Arulmigu Maha Sapthakannika Devi Kovil, Seremban (Negeri Sembilan)

Name : Arulmigu Maha Sapthakannika Devi Kovil, Seremban (Negeri Sembilan)

Location : This temple is situated on Victoria Hill in Seremban (Negeri Sembilan), Malaysia

Description :

Built over 100 years ago and is one of the few Kaniamman temple in Malaysia. The scenic view of this temple is breathtaking, which is surrounded by flora and fauna. Although the temple does not have an easy access route, it is definitely worth the journey. The seven kanni devi’s are Biramme, Mageswary, Gaumaree, Varaagi, Vyshnavi, Magenthari and Chamundee.

Legend :

Before the temple was built, Victoria hill was a primary source of silica stones, and was mined by a Chinese contractor. The contractor primarily used explosives to mine Victoria hill. On one occasion, he repeatedly tried to blast explosives but it failed. Immediately he saw a snake slithering past him. The stunned contractor took a gun and shot the snake. Soon after, the contractor and his workers fell ill. After consulting a spiritual medium, the contractor was informed that he had done injustice by mining on the hill. The sacred hill was the dwelling of Nagamma, who frequented the hill in the form of young snakes and maiden ladies.

To repent this injustice, the contractor was instructed by the medium to carry out prayers for Nagamma at Victoria hill. During the prayer, a man got into a trance and started moving like a snake. He slithered across the ground to a particular location. He then advised the contractor to build a temple for Nagamma at that location. Under that mystical command, the Nagamma temple was built.

Over the years, many devotees of this temple have witnessed the amazing sakthi of Nagamma.

Festivals & Pooja :

The most important date in this temple is May 1st, whereby a special pooja is conducted annually. Devotees of Nagamma, fast for three days and carry pots filled with milk from the foothill to the hill top. When the devotees arrive at the temple, the milk is poured onto the seven Kanni Devi’s. Nagamma gives her blessing during this festive occasion, and this has been witnessed by several devotees. Once during this annual festival, the priest of this temple witnessed a beautiful cobra resting beneath a tree near the temple. Astonishingly, the cobra was in seven different colours. As he was stunned by this miraculous incident, the priest called other devotees to witness this mystical event. After receiving the blessings of Nagamma, the priest returned to the temple. He was shocked to see that the seven shades of the cobra was the exact colour of each sari on the seven Kanni Devi’s.

Directions:

Take Seremban exit. Take flyover to Pusat Kualiti Alam untill tunnel. After tunnel, uturn. Take exit to seremban 2, and short distance away, turn left into mud road. Tel: 0196209259

Website :

http://mysticaltemplesofmalaysia.blogspot.com

Veerabhadreshwara Temple

Name : Veerabhadreshwara Temple

Location :

This is an ancient cave temple situated in the lovely picnic spot of Kalhatti falls. This temple is near Kalhattipura which is 20 km south of Tarikere in Chikmagalur District and about 10 km from Kemmannagundi. Tarikere Junction Railway Station is the nearest railhead.

Description :

This temple i am not sure if it is Hill temple, but it is constructed in a gap between rocks, this temple is said to have been built during the Vijaynagara period. The main deity is Lord Veerabhadreshwara, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. The entrance of the temple is decorated with three stone carvings of three elephants. According to legends, this place has once hosted the hermitages of Sage Agastya.

The temple conducts its festival for three days every year. No animal sacrifice is made at this temple, but animal sacrifice occurs at the goddess temple a few yards before the Shiva temple.

Other Attractions :

Goddess Chowdeshwari Temple and the Kalhatti falls, situated amidst the natural surroundings, attract both tourists and pilgrims.

Website :

http://www.india9.com/i9show/Veerabhadreshwara-Temple-63045.htm

Katarmal Sun Temple

Name : Katarmal Sun Temple

Location : Katarmal is about 25 kms from Ranikhet. Seven kms away from Almora, in Uttarakhand state.

Description :

Katarmal is a 800-year old Sun Temple and is the second in importance after the Sun Temple of Konark in Orissa.

The deity of the sun temple in Katarmal is known as Burhadita or Vraddhaditya (the old Sun God). The temple, noted for its magnificent architecture, artistically made stone and metallic sculptures and beautifully carved pillars and wooden doors, has a cluster of 44 small, exquisitely carved temples surrounding it.



The present mandapa of the temple as well as many of the shrines within the enclosure have been constructed much later. The image of Surya in the temple dates back to 12th century. The idols of Shiva-Parvati and Lakshmi-Narayana are also found in the temple. However, the intricately carved doors and panels have been removed to the National Museum in Delhi after the 10th-century idol of the presiding deity was stolen.

A beautiful trek leads you to the Temple. If anyone don't feel like trekking they can also drive very close to the temple.

Website : http://www.dazzlingindia.com/whattoseeatAlmora_649.html

Shivagange

Name : Shivagange Hill

Location : Shiva Ganga is a hill about 50 km from Bangalore, 20 km ahead of Tumkur. It’s a pretty tall hill with two Shiva temples, one very close to the foot of the hill and another, that’s possibly around 5 km uphill!

Deity : The deities are “Gangadhareshwara”, and his consort “Swarnambha”.

Description :

This place is also called as “Dakshina Kaashi” - Kaashi/Varanasi of South India. One strange happening here in Shivagange is, if you do an ‘abhishek’ of ‘ghee’ in the temple, the same ghee turns in to ‘butter’.

The place is just fantastic, with breathtaking views from the high altitudes. Brilliant are the views of the surrounding city, the nearby `pushkarini’ or pond, from the top of the hill. The unique feature of the hill is, that it looks like a bull (Nandi) from the East, a Ganesha from the West, a Linga from the South and a cobra from the North. A flight of steep steps leads to the shrines of Gavi Gangadhareshwara Cave temple and Honnadevi temple. The spring water found here is considered to be the sacred water of the 'Ganges'.

Most of the place is rocky, with railings to hold on to as you climb, and monkeys to make sure you don’t take any offerings to the deity on top.

Inside some of the rocks and even inside the temple and the deities and sannidhis, you could find some small fountains or water bodies, that never dry up throughout the year. But the most intriguing of all was a tunnel which supposedly led into the heart of Bangalore.

Other places one can visit in the same hill -

1.Gangadhareshwara Temple

As we go up the hill, we first see the Gangadhareshwara, ancient temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It has a low roof and alight only with diyas. Pujas and abhisheka are performed here. It is believed that the Abhisheka in ghee turns into butter. There is a tunnel in the Garba Griha (inner sanctum) which is believed to be connecting to the Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple at Bangalore. Nobody has tried to enter the tunnel as it is closed from both the entrances for safety reasons.

2.Olakala Teertha

Further up on the hillock we come across the spring water, Olakala Teertha. One has to step down the narrow stairs between the rocks to find the spring. It is said that one who is pious and good can touch or feel the water.

3.Nandi Statue

At the top of the hill is the Nandi Statue, is a monolith placed on a huge rock .The view around the area atop the hill is mesmerizing. This is the peak of Shivagange. After this is the visit to Patala Gange.



4.Patala Gange

Patala Gange is a temple built in the mountain. Here has underground spring seeping at entrance of the temple. Sometimes the water level is up to the knee length and very cold. Passing this we arrive at the Garba Griha where in we can crawl into a tunnel to make the Pradakshina to the Lord. They say the water flows here is connected at Antargange.

5.Shantala drop

Queen Shantala, wife of Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana committed suicide here. The drop is more than 500 ft.

It takes about 2-2.5 hours to go up and around 2 hrs to get down the hill. There is a lot of crowd on Sundays and on Maha Shivarathri. Overall, it appears to be a great place for a quick weekend trip.

Traveling Tips

* You need to carry plenty of water and a food packet as the hill is a good 2 km(approx) trek.
* Beware of menace of monkeys. Please do not take carry bags and do not litter.
* Wear a cap or umbrella to avoid the scorching sun.
* There are not many hotels or eat-out, so pack your lunch if you plan to stay longer.
* You start early from Bangalore and cover Shivagange, Namada Chilume and Devarayana Durga in one day. There is a Kamat Outlet and many more hotels on Tumkur road for food and refreshments.

Website : I have used the material from http://www.karnataka.com/tourism/bangalore/shivagange.html for this post. All the credit for this post goes to them.

Toong Wah Tong

Name : Toong Wah Tong cave

Location : Toong Wah Tong is located about 500m away from Lost World of Tambun on the way to Tanjong Rambutan in Kinta district, Perak, Malaysia.


Description :

The 130 over years old cave temple which is located about 60 steps high or 100 feet above ground. Visitors will be fascinated by the beautiful cave temple.

Once you are at the temple, you can get a good view of the surrounding greenery including the lime stone hills. Founded by a famous tin miner Leong Sin Nam, the temple opens daily to the public from 9am to 5.30pm. Many tourists from around the world have come to visit this temple. Some came to offer prayers and some came to take a good view from the temple.



Local people will normally come to pray and at the same time climb the hill to keep themselves healthy. Visitors will be welcome by the writings on the wall that read: "If you can climb up the hill, it is fated and when you descend, its your good fortune".

Website : http://eat-n-sleep.blogspot.com/2009/09/toong-wah-tong-cave-temple.html

The Areopagus or Mars Hill

Name : The Areopagus or Mars Hill or Hill of Ares; Areios Pagos

Location : Athens, Attica State, Greece

Features : Footsteps of Paul

Myth and Mystery :

According to Greek mythology, Ares was tried in a court of the gods on this hill for the murder of Poseidon's son Alirrothios. Another legend says that the hill was the site of the trial of Orestes for killing his stepmother and her lover, Clytemnestra and Aegisthus.

History :

In pre-classical times (before the 5th century BC), the Areopagus was the council of elders of the city, like the Roman Senate. Like the Senate, its membership derived from those who had held high public office, in this case that of Archon. In 462 BC, Ephialtes put through reforms which deprived the Areopagus of almost all its functions except that of a murder tribunal.

In classical times, the Areopagus functioned as the chief homicide court of Athens. At the foot of the Areopagus was a temple dedicated to the Erinyes, where murderers could find sanctuary.
In the Bible

The Areopagus, like most city-state institutions, continued to function in Roman times, and it was then that the Apostle Paul delivered his famous speech about the identity of "the Unknown God." According to the biblical account (Acts 17):

A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.

Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean. (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you."

...When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." At that, Paul left the Council. A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.



What to See ;

The Areopagus is a bare marble hill across from the entrance to the Acropolis. Its ancient marble steps can be slippery, especially in the rain. Wear appropriate shoes. Near the base of the stairs is a bronze plaque with the Greek text of Paul's sermon. At the top there are nice views of the Acropolis.

Website : http://www.sacred-destinations.com/greece/athens-areopagus-mars-hill