Ramanisblog

Tag: Hindu pilgrimage

  • Benares Panchakrosha Yatra Details Kasi Khanda

    People generally think of Kasi, Varanasi, Benares as the place mainly meant for performing the Obesequies/ Sraddha for the ancestors.

    They perform Tharpana and Sraddha.

    There is another important religious Karma to be performed in Kasi/Varanasi.

    It it is the performance of Panchakrosha Yatra.

    Panchakrosha are the palces where Ishwara,Shiva is present in His full Glory and He rules over the city, its people, beings both living and non living.

    As a result people visiting these Kshetras are removed of their evil and negative thoughts and are ruled by Ishwara.

    This is one of the reasons why people are advised to perform Sradhdha in Varanasi as the Mind will be pure.

    Panchakroshi Temple,Kasi, one can visit if he can not complete the entire Panchakroshi yatra.
    Panchakroshi Temple,Kasi

    The Panchakrosha Kshetras are,

    Vishwanatha

    Omkareshwara

    Krttivaseshwara

    Kapardishwara and

    Madhyameshwara.

    There is also another list.

    1. Kardameshwara
    2. Bhimacandi
    3. Rameshwara
    4. Shivpur
    5. Kapiladhara

    Visiting these temples is called the Panchakrosha yatra,Varanasi.

    The trip starts after completing the initial prayers and doing the rituals at Kashi Vishvanath Mandir the journey starts. There are 108 temples along this path and the Dharmasalas adjacent to the temples offer minimal facilities to the tourists. The remains of the temples shows, the importance given by the kings and the former generations to this pilgrimage trip.

     

    Kandava-Nilakandeshwara Temple-this temple is associated with the story of churning the oceans by gods and demons and the blue-poison came, which had a very dangerous effect. In order to avoid trouble the poison was drunken by the Lord Shiv. Parvathi, wife of the Lord attempted to keep the poison not going down and the blue colour poison caused to change the colour.

     

    Kardameswara Temple is another point the pilgrims visit on their course of journey. It has many images on the wall like dancers, beasts and snakes. Shiv is also shown in the form of Natrajdancing figure. The images of Mahishasuramardini, Andhakasuramardini is also visible in the walls. The river tank is really attracts the attention of the visitors.

     

    After crossing Rajatalab the next place is Bhimachandi. Believed to be the strongest Goddess this temple is devoted to the Goddess Bhimachandi.

     

    Before reaching the next point Dehli Vinayaka is also covered by the pilgrims. This site is dates back to 6th 7th century. The guide told me that the original image is now in Bharat KalaBhavan Musuem.

     

    Rameshwara: Easily misunderstand as Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu? This Rameshwaram is in the in Kashi and one of the most significant spots in your trip. It is said to be the Shivlinga was placed and worshipped by the Lord Rama after killing Ravana, in order to avoid the sin. This is a replica of the original temple in Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu. The full moon day of Karthika, large number of pilgrims flock to this temple. The Sadhus praying with their rudraksh, chanting mantras are a common scene here.

     

    The walk through Shivpur takes you top the thickly populated route and the route leads to Kapiladhara. The temple and the pool are associated with the Grand Epic Mahabharata. The site is very near to the Ganges. Usually the pilgrims take a lounge from here to the Manikarnika Ghat and the journey ends at Jnanvapi temple where you have started the journey.

    There are Panchakrosha Sthalams near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, Thirunelveli, Tamil Nadu  and Ujjain.

    Citation and reference..

    Image, http://explorekashi.com/image-1-42.html

    http://www.kamakotimandali.com/misc/mokshapuri.html

    http://creative.sulekha.com/panchkroshi-yatra_183957_blog

     

     

     

  • Unique Roof Stone Drips Water on Shiva Linga 24 Minutes Thittai

    There are some astounding features in Indian temples.

    The construction of a temple is very complex and it hs to follow well laid norms in the Agama Sastra.

    Thittai Vasisteswarara Temple roof.jpg Thittai Vasisteswarara Temple roof.

    In addition to this , many temples have special features.

    Vasishteswarar ,Thenthittai.jpg Vasishteswarar ,Thenthittai

    Rays of the Sun falling on the Idol at fixed time of the year.

    Idols shadow touching the wall.

    Idols changing colors at fixed time every day.

    Temples being aligned in the same longitude.

    Idol looking like one figure from the front and another from the back.

    Idols growing.

    Idol which feels like Human at our touch.

    Shadow of the roof of the temple falling in its base(Thanjavur)

    The list is endless.

    Please read my posts on what is listed above and for more.

    Now there is a Temple in Thittai near Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, India, where a special stone called Surya/Chandra Kanthakal( Sun, Moon Stones) is fixed in the Vimana,roof of the temple over the Garbha Gruha.

    This stone absorbs moisture from the atmosphere and drips water on the Shiva Linga once in 24 Minutes.( Half Muhurtha)

    Vasishteswarar temple is situated in the village “Thittai” near Thanjavur.

    As the village is situated south of the Cauvery river, it is also called “Thenkudi Thittai”.

    The presiding deity is Swayambootheswarar and the Goddess, Ulaganayaki. As the main deity is a Swayambu Lingam he got the name “Swayambootheswarar”.

    The main deity is also called as Vasishteswarar as he was worshipped here by Saint Vasishtar.

    The unique feature of this temple is that a drop of water falls on the Shiva linga every 24 minutes from the ceiling.

    This is because of a very special stone called Chandrakanth kept on the roof.

    This stone absorbs moisture from the surrounding air and converts into a drop of water.

    This temple attracts huge crowds because of the above stone as well the presence of the temple for Raja Dakshinamoorthy.

    “Thittai”, the name of the village means “Thittu” in Tamil, (i-e) a Mound.

    When the whole world was surrounded by water because of “Pralayam”, Brahma & Vishnu worshipped the Lord Maheshara for protection. After wandering much for a safe place, they found this only mound, which did not drown in the Pralaya waters, where there was a Shiva Lingam.

    They performed Pooja to the Lingam and worshipped Lord Shiva, who appeared before them and delegated their duties of Creation and Protection.

    It is believed that this is the only place, which was not destroyed even during Pralayam( Dissolution of the Universe)

    Unlike many other temples, here the complete temple is built using the stone. Not only for the main deities, but also all other Sannidhi’s are constructed using stones, right from floors, pillars, walls and roof.

     

    *Two stones “Suryagaanthakkal” and “Chandragaanthakkal” which are placed at strategic points above the Vimana are the reasons for the droplets of water which falls on the deity.

    These 2 stones absorb moisture from the atmosphere, convert into 1 water droplet, performing a natural Abhishegam to the deity, every 24 minutes (1 Naazhigai), be it the day or night.

    A small piece of yellow cloth (Dhothi) which covers the Lingam is always wet because of this. If one can wait patiently, they can view this amazing act.

    The temple tank situated opposite the temple is called “Chakra Theertham” which is believed that it was created by the Chakra from the hands of Mahavishnu.

     

    The Goddess is called Ulaganayagi. It is said that a Vaisya girl got back her dead husband after worshipping Ulaganayagi.

    How to reach.

    Airport. Tiruchi.

    Railhead.Tiruchi, Thanjavur,Kumbakonam, Thiruvarur.

    Bus Station.From Tiruchi, Kumbakonam,mauram, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur

    The temple is located six km from the main road on the way to Melattur from Thanjavur

    Citations.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasishteswarar_Temple,_Thittai

    http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/special-arrangements-at-thittai/article1885476.ece

    http://www.hindutemplethittaiguru.com/

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  • Laos Mountain Sixty Meter Linga Peak Linga Parvatha Vat Phou

    Laos Mountain Sixty Meter Linga Peak Linga Parvatha Vat Phou

    We know that Thiruvannamalai is about a Billion old and Tirumala Tirupati is about 2100 Million Years old.

    The Thiruvannamalai Hill is believed to be the Form of Linga, Agni Linga.

    There is a Mountain in Laos with the Shiva Linga, 60 Meters, at its peak.

    It is bathed by a Spring.

    The water is carried by 632 Pipes.

    Wat Phou peak Linga Parvatha ,Laos.jpg The mountain has a natural linga on its peak. Image Credit. “Watphoupeaklinga03”. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Watphoupeaklinga03.jpg#/media/File:Watphoupeaklinga03.jpg

    Vat Phou has been founded by the Cham, according to the historians and was later one of the first temples of the Khmers outside Cambodia. The oldest ruins date from the fifth and sixth century. Vat Phou nestles at the base of Mount Phou Pasak, that got the name Lingaparvata, because on top a 60 metres high monolith reaches into the sky. This natural outcropping has led the people to consider it a sacred place long ago. It resembles to linga of Shiva, the god of the Hindu. To some visitors it resembles also a female breast (see picture by Diane, taken on Don Daeng). “Parvata” means “mountain,” so “Lingaparvata” is literally “Linga Mountain.” It is the same word-root as “Parvati” the name of Shiva’s consort, a mountain-goddess, notes art-and-archaeology.com. Willard Van De Bogart tells the story of Lingaparvata, the story was also published with a lot of book references. Read also the official site description by the Museum of Vat Phu.

    Linga Parvata.

    n Laos, Lingaparvata became a focal point for austerities to Shiva in the fifth century under the vocable of Bhadresvara, the god of the Chams at My Hon-Son on the Champa (Vietnam) coast. The city of Kuruksetra and then later called Sreshthapura was the holiest ancient city for kings to make pilgrimage (tirtha yatra). In fact a 250 mile royal road runs from Angkor Wat directly to Vat Phu indicating there was a direct link to Vat Phu from the new Ankorean center.

    There is a haunting living quality to Lingaparvata as it protrudes so uniquely into the sky almost as if some giant were pushing upward deep from within its rocky interior. From a distance Lingaparvata appears as a linga or even a small temple set on the summit where rituals to the gods would be performed. There is a Chinese document from the Sui dynasty (589-616CE) that mentions a temple on the summit of a mountain named Ling-kia-po-p’o, which is guarded by a thousand soldiers and consecrated to a spirit named Po-to-li. It was Georges Coedes, the famous French epigraphists, who transliterated Ling-po-p’o into Lingaparvata.

    It is by all accounts a magical mystifying experience to witness this singular protuberance setting itself alone amongst the mountain tops behind Vat Phu and forever capturing the fascination and wonder of anyone who sets eyes on it.

    Mt. Phu Kao immediately focuses your attention to the summit as no other small mountain can do. It’s as if in its own way the mountain is trying to announce something profound or waiting to direct the eyes of the beholder to look at something very special. The mountain commands one to look in its direction because none of the other hills are as unique. It is unique and different and holds its own as a singular presence like none of the other hills. Surely such a mountain would be thought of having supernatural powers and perhaps in order to even address those powers rites and rituals would have had to be conducted long before any consideration would be given to scale its summit.

    Here was a mountain top that was so singular in its appearance that innately one sensed there was something being conducted on its rocky protrusion that only the mountain itself knew about. The absolute profundity and sanctity that the mountain has held over the millennia has finally reached its symbolic identity as the linga of Lord Shiva himself.

    This was Shiva’s pillar of fire that endlessly went into the heavens and endlessly passed down through the earth. Here was the penultimate axis of the world and once the Brahmins from India saw this outcropping they could do none other than name this mountain Lingaparvata. This one linga would be impossible to move, and would provide the devotee with a substantive feeling of awe simply by recognizing the latent power of this mountain made it possible to communicate with the gods. It was on this mountain that the priests had developed the Cakravartin cosmology that in 400 years would establish the consecration of the Khmer Empire where Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma would be the gods that would establish divine kingship for another 500 years.

    If Mt Kailash in Tibet is considered the home of Shiva and Arunachela is considered an actual manifestation of Shiva then I would offer that Lingaparvata could be thought of as the temple of Shiva whereby divine communication with all the gods would take place. My justification for making such a statement and associating Lingaparvata with a temple gateway to meet the gods is by recognizing that the Khmer Empire got its spiritual guidance from the environs of Kuruksetra. The combination of Vat Phu, Lingaparvata, the sacred spring and King Jayavarman IIÕs inscription at Vat Oubmong indicate an auspicious focal point that merits calling Lingaparvata a temple gate way to the gods. It was in 802CE that King Jayavarman II consecrated the Khmer Empire and he became the “Cakravatin” and established the union between god and king and the beginning of the “Devaraja” cult worship’

    ….

    Champasak Wat Phou Spring water pipes.jpg Champasak Wat Phou Spring water being carried by pipes to bathe Shiva.

    ‘From Pakse, we first headed south 30 km, ferried across the Mekong River, cooled off over lunch at a riverside restaurant in Champasak town, then continued to the Khmer site of Wat Phu Champasak. Unlike the meticulously restored Phanom Rung site that we visited in Thailand, this one has a very atmospheric tumbled-down appearance. From a huge pond, a promenade flanked by stone lotus bud columns (most lying on the ground) leads to a pair of large rectangular worship pavilions, the most impressive buildings here due to their size and detailed carvings. The pathway continues west past a Nandi pavilion, now empty, and climbs past some guardian figures and a Ganesha to the main sanctuary. This structure of stone blocks has many detailed carvings of Hindu epics and gods. Originally it housed a Shiva lingam continually bathed in water from a nearby spring. Now it shelters several folksy Buddhas.

    Citations.

    http://www.earthportals.com/Portal_Messenger/lingaparvata.html

    http://www.arizonahandbook.com/ThaiLao2.htm

    http://treasuresoflaos.blogspot.in/2010/08/champasak.html

    ‘

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  • Lunatic Go Pacify My Paramour Order Issued to Lord Shiva

    Lunatic Go Pacify My Paramour Order Issued to Lord Shiva

    I have written quite a few posts describing the approach Of Hinduism towards God.

    God  as The Reality, on the one hand is treated as A principle without Attributes, on the other it reveals God is closer to Man if  one approaches Him with Devotion,Love.

    Lord Krishna declares in the Bhagavad Gita that He would appear to the Devotee in the Form He wishes and prays and Grant him His wishes in the Form of the God He worships.

    And in the Path of Devotion in Hinduism, God , can and was approached in the Form of a Relative,

    Mother,Father,Son,Child,Friend……..in as many as forms as there are relationships.

    God has also been approached as a Lover!

    And He responded!

    There is yet another instance that many, who do not know Tamil, may be unaware of.

    That Sundarar, a Devotee of Lord Shiva, asked the Lord to go and mediate on behalf him to his paramour!

    And The Lord obliged!

    Shiva had earlier  stopped Sunadarar’s marriage claiming that Sundara was Shiva’s Slave, as per the document executed by Sundarar’s ancestor and Shiva had documents to support it!

    And in a Court, Panchayat, Shiva proved it.

    During the course of the altercation on this issue, Sundara called Shiva as a Lunatic.Pitha(Tamil)

    Later when Shiva asked Sundarar to compose Hymns on Him(after Sundarar realized the Man who visited him was none other than Shiva), Sundarar was at a loss and asked the Lord ‘

    ‘How can I sing on You, The Lord,whom I called as a Lunatic’

    Shiva replied,

    Start with the term thou have addressed Me, Pitha, Lunatic’, the first song of his Thevaram, the songs in praise of Shiva.

    Sundarar composed.

    ‘

    பித்தா பிறை சூடி பெருமானே அருளாளா
    எத்தான் மறவாதே நினைக்கின்றேன் மனத்துன்னை
     வைத்தாய்பெண் ணைத்தென்பால் வெண்ணைய்நல்லூர் அருள்துறையுள் அத்தா உனக்காளாய் இனி அல்லேன் எனலாமே!
    Piththaa pirai soodee perumaanee arulaalaa
    Eththal maravaadhee ninaikkindreen manathunnai
    Vaiththaai pennai thenpaal vennai nalloor aruththurayul
    Aththa vunakku aalaai inee alleen enal aamee

    Translation:
    Oh mad! Oh Peruman with a crescent, Oh Graceful one, I am thinking about you without forgetting. Oh God of Thiru vennai nalloor in the southern bank of the river Pennai, how can I say I am not your slave?

    Sundharar did not want to put his leg in the holy town of thiruvadhikai where Thirunaavukkarasar was born. So he stayed in the outskirts – sidhdhavada madam. In the night when he was sleeping, the God appeared as an old man and put His legs many times on Sundharar ‘s head. Sundharar shouted at Him. He disappeared from there. Realizing that the old man was God Himself, Sundharar sang this song…

    Not only this, Sundarar asked Lord Shiva to mediate between him and his Paramour!

    Shiva did!

    Sundarar , Shiva altercation.jpg Sundarar , Shiva altercation.

    ‘

    while Sundarar was being married, the service was interrupted by an old ascetic who asked for Sundarar as his servant, making a name sake claim that Sundarar’s “grandfather pledged him” according to an ancient palm leaf manuscript in his possession. Sundarar and those assembled at the wedding were outraged and called the old man a madman (piththaan: Tamil). But a court of Vedic scholars concluded that the palm leaf was legally valid. Crestfallen, Sundarar resigned himself to servitude in the old man’s household and, following him to Thiruvennainallur village, was led to the Thiruvarutturai Shiva temple.

    The old man was said to be Shiva (Lord Thiagaraja) himself, who told him: ” That the document shown was only a name sake reason and he wanted sundarar to be reminded of his actual form as alalasundarar a servitor in lord’s kailasam, who had to be born in earth both due to moments of worldly thoughts that overcame him as well as due to the fact that the southern tamil region that had done great thavam during kali age need be blessed with an account on lives of great nayanmars called tiru thondar thokai.You will henceforth be known as Vanthondan, the argumentative devotee. Did you not call me a mad man just a short while ago? Begin your hymn addressing me ‘O mad man!’”.Lord sivan had also advised vanthondar to” while on earth sing of us in words of Tamil”…

    ‘

    Sundarar prayed to the Lord for His help in pacifying Paravayar. The Lord disguised Himself as Sundarar’s messenger, a Brahmin priest, and went to Paravayar’s house. The Brahmin pleaded Sundarar’s cause, but Paravai refused and sent them back. Yet she was grief-stricken at the separation from Sundarar.

    When the Lord informed Sundarar of all that had happened, Sundarar was inconsolable and blamed that Shiva’s going there in the form of a messenger and not in His true form was the cause for the failure of the mission. The Lord once set out to go to the second time.

    In the mean time, the devout Paravayar had understood that the Brahmin was no other than the Lord Himself and was suffering from terrible anguish for not recognizing Shiva. The Lord again went to her house: and this time He appeared before her in His real form. Paravayar at once prostrated before Siva and agree to obey his commands.

    The Lord then informed Sundarar that He had pacified Paravayar and that Sundarar could now return to her. In the mean time, Paravayar had decorated her house beautifully and was eagerly waiting for her Lord. Sundarar, with his devotees, entered the house. Paravayar fell at Sundarar’s feet. Thus, they were re-united after a long separation.

    Because of his adamant attitude to even the Lord, Shiva Called Sundarar as Vanthondar, One who is argumentative , prone to violence!

    A word about the evidence of this incident

    Sundarar is unique among the Nayanars in that both of his parents are also recognised as Nayanars. He was born into an adi saiva, temple priest Brahmin group.His original name was Nambi aroorar. The ruler of the local kingdom (Thirumunaipadi-Nadu), Narasingamunaiarayar a chieftain, adopted him and brought up as his own son, attracted by the beauty of the child he saw playing in the street. Sundarar was a contemporary of great Pallava emperor Rajasimha who was also a nayanmar saint and also author of many devotional hymn works in tamil.A temple inscription in tiruvarur says that sundarar’s father sadayan also a nayanmar saint belonged to the gotram or lineage of sage bharadwaja and his mother isaignani also a nayanmar saint belonged to the gotram or lineage of sage gautama. From epigraphs it is also inferred that a Sanskrit hagiography on sundarar namely sva swami mitra prabhandam translated as travelogues of he who became friend of lord is now not available.’

    When we want to record the happenings today, we have them written in Newspapers, Text Books.

    Now we have the electronic media and we have even digitalised our news , which would be History tomorrow.

    If they question that the news was fabricated , then what?

    If when the future looks at History and if these records we have created had been destroyed, is it that nothing has happened?

    In the past the Kings were clever.

    They created documents in the form of epigraph , built temples specifying the reasons for the temple and the Devotees like Sundarars’ Names are mentioned .

    What more do we want?

    That Shiva would come and testify?

    He did ans He will.

    I shall narrate that later.

    Tiruvennainallur Temple, where Shiva revealed Himself to Sundarar  -Basic information.

    Moolavar : Krupapureeswarar – also Arutkonda Nathar, Aatkonda Nathar, Venupureeswarar
    Urchavar : –
    Amman / Thayar : Mangalambikai, Verkanni Amman
    Thala Virutcham : Bamboo
    Theertham : Pennai River, Neeli, Sivaganga, Kama, Arul Thurai, Dandu, (Sivnarkeni), Pandava, Vaikunda and Veda theerthams.
    Agamam / Pooja : –
    Old year : 1000-2000 years old
    Historical Name : Tiruvarul Thurai
    City : Tiruvennai Nallur
    District : Viluppuram
    State : Tamil Nadu
    The temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and from 5.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

    Sri Krupapureeswarar Temple, Tiruvennainallur-607 203, Tirukovilur taluk, Villupuram district.

    Citation.

    http://thiruppugazh-nectar.blogspot.in/2013/05/how-shiva-mediated-between-sundarar-and.html

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundarar

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  • Where Palani Andavar Moolavar Was Made By Bhogar.Thannasiappan Koil

    Where Palani Andavar Moolavar Was Made By Bhogar.Thannasiappan Koil

    The history of Bhogar tells us that he made the Palani Dhandauthapani Idol in the Garbha Graha at a place called Thannasi

    Appan Temple.

    Bhogar is reported to have used Nine Minerals/Herbs/poisons to prepare the raw material for the Idol.

    The term Paashaana means, Minerals, herbs, Poison.

    He is reported to have made three Idols.

    One has been installed at Palani garbha Gruha.

    Bhogar in Nirvikalpa Samadhi .jpg Bhogar in Nirvikalpa Samadhi .

    Two Idols are reported to have been hidden by Bhogar in the Eastern Ghats and it is believed that they would surface at an appropriate moment.

    The idol at Palani Garbha Gruha was found to be weak below the Neck and therefore the Abhishekams were stopped.

    Now Abhishekams are performed for the Utsavar only.

    The committee formed by the Government of Tamil Nadu to find out the status of the Idol found , by Atomic Test, that the material used for the construction of the Idol of Murugan is neither Granite, Nor Minerals.

    Please read my Post on this, where I have provided the excerpt of the Report.

    Thannasiappan Temple entrance.jpg Thannasiappan Temple entrance.

    ‘Bogar is a Siddhar, he is considered as one of the 18 siddhars born in the world. According to epigraphical sources and his book Bogar Seven thousand his period is around 3000 B.C. Bogar born at India and visited China in search of truth of life, he gained knowledge in medicine, astrology, spritiuality, yoga etc.

    Bogar anticipating that in due course of period, human beings will suffer from large number of disease. As an expert in medicine he used 4448 rare herbs and made 9 poisonous medicine, mixing these 9 poisons into one needs great knowledege and skill, to make a Master Medicine ( One medicine to cure all disease ). Thirumoolar also discuss one such Master Medicine in his book Thiru Mandiram. With the consultation of Agasthiar ( Father of Ayurvedic Medicine) and other siddhars Bogar mixed the 9 poisons ( Nava Bashanam ) and made the Master Medicine in the form of Lord Murugan which is currently worshiped at Palani Murugan temple. There is a place near Palani Hill called Thanasiappan Temple which is the place were Bogar mixed the Nava Bashanam and made  the Murugan idol.’

    http://palani_murugan.tripod.com/bogar.htm

    http://wikimapia.org/