There are a lot of things science cannot explain. But most of them seem to linger in the less explored areas, such as space or sea. Occasionally, discoveries are made in our regular places that don’t make a lot of sense or at least make us wonder how on earth did someone pull that off. These mysteries of Indian temples project that same astonishment asscience remained mum to their mysteries.
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1) Mehandipur Balaji Temple
Mehandipur Balaji Mandir is a Hindu temple, in Rajasthan, dedicated to the Hindu God Hanuman named after his childhood form. Its repute for sacred remedial and exorcism of malicious spirits entices many visitors to Rajasthan. The person who is suffering from evil spirits get respite from distress by the methods like arji, sawamani, darkhast, bhog of bundi ke laddu offering to Balaji Maharaj, rice and urad pulse to bhairav baba. Saturday and Tuesday are the busiest days in the temple being the days of Hanumanji. The prasad from mandir is distributed in nearby schools, colleges, and Hostels and many other public places free of cost. The temple has been known for exorcism from sinful spirits attachments and black magic.
In 2013, an international team of scientists, researchers and psychiatrists from Germany, Netherlands, AIIMS, New Delhi, and University of Delhi started a study to assess all facets of conduct and rituals at the temple. The temple is at a distance of 310 km from Meerut, 255 km from Delhi, 38 km from Dausa, and very close to the Bandikui railway station.
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2) Ravangram Ravana Temple, Vidisha
Vidisha is one of the most famed Ravana temples. The village Ravangram is named after Ravana. During any function or on any significant day, the people visit this temple for seeking the blessings of Ravana. In Ravanagram, Ravana isn’t despised for splitting Lord Rama and wife Sita. In fact, before celebrating any wedding in the village, the foremost wedding card is sent to Ravana’s temple, to seek blessings of the so called demon of Indian mythology.
It was only recently that the Ravana worship instigated on Dussehra before which the temple wasn’t as eminent. Another reason for the celebrations is the belief that Ravanas’ wife Mandodari was from Vidisha. An ancient 10 feet idol of Ravana in a sprawling position is venerated by all the devotees. Legend has it that a disaster would strike the village if the idol is put in an upright position. The village is situated at a distance of around 40 km from the district headquarters in the Nateran tehsil of Vidisha district where Ravana has been deified for eras by Kanyakubja Brahmins, to which Ravana belonged.
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3) Patal Bhuvaneshwar
Patal Bhuvaneshwar, a limestone cave temple is located in the village Bhubneshwar. Fable and mythology have it that this subversive cave treasures Lord Shiva and other Koti Gods (33 types of gods in Hindu culture). The 90 feet deep cave has a slender tunnel-like opening which leads to others. The cave is effusively electrically lit. It is a series of caves within caves built by water flow.
The tough journey inside the cave has to be made, holding defensive iron chains in frail lighting. The cave is connected by an underground path to Mount Kailash. It’s believed that Pandavas, went for their final journey after seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva. Almost every god lives in this inexplicable cave. It is also believed that worshipping at Patal Bhuvaneshwar is equivalent to worshipping at Char Dham of Uttarakhand. Legend also has it that this cave is connected to the Char Dham within.
The four ingresses to enter the cave are ‘Randwar’ ‘Paapdwar’, ‘Dharamdwar’ and ‘Mokshadwar’. After the closing of the randwar(after the death of Ravana) and the paapdwar ( after the Mahabharata), only two gateways are presently unlocked. The tongue of Kali Bhairav, hair of Lord Shiva and Aravati of Indra are some of the marvels in the cave. “He who wants to feel the presence of eternal power should come to the sacred Bhuvneshwar situated near the confluence of Ramganga, Sarayu and Gupt-Ganga.” -Manaskhanda, Skandapuran
4) Shri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam
The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple often listed as the largest running Hindu shrine in the world (after Angkor wat ) is dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of Hindu lord, Vishnu located in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is extended over an area of 156 acres with a perimeter of 4,116m making it the largest shrine in India and one of the largest religious developments in the world.
This renowned Vaishnava temple is rich in folklore and antiquity. It is located on an island in the Cauvery river. A 21-day festival is annually held during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) which attracts around 1 million visitors.
Srirangam is the main of the eight self-manifested temples of Lord Vishnu. It is also known to be the first and the most significant of the 108 Divyadesams. The temple has seven prakaras or enclosures. These enclosures are shaped by dense and enormous walls which run around the temple. There are 21 splendid towers in all prakaras providing an inimitable view to any tourist. This temple lies on an islet formed by the twin rivers Cauvery and Coleroon.
5) Karni Mata temple
Karni Mata Temple, the temple of rats is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Karni Mata at Deshnoke, 30 km from Bikaner, in Rajasthan. The temple is eminent for the 20,000 black rats (kabbas) that are deified in the shrine. Many people travel great distances to witness the holy place. The temple attracts people throughout the country for blessings.
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Legend has it that Laxman, Karni Mata’s stepson, sank in a pond in Kapil Sarovar while he was trying to drink from it. Karni Mata begged Yama, the god of death, resuscitate her son which he first refused but eventually surrendered, allowing Laxman and all of Karni Mata’s male children to be re-embodied as rats.
According to the local folklore belief, a 20,000 strong army isolated a nearby scuffle and came running to Deshnoke. When Karni Mata was made aware of the same, she spared their lives instead of putting them to death but turned them into rats. The army of soldiers turned rats conveyed their appreciation and swore to serve Karni Mata. Consumption of food that has been nipped on by the rats is considered to be a “high tribute”. If any of the rats is killed, it is supposed to be substituted with one made of silver.

