Myoksha Travels

Powered by The Temple Girl

Travel Guide to Famous Temples

[display_search_form]

Narsingh Temple Joshimath

, Leave a Comment Filed Under: Char Dham Yatra, Uttarakhand Temples Tagged With:

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

DietyLord Vishnu’s Narasimha or Narsingh Avatar
Temple timings6 am – 7:30 pm
Time required for Darshan30 minutes
Best time to visit the templeMarch – June
Entry feeNo fee
Nearest AirportJolly Grant Airport
LocationJoshimath, Uttarakhand

What are the timings of Narsimha Badri, Joshimath?

Devotees can visit the temple during the following timings:

TimingsFrom
Open6 am
Close7:30 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.

Maa Mangala Temple Kakatpur – Timings, Poojas and History

, 4 Comments Filed Under: Odisha Temples Tagged With:

Maa Mangala Temple is located in Kakatpur in Puri in the Indian state of Orissa. Kakatpur is a small village in Puri District and is situated at a distance of 50 kms from Puri. There are large number of devotees who visit the temple each month. This temple is associated with Puri Lord Jagannath temple.

During the renovation of the deities which is known as Navakalebara, the old deities are buried at a dedicated place in the Jagannath temple and the new idols are shaped for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. The idols are also made from a very sacred wood which is the Daru Brahma. Nobody knows from where to find the sacred wood to create the new idols, so as per the tradition the priests of Lord Jagannath temple come to Kakatpur Mangala to pray the Goddess to help them to find the sacred wood. The priests sleep in front of the Goddess with their face down and then Goddess Mangala come in their dream and tell the exact location of the three sacred trees for the three deities.

Maa Mangala Temple is built in typical Kalinga style and is a major pilgrimage for devotees of Shakti cult. Pilgrims frequently visit the temple seeking boons from Maa Mangala. Kakatpur Mangala Temple is also known as Sarba Mangala Mandir and it is one of the most celebrated shakti peeth in Puri. This temple is also sometimes called as the Bata Mangala Temple.

Maa Mangala Temple Timings

Maa Mangala Temple remains open on all days of the week. The timings of the temple are from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM in the morning and from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM in the evening. In case of special occasions or festivals, the timings might differ.

Maa Mangala Temple History

  • There is a famous story behind the evolution of the name of the deity as ‘Kakatpur’ Mangala and believed by the local people. Goddess Mangala kept herself hidden under the deep water of river Prachi. Once a boatman was sailing his boat across river Prachi. At that time the river was outpouring and flooded so he was unable to sail his boat to the middle of the river.
  • Goddess Mangala came in his dream and asked him to recover her from the water and to establish her in nearby Mangalapur village. The boatman dived into the water and able to find the deity from the bed of the river. Then as per the direction of the Goddess he established the figure of the deity in a temple in Mangalapur village.
  • After this the boatman saw a black crow dived into the water and did not come out of the water for hours and days, the crow detained inside the water of river Prachi exactly in the same place from where he recovered the figure of Goddess Mangala.
  • In Oriya language the word crow means ‘kaka’ and the word detain means ‘atka.’ Thus, the village is known as ‘Kakatpur’ and the goddess is named as Kakatpur Mangala.
  • That time i.e 500 years ago the then local Jamindar Roychudamoni family made the mandir at Kakatpur with all the Sebak arrangement. This Mandir was built by Panchanan Mitra (Roychudamoni) on 1548 AD. This goddess is very famous with all the qualities of peace, power, happiness, love, purity, knowledge & truth.

Significance of the Maa Mangala Temple

  • Pilgrims and devotees visiting the temple seek boons from Maa Mangala. There is a bed made of solid stone on which it is said Maa Mangala rests after touring the entire universe everyday. As if to attest to this, the bed looks worn out in just the same way it would if it were in use for centuries.
  • The ‘Bhaktas’ who really want to acquire knowledge on lord Jagannath and Goddess Maa Sarba Mangala must read the book which is written by Raghunandan Panda, Sebak of Maa Sarba Mangala. He was a teacher and belongs to Kakatpur. He has spent almost 25 years from his busy schedule in doing research on Kakatpur Mangala. He has shared all his experience in the form of his book which will enlighten the whole story. The book is available only in Kakatpur.

Maa Mangala Temple Rituals

Mangala is Arupa (formless) and has become Sarupa (took form). Throughout the year, and days the ‘Niti’ ‘Puja’ is being done in ritualistic manner. ‘Prasadams’ are available for the devotees. Many patients come to remain in “Dharana” in prostrate form to get themselves cured.

Festivals celebrated at the Maa Mangala Temple

Jhamu Yatra: Jhamu Yatra is the most popular festival of Goddess Mangala which falls on the first Tuesday of the Vaisakh every year. On this occasion devotees collect water from river Prachi and pray to get her blessings. Then with the mud pot, filled with water, on their shoulder, they are able to walk on the surface of burning fire spread on a long channel on bare feet. Due to their faith on Goddess Mangala and her blessings on them, the devotee are unhurt and uninjured while performing such a risky custom. Every year thousands of devotees come to Kakatpur to celebrate the Jhamu festival.

Maa Mangala Temple has a close relation with Lord Jagannath Temple of Puri during the Navakalebara (Renovation of the Deities) festival. The new idols are created from a sacred wood known as “Daru”. As per the tradition the priests of Lord Jagannath temple come to Kakatpur Mangala to pray the Goddess to help them to find the sacred wood. The priests visit the goddess and offer her the things brought for the Banajaga Yatra and then Goddess at night shows the direction of the sacred wood or daru in their dreams. This custom has been performed from years together without any deviation. This shows the power and energy of Goddess Mangala and her blessings for her devotees.

Dhanu Yatra: It is a popular drama festival held at Bargarh of Western Odisha. The play is the enactment of the story of Lord Krishna and his demon uncle King Kansa. It features the Lord’s visiting Mathura for witnessing the ceremony of “Bow” or “Dhanu” organized by evil Kansa. The play continues for 7 to 11 days and attracts large number of viewers. Dhanu Yatra is celebrated for eleven days of the month from the 5th day of the bright fortnight till the full moon day.  The festive mood of people made them enact the victory of Lord Krishna, the embodiment of truth, justice and righteousness over Kansa who personifies arrogance and wickedness. The epic play was just a symbolic representation of Indians victory over unfair British rule.

How to reach: Road, Rail and Air

By Air: Nearest airport from this temple is the Bhubaneshwar airport which is 65 Km from this place. Bhubaneswar is connected by air with flights to major Indian cities like New Delhi, Calcutta, Visakhapatnam, Ranchi, Chennai and Mumbai etc. All major domestic airlines like Air Deccan, Jetlite, Kingfisher, Indian Airlines have daily flights to/from Bhubaneswar. The nearest International Airport is at Calcutta (Kolkata).

Travellers flying from Europe or America (east): The best way to reach Puri is to fly either to Calcutta (Kolkata), Mumbai (Bombay) or Delhi and then fly to Bhubaneshwar. Travellers flying from Australia or California could fly directly to Chennai (Madras) or Calcutta (Kolkata) and then fly to Bhubaneshwar.

By Rail: Puri is the nearest railway station from the temple. Puri is a terminus on the East Coast Railway having direct express and super fast train links with New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Okha, Ahmedabad, Tirupati etc. Some important trains are Kolkata (Howrah) Puri Howrah Express, Jagannath Express; New Delhi; Purushottam Express. Khurda Road Station, 44 km, from Puri is convenient rail head for train to Chennai and Western India.

Some of the important trains from New Delhi

1) Purshottam Express Leaves New Delhi on Day 1 and arrives at Puri on Day 3 (the distance is about 1866 kms) journey Time approx 31 hours.

2) Puri Express Leaves New Delhi on Day 1 and arrives at Puri on Day 2 (the distance is about 1794 kms) journey Time approx 30 hours.

3) Neelachal Express Leaves New Delhi on Day 1 and arrives at Puri on Day 2 (the distance is about 1910 kms) journey Time approx 35 hours.

By Road:  Kakatpur Mangala Temple is 50 Km from Puri. The bus stand near the Gundicha Temple provides connections to Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, service every 10-15 minutes. Minibuses to Konark leave every 20-30 minutes and also from Jatiababa Chhak. There are direct buses for Kolkata and Visakhapatnam. Puri is linked with Bhubaneswar by state highway no.8 and Bhubaneshwar is situated along the National Highway no.5 connecting Chennai and Kolkata. The best way to go from Bhubaneswar to Puri is on one of the State Govt. buses, mini buses and tourist buses leaving from Bhubaneswar main bus stand.

Where to stay

There are many good hotels and resorts available near Maa Mangala Temple for the accommodation.

  • Lotus Resort: Near Ramachandi Temple,Konark-Puri Marine Drive Road, 752111 – Konark
  • Sun Temple Hotel: Near Bus Stand, Konark, 752111 – Konark
  • The Pearl: River Side Retreat Puri konark Marine Dr Rd, 752002
  • Nature Camp Konark Retreat: Khalakata Patna, Ramchand
  • Marwadi Hotel and Lodge: Konark, konark marine drive puri
  • Surya Inn: Near Canara Bank, Near Canara Bank
  • Lotus resort Ramchand Beach: Konark Puri Marine Drive
  • OYO Homes Konark Sun Temple: Near Sun Temple

Where to eat

There are numbers of local dhabas (food-joints) serving vegetarian and non-vegetarians food. Apart from relishing the local delicacies, fish fry prepared in Bengali-style is highly suggested. Apart of Indian cuisines, continental and chinese dishes are also available at an affordable rate.

  • Santi Restaurant: Shanti Restaurant & Bar, Unit-2, Ashok Nagar, Bhubaneshwar
  • Sun Temple Restaurant: SH 13, Khelar, Orissa
  • Madhuban: Toshali Sands Ethnic Village Resort, Konark Marine Drive
  • Peace Restaurant: Chakratirtha Road, Puri, Odisha
  • Bamboo: C T Road, Puri, Odisha, 752002
  • The Gajapati: Chakratirtha Road, Puri, Odisha
  • Wildgrass Restaurant: VIP Rd, Puri, Odisha 752001
  • Chung Wah Restaurant: VIP Road, Puri, Odisha, 752001

Nearby Temples

Shri Jagannath Temple: The origin of the sacred shrine of Jagannath goes back to the pre-Vedic period and Purusottam Kshetra, the sacred abode of Sri Jagannath, has been described in various Sanskrit works, such as the ‘Padma Parana’, ‘Narada Purana’, ‘Matsya Parana’, etc. There is a  monumental and magnificent Shrine at Shri Purusottam-Kshetra (Puri, Orissa) one of the four major Dhamas of India. The cult of Jagannath came to be regarded as the religion of masses ‘Gana Dharma’. That means Jagannath cult is a unique cult. Indian culture has reached its culmination in the unique culture of Lord Jagannath. It is more than a cult — an all-embracing synthesis of cults. It has combined diverse faiths, cultures, creeds and ideologies.  He is also known as Jagabandhu. He is the friend, philosopher, guide and the anchor of the purest thoughts of the people of the entire Universe.

Shree Lokanath Temple: Lokanath Temple is ranked next to Shri Jagannath Temple.  This  temple  is  at  a  distance of  about  two  kilometers to  the  west  of  the  Shri Jagannath Temple. Lord  “Siva”  and  “Mata  Parvati”  are  the  main  deities of  the  temple. The unique feature is that the shivalinga is always under water which substantiates the legend that Goddess Ganga flows through the top of the shivalinga as a stream.  Lord   Rama constructed    the temple in “Tretaya Yuga”.

Konark Sun Temple: Konark is one of the well known tourist attractions of Orissa. Konark houses a colossal temple dedicated to the Sun God. Konark is one of the most famous tourist destinations in India from the spiritual standpoint and boasts of one of the best known architectural specimen. The tourists coming to Konark also visit the Chandrabhaga Beach, one of the most exotic beaches in Odisha. The konark city is also known world over for its fairs and festivals. Millions of devotees gather here to take a holy dip in this river on the occasion as this dip is believed to be a sure cure for all illnesses.

Panchalingeshwar Temple: Panchalingeswar Temple is situated on the hilltop of the Eastern Ghats in Panchalingeshwar, Nilagiri, Baleswar district. It’s a beautiful place for picnic, darshan of Shiva Linga and breath some fresh air from the real nature.  The five round “Shiva Linga” are worshipped as Panchalingeswar (Pancha means five in Odia).

Yaganti Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

, 4 Comments Filed Under: Andhra Pradesh Temples Tagged With:

Yaganti Temple also known as Sri Uma Maheswara Temple or Yagantiswamy Temple is located in Yaganti which is in Kurnool of Andhra Pradesh. This temple is devoted to Lord Shiva and is supposed to have been built in the 15th century by kings Harihara and Bukka Raya of the Sangama dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Yaganti Temple is extremely beautiful and is in the middle of the Yerramala Hills, surrounded by scenic beauty. Also, there are numerous caves in the hills around the temple where quite a lot of saints reside including the great Telugu saint and astrologer ‘Potuluti Veera Brahmam Garu.’

The temple dates back to 5th and 6th centuries with donations from the Pallavas, Chalukyas, Cholas and Vijayanagara rulers. Apart from this, the temple also received valuable contributions from Vijayanagara Kings Harihara and Bukka Rayalu who completed the construction of quite a lot of structures in and around the temple.

Yaganti Temple has idols of Shiva and Parvathi engraved out of a single stone. This temple is almost certainly the only place where Lord Shiva is adorned in the form of an idol and not in the form of a Shiva Linga. It is a popular belief that Agastya performed the sacrament for Lord Shiva and appealed him Lord Shiva to make an appearance in Ardhanareeswara form. Another very bizarre yet miraculous characteristic of this temple is that the idol of Nandi here keeps increasing in size.

Yaganti Temple History

Lord Agastyar was a preacher, a Vedic saint, the earliest Siddhar & one of the Saptarishis, the seven sages who were extruded at many places in the Vedas. According to the mythology associated with the temple, Lord Agastyar desired to construct a temple for Lord Venkateswara, i.e. Lord Vishnu at Yaganti.

Accordingly, a number of rituals were performed to establish the idol of Lord Vishnu at the explicit place selected at Yaganti but to his surprise, he found that the nail of the foot thumb finger was broken. Lord Agastya was bothered to discover this and made a sacrament to Lord Shiva to be acquainted with the reason behind the incident. Lord Shiva responded positively to his prayer and appeared before him and explained that the place bear a resemblance to Kailash and it is appropriate tobe the domicile of Lord Shiva.

Sage Agastya was enthralled and demanded Lord Shiva to dwell in this place for eternity along with Goddess Parvati. So, since then the place is called as Uma Maheswara Temple where in ‘Uma’ refers to Goddess Parvati and ‘Maheswara’ refers to Lord Shiva.

Yaganti Temple is has been constructed as per the Vaishnava traditions and it demonstrates the artistic dexterity of the ancient Vishwakarma Sthapathis.

Significance of Yaganti Temple

The deities of Yaganti Temple are Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati carved on a single stone. There is also a cave in the name of sage Agastya who performed the sacrament towards Lord Shiva. The idol of Lord Vishnu which was apparently believed to be distorted was also found in one of the caves of the temple known as Venkateswara Cave.

The Nandi also termed as Lord Nandeeswara, the ascend of Lord Shiva, present in the Yaganti temple is considered to be budding in size over the decades. As per the researchers, the rock out of which the idol of Nandi is made has a special characteristic which leads the rock to grow. Furthermore, it was also discovered that the idol of Nandi increases to about 10mm per eight years i.e., 1 inch per 20 years. The Archaeological Survey of India has conirmed that the growing of the size of the idol is due to Geological phenomena as per science.

A very significant and remarkable feature of this temple is that the Pushkarini which is the temple tank consists of sacred holy water flowing from the tank. But, the water is believed to flow from the bottom of the hill.

A very bizarre fact about the place is that crows are forbidden to fly in Yaganti. This is because when sage Agastya was meditating here, Kakusara, the king of crows distracted him from his deliberation and in rage sage Agastya spelled his curse on the crows to prevent them from his entering his premises. Likewise, Shani, the vehicle of crows also could not go through.

It is also a belief that people performed Pradakshinas, rounds around the idol of Nandi years ago. One of the pillars of the temple has been removed due to the increasing size of the idol. As per the Potuluri Veera Brahman, the Basavanna which is the idol of Nandi will come alive and bellow when Kaliyuga ends.

Yaganti Temple caves are also remarkable about the place. The following are the temple caves at Yaganti:

  • Agastya Cave: It is believed that sage Agastya performed the holy sacrament here for Lord Shiva. The shrine for Godess Parvati is also located here and one has to climb 120 steps to reach the entrance to the temple.
  • Sri Venkateswara Cave: The distorted idol of Lord Vishnu can be seen here and it is a popular belief that this idol was carved preceding the arrival of Lord Venkateswara Swamy onto Tirumala hills.
  • Sri Potuluri Veera Brahman Cave: Here, the prophet Sri Potuluri Veera Brahman spent some of his time and that’s why the cave has been named so.

Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple, Nandi: Also dissimilar to other Shiva temples, the idol of Nandi is not placed right opposite to Lord Shiva, rather it is located to the side of main Mantap. Sri Potuluri Veera Brahmendra Swamy declared in his prophecy that the idol of Nandi would come alive at the end of the Kaliyuga and would shout piercingly.

Yaganti Uma Maheswara Temple Akasha Deepam: The temple priest used to lit lamp using 4 litres of oil and 2-meter thick wick on an everyday basis. This was done in the evening on a ledge behind Veerabhadra Swamy Temple. The lamp burns from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm in an open air on the top of the hill.

What are the timings of Yaganti Temple?

Here’re are the timings of Yaganti Temple:

Darshan Timings: 6 AM to 1 PM, 3 PM to 8 PM.

The customary Poojas and rituals are performed within this time slot on an everyday basis.

Festivals celebrated at Yaganti Temple

The main festival celebrated at the Yaganti Temple is the Maha Shivratri Which is celebrated in the month of February/March. This festival is celebrated every year and a mammoth of visitors and pilgrims come from across the country and abroad to be a part of this ceremonial festival.

How to reach Yaganti Temple

  • By road: It is associated with state transport to Hyderabad, Chittoor, Tirupati, Cuddapah, Nellore, Kurnool and Chennai which is 24km from the place called Allagadda and is also connected to the rest of the major cities. Buses are also available to Yaganti from Banaganapalli twice a day i.e., at 7:00 am and 3:30 pm. One can also find buses to Banaganapalli from Cuddapah, Nandyal, Hyderabad and Kurnool.
  • By Train:  The nearest railway station to the Sri Uma Maheswara Temple is the Secunderabad Railway station which is about 7 km from the temple. Nandyal railway station which is 55 km away from the temple is the nearest railway station connected to connected to major cities like Hyderabad, Howrah, Bangalore, Goa, Machilipatnam, Vijaywada, Puri, Hubli, Vizag and Bhubaneshwar.
  • By Air: The nearest airport to Sri Uma Maheswara Temple is Rajiv Gandhi International airport, Hyderabad and it is about 12km from the temple.

It is believed that the best time to visit Yaganti is in between the months of October to March while the peak season is said to be in between the months of February to March and it generally takes half of the day to explore Yaganti.

Yaganti Temple Accommodation

There are quite a lot of hotels available in and around the Yaganti Temple. Apart from the hotels, Lodges are also available at reasonable costs with all the necessary facilities and every year pilgrims from across the world visit Yaganti on an everyday basis.

Where to Eat

Free and quality food are offered to the pilgrims on a daily basis at Annanda Hall and the timings are from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm and 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm.

Nearby Temples

There are a number of important temples located near by the Uma Maheswara/ Yaganti Temple and visitors from around the country visit these temples as well.

  • Nava Narasimha Temple: This temple is located on the upper Ahobilam at a distance of 8km from Lower Ahobilam. The supervising deity of this temple is believed to be “Svayambhu” who is worshipped as Lord Ahobila Narasimha Swamy and is also known as ‘Ugra Narasimha’ because he appears in his fierce feature.
  • Shikaresvara Temple: Located in Nallamala Hill of Srisailam, Shikaresvara Temple is atop the highest point 2830 feet termed as Shikaram. This temple is bestowed to Lord Shiva and the people residing here have the propensity to believe that Lord Shiva in this temple has great healing powers and accomplish all their wishes. The temple also consists of Garbha Griha, 16 pillared Mukhmandapam and Antaralaya.
  • Sakshi Ganapati Temple: This temple is considered as one of the most holy spots recurrented by pilgrims since time immemorial. Located at a distance of 3km from Srisailam, this temple is positioned on the main road to Sikharam. As per the legend of this temple, the Ganapathi in this temple is believed to keep habitual account of the pilgrims to tender Sakshyam which means evidence of their visit to this Kshetram and so the temple is accordingly termed as Sakshi Ganapathi.
  • Mahanandi Temple: Located in the east of Nallamala Hills near Nandyal in Kurnool district, Mahanandi temple is considered to be the living temple that abides the evidence to the harmony that depicts the Hindu way of life. Lord shiva is depicted as the Lord of Nandi, his bull vehicle. Bull is also considered to be an important aspect of the agricultural world and is also bequeathed with worship because bull here, is correlated to Lord Vishnu and his incarnations
  • Iswaraswami Temple: This is also among one of the famous temples in and around Yaganti. This temple is also most popular because of the scenic beauty and the captivating view. Devotees appear in mammoth to visit the temple on a daily basis.

Gajanan Maharaj

, 1 Comment Filed Under: Madhya Pradesh Temples Tagged With:

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.

Parli Vaijnath Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

, 45 Comments Filed Under: Jyotirlinga, Maharashtra Temples Tagged With: ,

Parli Vaijnath Temple or Parli Vaidyanath Temple is located in Parli, in the state of Maharashtra and belongs to the celebrated list of 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva. The Vaijnath Temple Linga is also popular as Dhanavantari and Amriteshwari. The Linga consists of the Saligram stone and has a very smooth surface.

Planning to visit this temple? Have look at our Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra Tour Package.

Parli Vaijnath Temple – Facts

Deity Lord Vaijnath (Lord Shiva)
Location Parli, Maharashtra
Significance Jyotirlinga
Tours 5 Jyotirlingas of Maharashtra Tour
Darshan Timings 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM
PoojasRudrabhisek
Entry FeeGeneral Darshan – Free
VIP Darshan – Rs. 150/- per person
Best Time to VisitJune to August
FestivalsShravan Maas, Mahashivratri
Nearest AirportNanded
Nearest Railway Station Parli
Jyotirlingas in
Maharashtra 		Sri Aundha Nagnath, Sri Trimbakeshwar,
Sri Grishneshwar, Sri Bhimashankar
https://youtu.be/S0gU60I5V7w
Parli Vaijnath Temple Video

Parli Vaijnath Temple is one of the 5 Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra. The other 4 Jyotirlingas are:

The 5 Jyotirlingas of Maharashtra

What are the timings of Parli Vaijnath Temple?

Parli Vaijnath temple opens at 5:00 AM in the morning and closes at 9:00 PM in the evening. The temple also performs various rituals during this time. The devotees can be a part of these rituals such as aarti and poojas.

The timings of the Parli Vaijnath Temple are as follows:

Rituals Timings
Darshan5:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Abhishek5:00 AM – 7:00 AM
Afternoon Pooja1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Bhasma Pooja3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

What is the significance of Parli Vaijnath Temple?

Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga
The Parli Vaijnath Jyotirlinga is said to be the last among all the Jyotirlingas.

People believe that since Lord Vishnu hid both the Amrit and the Dhanavantari in the Linga,  anyone who touches the Linga can receive the power of Amrit. Parli is also a meeting place of Hari Hara. Festivals of both Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva) are celebrated here.

Devotees are allowed to touch the Parli Vaijnath Linga during worshipping and this helps in healing and reaping various health benefits. In fact, devotees themselves perform the Abhisheka here and they use the Bilva leaves purchased outside the Parli Vaijnath Temple precincts.

Devotees from all walks of life, castes, and religion are welcome to visit this sacred Parli Vaijnath Temple. There is absolutely no discrimination. According to Puranas, Lord Vaidhyanath blessed sage Markandeya and he became immortal.

Rani Ahilyabai brought in special stones from the Trishul Devi mountain range for the Parli Vaijnath renovation. A minaret outside the Parli Vaijnath has special Gwakshas (windows). When the sun’s rays pass through the windows, they fall directly on the Shiva Linga. at this time, the priests offer special prayers and poojas to the Sun God.

The waters of the nearby Harihara Teerth is brought to the Parli Vaijnath daily for the Linga pooja.

What is the history of Parli Vaijnath Temple?

The history of Parli Vaijnath Temple is that it was built in the 1700s. It was renovated by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar, the Queen of the Maratha Malwa Kingdom at that time. Two very popular legends are associated with this temple. One legend talks about the Amrit and the other talks about the demon king Ravana and his quest to own Shiva.

Legend of the Amrit

Samudra Manthan
The Samudra Manthan was the churning of the Ocean of Milk and out came 14 ratnas, including Vish and Amrit.

When the Gods and Demons were churning the ocean and competing for the Divine Nectar or Amrit, fourteen gems emerged from the process. It included Dhanavantari and Amrit.

Just as the demons were about to pounce on the Amrit, Lord Vishnu grabbed both Dhanwantri and Amrit and hid them inside a Shiva Linga. The angered demons tried to break the Linga, but when they touched it bright light emanated. This scared the demons and they fled from the place.

Since this is the place where the Devas successfully received the Amrit, the village became popular as Vaijayanthi and therefore the temple as Parli Vaijnath.

Legend of Ravana and Shiva Linga

The demon King Ravana did severe penance and even cut off his heads to please Lord Shiva. Moved by his sacrifice, Lord Shiva offered several boons, and Ravana requested that Lord Shiva come to Lanka. The Lord accepted and instructed Ravana to carry his Shiva Linga and warned him not to keep it down anywhere till he reached his destination.

During the journey, Ravana wanted to take a break and instructed a shepherd to carry the Linga for a while. Unaware of the Lord’s instruction, the shepherd put the heavy Linga down for a brief moment. The Lord thus stayed there at the place and became popular as Vaidhyanath.

What are the sevas and poojas performed at Parli Vaijnath Temple?

The sevas and poojas that take place at Parli Vaijnath Temple are:

PoojaTimings
Somvar PoojaEvery Monday
Shadopachar5:00 AM
Shringar Pooja6:00 PM

What are the festivals celebrated at Parli Vaijnath Temple?

Mahashivaratri, Vaikunth Chaturdashi, Tripuri Pournima, Vijayadashami and Chaitra Padva are important festivals. There is a unique practice during these festivals – priests present Bilva leaves to Lord Vishnu, which is usually an offering to Shiva. Similarly, they offer the Tulsi leaves to Lord Shiva, which is usually an offering to Vishnu.

Some of the festivals celebrated at Parli Vaijnath are:

  • Shravan month: Shravan Maas falls on the fifth month of the Hindu calendar, starting late July and ending by the third week of August. During the Shravan Maas, the chanting of the Rudra Mantra echoes in the entire village of Parli.
  • Mahashivratri: It is the day when Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. It usually occurs in late February to early March.
  • Vijayadashami: Also known as Dussehra, this festival signifies the victory of good over evil and is celebrated after the nine days of Navratri.

How to Reach Parli Vaijnath Temple?

Here’s how to reach Parli Vaijnath:

  • Air: The nearest airport is in Nanded, 105 km from the Parli Vaijnath.
  • Train: The nearest station is Parli and is 2 km from the Parli Vaijnath. Direct trains operate from Secunderabad, Kakinada, Manmad, Vishakapatnam, and Bangalore.
  • Road: Several buses connect from Aurangabad, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and other nearby cities.

Where to stay near Parli?

There are a number of budget accommodations available at Parli where one can stay. You can also find accommodation in the state-run MTDC cottages.

Where to eat nearby?

Most of the hotels that offer accommodation also have in-house restaurants where travelers can eat. Restaurants can be found at the Parli Vaijnath temple area. Travelers usually choose to eat in Ambajogai area, which is 20 km away from the Parli Vaijnath, as one can find more restaurant options in this area.

What are some temples nearby?

Exploring Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra
There are four more Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra apart from the Parli Vaijanath Temple.

Some temples near Parli Vaijnath are:

  1. Yogeshwari Temple, Ambajogai: The Yogeshwari Temple is for Goddess Yogeshwari who married Parli Vaijnath. Puranas say that by the time the wedding party arrived at Parli, the auspicious time had passed and the entire party turned into stone. The Yogeshwari temple is 25 km from Ambajogai.
  2. Aundha Nagnath Jyotirlinga Temple: The Aundha Nagnath Temple in the village of Aundha Nagnath in Maharashtra is the first of the Jyotirlingas. The temple is 118 km from the Parli Vaidhyanath temple.  Yudhishtra, the eldest of the Pandava brothers built the temple during their exile. It is a part of the well known 5 Jyotirlinga tour in Maharashtra.
  3. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple: The Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple is near Pune and is 387 km from Parli Vaijnath. The Linga here is self-manifested and is one of the five Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra.
  4. Grisheshwar Jyotirlinga Temple: Temple is located in Verul, Beed District, Maharashtra. This temple is the last of the Jyotirlingas and for devotees who undertake the Jyotirlingas pilgrimage, a visit to this temple completes their journey. Grishneshwar temple is 246 km from Parli.
  5. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple: The Trimbakeshwar Temple is in the town of Trimbak, Nashik District, Maharashtra. The temple is 397 km from Vaijnath Temple. The Linga has three faces symbolizing Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Brahma.

Frequently Asked Questions about Parli Vaijnath Temple

Is the Parli Vaijnath Temple open throughout the year?

Yes, the Parli Vaijnath Temple is open all 365 days of the year.

What is the entry fee?

The entry to the Parli Vaijnath Temple is free of cost.

Can anyone visit the Parli Vaijnath temple?

Yes. Anyone from any caste, creed, and religion can offer their prayers at the temple.

Is there any online darshan facility available?

No. There is no facility for online darshan available.

Is there any facility for specially-abled and senior citizens?

No. There is no facility for specially-abled and senior citizens.

Which is the best time to visit the Parli Vaijnath Temple?

June to August are the months when the monsoon starts in Maharashtra. The weather is pleasant, making it an ideal time to visit the temple.

What is the weather like during the summer?

The summers at Maharashtra start from March and continues until June. The summers here can be very hot. Temperatures during the daytime often go up to 36 º C.

What are winters like in Maharashtra?

In Maharashtra, winters start in November and continue until January. The temperatures during this time range from around 20 º C to 30 º C.

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