Travel Guide to Famous Temples

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Laxmi Narayan Temple Chamba Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

July 7, 2019, Sasidhar Darla Leave a Comment Filed Under: Himachal Pradesh Temples Tagged With: Vishnu Temples

Laxmi Narayan Temple Chamba is one of the oldest and largest temples in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. It has six different temples in its complex. Laxmi Narayan Temple Chamba was built in the 10th century. The temples in the complex are arranged from north to south dedicated to Lord Shiva or Vishnu. There are other temples housed in the complex including Radha Krishna Temple, Shiva Temple of Chandragupta and Gauri Shankar Temple.

Laxmi Narayan Temple Chamba, which is the main temple of Chamba town was built by Sahil Varman in the 10th century AD. The temple has been built in the Shikhara style. The temple consists of Bimana i.e. Shikhara and GarbhGriha with a small antralya. Laxmi Narayana Temple has a mandapa like structure also. The wooden Chhattries, the shell roof, atop the temple were in response to the local climatic conditions as a protection against snowfall.

History of Laxmi Narayan Temple Chamba

Legend states that the image of Lord Vishnu present in this temple was made of a rare marble imported from Vindhyachal Mountains. The erstwhile king of the region, Sahil Verma, who constructed this temple, sacrificed eight of his sons to get the marble. And finally, his eldest son, Yugkara succeeded to fetch the marble.
He was also attacked by the robbers, but with the help of a saint, he managed to save himself. Thus with great effort, the idol of the Lord could be made which is the most revered one here.
The legend of the Laxmi Narayan Temple has the history that Raja Sahil Verma, who constructed this temple, sent nine of his sons to the Vindhyas mountains to get marble which was suitable for the construction of the Vishnu Idol.
A variation of this origin of Chamba is that it originated as a hermitage which Champavati, a devout Hindu, used to frequent. The king, being suspicious of his daughter’s fidelity, one day investigated and followed her to the hermitage, but surprisingly he found neither his daughter nor the hermit there. Suddenly he was said to have heard a voice which informed him that his suspicions were ill-founded, admonishing him and informing him that his daughter had been taken away from him permanently as a punishment of his lack of trust in her morals. The King, fully chastened, sought redemption for his sin by expanding the hermitage into a temple, named in his daughter’s honor and built a city around the temple. Today this temple, called the Champavati Temple, belongs to the Royal family and the King’s daughter is venerated as a goddess. Every year, since 935, the Minjar festival or fair has been held. It lasts for 21 days, coinciding with the first day of Baisakhi.
The remoteness and ruggedness of the Ravi River valley secured Chamba from successful invasions for around 1,000 years.
Since Raja Sahil Varman, the dynasty ruled without a successful invasion for around a millennium, until the British gained power. The isolation of the town and its rugged hilly terrain is believed to have been a contributing factor to this unusual state of security. Later, Mughal emperors, Akbar and Aurangzeb did attempt to annex Chamba but were unsuccessful in subjugating this territory into their kingdoms. Raja Prithvi Singh (1641-1664 AD), who was on amicable terms with Emperor Shahjahan was instrumental in introducing the court lifestyles of the Mughals.

Significance of Laxmi Narayan Temple Chamba

Laxmi Narayan Temple is the most famous temple of Chamba. It is both an architectural marvel as well as a place of great historical significance. Built by Raja Sahil Varman in the Shikhara style, it was first erected in the 10th Century.
Wooden Chhatris or umbrella-like structures are built to keep the snowfall off the roofs. There is also a wheel-shaped roof that staves off the cold. Every following ruler of Chamba added to the temple. A Radha-Krishnan temple was built by Rani Sarda, the wife of Raja Jit Singh in 1825.
A Shiva Temple in the temple complex was built by Sahil Varman and the Gauri-Shankar Temple is said to have been made by his son Yugkar Varman. A Garuda (the mythical eagle) statue in metal watches over the main gate, placed there by Raja Balabhadra Verma.
The latest addition to the temple in historic times was in answer to the Mughal threat. Apparently Aurangzeb the Emperor ordered that the temple be demolished and Raja Chhatra Singh, to prove that he wasn’t afraid, added gilded pinnacles to the temple in 1678. There were also some shrines built in the temple complex. All of which you will see when you visit this most revered temple in what is known as Himachals Holy Valley.
The Lakshmi Narayan Temple complex is opened first between 6 am to 12.30 pm and then from 2.30 to 8.30 pm.
The ‘garbhagriha’ or the innermost shrine houses a mandapa (altar) that is prohibited to the public. It also has idols of several other deities.
The entire complex consists of six temples in a row from the north to south direction. They are mostly dedicated to Lord Shiva or Vishnu. The other important ones here are of the Gauri Shankar Temple, Shiva Temple of Chandergupta and the temple of Radha and Lord Krishna. Divine symbols and images of deities adorn the outer walls of these temples.
The shell roofs or the umbrella-like structures made of wood was built keeping in mind the climate of the place. Snowfall is inevitable in this part of the state.

How to Reach Laxmi Narayan Temple Chamba

Lakshmi Narayan temples is situated in the main market. You can reach this place by bus or taxi. So when you reached in the Chamba district then it is 200 meter from the bus stand. Its distance from various places is mainly in km are given which is approximated but not exact. From Kangra it is mainly 100 km, from Hamirpur it is 210 km, from Shimla it is nearly 350 km and from Mandi it is about 295 km.

Laxmi Narayan Temple Chamba Timings

The Lakshmi Narayan Temple opens up twice a day for the devotees in two halves. The Lakshmi Narayan Temple Complex is opened first between 6am to 12:30pm and then from 2:30pm to 8:30pm.

In between these periods the deities are supposed to be taking rest and at night they retire to the interiors of the temple for rest. The best season to visit Chamba for the temple would be from between April and October.

Places to stay nearby

There are 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.

Places to eat nearby

Laxmi Narayan 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 course and are 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 Chamba, 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.

Festivals celebrated in Laxmi Narayan Temple Chamba

Chamba is one of those places where Basohli effect actually reached. Two melas or fairs, also known as Jatras, are of particular note in Chamba; “Suhi Mata Mela” and “Minjar Mela”. A notable event of such fairs is when the ‘chela’. a subordinate of the deity who is being worshipped goes into a trance and answers the queries and prayers of the devotees.

An important festival held in Chamba is known as the “Suhi Mata Mela”. It is held annually in March–April for four days to commemorate the sacrifice made by the queen of Chamba with her life, to bring water to the town. The legend associated with this festival and the Sui Mata temple, built in memory of the queen (wife of Raja Sahil Varman), relates to the sacrifice she made to fulfill a prophecy in a dream, which said that water from the Sarota stream could only be accessed through an aqueduct if the queen or her son was sacrificed. Rather than kill her own son she sacrificed her own life for the town. To commemorate this event, women and children take a lead role in the festival. An image of Champavati, with banners of the Rajput solar emblem, are taken by them in a procession, dancing and singing, through the Chaugan to the Suhi Mata temple.

Another popular festival held in Chamba is the “Minjar Mela”, held on the second Sunday of the Shravana month, corresponding to the month of August in the Gregorian calendar. It marks the triumph of the Raja of Chamba over the ruler of Trigarta (now called as Kangra), in 935 AD and also celebrates the paddy and maize crops grown at this time of the year. The festival commences with offerings of ‘minjar’, consisting of a bunch of paddy plant and golden silk wrapped in red fabric. The offerings also include a rupee, a seasonal fruit, and a coconut. This occasion is also celebrated with a flag hoisting ceremony at the Chaugan that initiates a week of cultural and social programmes. The image of the deity, Lord Raghuvira, and more than 200 other deities, are taken in a procession, in a chariot pulled by ropes. Folk dances and music performances known as ‘Kunjari Malhar’ are part of the festivities. On the last day of the festival, a parade is held from the Akhand Chandi Palace to Ravi River, where offerings are made to the river. This commemorates an event in which Raja Sahil Verman changed the course of the river, to make the Hari Rai temple accessible to all devotees.

Chamba and the surrounding district have many local customs in dancing, illustrating the differences in geographical, anthropological and social cultures and religious beliefs in the area. A solo dance or a dance of two people such as the Pharati or Khad-dumbi is commonly performed during the Nuwala ceremony and other important occasions, such as marriages etc. and the Dangri and Sikri are said to be of note. Notable male dances include the Gaddi and Gujjar dances, Dandaras, Nat, Ghorda, Nachan, Dharumsde, the Khad-dumbi and the Chhinjhati. Notable female dances include the Ghurei, Dangi and Kikli, whilst dances such as the Shain, Dhamal, Sohal, Sal Kukdi Nachan, Ratege and Til-Chauti are performed by both sexes. Several forms of masked dance are also performed in Chamba, such as the Chhatradhi Jatar.

Vadakkunnathan Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

July 18, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 1 Comment Filed Under: Kerala Temples Tagged With: Shiva Temples

Vadakkunnathan Temple is located in Thrissur and is one of the oldest shrines of Kerala. It is also a national building. The temple is spread over a large area of 9 acres. It has a paved walkway. The shrine also has a lot of greenery. The vast area outside the temple is Tekkinkadu. This word means teak woods.

The temple is over a hill lock. Tourists can get a beautiful view of the complete Thrissur town. Locals also call the temple as Thenkailasam and Vrishabhachalam. The temple won the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award. It got the award in the Cultural Heritage conservation category in 2015.

History and Legend of Vadakkunnathan Temple

The temple is associated with the golden days of Kerala.

As per myth, Saint Parasurama built this shrine. After creating Kerala, the saint went to Lord Shiva. He requested Lord Shiva to make Kerala his home. Therefore, Lord Shiva along with Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, Subramanya and other Ganas came to Kerala. But Lord Shiva suddenly vanished after reaching Thrissur. Saint Parasurama saw the self-manifested Shiva Lingum under a banyan tree. Therefore, people call this place Sri Mula Sthana. Years after this incident, the Thrissur king built a temple to place this lingam. This beautiful temple is the Vadakkunnathan Temple.
The locals also believe that the Adi Sankaracharya birth history started here. His mother used to walk From Kalady to Thrissur distance to the temple to beget a son from Lord Shiva. Hence, Lord Shiva blessed her with a baby boy. The boy name is Adi Sankaracharya.

Significance of the Vadakkunnathan Temple

The Vadakkunnathan Temple has Kerala architectural style. The different features of the temple are:

Besides Lord Shiva, there are other deities here; Goddess Parvati, Lord Sankaranarayana, Lord Ganapati, Sri Rama and Sri Krishna.
The temple is protected by a large stone wall. Also, there are four gopurams within the temple complex. Gopurams are gateways and have amazing carvings. The gateway base is granite. These gateways are at all four sides of the temple. They are at north, south, east and west.
The main temple and the gateways have wooden carvings and sculptures. The gopurams are like pyramids. They also have many roofs.
The Shiva temple is circular while the tower has one-tier. There are many pillars which are arranged in a unique way.
The Shankaranarayana Temple is also called the Harihara temple. This is just beside the Shiva temple. This shrine has two tiers.
There are three temples within the temple premises. One is for Lord Shiva, the other two for Sankaranarayana and Rama. There is also a separate temple for the Goddess. The temples have a square base.
The temple is beautiful with mural paintings. These paintings tell the stories from Indian religious books. It also shows stories from Puranas. The temple wall paintings show scenes from Mahabharata. It also has paintings of Lord Shiva in Tandava dance pose.
The temple also has a large theatre. People call it as Koothambalam. Enter the temple from the western gate to view this theatre. This building has a tilted roof, which is made from copper plates. The hall shows magnificent wooden carvings. It also has bracket figures. Chakyar Kuttu drama performance takes place here. This is a special drama that shows the rich culture of Kerala. This art started in the 9^th century at Kerala.

Vadakkunnathan Temple Timings

The temple opens at 4.00 am and is open till 10.00 am.
It again opens at 5.00 pm and closes at 8.30 pm.

Vadakkunnathan Temple Food Timings

Devotees can have prasadam after worship. Moreover, the prasadam is free at the Vadakkunnathan Temple.

Dress Code at Vadakkunnathan Temple

There is a specific dress code at the temple.

Men have to be in white pancha and dhoti.
Short dresses are not allowed within the temple complex.
Furthermore, men need to remove shirts before entering the shrine.
Women have to be in a sari. Punjabi dress and churidar with a dupatta or half sari will also do.

Guidelines

You cannot bring children below 1 year within the temple complex.
You have to deposit footwear before entering the temple. There is also a free cloakroom here. People can also park cars.
Devotees can bring in mobiles but cannot do photography within the temple premises.

Festivals celebrated at Vadakkunnathan Temple

Thrissur is popular for its religious festivals and the largest festival takes place in the vast area outside the Vadakkunathan Temple.

Thrissur Pooram: This festival takes place during April or May. The festival started in 1750 AD to 1805 AD. Prince Rama Varma introduced this festival. Many devotees, almost in lakhs, visit the temple during this time. The unique part of this festival is that Vadakkunnathan Temple does not take part in the rituals or procession of the festival. There are other two temples that do the festival. One is the Paramekkavi Devi and the other is the Goddess residing in Tiruvambadi. At present many other temples also take part in the celebration. The fireworks during the festival are spectacular. Elephants are painted and decorated for the grand procession. Nettupattam is clothing sewn with almost six thousand gold plated metal pieces. Devotees place this at the forehead of the elephant. The elephant carries three people on it. While one person holds the silken parasol, the other two stand on the back. Music plays for two hours before the procession. The festival starts early morning. It goes on throughout the night and ends the next morning.
Shivaratri: Vadakkunnathan Temple celebrates Shivaratri with great pomp and show. This festival takes place during February or March. Devotees need to come in white dhoti to worship Lord Shiva. Tailored clothes are not allowed at this time.
Anayoottu: This festival takes place every year on the 1^st day of the Malayalam month, Karkkidakam. It is in July. In this festival, people worship elephants and feed them.

Poojas and Rituals at Vadakkunnathan Temple

Vadakkunnathan Temple has some special customs.

There is also a defined process of worship at this temple. It is known as Pradakshina.
As you enter the temple you can hear the continuous chanting of ‘Samb Sadashiva.’
Every day priests offer 18.5 kilos of rice to Lord Shiva. This offering is Nivedyam.
Abhishekam takes place every day. Ghee is used to performing Abhishekam, lighting hundreds of oil lamps around the Shiva Lingum. This ritual is taking place for hundreds of years and this has led to a solid ghee mound encircling the Shiva Lingum. Devotees get a scrap of this mound as Prasada. Locals believe this ghee has medicinal and herbal properties.
Trippuka is the last ritual of the day. It takes place at 8 pm.

How to Reach: Road, Rail and Air

The temple is just at the heart of Thrissur and hence easily accessible from all parts of the country.

By Air: The nearest airport is the Kochi International Airport. It is at Nedumbassery and approximately 53 km from the shrine.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Thrissur. It is at 3 km from the temple. All trains to Kerala pass through the place.

By Road: Thrissur is easily reachable through roads as well. You can drive from all parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to Vadakkunnathan Temple.

Hotels in Thrissur: Where to stay

KTDC Tamarind Thrissur is a hotel sponsored by the Kerala tourism department. It is just within 2 km from the Vadakkunnathan Temple. The Joys Palace, KTDC Nandanam Guruvayoor, Mayura Residency, Hare Krishna Inn and Hotel Kanoos Residency are the other options for the tourists at Thrissur. These hotels offer clean rooms and basic amenities. The rent at these hotels is also less.

Where to eat

Due to thousands of visitors every year at the Vadakkunnathan Temple, various eat outs are found near the shrine. Reach Us Hotel, Hotel Bharat, Ming Palace Chinese Restaurant, Pathans and Hotel Elite International are within 0.5 km. Ela adai, pazha payasam, appam, puttuand kadalai curry are some special Kerala dishes that you can enjoy here. Thrissivaperror Kaapi Club serves awesome coffee while Fruitage is popular for fresh fruit juice.

Nearby Temples

Thrissur is a pilgrimage with various temples in and around it. It is also the cultural capital of Kerala.

Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple: It is at 27 kms from the Vadakkunnathan Temple. Every night numerous oil lamps are lit. It is also famous for Krishnattom dance form, which takes place every evening. The temple also features a unique ritual, Thulabharam offering.
Irinjalakuda Koodal Manickam Temple: This is just 21 km away. The presiding deity is Bharat. He was Lord Rama’s brother as per the Indian epic, Ramayana. This is a 9th-century temple. The temple celebrates Medam. It takes place for 10 days in April or May. Visitors also witness various Kerala art forms in this festival.
Paramekkavu Kshetram: This temple is at the foothill of the Vadakkunnathan Temple. This temple also participates in the Thrissur Pooram festival.
Kodungallur Bhagavathi Temple: This temple is behind the Vadakkunnathan Temple. The deity also has other names, like Kannagi and Bhadrakali. Bharani is the main festival here. The celebration takes place in March or April.
Thiruvembadi Temple: This temple is in the middle of the Thrissur city. The shrine is for Lord Krishna. This temple also celebrates Navaratri and Sree Krishna Jayanti.
Peringottukara Somashekhara Temple: This temple worships Lord Shiva. It is at 22 km from the main Thrissur town. Also at this temple, Maha Shivaratri is the main festival.
Arattupuzha Temple: This temple is 16 km away. Lord Dharma Sastha is the main deity. Moreover, 41 temples participate in the temple festival. A gorgeous procession takes place in the festival. Decked up elephants carry the deities round the temple during the procession.
Shree Rama Festival: Lord Rama is in the form of Chaturbhuja in this shrine. Locals call the deity as Trimurthy. Furthermore, it is a combination of Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma.
Urakam Amma Thiuvadi Temple: This temple is 12 km from Thrissur. It is the oldest temple of the place. There is a custom of cleaning the idol with peacock feathers at this temple. Moreover, locals believe that the Goddess can protect the place from disasters.

Besides worshipping at the Vadakkunnathan Temple, tourists can also check out the cultural life of Kerala at the Cheruthuruthy dance school. This is just at 30 km from the temple.

Narsingh Temple Joshimath

September 25, 2019, Sasidhar Darla Leave a Comment Filed Under: Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand Temples Tagged With: Vishnu Temples

Narsingh Temple Joshimath is a dedication to Lord Narasimha, the fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu. Moreover, the temple sits in Joshimath, which is in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand.

Nevertheless, this shrine is also one of the 108 ‘Divya Deshams‘ of Vishnu. Since the temple is a part of ‘Sapt Badri’, it is also popular as Narsingh or Narsimha Badri among its devotees. Moreover, Adi Shankaracharya set up this temple as a dedication to Lord Vishnu’s Narsimha avatar.

Introduction of Narsingh temple — Adi Shankracharya established the Shaligram idol of Vishnu’s Narsimha avatar here.

Reportedly, devotees observe shrinking in the right wrist of Narsingh idol which continues to occur. Moreover, an existing prophecy hints towards the occurrence of a destructive landslide after the wrist of the idol falls off.

Hereafter, the route to Badrinath will close forever. Nevertheless, this temple makes its place in the Char Dham Yatra packages within Uttarakhand.

According to the prophecy, after route for Badrinath temple is closed, Bhavishya Badri will be the place of worship for the devotees of Lord Badrinath.

Narsingh or Narsimha Temple – Facts

Diety	Lord Vishnu’s Narasimha or Narsingh Avatar
Temple timings	6 am – 7:30 pm
Time required for Darshan	30 minutes
Best time to visit the temple	March – June
Entry fee	No fee
Nearest Airport	Jolly Grant Airport
Location	Joshimath, Uttarakhand

What are the timings of Narsimha Badri, Joshimath?

Devotees can visit the temple during the following timings:

Timings	From
Open	6 am
Close	7:30 pm

What is the significance of Narsingh Temple Joshimath?

Narsingh Temple Joshimath holds major significance as the fourth incarnation of Vishnu that depicts him being half-human and half-lion. Diety’s idol in the temple is 25 cm high and sits on a lotus. On the left-hand side of Lord Narsingh, there is an idol of Goddess Chandika.

While, on Lord Narsingh’s right-hand side are Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lord Hanuman and Garuda. However, the temple has also installed idols of Badrinath, Kuber and Uddhav. Devotees believe that Badrivishal rests in the temple during winters. Hence, the priests move the idol of Badrinath temple to Narsingh Temple during winters and place it alongside the Narsingh idol.

The idol of Lord Vishnu in Narsingh Avatar located inside the temple is made of Shaligram.

What is the history of the Temple?

Narsingh Temple Joshimath has a history of around 1200 years and was home to a sage called Badri Nath. Also, the idol that sits inside was constructed during the reign of Lalitaditya Yukka in the 8th century.

History of Narsingh temple — Lord Vishnu appeared in Narsimha avatar to kill the arrogant demon Hiranyakashyap.

An ages-old tale states that Lord Narsingh saved his devotee Prahlad from the tyranny of his father. Eventually, Lord Narsingh took the life of the demon Hiranyakashyap.

What are the festivals celebrated at Narsingh Temple Joshimath?

Some of the festivals celebrated at Narsimha Badri in Joshimath are:

Holi: It is a Hindu festival which relates with the story of Lord Narsingh saving his devotee Prahlad from his aunt Holika. Hence, when Holika sat in the fire with Prahlad on his father’s order, she was burnt off while Prahlad came out alive. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil and is played with colours.
Narsingh Jayanti: It calls for a celebration on the day when Lord Vishnu appeared in his half-human and half-lion form, popular as ‘Lord Narsingh’. This festival falls on the Shukla Chaturdashi in the month of Vaisakh.

Festivals celebrated at Narsingh Temple — This festival of colours called Holi is celebrated to signify Lord Vishnu’s win over Hiranyakashyap.

How to reach Narsingh Temple Joshimath?

Here’s how to reach Narsingh Temple Joshimath:

Air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun is the nearest airport available to reach Joshimath. It is at a distance of 268.4 km from Joshimath.
Train: There are two railway stations near to the temple namely, Dehradun ( 294Km) and Rishikesh ( 256Km).
Road: There are buses available for Rishikesh/Badrinath from ISBT Kashmere Gate. The temple is at walking distance from the Joshimath bus stop.

Where to stay near Narsingh Temple Joshimath?

Some of the places where one can stay near Narsingh Temple Joshimath while undertaking the Char Dham Yatra are:

Super 8 Temple: This hotel offers a comfortable and hygienic stay. Both exteriors and interiors are a sight to watch and enjoy. Moreover, everything is available in a budget.
Country Inn & Suits: This place is an amazing blend of scenic beauty and high-tech luxuries. Moreover, everything can be availed in a budget. Also, the place is a divinity for travellers.
Temple Travelodge: This hotel offers an entire bunch of modern amenities. Moreover, it slips easily into one’s budget. Also, it is located quite close to the temple.

What are some places to visit near Narsingh Temple Joshimath?

Some of the places to visit near Narsingh Temple Joshimath are:

Rudraprayag: It is the confluence of river Alaknanda and Mandakini in Uttarakhand. Moreover, it is fourth in the Panch Prayag. It’s home to numerous Shiva temples. Also, It is a part of part of the holy Dham Yatra within Uttarakhand. This confluence is 115 km away from Narsimha Badri.
Vasudeva Temple: It holds its place in the list of famous Vishnu temples in India. Nonetheless, the temple resides 30 yards away from the Narsimha Badri. The main deity of the temple is Vasudeva whose idol is carved out of black stone and is 6 feet high.

Kamakhya Temple Timings, Poojas, and History

March 11, 2020, Sasidhar Darla 31 Comments Filed Under: Assam Temples Tagged With: Devi Temples, Shakti Peetha

Kamakhya Temple is a Hindu temple in dedication to Goddess Kamakhya, in the state of Assam. It is one of the oldest among the 51 Shakti Peeths. This holy temple is present at the top of the Nilachal Hill which is about 800 feet above sea level in the Western part of the city of Guwahati. At a corner of the cave in the temple, there is a sculptured figure of the yoni of the Goddess, which is worshipped. The presence of the natural spring keeps the statue moist.

There are ten small temples present around the premise of the main shrine. These are for the ten avatars of Maa Kali, namely, Goddesses Dhumavati, Bagola, Tara, Matangi, Bhairavi, Kamala, Chinnamasta, Bhuvaneshwari as well as Tripura Sundari.

Kamakhya Temple – Facts

Deity	Goddess Kamakhya (Goddess Shakti)
Location	Nilachal Hill, Assam
Entry Fee	Free
Timings	5:30 AM to 10:00 PM
Best Time to Visit	May – October
Festivals Celebrated	Durga Puja, Manasha Puja

Kamakhya Temple – Video

History and Legend of the Kamakhya Temple

According to the history of Kamakhya Temple, Sati, the daughter of King Daksha married Lord Shiva against his will. The King had organized a Yajna in his kingdom where he invited everyone except Sati and Shiva. Sati was upset but wanted to attend it in spite of Shiva’s disapproval.

At this Yajna, she was greatly insulted by King Daksha. Sati became so angry that she jumped into the Yajna fire and killed herself. When Lord Shiva came to know about this incident, he took Sati’s body on his shoulders and roamed around the universe filled with rage. It is then; Lord Vishnu calmed Shiva and saved the world by cutting the body of Sati into several parts by using the Sudarshan Chakra.

Sati’s body parts fell at different places which became popular as Shakti Peeths. In the famous Kamakhya Temple, devotees worship the womb and the vagina of the Goddess.

It is said that the Goddess of Love, Kamadeva suffered a loss of virility, owing to a curse. Kamadeva sought out the Shakti’s womb and genitals which freed him from the curse. Love gained its potency here and the idol of ‘Kamakhya Devi’ was set up and worshipped.

Significance of the Kamakhya Temple

Kamakhya Yoni Devipuram — The Shakti Peeth present at the temple is the yoni of the Goddess.

The significance of the Kamakhya Temple is that Kamakhya Devi is also called as the Bleeding Goddess. The mythical womb and the genitals of Shakti are present in the ‘Garbhagriha’ of the temple. The architecture of Kamakhya Temple consists of four sections called the Garbhagriha.

In addition, it has three mandapas namely, Calantha, Pancaratna, and Natamandira. Calantha or the western chamber is large and rectangular in shape. This is not used by the general pilgrims for worship. The middle chamber or Pancaratna is square in shape and has a small idol of the Goddess. The last chamber or Natamandira consists of sculpted figures of Naranarayana along with related inscriptions and other gods.

In the month of June, it is said that the goddess bleeds. During this time, the Brahmaputra River near the temple turns red in colour. It might be strange but till this date, there has been no scientific reason as to why the water of the spring turns red. Menstruation is the symbol of a woman’s creative ability. And the Kamakhya temple celebrates this ‘shakti’ present in every woman.

Timings of the Kamakhya Temple

Here are the timings of Kamakhya Temple:

Rituals	From	To
Darshan	5:30 AM	10:00 PM
Morning Darshan	8:00 AM	–
Afternoon Break	1:00 PM	2:30 PM
Prasad Distribution	2:30 PM	–

Festivals celebrated at Kamakhya Temple

What is the significance of Kamakhya Temple

Some of the festivals celebrated at Kamakhya Temple are:

Ambubachi Mela: This festival occurs during the month of June for five days. Also popular as the fertility festival, the temple remains closed for three days when the Goddess menstruates. Thousands of devotees gather in the temple from the first day of the festival. On the fourth day, pilgrims can enter the temple and holy water is sprinkled.
Durga Puja: It is another festival whose celebrations take place with much pomp. The months of September – October sees a rise in the number of visitors during this five-day celebration. this festival is popular as Navratri in certain parts of India.
Manasha Puja: It is also an annual festival which the devotees of the Kamakhya Temple celebrate.

Routes to the Kamakhya Temple

Here’s how to reach Kamakhya Temple:

Air: Guwahati Airport is the nearest airport which is about 20kms away.
Train: The nearest railway station is Kamakhya Railway Station. However, one can also access the temple from Guwahati Railway Station.
Road: Assam Tourism Development has many buses connecting it with major national highways and other places of Guwahati.

Accommodation near the Kamakhya Temple

The Assam Development Corporation has its own tourist home called as Lalita Kanta Yatri Niwas. It offers excellent lodging as well as a food facility. While the cost of the rooms is moderate, all kinds of modern amenities are present for the visitors to use as well.

Moreover, the presence of many luxuries and budget hotels is also present for travellers at the Nilachal Hills. From lodges to guest homes and a temple run guest house, visitors have lots of choices. One can also decide to put up at Guwahati and travel to the temple by availing public transportation like buses, auto-rickshaws and taxis.

Places to visit near the Kamakhya Temple

Some of the temples near Kamakhya Temple are:

Bhuvaneshwari Temple: This magnificent temple is located at the topmost point of the Nilachal Hills. Being in dedication to the Goddess Bhuvaneshwari, this auspicious shrine is famous among the tourists visiting the Kamakhya Temple. Moreover, the scenic view of the Brahmaputra River from this place leaves tourists stunned.
Uma Nanda Temple: In the 17th-century Ahom king Gadapani built the temple. Being in dedication to Lord Shiva, the place is also popular as the Peacock Island. A visitor can hire or rent a boat which departs from the Kachari Ghat between the Deputy Commissioner’s office and the lower courts. Additionally, this island is well famous for endangered inhabitants of Golden Langurs that one can view from a close distance. One can also visit a Ganesh temple present on this island by exploring it on foot.
Ugro Tara Temple Lotaxil: The temple is for the Goddess Tara. The deity is not present as an idol but a pit of water.
Navagraha Temple: The Navagraha Temple is in dedication to the nine celestial bodies. It is present at the Chitrasal Hill which is the second-highest hill in Guwahati.

If you have any questions about the Kamakhya Temple, please leave a comment below, and we will get back to you within one hour.

Golden Temple Vellore

May 5, 2019, Sasidhar Darla Leave a Comment Filed Under: Tamil Nadu Temples Tagged With: Devi Temples

Golden Temple Vellore is in Malaikodi at Vellore city in Tamil Nadu.The temple’s chief deity is ‘Sri Lakshmi Narayani’ where devotees from all religions are welcome to visit the temple and have darshan. The Sri Lakshmi Narayani temple inside Sripuram held its consecration (maha kumbhabhishekam) on 24 August 2007.

It is a sight to behold. Constructed by Sri Narayani Peedam and headed by Sri Sakthi Amma, a spiritual leader, the grand temple boasts of spectacular art work.

What is the history of Golden Temple Vellore?

According to history, Sripuram Golden Temple was built in 7 years which is a very short time. It was then inaugurated onAugust 24, 2007 . The golden temple has attracted thousands of devotees. The entire temple had a covering of 9 to 15 layers of gold foil.

The temple is decorated with sculptures of the human person, richly decorated with columns and a roof.

What is the significance of Golden Temple Vellore?

Here’s the significance of Golden Temple Vellore:

Temple of Mahalakshmi or temple of Lakshmi Narayan who is Ardha Mandapam and Vimanam has a coating pure gold including both interior as well as exterior.
Vellore-based Sri Narayani Peedam has designed the temple, advancing by religious head Sri Sakthi Amma also known as Narayani Amma. The forehead with gold protecting has complex designs and art forms in silver.
The illumination is organized in such a way that the forehead papers even during evening. The forehead consists of more than 1500 kg of gold.
There was individual creation of details, such as transforming the gold sections into gold foils and then increasing on the gold foils on birdwatcher.
Sripuram design symbolizes a star-shaped path(Sri chakra), in the center of the lushgreen surroundings, with a duration of over 1.8 km.
Sahasra deepam or 1008 lamps is a sacred installation here.
Messages by ‘Amma’ are there out along the path to the temple with messages from the Gita, Bible and Quran.

What are the timings of Golden Temple Vellore?

Here are the timings of Golden Temple Vellore:

Timings	From	To
Open	4.00 AM	8.00 PM
Abishekam	4.00 AM	8.00 AM
General Dharshan	8.00 AM	8.00 PM
Aarthi Seva	6.00 PM	7.00 PM

How to reach Golden Temple Vellore?

Here’s how to reach Golden Temple Vellore:

Air: airports of Bangalore and Chennai are the nearest airports with regular flights.
Rail: The nearest railway station is Vellore katpadi Jn railway station, which is only 12 km distance from Sripuram.
Road: there are many buses that run from Bangalore, Chennai, Tirupati and some other main cities.

Where to stay near Golden Temple Vellore?

Some of the places where one can stay near Golden Temple Vellore are:

Hotel Gold in the heart of the city on national highway no.1, is a famous hotel that has a promising atmosphere and well suited accommodations.
Hotel Khanna Fiesta at Anna Sallai , Vellore is another place to check in during your visit. It is rather popular for its complementing decor and accommodations.
Hotel Surabi at Officer’s Lane is also a great place to tuck in. It has great staff and room service that has received much praise.

What are some places to visit near Golden Temple Vellore?

Some of the places to visit near Golden Temple Vellore are:

Vellore Fort was built during the 16th century AD by the Aravindu Dynasty of the Vijaynagar Empire. Later the fort’s ownership passed through the various dynasties like the Marathas, Bijapur Sultans, the Carnatic Nawabs and the British. The massive ramparts and moats have made the fort a strategic location, it was also known to have Tipu Sultan’s family and the last king of Sri Lanka as prisoners during the time of the British. The fort complex contains a church, a temple and a mosque.
Jalakandeswarar Temple is within the Vellore fort complex and is for Lord Shiva. The Temple is also one of the amazing specimens of the Dravidian architecture and houses one of the most intricately carved stone pillars. The temple also has a huge 7 tiered gopuram and adorned with various intricate carvings.
Yelagiri is another small hill station in Vellore. The town is in the middle of flowery meadows, tea estates and orchards. The various lakes and waterfalls in Yelagiri attract a huge number of tourists.

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