Ramanisblog

Tag: Temples

  • Temples Old Over Five Thousand Years I

    There are temples in India which are older over Five Thousand years.

    Some of them are damaged.

    When a modern building  built with the latest Technology do not seem to last for fifty years,these temples are a tribute to the Technology and skill of our ancestors.

    Temple for Balarama
    Dauji Temple

    Near Gokul, in Village Baladeva (District Mathura), Shri Dauji Temple is situated 21 km southeast of Mathura, on the other side of Yamuna river.  The name Dauji means ‘Elder Brother’. Here in the temple two metre (6×6″)  Deity of Lord Balrama was installed by King Vajranabha.

    Near Gokul, in Village Baladeva (District Mathura), Shri Dauji Temple is situated 21 km southeast of Mathura, on the other side of Yamuna river.  The name Dauji means ‘Elder Brother’. Here in the temple two metre (6×6″)  Deity of Lord Balrama was installed by King Vajranabha.

    ‘

    seven kilometers south of Gokula, not far from Mathura, is the Dauji temple. Dauji is the Deity of Lord Balarama that was originally installed 5,000 years ago by King Vajranabha, Krishna’s great-grandson. From Lord Krishna and His queen Rukmini was born the great warrior Pradyumna, one of His prominent sons, who married the daughter of Rukmi, Rukmavati. They gave birth to Anirudha. Anirudha married Rukmi’s son’s daughter, Rachana, and from her was born Vajra, who would remain among the few survivors of the Yadus’ battle. (Bhagavatam 10.90.35-37)

    In fact, King Vajra established a number of Krishna Deities in the area. The present Dauji temple that we see today was built 200 years ago by Shyama Das of Delhi. Many people also attend this temple to get darshan of the single Deity of the 6 feet tall Lord Balarama. From the other side of the temple you can see the Deity of Revati, Lord Balarama’s wife. Nearby is the Balabhadra Kund or Kshira (milk) Sagara (sea) where the Deity of Lord Balarama had been hidden during the Moghul invasion. Near this kund is a temple to Harideva, and in the bazaar is another temple to Krishna as Banke Bihari.”

    Old Krishna Temple
    Krishna temple

    There is also much history on the site of Krishna’s birth, the Krishna Janmasthana in Mathura. Historical records indicate that the first temple here was also built by King Vajranabha. This temple lasted for many years. The next temple was supposedly built by King Vikramaditya in 400 BCE. That was destroyed by the infamous Mahmud Ghazni in 1017-18. Ancient descriptions relate that such a magnificent building would have taken 200 years of great toil by the world’s greatest craftsmen. Thereafter, a third temple was built by a citizen named Jajja during the time of King Vijayapalavadeva, ruler of Mathura, according to an inscription on a stone slab discovered in the area. Sri Chaitanya visited this temple during His visit in 1515. Unfortunately, that was destroyed by the Muslim Sikander Lodi shortly thereafter. The next temple was built by Raja Virsinghadeva Bundela during the reign of Jehangir (around 1650). It is said that this temple stood 250 feet tall and was a stately structure made of intricately carved red sandstone, costing some 33 lakhs of rupees. But again it was destroyed by the fanatic Muslim Aurangzeb in 1669-70. Then it its place a mosque was built, which still stands today. The next temple over the place of Krishna’s birth appeared later in the mid-20th century.

    Varaha Avatar by Sudhamshu. Varaha Image (Not the Mathura Temple) : Source : http://www.flickr.com/photos/sudhamshu/3338614940/
    Varaha Avatar by Sudhamshu.
    Varaha Image (Not the Mathura Temple) : Source : http://www.flickr.com/photos/sudhamshu/3338614940/

    Also in Mathura, not far from the Dwarkadish Mandira, there is the temple of white Sweta-Varaha, and another of Adi-Varaha. According to local history as explained by local pandits, back in Satya-yuga this Deity had been given to Lord Indra who worshiped Him in Swarga, his heavenly abode. The Deity was later taken by Ravana when he defeated Indra who took Him to Sri Lanka. Then, after Ravana was defeated by Lord Ramachandra, the Deity was taken to Ayodhya by Lord Ramachandra. Lord Ramachandra gave it to His brother Satrughna who brought it to Mathura when he was dispatched to conquer Madhu Daitya and Lavanasura. After defeating the demonic father and son, Madhu and Lavanasura, he installed the Deity of Adi-Varaha here. This story is more fully explained in Chapter 163 of the Varaha Purana.

    Source:

    http://www.stephen-knapp.com/antiquity_of_deity_worship_in_vedic_tradition.htm

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  • Rare Teerthas Of Hindusim

    Tirtha means a Small pond or a Sanskrit: तीर्थ), which literally means “a ford, a shallow part of a body of water that may be easily crossed” has come to connote places of pilgrimage associated with sacred water.

    Theertha at Bhimshankar
    Bhimshankar Theertha

    There are a lot of Sacred Tirthas according to Hinduism.

    Taking a dip in them relieves one of his and some Tirthas are reputed to relieve one of his specific problem.

    Teerthas are different from Holy rivers like Ganges, Yamuna or Sarasvati.

    Teertha may be small pond in the Temple precincts, or slightly away from it or may be found in a forest or a mountain, with a small temple nearby.

    It may be cold water or warm water spring, or a ford,pond or a rivulet.

    I am listing some rare Teertha, so rare that I am unable to find their location.

    Readers may help.

    Kumjaamraka Teertha.Kumjaamraka means ‘bent’

    This Theerthameans bent Mango Tree.

    This Teertha is for worshipping Lord Vishnu.

    Lord Vishnu is reported to have appeared before Sage Raivya in a Mango Tree.

    The tree bent because of His weight,

    Tirtha is located near this tree.

    Maya and Matsya are two more Theertha nearby.

    It is believed to relieve one of his sons and if one dies in this place he is never reborn.

    2.Sarva Kalika Tirtham.Those who do penance here will attain the feet of Lord Vishnu

    There is a hot water spring nearby, called Poorna Mukham.

    Those who take a dip here will reach the Chandra Loka, a stage of mental development)t and will be reborn as a Brahmin.

    * I am unable to find the locations of these.

    3.Kampilya Tirtham.

     

    Kampilya (कम्पिल्‍य) was the Capital of the Panchala Kingdom ruled by Drupada during Mahabharata period. It is mentioned in Mahabharata that when Pandavas were in exile and staying at place called Ekachakra (Etawah, Uttar Pradesh), they came to know that Drupada, King of Panchala, had announced the Swayamvara of his daughter Draupadi. Then they came to Kampilya (Kampil, Uttar Pradesh), the capital of Drupada. The historian Thakur Deshraj has mentioned that the people of Kampilya were later known as Koil. The Koīl people came from Kampilya and founded the city known asKampilgarh, situated south east of Ganges. The town of Kampilgarh later became popular as Koil which is now Aligarh. Shri Nagendranath Basu has mentioned in ‘Bangla vishva kosha’ that Jats seized Ramgarh in 1757 AD and named it Koil. This was later took by Marathas and appointed a French named Piran as administrator of this place. Koil is also mentioned in an old folk-song ‘Rag dhola’ which tells about Fool Singh Punjabi Jat as its ruler. This place was also ruled by Maharaja Suraj Mal of Bharatpur for some time. Literary significance of Kampilya In Kampil there have also been great poets. (1) Mathura Chaubey Mukatimani (Kaviraja). Aurangzeb gave him 500 bigha of free hold land that is still in the possession of the family. A descendent of this poet Ms. Neera Misra Chairperson of Draupadi Trust is working for Restoration of the historical and heritage value of this land.’
    This is reported to be the place where Varaha Avatar redeemed the world.
    Taking a dip here shall relieve one of his sins.
    4.Varaha Tirtha.
    The most prominent temples of Varaha is the Sri Varahaswami Temple in Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the shores of a temple pond, called the Swami Pushkarini, in Tirumala, near Tirupati; to the north of the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple (another temple of Vishnu in the form ofVenkateswara). The region is called Adi-Varaha Kshestra, the abode of Varaha. The legend of the place is as follows: at the end of Satya Yuga (the first in the cycle of four aeons; the present one is the fourth aeon), devotees of Varaha requested him to stay on earth, so Varaha ordered his mount Garudato bring his divine garden Kridachala from his abode Vaikuntha to Venkata hills, Tirumala. Venkateswara is described as having taken the permission of Varaha to reside in these hills, where his chief temple, Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, stands. Hence, pilgrims are prescribed to worship Varaha first and then Venkateswara. In the Atri Samhita (Samurtarchanadhikara), Varaha is described to be worshipped in three forms here: Adi Varaha, Pralaya Varaha and Yajna Varaha. The image in the sanctum is of Adi Varaha..
    5.Chakra Tirtha.
    Chakra Theertham is also a famous pond in Tirumala, which is located next to Silathoranam and holds special importance. Visiting this site is considered as good as touching the Lotus Feet of the Lord, which will deliver the devotees from their travails.
    It is believed that when Lord Brahma observed grief at this site, Lord Vishnu plunged his Sudarshana Chakra for cleansing it. The Sudarshana Chakra then fell into a place, which later came to be known as Chakra Theertham. This pond is known for cleanse bathers of sins that would lead them to the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu.
    Chakra Theertham is located about 2 Km from the temple, in the same complex as the Sila Thoranam is a rare natural rock arch. This place houses a Swayambu Lingam and is well-known for being a popular tourist spot in Tirupati.

    6.Bhimshankar Therrtha.

    Bhimashankar Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, is situated in Bhavagiri (Bhorgiri) village, 50 km north-west of Khed, in Maharashtra, India. Bhimashankar Shiva Mandir is about 110 km from Pune in the Ghat region of the Sahyadri hills (Sahayadri Ranges). The temple is situated on the banks of River Bhima, it is from here Bhima Rive flows south east and merges with the Krishna River near Raichur. Bhima Shankar Temple gives a beautiful view of the forts, the rivers and the hill stations nearby..

    Source.

    Varaha Purana.

     

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  • Upachaaras Five Ten Sixty Four Offering To God

    The word Upachara’ in Sanskrit means flattery, when loosely translated.

    But the import of the word is  ‘welcoming, making one comfortable, saying things that ere agreeable, offering that are close to one’s heart’

    In Hindu tradition God is offered all these as we would one who visits our home.

    There are strict rules for this.

    There are different Upacharas.

    Five-Panchopachara,

    Six-Shadopachaara,

    Shodosupachaara-Sixteen.

    Chatushshasti-Sixtty Four.

    Some opt for  the Ten Upachaaaras.

    Of these   the sixty-four are practiced in temples, while Five or six are at Homes.

    In some texts, Snana or Bathing is taken as a Upachaara, while in some the other Upachaaras are done after the Bath(Snana)

    It may be noted that these procedures are not prescribed by the Vedas.

    These are later developments set by Smritis and for Temples in the Agama Shastra.

    Offerings God.
    Offerings to God.

    A. Pancha Upachaara.

    Gandha (Sandal wood paste),  Puhspa (Flowers), Dhupa (offering Incense),Deepa(Offering Oil Lamp)  and Naivedyam9Food, Fruits)

    B.Dasopachaara(Ten)

    Padyam (washing the feet) , Arghyam(Washing the Palms),  Acamaniyam (Special process of purification with water) ,Madhuparka(Honey )            Acamaniyam   ( Done again to purify after the use of hands in drinking) , Gandha,Pushpa,Dhupa, Deepa and Naivedyam  .

    C .Shodasopachara(16)

    1.Asana, Offering of Seat,also called Swagatham, Welcome

    2.Padyam,

    3.Argyam,

    4.Acamaniyam.

    5.Madhuparkam,

    6.Acamaniyam,

    7.Snaneeya,Bathing,

    8.Vastram,offering new clothes,

    9.Upavitam(offering the Sacred Thread)

    10.Alankara,Dressing up,

    11.Gandha,

    12.Pushpa,

    13.Dhupa.

    14.Deepa,

    15.Naivedyam

    16.Pranam,prostrating

    D.The Sixty Four Upachaaras.

    Early Morning activities:

    Waking the deity with vedic verses, praises, instrumental music.
    Offering a twig for brushing the teeth.
    Offering mangala aratika.
    Shouting jaya on seeing the deity.
    Offering pranamas to the Lord before entering for puja.

    Offering the Main Upacharas:

    Inviting the Lord (avahana), offering him a seat (asana), and making him comfortable (svagatam).
    Washing the Lord’s feet (padyam).
    Offering arghyam as a sign of welcome and respect.
    Offering water to wash the mouth (acamaniyam).
    Offering madhuparka, then water to wash the mouth.

    Offering the Lord shoes so that he may come to the bathing place.
    Cleaning the Lord’s body with a damp cloth to remove old chandana etc. (murti samskara).
    Rubbing the Lord’s body, especially the head,  with fragrant oils.
    Bathing the Lord in flower water.
    Bathing the Lord in milk.
    Bathing the Lord in yogurt.
    Bathing the Lord in ghee.
    Bathing the Lord in honey.
    Bathing the Lord in sugar.
    Bathing the Lord in water consecrated with mantras.

    Removing oil, ghee, etc, with flour, then warm water.
    Wiping the Lords body with a soft, dry cloth (anga vastra).
    Dressing the Lord in upper and lower cloth.

    Offering gayatri thread (upavita).
    Offering achamana again after dressing.

    Arranging the Lord’s hair.
    Decorating the Lord with bracelets, necklaces, rings etc.
    Offering kaustubha and other wonderful jewels.
    Offering various colors of clothing, belts, turbans, capes etc.
    Offering flowers to the Lord’s lotus feet. Applying gandha to the Lord’s feet with a Tulasi leaf.

    Offering incense.
    Offering lamps.
    Removing inauspicious influences, the glances of evil persons by mustard seeds etc.

    Offering naivedyam.
    Offering spices (mukha vasa).
    Offering betel (tambulam).
    Offering a couch for the Lord to relax in.
    Offering gandha again and decorating the Lord’s body with tilaka designs.
    Offering the Lord a crown.
    Offering varieties of flowers and garlands.

         Darshana:

    Offering a mirror.
    Offering chamara and umbrella.
    Singing.
    Playing instruments.
    Dancing.
    Offering aratika.
    Taking deity to a special mandapa.
    Bringing the Lord back to his throne.
         Bhoga Offering:

    Offering foot wash, mouth wash again.
    Offering another meal while burning incense.
    Offering betel, then performing aratika.

         Concluding Puja:

    Recitation of verses (stuti)
    Circumabulation of deity (pradakshina)
    Pranamas.

    Touching ones head at the lotus feet of the Lord (astanga pranama).
    The taking charanamrta and flower Prasad on one’s head.
    Taking the food remnants of the Lord.

     At  Night.

    Sitting at the feet of the Lord ready for service.
    Making a nice bed for the Lord, with  soft cloth, flowers and nice scented powders.
    Offering ones hand to the Lord, and offering him his shoes,  to bring him to the bed.
    Receiving the Lord at the bed with great festivity.
    Washing the Lord’s feet, then drying them, offering gandha, flowers, betel, condensed milk, fan.
    Having the Lord lie down in the bed and massaging his lotus feet.

    Ref.

    http://www.salagram.net/upacharas.html

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  • Churches Turn Into Temples, Pope Coverts To Islam.

    In  a reverse process, Churches are turning into Temples in the US and UK.True.

    Pope Coverts To Islam
    Pope Coverts To Islam

    I read a hilarious story that Pope Benedict  converted  to Islam!

    Delightful hoax of course.

    Pope Benedict XVI Resigns Papacy, Converts To Islam

    HOLY SEE – In a shocking press conference Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI revealed to the world that he will be stepping down from the Catholic Church’s highest office. “Through prayer and reflection over the past years,” the world’s holiest man began, “I’ve realized that Allah is the one true God.”

    Amid clattering camera shutters and roaring reporters, Pope Benedict patiently answered questions, citing traditional Muslim folklore as well as passages from the Qur’an to explain his decision. His session was interrupted only once, when he swiveled South-East to face Mecca, stooped to the ground, and recited the Asr, one of the five daily prayers central to Muslim belief.

    According to a message that has been circulating for several months, previous Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI actually resigned his post in February 2013 because he converted to Islam and could therefore no longer play his role as head of the Catholic Church. The message claims that Pope Benedict made the decision after years of prayer and reflection and because he came to realize that “Allah is the one true God”.

    But, not surprisingly, the claims in the message are utter nonsense. Pope Benedict has certainly not converted to Islam. The message began life as a story published on the “news” section of the satire and humour website “Dead Seriousness” in February 2013.  The website specializes in satirical – and entirely – fictional articles, many of which are couched as news reports.

    Most site visitors who have a careful read of the articles will quickly realize their satirical and humorous nature and will not take them seriously.  However, partly because the site does not include a disclaimer on its articles explaining that the reports are untrue, at least a few readers are duped into believing what they read.

    Moreover, the above article fairly quickly escaped the confines of its original home and began circulating via email and social media as a stand-alone “news” story, thus duping even more recipients. Amusingly, the story has generated a good deal of often angst-ridden commentary about the Pope’s supposed decision.

    The message is reminiscent of another widely circulated satire article that falsely claimed that the Pope had come out as gay. This message also escaped from a satirical website.

    http://www.hoax-slayer.com/pope-converts-islam.shtml

    UK : Former Wardlawhill Church in Rutherglen (Scotland, United Kingdom) is reportedly Sri Sundara Ganapathy Temple now.

    Before the Temple organizers purchased it, Wardlawhill Church was affiliated to Church of Scotland, majority church in Scotland, whose aim is “to worship God by following the teachings of Jesus Christ”. It was then renovated and refurbished into a Hindu temple.

    According to reports, on the opening day, following the Milk Abhishegam ritual for Lord Ganapathy, the deity was carried in a decorated palanquin on shoulders of several young men in a procession from the City Centre to the Temple hall through the Main Street with police escort, which included chanting and music. A Hindu priest from London conducted the opening ceremony, which included various ancient rituals, prayers, bhajans to the accompaniment of drums and manjeeras, lamps lighting, etc. An auction of sarees was held for temple development fund.

    (Pakistan Hindupost.blogspot.in)

    ”

    indu activists have converted an 18-year-old church into a temple at Bhojpur village in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh. They have also forcibly re-converted 300 Dalit Christians by making them go through the yagyopaveet ritual.

    According to the Hindu Jagran Vibhag (HJV), an outfit belonging to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), despite regular re-conversions by Hindu organisations in rural India, the number of Christian converts have been growing, especially in the rural parts of western Uttar Pradesh.

    HJV provincial head Rajshwar Singh says his outfit has set up a team of 600 Hindu activists to investigate the reasons for the growing number of Dalit Christians in the region. This team has recently submitted a report that points out the existence of a number of churches without a single Christian around.

    (indianchristians.in)

     

    ‘

    Next month, a Swaminarayan temple will be thrown open to devotees in Los Angeles, California. While there are many Hindu shrines the world over, a majority of them built by global Gujaratis, the consecration scheduled on July 22 is special. For, this abode of Lord Swaminarayan was once a run-down church.

    The 80-year-old church was acquired for $1.3 million by Swaminarayan Maninagar Gaadi Sansthan (SMGS) last year.

    SMGS has acquired five such old churches in Canada, the US and the UK. A fortnight ago, the sect acquired a 121-year-old heritage church building in Toronto, Canada for $1.6 million. While the building is now being converted into a temple-ashram, SMGS plans to retain carvings and glass paintings which are of great heritage value.

    http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-29/ahmedabad/32472241_1_lord-swaminarayan-church-uk

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  • மயிலை கபாலீஸ்வரர் தேரோட்ட‍ம் திருவிழா – 1968 வீடியோ

     

     

     

    thanks to Mr. Ravishankar on facebook