A Jyotirlinga or
Jyotirling or Jyotirlingam is a shrine where Lord Shiva, an aspect of
God in Hinduism is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam or “Lingam
of light”. There are twelve traditional Jyotirlinga shrines in India.
It is believed that Lord Shiva first manifested himself as a Jyotirlinga
on the night of the Aridra Nakshatra, thus the special reverence for
the Jyotirlinga. There is nothing to distinguish
the appearance, but it is believed that a person can see these lingas as columns of fire piercing through the earth after he reaches a higher level of spiritual attainment.
The Dwadasa Jyotirlinga shrines or the 12 shrines enshrining Shiva in the form of a Jyotirlingam, have been held in reverence since time immemorial in the Indian system of beliefs. The southernmost of these is located at Rameswaram, while the northernmost is located in the snowy heights of the Himalayas at Kedarnath. These temples are closely linked with legends from the puranas and are rich in history and tradition.
the appearance, but it is believed that a person can see these lingas as columns of fire piercing through the earth after he reaches a higher level of spiritual attainment.
The Dwadasa Jyotirlinga shrines or the 12 shrines enshrining Shiva in the form of a Jyotirlingam, have been held in reverence since time immemorial in the Indian system of beliefs. The southernmost of these is located at Rameswaram, while the northernmost is located in the snowy heights of the Himalayas at Kedarnath. These temples are closely linked with legends from the puranas and are rich in history and tradition.
The names and the locations of the 12 Jyotirlingas are mentioned in the Shiva Purana. These shrines are:
1. Somnath, destroyed and re-built six times, is held in reverence throughout India and is rich in legend, tradition, and history. It is located at Prabhas Patan in Saurashtra in Gujarat.
1. Somnath, destroyed and re-built six times, is held in reverence throughout India and is rich in legend, tradition, and history. It is located at Prabhas Patan in Saurashtra in Gujarat.
2. Mallikārjuna, also called Śrīśaila,
is the name of the pillar located on a mountain on the river Krishna.
Srisailam, near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh enshrines Mallikarjuna in an
ancient temple that is architecturally and sculpturally rich. Adi
Shankara composed his Sivananda Lahiri here.
3. Mahakal, Ujjain (or Avanti) in
Madhya Pradesh is home to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple. The
Lingam at Mahakal is believed to be Swayambhu, the only one of the 12
Jyotirlingams to be so. It is also the only one facing south and also
the temple to have a Shree Yantra perched upside down at the ceiling of
the Garbha Graha (where the Shiv Lingam sits).
4. Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh on an island in the Narmada river is home to a Jyotirlinga shrine and the Mamaleshwar temple.
5. Kedarnath in Uttarakhand is the
northernmost of the Jyotirlingas. Kedarnath, nestled in the snow-clad
Himalayas, is an ancient shrine, rich in legend and tradition. It is
accessible only by foot, and only for six months a year.
6. Bhimashankar is very much debated.
There is a Bhimashankara temple near Pune in Maharastra, which was
referred to as Daakini country, Kashipur was also referred to as
Daakini country in ancient days. A Bhimashkar Temple is also present
there which is also known as Shree Moteshwar Mahadev. Another
Bhimashankar is in the Sahyadri range of Maharashtra. Bhimshankar temple
near Guwahati, Assam is the jyotirlinga according to Sivapuran.
7. Kashi Vishwanath Temple in
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh is home to the Vishwanath Jyotirling temple,
which is perhaps the most sacred of Hindu Temples.
8. Trimbakeshwar, near Nasik in Maharashtra, has a Jyotirlinga shrine associated with the origin of the Godavari river.
9. Vaidyanath jyotirlinga temple in
Deoghar, also called Baidyanth Temple. It is in the Santal Parganas
region of Jharkhand in the south west of Kiul Station. Vaijnath temple
at Parli, Maharashtra is also claimed as jyotirlinga of vaidyanath.
Baijnath Shivdham in Kangara Himachal Pradesh also claimed as
Jyotirlinga of Vaidyanath also associated with Ravana
10. Nageswar jyotirlinga temple in
‘Daruka Van’ is Aundha Nagnath, Parbhani Dist, Maharashtra. The word
‘Daruka’ is often mis pronounced as Dwaraka and many wrongly identify
the location at Dwarka in Gujarat. Jageshwar is a place in Almora,
Uttarakhand, where there is a temple called Jageshwar also claims to be
nageswar Jyotirlinga.
11. Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu is home
to the vast Ramalingeswarar Jyotirlinga temple and is revered as the
southernmost of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of India. It enshrines
the Rameśvara (“Lord of Rama”) pillar.
12. Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga shrine,
in Aurangabad Maharashtra, is located near the rock-cut temples of
Ellora. This shrine is also known as Ghushmeshwar.
Baijnath (Vaidyanatha) Jyotirlinga
Vaidyanath Temple,
also called Vaijnath Temple and Baidyanth Temple is located at Deogarh
in the Santal Parganas region of Bihar in the south west of Keeul
Station. Baidyanath shrine is revered as one of the twelve
Jyotirlingams of Shiva. It may be noted that some schools of thought
believe Vaidyanath near Parali in Andhra Pradesh to be the Vaidyanatha
Jyotirlingam.
Devotees of Lord Shiva believe that by
sincere worship of Vaijnath Jyotirlinga a person is relieved of all
worries and miseries in life. It is also said that by worshipping in
the shrine a person attains Moksha and all types of happiness. As a
tradition,
" devotees carry ?Kanwar's on their shoulders and complete their travel here.
" devotees carry ?Kanwar's on their shoulders and complete their travel here.
Getting there and Around
By Air - Nearest Airport is Patna
By Rail -The nearest
Railway Station is Baidyanath Dham (Deoghar) which is a terminal
station of a 7 kms branch line orignating from Jasidih Jn.
By Road - By road
Baidyanath Dham (Deoghar) to Calcutta 373 kms, Giridih 112 kms, Patna
281 kms, Dumka 67 kms, Madhupur 57 kms, Shimultala 53 kms etc.
Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga
Bhimashankar, the origin
of Bhima river, is located on a high peak, surrounded by thick dense
forests. It is one of the major pilgrim center which is the abode for
one of the five 'Jyotirlinga' of Maharashtra. Innumerable devotees
flock near the temple during 'Tripuri Poornima'. The breathtaking
scenic beauty & the picture perfect setting of Bhimashankar has
made it a hit tourist center, especially famous for trekking, sight
seeing & mountaineering. Bhimashankar temple houses the main 'Shani
temple'. 
One
of the two main pillars outside the 'Shani' temple is actually an
ancient huge Portuguese bell. The impact of Nagara style can be well
make out. Dating back to mid 18th century, the shikhara was built by
Nana Phadnavis. The sanctum is located at the lower level. The shrine
Bhimashankaram, though dates back to the 13th century.Bhimashankar
te`mple is well surrounded with Kamalaja shrine & Mokshakund
thirtha. As per the ritual, at least three worship services are offered
on a daily basis. Mahashivratri is the most auspicious day here.Lord
Shiva's killing of the demon Tripurasura is the main legend associated
with the temple. It even states that Shiva took abode on the Sahyadri
hills in the form of a Bhima upon the request of the Gods, on the crest
of the Sahyadri hills. The sweat of Shiva poured after the battle
ultimately led to the origin of Bhimarathi river.
One
of the two main pillars outside the 'Shani' temple is actually an
ancient huge Portuguese bell. The impact of Nagara style can be well
make out. Dating back to mid 18th century, the shikhara was built by
Nana Phadnavis. The sanctum is located at the lower level. The shrine
Bhimashankaram, though dates back to the 13th century.Bhimashankar
te`mple is well surrounded with Kamalaja shrine & Mokshakund
thirtha. As per the ritual, at least three worship services are offered
on a daily basis. Mahashivratri is the most auspicious day here.Lord
Shiva's killing of the demon Tripurasura is the main legend associated
with the temple. It even states that Shiva took abode on the Sahyadri
hills in the form of a Bhima upon the request of the Gods, on the crest
of the Sahyadri hills. The sweat of Shiva poured after the battle
ultimately led to the origin of Bhimarathi river.
Getting there and Around
By Air - The nearest airport is the Pune Airport which is at a distance of 95 kilometres from Bhimashankar.
By Rail - The nearest Railhead is the Pune which is at a distance of 95 kilometres from Bhimashankar.
By Road - Bhimashankar is situated
around 260 kms from Mumbai via Pune.From Pune You have to take the road
that goes to Wada to reach Bhimashankar.
Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga
Bhimashankar, the origin of Bhima river, is located on a high peak, surrounded by thick dense forests. It is one of 
the
major pilgrim center which is the abode for one of the five
'Jyotirlinga' of Maharashtra. Innumerable devotees flock near the
temple during 'Tripuri Poornima'. The breathtaking scenic beauty &
the picture perfect setting of Bhimashankar has made it a hit tourist
center, especially famous for trekking, sight seeing &
mountaineering. Bhimashankar temple houses the main 'Shani temple'. One
of the two main pillars outside the 'Shani' temple is actually an
ancient huge Portuguese bell. The impact of Nagara style can be well
make out. Dating back to mid 18th century, the shikhara was built by
Nana Phadnavis. The sanctum is located at the lower level. The shrine
Bhimashankaram, though dates back to the 13th century. Bhimashankar
temple is well surrounded with Kamalaja shrine & Mokshakund
thirtha. As per the ritual, at least three worship services are offered
on a daily basis. Mahashivratri is the most auspicious day here.Lord
Shiva's killing of the demon Tripurasura is the main legend associated
with the temple. It even states that Shiva took abode on the Sahyadri
hills in the form of a Bhima upon the request of the Gods, on the crest
of the Sahyadri hills. The sweat of Shiva poured after the battle
ultimately led to the origin of Bhimarathi river.
the
major pilgrim center which is the abode for one of the five
'Jyotirlinga' of Maharashtra. Innumerable devotees flock near the
temple during 'Tripuri Poornima'. The breathtaking scenic beauty &
the picture perfect setting of Bhimashankar has made it a hit tourist
center, especially famous for trekking, sight seeing &
mountaineering. Bhimashankar temple houses the main 'Shani temple'. One
of the two main pillars outside the 'Shani' temple is actually an
ancient huge Portuguese bell. The impact of Nagara style can be well
make out. Dating back to mid 18th century, the shikhara was built by
Nana Phadnavis. The sanctum is located at the lower level. The shrine
Bhimashankaram, though dates back to the 13th century. Bhimashankar
temple is well surrounded with Kamalaja shrine & Mokshakund
thirtha. As per the ritual, at least three worship services are offered
on a daily basis. Mahashivratri is the most auspicious day here.Lord
Shiva's killing of the demon Tripurasura is the main legend associated
with the temple. It even states that Shiva took abode on the Sahyadri
hills in the form of a Bhima upon the request of the Gods, on the crest
of the Sahyadri hills. The sweat of Shiva poured after the battle
ultimately led to the origin of Bhimarathi river. 
Getting there and Around
By Air - The nearest airport is the Pune Airport which is at a distance of 95 kilometres from Bhimashankar.
By Rail - The nearest Railhead is the Pune which is at a distance of 95 kilometres from Bhimashankar.
By Road - Bhimashankar is situated
around 260 kms from Mumbai via Pune.From Pune You have to take the road
that goes to Wada to reach Bhimashankar.
Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga
The Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is one of the ancient and holiest shrines of India. This temple is
the
holy abode of one of the 12 jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva. The temple is
located at a distance of 11km from Daulatabad near Aurangabad in
Maharashtra. Daulatabad was once known as Devagiri. Ahilyabhai Holkar
constructed the Grishneshwar Temple, who also re-constructed the Kasi
Viswanatha temple at Banaras and the Vishnu Paada temple at Gaya.
Grishneshwar is also known as Ghushmeswara. The Lord is also known by
several names like Kusumeswarar, Ghushmeswara, etc.
The Grishneshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is one of the ancient and holiest shrines of India. This temple is
the
holy abode of one of the 12 jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva. The temple is
located at a distance of 11km from Daulatabad near Aurangabad in
Maharashtra. Daulatabad was once known as Devagiri. Ahilyabhai Holkar
constructed the Grishneshwar Temple, who also re-constructed the Kasi
Viswanatha temple at Banaras and the Vishnu Paada temple at Gaya.
Grishneshwar is also known as Ghushmeswara. The Lord is also known by
several names like Kusumeswarar, Ghushmeswara, etc.
The famous Ajanta and
Elora caves are the famous tourist spots nearby the temple. According
to legend, a devotee called Kusuma worshiped Lord Shiva by immersing a
Shivalingam everyday in a nearby tank. Kusuma's husband's first wife
out of jealousy because of Kusuma's piety in the society killed her
son. An aggrieved Kusuma continued her daily ritual and when she dipped
the Shivlingam in the tank her son miraculously revived. 
From then on the people started worshiping Lord Shiva in the form of a Jyotirlinga Ghusmeshwar.
From then on the people started worshiping Lord Shiva in the form of a Jyotirlinga Ghusmeshwar.
Getting there and Around
By Air - Nearest airport is Aurangabad.
By Rail
- Aurangabad is directly connected by rail with Bombay, Manmad, Nasik
Road, Kalyan, Secunderabad (Hyderabad) and with other cities via
Manmad.
By Road
- Aurangabad is well connected by good motorable road with Ajanta 106
kms, Bombay 392 kms, Ellora 30 kms, Nanded 272 kms, Nasik 221 kms,
Pune 229 kms Shirdi 136 kms and other important cities.
Kedarnath Jyotirlinga
One of the holiest
pilgrimages for the Hindus, Kedarnath Temple Jyotirlinga is located in
the picturesque surroundings of Rudra Himalaya Range at a height of
12000 feet on a mountain named Kedar
.
Near Kedarnath is the source of the river Mandakini that joins
Alakananda at Rudraprayag. This place is approximately 150 miles away
from Hardwar and 132 miles north of Hrishikesh and is accessible by
foot.
The temple at Kedarnath enshrining the Jyotirlingam of
Shiva opens only 6 months a year (April-November) when the sun enters
the zodiac sign of Aries and it is closed when the sun enters Scorpio.
The priests then go to Ukhimath, where the worship of Kedareshwara is
continued during the winter season.
Tradition has it that when undertaking Kedarnath Yatra
pilgrims first visit Yamunotri and Gangotri and bring with them the
holy waters from the sources of the rivers Yamuna and Ganga and offer
abhishekams to Kedareshwara. The traditional pilgrim route is Haridwar -
Rishikesh - Devaprayag - Tehri - Dharasu - Yamunotri - Uttar Kashi -
Gangotri - Triyugnarayan - Gowrikund and Kedarnath. The alternative
route to Kedar from Rishikesh is via Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag
and Ukhimath.
.
Near Kedarnath is the source of the river Mandakini that joins
Alakananda at Rudraprayag. This place is approximately 150 miles away
from Hardwar and 132 miles north of Hrishikesh and is accessible by
foot.
The temple at Kedarnath enshrining the Jyotirlingam of
Shiva opens only 6 months a year (April-November) when the sun enters
the zodiac sign of Aries and it is closed when the sun enters Scorpio.
The priests then go to Ukhimath, where the worship of Kedareshwara is
continued during the winter season.
Tradition has it that when undertaking Kedarnath Yatra
pilgrims first visit Yamunotri and Gangotri and bring with them the
holy waters from the sources of the rivers Yamuna and Ganga and offer
abhishekams to Kedareshwara. The traditional pilgrim route is Haridwar -
Rishikesh - Devaprayag - Tehri - Dharasu - Yamunotri - Uttar Kashi -
Gangotri - Triyugnarayan - Gowrikund and Kedarnath. The alternative
route to Kedar from Rishikesh is via Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag
and Ukhimath.
Getting there and Around
By Air -
The nearest convenient Air port is Delhi. Which is further well
connected to Mumbai, Calcutta and rest of India through Air network.
By Rail - The
nearest convenient railway station are Dehradun and Haridwar. These
are well connected with Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and rest of India
through Rail netwaork.
By Road -
Kedarnath is connected by road with Badrinath (242 KM), Dehradun (268
KM), Delhi (450 KM), Haridwar (250 KM), Kotdwar (256 KM), and Rishikesh
(226 KM).
Route : Rishikesh
to Kedarnath vai Rudraprayag :- Rishikesh -> Rudraprayaga ->
Agastamuni -> Kund -> Gupta kashi -> Phata -> Soneprayag
-> Gauri Kund.
ouri Kund to Kedarnath is 14 KM. This distance has to
be covered by foot, ponies, palkies.
Kedarnath Jyotirlinga
One of the holiest
pilgrimages for the Hindus, Kedarnath Temple Jyotirlinga is located in
the picturesque surroundings of Rudra Himalaya Range at a height of
12000 feet on a mountain named Kedar.
Near Kedarnath is the source of the river Mandakini that joins
Alakananda at Rudraprayag. This place is approximately 150 miles away
from Hardwar and 132 miles north of Hrishikesh and is accessible by
foot.
The temple at Kedarnath enshrining the Jyotirlingam of
Shiva opens only 6 months a year (April-November) when the sun enters
the zodiac sign of Aries and it is closed when the sun enters Scorpio.
The priests then go to Ukhimath, where the worship of Kedareshwara is
continued during the winter season.
Tradition has it that when undertaking Kedarnath Yatra
pilgrims first visit Yamunotri and Gangotri and bring with them the
holy waters from the sources of the rivers Yamuna and Ganga and offer
abhishekams to Kedareshwara. The traditional pilgrim route is Haridwar -
Rishikesh - Devaprayag - Tehri - Dharasu - Yamunotri - Uttar Kashi -
Gangotri - Triyugnarayan - Gowrikund and Kedarnath. The alternative
route to Kedar from Rishikesh is via Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag
and Ukhimath.
Near Kedarnath is the source of the river Mandakini that joins
Alakananda at Rudraprayag. This place is approximately 150 miles away
from Hardwar and 132 miles north of Hrishikesh and is accessible by
foot.
The temple at Kedarnath enshrining the Jyotirlingam of
Shiva opens only 6 months a year (April-November) when the sun enters
the zodiac sign of Aries and it is closed when the sun enters Scorpio.
The priests then go to Ukhimath, where the worship of Kedareshwara is
continued during the winter season.
Tradition has it that when undertaking Kedarnath Yatra
pilgrims first visit Yamunotri and Gangotri and bring with them the
holy waters from the sources of the rivers Yamuna and Ganga and offer
abhishekams to Kedareshwara. The traditional pilgrim route is Haridwar -
Rishikesh - Devaprayag - Tehri - Dharasu - Yamunotri - Uttar Kashi -
Gangotri - Triyugnarayan - Gowrikund and Kedarnath. The alternative
route to Kedar from Rishikesh is via Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag
and Ukhimath.
Getting there and Around
By Air -
The nearest convenient Air port is Delhi. Which is further well
connected to Mumbai, Calcutta and rest of India through Air network.
By Rail - The
nearest convenient railway station are Dehradun and Haridwar. These
are well connected with Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and rest of India
through Rail netwaork.
By Road -
Kedarnath is connected by road with Badrinath (242 KM), Dehradun (268
KM), Delhi (450 KM), Haridwar (250 KM), Kotdwar (256 KM), and Rishikesh
(226 KM).
Route : Rishikesh
to Kedarnath vai Rudraprayag :- Rishikesh -> Rudraprayaga ->
Agastamuni -> Kund -> Gupta kashi -> Phata -> Soneprayag
-> Gauri Kund.
ouri Kund to Kedarnath is 14 KM. This distance has to
be covered by foot, ponies, palkies.
Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
Shri Mahakaleshwar
Jyotirlinga is situated in Ujjain. It is a very important religious
place for Lord Shiva devotees. There are numerous stories associated
with this Jyotirlinga in Ujjain. The temple of Lord Mahakaleshwar is
very big, beautiful and grand. The Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is
situated below the ground in a Garbha Griha. This Jyotirlinga is big in
size and is encircled by a silver snake. On one side of the Shiv Linga
there's the idol of Lord Ganesha and on the other side the idol of
Parvati and Kartikeya. There are many stories behind this Mahakaleshwar
Jyotirlinga.According to one story, a five-year-old boy Shrikar was
spellbound seeing the devotion of King Chandrasena of Ujjain towards
Lord Shiva.
He took a stone and by considering it a lingam started worshipping it
every day. Many made fun of him, but everything in vain. On the
contrary the devotion of Shrikar increased day by day. Pleased by the
boy's immense devotion Lord Shiva took the form of Jyotirlinga and
stayed in the Mahakal forest.
He took a stone and by considering it a lingam started worshipping it
every day. Many made fun of him, but everything in vain. On the
contrary the devotion of Shrikar increased day by day. Pleased by the
boy's immense devotion Lord Shiva took the form of Jyotirlinga and
stayed in the Mahakal forest.
HOW TO GET THERE :-
By Air : Indore- 53 Km
By Rail : The nearest railway station is Ujjain
By Road : Well connected to all cities.
Mallikaarjun Mahadev Temple
The temple of Lord
Mallikarjuna is situated in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is
situated in the town of Srisailam on the banks of River Patalganga
Krishna. Srisailam mountain is looked upon reverentially as the Kailash
of South. The temple situated here is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is
among the 12 
Jyotirlingas in India. The temple sculptures narrate in stone, epics
from thre great Hindu epics-Ramayana nand Mahabharata.This temple is
considered very holy and is dedicated to Mallikarjuna Swamy and
Bhramaramba. One unique feature of the temple is that all the devotees
who visit the temple are allowed to touch the idol which is not
prevalent in any other temple. The temple is located at a distance of
245 km from Hyderabad. The Sree Sailam temple has rich sculptural work,
fort like walls and towers. The temple is built in Dravidian style.
According to popular legends, the religious leader had visited the
temple and had composed his famous Sivananda Lahiri. It is also
believed that Goddess Durga had taken the form of a bee and worshiped
Lord Shiva here and selected this holy place as her abode.
Jyotirlingas in India. The temple sculptures narrate in stone, epics
from thre great Hindu epics-Ramayana nand Mahabharata.This temple is
considered very holy and is dedicated to Mallikarjuna Swamy and
Bhramaramba. One unique feature of the temple is that all the devotees
who visit the temple are allowed to touch the idol which is not
prevalent in any other temple. The temple is located at a distance of
245 km from Hyderabad. The Sree Sailam temple has rich sculptural work,
fort like walls and towers. The temple is built in Dravidian style.
According to popular legends, the religious leader had visited the
temple and had composed his famous Sivananda Lahiri. It is also
believed that Goddess Durga had taken the form of a bee and worshiped
Lord Shiva here and selected this holy place as her abode.
HOW TO GET THERE :-
By Air - Nearest airport is Hyderabad.
By Rail - The nearest railway station to Srisailam is Markapur Road.
By Road - Srisailam is well connected by APSRTC bus services
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
>Nageshwar near
Dwarka in Gujarat is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.The
Jyotirlinga in the temple is known as Nageshwar Mahadev. The temple is
visited by thousands of pilgrims every year. The Jyotirlinga situated
in the temple is considered to protect everybody from all sort of
poisons. It is believed that one who offers prayers in the temple
becomes poison free. 
The
temple is located between Dwarka and Dwarka island in Gujarat on the
coast of Surat. According to the legends, a devotee called Supriya was
attacked by a demon named Daaruka in a boat.
The demon imprisoned the devotee and several others in
his capital called Daarukaavana. It is believed that Lord Shiva
appeared in the form of Jyotirlinga and rescued the imprisoned and
vanquished the demon. The Shivalingam in the temple faces South with
the Gomugam facing East. There is a legend regarding the position of
the idol. It is believed that a devotee called Naamdev was singing
bhajans in praise of Lord Shiva and was asked by other devotees to
stand aside and not to hide the image of Lord. On being asked to do so
Naamdev argued and asked for one such direction where Lord is not
present, this angered the devotees and they picked him up and placed
him on the south side. To everyones astonishment even the Linga was
then facing South with the Gomugam facing east. The other two temples
dedicated to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga are situated near Audhgram near
Purna and another near Almora in Uttar Pradesh.
The
temple is located between Dwarka and Dwarka island in Gujarat on the
coast of Surat. According to the legends, a devotee called Supriya was
attacked by a demon named Daaruka in a boat.
The demon imprisoned the devotee and several others in
his capital called Daarukaavana. It is believed that Lord Shiva
appeared in the form of Jyotirlinga and rescued the imprisoned and
vanquished the demon. The Shivalingam in the temple faces South with
the Gomugam facing East. There is a legend regarding the position of
the idol. It is believed that a devotee called Naamdev was singing
bhajans in praise of Lord Shiva and was asked by other devotees to
stand aside and not to hide the image of Lord. On being asked to do so
Naamdev argued and asked for one such direction where Lord is not
present, this angered the devotees and they picked him up and placed
him on the south side. To everyones astonishment even the Linga was
then facing South with the Gomugam facing east. The other two temples
dedicated to Nageshwar Jyotirlinga are situated near Audhgram near
Purna and another near Almora in Uttar Pradesh.
Getting there and Around
By Air - Jamnagar, 145 kms away, is the nearest airport.
By Rail
- Dwarka is a station on the Ahmedabad-Okha broad gauge railway line
connected to Jamnagar, Rajkot (217 kms) and Ahmedabad (378 kms).
By Road - There is regular bus service from Jamnagar, Rajkot and other nearby towns connected to Dwarka.
By Road - There is regular bus service from Jamnagar, Rajkot and other nearby towns connected to Dwarka.
Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga
This Jyotirlinga is
situated by the banks of Narmada river in the Malva area. Gods of all
the Gods Lord Shiva's Omkareshwar linga is situated on the mountain
Mandhata. The Shiv Purana speaks of the greatness of Omkareshwar 
and
Mammaleshwar. The 2 sons of the sun dynasty Mandhata (Ambarish and
Mucchkund), practiced severe penance and austerities here pleased Lord
Shiva. They had also performed great religious sacrifices here, because
of this the mountain is named Mandhata.Before entering the temple one
has to pass through 2 rooms. The Omkareshwar is not affixed to the
ground, but is naturally installed there. There is always water around
it. The significance of this linga is that the linga is not situated
below the cupola. The idol of Lord Shiva is situated on the top of the
temple. A huge fair is organised here on the day of Kartik
Poornima.Amongst the 12 Jyotirlingas Omkareshwar is undoubtedly
considered but another name which often comes in this context is
Mammaleshwar. Not only the name but the existence of these two are also
thoroughly different. The temple of Maleshwar is situated south of the
river Narmada, but both the forms of Shiva have been counted as one.It
is said that once upon a time Vidhya Parvat practiced severe penances
and worshipped Parthivarchana along with Lord Omkareshwar for nearly six
months. As a result Lord Shiva was pleased and blessed him with the
desire boon. On the sincere request of all the gods and the sages Lord
Shiva made two parts of the lings. In one he resided as the Pranav or
Omkar and assumed the form of Omkareshwar and Bhagwan Sadashiva,
Parameshwar, Amareshwar or Amaleshwar assumed form from the
Partivlinga.
and
Mammaleshwar. The 2 sons of the sun dynasty Mandhata (Ambarish and
Mucchkund), practiced severe penance and austerities here pleased Lord
Shiva. They had also performed great religious sacrifices here, because
of this the mountain is named Mandhata.Before entering the temple one
has to pass through 2 rooms. The Omkareshwar is not affixed to the
ground, but is naturally installed there. There is always water around
it. The significance of this linga is that the linga is not situated
below the cupola. The idol of Lord Shiva is situated on the top of the
temple. A huge fair is organised here on the day of Kartik
Poornima.Amongst the 12 Jyotirlingas Omkareshwar is undoubtedly
considered but another name which often comes in this context is
Mammaleshwar. Not only the name but the existence of these two are also
thoroughly different. The temple of Maleshwar is situated south of the
river Narmada, but both the forms of Shiva have been counted as one.It
is said that once upon a time Vidhya Parvat practiced severe penances
and worshipped Parthivarchana along with Lord Omkareshwar for nearly six
months. As a result Lord Shiva was pleased and blessed him with the
desire boon. On the sincere request of all the gods and the sages Lord
Shiva made two parts of the lings. In one he resided as the Pranav or
Omkar and assumed the form of Omkareshwar and Bhagwan Sadashiva,
Parameshwar, Amareshwar or Amaleshwar assumed form from the
Partivlinga.
Getting there and Around
By Air - Nearest airport is Indore- 77 Km
By Rail - The nearest railway station is Omkareshwar Road- 12 Km on the Ratlam-Khandwa section of the Western Railway
By Road - Omkareshwar is connected to Indore, Ujjain , Khandwa and Omkareshwar Road by regular bus services
Rameshwar Jyotirlinga
Rameshvaram Jyotirlinga
is situated on the peninsular tip of Rameshvaram. Lord Rama put up
this Jyotirlinga when he was on his way to attack Ravana. It is said
that when Lord Rama was drinking water by the seashore he heard a voice
saying that he should pay offerings to Lord Shiva. Listening to this
Lord Rama made a linga of sand and worshipped it and asked the
blessings of Lord Shiva to destroy Ravana. Lord Shiva, happy by his
devotion blessed him accordingly.It is situated in a large island
surrounded by sea in the southern side of India.Lord Rama also
requested Lord Shiva to reside here forever and bless the entire
mankind. Lord Shiva from that time lives in this Jyotirlinga. Those who
go to Rameshwar Jyotirlinga and seek Lord Shiva's blessings always
live in Shivloka. The temple of Rameshwar is very big and grand. There
are many other idols of Shiva and other gods other than the main lingam.
There is a big idol of Nandi, the vehicle of Shiva.
Getting there and Around
By Air - The nearest airport is Madurai which is 173 kms.
By Rail - Well connected to major cities like Chennai,Madurai,Coimbatore,Trichy and Tanjavur.
By Road - Connected with all important towns of Tamil Nadu,buses and taxis ply regularly.
SOMNATH TEMPLE (JYOTIRLINGA)
SOMNATH TEMPLE
The Somnath Temple located in the Prabhas Kshetra near Veraval in
Saurashtra, on the western coast of Gujarat, India is the most sacred
of the twelve Jyotirlings (lingas of light) of the God Shiva. Somnath
means “The Protector of Moon God”. The Somnath Temple is known as ‘the
Shrine Eternal’, as although the temple has been destroyed six times it
has been rebuilt every single time. On the last occasion, it was built
after a plan was mooted by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in November 1947,
when he visited the area for Indian Integration of Junagadh, and later
after his death carried out by K.M. Munshi, also a Minister in
Government of India.
The holy place of the Aadi Jyotirling Shree Somnath
Mahadev and the sacred soil from where Bhagvan Shri Krishna took his
last journey to his neejdham.
Somnath temple stands at
the shore of the Arabian ocean on the western corner of Indian
subcontinent in Gujarat State. This pilgrimage is one of the oldest
and finds its reference in the ancient texts like Skandpuran, Shreemad
Bhagavat, Shivpuran etc. The hymn from Rig-Veda quoted below mention
the Bhagvan Someshwar along with the great pilgrimage like Gangaji,
Yamunaji and Eastward Saraswati. This signifies the ancient value of
this Tirthdham. Somnath is in Prabhas Patan very near to Veraval.
The Moon God is said to
have been relieved from the curse of his father-in-law Daksha Prajapati
by the blessings of Bhagvan Somnath. In the Shiva Purana and
Nandi Upapurana, Shiva said, `I am always present everywhere but
specially in 12 forms and places as the jyotirlingas`. Somnath
is one of these 12 holy places. This is the first among the twelve holy
Shiva Jyotirlings.
The shore temple of Somnath is believed to have been built in 4 phases-in gold by Lord Soma, in silver by Ravi, in wood by lord Krishna and in stone by King Bhimadeva.
The shore temple of Somnath is believed to have been built in 4 phases-in gold by Lord Soma, in silver by Ravi, in wood by lord Krishna and in stone by King Bhimadeva.
It has withstood the
six-repeated desecration by the Muslim invaders. The very existence of
this temple is symbol of reconstructive spirit and cultural unity of
our society. The seventh existing temple is built in the Kailas Mahameru
Prasad style. The Iron man of India Sardar Shri Vallabhbhai Patel is
the pioneer of the existing temple. The temple is consisting of
Garbhgruh, Sabhamandap and Nrityamandap with a 150 feet high Shikhar.
The Kalash at the top of
the Shikhar weighs 10 tons and the Dhwajdand is 27 feet tall and 1
foot in circumference. The Abadhit Samudra Marg, Tirsthambh (Arrow)
indicates the unobstructed sea route to the South Pole. The nearest land
towards South Pole is about 9936 km. away. This is a wonderful
indicator of the ancient Indian wisdom of geography and strategic
location of the Jyotirling. The temple renovated by Maharani Ahalyabai
is adjacent to the main temple complex.
Hari Har Tirthdham is
here in Somnath. This is the holy place of Bhagvan Shri Krishna’s
Neejdham Prasthan Leela. The place where Bhagvan Shri Krishna was hit by
an arrow of a poacher is known as Bhalka Tirtha. After being hit by
the arrow, Bhagvan Shri Krishna arrived at the holy confluence of
Hiran, Kapila and Saraswati and their Sangam with the ocean. He
performed his divine Neejdham Prasthan Leela at the sacred and peaceful
banks of river Hiran.
The Geetamandir is built here where the divine message
of Shrimad Bhagavat Geeta is carved on eighteen marble pillars. Shri
Lakshminarayan Mandir is close by. The Balramjiki Gufa is the place
from where Bhagvan Shrikrishna’s elder brother Balaramji took journey
to his nijdham-patal.
Here is the Parshuram Tapobhumi, where Bhagvan
Parshuramji carried out penance and he was relieved from the sin of
Kshatriya killings. The Pandavas have said to have visited this place
and taken holy bath in the Jalprabhas and built five Shiv temples.
Restoration of temple after Independence
Statue of Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel in front of the templeBefore Independence, Prabhas
Pattan was part of the Junagarh State, ruled by the Nawab of
Junagarh. On the eve of Independence the Nawab announced the accession
of Junagarh, which had over 80% Hindu population, to Pakistan. The
people of Junagarh rose in revolt and set up a parallel government under
Gandhian leader and freedom fighter, Shri Samaldas Gandhi. The Nawab,
unable to resist the popular pressure, bowed out and escaped to
Pakistan. The provincial government under Samaldas Gandhi formally
asked Government of India to take over. The Deputy Prime Minister of
India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel came to Junagadh on November 12, 1947
to direct the occupation of the state by the Indian army and at the
same time ordered the reconstruction of the Somanath temple.
When Sardar Patel, K M
Munshi and other leaders of the Congress went to Gandhi with the
proposal of reconstructing the Somnath temple, Gandhi blessed the move,
but suggested that the funds for the construction should be collected
from the public and the temple should not be funded by the state. He
expressed that he was proud to associate himself to the project of
renovation of the temple. But soon both Gandhi and Sardar Patel died
and the task of reconstruction of the temple was now continued under
the leadership of K M Munshi, who was the Minister for Food and Civil,
supplies in the Nehru Government.
The ruins were pulled
down in October 1950 and the mosque was moved to a different location.
In May 1951, Rajendra Prasad, the first President of the Republic of
India, invited by K M Munshi, performed the installation ceremony for
the temple Rajendra Prasad said in his address “It is my view that the
reconstruction of the Somnath Temple will be complete on that day when
not only a magnificent edifice will arise on this foundation, but the
mansion of India’s prosperity will be really that prosperity of which
the ancient temple of Somnath was a symbol”. He added “The Somnath
temple signifies that the power of reconstruction is always greater
than the power of destruction”.
This episode created a
serious rift between the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who saw
in movement for reconstruction of the temple an attempt at Hindu
revivalism and the President Rajendra Prasad and Union Minister K M
Munshi, saw in its reconstruction, the fruits of freedom and the
reversal of injustice done to Hindus.
The present temple was built by the Shree Somnath Trust
which looks after the entire complex of Shree Somnath and its
environs.
The Present temple, Kailash Mahameru Prasada, is built
in the Chalukya style of temple architecture and reflects the skill of
the Sompuras, Gujarat’s master masons.
The temple is situated
at such a place that there is no land in between from Somnath seashore
to Antarctica. Such an inscription in Sanskrit is found on the
ARROW-PILLAR erected on the sea-protection wall at the Somnath
Temple. The Darshani Gates of the Golden Temple in Amritsar are the
Somnath Temple Gates, which were brought back by the army of the mighty
Sikh King Maharaja Ranjit Singh from Afghanistan.
In 1951 Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of
India, who performed the Jyotirling-Pratishthapan ceremony of the new
Temple said, “The Somnath Temple signifies that the power of creation
is always greater than the power of destruction.”
AADI JYOTIRLING
Shree Somnath is first among the twelve Aadi Jyotirlings of India.
It has a strategic location on the western coast of India. Ancient
Indian traditions maintain a close relationship of Somnath with release
of Chandra (Moon God) from the curse of his father-in-law Daksha
Prajapati. Moon was married to Twenty-Seven daughters of Daksha.
However, he favoured Rohini and neglected other queens. The aggrieved
Daksha cursed Moon and the Moon lost power of light. With the advice of
Prajapita Brahma, Moon arrived at the Prabhas Teerth and worshipped
Bhagvan Shiva. Pleased with the great penance and devotion of Moon,
Bhagvan Shiva blessed him and relieved him from the curse of darkness.
Pauranic traditions maintain that Moon had built a golden temple,
followed by a silver temple by Ravana, Bhagvan Shree Krishna is
believed to have built Somnath temple with Sandalwood.
It has a strategic location on the western coast of India. Ancient
Indian traditions maintain a close relationship of Somnath with release
of Chandra (Moon God) from the curse of his father-in-law Daksha
Prajapati. Moon was married to Twenty-Seven daughters of Daksha.
However, he favoured Rohini and neglected other queens. The aggrieved
Daksha cursed Moon and the Moon lost power of light. With the advice of
Prajapita Brahma, Moon arrived at the Prabhas Teerth and worshipped
Bhagvan Shiva. Pleased with the great penance and devotion of Moon,
Bhagvan Shiva blessed him and relieved him from the curse of darkness.
Pauranic traditions maintain that Moon had built a golden temple,
followed by a silver temple by Ravana, Bhagvan Shree Krishna is
believed to have built Somnath temple with Sandalwood.
The research based on
ancient Indian classical texts show that first Somnath Jyotirling
Pran-Pratistha was done on the auspicious third day of brighter half of
Shravan month during the tenth Treta yug of Vaivswat Manvantar. Swami
Shri Gajananand Saraswatiji, Chairman of Shrimad Aadhya Jagadguru
Shankaracharya Vedic Shodh Sansthan, Varanasi suggested that the said
first temple was built 7,99,25,105 years ago as derived from the
traditions of Prabhas Khand of Skand Puran. Thus, this temple is a
perennial source of inspiration for millions of Hindus since time
immemorial.
The later sources of
history account for several desecrations by Muslims invaders during
eleventh to eighteen century A.D. The temple was rebuilt every time with
the reconstructive spirit of the people. The modern temple was
reconstructed with the resolve of Sardar Patel who visited the ruins of
Somnath temple on November 13 1947. Then President of India, Dr.
Rajendra Prasad, did the Pran-Pratistha at the existing temple on 11
May 1951.
Other spots in the
temple are Shri Kapardi Vinayak and Shri Hanuman Temple in addition to
Vallabhghat. Vallabhghat is a beautiful sunset point. The temple is
illuminated every evening. Similarly, the Sound & Light Show “Jay
Somnath” is also displayed every night during 8.00 to 9.00, which
allows the pilgrims an ethereal experience in the backdrop of grand
Somnath temple and the holy wave sounds of the Ocean. Ahalyabai temple
is also close by, which was built by the queen mother Shri Ahalyabai
Holker during 1782. This temple maintained the Pooja Parampara of
Bhagvan Shiva during the hostile political conditions.
Getting there and Around
By Air - The nearest airport is at Keshod, 47 kilometres, which is connected with Bombay.
By Rail - Veraval (5 kilometres) is nearest railway station .
By Road - State Transport buses and private luxury coaches connect various centres of Gujarat.
Tryambakeshwar
One of the holy places of not only
Maharashtra but the whole India is near Nashik. Trimbakeshwar is one of
the twelve Jyotirlingas in India.
At the time of the marriage of Lord Shiva with Parvati,
all the Deva rishis gathered together. Brahma dev, the creator of the
Universe, seeing the beauty of Parvati, had a discharge of semen. Lord
Shiva observing this, offered him water of Ganges, the purest water and
said, "You will wipe off your sin by this water". Brahmadev kept the
holy water in his kamandal (a particular container made out of dried
fruit carried by Sadhus) and was purified by its bath.
Rathayatra of Trimbakeshwar - On the full moon day of
the month Kartika , called Tripuri Paurnima- sometime in November
Getting there and Around
By Air - Nearest airport is Nashik 39 kms.
By Rail - Nearest railhead is Nashik Road 44 kms on Central Railway.
By Road - Bombay - Trimbakeshwar 180kms.Nashik - Trimbakeshwar 28kms.
State Transport buses ply between Nashik - Trimbakeshwar frequently.
State Transport buses ply between Nashik - Trimbakeshwar frequently.
Vishwanath Jyotirlinga
Temple of Lord Viswanath is situated
in Varanasi. Known formerly as Kashi or Benares, this ancient city set
on the banks of the river Ganga, is one of the holiest cities in India.
This city is said to have been founded by Lord Shiva. Being one of the
oldest living and most holy city's in India, Varanasi attracts a lot
of tourists.Varanasi gets its name from the two tributaries of the
Ganga - Varuna and Asi - between which it is situated. This sacred
city, which was founded ten centuries before the birth of Christ, is
mentioned in holy scriptures like 'Vamana Purana', Buddhist texts and
the Mahabharata.
Getting there and Around
By Air - There
is direct, daily flight connection between Varanasi and New Delhi.
Varanasi is also connected by air to Agra, Khajuraho, Calcutta, Bombay,
Lucknow and Bhubaneshwar.
By Rail - The city is
linked by trains with all metros and major cities across the country -
New Delhi (760 Kms.), Bombay (1509 Kms.), Calcutta (735 Kms.), Madras
(1970 Kms.) , Lucknow (286 Kms.).
There are three railway station - Kashi, City and
Varanasi Junction (also known as Varanasi Cantonment), which is the
main station and has computerised booking.There are not many trains
running directly between here and Delhi or Calcutta but most Delhi to
Calcutta trains do pass through Mughal Sarai, 18 km south of Varanasi.
This is about 45 minutes by bus or shared autorickshaw.From Varanasi
Junction, expresses take 13 to 16 hrs. to Delhi and 13 hours to
Calcutta. Other expresses take 28 hrs. to Bombay, 39 hrs. to Madras, 3
hrs. to Allahabad, 41/2 hrs. to Patna, 5 hrs. to Lucknow.
By Road - Varanasi
is connected with Calcutta (677 Kms.), Delhi (765 Kms.), Madras (1901
Kms.), Bangalore (1763 Kms.) and to the rest of the country by good
motorable, all-weather roads.
Top
AYODHYA
Ayodhya, The birth place of Maryada Purshottam Sri Ram,The Invincible Land, Cradle of Mythology, Philosophy, Literature, Religions and History. It has been the witness to many faiths like Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, etc., Ayodhya is predominantly linked in the psyche of billions of masses with Hinduism.
The Present City is situated on the right bank of river Saryu in district Faizabad in the State of Uttar Pradesh, India. Ayodhya is about 8 Kms. from the District Headquarters Faizabad and about 130 Kms. from Lucknow, the state capital of Uttar Pradesh. It is situated on latitude 26°48's north and longitude 82°13' east in north India, five miles north-east of the town of Faizabad.
Ayodhya.com takes you on an internet tour of Ayodhya to show you a glimpse of its imposing Temples, sprawling Bathing Ghaats, Serene Kunds, Gardens and brief you about them. It also familiarizes visitors with the myriad Fairs and colorful Festivals of the region wherein millions of devotees participate on every occasion.
We thus endeavor to be a medium of strengthening global empathies and bonds.
History of Ayodhya
The ancient city of Ayodhya, according to the Ramayana, was founded by Manu, the law-giver of the Hindus. For centuries it was the capital of the descendants of the Surya dynasty, of which Lord Rama was the most celebrated king.
Ayodhya during ancient times was known as Kosaldesa. The Atharvaveda describes it as ?a city built by gods and being as prosperous as paradise itself?. The illustrious ruling dynasty of this region where the Ikshvakus of the solar clan (Suryavamsha). According to tradition, Ikshvaku was the eldest son of Vaivasvata Manu, who established himself at Ayodhya. The earth is said to have its name ?Prithivi? from Prithu, the 6th king of the line.
A few generations later came Mandhatri, in whose line the 31st king was Harischandra, known widely for his love of Truth. Raja Sagar of the same line performed the Asvamedha Yajna and his great grandson Bhagiratha is reputed to have brought Ganga on earth by virtue of his penances.
Later in the time this clan came to be called as ?Raghuvamsha?. Bhagirath?s Grandson was Raja Dasaratha, the illustrious father of Lord Rama, with whom the glory of the Kosala dynasty reached its peak. The story of this epic has been immortalized by Valmiki and immensely popularized by the great masses through centuries.
According to puranic tradition, in the 93rd generation from Ikshvaku, the 30th from Rama was Brihabdala the last famous king of the Ikshvaku dynasty of Ayodhya, who was killed during the Mahabharata war. The kingdom of Kosala again rose to prominence in the time of Buddha, i.e. 6th century B.C.
Ayodhya is preeminently a city of temples, yet all the places of worship here are not only of Hindu religion. At Ayodhya several religions have grown and prospered simultaneously at different periods of time in the past. A large following of Buddhism, Jainism and Islam has always been an integral part of Ayodhya.
According to Jain tradition, five Tirthankars were born at Ayodhya, including Adinath (Rishabhadeva) the first Tirthankar.
Top
Ayodhya, The birth place of Maryada Purshottam Sri Ram,The Invincible Land, Cradle of Mythology, Philosophy, Literature, Religions and History. It has been the witness to many faiths like Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, etc., Ayodhya is predominantly linked in the psyche of billions of masses with Hinduism.
The Present City is situated on the right bank of river Saryu in district Faizabad in the State of Uttar Pradesh, India. Ayodhya is about 8 Kms. from the District Headquarters Faizabad and about 130 Kms. from Lucknow, the state capital of Uttar Pradesh. It is situated on latitude 26°48's north and longitude 82°13' east in north India, five miles north-east of the town of Faizabad.
Ayodhya.com takes you on an internet tour of Ayodhya to show you a glimpse of its imposing Temples, sprawling Bathing Ghaats, Serene Kunds, Gardens and brief you about them. It also familiarizes visitors with the myriad Fairs and colorful Festivals of the region wherein millions of devotees participate on every occasion.
We thus endeavor to be a medium of strengthening global empathies and bonds.
History of Ayodhya
The ancient city of Ayodhya, according to the Ramayana, was founded by Manu, the law-giver of the Hindus. For centuries it was the capital of the descendants of the Surya dynasty, of which Lord Rama was the most celebrated king.
Ayodhya during ancient times was known as Kosaldesa. The Atharvaveda describes it as ?a city built by gods and being as prosperous as paradise itself?. The illustrious ruling dynasty of this region where the Ikshvakus of the solar clan (Suryavamsha). According to tradition, Ikshvaku was the eldest son of Vaivasvata Manu, who established himself at Ayodhya. The earth is said to have its name ?Prithivi? from Prithu, the 6th king of the line.
A few generations later came Mandhatri, in whose line the 31st king was Harischandra, known widely for his love of Truth. Raja Sagar of the same line performed the Asvamedha Yajna and his great grandson Bhagiratha is reputed to have brought Ganga on earth by virtue of his penances.
Later in the time this clan came to be called as ?Raghuvamsha?. Bhagirath?s Grandson was Raja Dasaratha, the illustrious father of Lord Rama, with whom the glory of the Kosala dynasty reached its peak. The story of this epic has been immortalized by Valmiki and immensely popularized by the great masses through centuries.
According to puranic tradition, in the 93rd generation from Ikshvaku, the 30th from Rama was Brihabdala the last famous king of the Ikshvaku dynasty of Ayodhya, who was killed during the Mahabharata war. The kingdom of Kosala again rose to prominence in the time of Buddha, i.e. 6th century B.C.
Ayodhya is preeminently a city of temples, yet all the places of worship here are not only of Hindu religion. At Ayodhya several religions have grown and prospered simultaneously at different periods of time in the past. A large following of Buddhism, Jainism and Islam has always been an integral part of Ayodhya.
According to Jain tradition, five Tirthankars were born at Ayodhya, including Adinath (Rishabhadeva) the first Tirthankar.
CHARDHAM
Badrinath Dham
The Vishnu temple of
Badrinath is located 298 kms from Rishikesh and 48 km from Joshimath .
This holy town nestles at a height of 3,133 metres, at the site where a
forest of Badri (berry) trees, known as the mythical Badrivan, once
covered the area.
The great Nilkantha peak
(6,558 metres) towers over the temple set deep down in the Alaknanda
valley. The rulers of Garhwal built the present temple of Badrinarayan
some two hundred years ago.
The original Badrinath
shrine, built by the 9th century saint Shankara, has been re-built
several times over due to damage from avalanches and snowfall. Made of
wood, the temple stands 15 metres high, topped with a gilded cupola. The
exteriors are painted in bright colours every year before the temple
gates open. Standing in sharp contrast to the grey concrete buildings
around it and the stark mountain slopes behind, the temple resembles a
Tibetan gompa from a distance. The head priest of Badrinath is also
that of Kedarnath, hailing from the Namboodiri Brahmin caste of Kerala
in southern India. Below the temple are the Tapt Kund and Surya Kund,
hot sulphur springs where pilgrims take a ritual dip before entering
the temple. The ancient village of Badrinath is to the south of the
temple.
24 kms from Badrinath is
the famous site of Govindghat, the confluence of the Alaknanda with
the Lakshmanganga. This is also the entry point for the mystical Valley
of Flowers and the Sikh shrine of Hemkund Sahib. The Vasuki Tal at a
height of 4,135 metres is 8 kms from Badrinath. Besides the main shrine
of Badrinath, there are four other shrines that together form the
Panch Badri or five Badris. Bhavishya Badri is believed to be the
future Badrinath shrine, which will be used once the present shrine site
is blocked when the twin peaks of Jay and Vijay join together. The
other Badris are Yoga Badri at Pandukeshwar where the idol resides in
winter, Adi Badri with its ancient Gupta age temples near Karnaprayag
and Vridha Badri at Animath near Joshimath where Badrinath was
originally worshipped.
All tourists should be
careful of cheats in the form of seers and saints. They usually dupe
the tourists with both their money and other belongings. One should
always keep an eye out for the frauds, who also exploit the religious
and spiritual sentiments of the visitors for immoral motives.
When to go
The Badrinath temple
opens only from May till October. It closes down for winter in
November, when the deity is carried to Pandukeshwar for worship.
Nearby Places of Interest
Kedarnath - Read Details here
Gangotri - Gangotri
is an important pilgrim and tourist place. Gangotri is located at
3,048 m above sea level. The Gangotri glacier is the original source of
river Ganga. There is a temple dedicated to Goddess Ganga and the
sacred stone where King Bhagirath is believed to have worshipped Lord
Shiva. There is a natural Shivlinga submerged in the river (It is
believed that Lord Shiva received the Ganges here).
Yamunotri -Yamunotri
is also an important pilgrim as well as tourist place. The shrine of
Yamunotri is located at a height of about 3,235 m and is dedicated to
the river Goddess, Yamuna. The main pilgrim place at Yamunotri is the
temple of Goddess Yamuna. There are many hot water springs in the
vicinity of the temple.
Deva Prayag -
is where the tranquil Alaknanda embraces the tempestuous Bhagirathi
and it is here that the Ganga is truly born. Devout Hindus consider
this prayag second only to the Triveni in Allahabad. The most ancient
stone inscriptions found in Uttarakhand are located here. The famous
Raghunatha Math, one of the many names for the Rama Temple, is also
situated here and it is at Deva Prayag that the priests of Badrinath
sojourn in winter. According to an old legend this spot is named after
Deva Sharma, a poor Brahmin who performed rigorous austerities at this
spot and obtained the favor of Vishnu_s incarnation Rama. The hero of
the Ramayana had come here to expiate the sin of brahma hatya
(Brahmin-slaughter) after killing the demo-king Ravana. King Dashratha,
the father of Lord Rama, is also said to have undergone penance here.
Joshimath - is
a well-known hill station as well as a religious center. It is the
winter seat of lord Badrinath. Auli, 6 km from Joshimath can be visited
for skiing and other winter sports during winters. The Valley of
Flower is a place known as Heaven on Earth. There are numerous verities
of flowers in the valley, which are rarely found otherwise. You can
see flower like Brahma Kamal there in the months of June-August.
Hemkund is near the Valley of Flowers. There is beautiful lake, Hemkund
and the Gurudwara of Hemkund Sahib. It is the highest gurudwara in
India.
Rudranath Temple - Dedicated to Lord shiva, this temple was constructed in 8th Century A.D and is located 23 km from Gopeshwar.
Gorakhnath Temple - An ancient pilgrimage destination, is dedicated to Guru Gorakhnath
Bagnath Temple - Bageshwar
gets its name form this ancient temple of Lord Shiva set in the
heart of the town. According to popular legend, sage Markandey stayed
here and this sacred place was visited by the Hindu deity Lord Shiva in
the disguise of a tiger. This sacred shrine was constructed during the
reign of the Chand dynasty and according to popular legend absolutely
no one could establish the Shivlinga inside the temple sanctum and
finally one Manorath Pandey of Palayn village went on penance and
succeeded in installing the Shivlinga within the temple sanctum on the
festival of Shivratri. Ever since a huge fair is held at this location
every year on the festival of Shivratri. Pilgrims from all over the
country come to this shrine on temple tours, especially during the
festival of Shivratri.
Chandika Temple -This beautiful shrine of Goddess Chandika attracts large number of devotees during the holy Navratras.
Shri Haru Temple -This
important shrine lies at a distance of 5 kilometers from Bagheswar in
Uttaranchal in North India. It is a popular belief that the temple
deity grants wishes to all those who pray to the deity with complete
devotion. A huge fair is held here every year on the occasion of Vijaya
Dashmi.
Gauri Udiyar -This
sacred site is one place that you must visit during your temple tours
to Uttaranchal in North India. This temple is located at a distance of
8 kilometers from Bageshwar and is popular for a large cave that
enshrines idols of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva.
Getting there and around
By Air - The nearest airport to Badrinath is the Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun. It is about 317 km from Badrinath.
By Rail -
The nearest railway stations to Badrinath are at Rishikesh and
Kotdwar, which are at a distance of 297 km and 327 km respectively.
By Road - Baronet is very well connected with the important cities like Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun and the cities of Kumaon.
Accommodation
Accommodation options in
Badrinath run the gamut from GMVN and PWD resthouses to dharamshalas,
privately owned guest houses and small hotels. None of them are
luxurious, and it makes sense to carry bedding and spare blankets, as
resources tend to be rather stretched during peak season.
Gangotri
Gangotri Temple, Uttaranchal
Gangotri is one of the
Chardhams of the country or one amongst the four pilgrimages which
every Hindu must take once in his lifetime. At a height of 3048 mts,
Gangotri holds a mystic charm. Anyone who comes up till here can not
remain untouched by the holy aura that hangs in the air of the place.
Gangotri is of immense importance to Hindus since it is the source of
the holiest of the Hindu rivers, river Ganga.
99 kilometres form
Uttarkashi, blessed by mother nature, this picturesque pilgrimage is
bound to be a lifetime experience for you. This is the place where the
sacred water of Ganga touches earth for the first time. From here it
begins its long journey of approximately 2500 kms, stretching across
the Indian subcontinent, blessing people with its sacred water and
fertile minerals in two countries, India and Bangladesh. It finally
forms world's largest and most fertile delta, Sunderban delta in
Bangladesh.
The Legend
The mythological story
that goes behind River Ganga is perhaps the most interesting and
powerful legend. It says that King Bhagirath carried out severe penance
for several centuries to please Goddess Ganga to absolve the sins of
his predecessors. Finally Goddess Ganga, daughter of heaven, agreed to
his wish and decided to take form of river and flow on earth. But earth
could not sustain the immense flow of Ganga and soon it was water
everywhere. Lord Shiva then took the flowing Ganga in his hair locks to
reduce the impact, henceforth, it flowed down in 12 streams of water.
The stream at the source
came to be known as Bhagirathi (named after Bhagirath), flowing like
this since centuries, absolving the sins of mankind.
Pigrimage Attractions
The Submerged Shivling
A submerged Shivling in
water here stands reinforcing the legend that goes with River
Bhagirathi here. It is said that the place where Shivling is submerged
in water, Lord Shiva stood to receive Ganga in his locks. The Shivling
submerged in water presents a mystical sight, though it is more
visible in early winters when the water level goes down.
The Temple
The Templa at Gangotri, a
shrine dedicated to Goddess Ganga stands on the banks of River
Bhagirathi. The three century old temple was made by Gorkhas here, their
Commander Amar Singh Thapa, got it constructed here in the 18th
century. The temple is open for pilgrims from October to May. In the
months of winter when the area goes under a cover of snow, it is
believed that the goddess retreats to Mukhba, 12 kilometres down.
The main temple complex
was renovated in early twentieth century. Made of white granite, the
twenty feet tall temple stands beautifully reflecting in the sunshine
and snow peaks in the backdrop. Close to the temple is a stone, or it
is said that the temple was built close to this stone purposely. This
is known as 'Bhaigirath shila', shila meaning rock. This is believed to
be the place where Bhagiratha meditated for penance and Ganga first
touched earth here.
Excursions
Gaumukh
The most famous of all
excursions from Gangotri is Gaumikh, meaning cow's mouth. At an
altitude of 4200 metres above the sea level is Gangotri Glacier, one of
the largest glaciers in Himalayas and source of River Ganga. 18
kilometres of uphill trek will bring you to Gaumukh.
Nandanvan
The place is at a
distance of 6 kilometre long trekking route from the glacier. The place
gives view of the Shivling. In case you plan to get adventurous a bit,
there are places nearby. Harsil, Vasuki tal, sattal, Badrinath, these
places around Gangotri glacier can be visited. Though transport is not
available and one has to take a trek. Nandanvan is also the base camp
for trek to Bhagirathi peaks. A short trek will bring you to a
beautiful meadow called Tapovan which encircles Shivling peak.
Uttarkashi
The place is 99 kms from
Gangotri. The place has some notable temples like Vishwanath temple,
Ekadash Rudra temple, Gyaneshwar temple and Kuteti Devi temple.
Kedar Tal
It is a beautiful lake
18 kilometres from Gangotri, 4425 mts above the sea level. A
mountainous trail will lead you to Kedar tal, one might need a local
guide also. Kedar tal also serves as a base camp for treks to
surrounding peaks.
Dayara Bugyal
Another interesting
excursion from Gangotri is Dayayra Bugyal. 93 kilometres from here at
an altitude of 3048 kms. It is a beautiful meadow and the route to
Dayara also offers equally beautiful sights. The place in winters is
covered with snow and many skiers come here for skiing during that
time. On route to Dayara lies the famous Sheshnag temple.
How to Reach
How to Reach
By Air
Nearest airport from Gangotri is Jolly Grant airport, Dehradun, 162 kms.
By Rail
Nearest railhead from Gangotri is Rishikesh, 145 kms from here.
By Road
Regular buses ply from
Haridwar, Rishikesh, Tehri, Uttarkashi and other important places in
the region for Gangotri. Private taxis can also be hired from these
places.
Kedarnath
Kedarnath Temple, Uttaranchal
This is another
important holy town of Uttaranchal drawing thousands and thousands of
pilgrims every year. At a height of 3,584 metres, Kedarnath is abode to
one of the twelve major jyotirlings of Kedar or Lord Shiva in the
country. Blessed with some great scenic beauty, Kedarnath is also the
origin of River Mandakini. Kerdarnath is among the Chardhams, or the
four pilgrimages which every Hindu must take to attain salvation.
Kedarnath falls in the Rudraprayag district of Uttaranchal, the
adjoining Chamoli district has more then 200 shrines dedicated to Lord
Shiva but Kedarnath, among them is the most revered.
The Legend
The temple's history
dates back to the times of Mahabharata. The legend has it that
Pandavas, after killing their brothers in the battle of Kurukshetra,
wanted to seek blessings of Lord Shiva to atone their sins. However,
Lord Shiva constantly kept eluding them and kept fleeing from one place
to another. During this time, he took the form of a bull and stayed in
Kedarnath. While Pandavas followed him there, he made a dive towards
the ground and left his hump there. This conical protrusion is
worshipped as the idol. His other parts are worshipped at other places,
arms at Tungnath, mouth at Rudranath, naval at Madmaheshwar and hair
at Kalpeshwar. Together with Kedarnath these shrines are called Panch
Kedar.
Kedarnath Attractions
The Temple
The present temple of
Kedarnath was built by Adi Guru Shankaracharya in 8th century adjacent
to the site where Pandavas had built a temple. It is a mighty structure
standing in the middle of a plateau with snow covered peaks on the
periphery. The temple is believed to be more then 1000 years old. The
architecture of the temple is exquisite, the walls are embellished with
scenes from mythological stories and images of deities.
In the sanctorum of the
temple is the conical lingam that is mainly considered Shiva in his
Sadashiva form. The temple also has a 'Garbha Griha' for assemblies and
a 'Mandap' for gatherings. Large slabs of grey stones form the temple,
it is a matter of surprise that such a structure was built so many
years ago without any technology.
Other Attractions
Other Attractions
Shankaracharya
Just behind the temple
of Kedarnath rest Adi Guru Shankaracharya, his samadhi. People believe
that Adi Guru Shankaracharya took samadhi at an early age of 32 after
establishing the four pilgrimages or the Chardhams.
Chorbari
Two kilometres from the
temple is this beautiful lake where ice floating on the water makes it a
beautiful sight. It is believed that the eldest of Pandavas,
Yudhishthir departed to heavens from here.
Vasuki Tal
This is a beautiful lake
six kilometres from Kedarnath. Set in a picturesque setting, the clear
waters of the lake are surrounded by lofty hills from all sides.
Gaurikund
The trekking to
Kedarnath begins from Gaurikund, 14 kilometres from here. There is a
temple dedicated to Gauri, wife of lord Shiva here. Also in the vicinity
are thermal springs believed to be infused with medicinal properties.
It is believed that Gauri had meditated at this place.
Soneprayag
This is the meeting
place of two important Himalayan rivers, river Son Ganga and river
Mandakini. The place is twenty kilometres from Kedarnath.
Triyuginarayan
Twenty five kilometres
from Kedarnath is this revered place which was witness to Lord Shiva
tying knot with Goddess Parvati. The eternal Flame which burns here even
today is said to have been the witness to their marriage.
How to Reach
How to Reach
By Air - The nearest airport is Jolly Grant , 251 kilometres from Kedarnath.
By Rail - The nearest railheads are Rishikesh (234 kms) and Kotdwar ( 260 kms).
By Road
- There is a regular bus service from Rishikersh and Kotdwar for
Kedarnath. Private taxis can also be hired to these places. Trek
distance to Kedarnath from Rambara is 6 kms and Gaurikund is 14 kms.
Other major distances are Sonaprayag (20 kms), Guptakashi (49 kms),
Ukhimath (59 kms) and Chamoli (138 kms).
Yamunotri
Yamunotri Temple, Uttaranchal
Yamunotri, at a height
of 3235 mts above the sea level, comes under Uttarakhand district. One
of the Chardhams, four pilgrimages of India, Yamunotri is the source of
river Yamuna. It is the western most amongst the Chardham and is
visited first on a Chardham trip. The shrine of Goddess Yamunotri is
perched on the western flank of mighty Banderpunch peaks (6135 mts)
which are snow covered throughout the year. The temple itself stands on
the foothill of Kalinda Parvata (parvata means hill) close to a
thermal springs. The trek to Yamunotri is very exhausting, usually
taking 6 hours or more. The thermal springs refresh pilgrims before
they offer prayers in the shrine. However, the actual source of
Yamunotri is a lake, 12 kilometres from here with the name of Saptrishi
Kund. A difficult guided trek will bring you here. Most pilgrims offer
prayers at the shrine itself, since the trek is very difficult to take.
The Legend
According to Hindu
mythology, Surya, the sun god is the father of Yamuna, and Yama, the
god of death. It is said that since Yamuna is the sister of Yama, anyone
who who bathes in the river is spared a painful death. Another legend
says that the lonesome place of Yamunotri was once the home to Asit
Muni.
Yamunotri Attractions
Yamunotri Attractions
Pilgrimage Attractions
The Temple
The temple situated here
close to the thermal springs is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna. The
temple was constructed in 1839 by Tehri Naresh Sudarshan Shah. However,
since the place is highly prone to earthquakes, the temple has been
damaged several times. It was built again in 19th century by Maharani
Gularia of Jaipur. Even after that the temple has been renovated and
reconstructed quiet a few times. Inside the temple is an idol of
Goddess Yamuna carved in black stone that is mainly worshipped.
Surya Kund
Close to the temple is
this hot water spring called Surya Kund, Surya or Sun being the
mythological father of Yamuna. People not just refresh here but also
make prasada for offering. Some potatoes or rice with a pinch of salt
are tied in a muslin cloth and dipped in the spring for few minutes,
they come out boiled. And after being offered to the deity, they are
taken home as prasada. The temperature of the springs is as high as 88
degrees. The presence of a hot water spring surrounded by snow capped
peaks reinforces one's faith in the divinity of the place.
Divya Shila
This is a stone that is worshipped before entering the temple.
Saptarishi Kund
This is the source of
Yamuna but being a little difficult to access, few people go there and
most offer their prayers in the temple itself. A twelve kilometre
difficult trek route will take you to Saptrishi kund. A natural glacial
kund, the trek upto Saptrishi kund eases out around the base of Kalinda
parvat. Dark blue waters, slate stones on the banks, and a rare
variety of lotus adorning the water, Saptrishi Kund is a sight to
behold. Trip to Saptrishi Kund requires you to be acclimatised for at
least one day at Yamunotri and a guide to take you.
Excursions
Hanuman Chatti
Hanuman Chatti lies
enroute to Yamunotri. The 13 kilometre distance is usually covered in 6
hours. The riverside walk is like a picturesque countryside walk.
Hanuman Chatti is located at the confluence of River Hanuman Ganga and
Yamuna. It is also the starting point of trek to Dodi Tal.
Sayana Chatti
This is a beautiful place at an altitude of 1982 meters. The place is 29 kms from Barkot.
Janki Chatti
Three kilometres from
Yamunotri is Janki Chatti, famous for its hot water springs. You can
have a refreshing dip here in the water or make a night halt. There is
accommodation facility available here.
Chamba
46 kilometres from
Yamunotri is this beautiful place, with greenery spread around like a
carpet. It is your ideal summer retreat. At a height of 1676 metres, it
is a perfect stopover while you return from Yamunotri.
Dodi Tal
At an altitude of 3307
metres, Dodi tal is a beautiful spot, a natural lake surrounded by
thick forests of oak, deodar and rhododendron. Dodi tal treks are
pretty famous among trekkers. The lake with its clear waters and variety
of fish and trouts is a paradise. Some treks also extend from
Yamunotri to Gangotri with Dodi tal enroute.
Getting There
Getting There
By Air - The closest airport from Yamunotri is Jolly Grant airport close to Dehradun, 196 km from Gangotri.
By Rail - The nearest railhead from Yamunotri is Dehradun (172 km). Rishikesh (213 kms) is also an alternative.
By Road -
Buses are available for Hanuman Chatti which is 14 kilometers from
Yamunotri from Rishikesh, Haridwar and other important places in
Uttaranchal. Important road distances are Rishikesh to Yamunotri 222
kms via Narendranagar 16 kms, Chamba 46 kms, Tehri 21 kms, Dharasu 42
kms, Bhramkhal 15 kms, Barkot 40 kms, Phoolchatti 5 kms and Jankichatti
3 kms.
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DWARKA
Dwaraka Dham
Dwarka is as old as the
history of India. It was the seat of Sri Krishna after He quit Mathura,
His maternal home, to come and reign here. Since it has been held as
holy for a long time it has gradually accumulated, over the years, a
large number of religious monuments and institutions that today make it
one of the most revered spots in Hinduism.
The main Dham temple
houses Ranchchodji, another name for Lord Krishna who time and often
fled from the battlefield under unfavorable circumstances to return
again another day and win. "Ran" means "War" while "Chod" means
"Running away". There is also a temple to Lord Krishna's wife Rukmini,
who is believed to be an incarnation of Lakshmi.
Also resident near Dwarka is the Jyotirlinga temple of Nageshwar.
Adi Shankaracharya, one
of the most learned and sanctified personalities in Hinduism, built one
of his four maths here. It is still an institution where Hindu
scriptures are studied and their inherent meanings deciphered.
Dwarka is so entwined
with legends and myths that the pilgrim is overcome with religious
fervor upon setting foot on its sacred soil.
When to go
Dwaraka is the site of an important festival on Janmashtami which falls in August/September.
Places of Interest
Places of Interest
Dwarkadish Temple (Jagat Mandir) -The
ancient Dwarkadish temple, has often been renovated, and the carvings
outside date from around the 16th century, the walls to about 12th
century. A highlight of the temple is the 19th century shikara tower.
The multi-pillared sabha mandapa leads to a 60 pillared sanctum
sanctoruim dated by scriptures 2500 years. Incredibly detailed
sculpture decorates the entire temple.
Rukmini Temple -
Dating to the 12th-13th century, the Rukmini temple has beautiful
carvings, specially on the pillars of the Sabha Mandapa. The temple was
built in honour of Rani Rukmani, princess of Vidharba, who was to be
married to Sishupala, but eloped with Lord Krishna.
Nageshwar Mandir - Nageshwar
Mandir is a Mahadev temple, with one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in an
underground chamber. Vasai has an ancient Sun temple. Ved Bhuvan is an
institution teaching Vedic scriptures and philosophies. Shankaracharya,
set up a Hindu monastry here in the 8th-9th century. Shardapith Math
is another Hindu monastry complex with a museum. The Hanuman kund is a
stepped tank. Gopi Talav Teerth is another tank associated with Lord
Krishna and the Mahabharata. The Lighthouse has great views of the sea.
Okha - 30
kms from Dwarka, the tip of the western coast of India, Okha developed
as major port under the Gaekwad rulers of Baroda. It is a fishing
port. There is a govt guest house at Okha facing the sea.
Bet Dwarka -
Offshore from Okha, the island of Bet Dwarka is associated with Lord
Krishna. The main temple here, built in the 19th century, has several
shrines and images of Lord Krishna and his 56 consorts. There are
several other temples on the island. Excavations have revealed some
Harappan period artifacts. There are some nice beaches and coral
formations to the north and east of the island. Numerous dharamshalas
and guest houses offer accommodations at the island. Another important
Krishna temple is the Rachodji temple at Dakore.
Getting there and Around
By Air -
Nearest airport is Jamnagar, from where flights for Mumbai can be
taken. Luxury coaches are available from Dwarka to other important
cities of Gujarat.
By Rail
- Dwarka is a station on the Ahmedabad-Okha broad-gauge railway line,
about 137 km from Jamnagar, 217 km from Rajkot and 378 km from
Ahmedabad.
By Road - A state highway with Jamnagar and Okha also connects it.
Accommodation
Toran Tourist Bungalow, a
state run enterprise and a number of Dharamshalas provide reasonable,
neat and clean accommodation at Dwarka.
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HARIDWAR
Haridwar, Uttaranchal
Haridwar -
the land that signifies god. It is one of the twelve most holiest
places revered by Hindus and also believed to be one amongst the seven
cities touched by god. Numerous legends are associated with every holy
spot in Haridwar and that is what makes every bit all the more
captivating. An ancient city, it finds mention in most old scriptures
like in the writings of first millennium Chinese traveller, Hyuen
Tsang.
At no time of the year
you will find it devoid of any devotees. Reasons are many. For one,
Haridwar is the place where Ganga first enters the plains. It is one of
the four venues of Kumbh Mela (Nasik, Prayag and Ujjain being the
other three) which is held once at each of these locations in twelve
years. It is also the location of some of the ancient schools of
tradition, the original kind of gurukuls, where ayurveda is taught. The
entire landscape is dotted with Siddhapeeths and Shaktipeeths as well
as old and new temples.
Quick Getaways-Mussoorie ,Dehradun
Highlights - Har Ki Pauri
Highlights - Har Ki Pauri
Attractions in Haridwar
Mansa Devi Temple
Perched on a hill top,
the shrine of Mansa Devi is one of the most famous temples of Haridwar.
Situated atop Bilwa hill, Mansa devi temple is considered a
shaktipeeth. It is believed that the heart and naval of Goddess Sati
fell here, hence the name Mansa Devi, Man meaning heart. Many people
take the climb uphill and down easily as it is not a difficult journey
but there are cable cars available too.
Chandidevi Temple
This is the temple of
Goddess Chandi and is considered a Siddhapeeth. Situated on the
opposite bank of the town of Haridwar, Chandi Devi temple on Neel Parvat
was built here in 1929 by King Of Kashmir, King Suchat Singh. The
legend goes that Goddess had killed the army chiefs of demons, Chanda
and Munda here. Adishankaracharya had established the image of the
goddess in 8th century here then. Either you can go trekking upto the
shrine as the distance is not much or you can go by the colourful cable
cars.
Daksha Mahadev Temple
Daksha Mahadev temple
here is a tribute to a famous legend. King Daksha Prajapati had
performed a yagna here, but he didn't invited Lord Shiva, his daughter
Sati's husband. Sati felt insulted and offered herself to the fire in
Yagna. Lord Shiva's disciples were provoked by this incident and they
killed king Daksha. However Lord Shiva gave back the king his life, the
temple today stands in memoir of this famous legend.
Gurukul Kangri University
It is an age old famous
centre of tradition which has been followed since long. It is a centre
of imparting education in a manner which is traditionally Indian. The
attraction here in the university campus is a museum housing
archaeological exhibits. There is a Ved mandir inside the university
campus too
Bharat Mata Temple
This is not exactly like
conventional temples. It is an eight storey building with each floor
being dedicated to a particular group of people. For example, one floor
has all the famous early sages, another floor is dedicated to spiritual
leaders, another floor has the images of all the freedom fighters and
so on. It is an interesting experience to visit this temple.
Shopping
If you`re looking for
souvenirs to take back, there are some very innovate wicker products
available. Children`s toys, brassware, and sindoor or vermilion are
some of the other popular purchases. Those interested in Ayurveda, will
find Hardiwar a treasure trove of roots and shrubs that are brought
here from the upper Himalayas.
Getting There
Getting There
By Air - he nearest airport from Haridwar is Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun, 35 kms from here.
By Rail - Haridwar
is connected with all the major cities via train. Haridwar railway
station is halt of some major trains coming from Ujjain, Delhi, Mumbai,
Varanasi, Calcutta, Allahabad, Gorakhpur and Sri Ganganagar. The
trains from and to all these cities are till Dehradun and halt at
Haridwar.
By Road - Haridwar
is amongst the most easily accessible cities. It is located on
National highway number 45. There are state run buses from some major
cities, or one can also arrange his own conveyance. Distance from some
major cities is Delhi - 214, Agra - 386, Ambala - 168, Badrinath -
325, Dehradun - 52, Kedarnath - 250, Saharanpur - 81 and Nainital -
386.
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JAGANNATH
Jagannath Puri Dham
The holy city of Puri,
60 km from Bhubaneswar, is one of the four holiest points of pilgrimage
for Hindus.The reigning deity of the city, Lord Jagannath, whose
temple was built way back in the 12th century, is not only of great
religious significance to the people of Orissa but is revered by
thousands of pilgrims who seek His blessings from every part of the
country. This intense veneration of Jagannath, or the Lord of the
Universe, reaches its zenith during the annual rites of the Rath Yatra
in the months of June July, when the images of Lord Jagannath, His
sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra are transported through the Grand
Road (Bada Danda) of Puri in traditionally decorated massive chariots
that are dragged by thousands of devotees to the Gundicha Ghar where
they sojourn for a week. The process is repeated when they are returned
amidst intense religious fervor to the temple. Though the temple is
closed to non-Hindus, the activities of the Jagannath Temple are so
immense that they create enough colour and interest for tourists to
participate in the bazar element of the proceedings outside the temple
precincts. The other important feature of the town is its beautiful
beach which, for centuries, has offered pleasure to both pilgrims and
swimmers. This picturesque beach is one of the most delightful white
beaches in the country and is becoming a pleasure haunt for tourists
from all over the globe. Though the surf here is pretty exciting, the
under-current can be a bit tricky, so tread carefully... The areas both
within and outside Puri offer excellent shopping and the nearby artist
villages of Pipli (for the famous applique work), Raghurajpur (for pata
and palm-leaf paintings) and Balakati (for bell-metal work) bring
shoppers directly in contact with the craftsmen at work. It can be
quite an experience.
When to go
Puri is situated on a
sea shore, which makes the climate agreeable throughout the year. You
may, however, find summer months (May-September) a bit humid.
Places of Interest
Gundicha Mandir - The
Gundicha Ghar or Gundicha temple is an important part of the famous
Rath Yatra festival of Puri. It has some interesting legends related to
it. According to one the Gundicha Ghar is the house of Lord Krishna's
loving aunt. On the day of the Rath Yatra, Jagannath, Balabhadra and
Subhadra are taken in gorgeously caparisoned wooden rath (chariots)
from the main gate of the Jagannath temple to Gundicha temple. At the
garden house, their aunt greets them by feeding them padoapitha
(specially baked rice cakes). This place is regarded as equally holy as
Lord stays here for nine days during the festival.
Sakshigopal -
The shrine of Lord Sakshigopal is only 20 kms away from Puri. The
sacred feet of Shri Radha can however be only seen on 'Anala nawami'
day.
Brahmagiri - (25
kms from Puri) is known for the living shrine of Alarnath. Pilgrims
visit Alarnath during Anabasara of Lord Jagannath. Nearby is the shrine
of Baliharachandi on the solitary sand dunes.
Baliharachandi -
27 km to the south-west of Puri is the temple of Baliharachandi.
Situated on a sandy hill near the sea and adjacent to the mouth of the
river Bhargavi, Goddess Durga is worshipped here as Baliharachandi.
Getting there and around
By Air - Bhubaneshwar is the nearest airport i.e. 60kms from Puri. It is well connected to the other major cities of India.
By Rail - Puri is wel connected to the major city of Orrisa by regular and few express trains.
By Road -
Puri is well connected by road with important cities in and out of the
state, Bhubaneshwar, Konark, Berhampur, Taptapani, Sambalpur and
Kolkata.
Accommodation
There are a number of
hotels, lodges, dharmashalas and youth hostel and Panthnivas, most of
them along the beach. The wide range of accommodation make it convenient
for the tourists to choose according to their pockets and likings. The
budget class hotels are to be found generally at the norther end of
the beach. The Dharmshalas charge a nominal tariff of Rs 2 to 3 per
head per day. Some of the hotels include Panthanivas , Youth Hostel ,
SE Rly Hotel, Chakrathirtha Road, Puri Hotel, Sagarika Hotel, Victoria
Club Hotel, Bay view Hotel. The Dharmashalas are on the Grand Road or
at Dolavedi.
Top
RAMESHWARAM
Rameshwaram Dham
Rameshwaram is the only one of the four Dhams where the resident Deity is Lord Shiva. The other three have either Vishnu in one form or one of His avatars in residence. The temple is built on an island in the Gulf of Mannar at the tip of the peninsular that projects out of the Indian Subcontinent towards Sri Lanka. It is built on the site where Lord Rama, Vishnu's seventh avatar, worshipped Shiva prior to His attack on Lankapuri, the capital city of the Rakshasas to rescue His beloved wife Sita who had been abducted by Ravana, king of the Rakshasas.
Rameshwaram is the only one of the four Dhams where the resident Deity is Lord Shiva. The other three have either Vishnu in one form or one of His avatars in residence. The temple is built on an island in the Gulf of Mannar at the tip of the peninsular that projects out of the Indian Subcontinent towards Sri Lanka. It is built on the site where Lord Rama, Vishnu's seventh avatar, worshipped Shiva prior to His attack on Lankapuri, the capital city of the Rakshasas to rescue His beloved wife Sita who had been abducted by Ravana, king of the Rakshasas.
The temple has
additional significance because it is, firstly, a Jyotirlinga, and
secondly, it is said in the scriptures that a pilgrimage to Varanasi to
pay homage to Lord Vishwanath is incomplete without also paying homage
to Lord Ranganatha at Rameshwaram. The Dham is also singular in that it
is an important pilgrimage place for both Vaishnavites as well as
Shaivites. Rameshwaram is called the "Varanasi of the South".
Pilgrims familiar with
the "Ramayana", written almost 3,000 years ago, find significance in
many landmarks about the place. One of the most significant of these is
the Gandhamardhan Parvat (a hill) on top of which Rama's footprint is
still found embedded in a rock at the topmost portion of the mountain.
There are also other places of interest to the devout pilgrim and this
is a favorite spot to cleanse one's soul if one is a Hindu.
Another belief is that Lord Sri Rama earlier constructed a mythological bridge to Sri Lanka from this Rameshwaram beach.
When to go
Though Rameshwaram is an
all-year round destination, it is preferable to visit it during the
period from October to March.Rameshwaram has a hot and humid clime
throughout the year with summer temperatures hovering between 37-30
degree Celsius and winter temperatures between 30-25 degree Celcius.
Places of Interest
Ramanathaswamy Temple -The
famous Ramnathswamy temple was built in the 17th century and is
situated close to the sea on the eastern side of the Rameshwaram
Island. The Ramnathswamy temple is famous for its 1200 massive granite
columns. The temple has 54 meter tall gopuram (gate-tower) and 1220
meters of magnificent corridors.
Agnitheertham -
The Agniteertham is located at a few meters from the Ramnathswamy
temple. It is believed to be located at the same spot where Rama
worshipped Lord Shiva.
Dhanushkodi -
Dhanushkodi is located at the eastern end of the island. It is named
after Lord Ram's bow and is at a distance of 8 km from Rameshwaram. The
boulders in the sea between Sri Lanka and Dhanushkodi are known as
Adam's bridge. It is believed that Lord Hanuman used them to reach
across Sri Lanka.
Erwadi -
At a distance of 24 km from Rameshwaram, Erwadi is an important place
of Muslim pilgrimage. The tomb of Ibrahim Sahid Auliya is located at
Erwadi. Muslims from across the globe visit Erwadi, especially during
the month of December to participate in the annual festival held to pay
tribute to the saint.
Gandamadana Parvatham - This
sacred shrine holds a wheel with the footprint of Lord Rama. The
shrine stands on the highest point on the island, around 2 kms from
Rameshwaram.
Ramjharoka Temple - The
footprints of Lord Rama is placed on a Chakra at the Ramjharoka
Temple. The chakra has been placed at the highest point of Rameshwaram.
This point is at a distance of 5 kms from Rameshwaram town. Since it
is the highest point of Rameshwaram, therefore it provides a fantastic
view of the blue ocean waters below.
Kothandaramaswamy Temple -
According to the ancient belief Vibhishana, the brother of demon king
Ravana surrundered himself to Lord Rama at this temple and asked Rama
to forgive him for the abduction of goddess Sita. Although Vibhishana
was not straightaway involved in the kidnapping but he was ashamed of
the fact that the gruesome crime was committed by his own brother
Ravana. Kothandaramaswamy temple has images of Lord Rama, Lakshmana,
Sita, Hanuman and Vibhishana.
Rameshwaram has many
small temples, apart from the main temples, dedicated to Lord Rama,
Lakshaman, Sita and Hanuman. Each temple big and small of Rameshwaram
does have a history of its own. Other than the temples, there is also a
tomb of Saint Ibrahim Syed Aulia at Erwadi, about 24 kms away from
Rameshwaram.
Getting there and around
By Air - The nearest airport is at Madurai, at a distance of 154-km.
By Rail - Rameshwaram is well connected by trains from all the major cities of India.
By Road -
State transport buses are available from the railway station to the
various places in and around Rameshwaram. For local transportation
taxis, auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws and tongas are available. Also
city bus service is available in the island.
Accommodation
Rameshwaram offers a
variety of accommodation options to pilgrims and tourists. Some of the
best hotels in the region include HOTEL ROYAL PARK, HOTEL VENKATESH,
HOTEL MAHARAJA and lots more.
Top
RISHEKESH
Lakshman Jhula Rishikesh, Uttaranchal
One of the holiest
cities in India, Rishikesh is not just known for its religious
connection but also for its beautiful landscape. Surrounded by hills
(the Lesser Himalayas) on three sides and holy Ganga river flowing
through it, Rishikesh is an ethereal experience. Rishikesh is the
gateway to famous Chardham which are Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and
Yamunotri. In fact Rishikesh is a favourite of those coming to
meditate and seek salvation. It is believed that meditation on the land
of this holy place leads to salvation. Every year many people come
here in the ashrams to meditate and gain peace of mind. The place is
also very famous with foreigners who come to India in search of
spiritual quest. Rishikesh is famous for its ashrams on the banks of
Ganga, at many such ashrams yoga is practiced and taught regularly.
Such is the feeling of Rishikesh that even Beatles could not escape
from the magical experience. They had visited India in 1960 to pay visit
to their Guru in Rishikesh. What else works in Rishikesh's favour is
its altitude (1360 metres). It is higher than other holy cities of
Haridwar and Varanasi, the water in Ganga here is cooler and cleaner.
The flow of the river is stronger here and the city is less populated
than others. It is more calmer and peaceful here. It is such a beauty,
the water gushing from the Himalayas, the banks dotted with ashrams
and temples (both ancient and recent) and a hilly landscape in the
background of all this, Rishikesh is truly amazing.
Quick Getaways Mussoorie,Dehradun
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Quick Getaways Mussoorie,Dehradun
Highlights Haridwar
Rishikesh Attractions
Pilgrimage
Every inch of place is sacred here in Rishikesh. The banks of Ganga in Rishikesh are dotted with ancient temples and ashrams.
Lakshman Jhula
This suspended bridge
running from one bank of Ganga to other is the landmark of the city. It
was built in 1939. The legend behind it states that Lakshman crossed a
bridge made of jute ropes here on river Ganga. The view from the bridge
itself is panoramic. The mountains covered in green belt, the waters
flowing below, a cool breeze, all these together make Lakshman Jhula a
great place to visit. You can also feed the fish in the river below
from the bridge itself, the fish gather at the place where people drop
food for them. To take a better view of the Jhula, one can take a boat
ride in the river below, the scene with Lakshman Jhula in the
foreground and green mountains in the background make a picturesque view
and you can also feed the fish while you are in the boat. Ram Jhula, a
similar structure to Lakshman Jhula is a more recent addition to the
city. Also known as Shivanand Jhula, it connects Shivanand ashram with
Swarg ashram.
Triveni Ghat
It is the main bathing
ghat in Rishikesh where every morning several devotees take a dip in
the holy waters of Ganga. The Ghat is so named because it is believed
that this is the place of confluence of three holiest Hindu rivers
Ganga, Yamuna and Sarswati. This is the place where River Ganga takes a
complete right angle turn. The most enchanting experience here is that
of the evening aarti. Scores of devotees stand on the steps of the
ghat at this time. The priests perform the rituals, the golden flames
come out of large pure ghee lamps (being rotated in set circular
motions), vedic chants fill the air in praise of goddess of River Ganga
and the conchs in the temples on the Ghat fill the air with their
sound. The spiritualness in the air mesmerises one beyond expression and
no matter what religion the people on the ghat belong to, their soul
cannot remain untouched by this. What follows is even more spectacular.
Turning the waters into golden, people float leaf boats into the river
with flowers and lamps burning in them. Eyes follow these lamps as
they go with the flow of the river. This small ceremony of ownership
symbolizes hope, remembrance and wishes for future.
Nilkanth Mahadeo Temple
At a height of
approximately 5500 feet is the famous temple of Nilkanth Mahdeo. It is
situated at a hill top above Swarg ashram. Legend goes that this was the
place where lord Shiva had drank venom which had come out from
churning the sea. After drinking it, his neck had turned blue with the
poison and hence he was called 'Neelkanth', the one with blue neck. To
visit this most revered temple of Rishikesh, jeeps are available from
Lakshman Jhula. Every year in the months of monsoon - mid July to August
- fairs are held here. There is also a fresh water spring within
temple complex where people take bath before paying a visit to the
temple.
Bharat Temple
This is the oldest
temple in Rishikesh built by Adiguru Shankaracharya in 12th century.
Dedicated to Bharat, younger brother of Lord Ram, it is situated in the
old town near Triveni Ghat. Details about temple are available in
ancient records of Kearkhand. The original temple was destroyed by
Tamur during his invasion in 1398. However, many important things are
well preserved till date here. In the inner sanctum there is an idol of
Lord Vishnu carved out of a single Saligram (the divine stone of
Mahavishnu). There is also a Shriyantra placed on the canopy above that
was places here by Adi Shankaracharya. Recent excavations have
revealed more about the rich history of the temple. Old statues, coins,
pots and other things have been discovered from the premises of the
temple.
Kailash Niketan Temple
Crossing Lakshman Jhula,
the main temple you will see is Kailash Niketan Temple. It is a 13
storey structure slightly different from regular temples. The temple
has sculptures of all the gods and goddesses.
Spiritual Centres
Gita Bhavan
Crossing Lakshman Jhula
is the famous Gita Ashram that was set up in 1950's. It is famous for
its depicted walls. Paintings, statues, scenes from the epics
Mahabharata and Ramayana adorn the ashram walls. A free ayurvedic
dispensary is run here, and a branch of Gita press Gorakhpur is also
here. You can also buy bedsheets, cotton sarees from here. Pravachans,
keertans are a regular affair in the ashram, one can enjoy bhakti
sangeet here in the evenings. The complex also has some hundred rooms
for accommodation for pilgrims.
Swarg Ashram
The place is bustling
with activity all the time. Ashrams, temples, shops, restaurants,
eating joints, all these ensure that the place is always active. Many
statues adorn this one of the oldest ashrams in Rishikesh founded by
Swami Vishuddhananda popularly known as 'Kali kamli wale'. The
spiritual air of the soul pacifies one and all.
Shivanand Ashram : The Divine Life Society
A doctor by profession,
Swami Shivanand renounced his life in Delhi and came to Rishikesh in
1924. He set up Divine Life Society in 1936 here. He wrote some 200
books on yoga, health and spiritual life before he died in 1963. The
ashram organises regular yoga classes, one can pursue from here studies
in texts like Upanishads and Gita. The place has many other ashrams
where pilgrims can stay and participate in the activities like yoga,
pravachans, bhakti sangeet and other ashram activities. Parmarth Ashram
near Ram jhoola runs a traditional Indian school. Ved Niketan runs
yoga and meditation classes regularly. Located in the forests near the
banks of Ganga, this ashram has the best location. Another ashram in
Tapovan area is Sacha Vedic Sansthan. This ashram is also high on
religious and spiritual activity chart.
Excursions
Chila
Twenty kilometres from
Rishikesh is Chila, covered by thick forests. A reservoir here is fed
by River Ganga near which one can see many animals. Chila has been
declared as a wildlife sanctuary by government.
Narendra Nagar
It is a historical
town15 kilometres from Rishikesh which was set up by King of Tehri,
Narendra Singh. It has a sfew archaeological structures, the most
notable being the Royal Palace.
Activities
Activities
Yoga
Rishikesh is sometimes
called the yoga capital of the world. A considerable number of tourists
come here every year for yoga, meditation, spiritual growth. Its
ashrams are famous for their calm and conducive environment for yoga,
the spiritualness in the air further evokes one. There are many ashrams
here, some more famous than others. Though the basics of yoga remain
the same but the difference lies with the teachers here, their teaching
styles and the facilities in the ashrams like accommodation, library
etc. The 'Yoga Study Centre' on the Haridwar road has a senior Iyengar
teacher as its 'coach'. Brahmcharya Rudradev conducts yoga classes here
and the routine is rather stern. Many foreigner and Indian students
come to study Yoga here. Classes are organised three times a year for
twenty days. 'Yoga Niketan Ashram' near Shivanand ashram and 'Sri Ved
Niketan Ashram' are also quite popular for yoga. Rishikesh also has an
International Yoga festival here in the first week of February every
year.
Adventure Sports
Garhwal Mandal Vikas
Nigam organises river rafting courses near Rishikesh in Kaudilya. Set
among the thick forests, the place is ideal for river rafting, as the
water gushes down from an altitude of 480 metres. Besides there are
also trained professionals here and river rafting courses are
conducted. Many river rafters come to Rishikesh every year for river
rafting. One can also indulge in gentle canoeing here in Rishikesh.
Trekking trips are organised from Rishikesh to Binsar and Rishikesh to
Gopeshwar. Otherwise also people take small treks from Rishikesh to
upper ranges of Himalayas.
Shopping
There are no big markets
or souvenir shops or gift centres here in Rishikesh since it is
essentially a pilgrimage destination. But there are many shops selling
handicrafts here. You will see scores of shops in rows displaying
handicrafts made of beads, sea shells, pearls etc. There are also some
reputed shops selling sarees, bed covers, handloom fabric and cotton
fabric. There is a government approved handloom shop, khadi bhandar,
Garhwal wool and craft shop where you can shop to ensure reliability of
quality.
Getting There
Getting There
By Air - The
nearest airport from Rishikesh is Jolly Grant airport on route to
Dehradun, 18 kilometres from here. Indian airlines connect Dehradun to
Delhi, some chartered planes also operate from here.
By Rail - Rishikesh
is well connected with other major cities through railways. There are
trains for Delhi, Kolkatta, Lucknow, Varanasi, Dehradun, Haridwar and
other cities.
By Road - To
commute within Rishikesh there are tongas, taxis and rickshaws
available. Whereas from other cities and states buses are operated by
state transport corporations and private operators (deluxe, semi deluxe
coaches) are available for Rishikesh. Apart from that one can also hire
private vehicles to get there.
Top
RIVERGANGA
Birth of Ganga
Birth of Ganga is linked to Sagara, the king of Ayodhya. Though the king eagerly desired children, but had none. His elder wife was Keshini, and the second was Sumati, sister of Garuda. With his two wives, the king went to Himalaya to practice an austere penance. When a hundred years had passed, the rishi Brigu, whom he had honoured, granted him his wish. The rishi told him that one of his wives would bear a son who will perpetuate his race and the other shall give birth to sixty thousand sons. Thereafter the king revered the saint with circumambulation and obeisance and returned again to his city. In appropriate time, Keshini bore a son, and was named Asamanja and Sumati bore a gourd, and when it burst open the sixty thousand sons came out of it, whom the nurses fostered in jafs of ghee until they grew up to youth and beauty. But the eldest son, the child of Keshini, did not love his brothers and would cast them in the Sarayu River and watch them sink. Due to his evil disposition and for the wrongs he did to citizens and honest folk Asamanja was banished by his father. But he had a son named Suman who was fair-spoken to all and was well-beloved.
Sacrifice of Sagara
King Sagara once decided to organise a mighty yajna. The place was in the region between Himalaya and Vindhya. The horse was loosed there and Anshumat, a mighty chariot-fighter, followed to protect it. But it befell that a certain Vasava, assuming the form of a rakshasi, stole the horse away. Then the Brahmin priests informed the king and asked him to slay the thief and bring back the horse, otherwise the sacrifice would fail and misfortune would follow all concerned.
Sagara`s Sons Search For Horse
Sagara ordered his sixty thousand sons to seek the horse and all of them ranged the earth and when they did not find the horse upon its surface, they began to delve with hands like thunderbolts and mighty ploughshares, so that the earth cried out in pain. Great was the uproar of the serpents and the demons that were slain. For sixty thousand leagues they dug as if they would reach the very lowest deep. All the gods were frightened and informed Lord Brahma that the sons of Sagara are digging out the whole earth and many are slain and asked Brahma for help. Then Brahma replied that the earth was the consort of Vasudeva and he would take care of her.
After riving the entire earth, the sons returned to Sagara and informed him of the result, for they could not find the horse. But Sagara again commanded them to dig the earth and find the horse. They again plunged into the depths and came across the elephant Virupaksha, whom they worshipped and passed on. To the south they came next, to another mighty elephant, Mahapadma, like a mountain, bearing the earth upon his head; likely they came also to the western elephant named Saumanasa, and then to the north, where is Bhadra, white as snow, bearing the earth upon his brow.
The sons of Sagara came to the quarter east of north and found the eternal Vasudeva in the shape of Kapila, and hard by him they saw the horse browsing at his will. They rushed towards Kapila in fury and attacked him with trees and boulders, spades and ploughs, and addressed him as a thief who had stolen their horse. In response to the misdeeds of the sons of Sagara, Kapila uttered a dreadful roar and flashed a burning flame upon them that burned all of them to ashes.
Asamanja`s Son Suman Searches for His Uncles
After long time, no news of the sons of Sagara came to Ayodhya and Sagara ordered his grandson Suman, the son of Asamanj, to seek his uncles and learn their fate. Suman came across the elephants of east and south and west and north, and each assured him of success and at last he came across the heap of ashes that had been his uncles. He wailed there with heavy heart in bitter grief and there he also found the wandering horse. He wished to perform the funeral rites of his uncles but he could not find water anywhere. There he was informed by Garuda that his uncles were burned by Kapila and therefore, for their funeral, the water of the Ganga is required and then his uncles would reach Heaven. Then Garuda ordered Anshuman, as Suman was also called by this name, to take back the Horse and complete the sacrifice of his grandfather and the same was politely obeyed by him and the sacrifice was successfully completed.
Bhagiratha`s Prayer to Brahma
Anshuman became the king of Ayodhya after the death of Sagara and after ruling the kingdom for several years he left it to his son and went to the Himalayas and from there he also went to the Heaven. His son, King Dilipa, constantly pondered over the way to bring down Ganga so that the ashes might be purified and the sons of Sagara attain to the Heaven. After thirty thousand years he died, and his son Bhagiratha, a royal saint, followed him. He consigned the kingdom to the care of a counselor and went to the Himalayan forests, performing terrible austerities for a thousand years to draw down Ganga from the skies. Lord Brahma was pleased by his devotion and granted him a boon. Bhagiratha asked for the washing down of the ashes of the sons of Sagara by the waters of Ganga and than he should beget a son. Brahma blessed Bhagiratha and told him that in order to bring Ganga to earth; he should pray Lord Shiva to hold the flow of Ganga from the heaven for the earth would not be able to bear her force when she would fall upon it.
Bhagiratha worshipped Lord Shiva for many years, and Mahadeva was pleased and undertook to bear the daughter of the Himalayas, and received the river upon his head. Then Ganga, in mighty torrent, cast herself down from Heaven on to the gracious head of Shiva. But when Ganga fell on the tangled locks of Shiva, she was unable to reach the earth, but wandered there unable to escape for several years. Then Bhagiratha again engaged in many hard austerities, till Shiva would set the river free and Ganga fell in seven streams, three to the east, three to the west, while one followed the car of Bhagiratha.
As Ganga followed Bhagiratha, she flooded the sacrificial ground of the puissant Jahna, and he was greatly angered, and in his wrath he drank up all her wondrous waters. Then the deities besought and prayed him to set the Ganga free, till he relented and released her through his ears, and again she followed the car of Bhagiratha. At last she came to the mighty river Ocean and plunged into the nether regions; there she laved the heap of ashes, and the sixty thousand sons of Sagara, the king of Ayodhya, were cleansed of every sin and attained to Heaven. Thus, the birth of Ganga or the arrival of Ganga in the earth from the heaven took place due to the hard work of Bhagiratha and Ganga was also named after her disciple Bhagiratha and called Bhagirathi.
Birth of Ganga is linked to Sagara, the king of Ayodhya. Though the king eagerly desired children, but had none. His elder wife was Keshini, and the second was Sumati, sister of Garuda. With his two wives, the king went to Himalaya to practice an austere penance. When a hundred years had passed, the rishi Brigu, whom he had honoured, granted him his wish. The rishi told him that one of his wives would bear a son who will perpetuate his race and the other shall give birth to sixty thousand sons. Thereafter the king revered the saint with circumambulation and obeisance and returned again to his city. In appropriate time, Keshini bore a son, and was named Asamanja and Sumati bore a gourd, and when it burst open the sixty thousand sons came out of it, whom the nurses fostered in jafs of ghee until they grew up to youth and beauty. But the eldest son, the child of Keshini, did not love his brothers and would cast them in the Sarayu River and watch them sink. Due to his evil disposition and for the wrongs he did to citizens and honest folk Asamanja was banished by his father. But he had a son named Suman who was fair-spoken to all and was well-beloved.
Sacrifice of Sagara
King Sagara once decided to organise a mighty yajna. The place was in the region between Himalaya and Vindhya. The horse was loosed there and Anshumat, a mighty chariot-fighter, followed to protect it. But it befell that a certain Vasava, assuming the form of a rakshasi, stole the horse away. Then the Brahmin priests informed the king and asked him to slay the thief and bring back the horse, otherwise the sacrifice would fail and misfortune would follow all concerned.
Sagara`s Sons Search For Horse
Sagara ordered his sixty thousand sons to seek the horse and all of them ranged the earth and when they did not find the horse upon its surface, they began to delve with hands like thunderbolts and mighty ploughshares, so that the earth cried out in pain. Great was the uproar of the serpents and the demons that were slain. For sixty thousand leagues they dug as if they would reach the very lowest deep. All the gods were frightened and informed Lord Brahma that the sons of Sagara are digging out the whole earth and many are slain and asked Brahma for help. Then Brahma replied that the earth was the consort of Vasudeva and he would take care of her.
After riving the entire earth, the sons returned to Sagara and informed him of the result, for they could not find the horse. But Sagara again commanded them to dig the earth and find the horse. They again plunged into the depths and came across the elephant Virupaksha, whom they worshipped and passed on. To the south they came next, to another mighty elephant, Mahapadma, like a mountain, bearing the earth upon his head; likely they came also to the western elephant named Saumanasa, and then to the north, where is Bhadra, white as snow, bearing the earth upon his brow.
The sons of Sagara came to the quarter east of north and found the eternal Vasudeva in the shape of Kapila, and hard by him they saw the horse browsing at his will. They rushed towards Kapila in fury and attacked him with trees and boulders, spades and ploughs, and addressed him as a thief who had stolen their horse. In response to the misdeeds of the sons of Sagara, Kapila uttered a dreadful roar and flashed a burning flame upon them that burned all of them to ashes.
Asamanja`s Son Suman Searches for His Uncles
After long time, no news of the sons of Sagara came to Ayodhya and Sagara ordered his grandson Suman, the son of Asamanj, to seek his uncles and learn their fate. Suman came across the elephants of east and south and west and north, and each assured him of success and at last he came across the heap of ashes that had been his uncles. He wailed there with heavy heart in bitter grief and there he also found the wandering horse. He wished to perform the funeral rites of his uncles but he could not find water anywhere. There he was informed by Garuda that his uncles were burned by Kapila and therefore, for their funeral, the water of the Ganga is required and then his uncles would reach Heaven. Then Garuda ordered Anshuman, as Suman was also called by this name, to take back the Horse and complete the sacrifice of his grandfather and the same was politely obeyed by him and the sacrifice was successfully completed.
Bhagiratha`s Prayer to Brahma
Anshuman became the king of Ayodhya after the death of Sagara and after ruling the kingdom for several years he left it to his son and went to the Himalayas and from there he also went to the Heaven. His son, King Dilipa, constantly pondered over the way to bring down Ganga so that the ashes might be purified and the sons of Sagara attain to the Heaven. After thirty thousand years he died, and his son Bhagiratha, a royal saint, followed him. He consigned the kingdom to the care of a counselor and went to the Himalayan forests, performing terrible austerities for a thousand years to draw down Ganga from the skies. Lord Brahma was pleased by his devotion and granted him a boon. Bhagiratha asked for the washing down of the ashes of the sons of Sagara by the waters of Ganga and than he should beget a son. Brahma blessed Bhagiratha and told him that in order to bring Ganga to earth; he should pray Lord Shiva to hold the flow of Ganga from the heaven for the earth would not be able to bear her force when she would fall upon it.
Bhagiratha worshipped Lord Shiva for many years, and Mahadeva was pleased and undertook to bear the daughter of the Himalayas, and received the river upon his head. Then Ganga, in mighty torrent, cast herself down from Heaven on to the gracious head of Shiva. But when Ganga fell on the tangled locks of Shiva, she was unable to reach the earth, but wandered there unable to escape for several years. Then Bhagiratha again engaged in many hard austerities, till Shiva would set the river free and Ganga fell in seven streams, three to the east, three to the west, while one followed the car of Bhagiratha.
As Ganga followed Bhagiratha, she flooded the sacrificial ground of the puissant Jahna, and he was greatly angered, and in his wrath he drank up all her wondrous waters. Then the deities besought and prayed him to set the Ganga free, till he relented and released her through his ears, and again she followed the car of Bhagiratha. At last she came to the mighty river Ocean and plunged into the nether regions; there she laved the heap of ashes, and the sixty thousand sons of Sagara, the king of Ayodhya, were cleansed of every sin and attained to Heaven. Thus, the birth of Ganga or the arrival of Ganga in the earth from the heaven took place due to the hard work of Bhagiratha and Ganga was also named after her disciple Bhagiratha and called Bhagirathi.
GANGA RIVER
The Ganges is one of the major rivers of the Indian subcontinent, flowing east through the Gangetic Plain of northern India into Bangladesh. The 2,510 km (1,560 mi) river rises in the western Himalayas in the Uttarakhand state of India, and drains into the Sunderbans delta in the Bay of Bengal. It has long been considered a holy river by Hindus and worshiped as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism. It has also been important historically: many former provincial or imperial capitals (such as Patliputra, Kannauj, Kara, Allahabad, Murshidabad,and Calcutta) have been located on its banks. The Ganges Basin drains 1,000,000-square-kilometre (390,000 sq mi) and supports one of the world`s highest densities of humans. The average depth of the river is 52 feet (16 m), and the maximum depth, 100 feet (30 m). The river has been declared as India`s National River. The many symbolic meanings of the river on the Indian subcontinent were spoken to in 1946 by Jawaharlal Nehru in his Discovery of India,
The Ganges, above all is the river of India, which has held India`s heart captive and drawn uncounted millions to her banks since the dawn of history. The story of the Ganges, from her source to the sea, from old times to new, is the story of India`s civilization and culture, of the rise and fall of empires, of great and proud cities, of adventures of man. Although many small streams comprise the headwaters of the Ganges, the six longest headstreams and their five confluences are given both cultural and geographical emphasis (see the map showing the headwaters of the river). The Alaknanda River meets the Dhauliganga River at Vishnuprayag, the Nandakini River at Nandprayag, the Pindar River at Karnaprayag, and the Mandakini River at Rudraprayag and finally the Bhagirathi River at Devprayag, to form the mainstream, the Ganges. The Bhagirathi is the source stream; it rises at the foot of Gangotri Glacier, at Gaumukh, at an elevation of 3,892 m (12,769 ft). The headwaters of the Alaknanda are formed by snowmelt from such peaks as Nanda Devi, Trisul, and Kamet.
The Ganges is a major river in the Indian subcontinent flowing east through the immeasurable plains of northern India into Bangladesh. The 2,510 km or 1,557 mi river originates at the Gangotri Glacier in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, in the central Himalayas, and empties into the Bay of Bengal through its vast delta in the Sunderbans. It has enjoyed a state of admiration among India`s Hindus, by whom it is worshipped in its incarnated form as the goddess Ganga. The river Ganges flows through India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The major cities along the River Ganges are Haridwar, Moradabad, Rampur, Allahabad, Kanpur, Patna, Varanasi and Raj Shahi. The Ganges Delta is at the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh.
Joined by numerous rivers such as the Kosi, Son, Gandaki and Ghaghra, the Ganges forms a formidable current in the stretch between Allahabad and Malda in West Bengal. On its way it passes the towns of Kanpur, Soron, Kannauj, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Ghazipur, Bhagalpur, Mirzapur, Ballia, Buxar, Saidpur, and Chunar. At Bhagalpur, the river meanders past the Rajmahal Hills, and begins to run south. At Pakur, the river begins its attrition with the branching away of its first distributary, the Bhagirathi-Hooghly, which goes on to form the Hooghly River. Near the border with Bangladesh the Farakka Barrage, built in 1974, controls the flow of the Ganges, diverting some of the water into a feeder canal linking the Hooghly to keep it relatively silt-free. The Ganges and its tributaries drain an enormous area about one million square kilometres. The Ganges drains the fertile basin and supports one of the world`s highest-density human populations. Almost half of the population of India lives on one-third of the landscape within 500 km of the Himalayan range along the Gangetic plains and depends on the River Ganges.
During the early Vedic Ages, the Indus and the Saraswati River were the chief rivers, not the Ganges. But later, the three Vedas seem to give much more significance to the Ganges, as shown by its plentiful references. Possibly the first Westerner to mention the name of Ganges was Megasthenese.
According to Hindu religion a very famous king Bhagiratha did tapasya for many years constantly to bring the river Ganges, then residing in the Heavens, down on the Earth to find salvation for his ancestors, who were cursed by a seer. Therefore, Ganges descended to the Earth through the lock of hair (Jata) of god Shiva to make whole earth pious, fertile and wash out the sins of humans. For Hindus in India, the Ganges is not just a river but a mother, a goddess, a tradition, a culture and much more.
Ganga River is also said to be the river of supreme Lord Rama and also called "Ram Ganga" as there is a belief Lord Rama promised while Ganges emerged from his feet that, when He will appear on earth as Lord Rama will reside on the banks of Ganga and her tributaries. Lord Ram then appeared in Ayodhya which is on the banks of Saryu Ganga River, when he went to Janakpuri he crossed River Ganga in Haridwar. During his 14 years exile from Sita, his wife and brother Lakshmana after leaving Ayodhya his first night stay was at Tamsa River (Ganga tributaries), his second stay was at Shrungverpur which is on the banks of Ganga and with the help of Nishadraj Gruh and Kevat he crossed Ganga, he then went to Triveni sangam, Prayag Raj stayed with Muni Bharadvaj and then marched towards Chitrakoot and stayed there for 11 and half years on Kamadgiri parvat on the banks of Mandakini, holy stream. From there he went to Panchvati and stayed on the bank of Godavari until his wife sitaji was abducted by demon king Ravana. The search for his beloved wife Sita, Lord Rama went to Rameshwaram, as it is said all rivers meet the ocean.
Some Hindus also believe life is incomplete without taking a bath in Ganges at least once in their lives. Many Hindu families keep a vial of water from the Ganges in their house. This is done because it is prestigious to have water of the Holy Ganges in the house, and also so that if someone is dying, that person will be able to drink its water. Hindus also believe that the water from the Ganges cleanses a person`s soul of all past sins, and that it can also cure the ill.
The Ganges is one of the major rivers of the Indian subcontinent, flowing east through the Gangetic Plain of northern India into Bangladesh. The 2,510 km (1,560 mi) river rises in the western Himalayas in the Uttarakhand state of India, and drains into the Sunderbans delta in the Bay of Bengal. It has long been considered a holy river by Hindus and worshiped as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism. It has also been important historically: many former provincial or imperial capitals (such as Patliputra, Kannauj, Kara, Allahabad, Murshidabad,and Calcutta) have been located on its banks. The Ganges Basin drains 1,000,000-square-kilometre (390,000 sq mi) and supports one of the world`s highest densities of humans. The average depth of the river is 52 feet (16 m), and the maximum depth, 100 feet (30 m). The river has been declared as India`s National River. The many symbolic meanings of the river on the Indian subcontinent were spoken to in 1946 by Jawaharlal Nehru in his Discovery of India,
The Ganges, above all is the river of India, which has held India`s heart captive and drawn uncounted millions to her banks since the dawn of history. The story of the Ganges, from her source to the sea, from old times to new, is the story of India`s civilization and culture, of the rise and fall of empires, of great and proud cities, of adventures of man. Although many small streams comprise the headwaters of the Ganges, the six longest headstreams and their five confluences are given both cultural and geographical emphasis (see the map showing the headwaters of the river). The Alaknanda River meets the Dhauliganga River at Vishnuprayag, the Nandakini River at Nandprayag, the Pindar River at Karnaprayag, and the Mandakini River at Rudraprayag and finally the Bhagirathi River at Devprayag, to form the mainstream, the Ganges. The Bhagirathi is the source stream; it rises at the foot of Gangotri Glacier, at Gaumukh, at an elevation of 3,892 m (12,769 ft). The headwaters of the Alaknanda are formed by snowmelt from such peaks as Nanda Devi, Trisul, and Kamet.
The Ganges is a major river in the Indian subcontinent flowing east through the immeasurable plains of northern India into Bangladesh. The 2,510 km or 1,557 mi river originates at the Gangotri Glacier in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, in the central Himalayas, and empties into the Bay of Bengal through its vast delta in the Sunderbans. It has enjoyed a state of admiration among India`s Hindus, by whom it is worshipped in its incarnated form as the goddess Ganga. The river Ganges flows through India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The major cities along the River Ganges are Haridwar, Moradabad, Rampur, Allahabad, Kanpur, Patna, Varanasi and Raj Shahi. The Ganges Delta is at the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh.
Joined by numerous rivers such as the Kosi, Son, Gandaki and Ghaghra, the Ganges forms a formidable current in the stretch between Allahabad and Malda in West Bengal. On its way it passes the towns of Kanpur, Soron, Kannauj, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Ghazipur, Bhagalpur, Mirzapur, Ballia, Buxar, Saidpur, and Chunar. At Bhagalpur, the river meanders past the Rajmahal Hills, and begins to run south. At Pakur, the river begins its attrition with the branching away of its first distributary, the Bhagirathi-Hooghly, which goes on to form the Hooghly River. Near the border with Bangladesh the Farakka Barrage, built in 1974, controls the flow of the Ganges, diverting some of the water into a feeder canal linking the Hooghly to keep it relatively silt-free. The Ganges and its tributaries drain an enormous area about one million square kilometres. The Ganges drains the fertile basin and supports one of the world`s highest-density human populations. Almost half of the population of India lives on one-third of the landscape within 500 km of the Himalayan range along the Gangetic plains and depends on the River Ganges.
During the early Vedic Ages, the Indus and the Saraswati River were the chief rivers, not the Ganges. But later, the three Vedas seem to give much more significance to the Ganges, as shown by its plentiful references. Possibly the first Westerner to mention the name of Ganges was Megasthenese.
According to Hindu religion a very famous king Bhagiratha did tapasya for many years constantly to bring the river Ganges, then residing in the Heavens, down on the Earth to find salvation for his ancestors, who were cursed by a seer. Therefore, Ganges descended to the Earth through the lock of hair (Jata) of god Shiva to make whole earth pious, fertile and wash out the sins of humans. For Hindus in India, the Ganges is not just a river but a mother, a goddess, a tradition, a culture and much more.
Ganga River is also said to be the river of supreme Lord Rama and also called "Ram Ganga" as there is a belief Lord Rama promised while Ganges emerged from his feet that, when He will appear on earth as Lord Rama will reside on the banks of Ganga and her tributaries. Lord Ram then appeared in Ayodhya which is on the banks of Saryu Ganga River, when he went to Janakpuri he crossed River Ganga in Haridwar. During his 14 years exile from Sita, his wife and brother Lakshmana after leaving Ayodhya his first night stay was at Tamsa River (Ganga tributaries), his second stay was at Shrungverpur which is on the banks of Ganga and with the help of Nishadraj Gruh and Kevat he crossed Ganga, he then went to Triveni sangam, Prayag Raj stayed with Muni Bharadvaj and then marched towards Chitrakoot and stayed there for 11 and half years on Kamadgiri parvat on the banks of Mandakini, holy stream. From there he went to Panchvati and stayed on the bank of Godavari until his wife sitaji was abducted by demon king Ravana. The search for his beloved wife Sita, Lord Rama went to Rameshwaram, as it is said all rivers meet the ocean.
Some Hindus also believe life is incomplete without taking a bath in Ganges at least once in their lives. Many Hindu families keep a vial of water from the Ganges in their house. This is done because it is prestigious to have water of the Holy Ganges in the house, and also so that if someone is dying, that person will be able to drink its water. Hindus also believe that the water from the Ganges cleanses a person`s soul of all past sins, and that it can also cure the ill.
The religious significance of Ganga River
The religious significance of Ganga River is established at the origin itself. The gangotri is the spot of origin of River Ganges. Many pilgrimages for the Hindus are settled along the banks of River Ganges. The Hindus religiously worship the river. Situated on the banks of River Ganges, Varanasi is considered by some to be the most holy city in Hinduism. The Ganga is mentioned several in the Rig-Veda, which is the earliest of the Hindu scriptures. The reference of this river also appears in the nadistuti or Rig Veda 10.75, which lists the rivers from east to west. In RV 6.45.31, the word Ganga is also mentioned, but it is not clear whether this reference is to the river.
According to Hindus the river Ganga is sacred and a feminine river. The river is worshiped by Hindus and personified as a Devi goddess, who holds a significant place in the Hindu religion. Hindu faith holds that bathing in the river, especially on certain occasion causes the forgiveness of sins and helps to attain salvation. Many people believe that this will come from bathing in the Ganga at any time. People come from distant places to submerge the Cremation and ashes collection ashes of their family or relatives in the waters of the Ganga; this immersion also is believed to send the deceased soul to heaven. Several places revered to Hindus lie along the banks of the river Ganga, including Haridwar and Varanasi. People carry holy water from the Ganges that is preserved in copper pots after making the pilgrimage to Varanasi. It is believed that drinking water from the Ganga with one`s last breath will take the person`s soul to heaven for sure.
Hindus also believe that life is incomplete without having a bath in the Ganga at least once in one`s lifetime. Most Hindu families keep a vessel of water from the Ganga in their house. This is done because it is esteemed to have water of the Holy Ganga in the house, and also if someone is dying, that person will be able to drink this holy water. Many Hindus believe that the water from the Ganga can purify and cleanse a person`s soul of all past sins, and that it can also cure the ill. The ancient scriptures mention that the water of Ganges carries the blessings of Lord Vishnu`s feet; hence Mother Ganges is also known as Vishnupadi, this term means "Emanating from the Lotus feet of Supreme Lord Sri Vishnu."
Some of the most important Hindu festivals and religious worship happen at the river Ganges. Many festivals are celebrated on the banks of the river Ganga, such as the Kumbh Mela every twelve years at Allahabad and the Chhat Puja.
The religious significance of Ganga River is established at the origin itself. The gangotri is the spot of origin of River Ganges. Many pilgrimages for the Hindus are settled along the banks of River Ganges. The Hindus religiously worship the river. Situated on the banks of River Ganges, Varanasi is considered by some to be the most holy city in Hinduism. The Ganga is mentioned several in the Rig-Veda, which is the earliest of the Hindu scriptures. The reference of this river also appears in the nadistuti or Rig Veda 10.75, which lists the rivers from east to west. In RV 6.45.31, the word Ganga is also mentioned, but it is not clear whether this reference is to the river.
According to Hindus the river Ganga is sacred and a feminine river. The river is worshiped by Hindus and personified as a Devi goddess, who holds a significant place in the Hindu religion. Hindu faith holds that bathing in the river, especially on certain occasion causes the forgiveness of sins and helps to attain salvation. Many people believe that this will come from bathing in the Ganga at any time. People come from distant places to submerge the Cremation and ashes collection ashes of their family or relatives in the waters of the Ganga; this immersion also is believed to send the deceased soul to heaven. Several places revered to Hindus lie along the banks of the river Ganga, including Haridwar and Varanasi. People carry holy water from the Ganges that is preserved in copper pots after making the pilgrimage to Varanasi. It is believed that drinking water from the Ganga with one`s last breath will take the person`s soul to heaven for sure.
Hindus also believe that life is incomplete without having a bath in the Ganga at least once in one`s lifetime. Most Hindu families keep a vessel of water from the Ganga in their house. This is done because it is esteemed to have water of the Holy Ganga in the house, and also if someone is dying, that person will be able to drink this holy water. Many Hindus believe that the water from the Ganga can purify and cleanse a person`s soul of all past sins, and that it can also cure the ill. The ancient scriptures mention that the water of Ganges carries the blessings of Lord Vishnu`s feet; hence Mother Ganges is also known as Vishnupadi, this term means "Emanating from the Lotus feet of Supreme Lord Sri Vishnu."
Some of the most important Hindu festivals and religious worship happen at the river Ganges. Many festivals are celebrated on the banks of the river Ganga, such as the Kumbh Mela every twelve years at Allahabad and the Chhat Puja.
Varanasi has hundreds of
temples along the bank of the Ganges, which are often flooded during
the rains. This city, especially along the bank of the Ganges, is a
chief place of worship for the Hindus as well as a cremation ground.
Indian Mythology states that Ganga is the daughter of Himavan - the king of the Mountains She had the power to purify anything that touched her. According to myths Ganga flowed from the heavens and purified the people of India. After the funeral, Indians often submerge the bodies of their dead in the Ganga, which is thought to purify them of their sins.
Indian Mythology states that Ganga is the daughter of Himavan - the king of the Mountains She had the power to purify anything that touched her. According to myths Ganga flowed from the heavens and purified the people of India. After the funeral, Indians often submerge the bodies of their dead in the Ganga, which is thought to purify them of their sins.
Nice compilation
ReplyDeletethanks dear Rajesh jee.
DeleteNice article thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteChardham Yatra