MUKHALINGAM

MUKHALINGAM

Mukalingam temple is about 52 kms from Srikakulam.  Srimukhalingam village is on the banks of the river Vamsadhara in Jalumuru mandal of Srikakulam district. The temple with the Orissa temple structures (Kalinga) is a group of 3 temples which are for Mukhalingeswara(also called as Madhukeswara), Bhimeswara and Someswara.   Deity Mukalingam has the lords face and thus the name.

The temple faces east and after the arch type entrance, the Dwasthamba of the temple is found.  After the Dwasthamba, the steps lead to the first of the three easwaras of the temple.  The temple has the deities of Mukalingeswara, Someswara and Bhimeswara.    The initial steps after the Dwajastham leads to the Nandhi Mandapam.    The temple's Mukalingeswara shrine is surrounded by other four lings on corners.   Here also, the devotee can enter the Karbha Graha, the sanctum sanctorum.     Flowers can be offered by the devotees themselves to the deity.  

As for the story behind the temple, I was not able to get much details, except the one connected with the fight of Lord Siva to destroy Andhakasura and Gajasura.  It is not a stone linga and from a fossil of a tree with a face to represent Lord Siva.  The temple is said to have been built by King Kamanava II of Eastern Ganga Dynasty.

There is a story i had come across in the web about -Vamadeva maharishi- came here with devas to perform Narayana Yagna and asked the devas to fetch flowers and other things from the nearby forest for the Yagna.  The Devas spent their time with the girls present there when they went to fetch the flowers and thus the Maharishi was not getting the flowers in time.  Maharishi found out from his divine powers on why the devas got delayed, he cursed them to become mortal human beings. The devas pleaded to be relieved of the curse and the Maharishi replied they would come out of the curse in Kaliyuga when they get Darshan of Lord Siva in the form of Vippashatu (Neem Tree).   The Shivalinga of this temple is the one that cured them of their curse. (https://www.inrootz.in/historic-places/religious-spiritual-temples/pl143/Srimukhalingam-Temple-Mukhalingam-Srikakulam/myths-and-stories).

Temple Timings:
5.00 AM to 12.00 noon
1.00 pm to 07.30 pm

NASIK AND RAMAYANA

NASIK AND RAMAYANA

Reached Nasik on 1st July 2017 evening at 06.45 PM and took a hotel.  It was drizzling and could not do anything in the evening except to verify the various bus stands from which to go to Trimbakeswar.   Luckily I had taken a room very near to new bus stand CBS.   The Mela bus stand is on the other side of New CBS and one can walk across between the two.

                                            Trimbakeswar temple entrance

On 2nd Morning,  I took van (Mahindra Bolero) which was operating on sharing basis at 06.00 AM. He charged Rs.50/- for the one way trip for a distance of 38 kms.  From the morning it was raining and Trimbakeswar was no different.  But I went ahead with the programme and first went to the Godavri Kund for taking bath and also to have darshan at the Gangagodavari temple.

                                                       GODAVARI KUND

GODAVARI KUND AND BRAHMAGIRI HILLS

        
                         GANGAGODAVARI TEMPLE NEAR GODAVARI KUND   

After the darshan at Gangagodavari temple,  I had darshan at Trimbakeshwar temple.   Priests are conducting parihara poojas all around the temple.  Very good darshan on a rainy day.  

As per legend, Sage Gautama did great penance to invoke rain.  Varuna Deva was pleased and appeared before the Sage and the Sage requested Varuna to cause rain.  Varuna Deva asked the Sage to please Siva and his desire would be fulfilled.  Later Varuna told the Sage to dig a pit and he filled it with water. Varuna blessed Gautama and said this pond wont dry up.  Sage Gautama asked his disciples to fetch water from the pond one day and the wives of sages nearby refused.  Sage Gautama's wife Ahalya went and she was also told that water cannot be feteched from that pond.  The Sages wanted to drive out Gautama from that place and prayed to Lord Ganesh and requested him to make Gautama leave the place.  Lord Ganesh reluctantly obliged and took the form of a cow and grazed on the field of Gautama.  The sage hit the cow with a grass but the cow died.   The sages asked to Gautama to leave, as he had killed a cow.  Gautama asked the sages how to get rid of the sin of having killed a cow.  The Sages said that Gautama should come round the world three times uttering -" I have killed a cow", or should conduct poojas to 3 million siva lingas or manifest Ganga to be here in this place and take bath in the river to overcome the sin.    Sage Gautama made siva lingas and worshipped them and Lord Siva appeared before him.  The Sage requested the Lord Siva for Ganga to manifest in this place and the lord said to Gautama that he had not committed any sin and only the wicked sages had told him so.  But Gautama insisted for clearing of his sins of killing a cow and thus Lord Siva made Ganga to flow here and Gautama on taking bath was washed of his sins.  Lord Siva asked her to continue here and Ganga said that the Lord and Parvati too be here.  Thus the Gangagodavari came to flow in this place to protect the devotees from sin and Lord Siva established himself as Trimbakeshwar.


Picture from web of Trimbakeswar-

After the darshan I left to the bus stand and reached by bus to new CBS bus stand.   From there I went in an auto to Ramkund near Panchavati.   Panchavati has all the temples around and nearer to Ramkund.  Panchavati got its name from 5 big banyan trees which can be seen now also.  The stay at Panchavati was suggested by Sage Agastya to Lord Rama and seeing the environ of river Godavari with flora and fauna, Rama felt that the place was the one suggested by the Sage.  Lakshmana built the ashram here for them.  

During his vanavas of 14 years, some part of it was spent here by Lord Rama.  He had done the rituals for his father here as instructed by Maharishi Kashyap. People from all over India come here to perform the rituals here in this bank of river Godavari.   In the year1689, Sri Chitrarao of Satara built the Ramkund Ghat in Panchavati.  This place is also called as Ramtirth.  Just opposite to this, is the Lord Kapaleeswar temple.   One has to ascend a few steps to reach the temple atop.   There is no nandhi in front of the Sivalinga since Lord Siva had accepted Nandhi as his master here.

On the same bank of the river Godavari, walk around 400 metres to reach Kalaram temple and Sita Guffa (Cave).   It is said that Kalaram temple has been built in the place of Lord Rama's vanavas here.  It is said that Lord Rama took his darker side to kill the demons who were giving problems to the Rishis of Panchavati and thus got the name Kalaram.  Opposite is the Sita Guffa in which one has to test his skills in entering into a narrow passage to have darshan of Ram, Lakshman and Sita.   Though made up of a few steps, only those who have maintained their body well, can enter and come out of the cave.  Perhaps pleased with my effort Matha Sita blessed me to have darshan at all palces in Nasik though it was raining continuously.  As I came out of the Guffa, one auto driver offered himself to take me to the various places in Nasik and to be guide too and also accepted to leave me back in my hotel by 1 pm as I had to take the 2 pm bus to Pune.  The charges were Rs.900/-.  

     SITA GUFFA (CAVE)                                                     KALARAM TEMPLE
   

             

The first place to see after the Sita Guffa was the Bhakthidam temple which is just a km from Sitaguffa.  This temple is essentially for Lord Siva and other deities are Suryanarayanan, Durga, Durga in virat form, Adisankara with disciples etc.,   The temple is located on the Peth Road in the Gujarat highway. 

From Bhaktidam, I went to Katya Maruti Mandir, in which the Anjaneya is of 11 1/2 ft tall and is supposed to have connection with the Mahabharatha story of Bhima not able to move the tail of Hanuman.  The present form of the temple was built in 1771 by Sri Raghunath Bhatt Karte.   

Just opposite is the Sita Apharan Mandir, from where Ravana took Ma Sita and there is an idol of Ma Sita and just opposite to that a statue of Ravana.  

From Sita Apharan Mandir, I went to Tapovan and then to Lakshman temple.   The serene atmosphere of lush green forests and on the banks of river godavari, the great rishis had their tapovan.   Lakshman temple has a statue made to depict Surpanaka's nose being cut -  how the city's name became Nasik.  

The unique feature of Lakshmana temple, is that he is seen with hood of Adisesha duly bringing his connection with Adisesha.  It is a small temple but reminds how Nasik is so closely connected the Epic Ramayana besides how the city itself is now called as Nasik.   

The Kapilanadhi and Godvari sangam in Nasik gets its importance not only because of the sangam but also because of the proximity of Parnasala here where Rama, Lakshmana and Sita stayed for better part of the 14 years of Vanavas.  Some of the photographs taken in this place - 

After having darshan at the Parnasala, the next place to visit was Muktidham.

Muktidham temple is of a recent origin.  It was built in 1988 by the Sarada group of industries.  It is a km away from the Nasik Road Junction Railway station.

Photographs are not allowed inside the temple.  This has been done on a massive scale of 82 ft long, 65ft wide and 97 ft height.   The main posh door itself is a good 33 ft high.    Darshan of Lord Siva and Lord Ram can be had in this temple.

Nearby is the famous market for kis-mis, thraksha.  Shops next street to the temple too sell at Rs.140/- per Kg of dried grapes.   The next halt was Pandaleni caves where Pandavas were hiding.   It is on a hill and 300 steps were to be covered which would have taken atleast two hours to go up and come down. Due to time constraints of having to take bus at 14 hours to go to Pune took photograph from the ground and went to Someshwar Mahadev temple, again at the banks of Godavari river.   In a large enclosure around the banks of Godavari river, the temple precincts is small but it has shops selling pooja materials.

Nearby siva temple is the Balaji temple, which is a new one recently built.  I had darshan of Balaji and there are no shops around this place.

From here, I reached my hotel at 13.15 hours and just had enough time to catch the 14 hours bus to Pune.

SAIBABA MANDIR, SHIRDI

SAIBABA MANDIR, SHIRDI

                                                       SAMADI MANDIR

I had booked on line for the Shej (night) arti at Saibaba Samadhi Mandhir of Shirdi on 30th June 2017.   I reached at 07.10 pm Shirdi from Pune by road and taken a room for stay in a hotel very near to the Mandir.    After freshening up, I went to the Mandir to find out the procedure for entry to arti. The reporting time was 09.30 pm to 10.15 pm and authorities on the gates informed that I have to proceed to Gate No.3 near Dwarakamai for the night darshan.  Devotees were let in Gate No.3 at 09.15 pm to a hall in first floor near Gurusthan.   At 10.25 pm devotees were shown the way to proceed to the samadhi mandhir and the arti with keertan was started at 10.45 pm. Around 200 people had gathered for the arti.   After that, at the exit, prasadham was given in a small packet but not Udhi.   

                                                       DWARAKAMAI

Next day, that is on Saturday, after having darshan at Shani Singhnapur, again I had time for going around the Saibaba Mandir.  I could go and pray at Chavadi, Gurusthan and also visit the temple sannidhis of Ganapati, Shani Bhagvan, Lord Siva and Dakshinamurthy Hanuman all near Gate No,2 and 3.   I also went to Dwarakamai and saw the eternal flame of Dhuni and also other belongings of Sree Saibaba kept in the premises.  The udhi is taken from this Dhuni and offered as Prasad for the devotees.  Dwarakamai is the place in which saibaba stayed after arriving to Shirdi and the devotees flock to this place to see the various items that Saibaba used such as the grinding stone and wooden vessel used for the Bhiksha.   The stone on which Saibaba used to sit also is available and also the eternal Dhuni.  Dwarakamai is to the right of entrance to samadhi mandir and is in two levels.  Here is the oil painting of Saibaba in a carved wooden shrine.  Before Baba's arrival in Shirdi, in the place of Dwarakamai was an old dilapidated mosque.  

                                                             CHAVADI

                                                ABDUL BABA'S COTTAGE

Gurusthan is the place where Saibaba sat under a Neem tree when he first arrived to Shirdi as a Balayogi and an ascetic.  This place is called as Gurusthan and a shrine has been constructed with the portrait of Saibaba.  Also, there is a marble statue on the side.  In front of the portrait, there is a shivalingam and Nandhi.   Short distance from here is Chavadi and Baba used to sleep alternatively in these two.  Opposite to Chavadi is the place of ardent devotee of Baba, haji Abdul baba. Lendibaug was looked after by Abdul Baba.  Chavadi consists of two parts and men and women have separate entry for the same.  

Devotee Laxmibai Shinde had played a major role in Baba's stay in Shirdi and she was blessed with nine silver coins before he left the mortal life.  She was present in his last moments and he took those coins from his Kafni.  She had served wholeheartedly Baba for 45 years at Shirdi.  Lot of interpretations are available for these coins handed over to Laxmibai by Baba and   they are available with the 5th descendents of the family.  The house in which Laxmibai lived also is a place to see...

                                               House of Laxmibai Shinde

Shri Khandoba Mandir

Khandoba Mandir is a little distance away from the Sai Mandir and on the front side of the temple.   Lord Khandoba was the tutelary deity for priest Mhalsapati and the priest is the one who first called baba as Yaa Sai meaning welcome Sai. When Baba wanted to stay in this temple, the priest refused feeling baba a muslim.  Thus Dwarakamai, the earlier dilapidated mosque became his residence.   But Baba asked Upasani Maharaj to stay in this temple for 4 years for spiritual upliftment.  A rectangular sand pit is available in front of the Khandoba, which was earlier being used for fire walking.  Now this is restricted for doing it only in a festival for a week known as Champa Shasti.  The mythological story behind this is connected with boon of immortality given by Brahma to two demons named Mal and Mani. With the passage of time after the boon, the demons became uncontrollable and were killing people.    Lord Siva took the form of Khandoba and fought with these demons and Champa his wife prayed for the victory of her husband.  On the sixth day, Champa defeated the demons and Champa gave a huge feast of Bharit (made of roasted brinjal and curd) and Bhakri (dish made out of a millet similar to roti).   This event is celebrated as Champa Shashti as tradition with walking over fire bed.  The dancing over the firebed was initially done by Khndoba after the defeating the demons.  The temple is open from 05.00 AM to 10.00 pm. 

                                                     Khandoba temple

Photographs are not allowed inside the premises of Saibaba Mandir and photographs have been taken outside the temple.    The mobile has to be surrendered at the spots provided near all the gates.   For people who would like to take entry passes, facilities are available to make IDs then and there and slots are offered for darshan.   Books on mandir are availble at the bookstall near Gate No.3.  For stay at Shirdi, the trust offers accommodation and can be booked online too.  Free van services are available from various places of stay.
Apart from the above, private hotel accommodation is available all over.  

I left Shirdi in the afternoon to Nasik by bus.

PUNE SHIRDI SHANISINGHNAPUR NASIK TOUR

PUNE SHIRDI SHANISINGHNAPUR NASIK TOUR

The trip to Pune was planned based on an offer by Air Asia in January 2017 wherein the return fare was only Rs.2400/-.  Without knowng much about the various places to see, I had made the trip to be of 3nights/4days.   Then I wanted to make a plan for going to Shani Singnapur and Nasik Trimbakeswar temple, which I had in mind for quite sometime.  I finally made the trip with the plan to have darshan at Shirdi, Shani Singhnapur, Trimbakeswar and also other temples in Nasik with a day in each.    Thus with the flight reaching on 30th June 2017 at 14.30hrs, I had contacted a travel at Pune for a oneway trip to Shirdi and at a cost of Rs.2500/- (Would have been more justified with 4 people going in the cab) as I had booked online for the night arti (shej) at Shirdi on 30/6.  My flight reached in time and the taxi driver had contacted me in the morning itself and had given his details.  Hence there was no problem and I asked him whether he can stop at Ranjangaon on the way, to have darshan at Siddhivinayak temple which he readily agreed.  Thus starting at 3 pm from the Pune Airport, had darshan at Ranjangaon Ganapathy at 04.15 pm and reached Shirdi at 07.10 pm. 

A blog post on the temple of Ranjangaon Ganapathy is at:
http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2017/07/mahaganapathy-ranjangaon-maharashtra.html

The authorities at Saibaba Mandir, Shirdi guided me to go to the Gate No.3 for the night arti and I had to report between 9.30 and 10.15 pm.  There were around 200 people who had booked for the night arti at the Samadhi Mandir. The people were asked to wait in a hall and lined up to go the samadhi mandir at around 10.30 and later the arti started at 10.45 pm and was for a period of 45 minutes.   The entire gathering participated in singing the Keertan. Prasadham was given at the exit gate .  Blog posting on shirdi has been done separately at -

http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2017/07/saibaba-mandir-shirdi.html

Next day, on 1st July morning at 6 AM, I took a cab which runs on sharing basis to Shani Singhnapur at Rs.150/- per head for onward and return with a waiting at Shingnapur for 30 minutes.   Sad part was taking bath and going with wet clothes is no more being followed after successful(?) entry of women into the area of the idol and also no abhishekam is performed by devotees as decoration of flowers is full at all times.  However arrangements have been made to pour oil on a tank nearby premises of the idol.  The entire journey of up and down took 4 hours.

                                                     Shani Singhnapur

On return I had time and took the opportunity to see all places connected with Sree Saibaba.   In the premises of the Mandir, Dwarakamayee, Guru sansthan, chavadi etc and also the house of Laxmibai Shinde and also Sree Katobha temple.  On a private bus (Neeta Travels) which started at 03.30pm at Shirdi, I reached Nasik at 6.10 pm and stayed in a hotel near New Bus Stand of Nasik. Nasik has 4 bus stands, old and new CBS, Mela bus stand and Nasik Mahamarg. New CBS and Mela are side by side and connected by a passage at the rear.  

On 2nd July morning at 6.00 AM, I took a cab on sharing basis at Rs.50/- for dropping at Trimbakeswar temple, which is at a distance of 38 kms from Nasik.  
The entire day from morning and until I left at 14.00 hrs, it was raining.  Small protective equipments were of no avail and got fully drenched.  Had darshan at Trimbakeswar and also had been to Godavrikund and Gangagodavari temple and Parasuram temple.  Returned to bus stand and took a bus to new CBS nasik. All other activities were connected around Panchavati and thus moved to Panchavati Ramkund by an auto.  Had darshan at Kabaleeswarar temple and Seeta Guffa nearby.  After darshan, I was able to get an autorickshaw and the driver Sri Rahul was very helpful in showing all other places of Nasik, in fact he acted as a guide also.  He had taken me to Bhaktidam, a new temple, Maruti Katiya temple, Sita apharan mandir, tapovan, Parnasala and sangam of Kapila and Godavari river, Someshwar, Pandaleni caves, Muktidam and left me back at New CBS.  3 people can travel in his autorickshaw and he had charged me for the trip Rs.900/-.  It helped me take the bus to Pune, which started at 2.00 pm from Mela Bus stand, an A/C bus of MSRTC which they call as Shivreni service.

The incoming bus came late and thus had a delayed start of 15 minutes.  The bus which was supposed to reach at 6 pm had a delay of 2 hours due heavy traffic between Narayangaon and Manchar.  A separate blog posting has been done for Nasik under the caption Nasik and Ramayana at -

http://sarayutoayodhya.blogspot.in/2017/07/nasik-and-ramayana.html

The night stay at Pune was at a hotel which was 2.5 kms away from Shivajinagar bus stand.   On 3rd Morning, I had booked bus for Pune Darshan from the MSRTC from Deccan Gymkana.  Though the bus should have completed the entrir programme by 5 pm, it was getting delayed and I left halway at 4.15 pm and left fr airport and reached at 05.30 pm.  The places seen during this trip are:Lokmanya Tilak Museum, Kelkar Museum, Shaniwarwada, Agakhan Palace, Tribal Museum, Southern Command Museum, Shiva temple connected with Shinde and gardens.  They had snake park in the itinery which i had skipped to reach airport in time.

The entire tour would have been more comfortable had it been covered in 4nights/5 days.  If Aurangabad also is included to see Ajanta and Ellora, it should be for a minimum of 5nights/6 days.  

The Nasik trip among these was unforgettable and I have posted a separate blog on the same.  

MAHAGANAPATHY RANJANGAON, MAHARASHTRA

MAHAGANAPATHY RANJANGAON, MAHARASHTRA

Mahaganapathy at Ranjangaon is one of eight Ashtavinayaks around Pune. Those who go on a religious tour have darshan of all vinayaks on the same day travelling around 650 kms.   Ranjangaon is on the Pune-Ahmednagar State highway number 27 and the temple is at a distance of 50 kms from Pune.  As I was proceeding to Shirdi on 30th June 2017, I could have darshan of the Lord. One has to go down from the NH road to the temple proper which takes just a 3 minutes walk.  The place was earlier known as Manipur.  

Lord Siva prayed to Ganapathy here for victory over Tripurasura and the Ganapathy is also called as Tripurari Varado Mahaganapathy.  Lord Siva is called as Tripurari after his victory over Tripurasura.   Legend from the Tretayug also has that Tripurasura was the son of the Sage Gritsamada.   One day when the Sage sneezed and from that a young boy came.    The Sage brought up him as his own son and taught him Gana Twam and Ganesh Mantra.  The boy intensely meditated with these mantras and ultimately after 5000 years, the Lord blessed him.   The boy had asked for the control of men, yakshas and Gandharvas.  But the lord gave him three cities made of Gold, Silver and Iron and also told him only Lord Siva would be able to defeat him.  As the boy was the owner of the three puras, he came to be known as Tripura.    He had defeated all Kings, devendra Indra, serpant like Vasuki and gained control over the three worlds. Vishnu, Brahma and other devas were hiding in Himalayas.   Tripurasura had two sons Chand and Prachand and he gave them Brahmalog and Vishnulog.  Lord Siva and Parvati were at Mandara Mountain at that time.  Naradha reminded the Gods and Devas of the fact that Lord Siva only can destroy the asura.  He asked them to please  Lord Gajananan and taught them the pranava manthra OM to be chanted as prayers to him.  On prayers, Lord Ganapathy appeared to them and told he would bring about the defeat of Tripura.  He went in the guise of a Brahman and told Tripurasura that he was a master of 64 arts and known as Kaladhar.  Tripurasura asked the Brahman to show his skills and if pleased he would give his life too.  The Brahman said he would give him three vimanas which can only be destroyed by Lord Siva.  These vimanas would help him to move about anywhere in the world and would give him all that he desired.  In return the Brahman asked for the idol of Chinatamani with Lord Siva. Tripurasura asked for the idol by sending a messenger to Lord Siva.  When Lord Siva refused, that resulted in a war between them.  Lord Siva did not worship Lord Ganapthy while going to fight Tripurasura and the axle of his chariot got cut.  Lord Siva was defeated and Tripurasura took the Chintamani idol as Parvati had left to her father's house.   Sage Naradha told Lord Siva that was due to not worshiping Lord Ganapthy prior to going for the war.   Accepting that, Lord Siva went to Dandakaranya and meditated on Lord Ganapathy and Gajananan appeared in a peculiar form with five faces, 10 hands, moon on the crest, garlands of heads and ornaments of serpants, thus looking as both siva and gajananan.  He said his beejamantra be told at the time of aiming the arrow on the vimana of Tripurasura and all the three cities would be burnt and that would help to kill the asura.  On defeating Tripurasura, Lord Siva established a temple to Ganapthy and the place was called Manipur which is now being called as Ranjangaon.

The Lord gives darshan with Riddhi and Siddhi and faces east and also on a basement and on a lotus flower with his trunk on the left side.
Lot of shops around the temple sell pooja materials and modaga prasadham can be had at the prasadham counter of the temple.   Lodging arrangements can be done by the trust near the temple which has single room and common hall facilities.  Advance booking can be done at:
Shree kshetra Ranjangaon Ganapati Devasthan Trust,
Sarpanch - Ranjangaon Ganapat,
Tal:Shirur Dist:Pune

Temple timings:
05.30 AM to 10.00 Pm