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Bhimashankar Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

July 10, 2022, Sasidhar Darla 12 Comments Filed Under: Jyotirlinga, Maharashtra Temples Tagged With: Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra, Shiva Temples

Bhimashankar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. It is in Bhimashankar reserve, near Pune in Maharashtra. The temple is also the source of the River Bhima. A holy dip in the river is believed to wash all the sins of a person.

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

Bhimashankar Temple – Facts

Deity	Lord Bhimashankar (Lord Shiva)
Location	50 km North-West of Khed, near Pune, Maharashtra
Significance	Jyotirlinga
Tours	5 Jyotirlingas of Maharashtra Tour
Darshan Timings	4:30 AM to 9:30 PM
Poojas	Rudrabhisek, Laghurudra
Entry Fee	Free
Best Time to Visit	June to August
Festivals	Mahashivratri, Karthik Poornima, Ganesh Chaturthi
Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra	Sri Aundha Nagnath, Sri Trimbakeshwar, Sri Grishneshwar, Sri Parli Vaijnath

Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga

Bhimashankar Temple Video

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

Sri Vaidyanath (in Parli)
Sri Nageshwar (in Aundha)
Trimbakeshwar (near Nasik)
Sri Grishneshwar (near Aurangabad)

What are the timings of Bhimashankar Temple?

The temple opens at 4:30 AM in the morning and closes at 9:30 PM in the evening. The temple also performs various rituals during this time. The devotees can be a part of these rituals such as the afternoon and evening aarti.

The timings of Bhimashankar Temple are as follows:

Rituals	Timings
Darshan	4:30 AM – 9:30 PM
Morning Aarti	4:30 AM – 5:00 AM
Morning Darshan	4:30 AM – 3:15 PM
Evening Darshan	4:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Nijarupa Darshan	5:00 AM – 5:30 AM
Shringar Darshan	4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Evening Aarti	7:30 PM – 8:00 PM

What is the significance of Bhimashankar Temple?

The Linga of Lord Shiva is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. These Jyotirlingas are self-manifested forms of Lord Shiva, unlike the Lingas that are instated by humans. It is said that these Jyotirlingas are when Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light. The Bhimashankar Linga occurs at a lower level compared to the ground in the main sanctum.

The top of the Linga is divided by a narrow groove in the Linga. Each half of the Linga signifies Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The Lord appears as “Ardhanareeshwara” in the Bhimashankar temple.

According to beliefs, water flows continuously from the Linga since time immemorial.

The River Bhima is considered sacred by the people because it is believed that the river is actually the perspiration of Lord Shankara (Shiva) after he defeated the demon Tripurasura.

The Mokshakund, located behind the Bhimashankar temple is believed to be the place where the Maharishi Kaushik (also known as Brahmarishi Vishwamitra) performed penance or Tapasya to please the Gods.

The temple administration allows pilgrims to conduct Abhishekam and Poojas to the Jyotirlinga by themselves with marigold and Bilva leaves.

What is the history of Bhimashankar Temple?

The history of the original sanctum dates back to the 13th century. Various renovations were done on the complex during different time periods. According to beliefs, in the 13th century, a woodcutter named, Bhatirao Lakhadhara, discovered the Jyotirlinga when his axe hit the tree, the ground started bleeding.

The villagers gathered there and offered milk to the tree which stopped the bleeding. The people of the village built a small temple at the site and named it the Bhimashankar Temple.

Several notable figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji, Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, and Raghunath Peshwa also regularly visited the shrine and carried out poojas and renovations. The Diwan of the Peshwas, Nana Phadnavis built the Shikhar of the Bhimashankar temple.

Legend of Tripurasura

As per one legend mentioned in the Matsya Puranam and the Shiva Puranam, there were three demons by the names of Vidyunmali, Tarakaksha, and Viryavana, and together they were known as the Tripurasura. They performed Tapasya and obtained a boon from Lord Brahma. The boon was that the Gods will construct three beautiful cities, each made of gold, iron, and silver for the Asuras. All three forts together will be called Tripura. However, the prophecy said that only a single arrow can destroy the city.

Demons from all over the world came and resided at the palaces. After the initial self-enjoyment, they eventually started troubling the people of the realm. They even misbehaved with Rishis and Maharishis, terrorized the common folk and eventually challenged the Gods. Therefore, Lord Indra accompanied by other Gods went to Lord Brahma to put an end to the Tripura, but Lord Brahma could not help and asked them to request Lord Shiva. Shiva obliged and the war between the Devas and the Asuras began. He also requested the help of Goddess Parvati and both of them took the form of “Ardha-Narya-Nateshwar” and descended to the Earth.

To destroy the Tripura, Lord Shiva asked Vishwakarma to build a chariot. The chariot had special features. The Goddess Earth (Prithvi) became the chariot, Sun and Moon became the wheels, Lord Brahma became the Sarathi, Mount Meru became the bow, Serpent Vasuki was the bow-string and Lord Vishnu became the arrow. Just as the three cities aligned, Lord Shiva burned them to the ground. Then the Gods requested Lord Shiva to take rest there and make the place his home. Lord Shiva turned himself into a Linga and made the Bhimashankar mountains his home.

The Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga — It is said that Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is a form of ‘Ardhanareshwara’.

What is the architecture of the Bhimashankar Temple like?

Bhimashankar Temple Architecture — There are two big Nandi statues in the temple premises.

The Bhimashankar temple complex is small and has a simple structure with numerous sculptures depicting different Gods and Goddesses. The architecture of the temple follows the Nagara style and the Hemadpanthi style of construction. The temple consists of Garbhagriha, Sabhamandap, and the Kurmamandap.

The main door of the Bhimashankar temple is made of solid wood with figures of several gods and goddesses. A huge bell is there at the entrance of the temple. Chimaji Appa, brother of Bajirao Peshwa I gifted this bell. Two large Nandis are also there in the Temple. The one in front of the sanctum is very old and the other one is new. One can also visit the shrines of Lord Shani, Nandi, Lord Ram, and Dutta.

What are the festivals celebrated at Bhimashankar Temple?

Some of the festivals celebrated at Bhimshankar Temple are:

Mahashivaratri: A huge fair is organized for five days in late February or early March as a mark of their respect for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is believed that Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati on this day. The day is famous for rigorous poojas, bhajans, and abhishekams. Thousands of people descend on the small town to visit the glorious festival. Pradosham is also said to be celebrated here.
Karthik Poornima: The day falls anytime in-between November or December. On this day, Lord Shiva actually destroyed the demon kingdom of Tripura in all three realms.
Ganesh Chaturthi: The festival comes in August or September with great enthusiasm and cheers. This is the birthday of Lord Ganesha, son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Deepawali: The festival comes in October – November. People decorate the whole temple with Deepams (lamps) and priests perform special poojas for Lord Shiva throughout the day.

What are the Sevas and Poojas performed at Bhimashankar Temple?

The sevas and poojas that take place at Bhimashankar Temple are:

Rudrabhishek: The pooja is for Lord Shiva who the devotees worship as fire or Rudra. The pooja wipes out all sins and purifies the atmosphere. It also removes all sorts of planetary related ill-occurrences. Mondays of the month, as well as the Pradosham days, are ideal for performing the pooja.
Laghurudra Pooja: This Abhishek is done to resolve issues related to health and wealth. It also removes the bad effects of planets in the horoscope.

Devotees can perform the Rudrabhishekam and Mahapooja on every Monday, every Amavasya, every Pradosham day, and in the month of Shravan at a reasonable price.

The yearly poojas or sevas include:

Prati Somvar
Prati Pradosh
Prati Shivaratri
Prati Amavasya
Mahashivaratri

Besides the above poojas, a Shashvat Pooja can also be performed at the temple. One can perform these poojas for 1 day every year for a period of 20 years. The poojas are:

Rudrabhishek
Mahapuja
Mahapuja with Mahanaivedyam
Laghurudra
Shravan Somvar and Mahashivaratri
Laghurudra with Brahman Bhojan.

How to reach Bhimashankar Temple?

Here’s how to reach Bhimshankar temple:

Air: The nearest airport is Pune Airport.
Train: The nearest railway station is Pune, 120 km away from the temple.
Road: Regular buses are available from Pune from 5:30 AM to 4 PM. A bus also from Kalyan starts at 9 AM and one from Ghatkopar or Kurla at 11 AM

Where to stay nearby?

Limited options are available for staying near the Bhimashankar temple. The temple administration runs a guesthouse named Jeevan Guest House that provides the basic facilities. However, nearby towns have options like the Blue Mormon Jungle Holiday Resort, Ecogreens Sankalp Farms, and Holiday Maiyaan Karjat.

Where to eat nearby?

Several small restaurants are present near the temple premises such as Shivshakti and Shankar Vishranti where the visitors can eat. The cuisine available is a mix of both North Indian and South Indian food items. Moreover, the food items available here are primarily vegetarian.

There are four more Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra apart from the Bhimashankar Temple.

What are some temples near Bhimshankar Temple?

Some of the temples near Bhimshankar temple are:

Gupt Bhimashankar: A small trekking path from the Bhimashankar temple will lead you to the place of discovery of the Jyotirlinga. The Linga is on the banks of a waterfall and has greenery around.
Sakshi Ganapati Temple: The temple is 2 km away from the Bhimashankar temple. The Ganapati here is “Sakshi” because he is the witness to the visit of the pilgrims to the Jyotirlinga. He keeps the attendance of whoever visits the Bhimashankar shrine. The pilgrims visit the temple to show their respects to the Lord Ganapati and Lord Shiva.
Kamalaja Devi Temple: The temple is for Goddess Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva. She helped the Lord in his battle against the demons. Also, She sits on a lotus in this temple.

Some other famous temples in Maharashtra are:

Ozar Ganapati Temple: It is a Ganesha Vinayak temple. The idol form worshipped here is called Vigneshwara. It is associated with the legend of Ganesha defeating Vignasura, the demon of obstacles. The temple is one of the Ashtavinayak Temples, the eight holy shrines of Ganesha in Maharashtra, India.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bhimshankar Temple

Is the Bhimshankar Temple open throughout the year?

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

What is the entry fee?

The entry to the Bhimashankar Temple is free of cost.

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?

Yes. There is are palki services available for the specially-abled and senior citizens.

Which is the best time to visit the Bhimashankar 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 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.

Thiruvenkadu

August 19, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 5 Comments Filed Under: Tamil Nadu Temples Tagged With: Navagraha Temples, Shiva Temples

Thiruvenkadu (Adhi Chidambaram) is in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the nine Navagraha temples in South India. The presiding deity here is Lord Shiva, famous as Venkaatunadar and Sri Swetaranyeswarar. His consort(Ambal) is Bhrama Vidya Nayaki. Nataraja’s dance here also popular as Hasti Natanam.

What is the history of Thiruvenkadu?

There is a legend that associates with the history of Thiruvenkadu. A demon Maruthuvan, received boons from Brahma and then tortured devas. The Devas went to Shiva for freedom from the demon. The Lord advised the Devas to go to Thiruvengadu and live there in disguise.

Shiva also sent his vehicle Nandhi and defeated the demon. The demon injured Nandhi with his trident.

Lord Shiva converted his anger into the Agoramurthy form. On seeing the Lord, the demon surrendered at his feet and begged his pardon. He also prayed that those worshiping Agoramurthy would not have enemies at all.

Achuthagapanar bathed in the three tanks, worshiped Thiruvengadar and hence, the lord blessed him with a child. This child came to be known as Meikandar and became the chief of Santhana Kuravars.

Vedarasi, a brahmin had placed his bundle of food in the hollow of a tree. A snake residing in the hollow spewed poison on the food.

Unaware of this, Vedarasi gave this food to a vedic priest, who died of the poison. This brahmin was absolved of his Brahmahathi Dhosham by worshipping Lord Siva of Thiruvengadu.

The legend continues:

When Thirugnanasambandar reached the borders of Thiruvengadu, the whole place looked like Sivaloka and the sands Sivalingas.He hesitated to place his legs on this holy land and cried Oh! Mother. On hearing his voice, Goddess Periyanayaki appeared there and took the child on her laps. Moreover, the idol of Periyanayaki with Thirugnanasambandar is majestically present in the temple.

Thiruvengadar, the son of Sivanesan and Gnanambigai, with the blessings of a Siva Muni received Siva Ditchai and a Siva Linga and hence became famous as Pattinathu Adigal.Indra having killed Virudhasuran, worshiped Lord Thiruvengadar and was absolved of his sins.

Also, Sage Durvasar gifted a mala to Indra. However, Indra in his vanity threw it on his white elephant Iravadam which stamped the mala under its feet. Durvasar cursed Indra. Afterwards, Indra realizing his folly formed a tank -Thadagam in Thiruvengadu and worshipped a Siva Linga. Lord Siva blessed him and he reached Indraloka again.

Suwedakedu on realizing that he was to die in his eighth year reached Thiruvengadu and performed Siva pooja. As soon as he saw Yama, he held on to the Siva Linga tightly. Yama on seeing Thiruvengadar, ran away in fear.

What is the significance of the Thiruvenkadu Temple?

Here’s the significance of Thiruvenkadu Temple:

Lord Shiva possesses three eyes – Chandra, Surya and Agni. Since the eyes bless the tanks, the Theertham(tanks) are also famous as Soma Theertham ,Surya Theertham and Agni Theeertham. Bathing in these tanks and worshipping the Lord here for one “mandalam” (45 days) is also relieves couples from problems in relation with childbirth.

One of the three deities is Aghoramurthy or Aghora Veerabhadramurthy the most fierce among the five representations of Lord Shiva. There are also several shrines of significance including those to Ma Durga and Ma Kali. The saints Appar,Sundarar,Sambandhar and Manikavasagar have sung in praise of this temple.

Further, those who visit Thiruvengadu will find relief from puthira dosham, poor studies, mental instability, nervous disorders. Knowledge, music, astrology, maths, sculpting, medicine, language skills are the beneficial aspects of Budan.

What are the timings of Thiruvenkadu Temple Temple?

Here are the timings of Thiruvenkadu Temple:

Timings	From	To
Morning Darshan	6 AM	12 PM
Evening Darshan	5.30 PM	9.30 PM

What are the festivals celebrated at the Thiruvenkadu Temple?

Some of the festivals celebrated at the Thiruvenkadu Temple are:

Indira Festival: The Indra Jatra festival honours the recently deceased and pays homage to Indra and Dagini for the coming harvests.
Gokulashtami: Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna is celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm in India in the month of July or August. All over India this day also includes devotional songs and dances, pujas, arti, blowing of the Conch and rocking the cradle of baby Sri Krishna.
Ganesh Chaturthi: Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is one of the important Hindu festivals celebrated throughout India with a great devotion. This day is the birthday of Lord Ganesh, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Purattasi Viratham: Purattasi is an important Tamil month like Aadi, while Aadi month is for Amman Puratasi is for Perumal. Further, Lord Vishnu devotees consider Purattasi as the ideal month for thanking Lord Vishnu for preserving the Universe at the end of Kali Yuga. Hence, the devotees gather in large number at Lord Vishnu temples and offer special prayers.
Skanda Shashti: Skanda Sashti is a six-day South Indian festival to Skanda, the Lord of Religious Striving, also known as Murugan or Karttikeya. It begins on the day after the new moon in the month of Karttika (October/November) with chariot processions and pujas invoking his protection and grace.
Pongal: Pongal is a harvest festival, celebrated by the people belonging to Hindu faith. On this occasion, people thank the Sun God for abundant agricultural crops. The festival is most popular in the state of Tamil Nadu. Pongal celebrations take place from January 13 to 16 every year.

How to reach Thiruvenkadu Temple?

Here’s how to reach Thiruvenkadu Temple:

Air: The Trichy International airport is the nearest airport, 8 km away from Tanjavur. Bangalore and Chennai airports are also nearby.
Road: Buses are available from Sirkali and Mayiladuthurai.
Rail: Trichy Junction is nearby, 58 km from Thanjavur. Regular trains are also available from Trichy to Chennai and Madurai.

Where to stay near Thiruvenkadu Temple?

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

PAMS Contact: 30/B Town Extension Road, Mayiladuthurai, Tamil Nadu 609001
Hotel Sadhabishegam Contact: 6/18A, Sannathi Street, Thirukadaiyur, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu 609311
Seahorse Hotel Contact: Opp Police Reserved Camp, Public Office Rd, Kadambadi, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu 611001
Hotel VPN Residency Contact: Main Road, Maha Kulam Stop, Velankanni, Tamil Nadu 611111
Grand Neyatt Hotel Contact: Manara North Street, Nagore, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu 611002
Nagore Residency Contact: Kalmatu St, Nagore, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu 611002

Where to eat near Thiruvenkadu Temple?

Some of the places where one can eat near Thiruvenkadu Temple are:

Murga Restaurant Contact: Nagapattinam District, Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu
Thiru Valluar Restaurant Contact: Nagapattinam District, Velankanni, Tamil Nadu
Alfa Restaurant Contact: Nagapattinam District, Velankanni, Tamil Nadu
Hotel Seagate Family Restaurant Contact: Nagapattinam District, Velankanni, Tamil Nadu

What are some temples near Thiruvenkadu Temple?

Some of the temples near Thiruvenkadu Temple are:

Sri Suvedharanyeswarar Swami Temple: Swetharanyeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located in the town of Thiruvengadu near Sirkazhi. The main deity is Shiva – Swetharanyeswarar (lord of white forest) while the goddess is Brahma Vidya ambal. There is a separate Sannidhi for Bhudhan (mercury).

Sri Mullaivananathar temple: This is an ancient Siva temple about 20 kms East of Thanjavur dedicated to Sri Mullaivananathar as well as Sri Karparakshambigai. Moreover, it is a huge temple that spreads over a wide expanse with imposing Gopurams and a tank in front of it. Devotees also believe that childless people who worship here with devotion and faith get the blessing of pregnancy and pregnant women of safe deliveries. Unmarried women also pray here for their marriages.

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Sheetla Mata Mandir Gurgaon Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

July 6, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 11 Comments Filed Under: Delhi Temples Tagged With: Other Temples

Sheetla Mata Mandir Gurgaon is a major Hindu pilgrimage. Lots of pilgrims come here every day to offer prayer and seek blessings from the Goddess. This temple is located in Gurgaon, Haryana. Sheetala Devi is a Goddess which is being worshipped by people of different parts. People from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, North India, West Bengal worship her. She is better known as pox-goddess. She is also known as Goddess of ghouls, sores, pustules and various other diseases.

This temple is situated near a pond at Gurgaon village. Sheetala Devi Mandir is located in the suburb of Guru Dronacharya’s birth place in the state of Haryana. There is a large crowd of devotees throughout the year except during the month Shravana (July-August). During the month of Chaitra (March-April), this place looks like another Kumbh-Mela. There is a large crowd of pilgrims on Mondays of this month.

Sheetla Mata Mandir Gurgaon History

There are many stories behind this Sheetla Mata Mandir Gurgaon. One such story is that Goddess Durga has incarnated as little Katyayani. Katyayani was the daughter of the sage who all these demons who were destroying the earth with their evil and wicked power. Sheetala Devi in her real form as Goddess Durga killed the demons that were sent by Kaalkeya.
The demon of fever, Jwarasur, started spreading an incurable disease to all the childhood friends of Katyayani. He spread diseases like cholera, dysentery, measles, smallpox etc. It was Katyayani who cured some of her friends but to relieve the world from all sorts of fever and disease, she took the form of Goddess Sheetala.
Each of her four hand had something or the other to protect the world from fever and destroy the demon. Her hands held a short broom, winnowing fan, jar of cooling water and a cup. With her power, Sheetala Devi cured all the diseased children.
After all the children were cured, Katyayani asked her friend Batuk to go out and face the demon of fever, Jwarasur. The battle happened between the young Batuk and Jwarasur, resulting the death of young Batuk. Batuk, lying on the ground, started disappearing and magically faded into dust.
On seeing Batuk disappeared, Jwarasur became shocked and started wondering where he went. Little did Jwarasur know, Batuk assumed the form of an aweful male figure. This person had three eyes, four arms and a garland of skulls. He had axe, sword, Trishool and demon head. He was black in color. His eyes were blazing with fury, and his hair flowing. He was wearing tiger skin. Batuk took the ferocious form of Lord Shiva, Bhairav.
Bhairav informs the demon of fever that he is the servant of Goddess Durga. They had a long discussion which later converted into battle. During the battle, Jwarasur created many demons but Lord Shiva managed to kill everyone. At the end, Bhairav started wrestling with Jwarasur and end up killing him with his Trident.

Significance of Sheetla Mata Mandir Gurgaon

Sheetala is a sanskrit term which means ‘one who cools’. This Goddess have the various name and is worshipped by these different names in the subcontinent.
Hindus, Buddhists and people from tribal communities worship Goddess Sheetala. Goddess Sheetala is often referred to as Maa by her devotees.
Goddess Sheetala has been clearly mentioned in Tantric and Puranic literature. Her appearence in the vernacular text has strengthened her status.
Goddess Sheetala is majorly famous in North India. In many places, she is often identified as one of the forms of Goddess Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva.
Shitala is known as the seasonal goddess and with honorific titles such as Thakurani, Jagrani, Karunamayi, Mangala, Bhagavati, Dayamayi. In South India, Goddess Sheetala’s role is taken by the Goddess Mariamman, who is worshipped by Dravidian-speaking people.

Sheetla Mata Mandir Gurgaon Timings

Sheetla Mata Mandir Gurgaon is open for darshan from 6 am to 8 pm.

The Puja of Sheetla Temple is conducted by both, Brahmins and low caste Pujaris. Goddess Sheetla is mainly worshipped in the dry seasons of winter and spring. There are many arti sangrah and stuties for the puja of Goddess Shitala. These arti sangrah and stuties include shri shitla mata chalisa, Shitala Maa ki Arti, Shri Shitala mata ashtak, etc.

Festivals celebrated in Sheetla Mata Mandir Gurgaon

Sheetala Ashtami– this festival is very much popular among Hindu and is dedicated to Goddess Sheetala. This festival is also known as Basoda Puja. It is celebrated on the eighth day of the Krishna during the Hindu month of ‘Chaitra’. It corresponds to the month of mid-March to April in the Gregorian calendar. Sheetala Ashtami is celebrated Holi, generally after eight days. But in some communities, it is celebratedon the first Thursday or Monday that comes after Holi. Also in some districts, Sheetala Ashtami is observed on the ‘ashtami’ of the Krishna Paksha, every month, but of all these, the Chaitra Krishna Paksha Ashtami is considered most propitious.

The celebrations of Sheetala Ashtami are very famous in the north Indian states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh. In the Indian state of Rajasthan, the Sheetala Ashtami festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm. A huge fair is organized for this occasion and several musical events and programmes are also staged. Devotees celebrate this festival with immense joy and devotion. It is believed that by keeping the vrat on this chosen day, they will be prevented from several deadly diseases. On the day of Sheetala Ashtami according to the traditions, the families do not lit the fire for the purpose of cooking. They, therefore, prepare food a day in advance and consume the stale food on an actual day. It is only in Sheetala Ashtami that there is the unique custom of offering stale food to Goddess Sheetala.

Devotees get up early, before sunrise and take a bath. They visit the Sheetala Devi temple and worship the Goddess with ‘haldi’ and ‘bajra’. After performing the puja rituals they listen to the ‘Basoda Vrat Katha’. ‘Rabri’, ‘curd’ and other essential offerings are then made to Goddess Sheetala. People also take blessings from their elders. After offering the prepared food to the Goddess, rest of the food is eaten all day long as Prasad and is known as ‘Basoda’ in the local language. The food is also distributed among other devotees and also given to the poor and needy people. On this day reading ‘Sheetalashtak’ is also considered favourable.

How to Reach Sheetla Mata Mandir Gurgaon : Road, Rail, and Air

By Air: The nearest airport to Sheetala Mata Mandir Gurgaon is Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.
By Road: The state transport buses connect Gurgaon to neighboring cities within the state and in neighboring states.
By Rail: Nearest big Railway Stations are New Delhi Railway Station & Nizamudin Railway Station.

Where to stay in Gurgaon?

There are various places where one can live. There are various hotels and private organizations which provide dwelling places for the tourists. There are many hotels who provide proper hygiene, clean food, and wifi for they customers. These hotels are built keeping the needs and budget in mind. These hotels have a clean and hygienic environment. Tourists are treated very well by the hotel staffs as well.

These hotels and private organizations donot charge high keeping the budget and the needs of the customers. They provide a very pleasant environment and stay for the tourist. They provide clean and healthy home-made food for the tourist. Nowadays, all the hotels provide tourists with wifi facility so that they can enjoy their stay more and remain connected to the whole world.

Where to eat?

The Sheetla Mata Mandir Gurgaon Temple provides food to its devotees. They are free of cost and all the expenses incurred are borne by the Trustees. Once the daily Puja is over, devotees are allowed to move for food. These food are made in a very hygienic condition maintaining the dignity of the Temple. The food includes three main courses and is given in plenty. All the expenses incurred are borne by the temple trust.

Apart from the prasad provided in the temple, one can also have food from hotels outside the campus. These hotels provide clean and hygienic food. There are various other places to eat food. There are many hotels and cafe which provide food keeping the taste and needs of the devotees. They cost very nominal keeping the needs and budget of the tourists.

Places to visit nearby

Sitaram Mandir– A partly-in-ruins temple in Gurgaon, Sitaram Mandir, as the name suggests is dedicated to Lord Ram and his consort, Sita. Located in Farrukhnagar area of the place, this temple is one of the places of worship for the Hindus. One of the most distinct aspects of the temple is its architectural style. The temple is a three-dome structure and resembles a mosque. Another unique fact is that though Sitaram Mandir is a temple that looks like a mosque, it also serves the function of a gurudwara. Farrukhnagar is near Savera Group of Institutions and can be reached by hiring a cab or an auto-rickshaw.

Udupi Krishna Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

February 1, 2024, Sasidhar Darla 8 Comments Filed Under: Karnataka Temples Tagged With: Krishna Temples, Mukti Sthala

Udupi Krishna Temple (one of the Seven Mukti Sthalas of Karnataka), dedicated to Lord Krishna is in the town of Udupi, Karnataka. The temple complex is also a Matha where the priests live and perform their daily duties. Vaishnavite Saint Madhwacharya, somewhere during the 13th century constructed the temple.

What are the timings of Udupi Krishna Temple?

Udupi Krishna temple can be visited from 5 am till 11 am in the morning and then from 5 pm till 9 pm. However, the timings change during festivals and other special occasions. Here are the timings of Udupi Krishna Temple:

Ritual	Timings
Temple opening hours	4:30 am
Nirmalya Visarjana Puja	4:50 am
Ushakala Puja	6 am
Akshya patra-Gopuja	6:15 am
Vishwaroopa Darshana	6:20 am
Panchamritabhisheka	6:30 am
Udvartana Puja	7:00 am
Kalasha Puja	7:30 am
Teertha Puja	7:40 am
Alankara Puja	8:30 am
Avasara Sanakadi Puja	10:30 am
Mahapuja	11:00 am
Chamara Seva	7:00 pm
Ratripuja	7:30 pm
Rangapuja	7:40 pm
Utsava	8:00 pm
Thottilu Puja	8:30 pm
Kolalu Seva	8:40 pm
Ekanta Seva	8:50 pm

Food being served at Udupi Krishna Temple

What is the significance of Udupi Krishna Temple?

The significance of Udupi Krishna Temple is that it is one of the seven Mukti Sthalas of Karnataka. The other six are Kollur, Subramanya, Kumbhashi, Kodeshwara, Sankaranarayana, and Gokarna. These places are together the Parashurama Kshetras. Devotees believe that these Temples were built on land of Parashurama from the sea.

The actual darshan of the Lord is through a grilled window known as the Navagraha Kitiki or as the Kanakana Kindi (Kanaka’s window). The window has nine squares, each dedicated to the nine planets. Also, the window is covered on all sides with silver plating with carvings depicting the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu.

The main idol of Lord Krishna shows him as a small boy holding a churning rod on the right hand and rope on the left hand. This representation of Lord Krishna can be seen nowhere in India but Udupi.

LORD KRISHNA OF UDUPI

The murti of Lord Krishna is unique and vibrant

The lamps that are kept near the main idol of Lord Krishna were first lighted by Sri Madhawacharya in the 13th century and are still kept burning.

The idols of Lord Mukhyapradana (Anjaneya or Hanuman) and Garuda kept in the Udupi Krishna Temple in their respective shrines were brought here from Ayodhya and installed.

It is believed that Chandra (The Moon God) did penance in Udupi to release him from the curse of Daksha Prajapati. Lord Shiva was impressed by his devotion and relieved him of the curse of Daksha.

A small shrine for Goddess Bhagirathi (Ganga) is in the southwest corner of the Madhava Sarovar. When the young Madhwacharya could not visit Badrinath, River Ganga herself flowed south to the Temple and gave him a darshan. A white stream of water emerged from the South West corner. Therefore a shrine of River Ganga was eventually built.

It is not closed in the afternoon. The holy trip to Udupi Krishna Temple is complete after visiting the Anatheshwara Temple and the Chandramouleeshwara temple before visiting the Udupi Krishna Temple. Aarti and Archana items are available in shops near the main entrance.

Devotees worship the idol of Lord Krishna in the form of a small boy. They believe that Saint Madhwacharya anointed his eight disciples to take care of the functioning of the Temple and to propagate his philosophy and studies.

These eight disciples created their own Matha and presently rotate their responsibilities every two years. The eight Mathas that run the Temple Administration are Palimar Mutt, Krishna Mutt, Kaniyour Mutt, Sode Mutt, Puttige Mutt, Admar Mutt, Shirur Mutt, and Pejawar Mutt.

The Udupi Krishna Temple complex resembles an Ashram with a huge Tank or Sarovar popular as the Madhav Sarovar. The main temple has a Mandap and the Garbhagriha. The main door of the sanctum is not open and visitors can view God only trough a meshed window that contains figures of Avatars of Lord Vishnu. Smaller shrines for Lord Hanuman famous here as Lord Mukhyaprana, Garuda and to Saint Madhwacharya are also there.

What is the history of Udupi Krishna Temple?

According to history, a popular legend is associated with Udupi Krishna Temple. An ardent devotee of Lord Krishna by the name of Kanaka Dasa arrived in Udupi in the early 16th century. As per ancient scriptures, Udupi was popular as Sivalli or as Rajathapeetapuram.

The place was pious even before the construction of the Krishna Temple due to the existence of the Anantheshwara Temple and the Chandramouleeshwara Temple.

The story of how the Udupi Krishna Temple came into existence is a very interesting one. There is a description of the events in the Madhava Vijaya, a biography of the Saint Madhwacharya and in a seventeenth century work by Sri Raghuvarya Thirtha.

As per Sri Raghuvarya Thirtha, Lord Krishna’s birth mother Devaki often complained to the Lord about being unable to witness the childhood of her beloved son Krishna. She wished that Lord make her happy and fortunate like mother Yashoda. Lord Krishna assumed the form of a small boy and played with Devaki. When churning butter, Krishna broke the churn and ate the lumps of butter.

He also snatched the churning rope from Devaki and started playing with it. Rukmini Devi, Wife of Krishna wanted to preserve the memory and had an idol made depicting Lord Krishna holding a churning rod and rope. She worshiped the idol regularly. After Lord Krishna departed to heaven, Arjuna moved the idol to Rukminivana and worshiped it with Chandana. With passage of time, a thick layer of clay deposited on the idol until the merchants boarded it into a vessel mistaking it for a ballast.

What is the dress code for Udupi Krishna Temple?

The male devotees should not wear shirts and vests inside the Udupi Krishna Temple complex. Also, they should avoid short pants and the Bermudas. We also request female devotees to dress traditional ethnic wear.

What are the poojas and rituals performed at Udupi Krishna Temple?

A sequence of fourteen Poojas is performed for the deity every day. They are:

Nirmalya Visarjana

The priest performs the Pooja at 5:30 AM every morning. In addition, he removes the decorations, ornaments, apparels and flowers offered to the God on the previous day. Then he bathes the idol. Finally he offers Naivedyam made from Tulasi, Bengal gram, Curd, Puffed Rice, jaggery, Ginger and coconut, Betel leaves and Ghee.

Ushakala Pooja

First of all the priest performs the Abhishekam of the deity at 6 am with the holy water stored in silver vessels. Then he conducts Eight Aartis and offers Sandal paste, Tulasi, Rice, Milk, Curd, coconut, Banana, and Betel Leaves.

Akshaya Patra and co – Pooja

The priest performs the Seva at 6:15 AM. He then worships a cow selected from the Cowshed. Then he distributes Rice and Jaggery to the cows.

Panchamrita Pooja

The Pooja starts at 6:30 AM. Both the idols of Lord Krishna and Lord Mukhyaprana are worshiped with the Panchamrit. After removing the sandal paste and flowers, in the Surya Saale of the Temple, the priest showers the idol with Gold coins. Then he bathes Lord Krishna with Ghee, Milk, Honey, Curd and Sugar. Finally, he offers 32 tender coconuts to the deity along with the Bananas.

Udvartana Pooja

The Pooja starts at 7 AM. The priest bathes the idol in perfumed water. Then, he offers tender coconuts, milk and butter and finally raises the Aarti.

Kalasha Pooja

The ritual occurs at 7:30 AM. The priest keeps gold Kalasas in front of the idol and performs pooja. Then, he offers cooked rice to the God which he later offers to Garuda. After the offering, the priest disperses the cooked rice into the Madhava Sarovar as feed for the Fishes.

Theertha Pooja

The Pooja takes place at 7:40 AM. First of all, the priest uses the holy water from the gold vessel for the main Abhishek. Then he dries the idol with a clean piece of cloth and decorates it with Tulasi garlands, flowers, and Sandal paste. Finally, he gives the holy water from this Abhishek as Theertham to the devotees. Hence this puja is known as The Theertha Pooja.

Alankara Pooja

The Pooja takes place at 8:30 AM. The priest decorates the idol with Gold ornaments and Silk clothing. Then he offers Tulasi garlands to the God. Finally he offers Rice, Sweets, Milk, Curds, Coconuts, Bananas and Betel leaves to the God amidst the singing of hymns and songs by the Matha musicians.

Avasara Pooja

The priest performs an Aarti to the God after offering Rice and Coconuts. This Pooja happens at 10:30 AM.

Maha Pooja

This Pooja is the most important Pooja of the day and the head of the Matha himself performs it at 11 AM. He offers rice, Tulasi, and sandal paste to the God amidst the chantings of Vishnu Ssahasranama, Krishna Stotra, and Brahma Stotra.

The Naivedya articles such as pots of cooked rice, sweets, and eatables, payasam, panchakajjaya, coconuts, plantains, betel leaves etc. are placed before the God. The priest comes out of the Sanctum and closes the door. Devotees believe that Madhwacharya himself makes the offerings to the God. After some time, the priests return and perform Aartis. Finally after firing two country Guns, signaling the occurrence of the Pooja, the people of the Town begin eating their meal.

Sri Mukhyaprana Pooja

The Naivedyams offered to Sri Krishna during the Maha puja are offered again to Sri Mukhyaprana. The Priest then performs the Aarti.

Sri Madhwacharya Pooja

The same Naivedyam is then offered to Sri Madhwacharya.

Simhasana Pooja

The Simhasana is offered the Naivedyam.

Pradakshina Namaskara

The priest goes around the idol four times and then proceeds to the Madhav Sarovar where he worships Goddess Bhagirathi. He dispers the offerings in the Sarovar. Then he proceeds to the Vrindavana and then to the Cowshed where he feeds the Cows. Afterwards he returns to the Simhasana where he distributes the Theertham to other priests and devotees. Finally he proceeds to the dining hall.

Chamara Seva

This Pooja takes place at 7 PM. Pooja is offered to sacred books and the Vigraha. Kirtans and bhajans are sung by the Udupi Krishna Temple musicians. Two huge baskets of puffed rice and Jaggery are offered to the God and an Aarti is raised.

Ratri Pooja

The usual Naivedyam consisting of pots of cooked rice, ghee, jaggery, tender coconut and milk is offered. Aarti is raised on this occasion as the music and chanting of hymns continues. This Pooja occurs at 7:30 PM.

Ranga Pooja

This service to God happens at 7:40 PM. The priest spreads four pots of Panchakajjaya on Banana leaves in a line in front of Sri Mukyaprana. Then he lights rows of lamps on either side and performs an Aarti. The devotees take the Utsava Murthi around the Matha and make offerings. The also recite songs and kirtans.

Ekantha Seva

This Pooja happens at 8:50 PM. The Utsava murti is laid down on a golden cradle. Aarti is raised and lullabies are sung. The blowing of a Conch indicates the end of rituals for the day.

Besides these daily rituals, as a devotee, a number of Sevas can be offered to the God. Some of them are Akhanda Saptotsava, Laksha Deepotsava, Maha Puja Rathotsava, Sarva Seva, Annadanam, Ksheera Abhishek, Nanda Deepa, Godaana, Sahasranamarchana, Ashtotta Archana, Karpoora Mangal Aarti and Vaayustuti Parayana.

What are the festivals celebrated at the Temple?

Some of the festivals celebrated at Udupi Krishna Temple are:

The Saptosava

Devotees celebrate the unique festival in the Udupi Krishna Temple in a grand manner for a period of seven days. The festival begins five days before the Makara Sankranama or Makara Sankranthi in January. During the first five days of the festival, they place the idols of Lord Krishna and Lord Mukhyaprana on the Garuda ratha and idols of Lord Anantheshwara and Chandreshwara on the Mahapuja ratha. Then they take the two Rathas around the town.

Rathotsava

Ratho Utsava beiing celebrated at Udupi Krishna Temple

With great gallore and glory, the Rathoutsava gets celebrated at Udupi

On the day of Makara Sankranthi, the sixth day, the priests place Utsava Murthis of Lord Krishna and Lord Mukhyaprana in a golden palanquin and take them to the Madhava Sarovar. There they place them in a decorated float and take them around the Sarovar. This Utsava is the Teppotsava. Devotees believe that Sri Madhwacharya installed the idol of Lord Krishna in the sanctum on the day of Makara Sankranthi.

Afterwards the priests take the idols of Lord Krishna, Lord Mukhyaprana, Lord Anantheshwara and Lord Chandreshwara to the three chariots. Then they place the idol of Lord Krishna on the main beautifully decorated Brahma Ratha. They place the idol of Lord Mukhyaprana in the Garuda Ratha and the idols of Chandreshwara and Anantheshwara in the Mahapuja Ratha.

Thousands of devotees pull the three chariots chanting the names of the Lord. After the Rathas reach the Temple, the priests take the idols to the Vasantha Mahal where they place the God in a cradle and perform the Pooja for him. After the Poojas, they take the idols to the sanctum where the Flute Seva and Ekantha Seva takes place signaling the end of the day.

Churnotsava

On the last day, after the Mahapuja, the devotees bring Utsava Murthis of Lord Krishna and Lord Mukhyaprayana in a gold palanquin to the main chariot named Brahma Ratha. The priests perform Mangala Aarti for the Lords and then offers sweets and fruits.

One should observe that during this ritual; a Garuda always revolves around the chariot from above. Then the chariots go around the Ratha street and then to the Madhava Sarovar. After that, the priests bathe the Lord. Then all the priests and people take a dip in the Sarovar. The unique feature is that the priests offer flowers smeared with a gold paste to the Lord and then disperse them into the crowd. Hence, the name of the occasion became Churnotsava.

Shri Krishna Jayanti

The auspicious day occurs in August – September. The devotees and the priests observe a complete fast for the entire day. On the next day morning, a large number of guests are fed with special offerings like milk sweets.

A clay image of Sri Krishna is taken around the town in a Ratha and the Handi ceremony is celebrated with great energy. Handi is the process of breaking clay pots that hang between buildings and poles. Devotees take out a parade in which people dress as animals, masked figures and entertain the crowd. Then they submerge the idol in the Madhava Sarovar signaling the end of the celebrations.

Mesha Sankranti

The Hindu New Year usually falls in the month of April. The festival is popular Vishu (Kerala), Puthandu (Tamil), Baisakhi (Punjab), and Bihu (Assam) and devotees celebrate it by taking out a Ratha Yatra of Lord Krishna and then doing a Pooja in a cradle.

Vasantotsava

The day marks the beginning of the spring season and usually celebrated in March – April. The special Pooja and Prasadam take place for two months during the period. A Ratha Yatra for the God takes place every night starting from the day of Akshaya Tritiya and ending on the Vaisakha Poornima in May.

Sri Madhava Navami

Devotees believe that this is the day on which Saint Madhwacharya disappeared from mortal sight. Special Poojas take place for the Saint at the Anathasana Temple. People also believe that he is still present as a holy spirit. The mass feeding of Brahmins, as well as recitation of the Madhwavijaya (biography of Madhwacharya), takes place.

Holi Kamadahana

The auspicious and festive day of Holi occurs in March. On this day, a procession of Lord Krishna starts from the Temple till Kadiyali and back. An effigy of Lord Kamadeva (God of Love) is burnt in accordance of the mythological tale where he sacrifices himself so that Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati fall in love after the death of Goddess Sati, the first wife of Lord Shiva.

Devotees smear themselves with colored water and paste and revel in the festival. Devotees also believe that Holi was Lord Krishna’s favorite festival and they celebrate it with enthusiasm, especially in Mathura and Dwarka. (Learn more about Dwarka Somnath Tour Package)

Besides the above festivals devotees celebrate Ram Navami, Narasimha Jayanti, Bhagirathi Jayanti, Chaturmasa, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navaratri, Deepavali, Subramanya Shashti, and Gurusamaradhana with great spiritual significance and fervor.

The Tulasi Vrindavana Festival – In the month of Karthik (November – December), the priest decorates and worships a sacred Tulasi plant and a lamp post in the North of the Temple by singing holy songs and recitals for a period of twelve days.

Janmasthami at Udupi Krishna Temple

How to reach Udupi Krishna Temple?

Here’s how to reach Udupi Krishna Temple:

Air – Nearest airport is Mangalore International Airport 59 km away from the town.
Train – Udupi is an important railway station in the Konkan Railway route. Trains are available from cities like Mumbai, Jaipur, Bengaluru, Gokarna, Murudeshwar, Kohlapur, Trivandrum and Madgaon.
Road – KSRTC operated regular buses from Bengaluru, Mangalore, and Mysore.

Where to stay nearby?

The holy town of Udupi is bustling with small hotels and lodges that offer the devotees a decent option to stay overnight.

Hotel Sri Krishna Residency: This hotel is located in an area with shops 2 km from the 13th-century Udupi Sri Krishna Matha Hindu temple, 4 km from Udupi train station and 9 km from Padukare Beach along the Laccadive Sea.
Rukmini Residency: Located in a commercial area with shops as well as restaurants, this hotel is a 7-minute walk from the Udupi Anantheshwara Temple. It is only 3 km away from the train station.
Hotel Sriram Residency: This supremely furnished deluxe hotel is a 4-minute walk from Udupi Sri Krishna Matha Hindu temple and 8 km from Malpe Beach.

Where to eat nearby?

The Bhojana Saale in the northern part of the Udupi Krishna Temple is where the devotees are fed. One can eat the Prasadam served at the Temple kitchen. Several restaurants serve delicious Udupi cuisine (mainly Idlis, Dosas, Vada, Sambhar) along with North Indian cuisine as well.

One can also find Non-vegetarian food, especially seafood in restaurants.

What are some temples nearby?

Some of the temples near Udupi Krishna Temple are:

Chandramouleeshwara Temple

The Temple is just opposite to the Udupi Sri Krishna Temple. Some believe that this is the place where Chandra did his penance and Lord Shiva relieved him of the curse of Daksha which stated that Chandra will keep decreasing in size and eventually disappear. Lord Shiva gave a boon that he will decrease in size for 15 days and then increase for 15 days in a month. The Temple is for Lord Shiva.

Devotees also believe that the Linga changes color from black in the morning, blue at noon and white at night. Some also believe that one must visit the Chandramouleeshwara Temple and the Anantheshwara Temple before visiting the Krishna Temple.

Anatheshwara Temple

The Temple legend says that Sage Parashurama retrieved the land from the sea and made his devotee Ramabhoja as the King. During the plowing of the land to perform the Ashwamedha Yagna, he accidently killed a snake. To relieve the sin, he made a silver peetham known as Rajatha Peetham in Kannada with images of a snake carved on it.

Shri Janardhana Mahakali Temple

The Temple is in Ambalpay area in Udupi, about 3 km away from the Sri Krishna Temple. The presiding deity of the beautiful temple is Goddess Mahakali. Devotees also believe that she came down to Earth as a guardian for the town and eventually Janardhana Swamy followed her.

Batte Vinayaka Temple

The temple is one of the oldest temples in the district, constructed by the Barkur kingdom. The unique feature of the temple is that the idol of Lord Ganapathi is facing the North but leaning towards West.

Sri Mahishamardhini Temple

The Temple is in Kadiyali. The temple’s history dates back to around 1200 years. The idol of Mahishamardhini is in a standing posture with four arms. She holds the Prayaga chakra on one hand and the Shanka on the other. The idol also depicts her piercing the head of the demon Mahishasura.

Visit the Udupi Krishna Temple

This year if you wish to seek the holy blessings of the Lord Krishna, then visit his shrine to bring peace to your mind.

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Guide – Timings, Dress Code, and History

July 22, 2019, Sasidhar Darla Leave a Comment Filed Under: Kerala Temples Tagged With: Devi Temples

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is a very popular temple in Kerala. The temple is situated at Thiruvananthapuram. Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is also known as the women’s Sabarimala. It is visited by large number of women. Goddess Attukal Amma is the main deity. The Goddess has four arms, each bearing a spear, sword, skull and shield. The temple has beautiful architecture. In addition, it is- historic. It is a very clean temple.

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple authorities also do various social works. They arrange weddings for poor couples and give them dress and ornaments. Poor patients get medical help while students get scholarships.

History and Legend of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple

Various myths and history surround the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple.

It is believed that a few centuries back when the head of the Mulluveettil family. The head was known as Karanavar. He was performing his prayers one day when a young girl appeared. She requested him to help her cross the Killi River. The charisma and beauty of the girl made Karanavar believe that the girl is divine. He bowed in front of the girl and helped her cross the river. He also invited her to his home. While the family was busy preparing to receive the girl, she disappeared. That night the girl appeared in the dream of Karanavar. She ordered him to build her temple at Kavu. It is a place where animals and plants are not disturbed. As per the instructions the temple was built. This temple came to be known as the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple.
It is also believed that the little girl is Kannagi. She is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. Kannagi is mentioned in the famous Tamil epic of Chipathikaram. She is the destroyer of evil. When she met Karanavar she was returning from Madurai. There She had destroyed the evil and was on her way to Kodungallor.

Significance of the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple

The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is known for its architecture.

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple exhibits a blend of Tamil and Kerala form of architecture. The gateway of the temple is stunning with delicate work.
Furthermore, the temple has beautiful idols of Mahisasurmardini, Goddess Kali, Rajarajeshwari, Devi Parvati and Lord Shiva.
The walls are raced with mythological stories of India. There are ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu at the temple. These idols are known as the Dashavatara.
The two sides of the gopura depict the stories of Kannaki. The southern gopura of the shrine depicts the Puranic stories. These stories are also known as Dakshayaga.
There are two idols of the Goddess here. The original deity is adorned with golden ornaments and precious stones. The other one is placed just beside that.

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Timings

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple opens at 4.30 am and closes at 8.30 pm. There is no entry fee to the temple.

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Food Timings

Food is served at the temple on all the 1^st days of the Malayalam calendar and on Sundays. Planning is going on to serve food every day. Devotees can also donate for this noble work.

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Dress Code

There is no specific dress code to visit the temple. Only at festivals, people are asked to come in traditional dress.

Festivals celebrated at Attukal Bhagavathy Temple

Attukal Bhagavathy Temple reflects the rich culture and heritage of Kerala. The festivals celebrated here are.

Attukal Pongala: This festival witnesses one of the largest gatherings of women in the world. Almost 20 lakh women visit the temple every year. The crowd reached Guinness Book of World Records in 1997 when 1.5 million women offered Pongal. Pongala is a divine festival. It is a ten days programme. The festival takes place during the Malayalam months of Makaram- Kumbham. This is generally February or March. The main ceremony is on the day when the Pooram star coincides with the full moon. People sing stories of Goddess Kannaki. The stories are known as Kannaki Charitam.
Kuthiyottam: This special festival is celebrated by the boys below the age of 12. It is performed in expectance of internal and external beauty, health, wealth and happiness. These boys are believed to be Goddess Mahisasurmardini’s wounded soldiers. On the 3^rd day of the festival, these young boys start a seven-day penance to purify themselves. The penance includes ing at the temple. They also sleep on mats. Observe strict diet and prostrate 1008 times before the Goddess every morning.
Thalappoli: This festival is for the girls below the age of 12. The event starts on the Pongal day. Girls in traditional attire worship the Goddess. The festival gives internal and external beauty, health, wealth and happiness.
Vilakkukettu: This festival takes place from the 1^st to the 9^th day of the Pongala festival. Vilakkukettu refers to the decorated structures. These structures contain images and idols of the Goddesses. Devotees carry the structures every night of the festival to the temple. Musicians play traditional chendamelam music at the festival.
The Divine Procession: This is a grand procession. This procession consists of bright lights and colourful festoons. Devotees perform peacock dance, poykuthira dance, kolkali, theyyam and kumbha dance. They also display Kuthiyottam and Panchavadyam art forms. The deity of Goddess Attukal Bhagavathy is carried on a decked up elephant. The procession goes from the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple to the Sastha Temple of Manacaud. This festival is an integral part of the Kuthiyottam. The penance of the boys starts after the procession.
Maha Shivaratri: Worship of Lord Shiva is done with great pomp and show on Maha Shivaratri.
Vinayaka Chathurthi: Worship of Lord Ganesh is done on this occasion. Devotees do special worship on this day. Perform Kootu Ganapati Homam on this auspicious day.
Mandala Vratham and Pooja Vaypu are the other festivities of the temple.

Poojas and Rituals at Attukal Bhagavathy Temple

Worship at Attukal Bhagavathy Temple takes you to a different level of divinity. Every day is a celebration at this temple. The rituals practised here are.

Three steps of worship: The worship process is the same as the other South Indian temples at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. The process is divided into three parts. The beginning of the pooja is women lighting lamps. Pilgrims also worship the flag. The devotees then enter the temple to worship the deity.
Vedi Vazhipadu: This is a unique ritual performed at this shrine. The devotees can offer crackers to the Goddess.
Daily Pooja of Lord Shiva: Everyday devotees can offer Mrithyumjayahomam to the Lord.
Madan Thampuram Pooja: The pooja takes place every day. The pooja takes place at the Madan Thampuram’s Temple.
Akhandanama Japam: This means continuous chanting of Devi mantras. It takes place on 4^th Sunday of every month.
Karthika: This refers to the pooja of the star of the Goddess. It takes place during the months of November- December.
Ayilya Pooja: This is the pooja of the Serpent God. Devotees can offer milk and flowers.
Aiswarya Pooja: This takes place on every full moon.
Nirayum Puthariyum: Also known as Ramayana Parayanam, this takes place during Karkadakam.
Vishnu: This event takes place on the 1^st day of the Malayalam month.
Sahasrakalasham: This pooja is done during the months of March or April. Worshippers can choose different types of kalasham at this pooja.
In addition, devotees can ask for Bhajan, Kodi Archana, Leksharchana rituals.

How to Reach: Road, Rail and Air

The temple is easily accessible from all parts of the country. It is almost 20 minutes from the main city.

By Air: The nearest airport to the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. It is at Valiyathura. This is approximately 7 km from the temple. There are regular flights between the city and Middle East countries, Male and Sri Lanka to Thiruvananthapuram from here.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is Trivandrum Central Railway Station. It is located at Thampanoor. The place is 3 km from the temple. Auto rickshaws are the best mode of conveyance from the railway station.

By Road: The temple is just at 1.5 km from the east fort bus stop. The Trivandrum central bus stand is at 2 km from the shrine. Metered autos can take you around the city. Tourists can also hire cabs to reach the temple. The temple authorities have also arranged regular bus service. Tourists can pre-book the bus tickets from the temple.

Hotels in Thiruvananthapuram: Where to stay

If you are looking for a place just to rest, then the Visrama Sankeetham of the temple can be of help. There are dormitories and rooms available within the temple complex. These are available on daily rent basis.

The Hotel Galaxy Inn, Hotel Silver Sand, Hotel Fort View are budget accommodation. These hotels are just 2 km from the temple.

Where to eat

Ariya Niwas specializes in vegetarian dishes.

Nearby Temples

There are a number of ancient shrines near Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram.

Padmanabha Swamy Temple: This shrine lies at 2 km from the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. As per myth, the trip to Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is incomplete without a visit to this temple. The presiding deity is Lord Vishnu. It is popular due to its magnificent architecture. The idol of Lord Vishnu is also astounding. The Lord is in a sleeping pose on a five-headed serpent. The serpent is Anant Nag. The temple authority allows only traditional dress. Men have to come in a dhoti. Women have to come in a sari. The temple is open from 10 am to 6 pm.
Kunnumpara Temple: The temple is at 4 km from Kovalam. This temple is known for its breathtaking beauty. The temple lies at a hilltop. It is also an ideal place to rest and meditate.
Sivagiri Mutt: This temple is at 3 km from Varkala. This place is also serene. The shrine was built in 1904. As per myth, Sree Narayana Guru attained enlightenment here. The Mutt remains open from 5.30 am to 12.00 pm. It is also open from 4.30 pm to 6.00 pm.
Karikkakom Chamundi Devi Temple: This temple is only 7 km from Trivandrum. The shrine is also known for its natural bliss. The main deity is Goddess Chamundi. She is an incarnation of Goddess Durga. The deity is unique and is made of five metals of copper, iron, gold, silver and lead. The temple also houses the idols of Rektha Chamundi, Bhala Chamundi, Yakshi Amma, Bhuvaneswari, Ayira Valli and Vinayaka. The temple is open from 5.00 am to 11.55 am. It is also open from 4.30 pm to 8.00 pm.
Madavoorpara Shiva Temple: This cave temple lies at 17 km from Trivandrum. Lord Shiva is the main deity. The shrine is important for its eighteenth-century rock-cut sculpture. These sculptures show the images of Lord Shiva and also his consort, Devi Parvati. The temple remains open from 9 am to 8 pm.
Santhigir Ashram: The beautiful architecture of the temple attracts tourists to the ashram. Moreover, it is near the central office of Trivandrum. It is in the shape of a blooming lotus. The ashram is over 100 acres of land and offers work, food to many people. People can also stay here. The health centre of the ashram preaches the benefits of Ayurveda, Sidha and Panchakarma. The temple is open from 10 am to 10 pm.

Therefore Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is a nice place to spend a vacation.