\|/ The Temples Of India\|/ - Page 22

This Shiva Temple has been a place of worship for the Kashmiri Royalty for years. The Temple houses a Shiv Lingam (a phallic representation of Lord Shiva) as well as an idol of Goddess Parvati. The temple was built by Mohini Bai Sisodhia ' wife of the last King of Kashmir ' Maharaja Hari Singh in 1915 and therefore the temple is also called the 'Mohineshwar Shivalaya'. The Temple was renovated in 1998 by the Dagger Division which is headquartered at Baramullah. It is currently managed by the 'Jammu and Kashmir Dharmarth Trust which is headed by Maharaja Hari Singh's son ' Dr. Karan Singh.

The security guard of this Shiva Temple used to be Ghulam Mohammad Shiekh's father who put in 40 years of service 'taking care of this temple. And when the militancy started in Kashmir, the Hindu priests of the temple fled suddenly abandoning this temple completely. And that's when Ghulam Mohammad Shiekh made a decision to perform the role of the Hindu priests and to ensure that the temple always remains open for its devotees. However, it was not easy to live with this decision as Ghulam Mohammad Shiekh faced threats from the Ultras to quit the Hindu rituals in the temple. Ghulam was also kidnapped by the Ultras and luckily was released later. But he continues to be the priest of theShiva Temple in Gulmarg. The temple attracts hundreds of curious Hindus and Muslims every summer.

facts about the temple and informations:

The Shiva Temple is open from 6 am to 9 pm and 'Aarti' is performed twice a day.

how to reach there:

The Shiva Temple can be accessed from any part of Gulmarg by taxis but it is highly recommended that you commute on horse-back. After all it's a matter of a couple of kilometres as Gulmarg is all of 5 square kilometres in area.

temple at winter

at summer

As per the writings on the temple wall this temple is believed to be constructed by the King Pulakesi II of Chalukya dynasty around 625 A.D to commemorate his victory over Vengi region of Andhra Desham. This can be observed from the square pillars used in the temple structure which were different from the circular pillars commonly used in temples constructed by Kakatiyas.

The Kakatiya kings of "Orugallu empire" which is the present Warangal town have adopted Goddess Bhadrakali as their "Kula Devatha" giving her preference over other gods. The lake was built later by Ganapathi Deva, a minister in Kakatiya Dynasty. A road leading to the temple was also added during that period.

Due to the fall of Kakatiya Dynasty to the Muslim ruler of Delhi Ala-ud-din Khilji, his general Malik Kafur and later to Ghias-ud-Din Tughlak, and during the rule of Bahamani Sultans and Golkonda rulers, the temple lost its prominence over the period and the place has become dilapidated.

Sri Ganapathi Sastri (a.k.a. B. S. Ganesh Rao) a Brahmin and devi upasaka (Devotee of Goddess Kali) from Karnataka has migrated to Warangal in 1940's. He noticed the old Bhadrakali temple and has taken interest in renovating the temple. He constructed a small house next to the temple and started living in this isolated place. He along with Sri Mudumbai Ramanujacharya sought the help of Sri Maganlal Sameja (a prominent local merchant) and other affluent locals and renovated the old temple in 1950. Many persons like Brahmasri Sri Hari Radhakrishnamurthy, Adluri Seetharama Shastry, Vangala Guravaiah, Thandra Venkata Rama Narsaiah, Mahatapaswini Mangalambika and Tankasala Narasimha Rao have lent their hands in the renovation work of the temple.

Before the temple was renovated in 1950 there were Animal Sacrifices at the temple (an old custom at Kali temples in India). This practice was stopped from 1950 onwards after the renovation of the temple. During the renovation, Chandi yantra was installed in the temple and amrutha beejaksharas (holy shlokas) were written on the deity's hanging tongue and modified the deity's fierce looking eyes and tongue to a pleasant looking face. Since then everyday poojas, Sharannavaratras, Vasantha navarathras are being conducted regularly as per the Vedic rites.

Sri Ganapathi Sastri, at the age of 113, died on 11 November 2011 in Warangal. He was survived by two sons and three daughters. He was the Bhadrakali's temple trustee at the time of his death. The temple and the people of Warangal has lost a great man who has developed the temple single handedly. His son Sri B. Seshagiri Rao has taken over the temple affairs as chief priest a few years ago.

                                                                ABOUT TEMPLE :-

The temple's main deity Goddess Bhadrakali's image is made in a 2.7x2.7 meters square stone facing west with pleasant looking eyes holding weapons in her eight hands with Shiva under her feet. 'Sree Chakram' and 'Utsava Vigrahas' of Bhadrakali are placed in front of the main deity.

A statue of Lion, Bhadrakali's vahana on which she rides, is placed opposite the sanctum sanctorum. The temple also has a Dhwaja Sthambam and Balipeetham.

Some of the oldest deities in the Maha Mantapam along with Bhadrakali are Uma Maheshwara images on stone in front of Shiva Linga, Subramanya Swamy statue, Hanuman statue and Navagrahas all carved in stone.

A new road was constructed in 1966 from the temple to the Warangal-Kazipet main road next to Government Polytechnic. The temple has been expanded in the 2000s with the addition of Alaya Shikaram, Maha Mantapam. Recently Sri Vallabha Ganapathi temple and temple parikrama have been added to the main temple.

The temple management is also running a Veda Pathasala (School for learning Vedas) near the temple.

There are 8 major and 12 minor temples in the mountains surrounding the Bhadrakali Temple including Padmakshi temple, Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, Sri Narasimha swamy temple and Sri Pothuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy temple.

Bhadrakali Temple has become a major tourist place and people from many parts of India visit this temple.

                                                        MAJOR ATTRACTIONS :-

The high point of Bhadrakali Temple is the lake adjoining the temple. The lake has a capacity of 160 million cubic feet (mcft). Earlier rain was the only source of water for this lake and during drought season the lake gets dried up completely. About 20 years ago pipelines were laid from Kakatiya Canal which brings water from Manair Dam in Karimnagar District and now the lake is full throughout the year. Bhadrakali lake is now used as one of the source of drinking water for Warangal and Hanamkonda cities. The AP Tourism has introduced boats in the lake and one can enjoy a good relaxing boat ride in the lake.

A number of natural rock formations in the surrounding area add to the spiritual charm of the temple and one can relax during a visit to temple in the evening with a beautiful sunset in to the hills.

                                                                      GALLERY :-

A Painting of Goddess Bhadrakali :-

Bhadrakali temple complex at Warangal :-

Bhadrakali Temple at Warangal :-

Entrance Arch of the Bhadrakali temple :-

Painting of Bhadrakali Temple surroundings :-

A temple of Lord Shiva,one of the minor temples at the Bhadrakali temple :-

Sunset at Bhadrakali Lake, Warangal :-

Sunset at Bhadrakali Lake :-

Credit:- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhadrakali_Temple

Maharagya was pleased with the devotion of Ravana and appeared before him and Ravana got an image of the Goddess installed in Sri Lanka. However, the Goddess became displeased with the vicious and licentious life of Ravana and so didn't want to stay in Sri Lanka. Therefore, she is believed to have instructed Lord Hanuman to get the image from Sri Lanka and install it at the holy spot of Tula Mulla.

The mention of Kheer Bhawani is found in Kalhana's Rajtarangini. Kalhana writes that the sacred spring of Tula Mula is situated in a marshy ground. The name of the spring is Mata Ragini Kund (pond).

Maharagini is the form of Durga Bhagvati. The brahmins of Kashmir worship this spring and pilgrims from every comer of the country visit to have the darshan of the place.

In Rajtarangini, Tula Mula and the spring of Maharagya has been considered very sacred and the brahmins of Tula Mula considered notable for their spiritual prowess. Thousands of years ago, many floods occurred in Kashmir and the sacred spring of Tula Mula was inundated under its sway and the holy place could nowhere be traced. At last, Kashmir's Yogi Krishna Pandit had a dream in which the Goddess appeared to him and directed that she would swim in the form of a snake at the proper place and that he should stick large poles to demarcate the holy spot in the marsh land. Subsequently, when the water subsided there the holy spot was discovered. This event happened during the Samvat 4041 (Hindu lunar date).

Abul-Fazal in his book Aini-Akbari mentions the area of Tula Mula extending over a region of hundred bighas (unit of land area) of land, which used to sink in the marshy lands during the summer season.

Swami Rama Tirtha and Swami Vivekananda also visited here to have the darshan of the place.

In the past, with incessant offering of milk and sugar candy in the spring by pilgrims, a thick layer of offerings had accumulated at its base. When it was cleared, the ruins of an old temple and shrine slabs engraved with figures were discovered. Here many images were also found but nobody rebuilt the temple till the Samvat 1969 (Hindu lunar date) when Maharaja Pratap Singh who was the disciple of the Goddess, got a temple of marble made in the midst of the spring which shines like a pearl in a shell. The marble temple was completed in 1920s. Some people are of the opinion that there was a mulberry tree near holy spot of Kheer Bhawani which, in local language, is called tul mul. But tul mul is also derived from the Sanskrit word atulya mulya meaning great value. It is believed that Ravana, after his worship of the Goddess, offered her kheer (rice pudding), which she accepted and since then it is called Kheer Bhawani.

                                            BIRTH of GODDESS in HUMAN Form :-

Pandit Prasad Joo Parimoo, a Kashmiri pandit, is believed to have been agrahasta (house-holder) saint of tall order and as such his peers would call himJada Bharata, who was a legendary saint of Puranas times. He used to live in Sekidafer area of Srinagar in Kashmir. He was married but didn't have any children so he is said to have finally adopted a son named Madhav Joo. He would regularly meditate at this holy spring and during one such occasion, while being in a meditative trance (samadhi), he is said to have had a vision of the deity of Mata Kheer Bhawani, who reprimanded him for his hasty decision of going for an adoption when she was herself desirous of taking birth in his family as his daughter. Nonetheless, she is said to have blessed him with the boon and eventually Pandit Prasad Joo Parimoo's wife did give birth to a daughter, who was named Haar Maal. Approximate year of her birth would be 1870-1880 (see notes). In the course of time, Smt Haar Maal got married to Pandit Narayan Joo Bhan and gave birth to a son in 1898 who later came to be called Bhagwan Gopinath during his lifetime.

                                                                  SACRED SPRING :-

A unique septagonal spring dedicated to Goddess Kheir Bhawani flows from west(sheeror head section) to the east(padh or feet). The holy spring is known to change its colour with various hues of red, pink, orange, green, blue, white, etc. which was noted by Abul Fazal and Swami Vivekananda. A black shade of the spring water is believed to be inauspicious.

                                                           PROPOSED NEW LOOK:-

In early 2008, there were plans to modify the basic design of the marble structure. The project was sponsored by Capt. Kapil Raina and family. However, Dr. Karan Singh, who is the trustee of the Dharmarth Trust that looks after the affairs of this shrine and many other pandit-shrines of Kashmir, refused to carry this proposal forward. He believed that the native Kashmiri Pandit community, in general, won't be happy with the change of the look of the old structure.

                                                                    PHOTOS:-

The Goddess in an Atmalinga form at Kheer Bhawani :-

Devotee at the Temple :-

Night view of the temple :-

Changing colors of the sacred spring :-

Kheer Bhawani temple :-

Kheer Bhawani temple-A closer look :-

Kheer Bhawani temple :-

Flowers in the holy spring :-

Kheer Bhawani temple-At Night :-

Credit :- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kheer_bhawani

Draksharama is a temple in East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh in South India. Draksharama temple is one of the Five Powerful temples of Lord shiva, known as Pancharama Kshetram

The Siva deity is known as Bhimesvara Swamy. The temple is situated on the eastern bank ofGodavari River. The consort of Lord Bhimesvara is Manikyamba. According to local belief theSiva linga at the temple was installed and established by the god Surya. Maha Shivaratri, Devi Navaratrulu, Karthika Masam, and Dhanurmasam are the main festivals celebrated at this temple.

According to local legend, the temple was built by angels in one night. The construction of the perimeter wall could not be completed before sunrise and still stands incomplete. Several attempts have been made to construct the uncompleted part of the wall but all those efforts have failed with the constructed wall collapsing within a few months.

As per the Government of India, the temple construction was started in mid 800 AD and completed somewhere around the 11th century. The construction of the temple is a marvel, consisting of a two-staired mandapa and two walls, one inside of the other. The inner temple (Garbhaalaya) made it a very profound and cultural work of architecture in those times. Its architecture is still a library for students of architecture. The ventilation of the inner temple is impressive. The temple is always full of light and air with very good ventilation. The temple's two-stair mandapa is impressive, and the pillars in the temple are skillfully and delicately carved. Many Shasanas (Official & Historical Registry Chronicles) have been written on the stone walls of the temple from time to time, from legions of Chola & Sathavahanas to Vijayanagra & Reddy Kingdoms that ruled over centuries. The scripts are Dravidian, Tamil, Devanagri, and Telugu scripts in both Sanskrit and Telugu languages.

108 Shivite temples were built after 800 around this temple in a radius of 40 kilometers. Somepurohits have this list.

The village is called Dakshina Kasi. The Siva Linga in this temple is said to be one large crystal which is 2.6 meters high. Shiva is accompanied by Dakshayani, who is the first wife of Shiva (also the daughter of Daksha, and therefore named Dakshayani). Manikyamba goddess, said to be one part of the 18 pieces of Sati Devi that fell here, is a Shakti Peetha. It has one of the world's longest siva linga.

The inner sanctorium has a pedestal built for the archakas to perform rituals. The inner sanctorium is very dark, so much that one cannot see without a some sort of light. Legends say that the inner walls of the temple were once filled with diamonds that provided the required light. When Aurangazeb invaded the temple to plunder the riches, all the diamonds turned to stones. Archakas show the walls adorned with diamond-shaped rocks as proof of this.

There is another small temple within the main temple. One legend says that as ages go by, the height of humans would reduce to such an extent that the current temple would become a huge gigantic structure, and hence another temple was built for the tiny people of the future. Another legend says that the tiny temple is for the tiny creatures that inhabit the land. And some say that it's the prototype of the temple.

                                        DRAKSHARAMA BHIMESVARA SATAKAM :-

Acharya Vemu Laxminarayana Subrahmanya Bhimashankaram wrote collection of poems called Shivananda Mandahasam in 2004 andDaksharama Bhimesvara Satakam in 2006.

                                                                  PHOTOS :-

Main entrance to the Bhimeswara Swamy temple (view from inside the temple):-

Draksharama Temple Complex :-

A view of west Gopuram at Draksharamam :-

Draksharama temple compound :-

Temple gopuram:-

Pond near the temple at Draksharamam :-

A view of Temple Walls at Draksharamam :-

Pond near the temple at Draksharamam:-

Draksharama temple entrance arch :-

Credit :- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draksharama

Char Dham is a popular pilgrimage destination of Sikkim, which also has some interesting history connected to it. The principle deity here is Lord Shiva. It is believed that during the Kurukshetra war between the Kauravas and Pandavas, this place was where Arjuna worshipped Lord Shiva. It is also believed that Lord Shiva, pleased with Arjuna, appeared before him as a hunter and blessed him which helped Pandavas in winning the war.

In Hindu mythology, it is believed that Lord Shiva, after losing Sati in Agnikund, had gone into seclusion and became a hunter in the forests of Sikkim. There is also a famous Kirateshwar Mahadev Temple at Legship, in West Sikkim along the banks of River Rangeet.

Chardham is a unique pilgrim centre with a 108 feet tall statue of Lord Shiva , this pilgrim centre also has replicas of the twelve Jyotirlingas to offer one platform for Shiva devotees. The four most revered Dhams of the Hindus – Jagannath, Dwarika, Rameshawaram, Badrinath have been replicated in this fantastic complex to benefit the devotees visiting this place.

chardham temples

The temple complex is divided into 4 parts – the statue of Lord Shiva along with 12 jyothirlingas, four dhams, a Sai Baba Mandir and the Kirateshwar Statue besides the Nandi bull.

Lord Kirateshwar

The world's largest statue (~118 feet) of the Buddhist Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, the patron saint of Sikkim, is situated on the Samdruptse hill, opposite Namchi. It is also said that the Samdruptse hill is actually a Dormant Volcano. Myths say that the buddhist monks have been going on top of the hill and offering prayers to the volcano to keep it calm.

Guru Rinpoche

places to visit nearby:

ravangla,a great spot in sikima,nd tea gardens.

The temple enshrines Goddess Bhadrakali as the presiding deity. The idol stands for Goddes Bhadrakali the daughter of Lord Shiva. Goddess Kali is situated towards north direction (vadakke nada). The idol is known in the localMalayalam language as Thirumudi. The idol of the Goddess in the Vellayani temple is one of the largest among the idols of Kerala Kali temples.^[2] The idol is four and a half feet in height as well as width. Pure gold and precious stones decorate the frontal view of the idol.

Other deities worshiped at the Vellayani Devi temple called Upadevatha's temples include Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh and Nagaraja. The temple also has a small sub-temple where another deity Madan Thampuran is enshrined.

In the temple Antler is also worshipped. The circulating notion about this is that the antler serves as a medium to invoke the spirit of the divinity at a new-built temple.One of the antlers kept in the Sanctum sanctorum oriented towards the east is from the Thekkathu.

                                                                             FESTIVAL :-

Vellayani Devi Temple is renowned for celebrating the longest non Pilgrimage festival of South India and the duration of the festival is around 56 to 60 days. This festival is held once in 3 years usually between February and April. The festival is known as the Kaliyoottu Mahotsavam – which literally means 'the festival to sumptuously feed Devi'.Kaliyoottu is the dramatic presentation of the genesis of Bhadrakali and Darika the representatives of good and evil respectively, their confrontation and later the extermination of Darika in devotional terms and with rhythmic footsteps.Many of the customs are exclusively performed by certain classes of people which includes:-

                                                                          1] Karadikottu :-

Karadikottu is the maiden custom related with the festival performed with a special drum. The performer is locally known as Panan.

                                                                         2] Kalamkaval :-

Kalamkaval is a famous customs practiced at the temple premises and nearby places during festival. It is believed that the Goddess Bhadrakali searches her enemy demon, Daaruka in all directions before putting him to death. Devotees commemorate this legend by seeing this unique Kalamkaval. Kalamkaval is the ritual in which chief priest, carries the idol on his head and performs some trance like dances until he is unconscious. During kalamkaval, chief priest wears anklet and thiruvabharam (traditional gold ornaments of goddess that includes kappu, vanki, odyanam, paalakka mala, pichi mottu mala, muthu mala etc.). All people believe that the priest gets strength to carry on the trance with the idol on his head, due to the blessings of the Devi enshrined in the temple.

                                                                            3] Uchabali :-

Uchabali is another custom performed during the festival. About sixty four gestures like in Kadhakali are used for the performance. Mathsyam, sampannam, chathurasramam, sarppamudra, and jyothimudra are some of the main gestures used. Virgin girls are usually prohibited from watching Uchabali.A beautiful crown built of coconut palm is fixed at the spot of Uchabali. Uchabali is performed during midight.

                                                                           4] Paranettu :-

It is believed that a fight erupted between Devi and the demon Darikan in sky. The fight is enacted on a specially erected stage, about 100 feet high and is conducted at night known as Paranettu.

                                                                        5] Nilathilporu :-

Nilathilporu that marks the conclusion of the Kaaliyoottu festival at Vellayani Devi Temple. During the climactic moment of this ceremony, the demon Daarika (the man with the symbolic crown in the foreground) weeps and begs for mercy from the Goddess. Subsequently the Goddess beheads the demon.

                                                                           6] Aaruttu :-

The festival, Kaliyoottu, ended with a grand procession knows as Aaraattu. During Aaraattu the Idol is cleaned using water collected from 101 pots. Aaraattu is conducted at vellayani lake. A girl from the priest family below ten years of age, along with chief priest performs the function.

                                                               7] Pongal OR Pongala :-

Pongala Festival at Vellayani Devi Temple is celebrated during the Malayalam month of Meenam on the Aswathy Nakshatram (Aswini Nakshatra).Pongala is the rice cooked with jaggery, ghee, coconut as well as other ingredients in the open in small pots by women to please the Goddess.

                                                                           LEGEND :-

Legend says that a Kollan (blacksmith) named Kelan Kulasekhara saw a frog with divine spirit of Goddess near Vellayani Lake. He caught the divine frog with the help of his assistant who belong to a low caste. They informed the matter to the Nair chieftains of the locality and with their help Kelan Kulasekhara consecrated the Thiru Mudi (idol) in which divine spirit is evoked. The right to perform Uchabali (a ritual connected with festival of the temple) is still held by the Nair families. Priest of the temple is not belonging to Brahmin community but a selected person belonging to the Kollan (blacksmith) community.

                                                                  KALI - DARIKA MYTH :-

Darika was a demon who received a boon from Brahma which granted that he would never be defeated by any man living in any of thefourteen worlds of Hindu mythology. This made Darika immensely powerful and arrogant. Armed with this boon, Darika went on to conquer the world defeating even Indra, the king of the gods. As his atrocities became intolerable, the sage Narada requested Shiva to contain Darika. Shiva agreed, circumventing Brahma's boon by declaring that Darika would be killed by the goddess Kali, she being a woman and one not born among the humans.

                                                                   POOJA TIMINGS:-

All days temple open at evening 5.30 PM and close at 8.00 pm. In Sunday, Tuesday and Friday temple also open at afternoon 12.30 pm and close at 2.00 pm. 'Madhu Pooja' at this time is very special for Goddess. First day of all Malayalam months, temple will open at morning 5.30 AM and close at 8.00 AM.

                                                                     PHOTOS :-

Idol of Devi Vellayani:-

Vellayani Devi's Idol during Kalamkaval :-

Credit :- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vellayani_Devi_Temple