Friday, February 22, 2019

Pandit Prem Nath Shastri

Pandit Prem Nath Shastri

Epitome of KP Identity

By Vijay Tikoo

Pandit Prem Nath Shastri

Pandit Prem Nath Shastri

In his last words Pandit Prem Nath Shastri attributes the success of his ‘Vijyeshwar Panchang’ to not as much to his own efforts but the overwhelming support of the Kashmiri Pandit Community. These words from a man who knew that his death was not far away convey both a sense of accomplishment as well as feeling gratitude Pandit Prem Nath had reluctantly agreed to give up the job in state education department after completing his education and join his father and Guru Pandit Aftab Sharma to bring out the Kashmiri Panchang ‘Vijyashwari Jantri’ now a household name amongst Kashmiri Pandits.

In fact ‘Vijyeshwar Panchang’ over the years has become one of the most important guides for the Kashmiri Pandit Community in their day to day socio-religious dealings. Not that Kashmiri Pandit Community did not have alternative ‘Panchangs’ to adopt. In fact Brahman Maha Mandal of Kashmir for quite sometime has been taking out a ‘Panchang’ which many Kashmiri scholars opined was more accurate. Yet the Pandit Community almost through a silent consensus chose ‘Vijyeshwar Jantri’ as a guide in their socio-religious dealings. Perhaps for its better presentability and simple language. Or with this confidence that the family of Prem Nath Shastri had carried on this task for three centuries and shall ensure its continuity in the future as well.
Pandits recognise ‘Vijyeshwar Jantri’ as one of the most important institutions for maintaining their identity during such times when pressures for dissolution of the same are multiplying.
Pandit Prem Nath Shastri’s role during his life time did not remain confined to just carrying ahead a family tradition but in institutionalising it in such a way that its relevance in the social life of Kashmiri Pandits only increased with each day. During the years in exile, ‘Vijyeshwar Jantri’ became the most important instruments for Kashmiri Pandit to holding on to his identity. When the news of the demise of Pandit Prem Nath Shastri broke out, displaced Pandits received it with a stunning silence. Pandit Prem Nath Shastri through ‘Vijyeshwar Jantri’ and numerous other works endeavoured to protect Kashmiri Pandit identity and with his demise people feel as if a fulcrum around which they could rebuild their socio-cultural fabric in exile was lost.
During the years after the forced exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1989, Sh Prem Nath Shastri had become acutely conscious and concerned about the dangers Pandit Prem Nath Shastri

Pandit Prem Nath Shastri

to the cultural identity of Kashmiri Pandits in exile. ‘Our ritual traditions have become as important as they were never before. Not in their negative degenerated form, but in their positive essence. Our traditions will hold us together in exile,” he once said to us while thinking aloud on the tragedies that befell upon Kashmiri Pandits. Not surprisingly, he undertook the arduous task of commenting and explaining the main ritual traditions of Kashmiri Pandits. He brought out small booklets, audio cassettes on the significance and performance of almost all important religious traditions and rituals of Kashmiri Pandits. These capsules like Karam Kand Deepak, Shivratri Puja, Sandiya, Antim Sanskar, Janam Din Puja has had a marked impact on the Kashmiri Pandit Social life in exile. While as in the Valley such ritual traditions were the forte of only a small section of ‘Gaurs’-the priestly class of Kashmiri Brahmins, in exile through these simplified and written and audio capsules practice of the ritual traditions has become possible for one and all. Very gradually the families of displaced Kashmiri Pandits have become active participants in their religious traditions. The simple and erudite expositions of Shastri Ji both in written and audio forms on such works like Panchastavi, Bhawani Sahsranama, Mahimnapaar, Bhagwat Geeta, verses of Lal Ded have been a profound attempt to bring the spiritual tradition of Kashmiri Pandits within the reach of the displaced Hindu society from Kashmir.
Shastri Ji also understood very well the importance of preserving the Kashmiri language for the survival of Kashmiri Pandits as a distinct entheno-religious group. In all his public discourses and social interactions Pandit Prem Nath Shastri would urge the new generation to speak Kashmiri language, and transmit it to the coming generations. He also wanted the digeneous script for Kashmir to be revived. In fact his ‘Sharda Primer’ has been one of the few attempts to revive ‘Shardha Script’ amongst Kashmiri Pandits.
In his day to day living Shastri Ji was an epitome of traditional Kashmiri Pandit living. He always wore the traditional Kashmiri Pandit Pheren and the turban. His living room reflected not only the style but also the discipline of a Kashmiri Brahmin scholar. No chairs, arrangement of books on the rack, his writing desk, everything bore a traditional mark, besides his strict working schedule. But most significant was his own personality which was typically a Kashmiri Pandit type.
The glow on his face, inquisitiveness of eyes, soft but stern voice and the aura of discipline. He appeared deeply orthodox by looks. But just a small conversation with him would convince about his flexibility of thought.

Pandit Prem Nath Shastri

During his last days he had developed taste for listening to the ‘audio cassettes’ of Osho. His son had to purchase Rs 10,000 worth cassettes which Pandit Shastri would listen while fighting his disease. ‘He (Osho) has been misunderstood by the people of India. But I am a Kashmiri Brahmin. I cannot deny him his due,’ he would tell his family during his last days.
One of the last wishes of Pandit Prem Nath Shastri had been to publish a ‘Panchang’ for Jammu. Most of the work on the same has been already completed under his supervision. His sons as a tribute to him are going to bring out the first issue of ‘Ranvireshwar Panchang’ very soon. When one of us pointed out to the eldest son of Pandit Shastri that the mantle of the social and religious responsibility, which Shastri Ji had carried on his shoulders, now fell on him, he was overwhelmed and said with moist eyes in all humility, “I am feeling the weight. But I will do my best with your co-operation”.
Source: Kashmir Sentinel - Publication of Panun Kashmir

Thursday, February 21, 2019

List of Hindu temples in India

List of Hindu temples in India

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This is a list of major Hindu temples in India, by state. India has more than 2 million Hindu temples recorded during the 2001 census, whose number has substantially increased by now.

Andhra Pradesh

Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala

Simhachalam Temple

Kanaka Durga Temple

Golden Vimana of Srisailam Temple

There are around 4,000 large temples in Andhra Pradesh state

Arunachal Pradesh

Assam

Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati

Bihar

Mundeshwari Temple

Vishnupad Mandir

Parasmaninath Temple

Chandigarh

Chandi Mandir

Chhattisgarh

Bhoramdeo Temple

Ashtabhuji Temple
Bambleshwari Temple, Dongargarh
Barfani dham
Bhoramdeo Temple, Kawardha
Danteshwari Temple, Dantewada
Dudhadhari temple
Ganga Maiya
Maa Bagheshwari Devi Temple, Kudargarh, Surajpur
Maa Pitambara (Bagalamukhi) Temple - Amleshwar
Mahamaya Temple, Ambikapur, Surguja
Mahamaya Temple, Ratanpur, Bilaspur
Sarvamangla, Korba

Delhi

Laxminarayan Birla Temple

Goa

Gujarat

Dwarkadhish Jagat Mandir

Kalupur Swaminarayan Mandir

Sun Temple, Modhera

Haryana

Patiala temple inside Mansa Devi Mandir complex

Himachal Pradesh

Hidimba Devi Temple

Jammu and Kashmir

Ice Lingam at Amarnath Cave

Jharkhand

Jagannath hill Temple

Karnataka

121 feet tall statue of Shiva at Murudeshwara

Durga temple, Aihole

ISKCON Temple, Bangalore

Kerala

Ananthapura Lake Temple

Sree Poornathrayeesa Temple

Vadakkumnathan Temple

Vazhappally Temple

Madhya Pradesh

Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Khajuraho

Hanuman tekri, guna

Sas-Bahu Temple, Gwalior

Ram Raja Temple, Orchha Near Jhansi
Sharda Devi Temple Maihar satna
Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Ujjain
Chintaman Ganesh, Ujjain
Bade Ganeshji ka Mandir
Harsiddhi Temple, Ujjain
Kaal Bhairava temple, Ujjain
Mangalnath temple, Ujjain
Gopal Mandir, Ujjain
Omkareshwar Temple Khandwa, Omkareshwar
Kandariya Mahadeva
Ganesh Mandir, Sehore
Chauragarh
Jatashankar, Pachmarhi
Khajrana Ganesh Temple, Indore
Beejasan Mata Mandir, Indore
Gajanan Maharaj Temple, Indore
Taxakeshwar, Mandsaur
Pashupatinath Temple, Mandsaur
Shyam Kaka Temple, Rajgarh district
Devi Vaishini Temple, Dewas
Pitambara Peeth, Datia
Tulsi Peeth, Chitrakoot
Kankali Devi temple, Tigawa
Shri Kala Bhairava Nath Swami Temple, Adegaon
Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, Khajuraho
Chausath Yogini Temple, Khajuraho
Matangeshwar Temple, Khajuraho
Devi Jagadambi Temple, Khajuraho
Dada Darbar, Khandwa
Sas-Bahu Temple, Gwalior
Kakanmath Temple, MorMorenvindyvashni temple,Ashoknagar, TUMEN

Maharashtra

Siddhivinayak Temple

Trimbakeshwar temple

Trimurti sculpture, Elephanta Caves

Kailasa temple, Ellora Caves

Manipur

Odisha

Konark Sun Temple

Muktesvara deula Panoramic View, Orissa

Jagannath Temple, Puri Panoramic View, Orissa

Lingaraja Temple Panoramic View, Orissa

Baitala deula Panoramic View, Orissa

Rajarani Temple Panoramic View, Orissa

Puspagiri Mahavihara, Orissa

Ananta Vasudeva Temple, Orissa

Nrusinghanath Temple, Orissa

Taratarini Temple, Orissa

Brahmeswara Temple

Punjab

Durgiana Temple

Shri Kali Devi Temple Patiala Patiala
Baba Kanaiya Gir, Harsa Kalota, Mukerian
Durgiana Temple, Amritsar
Julfa Mata Temple, Nangal
Maiser Khana
Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple
Suraj Kund Sunam, Sunam
Golden Temple, Amritsar also a Sikh temple

Rajasthan

Night View of Palace of Bilara

Birla Mandir
Baba Mohan Ram Temple, Kali Kholi, Rajasthan
Karni Mata Temple, Deshnoke
Sanwaliaji temple
Kalika Mata Temple, Chittor Fort
Salasar Balaji temple, Salasar=
Kaila Devi temple, Kaila devi, Karauli
Krishna temple, Karauli
Mehandipur Balaji Temple, Todabhim
Narsinghji Temple, Hindaun City
Nakkash Ki Devi - Gomti Dham, Hindaun City
Kyarda Hanumanji Temple, Hindaun City
Shri Charbhuja temple, Rajsamand District
Shrinathji temple, Nathdwara
Jeen Mata Temple
Eklingji Mahadev Temple
Ambika Mata Temple
Neemach Mata Temple
Jagdish temple
Bohra Ganesh temple
Khatushyamji
Osian, Jodhpur

Sikkim

Tamil Nadu

Meenakshi Amman Temple

Kapaleeshwarar Temple

Gangaikonda Cholapuram

Telangana

Bhadrachalam Temple

1000 pillar temple in Warangal

Gnana Saraswati Temple
Ashtalakshmi Temple
Chilkur Balaji Temple
Hyderabad Kalibari
Karmanghat Hanuman Temple
Ujjaini Mahakali Temple
Sitaram Bagh temple
Kondagattu Temple
Bhadrachalam Temple
Wargal Saraswati Temple
Kuchadri sri venkateshwara swamy temple in Kuchanpally
Yadadri Narasimha Swamy temple
Dichpally Ramalayam
Keesaragutta Temple
Ananthagiri Temple
Bhadrakali Temple
Komuravelli Mallikharjuna Temple
Padmakshi Temple
Ramappa Temple
Sammakka Sarakka Devathalu
Thousand Pillar Temple
[[jogulamba temple, alampur, gadwal, dist.
vemulavada Sri raja rajeshwara swamy
శ్రీ లింబద్రి లక్ష్మీనరసింహ స్వామి,నిజామాబాద్,భీంగల్

(Sri limbadhri laxminarayana swami, nizamabad, bheemgal)

Tripura

Uttarakhand

Chota Char Dham

Kedarnath Temple

Uttar Pradesh

Prem Mandir Vrindavan

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Ramjanmabhoomi, Ayodhya
Hanumangarhi, Ayodhya
Gorakhnath Math, Gorakhpur
Shri Dirgh Vishnu Temple, Mathura
J K Temple, Kanpur
Bhitargaon Temple
Waneshwar Mahadev Temple
Ved Mata Gaytri Mandir
Prem Mandir Vrindavan
Banke Bihari Temple, Vrindavan
Radha Ramana temple, Vrindavan
Dwarkadheesh temple, Mathura
Krishnajanmabhoomi, Mathura
Vindhyachal, Mirzapur
Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, Varanasi
Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi
Bhuteshwar Temple, Varanasi
Jagannath Temple, Varanasi
Kamakhya Temple, Varanasi
Belon Temple, Belon
Hanuman Ji Temple, Allahabad
Sri HanumanDhara, Chitrakoot
Shree Sanatana Dharma Mandir, Babri
Hanuman Mandir, Budhana Gate, Meerut
Bateshwar Nath Mahadev Mandir, (Bah)Agra

West Bengal

Kalighat Kali Temple
Firinghi Kalibari
Thanthania Kalibari
Dakshineswar Kali Temple
Lakshmi Narayan temple
Hangseshwari temple, Bansberia
Ananta Basudeba temple, Bansberia
Belur Math, Belur
Madanmohan-jiu Temple, Samta
Kalyaneshwari temple, Bardhaman district
Tarapith Temple, Birbhum
108 Mahadev Burdwan
Birla Mandir
Thanthania Kalibari
Shobhabazar Lal Mandir
Dwadash Shiva Temples
Lake Kalibari
Bakranath temple
Bansuli Temple, Nannur

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