Batu Caves - Murugan Temple

Name : Batu Caves - Murugan Temple

Location : Batu caves is a limestone hill, which has a series of caves and cave temples, located in Gombak district, 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It takes its name from the Sungai Batu or Batu River, which flows past the hill. Batu Caves is also the name of the nearby village.

Description : The cave is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan. Batu Caves was promoted as a place of worship by K. Thamboosamy Pillai, an Indian trader. He was inspired by the 'vel'-shaped entrance of the main cave and was inspired to dedicate a temple to Lord Muruga within the caves.

Wooden steps up to the Temple Cave were built in 1920 and have since been replaced by 272 concrete steps. Of the various cave temples that comprise the site, the largest and best known is the Temple or Cathedral Cave, so named because it houses several Hindu shrines beneath its 100 m vaulted ceiling.

Rising almost 100 m above the ground, Batu Caves temple complex consists of three main caves and a few smaller ones. The biggest, referred to as Cathedral Cave or Temple Cave, has a 100 m-high ceiling, and features ornate Hindu shrines. To reach it, visitors have to climb a steep flight of 272 steps.

At the base of the hill are two more cave temples, Art Gallery Cave and Museum Cave, both of which are full of Hindu statues and paintings. This complex was renovated and opened as the Cave Villa in 2008. Many of the shrines relate the story of Lord Murugan's victory over demon Soorapadam. An audio tour is available to visitors.

The Ramayana Cave is situated to the extreme left as one faces the sheer wall of the hill. On the way to the Ramayana Cave, there is a 50-foot (15 m) tall murti of Hanuman and a temple dedicated to Hanuman, the noble monkey devotee and aide of Lord Rama.

A 42.7m (130 feet high) high statue of Lord Muruga was unveiled in January 2006, having taken 3 years to construct. It is the tallest Lord Muruga statue in the world.

Festivals : It is the focal point of Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia which attracts over 1.5 million pilgrims yearly, making it one of the largest annual gatherings anywhere in the world.

Manki Point - Kasauli

Name : Manki Point, kasauli

Location : Manki Point is just 4 km from Kasauli bus stand. Kasauli is located 77 km from Shimla, 65 km from Chandigarh and 50 km from Panchkula.

Legend : According to legend Kasauli came into being when Lord Hanuman, on his way to getting the Sanjeevani herb (Magical Herb) touch the hill by his foot thus top of hill is in foot shape. Description : This Hanuman Mandir is situated atop the 300 m high hillock, called Manki Point, where Lord Hanuman is supposed to have rested his feet. There is about more than 200 plus upstairs for the main temple from the main gate of the temple. This temple lies within the confines of an air force radar station and base and is subject to security restrictions (no cameras or bags allowed). This temple is located in the middle of the Air-Force base camp, so the whole area is protected by the air force.

You have to bring with yourself ID proof like Voter Card, Driving License, PAN Card, Adhaar Card etc. if you want to visit the Hanuman temple. On a clear day, one can get views of nearby cities like Chandigarh. One can reach this point by road or on foot. On foot, it takes nearly two hours from Kasauli town but the scenery and harmony you enjoy makes the walk worth the effort.

Other Attractions : 

You can visit the Air Force base camp where you can see dummy model of aircraft, weapons and other instruments which are used by the Air Force. You can also visit famous Kasauli Market , Kasauli Christ Church and open area of Kasauli forest with your family/friends. You can also visit Baba Balak Nath Temple at Garkhal which is about 3KM from Kasauli bus stand.

BABA BALAK NATH TEMPLE - Kasauli

Name : BABA BALAK NATH TEMPLE

Location : On the Graner Hill top, Kasauli
Located 77 km from Shimla, 65 km from Chandigarh and 50 km from Panchkula.

Legend : It is believed that Baba Balak Nath ji one night appeared in dreams to a local resident - named Vijay Kumar and told him to built a temple at the place, where the present temple is located. This temple is of its own kind where many issue less couples visit to be blessed with a child, whose baptism ceremony is also performed in the same very temple. A number of photographs of such blessed children are the evidence, which are kept as record by Baba Vijay Kumarji in the temple.

Baba Balak Nath Temple - Deosidh

Name : Baba Balak Nath Temple

Location : Baba Balak Nath Temple is situated 70km from Bilaspur and 30km from Hamirpur. This place called Deothsidh in the Dhaulagiri Hills of Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the most significant temples of north India, placed atop an outstanding hill.

Legend : Baba Balak Nath Sidhpeeth is one of the most famous pilgrims in Himachal Pradesh, also known as the God`s own land. The ancient Cave and temple architecture relates to the Deot Sidh era in Hamirpur District. Lakhs of devotees from India and abroad visit this temple to reinforce their firm faith in the "Siddha Tradition". There are a number of myths and legends surrounding the Baba Balaknath Temple in Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh. The history of this temple states that Baba Balaknath was born in three ages in different forms and in every birth he was a devotee of Lord Shiva. Baba Balaknath worshipped Lord Shiva and even helped out people in distress. Till today pilgrims convey a number of their desires to Baba Balaknath in order to turn them into reality.

Description : A cave, created from rock, enshrines a magnificent idol of Babaji. It is also believed to be the sacred abode of Babaji. Devotees offer `Rot`, prepared with flour and sugar/gur at the altar of Babaji. Some even present goats for sacrifice. However, females are prohibited to enter the inner cave; a raised platform just opposite to the cave has been specially erected for female worshippers for Babaji`s `Darshan`. Six km from Baba Balak Nath Temple, there is spot named Shahtalai, where Baba is assumed to have observed penance. It is also considered exceedingly sacred to the pilgrims. The trustee board, Sidh Baba Balak Nath Temple Trust looks after the proper functioning and maintenance of the temple. Sunday is considered an auspicious day of Babaji, thereby attracting thousands of faithfuls. Una Railway Station is the nearest railhead.

The devotees who visit Baba Balaknath Temple offer Rot along with sugar or Gur (Jaggery) at the altar of Babaji. Females are not allowed to enter the cave and they can only get a glimpse of the idol from an outside dais. During the Navratris, pilgrims throng to the Temple. Government of Himachal Pradesh makes arrangements in tents for their accommodation and provides them with other bare necessities. A few kilometers away from the Baba Balaknath Temple, lies the Shah Talai connected by a ropeway, which is also an important tourist attraction.

Website : http://www.indianetzone.com/22/baba_balak_nath_temple_hamirpur_himachal_pradesh.htm

Padmagiri and Sudharsana Malai

Name & Deities :
1) Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar in Padmagiri
2) Sri Venkatesa Perumal in Sudharsa malai

Location: Pazhaya Seevaram is one of the famous temple of Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar. This sthalam is found in between Chengalput and Kanchipuram, on the shore of River Palar. There are lots of buses available from Kanchipuram to this Temple.

This sthalam is one among the sthalam that is found in the hilltop where Sri Narasimhar along with the Thaayar gives his special seva to His Bhaktas. The mountain, which is found, is called with the name “Padmagiri”. This kshetram is also called with name as “Sathya Varadha Kshetram”.

Sthalapuranam:
Padmagiri:
Once, Vishnu Chitthar, a great muni in Naimisaranyam asked to the other Rishis to say which is the best and great sthalam where he can get the seva of Sriman Narayanan in Archai (one among the 5 Nilayas (or) forms of Sriman Narayanan) roopam, where he can get the complete credit of his tapas.

On hearing this, Mareecha muni, one among the muni in that group answered that there exists an sthalam, where the Perumal has already given full palan (credit) for the tapas and is gifted with nature’s beauty. He also added that the muni, who got the seva of the Perumal, is Atthiri Muni and he the wish of seeing the Perumal in Archai roopam and performed severe tapas in the place “Padmagiri”. And as a result of the tapas, the Perumal came in front of him in the form of Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar. Atthiri muni wished that the Perumal should stay in that place and the entire Bhaktas of Human community.

Triveni Sangamam :
Triveni Sangamam means 3 rivers joining in one place. In this Pazhaya Seevaram sthalam, we can find 3 rivers getting merged. The three rivers are Palaaru (Kshera Nadhi)- Cheyyaru (Bahoo nadhi) and Vegavadhi (Saraswathi). This Triveni Sangamam is termed as the Triveni Sangamam of south.

In Krutha yugam, there lived a great Sri Vishnu Bhaktan, who wanted to take bath daily in the river Ganga, which emerges from the foot of Sriman Narayanan. He took bath in this Sangamam and treated this water as the Ganga River and worshipped the Perumal in Sudharsana Malai (mountain). Another saint lived here and treated this river as the river Yamuna. Because of this, both the rivers Yamuna and Ganga emerged here and the other river Vegabagha (Saraswathi river) also emerged and these 3 rivers merge in the great Pazhaya seevaram sthalam. This river flows in between Padmagiri and Sudharsana malai.

It is 100% evident that if you take bath in this river and get the seva of Sri Lakshmi Narasimhar in Padmagiri and Sri Venkatesa Perumal in Sudharsana malai is equivalent to 100 times to that of taking bath in Prayagai.

It is also 100% evident that if we take bath in this river for a month without any interruption and be rested under the shadow of Pippali tree in Padmagiri, is said to cure all sorts of sins and diseases.

Sudharsana Malai (mountain):
On the opposite side of Padmagiri (also called as Seevara malai) another mountain is found which is called as “Sudharsana malai” where Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal is giving his seva. This Perumal gave his Prathyaksham to Brighu Muni and King Chakravarthy.

Festivals - Paarvettai and Seevaram : During the 3 day of Pongal festival in Thai month (Jan 14 – Feb 15), the utsavar Sri Varadhar of Sri Varadharajar temple, Kanchi is taken towards this Seevaram sthalam and this is one among the great utsavam of Sri Varadhar (Malai utsavam).

Lots of Bhaktas from Various parts come to Seevaram to visit Sri Varadharajar and Seevaram Paarvettai Utsavam is one of the worlds known utsavam among Sri Vaishnavites.

Not only in religious way, this sthalam is said to be an sthalam, which is surrounded by herbal trees, silent atmosphere and can cure lots of diseases as it is.

The temple is maintained in a great manner by the authorities. In the districts, this is one among the great sthalam and well-maintained sthalam and has been very appreciated by the government for maintaining the temple in a good way.

Lots of Utsavams are performed in this sthalam. Bramhotsavam in Aani month, Theerthavari in Swathi and Paarvettai during Thai month are said to be some of the Utsavams that are performed in a great manner.

Website : http://hindulistings.com/blog/category/hindu-temples/

Agasthiswarar - Thiruchunai

Name : Agasthiswarara Swamy Temple, Thiruchchunai

Location : In the Madurai - Tiruchchirappalli highway. From karunagalakkudi bus stop about two km.

God : Agasthiswarar

Goddess : Padalambikai

Great saints visited : agasthiyar

Legend : Sage agasthiyar when passing across this place, it was time for him to worship the Lord shiva, his beloved. This place was very attractive refreshing with a cool pond (chunai) on the big rock nearby, the sage decided to do the worship there itself. He made a shiva li.ngam out of the rock with his hands itself and worshiped the Lord with devotion. So the Lord is called agasthIshwara swAmy. (pirAn malai the place where the Lord showed him His blissful marriage posture is near this place.)

Specialities : It is a small but marvelous temple with a very scenic and serene surrounding. Espeically at twilight very refreshing and very nice place to meditate. The temple well located on the top of the rock is seen from the distance when one passes through the madhurai - thiruchchirAppaLLi highway near kottAmpatti.

Website : http://www.shaivam.org/siddhanta/sptcunai.html