Vithoba:Pandharpur

Vithoba:Pandharpur

[Vithoba Che Navane Chang Bhala]

In the Aashad [usually July] it common scene in the Maharashtra , Pandharpur bound roads are filled with walkers called “Varkari” and this procession of human ocean is called “Dindi”. If we go southwards from solapur towards the Vidharbha area of Maharashtra at the distance of about 70 km. a small town on the bank of river chandarbhaga is located “Pandharpur” the abode of Lord Vishnu [Vithoba] . Pandharpur along with the Shridi is the most visited pilgrimage city of Maharashtra. There is a Hindi movie song

“Ye to sach hai ki Bhagwan Hai, Hai Magar Phir Bhi Anjaan Hai

Dharti Pe Roop Maa Baap Ka Us Vidhata Ki Pehchan Hai”

[It is true God is there though be are not aware of his presence but fact is that on the earth Mother and Father are not only the form of the God but in fact are the identification mark of presence of God]

Pandharpur’s Vithoba Temple is the living illustration of it. There was a young boy named Pundlik lived there, as to serve his old age mother and father he decided to give up his whole life. Lord Vishnu become pleased with obedience and devotion of boy towards the mother and father so decided to bless and appreciate the boy in person, he appeared in the city as “Vithoba”. The word about incarnation spread over the city and everybody went to see this but as the mother and father were ill so Pundlik prefer to stay at home. Days went by and some one asks Pundlik that Vithoba is waiting for him and is standing since so many days. Listening to this Pundlik took a brick laying near by him and throw it in the direction of Vithoba with the words “Take this and rest on it till I get free from serving my old aged mother and father.” The place where the brick landed is the present temple and Vithoba is waiting for Pundlik, the dutiful son, to find time for him.

Since the centuries wait is on and so is the worship. Many saint-poets of Maharashtra have sung in praise of Vithal. The compositions of Sant Gyaneshwar, Sant Eknath, Sant Namdev, Sant Tukaram and the poetess Mukta Bai, though written hundreds of years ago, are current even now. These compositions guide one to the path of piety, truthfulness, devotion and dedication.

Temple here is with the six gates, the entrance is the Namdev gate or payari [Steps] named after saint Namdev, in between this and exit known as Pachhim Dwar there lies as many as 25 small temples in the same premises. These temples includes Ganesh Mandir, Garud Mandir, Ekmukh Dattatraya Mandir, Satyabhama Mandir and Kanhopatra Mandir.

Vithoba Temple is the only temple where on behalf of Government of Maharshtra a special worship ritual is organized and usually chief Minister of state remains present for this. Though Kartik Ekadasi [11^th day of Kartik Month] is also celebrated with same devotion of Aashad Ekadshi but it is Aashad Ekadashi on which more than 15 Lakhs of devotees not only from Maharashtra but all over the world present for the blessing from Vithoba and Rukma. The daily worship ritual at temple includes

Kakad Arati (Early Morning Prayers)

Mahapuja (Mega-Worship)

Mahanaivedya (Food offering)

Poshakh (putting the robe)

Dhoop Arati

Padya Pooja .

On the Aashad Ekadashi day [This year on 26^th July 2007] atmosphere at Pandharpur is always filled with sounds of “Vithoba Che Navane Chang Bhala.”

Hindu Temples- Kashi Vishwanath

Hindu Temples- Kashi Vishwanath
"Kashi Karvat" it the faith of Hindus all over the world that one of dies in the city of Kashi will directly go to heaven, hence old age people come to the city for a stay till the death, this is known as the "Kashi Karvat." Kashi is also synonymous for the terminator of the universe Lord Shiva. The city is also have the fame of being first of tweleve "Jyotirlings" .Kashi now known as Varanasi and Vishavnath temple are the identification mark for each other. On the banks of holly river Ganga, is situated , temple of Lord Shiva " Vishavnath Temple" according to epic the original shiva Ling is lying hiden in the well of knowledge situated next to temple. The temple is open only to Hindus. Other religion followers are not allowed to enter the temple, though they can take an outside view of the temple. The building of temple has been constructed and destructed many times. The last known invasion was by Aurangzeb, who destroyed the temple heavily. He constructed a mosque, called Gyanwapi Mosque, in the same compound. The mosque shares same wall with the temple. In 1776, Maharani Ahilyabai of Indore, donated heavily to re-construct the buildings of temple. Maharaj Ranjit Singh of Lahore is said to have donated 1000 Kg of gold to construct the 16 mt high spire of the temple. Beside the Ayodhya's Ram Janam Bhoomi dispute about this land also comes to surface from time to time. the Dashashwamedh Ghat one of the most famous ghat got its name from the epic that When Lord Shiva decided to stay in the city , Brahama welcomed him by sending his 10 10 horses chariot. City and temple are true representative of the timeless cultural traditions and highest spiritual values.

Hindu, Temples - II

Kailash Temple,Ellora Caves

Among the prime tourist attraction of Maharashtra tourism one is Ellora caves. The nearest Air port is Aurangabad , vigrously growing city of the Maharashtra state. There are about 34 caves and the most famous one is kown as the Kailash Temple.It is believed that it was constructed under the guidance of King Krishna around 750 and about 200,000 tones of rock were used for the two story construction. This is probably the world's largest monolithic structure. Representing Shiva's Himalayan home, the temple is exquisitely sculpted and is considered as one of the most astonishing 'buildings' in the history of architecture. A crowning glory of the art, Kailash temple at Ellora is indeed unique. Instead of carving down into the face of a cliff and creating underground halls which had been the practice, the sculptors/architects set aside all convention and created a full temple, identical in every detail to a structural, 'built-up' example, by carving vertically down into the living rock. Along with Ajantha caves [situated near Jalgaon, the work place of present President of India, Pritibha Tai Patil and upcoming Metro of the state], Ellora caves were included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in the year 1983. Though the human interference is forcing deshaping of stone craved statues and clours but still the caves are worth to visit for a look in the history. Ellora caves are also part of Buddhism travel of India.

Jwalamukhi Temple

In India there is ample space for religious tourism. It is common faith that Hindus have 33 Karores of Devi and Devtasa.This huge number of Deities has added numerously in the number of temples in India. Among one of the 51 Shaktipeeths of India, the Jwalamukhi Devi Temple, tended by the followers of Goraknath, is set against a cliff. The picturesque temple, built in the Indo-Sikh style, is a modern building whose dome is of gilt, gold and pinnacles and possesses a beautiful folding door of silver plates, presented by the Sikh Raja Kharak Singh.
Dedicated to the "Goddess of Light", the Jwalamukhi temple is one of the most popular Hindu temples in Northern India. The temple located on a small spur on the Dharamshala-Shimla road at a distance of about 20-kms from the Jwalamukhi Road Railway Station attracts lakhs of pilgrims every year. In this temple there is a copper pipe through which natural gas comes out.
After Daksha Yoga Bhagna, Lord Shiva placed the burnt dead body of Sati on his shoulders and started wandering about in a state of madness. To save the world from the destructive wrath of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu started cutting the limbs of the dead Goddess Parvati one by one. The places where they fell became sacred centers for the worship of Shakti. The tongue of Sati fell at the place where the temple of Jwalamukhi is situated. The flames that come out of the openings in the earth?s surface are regarded as the manifestations of the fallen tongue of Sati and are worshipped as "Jwalamukhi Devi" (Goddess, who emits flames from her mouth).

This place is also famous for the natural beauty of mountains. Dharamshala is in the Kangada district of the Himachal Pradesh and have many attractions for the buddhists .Presence of oak and and conifer trees in the bacground of snow capped mountains give the feeling of Haven to tourist.

Abode of Lord Krishana : Jaganathpuri

Abode of Lord Krishana : Jaganathpuri

[World Famous Chariot Procession]

India, the piece of land from the globe, is most famous for the religious rituals and is known as the birth palce of many incarnations of the God. No other piece of land on earth can match the salvation properties hold by this land, the unique way of religious life style attracts millions and billions from other parts of the world towards India with a hopefull look of guiding them on the path of spirituality. On this land you will find every day and every walk of human life is related with one or other religious/spiritual ritual. Every socio religious celebration has a specific colobration with a particular God/ Goddess and is a step forward towards the salvation, the ultimate destination of human life. Some places of this land are have fame of being abode of God like Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva, so is the Puri [Orissa] is the abode of Lord Krishna and is famous for "Rath Yatra" [Chariot Procession] This year this Rath Yatra is taking place on 16th July.
Puri or Jaganathpuri is famous as the city of temples some of famous temples of the city are:

Gundicha Temple

Astasambhu Temple

Astachandi Temple

Panchatirtha Temple

Loknath Temple

Chakratirtha Temple

Chakranarayan Temple

Daria Mahabir Temple

Ardhasani Temple

Siddha Mahavir Temple

Jameswara Temple

Alabukeswara Temple

Kapalamochana Temple / Manikarnika

Daksinakali Temple

Syamakali Temple

Dasavatara Temple

The Temple of Seven Mother Goddesses

Mausima Temple

A religious festival in a city with so many temples is just as the walk of day to day life hence visitors always get a chance to witness one or other socio religious celebration, but annual Rath Yatra has not only is specific in this arena but also attracts some milloins from all part of the country. Reports says that budget of this Rath Yatra goes over the US$ 10 millions as the preprations goes on through out the year, This Rath Yatra is specific in the way that chariots are pulled neither by animals nor the mechanical power but the devotees, which takes many hours to cover the distance of about 1.5 km from the Sinh Dwar [lion gate] of main temple to Janakpur, where Lord Krishna [Jagananth Ji] takes rest for three days and meet with Godess Laxmi [Godess of wealth] before returning back main temple. According to Sikand Puran the frist chariot for this journey was constructed by the Vishawkarma, the ever first architect and designer of human beings and modern chronologist dates writing of Puranas to the seventh century, it means this Rath Yatra is a centuries old tradition.

Hindu Temples

Ganpatiphule

Ganapatiphule is an important pligrimage centre. The temple of the 'Swayambhu Ganapati' is known for its unique idol of Lord Ganapati and its magnificient temple ('Swayambhu' or self originated, not manmade, 'Ganapati' or the lord of 'ganas' or army. 'Pule' or sand dune. That's how the name Ganapatiphule). The temple is 400 years old and is at the foot of a hillock. [Ratnagiri District Maharashtra State]

Guruvayoor Temple
Located 29 km north-west of Thrissur District in God's Own Kerala, Guruvayur is one of the most important pilgrimage centers of South India. Guruvayur is also called the Bhoolokavaikunta - the heaven on Earth! The square Sreekovil is the sacred sanctum Sanctorum of the temple, housing the main deity of Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Lord MahaVishnu.