INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

During the course of working on the book-Sarvam Sakti Mayam, there flashed across my mind a commendable idea of augmenting the original plan of writing a Temple Trio logy of 1000 temples into a quartet of 1116 Hindu temples with a view to infusing auspiciousness. For, the number 116, according to Andhra tradition signifies both subham and abhyudayam, akin to 101 deemed to bring in the same effect as believed in Tamil Nadu. Adding 116 to any denominator is an age-old practice honoured, I know definitely in Andhra Pradesh, may be in many other parts of our Punya Bharat, I do not know for certainty. And it is exemplified in honouring the Kalaradhakas - artists by patrons, the ruling princes adding 116 to the thousands following numbers countless to cite evidence. Hence the number 1116 is preferred to the already completed 1000 temples in three books - 300 Saivate temples in the first book published already: 400 Vaishnavate temples now in press, and 300 Sakteya temples in the final stage.  I Pondered over the unexpected and wayward thought deeply, rather delightfully; for. the biology would become a Quarter and enable me to work on many more, built for several other adorable deities. Another poser raised its head then. And of what temples? Would it be the temples built for Hanuman, Murugan or Vinayaka, or some others I have not attempted so tar?

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