SUBJECT: 5/5
RESEARCH: 3.5/5
WRITING: 3.5/5
In the mood for a light read about Sanatana Dharma, looking for such a book on my Kindle, I came across Swapna and Sudha Gopalakrishnan’s Unsolved Indian Hindu Temple Mysteries. Ever keen to learn more about my culture and Dharma, I quickly downloaded the book and sat down to read it.
What is the book all about?
A short read of approximately 75 pages, the book offers a peek into many mysterious Hindu temples which because of their size, shape, construction, legends, lore, and many other characteristics, continue to baffle scientists, historians, archaeologists, and researchers all over the world. Overall, there are 12 mysterious temples mentioned in this book.
Who can read?
The language is beginner friendly and the book is a short one. Thus, anyone with a basic understanding of English can read it. It will appeal to those who have an interest in Hindu dharma, culture, tales and legends, and its many temples.
The many temples and their mysteries
The temples that the authors chose to include in this book come from a wide geography. While some are from the North, others are from the South and East of India. It brings me immense joy to share that I had a great learning curve with this book. While there are many temples that I already knew of (Nidhi van in Vrindavan, Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kailasa temple in Ellora, Maharashtra), there are many that I had not known much about (Airavatesvara temple, Sri Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam, Lord Jagannath temple in Bhitargaon Behata).
The mysteries surrounding these places are enough to make one question how such phenomena are even possible. Take, for instance, the enigmatic Vault B of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple—a chamber with no bolts, latches, or any visible means of entry, said to be accessible only through the powerful Naga Paasam mantras.
Equally fascinating is the legend of Ras Leela performed by Krishna, Radha, and the Gopikas in Nidhi Van within the Rang Mahal Temple. Every evening, devotees prepare a bed, water, paan, sweets, and sarees for the divine couple and their companions. Though the temple is securely locked from 7 PM to 5 AM, by morning, these offerings bear signs of use—fueling the belief in an eternal divine presence.
Then there are the unbelievable miracles of the world-famous Jagannath temple in Puri, where not one but many miracles occur on a daily basis. The flag of the temple always flows in the direction opposite to the wind leaving everyone baffled. The temple also does not cast any shadow during any time of the day. In a sunny city like Puri, this is highly impossible but true only due to the divine miracles of the Lord. In addition to this, there are many miracles that you should definitely read about in the book.
What I didn’t like?
One thing that I found glaringly missing is any sort of foreword or introduction. In non-fiction like this, it becomes imperative that the author shares notes about the choice of topic, concepts, or the general objective of writing the book. The evident lack of such a thing is a major miss for the book.
The storytelling needs to be a little more engaging but apart from that the book is a treat to read and a trove of knowledge for Hindu dharma enthusiasts like me.
In the end, Unsolved Indian Hindu Temple Mysteries is a book that should be on the radar of people who have a penchant for knowing about our culture, Indian temples, dharma, and related knowledge.
Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of Unsolved Indian Hindu Temple Mysteries.
