Followers of the tantra path of Hinduism as well as people of the "bhakti" tradition attach great significance to the Hindu shrines that are linked to tantrism. Here's your guide to the top 10 Tantra temples of India.

While various regional steps are followed by different sects of Hindus across India, these 13 steps form the core of a Vedic wedding ceremony: Vara Satkaarah, Madhuparka Ceremony, Kanya Dan, Vivah-Homa, Pani-Grahan, Pratigna-Karan, Shila Arohan, Laja-Homah, Parikrama or Pradakshina or Mangal Fera, Saptapadi, Abhishek, Anna Praashan, and Aashirvadah.

Janmashtami, which falls on Sunday, August 24th, is the birthday of Hinduism's favorite Lord Krishna and is a special occasion for Hindus, who consider him their leader, hero, protector, philosopher, teacher and friend all rolled into one. Krishna took birth at midnight on the 'ashtami' or the 8th day of the 'krishnapaksha' or dark fortnight in the Hindu month of Shravan (August-September).

The 'Itihasas' (Sanskrit for 'Histories'), or supplementary Vedic literature, helps explain the rituals of the Vedas and the highly compressed philosophy of the Vedanta-sutras by using historical events of the universe and factual stories of many great sages, demigods, and deities. These include the famous Ramayana and Mahabharata.