One of the Shakipeetha in India

Vaishno Devi Temple

Located 13 kms uphill from Katra, perched amidst the Trikuta Bhawati Hills at an elevation of 5300 feet above sea level is Mata Vaishnodevi Temple – a cave shrine dedicated to the Hindu Mythological Goddess ‘Shakti’ – the All-Supreme Goddess of creative power.

Most Hindu traditions believe that the Vaishnodevi Temple is the holiest of all the ‘Shaktipeeths’ – places of worship dedicated to Goddess Shakti. Vaishnodevi Temple is also the second most visited temple in India after the Tirumala Venkateshwara Temple in Andhra Pradesh.

Route of Vaishnodevi Yatra:

This 13-kilometre route between Katra and Bhawan is a steep hilly terrain with scenic splendours along the way.

1.Banganga: One kilometre from Katra, at a height of 2800 feet is Banganga – the first stop of the Yatra where pilgrims could take a holy-dip in the Banganga River. According to the Hindu mythology, Goddess Shakti shot an arrow into the ground at this site a spring of water gushed out which was later named the Banganga. ‘Prasad’ is offered here for free to all visitors which is hosted by the Indian Music House – T-Series. At this point the Yatra-passes / slips are checked by the security personnel in order to allow you to pass through.

2.Charanpadhuka: 2.5 kilometres from Banganga, at a height of 3380 feet is the second stop - Charanpadhuka Temple where Legend has it that Goddess Vaishno Devi halted to rest but as she was chased by Bhairav Nath, goddess Vaishno left the impressions of her feet on the rock while escaping from Bhairav Nath. This place houses the footprint of the Goddess and therefore the place got its name.

3.Adkuwari: 3 kilometres from Charanpadhuka, at a height of 4800 feet is the third stop - Adkuwari Temple – where the Goddess is said to have hid from the Bhairon Nath for months. Adkuwari is also known as Garbh Joon. This point is midway to the Vaishnodevi Temple. One can break the journey here and stay overnight here. At Adkuwari, you can have Darshan of Adkuwari Temple and Gerbhjoon - an ancient Cave of about 20 feet length.

4.Sanjichat: 4 kilometres steep climb from Adkuwari, at a height of 6200 feet is the fourth stop and the highest point of the Yatra. From this point one can have aerial views of Katra, Udhampur Reasi and Jammu.

5.Vaishno Devi Temple: 2.5 kms downhill from Sanjichat, at a height of 5300 feet is the final destination - Mata Vaishnodevi’s Cave Temple in Bhawan. It is said that Goddess Vaishnodevi revealed herself here in the form of three heads of natural rock (with a common base) called the ‘Holy Pindies’. The rock base is immersed in water. The ‘Darshan’ is that of the three heads. There are no other idols or pictures inside the temple that are worshipped. The cave is 30 meter long and just one and a half meter high so visitors would have to crawl their way into the cave temple. This temple is open round the clock and every single day of the year.

Goddess Vaishnodevi is said to be an incarnation of the combined supreme energies of Goddess Kali (force of dissolution), Goddess Lakshmi (force of prosperity and wealth), and Goddess Saraswati (supreme force of creation). About 2 kilometres from the Vaishnodevi Temple is Bhairon Nath’s temple where it is believed that Bhairon Nath was finally slain by Goddess Vaishnodevi.

The Temple Priests begin the Puja of Goddess Vaishnodevi in the wee hours before dawn when the Goddess is bathed in water, milk, ghee, honey and sugar and is dressed-up in a saree, chola,  chuni and ornaments – all along chanting various ‘Shlokas’ and Mantras. Then the ‘Tilak’ is placed on the forehead of the deity and ‘Prasad’ is offered to her. A divine lamp – the Jyoti is lit and then the Aarti of the goddess is performed. The ‘Aarti’ of Goddess Vaishnodevi is performed twice a day at twilight – just before dawn and just after dusk. The Aarti is an elaborate Hindu ritual of worship where devotional ‘Aarti’ songs are sung while several lighted wicks are offered to the deity in a slow and graceful circulating manner. Once the Aarti inside the cave is done the Priests perform the same outside the cave at the entrance in the presence of the eagerly waiting pilgrims outside. After performing the ‘Puja’ and the ‘Aarti’, the Priests distribute ‘Prasad’ and the ‘Charanamrit’ (the holy water) to the devotees. The Priests take two hours to perform the ritual of ‘Aarti’ during which time the ‘Darshan’ of the Goddess Vaishnodevi is suspended. Interestingly, during this time when the cave temple is vacant, all maintenance work is done by the temple authorities as this is the only time they find the cave vacant in the whole day.

Recently, the Shrine Board has introduced 4 categories of individualized Pujas called the ‘Shradha Suman Vishesh Puja’ where the devotee is not worshipping the deity in a crowd but is made to perform the Puja individually with the help of the priests. These Pujas cost between Rs. 16,000 and Rs. 75,000 and entail Aarti Darshan, Prashad, accommodation in one of the Shrine Board accommodation units and meals during the stay.

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Indian natural wealth: Top Tourism Destinations in Hyderabad, India

Indian natural wealth: Top Tourism Destinations in Hyderabad, India:

Hyderabad is a wonderful blend of the old-world charm and vibrant city life. It is the capital city of Andhra Pradesh and reminds us of the royal grandeur which is quite obvious from its age old monuments and splendid architectures. On your tour to Hyderabad, you will come across some impressive architectural instances that bears testimony to the rich culture and heritage of this town. Sightseeing being an indispensable activity of any vacation, there are many tourist destinations in Hyderabad that would simply leave you awe-struck

Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai

The Meenakshi Amman Temple is one of the most important Hindu Pilgrimage places, located in the heart of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is also known as Sundareswarar (Beautiful God) along with his consort Parvati who is also known as Meenakshi. The Temple was first built 2000 years ago and then expanded substantially during the reign of Thirumalai Nayak in the years 1623- 1655 A.D.

The Temple complex has 12 wonderful Gopurams (Towers) including two golden Gopurams for the main deities Lord Shiva and Meenakshi Amman which are intricately sculptured and painted. The tallest of these 12 Gopurams is the southern Gopuram which rises over 52 meters high. This Temple complex is surrounded by other shrine sanctums and grand pillared halls. The impressive Gopuram towers have solid granite bases and are covered with stucco figures of deities, mythical animals and monsters colored in various colors.

The Pandyan King Kulasekhara built the Meenakshi Amman Temple around which he created a lotus shaped Madurai city. According to the legend, Madurai is the original site where Lord Shiva and Meenakshi got married.

There are four Gateways to the Meenakshi Amman Temple. The South gateway contains the Gopurams of the Lord Shiva and Meenakshi Amman and is about nine stories in height. The temple complex is located in the area of 6 hectares displaying the Dravidian style architecture.

On the outer walls of the twin temples, besides the four Gopurams, there are four smaller Gopurams in each of the two shrine compound. Originally Madurai was known as Kadambavanam or the “forest of Kadamba” or the Nauclea Kadamba. 

The Meenakshi Amman Temple is one of the few temples in Tamil Nadu to have four entrances facing four directions. This temple was selected as one of the Seven Wonders of India by NDTV and it is running as the frontrunner in the election for the Modern Seven Wonders of the World

Features of the Temple:

Ashta Shakthi Mandapam:

Ashta Shakthi Mandapam is located at the eastern gateway of the Meenakshi Amman temple. It was constructed by Thirumalai Nayakar’s wives Rudrapathi Ammal and Tholimamai. This is the hall where food was once distributed to the coming from off places. This entrance leads directly to the Shrine of Goddess Meenakshi Amman.

Ashta Shakthi Mandapam consists of hemispherical ceiling with an impressive structure. It is 14m long and 5.5 m wide with bass reliefs all over the place. This Mandapam got its name “Ashta Shakthi” from the eight sculptures it has on it. Those of four principle Nyanmars were added in 1960-1963 during renovation of the temple.

The Lord Shiva’s miracles (Thiruvilayadals), the story of Goddess Meenakshi’s birth and her life as the Princess of Madurai are depicted on the pillars of the Ashta Shakthi Mandapam in beautiful sculptures.


The descriptor Stories on the pillars of Ashta Shakthi Mandapam is as follows:

Madurai King Malayadwaja Pandya was childless for a long time. He did several Yagna (ritual of sacrifices made before a sacred fire) for the heir to his Throne. A three year old girl came out of the fire on one occasion and the king Malayadwaja adopted her. Later he came to know that the girl had three breasts and this worried Malayadwaja. Nevertheless, a divine voice assured him that as soon as she meets her consort the third breast will disappear. The girl grew into a bold and beautiful princess and won many battles, but finally lost her heart to Lord Shiva, when she met him on the battle field in Kailash. Her third breast disappeared as soon as she saw him and she recognized her consort. The Princess was none other than Parvati. They settled in Madurai temple as Meenakshi and Sundareswarar after ruling over the Pandya Kingdom

Samagam Meenakshi Nayakar’s Mandapam:

Adjacent to Ashta Shakthi Mandapam this big hall is located with 110 pillars with 6.7 m high. These pillars portray the pictures of a peculiar animal with a lion’s body and an elephant’s head called Yalli. This Mandapam was built by Vijayaranga Chokkanatha (1706-32) in 1707.

Earlier, the Temple’s camels, elephants and bulls used to be sheltered here. A 7.6 m high brass “Tiruvatchi” holding a thousand and eight lamps is based here. One of the early opponents of the growing British power installed it.

The Meenakshi Nayakar’s Mandapam is a huge hall with 42.9 m long and 33.5 m wide. It has some of the unfinished carvings.

Potramaraikulam (golden lotus tank):

Potramaraikulam is the ancient holy water tank which is 40 m by 60 m in itself is where the devotees take bath. The ancient academy of poets (Tamil Sangam) meeting place was around the Potramaraikulam. The history of the Sangam goes back to the days when gods trifled with men. The Sangam academy judged the worth of any work of literature kept before it by throwing it into the tank. The literature work which did not sink was considered worthy. This holy tank is surrounded by a pillared corridor.

In 16th century, corridors and steps leading down to the tank were built. In 1562, the northern corridor, in 1573, the east corridor and steps and the other corridors and steps were constructed five years later.

Oonjal and Killikootu Mandapamas: 

The Oonjal (swing) and Killikoontu (parrot cage) Mandapams are located on the western side of the Potramaraikulam tank. In the Oonjal Mandapam, every Friday the golden idols of Meenakshi Amman and Sundareswarar are seated on the swing and as the deities swing to and fro, the hymns are sung.

The parrots have trained in the Killikoontu Mandapam to repeat goddess Meenakshi Amman’s name. The interesting part of the Mandapam is 28 pillars which portray some magnificent sculptures of figures of Pandavas, Vali, Sugreeva and the inevitable Yali from Hindu mythology of which the Vijayanagar Kings were very fond of. This Mandapam was constructed in 1623. The shrine of the Vigneswara is located at the southern end of this Mandapam.

Thattu Chuttur Mandapam:

At the junction of the north and east Adi Street this Mandapam is located. Thattu Chuttur Mandapam is also known as 16-pillar Mandapam. The paintings of the saint Manickavasagar are portrayed in this Mandapam, who was a renowned Prime Minister in the court of the Pandyan period in 18th century before he became a saint.

Ayirankal Mandapam (thousand Pillar Mandapam):

Ayirankal Mandapam is located to the east of the Sundareswarar Sannidhi. There are actually 985 pillars in the Ayirankal Mandapam which supports the roof 73 meters by 76 meters with excellent sculptures. The sculptures are in Dravidian architecture which portrays the emotions of Gods and Goddesses.

The Ayirankal Mandapam domiciliates the Temple Art Museum which contains icons, Photographs and drawings from the 1200 years old history of Indian temple architecture in the South India. It is said that the large size of the many pillared halls, mush favored by the Nayak Kings of the 16th century, has been set up an elaborate stone-cutters factory to manufacture beams and pillars in an endless flow.

Vasantha Mandapam (Pudhu Mandapam):

Vasantha Mandapam was constructed by Thirumalai Nayakkar. In Vaikasi (April/May) the Vasanthosavam (the spring festival) is celebrated in this Mandapam. This Mandapam is also known as Pudhu Mandapam which contains sculptures of Lord Shiva, Meenakshi, scenes from their wedding and also the figures of ten Nayak Kings along with their consorts.

Chitra Gopuram:

Chitra Gopuram is located to the west of the Meenakshi Nayakkar Mandapam. This Gopuram is the tallest seven storied Gopuram with most artistically sculptured inner tower. On this Gopuram there are nearly 730 excellent miniature sculptures.

Mudali Mandapam:

Mudali Mandapam is located in the Chitra Gopuram which is a hall full of sculptures and statues. The statues of Mohini, Lord Shiva as Bikshadanar, a saint of the tharuga forest, some unusual sculptures and many more are on this Mandapam.

Rani Mangammal Mandapam:

The Rani Mangammal Mandapam is located towards the west side of the Potramaraikulam (golden lotus tank) projecting over the stairs of the tank. The Rani Mangammal of the Nayak dynasty ruled Madurai in the 17th century. By the ungrateful and jealous generals she was tortured to death after 15 years. The Rani Mangammal Mandapam has statues of the queen, her minister Ramappayyan and grandson Vijayaranga Chokkanatha.

This Mandapam has large number of paintings about the events that took place during Rani Mangammal’s Period. The Painting of Meenakshi-Sundareswarar Thirukalyanam was painted gorgeously on this Mandapam. Lord Vishnu, the brother of the bride affectionately holds her with all Gods and Goddesses around the divine couple. Lord Brahma performs all the rituals and mantras in front of the fire.

Raja Gopuram:

                             

             

Raja Gopuram is the unfinished Gopuram which is beyond the Vasantha Mandapam (Pudhu Mandapam), farther east. It is a huge Gopuram with a base of 70m by 40m and its each monolithic pillar is over 30 m high. Thirumalai Nayakar started his gigantic project, but the democratic Emperor died before it is completed.

Musical Pillars:

In the Ayirankkal Mandapam, there are two Musical Pillars and near Mottai Gopuram there are five Musical Pillars. Every Musical Pillar has a central column surrounded by groups of thin columns well-defined from the same stone. Each and every pillar produces a different musical note when struck

Swami Sundareswarar Shrine:

To the north of Killikoontu Mandapam Swami Sundareswarar Shrine sanctum is located. In the outer corridor of the main shrine, there is a pulpit of the Kadamba tree. Velli Amballam (silver hall) and Kadambathadi Mandapam are also located in the outer corridor. In the Velli Amballam Hall, Lord Shiva as Nataraja, covered with silver leaves can be seen.

Temple Towers:

East Tower - The 161 feet 3 inch, high tower is nine storied and has 1011 Sudhai figures.

West Tower - The 163 feet 3 inch, high tower is nine storied carved with 1124 Sudhai figures.

South Tower - The 170 feet 3 inches, high tower has nine stories with 1511 Sudhai figures.

North Tower - The 160 feet 6 inch high nine storied tower has Sudhai figures than other towers.

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Sri Vara Siddhi Vinayaka Temple, Kanipakam

  The name Kanipakam means "flow of water into wetlands" - "Kani" means 'wetland' and "Pakam" means 'flow of water'. Kanipakam is a small village in Irala mandal of Chittoor District. Situated on the banks of Bahadu River about 11kms from Chittoor town, the village is famous as a pilgrimage centre. Significant for its purity and rich heritage, Kanipakam is famous for Sri Vara Sidhi Vinayaka Temple, which has a swayambhu (self-manifested) idol of Lord Ganesha.

The beauty of the place and the prominence for its sanctity makes it a must-visit place.

There is a general belief that Lord Ganesha is the upholder of truth and in Kanipakam, many people experience this belief when they confront the idol of Lord Ganesha. Day-to-day disputes between people are resolved by taking a special oath. The accused in the dispute are made to take a dip in the pushkarini (Temple tank) and swear before the lord. There are instances when the person who committed the sin accepts his mistake as soon as taking the dip or much before entering the temple. It is said that the lord makes the sinner repent and feel guilty for his sinful deeds. To experience this divine power, one has to visit this beautiful temple of Lord Ganesha at Kanipakam.

There are some other temples to visit like Sri Manikanteswara Swami temple and Sri Varadaraja swami temple around the Kanipakam temple.

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Travel to Araku

Araku is a small dwelling in a beautiful valley that is located around 112 kms from Visakhapatnam amidst the Eastern Ghats. The valley, formed by the hills that stand at an altitude of 1300 meters above the sea level, is a home to many local tribes. The name "Araku Valley" always strikes the mind when one thinks about a trip to Vizag. Araku Valley makes a wonderful place to visit with an enchanting beauty, bridges, tunnels, waterfalls and thick forest all over.

The place has something for all age groups, as there are many things one can do in this place. For those looking for peace, this place offers the best of tranquillity to relax and get lost from the hustle and bustle of city life. For the more energetic, enthusiastic and for those looking for adventure, this provides you an apt place to be. Araku offers early morning trekking in the jungle. For youngsters there is a railway station at Araku on DBK line passing through tunnels, hill sides and streams giving you an exciting and enjoying experience to travel. The Eastern Ghats rail route from Visakhapatnam to Anantagiri is one of the highest broad gauge tracks in Indian Railways. 

There are some more beautiful places that you can visit during your stay in the valley.

The Sangda waterfalls are located in the Sangda village of the Munchingput mandal. Though it receives less attention, they are one of the spectacular waterfalls in India.

Matsyagundam, meaning 'fish pool', is situated in the Machkund River near the village of Matham. It is close under the great 'Yendrika hills' and a barrier of rocks runs cross the river and the stream plunges into a great hole and vanishes to reappear about 100 yards lower down. This place, where it emerges under the barrier, it forms a pool crowded with fish of all sizes. There is also a small Shiva temple on the bank of the river.

There is Padmapuram Botanical gardens which is another main attraction here. There are tree huts or hanging cottages where you can stay to get a lovely experience. For details you can contact the Manager of Padmapuram gardens on this number: 08936-49615. The Ranajelleda Water Falls, Dumbriguda Waterfalls (about 15 kms from Araku) and Ananthagiri Waterfalls (about 30 kms from Araku) can also to be visited.

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Its a very good climate to enjoy Araku trip

Shrine Of Mahalakshmi Devi

The MahaLakshmi Temple is an ancient temple in Kolhapur dedicated to the Goddess of prosperity MahaLakshmi, locally known as Goddess Amba Bai. Known as the most important attraction of Kolhapur city, the temple had been under the patronage of all the major dynasties who ruled the region. The temple was constructed during the reign of King Karandev of Chalukya dynasty in 7th century AD.

The temple is a marvelous example of architectural style known as Hemandpanthi in ancient India. The walls of the temple complex are adorned with exquisite carvings and many sculptures. The temple complex consists of five towers and a main hall. The idol of MahaLakshmi is very unique, weighing 40 kg, made as a monolithic structure embedded with precious stones and diamonds.

The temple witnesses a heavy inflow of devotees on all occasions especially during Kiranotsav, celebrated for three days from January 31 every year and Navrathri during October.

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The Quaint Tourist Paradise Of Baripada

Enchanting greenery, dense and verdant forests, ancient temples – all these and more can be experienced in the Baripada region of Mayurbhanj district. This district, the largest by size in Orissa, has much to offer to the seasoned traveler. One begins a tour of Mayurbhanj with Baripada as home base, for this quaint little city has plenty to offer to the adventure buffs and nature enthusiasts.

The Burhabalanga river and the Simlipal Mountain Range foothills lie adjacent to the city rendering it picturesque and captivating. One can start by spending some time in Lulung on the way to Simlipal. Placed on the banks of a river with water as clear as crystal, this is an ideal picnic spot. The Simlipal reserve, which hosts numerous tigers and other fauna and flora and the accompanying Barehipani and Jordan falls are outstanding tourists destinations where one can revel in the arms of mother nature. Situated at a distance of around 60 kilometers from Baripada, this reserve is one of the most popular locations in Orissa.

One appreciates the cultural heritage of Baripada especially during festival seasons. Celebrations are sometimes accompanied by performances of the Mayurbhanj Chhau dance. ‘Chhau’ is a world famous tribal martial dance art form, and is widely believed to have originated in this region. One can visit this city during the Ratha yatra festival, when a yatra is conducted here at the famous Jagannath temple, much as it is in the city of Puri. With thousands of devotees in attendance this yatra is unique in that it lasts longer than similar other events conducted in any other city. The other famous temples in this region are the Kichakeswari temple and the Ambica temple, both frequent pilgrimage centers, and both boasting of a unique and skillful architecture.

Connoisseurs of history would recognize the artistry and architectural skill of the Bhanja dynasty amongst the ruins of the monuments built in Baripada. Places like the Rasikaraya temple, the Durbar Halls, even the building of the Collectorate and the Maharaja Purnachandra College are all examples of this form of architecture.

Being the commercial hub for the entire district of Mayrubhanj, Baripada is an excellent place for the discerning shopper. Exquisite stone carvings and artistic handloom products from the cities of Kiching and Chandanpur are available here in plenty in the local markets. A veritable paradise for shoppers, this place also offers the very valuable Tusser silk at very reasonable prices.

Another noteworthy tourist destination is the Baripada Museum. This museum contains numerous artifacts, coins, scrolls, silver and gold coins, carvings etc. of the ancient dynasties and boasts of a comprehensive library where one can obtain information on the origin and history of the objects housed in the museum.

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