Swami Sivananda - Temples in India

TEMPLES IN INDIA

By SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

So Says

First Edition: 1957

World Wide Web (WWW) Edition: 1999

WWW site: http://www.rsl.ukans.edu/~pkanagar/divine/

This WWW reprint is for free distribution

© The Divine Life Trust Society

Published By THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY

SHIVANANDANAGAR 249 192

PUBLISHERS’NOTE

Inthesedayslifehasbecomeverycomplex.Thedifferentspheresofhumanactivityhave beenmultiplied.Practicallyspeaking,thereishardlyanytime,northemood,eventothinkofGod. Anidealtempleservesthepurposewelltomakeoneentertainthedivinethoughts,atleastduring thetimeheisinthetemple.Thesanctityoftheplacesoothesandrevitalizeshisworn-outnerves withauniquespiritualaura.Hisentirebeingissanctifiedbythedivinevibrations,springingforth spontaneously.Heenjoysthedivineecstasy.Onlywiththisviewourancientshavebuilttemplesall overthiscountry.

Pilgrimageisindeedareligious,nay,aspiritualact,enjoineduponallsinceredevoteesof theLord.Itgivesusagreatscopeforperiodicaldrasticflushingoftheworldlinessandimpure tendenciesthatarebeingaccumulatedinourday-to-daylifethroughconstantlylivinginthe materialatmosphere,filledwithworldliness,greed,passion,maliceanddelusion.Ournature becomesregenerated,re-vitalizedandultimatelyspiritualized.

Inthislittlevolume,SriSwamiSivanandaji,inhisusualsupra-poeticstyle,givesshort descriptionsoftheprominenttemplesinIndia.Theyareinthefirstpartofthebook.Obviously, theyarenotmerelyaninformativelistofthevarioustemplesinIndia,buttheyareactuallya garlandofelevatinghymnstothedifferentdeities,representingtheAlmightyLord.

Inthesecondpartofthebook,briefdescriptionsoftheprominentplacesofpilgrimagein India,theirlocationandtheimportantspirituallegendsthatareconnectedwiththem,aregiven. Theywillbeindeedavaluableguidetothosewhoareinterestedinpilgrimage.

Wesincerelyhopethatthisvolumewillinspiremoreandmorepeopleofthisgreatcountry toundertakepilgrimagesandformthetemple-goinghabit.ThuswouldthespiritofBharatavarsha liveforeverintheheartoftheIndia;andthuswouldthecultureofthelandenshrinedintheTemples berevived.

ShivanandaNagar, llthJuly,1957.ThePublishers. HolyGuruPurnima.

‘eS:v:-Av:t:areS:v:an:nd’

rag:m:D:Øv:nt:i t:in:t:al: (SriSivananda-Sushila,M.A.,B.Mus.)

j:y:j:y:eS:v:an:nds:dÏg:Ø-.

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din:n:kñt:Øm:n:aT:eS:v:an:nd.

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t::ðril:il:aAm:rmp:ar..4..

t:Øm:t::ðkht:ð "eS:v:an:ndhÞúm:ò",

t:Øm:h:ð 'eg:ri-kól:aS:-eS:v:a' ..5..

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c:rN:-km:l:b:el:harim:òöðö..6..

'÷iva-avatàra÷ivànanda' ràgamadhuvantã-tãnatàla (SriSivananda-Sushila,M.A.,B.Mus.)

jayajaya÷ivànandasadgurå. '÷iva'keavatàra÷ivànanda.. dãnanaketumanàtha÷ivànanda. bhaktanakebhagavàna÷ivà||1||jayadukhiyanakeàdhàra÷ivànanda premiketuma'prema'÷ivà||2|| tyàgaràjakesàkùàtkàra saügãtaketumanàda÷ivà||3|| tumarãmahãmàkoãnajàne tumarãmahãmàbakhànãnajàne, torãlãlàamarampàra||4|| tumatokahate"÷ivànandahå.Nmai", tumaho'girã-kailà÷a-÷ivà'||5|| '÷ãla'ketumapràõa÷ivànanda caraõa-kamalabalihàrãmaiü||6||

SALUTATIONSTOSRIRAMAKRISHNAHARI

OLordKrishnaofGuruvayur

OPandurangaVittalofPandharpur

OLordJagannathaofPuri

OBhadriNarayanofBhadri

OLordRamaofAyodhya

OLordVenkatesaofTirupathi–SalutationsuntoThee.

OLordRanganathanofSrirangam

OPadmanabhaofTrivandrum

ODwarakesaofMuttra

OSriRamaofBhadrachalam

OVatapatrasayiofSrivilliputtur

OVaradarajaofConjeevaram–AdorationsuntoThee.

OGovindarajaofChidambaram

OBankiBihariofBrindavan

OLordVishnuofVaikuntha

OLordKrishnaofGokola

OLordRamaofSaketpuri–ProstrationsuntoThee.

CLIMBTHEHILLOFVEDANTA (AnAutobiography)

1.Thisismystory,myreadersdear, AnaughtyboyIwas,aplayfulurchin, Withfullofmischiefandaspiritoffighting Thenslowlychangedmynature,seriousIbecame.

2.Oldgoodsamskarasrevived,subhavasanascame, VirtuesIdevelopedonebyone! Purity,patience,courageandcontrol, Kshama,Karuna,dayatoboot.

3.IservedthesickwithAtma-bhav ThisgavemesoonChitta-shuddi. IsharedwithjoywhatIhadwithothers, Thespiritofsannyasawasingrainedinme.

4.IrantoMahatmasforsatsang, Iservedthemtoowithbhavandprem, Itooksannyasandcutoffallties, Andmovedintheworldasfreeasabird.

5.Iacquiredthefourmeansofsalvation, ThenIdidsravana,manana,nididhyasan, OMOMIroaredinthethickTehrihills, ThenthehillofVedantaIclimbed.

6.Itoretheveilsonebyone, Ipiercedthefivesheathswithdifficulty ThethreevoidsIcrossedwithstrenuousendeavour, ThesevenstepsofJnanaIascendedwithcare.

PARTONE HYMNS ChapterOne

LORDVISHNU’STEMPLES

1.BadriNarayan

OLordNarayanaofBadriHills!

OPrecepterofNara! ProstrationsuntoThee.

ThouartmyrealSaviour.

Thouartintheheartofallbeings.

ThouarttheSupremeDeity.

ThouarttheHighestTruth.

ThouartInfiniteBliss.

ThouartAll-merciful.

ThouartAll-bountiful.

ThouartoneofthefourDamas.

ThydooropensonAkshayaTrithiyainApril AndclosesinNovember.

ThytempleisonthebanksofAlakananda.

Manyyears,verymanyyears

ManybillionsofyearsuntoThee. ManyyearstothecharmingLakshmi. ManyyearstoThyShiningDiscus. ManyyearstoThyconch.

OLampofWisdom

Thatilluminestheheartsofdevotees!

OmyFather,myKing, OLightofmylife!

IhavenothingbutThyName, Saveme,guideme, IamThyslave, BadriVishalkiJai!

HailBadriNarayan!

2.Triyuginath

ThisisaVishnu’stemple IntheHimalayas

BelowKedarnath.

OLordHari!

ProstrationsuntoThee. Destroythefearinmyheart, Placeyourlotusfeetinmyheart, Cutasundertheveilofignorance.

GivemeLightandWisdom, Thouartmyinnerguide, Iactasyoudirectme.

Thouarttherefugeofthehelpless.

OLord!Youvainlyboast

OfkillingHiranyaKasipu

Andothersofmeagrestrength, Ifyoureallyhavepower, Slayquicklythedemon Ofmyegoism.

OMNamoNarayanaya.

3.LordJagannath

OLord!WhodwellsinPuri

WhowasdeartoJeyaDev TheauthoroftheGitaGovinda–Whodwellsinoneofthefourdamas

SilentadorationsuntoThee!

Youranafterthewomanintheforest WhosangtheGitaGovinda.

ThouartthegloriousVishnu

Thouartthesolerefugeofmortals

Thouresidestintheheartofallbeings

ThyGraceisinvincible

ThouartthemeaningoftheVedas

Thouartallinall.

Thynamehassavedme.

IhaveobtainedThygrace; BytheswordofThygrace Ihavecutoffallmybonds.

HailJagannath!HailGrace

OmNamoKesavaya.

4.Mathura

ThereisatempleofLordKrishnahere. Jumnaflowsinthissacredplace. LordKrishnadidvariouslilashere. MathuraisBrijBhumi.

ODestroyerofDhenuka,Aristaka, Kesi,KamsaandPutana! OLordofSatyabhama, RukmaniandRadha!

OProtectorofDraupadi; ThejoyofDevaki, ThesonofNanda, FriendofArjuna, WhoplayedwiththeGopalas, WhodancedontheheadofKalinga! ProstrationsuntoThee!

Givemelightandwisdom.

5.Brindawan

OBrindawanBihari!

OKesava,ONarayana! ProstrationsuntoThee!

OLampofBrindawan, Friendofthecowherdboys, Whokickedtodeath

ThewickedSakatasura! Takethiscurdandbutter. PlayuponThyflute

Whichissweeterthannectar. OmSriKrishnayanamah.

6.LordDwarakanath

OmightyLordofDwaraka, OAchuta,OAnanta,OGovinda, SalutationsuntoThee,MyLord!

IhavelostmythoughtsinThee

ThouhastcutthechainsofmyKarma. ThouhastmademeThine.

Thouhastenteredintome

Andpossessedmyentirebeing

Thouhastbeenverykindtome. Ihavenotdoneanyhardtapas

Forsuchagreatblessing. OsweetMadhava!

Whodwellsinoneofthefourdamas! Thouartthepath, Thouartgoal. IshalldoThywill. MytongueshallglorifyTheealone. MyhandsshallsaluteTheealone. MyeyesshallseeTheealone. MyearsshalllistentoThylilas. MymindshallthinkofTheealone. MyheartshallfeelTheealone. OmNamoKrishnaya:

7.LordPandarinath

OLordVittalofPandharpur. OLordVittobha.

ConsortofRukumai, ProstrationsuntoThee.

ThytempleisonthebankoftheChandrabhaga. YouatethefoodofyoungNamdev. YouwerethecompanionofNamdev.

TukaramhassungAbhangas InpraiseofThee.

YoudinedwithBarijanChoksee. Youwerethewater-carrierSriKanda. YouservedSriEkanath.

YouputontheformofVittu, PaidthemoneytotheNawab AndthussavedDewanDamaji. Thygloryisindescribable. YouwerethecharioteerofArjuna. WeareallstudyingThyGita. Thoudwellestinourhearts.

ThouartMurliManohar, InViswanathMandir.

AreyousatisfiedwithourKichadie-bhog? Itishot,hot,niceandpalatable, TeachusGita,OWorld-Teacher!

8.LordVenkatesa

OLordofVenkataHill! OVenkatesa,Venkatachalapathy, OVenkataramana!

OLordofTirupathiHills, ConsortofAlamelumangai:

PratyakshaDevataofKaliyuga: OGloriousVishnu!

LetmeliveupThygoldenHill. Ocoral-lippedVenkatesa!

Letmebeahumbleservitor

AtThyblessedLotusFeet. Myheartmelts

Atthethought

OfThyendlessglory.

OmNamaVenkatesaya!

9.LordVaradaraja

ThisisaVishnuTemple InlittleConjeevaram. Itistwomilesdistant

FromtheGreatTemple. Thereisahallof96pillows. Thereisatank. Varadarajaisthedeity.

OKanchiVaradappa!

OLordNarayana!

SundaraVaradha

OmyonlySaviour!

InTheeallisborn, AllmoveandintoTheeenter. Thouarteverywhere, Likewhitenessinthemilk!

Myheartisthytemple. HailDivineGrace. HailVishnu,HailVarada.

10.LordRenganatha

OLordRenganathaofSrirangam!

OSeshasayi,Sleeperonthecouchofserpent!

BelovedconsortofRenganayaki! SalutationsuntoThee,HeyPrabhu! IamThyhumblestservant.

InstallingThyHolyFeet

Inmyheart,Imoveandwork. LetThywillbedone. RevealThytrueformtome.

AndalmergedherselfinThylight. ThouartthehusbandofAndal DaughterofVishnuchitta AvatarofNeelaDevi.

MunivahanaorTiruppanalwar AlsovanishedinThyflameofsplendour. LetmealsolosemyselfinThyeffulgence. HailRanga!WakeupRanga!

Wakeupinmyheart.

OmNamoNarayanaya.

11.Sriviliputur

ThisisinRamnadDistrict, ThereisabigTempleofVishnu, Vatapatrasayidwellshere.

VishnuchittaorPeriyalvar ServedVatapatrasayi!

Andal,daughterofVishnuchitta Wasbornhere. SheconvertedSrivilliputur IntoBrindavan.

Shecollectedsomeboys Andmadethemcowherds.

OLordVatapatrasayi, OLordVishnu!

ProstrationsuntoThee IgotThyGrace Iknowtoday

Thatredemptionis AtThyfeetalone!

HailHari!HailGovinda!

OmNamoNarayanaya!

12.Anantasayanam

ThisisaVishnuTemple InTrivandrum.

TheLordisPadmanabha Hesleepsonthecouch OfSerpent,Adishesha.

OLordHari!

IbowbeforeThee

IwillsingThyname

Inholycompany. IshalldoThywill. Cutoffmymortalbonds. OpenthewaytoThyfeet. Thouartmylife-breath. Thouartmysoul.

Thouartvigilant, WhileIsleep.

OmNamoNarayanaya.

13.GuruvayurKrishna

GuruvayurisinMalabar. Thereisafamoustemplehere. Krishnagrantsgreatboons. MayKrishnaprotectme, WhoshineswithRukmani, WhodestroyedKamsa, WhodidRasalilawithgopis, WhotaughtGitatoArjuna, WhogaveinstructionstoUddhava.

LetussingKrishna’sname–Yamunatheeravihari

BrindawanaChanchari

GovardhanaGiridhari GopalaKrishnaMurari.

14.Udupi-Krishna

UdipiisinSouthKanara. Thisisoneoftheeightcentres

OfShriYadavaSampradaya. LordKrishnaisthepresidingdeity. OLordKrishna

Whoupliftsall!

ProstrationsuntoThee. MakemeThyown, Ignoremyfaults, MakemeDivine.

Whointhisuniverseisflawless?

LetnotthesingingofThyGlory Everceaseonmytongue.

OMNamoBhagavateVasudevaya.

15.AyodhyaVasiRam

ProstrationstoLordRama, TheJewelofkings, WhoistheLordofSita, WhoisthefriendofSugriva, WhoisthemasterofHanuman, WhoistheAvataraofVishnu. WhoistheDestroyerofRavana. OLordRama!ORaghava!

Thouartanoceanofmercy. ThouartMariyadhaPurushottama. Thouarttherefugeofdevotees. Ihavefilledmybeing, WithThylove.

IinstalledThee Inmyheart.

OmSriRamayaNamah.

16.BhadrachalamRam

HereisabeautifulRama’stemple. RamdashaddarshanofRamahere.

SalutationstoRamachandra, LordofJanaki, BrotherofBharatha,Lakshman, HeroofValmikiRishi, IshtamofTulsidas, RefugeofVisbhishana, KingofAyodhya, DiscipleofVashishta!

LetussingRama’sname:BadrachalavasiRamRam

DasarathanandanaRamRam

DasamuhamardhanaRamRam

PapavimochanaRamRam

BhaktavatsalaRamRam

PatitapavanaRamRam

BhaktaposhakaRamRam MuktidayakaRamRam.

17.HanumanGhadi

ThisisatempleforSriHanuman ItisinAyodhya.

OLordHanuman, ServantofLordRama, SonofAnjanaDevi

AndwindGod!

OMightyHero!

OLearnedNawauyakaraofPandit!

OWiseSage!

ProstrationsuntoThee!

LetussingHisname:AnjaneyaVeera, HanumanthaSura. JeyaJeyaSitaRamki, JeyaBoloHanumanki. RamaLakshmanaJanaki, JeyaBoloHanumanki. JeyaShyaRamJeyaJeyaShyaRam, JeyaHanumanJeyaJeyaHanuman.

LetusreciteHanumanGayatri:TatpurushayaVidmahe VayuPutrayadheemahi

TannoHanumanthaProchodayat.

VatatmajayaVidmahe Mahaveerayadheemahi

TannoAnjaneyahPrachodayat.

18.AlwarTirunagari

ThereisaVishnutemplehere. ItisintheTinnevellyDistrict.

TheimageofNammalwar Isworshippedhere. OLordHari!

OAchuta,Govinda

OProtectorofthehelpless, IbowtoTheeagainandagain. ImeditateonThee

Astheinmostessenceofall. Thypresenceisfelt Insideandoutside.

Dothouincreasemylove Forallbeings. Savemefromtheocean

Ofworldlyexistence.

OmNamoNarayanaya.

19.SriVaikuntham

ThereisaVishnutemplehere. ItisintheTinnevellydistrict.

OLordVishnu!

ConsortofGoddessLakshmi, SalutationsuntoThee.

Youexistinallbeings

IntheformofPeace.

Thouartthepreservativeaspect.

Thouartsubtle

Thouarttheimmutable

ThouarttheSupremeLight.

ThouartagreatGiver: Grantmeunflinchingdevotion

UptoThee.

Thisisthepropertime Formakinggifts.

OmNamoNarayanaya.

ChapterTwo LORDSIVA’STEMPLES

20.Kedarnath

OLordKedarnathofUttaraKhand!

ThouartaJyotirLinga.

ThytempleisonthebanksofMandakini. ThouartaspureastheHimalayansnow. ThouarttheSourceofLightandLife. ThouarttheDispellerofIgnorance.

Ihavecomepureinheart

ToThyHolyPresence. Openyourdoors. Directtowardsme

Thygraciouslook.

OJyotithatburnsthedesires.

ThouartmyLord,mySaviour, Myall,myKing,myLife.

Kindlethelightoflove

Inmyheart. ProstrationsuntoThee,OLord.

OMNamaSivaya.

21.KashiViswanath

OLordViswanath, WhodwellsinVaranasi, WhowhispersRamaTaraka-mantra IntotheearsofthosewhodieinBenares, ConsortofAnnapoorniandVisalakshi! SalutationsuntoThee.

IclingtoThygracealone; ForIhavenootherhold. IholdThylotusfeet AndlookforThygrace. MydarlingSiva,mynectar, Pupilofmyeye, Solaceofthemiserable! Whoistheretosaveme InthisworldexceptThee,Sambo.

IamsureofThygrace; IcryforThygrace; IshallnotleaveThyfeet.

Surrender,Siva,surrender! OmyonlySaviour!

OMNamoMahadevaya!

22.Bheemsankar

ThereisaSiva’stemplehere. ItisoneOfthe12Jyotirlingas.

OLordSiva,ONeelakanta

IbowtoThee

Thouartinthegrass, Intheflowersandtheheart.

Thouarttheocean. Thouartthesky. Fillmewithenergy. Bestowstrengthandlove, Powerandfortitudeuntome.

DoThoubringtome

Whatisauspicious.

OmNamoBhagawateRudraya.

23.Baijanath

ThisisnearAlmoraKangra. ThereisaSiva’stemple. Itisoneofthe12JyotirLingas.

OLordHara,OSambhu, SalutationsuntoThee! NothingisbeyondThyken; ButThouartnotperceivedbyany. Thouarttheeternalcontroller, GuideandRedeemer.

ThouarttheRuleroftheDevas.

ThouarttheLordoftheUniverse. Havemercyuponme,OLord. Promptlygrantmedevotion

ToThylotusfeet.

OmNamoMahadevaya.

24.Somanath

Thisisanancienttown IntheJunagarhState, IntheSouthofKathiawar. ThereisaSivaTemple.

ItisoneofthetwelveJyotirlingas.

OLordSiva, ItakerefugeinThee.

Thouartunborn,formless. ThouarttheSupremeBrahman. ThouarttheLordofGods.

ToThee,OLord, Ioffermyworship.

HailSiva!HailRudra!! OMNamasivayah.

25.Ghusravesam

ThisisoneoftheJyotirLingas. InSivalaya.

OLordSiva! IbowtoThee

MayIbefreefromimpurity. MayIrealisemyself

Asthelightdivine. Maymymindbecomepure. WhithershallIturn?

WhatshallIdo?

HowcanIsupportmyself?

WhereartThou,OLord?

IhavetakenrefugeinThee. Saveme,protectme.

OmNamasivaya.

ThisisoneoftheJyotirLingas. ItisinDarukavanam.

OLordSankara!

ObeisancetoThee.

Youhavecomewithinmysight. Somyeyesareblessed. Drenchmewiththemilk

Ofhighestwisdom.

Thouartbeyondallduality. ThouartthebestowerofBliss. Thouarttheoceanofcompassion.

Hailtoyou,LordofParvathy.

Hailtoyou,SupremeBeing. OmNamasivaya.

MahakalisoneoftheJyotirLingas. InUjjain.

OLordHara!OSankara! ProstrationuntoThee.

Thylightaloneillumines

ThethingsofthisUniverse.

OProtectoroftherefugees, OTreasureofTruth!

ThouartmyLord.

Dryuptheocean

Filledwithwaterofdesire.

ThereisnoneequaltoThee.

26.Nageswaram

27.Mahakal

Thouartthewonderfulflower Withsuchfragrance OfSatchitananda! OmNamasivaya.

28.Mallikarjun

ThisisoneoftheJyotirLingas. ItisinSrisailam IntheAndhraProvince.

OLordSiva! SalutationsuntoThee. Iknownoinvocation, Orcontemplation. Iknownostotras InThyPraise. IknownotThymantra, NotevenhowtoaddressThee. Protectmeanyhow. Thouartthesupport AndimmanentSoul Ofeverything–

Theverybasisoftheworld. OMNamasivaya.

29.OmkarIshwar

ThisisinGujarat. Thisisoneofthe12JyotirLingas. LordSivaabideshere.

OLordSankar!

OKailasapathy,Pasupathy, Parvathypathy,Gauripathy, ProstrationsuntoThee! Thycompassionmakes Themuteeloquent Thecripplescalesmountains.

ThouartthestayoftheVedas, Andtheauxiliarybranches. OftheVedanta Andallformsoflearning. OmNamasivaya.

30.Triambhakeshwar

ThisisoneofthetwelveJyotirlingas. Godavaritakesitsoriginfromhere. ItisnearPanchavati.

OLordSiva,OSambhu, WhoistheLordofallbeings, Whoisthesourceofhappiness Tothedistressed. ThereisnootherrefugebutThee.

OLord,bepropitious! OAll-mercifulLord, Havemercyonme; ElseThouwiltlose

Thyreputationofbeinggracious TowardsThydevotees.

OMNamoMahadevayah.

31.Rameshwaram

LordRamaworshippedSivahere–SotheLingaiscalledRamalingeshwar.

Peopletakethewater,fromGangotri ForabhishekaforthisLinga. ThisisoneofthefourDamas. ThisisaJyotirlinga.

IoffermypraisetoRamalingeshwar, Thebestowerofhappiness, Thesourceofbliss, Whoisthree-eyed, WhoistheLordofallbeings, Whohasagarlandofskulls, Whohasmattedhair,

WhoistheConsortofParvathy!

OmNamoBaghavateRudraya.

32.LordNatarajaofChidambaram

ThereisAkasaLingamhere. DeathinBenaresgivesMoksha; BirthinTiruvarurgivesMoksha; SmaranofArunachalamgivesMoksha; DashanofNatarajagivesbloksha. AlltheSaivaSaints–

Appar,Sambhandar,Manickavasagar–HavesunghymnsonNataraja.

OLordNataraja, ConsortofSivakami, OMaster-DancerofTillai, OPonnambalam,OChittrambalam, OSankara,OSambhu, OMahakala,OMritunjaya, ODwellerinMountKailas, ORideronBull!

SalutationsuntoThee! LetmeDwellinTheeforever.

OmNamoBhagawateSadasivayah.

33.Kalahasti

Vayulingamishere. ItisintheAndhraProvince.

TheLordisKalahasteeswarar. KannappaNayanar AttainedSalvationhere.

OLordSiva!

Thouartunborn,eternal, Thecauseofallcauses. ThouarttheSupremepurifier. ThouarttheIndwellingSpirit. Thouartbeyondallreasoning. ThouarttheInnermostAtma. ProstrationsuntoThee. OMNamasivaya. OMNamoMahadevaya.

OMNamoBhagavateRudraya. OMNamoBhagavateSadasivaya.

34.Arunachalam

ThisisTejasLihgam OfTiruvannamalai. Arunachalisthehilloffire.

OauspiciousLord, OBeareroflittledrum, OSulapaniwithTrident,

ODakshinamoorthy, ORudra,OMahadeva

OParvathiNatha,SalutationsuntoThee! Havemercyonme,OLord Letmebeconsumed InThydivineFlame, Fireofwisdom. HailHaroHara. HailHaroHara. HaroHaraHaroHara. HaroHaraHaroHara.

ThisisnearTrichnopoly–ThereisabigSivaTemple. LordJambukeswaradwellshere. HeisAppulingam. Heeverremainsunderneathwater.

OLordSiva, ConsortofAkhilandeswari, WhowearsGangesonthehead, WhoistheLordofthefiveelements, Whoisgraciousandsweet, WhoassumedtheformofJyoti Whodwellsinthecrematorium, WhowearsSerpentasornament, Whohasablueneck, Whodrankthepoison! SalutationsuntoThee! OpenmyThirdEye. OMNamasivaya.

ThisisPrithviLingam InBigConjeevaram, Fortysixmiles

South-WestofMadras. TheSiva’stempleishuge. Therearebigtowers, Thethousandpillowedhall, Andsomefivetanks. TheGopurais188feet.

35.Jambukeswaram

36.Ekambareswar

OLordEkambareswar! ThouarttheSupremeTruth, Self-effulgent,Infinite Andprimeval. ThouverilyartTime. Thouabidethinall. Thouarttheoriginofall. ProstrationsuntoThee! OmNamasivaya.

37.Amarnath

Thereisanice-lingamhere. YatrabeginsinJune: GotoSrinagar,inKashmir, ThengotoPyalgaon Inmotorcar, Thenwalkorgoonhorse-back. TheStatemakesarrangements.

OLordAmarnath!

OImmortalLord, ObeisanceuntoThee.

OSupporterandnurse Ofthisvastuniverse! InseekingofThee, Evenmiseriesbecomejoys, Poisonbecomesnectar. OMNamahSivaya.

38.Muktinath

ThisisinNepal. ThereisaSiva’stemple. Thepathisdifficult.

ButifyouwantMukti,–IfyouwantMuktinath,–Thepathwillbecomeveryeasy.

OLordSiva!OMuktinath!

ThouarttheoneBrahman Withoutasecond.

Thouartthedestroyer

OfthreeTaapaas. ItakerefugeinThee.

ThouarttheFatherandmother

OfallBeings. SalutationsuntoThee. OmNamasivaya.

39.Pasupathinath

ThisisLordSiva’sshrine AtKathmandu,Nepal. PeoplefromallpartsofIndia AssemblehereduringSivaratri. Thefestivalisunparalleled. TheStatemakesgrandarrangements. OLordSiva, LordofPasusorJivas, OBlue-neckedLord,

TheDestroyerofDaksha’ssacrifice, ThebelovedofUma, Thefive-facedIshwara, HolderofTrident, SwallowerofPoison! ProstrationsuntoThee. ThroughThygrace IrealisedonenesswithThee. Sivoham,Sivakevaloham. ChidanandarupaSivoham.

40.Tunganath

ThisisnearKedarnath IntheHimalayas, OnthewayofChamoli. ThereisaSiva’stemple. Thereisasteepascent. OLordSiva!

IbowtoThee.

Thouartthethunderbolt, Indestroyingthesins.

Thouartapanacea Forthediseaseofrebirth.

ThouarttheSun, Thatdispelsthedarkness Ofignorance.

Thouartthegateway Tothemansionofbliss.

Thouartabonfire

TothetreeofMaya. OMNamaSivsya.

41.Gopeshwar

LordSivaassumedtheform OfaGopi, AndwitnessedtheRaslila InBrindavan.

LordKrishnafoundHimout AndworshippedLordSiva AsGopeshwar. Gopeshwartemple IsinBrindavan.

ThereisanotherGopeshwar NearChamoli IntheHimalayas.

OGopeshwar! SalutationsuntoThee. ThisisThyanotherMaya. SalutationstoTheebefore AndtoTheebehind; SalutationstoThee Oneveryside. OnThee,theOne AloneImeditate. OMNamaSivaya.

42.Sitakund

ThisisnearChittagong, Sivaisthepresidingdeity. ThereisaKunda

Thefireemanatesfromearth Alongwithwater.

SitatookbathintheKunda.

Abigfairisheld During‘Maghi-poornima’.

OLordSiva!

TofollowThee Istoremoveallsufferings. Itakeshelter

AtThyblessedfeet.

Thouartmyallinall. Blessmewiththetouch OfThybenigngrace, BeamingfromThyglance. OMNamahSivaya.

43.Gokaran

ThereisaSivatemplehere RavanagotthePranaLinga FromLordSiva. Itwasinstalledinthetemple. ThenameoftheLord IsMahabaleshwar

OLordMahabaleshwar! OAtmaLinga! Pranaofpranas, SoulofSouls, ProstrationsuntoThee.

ThewisecrossthisoceanofSamsara ThroughThygracealone Thouhastnoform Nocolour,noweapons, Noparticularabode; YetThourevealestThyself UntoThydevotees InapersonalForm. OmNamasivaya.

44.Madyarjuna

ThisisnearKumbakonam. Itisknownbythename Tiruvadamaruduralso. Thereisareputed Siva’stemplehere.

OLordSiva! IbowtoThee.

ThouarttheOnetobeknown ThouartthemostancientBeing. OLoverofThydevotees,

RedeemerofPushpadanta, SaviourofManickavachakar, OTeacheroftheuniverse, Saveme,guideme, Mahadeva,Mahalinga Madyarjunesamampahi.

45.MaduraTemple

Maduraisonthebanks OfVaigaiRiver, ThiswasthecapitalofPandyaKings. Thisisamagnificenttemple, TheDeityisSundaresa, ConsortofMeenakshi!

OLordSundaresa!

Youcarriedearthonyourhead Forthesakeof Puttu Oftheoldlady.

Youwerebeatenbytheking Whenyoudidnotdoyouyourallottedwork, Topleaseandservethydevotees; Youhadtosufferalot!

Thouartall-merciful!

ThouartBhaktavatsala!

ThouartOceanofMercy, ProstrationsuntoThee, OMNamahSivaya!

46.Tiruvaniappan

InShiyali,SouthIndia, ThereisaSiva’stemple. ThisisthenameforLordSiva. Parvatigaveacupofmilk ToTirugyanaSambhandar, ThegreatestTamilSaint.

ItwasthecupofmilkofWisdom. OLordSiva, ProstrationsuntoThee. ThouartBlissEternal.

Thouartbeyondalldarkness. Itakeshelter AtThyblessedFeet.

ThouartmyMaster, IamThyservant. DoThoumaintain Thisrelationship. OMNamahSivaya.

47.Vaikkam

ThisisinCochin. ThereisafamousSiva’stemple. LordSivaisknown

Bythename,Vaikkamappa.

OLordMahadeva!

IdonotbegforaKingdom, Norforgoldandjewels. Norintellectualattainments.

DoThourevealThyself Untome.

DoThougrantme IntensedevotionuntoThee.

Freemymind

Frompassionsandimpurities. OMNamahSivaya.

ThisisinTanjoredistrict, LordTyagarajadwellshere

BirthinTiruvalurgivesMoksha

JustasdeathinBenarasgivesMukti.

OLordTyagesa!

OSankara,OSambhu, OLordofMercy, Whokeptthepoisoninthethroat ToSavetheworld.

ONeelaKantha,Oblue-neckedone!

ProstrationsuntoThee.

Givemethatthirdeyeofwisdom

TobeholdTheeeverywhere;

Givemethatsoftheart

Whichwillmelteasily

WhenIseethesufferingofothers;

48.Tiruvalur

LetmeeverreciteThyName–OMNamoSivaya.

ChapterThree LORDSUBRAMANIA’STEMPLES

49.RockfortTemple

Thisisabeautifulrock. ItisinTrichinopoly. GaneshresidesattheTop. BelowisMathrubhuteshwar.

Removerofallobstacles, PranavaSwaroopi, Embodimentofwisdom, DevataofMuladharaChakra, OLordVinayaka, Thebestowerofhappiness, WhohasModakainhand; OElephant-headedLord! SalutationsuntoThee.

OmGamGanapatayeNamah–OmEkadantayaVidmahe Vakratundayadheemahi TannoDanteeprachodayat.

50.KathirgamaMurugha

KathirgamaisinJaffna,Ceylon. ItisaSubramanyaKshetra. ManickaGangaiflowshere. ThePriestisaSingalese.

Noonehasseenwhatisinside, Thereareonlysevenscreens. Thedeityisapowerfulone. HegivesAdeshtoasinceredevotee

Ifheremainsthereforthreedays. Maundsofcamphorareburnt DuringSkandaSashti.

OMurugha,OSkanda, SalutationsuntoThee.

Youhadsixseparatebodies Parvatiembracedyou. Youassumedoneform Withsixheads.

Saveme,protectme

HaroHara,HaroHara HaroHara,HaroHara.

51.PalaniAndava

OLordofPalaniHills! OThandayuthaPani!

OKartikeya,OMurugha! SalutationsuntoThee.

ThouartyoungerbrotherofGanesh. ThouartNirgunaBrahman. YouBlessedPornaigri. ThouartSiva’ssixsparksofLightDivine ThouartthegreatGeneral Ofcelestialforces

ThouarttheDestroyer OfTarakasuraandSinghamukha SuraPadmabecame Thyvehicleandflag

ThesixKartikeyagirlsnursedyou SoyouarenamedKartikeya.

Come,comeOLordSubramania! Blessme,OSkhanda, IamThine,allisThinemyLord!

52.SwamiMalai

ThisisnearKumbakonam. Thereisafamoustemple ForLordSubramanya.

ThisistheUpadeshaSthala. LordSubramanyabecame TheGuruofLordSiva.

HeinitiatedOmkara, OrthesacredPranava, InSiva’sears.

OHolderof‘Vel’ofpower

OVellayudha!Velmuruha

ThyVelandHari’sdiscusareone. ThyVelisthegranterofboons. SalutationsuntoThee AndThymightyVel.

OmSaravanabhavayaNamah.

53.Tiruthani

ItisnearTirupathy. ThereisatempleofSkandha.

OSubramanya!

OGeneralofDeva’sforces!

ODestroyerofevil

OKartikeya,Siva’sson; SixsparksfromSankara’sfire!

OGodofWar!

SalutationsuntoThee. ThyMotherParvathy Embracedsixbabies. Youassumedonebody

Andsixheads.

ThouartthepowerofWisdom, Truth,GoodandGrace. Allpowersofmanhood

AreThypower. SaravanabhavaPaahimam KartikeyaRakshamam.

Subramanyadwellshere

Thetempleisonahill

ItisinthedistrictofMadura. Thereisarailwaystation.

TheLordlikestodwellonahill

SuraPadmabecameapeacock AndthevehicleoftheLord. Howfortunateheis!

HewastheLord’senemy

AndyettheLordblessedhim. HowkindSubramaniais! Heisanoceanofmercy.

54.TirupparanGundram

GlorytoLordKartikeya!

HailSkanda!

HailMurugha! HailGuha!

55.Tiruchendur

ThisintheTinnevellyDistrict. Thereisafamoustemple OfLordSubramania.

OLordKartikeya! ConsortofValli,Deivanai, ProstrationsuntoThee. Letthy‘Vel’protectme.

YoukilledtheAsuras: SuraPadmaandTarakasura Inthedaysofyore. Thisisnotcreditable. Showthystrengthnow Inkillingtheasuras–Lust,angerandgreed,–Thataretormentingme. OMSaravanabhavayanamah.

56.TiruchendurII

ThisisaSubramanyaKshetra, ItisintheTinnevellydistrict Itisontheseashore.

TheLordiswithHistwoShaktis, ValliandDeivanai, IcchashaktiandJnanashakti. HeisholdingVel, AnEmblemofPowerandRoyalty.

OSubramania, ThesecondsonofParvati, YoungerbrotherofGanesh, OVelMurugha,OVelapati, ProstrationsuntoThee. LetmeabideinTheeforever. SkandamVandelokesam Gouriputramvalleesam.

57.GhandKapur

ThisisinMaharashtra. AcelebratedTemple OfDattatreyaishere.

OLordDattatreya, SonofAtri-Anusuya, SalutationsuntoThee.

Thouarttheonlyrefuge, Theonlyobjectofadoration.

Thouartthelightofknowledge, Thouartresplendent, ThouarttheOnetobeknown ThroughtheVedanta.

ToThee,theOnealone Ioffermyworship.

Thouartthewitness Oftheuniverse.

DattatreyanamahOM

DattatreyaSaranamOM.

58.Girnar

GirnarisinKathiawar. OnthesummitofGirnarHills

ArethefootprintsofLordDattatreya. NearbystandsthetempleofAmbaji. AmbajiisMotherofAnusuya. Asinceredevotee

CanmeetHimhereevennow. TheSoundofHissandalsisheard. HegivesDarshan

Tothefaithfulandthedevoted.

OLordDattatreya, TrimurtiAvatara, ChildofAnusuyaandAtri. ProstrationsuntoThee.

ThouarttheAdiGuru OfSannyasins.

ThouartanembodimentofTyag. ThouactanAvathootha.

DattatreyaDattatreyaPaahimam

DattaGuruDattaGuruRakshamam.

59.Pushkar

ThisisnearAjmere. ThisistheonlyplaceinIndia. WhichhasatempleforBrahma.

OLordBrahma! ConsortofSaraswati, Creatorofthisworld, SalutationsuntoThee.

ThouartHiranyagarbha. ThouarttheCreativeaspect. ThouarttheVishnuandSiva. Thouartthepast,presentandfuture.

ThouarttheAll. Thouartthefirst-born. Thouartthegoldenegg.

ThouartKaryaBrahman. ItakerefugeinThee, Saveme,protectme.

ChapterFour DEVI’STEMPLES

60.Gangotri

ThisisinHimalayas

IntheTehri-GarhwalState.

TheGanges’Sourceishere. Gangesflowsoutofacow’smouth–ItiscalledGomukh.

Itisactuallyanicecave. Thetemplecontains ImagesofGanga,Bhagirati. Sadhusstayhere

Andpractisemeditation. Itisfullofspiritualvibrations.

OMotherBhagirathi,OGanga, Thougivestboonstoall.

Thouarttheremoverofallmiseries. Thouartthepurifierofallsinners.

Thouartthemistressofthisworld. Thouartthenourisherofall. ProstrationsuntoThee,OMother. OMNamoBhagavatiGangaRani.

61.Jwalamukhi

ThisisnearKangra, InthePunjab.

DurgaisthePresidingDeity, Sevenflamesemanate Fromtheearth.

ODurgaDevi,MotherDivine, ProstrationsuntoThee.

Ifyoubecomegracious Whatishere

Whichisnotattainable?

Mayallmymentalactivity

Beyourthought!

Mayallmyvocalactivity

Beyourpraise!

Mayallmyphysicalactivity

Beyourobeisance!

OMDurgayaiNamah.

62.VishnuDevi

Motherdwellshereinacave, NearJammu,KashmirState.

Mahakali,MahaLakshmi. MahaSaraswatiarehere. Thisisafamousplace Ofpilgrimage.

ODevi,OGoddess, SalutationsuntoThee. Thouartthebestower OfDivineWisdom.

Thouarttheembodiment Ofspirituallove.

ThouarttheManifest AndtheUnmanifest.

Thouarttheearth,water, Fireandair.

OMParashaktiyaiNamah.

63.Kalighat-Kali

Calcuttaderivesitsname

FromKalighat, TheshrineofGoddessKali, ClosetoAdiGanga. ShehastwoForms–Onemild,theotherfierce. InhermildformSheisUma,Parvati; Inherterribleform

SheisDurga,Chandika,Bhairavi. Shehasfourarms. Shewearsanecklaceofskulls. Hertongueprotrudes. Hereyesarered. ShestandsonLordSiva.

Heronlyclothingisagirdle

Madeofdeadmen’shands.

OMotherKali,OMotherDivine, Thouartthebestower Ofsuccessandintelligence. Mantrasconstitutethyform. SalutationsuntoThee. HailKali,theblack.

OMKrimKalikayaiNamah.

64.Dakshineshwar

ThisisinCalcutta

OnthebankoftheGanges. ThepresidingdeityisKali. TherearetwelveLingashere. Theyrepresent ThetwelveJyotir-lingas.

OLordSiva,OdivineGuru, ProstrationsuntoThee.

OMotherKali, ShaktiofRudra, AdorationsuntoThee.

Thouartmyonlyrefuge. Ipossessnodevotion, NorhaveIobserved Anyvowseven.

Blessme,Mother OMKalikayainamah.

65.Kamakshi

Thisisatemple

NearGauhati,inAssam. Thetempleisonahillock InthecentreofBrahmaputra.

WhenDurga’sbodywascut Intofifty-twopieces, Onepiecefellhere. TheGoddessisverypowerful.

OMahasakti,OMotherDivine, Whoexistsinallbeings Intheformofbeauty, SalutationsuntoThee.

ProstrationstotheDivineMother Whoexistsinallbeings Intheformofmercy. OMDurgamDeveem SaranamahamPrapadye.

66.Chamundi

ThisistheDevi WhoresidesinMysore. ShedwellsonaHill.

OMotherDivine, ThouarttheSupremeCreatrix. ThouartMahaMaya,MahaVidya. ThouartParaSakti. ThouartKundaliniSakti. Thouartfaithandintelligence. ThouartvasanaandBuddhi.

ThouartEffulgenceandpower. Thoupervadestallforms. ThouartAvyaktam. ThoubestowestSalvation.

ProstrationuntoThee,Mother. HailChamundi,HailChamundi OMAimHrimKleem

ChamundayaiVicche.

67.Mukhambi

Thisisinaforest NearMangalore. Ifanyonedoestapashere Forfortydays, HewillobtaintheGraceofSaraswati. Thereisatemplehere. ThereareMurtisof Brahma,Vishnu,Siva Saraswati,Lakshmi,andParvathy.

OMukambiDevi!

OGoddessoflearning. Beauty’sGrace ShinesinThyface. Dwellalwaysinmytongue. GivemeTushti,Pushti,Vidya. Thouarttheonlyrefuge, Theonlyobjectofadoration. ThouartBrahmaSakti.

AdorationsuntoThee OMAimSaraswatiyaiNamah.

68.Ranganayaki

OMotherDivine, OGoddessLakshmi, ConsortofRanganath, WhodwellsinSrirangam, SalutationsuntoThee.

OAuspiciousMother!

Abadsonmaybeborn, Butthereisnobadmotheranywhere. Isamotherindifferent

Towardsherchild, Whoisdesirousofjumping Intoawell?

AreyounottheMother

Ofthisuniverse?

TakemetoMokshaDhama Ortoperdition.

Itislefttoyou

Toearnfameorinfamy.

OMSriMahaLakshmiyaiNamah.

69.KasiVisalakashi

OadorableMotherofCompassion! ConsortofKasiViswanath, SalutationsuntoThee.

ThouartTripurasundari.

ThouartRajaRaieswari.

ThouartAmbalDevi.

ThouartDurgaKali, ChandiandChamundi.

Thouart‘OmHrimOM’.

ThouartMahaMaya.

ThouartAdiSivaSakti.

Thouartsymbolofwomanhood.

ThouartJagadJanani.

ThouarttheSupportofthisworld. Saveme,blessme.

HailMother!HailVisalakshi.

70.KanchiKamakshi

OMotherKamakshi, ConsortofEkambareshwara, WhodwellsinConjeevaram. ProstrationsuntoThee.

Thoualonecreatestthisworld.

ThouartMahaVidya,MahaMaya.

ThouartBhavani.

ThouartPrakritiwiththreegunas. ThouartSriVidya.

ThouartMahamoha.

ThouartParasakthi.

ShowerThyblessingsonme. Hail,hailORideronthelion.

HailDevi,hailBaghawath.

71.MaduraiMeenakshi

OsweetMother,Meenakshi! ConsortofSundaresa

WhodwellsinMadura

ThouartGauri,Uma SankariandSavitry

ThouartMotherofGaneshandSkanda.

Thouartthedestroyer

OfMahishasura,Rhaktabhij, AndDhumralochana

ShumbaandNishumba.

ODevi!bepleased! Protectme,guideme, Removetheveilofignorance. IntroducemetoLordSundaresa. MakemerestinSamadhi.

LetmeunitewithThyLord.

HailHrim,HailAmbika

72.KanyaKumari

ThisistheDevi

WhodwellsinCapeComorin.

ODevi,Omotherauspicious.

ThouarttheLord’sMaya. ThouartHisinscrutableform.

ThouarttheMotherofthisworld.

Thouartthegreatprimalenergy.

Thouarttheseedofthisworld.

ThouarttheLightofKnowledge. Thouartthegiverofrefuge.

Thouartbeauty,loveandmercy.

ThouartPrakriti,Durga. SalutationsuntoThee.

OmKatyayanayaVidmahe

KanyaKumariDheemahi

TannoDurgaPrachodayat.

ChapterFive

BUDDHISTANDJAINTEMPLES

73.BuddhaGaya.

Thereisamagnificenttemplehere. LordBuddhaisseatedhere.

Itisthemostsacredspot FortheBuddhists.

LordBuddhaattainedBuddhahood UnderaBotreehere.

OLordBuddha! ApostleofAhimsa, OEnlightenedTeacher. SalutationsuntoThee.

HailBuddha: BuddhamsaranamGachchami.

ItisnextinSanctity

ToBuddhaGaya. ItisnearBenaras. AsokabuiltalargeStupa Onthisspot, WhereBuddhafirsttaught Hisdoctrines.

Thereisabeautifultemplehere.

GlorytoLordBuddha, TheAvataraofLordHari.

Abuisamountain IntheSouthofRajputana. Thetemplestandsonthetop OfAravallihills.

Therearefivetemples. Vimalasahisdedicated ToRishabha, ThefirstTirtamkara.

VasteepaladedicatedtoNeminath, Thetwenty-secondTirtamkara. Thetemplesaremade Ofwhitemarble.

Tirtamkarasareliberatedsages. TheyareJainteachers. Prostrationstotheteachers.

GlorytoTirtamkaras.

74.Saranath

75.MountAbuJainTemple

76.TheGoldenTemple,Amritsar.

ThefourthGuru,RamDas, ErectedtheTemple. Hissoncompletedit.

ItissometimescalledDarbarSaheb. Itstandsinthecentre Ofalarge,squaretank, Borderedbymarblepavements; Andisapproached Byamarblecauseway. GranthSahibisrecitedheredaily. ThereiskirtanandBhajan.

77.NagoreAnadava

NagoreisnearNegapatam. ThisisaSamadhiTemple OfagreatMuslimSaint. Hindusalsodoworship. TheSaintstillplayssiddhis. Manydiseasesarecured. ThePrasadisblacksugar. ThereisabigKandriFestival.

ONagoreAndava!

SalutationsuntoThee SaintandLordareone. AllahandGodareone. RamandRahimareone. Beholdunity,friends! Havebroadtolerance. Allreligionsareoneinessence. RestpeacefullyintheOne.

1.Amarnath

ThisisasacredplaceintheHimalayas.Itisatadistanceof80milesfromSrinagar, Kashmir.Thereisahugecavehere,sacredtoLordMahadeva.ThereisaSivaLingaherenaturally formedofice.

Thesceneryisextremelybeautiful.Thesnowcladhillscaptivatetheheart.Springsand streamsaredelightful.

TheYatratothisholycaveisusuallyperformedinJuly-August.TheKashmirStatedoes helptothepilgrims.TheStateprovidesamovingdispensary,adoctorandaMagistrate.

Pahalgamisthefirststage.Itis61milesfromSrinagar.MotorCarrunsuptothis.Itis7200 feetabovesealeval.TworiversKolahalandSeshanagjoinhere.Thenextrestingplaceis Chandanwan,9milesfromPahalgam.Afterwalkingadistanceof6milesyoureachthebig Seshanaglake,whichisfivemileslongand2milesbroad.Panchataraniliesalittlefurtherup.Five riversflowhere.Hencethesignificantname.Thereuponyouwillhavetowalkonicefortwomiles. Nowyouwillreachyourdestination,thesacredcaveofAmarnath,whichis50ft.long,55ft.broad and45ft.highatthecentre.

2.Ayodhya

AyodhyaissixmilesfromFyzabadstation.ThereisarailwaystationinAyodhyaalso. AyodhyaissituatedinUttarPradesh.ItisthebirthplaceofLordRama.Itisthemostsacredplaceof pilgrimage.ItisonthebanksofSarayu.

Janmasthan,theplacewhereLordRamawasbornisanimportantspot.Therewasa beautifultemple.Babardestroyedthistemplein1520A.D.andbuiltamosqueonthesite.The mosquestillexists.

HanumanGarh(orGadi)isanotherimportantplaceofworship.Thereisaverybigmurtiof LordHanumanhere.

ThereisanothertempleknownasKanakBhavan(houseofgold).Thecrownsoftheimages ofRamaandSitaaremadeofgold.

ManiParbatinAyodhyaissacredtotheBuddhists.Buddhapreachedhisgospelhere.

3.AlwarTirunagari

Itisthebirth-placeofNammalwar.ItisinthedistrictofTinnevelly,SouthIndia.Festivals inhishonourareperformedeveryyear.Thisisalsooneofthesacredplacesofpilgrimagein SouthernIndia.

4.Badrinath

BadrinathissituatedintheTehri-GarhwalinUttarPradesh.Itis10140feetabovethesea level.ItisonthebanksofAlakananda.TheNaraandNarayana,Lakshmi,NaradandKuverare there.SriSankaracharyabuiltthisVishnutemple.ThepresidingdeityisNarayana.

Thereisaverysacredtankbelowthistemplewhichissuppliedwithwaterfromahotspring. ThechiefpriestofthetempleisknownastheRaval.HeisalwaysaBrahminoftheNambudiricaste ofMalabar.

ThedoorofthetempleopensinMay.ItisclosedinNovember.ThepriestcomestoJoshi MuttorJyotirmathbelowBadrinath.

InthedaysofyorethereputedBadrikashramwasinBadrinath.Uddhavapractisedtapas andmeditationhere.LordKrishnaandArjunlivedhereforalongtime.

Brahmakapalwerepindaoroblationsareofferedtothedepartedforefathersisnear Badrinath.

5.Benares

BenaresisthemostsacredcityofIndia.ItisthecentreofHinduismandSanskritlearning. ManySannyasinslivehere.ItisalsoknownbythenameVaranashi,aplacebetweenthetworivers, VaranaandAshi,springingfromtherightandleftfeetofLordSiva.LordBuddhapreachedhisnew gospelhere.

ThetempleofLordVishwanathisthemostimportantone.TheMohammedansdestroyed theoldVishwanathtemple,andthrewtheimageintheholywell,Gyanavapi.

ThenextimportanttempleistheAnnapurnatemple.LordSivadeputedAnnapurnatofeed theworld.Themostpopularfestivaliscelebratedhere.AbigAnnakutisheldhereduring Deepavali.Thegoldenimageistakenoutinprocession.

AnotherimportanttempleisthetempleofSakshiVinayak.Everypilgrimshouldvisitthis templeaftervisitingVishwanathandAnnapurnatemples.ThefeetandhandsofLordGaneshare madeupofsilver.

Thereare365ChattrasinBenareswherefoodisfreelydistributed.AsiGhat,the Dasaswamedhaghat,theManikarnika,Panchagangaarethefamousghats.TheManikarnikaisthe mostsacredghat.ItisthecentralghatofBenares.

BhadrachalamissituatedonthebanksoftheriverGodavari.Itisasacredplaceof pilgrimage.Itis24milesfromBhadrachalamroad,theendofabranchlinefromDornakalinthe AndhraPradesh.LordRamalosthiswife,Sitahere.

LordRama’stempleissituatedatBhadrachalam.PilgrimsdotheirYatrainApril.The junglenearBhadrachalamistheDandakaforest.

Gopanna,nephewofAkkannaMinister,wastheTahsildaroftheplace.Gopannagot initiationfromKabirdasandbecameRamdas.HespentsixlakhoftherevenueoftheSultanforthe constructionofthetemple.RamdaswasincarceratedinthefortofGolconda.LordRamapaidthe amounttotheSultanandsetRamdasfree.

Brindawansignifiesthesacredforest,theforestofBrindawhereLordKrishnasported.Itis sixmilesaboveMuttraonthesamesideoftheriverJumna.Itisregardedasoneoftheholiesttowns oftheHindus.Itcontainsalargenumberoftemples.ItisconnectedwithMuttrabyabranch railway.LordKrishnadidhisBala-ilashere.BrindawanisthesceneofLordKrishna’schildlife, hissportamongthecowherds,hismarvellousmusicwithhisflute,hisvariousmiracles.

ThemostfamousofthepresenttemplesofBrindawanistheGovindaDevaMandir,erected about1590A.D.byRajaManSinghofAmber.AnotherimportanttempleistheRanganathMandir. ItisinSouthIndianStyle.Thetempleauthoritiesconductacarfestival.

OtherimportanttemplesareGopinathMandir,MadanMohanMandir,BankiBihari Mandir,SevaKunjMandir,ShahjiMandir,builtinMuslimstyle,andRadhaMohanMandir,built bythefollowersofLordGouranga.

ThereisaSivatemplealsoinBrindawan,knownasGopeshwarMahadev.LordSivacame towitnesstheRaslilabyassumingtheformofaGopi.LordKrishnarecognizedHimandadored HimasGopeshwarortheLordoftheGopis.ItissaidthatnoHindushouldleaveBrindawan withoutworshippingGopeshwar.

AbigJhoolaUtsavorswingingfestivalisheldinthemonthofSravan.Pilgrimsfromall partsofIndiavisitBrindavan.

8.Bombay

Thereareabout400templesinBombay.ThemostimportanttemplesofBombayarethatof Babulnath,MumbaDevi,MahaLakshmi,Walkeshwar,PrabhadeviandSriVenkateswar.

MumbadeviistheguardiandeityofBombay.Bombayderivesitsnamefromher.Babulnath isatemplededicatedtoLordSiva.

7.Brindawan

9.Bhuvaneshvar

Bhuvaneshwarisaninlandtownabout20milessouthofCuttack.ItisaRailwaystationon themainlinebetweenCalcuttaandMadras.Onceitwastheproudcapitalofalargeandflourishing kingdom.ThefounderwasYayatiKesariwhoexpelledtheBuddhistsandestablishedtheKesarior LiondynastyofOrissa.

ThechieftempleistheLingarajatemple.Thenameofthepresidingdeityis TribhuvaneswaraortheLordofthethreeworlds.Sivaisworshippedintheformofalargeuncarved blockofgraniteabout8feetlong.ItisaSvayambhulinga.

TheothertemplesaretheRajaRanitemple,Brahmeswaratemple,dedicatedtoBrahmaand theVasudevtemplededicatedtoVishnu.

Therearemanyrock-cutcavesintheUdayagiriandKhandagiri.TheHathiGuhaorthe elephantcave,theRaviGuhaandtheGaneshaGuhaarefoundintheUdayagiri.

TheLatgharaGuhaintheKhandagirihillcontainsthefiguresoftheJainTirthankaras.The figureofRishabaDevaisbeautiful.

Therearemanysacredtanks.ThemostsacredisVindusagara.“Whatevermeritsmaybe acquiredbyannualpilgrimagestothesourceoftheGanges,thePrayagaortheGangaSagar, repeatedfor60years,maybeacquiredbyasinglebathintheVinduSagara.”

Dropsfromallthesacredpoolsonearth,inheaven,inthelowerregionsandalsonectar constantlyfallintoit.Hencethesignificantname,VinduSagara.Itiscelebratedtopossessthe combinedsacrednessofallthesacredriversandtanksofIndia.Therefore,itislargelyresortedtoby pilgrims.

10.ChamundiHill,MysoreCity

ThereisabeautifultempleoftheGoddessChamundi,theConsortofLordSiva,onthe summitofthishill.Thereisanexcellentroadwhichleadsuptothetopofthehill,whichcanbe reachedinabouthalf-anhour.Two-thirdofthewayupChamundi,sitsagiantNandi,thesacredbull ofLordSiva,hewnoutofasinglerock.Itis16feethigh.

SriChamundeswariisthetutelarydeityoftheMysoreRoyalfamily.

Thehillis3490ft.abovethesea-level.Theroadupthehillislightedbyelectriclights. ThereisaresidenceofHisHighnesstheMaharajahatthetopofthehill.

DaserafestivalinSeptember-OctoberisverygrandinMysore.Hugecrowdsfromallparts ofIndiaareattractedtothecity.

CapeComorinorKanyaKumariisoneofthemostbeautifulplacesofpilgrimageinIndia.It hasapicturesquescenery.Itisalovelyplacewherecontinentandoceanmeet.Thereisseaonthe threesides.ThesacredtempleisdedicatedtotheGoddessParvathy.TheIndianoceanwithitstwo arms,theArabianSeaandtheBayofBengalwashesandworshipstheholyfeetofMotherParvati.

OnceuponatimetheAsurasBahaandMukhaoppressedtheDevas.TheDevasapproached LordSivawhodwellsatBenaras.LordSivacreatedtwoGoddessesoutofHisSakti.Theone GoddessmanifestedasKaliatKalighatandtheotherasKanyaKumariorVirginGoddessatCape Comorim.Theydestroyedthewickeddemons.ThewarlikefestivalcalledAmbuchashiis celebratedinthetempleinthesecondmonthoftheMalayalamyear.

Thereareseveralbeautifulbathingghats.ThosewhogoonpilgrimagetoBenaresshould alsovisitCapeComorintofulfiltheirpiouswish.

12.Chidambaram

Chidambaramormorecorrectly—Chittambalam(theatmosphereofwisdom)isabout150 milessouthofMadrasandsevenmilesfromthecoast.ItisintheSouthArcotdistrict.ItisaRailway stationonSouthernRailwayonthemainline.Itischieflynotedforthemostsacredandcelebrated templeofLordNataraja.

ThetempleisinthemidwaybetweentheVellarriveronthenorthandtheColeroononthe South,theseaontheeastandtheViranamlakeontheWest.IndaysofyorethePandyaKings,the CholaKingsandthePallavaKingspatronizedthetemple.AlltheTamilsaintshavesungpraisesof theLord.Thetemplewasthechosenabodeofsaintsandpoets.

ThereisAkasalingaminChidambaram.LordNataraja,thepresidingDeityofthetempleis indancingpose.Hisleftlegisraised.TheidolofNatarajaisenshrinedintheHolySanctum,known astheChitSabha.ThereisacurtainbehindtheidolofNataraja.Thisisremovedonspecial occasionsofworship.ThereismerespacewhichrepresentsNirgunaBrahman,devoidofallnames andforms.ThisistheChidambaraRahasya.LordNatarajahascomeoutoftheattributeless Brahman.Thereisachakra(ChidambaraChakra)whichcontainsthePanchaksharaorfive-letters ofLordSiva—NamaSivaya—onthewalltothebackofthisidol.

TherearefivecourtsorSabhasinthetempleviz.,theChitSabha,KanakaSabha,Raja SabhaorDurbar,theNrittaSabhaandtheDevaSabha.

LordNatarajadancedintheChitSabhaortheHallwithinthetemple.Thefivestepsthat leadtotheGoldenpillaredhallorKanakaSabharepresentthefiveletters—NamaSivaya.TheRaja Sabhaislocatedwithinthethousand-pillaredHall.TheNrittaSabhademonstratestheOordha TandavadanceofLordNataraja.

Govindaraja,thepresidingdeityofaVishnutemplealsodwellswithinthistemple.The imageofNandanar,thePariahsaintisinacornerneartheNrittaSabha.

TheDikshatarBrahminsdoworshipinthetemple.Thereare250familiesofDikshatars.

DarshanofLordNatarajawithintensebhavgivesMukti.

13.Conjeevaram

ConjeevaramorKanchipuramisintheChingleputdistrict.Itis46milessouth-westof MadrasontheChingleput-Arkonamline.ItwasanimportantcityoftheCholaKingdom.Itwasthe capitalofTonda-mandalaminthefourteenthcentury.ItwasoriginallythecapitalofthePallavas whoruledoverSouthIndiabetween4thand8thcenturiesA.D.Itconsistsoftwodivisions—Saiva orBigConjeevaram(Siva-Kanchi)andVishnuorLittleConjeevaram(Vishnu-Kanchi).

TheVijaynagarkingsconqueredtheTown.AfterthefalloftheVijaynagarfamilyin1644, itwassubjecttotheMuhammedankingsofGolconda.In1751Clivetookthetownfromthe French.

ConjeevaramisoneofthesevensacredcitiesofIndia,theothersbeingAyodhya,Muttra, Hardwar,Benares,Dwaraka,andAvantika(Ujjain).ApilgrimagetoConjeevaramconfers happinessinheaven.

KamakshiAmmantemple,dedicatedtotheGoddessKamakshi,theconsortofLordSivais themostimportantone.AYantraisplacedinfrontoftheidol.ThereisanimageofSri Sankaracharyainthistemple.

SriEkambaranathatempleisanotherimportantshrineofLordSiva.IthasgreatGopuras, largeMandapas,the1000pillaredhallandfinetanks.ThelargestGopurahastenstories,itsheight being188feet.

Kachchapeswaramtemple,KailasanathartempleareotherSaivatemples.Thereisatemple forChitraguptaalso.ThisistheonlyplacewherethereisatempleforthelieutenantofLordYama, recorderofJiva’sdeeds.

ThemostimportantVishnutempleisthatofVaradaraja.Thesanctumisbuiltonahillock. VaikuntaperumaltempleisanotherVaishnavatemple.

14.Calcutta

KalighattempleisthreemilesfromHowrahrailwaystation.ThenameCalcuttaisa corruptedformofthename‘Kalighatta’.

AtDakshineshwaraontheeasternbankoftheGanges,thereisatemplededicatedto GoddessKali.ItisfourmilesfromCalcutta.ItwasbuiltbyarichBengaliladyRaniRasmani. TherearetwelvetemplesdedicatedtoLordSiva.

15.Dwaraka

DwarakaisoneofthefourdhamasorabodesoftheLord,theotherthreebeing RameshwaramintheSouth,PuriintheEastandBadrinathintheNorth.Itisoneofthegreatest pilgrimcitiesofIndia.LordKrishnafoundedthecityofDwaraka.

Thereare30templesand10kundasortanksinandaboutDwaraka.Themostimportant templeisthetempleofDwarakanathorSriKrishnatemple.ItisalsoknownbythenameSri Ranchodraju.

TheGomatikundaisthemostimportanttank.AllpilgrimswhovisitDwarakamusttakea bathinthissacredKunda.

SriSankaracharyaestablishedamuttorPitamhere.

16.Delhi

TheLakshmiNarayantemplebuiltbySethRajaBaldeoDasBirlaisamagnificentone.The inscriptionsofversesandsayingsfromVedas,Upanishads,Gita,Ramayana,poetsandsaintsare indeedbeautiful.Thisisaquitenovelfeature

17.Gauhati

GauhatiistheheadquartersoftheKamrupdistrictinAssam.Itistheterminousstationof theBengalandAssamRailway.ThetownliesonbothsidesoftheBrahmaputrariver.

ThemostcelebratedKamakhyatempleissituatedonthesacredhillofNilachala,three mileswestofthetown.SivacarriedthedeadbodyofSatiandwanderedfromplacetoplace.He wentto51places.AportionofSati’sbodyfellineachplace.OnepiecefellinKamakhyaalso. Hencetheplaceisverysacred.

Thereisatemplededicatedtothenineplanets(navagraha)nearGauhati.Thereisatemple dedicatedtoLordSivainthePeacockislandofWoomanandawhichliesinthemidstofthe Brahmaputra.TheMahaSivaratrifestivalisperformedherewithgreatsplendour.TheAswakranta andthetemplededicatedtoNarasimhaatHajoareotherbeautifultempleswhicharesituatedinthe vicinityofGauhati.VashishtasramwhereVashishtaperformedtapasisninemilesfromGauhati.

18.Gaya

GayaisoneofthemostsacredcitiesofIndia,57milesbyrailfromBankipore,nearPatna. OldGayacontainstheresilienceofthepriests.ThenewSahibganjisthetradingquarterwherethe civilofficesandresidencesaresituated.ThetownisontheleftbankofthePhalguorNairanjana river.

DESCRIPTIONS

TheVishnupadatempleissituatedinoldGayaorGayaproper.Itisthelargestandmost importanttempleinGaya.TheVishnuPadatempleisbuiltoverthefoot-printofLordVishnuona solidblockofstone.

GayaderivesitsnamefromanasurabynameGaya,ademonofgiantsize.TheAsura practisedrigorousausteritiesandobtainedaboonfromthegodsthatwhosoeversawortouchedhim shouldbeatoncetakentotheheaven.Countlesspeopletouchedhisbodyandattainedheaven. YamathoughtthathewouldsoonlosehisofficeashisKingdomsoonemptied.

ThegodsdevisedaplantoovercomeGayasura.Theyaskedhimtolendhispurebodyasa placeofSacrifice.Gayasuraagreedtothisrequestofthegods.Gayasuralaidhimselfdown.When thesacrificewasperformedtheasuratriedtoriseup.Yamaplacedabigrockonhishead.Allthe godssatuponhisbodyandtriedtocrushhim.

Gayasurasaid,“OGods!Iwillnottrytoriseupagain.Bepleasedtograntmethisboonthat thisspotshallbenamedaftermeandthatwhosoeverofferspindashereshallreachheavenwithhis ancestorsandoffsprings.”

LordVishnuagreed.HeplacedHisfeetonapedestalthatrestedonthebodyofGayasura. ThisistheoriginoftheVishnupadatemple.ThislegendcomesinVayuPurana.Pindasareoffered onthesilver-encrustedpedestalmarkedwiththefoot-printofLordHari.Pilgrimsofferpindasin AkshayaBat,PretasilaandRamasilaalso.TheofferingofpindasattheVishnuPadaconferslong life,wealth,wisdomandfinalreleaseontheperformer.

BuddhaGaya

Thisisatadistanceof7milesfromGaya.Motorcarsrun.ThisistheholyplacewhereLord Buddhaattainedhisenlightenment.

Thereisamagnificenttemplehere.Theerectionoftheoriginaltempleisattributedto Ashoka.ThereisabigmurtyofLordBuddhainasittingpose.Theplaceofenlightenmentisonthe northsideofthetemple.Herestoodthe“Treeofwisdom”Boatree.HereBuddhasatdownin Padma-poseorcross-leggedposture.

19.Hardwar

HardwarliterallymeansthedoorwaytoreachLordHari.Itisarailwaystationonthe NorthernRailway.ItissituatedintheSaharanpurdistrict,UttarPradesh.Thosewhowishtogoto KedarnathandBadrinathshouldcometoHardwar.Itisabeautifulplacesituatedonthebankofthe Ganges.ItisapilgrimcentreforallHindus.

ThereisthehillChandi-Paharontheoppositeside.ThereisthetempleofChandionthe summitofthehill.Thebathingghat,Hari-ka-charan(Hari-ka-paudi)isthemostsacredplacefor takingbath.TheadjoiningtempleofGangadwaraisanothercentreofattraction.

Agreatfair,theKumbhaMelaisheldonceintwelveyears.ArdhaKumbhafallsonceinsix years.Lakhsofpilgrimsassemblehere.

20.Jambukeshwaram

JambukeshwaramisknownbythenameTiruvanaikavalorthesacredelephantgrove.Itis totheeastofSrirangam.ThereisabigtemplededicatedtoLordSiva.TheLingarepresentsApas tattwaorelementwater.Itisalwaysunderwater.

21.Jamunotri

ThisisthesourceoftheriverJamuna.Itis180milesdistantfromRikhikesh.GotoTehriin theTehri-Garhwaldistrict.FromTehriyoucanproceedtoJamunotri.Tehriis44milesfrom Rishikesh.Thereare4hotwaterKundsinJamunotri.Riceisboiledhereinthehotwaterkunds.The sceneryispicturesque.Thereareice-cladpeaksallaround.

Therearerestingplacesthroughoutyourjourney.Youcangetmilkandotherfood-stuffs.

22.Kaladi

KaladiisthebirthplaceofSriSankaracharya,theavataraofLordSiva,themasterexponent ofKevalaAdwaitaPhilosophyandthegreatestgeniustheworldhaseverproduced.Itisasmall villagesituatedatadistanceof6milesfromAlwayeRailwayStationontheCochin-Shoranurline. TherearetwotemplesonthebanksoftheriverAlwaye.TheimageofAdiSankaracharyais enshrinedinonetemple.TheothertemplecontainstheimageofSaradamba.Thereisatemple dedicatedtoLordKrishna.

TheimportantfestivalconnectedwiththeplaceisSankaraJayanti,thebirth-dayofSri Sankara,whichbeginsonthe5thdayafterNewMooninApril-May.

KalahastiisatownintheChittoorDistrict.ItisaRailwayStationontheKatpadi-Renigunta Section.TheriverSuvarnamukhiflowsononesideofthetown.Itisboundedbyhillsontheother side.

ThereisacelebratedtempleherededicatedtoLordSiva.ItisaSwayambhu(natural)Linga. ItisoneofthefivegreatLingaswhichrepresentthefivegreatelements,PanchaBhutas.ThisLinga representsVayuorAir.ThereisalegendthattheLingawasworshippedjointlybyaspider,acobra andanelephant.HencethesignificantnameSriKalahasti,(Sri—Spider,kala—serpentand hasti—elephant).TheirmarksarestillvisibleontheLinga.

ThegreatTamilSaintKannappaworshippedthisLingaandattainedsalvation. Maha-Sivaratliisthemostimportantfestivalinthistemple.Itlastsfor10days.TheDietyistaken inapalanquinroundtheKalahastihills,acircuitoftwentymilesonthirddayofSankranthiin January.

23.Kalahasti

KumbakonamisintheTanjoredistrict,MadrasState.ItisaRailwaystationonthemainline oftheSouthernRailway.

TherearemanytemplesinKumbakonam.KumbheshwaristheoldestamongallSiva temples.Itislocatedonthespotwherethedivinepot,brokenbySiva’sarrow,touchedtheground. Thedeityis,therefore,calledKumbheshwaraorLordofthepot.Thetempleisintimately associatedwiththefamousMaha-makhamlegendandfestival.TheSumeshwartempleandthe NageswaratempleareotherimportanttemplesdedicatedtoLordSiva.

TheSarangapanitemple,theRamaswamitempleandtheChakrapanitemplearethe Vaishnavatemples.

TheMahamakhamfestivalwhichcomesonceintwelveyearsliketheKumbhaMelasof PrayagandHardwaristhemostcelebratedone.LakhsofpilgrimsfromallpartsofIndiavisit Kumbhakonamtotakebathintheholytank.Thelastfestivaltookplacein1945.Theninesacred riversofIndia,viz.,TheGanesh,theJumna,theGodavari,theSaraswati,theNarmada,theIndus, theKaveri,theSarayuandthePayoshniappearontheMaha-makhamdayinthistank.Hewho takesabathinthistankonthatdayrealizesthebenefitsormeritsofacombinedpilgrimagetoall thosenineholyrivers.

ThefollowingisthelegendconnectedwithMahaMakhamfestival.BrahmaprayedtoLord Sivatograntaboontothesufferinghumanity.Sivabrokewithanarrowthepotwhichwasfullof divinenectarandwasfloatingonthewatersafterthedelugewhenitreachedKumbakonam.The contentsfellatKumbakonum.

Hence,thesignificantname—KumbakonamfromKumbha(pot).LordSivasaidthatthe nineriverswouldappearintheholytankandhelpthepeopletocleansetheirsins.

25.Kurukshetra

KurukshetraissituatedonDelhi-Ambalaline,atadistanceof95milesnorthofDelhi.

Bigmelas(fairs)areheldatthetimeofsolareclipses.AbathinthetanksofKurukshetrais consideredholy.Hugecrowdsofpilgrimsgatherhereonthisoccasion.

ThevarioussacredbathingplacesareThaneswar,Banaganga,Saraswati,Tirtha, Sthunusarametc.

ThegreatMahabharatawarwasfoughtinKurukshetrafor18daysover5000yearsago. LordKrishnataughtHisGitatoArjunahere.Sogreatsanctityisattachedtothisplaceandtheplace hasbecomeveryfamous.

26.Konarak,TheBlackPagoda

Konarak(Kona:‘Corner’andarka:‘thesun’)issituatedonthecoast,19milesnorth-eastof Puri.ThetempleofKonarakisdedicatedtoSunGod(Surya).KonarakmeansthecornerofOrissa dedicatedtotheSun.

Samba,oneofthesonsofLordKrishna,onceincurredthewrathofRishiNarada.Narada wantedtotakevengeanceonSamba.HeluredSambatoabathingghat,whereSriKrishna’swives weresportingthemselves.HepoisonedtheearsofLordKrishna,thatSambawasamidsthiswives withevilintention.LordKrishnacursedSambawithleprosywithoutwaitingtoknowthetruth. LordKrishnacametoknowthatSambawasnotguiltyandrepentedforhisaction.HeaskedSamba topropitiateSurya.SambadidrigorousausterityandpleasedSurya.OnedaySambatookabathin theChandrabhagariverHefoundanimageofSuryathrowntherebyViswakarma.Sambabuilta magnificenttemplefortheimage.Hewascuredofleprosy.

27.Kedarnath

KedarnathisintheHimalayas11,753feetabovesealevel.Itisanimportantcentreof pilgrimage.Itissurroundedbyice-cladpeaks.ItisoneofthetwelveJyotirlingas.Theactual pilgrimagebeginsfromRikhikesh,about14milesfromHardwar.RikhikeshisaRailwaystation.

Therearechattiesorhaltingplacesthroughoutthejourney.Youcanhiredandieswhichare carriedbyfourmenorkandieswhicharebasketsinwhichonecansitandiscarriedbyamanonhis back.Youcanhirehorses.

28.Madras

ThereisthereputedParthasarathitempleinTriplicane.ItisatemplededicatedtoLord KrishnaasDivineCharioteerorParthaSarathi.ItistheonlyoneofitskindinSouthIndia.Thereis atankinfrontofthetemple.FishcannotliveinthistankonaccountofacursefromaRishi.

TheKapaliswaratempleisanothercelebratedtemplededicatedtoLordSiva.Itisin Mylapore.ThenameoftheLordisKapaliswara.Thereisabeautifultank.Thenameofthetownis connectedwithalegend.Uma,consortofLordSivaincarnatedinMylaporeasapeacock(mayura) andadoredLordSiva.

Afamousannualfestivalinhonourofthe63SaivaNayanmarsiscelebratedinthistemple inthespring.

ThereistheimageofSambandarinthistemple.Hebroughtbacktolifeacremated chetti girlbysingingahymninpraiseofKapaliswara.

Avvayarthegreatpoetess-saintwasadevoteeofLordGanesh.LordGaneshraised Avvayartoheavenwithhisupliftedtrunk.ThereisanimageofLordGaneshwithhistrunk uplifted.ThememoryofAvvayariscommemoratedinassociationwiththisimageofGanesh.

PeyalwarwasborninawellinMylapore.

SaintTiruvalluvar,inauthorofKuralspenthislastdaysinMylapore.Atemplededicatedto thisgreatsaintwhoisregardedasanavataraofBrahmanisinthevicinityofKapaliswaratemple.

InGeorgeTownthereistheKandaSwamitemplededicatedtoLordSubramania. KachaleswartempleandMallekeswartempleareotherbeautifultemplesinGeorgeTown.

Tiruvottyurisareputedplaceofpilgrimage.ItisfivemilestotheNorthofMadras.Thereis abeautifultemplehere.Adipuriswaraisthenameofthedeity.TheSamadhiofthegreatsage PattinatharPillayarisinTiruvottyur.SundaraMurthiNayanarfellinlovewithSangiliinthis templeandmarriedher.

29.Madura

MaduraisajunctionontheSouthernRailway.Itisoneofthemostfamousoftheholy placesinSouthernIndia.ItissituatedonthebanksoftheriverVaigai.ItwasthecapitalofPandyan Kingsandtheseatoflearning.ThereputedTamilSangamwashere.CelebratedTamilpoetslived hereandwerepatronizedbythePandyanKings.TirumalaNaikwhoreignedbetween1620and l660A.D.builtamagnificentpalacehere.

ThechieftempleofMaduraisthereputedtempleofGoddessMinakshi.Thisissituatedin theveryheartofthetown.ThepresidingdeityisSundareswar.

TheChittraifestivalwhichiscelebratedinApril-Mayisverygrand.Itlastsfor10days. Variousfeastingsandprocessionsareheldfor9daysandonthetenthdayMeenakshiand SundareswarareunitedinmarriageattheKalyanaMantapam.Ontheeleventhdaythereisthe car-festival.MeenakshiandSundareswararegorgeouslydressedandtakeninhugecarsroundthe fourstreetsofMaduraCity.

ThereisalargeTeppakulam(tank)inMadura.

30.MountAbu

MountAbuhasamagnificentscenery.Itis5000feetabovesea-level.TheRailwayruns alongthefootofthefootofthehill.AmotorroadconnectsitwithAbuRoadRailwaystation.

ThemarbletempleswerebuiltbyJainsinhonourofAdmatte,thefirstJainteacherandof Neminath,thetwenty-secondTirthankara.TheothertemplesarethetemplesofVimalaShah,the VastupalaandTejpala.

ThereisasmallSivatempleinHermitspeak,thehighestpointinMountAbu.

ThereistheimprintofSiva’stoeinAchaleswarwhichisinthevicinityofDilwara.

31.Muttra

Muttra(Mathura)issituatedonthewesternbankoftheJumnaabout30milesaboveAgra. Thecircuitof84KosaroundGokulaandBrindavanbearsthenameoftheBrijMandal.HereLord KrishnaandBalaramaaresaidtohavefedtheircattle.

MuttraliesontherailwaylinebetweenAgraandDelhi.Thecityisassociatedwiththebirth andexploitsofLordKrishna.

DwarakadhishtemplaisthelargesttempleinMuttra.Agreatfestivalisheldinthemonthof Sravana(June-July).Thousandsofpilgrimsgatherhere.Thereare24sacredbathingghats. VishramghatandDhruvaghataretheimportantones.

GokulisavillageontheeastbankoftheJumnasixmilesbelowMuttra,celebratedasthe sceneofSriKrishna’schildhood.NearGokulisMahaban.

GovardhanHilllies18milesfromMuttra.ThereLordKrishnaperformedthemiracleof liftingthemountaintoprotectthecowherdsandthecattle.Haridevtempleislocatedhere.

32.Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuramis45milesbyroadfromMadrasviaChengleput.ItisthebirthplaceOf Bhutattalvar.Therearebeautifulrock-cuttemplesandcave-templeshere.

33.Nasik

Nasikisaholyplaceofpilgrimage.Itlies5milesnorth-westofNasikRoadstation.Theold PanchavatiwhereLordRamalivedwithhisconsortSitaandhisbrotherLakshmanaishere.The riverGodavariflowshere.Hencetheplaceismostsacred.

ThemostimportantKundorsacredthirthaistheRamaKund.InthevicinityofPanchavati istheTapovan.ThereisatempleherededicatedtoSriRama.

Trimbaklies20mileswestofNasik.ThereisabigSivatemplehere.Thelinga, TrimbakeswaraisoneofthetwelveJyotirlingas.ThetempleisbuiltonthebaseofBrahmagiri mountain.ThesourceoftheriverGodavariliesnearTrimbak.

34.Nathdwara

Nathdwaraisasacredplaceofpilgrimage.ItissituatedintheMewarhillsinRajputana.Itis theseatoftheheadoftheVaishnavacult,VallabhaSampradaya,ShuddhadwaitaorPushtimarga. ThepresidingdeityofthetempleisLordKrishnaorSriNathji.

SriVallabhacharya,thefounderofShuddhadwaitaphilosophyinstalledSriNathjiat Nathdwarain1520A.D.

DESCRIPTIONS

Thisisaveryrichtemple.TherichmerchantsofBhatiaandBaniacommunitiesofGujrat andKathiawarbelongtothiscult.

35.Nepal

NepalisthelandofGurkhas.Kathmanduisthepresentcapital.Nepalisthebirthplaceof LordBuddha.

ThemostfamousSivatempleisthetempleofPasupatinathnearKathmandu.Peoplegather inlargenumbersduringMahaSivaratri.

TheDeviBhawanitempleatBhatgaonisverybeautiful.

36.Palani

PalaniissituatedontheRailwaylinefromDindugal.Thereisafamoustemplededicatedto LordSubramaniaorDandapaniwhostandsalonewithVelorspearinHishandwithoutSaktis, DeivaniandValli.Thetempleissituatedonamajestichill,500feethigh

SomeofthepilgrimstakebathintheadjoiningriverShanmuganadi,taketheKavadion theirshoulderstothetempleanddoabhishekaovertheimagewithpanchamritam(amixtureof honey,sugar,crushedplantain,fruitsetc.).

Thedeityisapowerfulone.Hehasinfinitesaving-power.Manydiseasesarecured.Many miraclesaresaidtobeperformedinthetemple.

37.Pandharpur

PandharpurisoneofthemostsacredplacesofpilgrimageinMaharashtra.WhatPuriisto BengalandOrissa,whatChidambaramistoSouthIndia,soisPandharpurtotheMaharashtra.Itisa smalltownonthebanksoftheBhimariverorChandrabhaga,atributaryoftheKrishna.Itis situatedintheSholapurdistrictoftheBombayState.Itis30milesfromtheBarsiRoadRailway Station.Itisconnectedwiththemainlinebyalightrailway.

ThemostcelebratedtempleisthetempleofVittobhaorLordKrishna.Pundalik,adevotee wasservinghisparents.LordKrishnaandRukminivisitedthecottageofPundalik.Pundalikthrew abrickfortheDivineVisitortostandupon.Pundalikfinishedhisservicetotheparentsandthen cameoutandprostratedhimselfbeforetheLordwhowasstandingonthebrick.Pundalikbuilta templeonthespotinwhichLordKrishnawasstandingwithRukmini.

NamDev,Tukaram,ChokamelawereallgreatdevoteesofLordKrishna.Theyhaddirect darshanoftheLord.

38.Prayag

PrayagismodernAllahabad.AllahabadmeansthecityofAllahorGod.Prayagisoneofthe mostsacredplacesofpilgrimage.Itisthemeetingplaceofthethreegreatrivers,theGanges,the JamunaandtheSaraswati.SaraswatimeetstheGangesatthispointasasubterraneanstream.The pointofjunctionofthethreeriversiscalledTriveni.

AbigfestivalcalledPoornaKumbhaMelaorfullMelaisheldonceintwelveyears.More thanamillionpilgrimsgatheraroundtheTriveni.Ardha-KumbhaMelaisheldonceinsixyears.

39.Puri

Puriissituatedonthecoast,separatedfromtheseabylowsandyridges.Itisoneofthemost celebratedplacesofpilgrimage.Itisoneofthefourdhamas,thethreeotherdhamasbeing Remeswar,DwarakaandBadrinath.ItiscalledSwargaDwaraorthegateofHeaven.

ThepresidingdeityofthetempleisJagannath,“theLordoftheworld”.Theotherimages arethoseofBalaram,brotherofLordKrishnaandSubhadra,sisterofSriKrishna.

Thefollowingisalegendwithregardtotheoriginofimage.WhenLordKrishnawasshot, hisboneswereleftlyingunderthetreetillsomepiouspersonplacedtheminabox.Raja Indradyumnawasdirectedtoformanimageandplaceinitthesebones.TheKingprayedto Viswakarmatoassisthiminmakingtheimage.Viswakarmapromisedtomaketheimageon conditionthathewasnotdisturbed.ThoughtheKingconsentedhetriedtoseeViswakarmaatwork afterfifteendays.Therewasonlyoneuglyimagewithouthandsorfeet.

TheimageofJagannathhascilculareyes,astraighthead-line,asquareknobonthetopand blackcolour.Thenoseislargeandhooked.Themouthiscrescentshaped.Theheightisabout6 feet.

Allpilgrimseattogetherinoneplacetheholyfood(prasad).Thereisnobarrierofcaste whileeatingthePrasadinthecourtsofthetempleandoutsidetheLionGate.APuripriestwill receiveprasadevenfromalow-casteHindu.LordJagannathteachesherethegospelofequalityand equalvision(samadrishti).

Twenty-fourfestivalssuchaswarmclothingfestival,theHoli,theBirthfestival,the Bathingfestival(snanayatra)areheldeveryyear.Thecarfestival(rathayatra)isthegreateventof theyear.IttakesplaceinJuneorJulyandisthemostimportantone.Thegreatcaris45feetin heightandprovidedwith16wheels.ThebrotherandsisterofJagannathhaveseparatecars,alittle smaller.Theprocessiontakesseveraldaystoend.ThedistancefromthetempletotheGarden Houseis4miles.

DESCRIPTIONS

40.Pushkar

Pushkarisareputedplaceofpilgrimage,situatedintheAjmerdistrictinRajputana.It containsabeautifullakeandatemplededicatedtoBrahma.ItistheonlyplaceinIndiawhichhasa templededicatedtoBrahma.TherearetemplesdedicatedtoSavitri,Varaha,BadriNarainandSiva.

AbigMelaisheldinOctober.Thousandsofpilgrimstakebathintheholylake.

41.Rameswaram

ThisisaplacewhichcontainsoneofthetwelveJyotirlingas.Itisoneofthefourdhamas.It isoneofthemostsacredplacesofpilgrimage.ItisinthedistrictofMadura.Itisasmallisland,in theBayofBengal.ItisseparatedfromthecoastbythePambanchannel.

SriRamaworshippedSivahereintheformofalingatocleansehimselfofthesincausedby killingRavana.HanumandidnotbringthelingafromthaHimalayasintimeSoSriRama worshippedtheimageofLingamadeoutofsea-sandbySita.Hanumanarrivedwithhislingaand triedtopulloutthesand-madelinga,butallhisendeavourswereofnoavail.

TheRameswaramtempleisalargeandmagnificentone.Thereareelevenlingasinthe templewhichwereinstalledbySriRama,Sita,Lakshmana,Hanuman,Sugriva,Nala,Nila, Angada,Jambuvan,VibhishanaandIndra.ThetempleofSetuMadhavaisdedicatedtoLord Vishnu.HewhovisitsRameswarammustworshiptheSetuMadhavaintheend.

TheimportantannualfestivalsofthetempleareMahaSivaratri,RamanathaSwami’s marriageinJulyandPratishtangainJune.ThePalli-araiprocessionisverygrand.

Dhanushkotiisabout15milestothesouthofRameswaram.Itistheterminusofthe Railwayline.TheBayofBengalmeetstheIndianoceanhere.Abathisconsideredverysacred.

Darbhasayanam,6milesSouthofRamnadistheplacewhereLordRamalayonabedof Kusagrass,awaitingtheGodofocean.

SadhusandthepeopleofNorthIndiatakewaterfromtheGangotriortheoriginofthe GangesorfromHardwarfordoingabhishekaoverthelingaofRameswaram.Inoldendaysthey carriedthewaterinKavadi.

SaranathisthreemilesfromBenares.LordBuddhapreachedhisfirstsermonhere2500 yearsagoafterhisenlightenment.KingAsokaerectedhereagreatmemorialpillarwithafinely carvedhugelioncapital.

TheMahabodhiSocietyhavebuiltaBuddhisttemplehere.

42.Saranath

43.Sringeri

ThenameoftheplaceSringeriisderivedfromanoldlegendconnectedwithRamayana. SringeriwasoriginallythegiriorthemountainofRishyaSringa,theonehornedsaint.Oncethere wasaterriblefamineinAyodhya.KingDasarathabroughtthesainttohiscapital.Atoncetherewas abundantrain.

SringeriisamuttfoundedbySriSankaracharya.ItissituatedintheMysorestateonaspur oftheWesternGhats.Itis50milesfromShimoga,arailwaystationontheMysoreStateRailways.

SriSankarawasmovingfromplacetoplacetoestablishagreatcentreofVedanticlearning. HereachedtheplacewherenowSringeristands.HewenttotheriverTungatotakehisbathinthe hotnoon.Hesawafroginlabouronapieceofrockunderthescorchingheat.Hewitnessedacobra coveringthefrogwithitsout-spreadhood.Hethoughtthattheplacewasquiteapeacefuloneand decidedtomakeitastheseatofhismonasteryandVedanticUniversity.MandanaMisra (SureswaraAcharya)becamehissuccessor.AtemplewaserectedforBharati,wifeofMandana Misra,incarnationofSaraswati.

SwamiVidyanandabuiltaSriChakratowerovertheSamadhiofhisGuru.Thereisa pillaredhallinfrontwith12pillars,dedicatedtothe12signsoftheZodiac.Whenthesunmoves everymonth,heshinesagainstthepillarbearingthemonth’sname.

44.Suchindram

SuchindramisintheKeralaState.Thisisoneoftheveryfewplaceswherethe Trinity—Brahma,VishnuandSivaisadored.Thetownandthetemplearesituatedatthefootofthe Ghats.Thereisabeautifultankbythesideofthetemple.Indrahimselfworshipseverynightthe Trimurtisofthetemple.

AtrilivedwithhiswifeAnusuyaintheforestofJnanaranyawhichwasroundabout Suchindram.TheTrimurtiscametothisspottotestthechastityofAnusuyaandbecamebabieson accountofthepowerofthechastityofAnusuya.HencetheworshipoftheTrimurtisinthisplace wheretheyappeared.

IndrawhowashidinghimselfinHimalayasonaccountofthecurseofGautamacameto Suchindram,didseverepenanceandpropitiatedtheTrimurtis.Hewascompletelycuredofhis curseandshoneforthwithathousandeyes.Indravisitsthetempleeventodayatnightandperforms thelastpujaintokenofhisgratitudetotheTrinity.

45.SuryanarKoil

ThereisatempleherededicatedtotheSun.ItistwomilesawayfromTiruvadamarudarin thedistrictofTanjore,SouthIndia.

46.Swamimalai

SwamimalaiisnearKumbakonum.ThereisareputedtemplededicatedtoLordKartikeya whoislocallycalledSwaminatha.Itisbuiltonahillock.LordMurughainitiatedherehisown fatherSivaintothesignificanceofPranavaorOMkara.

47.Srirangam

ThisisarailwaystationnexttoTrichyFortstationontheErodeLine.ColeroonandKaveri encirclethistown.ThetempletoSriRanganathaisthemostcelebratedone.Andalbecameonewith SriRanganathainthistemple.Thetempleisamagnificentone.ManyVaishnavaAcharyaslived here.

48.Srivilliputur

ThisisarailwaystationonSouthernRailway.ItisintheRamnaddistrict.Thereisa beautifultempleherededicatedtoLordVishnu,Vatapatrasayi.Periyalwarlivedhere.Atemplehas beenbuilttoAndalinherplaceofbirth.

49.Srivaikuntam

ItisinthedistrictofTinnevelly,SouthIndia.ThereisatemplededicatedtoVishnu.Itisa sacredplaceofpilgrimage.

50.Tirupati

TirupatiisthemostholyVaishnavatemple-townofSouthIndia.Itliesinthemidstofthe SeshachalamhillsatadistanceofsevenmilesfromTirupatiEast,arailwaystationonthe Renigunta-Katpadisection.

ThesceneryofTirupatiisverypicturesque.Thetempleis2500feetabovesealevel.The NorthIndianscallTirupatiasBalaJee.

ThetempleofVenkateswaraissituatedonone(Tirumalai)ofthegroupofsevenhills. Thereisathousandpillaredmantapainthetemple.Thepilgrimmakinghiswaytothehill-templeat TirumalairestsandrefresheshimselfintheKapilaThirtham,namedaftertheSageKapila,the founderoftheSankhyasystemofHinduphilosophy.Thewayupthehillisprovidedwithelectric lights.

Theidolhasfourarms,twointherearonecarryingtheSankha(conch)andtheotherthe Chakra(discus),andtwointhefrontonepointingtothefeetandtheotherbythesideofthethigh. Onboththefrontarmsistobeseenthe“BhujangaValaya”orthegirdleofserpent.Thisistheonly templewhereHisconsortisabsentfronHisside.

TherearemorningdarshansofGodknownasShuddin,TomalaandArchanafollowedbya freedarshan.Thisisrepeatedintheevening.ThereareEkantaSeva,Poolangidarshan (flower-garmentdarshan),Abhisekadarshan,etc.

TheprincipalannualfestivalistheBrahmotsavamwhichlastsfor10days.Theweddingof thedeitywithPadmavatiDeviiscelebratedinSeptember-October.Themostpopularprocessionis theGarudaUtsavamonthefifthday.Rathasaptami(January-February),thefloatingfestival (March-April)andtheMukkotiEkadasi(December-January)andotherminorfestivals.

ThctempleHundii.e.,vesselinwhichpilgrimsdroptheirofferingstotheLordisperhaps thelargestofthekind.Itisfivefeethigh.

TheDeityhasgreatsavingpower.Manyincurablediseasesarecuredbydarshanand Sankalpaofofferings.

SriGovindaRajaSam’stempleatTirupatiandgoldenPadmavati’stempleatTiruchanur,a village3milesfromTirupatiarealsosacredtemples.

GlorytoLordVenkateswaraandMotherAlamalemanga!

51.Trivandrum

TheAnanta-PadmanabhatemplehereisoneofthemostfamoustemplesinSouthIndia.Itis oneofthe108TirupathisorsacredplacesforVaishnavite.

52.Tirukkalikunram

Tirukkalikunramis10milessouth-eastofChengleput,MadrasState.Itisoneofthemost reputedplacesofpilgrimageinTamilIndia.VedagiriswararisthepresidingdeityoftheSiva templewhichissituatedonthetopofahillandwhichisbuiltofthreehugeblocksofstone.The beautifultank,Sankhatirthamisatthefootofthehill.MoovarKovil,thetempleofthethreesaints; Appar,SundaramurthiandGnanasambadarisalsoatthefootofthehill.

TheVedaswereoriginallyintactandone,buttheRishisdividedthem.Thevedaswishedto beoneandundivided.HencetheyapproachedLordSivaandprayed.LordSivasaid,“OVedas! assumetheformofthehillsatTirukkalikunram.IwoulddwellonyourtopsasaLingaandwould radiatespiritualeffulgencetotheworld.”

ThefourVedasassumedtheformofthehillsatTirukkalikunramaccordingtothebehestsof LoldSiva.HencethesignificantnameVedagiri.

Indayslonggonebytherelivedtwobrothers.TheelderbrotherwasadevoteeofLordSiva. TheyoungerworshippedSakti.Theybegantofightononeoccasionastotherelativesuperiorityof thedeities.LordSivaHimselfappearedandtoldthemthatHeandSaktiwereequalandco-ordinate andthattheyshouldnotquarrelinfuture.Butthebrotherscontinuedtheirquarrel.Sivacursedthem tobecomevultures.Thetwo-brothersfellatthefeetofLordSivaintruerepentance.LordSiva

promisedthemsalvationattheendoftheKaliYuga.ThetwoRishiswerebornasvulturesnamed AdiandSambu.TheydailyvisitthesacredhilltoworshipSivaandarefed.

53.TirupparanKunram

Tirupparankunramlies5milessouth-westofMadura.Itisthenextrailwaystation.Thereis atempleonthehighrockdedicatedtoLordSubramania.LordSubramaniaobtainedherethehand ofDaivayanai,thedaughterofIndra.

SuranandPadmatwomightyasuraswereoppressingtheDevas.Indra,theKingofthegods promisedhisdaughter’shandtoanyonewhocoulddefeattheasuras.LordSubramaniaobtained victoryoverthemandmarriedDaivayanai.

NakkirarthereputedTamilscholarsangTirumurugarrupadaihere,propitiatedLord Subramaniaandreleasedthe999captivesshutupinacaveinthehillsbyademonforabig sacrifice.

54.Tiruttani

TiruttaniisatownintheChittoordistrict,SouthIndia.Thereisatempleonahilldedicated toLordSubramania.Itissurroundedbybeautifiulhillsandvalleys.Thesceneryislovely.

LordKartikeyakilledtheasuraSuraPadmaandothersinthisplace.Indrabeinghighly pleasedwithLordMurugha;gavehimhisdaughterDevayanainmarriage.

Therearemanysacredpoolsandspringsinandaroundtheplace.

55.Tiruvadaimarudoor

TiruvadaimarudoorisinthedistrictofTanjore.ItisafewmileseastofKumbakonam.Itis knownbythenameMadyarjunamalso.TheriverKaveriflowsthroughthistown.Thereisatemple dedicatedtoLordSiva.ThedeityisknownbythenameMahaLinga.

56.Tiruvannamalai

TiruvannamalaiisacelebratedplaceofpilgrimageinSouthIndia.ItisaRailwaystationon theVillupuram-Katpadiline.TheArunachalahillis3000feetabovethesealevel.Thetemplelies atthefootofthehill.ItisdedicatedtoLordSiva.TheLingarepresentstheelementfire.ItisaTejo Lingam.

IndayslonggonebytherewasadisputebetweenBrahmaandVishnuastotheirrelative superiority.Sivabecameahugecolumnoflimitlessflameandsaidtothemthathewhosucceeded firsttofindoutthelimitsofHisformwouldreallybethesuperierone.Brahmatooktheformofa swanandflewupwardstofindoutthetopofthecolumnofflame,whileVishnuassumedtheform ofaboarandpenetratedintotheearthtofindoutthebaseofthecolumnoflight.Bothofthemfailed intheirattempts.ThislegendintimatesabouttbegreatnessofLordSiva.

Arunagirinathar,authorofTiruppugallivedhere.

TheKarttikailightningfestivalisthemostfamousone.Itattractsalargenumberof pilgrims.

57.Trivadi

Trivadi,TiruvayarorTiru-ayyaruissevenmilesnorthofTanjore.Itissituatedonthebanks ofKaveri.ThereisatemplededicatedtoLordSiva—Panchanadiswara.

ThesamadhiofSaintTyagarajaishereonthebanksoftheriver.AlltheTamilsongstersand Bhaghavatarsassemblehereandcelebratehisbirthdayanniversary.

58.Tiruchendur

Itissituatedonthesea-shoreatthefarendoftheTinnevellydistrict.Thereisatemple dedicatedtoLordSubramania.Thetempleisbuiltonarockwhichisveryclosetothesea.

59.Ujjain

IndayslonggonebyUjjainwasknownbythenameAvantika.Itisoneofthesevensacred citiesofIndia,theothersixcitiesbeing,Benares,Ayodhya,Muttra,Conjeevaram,Dwarakaand Maya[Hardwar).

ThereputedtempleofMahakalisdedicatedtoLordSiva.Thelingaisoneofthetwelve jyotir-lingas.ThepilgrimstakeabathintheriverSipraattheRamghat.

AbigKumbhaMelaisheldonceintwelveyears.Thereisahugegatheringofpilgrims. ArdhaKumbhaMelaisheldonceinsixyears.

60.Varkala

ThereisafamoustempleherededicatedtoJanaradhana.Thetempleandthetownarenear thesea-shore.

61.Vaikom

ThereisafamoustempleherededicatedtoLordSiva.CountlessBrahminsarefedevery day.TheAshtamifestivalisaveryimportantone.LordSivaisknownbythenameVaikattu-Appa (FatherofVaikom).

STORYOFSWAMISIVANANDA

TodayIreceivedasyourgenerousgifttomethetwobooks “AllaboutSivananda” and “Day-to-Day” volumes.ForthisIwanttoexpressmyverycordialthanks.Thanksforyour generosityandmanykindregards.

ErnstHiebasch,jun, Austria.

Mayyourbrightening-heart,SwamiSivananda,beattachedtomyfatherandtheDivinityin ThyHeartwillbesourceofrecoverytohim.MightyGoodisinyourprayers.PowerfulnessofLight inthemhasrecoveredmyson.Itcertainlywillhelpmyfather,too.

SpiritofGreatLove-Sivananda,befastenedwithyourLoveuponmeandmyfather.In greatthanks-givingtotheGreatestMightandtoYou,

AnnaGottwaldora, Czechoslovakia.....Prague.

KindlybestowThyGraceandBlessingsuponus,sothattheDivineLifeSocietyheremay flourishandprosper.MybelovedGurudev,IfeelratherlonelyandsadwithoutThyregularletters. Theyareeverythingtome.Pleaseforgiveme.IamThyLittleChild.Iwantnothingintheworld excepttorelyonThee.Pleasealwaysguideme.IhavetakenrefugeatThyLotusFeet.

T.Kanayo,HongKong.

DandavatPranamsattheLotusFeetofKARUNA-SWAROOPofAnandaKutir.Praying LordViswanathtohaveKarunaonmesothatwithfirmfaithandunchangeabledevotionthe recitationofYourLovingNAMEcangowithmytongueallthetime.OLord,GiftmeYour Nama-Samaraninsuchawaythatallmybirthswillvanish.Oh,myPyaraParamathma,makeme yoursever.Giftmeavirtuouslife.

ViswanathMukhia,Bahrein,P.Gulf.

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IthinkIhaveeveryrighttorequestatYourLotusFeet,asYouaretheonlysourceof guidanceformeonthePathofYoga.

N.W.Saraf,Hamburg,W.Germany.

IprayThy,givemecourage,patience,wisdom.IearnestlyprayThee,OBhagavan Sivananda,theSage-GodofSriAnandaKutir,givemecourage,helpmeandguideme,protectme. ByutteringYourHolyNameIgetridofperplexityandworries.OGod,helpmeandguideme.Iam verysorryfornotreceivinganycommunicationfromAnandaKutir.Thisisunusualforme.Iwas alwaysgettingsomeprintedlesson,sometimePrasad,magazine,sometimebooks.Withpranamsat ThyLotusFeet.

PashupatiNathMisra,Instructor, 28/6/57HindiT.T.,Muzaffarpur(Bihar).

IwasoverjoyedtoreceiveThykindletter,whichIwaslookingforwardto.Ireallycouldn’t expressmygratitudeforthespecialprayerYouconductedformyhealthandforthechildren’s welfare.YourPrayersbeingsowonderful,throughYourBlessings,Iwassavedfromalldangers andwasblessedwithalittlebabygirl.Swamiji,IwouldbeoverjoyedifYouwouldsuggestaname forthebaby.

Kalyani,Durban,SouthAfrica.

ThywordsinThyletteroftheApril2nd:

“WhateverPathyouchoosetofollow,solongasyoudonotswervefromthePathofGod, fromtheLifeDivine,solongasyoudonotwanderawayfromGodandHisLight,itisDivine Life”.—ThesewordsareengravedinmyheartandIfeelIshallreturntotheTheosophicalSociety allthericher,withadeeperunderstandingofthespirituallife.ThisisduetoThyGrace,toThy unfailingHelpandkindness,whichhasbeenbestowedonmeinfullmeasureandforwhichIam andshalleverbedeeplygrateful.........ItakecomfortfromthefactthatYouinYourwisdomand understanding,giveperfectfreedomandthatYouronlyconcernwouldbethatItrytolivemylife divine.OnceagainIthankYoumostsincerelyforYourkindhelpandguidancewhichhasbeenof morebenefitthanIcanexpressinwords.IamallthebetterforthetimespentunderThycareand havelearntmanylessons.

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LornaRetif, Johannesburg,SA.

JackCathchpool, MeadowCottage,Herts.

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Yoursaffectionately,Kanta, PunjabEngineerCollege,Chandigarh.

IthankGodIhavehadthegoodpleasureofknowinghowtogetintouchwithyouandwe shallcontinueourmutualgoodrelationsforever...WeshallattachyournametoourAcademywork sothatyourblessingsmaygoforthtomankind.

ArchbishopTheMostReverend Dr.WilliamF.Wolsey,Canada, S.Burnaby.

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FriedaMariaSimonWeltin,Germany.

IamveryhappytoreceiveyouraffectionateletterandIgiveyoumybest acknowledgements.Youknowall.Pleaseguideme.Iamverygladtobepermittedtowritetoyou. Monday17,Tuesday18,andSaturday22ofJuneIfeltaunionwithyou.Manythanksforallyour goodness.

EvaRabot,Hannover,Germany.

Iamthankingyouforyourservicetousandtohumanity.IrequestofYoumoreofYour Light,UnderstandingandInspiration.WeareallbabesinthestudyofTruthandaretieddownby environments.Kindlyleadusall.PraisesbeuntoThee.

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IsticktoYourprescriptionsandespecially.Ifoundenlightenmentandupliftinginyour expressioninyourletter.EspeciallyyourTeachingsonwheretofindGod,inmyownheart,which alsoistheBible’sTeaching,Iamveryfondof.MythankstoyouandmayGod’sBlessingsbewith youandyourgreatwork.

RinzAndersen,Denmark.