A brief photo-essay on some famous and some not so famous Hindu Temples in Pakistan
Gorakhnath Temple, Peshawar, NWFP
Hindus at the historic Gorakhnath temple in Peshawar, Pakistan. The temple was recently reopened after six decades on the orders of the Peshawar High Court. (November, 2011)
Katas Raj Temples, Chakwal, near Lahore, Punjab
Katas Raj Temple is situated in Chakwal district of Punjab in Pakistan. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple has existed before the days of Mahabharata and the Pandava brothers spent a substantial part of their exile here.
It is said that the five Pandava brothers, heroes of the Historical epic Mahabharata, stayed here four out of the 14 years that they spent in exile.
Its origin involves the death of Shiva's wife Satti. When she died, Shiva cried so much and for so long, that his tears created two holy ponds - one at Pushkar in Ajmer, India and the other at the Katas Raj Temple.
Hinglaj Mandir or Nani Mandir, Hingol National Park, Baluchistan
An important Shakti Peeth of Goddess Sati, Hinglaj Mandir or Nani Mandir is situated in Hingol National Park in Baluchistan province of Pakistan.
It came into existence when Lord Vishnu cut up Sati's dead body into 52 pieces so that Lord Shiva would calm down and stop his Tandava. These pieces got scattered all over the Indian subcontinent whilst Sati's head fell at Hingula or Hinglaj.
According to ancient scriptures, Lord Rama had also meditated at Hinglaj to atone for his sin of 'Brahmhatya' - killing of Ravana who was a Brahmin and a great devotee of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga.
Photo credit
It came into existence when Lord Vishnu cut up Sati's dead body into 52 pieces so that Lord Shiva would calm down and stop his Tandava. These pieces got scattered all over the Indian subcontinent whilst Sati's head fell at Hingula or Hinglaj.
According to ancient scriptures, Lord Rama had also meditated at Hinglaj to atone for his sin of 'Brahmhatya' - killing of Ravana who was a Brahmin and a great devotee of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga.
Photo credit
Sri Varun Dev Temple, Manora Cantt, Karachi, Sindh
Situated on the seashore off Manora Cantt, this Temple is about 160 years old and has been specifically designed as per Hindu architecture. The Temple was abandoned & illegally occupied by land grabbers after the 1947 partition. In 2007, Pakistan Hindu Council brought back the sanctity of the Temple by taking a bold step to renovate the same. The Station Commander, PNS Himalaya, Manora Cantt handed over the control of this Temple to Pakistan Hindu Council in June, 2007.
Sharda Devi Temple, POK
Dedicated to Saraswati, the Goddess of learning, Sharda Devi Temple is located in Neelum valley just across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). In the past, it has been a site of a Buddhist University and Adi Shankara is also known to have visited the Temple during his travels across India.
Hindu Temple, Saidpur village, Islamabad, Punjab
posted by : Vipul Koul
very beautiful buildings
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