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Jagannath Temple,Puri -Orissa
This temple was constructed at about last part of 11th century or first part of 12th century as per the version of historians. It is the earlist Ganga monument of Orissa, but it must be noted that the ganga temples of much earlier dates are still to traced in the Andra regions, the original seat of power of Gangas. There is a definite mention in all the later copper plate records of the successor of Chodaganga that he was the bulider of this great temple at Puri. According to some evidence sources that Chodaganga had began this huge structure and one his successor Ananagabhimadev III completed it or added the Jagamohan to it. The height of the Jagannath temple of Puri as calculated as 215 feet 8 inches. It is therefore the loftiest religious edifice of Orissa. At present the thick coat of plaster which had covered the structure for centuries has been removed and the stone works on it are now, proof of the sculptural richness of that era.
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Jagannath Temple, Puri |
As is usual in all great temples of the period, the monument stands on a high platform which is connected with the ground level by a height of 22 very very big steps. The edifies is masive and strong and is a product of accummulated experience of the past in temple architecture and this factor has enabled it to with stand the ravages of time.
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Kalighat,West Bengal
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Kalighat Temple-Westbengal
Kaali is regarded as one of the principal deities of Bengal. There are other temples to Kaali - Sahasrabhuja Kaali, Sarvamangala, Tarasundari and Simhavaahini. Kaali is regarded as the destroyer or liberator and is depicted in a fearful form. Despite the terrifying form, she is considered to deliver bliss to worshippers. The Kalighat temple attracts numerous devotees throughout the year.
Kalighat is regarded as one of the 52 Shakti Peethams of India, where the various parts of Sati's body are said to have fallen, in the course of Shiva's Rudra Tandava. Kalighat represents the site where the toes of the right foot of Shakti or Sati fell. (see Daksha Yagna).
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The Temple: The Kalighat temple in its present form iis only about 200 years old, although it has been referred to in Mansar Bhasan composed in the 15th century, and in Kavi Kankan Chandi of the 17th century.
Legend has it that a devotee discovered a luminant ray of light coming from the Bhagirathi river bed, and upon investigating its source came upon a piece of stone carved in the form of a human toe. He also found a Syayambhu Lingam of Nakuleshwar Bhairav nearby, and started worshipping Kaali in the midst of a thick jungle. This shrine grew to its present form over a period of time, thanks in particular to the Sabarna Roy Chowdhury family of Bengal.
The Dakshineswar Kaali temple across from the river, near Belur Math, bears an image of Kaali worshipped by the spiritual leader Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, guru of Swami Vivekananda.
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Budha Deva Temple - Bihar
Bihar has an extremely rich cultural background and has been a significant center of study and the seat of Buddhist learning in the ancient past. Besides its other attractions, Bihar is also the major Buddhist pilgrimage center in India visited by lot of devotees all the year round.
The Durga Temple is one place that you must visit during your temple tours to Bihar, India, as it is believed that this temple had a pathshala or a village school where the famous writer Kalidas used to study.
The Mandar Hill Temple is another place that you must pay a visit to during your temple tours to Bihar, India as according to a commonly believed legend it was here that the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu defeated a demon and it is believed that this battle lasted for more than a thousand years.
The Kurkihar Temple is an important tourist site of religious importance in Bihar, India and thus definitely warrants a visit during your temple tours to this region.
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Most of the rectangular temples are two tiered brick structures with sanctum being centrally built on the upper tier with ample space marked for circumambulation. Temple Site 2 is somewhat unusual in absence of the prevalent brick structures. This temple is dressed in stones and its beauty lies in over two hundred sculptured panels. The themes borrow heavily from the Hindu mythology like Siva and Parvati, Gaja Lakshmi, Kubera, Agni etc. Some of the panels are interesting geometric patterns while others are amazing decorative devices depicting birds, animals, couples, musical instruments, etc. These panels are separated by pilasters with pot and foliage designs.(1919words)
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Parasuram Kund |
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is the abode of Buddhist Monasteries and Temples. There are places of worship and pilgrimage such as Parasuramkund and 400 years old Tawang Monastery- a Buddhist monastery, one of the largest monasteries in India. Buddhist pilgrimages visit the place throughout the year and pay their reverence in the temple to seek sanctification and achieve the path of enlightenment, as the Lord Buddha achieved.
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Assam
The Kamakhya Temple in Assam
The Kamakhya Temple in Assam is one of the most venerated Shakti shrines in India, and is regarded as one of the Shakti Peethams associated with the legend of Shiva and Daksha Yagna.
Kamakhya is located on a hill - Neelachala Parvat or Kamagiri near the city of Guwahati in Assam. Shakti, residing on the Kamagiri hill is known as Kamakhya, the granter of desires. Assam traditionally has been known as the Kamarupa Desa and has been associated with Tantric practices and Shakti worship.
This temple was destroyed in early 16th century, and then rebuilt in the 17th century by King Nara Narayana, of Cooch Bihar. Images of the builder and related inscriptions are seen in the temple. The Kalika Purana, an ancient work in Sanskrit describes Kamakhya as the yielder of all desires, the young bride of Shiva, and the giver of salvation.
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Legend Says
Another legend says that the demon Narakasura fell in love with Goddess Kamakhya once and he wanted to marry her. But as a goddess cannot marry a demon or asura, Goddess Kamakhya played a trick to save herself. She laid a condition that she would marry him only if he builds a temple for her within one night. Narakasura agreed to it and almost finished building the temple overnight. This scared Goddess Kamakhya and before the final steps of the temple were completed, a cock was sent to cry cock-a-doodle-do to announce the arrival of the morning, before it was actually dawn. This made Narakasura very angry and he killed the cock on that spot. But according to the condition Narakasura couldn't marry Goddess Kamakhya after that. It is said that the present Kamakhya temple is the same that Narakasura had made for the Goddess.
The Temple Structure
The Kamakhya Temple has a beehive like shikhara. Some of the sculptured panels seen here are of interest. There are images of Ganesha, Chamundeswari, dancing features etc. The temple is a natural cave with a spring. Down a flight of steps to the bowel of earth, is located a dark, mysterious chamber. Here, draped with a silk sari and covered with flowers, is kept the "matra yoni".
There is no image of Shakti here. Within a corner of a cave in the temple, there is a sculptured image of the Yoni of the Goddess, which is the object of reverence. A natural spring keeps the stone moist.
Other temples on the Neelachala hill include those of Tara, Bhairavi, Bhuvaneswari and Ghantakarna.
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Deoghar Temple |
JHARKHANDA
While discovering the temple of Jharkhand , tourist gets an opportunity to explore the glorious religious heritage of India. In fact temple tours to this region can be the most gratifying experience, as lot of people have not yet discovered these temple treasures of Jharkhand.
Deoghar is located at 24.48° N 86.7° E[1]. It has an average elevation of 254 metres (833 feet).
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Deoghar, the town, has a picturesque location. To the north of the town there is a wood called Data Jungle after a fakir; to the north-west is a low wooded hill called Nandan Pahar; and to the east about 10 miles away there is a low range of hills known as Tiur or Trikutaparvata. There are a number of small hills to the south-east, south and southwest. There are two rivulets Yamunajor and Dharua near the town. The countryside around Deoghar has an attractive set-up with undulations, water courses and small hills.
The climate is dry and congenial and Deoghar is still considered a health resort in spite of the great congestion particularly due to the temple of Baidyanath and the location of the criminal and civil courts and a very large number of Government establishments.
The nearest railway station is Baidyanathdham. Jasidih junction is about 7 km from Baidyanathdham railway station, which is on the main line of Howrah-Delhi route of Indian railway. It is about 223 km from Patna.
This place is famous for the mela of Shrawan (a Hindu month). Approx. 10-20 lakhs worshipers come with holy water of Ganga from Sultangunj to present it to Shiva, which is almost 104 km from Deoghar. The human unbroken line of 104 km in red dress can been seen here in this month. |
Sikkim
The earliest recorded event related to Sikkim is the passage of the Buddhist saint Guru Rinpoche through the land in the 8th century. The Guru is reported to have blessed the land, introduced Buddhism to Sikkim, and foretold the era of monarchy in the state that would arrive centuries later. In the 14th century, according to legend, Khye Bumsa, a prince from the Minyak House in Kham in Eastern Tibet, had a divine revelation one night instructing him to travel south to seek his fortunes. His descendants were later to form the royal family of Sikkim. In 1642, the fifth generation descendant of Khye Bumsa, Phuntsog Namgyal, was consecrated as the first Chogyal (king) of Sikkim by the three venerated Lamas who came from the north, west and south to Yuksom, marking the beginning of the monarchy.
Phuntsog Namgyal was succeeded in 1670 by his son, Tensung Namgyal, who moved the capital from Yuksom to Rabdentse. In 1700, Sikkim was invaded by the Bhutanese with the help of the half-sister of the Chogyal, who had been denied the throne.
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Statue of Guru Rinpoche, the patron saint of Sikkim. The statue in Namchi is the tallest statue of the saint in the world at 118 feet.
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Phuntsog Namgyal was succeeded in 1670 by his son, Tensung Namgyal, who moved the capital from Yuksom to Rabdentse. In 1700, Sikkim was invaded by the Bhutanese with the help of the half-sister of the Chogyal, who had been denied the throne.
The Bhutanese were driven away by the Tibetans, who restored the throne to the Chogyal ten years later. Between 1717 and 1733, the kingdom faced many raids by the Nepalese in the west and Bhutanese in the east, culminating with the destruction of the capital Rabdentse by the Nepalese.
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Tripura
Chaturdasha Temple
This temple is situated near Old Agartala, features the Bengal dome patterned after the roofs of village huts in Bengal. The dome is surmounted by a stupa-like structure which might reveal a trace of Buddhist influence. Interestingly this temple was built for fourteen head images of Gods and Goddessess called Chaturdasha Devta by King Krishna Manikya Debbarma and these head images are ceremoniously worshipped during the Kharchi Puja. Tripuri names of fourteen gods and goddesses are however: Lampra, Akhatra, Bikhatra, Burasa, Thumnairok, Bonirok, Sangroma, Mwtaikotor, Twima, Songram, Noksumwtai, Mailuma, Khuluma and Swkalmwtai.
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