Anegudde Vinayaka Temple, Karnataka

Location:                     Anegudde, Karnataka

Built by:                      Sage Parashurama

Also known as:           Anegudde temple, Saptakshetra, Mukti sthala

Primary deity:              Sri Siddhi Vinayak Ganesh

Important Festivals:     Ganesh Chaturthi

Attraction:                    Siddhi Vinayak Murthi and the festive season

INTRODUCTION

Anegudde temple is located in the Anegudde village. The village is also commonly known as Kumbhasi. The temple is situated at a distance of about 9 km from Kundapur and 100 km away from Mangalore. Anegudde village is located in the Udupi district of Karnataka. The temple is a historical glory of India, where numerous Hindu devotees make a visit every month.

HISTORY

Anegudde village is also called the Kumbhasi village. There is a mythological tale behind the origin of this name. Once, the village was hit by heavy drought. Rishi Agasthya came to the rescue of the village by performing a powerful Yagna in order to please the god of rain. But, demon Kumbhasura tried to create trouble amidst the yagna. Sri Siddi Vinayak or Ganesh then bestowed the strongest of Pandavas, Bheema with immense power, with which Bheema defeated Kumbhasura. The temple is known as the Anegudde temple. ‘Aane’ refers to elephant and ‘Gudde’ refers to hillock. The holy shrine is an abode of Sri Siddhi Vinayak, the elephant-headed Hindu God.

Discovery of Holy Shrine

It is regarded as a lively place of the deity, where numerous festivals and ceremonies take place. The temple is about 300 years old. Anegudde temple is one of the most important one among the sapta sthala (seven places) of ‘Parashurama Shrishti’, created by the great Shiva-devotee Sage Parashurama.

HOW TO REACH

By Air

The nearest airport to the Anegudde village is at Bajpe, which is situated close to Mangalore.

By Rail

The nearest railway stoppage to Kumbhasi village is Barkur, which is close to Kundapur. The place is well-connected by major railway stations of the state.

By Road

The village Anegudde is situated on the National Highway 17 (currently known as NH-66). The place bears a distance of 96 km, 30 km and 9 km from Mangalore, Udupi and Kundapur respectively. The village Kumbhasi is 400 km away from the capital of the state, Bengaluru. One may walk straight from the Kumbhasi bus stand through the stairs to reach the temple of Anegudde at the top of the hill. Bus services are constantly available from Mangalore, Kundapur and Udupi. You can also board a bus from Kumbhasi bus stoppage to reach the temple of Anegudde.

IMPORTANT SHRINES

Sri Siddhi Vinayak is the lord of wealth, power and prosperity. The main sanctum of the temple has the deity in the form of Chaturbhuja (four arms), on a large rocky structure, plated with silver armor. Two hands are depicted as ‘Varada Hasta’ that are granting boons to devotees and the other two arms indicate attainment of salvation. Important ceremonies and festivals are held there, which attract tourists and devotees throughout the year. The temple is one of the seven creations of Sage Parshurama and is considered an ideal place for pilgrimage.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TEMPLE

Lord Ganesha is the Hindu god of prosperity and wealth. It is also known as the Mukti sthala, where devotees with full focus and devotion can free themselves of earthly desires and attain salvation. Lord Vinayak is known to grant all wishes of his devotees.

WEATHER AND TIME TO VISIT

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is held in September-October and is a luxurious festival of the entire Southern Indian that continues for twelve days. So this season is ideal to make a visit to the Anegudde temple. On the fourth day, post full moon day of every lunar month is considered a day of festivity at the temple. Ganesh rathotsava is also a notable ceremony at Anegudde.

ACCOMODATION

·         Anegudde has two guest houses ‘Pramoda’ and ‘Amoda’ for pilgrims and devotees.

·         Other hotels and restaurants are available near the village.

TIPS FOR DEVOTEES

You should carry food and water with you while making bus or taxi journey from the airport or railway station towards Kumbhasi. You should also carry water with you while walking from the Kumbhasi bus stand towards the temple at the hilltop.

RULES AND RITUALS OF THE TEMPLE

Fulfillment of wishes: Lord Ganesha is known to grant all wishes of his devotees and bless them with wealth, prosperity, luck and good health.

Attainment of salvation: As two of the four arms of Sri Vinayak at Anegudde depict salvation, it is said that true pilgrims can achieve salvation with full focus and devotion at the holy shrine.

IMAGES

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwR-8_y5087SgEikYypgzIZQpe50cmLJTjEYQSZaWqSv_M4y47E8-e8Uwl8uMXqbrY2iKmwEe5AMScKXXbTYrHJy3bAcgCwIKlswczh_r_NRofbm3FGziOGlFN9DYnzSejNrWzr2A_9Y/s400/UdupiSriKrishnaTemple.JPG

http://www.sudhak4online.20m.com/images/annegudde.jpg

VIDEOS

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dhHmizSGK0

REFERENCES

http://anegudde.com/home.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anegudde

http://shivallibrahmins.com/tulunaadu-temples/kundapura-taluk/anegudde-shri-vinayaka-temple/

http://www.pbase.com/lux_20/aneguddeshrivinayakatemple

Kalka Mandir, Delhi

Location:                     Nehru Place, New Delhi, India

Built by:                      Maratha Rulers  

Also known as:           Kalkaji Temple           

Primary deity:              Goddess Kali

Important Festivals:     Navratri

Attraction:                   Arti of the Temple

INTRODUCTION

Kalka Mandir is also known as Kalkaji Temple or Kalkaji Mandir. It is a well known temple situated in South Delhi opposite to Nehru place market and is dedicated to Goddess Kali. The locality where this temple is situated is Kalkaji itself as it has derived its name from the temple only. The temple is situated next to the famous Bahai Lotus Temple and close to ISKON temple. It is located on Suryakoota Parvata of Aravali range and thus Kalka devi is also known as Suryakoota Niwasini.

 Kalkaji mandir is counted among the oldest temples of India that are dedicated to Goddess Kali who is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Durga.

HISTORY

According to the legend, the shrine is believed to be present since the times of Satya Yuga when Goddess Kali killed Raktabija and other demons. As per the official Government records, the temple building is not older than 1764 and was constructed by Maratha rulers. It is also recorded that further additions were made by Mirza Raja Kidar Nath who was the Peshkar of Akbar II.

HOW TO REACH

By Rail

The temple is very near to the railway stations Nizamuddin and Okhla. Nizamuddin has trains coming from all over the country while some have stoppages at Okhla as well.

It also has good connectivity via metro rail service of Delhi as it is at walking distance from Kalkaji Metro station which lies on Purple line.

By Road

The temple is very close to Nehru Place bus stand which is a local bus terminus. It is 5km from Interstate Bus Terminus Nizamuddin.

By Air

Being a capital city, New Delhi boasts of the Indira Gandhi Airport which is well-connected to all other cities

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TEMPLE

The temple is also known as 'Manokamna Siddha Peetha' or 'Jayanti Peetha' which means the place is believed to grant the devotees whatever they desire in the form of the blessings of Goddess Kali

WEATHER AND TIME TO VISIT

Devotees flock the temple throughout the year but the influx is maximum during Navratri festival which occurs twice a year in spring and autumn. It extends over a period of 9 days during which a magnificent fair is organized.

ACCOMODATION

Since the temple is situated at the heart of the city, there is no lack of accommodations. All sorts of accommodations ranging from luxurious 5 star hotels to economic Dharamshalas are available at Kalka Mandir.

TIPS FOR DEVOTEES

The temple is open on all days from 04:00 in the morning to 11:30 in the night. The arti is held in the morning at 06:00 in winters and 05:00 in summers and in the evening at 6:30 in winters and 07:00 in summer. The arti continues for a period of 90 minutes for which offerings are sold at the entrance of the temple. The visitors are advised to be cautious as the place is crowded and there is a danger of Pickpockets.

IMAGES

http://www.delhitravel.org/262/kalkaji-temple-delhi/

http://www.delhitravel.org/262/kalkaji-temple-delhi/kalkaji-temple-delhi-picture-3/

http://www.vijaychowk.com/kalkaji-mandir-new-delhi.aspx

VIDEOS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxueV2SLEDg

REFERENCES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalka_Mandir,_Delhi

http://www.tripadvisor.in/Attraction_Review-g304551-d3199053-Reviews-Shri_Kalkaji_Mandir_Temple-New_Delhi_National_Capital_Territory_of_Delhi.html

http://wikimapia.org/152628/Kalkaji-Mandir

Jagannath Temple, New Delhi

Location:                     Hauz Khas, New Delhi, India

Built by:                      Built by Oriya Community

Primary deity:              Lord Jagannath

Important Festivals:     Rathyatra Festival

Attraction:                   The grandeur of the temple   

INTRODUCTION

The Jagannath Temple is situated in the Hauz Khas area, New Delhi, India. The temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a hindu God. The temple was built by the Oriya community and is a replica of the word famous Jagannath Temple in Puri.  The name “Jagannath” has been derived from the word “Jagat” which means an elevated platform and the word “Natha” which means the Lord.

The temple is a very scared place of worship for Hindu devotees especially the worshipers of the Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna. The temple is very important for the people who follow the Viashnaava traditions and the saint Ramananda. The temple also finds profound significance in the people who follow Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his religion of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

HISTORY

It has been researched in recent history that the Jagannath temple was constructed by the Kalinga rulers in Puri. The Jagannath temple in Delhi is replica of the temple in Orissa, which is built by the members of the Oriya community. The Skanda-Purana and the Brahma Purana gives an account of the legends of the Sri Jagannath temple.  It is stated the initially Lord Jagannath was worshiped under the name of Lord Neela Madhaba by Viswavasu, a tribal chief king.  Kind Indradyumna after hearing about the power of the deity sent Vidyapati, a brahmin priest to locate and find out the idol hidden in the dense forest and worshipped secretly.

After years of search, Vidyapati was not able to find the location of the deity but somehow managed to marry the daughter of Viswavasu. On repeated requests of his son-in-law, the tribal chief took his son-in-law, blindfolded, to the cave were he worshipped the deity.  But, with his extreme intelligence Vidyapati had thrown mustard seeds on the way to the cave. The mustard seeds them guided Vidyapati and King Indradyumna to the cave. But, to the King’s disappointment the idol had vanished in the sand.

To please the lord, the king then observed fat unto death on the Mount Neela. The king then undertook and horse-sacrifice and conducted the magnificent temple of Lord Vishnu. Then during his sleep, the king had a vision of the Lord Jagannath who asked him to carve idls of the freagrant tree at sea-shore. Thus, the images of Lord Jagannath, Chakra Sudarshan and Subhadra and Balabhadra were installed in the temple.

HOW TO REACH

By Air

New Delhi is well-connected to all the cities via the largest aerodrome in India, the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The temple is located in the vicinity of the airport.

By Rail

Being the capital of India, New Delhi is connected to the rest of the nation via well connected railway routes. The temple is within half-hour driving distance from both the NDLS and the Nizammuddin railway stations. The temple is also connected via the metro rail network functional in the city.

By Road

New Delhi has a very well connected road map with the rest of the nation.

WEATHER AND TIME TO VISIT        

The best time to visit the temple is between the months of March to May and from August to November. Since New Delhi witness’s extreme winter and summers it is best t visit the temple during the spring and the autumn seasons.

ACCOMODATION

Being the national capital, New Delhi offers very good facilities for accommodation. From low budget lodges to high budget five stars the city has it all. The city also boasts of many good ashrams where the devotees can stay with other people who come to offer prayers.

TIPS FOR DEVOTEES

The temple gates are closed between the 11 am to 5 pm and the devotees who want to worship the deity should keep the timings in mind when they plan their travel

IMAGES

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Asia/India/North/Delhi/New_Delhi/photo345287.htm

http://www.desicomments.com/hinduism/jagannath-temple-in-delhi/

VIDEOS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5I8F4eqkz4

REFERENCES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagannath_Temple,_Puricite_note-jagannathpuri-13

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagannath_Temple,_Delhi

Hanuman Temple, Delhi

Location:                     Connaught Place, New Delhi, India

Built by:                      Maharaj Jai Singh of Jaipur  

Also known as:           Hanuman Mandir       

Primary deity:              Lord Hanuman

Important Festivals:     Hanuman Jayanti

Attraction:                   Hymn Recitation

INTRODUCTION

The Hanuman Temple is situated on the Baba Kharak Singh road which is on southwest direction of Connaught Place in Central Delhi. The temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and the idol is of Bala Hanuman which is a depiction of child Hanuman.

 The temple has a crescent moon, symbol of Islam, attached to the spire of the temple instead of usual Hindu symbols like Aum or Sun. It was given to Tulsidas by Mughal Emperor of that time as an honor and it saved the temple from being plundered by several muslim invasions. The temple reached the peak of its fame during Mughal period due to this extraordinary feature.

HISTORY

According to the legend, the temple dates back to the Mahabharata times when it was built by the rulers of the Indraprastha (modern day Delhi), the Padavas. However, official records say that the temple was constructed by Maharaja Maan Singh I of Amber during the later half of 16^th century and was reconstructed in 1724 by Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur. Since then several modifications have been made to the temple over the period of time.

HOW TO REACH

By Rail

The temple is very near to the New Delhi railway station which has trains coming from all the quarters of the country.

It is well connected via metro rail service as it is close to Rajiv Chowk Metro Station which is a hub of yellow and blue metro lines.

By Road

The temple is very close to Connaught Place bus stand which is a local bus terminus. It is 7 km from Interstate Bus Terminus Nizamuddin.

By Air

Indira Gandhi Airport is closest to the temple which is also an international airport.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TEMPLE

The Hanuman Mandir has a unique credential to its name in the form on the honor of being placed in Guinness Book of World Records. The record is of nonstop 24 hour chanting of “Shri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram” since  August 1, 1964.

It is also believed that Lord Hanuman fulfills the desires of the devotees who whisper their wishes into the ear of idol of Nandi Bull.

WEATHER AND TIME TO VISIT

The two days of the week, Tuesdays and Saturdays, are of great significance as visitors come in maximum numbers. The annual festival of Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated with great enthusiasm which falls on the day of full moon in Chaitra month (March- April). The weather during this period is pleasant as it is the phase of transition from winters to summers.

ACCOMODATION

The temple is situated in Connaught Place which is the commercial hub of the capital city. Thus, there is no lack of accommodation for visitors. The Paharganj area of Delhi which is a hub of hotels proving wide range of accommodation is merely 3 km from the temple.

TIPS FOR DEVOTEES

The devotees are required to enter the temple barefooted. The temple remains open from 5 in the morning to 11 in the night except on Tuesdays when it remains open till 2:00 AM and on Saturday when it remains open the whole night. The Arti timing is 5:30 in the morning.

IMAGES

http://emailday.blogspot.in/2012/08/wwwkeralitesnet-hanuman-mandir.html

http://www.thedelhiheights.com/sprituality/famous-temples-in-delhi/attachment/hanuman-temple-at-delhi/

http://www.newdelhiairport.in/to-see-in-delhi.aspx

VIDEOS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcWo0lbmIhI

REFERENCES

http://hanumantempledelhi.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanuman_Temple,_Connaught_Place

http://vayusutha.in/vs4/temple48.html

Chilkur Balaji Temple, Chilkur, Hyderabad, India

Location:                     Chilkur, Hyderabad

Built by:                       In the reign of Akkanna and Madanna, the uncles of Bhakta Ramdas

Also known as:           Visa Balaji Temple or Visa God        

Primary deity:                         Lord Balaji

Important Festivals:     Poolangi, Annakota and Brahmothsavams.

Attraction:                    Hundi-less temple

INTRODUCTION

Chilkur Balaji is a well-known Temple, it is prevalently known as Visa God or Visa Balaji Temple. It is an olden Hindu temple of Lord Balaji located on the banks of Lake Osman Sagar, which is near Hyderabad, India. This temple is around 17 km from Mehedipatnam.

Apart from this, it is known to be the only temple in India where no money is accepted from devotees.

HISTORY

By viewing, the visitors can infer that Chilkur Balaji Temple was constructed half a millennium ago. Being the oldest temple in Hyderabad, it attracts loads of visitors every year. It was built or constructed during the reign of Akkanna and Madanna, the uncles of Bhakta Ramdas. The devotees are sure to find this temple as the appropriate place to follow meditation and sequestered retreat.

Discovery of Holy Cave

The discovery and construction of this holy temple were carried out during the reign of Akkanna and Madanna. And in a year after the Sino-Indian War in 1963, the statue of Ammavaru was mounted.

HOW TO REACH

The Chilkur Balaji Temple is positioned on the banks of Lake Osmansagar. And is surrounded by serene neighborhoods having plush small rocks and green trees in a village named as Chilkur. The temple is approximately 33 km away from Mehedipatnam.

By Air

If you travel by air to the temple then the nearest Airport Hyderabad will supply you with taxis to get to the place.

By Rail

Nampally Railway Station is 32 kms (20.00 miles) away or far from the Chilkur Balaji Temple. You can also avail or hire a rented car for the same.

By Road

If you favor economical transport, you can catch a city bus from Hyderabad or Secunderabad railway station to Mehidipatnam and get into a share auto rickshaw from there otherwise hire a call taxi. They charge approximately 10 rupees per kilometer.

IMPORTANT SHRINES

The shrine is influential for the temple's attractiveness as Visa God. The Shiva shrine within the temple grounds is among the more notable features.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TEMPLE

The common and majority wishes made in this temple by devotees are related to visa. This is why, Chilkur Balaji is also denoted to as 'Visa' Balaji. And the devotees have to keep their eyes open while performing darshan of God idol in the temple.

WEATHER AND TIME TO VISIT

Generally temple gets a heavy rush on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. If you want to go on the weekend better go in the early hours around 5.30AM

ACCOMODATION

There are hundreds of accommodation choices available for the visitors, including mainly hotels which are surrounded nearby the location itself. Being a popular tourist and destination, it is advised to make prior bookings.

TIPS FOR DEVOTEES

The place is generally crowded during the weekends, hence you should travel in early hours to avoid rush at these days.

RULES AND RITUALS OF THE TEMPLE

The usual rituals carried out by devotees include prayer and 11 circumambulations of the interior shrine, and makes a vow. After the wish is fulfilled, then the devotees have to walk 108 times round the shrine Sanctorum.

IMAGES

http://www.travel.ithappensinindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Chilkur-Balaji-Temple.jpg

http://undiscoveredindiantreasures.blogspot.in/2012/04/chilkur-balaji-god-with-visa-power.html

VIDEOS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GiuJ4ivbzs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmZZGABWG0E

REFERENCES

http://chilkurbalajitemple.blogspot.in/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilkur_Balaji_Temple

http://wikimapia.org/4086149/Chilkur-Balaji-Temple