Indians of Chinese origin, travel across the country to be a part of, takes place once a year in this temple. What sets this temple apart is that the bhog and prasad served here are in the form of dishes like noodles, momos, rice, and chopsuey. Who knew foods of veneration came in different cuisines?

 VII. Dog Temple, Channapatna, Karnataka

….the temple of the canine.

If you find yourself in Ramnagar district’s Chennapatna taluk, about 60 kms from Bangalore, you will probably stumble upon the very unusual Dog Temple. Housing the dog deity Nai Dolle Veerapa, this shrine adjoins another revered place of worship -- the Veeramatha Kempamma Temple.

(Un)Usual Rituals: Attention all dog-lovers -- the concept of this temple will be music to your ears. The villagers believe that dogs work along with the deity to prevent any sort of wrongdoings. Further, they consider stray dogs to be as close as family, and even have a Makka Male festival each year dedicated to Lord Veerappa.

VIII. Gandhi Mandir, Orissa

…where Dalits are priests and Gandhiji is their God.

For the people at Bhatra village, Mahatma Gandhi is more than just the Father of the Nation. In his honour, this temple, built by the villagers themselves, stands proudly. An idol of Gandhiji sits under the Indian flag, and worshippers offer their obeisance to this idol.

(Un)Usual Rituals: Besides the daily worship in the morning and evening with Ramdhun, occasions such as Republic Day, Mahaprayan Divas of Mahatma Gandhi (January 30), Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti are celebrated in the temple every year with great festivities. This temple was built by Harijans at a time when they were not allowed to enter temples owing to their lower caste. As a result, all pujas and rituals here are carried out by Dalit priests.

IX. Hadimba Temple, Manali, Himachal Pradesh

...the only Pagoda-styled temple in India.

The Hadimba temple in Manali stands as one of the most famous temples in India, and is dedicated to the wife of Bhim, one of the five Pandava brothers. What makes this temple stand out is its unique architectural design. According to a local legend, in order to ensure that this temple was not duplicated, the king responsible for its creation, Maharaja Bahadur Singh, had the hands of the architect cut off.

(Un)Usual Rituals: The temple has been constructed in the Japanese pagoda style and does not house any idols within, with worshippers paying respect to a footprint on a stone. Every year, there are two fairs held here -- one during the Hindi month of Sravan in memory of the king who built this temple, and the other on May 14, which is celebrated as the birthday of Hadimba Devi.

X. Kala Bhairav Nath Temple, Ujjain, Uttar Pradesh

… whose deity can consume more alcohol than most veteran drinkers.

Kala Bhairava is considered a fierce manifestation of Lord Shiv as well as the guardian of the city of Ujjain. When this temple is closed in the night, it is customary to leave the keys with the deity in the belief that he will take care of the temple and its possessions.

(Un)Usual Rituals: What makes this temple unique is the fact that wine is the main offering made to the deity, as well as only prasadgiven to the devotees. When the deity is offered wine, he actually guzzles it and during festive seasons, thousands of devotees flood this temple bearing bottles of wine as an offering. If only all religious rituals were as interesting as this one.

XI. Kali Singh Temple, Uttar Pradesh

The devotees of the Kali Singh Temple worship their cattle, and pray for the well-being of their animals.

(Un)Usual Rituals: Devotees come from far off places to offer prayers, along with milk, for the animals. Women prepare kheer from the milk obtained from their cattle inside the temple premises, and offer it to the deity. Keep in mind, only fresh milk is offered to the God.

XII. Karni Mata Temple, Deshnok, Rajasthan

...where rats are fed, protected, and worshipped.

Maharaja Ganga Singh constructed this isolated temple in the early 1900s as a tribute to Karni Mata, an incarnation of Goddess Durga.

(Un)Usual Rituals: This temple is home to just about 20,000 rats, who are fed by members of the Depavats family, Karni Mata’s descendants, and the devotees. Grains, coconut shells and milk from large metal bowls comprise the food offered to these rats. Often referred to as ‘kabbas’ or ‘little children’, they are believed to be the incarnations of their ancestors, and eating their leftovers is said to bring good fortune. It is also considered auspicious for the rats to run over your feet, or for you to get a glimpse of the rare four or five white mice that are given residence here. And if anyone accidentally kills a rat, they must make a golden rat and offer it to the temple.

XIII. Khajuraho Temple, Chhatarpur, MP

…where eroticism is etched into the temple walls.

 The Khajuraho temples were built in a short span of hundred years, from 950-1050 AD, by the Chandela dynasty. Of the 85 original temples, today only 25 have survived. Rather than being known for devotion to its deities, the Khajuraho temple are more famous for the erotic art depictions on the outer parts of the temple walls.

(Un)Usual Rituals: One of the reasons for this portrayal is to tell pilgrims that they must discard their sexual propensities before stepping inside the holy temple. These inscriptions also show that a true worshipper of God doesn’t have any physical desires, and refrains from any erotic acts. Other inscriptions show the life of an everyday Indian and the changes taking place in the human body during puberty. The Khajuraho dance festival that takes place every year in March brings in thousands of devout people.

XIV. Kotilingeshwara Temple, Kolar district, Karnataka

...home to nearly one crore Shiva lingas.

The Kotilingeshwara Temple is a famous Shiva temple located in the Kolar district of Karnataka. This holy space boasts of hosting India’s tallest linga, with a height of 33 metres, opposite which there stands an 11 metre high nandi. As if this weren’t enough, there are eleven small temples of various deities within its premises.

Un(Usual) Rituals: This temple was constructed with the intent of installing one crore lingas within its compounds, where devotees can offer their prayers to Lord Kotilingeshwara by installing these lingas. The first one was installed in 1980, and about 90 lakh more have been installed till date. Every day, 10 priests perform pujas around every installed linga by reciting mantras and pouring water on each of them. They are even installed in the name of the devotee, and prayers will be offered every day for the well being of the specific donors. And as we discovered, true to the spirit of the South, some fans of Rajnikanth have even created a special ‘Sahasra Lingam’ dedicated to the actor at this temple.

 XV. Malanada Temple, Edakkad Ward, Kollam

...where the only God you pray to is the one in your mind.

Located on a hill in the Kollam district in Kerala, you will find the Poruvazhy Peruviruthy Malanada, popularly known as Malanada temple. Here, people worship Duryodhana as ‘Malay Appooppan’.

(Un)Usual Ritual: At this place of worship, priests from the Kurava community follow a specific system for all rites and rituals, which is strongly influenced by Dravidian culture. Unlike other temples, you won’t find a deity here. Instead, there is a raised platform called ‘Althara’ or ‘Mandapam’ where devotees submit themselves to a divine power through a mental process of ‘Sankalpam’ -- a system of true internal reflection free from idol worship. And, after puja, devotees receive toddy from the temple.

XVI. Nau Gaja Pir, Kurukshetra

…where lorry drivers offer clocks to the Gods to stay safe on the road.

The Nau Gaja Peer temple is located on the Grand Trunk Road, midway between Ambala and Haryana. Numerous truck drivers come to this shrine, often in the middle of the night, to invoke blessings from the revered saint Syed Mohammad Ebrahim.

(Un)Usual Rituals: What is striking about this temple is the dozens of clocks that line the walls and floors. No one knows how the practice began, but every day lorry drivers come in and offer clocks in the hopes that they will be ensured a safe journey. Every month these clocks are donated to Red Cross authorities, who in turn distribute them among schools, hospitals, and villagers who follow family planning measures.

 XVII. Om Banna Shrine, Jodhpur, Rajasthan

…for a safe journey, pray to the Bike God!

Famously known as Om Banna or Bullet Baba, this curious shrine located in Chotila village of Jodhpur has a 350 cc Royal Enfeild Bullet as their deity.

(Un)Usual Rituals: The inception of this shrine can be dated back to an accident that took place over 27 years ago. According to a local legend, a man named Om Singh Rathore crashed into a tree while driving from Pali to Chotila, causing his death. The police hauled the bike away to the station, only to discover it back at the site of the accident the next morning. Dismissing the incident as a prank, the police took the bike, emptied the gas tank, and chained it up. The next day the chains were found broken, and the bike was once again found at the site of the accident.

After this incident, the authorities moved the motorcycle site permanently and a shrine was erected including a concrete dais and glass enclosure for the bike. Each day hundreds of passers-by stop to bow down to the spirit of Bullet Baba who is believed to offer protection to travellers. They leave flowers and bottles of liquor to ask for the deity’s blessing. The temple even has its own priest who conducts the morning and evening rituals, and tends to the upkeep of the site.

 XVIII. Ravana Temple, Ravangram, Vidisha

…where the villain of the Ramayan is God.

While Hindu mythology may paint Ravana as a demon, the people of Vidisha district’s Ravangram village consider him to be a revered God. This temple hosts a 10 foot high idol of Ravana resting in a reclined position, and legend has it that if anyone attempts to move the idol into an upright position, calamity would strike the village.

(Un)Usual Rituals: As Rama temples across India resonate with the chanting of the Ram Lila during Dasehra, the echos of Ravana Baba Namah flood this hamlet. A majority of these villagers are Kanyakubja Brahmins, a sub-sect of Brahmins to which Ravana belonged. For daily worship, devotees offer a bhog of kheer and puris.

XIX. Sachin Tendulkar Temple, Bihar

…where the cricket maestro is worshipped (literally).

In 2011, when India won the Cricket World Cup, the Bhojpuri actor Manoj Tiwary decided to build a shrine for cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar.

(Un)Usual Rituals: In 2014, a small town called Atarwalia in southwestern Bihar, unveiled a 5.5 foot idol of the Master Blaster that cost Rs. 8.5 lakh to construct. The white marble statue, which adorns the Indian national cricket team’s official blue jersey, weighs 850 kgs, and was crafted at Rajasthan’s Nathdwara. The preparations to build a temple to house Tendulkar’s statue have already begun, and there are even plans to install the idols of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh at a later date. Just another bit of proof that in India, cricket isn’t just a sport, it’s a religion.

XX. Sonia Gandhi Temple, Telangana

...where the Congress’ love for the Gandhi family reaches its pinnacle.

The Congress leader, Shankar Rao from Telangana, constructed a temple in honour of Sonia Gandhi in the town of Mallial to express gratitude towards the Centre’s decision to create the separate state of Telangana in 2014. He built this temple on nine acres of his land using his own money so that the people of Telangana can offer their prayers to the Congress President every day.

(Un)Usual Rituals: A nine foot statue of Sonia Gandhi, which depicts her holding an ear of maize in one hand, and a platter of grain in the other, has been installed in this temple. To further the cause of Congress-worship, portraits of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi can all be found on temple walls outside. A political party-dedicated shrine in a secular, democratic state. Is there something wrong with this picture?

XXI. Stambheshwar Mahadev, Kavi Kamboi, Gujarat

…where Lord Shiva plays hide ‘n’ seek with you.

The Stambheshwar Mahadev Temple is a 150-year-old Shiva temple situated about 40 miles from Vadodara, between the Bay of Khambat and the Arabian Sea, in the small town of Kavi Kamboi in Gujarat. What is special about this temple is that during high tide, the temple submerges completely. As soon as the tide starts to get low again, it starts emerging inch-by-inch, slowly revealing the four-inch Shiva lingam.

(Un)Usual Rituals: Millions of worshippers flock here regularly to see both the disappearing and reappearing of this temple. For this, devotees spend an entire day in the area, so that they can enter the temple in the early morning low tide hours, and return in the afternoon to watch the spectacular moment when the temple is submerged. A once-in-a-lifetime sight, indeed.

XXII. Tatwani Temple, Tatwani, Himachal Pradesh

…where you can take a dip in hot, healing water.

Located about 25 km from Dharamshala, the Tatwani Temple is a famous Shiva Temple that has been built around a spring.

(Un)Usual Rituals: This temple’s custom dictates that visitors must take a dip in the hot water spring, as it is believed to posses healing properties. As the legend goes, this water can cure muscle aches, poor blood circulation, arthritis as well as skin impurities, so who wouldn’t want to take a dip, just in case the legend is true?

XXIII. The Bondel Road Temple, Kolkata

…where India’s Angry Young Man is the only God that matters.

Tucked away in the Ballygung area of old Kolkata you will find the Bondel Road Temple, in which a fluorescent coloured banner reads ‘Jai Amitabh Bachchan’. If you were to wander into one of the rooms of this temple, you would see a montage of photographs assembled from his various movies. In the middle of the sanctum sanctorum sits an ornate green chair, akin to the one shown in his movie Aks, and on this chair, in a glass case, lies a pair of white leather shoes, just like the ones from Agneepath, along with a side portrait of the beloved actor.

(Un)Common Rituals: The head priest recites the ‘Amitabh Chalisa’ daily as the worshippers pray to this actor. The auspicious dates marked out include his birthday and August 2 — the day he recovered from the accident that occurred while shooting for Coolie. On this day, all the devotees make their annual pilgrimage to Mumbai to see him in the flesh. Besides performing all the ecclesiastical duties including chanting, aarti and puja for the film star, the devotees also organize blood donation camps, distribute clothes to the poor, and organize quiz contests based on the life of Amitabh.

Feature image: discover-india-info.blogspot.com

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