Kailash Parvat

 Kailash Parvat

Why is Mount Kailash a part of China?

Mount Kailash is one of the holiest places in the world for Hindus. It is the abode of Bhagwan Shiva and it is said that visiting Mount Kailash is enough to wash away all the sins of even previous births.

A lot of the devotees have the question Where is Mount Kailash located?, the answer to Kailash Parvat Location is that Kailash Parvat is not exactly a part of China but Mt. Kailash and Mansarovar Lake is situated in Tibet, which is under the administrative rule of China. 

In the past few centuries, it was not a part of any major Indian empire. 

🇳🇵  Kailash was part of Nepal a long time back and was ruled by a Nepali King. It was the Nepali king who gifted the Kailash area to a Tibetan King as dowry for his daughter’s marriage and then it became a part of Tibet. 

After that, it has always been Tibetan territory and when India got independence in 1947, it was still the case. 

India has never had a problem with Tibet. We also had strong cultural and trade ties with Tibet for centuries and many Tibetan scholars came to India to study in its famed universities. But when the Red Army of China annexed Tibet in the 1950s, India stood mutely and perhaps that was a diplomatic blunder of considerable proportions. However, thousands of Indian Hindu pilgrims go on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra every year in peace and harmony.

Significance of Kailash Parvat

Kailash Parvat is important for more than just its geological structure. It is also important in faith, folklore, and traditional respect. That particular  mountain in Tibet, which is part of the Transhimalaya, has been a source of fascination for people from all walks of life for hundreds of years. Let's look at the different things about Kailash Parvat that make it so attractive.

Spiritual Significance

Abode of the Divine: In Hindu tradition, Kailash Parvat is revered as the abode of Lord Shiva, a principal deity known for his aspects of destruction and regeneration. Accompanying him is his consort, Parvati, and their divine entourage.

Centre of the Universe: In many ancient texts and traditions, Kailash is referred to as the cosmic axis, the centre of the universe, where heaven meets earth, serving as a spiritual axis mundi.

Sacred Site for Multiple Religions: Apart from Hinduism, Kailash holds significant religious value in Buddhism, Jainism, and the Bon religion. In Buddhism, it is seen as the home of Demchok, a significant tantric deity. Jains consider it the site where their first Tirthankara attained Nirvana.

#kailashparvat #worldwidehindutemples #kailashpati #Shiva #Mahadev

Jyotiba Temple, Kolhapur

Shri Jyotiba or Kedareshvar is incarnation of Bramha, Vishnu, Mahesh and part of sage Jamadgni’s anger; and shine of 12 sun. 

It is another story that Adishakti created another set of Tridev i.e. Bramha, Vishnu and Mahesh which was 100 times more powerful than original Tridev to down their ego; when her motive become successful she ordered her newly created trideva to come again when she will call for her help. 

When Kolhasura & his army was ruling at karvir kshetra with full of unjust mehods Mahalaxmi decided to go back karvir at this time she called the trideva & they appeared in hands of Mata Vimalambuja, in the form flame.

After knowing Mata’s wish that flame took form of eight years child bearing khadag (Sward), Damaru (Drum) Trishul (Trident) and Amrut Patra (Pot filled with nectar).

History of Temple : There was a small temple in the place of today’s Jyotiba’s big temple. The original temple is built by the devotee named Naavji from village kival near Karad. In 1730, Maharaja Ranoji Shinde of Gwalior renovated the original place in a grand place. This temple is simple and has been constructed with fine black basalt stone.

The other (second) Kedareshvar temple is particularly standing without pillars. This temple is build about 155 years ago means in 1808 by Doulatrao Shinde. There is Chopdai Temple present in between Kedarling and Kedareshvar temple which is built by Pritirao Chavan, Himmatbahadur in 1750. So particularly this is a group of three temples.

The 4th Temple of Goddess Rameshwari has built in 1780 by Malji Nikam, Panhalakar. In front of Kedareshvar, on a small square platform, there are two nandi’s in black stone. This is also installed by Daulatrao Shinde. On the east side of temple there is a Goddess Satvai facing towards east. On west side of temple Shree Ramling is situated facing towards east. At five to six places of temple wall, the veergal stones are fixed.

"Shri Kedarnath has established twelve Jyotirlingas around Jyotiba Mountain, so he is also called as Jyotirling. In order to establish the twelve Jyotirlingas, they first established Badrikedar ling in the remembrance of their original place in Himalaya so it is called as Kedarling too.

Mahakaleshwar darshan

 🔴 दि.15-12-2023 श्री महाकालेश्वर जी का भस्म आरती श्रृंगार दर्शन #mahakaal #mahakaleshwar  #ujjain

Mahakaleshwar Temple Ujjain

 🙏🌹जय श्री महाकाल 🌹🙏

श्री महाकालेश्वर ज्योतिर्लिंग उज्जैन आज के भस्मारती शृंगार दर्शन 

Shri Mahakaleshwar of Ujjayini is known among the twelve celebrated Jyotirlingas in India. 

The glory of Mahakaleshwar temple has been vividly described in various Purans. Starting with Kalidasa, many sanskrit poets have eulogized this temple in emotive terms. 

Ujjain used to be the central point for calculation of Indian time and Mahakala was considered as the distinctive presiding deity of Ujjain.The presiding deity of time, Shiva, in all his splendor, reigns eternal in Ujjain. 

The temple of Mahakaleshwar, its shikhara soaring into the skies, an imposing façade against the skyline, evokes primordial awe and reverence with its majesty. The Mahakal dominates the life of the city and its people, even in the midst of the busy routine of modern preoccupations, and provides an unbreakable link with past traditions. 

One of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India, the lingam at the Mahakal is believed to be swayambhu (born of itself), deriving currents of power (Shakti) from within itself as against the other images and lingams which are ritually established and invested with mantra-shakti. 

The idol of Mahakaleshwar is known to be dakshinamurti, facing the South. This is a unique feature, upheld by tantric tradition to be found only in Mahakaleshwar among the 12 jyotirlingas. The idol of Omkareshwar Shiva is consecrated in the sanctum above the Mahakal shrine. 

The images of Ganesh, Parvati and Karttikeya are installed in the west, north and east of the sanctum sanctorum. To the south is the image of Nandi. The idol of Nagchandreshwar on the third storey is open for darshan only on the day of Nagpanchami.On the day of Mahashivaratri, a huge fair is held near the temple, and worship goes on through the night.

Somnath temple

 श्री सोमनाथ महादेव मंदिर,

प्रथम ज्योतिर्लिंग - गुजरात (सौराष्ट्र)

दिनांकः 14 दिसंबर 2023, मार्गशीर्ष शुक्ल द्वितीया - गुरूवार 

प्रातः शृंगार

The Somnath temple

The intricately carved honey-coloured Somnath temple on the western edge of the state is believed to be the place where the first of the twelve holy jyotirlingas emerged in India – a spot where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light. 

According to popular mythology, the Moon God erected Somnath Mahadev Temple to express appreciation to Lord Shiva. The temple is constructed in the Chalukya style, with several pillars, however Jain architectural features may be found in certain places.

The temples lies at the meeting of Kapila, Hiran and Sarasvati rivers and the waves of the Arabian Sea ebb and flow touching the shore on which it is constructed. 

The ancient temple’s timeline can be traced from 649 BC but is believed to be older than that. The present form was reconstructed in 1951. Colourful dioramas of the Shiva story line the north side of the temple garden, though it’s hard to see them through the hazy glass. A one-hour sound-and-light show in Amitabh Bachchan’s baritone highlights the temple nightly at 7.45pm.

Brief History: It’s said that Somraj (the moon god) first built a temple in Somnath, made of gold; this was rebuilt by Ravana in silver, by Krishna in wood and by Bhimdev in stone. The current serene, symmetrical structure was built to traditional designs on the original coastal site: it’s painted a creamy colour and boasts a little fine sculpture. The large, black Shiva lingam at its heart is one of the 12 most sacred Shiva shrines, known as jyotirlinga.

A description of the temple by Al-Biruni, an Arab traveller, was so glowing that it prompted a visit in 1024 by a most unwelcome tourist – the legendary looter Mahmud of Ghazni from Afghanistan. 

At that time, the temple was so wealthy that it had 300 musicians, 500 dancing girls and even 300 barbers. Mahmud of Ghazni took the town and temple after a two-day battle in which it’s said 70,000 defenders died. Having stripped the temple of its fabulous wealth, Mahmud destroyed it. 

So began a pattern of destruction and rebuilding that continued forcenturies. The temple was again razed in 1297, 1394 and finally in 1706 by Aurangzeb, the Mughal ruler. After that, the temple wasn’t rebuilt until 1950.

The present Somnath Temple was reconstructed in the Māru-Gurjara style of Hindu temple architecture.

Standing tall on the shores of the Arabian Sea, the temple is an architectural wonder, showcasing beautiful Māru-Gurjara style of architecture. It was on the orders of the first Deputy Prime Minister of India Vallabhbhai Patel that the reconstruction of the temple took place.

A hub of spirituality seekers
The place is a hub for spirituality seekers. Being one of the Jyotirlinga temples, it is visited by lakhs of devotees every year. It is believed that these 12 Jyotirlingas are self-manifested and are symbolic of Shiva’s eternal power.

Navratri Puja at Sharda Temple on LoC signifies return of peace in Kashmir

Historic moment in J&K: Navratri Puja held for first time after Independence at historic Sharda Temple in Kupwara

Navratri Puja at Sharda Temple on LoC signifies return of peace in Kashmir: Amit Shah

On Monday, October 16, for the first time after 1947, Navratri Puja was held at the Sharda Devi Temple near the Line of Control (LoC) in Teetwal village of J&K’s Kupwara district.

Puja was held on the first day of Sharad Navratri and this historic event drew a significant number of pilgrims from across the country.

Swami Govindananda Saraswati of Hampi reached Teetwal village with his followers on a Rath Yatra from Kishkinda, the birthplace of Lord Hanuman in Karnataka.

Some Kashmiri Pandit pilgrims were also present during the Puja, including A K Raina, a known theatre personality, who has acted in ‘The Kashmir Files’ movie.

The temple and Gurudwara in Teetwal village were burnt down by tribal raiders in 1947 and a new temple and gurudwara has come up on the same piece of land on the same pattern, that was inaugurated by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah on March 23, 2023.

Hailing the Navratri Puja at the historic temple after 75 years, Amit Shah said, “It is a matter of profound spiritual significance that for the first time since 1947, the Navratri pujas have been held in the historic Sharda Temple in Kashmir this year.

“Earlier in the year, the Chaitra Navratri Puja was observed and now the mantras of the Shardiya Navratri puja resound in the shrine. I was fortunate to reopen the temple on 23rd March 2023 after restoration. This not only signifies the return of peace in the valley but also marks the rekindling of our nation’s spiritual and cultural flame under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji.”

The ancient temple of Sharda is one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas and lies in ruins in the Neelam Valley of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The temple is devoted to the Hindu Goddess Maa Sharda, often considered an incarnation of Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge and wisdom.

According to legend, the temple was originally built by the Pandavas during their period of exile. It is also believed that King Lalitaditya Muktapida, who governed the region during the 8th century, later undertook the renovation of the temple.

Maa Sharda Devi Temple holds significant religious importance for Hindus, particularly within the Kashmiri Pandit community. Devotees from various parts of India visit the temple to seek blessings and offer prayers to the Goddess. It is believed that it represents the spiritual location of Goddess Sati’s fallen right hand.

[With Inputs from IANS]

Hindu culture of Indonesia

Hinduism in Indonesia 

Hinduism came to Indonesia in the 1st-century through Indian traders, sailors, scholars and priests. A syncretic fusion of pre-existing Javanese folk religion, culture and Hindu ideas, that from the 6th-century also synthesized Buddhist ideas as well, evolved as the Indonesian version of Hinduism.

The Shaivite sect of Hinduism started to develop in Java in the fifth century CE. Hinduism had a decisive influence on the ideology of the one-man rule of the Raja, and was the dominant religion in Indonesia before the arrival of Islam.

In Indonesia (especially Java), the Ramayana (and also Mahabharata) form the base for the famous shadow or leather puppet show known as the Wajang Kulit that starts after the harvest season and continues until the rains start.

Ramayana in Indonesia

It is historically believed that the two Great Indian Epics were carried to Indonesia by various traders, warriors, craftsmen, priests, and poets. Various Indonesian and Javanese inscriptions (Sanskrit) dating from 8th to 10th century CE frequently mention the terms Raghav, Bharat, Lanka, Ravan, Sita, Ram, Vali, Ramayan, and Lakshman.

While the earliest known written copy of Ramkatha in Indonesia known as the Ramayan Kakawain was written by Yogiswar (10th century), later various other versions were written too. It is believed by many experts that East Java by itself claims to hold 1200 versions of Ramayana.

The first portrayal of the Ramayan on stone was seen in Central Java, where the epic was carved onto the courtyard balustrades in the Chandi Shiva and Chandi Brahma temples, locally known as Lara Jonggrang.  Lara Jonggrang, also has the glory of holding a full pictorial representation of the Ramayan (Balakanda to Uttarakanda). Interestingly, the town closest to this temple is known as Yogyakarta, which in old Javanese means Ayodhya (Ram’s birthplace).

In many parts of Indonesia, the banyan tree is still held as holy; and during harvest, Sri (devi Lakshmi) is held in great reverence in order to avoid offending her.  Islam, which was brought to Indonesia by Indian traders from Kerala and Gujarat in the 16th century, slowly took control over the next three hundred years.

Wajang Kulit 

While the main themes in Wajang Kulit are from Ramayan and Mahabharat, there have been many changes based on local traditions and norms, thereby further increasing its popularity and helping it grow.

A reading of the various Ramayanas found across the South East Asian countries show the widespread influence Rama’s tale once had across various nations. While narratives vary, and often perspectives seem different owing to religious and cultural differences, these Ram Kathas have become an integral part of people’s lives in these foreign nations.

Through shadow puppetry (wayang kulit and wayang purwa), the story of Ramayana helped bring about a resurgence in Hinduism. Of course, the story has been adapted from the original and changed a bit throughout the centuries. The version that you get in Indonesia is different from the one you might see in Thailand, and both are quite different from the original.

Temple Architecture Brings Ramayana Alive

Prambanan is a 9th-century Hindu temple compound in Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimūrti, the expression of God as the Creator (Brahma), the Preserver (Vishnu) and the Transformer (Shiva).  The temple compound, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia and the second-largest in Southeast Asia.

Inside the largest temple of the complex is the story of Ramayana in stone relief. On the main temple at Prambanan, the entire Ramayana is told in stone relief. The Prambanan Ballet is also held at the Prambanan Temple complex.