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Madhya Pradesh Temples

Gajanan Maharaj

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Indore is an important pilgrimage destination for travelers visiting the sub-continent. There are many famous temples in and around this wonderful city and it sees a large crowd thronging the airport and the busy railway stations all throughout the year. Having a tropical climate, the summers can be as high as 44 degree Celsius and winter temperature can drop down to 14 degree Celsius. However, it receives a good amount of rainfall during the monsoons. One can visit this beautiful and natural place ideally between the months of October to March. The Gajanan Maharaj temple is located at Paliwal Nagar in Indore is considered to be a holy place for the devotees of the Sadguru Shri Gajanan Maharaj.  It stands supreme among the pilgrimage centers in the state of Madhya Pradesh and the shrine is situated only at a distance of 15 minutes from the heart of Indore. There is a belief among the natives that Gajanan Maharaj possessed various spiritual and supernatural powers. He was also aware of the ultimate truth of life. This pious place of worship in Indore is very popular and innumerable pilgrims seek blessings and devotion from states like Maharashtra etc.

Gajanan Maharaj Temple History

  • The famous Gajanan Maharaj temple was built by the Gajanan family in 1988. On the occasion of Basant Panchami, Sri Paliwal donated a land of thirteen thousand square feet to the family for the construction of the shrine.
  • Guru Baba was the person who supervised the whole work and also performed the sacred Bhumi Pujan. Post this pooja, the construction for two important rooms were completed.
  • An enormous image of the holy Gajanan Maharaj was placed in the room. Followers of the Maharaj worship this image on a daily basis.
  • When the temple structure was completed, Satsang was held and Maha Prasad was offered to 13 pilgrims on the first day.
  • There were two youngsters, namely, Bankatlal and Damodar who met a young person with a strong built and fair complexion looking for rice particles on the patrawalies. He was chanting ‘Gan Gan Ganat Bote’ in the Shegaon town and there were a strange calmness and satisfaction on his face. The scorching heat did not affect him and this attached the youngsters to Gajanan Maharaj.
  • Maharaj was the Avatar of Samarth Ramdasa of Sajjangarh. It is said that he used to keep away from worldly things and did not accept any rich food, clothes or ornaments from the devotees. In fact, he was an expert in Bedshastree Sampnna and had done Tapascharya. He used to understand the language of animals and birds and many famous personalities came to visit him.
  • It is said that Gajanan Maharaj was present with Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak at Shivjayanti meeting at Akola and that also on the dais, along with Annasaheb Patwardhan, etc. Being a ‘faith heater’, a psychiatric in today’s language, he is also called as Vidarbha in the nearby states.
  • Maharaj because of his kind and helpful nature are also known as ‘Bhu-Vaikenth’ and ‘The Abode of Bhagwan Shri Vishnu on earth’.

Significance of the Gajanan Maharaj 

  • Shegaon has gained prominence as a popular pilgrimage destination since Shri Gajanan Maharaj lived and died there. People from all walks of life consider Gajanan Maharaj to be a saint with miraculous powers.
  • Although his origins are unknown, yet the holy place of worship is built at his place of death. This great messenger of God was laid to rest on 8 September 1910.
  • Sant Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan is considered to be the largest temple trust in the Vidarbharegion and is also called as the ‘Pandharpur of Vidarbha’. It draws pilgrims from all over the state of Maharashtra.
  • The temple’s structure is completely built of marble and Dholpuri stones and was completed in the year 1994.
  • The Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan Temple Trust coordinates with regard to the day-to-day activities of the temple. Additionally, it is headed by the Managing Trustees, who in general belong to the Patil family. The Trust provides assistance in services with respect to the spiritual, religious, medical and educational domains.
  • The temple consists of 3 floors namely, the Talghar (Basement), Shabhamandap (Main Hall) and First floor for reading Maharaj’s pothi. It again symbolizes Yogmarg, Bhaktimarg and Karmamarg respectively.
  • The main Garbh-Griha or the place where Maharaj is placed is of 224 sq feet and is Octagonal in shape. The Octagonal form depicts protection and presence of the Eight Sidhees of Shree Gajanan Maharaj.
  • The Sabha Mandap of the temple is of 2,000 square feet and the main idol is 5 feet tall, is made up of marble and it directly penetrates into the devotee’s eyes.
  • The sacred Ashtkoti is considered as Asht Siddhis or psychic abilities or powers of Gajanan Maharaj and is very much explained in the sacred Garud Sanhita.
  • Devotees who are interested in offering Mahaprasad should nominate a sum of Rs 4200. A non-refundable booking deposit of Rs 500 is required and the remaining amount can be deposited before 2 days of the Mahaprasad. It is crucial to carry a receipt of the same.

Gajanan Maharaj Temple Timings

  • Gajanan Maharaj Temple opens at 6 A.M. and closes at 9 P.M.
  • This holy place of worship remains closed from 12 P.M. to 4 P.M.

Gajanan Maharaj Temple Food Timings

  • On every Thursday, ‘Maha Prasad ‘is celebrated in large numbers. Devotees from all corners of Indore and outside arrive at this temple to seek Maharaj’s blessings. The Mahaprasad is served from 9 P.M. onwards.
  • Devotees who want to relish the unique taste of Prasad should be present within the temple premises by 7:30 P.M.
  • It should be noted that there should be no leftovers present in the Mahaprasad plate.
  • A pilgrim cannot offer Mahaprasad in remembrance of a dead person.

Festivals celebrated at the Gajanan Maharaj

  • In addition to regular Aarti, Bhajans, and Bhandara on Thursday, every year Maharaj’s Pragat-Utsav and Nirvan-Utsav are celebrated regularly.
  • Mahasivaratri is celebrated with great enthusiasm by the followers of Maharaj. Every year, thousands of people gather in this temple to offer prayers and seek blessings.
  • Shree Ram Navami festival is observed to proclaim the birth of Lord Sri Ram, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The 9thday (Navami) of the bright fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra is referred to as Ram Navami. On this day, Lord Rama was born.

Poojas and Rituals at Gajanan Maharaj

  • There are seven rituals that are observed in a day. The ‘Abhishek Pooja’ starts at 6 A.M. and continues till 7:30 A.M. This is followed by Morning Arati which continues for 30 minutes.
  • The Naivedhya is offered to Maharaj at 10 A.M and again at 7:15 P.M.
  • The Evening Arati with and in the presence of Guru Baba starts at 7:30 P.M. and continues till 9 P.M.
  • Any individual who would like to perform Maharaj’s Aarti should be present in the temple by 7:15 P.M. He should also bring a dhoti which is not stitched and Up-vastra. In addition, it is required for the devotee to bring one big garland, one small garland and two Gulkand Paans without masala and supari to offer to the Maharaj.

How to Reach: Road, Rail, and Air

  • By Air- For people who want to travel in the least time, the flight is the best option. The Indore airport is located at only 10 km distance from the temple and is well connected to all other parts of the nation.
  • By Train- Traveling by train is also a good alternative and some of the nearest railway stations to reach this temple consist of Indore junior railway station which is located at a distance of only 3 km. In addition, the Indore MG railway station is also 3 km and Lakshmibai Nagar railway station is only 5 km far from this holy place. Moreover, visitors or pilgrims from the railway station can easily get local transport to reach the temple.
  • By Road- The city of Indore has good transportation system which connects it with all other major cities or towns of the state by roads. Hence, visitors or pilgrims can easily get either state or national buses to reach the Gajanan Maharaj temple.

Hotels in Madhya Pradesh: Where to stay

Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan, Shegaon has a separate and systematic arrangement for providing accommodation to thousands of devotees coming from various nook and corner of the country for Maharaj’s darshan.

In order to extend this facility to the devotees, the Sansthan has four Bhakta Niwas (Two of them in Mandir premises and the other four near parking which is adjoining to Hattikhana, i.e. place of rest of Sansthan’s elephant). Pilgrims can find a double bed and deluxe rooms available with all the modern facilities as per the requirement. The Sansthan has a unique system for providing lodging facilities on a ‘first come first serve’ basis. One can also make way for reserving the rooms in advance. An individual needs to furnish a validated ID proof while applying for the room.

There are other hotels and lodging accommodation available for tourists to choose from. One can choose as per to their taste and ambiance.

Where to eat

For pilgrims and tourists looking for the variety in food, Indore is the right place to visit. It serves impeccable dishes at an attractive price to its visitors. So whether you are vegetarian or nonvegetarian, there are a plethora of options to choose from. For example, one can opt for poha, jalebi, samosa, kachori or dal bafla for breakfast. For lunch and dinner, you can opt for either Indian or Chinese cuisines. The Indian meal or Thali as it is popularly called is a balanced diet comprising of roti, daal, rice, sabzi, pickle, papad and curd.

Additionally, there are many international restaurants and eating joints that provide customized food options as well. For people who have a sweet tooth, there are multiple dishes to relish the unique taste of Indore. Try gorging on Gajak, Garadu and Moong Halwa to satisfy your appetite. Visitors are often found to carry some namkeens from Indore which reminds them of some wonderful memories spent here.

Nearby Temples

  • Mamleshwar Jyotirlinga- It is also called as the Amreshwar temple and is a protected monument with fine stone artifacts. It is said that after the demise of the Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar in 1795, 22 Brahmins paid by the Holkar state perform the Lingacharan puja on a regular basis. 5 out of 12 jyotirlingas – the holy shrines of Lord Shiva, are in and around Mumbai.
  • Annapurna Mandir- It is an ancient shrine where the Annapurna Temple Trust of Indore has raised a great complex containing a Sarva Mangala temple with the three goddesses Laxmi, Parvati, and Saraswati respectively.
  • Gauri Somnath Mandir- This temple is the home to the six feet tall Shivalinga which is made up of smooth black stone and a shining polish. Legends say that no two people can embrace the lings until they are internal uncle and nephew.
  • Siddhnath Barahdwari Siddheshwar- This temple is a protected monument which has been stated by Lord Curzon. It is an important piece of artwork from the concept of structural design. This is located on a plateau on the island hill supported by a large plinth. The plinths are carved on the four sides with about 5ft high that are carried out accurate brilliance and excellence of attitudes in a playful mood.
  • Sidhwarkut Jain temples- It is an important place for worship for the Jains. Siddhwarkut of the 24 Tirthankaras of Jains comprises of some old and renovated shrines.
  • Vishnu Mandir- The large and old Vishnu temple is also located very near to the Gajanan Maharaj Temple. This place is also called as Vishnu Puri by the devotees who offer pooja and seek blessings of the Almighty.

Jatashankar

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Jatashankar temple at Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh

When a tourist visits India, it is not possible for him or her to miss out on the state of Madhya Pradesh. Being located at the heart of the sub-continent, this state offers a unique combination of wildlife, mountains and Jatashankar Temple . It stands a favorite among young travelers for its wide range of adventurous activities. Pachmarhi is the only hill station in this state which is set on a plateau at about 2500 ft above sea level. It is distinct and offers charming colonial architecture for the travelers. This hill station is open for guests all throughout the year. As indicated by their convenience, celebrations and occasions, travelers are put up in Pachmarhi in every season. Being a hill station, the best time to visit Pachmarhi is from October to April as it is in this time, the atmosphere stays great and the presence of greenery, make this destination more photogenic. Amid Diwali and New Year time, it is more vacationer crowd is at its top and voyagers have to often face deficiency with regard to accommodation facilities.

Pachmarhi is a destination for all those individuals who just want a peaceful stay and relax during their trip. It is ideal for people who want to indulge in sightseeing and view the greenery and wildlife around this place. In addition, this place is blessed with good weather and is good for long walks, trekking etc. The place becomes more beautiful in monsoons when waterfalls and lakes become wide with water.  It is also the home to many distinguishable temples and the Jatashankar temple is a testimony to this fact. It is a natural monument and is a sacred place that talks about legends regarding the shrine.

jata shankar caves 3

Jatashankar Temple History

  • One of the most believed legends regarding this temple is connected with Bhasmasur, who was a devotee of Lord Shiva. This devotee wanted a special power which could turn anyone to ashes with his touch on the victim’s head. It was after a long time that Lord Shiva agreed to the proposal. Bhasmasur, taking advantage of the power misused it and wanted to test this new ability on Lord Shiva first. This, on the other hand, made Lord Shiva to flee through a tunnel from Tilak Sindur and arrived at the remote cave, Jata Shankar. It is said that while running through the cave, Lord Shiva lost his hair.
  • Jatashankar is a natural cave that is located in Hoshangabad district at the north of Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh. The cave is situated in a profound narrow valley and has huge boulders perched on top of it. The word Jatashankar is derived from two words namely; Jata which refers to hair and Shankar is another name of Lord Shiva.
  • There is a presence of dripstone formations inside the cave that paved the way for this legend. The ceiling of this famous shrine has a formation which represents a group of snakes. Hence, it is considered to symbolize the hair of Lord Shiva and is also called as a hundred-headed divine snake Sheshnag.

Significance of the Jatashankar Temple

  • Jata Shankar is a natural cave which is situated at a distance of 2 km from Pachmarhi. It is counted among one of the most beautiful pilgrim locations in the Pachmarhi hill resort.
  • There is water breach from the cave about which no one has an idea about the source of the water and it is popularly known as ‘Gupt Ganga’.
  • This place is special as it has a natural Shiva lingam under the shadow of a huge rock.
  • This place is blessed with natural beauty and sees lakhs of pilgrims visiting this temple every year.
  • There are two small ponds fed by springs located near the cave. While one is fed by cold spring, the other is fed by hot spring.  Many people also believe that the Jambu Dwip stream originates from this cave.
  • There are idols of Lord Shankar and Goddess Parvati enshrined at a platform on the upper section of the cave.
  • This cave is a symbol of natural art which can be deeply felt when one visits the numerous stalagmites that are present in Jatashankar. Devotees worship these natural formations as lingams. In fact, there are 108 such natural lingams present in this cave.
  • The unique geological features of the Satpura Hills in the Madhya Pradesh region have resulted in the formation of a large number of waterfalls. There are also caves both natural as well as manmade that can be found all over the region.
  • This temple paves the way for an interesting visit owing to its natural surroundings by both the pilgrims and the nature lovers at large.
  • There are no entrance fees needed for the pilgrims to visit the holy place of worship. However, pets are not allowed inside this famous shrine.
  • The caves are resounded by the chirping of birds.
  • Once you visit this cave, you will realize that the temperature inside the caves is extremely less.
  • For people who are interested in sightseeing around Pachmarhi, the guests are required to take a day visit permit. Moreover, the tourists also need to travel by local jeeps as cars brought from outside cannot be used at this place.

Jatashankar Temple Timings

  • The Jatashankar Temple is open for tourists on all seven days in a week from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M.
  • It even remains open for pilgrims on all public holidays as well.

Jatashankar Temple Food Timings

  • Devotees can buy dry fruits and sweets from the road that leads to the temple.
  • Prasad is offered to pilgrims after 2 P.M.

Festivals celebrated at the Jatashankar Temple

  • Maha Shivaratri is the most important festival celebrated in this temple. During this occasion, pilgrims from various parts of India gather to offer pooja and seek blessings of the Almighty. It is usually observed during the months of February or March and people fast and enjoys this festival with great enthusiasm.
  • There is an annual fair that is organized during the Shivaratri festival in the hill station of Pachmarhi. There is a huge crowd that attends this fair and seeks blessings from Lord Shiva.

Poojas and Rituals at Jatashankar Temple

  • Shiva Ratri pooja is incomplete without following the ritual of bathing the Shivalinga with water, milk and honey with an addition of bel leaves. It symbolizes purification of one’s soul.
  • Vermilion paste is applied on the linga after the bath and incense sticks and lamps are lit.
  • Special food is offered to the Lord comprising seasonal fruits, vegetables, and coconuts.
  • Devotees chant mantras like ‘Om Namah Shivay’ throughout the night which is believed to free people from their sins.

How to Reach: Road, Rail, and Air

  • By Air– Pachmarhi is a popular tourist destination located in the heart of Madhya Pradesh. It is located at a distance of about 260 km from Jabalpur city and 230 km from Bhopal city. Both the cities have their own airports. Another option for tourists is the Nagpur airport which is about 285 km from Pachmarhi and has better connectivity with cities like Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Indore, Kolkata airports.
  • By Train– The nearest railway station to reach this beautiful place is the Pipariya railway station. And for travelers who are unable to find a direct train to Pipariya station, the second option is to reach Itarsi railway station which is at a distance of 150 km from Pachmarhi. This is another important railway junction.
  • By Road– Every pilgrim coming to Jatashankar temple has to cover a certain distance through road. So whether you are traveling by flight or train, the last part of the journey has to end on the roads. As an Army cantonment is situated in this place, the road conditions remain good and are well maintained. It remains open for visitors throughout the year. One can easily reach Pachmarhi by roads from nearby cities like Bhopal, Jabalpur, Nagpur and Indore.

Hotels in Madhya Pradesh: Where to stay

For tourists and pilgrims who are planning to take a trip to Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh, there are lots of accommodation options available. Whether you are traveling with family or with friends, you are sure to enjoy a pleasant stay here. There are rooms available with single, double, triple and even four bed sizes. Apart from lodging, these resorts provide food options at their exclusive restaurants as well. After a tiring day, one can opt to go for a swim or sit back and watch television in their rooms. All the hotels are equipped with the modern amenities to meet the requirements of a contemporary traveler.

The hotel staff is efficient and they also assist you with regard to the places that you need to visit during your stay here. The charges for the room depend on the type of room that is occupied but there are attractive discounts offered when you pre-book rooms. Some resorts also provide pickup and drop services to the airport and the railway station.

Where to eat

Madhya Pradesh is a paradise for both vegetarian and nonvegetarian lovers. There are many local eateries and restaurants that offer a variety of cuisines to suit the appetite of every traveler. The conventional food in Madhya Pradesh differs from one place to another. Places such as Bhopal has a strong Muslim influence and one can experience spicy food prepared with various delicacies and it is famous for its kebabs, Biryani, korma, keema, etc.

When talking about vegetarian dishes, the most famous of all the dishes is ‘Bhutte ki kees’. Corn and milk are the main ingredients used to prepare this meal. The corn is first grated and then roasted in ghee. It is then cooked in milk and few spices are mixed. Chakki ki saag is another dish that has been highly popular and sumptuous among both the natives and the tourists. It is made up of wheat dough which is steamed and is used with gravy of curd. Tapu, on the other hand, refers to a different variety of wheat with which special sweet cakes are made.

Nearby Temples

  • Bada Mahadev- It is one of the most prominent religious shrines that are located at a distance of about 10 km from Pachmarhi. It is said that people who have visited this 15′ long cave have found water droplets oozing out from the rocks constantly and collecting in a pool. This famous shrine also has a connection with the killing of the demon king Bhasmasur by Lord Shiva.
  • Chauragarh Shrine- The Chauragarh Shrine is counted among one of the holiest places for pilgrims visiting the Jatashankar temple. It is a 4 km steep climb of 1300 steps from Mahadeo and one can see the temple from a rectangular top with the deity of Lord Shiva. Pilgrims visiting this shrine carry the Trishul or Lord Shiva’s weapon on their shoulders while climbing the stairs. This tradition is followed as a mark of devotion especially during special occasions like the Maha Shivaratri. The Trishul might be of varying weights but generally it ranges from three to four quintals. And once you reach the shrine, it presents a panoramic view of the neighboring hills along with the greenery.
  • Gupt Mahadev Cave temple- There is another famous temple located at a distance of only 400 meters from Bada Mahadev and it is the fascinating Gupt Mahadev Cave temple. It has a tiny cave which is so narrow that only two people can enter at any given time and look at the Shivalinga inside. However, there is a huge Hanuman idol located outside the cave which is worshiped by ardent devotees who visit this temple from across the world.

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