Today is the most
Holy day of Lord Shiva, Maha Shiva Ratri, which according Hindu
Scripture's is supposed to be the most favorite day of Lord Shiva. Its
also believed that today, Lord Shiva married His consort Parvati. On
this lovely and auspicious day, walk with me to some auspicious place
across India, associated with Lord Shiva that has touched me deeply and
blessed me with peace and love...
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| Shiva's tall statue at Haridwar... |
From Himalaya, in North, to ....
 |
| Kedarnath Peak in Himalaya |
...to down
south, Lord Shiva is worshiped today in simple rituals of purifying
oneself by bath and then bathing Shivalinga four times till night....
 |
| Rameshwaram Temple |
Fasting and then performing abhishekam, aarti etc... in the evening...
 |
Most beautiful Aarti on the banks of Holy River ganges
Varanasi |
Since morning devotees go over to the near by rivers and lakes to bring out water to bathe Lord Shiva...
 |
Village folks going to the river to bring the water to
Bathe Shiva... This image is from a temple (in the back
ground you can see the temple) in Bihar
Which few of us friends joined to construct... |
Many of the
places that I have had visited, I find that the most simple things are
most beautiful and full of energy. This one Shiva Linga here gave me a
blissful experience....
 |
| Vashishth Cave - Rishikesh |
...below is
another powerful temple - at Jageshwar, introduced to me by younger
brother, is supposed the the place where Maha Mrityun Japa (A Shiva
mantra for Longevity) was created....
 |
| Mahamrityunjaya Temple at Jageshwar |
The Kedarnath
Temple, is one of the most powerful temple of Lord Shiva... Its here
that Adi Shankaracharya, one of the most powerful Guru of Vedic
Knowledge, left his body to merge with Shiva... the place is situated at
the height of 4000 Mts in Himalaya and 13 KMs of beautiful trek to
reach the temple, made me most ecstatic and the Shivalinga there is full
of positivity and blessings...
 |
| Kedar Nath temple - Himalaya |
This Shiva Linga
on the banks of Holy River ganges at Patna - Bihar, faces the most
beautiful expanse of serene and elegant river...
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| Shiva Linga at Patna |
This Kubernath
temple, near my village in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, has been a place
where my spirituality took roots since childhood...
 |
| Kuber Nath Temple - Kushinagar |
Known as Kashi of
south, Kaanchipuram is a famous temple town near Chennai. The mango
tree in the background is supposed to be the desecndant of the tree from
the Vedic Era. Its said that the tree's four branches gives different
type of fruit and hence is associated with the four Vedas...
 |
| Kanchipuram Temple |
A beautiful trek
in the forest, above the Temple town Jageshwar, is the Brihad Jageshwar
Temple... where its said that Yogi's from Himalaya come to perform
Tantrik Sadhana's and Meditation... A powerful and lovely place...
 |
| Brihad Jageshwar Temple |
Its believed
that where the Holy Ganges is, there will be Lord Shiva. In Hindu
Scriptures, its said that when Ganga was asked to descend from heaven,
Lord Shiva offered to bear her fall, due to the request and prayers of
Bhagirathi... The Deva Prayaag is the place, where Alaknanda &
Mandakini meet and then move on to the plains of India, known as Holy
River Ganges....
 |
| Deva Prayaag - The confluence |
The Rishikesh,
popularly known as Deva Bhoomi (The land of Gods) and some call it,
Spiritual Campital of the world, is a place, where I am at my most
content self. Each and every thing about the place, gives you energy...
if you just take a break from the chaos of mind and live in that present
moment... in 'now'
 |
With my friend, in whose cave on the banks of Holy Ganges,
I spent few days and night, in meditation, rituals and Mantra Yoga |
Hope that this
walk with me, on such an auspicious day, gives you the sense of
connection with that cosmic soul and permeates within you the
contentment, bliss and happiness... May Lord Shiva bless you with
health, wealth and Happiness in years to come.
Leaving you with lamp of light from the new year meditation at Sivananda Ashram Rishikesh..
________
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
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