Most important pilgrimage destination

Why is 4 dham yatra important ?

       Just as there are four vedas, four directions in hindu culture, there are also four  dhams. The holy land of india has Jagannathpuri in the east, Dwarkapuri in the west, Rameshwar in the south and Badrinath in the north.

Jagannathpuri

       Mahaprabhu shri krishna spent a few days of his life in Jagannathpuri. It is believed that in Jagannathpuri people of all religions sit and eat together which increases the merit of the pilgrims. Jagannath literally means Nath of the world, Lord vishnu. Jagannath temple has the main idol of Lord vishnu along with idols of Balrama and Subhadra. These idols are made of sandal wood. It is said that Lord Brahma himself provided the eyes in the main idol and worshiped Lors vishnu. Underneath the idols there is an Asthi Manjisa which is enshrined in a new idol every 12th year. It is said that these relics belong to Lord krishna. Market day in jagannathpuri  shwetaganga,Indradyumna, Sandalwood, Parvati lake, Markandeya have five shrines. The glory of shri jagannathpuri maharaj`s prasad is very famous. It is said to absorb the dosha without touching anything even on the day of vrat. That wonderful prasad is not a food or substance but a symbolic essence.

Dwarka

       Dwarka is a place of mythological, historical and religious importance. It is that after leaving Mathura, Lord krishna along with his brother Balaram and Yadavas came to Dwarka and made it their new capital. In the eighth century, Swami aadi shankaracharya established the Dwarkapeeth for the propogation of sanatan dharma. Since then this town is considered among the four capitals of India. Harigraha of Dwarkadhish temple was built by Anurodha`s son vajranath in memory of his baba shri krishna. A statue of lord krishna is enshrined in the harigriha of the temple. The dwarkapeeth math is shown to have great religious importance as it is one of the four dhams of hindus.There is Rukmini ,the queen of krishna. Rukmini`s temple is a wonderful example of architectural art.It is written in skandha purana the due to the influence of Dwarka, moths, animals, birds and all the sins raised in the primordial vaginas are also freed. Those who live in Dwarka every day and become jitendriya and remain enthusiastically formed and digested in the service of lord krishna, all their desires are fulfilled. Even by sight and touch, the biggest sinners are freed and go to heaven.

Rameswaram

     

    Rameswaram is believed to be where Lord rama expressed his gratitude to shiva when he returned after conquering Lanka. According to the Ramayana, before thr victory in the war against the demons, Lord rama bathed there and worshiped shiva. Vibhisan, the brother of  the demon king Ravana, surrendered to Lord rama at the temple and gained his protection. Dhanushkoti temple has idols of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita, Hanuman and vibhisan. The corridor of ramnath swamy temple is considered to be the largest among the temples of India. The temple is endowed with exquisite examples of architecture. Rameswaram is enumerated in twelve jyotirlingas. It is written in Brahmakhand of skandhapurana that Rameshwar is excellent in all shrines and fields because of the bridge built by Lord rama. Just by seeing that bridge, the world gets liberated and devotion and virtue increase in Lord vishnu and shiva. His visual, oral and monthly work is also accomplished. There is no doubt about it. Setubandh has been said to be a deity. All the sins of a human being are destroyed by just contemplating shri rameshwar linga.

Badrinath

           Badrinath is situated at the confluence of Rishiganga and Alkhanandan rivers between the Nar and Narayan mountains. The beauty of badrinath has been discussed in mahabharata, skandhapurana and other puranas. The main idol in badrinath temple is of Lord vishnu. This idol made on shaalgram stone is unique in terms of art. According to mythology, this idol was obtained from a tank by shankaracharya in the seventh century. In front of it there is a hot water spring on the bank of alkhanandan river. It is called talkund in which devotees bathe and feel very pleasant.Bhima and the pandavas kept a huge stone in the river to cross it, which is known as bhimshila. It is said that mahashiva vyasa composed the puranas in the vyas cave there. Outside the cave, a huge rock is seen in the shape of a book. It is called "vyasapushtika". It is written in mahabharata that ritually observing swadharma in other tirthas gives freedom from death. But the vision of badrishetra gives salvation.Badri is the supreme shrine, tapovan and the real paratan brahma. He is the Lord of the living beings. Knowing him, the infatuation and anxiety are immediately removed.

The Great Ancient City : Vadnagar

              We will learn about Vadnagar located in North Gujarat. Vadnagr is located in Mehsana district of North Gujarat. Vadnagar city is historical place. Vadnagar is famous for two things. One is that Prime minister Narendrabhai Modi of your county was born there and hailed from there and studied there. The other is that Tansen from Akbar`s Navaratna sang Dipkarag to him and after that the fire that burned in his body.When he came around to extinguish the fire, Tana-Riri extinguished the lamp that had caught fire on his body by singing a Malhar raga. Vadnagar is very famous for these two things.Vadnagr has many sightseeing places like Hatkeswar temple, Sharmishtha lake, Kirti toran, Tana-Riri etc.

Hatkeswar Temple

       Hatkeswar temple has great historical importance. The Hatkeswar temple is  built in a very mythological style. It is believed that the temple was constructed in the 17th century. The shivling in the hatkeswar temple is believed to have appeared spontaneously from the nether world. People who belong to Nagar and Nagar brahmin castes consider Hatkeswar mahadev as their favourite deity.There is also a trust office next to the Hatkeswar temple where we can register for worship.Our three main deities are shown in the scriptures as BRAHMA,VISHNU and MAHESH. Similarly three goddesses are MAHAKALI, MAHALAKSHMI and SARASWATI. Similarly three adyalingas are TADKESWAR, HATKESWAR and MAHAKAL. It has a mantra "aakase tadkeswarm ,patale hatkeswarm,mutyuloke mahakal sarvling namostute."

          Similarly, there are total 18 puranas in Hindu culture. One of them is Skandapurana. Skandha means Kartik swami.The 6th chapter is Nagarkanth in skandapurana. It is the history of the origin of Lord hatkeshwar in Nagarkanth. It is said that there are seven nether worlds under the earth. The name of the third abyss is vital. There is an abyss. A river of gold flows in the deep abyss. From there Lord hatkesh himself has manifested in the form of linga. Gold is called "hatak" in sanskrit. This linga is equal to a gold bead, so this linga is called Hatkeshwar. By worshiping Hatkeshwar one gets wealth. Whoever comes there and makes a wish with full faith, God fulfills his hope. When saptarushi used to come there to fast for chaturmas Lord Rama also came there. Purified by doing pinddan ,worshiped hatkeshwar linga. It is mentioned in the puranas that Lord krishna worshiped hatkeshwar when he came for shamalsha`s marrige.

Kirti Toran 

      Vadnagar is famous for its known as Kirti torana a pair of 12th  century columns supporting an arch, about 40 feet tall built in red yellow sandstones, jusr north of the wallled town. They stand majestically on the bank of sharmishtha talav, on a road going down from Arjun bari.Kirti toran was built by the king of the solanki dynasty. 

          The torans might have served as an entrance to a large temple complex, but no remains of temple found here. The pillars are carved exquisitely supported with a capital decorated with triangular arch.

        Kirti toran is a very beautiful and artistic toran. This toran of Vadnagar is also called Shaurya toran. These pylons are in good condition among the beautiful pylons of solanki yug. The toran in vadnagar is legendary. It is known for its construction known as shobha van toran of the city. It is also called the toran of vadnagar. The government has declared this monument as a reserve. The picture of  the monument is seen in many books of the government. there is a fine carving on the top of its stones. The kirti toran with a height of about 13 meters gives a different and unique look to the world. In the world of  amazing architecture, the towering pillars of solanki era have become world famous even though they have passed without any support or protection.The pillars of the pylons are tall, their colors and limbs. They are of different shapes and with different resources. The inner side of its beautiful sara has a figure of makar carved on it. One end of a semi-circular arch is shown emerging from the mouth on the inner side. At the top of the big pillar, small pillars are supported on the patta. There is a triangular arch above this patda. Inside this arch two small pillars are arranged and three small niches are made and idols of Ganesha, Kartikeya etc.are placed inside.

Sharmishtha  Lake

 Narsimha mehta was a devotee of Lord krishna, his daughter`s name was kunvarbai. The name of lake is Sharmishtha because kunvarbai`s daughter was named sharmishtha. It is the largest lake in Vadnagar. It is believed that the lake is 4500 years old. Sharmishtha lake is there was a lake there was such a thing that husband-wife get marrid in the lake and then water will come when they give samadhi there. Water comes automatically from below in the lake. Boat trips are available in the lake. A competition of swimmers is also held there and prizes are also given.People come from far and wide to participate in it.

Tana-Riri                          

This is the garden of around the Tana Riri temple. Tana-Riri has a different significance.There is a statue of narsingh mehta.There is a very nice and beautiful garden. It is believed that kunvarbai had two daughters Tana and Riri.Both were twins. She was very skilled in music. She knew Malhar raga and many others ragas. There is Tana-Riri`s samadhi.It dates back to 1564. Both sisters are worshipped as goddesses.She pacified Tansen by playing Malhar raga. After Tana and Riri took samadhi, Tansen composed the raga "Tarana" which is still sung today. Gujarat state also organizes music program every year. Tana-Riri festival is also organized.

    

c 

Information of Somnath temple

Information of Somnath temple 

       

  The Somnath temple is an important pilgrimage and tourist spot in Gujarat. It is located in prabhas patan near veraval in saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat.This following picture  is shivlinga of somnath temple.

                                                        

        

     somnath   is the first jyotirlinga among the twelve jyotirlingas of Lord shiva.Somnath is an important pilgrimage and scenic spot.Somnath is considered a holy place based on many ancient legends. 

         This pic is behind part of somnath temple.We see the sea in the  behind of temple.It has very long and large sea.

T

 Somnath temple is known as eternal pilgrimage .Somnath temple was repaired in November 1946.At that time Sardar vallabhbhai patel came to junagadh. Then its construction was decided. Kanaiyalal mankalal munshi completed its construction after vallabhbhai patel deathwho was the minister of india at that time .                                              

          Somnath temple is open from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm.There are three aartis performed daily at 7:00 am , 12:00 noon , 7:00 pm. It is said that there is a place called Bhalka where Lord krishna ended his life on earth. The shivalinga at somnath is considered to be one of the twelve jyotirlingas in india. It is also the main abode of Lord shiva.The architecture of shivalinga in Somnath has many mythological stories.The holy shivlinga has been established at the place where Lord shiva had darshan .Actually there are 64 jyotirlingas but only 12 jyotirlingas are considered sacred.All the 12 jyotirlingas of Lord shiva are located in Somnath ,the rest are located in Varansi ,Rameshwar ,Dwarka etc.

            Somnath has been a holy place of pilgrimage since ancient times.Since the time of triveni sangam, people have believed in its greatness.It is said that Chandra Lord soman lost his luster there due to a curse and bathed in the river Saraswati there.Prostrate  form chandramanas boon grew waned.The name of the city Prabhas is derived from several ronakas and according to ancient tradition it is known by the names of Someswara and Somnatha.Which according to gorden melton s traditional documents was built at Somnath.

            The first shiva temple was built in very ancient times.The second temple was built 639 during the reign of king valabhi.Singh s early governor junved is said to have destroyed it in 725.After this ,in 815, king Nagabhatta of Gurjara pratihar built his third temple. The temple was built of red stone but there is no historical evidence of the invasion of soma by earl junved but Nagabhatta came to saurashtra to visit that temple. Solanki king moolraj is said to have built the first temple in 957ad while some say Solanki king moolraj rebuilt many ancient temples. It is said that many people damaged the temple but the kings also repaired the temples together. In 1257 ,when the Delhi sultanat captured it, it was defeated for the fifth time. Mughal emoeror Aurangzeb again toppled in 1706. The temple that stands today was built by the home minister of india,sardar vallabhbhai patel and On December 1955,the president of india. shankar dayal sharma dedicated the temple to the nation. In 1948 prabhas tirtha was also known as prabhas patan with the same name as its taluka and municipality. This junagadh was the main town there but after 1948 its taluka and municipality and office were merged into various.

               It was destroyed and renovated but the shivling remained intact to the south of the temple there is a pillar on the sea shore with an arrow on it indicating that there is no land between the Somnath temple and the south pole. The ancient temple located in the back of the temple is believed to be the temple of Parvatiji. The management and management of the Somnath temple is based on the Somnath trust. The government has also managed the trust by giving land and gardens to the trust. Chaitra, Kartak, Bhadrva months have special significance for shraddha, these three months are very crowded with devotees, there is also triveni confluence of Kapila, Hiran, Saraswati rivers.