Dhyanalinga
Encyclopedia
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
located 30 km (18.6 mi) from Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The temple was consecrated by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, a yogi
Yogi
A Yogi is a practitioner of Yoga. The word is also used to refer to ascetic practitioners of meditation in a number of South Asian Religions including Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.-Etymology:...
and mystic. The temple is consecrated using prana prathista and is dedicated for meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
. Silence is maintained inside the temple. Dhyana in the Sanskrit language, means meditation and linga means form. Dhyanalinga is claimed by the owners of the temple to be a powerful and unique energy form created from the distilled essence of yogic sciences and the first of its kind to be completed in over 2,000 years. The Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple offers a meditative space that does not ascribe to any particular faith or belief system.
Architecture
A large ellipsoidal domeDome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
covers the sanctum sanctorum
Sanctum sanctorum
The Latin phrase sanctum sanctorum is a Latin translation of the biblical term: "Holy of Holies" which generally refers in Latin texts to the Holiest place of the Tabernacle of Ancient Israel and later the Temples in Jerusalem, but also has some derivative use in application to imitations of the...
. The dome was constructed using only bricks and cement stabilized mud mortar
Mortar (masonry)
Mortar is a workable paste used to bind construction blocks together and fill the gaps between them. The blocks may be stone, brick, cinder blocks, etc. Mortar becomes hard when it sets, resulting in a rigid aggregate structure. Modern mortars are typically made from a mixture of sand, a binder...
without, steel or concrete.
The dome is 76 ft (23.2 m) in diameter and 33 ft (10.1 m) in height.
The lingam
Lingam
The Lingam is a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for worship in temples....
is 13 ft (4 m) in height made of high density black granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
.
The Sarva Dharma Sthamba, located at the front entrance, functions as an icon of singularity, with the sculptural reliefs and symbols of Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Buddhism, and Shinto inscribed as a universal welcome.
Theerthakund
A subterranean tank located 35 ft (10.7 m) below holds a lingam immersed in water. Followers claim that the lingam is made of solidified and 99.8% purified mercuryMercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
. The mercury is said to have been solidified at room temperature. Mercury has a Freezing point of −38.83°C at atmospheric pressure, but ancient Indian alchemy
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
claims to have techniques to do so. These methods are said to have been used by yogis to solidify the lingam at room temperature. People can take a dip in this water before they go to the Dhyanalinga temple. A semi-circular brick vault covers this tank, the inner sides of which have mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s in pure natural dyes with its theme depicting a Maha Kumbha Mela scene.
Nadha Aradhana
An offering of sound to the Dhyanalinga, an etheric blend of vocals, singing bowls, drums and various other instruments amplified within the reverberating dome, transports one into the timeless space. This enhances one’s receptivity to the energies of Dhyanalinga.Aumkar Meditation
Visitors coming to the Dhyanalinga, can further their experience by attending this daily initiation to the universal and powerful mantra "AUM." This meditation is known to have transcendental qualities. Meditation can bring peace and balance to the one’s system, and is known to relieve people from numerous physical and mental ailments when practiced regularly.The Dhyanalinga offers a unique set of activities throughout the year aimed at creating and promoting universal values and religious harmony. Daily activities include non-lyrical chants, offered by a talented group of singers, originating from various countries and cultures. These chants allow one to become more receptive to the meditative quality of the space.
The focal point of Isha Yoga Center, the Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple is rapidly gaining in its global reputation as being one of the most sought out places for meditation.