Shirgul Maharaja Temple Himachal

Name : Shirgul Maharaja Temple

Location :

Churdhar Sanctuary is named after the Churdhar peak, which has an elevation of 3647 metres above sea level and is located in Sirmour, Shimla district of the indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Churdhar peak is the highest peak in Sirmour district and is also the highest peak in the outer Himalayas.  The peak has a great religious significance for the people of Sirmour, Shimla, Chaupal and Solan of Himachal Pradesh and Dehradun of Uttrakhand. 

Legend 1 :

According to legend, Shirgul was imprisoned by the Mughals in the mid-16th century. His "fault" was that he  defended the Haattis of Sirmaur against exploitation and for slaying butchers caught slaughtering a cow in Delhi. A sweeper woman, Bhaghayni, sent word to Shirgul’s ally, Goga Pir, who led a covert mission to free Shirgul from prison. Together, they returned safely to the hills.

Once back, Shirgul found a demon threatening the life of Churu, a devotee, and his family at Choorhdhar. Joined by Bijjat, the two brothers decimated the demon, saving Churu, who is also now worshipped as a deity in the region. Shirgul, deeply devoted to Lord Shiva, established the Mahadev temple at Choorhdhar, which houses a life-size Shivling and two idols.

It is believed that Shirgul later distributed his kingdom to his trusted minister, Deviram, and his third brother Brijeswar. Shirgul dedicated his life to meditating  and worshipping Lord Shiva at the Mahadev temple here. Both Shirgul and Bijjat mysteriously disappeared after 200 years of spiritual devotion at Choorhdhar. 

Legend 2 :

Shirgul and Bijjat are revered across the region, with over a hundred big or small temples dedicated to them in Shimla, Sirmaur, and Solan districts of Himachal Pradesh and the Jaunsar Bawar and Janpur regions of Uttarakhand.

Shirgul Devta and Bijjat Maharaj are centuries old deit ies of Himachal situated at Churdhar in Sirmaur. Both deities had a centuries old fight but now after 1, 500 year, both the deities are ready to end their fight and they will meet each other very soon at a joint jagaran in the region. People of two panchayats are associated with these deities. Chadhna and Devmanal panchayats are the two panchayats where people couldn’t organise fairs and festivals together due to the fight between their deities. But, now they will come together for a jagaran, local people informed. They stated that once both the deities shared a great relationship with each other which was known as shata-pasha. After that, neither both deities met in a festival nor people of the two panchayats had any relations with each other. But now the deities have ordered the local people to stop the fight and organise a deity fair where they will meet each other. It was decided in a joint meeting of both the panchayats, where panchayat pradhan and other members of the villages were present. 

After 52 years, the ShantMahayagya ceremony was held this year. A highlight of the Mahayagya was Bijjat Devta’s grand journey from Sarahan, accompanied by thousands of devotees. The revamped temple complex, unveiled through the week-long Shant Mahayagya, culminated in the installation of beautifully carved deodar-Kurud atop the temple. It also also revived the legendary meeting of the royal family of King Bhukru, his wife Dudma Rani, parents of Shirgul,  and  his trusted friend Goga Pir, alongside his adopted sister, Devi Bhaganyani, whose temple stands at a cliff near Haripurdhar in Sirmaur.

Description :

Churdhar is a holy place related with Shri Shirgul Maharaj also know as Chureshwar Maharaj, a deity widely worshipped in Sirmour and Chaupal. The major god of area is Lord Shirgul Maharaj. Many gods goes their for religious pilgrim and bath at the holy temple of lord shirgul.

Choorhdhar, standing tall at nearly 11,870 feet, is not just a spiritual destination, but also a geological wonder and a wild life sanctuary. So when you reached this place then there are so many places for the visit, firstly there is statue of Lord Shiva are made on the top of hill. When you came down to the hill then there so many big stones are present there and in the last there is temple where Shiva’s Ling is present. From this place you can enjoy the Paragliding and beautiful view of mountains. The best season to visit this place in the summer because it is situated on the top of hill and in the winter there is heavy snowfall and even when you visit in the summer then wear warm clothes because there climate suddenly changes. 

The legends of Shirgul and Bijjat resonate deeply here. The devotees find here Shauni Ghori, mare of the Shirgul,  Asur Ki J Kanali, the utensil used by the demon and mysterious routes and caves.

A massive rock near the temple is still worshipped as the site where Churu and his family were saved.

Rajput families in the region maintain the tradition of bringing their children to Choorhdhar for the sacred ritual of cutting their Choortha (a symbolic lock of hair) as an offering to Lord Chooreshwar when they come of age- a ritual practice as good as abandoned now.

This revival of ancient traditions at Choorhdhar has reawakened the spiritual essence of this sacred mountain, marking a significant religious milestone for devotees from across the region.

How to reach :

You can reach there by bus. As this temple is located in the Sirmour district firstly you have to go to Nauradhar then after that you have to go walk or riding on the horse, from this place it is about 15-16 km which takes around 6 to 8 hours, you can also come from Sranha from it its distances is reduces to half. This place is on the solan-haripurdhar road, from solan nauradhar is about 60 km, in which there are so many places for the wondering and when you reach the nauradhar then after that you have to go to the top of the hill, in the ways there is forest and also there are two or three shops so don’t go there alone and also go some fruits in your bags and take bottle for water, there are so many resources of water.

Links :

https://mysterioushimachal.wordpress.com/tag/shirgul-devta/

Arittapatti Caves - rockcut Shiva Temple

Name :  Arittapatti Rockcut Shiva Temple

Location : 

Arittapatti is a small village located in Melur taluk of Madurai district. It is 25Kms from Madurai Town.

Description :
 
The hillock which looks like a pack of rocks is steeped in 2300 years old history. On one side of the hill are natural Jain caves called Pandava Padukkai and on the other side, a rock -cut Siva temple. Pandava Padukkai has got nothing to do with the Pandavas of Mahabharatham. Yet people assume the stone beds might have been used by Pandavas during their exile. These are actually the beds used by Jain saints.

The Siva temple is a fine example of the early Pandya rock-cut temple architecture. This simple but beautiful edifice, which belongs to the 7^th-8^th century CE, has a garbhagriha and a front mandapa. Now the local people call this temple as Idaichchi mandapam.  The Siva linga of this temple has been chiseled in the centre of the same rock. The bas-relief sculptures of the Vinayaka and Siva as Lagulisa adorn the two niches of the exterior wall of the front Mandapa. This is one among the rare Lagulisa sculptures found in Tamil Nadu. 

Websites :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNV3q59COr8

http://www.tnarch.gov.in/cons/temple/temple33.htm 

Bettadapura Sidilu Mallikarjunaswamy & Veerabhadra temple

Name :  Sidilu Mallikarjunaswamy temple


Location :

The Sidilu Mallikarjunaswamy temple on the top of Bettadapura hill is one of the hidden marvels of Karnataka.
How to reach:  Bus: There is a direct bus which goes to Bettadapura from Bangalore. Alternately, board a bus to Mysore, from there, there are buses bound towards Hassan via Bettadapura.
Car/Bike: Head on SH17 towards Mysore, after Srirangapatna, turn towards Elvaala to join Mysore-Madikeri road. Continue on the road till Periyapatna. At Periyapatna, turn right towards Bettadapura on State highway 21.

Description :

Bettadapura or "Land of Hills" is known for the famous Sidilu Mallikarjuna Swamy temple which was built by the Cholas more than 1000 years ago and has not been damaged much as the visitors have to climb a hillock to reach there through a flight of 4000 steps. Bettadapura is home to the Sankethi community which migrated from Shankottai in Tamil Nadu around 600 years ago. From Bettadapura they migrated to several other villages along the banks of Cauvery.

One significance of the temple is the fact that the temple is believed to be hit by lightning at least once a year around Deepavali time. Hence derives the name "Sidilu" meaning lightning in Kannada. Also a jaatre or procession is held once a year during Deepavali in which many people from the surrounding villages take part by carrying the idols of Lord Ganesha, Shiva and Parvati to the top of the hill and bring it back by evening.

It becomes difficult to climb as the day sets in. There are mantaps at regular intervals for a quick power break. At around half way mark one can see the ruins of the ancient Veerabhadra temple which has a Shiva Linga guarded by the Nandi bull. The temple is too dark from inside and is not at all maintained. This place is completely in a neglected state and is used by the climbers to relax for a while.

It takes about two hours to reach the temple. The temple premises looks wonderful and the view of the village from the top is breathtaking and its worth the effort spent in climbing around 4000 steps. The temple is built on a plateau and is a simple stone structure with a Gopuram. The inner sanctum of the temple has a Shiva Linga or Mallikarjuna which is believed to be struck by lightning every year.  There are huge copper vessels of antiquity here to indicate large scale feeding of pilgrims and the enshrined deity is also called Annadani (donor of cooked rice) Mallikarjuna.

Websites :

http://www.thelightbaggage.com/2013/06/bettadapura-village-with-rich-history.html 

Parshuram Temple, Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan

Name : Parshuram Temple, Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan

Location :

Parshuram Mahadev Temple is a Shiva temple in Desuri tehsil in Pali district of Rajasthan state in India. The Cave or Parshuram Temple is located just 9 kilometres away from the famous Kumbhalgarh Fort. The place is 14 km from Sadri town.

Legend :

It is said that Parshuram, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu, made the cave with his axe and used to worship the lord Shiva at this serene place in the foothills of the Aravalis mountain range.

Description :

This is a prominent cave temple dedicated to Lord Parshuram in Rajasthan. It is nestled within a cave and devotees have to climb a flight of 500 stairs to reach this temple. The temple has a lot of religious significance amongst its ardent devotees. Parshuram (the 6th Avatar of Lord Vishnu), was known for his temper.

The cave, 3,995 feet above sea-level, has naturally made figures of Lord Ganesh and Lord Shiva and also has nine Kunds which never go dry.


The highlight of this temple is its scenic and picturesque location. Devotees feel an instant connection with the Almighty when they reach this temple after an arduous climb.

Festivals :

Fairs are organised here twice a year. On the Shravan Shukla Sastami and Saptami (6th and 7th) usually falling in August/September a large fair held. Some social organisations, notably Amar Ganga Charitable Trust, have been arranging food and lodging facilities for the past many years. The trust also organises 'Sangeet Sandhya' (musical nights) during fairs where local artists sing devotional songs. According to an estimate, around 900,000 people visit the holy place every year.

Websites :

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parshuram_Mahadev_Temple

Dharmalingeshwarar temple, Madukkarai

Name :  Dharmalingeshwarar temple

Location :

Darmalingeswarar temple is situated on the Palghat Main road 10 km from Coimbatore near Marappalam on the western side.  

Legend :

During their exile, Pandavas visited this place and worshipped the Swayambulinga on the hill.  During Darma’s worship at the hill,  Bheema was at the foot hill as a security to his brother, according to the sthalapurana.  There is a statue of Bheema here worshipped as the custodian deity of the villagers.

Description :

Lord Shiva in the temple is a swayambumurthi. The height of the hill is about 300 metres.  Steps are provided to reach the temple.  Lord Vinayaka and the Navagraha shrines are at the foot of the hill.

There is a mango tree near the Navagraha-9 planets shrine that yields fruits with three different tastes.  Sacred tree of the temple is Vilwa.  There is mandap and an anthill behind the Vinayaka shrine.  It is said that an aged serpent is still living in the anthill.  There is also a well nearby that is perennial even during severe drought times.  Water is taken to the hill through pipes from this well.  The devotee can reach the hill temple in 30 minutes through the steps.

With Nandhi just opposite the presiding deity, Lords Vinayaka and Muruga are on both sides of the sanctum.  The tribal people worship Lord Darmalingeswara s their family deity.

The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Phone :  + 91 98422 22529

Temple's Speciality :

Those seeking justice and success in court cases worship here, as Dharma the eldest of Pandavas worshipped Lord here.

Festivals :

During the Karthikai month (November-December) the villagers light lamps on the hills from each family in turn for three days.  Thousands undertake Girivalam on full moon days as in Tiruvannamalai. 

Bajans are sung in the temple during the whole night of Maha Shivrathri in March-April. Pradosha, Kruthika, new moon days are observed with special pujas and aradhanas. Annabishekam is performed on Aipasi Poornima day and on Thaipoosam in October-November and January-February respectively.

Websites :
http://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=607

Keesaragutta Shiva Temple, Rangareddy Telangana

Name : Keesaragutta Temple

Location :

Keesaragutta Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Siva and his consorts Bhavani and Sivadurga at Keesaragutta in Rangareddy district. It is about 40 km from Hyderabad and 10 km from ECIL. It is located on a small hillock.

Legend :

The temple draws thousands of devotees on Shivaratri Legend has it that Sri Rama installed the Siva lingam here to atone for the sin of killing Ravana, a Brahman. He selected this beautiful valley surrounded by hills and verdant greenery for the purpose and ordered Hanuman to bring a Sivlingam from Varanasi. Hanuman was late in arriving with the Siva lingam and as the auspicious hour was nearing, Lord Siva himself appeared before Sri Rama and presented a Sivilingam for installation. Hence the lingam in the temple is called Swayambhu Linga. It is also called Ramalingeswara as lord Sri Rama had installed the lingam.

Hanuman returned with 101 lingams for selection from Varanasi and felt aggrieved at not having his lingam installed. Hence he threw them all over the area. Even to this day several lingams are found scattered all over the place outside the temple. To mollify Hanuman, Sri Rama ordained that precedence would be given to him for worship at the temple. He also said that the hillock where the lingam was installed would bear his name kesarigiri i.e., Hanuman, the son of Kesari. Over a period of time, it has colloquially transformed and is now known as Keesara and the hill as Keesaragutta. Ever since, the rituals follow the command of Sri Rama.

Archaeological Excavations :Exploration and Excavations were conducted by the archaeological department in the surroundings of Keesaragutta Temple. Many Remnants of Brick structures and Shiva Lingas were found on the Hill north of the temple and a hillock near the water resource. The remnants belonged to Chalukyan Empire reign. Fortification walls, Yaga shala and Prayer hall's were excavated here. Some Vestige remnants and rock cut cisterns were found on the hills as an indication of Jainism and Buddhism Flourished contemporarily. On October 18, 2014, twelve idols of Jain Tirthankara dating back to the 4th-5th century were found near the temple steps at a depth of one foot which proves that Jainism co-existed along with Hinduism at Keesaragutta during the time of Vishnukundins in 4-5th century. But since 60 to 70 years thatakam family is working hard to develop the temple, and they are the founder trustees of the temple now.

Temple Timings :

6 AM TO 7 PM

How to Reach :

The temple is a near 1.5 Hr to 2 Hr drive from the city. When we were traveling, it was raining and the drive was very pleasant. How to reach Keesar
The village is in Rangareddy district of Andhra Pradesh and is located about 18 km from ECIL X roads on the out skirts of Hyderabad (and about 45 km from Begumpet airport).
Keesara is a Town in Keesara Mandal in Rangareddy District in Andhra Pradesh State in India. Keesara is Main Town for the Keesara Mandal. Keesara is 75.9 km distance from its District Main City Rangareddy. And 35 km distance from its State Main City Hyderabad. Keesara is about 35 kms from Hyderabad. It has proper roads and driving direction is pretty easier. Andhra Pradesh state run APSRTS offers bus services from Jubilee Bus Station, Secunderabad and Imliban bus station and Koti.

Sevas/Utasavams :

Shiva kalyanam
Maha Shivaratri
Karthika Masam

Websites  :
http://manatemples.net/Pages/TE_Hyd_Keesaraguttta.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keesaragutta_Temple 

Bhramarambhika Mallikharjuna Swamy Temple

Name : Bhramarambhika Mallikharjuna Swamy Temple

Location :

It is located on a small hill nearby called Beeramguda Gutta in town located in Sangareddy district in Telangana.

Description :

The people are of the belief that the temple was established due to the effort of two sages named Bhoga Maharshi and Brugu Maharshi. Devotees find a Shiva Linga when they travel through an inner route of the temple. Known as second Sree Sailam, people believe that the temple here existed since the 13th century. The people believe that the inner route leads to Sree Sailam. There was a four feet statue of Lord Veera Bhadra earlier as a result of which the temple was called as Veerappa or Beerappa. Nowadays, the place came to be known as Beeramguda. The temple attained great significance during the reign of Kakatiyas and developed much in 1980's.

 

Websites :

http://www.templesofindia.net/temples/bhramarambha-mallikarjuna-swamy-temple-beeramguda

Hill of Tara, Ireland

Name : Hill of Tara

Location :

The Hill of Tara (Irish: Cnoc na Teamhrach, Teamhair or Teamhair na Rí), located near the River Boyne, is an archaeological complex that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin in County Meath, Ireland. It contains a number of ancient monuments and, according to tradition, was the seat of the High King of Ireland.

Legends :

1. In ancient Irish religion and mythlogy, Tara was revered as a dwelling of the gods and an entrance place to the otherworld of eternal joy and plenty where no mortal ever grew old. In the legends of St Patrick’s mission to Ireland he is said to have first come to Tara to confront the ancient religion in its most powerful sight.

2.  Atop the hill stands a stone pillar that was the Irish Lia Fáil (Stone of Destiny) on which the High Kings of Ireland were crowned, the stone was required to roar three times if the chosen one was a true king.

3.  According to The Annals of the Four Masters, an ancient document written by Franciscan Monks between 1632-1636 AD, this stone was brought to Ireland by the Tuatha Dé Danann, a supernaturally gifted people. Some speculate it was they who brought the power to make bronze to Ireland. They were the main deities of pre-Christian Gaelic Ireland.

4.   The Stone of Destiny looks similar to Shiva Lingam and is estimated to be atleast 5500 years old.  Irish used to worship Tara Goddess in ancient days.

In Ireland Irish people use to worship tara goddess from long many times and there is a tara hill in ireland where temple of tara is also exist.
The Druids called their mother goddess Tara; Edain Echraidhe is her Irish name. Her home is the high valley between the Hill of Tara and Skryne in the Royal City of Celtic Ireland.

Whats surprising is, that if you do a little bit of research, you find out she is also featured in ancient Scandinavia, ancient Polynesia, ancient Rome, with the ancient Druids, and in ancient native America. When comparing mythologies from around the globe you soon figure out that they all tell similar stories featuring similar characters with similar activities.

Hinduism : A Mahavidya of Mahadevi, Kali or Parvati
Buddhism : tantric meditation deity in Tibetan Buddhism

Polynesian Mythology: Tara is a beautiful sea goddess
Latin: Terra, Mother Earth
Druids: called their mother goddess Tara.
Finland: An ancient legend speaks of Tar, the Women of Wisdom.
South America: indigenous tribe in the jungle call to their goddess, Tarahumara.

Native American: Cheyenne people tell of a Star Woman who fell from the heavens to the Earth. She sent her people to mate with the more primitive inhabitants of Earth, thereby giving them the capacity for wisdom.

Description :

Liathdroim was an ancient name of Tara. The Hill of Tara has been in use by people from the Neolithic era, although it is not known whether Tara was continuously used as a sacred and/or a political centre from the Neolithic period to the 12th century.

The central part of the site could not have housed a large permanent retinue, implying that it was instead used for occasional meetings. There were no large defensive structures. Earliest extant written records show that high kings were inaugurated there, and the "Seanchas Mor" legal text (written some time after 600AD) specified that the king must drink ale and symbolically marry the goddess Maeve (Medb) in order to qualify for high kingship.

Tara is one of the largest complexes of Celtic monuments in all of Europe. In reading its landscape we are transported back in time to when the first settlers came here 6000 years ago. They and the Celts who followed them chose Tara as a very special site.

When you enter the Hill of Tara site through the entrance gate the first structure you will come to a statue of St Patrick followed by the church and churchyard.  The present church building and churchyard wall date from 1822. There were 2 previous churches on the hill – the first one was built in the 13th century. A much larger church succeeded it. Part of this second church’s outer wall can still be seen near the top of the steps in the churchyard.  The earliest grave stones here date from the 17th century. A memorial stone of the local Dillan family in the church itself is dated 1595.

To the right at top of the stairs in the churchyard there are two stones – remnants of a time when there were many stone monuments on Tara.  The taller of these two remaining stones is thought to feature a figure of the celtic fertility god Cernunnos.

During the rebellion of 1798, United Irishmen formed a camp on the hill but were attacked and defeated by British troops on 26 May 1798 and the Lia Fáil was moved to mark the graves of the 400 rebels who died on the hill that day. In 1843, the Irish Member of Parliament Daniel O'Connell hosted a peaceful political demonstration on Hill of Tara in favour of repeal of the Act of Union which drew over 750,000 people, which indicates the enduring importance of the Hill of Tara

Websites :

http://www.indiadivine.org/ancient-shiva-linga-in-ireland/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_of_Tara 

Thap Ba, Po Nagar Cham Towers, Vietnam

Name :  Thap Ba, Po Nagar Cham Towers

Location :


The towers are situated on the hill top of Cù Lao, on the Cai river in the middle of what was the medieval principality of Kauthara, near modern day Nha Trang in the Khanh Hoa province. Before 774 AD wooden temple structures had long been located on the site, however these were raised to the ground by invading Javanese.

Description :

In 918, King Indravarman III placed a gold mukha-linga (carved phallus with a human face painted on it) in the North Tower, but it was taken by Khmer raiders. This pattern of statues being destroyed or stolen and then replaced continued until 965, when King Jaya Indravarman IV replaced the gold mukha-linga with the stone figure, Uma (Shakti, or female consort of Shiva), which remains to this day.

Mukha Linga was recovered from the complex of Cham temple ruins in Quang Nam Province in central Vietnam recently. It is now on display My Son Champa. http://www.hindu-blog.com/2013/11/a-7th-century-mukha-linga-on-display-in.html

The Shivling on display is made from a block of brownish gold sandstone. It is 1.46 meters high. The Shiva bust on the round head of the Shivling.

This is the first intact Mukha Linga discovered in Southeast Asia.

As part of the ancient Champa Kingdom, the towers were built to honour the Lady Mother of the Kingdom or Lady Thien Y-ana (also known as Po Nagar) who was said to be a great teacher of weaving and agricultural techniques. The largest tower is around 25m high and was built in 817 AD, inside is a statue dedicated to Po Nagar (said to have been made in 1050) alongside a linga. The remaining towers are dedicated to different gods; the North-West tower said to be for Sandhaka, Po Nagar’s father; the South tower to Ganeca, Po Nagar’s daughter and the Central tower (although less finely constructed) in honour of Cri Cambhu, believed to bless devotees with fertility, containing a linga (stylised phallus said to promote creative energy and fertility).

The stone pillars that remain on the lower section of the hill, lead to the original (now unused) stair case to the towers. These pillars are relics from a meditation temple and have undergone massive reconstruction over the years.


Above the entrance to the North Tower, two musicians, one of whose feet is on the head of the bull Nandin, flank a dancing four-armed Shiva. The sandstone doorposts are covered with inscriptions, as are parts of the walls of the vestibule. A gong and a drum stand under the pyramid-shaped ceiling of the antechamber. In the 28m-high pyramidal main chamber, there is a black-stone statue of the goddess Uma with 10 arms, two of which are hidden under her vest; she is seated and leaning back against a monstrous beast.

The Central Tower (Thap Nam) was built partly of recycled bricks in the 12th century on the site of a structure dating from the 7th century. It is less finely constructed than the other towers and has little ornamentation; the pyramidal roof lacks terracing or pilasters, although the interior altars were once covered with silver. There is a linga inside the main chamber.

The South Tower (Mieu Dong Nam), at one time dedicated to Sandhaka (Shiva), still shelters a linga, while the richly ornamented Northwest Tower (Thap Tay Bac) was originally dedicated to Ganesh. To the rear of the complex is a less-impressive museum with a few examples of Cham stonework.

This is a highly religious site and as such visitors are asked to remain respectful at all times. Shoes must be removed before entering any of the four towers. Dress appropriately with long skirts or trousers and definitely no bare shoulders, knees or excessive cleavage on show.

The entrance fee is 21,000 VND per person,the towers are open to visitors from 6am until 6pm and can be reached easily by car, motorbike, scooter, bicycle or on foot from the centre of Nha Trang. A taxi costs around 60,00 VND (metered price) from the main tourist area of Nha Trang. Stick to the reputable taxi companies such as Mai Linh, to avoid unreasonable fees or erratic meters.
The South Tower at Po Nagar Cham Towers, Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam

The Po Nagar cham towers are stunning in their own right, but the hill-top location also offers a good vantage point for photographers and sight-seers alike. The cafe based on the top of the hill serves a great Vietnamese coffee. A must-see on your list when staying in Nha Trang, or passing through.

Websites :

http://www.asiasoutheast.com/vietnam/nha-trang-vietnam/thap-ba-po-nagar-cham-towers/

Various types of Mukha Lingams worldwide 

Kondarangi Hills - Malligarjuna Swamy Temple

Name : Kondarangi Hills - Malligarjuna Swamy Temple

Location :

It is situated in Tamilnadu on the way to Tharapuram from Oddanchatram (via) Moolanur. It is 15kms from moolanur and the village is called Kondarangi Keeranur.

Legend :

1. It is believed that when we do meditation on Pournami or Amavasya days on the top of this hill, we can get connection with our ancestors and their blessings.

2. It is said that there is a shusma vibrations between palani Temple and this temple. Kondrangi Shiva is seeing his Son from here. Also we can see this hill when we climb Palani hills.

3. Pandavas of mahabharata are said to have done meditation in the cave here. It is said that Arjuna attained powers during his vana vasa here. They say when we meditate in this hill we can travel to a diffreent Astral World.

Description :

This Hill has a steep Conical shape and it is about 748meters high. There is a very wonderful Rock cut Temple on the top where Lord Shiva showers his blessings in the name of Malligarjuneswarar. It is a Swayambhu Lingam ( Formed on its owns ). The hill itself looks like a Huge Linga.

The steps are rock cut and it seems very difficult to climb the hill. But with Lord shiva's blessings it is very easy to reach the top. It takes two hours to reach the top. If there is Rain or high winds it will be difficult to ascend or descend. There is a perennial spring on the top.

There is a Cave where Sidhhars and Thavasis have done meditation. There is also a Temple located at the foothills known as Ketti Malleswarar Sri Bhramaramba Temple.

Festivals :

Chitra Pournami and maha Shiva Ratri is celebrated in grand manner when lot of devotees throng to get blessings of Malligarjuna swamy

Websites :

I sincerely thank Mr.Dhanasekar who maintains a facebook page on Kondarangi malai for providing all the above details. Link to his page is as below. Devotees who wish to visit kondarangi malai can contact him for further details.

https://www.facebook.com/KondarangiHills/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1yXRdLB88w

Yaganti Uma Maheswara Swamy Temple & Agastiya and Venkateswara swamy Cave Temples

Name : Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple

Location :

Yaganti is located in the Kurnool District in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, approximately 100 km from the city of Kurnool and 75 kms from Tadipatri in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is 14 km west of Banaganapalle (Mandal headquarters) on the Banaganapalle-Peapully road. This place is nestled in the middle of some hostile terrain like the the dry, rocky region of Erramala Hills.

Legend :
One story of the site's origin is as follows: The sage Agastya wanted to build a temple for Lord Venkateswara on this site. However, the statue that was made could not be installed as the toe nail of the idol got broken. The sage was upset over this and performed a penance for Lord Shiva. When Lord Shiva appeared, he said the place suits Shiva better as it resembles Kailash. Agastya then requested Lord Shiva to give the devotees a Parvathi Goddess as Lord Uma Maheswara in a single stone, which Lord Shiva obliged.

A second story is as follows: Chitteppa, a devotee of Lord Shiva, was worshiping Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva appeared to him as a tiger. Chitteppa understood that it was Lord Shiva in tiger form, and shouted Neganti Shivanu ne kanti (meaning: I saw Shiva I saw), and danced with joy. There is a cave called Chitteppa nearby.

Popular Beliefs :

Growing Nandi :
The devotees believe that the Nandi idol in front of the temple is continuously increasing its size. The locals say that the idol was initially much smaller than its present size. They say that certain experimentation was carried out on this idol and it was said that the type of rock out of which the idol is carved has a growing or enlarging nature associated with it. Archaeological Survey of India has confirmed that the idol increases by 1 inch in every 20 years. Experiment suggests that the rock used to make the idol exhibits a growing nature.

It is said that people used to do Pradakshinas (rounds) around it in the past. The temple staff has already removed one pillar as the size of the Nandi has increased.

According to Potuluri Veera Brahmendra swamy, the Basavanna (stone nandi) of Yaganti will come alive and shout when Kali Yuga ends.

Absence of crows

Legend has it that while the Sage Agastya was performing his penance, crows disturbed him and he cursed that the crows cannot enter the place. As the crow is the Vahana for Lord Shani, it is believed that Lord Shani cannot enter this place.

Description :

This temple was constructed by King Harihara Bukka Raya of the Sangama Dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century. It was built according to Vaishnavaite traditions.

Sri Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple is one of the few temples patronized by one of the great dynasties of India. Every year Maha Shivaratri is celebrated and a large number of devotees from all over Andhra Pradesh visit. Shiva, Parvati and Nandi are the main deities in this temple.This temple is 14 km away from Banaganipalli in kurnool dt. The saint lord Veerabrahmendra swami stayed here for some time and wrote Kalagnanam.

A feature of this temple is its Pushkarini, a small pond of water on the temple premises. Water flows into this Pushkarini from the bottom of hill through the mouth of a Nandi (bull). The water is fresh and sweet, as it comes from the hills. No one knows how the water reaches the pond all year round and this temple architecture in terms of its sculpture shows the skills of ancient Vishwakarma Sthapathis. Devotees find that a holy bath in Pushkarini is highly beneficial. After taking a bath in Pushkarini, they pay tributes to Lord Shiva.

The sage Agasthya bathed in Pushkarini and worshipped Lord Shiva.

Yaganti Caves :

Agastya Cave :

This is the cave where Agastya performed his penance for Lord Shiva. One can enter the cave by climbing 120 steep steps. An idol to Devi is installed and may be worshipped here.

Venkateswara Cave :
The damaged idol of Lord Venkateswara is present in this cave. Compared to Agastya cave it is easy to climb though the steps are steep. According to the story this idol was present in this cave before the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple was constructed. But as the idol is damaged near the foot, it could not be worshipped. Sri Sri Potuluri Veera Brahmendra Swami tells us in his Kala Gynanam that this place can stand as an alternative to Tirupati. This temple has very beautiful scenic locations nearby.

Veera Brahmam Cave :
This is the cave where saint Sree Potuluri Veera Brahmendra swamy wrote some of his Kala Gnaanam (prophecy). The height of the cave is less and one needs to bend half over to enter it.

Websites :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaganti

Panch Kedar Yatra (pilgrimage)

Panch Kedar (Sanskrit: पंचकेदार) refers to five Hindu temples or holy places of the Shaivite sect dedicated to god Shiva. They are located in the Garhwal Himalayan region in Uttarakhand, India. They are the subject of many legends that directly link their creation to Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.

The five temples designated in the strict pecking order to be followed for pilgrimage for worship are the Kedarnath (Sanskrit: केदारनाथ) at an altitude of 3,583 m (11,755 ft), the Tungnath (तुंगनाथ)(3,680 m or 12,070 ft), Rudranath (रुद्रनाथ) (2,286 m or 7,500 ft), Madhyamaheshwar (मध्यमहेश्वर) or Madmaheshwar (3,490 m or 11,450 ft) and Kalpeshwar (कल्पेश्वर) (2,200 m or 7,200 ft). The Kedarnath is the main temple, which is part of the four famous Chota Char Dhams (literally 'the small four abodes/seats') or pilgrimage centers of the Garhwal Himalayas; the other three dhams are the Badrinath, Yamunotri and Gangotri. Kedarnath is also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas


History

It is said that the Panch Kedar Yatra (pilgrimage) could be directly related to the Gorakhnath cult (recognized for their pilgrim traditions) of Nepal. As a proof, it is stated that the culmination of the pilgrimage was at Pashupatinath temple in Nepal, rightly where Lord Shiva’s head is worshipped and not at Kedarnath where the hump is venerated. A further supporting fact mentioned in this regard is that the emblem used in Kedarnath temple dome is the same as displayed in the Pashupathinath temple dome in Kathmandu.

Legends

Many folk legends related to the Garhwal region, god Shiva and the creation of the Panch Kedar temples are narrated.

The most famous folk legend about Panch Kedar relates to the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The Pandavas defeated and killed their cousins — the Kauravas in the epic Kurukshetra war. They wished to atone for the sins of committing fratricide (gotra hatya) and Brāhmanahatya (killing of Brahmins — the priest class) during the war. Thus, they handed over the reigns of their kingdom to their kin and left in search of the god Shiva and to seek his blessings. First, they went to the holy city of Varanasi (Kashi), believed to Shiva's favourite city and famous for its Shiva temple. But, Shiva wanted to avoid them as he was deeply incensed by the death and dishonesty at the Kurukshetra war and was, therefore, insensitive to Pandavas' prayers. Therefore, he assumed the form of a bull (Nandi) and hid in the Garhwal region.

Not finding Shiva in Varanasi, the Pandavas went to Garhwal Himalayas. Bhima, the second of the five Pandava brothers, then standing astride two mountains started to look for Shiva. He saw a bull grazing near Guptakashi (“hidden Kashi” — the name derived from the hiding act of Shiva). Bhima immediately recognized the bull to be Shiva. Bhima caught hold of the bull by its tail and hind legs. But the bull-formed Shiva disappeared into the ground to later reappear in parts, with the hump raising in Kedarnath, the arms appearing in Tunganath, the nabhi (navel) and stomach surfacing in Madhyamaheshwar, the face showing up at Rudranath and the hair and the head appearing in Kalpeshwar. The Pandavas pleased with this reappearance in five different forms, built temples at the five places for venerating and worshipping Shiva. The Pandavas were thus freed from their sins. It is also believed that the fore portions of Shiva appeared at Pashupatinath, Kathmandu — the capital of Nepal.

A variant of the tale credits Bhima of not only catching the bull, but also stopping it from disappearing. Consequently, the bull was torn asunder into five parts and appeared at five locations in the Kedar Khand of Garhwal region of the Himalayas. After building the Panch Kedar temples, the Pandavas mediated at Kedarnath for salvation, performed yagna (fire sacrifice) and then through the heavenly path called the Mahapanth (also called Swargarohini), attained heaven or salvation.[citation needed]

After completing the pilgrimage of Lord Shiva's darshan at the Panch Kedar temples, it is an unwritten religious rite to visit Lord Vishnu at the Badrinath Temple, as a final affirmatory proof by the devotee that he has sought blessings of Lord Shiva

Worship rights

The priests and pundits who worship in the Panch Kedar temples are from South India, except in Tungnath. Namboodiri brahmins hailing from Malabar, in Kerala officiate as chief priests at Badrinath temple and they are known by the name Rawals. Jangamas who are pure Lingayatisms from Chitrakal in Mysore are the chief priests at the Madhyamaheswar temple. Dasnami Gosains founded by Adi Shankaracharya are the chief priests in Rudranath and Kalpeshwar temples. The Tunganath temple is served by the Khasi Brahmins. In the case of Tungnath, it is also said that the local brahmins from Mokumath officiate as priests.

Kedarnath Teerth Purohit all Kedarnath Teerth Purohit (Panda) are the ancient brahmin of this himalaya region of Kedarkhand, these are there from the end of treta yug and start of kaliyug, when pandava came to himalaya for finding moksh, and then went to mahapanth, after their journey to mahapanth, their grandson King Janmejay came to Kedarnth and gave the right of worshiping of Kedarnath temple to these brahmins

THE TREK :

The total trek length to cover all the five temples of Panch Kedar is about 170 km (including road travel up to Gaurikund), involving 16 days of strenuous and rewarding effort. The trek starts from Gauri Kund, one of the picturesque spots, providing spectacular views of the Himalayan range of hills in the entire Garhwal region, comparable to the Alps. The trekking is undertaken during two seasons; three months during summer and two months after the monsoon season, as during the rest of the period, except Rudranath, the other four Panch Kedar temples are inaccessible due to snow cover.

The road from Rishikesh is the first entry point to Garhwal from the plains of Uttarakhand. Rishikesh is approachable from Delhi by road over a distance of 230 km. The road from Rishikesh leads to the Gaurikhund on the Rudraprayag–Kedarnath road from where the trekking would start to Kedarnath temple. The trek to Kedarnath is of 14 km, each way. After Kedarnath, road travel to Guptakashi and further to Jagasu covers a distance of 30 km. From Jagasu, the trek to Madhaymaheshwar temple via Gaundhar is over a distance of24 km (15 mi). This trek provides spectacular views of the Chaukhamba, the Kedarnath and the Neelkanth peaks. Returning from Madhyamaheshwar the road drive to Chopta via Jagasu is of 45 km. From Chopta, the trek is to the Tunganath temple over a distance of about 4 km. After the Tunganath trek, the drive along the road up to Mandal (known Cherrapunji of Garhwal due to heavy rainfall) is for a distance of8 km. From Mandal, the trek to Rudranath temple is of 20 km. After visiting Rudranath temple the return journey is to Mandal and the drive down by road to Helang. From Helang, the trek to Kalpeshwar temple is for 11 km via Urgam village and is considered strenuous due to the steepness of the route. After completing the pilgrimage trek of Kalpeswar temple, the last of the Panch Kedar temples, the return road drive from Helong to Riishikesh via Pipalkothi is a distance of 233 km.

Worship during winter season

During the winter period when the temples are inaccessible due to snowfall, the sanctified symbolic Shiva idol of Kedarnath is worshipped at the Omkareshwar temple at Ukhimath, the representational idol of Tunganath is worshipped at Mokumath, the Rudranath symbolic image is brought to Gopeshwar, and the Madhyamaheshwar symbolic idol is venerated at Ukhimath

Websites :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panch_Kedar

1. Kalpeshwar
2. Rudranath
3. Madhyamaheshwar
4. Tungnath
5. Kedarnath 

Gupteswar cave Temple

Name : Gupteswar Cave Temple

Location :

Gupteswar is a shrine of Lord Shiva situated about 55 km away Jeypore, Koraput District in the state of Odisha, India. It is a limestone cave discovered some time ago and has a number of scenic spots around.

Legend:

According to mythology, the lingam was first discovered by Lord Rama when he was roaming in the then Dandakaranya forest with wife Sita and brother Laxman, and later worshipped it calling it "Gupteswar". The poet Kalidas too, described the scenic beauty of Ramgiri forest where the cave temple is referred to in his famous Meghadutam.

However, with the passing of time, the temple was abandoned. Later, in the last part of the 19th century, a hunter of the Ramgiri area found the lingam. Since then the lingam has been worshipped by the tribes of Koraput region.

Description :

The main attraction is the gigantic Shiva Linga which is said to be increasing in size. Pilgrims from all over the country come here during the Sravana period, because the yearly BolBom yatra is held at this place. Devotees walk to the Gupteshwar during BolBom yatra to bathe in the maha kund, and then chant near the Shiva Linga. The cave is more or less like the Bora caves ( India - Odisha and Andhra border ). you have got same feelings in other natural places . But this Gupteswar cave is special for the underground water. It is really worth seeing. It is a natural cave with Stalagmites. One has to reach the end to view the superb scene .
After taking bath in the river Sabari, also known as Pataliganga, devotees offered prayers in the cave temple, situated at a height of 1,000 metres.

Surrounded by a dense forest of sal trees and flanked by the Kolab river, a 2m high lingam stands in the cave. The shrine is called "Gupteswar" which means the "Hidden God". It is so named because it was lying hidden in the cave for a very long period. One can reach it by climbing the 476 steps flanked with rows of champak trees. The entrance of the cave is about 3 m wide and 2 m in height. There are also several other caves nearby. Inside the second cave there is a large stalactite. People worship it as the udder of God Kamadhenu (the divine cow) and wait under it with outstretched palms to collect drops of water which fall only at long intervals.

Popularly known as "Gupta Kedar" in the vicinity, this sacred place, endowed with unusual natural beauty, is associated with Shri Rama of the epic Ramayana. The nearby hill has been named "Ramagiri".  In Shivaratri (a Hindu festival) Gupteswar Temple draws over 200,000 devotees from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. People suffering from incurable diseases come here to worship the God and remain here for months in the hope of getting cured.

There are five perennial poles of water called Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Bhargavi and Indradyumna. The entrance of the cave looks like two jaws and the Shiva Linga is located at the meeting point of the jaws.
Similarly, thousands of people offer prayers at Paikpada, which is famous for the 9th century Pataleshwar Shiva temple. It is believed that there are 99,99,999 Shiva Lingas (only one less than one crore) in and around the temple.

Websites:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gupteswar_Cave

http://www.orissaspider.com/resources/3523-Holy-Shrine-Lingam-Gupteswar-Koraput.aspx 

Gokarneswara Temple, Mahendragiri

Name : Gokarneswara Temple

Location :

Mahendragiri, is a mountain peak at in the Paralakhemundi (or Parlakhemundi) subdivision of the district of Gajapati, Orissa, India. It is situated amongst the Eastern Ghats at an elevation of 1,501 meters (4,925 ft).
.
Legend :

Legend says that it is the place where lord Parashurama,a Chiranjeevi staying eternally and doing tapasya.Temples built by Pandavas are seen.Main festival here is Shivaratri,the worship of Shiva,the guru or percepter of lord Parashurama.

It is associated with mythological stories from the Ramayana as Mahendra Parvata (mountain). It is also Known as the Southern Amarnath of Orissa. a ‘Kula Parvata’ along with Malaya, Sahyadri, Parijatra, Shuktiman, Vindhya and Malyavaan

Legend has it that the linga was installed by the Pandavas of the Mahabharata era. Construction of the 8-feet-high temple is also attributed to the Pandavas. The Pandavas are believed to have performed the ritual to worship Gokarneswara at the crack of dawn on Shivaratri before they left the place.Sarala Dasa, the author of Oriya Mahabharata, attributes the establishment of the Gokarnesvara Sivalinga to Pandava brothers who visited Mahendragiri during the period of their exile.

Description :

Shivaratri was once more celebrated with pomp ,devotion and gaiety in Gajapati , and the main function was at the famous and historical Mahendragiri Hills .The administration had made elaborate arrangements for the a safe and smooth Shivaratri on the Mahendragiri Hills . More than 50,000 devotees from all parts of the state had reached the footsteps of the Mahendragiri Hills from where they trekked up the hills through the Burkat Pass .Ladies and aged women in large numbers braved the chill and dark night to go up the Mahendragiri Hills to have a glimpse of the Shiva Lingas inside the three temples namely Bhima Temple , Kunti(Gokerneswara) Temple and the Yudhister Temple supposed to have constructed by the Pandavas during their exile . Police in big numbers were present through out the route and also on the mountain top to face any law or order situation . Drinking Water supply , generator run electricity , first aid , food and other arrangements were also efficiently maintained by the Revenue Department who are responsible for this annual function . In the other Shiva Temple of the town devotees had gathered in large numbers to and the temples were also brightly decorated ,coloured and lit up with lights for the occasion.

In the adjoining areas the Raiwalsa Temple near Teakkali , Mina Jhola near Rayagada ,Makhalingam near Hiramandallam ,Putingi near Mandaasa were also the few Shiva Temples where devotees from this place had gone in huge numbers . Early in the morning the Suryo Udyog(sunrise) was the major attraction for the devotees who waited for the first sunrays to break through before returning back home.

There are four other temples, dedicated to Yudhisthira, Bheema, Arjuna and Kunti, on the premises.

The Kunti temple is 30 feet high and is at one end of the flat top the mountain. It is in rekha style without any jagamohanaor plinth. The temple has been plastered with lime after thorough repair. In the side niche are parsvadevatas like Ganesha, Kartikeya and Pravati. The nabagrahas are in the lintel over the door jambs. Two inscriptions which may be paleographically placed in the 12th century A.D. are there, one to the right of the entrance door and the other on the left side of the temple. Some sculptures and dressed stone slabs are lying scattered around the temple.

The Yudhisthira temple rising abruptly from the ground level is in triratha style and is on the other side of the flat top of the mountain. The outer walls are devoid of any sculptural decoration excepting four Chaitya arches. There is no parsvadevata. The lintel of the door contains an inscription of the Chola king Rajendra Chola.

The Bhima temple, assumed by scholar to have been built just after the Gupta period, appears to be the earliest of these temples. It is made of five huge square sized blocks of stones and has low and squat tower, square sanctum, squat sikhara and flat roof. The doorway is narrow and the walls do not have any niche. Upon the last tier of the temple rests the amalakasila but the kalasa is absent. There is no sculptural decoration worth mentioning. This temple is often regarded as the Gokarnesvara temple of the place. In addition to these temples, there are three other huts like uncut stone structures arranged in groups.

Websites :

http://eodisha.org/mahendragiri-hills-way-heaven-good-place-trekking-picnic-gajapati-district-odisha/

Lankeshwar Temple, Assam

Name : Lankeshwar Temple

Location :


Lankeshwar Temple is an ancient Shiva temple on top of a hillock in the western part of the Guwahati city near Gauhati University campus.

Description :

The Lankeshwar Temple of Assam is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is placed atop a hill amidst a picturesque location. Lankeshwar is one of the many forms of Lord Shiva. The followers of Lord Shiva considered the temple as one of the most sacred one. Devotees all around the year visit this temple and seek divine blessings.

The Staircase to Lankeshwar

The Lankeshwar Temple in Guwahati is not only popular with the religiously inclined people but with the general tourists also. Most common visitors are amongst the couples of Guwahati city, students of Gauhati University, and that of Assam Engineering College. The wonderful location of the temple is a major reason for this. Since it is situated in a convenient location in the city, it is very easily accessible. Guwahati City Bus Number 6 provides with direct public transportation. This is an added advantage for the place and one of the reasons behind its popularity. Moreover the temple is believed to be very sacred to the pilgrims who visit here.

Websites :

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

Mahabhairav Mandir, Tezpur

Name : Mahabhairav Mandir

Location :


The ancient Mahabhairav Temple is located at a hillock on the northern part of Tezpur town, Assam.

Legend :

The temple was built for worshiping Lord Shiva by King Banasura. The Shiva linga of this temple is said to be made of 'Living Stone' which grows over slowly by the years.Some people believe that Bana obtained his boon while worshipping in this temple.

History :

The archeologists believe that the temple was built during 8th to 10th century A.D. by the kings of the Salasthamba dynasty. That originally there was a stone temple is evident from the huge pillars scattered all around the temple. But the original temple was destroyed during the Islamic invasions of the Middle Ages. It was however, rebuilt by successive kings and rulers, until it was heavily damaged by the catastrophic earthquake of 1897.

The present structure of the temple was built sometime in the early part of the present century by a devotee and monk Sri Swayambar Bharati, popularly known as Naga Baba. After a few years, another monk Sri Mahadeo Bharati built the “Nat Mandir” close to the temple. After a few years another devotee built the cement-concrete idols of Ganesh and Hanuman as “Dwarpaals” in front of the temple. Since then the developmental works of the temple had been somewhat sluggish although not completely stopped, one major work being the exquisitely curved ornamental frontispiece of the main entrance gate of the temple by a local artist, Sri Joy Das.

Description :

During the Ahom rule, the kings especially of the Tungkhungiya dynasty donated large area of Devottar land to the Temple and pujaris and Paiks were appointed to look after the temple. The responsibility of management was in the hands of a Borthakur. The temple is now managed by the Government through a managing committee headed by the District Deputy Commissioner. Shivaratri is celebrated in the temple with big festivity and people from all over the country visit it.

Festivals :

The Shivratri mela (Carnival ) during the Shivratri week is very famous all over Assam. Bhang (an Indian drug) laddoos, sold as prasad (offerings of the Lord ) are in very much demand. The mela is smaller than that in Sivsagar, but is nevertheless famous.This temple also conducts marriage ceremonies. People usually free pigeons in this temple as an offering, it is a wonderful sight to see hundreds of pigeons in this place.

Websites:

http://mahabhairab.org/

Negheriting Shiva Doul, Assam

Name : The Negheriting Shiva Doul Temple

Location :

This ancient Shaivite temple reciting the fascinating tales of its presiding deity Lord Shiva, is located in Dergaon in the Indian state of Assam. The pilgrimage centre situated atop a hillock is at a distance of almost one and half kms away on the northern side from the National Highway 37 in the Golaghat district.

History of Negheriting Shiva Doul :

As per the historical records Negheriting Shiva Doul was first built by the Kacharis in the 8th - 9th century A.D. Due to natural calamities the temple was destroyed and the remains were found in deep forest called Gajapanemara. Knowing somehow about the ruined temple and the Shiva linga, Ahom king Susenphaa (1439–1488) then built the temple right on that foundation and established the linga.

However, as the Dihing river changed the course, the temple was again destroyed and merged into the river water. A devotee of lord Shiva found the ruined temple and the linga in the shallow water of river Dihing,[2] now this place is known as Sheetal Negheri.[2][3] Ahom king Rajeswar Singha (1751–1769) brought the linga from the river and reconstructed the present temple and established the linga in it..

Architecture of Negheriting Shiva Doul :

Negheriting Shiva Doul is enclosed on its sides by other four temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesha, Lord Surya and Goddess Durga. The main temple houses a Banalinga measuring 3 feet in diameter. As per a legend a sage by the name Urba wished to establish a second Kashi at this location. Hence he collected several Shivalingas and established them here.

It is said that the location where the temple is situated earlier served as the habitat of a unique bird known as Negheri. It is from this name that the place came to be known as Negheriting.

Earlier king Rajeswar Singha had appointed a priest named Bhudhar Agamacharji for the maintenance and protection of the temple and to carry out the daily rituals of the temple. Even today the maintenance and worship of the temple is undertaken by the members of the Agamacharji family. Earlier the ritual of execution of dances and songs known as Deonati were prominent in the temple.

One of the attractions of the temple is the monkeys. The temple is the house of the rhesus monkeys where a sizeable population of this species is there

Websites :

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

Sukreswar Temple, Guwahati

Name : Sukreswar Temple, Guwahati

Location :

Sukreswar Temple is perched on top of the Itakhuri hills at Guwahati in the state of Assam.

Legend :

Legend has it that, that Sage Sukra had his hermitage on this hillock and he used to worship his Lord Shiva in this temple.

Description :

The Kalika Purana identifies the hillock as Hastigiri hills due to its shape like the hump of an elephant. Constructed by the Ahom ruler Pramatta Singha in 1744 AD, the Sukreswar temple is located on the southern bank of the mighty Brahmaputra. Originally dating back to the 18th century, the temple is believed to have the largest Shiva lingam or phallic emblem in India.

The adjacent embankment is used for holy bathing and performing rituals. It is believed that the dead gain peaces if the post - death rituals are performed here. A flight of steps lead down from the temple complex to the river. Sitting on the steps of Sukreswar ghat one can enjoy the scenery of sun setting on the river, boats moving across the river.

Speciality :

According to the Hindu legends, if one performs death rituals and rites in honour of their relatives at this temple than the dead person would attain moksha or salvation.

Websites :

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

http://blessingsonthenet.com/indian-temple/article/239/sukreswar-temple

Maragathaleswaraswami Temple - Thiruengoimalai

Name :  Thiruengoimalai Arulmigu Maragathaleswaraswami Temple

Lacation : 

This Temple lies 40 km from Tiruchirappalli and 5 kms from Musiri, Taluk headquarters in Tiruchirappalli District. Thiruengoimalai lies between Musiri and Thottiam.

Legend :

The name of the place is said to be derived from Thiru-i-ongaimalai (‘i’ meaning bee in Tamil) and to have been so called because the sage Agasthiar, finding the gates of the temple closed one evening, took the form of a bee and entered the temple to perform his worship.

Ambal worshipped Shiva here and so the hill is also called Sivasakthi malai.

Description : 

Moolavar : Maragadachaleswarar, (Trinajyotheeswarar), Eengoinathar
Amman / Thayar : Maragadambikai
Thala Virutcham : Tamarind tree
Year : 1000-2000 years old

The hillock is otherwise called Maragathamalai /Thenkailayam /Sivasakthimalai /Malaikovil /
Erattimalai. Name of the Goddess is Maragathambigai / Maragathavalli. God is also named as Aragathasalanathar/ Malaikozhnthar / Achutheeswarar / Birameswarar / Indreekarar / Threethar.

The river cauvery passes nearby the hillock. The river 'Surpanathi' passes adjoining the hillock. The river is otherwise called Kondayurumarai or Kondamarai.

The lingam of the temple is said to be transparent and also to throw a green shadow when camphor is burned. It is therefore called the 'emerald' (marakata) lingam. The god is connected with the deities of kadambarkovil and Ratnagiri. At all three temples special poojas are performed in Kartigai and the Taipusam day. Devaram songs will be sung in temple. At the base of the temple lies Bogar Sidhatemple. 500 vertical steps leads to the temple at the top of the hillock. Poet Nakkeerar has sung a booklet named Engoi-Elupathu ( 70 Engoi songs).

Temple's Speciality :

The rays of Sun fall on the presiding deity for three days during the Masi Shivrathri festival. The Linga changes colour during this time. Only a few Shiva temples are on hills and one such is in Eengoimalai in Tiruchi district.

There are three important sacred shiva temples in this region glorified by the Thevara hymns and Agathiar used to worship all the three in a single day. Agasthiar was not satisfied even after worshipping so many temples in south and finally got satisfaction after worshipping these three temples. He worshipped Kadamba nadhar at Kadambar koil in the morning, Rathnagreeswarar temple at Ayyarmalai (Thiruvatpokki) in the noon, and the Thiruvengi nadhar at Thiru-engoi-malai in the evening. It is considered that worshipping all of them in a single day will get us salvation.

The temple is sung in Devaram also. At the base of the temple lies Bogar Sidha temple. 500 vertical steps lead to the temple at the top of the hillock. Poet Nakkeerar has sung a booklet named Eengoi-Ezhupathu ( 70 Eengoi songs)

Bhogar Gennma Nakshatram is Bharani. So Abhishegam, Aaradhanai, Annadhanam @ 9AM onwards. Contact: Mr. Sundhar, 9095102695 & 9095102696

Festivals :

Brahmmotsavam in Panguni (March-April), Masi Magam in February-March, Thai Poosam in January-February and Pujas on all Full Moon days – Poornimas – are the festivals celebrated in the temple.

Websites :

https://shanthiraju.wordpress.com/trichy/

http://www.trichy.com/placesofworship/maragathal.htm