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Pilgrimage to the Caves of Paharpani
On the evening of Raksha Bandhan, 18th Aug 2005, after visiting the Devidura Mela, where there is a heroic stone-fight in time-honoured tradition, I stopped at Paharpani where I spent a few days in solitude and sadhana, or spiritual practice.
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Nrsimhadev Shrines in Andhra Pradesh: Antarvedi
By Sampradaya Sun
| Published 04/16/2007
UnratedArticle Viewed 76 Times
Located in the western Godavari district, the village Antarvedi is located 15 km. from Sakhinetipalli mandal and 10 km. from Narsapur. The village is placed at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Vasishta Godavari, one of the seven branches of the Godavari River. It is said that the sage Vasistha brought the River Godavari to its place, and this is one of the most sacred bathing spots in the entire Godavari delta. The place of confluence is known as the Sapta Sagara Sangam Pradesam. Antarvedi is the last and the most important of the seven sacred bathing spots positioned along the river here. Because of its sacred nature, it is also called "dakshina Kasi" (southern Kashi).
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Nrsimhadev Shrines in Andhra Pradesh: Korukonda
By Sampradaya Sun
| Published 04/16/2007
UnratedArticle Viewed 54 Times
 I
n the East Godavari region, Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh, is the village of Korukonda, an ancient and historical temple and Vaisnava divya kshetra that is home to Sri Laksmi Harasimha Swami. Korukonda is approximately 20 km. from Rajhmundry and 60 km. from Kakinada.
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Nrsimhadev Shrines in Andhra Pradesh: Vedadri
By Sampradaya Sun
| Published 04/15/2007
UnratedArticle Viewed 71 Times
The holy dhama of Ahobilam is populated by nine prominent Forms of Lord Narasimha, worshipped throughout the Ahobilam Hills. These Nava Narasimha Kshetra manifestations of the Lord are surrounded by many other Nrsimhadeva shrines located throughout the countryside of Andhra Pradesh.
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Nrsimhadev Shrines in Andhra Pradesh: Yadagirigutta
By Sampradaya Sun
| Published 04/15/2007
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Another of Andhra Pradesh's famous temple abodes of Lord Narasimhadev is found in the Nalgonda region, in the town of Yadagirigutta, 70 kms from Hyderabad. Because the sage Yadarishi is said to have been granted his wish to see the Lord here, the place became known by the name Yadagiri (giri means hill in Sanskrit, and gutta, which means hillock in Telugu. (The "gutta" seems to have been a latter-day suffix.) Being reputed as a place of worship for the sages, Yadagirigutta is also known as Rushi Aradhana Kshetram.
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Nrsimhadev Shrines in Andhra Pradesh: Mattapalli
By Sampradaya Sun
| Published 04/15/2007
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In the Huzurnagar taluq, Nalgonda District of Andhra Pradesh is the town of Mattapalli, which is home to another famous temple of Lord Narasimhadeva. Here, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami (also known as Sri Yogananda Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy) resides in His maha kshetram cave dwelling beside the Krishna River. The other presiding Deities of Mattapalli dhama are Sri Raajyalakshmi Thaayar and Sri Chenchu Lakshmi Thaayar, who are present alongside Lord Narasimha.
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Nrsimhadev Shrines in Andhra Pradesh.: Simhachalam
By Sampradaya Sun
| Published 04/15/2007
UnratedArticle Viewed 62 Times
Simhachalam, the Hill of the Lion (Simha means "lion", and chalam means "hill"), is located 18 km from Vishakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Here we find a most beautiful 11th century temple in which resides the presiding Deity, Sri Varaha Laksmi-narasimha. Millions of devotees each year come to visit Lord Varaha Lakshmi-narasimha, Whose form combines the iconographic features of Varaha and Narasimha.
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Nrsimhadev Shrines in Andhra Pradesh: Dharmapuri
By Sampradaya Sun
| Published 04/15/2007
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Three of the most well-known shrines of Lord Narasimhadev in Andhra Pradesh are found in Ahobilam, Simhachalam, and Mangalagiri. Today we move on from our first three segments on Mangalagiri to the Karimnagar district, Telengana region of Andhra Pradesh. There, in the town of Dharmapuri is found the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Devasthanam, in which Yoga Narasimha resides.
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Nrsimhadev Shrines in Andhra Pradesh: Mangalagiri
Thotadri is the present Mangalagiri. Lakshmi Devi has done tapas on this hill, and that's why it was named "The Auspicious Hill". There are three Narasimha Swamy temples in Mangalagiri. One is Panakala Narasimha Swamy on the hill, another is Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at the foot of the temple, and the third is Gandala Narasimha Swamy at the top of the hill.
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Evolution of Temple Architecture in Orissa
By D.B. Garnayak
| Published 04/14/2007
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Etymologically the term temple is derived from the Latin word 'Tempulum' which in its original sense means a square or a rectangular place marked out by the augur for the purpose of worship. In its primitive sense this word corresponds to a place marked off as sacred to a God, in which the house of God may be erected. The shrine or the abode of the God has different nomenclatures. In ancient Sastras or literature the temple is referred as Devagriha, Devalay, Devakula, etc. In the Vastusastra the North Indian temples are known as Prasada while as the Southern Indian temples are known as Vimana, Harmya and occasionally as Prasada. The term 'mandira' for the first time occurs in Banabhatta's Kadambari, a text of 7th century AD.
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The Varahi Temple of Caurasi
By Jayanti Rath
| Published 04/14/2007
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The Varahi temple of Caurasi is unique in many ways. The image enshrined in this temple is exquisitely beautiful and considered to be one of the masterpieces among the images of the Deity found all over India. Structurally marvelled, it stands different from all other contemporary temples of Orissa (10th-11th century A.D.). A curious combination of Vaisnavism and Tantricism can be marked in the sculptures of this temple, which are at once amazing and thought provoking.
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Worship of Lady Subhadra in Devi Cult
Lord Jagannath has calmly ensconced Himself on the throne of pearls in His sanctorum in the Grand Temple at Puri. Seated on His right are Subhadra and Balaram. Balaram is worshipped as His elder brother and Subhadra as His younger sister. The images have their respective esoteric significance in Jagannath religion.
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Goa's Devaki-Krsna Temple
By Sampradaya Sun
| Published 04/14/2007
UnratedArticle Viewed 59 Times
Goa, India is home to one of India's most unique temples - the Devaki-Krsna temple in Marcel. Marcel, in Ponda Taluka, is located about 17 km. from the state capital of Panaji. Here is found India's only temple where the presiding Deity is Sri Devaki-Krishna, which is Sri Krsna and His mother together in Deity form. Sri Sri Devaki-Krsna are joined in the temple by Bhumika Devi, Laxmi Ravalnath, Mallinath, Katyayani, Chodaneshwar and Dhada Shankar.
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Char Dham: Gangotri
By Sampradaya Sun
| Published 04/13/2007
UnratedArticle Viewed 80 Times
The sacred shrine of Gangotri dham is the first of the four Char Dhams to be visited on pilgrimage. Located 99 kilometres form Uttarkashi, it is situated at an altitude of 10,500 ft. and marks the source of the River Bhagirathi. The site is surrounded by mountain peaks known as Shivlinga, Satopanth and the Bhagirathi sisters.
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Char Dham: Yamunotri
By Sampradaya Sun
| Published 04/13/2007
UnratedArticle Viewed 65 Times
 Beginning the Char Dham yatra from the proper position, one starts at the western-most shrine of Yamunotri in the Garhwal Himalayas. Situated near the Yamuna River, in the area of three hot sulphur springs, the Yamunotir temple was built on a flank of the Bandar Poonch peak, approximately 10,600 feet above sea level. Where the road splits at Dharasu, Yamunotri sits opposite to Gangotri. The temple stands on the foothills of Kalinda Parvata, close to the thermal springs. The region is very close to the Indo-Chinese border and is surrounded on all sides by the Himalayan range. |
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Char Dham: Kedarnath
By Sampradaya Sun
| Published 04/13/2007
UnratedArticle Viewed 61 Times
The third stop on our Char Dham pilgrimage is the holy site of Kedarnath, which marks one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Siva. Framed by magnificent Himalayan peaks on the Kedarnath range, the ancient temple of Kedarnath sits 11,700 feet above sea level. This region of the Himalayas is also known as Gandhamadana parvatham and Sumera parvatham.
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Char Dham: Badrinath
The final stop on our Char Dham pilgrimage is the transcendental abode of Badrinath, home of the Lord in His Visnu form of Badri-Narayana. Leaving Kedarnath, the third stop on the Char Dham route, one retreat South to Rudra Prayag, turning north once again to the sacred confluence of Karna Prayag. Here the Alakananda River meets the Pindar River, coming down from the Pindar glacier. Traveling relatively due north, one arrives at Badrinath dham, which is situated in a valley of the Nara-Narayan Parvat.
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Sri Damodar Temple at Zambaulim (Goa)
The Sri Damodar temple is situated at Zambaulim, about 22 kms from Margao and 5 km. from Quepem, in Goa. There, the serene temple grounds are situated on the banks of the Kushavati River. The Kushavati, also known as the Panti, is understood to have great healing powers and devotees take bath here to cure themselves of bodily ills.
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The Sun Temple At Palia
The glorious heritage of sun worship is very old
and dates back to one of the early civilizations of the world -- the
Indus Civilization. In addition to the celebration of Samba Dasami, on
which day people make devotional offerings to Surya, is another
tradition of sun worship. The standing testimony of Sun temples in
India like Modhera in Gujarat, Martanda in Kashmir,Osian in Rajasthan
confirms it.
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