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Mahavir Mandir Patna Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Mahavir Mandir Patna is located near Patna Junction. Mahavir Mandir Patna is one of the oldest and leading temple of the country. This temple is devoted to Lord Hanuman. Mahavir Mandir is located in Patna, Bihar. Thousands of devotees come here each day to offer prayer and seek the blessing of Lord Hanuman. It is also called “Manokamana Temple” as it is said that each and every wish of devotees is granted. This is why there is an increasing number of devotees in the temple.

Mahavir Mandir Patna is considered to be the holiest temple in the country that is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Mahavir Mandir Patna is a very prominent and renowned temple of Lord Hanuman in Bihar. Millions of devotees come here to seek blessings and offer the prayer because of which it is the second most visited religious place in North India. After the Vaishno Devi shrine, Mahavir Temple Trust has the second highest budget. The daily earning of Mahavir Mandir Patna is around 1 lakh. Acharya Kishore Kunal is the secretary of Mahavir Mandir Patna Trust.

Mahavir Mandir Patna History

  • According to Patna High Court Judgement in 1948, it is said that the Mahavir Mandir Patna exists since immemorial period. Still the first establishment date is unknown to the people. Mahavir Mandir Patna gained popularity in 1947. This is because a large number of refugees came to Patna after partition.
  • But according to the historic facts and traditions is it said the Mahavir Mandir Patna was originally established by Swami Balanand. He was an ascetic scent in 1730 A.D. The Temple was rebuilt at the time of Independence.
  • There is no such specific story behind Mahavir Mandir Patna as its existence is still unknown to the people. It is said that this temple exists since immemorial times.
  • Mahavir Mandir Patna has two idols of Hanumanji standing side by side in the sanctum.

 Significance of Mahavir Mandir Patna

  • The entrance of the Mahavir Mandir Patna is towards the north. There are many facilities like shoe keeping, clean water for washing feet and hand.
  • Mahavir Temple does not only have temple but a whole temple complex. Towards the left side of the entrance, there are stairs on a raised platform which leads to Garbhagriha. This Garbhagriha is the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Hanuman.
  • There is again a passage which houses Lord Shiva. This passage has a ritual significance for the devotees who come here to offer prayer and seek blessings.
  • The first floor of the Mahavir Mandir Patna consists of four sanctum sanctora of Deities. The first one is of Lord Rama. The second one is of Lord Krishna delivering the sermon to Arjun. Goddess Durga is situated next to Lord Krishna. And last but not the least, Lord Shiva meditating with his wife Goddess Parvati and Nandi, the holy ox.
  • The holy floating Ram Setu Shila is also placed on the ground.This Ram Setu Shila is kept in a glass container. It weighs around 15kgs whereas its volume is around 13,000mm.
  • The second floor is used for the ritual purpose. This floor includes Sanskar Mandap. Rituals like the chanting of Mantaras, Japa, Satyanarayan Kathas, recitals of Holy scriptures etc are performed on this floor. You can also find pictographs on the floor which depicts scenes from Ramayana.
  • While moving on the first floor you’ll be blessed with Lord Ganesha, Lord Buddha, Lord Satyanarayan, Lord Rama followed by Sita Maiyya and Goddess Saraswati.
  • Outside the Mahavir Mandir Patna is a Peepal Tree which has a temple of Lord Shiva which is architectured in the design of cave. This cave looks very beautiful.
  • coming out from the temple, we can find offices, shops for buying pooja samagri, book shops selling religious books etc. One can also find Palmistry/Astrological centre and Gem Stone Centre to fulfill the needs of their devotees.
  • The another speciality of Mahavir Mandir Patna is the prasadam which they offer to the Gods and Goddesses. They are prepared by the experts of the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh. These prasads are delicious. This Prasadam is known as Naivedyam.
  • Mahavir temple offers Laddoos to Hanumanji. Naivedyam is a sanskrit term which means offering eatables to the Gods and Goddesses. This Naivedyam is prepared by various ingredients like besan of the gram, cashew, raisins, sugar, saffron, green cardamoms etc. These ingredients are mixed and cooked in ghee and then moulded into round shape. The saffron mixed in Naivedya, are directly obtained from Kashmir.
  • In Mahavir, Temple devotees do not have to pay dakshina to the priest as they are payed by the Temple Trust. This is the only temple where on paying a certain amount, the devotees get all the ingredients and they do not to pay dakshina to the priests.

Mahavir Mandir Patna Timings

  • Mahavir Mandir Patna darshan is from 5 am to 10:30 pm everyday.
  • The Mahavir Mandir Patna is open for darshan even on Public holidays from 5 am to 10:30 pm.
  • The best time to visit the temple is during the daytime.
  • It takes around 1 hour to do darshan.

Mahavir Mandir Patna Food Timing

The offerings which devotees give to the Gods and Goddesses are touched to the Gods and Goddesses and then sent back to the devotees which are known as Prasads. Devotees are also provided food by the Mahavir Mandir Patna.

Festivals celebrated in the Mahavir Mandir Patna

  • Shri Ram Navami– This festival is celebrated to celebrate the birth of Lord Ram. After Hanumangarhi in Ayodhya, Mahavir Temple attracts a large number of devotees during this festival. As compared to ordinary days, there is an approximate difference around 3 lakhs to 5 lakhs.
  • Janaki Navami– This festival is celebrated to celebrate the birth of Sita Maiyya. This festival is celebrated on the 9th day on the bright day of Vaisakh month. There are statues of King Janak, his priest, ministers and attendents along with oxen with a plough opposite of Sitamadhi Railway Station.
  • Hanuman Jayanti– Hanumanji’s birthday is celebrated on this day. This festival is celebrated on the 14th dark fortnight of the Kartik month. On this festival, the Dhvaja or flag of the Mahavir Mandir Patna is changed.
  • Durga Puja– Durga Saptasati is recited from beginning to the end during Durga Puja for nine days. Goddess Durga’s idol is established in the campus and a large number of devotees come here to offer prayer and seek blessings. On last three days, there is a large gathering of devotees in the Mahavir Mandir Patna.
  • Vivah Panchami– This is the festival of Lord Ram and Sita Mata’s marriage. Because Hanuman Ji was very fond of Lord Ram and worshipped him, this is why this festival is celebrated with great pomp and show. During this festival, the most impressive idol of Lord Rama and Sita Mata is kept in the Mandir. On this festival, traditional glimpse party from Maithila is performed. This festival is celebrated for two days to celebrate the wedding ceremony of Lord Rama and Sita Mata.

There are many other festivals which are celebrated in Mahavir Mandir Patna like Shri Krishna Janmashtami, Ravidas Jayanti, Gita Jayanti, Ramanandacharya Jayanti, Tulsi Jayanti, Sanskrit Divas etc. All these festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm by the devotees. During these festivals, the number of devotees increases to a large extent.

How to reach: Road, Rail, and Air

  • Road- You can easily reach Mahavir Mandir Patna from any part of the city. There is a great facility of vehicles like auto, buses and private vehicles in the city. Being the busiest place in Patna, there is often a problem to park the vehicle. There is a solution to this problem. The temple parking area can be used for the same.
  • Rail– This temple is placed next to Patna Railway Station. This is why one can directly reach the temple without any difficulty.
  • Air– Mahavir Mandir Patna is just 6km away from the airport.

Where to stay?

There are various places to stay in city Patna. There are so many private organizations as well as hotels in this city. There are 5-star hotels as well as hotels with nominal charges according to the traveler’s budget. The charges of the hotels are very nominal as they keep the needs and demands of the customers in their mind. There are hotels like Hotel Chanakya, Hotel Panache etc. These hotels are very hygienic and have various facilities like hygienic and delicious food. They even provide WiFi facilities to its customers.

Where to eat?

There are various places where ione can have delicious food. There are restaurants like Haveli in Frazer Road, Yo China near Dak Bangla Chowk, Moti Mahal in Boring Road, Takshila in Birchand Patel Marg etc. These places have very nominal charge. Restaurants like these focus on the needs of the consumers. Foods are prepared in a very hygienic conditions. They focus on the cleanliness and hygiene.

Nearby Temples

  • Patan Devi Temple– This temple is the oldest and the most sacred temple of Patna. This temple is dedicated to Maa Patneshwari. It is one of the 51 Siddha Shakti Pithas in India. It is believed that the Name of the city Patna is named from Bari Patan Devi Temple.
  • Birla Temple– This is a great place to visit. This temple is a great tourist attraction to visit. Birla Temple is located in many big cities including Delhi, Jaipur, Bhopal etc.

There are many famous temples like Shri Mahavir Mandir, Durga Temple, Patliputra Karuna Stupa. These are the well-known places where devotees and other tourist visit while touring this city. There are many other Hanuman Temple but Mahavir Temple is the most important and sacred as well as auspicious temple.

Nearby Places

  • Kumrahar– Kumrahar is an exhibition hall which lets us know the rich history of Patna. It is located 5kms away from Patna. It lets us know the cultural excellence of the ancient Patliputra city. This place contains the architectural remains of Mauryan Palace. It was during the excavation done between 1912 to 1915, people came to know about the Mauryan pillared hall.
  • Golghar– It was built in 1786 by Captain John Garstin to store grains when famine hit the city. This architecture is built in Stupa style. Golghar is 125 meters wide and 3.6 meters thick. This architecture has steps which will take you upstairs. It is the tallest building in Patna. the scene outside Golghar is very beautiful as river Ganga can be seen gushing beneath.
  • Patna Museum– It is situated in the centre of the city. It has the capacity to take you to the ancient lane. It was constructed in 1917 and is the oldest museum in Patna. It has a Mughal and Rajput flavor. The construction done here is of Mughal and Rajput style. It possesses more than 45000 artefacts.
  • Agam Kuan– Agam Kuan is also referred to as The Unfathomable Well. It reflects the effects taken by Diwan Bahadur Radha Krishna Jalan which is considered to be extraordinary. Diwan Bahadur Radha Krishna Jalan was behind the construction and the collections of Agam Kuan.
  • Sanjay Gandhi Botanical Garden– The another place where one should definitely go is Sanjay Gandhi Botanical Garden. It was established in 1969 and has more than 110 species of wild animals. Animals which are found here are tigers, white tigers, hippopotamus, lions, monkeys etc. There is a facility to take the tour of the zoo through battery-operated cars. There is also Toy train facility which takes you to the gardens of the zoo. This zoo also has boating facilities. Boating is done in the pond created in the centre of the zoo.

There are various places where one can go while touring in Patna. There are places like Jalan Museum, Sri Krishna Science Centre, Patna Planetarium, Khuda Baksh National Library, Nalanda University, Buddha Smriti Park, Jalmandir Temple, Begu Hajjam’s Mosque, etc.

Chamunda Devi Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Chamunda Devi Temple is located in Kangra in Himachal Pradesh. The name Chamunda is derived from two words, Chanda and Munda. Chanda and Munda were two monsters who were killed by Devi.

Chamunda is also known as Chamundi, Chamundeshwari, and Charchika. Goddess Chamunda is also one of the chief Yoginis, a group of sixty-four or eighty-one Tantric goddesses, who are attendants of the warrior goddess Durga. She is closely associated with Kali Ma, another fierce aspect of Devi. She is sometimes identified with goddesses Parvati, Chandi or Durga as well. The goddess is often portrayed as haunting cremation grounds or fig trees. The goddess is worshipped by ritual animal sacrifices along with offerings of wine and in the ancient times, human sacrifices were offered too. Originally a tribal goddess, Chamunda Devi was assimilated in Hinduism and later entered the Jain pantheon too. Though in Jainism, the rites of her worship include vegetarian offerings, and not the meat and liquor offerings.

The famous Chamunda Devi is an abode of Shiva Shakti since the saga of Puranas. According to a legend, the Goddess Chamunda was enshrined as chief Goddess with the title of Rudra in the battle between demon Jalandhra and Lord Shiva which made this place famous as ‘Rudra Chamunda’. Another legend has it that ‘Savarni Manamantra’ battle between the gods and demons, Chamunda emerged as Chandika from an eyebrow of Goddess “Kaushiki” and was assigned the task of eliminating the demons “Chand” and “Mund”. Chandika fought a fierce battle with these two demons and, at last, killed them. Goddess Chandika took the slain heads of the two demons “Chand” and “Mund” to the Goddess “Kaushiki” who being immensely pleased, blessed Chandika and bestowed upon her the title of “Chamunda,” the name which is famous all around the world.

Chamunda Devi is worshipped daily while the sermons include ‘Aartis’ at intervals. Reciting the hymn of ‘Shat Chandi’ with devoted heart at this temple is considered auspicious. In the corner of the temple, one can see small footsteps of the Goddess on a stone. Besides the main shrine, there is a marble staircase that takes down to the cave of Lord Shiva. This is a cave-like scoop where Shiva Lingam is placed. People visit this cave and worship Lord Shiva with great devotion.

Lord Shiva is said to be one of the complex Gods of the Hindu pantheon since he is the destroyer as well as the restorer. Here, Lord Shiva is believed to have been present in the form of death, destruction, and dead bodies. One can also observe ancestral worship near the banks of Ban Ganga River. In the vicinity of this temple, there is a cremation ground that serves to 22 villages of the nearby areas.In the temple complex, there is a huge pond with images of Lords and people can take bath here. There is the sculpture of Goddess, in which, she is garlanded with serpents, scorpions, and skulls. During the time of Navratras, the temple is crowded by a large number of people. Pilgrims from far and near come to visit this temple of the great legacy and religious importance. Chamunda Devi blesses all her true devotees. The temple is situated in the picturesque beauty of lush green mountains. Many saints can be seen here involved in penance and meditation. In the past days, the image of the Goddess was situated on the hill above the present site of the temple. The site was found to be in a remote area, where it was not possible for everyone to reach and moreover, it was quite risky. There is a story behind the establishment of this temple.

Chamunda Devi

History of Chamunda Devi Temple

  • Legends says that originally Chamunda was worshipped by the Munda people living in the Vindhya range of Central India. It is believed that these people offer animals as well as humans as offerings. They even offer liquor to Chamunda.
  • This goddess has a fierce nature because of her association with Vedic Rudra. She is even identified as fir god Agni at times.
  • The story behind this temple is that around some 400 years ago, the king and a Brahmin priest prayed to Devi for the permission to move the temple to some easily accessible location.
  • Devi appeared to the priest in a dream giving her instructions. She directed him to dig in a certain spot and an ancient idol would be found and that idol should be installed in the temple and worshipped as Her form.
  • The king sent out men to bring the idol. Although they were able to locate it but were not able to lift it. Again Devi appeared to the priest in a dream. She explained that the men could not lift the holy relic because they considered it an ordinary stone.
  • She instructed him to get up early in the morning, take a bath, wear fresh clothes and go to the place in a respectful manner. He did as he was told and found that he could easily lift what a large group of men could not. He told the people that it was the power of the Goddess that brought the idol to the temple.

Significance of Chamunda Devi Temple

  • The idol of Chamunda is made up of black and red coloured stone. In the idol, she is wearing a garland of several heads or skulls.
  • It is said she has four, eight, ten or twelve arms, holding a Damaru, trishula, sword, a snake, skull-mace, thunderbolt, a severed head and panapatra or skull-cup, filled with blood.
  • She has been described as having a skeletal body with three eyes, a terrifying face, drooping breasts, protruding teeth, long nails and a sunken belly. She is standing on a corpse of a man or seated on a defeated demon or corpse.
  • There is a scorpion sitting on her navel like a decoration. Chamunda is depicted adorned by ornaments of bones, skulls, serpents and scorpions, symbols of disease and death.
  • She also wears a Yajnopavita of skulls. Yajnopavita is worn by Hindu male priests. She wears a jata mukuta, that is, headdress formed of piled, matted hair tied with snakes or skull ornaments. Sometimes, a crescent moon is seen on her head. Her socket eyes are described as burning the world with flames.
  • She is accompanied by fiends and goblins. She is also shown surrounded by skeletons or ghosts and beasts like jackals, who are shown eating the flesh of the corpse which the goddess sits or stands on.
  • The jackals and her fearsome companions are sometimes depicted as drinking blood from the skull-cup or blood dripping from the severed head, implying that Chamunda drinks the blood of the defeated enemies. This quality of drinking blood is a usual characteristic of all Matrikas, and Chamunda in particular.
  • Sometimes she is depicted seated on an owl, her vahana. Her banner figures an eagle.

Timings of Chamunda Devi Temple

Darshan in Chamunda Devi Temple starts from 6am to 12pm and then 1pm to 9pm. The temple trust gives Naivedyam to the Goddess from 12pm to 1pm. During this time, the devotees are not allowed to enter the temple. During summer, Arti begins from 8am to 6pm whereas during the winter season it begins from 8am to 8pm.

How to reach- Road, Rail, and Air

  • By Road– The temple is situated around 10 km west of Palampur, on the Baner River and can be reached by bus or taxi.
  • By Road– The nearest railhead on the narrow gauge line is at Moranda near Palampur, 30 km.
  • By Air– The nearest airport is Kangra airport at Gaggal near Dharamshala. It is 28 Km from Chamunda Devi Temple.

Hotels in Kangra

There is various dharamshala facility provided fo the devotees. The Temple Trust has themselves made dharamshalas for the devotees as well as tourists. Apart from dharamashalas, there are many hotels as well as private organizations that provide dwelling facilities to the people. The hotels have nominal charge keeping the need and budget of the devotees and the tourists. The hotels provide clean and hygiene environment to the tourists as well has good and hygienic food. Many hotels provide wifi facilities to the tourists so that they keep themselves connected to the whole world.

Place to eat in Kangra

Chamunda Temple provides food to its devotees. They are free of cost and all the expenses incurred are borne by the Trustees. Once the daily Puja is over, devotees are allowed to move for food. These food are made in a very hygienic condition maintaining the dignity of the Temple. The food includes three main courses and is given in plenty. All the expenses incurred are borne by the temple trust. Apart from the prasad provided in the temple, one can also have food from hotels outside the campus. These hotels provide clean and hygienic food. There are various other places to eat food. There are many hotels and cafe which provide food keeping the taste and needs of the devotees. They cost very nominal keeping the needs and budget of the tourists.

There are a lot of dishes which are given to the devotees. There are one-time free prasads served to the devotees. There are many other dishes that are served to the devotees for which they need to spend money. The food is prepared in a very hygienic conditions. All the eatables are taken good care while preparing food. Foods are prepared in a very hygienic atmosphere.

Apart from the food we get in the temple, there are many other hotels and places where one can have food. In Delhi, we can find food stalls everywhere. There are hotels and cafes like Cafe Coffee Day, Pind Balluchi, The First Floor Restaurant and many more. There are many other hotels which have nominal charges keeping the taste of the consumer in mind. They prepare food in a very clean and hygienic environment.

Nearby places to visit

  • Kangra Fort– The Kangra Fort are located on a strategic height overlooking the Manjhi River and Ban Ganga River. The remains of the Kangra fort are still a dominating feature of the Kangra Valley. Mohammed Ghazni occupied the Kangra Fort in 1009 AD and at that time, the place was called Bhima Nagar, after the name of Bhima, one of the Pandavas. Muhammed Tuglaq also conquered the fort in 1337, but could not occupy it for long. Feroz Tuglaq also plundered the fort in 1365 AD. This is known as Nagarkot, located 42 km from Palampur. There are two entrance, it is currently preserved by an archaeological department. It has very beautiful entrance and very amazing.
  • Jwalamukhi Temple– Located at a distance of around 30 km from Kangra, the temple of Goddess Jawalamukhi is also famously called “Flaming Goddess” or “She of the flaming mouth.” Nestled in the valley of Beas, the temple of Jawalamukhi is built over some natural jets of combustible gas. It is on of shakti peeth temple, it is 35 km from Kangra dedicated to goddess light, this temple is very famous to north Indians. There are all types of facility available like hotels, restaurants etc.
  • Kangra Art Gallery– The Kangra Valley Art Gallery showcases artefacts that can be traced back to the 5th century. It encompasses a gallery of Kangra’s renowned miniature painting and a representative collection of pottery, sculptures, and anthropological items.
  • Bhagsunath– The ancient temple of Bhagsunath is located 3 km east of McLeodganj and 11 km from Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. The annual fair held at the place in September is quite popular. With the forests and hilly ranges, there is also a waterfall located nearby.

Kheer Bhawani Temple Srinagar Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Kheer Bhawani Temple in Srinagar is one of the most picturesque and popular temples in the northern state of Jammu & Kashmir. It has been dedicated to the locally prevalent Goddess Kheer Bhawani (originally she was revered as just Bhawani).

The temple has been constructed on a sacred spring and this is one of the major attractions of the temple. The Kashmiri Hindus universally worship Goddess Kheer Bhawani and she is among the most respected Goddesses in the community.

The famous temple is located about 14 miles in the east of the Srinagar city and is near the village Tul Mul. It is protected by the Indian Army and the soldiers ensure the name of the temple is derived from the word kheer meaning rice pudding that is a popular prasadam offered.

Many people believe that there was a mulberry tree near the holy spot of the temple and in the local language, it is called tulmul. Hence, the place derived its name. The goddess has many names as it is a custom with most Hindu deities. She is called Maharagya Devi, Ragnya Bhagwati, Ragnya Devi and Rajni.

Kheer Bhawani

Kheer Bhawani History

According to stories, the Goddess Maharagya was extremely pleased with the devotion of the demon Ravana and she appeared before him. Ravana then got the image of the Goddess that he saw, installed in Sri Lanka. But the Goddess became displeased with the brutal and wicked life of Ravana and as a result, she was no more pleased to stay in Sri Lanka. Therefore, according to a popular legend, she instructed Lord Hanuman to get her image from there and this was installed here at the holy spot of Tul Mul.

Ragniya is one of the Rupa or incarnations of Goddess Durga and the one at Tul Mul is a Vaishnav Rupa. In the Kashmir, Ragniya is known as Tripura. In Sri Lanka, the Mother Goddess was popular as Shayama. Goddess Sita (the consort of Lord Rama) is also believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Ragniya. According to Ragniya Mahatmya, those who meditate on the PanchDashi Mantra during Navreh (New Year in Kashmir), the Mother Goddess Ragniya grants all their wishes.

Another legend states that the temple is the spot where Lord Rama had worshiped Ragnya Devi while he was in his exile. Lord Rama asked his devotee Lord Hanuman to shift the Goddess form, Lanka, after the exile period was over. Hence, Lord Hanuman brought the seat of the Goddess to Shadipora first and later she was shifted to the current site.

According to popular mythology, the night during which the Mother Goddess was brought from Sri Lanka to Kashmir has been termed as Ragniya Ratriand. This is a major festival among the Kashmiri Pandits. Many shrines have been dedicated to the goddess in Kashmir at Tiker, Manzgam (Noor-abad) Bheda, Bhuvaneshvar, Lo-qraer-pur, Rai-than, Mani-gam and Baed-pur but the one at Tul-Mul has been the most famous one and so this shrine is a focus of the pilgrims. 360 springs (nagas) are believed to have gathered at this spot.

The Ragniya form of the Goddess is Sattavie form which means the form of bliss and tranquility. Kheer Bhawani has been mentioned elaborately in the Kalhana’s Rajtarangini. The texts mention that the sacred spring of the Tula Mula region is situated in a marshy ground. This spring has been named as the Mata Ragini Kund (pond). The Brahmins of the Kashmir region worship this spring and the pilgrims from all comers of the country visit here to have the pious darshan of this place and of Maharagini as the form of Goddess Durga Bhagvati.

According to the text of Rajtarangini, Tula Mula, and the Maharagya spring both have been considered extremely sacred and the region’s Brahmins of Tula Mula are considered to have immense spiritual prowess. As stated by legends, during the Samvat 4041 of the Hindu lunar calendar, when the sacred Spring of Tula Mula in Kashmir was inundated under the sway of the floods, the holy place couldn’t be seen anywhere and couldn’t be traced. It was then that Yogi Krishna Pandit of Kashmir had a dream and the Goddess appeared to him to direct that she will be swimming in the form of a snake at some proper place and asked him to demarcate the holy spot with large poles in the marsh land. The holy spot was subsequently discovered at the same spot as directed by the Goddess.

The place had also uncovered the ruins of an old temple and shrine slabs that were engraved with figures were discovered and many images were found. In the 1920s, Maharaja Pratap Singh, an ardent disciple of Goddess got the marble temple made in the middle of a spring that shines similar to a pearl in the midst of a shell.

Another mention of the temple is in the book Ain-i-Akbari where Abu’l-Fazl ibn Mubarak had mentioned the area of the Tula Mula extending over a hundred bighas (units of land area) that used to sink in marshy lands during summers. The holy place was also visited by Swami Rama Tirtha and Swami Vivekananda. When Swami Vivekananda visited the temple, during his stay, he ritually worshiped Kheer Bhavani and he communicated with the Goddess.

The sacred spring situated here is uniquely septagonal and has been dedicated to Goddess Kheer Bhawani. The spring flows from the west direction to the east. This holy spring mysteriously changes its color in various hues including red, pink, orange, and green, blue, white and this was noted by both Abul Fazal and Swami Vivekananda. The spring located at a distance of 27 kms from Srinagar, in Jammu & Kashmir of India, and is considered to be a form of the Goddess Mata Ragnya Devi.

Significance of the Kheer Bhawani Temple

Kheer Bhawani temple is highly important among the followers of the historical Vedic Religion in the Kashmir region and the followers are called Kashmiri Pandits. The area around the temple is covered with smooth and beautiful stones and large and old chinar trees that grow near the temple which is a popular place for the pilgrims to sit or sleep on the soft mats of grass. A major significance of the temple is due to the occasional change in the color of the spring water which when black or darkish is believed to indicate inauspicious times for the Kashmir region. This popular belief was reinforced at the time of the visit of Walter Lawrence, the-then British settlement commissioner for land in 1886. He visited the spring and reported the water of the spring having a violet tinge. A darkish or murky tinge was observed by the locals in the spring water just before the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and during the infamous 1989 insurgency in the valley.

Kheer Bhawani Temple Timings

Kheer Bhawani Temple is open from morning 6AM to 8PM every day.

Festivals Celebrated At the Kheer Bhawani Temple

The annual festival held at the temple is the Mela Kheer Bhawani which is the time when the devotees of the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani gather here and fast on the eighth day of the full moon. The festival is held during the month of May/ June. The annual festival is a public holiday in the state of Kashmir. This is the time when, according to a popular belief, the Goddess changes the color of the water of the spring and this is due to the mysterious manifestations of the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani.

This time of the festival on the eighth day of the full moon holds high significance for the devotees of the temple’s presiding deity Ragnya Devi. The temple serves as the main venue for the annual celebrations on the occasion of Jesht Ashtami. A large number of Hindus gather at the temple and seek the blessings of the goddess. The temple also gains special visitors during the occasion of Shukla Paksh Ashtami. Many havans/yagys are performed by the holy men during the festival to please the goddess.

Poojas and Rituals at Kheer Bhawani Temple

The Kashmiri Pandits hold special reverence towards the temple and thus they perform many rituals at the temple to please the Goddess and to keep their region safe from any external danger. It is believed that there were 360 springs surrounding the main temple earlier that disappeared and the land became marshy and so the Kashmiri Brahmins for whom the Kheer Bhawani is the presiding deity perform special yagys here to protect the temple. A lot of people also visit here for a pilgrimage and chant mantras for their Goddess.

How to Reach By Road, Rail & Air

Kheer Bhawani Temple is located in the village Tul Mul at a distance of 1 hour, 14 miles in the east of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. The temple is guarded by soldiers from all around and from a distance as many devotees visit here so while visiting the devotees first need to register near the entrance gate. Srinagar can be reached from all parts of the country through rail, road as well as airways.

By Air: There are regular flights from all the major cities of the country to Srinagar and the Srinagar Airport is the major airport.

By Train: Srinagar does not have its own railway station but the nearest railway station is the Udhampur station. It is situated 130 kms away from Srinagar and the Ram Nagar station is located 138 kms away from the city

By Bus: Regular buses can be caught from Srinagar to all other major cities of the country and back. The major bus stand is at Srinagar.

Hotels in Srinagar

Srinagar has many 3-Star, 4-Star, 5-Star hotels as well as many luxurious resorts like Hotel Akbar, The Lalit Grand Palace and Vivanta Dal View by Taj. It is also house to many houseboats and many inns, cottages and private residences.

Nearby Temples and Attractions

Srinagar is a wonderful city poised with natural beauty and nestled among mountains. The city is situated on the banks of the Jhelum and has many diverse temples of great architectural grandeur. The city has beautiful gardens and lakes. Some of the major tourist attractions of Srinagar are the Dal Lake, Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bag and Jami Masjid.

Following are some major temples in Srinagar:

  • Shankaracharya Temple, Srinagar: Adi Shankaracharya had visited this temple and hence it derived its name. The Temple is a soaring imposing structure and highly visited.
  • Sharika Devi Temple, Hari Parbat: This is a temple laced with many mystical theories from the ancient Hindu mythology. The temple’s presiding deity is Sharika Devi who is also the major deity of the Srinagar city.
  • Martand Sun Temple, Anantnag: The Anantnag temple is popular among the devotees who visit the Amarnath temple and the temple is a work of genius architectural labor. This temple was built by the King Lalitaditya of the Surya (Solar) dynasty.
  • Pandrethan Temple, Srinagar: An old stone structure, the Pandrethan temple is a major temple that is associated with Emperor Ashoka and is one of the major attractions of the city.
  • Bhuteshwara Temple, Srinagar: The temple was constructed in the 12th century and is blessed with great architecture and as a result holds great importance among the locals.
  • Jwala Mukhi Temple, Khru: The picturesquely placed temple is atop a hillock and is a popular draw for the tourists.
  • Rameshwaram Shiva Temple, Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar: The popular Shiva temple has religious significance and has associations with Hinduism, but also Sikhism.
  • Mamal Shiva Temple, Pahalgam: The popular Shiva temple is one that has exceptional popularity amongst the faithful devotees and the devotees throng the temple in spite of its ruined condition.

The Kheer Bhawani Temple of Srinagar has been a temple of special importance among the Kashmiri Brahmins and so does the city of Srinagar that is visited by many tourists. A temple is a place with immense natural beauty and thus is worth a visit.

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Sarangpur Hanuman Temple is considered to be one of the most sacred and holy temples in Swaminarayan Sampraday, created by Guru Swaminarayan. Situated in Sarangpur village of Ahmedabad district in Gujarat, here the presiding deity is the mighty Lord Hanuman who is revered in the form of Kastbhanjan i.e. remover of sorrows.

Sarangpur Temple Facts
Temple Timings (Darshan)6:00 am to 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Prasadam Timings (Annadanam)1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Pooja Timings8:00 am to 9:00 am
Time Taken for Darshan1-2 hours
Entry FeeFree
Best Time to VisitAugust to March
Dress CodeMen: Dhoti, No shirt. Women: Saree
PoojasAnnadanam, Vastra Samarpana
Nearest CityBotad

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple Timings

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple is open from 6 am to 12 pm. There is an afternoon break in darshan from 12 pm to 3 pm. The temple reopens again at 3 pm and closes at 9 pm. Mangla Aarti is performed at the temple in the morning at 5:30 am.

  • Tuesday and Saturday are devoted to Hanumanji, it is designated day for a special ritualistic for those affected by mental illness, stress and other disorder.
  • Temple is open from 3 pm to 9 pm everyday.
  • Rajbhog is performed from 10.30 am to 11 am and the darshan is closed for it.
  • A special Shangar Aarti is performed on every Tuesdays and Saturdays at 7.00 am.
  • The evening aarti at Sarangpur Hanuman Temple is performed depending upon the sunsets.

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple Food Timings

Food is served free to all visitors at the temple’s dining room. This dining room is run by the temple’s trust as well as the Swaminarayana temple located in the same complex. Around 5,000 people take prasad in the form of lunch daily. On donations to the temple, one is given prasad in the form of sukhdis which is a Gujarati sweet.

  • The Bal Bhog is served from 6:30 to 7:30 in the morning.
  • The Raj Bhog is served from 10:30 to 11:00 in the morning.

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple – Aarti Details

Devotees chant the Swaminarayan Mahamantra while going around the Sarangpur Hanuman Temple.

Mangla Aarti: “Jai Kapi Balvanta” is the Aarti of Sarangpur Hanuman Temple. The Mangala Aarti or Aarti which takes place at 5:30 am is done by waving a piece of lighted camphor in circles around an idol of God. The Deities offer the first darshan of the day, signifying the auspicious beginning of the day for devotees.

Shangar Aarti: Shangar aarti done at 7:00 am is performed every Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Shangar means adornments. During this aarti, the Deities are dressed and adorned.

Rajbhog Aarti: During the Rajbhog aarti takes place from 10:30 am to 11:00 am. Royal offerings of the mid-day meal are offered to the devtas.

Sandhya Aarti: This aarti is performed during the evening depending upon the timings of the sunset. Devotees gather to seek the darshan of the deity and offer their prayers during the Sandhya Aarti.

Shayan Aarti: After the Shayan Aarti, the darshan is closed for the devotees. It signifies that the Deities are about to retire for the night.

Significance of Sarangpur Hanuman Temple

  • During darshan, one will come out via the famous well whose water is considered very holy. It is a belief that the statue of Lord Hanuman was found in this well before about 350 years and the temple was constructed at the same place.
  • It is famous around the world for expelling spirits and ghosts from people plagued with such problems. The priests perform a puja vidhi near the well of the temple. It takes around a couple of hours to do this procedure.
  • It is required to reach in the early morning if you are interested in such vidhi. A large number of people in India make it a point to begin their work only after visiting Shri Hanumanji. They visit every Saturdays to offer Puja and Prasad without fail.
  • The affected or inflicted person in the grip of the evil spirit is ordained to circumambulate the shrine a number of times for getting rid of the megative impact permanently. They take the special oath and recite the Swaminarayan Mahamantra.

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple History

The people who are affected by evil spirits seek the blessings of Lord Hanuman to drive away the negative spirits by a single mere look.

Due to the blessing of Gopalanand Swami to Vagha Khachar, who invoked Hanumanji with his wand, to be ever present in the idol to drive out such evils. He decided to install the idol of Hanuman and dedicate his income to the temple. Till today, hundreds of devotees come to Lord Hanuman seeking his blessings so that their problems are eradicated and peace is instilled.

As the idol of the Lord Hanuman in the Sarangpur Hanuman Temple was installed by Gopalanand Swami, there are records of a writer named Raymond Williams which says that while installing the idol, Swami touched it with a rod that enthused life into it and made it move. Now this rod has been covered in silver color. This tale has turned into a belief amongst devotees who vouch for the healing ritual performed at this temple.

In 1899, Kothari Gordhandas of Vadtal appointed Shastri Yagnapurushdas to manage the affairs of the Sarangpur Hanuman Temple. Shastri Yagnapurushdas renovated the site, build adjacent bungalow and also acquired more land for the complex to bring it to its current state.

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple
Sarangpur Temple at present

Festivals celebrated here

Hanuman Jayanti Mahotsav: Hanumath Jayanti is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Hanuman, the Vanara god, widely venerated throughout India. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm and spirit among the devotees of Lord Hanuman. Devotees from all over the country visit the temple to offer the prayers and to perform the rituals. The devotees visit temples and apply tilaka of sindoor to their foreheads from Hanuman’s idol. The event is celebrated on the 15th day of the Shukla Paksha, during the month of Chaitra

Hanuman Jayanti

Sundar Kand: Sundar Kand is celebrated in the month of October or November. It is a book that depicts the adventures of Hanuman. Sundara Kanda is the only chapter of the Ramayana in which the hero is not Rama, but rather Hanumana. This lesson is recited by religious Hindus, preferably on Tuesdays or Saturdays.

Holi: Holi is a two-day festival which starts on the Purnima. The first day is known as Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi while the second day is known as Rangwali Holi, Dhuleti, Dhulandi or Dhulivandan. It is identified as a festival that celebrated agriculture, commemorated good spring harvests, and the fertile land. Devotees arrive at the Sarangpur Hanuman Temple to celebrate this festival of colors.

Sarangpur Temple Live Aarti Darshan

If you wish to witness the sheer glory of the Kashtbhanjandev Aarti Darshan LIVE then see below. It is an extravagant affair where hundreds of Hanuman bhaktas pour in this shrine and seek the Lord’s blessings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=9&v=j565LXaPREE

How to reach Sarangpur Temple?

By Air: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad is the nearest airport. The distance between Ahmedabad to Hanuman Temple, Sarangpur is 159 km 903 meters. The distance and travel time would change accordingly and also as per the traffic and road conditions and it takes approximately 2 hrs 40 mins to cover the distance.

By Train: The distance between Botad Railway Station to Sarangpur Hanuman Temple which is 73 km and 168 meter. It takes approximately 1 hour 45 mins to cover the distance.

By Road: The Dhandhuka taluka (50 km) is well linked with all foremost towns and cities by road. There is also many bus stops situated at Sarangpur.

Hotels nearby: Where to stay?

There are many hotels available to stay near the Sarangpur temple. There is also a Dharamshala nearby. Some of the places to check in include:

  • Hotel Hilton:  GJ SH 36, Gujarat 382450
  • The Parkland Hotel: Behind Swaminarayan Temple, Maninagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
  • Hotel Manila: Opposite Railway Station, Maninagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
  • Hotel Samir: Ahead Cadila Railway Cross, GIDC Industrial Estate, Vatva Road, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
  • Lakshmi Hotel: N H No.8, Opposite Mony Hotel, Isanpur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
  • Shere Punjab Hotel: Sindhi Market, Under Railway Fly Over, Maninagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
  • Tulsi Dining Hall: Near Patel Bhavan, Maninagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
  • Prithvi Hotels Gujarat Private Limited: L G Corner, Maninagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
  • Moscow Hotel:  Near Maninagar Post Office, Maninagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
  • Hotel Marvellous Private Limited: Near Apsara Cinema, Kankaria, Maninagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Places to visit near Sarangpur

Shiv Shakti Temple: This temple is situated at Abhapur where the principal deity of worship is Lord Shiva. There are images of Surya Dev and his consort Suryani in the temple and hence, this temple is also known as the Sun Temple. The temple situated on a low height hillock is an excellent example of Nagar shaily. This Sun Temple is unique with it a statue of Lord Shiva, which showing different moods on the face as per your elevation of viewing, this is “Chaturangi” type temple.

Shree Jagannath Temple: The Jagannath Temple dedicated to the Hindu God Jagannath hosts the annual chariot festival, Rath Yatra. The rath yatra entourage passes through different parts of the city of Ahmedabad covering a distance of about 14-km.

Bhadrakali Maa Temple: Bhadrakali Maa Temple is known as one of the oldest and ancient temple in Located inside Bhadra Fort, Near Lal Darwaja, in the Ahmedabad city, Gujarat. Bhadrakali Temple was built during the ruler of Mega city Ahmedabad namely Aazam Khan. The Bhadra fort once encompassed Approximately 12 gates, 189 bastions, and 6000 battlements.

Ayodhyapuram Jain Temple: The temple is dedicated to Bhagwan Rishabh Dev, the first Jain Tirthankara. Shri Ayodhyapuram Teerth located at Gujarat is a Jain pilgrimage centre.  The teerth kshetra was built under the inspiration of Panyas Pravar Spiritual Head Sri Abhaysagarji Maharaj Saheb.  A large stone weighing about 300 tonnes was brought from a mine about 70 kms away from Jaipur to this place. The idol of the Lord was carved here. The walls and pillars of the temple are adorned with specimens of ancient art. The idol has been beautifully carved from a single stone.

ISKCON Temple: The ISKCON Temple in Ahmedabad is located close to the Gujarat Samachar Press. This temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and his consort Radha. The ISKCON Temple in Ahmedabad offers the perfect spot for mediation. The temple with its calm and peaceful atmosphere offers the perfect spot to spend some quiet time with oneself. The temple hosts festivals such as Janmastami which is the birthday of Lord Krishna and is attended by a large number of people from across the state.

Shri Bhimnath Temple: The Bhimnath Mahadev temple is located in Akot. According to the well-known archaeologist V H Sonawane, the period of the city’s founding can be traced from the pavement stones used at this temple which bear the mason marks dating back to the 2nd century BC. It was the spot where the first human settlement came up along the Vishwamitri River, which is almost 2,200 years ago.

FAQs on Sarangpur Temple

What are the general temple timings of Sarangpur Hanuman Temple?

9:00 am to 8:00 pm are the standard timings of Shri Hanuman Mandir.

Am I allowed to take pictures inside Sarangpur Temple?

No, you are not allowed photography. It is strictly prohibited.

What does Kashtbhanjan mean?

The word Kashtbhanjandev means ‘crusher of sorrows’.

What is Sarangpur famous for?

Sarangpur is famous for its Shri Hanuman Mandir where devotees seek the blessings of the almighty Hanumana to eliminate negative spirits from their mind.

Annavaram Temple Guide – Satyanarayana Swamy – Timings, Poojas, and History

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Annavaram Temple is one of the most popular holy shrines of the country and is the second most popular pilgrimage after the Tirupati Temple in Andhra Pradesh. The Satyanarayana Swamy Temple in Annavaram has been built in the Dravidian style. The richness and glory of Lord Satyadeva, the temple’s deity, is described widely in the Revakhanda of the Holy Skandhapuranam.

In Annavaram Temple, Lord Satyadeva sits with his consort Shri Anantha Lakshmi on one side and Lord Siva on the other side. The Lord took his abode on the Ratnagiri Mountain, named after Ratnakara who was the son of Meru, the holy king of the mountains. The Sri Satyanarayana Swamy at Annavaram is followed by the sacred Pampa River which is touching the feet of the hill as is the case with all Divyakshetrams.

Lord Satyadeva is the God of truth and he showers his eternal blessings on all humankind in his beautifully manifested form in the form of the divine trinity which is called Hari Hara Hiranyagarbhathrimurtyatmaka. Therefore, the temple is the only ones attracting pilgrims from both the Vishanava and Saiva Hindu religion.

The Veeravenkatasathya Narayana swami is the main temple on the hill dedicated to Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy. This is a temple of Sri Rama and there are shrines of Vanadurge and Kanaka Durga around. The Grama Devatha (village deity) temple is located in the village foot of the hill.

Annavaram Temple History

According to legend, Raja i.e. Ramarayanam was the then zamindar of the Gorasa and the Kirlampudi estates near Samalkot since he was ordained by Lord in his dream. He then traced the idol on the hill and worshiped and installed it at this spot on Sravanasuddhavidiya in the Telugu year khara 1891.

The temple was constructed on the hill and the Bay of Bengal situated at 11 miles is visible from the hill and row of the majestic Eastern Ghats is visible on other side. The hills and the Pampa River encircle Ratnagiri from all sides. The main hillock is about 300 feet above the sea level and there are about 460 well-laid stone steps that lead to the top.

The main temple has been constructed like a chariot that has four wheels at each corner. The main temple’s front has the modern architecture including a Kalyanamantapa. Down the way, there is a Ramalaya and then there are shrines of Vana Durga which is held in veneration and the Devi is believed to be seen there in the nights according to the holy precincts that a perpetually guard the lord.

Significance of Annavaram Temple

According to the Agni Purana and the Hindu mythology, any temple’s akriti is the manifestation of its Prakriti.  In the ancient texts, the idea is developed and the Slipasastra is based on this principle. The temple’s wall and Vimana should be constructed to remind the devotee of the universe while the supreme spirit is represented by the deity inside who is the core of the entire universe.

These texts believe that the chariot is a symbol of seven lokas which lie underneath and the seven lokas that lie above along with garbhalaya of the lord rule hearts and center that rules over the entire universe.

The Annavaram Temple has been constructed based on these ideas. The temple’s front side depicts the chariot, the Meru is on the floor and the pillar is at the center. The idols at tope are constructed to bring to life the idea that Lord remains at the centre but it also permeates entire universe.

The wheels depict both the Sun and Moon and serve as a reminder us that the Jaggernaut completely moves on wheels of time and this cycle goes on forever. The Annavaram temple satisfies the devotees’ ritualistic values and spiritual aspirations.

There is a dial on the north side of temple’s compound that shows Indian standard time which is easy to calculate. A Mandapam is constructed round the main temple and a Kalyana mandapam on the lower level, that provides space to conduct about a thousand Satyanarayan Vrathams at one time and 500 Vrathams can be conducted by the side of Ramalya.

The foundation of a Galigopuram has been laid opposite to the Kalyanamantapam by left side which lies to the south of the compound wall.

The annavaram temple has also installed NavaGrahams and a bigger temple might be built for them in future. Down the steps, there are office rooms, guesthouse, a Choultry and open-air theatre used for HariKathas. The walls of the Vratha halls and the open air theatre have been painted with figures that represent the story of the deity Satyanarayana Swamy and his devotee called Sadhuvu.

A shed for tonsure ceremony, the Kesakhandanasalahas been built on the eastern side of the temple. A new kitchen is also present behind the main temple where the priests prepare Naivedyam for the lord. Another kitchen prepares Prasadam.

The idol of the main deity is 13 feet high and is in cylindrical form. The base of the idol is in the lower sanctum that represents Lord Brahma and the idol’s top situated in upper sanctum that represents lord Vishnu. The idol’s middle portion represents Lord Siva. This image that represents the 3 Lords in a single idol i.e. the Trimurtis-Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva is of great attraction.

One of the most popular temples in Andhra Pradesh, a unique yantra based on Tripadvibhuti Narayan Upanishad exists here the shrine is constructed in two storeys, the lower one containing the yantra and upper one housing vigrahas of the lord. The idol is about 4 meter high is in cylindrical form.

The base in the lower sanctum represents Lord Vishnu and the middle portion represents Lord Shiva. The image of the deity forming a single idol and representing the Hindu trinity is of unique attraction.

Annavaram Temple Timings

Darshan Timings: 6 AM to 12 PM, 12:30 PM to 9 PM.

  • Many Poojas are conducted throughout the day by the temple priests and Abhishekas are performed by the devotees at Rs. 100/- per each ticket in the Yantralayam.

Festivals Celebrated here

Ekadashi is a very auspicious occasion for the annavaram temple as this is the best day to perform the Satya Narayan Vratham. Hindus have been performing the Shri Satyanarayana Vratham for ages throughout India.

The vratham is known to bring wealth, prosperity, education, and offspring. A number of pilgrims visit the temple from far and near and the daily average attendance of the temple is two thousand. Ekadashi is a very auspicious occasion for this vratham, but the individual devotees also perform this vratham on any convenient day. The vratham has become all the more popular due to the experience narrated in stories and also due to the legends and observations of daily life.

The vratham has an important fable according to which Sage Narada was once very much distressed about the immense misery of men in this world. He prayed to Lord Vishnu to suggest a way out. The Lord told him about the Satyanarayana Vratham and he said that this would relieve all men of the troubles.

The vratham was also useful to gain worldly prosperity and to achieve salvation after death. Lord narrated that a pious Brahmin from Banaras had performed this magical vratham first. Other people who had performed the Vratham and had benefitted were King Ulkamukha from Bhadrasila Nagaram, Emperor Tungadhwaja, and a Vaishya business man named Sadhuvu.

The community of Gollas in the kingdom of Tungadhwaja and a poor woodcutter from Banaras had performed this vratham. They were all blessed by the great Lord Satya Narayana Swamy (who is Vishnu himself) and they achieved all they desired in life.

This vratham has hence caught fascination of the millions of devotees who have heard the stories and offer respect to the Lord. These stories are easy to understand for the common people as well as within the understanding of the scholars. Thus, all classes of people can perform the vratham and this has popularized it among them as people have been benefitted by the vratham.

According to the texts of the Vratham, Sadhuvu’s daughter Kalavathi had left the prasadam of Lord Satya Narayan to see her husband and thus the husband drowned in the boat in which he was travelling. Thus, Kalavathi was grieved and decided to kill herself. Sadhuvu was extremely grieved to see his only daughter preparing for sahagamana. He thus realized that only Lord Satyanarayana could come to his relief and thus, he fervently prayed to him.

The lord revealed that this catastrophe was inflicted upon them as Kalavathi did not take her prasadam in the hurry to go to her husband. Thus, Kalavathi rushed home and took the prasadam and when she hurried back to the seashore, she saw her husband Ratnakara who was safe on the shore. She then told him all about the Lord and upon hearing this her husband was so much impressed that he heart fully prayed to the Lord and the Lord’s blessings changed the spot  into Ratnagiri hill on which the Lord took his permanent abode.

According to legend, the River Pampa running by the hill is the form of the devotee Kalavathi who had melted with ecstasy at the grace of the Lord and of her husband’s achievement and thus began to flow as Pampa River.

Poojas and Rituals at Annavaram Temple

The Sathya Narayan Vratham is performed on Ekadashi and has a specific procedure. First Lord Ganesha and the Navagrahas are offered respect and then the image of the deity is placed on a clean spot.

The Lord is appeased through chants, flowers, and prasadam that includes fruits, sweet wheat flour, and sweets are offered to the deity. The story is then narrated and Aarti is performed at the end. After the prayer, a small lamp is lit near the idol is known as the Aratika. The devotees take prasadam at the conclusion of the pooja.

How to Reach Annavaram Temple – By Rail, Road, and Air

Annavaram is a village situated close to River Pampa in the east Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. It is situated about 32 kms from Pithapuram, 51 km from Kakinada and 72 kms from Rajahmundry. The Sri Veeravenkata Satyanarayana Swamy Vari Devasthanam, Annavaram is well connected by both rail and roadways. It can be reached by road, rail and airways:

By Air: The nearest airport is at the east side of Annavaram at Visakhapatnam and all flights fly to Vishakhapatnam. Annavaram is at a distance of 3 hrs from Visakhapatnam. On the west side of Annvaram, the Rajahmundry Airport is located.

By Train: Many trains that pass between Kolkata and Vijayawada stop at the Annavaram station. One can also stop at Visakhapatnam.

By Road: There are regular buses to Vishakhapatnam as well as Annavaram from all major cities. Madras to Calcutta, National Highway-5 road is going via Annavaram. Regular bus service is available from all nearby towns.

Hotels in Annavaram

Sun Ray Village resort, Visakhapatnam which is the finest resort and family leisure destination at Vizag. Hotel Daspalla is centrally located in the heart of Visakhapatnam near Jagadamba centre.

Nearby Temples

Talupulamma Talli Temple: It is one of the most famous and a well-known place in Andhra Pradesh and people visit for offering pooja to the Goddess after purchasing a new vehicle.

Sri Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple: This is an ancient Siva temple in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh

Pancharama Sri Kumararama Bheemeshwara Swamy Temple: It is located in Samalkota near Annavaram and is a popular temple there.

Vishakhapatnam is near Annavaram and is also a popular tourist attraction in the region. It has been built along the seashore of the Bay of Bengal. It is bounded and broken by the bold headland which is called the dolphin’s nose (357mts above the sea level).

Vishakhapatnam also has a stunning beach. The region’s surrounding area also very picturesque with the well-forested Eastern Ghats and numerous rivers, major among which are the Godavari and Indravati River.

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