Hinglaj Matajee Temple Balochistan Pakistan

Name : Hinglaj Matajee Temple

Location :

Hingula is 90 miles away from Karachi. The road from Karachi to Hingula is alongside the Arabian sea. The area actually is a part of Bilochistan province of Pakistan. Hingol river falls on its way in Makran hills. Usual Transport is Camel or Camel driven cart. A beam of light can be seen within the dark cave, where the temple is located. The temple of Hinglaj is situated on the right bank of Hingol river. It is a low mud edifice, built at the extremity of a natural cave of small dimension, and only contains a tomb shaped stone, which is called the Mata or Maha Maya (Goddess).

Legends :

1. During the Treata Yuga, in the days of PARUSHURAM AVATAR, Rishi Dadechi narrated this story. In the TATARI MONGOL CLAN there lived a king named VICHATAR. He had two sons HINGOL and SUNDER. They belonged to Suria Dynasty of Kshtrya class.They were brave but cruel and lived luxurious lives. Their empire was adjacent to China. The people who lived in these countries belonged to Chandra Dynasty of Kshtrya Class and were followers of LORD SHIVA.

Prince sunder attacked the neighbouring countries and killed thousands of people and looted gold ornaments and demanded royalties from them. The people then prayed to Lord SHIVA to save them from the cruel prince by fulfilling their prayers and request , Lord SHIVA granted a boon where GANESH DEVA killed the demon prince Sunder in three days. After the death of Prince Sunder, his brother Hingola became furious and swore to take avenge his brother's death. He underwent penance and by his austerity for years he received the boon that no living being in the three worlds could kill him with any sort of weapon and his death will only occur at a place where Sunlight does not penetrate.

He thereafter defeated other kings, extended his reign with terror and cruelty. He referred to himself as HINGOL DEVA.People became very sick and tired in his reign and they performed great Yagna Hawan in their Devi Mata Temple in order to get rid of HIngol, the King. Devi Mata appeared and promised to kill Hingol. Hingol came in SATA DEEP, presently located in Balochistan and went inside a dark cave where Devi Mata with her wooden weapon TRISHUL killed him. In his last moments of life hingol prayed to Devi Mata that in future this place may be called after his name as HINGAL TEERATH and so the place came to be known.

2. According to another story in the PURAN , once SATI the consort of LORD SHIVA and the daughter of King Daksha was annoyed with her father for not inviting LORD SHIVA in the ceremony of Yagna. She jumped to in Agni Havan Kunda and burnt herself. LORD SHIVA then became furious and came and took the dead body of SATI and started roaming in all the dishas and there was danger created all over the world. Hence LORD VISHNU cut the body of SATI in pieces with his Sudarshan Chakra in order to cool down LORD SHIVA's anger. The pieces of SATI'S body fell at differant places; the head with its Hingul (Sindhoor, Vermillion) fell at this place on the Kunraj hills and it was named as Hingul Parvat and the Peeth was known as Shri Hinglaj Mata Asthan. This Peeth is considered supreme because Sati’s head had fallen here.

Description :

It is considered one of the famous and largest TEERATHS Pilgrimage of Subcontinent.
It is held in great veneration by both Hindus and Muslims. It is dedicated to Hinglaj Devi, the Goddess of Fate, Muslims call it Bibi Nani or simply Nani. In "Nani" there is a survival of ancient Goddess "Nanaia", whose Semitic name is "Anhita". Hinglaj Devi alongwith another Devi called "Kurukullh" was once upon a time, universally worshipped. Hingula means "cinnabar", largely used as materia medica in ancient India. Since "Hingula" cures snake bites and eliminates all types of poisoning, it came to be identified with healing of all sorts of diseases.



It is about 170 miles 250 KM from Karachi. One has to go by road on main Karachi-Quetta Highway (RCD) up to zero point for about 75 miles. Then by road towards west through Lyari town and then to Signal fauji camp stop,crosssing Aghore River. Then through Goongi River and last stop to "Asha Pura" sarai (INN). There are worship places of GANESH DEVA,MATA KALI,GURU GORAKH NATH DOONI,BRAHAM KUNDH,TIR KUNDH,MAHA KALI KUNDA,GURU NANAK KHARAO,RAM JAROKHA BETHAK,ANEEL KUNDH ON CHORASI MOUNTAIN and on the way CHANDRA GOOP , KHARI RIVER and AGHORI PUJA.



Pictures of this yatra can be seen at http://www.hinduofuniverse.com/hou/hinglaj-yatra-history.html. Thanks for the Hindu of Universe team for providing the world with these photos of this Religious yatra.

Hinglaj is situated about a day's journey from the sea coast, at the extremity of the range of mountains dividing Lasbella from Mekran. These is a large circular tank near it, which is said to be of great depth. They relate that one of the priests employed himself for a whole year in twisting a rope for the purpose, but it was not long enough. Those who can swim, jump into the tank from an overhanging rock, and proceed through a subterranean passage to another part of the mountain, which is believed to purify them from their sins. There is also a practice of throwing a coconut forcefully into the water, and as the bubbles arise in a large or small quantity, the individual accordingly will be happy or miserable.



It is believed that Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshman visited this peeth during Banvas.
There is no doubt that HINGLAJ TEERATH is very old and remained famous even during Mahabharat period when King Jaidrath of Sindh constructed Devi temples. When King Sikander of Yoonan, Europe when invaded India, he fought with King Balram at Bali Kot Fort and stayed at Hingol River. At that time, yatri devotees were performing HInglaj Yatra and they were safe. Samrat Vikramjeet, the king of India also visited Hinglaj as yatra after conquering all of India. Raja Todarmal of Mughal regime also visited this teerath. Other Rajput rajas like Bihari Mal, Raja Bhij Singh, Raja Madhoo Singh, Raja Jagat Singh of Jaipur, Ram Devji Pir of Rajasthan with his Army chief Agva Laloo Jakhraj also came to Hinglaj for yatra, Dada Mekhan the great saint of Gujarat also came to Hinglaj Teerath and he was called first KAPRI of Mata and after this all the Yatris are called KAPRIS. Kapris wear mala of Thumra in their neck.

Time to visit :

After creation of Pakistan, the govt. had declared it a prohibited area for residents of India but devotees residing in Pakistan and other foreign countries still take holy pilgrimage to the Peeth starting from Shri Swaminarayan Mandir complex in Karachi during Navratras in the month of April.

Shri Hinlaj seva Mandli every year makes arrangement of Yatra in the month of April in the form of JATHA JATHA , which is a large group of around 5000 people consisting of mem,women and children of different languages and cultures from all the states of Pakistan. These devotees are dressed in red caps and carry flags and banners of Hinglaj and past memories are renewed.

Like Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir, the Hinglaj Yatra is also considered difficult-one but those who perform it, are blessed heavily by the Mata.

Websites :

http://hinduofuniverse.com/hou/hinglajvisit.html

Mazhai Malai Madha Arulthalam

Name : Mazhai Malai Madha Arulthalam

Location :

Mazhai Malai Madha Arulthalam is located on the National Highway about 95 kms from Chennai enroute Trichy. Geographically, it is situated near Melmaruvathur having Mathuranthagam as its Taluk and falls under the Jurisdiction of Kancheepuram District.

Legend :

During the tenure of Founder Rev. Fr. A. Pushpam - Parish Priest ( 1962 - 1973), this parish was the part of the archdiocese of Pondy - Cuddalore. People experienced severe drought in Tamilnadu and particularly in this place. At this moment, Fr. A. Pushpam decided to organize a car procession for Our Lady specially interceding for good rain. When the car procession ended at a place called Nallayan Kundru
(the hill of Good Shepered) there was a heavy down pour with thunder and lightening slashing the place like never before. A beautiful shrine was constructed at this place and hence the name Mazhai Malai Madha ( Hill Goddess of Rain ) was inscripted to our Lady in view of this astounding miracle.

Description :

Ecclesiastically, it belongs to the Chingleput Diocese, a new born babe of the Archdiocese of Madras - Mylapore. The Shrine is located in the midst of a very serene and beautiful vast stretch of lush pasture hill slope.

In view of the Silver Jubilee in the year 1994, a well planned concrete pathway for the pilgrims to visit Mazhai Malai Madha on the top of the mountain.

A Church was inaugurated and blessed by Rt. Rev.Dr. Lawrence Pius, the Auxiliary Bishop of Madras - Mylapore at midnight of the beginning of the III millennium (01.01.2001)

Tower of Faith :

As a monument of faith they have planned to construct a Tower of Faith in the shrine campus. The foundation stone for the great project was laid on 06.09.2003 by His Eminence Simon Cardinal Lourdusamy, Rome. The construction work on 27th October 2004.

The mega monumental project is in the fray. The proposed Tower would consist of Seven floors cascading the pilgrims into a world of Divinity. It is very essential to cultivate the requisite spiritual arousal and strengthen the faith of Christians. One would be enthralled to find this Tower as an exclusive monument depicting the evolution of faith.

The concept of the Tower of Faith is to bring in the celestial world here and now and this place would become a place of penance, a place of meditation, a place tranquillizing turbulent mind a place of spiritual transformation and a place of magnified faith.

Mountain : A Symbol of God’s Presence

For ages past, Mountains have been articulated as a place where God’s mighty presence is conceptualized. India, in particular, which has this sublime uniqueness of nurturing different sects of communities, practices multifarious religions,linguistic, cultures and life styles deem Mountain as a sanctified, vibrant and vivacious God’s presence.



From the Biblical perspective , in 1 Kings 20 :30, it is predominantly mentioned as “God of Mountains”. Mount Horeb was called the Mountain of God (Exodus 3:1).
Even in the life history of Jesus, Mountains have been a place of prominence for his Psycho- Spiritual pursuits.

For Jesus , Mountains became
A place of Prayer, Lk- 20 : 39,
A place of Contemplation, Mt-14 : 23
A place of Temptation and Renunciation, Mt- 4 : 8,
A place of Transfiguration, Mt-17 : 1

Eventually it is conspicuous that Mountains and the presence of God are strongly interlinked. Therefore, Mountain experience is considered to be a manifestation of FAITH EXPERIENCE.

Website :

http://malaimadha.org.in

Walkeshwar Temple

Name : Walkeshwar Temple also known as the Baan Ganga Temple

Location :

It is situated on on Malabar Hill next to the Banganga Tank, in South Mumbai precinct of the city of Mumbai, India. It is situated at the highest point of the city, and close to the temple, lies the Banganga Tank.

Legend :

Legend has it that Hindu god, Ram paused at that spot on his way from Ayodhya to Lanka in pursuit of the demon king, Ravana who had kidnapped his wife, Sita. Then Lord Rama was advised to worship Shiv lingham and he is said to have constructed the original lingam of sand, after getting tired of waiting for his brother, Lakshman to bring an idol. The name is etymologically derived from the Sanskrit word for an idol made of sand - Valuka Iswar, an avatar of Shiva.

As the story progresses, later when Ram was thirsty, as there was no fresh water readily available (except sea water), he shot an arrow and brought Ganga over here. Hence Bana (arrow in Sanskrit) Ganga. The water that feeds the tank stems from an underground spring at that spot, despite the proximity to the sea.

History :

The temple and the attached fresh water Banganga Tank were built in 1127 AD by Lakshman Prabhu, a Gaud Saraswat Brahmin minister in the court of Silhara dynasty Kings who ruled Thane, and the islands of Mumbai during 810 to 1240 AD. The temple was destroyed by the Portuguese during their reign over Mumbai (Portuguese Bom Bahia) in the 16th century.

It was rebuilt due to the generosity of Mumbai businessman and philanthropist, Rama Kamath, another Gaud Saraswat Brahmin (known in British records as 'Kamati') in 1715. The main temple has been substantially reconstructed and many smaller temples have come up around the Banganga Tank. By 1860, the temple started attracting greater crowds and 10 to 20 other temples had come up around it and 50 dharamshalas.

Festivals :

The temple is generally busy every month only during the full moon, and at Amavasya (new moon). In the past it was a favorite of the Malabar pirates who used to frequent the islands during the 16th and 17th centuries.

It is currently the site of an annual Hindustani classical music festival, which in 2005 featured musicians like classical singers Rajan and Sajan Mishra, and Santoor maestro Shivkumar Sharma.

Website :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkeshwar_Temple

Maa Bagheshwari Devi Temple, Kudargarh

Name : Maa Bagheshwari Devi Temple

Location :

Kudargarh is a famous Hindu pilgrim centre situated in Surguja District of the state of Chhattisgarh in India. It is 98 km from district headquarters of Ambikapur connected by an all weather road.

Description :

The Maa Bagheshwari Devi Temple dedicated to Goddess Kudargarhi is perched on top of a hill and is the major attraction in Kudargarh.

The history of the temple is obscure. According to Dalton, the temple was built by Baland Kings. Balands were the original rulers of Korea state in 17th century.

Also Devotees throng this temple to appease the goddess for the fulfillment of their desires. On fulfillment of their wish, the Goddess is offered with the blood of a goat which is poured in to a small hole (kund) of 6 inch in diameter. It is said that the kund would not get filled up even if thousands of goat's blood is poured into it, in which blood goat in honour of devi is given, a fact is that it never overflows.

The best time to visit is during Chaitra Navaratra (in the month of April).

Website :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kudargarh

Kisnai and Annapurna Devi temples

Name : Kisnai and Annapurna Devi temples

Location :

The temple is located in Ramgarh hill of Baran district in Rajasthan.

Description :

On the top of the Ramgarh hill, Kisnai and Annapurna Devi temples are situated in the natural cave. About 750 stairs were constructed by Jhala Jalim Singh for reaching the temple on the hill top. The main speciality of this temple is that one Devi is worshiped with Meva and another is with Mas-Madira. At the time of Parshad, curtain is raised between the two Devis. Fair is also organised during Kartik Purnima.

Other attractions is Bhand Devra Temple Ramgarh-Bhand Devra temples are situated about 40 Km. from Baran. The Shiv Mandir of Ramgarh was built in 10th century and are based on the Khajuraho style. Due to the Maithun Statues, the place is named as Bhand Devra. This temple is situated on the bank of pond and now under the Archaeological department. This temple is known as Rajasthan's mini Khajuraho.

Website :

http://baran.nic.in/tourist2.htm

Neelkanth Temple

Name : Neelkanth Temple

Location :

Neelkanth Temple is one of the most revered holy shrines of the Hindus. Located on a hill above Swarg Ashram in Haridwar, Neelkanth Temple is easily accessible from here. The temple lies at a comfortable distance of 12 kms and can also be reached from Rishikesh. The way to this temple is surrounded by lush green hills and rivers, providing some of the most beautiful sights, one has ever seen. Many pilgrims come to this temple by trekking, which takes around 4 hours from Rishikesh.

Legend :

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is believed to be the most complex Gods of the Hindu pantheon. The establishment of this temple has a legend behind it. According to the mythological stories, Lord Shiva drank the poison that appeared from the 'Sagar Manthan' (churning of ocean). This place is said to have been the same place, where Lord Shiva drank the poison. On drinking the poison, his throat turned blue and from that time onwards, Lord Shiva came to be known as 'Neelkantha' (One having blue throat).



Description :

Encircled by the hills of Manikoot, Vishnukoot and Brahmakoot, Neelkantha Temple is to be found at a height of 1330 meters. The way to this shrine is quite a thrilling one. The steep and narrow roads, taking above the hill, where river is flowing on one side, send chills down to the spine. Positioned at the union of Madhumati and Pankaja rivers, Neelkantha Temple is placed between the picturesque hills of Uttaranchal.

The temple complex has also got one natural spring where devotees usually take a holy bath. The main shrine of the temple comprises a Shiva lingam (phallic form of Lord Shiva). The spiritual aura of the temple creates a devotional feeling in the hearts of people. People make an offering of coconut, flowers, milk, honey, fruits and water to the Lord. Subsequently, devotees get 'Parshad' of vibhuti, chandan and other things from the shrine.

Festivals :

The temple observes two fairs that held annually on the occasion of Shivratri (Feb-Mar) and Shivratri of Shravan (July-Aug). At that time, the temple is thronged by thousands of pilgrims. This place is also loved by tourists for its picturesque beauty. Neelkanth Temple is a holy place that provides a celestial affection to the people, who visit the shrine with a devoted heart.

Website :

http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-temples/neelkanth-mahadev-haridwar.html

Da Ming Temple - Yangzhou Province China

Name : Da Ming Temple

Location :

Da Ming Temple is located on a hillslope in the northwestern suburb of Yangzhou on Shugang Hill in China.

Description :

Daming Temple is one of tbe oldest temples in the City, having a history of over 1,500 years. The original temple was built by a monk called Jian Zhen about 1,500 years ago. The temple was seriously damaged during the Taiping Rebellion at the beginning of the 20th century. The present structure is a reconstruction dating from the 1930s. Da Ming Temple sits on a hill and features various precious cultural relics, memorial archways and a nine-storey pagoda.

Once Emperor Qianlong of the Qing dynasty toured Yangzhou and was unhappy to see the name of the temple "Daming", which means "great Ming" (Ming dynasty was ruled by the Manchus,a minority Qing succeeded Ming) For fear that it might remind people of the Ming dynasty he renamed the temple “Fajing Temple” and put it down in his own handwriting.(Emperor Qianlong was a good calligrapher). In the spring Of 1980 in reparation for the exhibition of the statue of MonkJian Zhen the Yangzhou Municipal Government hanged it back to "Daming Temple" Thus, Qian long's inscription“Fajing Temple” became a mere historical relic.

The Temple :

In the main hall (Mahavira Hall) sit three Buddhist images. In the centre is yamuni,to his east Master of the Medicine to his west is Amitabha. On each side Of Sakyamuni stands one Of his ten disciples. The 0lder one on his 1eft represents experience and prestige, the younger one on his right represents wisdom and knowledge. On the eastern and western sides are 18 Arhats.

On the northern side six Buddhist images represent six founders Of the Chan Sect Of Buddhism., At the back is an island on sea with Guanyin(God or Goddess of Mercy)Standing on the head Of a huge turtle. According to Buddhist Sutra he can deliver all living creatures from any suffering. Those in misery need only call him and he will come to their rescue. He is sometimes portraited as a man and some time as a woman. Actually he has a man's body but a woman's appearance,representing kindness.

In front Of Daming Temple there is an ancient decorated archway in the midst Of ancient trees. It bears the inscription “Ruins of Xiling”. In AD 601(Sui dynasty)a nine-storey, Xiling(Soul Living) Tower was built in the compound of Daming Temple. Many famous poets of the Tang dynasty visited and mounted the tower and wrote moving poems. Later Xiling Tower was burnt down leaving only its ruins. In the latter years of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279), a nine-story pagoda, the Qiling, was built on the temple grounds.



Five big Chinese characters are inscribed on the eastern wall Of the Temple" the First in "Huaidong" which mean that the scenery of Daming Temple was the best and most worth visiting in Yangzhou. These are the words of praise taken from a famous poet of the Northern Song dynasty Qin Shaoyou,who once toured this place and was fascinated by its beautiful scenery a famous poet of the Northern Song dynasty Qin Shaoyou, who once toured this place and was fascinated by its beautiful scenery.



A recent addition to the temple complex is the Jian Zhen Memorial Hall, built according to Tang Dynasty methods and financed with contributions raised by Buddhist groups in Japan.

Festivals :

Before the New Year's Day each year, a lot of people come here to burn joss sticks and worship Buddha; also some Japanese tourists come here to ring the bell for the purpose of praying for happiness and safety.

Websites :

www.damingsi.com/english.htm

http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_25349.htm

Wikipedia about Da Ming Temple

Thoth Hill

Name : Thoth Hill

Location :

Thoth Hill (Berg Thoth) is located high on the southern spur of the great plateau which forms the backdrop to western Thebes in Egypt.

Description :

It was named Thoth Hill because of a large number of limestone fragments of three baboon statues found in the vicinity during Flinders Petrie's 1909 investigation of the ruins. The hill is also sometimes referred to as the "Crown of Thebes".

Thoth Hill is the site of two temples, an archaic temple that may date to around 3,000 BC and would be the oldest temple built on the West Bank at Luxor, and built upon it, a later temple built by an 11th Dynasty pharaoh known as Sankhkare Mentuhotep.

The Archaic Temple



Beneath the Middle Kingdom structure of Sankhkare Mentuhotep, the oldest known temple in the Theban region was only recently discovered. Made of stone, it was very small and had a similar plant to the later temple built upon it, though it probably only had a single chambered sanctuary. Interestingly, the older temple appears to have had a pylon entrance, just as the newer temple. However, considering the age of this temple, this would be most unusual. Also like the later temple the earlier site was surrounded by an enclosure wall, and had a free standing inner sanctuary, though the older temple has only a single room within the sanctuary while the newer temple had three.

This older temple was slightly offset in its axial alignment (by about 2 degrees towards the south). It was built upon an artificial terrace, as was the newer temple. Egyptologists believe that the older temple was oriented towards the helical rising of Sirus, and have determined that the older temple's orientation would have been correct in about 3000 BC, at the very beginning of Egypt's dynastic period. The star Sirius was worshipped as the god Horus, and apparently because the later temple was probably dedicated to Horus, Egyptologists believe the older structure was as well.

The Horus Temple of Sankhkare Mentuhotep



The newer temple, first investigated by Petrie, was thought by him to be a Sed-festival chapel. There is a Sed-festival building within the area to the west but he was wrong about Sankhkare Mentuhotep's temple. Investigation by the Hungarians revealed that it was instead a small temple of Horus. However, they also apparently investigated the Sed-festival temple as well, which revealed roofing beams and columns made of imported tropical sycamore wood.

The 11th Dynasty temple is made of mudbrick and consisted of an entry pylon and walls surrounding a free standing inner sanctuary with three rooms at the rear (northwest). The floors of the newer temple were covered in plaster. This temple was more closely aligned with the modern helical rising of Sirus. Found among the ruins were foundation deposits and fragments of the foundation text and dedicatory inscriptions form the fine limestone door jambs.

This site became known to modern explorers relatively late. The ruins were only discovered in 1904 by George Sweinfurth. It was later examined by Petrie in 1909, but not very thoroughly and only for a few days. Not until a Hungarian expedition led by Gyozo Voros for Eotvos Lorand University between 1995 and 1998 was the site systematically investigated. The older temple was unknown until this expedition's work. The newer temple was investigated first, during the seasons 1995-1996 and the older temple during the season of 1996-1997.

The area is somewhat difficult to reach. The hill is surrounded by desert ravines and the ancient route leading up to the temple is difficult to ascend.

Artifacts

Restoration work has also apparently been completed on the artifacts found at Thoth Hill, including ceramics recovered form the new temple and pottery from the older stone temple. Items from the older temple included cylindrical jars and rectangular basins also thought to be of archaic date. The fragmentary baboons that provided the site with its name were also restored and are believed to date from the 11th Dynasty.

Website :

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/thothhill.htm

Chaturshringi Temple

Name : The Chaturshringi Temple

Location :

This Hindu temple is located in the city of Pune, Maharashtra, India. The temple is located on the slope of a hill on Senapati Bapat Road.

Legend :

The legend associated with the temple is that, once there was a rich and prosperous merchant who was an ardent believer of Goddess Chaturshringi and visited all Her temples everywhere. It is said that the idol of Goddess Chatshrungee, now enshrined in the temple, was discovered by a trader. The goddess appeared in his dream and instructed him to unearth the idol.

Description :

It is said to have been built during the reign of the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosle. The temple is looked after by Chaturshringi Devasthan (Temple) trustees, with full dedication.

Chaturshringi (Chatur means four) is a mountain with four peaks. The Chaturshringi temple is 90 feet high and 125 feet wide and is a symbol of power and faith. One has to climb more than 100 steps to reach the shrine of Goddess Chaturshringi. In the temple premises there are also temples of Goddess Durga and Lord Ganesh. This includes eight miniature idols of Ashtavinayaka. These small temples are located on the four separate hillocks.



The presiding deity of the temple is Goddess Chaturshringi, also known as Goddess Ambareshwari. She is also considered as the presiding deity of the city of Pune. The temple is maintained by the Chaturshringi Devasthan Trust.

Festivals :

One of the major attractions of the Chaturshringi temple of Pune is the Navratri Festival, organized every year in the month of October-November. Devotees visit the temple in large numbers to attend this festival.

Website :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaturshringi_Temple

Palitana Jain Temples

Name : Palitana Jain Temples

Location :

Palitana is a religious Jain city, Bhavnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is located 50 km South-West of Bhavnagar city and is a major pilgrimage centre for Jains.

Myths :

Some people call the following encounters myths some give facts and some believes them which lives in the heart of every follower of Jainism.

* 1. The moolnayak murti-Lord Adinath's idol breathed 7 times, when it was first placed over there.
* 2. A layer of silver gets accumalated on idol every night and that serve as the priest's fees rather gift from god.
* 3. A small idol of Lord Suparshvanath Swami around 10" used to fly everynight from one of near by temple to Lord Adinath`s Palm.
* 4. There is only and only one tree in the entire Temple Campus below which it is believed to hide the jewels, pearls, relics and other ornaments of time before humans.

The town is considered by many Jains to be more important than the temple covered hills of Jharkhand, Mt Abu and Girnar. Palitana was the capital of a princely state of the Gohil Rajput clan. It is also one of the greatest tourist attractions in Gujarat for foreign tourists. Every year millions of people come to visit these temples. Palitana is the place where millions and millions of Jain sadhu and muni got salvation. For the Svetambar Jains Shetrunjay is the earliest and, next to Sammet Shikhar in Bihar, the most sacred mountain.

There are hundreds of other temples (besides those on the Shatrunjaya hills). Guest houses (dharmashalas) are found in Palitana city. It is believed that every Jain should visit Palitana at least once in his lifetime to get "Bhavya" status (fit to attain nirvan or salvation).

Description :

The Palitana temples are considered the most sacred pilgrimage place (tirtha) by the Jain community. There are more than 1250 temples located on the Shatrunjaya hills.

The main temple on top of the hill, is dedicated to 1st tirthankar lord Adinath (Rishabdeva). On the top the Shatrunjai Hill is a cluster of Jain temples ( 873temples ), built by generations of Jains over a period of 900 years, from the 11th century onwards. However, destroyed by the Muslim invasions in 14th and 15th centuries, the temples were built anew in 1500. The temples are managed by the Anandji Kalyanji Trust of the Kasturbai Lalbhai group. From the foot of the hill to the top there are 3,800 and odd stone steps cut to facilitate climbing.



No one is allowed to sleep overnight including the priest, because the temple city has been built as an abode for the Gods. A recently concluded count reveals that there are a total of more than 27,000 idols of jain god on this mountain alone.

Not only temples, Shatrunjay Hill also offers a beautiful view of the surrounding scenery. From here you can also see the biggest irrigation project in Saurashtra. The waters of the flowing Shatrunjay river are said to confer merit in the bather as well as cure various diseases.

For pilgrims visiting of foot there are three circumambulatory routes. The shortest leads round the temples along the outer wall; the other follows the foot of the mountain. The third, about forty kilometres long, frequents en route five temple sites where pilgrims may stay overnight before continuing their holy walk. The major event of the year takes place on the day of the full moon in the month of Phalgun (Feb./March) when some ten thousands of pilgrims go round the Shetrunjay hill, the 'Lord of Peaks'.

Website:

http://www.jainheritagecentres.com/Gujarat/Palitana.htm

Nagamalai Alayam, Muar (Johor)

Name : Nagamalai Alayam

Location :

This pre-existing natural temple is unique, as the shrine has been sanctified in a lush tropical hill forest in Muar (Johor) of Malaysia

Description :

In 1972, Gopala Menon, the founder of the temple had a vision of Sri Chakra, instructing him to build a shrine for Naga Amman, in a nearby hill forest. After receiving the vision, he immediately set out to the hill. After clearing up a path, he found several natural formed snake mounds and also an earthen bee hive. The natural formed earth mounds were seated below an arched limestone, that resembled a ‘pancha mukam’ (five faced) snake hood. Gopala Menon started meditating at that area, and experienced peace and serenity. He was told that he was from a lineage of Naga Amman devotees, and was entrusted to take care of this temple.

He then was given another spiritual instruction, to dig up a well at the bottom of the hill. At the precise location was an underground spring, and was to be used to wash and cleanse the devotees before proceeding to the shrine.

Naga Amman had blessed Gopala Menon with inner vision, and therefore was given spiritual instructions easily. The snake mounds were the private abode of Naga Amman and her seven virgin maidens. Also present, was a ‘siddhar’ (holy person possessing supernatural powers), who lived in the bee hive. After which, Gopala Menon came daily, lighted up camphor for the shrine and performed prayers. Soon, many devotees started attending the prayers and word got around about this hill forest temple.



Many ardent devotees witnessed the movement of ‘nagas’ (divine serpents) around the vicinity of the temple. Some have witnessed a golden hued ‘naga’ coming out from the mound, slithering away into the forest. Other devotees have heard ‘Naga Kanni Oli’, whereby is a powerful sound indicating the movement of ‘nagas’. One particular day, Gopala Menon found a coconut with a trunk shaped shoot. He was then instructed by Naga Amman to build a shrine for Lord Ganesha at the bottom of the hill. This was to allow devotees to obtain blessing from Lord Ganesha prior to ascending the hill forest temple.

Certain rules were established by Naga Amman, and conveyed to Gopala Menon. Those were to restrict devotees ascending the temple hill after 7pm, as the ‘nagas’ would come out in human form during this period. Naga Amman also advised to restrict menstruating women praying at the shrine, prohibit meat and alcohol, and to disallow footwear on the sacred hill. Devotees wishing to perform prayers for Naga Amman are advised to bring fresh cow’s milk, jasmine flowers, ‘payasam’ (sweet dessert) or ‘sakkara pongal’ (rice pudding).

Website :

http://mysticaltemplesofmalaysia.blogspot.com/2010/08/nagamalai-alayam-muar-johor.html

Charchika Temple

Name : Charchika Temple

Location :

This temple is situated on Ruchika Parbat on the bed of the Renuka river. In the small town of Banki in Cuttack district

Legend of Renuka river :

The Renuka river was created by the flood of 1982. It's believed that one devotee who worshiped Maa Charchika after pleasing her took away all ornaments of Maa Charchika and build a house where River Renuka is currently flowing now. As Maa Charchika was not happy so she created this River Renuka to punish him and to make him home less.

Description :

This temple is situated in the heart of Banki. This is one of the oldest Shakti place in Orissa. The presiding deity is an eight-armed goddess Chamunda, locally known as Maa Charchika devi. She is seated on a human body and wearing a garland of human skulls. She displays khadga, shula, katari and varadamudra in her four right hands whereas the four left hands represent severed head, blood-cup, ‘’damru’’ and leaving a finger of the remaining hand soaked in blood. This temple is situated on the top a small hillock Ruchika Parbat on the bed of the Renuka river in the small town of Banki in Cuttack district of Orissa.

The present temple was built in the 19th century. But the remarkable point is the enshrining deity Maa Charchika on iconographical point of view can be assigned to the 9th – 10th centuries A.D. i.e. Bhaumakara rule in Orissa.It is believed that the Charchika idol was created by Parashurama. The temple has a pidha vimana, jagamohana and a wooden mandapa known as "sunyavahini mandapa" of impoverished Kalingan order. Stone is used for the construction of the temple and the entire surface is thickly lime plastered and white washed.

The ceiling of the mandapa is made of wood whereas the pillars are in stone. The ceiling of the mandapa is profusely carved and painted.The wooden ceiling of the mandpa is relieved with episodes from Bhagabata Purana with intervening decoration of animals and birds like - elephant, duck, parrot, peacock, etc; floral motifs, lotus medallions, scroll and jali works, animal hunting, horse rider, gaja-vidalas, makaramukha,mithuna and maithuna images. Besides, the parsvadevata niches enshrine four-armed Chamunda, four-armed Mahisasuramardini Durga and an eight-armed Chamunda on the north, west and southern side respectively.

Festivals :

It's good to visit the temple at the time of Dasara, a Hindu festival in the month of October thousands of divotee used to come to get the blessing. Kumarpurnima a Hindu festival celebrated 5 days after Dusshera is very famous here.

One more Temple of Maa Charchika is at Mathura Near River Yamuna.

Website :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charchika_Temple

Binsar Mahadev Temple

Name : Binsar Mahadev Temple

Location :

Binsar Hill or Jhandi Dhar is at a distance of 104 km from Ranikhet at an altitude of 2,412 m. Ranikhet is at Almora district of Uttarakhand, India. The temple is surrounded by thick deodar forests and lies at an altitude of 2480 metres.

Description :

Binsar Hill has a temple dedicated to Shiv called Bineswar Temple or Binsar Mahadev Temple. Binsar Mahadev was built around 9-10 century A.D. It is Believed that this temple was built in a single day. Ladies comes here on Vaikunth chaturdashi and light a lamp on their palm to fulfill the desire of child.



With idols of Ganesh, Har Gauri and Maheshmardini in its sanctum the temple is known for its architectural finesse. The idol of Maheshmardini is engraved with texts in 'Nagarilipi' which dates back to as early as the 9th century. Built by King Pithu in memory of his father Bindu, the place is also known as Bindeshwar temple.

Festivals :

It sees a large gathering of devotees on the occasion of Baikunth Chaturdashi in the month of June. It is said that devotees, especially women, pray all night with lamps in their hands on this day for the Lord’s blessings. It is beleived that desire of a child is fulfill here.

There is no facility of hotel and market, nearest tourist place is Ranikhet where hotels and other facility are available.

Website :

http://www.nainitaltourism.com/binsar_mahadev_temple.html

Lord Mahadev Shingnapur temple

Name : Lord Mahadev Shingnapur temple

Location :

Atop the hill there is The temple of Lord Mahadev is located atop a Hill in Shingnapur. Shingnapur is located on the niche of the Shikhar Shingnapur hills, 40 miles away from Satara and is a famous pilgrimage center in Maharashtra.

Legend :

The devotee called Somaya requested Lord to come his village, Harani, Taluka Purandar, District Pune which nearly 30 kilometers from Karanje. Lord Mahadev Mahadev (Shiva) accepted the request. The Lord told the devotee to build his temple at such a place that he can see his temple of Shikhar Shinganapur located in Satara district nearly 90 kilometers from Harani.

But there was already ancient open temple of Mahadev in village Harani which is now called as Old Mahadev where already goddess Haranai was staying.

She annoyed and tried to leave the hill but Lord Mahadev tried to stop her but she disappeared in the earth immediately. There are footprints of godess Haranai on the rock of the hill. Her small temple is also established on the top of the hill. The hill is called hill of Mahadev (Mahadevacha Dongar)

Description :

There are about 10 decendent families of the devotee, they are called as Bhagat. Every year one family Bhagat has right to do service of god. The bhagat or his any family member washes the Pind and ling of Lord Mahadev every day. There are two lingas in the pind, one of god Mahadev and other of goddess Parvati. There are also small other temples on the hill. There are two temples of Lord Bali at the foot of the hill.

Festivals :

The annual fair called Yatra in local language is held every year from Chaitra Shuddha Ekadashi to Chaitra Shuddha Pornimaa. The period is somehow closer to month of April. There are five prestigious Kawadees ( manachya kawadee) and other about 20 small kawadees of every big family called kul or wada. Ordinarily one person of every family is server of kawad called kawadya.

On Ekadasi ,the first day fair, there is bath of kawad. The kawad is lifted by 6 kawadyas, 3 to front side and 3 to back side. Music of Halagi and daff is played by a person who is primarily held from Matang community, there may be other halagiwala daffwala. The kawad climbs the hill by fastening the strong rope to the kawad, other peoples help to pull the rope. Five rounds (pradakshinas) are done by the kawad,then water from the vertical bronze pot (gadava having capacity about 30 to 50 liters)is spred on the pind of Mahadev from outside of the temple or some devotee prefer to go inside the temple. The kawad halts there for a night and in the morning, all the 5 and other samll kawadees come down in the village. There dance in the front of temple Lord Vitthal Ruhkmini for about half to one hour,then the kawad is kept for during day in the house of the owner of the kawad.

On the second day of Dwadashi, same programme is performed but there meal to kawadyas given by the owners of the kawad. On the third day also same program is performed but on that day, there is tamashaa for entertainment of the villagers. On fourth day , the all kawadees go the river Nira to bath and bring the water to bath the god Mahadev.On the route of river, there Laptalwadi where peoples of Laptalwadi offer the tea or sarbat to all the devotes. All kawadyas do bath in the river, bath is also done by the kawad except her shid which is covered by clothes called patakaas. There is aarti of Lord Ganesh after bath. Then kawad is lifted to go to Mahadev. There is music of halagi and daff. During the return journey, the meal of Zunka and Bhakri (roti) of jowar or bajra is given to all the devotee from the respective kawad owners. The kawadees come in the village about 3 to 4 pm.in Harani.

The water is thrown to the godess Kalubai, god Bhairavnath, godess Tukai ,Kanhabai, god Hanuman during the Pradakshina. Then all small and big prestigiuos kawadees perform the dance below the large tree of banyan for about two to three hours. During dance, there is also race to pull or to push the kawad between front three kawadees and rear three kawadees for fun. After tiring, the race is stopped. Again the same or other kawadyas lift the kawad and starts dancing in a manner to and fro for about 3- 4 feets. Almost all ladies, gents, children and guests come to see the dance.

During going to Mahadev, there is system to touch the body by kawadya other person along with kawad. Some persons may prefer sleep on the earth, then body touched by leg of all six kawadyaa in faith to avoid accidents and long life. In the evening, all kawadees go the Mahadev to offer water of river Nira. Kawadees halt there on the hill. Then after midnight of the fourth day i.e. early in the morning of fifth day about 2-3 am , all the kawadees come down in the village. There is ceremony called varat with Dhol Lezim sound and dance.

On this fifth day, there is programme of tamashaa till afternoon. After tamashaa, at the evening, there is programme of wrestling. The wrestlers from nearby villages come to play. This ends upto 7 pm. There is prize to winners. Sometimes there is draw of competition, then prize is distributed equally. In such a way fair is finished.

After fair 5 days , there is programme of fulfillment of navas starts. Navas is a method to offer god certain thing after fulfillment of the demand from god. In village Harani, the devotee may offer the god that, if his particular demand is fulfilled he will give meal of Puran Poli to all the villagers. The navas may be of one kawad or two or five kawadees. Water of river Nira or from Mahabaleshwar or river Krishna Dhom is offered. After fulfillment of demand from Lord Mahadev, the particular person who prayed for his demand does all the expenditure of kawad alongwith devotees to go river, meal,etc. The kawad / kawadees climb/s throgh Mungi Ghat which is very diffcult to climb with help of rope during evening. The Tirth offered to god. There are usual pradakshinas. Kawad Stops there for sometime, then come down where the programme of meal is kept. The navas is fulfilled except Monday and Amavashya.

The above details taken from article Written by Mr. Prakash Jagdevrao Yadav - Harani.

Website :

http://wikimapia.org/4330905/History-Lord-Mahadev-of-Harani-Tal-Harani-Dist-Pune

Chitai Temple - Almora

Name : Chitai Temple

Location :

This is the sacred temple of Golu Devta, 6 Kilometres from Almora perched on a hilltop. Golu Devta was deified general of Chand dynasty that once ruled Almora.

Description :

The Chitai temple is called the temple of a million bells and situated through a thick forest of chir pines dotted with clumps of mimosa. Its heady scent pervades the air.

Chitai Temple has the presiding deity Lord Shiva, who is referred here by the name Lord Gollu (Golu devta,a legendary lord of justice). Local folks have much faith in this hilltop temple, they often visit here with offerings. He is a much loved deity of Kumaon and his mediation called for, in matters legal. He is believed to be an incarnation of Gaur Bhairav (Shiva); his devotees, the Chand rulers built the temple on annexing this region.

The temple is characterized by the large number of bells hanging in the premises.
Strung too are petitions on scraps of paper. An answered prayer means the gift of a bell. The temple bears strong faith among the locals here and goats are sacrificed here in front of the deity.



Website :

http://www.indialine.com/travel/uttaranchal/almora/

Kasar Devi Temple - Almora

Name : Kasar Devi Temple

Location :

Situated 5Kms from Almora, Uttar Pradesh

Description :

Kalimath is a place 4kms from Almora. It is a beautiful picnic spot. From here one gets a full view of the town and the Hawabagh Valley. it gets its name from the black (kali) soil (math) of the area.

There is temple dedicated to Kasar devi. This temple dates back to second century. One can go on foot from Kalimath to Kasardevi which is hardly 1 km from there.

Website :

http://www.indialine.com/travel/uttaranchal/almora/

Maa Tara Tarini Temple

Name : Maa Tara Tarini Temple

Location :

It is situated on Taratirini hill near Purushottampur which is at a distance of 40 km. from Berhampur in Orissa. The Tara-Tarini Hill ,a part of the Kumari Hills on the blanks of Rushikulya river.

Legends :

According to the Mythological Puranas the origin of Maa Taratarini is directly attributed to Daksha Prajapati’s Jagna in Satya Yuga. The famous Shakta Peethas of Bimala, Tara-Tarini, Dakshina Kalika and Kamakshi originated from the limbs of the divine Corpse of Devi Sati. Mythological sacred texts like the Shiva Purana, the Kalika Purana, the Devi Bhagabat (a contemporary text of the Mahabharata written by Shri Vyasa Dev around 6000 years ago) attest this fact.

It is known from the Mahabharata that before the commencement of the Mahabharata war Lord Srikrishna had advised Arjuna to offer prayer for victory at Shridevi kupa or Bhadrakali. Bhadrakali originated from the limbs of Sati like the other four major Shakti Peethas, which existed during the time of the Mahabharata or around 6000 years ago. This is the oldest data/information we get till date, regarding the existence of the Shrines originated from the limbs of the divine Corpse of Devi Sati.

Buddhist Legend :

According to the texts of Mahayana Buddhists, in the initial days, the Buddhists didn’t believe in the worship of Goddesses or in Pratimapuja (Idol Worship). But, the ecclesiastical texts of Mahayana’s reveal that from 1st century AD after the fall of Kalinga, for the first time the Mahayana Buddhists accepted the worship of Mother Goddess ‘Tara’. So there is seldom any doubt that the Buddhists have learned the ‘Tara’ Puja concept from this Shrine. The Bouddha Tantrik texts, texts of Vajrajani sect and Hindu Tantrik texts also attest these facts. Scholars believe that in the primary days the Buddhists worshiped Taratarini, the principal seat of Tantrik sect in Hinduism at that time, as Bouddha Tara, and later on included ‘Tara’ as the Tantrik deity or spouse of bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara in their belief system. Gradually this ‘Tara’ worship spread to different parts of the world.

the primordial deity of the Mahayana Buddhist sect at Tara-Tarini Hill and Tara-Tarini as a famous Buddhist Tantra Pitha.

According to folk lore, it is around 8th Century AD when Jagadguru Sankaracharya toured the whole country, that he discovered this Shrine. But, it did not exist in its present form. After long try he came to know that this ancient Shakti centre was under the control of Buddhist tantrikas. Then he released this Peetha from the control of Bouddha tantrikas and handed it over to Hindus.

The History of Tara Tarini Hill Shrine (Kalyan Dham) :

It is known from the available sources that till 17th century this place was out of the sight of the common man. But, according to a folk story once Maa Taratarini appeared as two sisters in the house of Shri Basu Praharaj. He was a learned Brahmin of Kharida Vira Jagannathpur village in Ganjam District and one of the great devotees of the Mother Goddess but child less. After staying for some years one day both the sisters disappeared suddenly from the house of Basu Praharaj and according to the account of the villagers both the sisters traveled up to the Tarini Parvat/ Ratnagiri and disappeared there.

On that night he saw a dream where the Goddesses Tara and Tarini informed Basu Praharaj that actually they were not his daughters; but they are the Adi Shakti, Goddesses Tara and Tarini. The Goddesses ordered Basu to come out of the grief and said that the time has arrived and with full devotion renovate the temple on the Hill Top of Tarini Parvat and establish the deities according to the Vedic tradition.

Description :

The Twin Goddesses Tara and Tarini are worshiped as manifestations of Adi Shakti. The Taratarini Hill Shrine is one of the oldest pilgrimage centers of Mother Goddess and is one amongst the four major ancient Shakti Peethas in India.

The height of the hill is approximately 708ft. The picturesque scenery of the temple, from the hilltop down to the bank of river Rushikulya provides immense pleasure and a thrilling experience of nature and divinity to each pilgrim and often captivates the heart and soul. There are 999 steps on the front side of the hill leading to the temple and also a pucca road for vehicles behind the hill facilitating devotees to reach the Pitha. Provisions of electricity, drinking water and a small market complex at the site with articles of puja /archana are additional features of this Pitha.



The mythological texts recognize four major Shakti Peethas,i.e. Tara Tarini (Stana Khanda)near Berhampur, Bimala (Pada Khanda) inside the [[Jagannath Temple (Puri),Kamakshi (Yoni khanda) near Guwahati and Dakhina Kalika (Mukha khanda) in Kolkata among the 4 Adi Shakti Peeths. Apart from these, there are other 52 other sacred Shakti Peethas, which originated from the limbs of the corpse of Mata Sati in the Satya Yuga.

Four Adi Shakti Peethas

The great religious texts like the Shiva Purana, the Kalika Purana, the Devi Bhagabat and the AstaShakti recognize four major Shakti Peethas (centers), like Bimala (Pada Khanda), Tara Tarini (Stana Khanda,Breasts)(Near Berhampur, Orissa), Kamakshi (Yoni khanda)(Near Gowhati, Assam) and Dakhina Kalika (Mukha khanda) (Kolkata, West Bengal) originated from the limbs of the Corpse of Mata Sati. The Astashakti and Kalika Purana clearly says (IN SANSKRIT)

So, there is absolutely no dispute regarding these four famous Adi Peethas. Apart from these four there are 52 other famous Peethas recognised by religious Texts. According to the Pithanirnaya Tantra the 52 peethas are scattered all over India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tibet and Pakistan. The Shivacharita besides listing 52 maha-peethas, speaks about 26 more upa-peethas. The Bengali almanac, Vishuddha Siddhanta Panjika too describes the 52 peethas.

Festivals :

1. The Sankranti Mela: Every month on Sankranti day. This festival is observed on each Sankranti day of the Hindu month. This day is considered to be very auspicious for Tantra Sadhakas. The important features of the festival are as follows:
(a) The temple opens for Darshan of the deities from 5.30 AM till 10.00 PM without Pahada during the day.
(b) Baja Pratima (Chalnti Pratima) of the deities are put on the Bije Pithastal located near the temple gate.
(c) Puja and offerings to the deities are offered to the Bije Pratima as no offerings are allowed within the Garbha Griha during this occasion. However the devotes can contain the darshan of the deties in the Garbha Griha.
(d) Megha Snana, Chandipatha and Homa are the special activities conducted in the Grabha Griha and the side pedestal of the Garbha Griha by the temple Purohit.
(e) Special Khechudi Bhoga is supplied to the devotees on receipt per packet. This Bhoga is prepared and sold by the Temple Trust.

2. Dola Purnima (Phalguna Purnima) during February / March.

3. Chaitra Parba: One each Tuesday on the month of chaitra i.e.during March/April as per Calendar.

This festival is the most significant amongst all, celebrated at the Tara Tarini Pitha. It is observed during each Tuesday of the month of Chaitra. Significant features of the festival are as follows;
(a) The temple remains open for the Darshan of the deities from 5 AM till 11 PM. Pahada of the deities is confined to night time only.
(b) Devotees in large numbers congregate at the up-hill and downhill temple complex from Monday night.
(c) 2nd & 3rd Tuesday of the Chaitra is considered to be most auspicious days. Therefore large numbers of devotees congregate during these days.
(d) Puja and offering by the devotees are offered to the Chalanti Pratima of deities placed at the Bije Pitha for the Bije Pratima. However Darshan of the deities in Garbha Griha is allowed.
(e) Special arrangements for hair offering are made. 250 barbers at the top hill and 500 barbers at the down hill at the barber shed are engaged to help their hair offering of their children and other devotees. Hair offering continues from mid-night on Monday till 6 PM of Tuesday.
(f) Special Khechudi Bhoga is supplied to the devotees from Monday mid-night till 6 PM of Tuesday evening.
4. Basantika Parba: During the month chaitra i.e. March / April.
5. Chitalagi Amabasya i.e. Srabana Amabasya during July / August.
6. Gamha Purnima (Shrabana Purnima ) during July /August.
7. Saptapuri Amabasya during the month of Bhadraba during August.
8. Saradiya Parba on the month of Ashwina Mulastami to Dushara during September / October .
9. Dipabali or Shyamakali Puja: on Kartika Amabasya during Sept /Nov.

Website :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maa_Taratarini_Temple

http://www.indianetzone.com/4/taratarini_temple_purshottampur.htm

http://taratarinitemple.blogspot.com/

Then Sze Koon Temple or Centipede Temple

Name : Then Sze Koon Temple or Centipede Temple

Location :

Perched on top of a hill in Ulu Temiang, Seremban, Negri Sembilan in Malaysia lies Then Sze Koon Temple or Centipede Temple. Spread over 2ha, the temple is run on donations and is a beautiful sanctuary.

Description :

There are temples around the world paying homage to monkeys, snakes, rats, tigers and other animals. But, hidden in our own backyard and relatively unknown is a holy place that is home to various species of centipedes.

the temple is believed to have been founded in the 19th century by a Taoist priest named Zhong San Koon.

One has to climb 176 steps to reach the top but with willpower, everyone can do it. Take one step at a time to enjoy the tranquil setting. A friendly frog sculpture awaits visitors halfway up.

However, the hill was retained. Centipedes roamed freely in and out of the temple grounds because the weather was cool.



In 1998, a reporter from a Chinese daily came to pray to the Then Sze deity and spotted a white centipede (probably an albino). He snapped its picture and decided to buy numbers from a gaming outlet. He struck first prize and, thrilled, wrote about it in the papers.

Since then every time someone spots a centipede, something good happens to them. Once an ice cream vendor was bitten by a centipede and he also struck lottery. He then came back to give free ice cream to the devotees. If you spot or get bitten by one, you can definitely expect some good fortune.



However, with global warming and the increase in temperatures, the centipede population has dwindled but they still “make their rounds” at the temple a few times a day. Soon guarantees that they come out in droves during Chap Goh Mei. Why do they appear only on this day? He is equally baffled.

Auspicious Time :

The most auspicious time at the temple is on the 26th day of the third lunar month, which marks the temple’s anniversary, and Chinese New Year. For these occasions when the devotees number 20,000, the temple brings in priests to conduct prayers.
Opening hours: 7am t o 7pm daily.

Website :

http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2010/6/26/lifetravel/6532633&sec=lifetravel

Thicksey Monastery

Name : Thicksey Monastery

Location :

Situated at an altitude of 3600 m above sea level, the monastery of Tiksey is situated about 20 km far from the town of Leh and ranks among the most important monasteries in Ladakh.

History :

It is believed that in the early 15th century, Tsongkhapa, the founder of the reformed Gelug School, sent six of his disciples to remote regions of Tibet to spread the teachings of the new school. One of these six was known as Sherab Sangpo. He went to Ladakh and was the founder of a small monastery at the end of a valley in the village called Stagmo. Palden Sangpo, Sherab's disciple carried on with the work of his teacher and he was the one who founded the Thiksey monastery a few miles away from Stagmo near the River Indus on a sacred hill above a village of the same name.

Description :

It is the seat of Tiksey Rinpoche, the main leader of the Gelug School in Ladakh and is the main and leading monastery for more than ten other famous Ladakhi monasteries such as Diskit, Spituk, Likir, and Stok.

Housing one of the largest Buddhist statues, the 15 metre tall Champa, the Buddha of Future and located strategically, today, Thiksey is one of the most frequently visited and most photogenic monasteries in Ladakh. About a hundred monks live here. Ngawang Champa Tenzin, born in 1943, places a great emphasis on preservation of the traditional ways of running the monastery and continues to teach both monks and lay villagers. A former member of Indian Parliament, he has helped greatly towards establishing the village school called Lamsang, which is one of the prestigious Ladakhi Lamdon schools. Thiksey is one of the finest examples of Ladakhi architecture.

This Gompa is situated on the top of the hill and forms part of Gelukpa order. The 12-storey monastery complex contains numerous stupas, statues, thankas, wall paintings, swords and a large pillar engraved with the Buddha's teachings apart from the sacred shrines and other precious objects to be seen.

Website :

http://www.kashmir-tourism.net/jammu-kashmir/thicksey-monastery.html

Adhar (Arbuda) Devi Temple

Name : Adhar Devi Temple

Location :

Mount Abu located in the Aravalli hills houses some of the most exquisite Jain temples. The Jain regards this place as the most sacred pilgrim points. The huge shrine of Adhar Devi Temple in Mount Abu bears a testimony to the rich architectural heritage of Rajasthan.

History:

Adhar Devi Temple also known as the temple of goddess Arbuda has an interesting story behind it. Supposedly the "adhar" of the goddess fell here and hence it has been named so. It is said that the image of the goddess Durga can be found hanging here in mid air. This temple is a favorite spot of Hindu pilgrims and one can see it swarming with devotees especially during the Navratri period.

Legends :

Arbuda Devi is the incarnation of Katyayani Devi, the 6th Goddess out of the nine Goddesses. A snake named "Arbud" brought Nandivardhan on its back to this mountain, and he was booned by Muni Vashishtas that 33 crores of gods and goddess will reside upon you, and thats why it was established here. It is also said that Muni Vashishta worshipped Lord Shiva and in view of the Kashivishvanath. The historians believe that Parmar rulers were originated at Mount Abu from "Agnikund". Thats why this Arbuda Devi is also the Ancestroal Goddess (Kuldevi) of Parmar Kshatriyas.

Description:

Adhar Devi Temple is situated atop a cliff and you have to climb a flight of 365 steep stairs to reach this place. The journey though strenuous is rewarding in ways more than one. You get a bird's eye view of the city from above the temple. It is situated 3 kilometers from the main town of Mount Abu. The inner shrine is reached by crawling a narrow cave. The whole temple is constructed of one huge solid piece of rock and is one of the best specimens of rock cut temples in India.

Doodh Baori: Doodh Baori, a sacred well having milk coloured water, is situated near the Adhar Devi Temple. This well is the main source of milk for the temple and it is commonly believed that the water has some heavenly powers. Local inhabitants consider this well as a form of Kamadhenu, which symbolises a cow. From this place, pilgrims can see the temple, which looks like a small tower.

Website :

http://www.meriyatrra.com/photos/adhar-devi-temple.html

http://mountabu-india.blogspot.com/2008/03/adhar-devi-temple.html

Ramdham - Ramtek

Name : Ramdham

Location :

The temple is located on the Ramgiri Hill situated in Ramtek, which is 42 km northeast of Nagpur city, Maharashtra. One can travel by car up to the entrance of the temple on the hill.

Legend :

The legend says that Lord Rama stopped at Ramtek, along with His wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, while on his exile. Another fact that adds to the attraction of the town, from tourism point of view, is its association with the Great poet Kalidasa. He wrote his excellent poem, Meghdoot in the hills of Ramtek only. Infact, it is often said that it was the beauty of Ramtek Hills that inspired him to write the poem.

Description :

Ramdham is a historical temple of Lord Rama, which is said to be more than 600 years old. The temple dedicated to Lord Ram, Sita and Laxman on the top of the hill. The major attractions of Ramtek comprise of the 27 Brahmanical style temple that have been constructed atop the hill. Amongst them is the Lakshmana Temple, which dates back to as far back as 1400 AD.

The temple is known for its unique OM structure which is 350 feet long and 10.5 feet high and 11 feet wide which is situated at foot of the hill.

The town serves as the venue of the Kalidasa Festival, held every year in the month of November. A fortnight-long festival, it boasts of performances by virtuosos in the field of music, dance and drama.



The Ambala talab is a big tank found at the foot of the Ram Temple in Ramtek. A number of temples have been built around the Lake. The tank is also important because the ashes of the dead are immersed here (Pitru Pooja).

Website :

http://www.bharatonline.com/maharashtra/travel/nagpur/ramtek.html

http://gurusriguru.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html

Martand Sun Temple

Name : Martand Sun Temple

Location : The Martand Sun temple is situated on top of a plateau, near the town of Anantnag. Anantnag is situated at an elevation of 5400 feet above sea level, at a distance of 33 miles from the main state-headquarters Srinagar in Jammu Kashmir.

Description :

It is a medieval temple dedicated to Bhaskar, the Sun God. King Lalitaditya, a Kshatriya of Surya (Solar) dynasty, got the Martand Sun temple constructed to commemorate Surya in the middle of the eighth century A.D. This beautiful Martand temple has a colonnaded courtyard, with the shrine in its center, which is 220 feet long and 142 feet broad. Built with 84 columns, the temple offers a magnificent view of the Kashmir valley. Martand temple of Kashmir counts amongst the best and most memorable works of King Lalitaditya.

The architecture and style of the Martand Sun temple counts amongst the rare ones in the world. Built up of hard and square limestone, the Martand temple serves as a living proof of the skill and talent of the Hindu Kashmiris of the bygone era. The pillars of the temple are of Greek pattern. Apart from the exquisite architecture, another attraction of the Martand temple is its picturesque surroundings. The temple, standing in a square field with the beautiful snow covered mountains serving as its backdrop, presents an awe-inspiring sight.

Website :

http://www.kashmir-tourism.net/jammu-kashmir/martand-sun-temple.html

http://www.harappa.com/photo-archaeology/ss24.html

http://www.koausa.org/Monuments/Chapter5.html