| Search |
| on
Theindiatravel.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home
>
Travel
>
Favourite Spots
>
The Temple Trail
> Gangetic Plains |
| |
| The
Temples of Gangetic Plains |
|
 Popular
Hindu faith considers the mighty Himalayas to be
the home of the Gods. Abounding in natural beauty,
the Himalayan region in India is full of places
of worship, dating back to ancient times. Numerous
legends associated with the great epics of India
are associated with these shrines. The following
is a brief pointer to some of the temples in the
region.
|
| Ayothya
|
|
 Description
Ayodhya is considered to be one of the 7 Muktistalams
of India. Ayodhya is believed to be a component
of Vaikuntham, given to Manu by Vishnu, and installed
on the banks of the Sarayu. Ayodhya is very closely
associated with the story of Rama (as told in the
timeless Indian epic Ramayana). Ayodhya is located
in Uttar Pradesh and is visited by thousands of
pilgrims throughout the year.
The Tamil Alwars have mentioned Ayodhya in their works ; Nammalwar, Tirumangaialwar and Tondaradippodialwar in one poem each; while Periyalwar and Kulasekharalwar have six and four poems each, mentioning Ayodhya. The Ramayana dates way back in time. The Alwars lived in the latter half of the first millenium CE.
The Ammaji Temple is a temple built embracing South Indian architecture, at a much later date, at Ayodhya, on the banks of the Sarayu river. Ranganathar and Rama are enshrined here. Rama is enshrined in a seated posture facing North. Worship services are conducted here by South Indian Sree Vaishnava priests.
There are several temples and shrines related to Rama Sita Lakshmana and Hanuman in the ancient town of Ayodhya.
|
| Benares
(Varanasi) |
|
 Benares
(Varanasi)
- Kaasi is considered to be the holiest of all pilgrimage
sites in India. It is considered home to Shiva -
Visweswara. Benares is also known as Kaasi because
it is beleived that Supreme brilliance shines there,
and lights the way to salvation (Kas - to shine).
Varanasi is located between two rivers Varana and
Asi, and hence the name Varanasi.
This place is said to give the greatest delight
to God and hence the name Anandakanana; the five
elements lie in this great cremation ground as will
all dead bodies at the time of the final deluge
and hence the name Mahasmasaanam.
Benares has been a pilgrimage center since time
immemorial. It is believed that the fifth head of
Bhrama which clung to Shiva's palms came unstuck
only after he reached Varanasi. Varanasi has been
mentioned in the Tamil Tevaram hymns of the first
millennium CE. Kasi is mentioned repeatedly in the
scriptures such as the Bhramanas, Upanishads, Kavyas
and Puranas. It is the oldest center of learning,
and is vibrant with centuries of tradition.
|
| Haridwar
|
|
 The
temple of Chandi Devi atop the Neel Parvat on the
other bank of river Ganga was constructed in 1929
AD by the King of Kashmir – Suchat Singh. The temple
is a 3 km trek from Chandi Ghat. Legend has it that
Chanda-Munda the army chief of the local demon king,
Shumbha-Nishumbha, was killed by Goddess Chandi
here after which the place got the name Chandi Devi.
It is believed that the main statue was established
by the Adi Sankaracharya in 8th Century AD. Chandi
Devi Temple is now accessible by a ropeway also,
which starts near Gauri Shanker Temple.
Bharat Mata Temple
This is one of the important temples of Haridwar. It has eight stories in which the images of cities, heroes and great men are installed.
Shanti Kunj
It is the famous ashram of Gayatri. Followers and pilgrims from far and wide converge here for yoga and natural cures.
Maya Devi Temple
It is an ancient temple of Maya Devi the Adhishtkatri deity of Haridwar, known as one of the Siddhapeethas. It is believed that the heart and navel of goddess Sati had fallen at this ancient saktipeeth, located to the east of Har-ki-Pauri.
Har-Ki-Pauri
Har-Ki-Pauri – the sacred Ghat was constructed by King Vikramaditya in memory of his brother Bhartrihari. It is believed that Bhartihari eventually came to Haridwar to meditate by the banks of the holy Ganga. When he died, his brother constructed the Ghat in his name which later came to be known as Har-Ki-Pauri. This sacred bathing ghat is also known as Brahmakund. The reflection of golden hues of floral diyas in the river Ganga is the most enchanting sight in the twilight during the Ganga Arti Ceremony. It is the most important ghat on the river Ganga, where a holy dip is a must for every devotee.
|
| Bodhgaya
|
 Gaya
is located at a distance of 105 km from Patna in the
state of Bihar. Buddha Gaya is located 7 miles south
of Gaya and is one of the well visited Buddhist pilgrimage
centers of the Indian subcontinent.
There are four sacred Buddhist pilgrimage centers in the Indian subcontinent. The first of these is the birthplace of Buddha at Lumbinivana, east of Kapilavastu. The second most sacred place of pilgrimage is Buddha Gaya where he attained enlightenment. The third most sacred pilgrimage center for Buddhists is Sarnath or Isipatan where Buddha delivered his first sermon, and the fourth is Kushinara or Kashia in Uttar Pradesh, where he finally gave up his mortal self.
The Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment is considered to be the among the oldest and the most venerated tree in the world. This tree is said to be a descendant of the original tree, a branch of which was transplanted at Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka during the period of Emperor Ashoka the great. It is believed that Emperor Ashoka's Guru Upagupta led him to various holy sites in the Buddhist tradition, including this tree at Gaya.
|
| Mathura
and Brindavan |
 Description
Mathura and Brindavan in Uttar Pradesh are intimately
connected with the life of Krishna and are considered
to be amongst the holiest of pilgrimage sites of the
Hindus. The Gopas shifted to Brindavan following several
calamities at Gokul. Brindavan was a lush site, on
the banks of the river Yamuna.
Legend has it that Shatrugna, brother of Rama, vanquished the demon Lavanasuran, and built the picturesque city of Mathura on the banks of the Yamuna river. Govardhan hill is located 26 km from Mathura while Brindavan is at a distance of 10 km from Mathura. Mathura has been mentioned by Ptolemy and by the Chinese traveller Hyuen Tsang (7th century CE). Mathura was once a Buddhist center.
|
| Sarnath
|
 This
is one of the most famous Buddhist centers of India
and is located 6 km north of Hindu pilgrimage center
Benares - in Uttar Pradesh, near the highway to Ghazipur.
There are four sacred Buddhist pilgrimage centers in the Indian subcontinent. The first of these is the birthplace of Buddha at Lumbinivana, east of Kapilavastu. The second most sacred place of pilgrimage is Buddha Gaya where he attained enlightenment. The third most sacred pilgrimage center for Buddhists is Sarnath or Isipatan where Buddha delivered his first sermon, and the fourth is Kushinara or Kashia in Uttar Pradesh, where he finally gave up his mortal self.
The earliest remains here at Sarnath are from the Mauryan period ascribed to Emperor Ashoka the great. The Lion Capital is the national emblem of India. The Dharmarajika Stupa was built by Ashoka, and it was expanded and enlarged several times upto the 12th century CE. The structures here were destroyed by repeated invasions - and by gradual neglect - and what are seen today are the results of repeated reconstruction efforts.
The Dhamekh stupa is a cylindrical tower, 143 feet high, and 93 feet high. The stones in each layer were bound together by iron clamps. This tower dates back to the Gupta period.
The Chinese traveller Hsuen Tsang who visited India in the 7th century CE, speaks of the glory of Sarnath and of the structures that existed then.
|
| Deoghar
(Bihar) |
 Deoghar
(Devagriha), or the abode of the Gods, is the headquarters
of the Sub- division of the same name in the district
of Santhal Parganas, and is located four miles to
the south-east of Jasidih Junction on the main line
of the Eastern Railway from Howrah to Delhi. There
is a small branch line of the same railway from Jasidih
to Deoghar.
Deoghar 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. Deoghar or Devagriha has a large number
of temples within the circumference of a few miles. The
temple of Baidyanath or Shiva is the most important of all
the temples and attracts a large number of pilgrims all
the year round.
|
| Badrinath
|
 Badrinath
is considered the holiest of the four main shrines
of Uttarakhand. The town, situated on the left bank
of the Alaknanda, is equidistant from the twin mountains
of Nara and Narayan. Badrinath is on the itinerary
of every devout Hindu. The place is also known as
Badri Van after the forest of Badri trees which grow
here.
The present temple was built about two centuries ago by the kings of Garhwal. The principal idol in the temple is of black stone and represents Vishnu seated in a meditative pose, and flanked by Nara-Narayan. Badrinath is also known as Vishal Badri and is one of the Panch Badris.
|
|
|
Winter: October to March.