I am very fond of architecture. I travel far and wide in India to see architectural marvels. India is a rich country with diverse heritage encompassing ancient civilizations, vibrant cultures, diverse religions, and numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, making it a bounty of  heritage treasure of history and art.  Architecture talks about our culture, how we live, work, and interact, while also reflecting cultural identity and fostering a sense of place and belonging. 

One such beautiful temple is Sri. Vidyashankar temple of Lord Shiva and Parvati. The temple is famous for its exceptional architecture that combines the Hoysala and Dravidian styles of architecture. The temple has 12 pillars in total, each of which represents  the twelve zodiac signs separately:  Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. Vidyasankara Temple is a prominent pilgrimage site for followers of Advaita Vedanta. The temple was founded in the 13th century by Vidyaranya, a sage and patron saint. Advait Vedanta is not dual – our soul and God is one, God is within.

The Vidyashankara Temple was built in the year 1338 A.D. It was built under the patronage of the Vijayanagara Empire, dedicated to Guru Vidyashankara, a prominent figure in the lineage of the Sharada Peetham. 

It is a unique monument built entirely of stone combining both Hoysala (Chalukya) and Dravidian architectural styles. The structure stands on a high plinth and commands a magnificent view from the hills and their slopes all round. It is a rectangle with apsidal (referring to shape of an apse) east-west ends. On the western side is the Garbhagriha (Sanctum Sanctorum), with Vidya Ganapati on one side and Durga on the other side of the entrance. On the other three sides of the Garbhagriha are shrines to Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara with their wives. In the eastern half of the structure is a mandapa (pavilion) with twelve pillars, huge monoliths carrying large figures and carrying heavy projecting trusses on top. These twelve pillars are marked by the twelve signs of the zodiac in their regular order. The central ceiling is an exquisite piece of workmanship with lotus and pecking parrots. It is in true sense a wonder of craftmanship.  

Let’s understand this: the temple builders of that time had the genius idea of positioning these pillars in such a way that the sunlight falls on the corresponding zodiac sign pillar every month, casting a shadow on the corresponding sign following the lunar calendar.

Each Zodiac Pillar is decorated with intricate carvings that reflect the characteristics and symbols associated with its respective zodiac sign. You can check yours when you visit the temple complex. There you will find detailed depictions of animals, celestial figures, and several gods and goddesses. The general belief is that this genius design was incorporated to help the temple priest calculate and keep track of all important dates, events and festivals.

These pillars continue to be a source of wonder and inspiration for visitors to the temple. They portray India’s rich cultural and scientific heritage. India is a rich country. India’s status as “Vishwaguru” is its ability to enlighten the world with profound knowledge; Yoga, Ayurveda, Mathematics, and Philosophy which continues to influence global thought

Vidyaranya, also known as Mādhavācārya, was the 12th Jagadguru of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham from 1380 to 1386 AD, and he was the elder brother of Bharati Tirtha, the 11th Jagadguru. He played a significant role in establishing the Vijayanagara Empire and is considered a saint and statesman. Vidyaranya later became the 12th acharya of the Sringeri peetham in 1375 CE. Shortly after the start of the Vijayanagara empire in 1336 CE, the rulers began building the Vidyashankara temple at the Sringeri peetham site. This temple was completed in 1338.

To the student of Hindu iconography which consists of several symbols of animals, flora, instruments, weapons, or even color, and devas, this temple is a authentic store house of sculpture. The meditation of the Linga (Vidya Shankara Linga) in the sanctum and other Murtis will lead to Divine consciousness.

Vidyatirtha Rathotsava is celebrated on a grand scale during kartika Shukla paksha (October, November). The festival spans for seven days from Tritiya to Navami. On the Saptami day His Holiness performs special Puja. Also, the Aradhana of Sri Vidya Shankara is performed on shasti, saptami and ashtami. This temple is under the care of the Archaeological Survey of India. One must visit Vidyashankara temple for its unique blend of architectural styles, spiritual substance, and serene surroundings, offering a rich experience for both devotees and those seeking to explore Indian culture and history. 

Touching the feet of elders is a very common gesture in the Indian tradition and it is an age old custom of showing one’s respect to elders and those who are spiritually accomplished. This is something that is taught to young children in Indian families. The main reason behind this gesture is to bow down and show respect to the elder.
The person, whose feet are being touched, blesses the young person touching feet with long life, good luck and wisdom, as an acknowledgement or appreciation in return. The act of bowing in front of elders, teachers and spiritual gurus makes the person seek blessing by feeling humble, softer and human. It kills the ego and pride when you bend or bow before somebody.

Just try touching the feet of the person you hate the most………… Do it and see the change within you. Why do we touch the feet, why not some hands or head? Feet are the foundation of the body. The entire weight of a person is borne by the feet when he/she stands and moves about. We humans are gifted with the ability of being able to walk with our two feet. When we bend down and touch the feet of our elders, our ego automatically pacifies for those few seconds; we show our respect for the person’s age, for his wisdom or insights, accomplishment and experience. It is one of the most enlightening gestures.

Usually, those that command the padasparsh (touching the feet) include spiritual masters, teachers, grandparents, parents, elder brothers, in-laws, and senior citizens. Usually, these people have accumulated a lot of virtues, understanding and experience. Their maturity enables them with a good insight into the truths and realities of life. The thoughts, vibrations and the words which come from them are very powerful hence greatly benefiting those who seek their blessings.

There is an exact way of touching the feet of elders. The person touching their feet must bend down in front of them with the back hunched and hands stretching forward, usually, when the hands are stretched to touch their feet. When the hands touch the feet, there is a closed circuit establish between those seeking the blessings and those blessing them. The result is a highly positive energy flowing from their feet to the person seeking blessings which transfers a lot of goodwill and healing energy. Also, the person whose feet are touched usually stretches his or her hands to touch the upper head of the person with a gesture of blessing. This connection forms yet another circuit again transferring energy and blessings.

It is believed that every time you bow, you receive a blessing; when the person whose feet are being touched raises the right hand in a gesture of blessing, often blesses with words such as “Ayushman Bhava” which means, may you live a long life, “Yashasvi Bhava” which means may you be successful, “Sukhee Bhava” which mean may you be happy etc.

A person’s feet are unclean, despite this fact it’s done because the person has walked this earth longer than you and gained wisdom through experience that you can benefit even from the dust stuck to their feet. Some families practice the gesture of ‘padasparsh’ each day as a part of greeting elders. However it assumes importance at the time of festivals and religious occasions, weddings etc. Do you know that it activates the seven chakras in body? Shraddha (faith) reduces ego, it increases Karuna (compassion) in heart.

This practice is sadly vanishing with time. Cultural, generational, and experiential changes in society are damaging some of our good practices. People don’t have time even to sit by side of the elders and talk to them for few minutes. People are becoming so self obsessed that this good ritual seems waste of time for some. But the fact is that elder are valued as repositories of wisdom, strength and unconditional love.