The landscape of India’s south is dotted with magnificent temples. Most of these temples were built by the medieval rulers of south India like Cholas, Chalukyas, Nayakas, Pallavas, Kakatiyas and Vijayanagar rulers. All of them had their own distinct architectural style of constructing the temples. Of the hundreds of south Indian temples, Meenakshi temple in Madurai, Rock Fort Temple in Thiruchirapalli, Tirupati Tirumala Balaji in Tirupati and Somnathpur Temple in Karnataka are the most popular. Lavishly built and aesthetically designed, the temples of South India are unmatched in architectural brilliance. But more than being mere symbols of architectural genius these temples are living emodiments of rich tradition and culture that has made India proud. South India tour primarily includes the main tourist destinations including monuments, temples, beaches, wild life, hill stations, Ayurveda centers and other popular tourist spots that form an integral part of South India tourist packages. India, with its rich cultural and historical heritage, boasts of well preserved temples and pilgrim sites. Tourists and pilgrims not only from India, but traveling from every corner of the globe, come to India to offer their prayers to various Gods and Goddesses. Temple tours in India are very common in this country. The best way to find inner peace and solace is to embark upon temple tours. The very thought of this has such a calming impact on mind, whether it is realized or not. And when it is about paying visits to the temple, then what can be an ideal destination than India. Considered as the place of origin of noted religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, India has thousands of temples and holy shrines consecrated to various gods and goddesses. outhern India is dotted with places of religious interest. Rameshwaram is an island- of Lord Rama`s temple at Tamil Nadu and is a terrific destination. These temples in South India are not only the sign of architectural intellect but also living representation of rich tradition and culture that has made India proud. This is the style that developed in the Dravida Desam. The Vimana and the Gopurams are the distinctive characteristics of the Southern style. The Vimana is a tall pyramidal tower consisting of several progressively smaller storeys. This stands on a square base. The Gopuram has two stories separated by a horizontal molding. The Prakara or the outer wall, covers the main temple as well as the other smaller temples. The Pallavas, the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Vijayanagar rulers, the Nayaks all contributed to the Southern style of temples from the ancient time. Andhra Pradesh Temples: Tirupati TempleThe temples of Andhra Pradesh State not only possess religious but also historic value. These are the real exposure to art and sculpture, an adventure in philosophy and a lifetime experience. Some of the important temples, which are prevalent in Andhra Pradesh, are as follows: Lepakshi Temple, Thousand Pillar Temple, Tirupati Temple, Srisailam Temple, Mukhalingam Temple, Jain Mandir, Chennakesava Temple, Gunupudi Someswara Temple, Chennakesavaswami Temple, etc are some of huge importance. Karnataka Temples: Vithala TempleThe temples of Karnataka are very old and rich in tradition and culture. There is a halo of peace and serenity that surrounds the temples of Karnataka. The temples are of typical Dravidian style. These temples have survived the difficulties of time. Some of the important temples of this region are as follows: Bull Temple, Cave Temples, Virupaksha Temple, Vithala Temple, Chamundeswari Temple, Hidimbeshwar Temple, channakeshava Temple, Krishna Temple, Atmalinga Temple, Hazara Temple, Gavi Gangadeshwara Temple, etc are or much significance. Kerala Temples: Sabarimala TempleThe religious temples of Kerala show the devotees a path to spirituality. These temples have a magical effect that can turn an atheist into a religious person. The temples present in Kerala state are distinct from temples present in any other parts of the country. The temples in Kerala are in synchrony with the geography of the region and vibrate with traditions of the region. Some of the important temples are as follows: Guruvayoor Temple, Sabarimala Temple, Sivagiri Temple, Tiruvalla Temple, Ettumanoor Temple, Mannarshala Temple, Thirunavaya Temple, Ambalapuzha Temple, Vaikom Temple, Oachira Temple, Thirunelli Temple, Chottanikkara Temple, etc. Tamil Nadu Temples: Tamil Nadu is the abode of some important temples in South India. The state has some monuments of great artistic value. Most of the ancient temples were built of mortar and brick and were scooped out of rocks. Rameshwaram, Thanjavur, Mahabalipuram, Kanchipuram, Chidambaram, Meenakshi Temple, and Ekambareswarar, Thanjavur, Jain Temple are some of the famous temples of Tamil Nadu.
Vishu is one of the two major Festival celebrating in Kerala. Other major festival is Onam, which is considered as the state festival of Kerala. Malayalees consider Vishu as the New Year (astrological New Year) in Kerala. Since the vishu is the starting of the next year people believe the start of the day has significant important for the next twelve months. Accordingly, Malayalam newspapers will publish vishu predictions and astrological prediction for next 12 months. As per Hindu astrology Vishu is the day when sun enters into medam rasi and consider it as a solar new year (on April 14 or 15th). If you see Malayalam calendar the New Year starts from chingam (Middle of August), however people never gives any important to that day. It is considering as just a new month day. As Hindus believe in Kani (Seeing the good things at the start of the day), malayalees consider seeing good things as the first thing in vishu will bring luck and prosperity for the next year. This is known as vishu kani Vishu Kani Vishu kani is the most important thing of Vishu. Kani means the first sight. Therefore, people consider the first thing you see on a day will decide your day. The same way the first thing you see on New Year will decide the luck and prosperity for your coming new year. So seeing auspicious things on vishu morning as the first sight of the day is known as vishu kani For this the day before vishu, people make special preparation to see vishu kani on the morning of vishu. It consists of Gods Picture, Gold, money, flowers, fruits, rice, new cloth, and Hindu lamp etc. How to prepare vishu kani Prepare a clean plate, which is normally using for Poona. You can use Uruli also which is a plate like thing made out of bronze. Arrange your favorite god photo in that. Normally people keep lord Krishna’s Picture or Krishna statue for this purpose. Lord Krishna has a significant place in vishu kani than other gods. So even other god’s devotees keep Krishna statue on vishu kani. Another main importance thing is Konna Poove (Indian Laburnum) which is freely available on vishu season all over Kerala. People believe that on olden day’s konna never use to flower, as konna was a normal tree without flower. Once upon a time unnikannan (little Krishna) liked one poor Brahmin boy and he started playing with him afternoon in front of a Krishna temple after the priest has gone home at afternoon. The Brahmin boy used to come every day afternoon to play with Krishna not knowingly that the boy is Lord Krishna himself. One day little Krishna handed his one padswaram (bracelet on leg) to this Brahmin boy. That day evening when priest returned to temple he was frightened since one of the golden padaswaram was missing from Krishna’s statue. He informed all people and eventually people found padaswaram with this Brahmin boy who was playing with it. People accused him of stealing padaswaram from temple. Even after telling that one boy has given him the padaswaram people never believed him since nobody has ever seen or known a boy according to Brahmin boy’s description. Unable to withstand the humiliation he has thrown the bracelet to the nearby tree (konna tree) by crying. Once the bracelet has fallen on the tree, the bracelet has transformed as flowers, which resembles as the bracelet. Then only people understood that the mysterious boy was none other than lord Krishna. The begged forgiveness from the lord Krishna as well as from the Brahmin boy who was lucky to see Krishna. That day onwards konna started flowering and people consider the flower as auspicious and very dear to Krishna. Other thing on vishu kani is rice (for prosperity), Gold, Money (coins and notes), new cloth, fruits, flowers, Sandalwood, mirror etc. They will arrange One Nilavilaku (Lamp used in pooja) for next morning. The most responsible woman in the house will arrange the vishu kani. Next day morning she will get up first in the morning and will go directly to the vishu kani room. She will ignite the lamp and see the picture of Lord Krishna and the auspicious things, as her vishu kani. Next, she will go to the seiner member of the house and will awake him by closing his eyes with her hands. Then she will guide him to the room where vishu kani is prepared. Then only she will remove her hand from his eyes. This will make him to see the auspicious things as the first thing on the morning. This will be repeated with every members of the house including kids. All the kids will get vishu kaineettam (one dollar or some money) after the vishu kani from elderly persons of the house. Vishu greetings Along with vishu, people will send vishu greetings to their friends and relatives. Now a day’s famous online greeting cards websites also have lot of vishu greetings in their collection. You can find some good vishu greetings at 365greetings. com