|
Excursion
Pilgrimages
[ Narmadakund | Shri Jwaleshwar Mahadev
| Bhojeshwar Temple | Ramghat
| Kamadgiri | Shri Omkar Mandhata
| Bade Ganeshji Ka Mandir | Chintaharan
Ganesh | Kal Bhairava | Taj-ul-Masjid
| Bada Ganpati | Kanch Mandir
| Khajuraho | Mahamati Prannathji
Temple | Mahakaleshwar ]
Narmadakund
At
the place of origin of Narmada River there is an open pool known
as Narmadakund. It is considered as the holiest spot in Amarkantak.
Many temples such as Narmada and Shiva temple, Kartikey temple,
Shri Ram Janki temple, Annapurna temple, Guru Gorakhnath temple,
Sri Shuryanarayan temple, Vangeshwar Mahadev temple, Durga temple,
Shiv Pariwar, Siddheshwar Mahadev temple, Sri Radha Krishna temple,
Eleven Rudra temple etc. are around this kund. All these temples
are important in each of their own way.
Top
Shri Jwaleshwar
Mahadev
The Jwaleshwar temple and the source of origin of the third river
Juhila River is situated at a distance of 8 km from Amarkantak on
Shahdol road. This is also known as the temple of Shiva. According
to 'Vindhya Vaibhav' Lord Shiva himself established a Shivling here
and also scattered crores of other Shivlings over Maikal Mountain.
According to puranic traditions a rectangular area containing crores
of Shivlings is known as 'Maha Rudra Meru' and is the abode of lord
Shiva himself. There are only two 'Maha Rudra Meru' places Varanasi
and Amarkantak. Lord Shiva and Parvati live here because of this
special spiritual quality.
Top
Bhojeshwar Temple
In
plan, this temple in Bhojpur is a simple four-sided one with an
exterior dimension of 66 feet. The dome though incomplete is a richly
carved one; has a magnificent height and is supported by four pillars
guarded by two ornamental figures at the entrance. However, in reality,
the temple was never completed but the earthen ramp used to raise
it to dome-level still exists. Had it been completed, it would have
had been the very unique and one of its kind of such an architecture.
Top
Ramghat
The ghats that line up the banks of the river Mandakini in Chitrakoot
communicate a constantly moving and changing multicolored religious
activity. Here, in silent meditation people offer the solace of
their wisdom to the countless pilgrims who gather here. With the
very first rays of the sun, Ramghat stirs into life as all the pious
people take purifying dips in the waters and invoke the blessings
of the gods.
Top
Kamadgiri
Kamadgiri is known as the original Chitrakoot and is a place of
prime religious significance. It is the main holy place of Chitrakoot.
This place is a hill with forest all around it and the base is surrounded
by a chain of temples and is considered as an antique, today, as
the holy embodiment of Rama. The Sanskrit word 'Kamadgiri' means
the mountain, which fulfills all the desires.
Top
Shri Omkar Mandhata
This temple
stands on an island, known as Omkareshwar formed by the bifurcation
of the Narmada, which is about a mile long and half a mile wide.
The construction is made up from a type of a soft stone that has
lent its pliable surface to a rare degree of detailed work. Out
of which the frieze figures on the upper portion of the temple are
the most stunning. Also intricately carved is the stone roof of
the temple. Encircling the shrine are the verandahs with columns,
which are carved in circles, polygons and squares.
Top
Bade Ganeshji
Ka Mandir
A huge and rare artistic sculpture of Ganesh, is glorified in this
temple at Ujjain and this place is situated above the tank near
the Mahakaleshwar temple. There is also provision for learning of
Sanskrit and Astrology in the temple.
Top
Chintaharan Ganesh
The
temple is built across the Shipra on the Fatehabad railway line.
The Ganesh idol enshrined here is born out of a swayambhu. Worshippers
flock this temple because the deity here is traditionally known
as Chintaharan Ganesh meaning "the assurer of freedom from
worldly anxieties".
Top
Kal Bhairava
The worship of the eight Bhairavas is a part of Saivite tradition
and the chief among them is Kal Bhairava, has been built by King
Bhadresen, on the banks of the Shipra.
Top
Taj-ul-Masjid
The Taj-ul-Masjid
in Bhopal is one of the largest mosques in Asia. Nawab Shahjehan
Begum, Bhopal's eight ruler, built this pink mosque. This mosque
is built around a courtyard, with a large tank in the centre and
with an imposing double storeyed gateway with 4 recessed archways
and 9 imposing cusped multifoiled openings in the main prayer hall.
A three-day 'Ijtima', a congregation of Muslims in India, held here
annually, draws people from all over the country.
Top
Bada Ganpati
Better known for its size than antiquity, the Bada Ganpati temple
in Indore resides perhaps the largest Ganesh idol in the world,
measuring 25 ft. from crown to foot. The idol has a most interesting
configuration of ingredients like brick limestone; masala made of
Gud and methi Dana. It even contains soil collected from seven moksha
puris, mud from stables of horse, elephant and cow, the powder of
Pancharatnaand the holy water from all major places of pilgrimage.
Top
Kanch Mandir
As the name suggests, the full temple in Indore is made up of coloured
glasses also known as 'Kanch'. Inside this Jain temple thousands
of mirrors adorn the walls, floor and ceilings, supplemented by
brightly patterned ceramic tiles, Chinese lantern-type glass lamps
and cut glass chandeliers. The paintings are done in coloured glass,
which depict stories from Jain scriptures. There also exists a special
glass chamber on top, which multiplies the three statues of Lord
Mahavira.
Top
Khajuraho
The architectural
style of the Khajuraho temples is very different from the temple
prototype of that period. Each stands, instead of within the customary
enclosure, on a high masonry platform. Combined with the upward
direction of the structure, which is further accentuated by vertical
projections, the total effect is one of grace and lightness, reminiscent
of the Himalayan peaks. Each of the chief compartments has its own
roof, grouped in such a way that the highest is in the centre, the
lowest over the portico, a triumph of skill and imagination in recreating
the rising peaks of a range. The temples of Khajuraho are divided
into three geographical groups: Western, Eastern and Southern.
Top
Mahamati Prannathji
Temple
This is the most important temple of pranamies in Panna, which reflects
their social and religious life. The temple is completed in 1692
AD. It is believed that Prannathji lived here and will remain here
and thus became the highest Pranami tirtha as Mahamati's Punyasthali,
and hence Panna is the param dham for Pranamies. The glistering
divine golden kalasha is accompanied by the divine panja, which
denotes Mahamati's blessing and signifies the Aksharatita Purna
Brahman. On Sharada Purnima every year, thousands of people gather
here to celebrate the Mahotsava.
Top
Mahakaleshwar
The temple
of Mahakaleshwara with its high shikhara dominates the skyline and
life of Ujjain. God Shiva's lingam at Mahakaleshwara, is one of
the 12 jyotirlingas in India and it is believed to be swayambhu
(born of itself), deriving its shakti or power. Another unique feature
of this majestic shrine is the idol, which faces the south, a positioning
upheld by tantric traditions and found only in Mahakaleshwara.
Top
Information on Pilgrimages of Madhya Pradesh- India
|
