beejakshara mantra Sabarimala- Swamiyaee Saranam Ayyappaa

The south Indian state of Kerala, only 10 degrees above the equator, is a land of steep mountains thickly covered with splendid tropical forests. The early people of this region, of a Dravidian ancestral stock, lived amongst the trackless valleys and roaring streams in small tribal groups. Farming little, they hunted in the teeming forests, and their primary deity, Ayappa, was a youthful forest god. Various legends explain the birth of Ayappa (also known as Dharmasasta).

 One begins with Shiva roaming the mountain kingdoms of the Himalayas. There he sees a lovely maiden and, overcome with desire, he makes passionate love with her. But the maiden is married to another man, a tribal chieftain who vows revenge on the god. The tribal chieftain retires to an ice cave in the high mountains and practices austerities for a thousand years. Through these austerities he gains great psychic powers and finally goes forth to punish Shiva. From the heights of Mt. Kailash, Shiva sees the tribal chieftain approaching.

The chieftain looks like a terrible demon and Shiva, overcome with fear, calls on the god Vishnu for assistance and protection. Vishnu manifests himself as a beautiful damsel, seduces the demon chieftain, and destroys him. But then Shiva, once again overcome with sexual desire, sees the radiant damsel (who is merely Vishnu in another form) and mates with her. Out of this union comes a baby boy named Ayappa.

Embodying the qualities of both Vishnu and Shiva, Ayappa is an avatar (divinity in human form) born into the world to battle the demons of the hill tribes of Kerala. Shiva tells the magical child of his dharma-life (a life of service), and leaves him upon the bank of a mountain stream where he is discovered by a childless tribal king. Brought up by the king, Ayappa does many miracles, is a great healer and a defeater of demons. After fulfilling the purpose of his incarnation Ayappa entered the inner sanctum of the ancient temple upon sacred Mt. Sabari and disappeared.

During his mythical life, Ayappa kept the company of tigers and leopards. Mystics living in the deep forests surrounding the Sabarimala Mountains have for a thousand years reported seeing Ayappa riding through the jungles upon a majestic tiger.


The shrine of Sabarimala is one of the most remote shrines in southern India yet it still draws three to four million pilgrims each year. Before beginning the multi-day walk through the mountain jungles to get to Sabarimala, the pilgrims prepare themselves with 41 days of rigorous fasting, celibacy, meditation and prayer. Finally arriving at the shrine, the pilgrims will wait in line for hours, even days, to have one or two seconds in front of the image of Ayappa.

After seeing the deity, many pilgrims will complete a vow called Shayana Pradikshanam. In the Malayalam language of Kerala, Shayana means “body” and Pradakshinam means “revolution,” so Shayana Pradakshinam means “revolution with the Body.” This devotional practice is done not only in Sabarimala but also in other temples in Kerala.
The Sabarimala shrine is only open a few times each year: the Mandalam festival covering 41 days from November 15 to December 26; the Makaravilakku from January 1-14; on Vishu, the day of the vernal equinox in April; and during smaller festivals in May/June and August/September. The shrine, unlike many in southern India is open to persons of all religious callings, and there are no caste restrictions during the pilgrimage. However, women - unless they are younger than six or older than sixty - are not allowed to come to Sabarimala.

This is explained by referring to the celibacy of Ayappa and the concern that he might be lured away from his shrine by a woman his age (if certain readers find this somewhat sexist, they are informed that there are particular goddess shrines in south India which men are forbidden to enter). It is said that during the pilgrimage periods no tigers are found along the forest trails leading to Sabarimala. This is explained as resulting from Ayappa’s power over tigers. Other holy places associated with Ayappa are Kulattupuzha, Aryankavu, Accankovil, and Kantamala.

Mandalam means 41 days
Deeksha - Strictly following divine principles

beejakshara mantra Tiruvannamalai - Lord shiva temple

Tiruvannamalai the home of Annamalayaar or Arunachaleswarar (Shiva worshipped as a Shiva Lingam) and Unnamulaiyaal (Apitakuchambaal - Parvati), is one of the largest temples in India. It occupies a special place in the Saivite realm and is regarded as one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalams (one of the five grand temples associated with the five basic elements) – associated with the element Fire, the other four being Tiruvanaikkaval (Water), Chidambaram (Space), Kanchipuram (Earth) and Sri Kalahasti (Wind) respectively. Shiva is said to have manifested himself in the form of a massive column of fire, whose crown and feet, Bhramma and Vishnu attempted in vain to reach. A celebration of this manifestation is seen today in the age old traditions observed in the Shivaratri and the Kartikai Deepam Utsavams held here.

Architecture: The ancient and vast Arunachaleswarar Temple as it stands today is the result of several centuries of building, alteration and extension. A Nandi faces the main shrine in each of its five prakarams. The outermost prakaram houses the thousand pillared hall and the Shiva Ganga tank and is pierced on four sides with colossal Gopurams. . The fourth prakaram includes the Bhramma Tirtham, and its eastern gateway Vallala Gopuram holds a statue of King Ballala. The third prakaram which dates back to the 12^th century AD has several Linga Shrines, and the Kili Gopura Entrance. In the East side of the prakaram stands the Flag Staff while the Northern side is home to the massive shrine of Unnamulai Amman. The 3^rd prakaram surrounds the roofed 2^nd prakaram which houses the pantheon of deities associated with Shiva, which in turn surrounds the shrine of Annamalaiyar.

Worship and Services:

An elaborate protocol of worship services marks each day at the Tiruvannamalai temple where about a hundred and fifty people are attached to the temple including priests, musicians, singers, carpenters, potters, washermen, palanquin bearers, garland makers, administrators, guards etc.

The day begins with the ceremonial arrival of Ganga to the shrine, from a tank in the Southern part of the town on an elephant through the Southern, Tirumanjana Gopuram. This water cleanses the entrance to the second prakaram, and then the next ritual involving the waking up of Shiva and Parvati in the bedchamber. The Shiva-Meru returns to the Annamalaiyaar shrine while the image of Parvati returns to the Unnamulaiamman shrine.

Six other pujas are offered at the temple, the first one at 6 am, and the last one at night where the Shiva Meru and the image of Parvati are processionally brought into the bed chamber. Each service is accompanied by chants of invocation, dedication and praise. In the south west corner of the prakaram, the sacrificial fire ritual takes place, ending with the consecration of vessels of water which are used in the ablution of Annamalaiyaar and Unnamulai Amman.

Festivals:

Several festivals dot the Tiruvannamalai temple town's calendar. IEach occurrence of the full moon is a celebration in itself, as hundreds of thousands throng to circumambulate the Annamalai Hill, considered to be a reperesentationof Annamalaiyar himself. The festivals of the temple are remarkably intertwined with the life of the locals, marking the so called subtle transcendence between the human and the divine states. In addition to the various festivals, Tiruvannamalai celebrates four annual Bhrammotsavams (10 day festivals) the most famous of which is the Kartikai Bhrammotsavam (in the Tamil month of Kartikai Nov 15 - Dec 15).

The Arudra Darisanam in the month of Margazhi (Dec 15 through Jan 15) is a celebration of the cosmic dance of Shiva. The Tai Poosam festival which occurs in the month of Tai (Jan 15 through Feb 15) is also of great significance. The Tiruvoodal festival, enacting a mock quarrel between Annamalaiyaar and Unnamulai Amman is enacted in the presence of Sundaramoorthy Nayanaar in the Tiruvoodal Street, a street that has been earmarked for this annual event. During this quarrel, Parvati enters the temple alone by herself, leaving Shiva outside, and Shiva (Annamalaiyaar) circumambulates the Annamalai hill (himself), and during his trip, grants liberation to the rishi Bhringi. His jewels get stolen in the West side of the town and he then recovers stolen jewellery in the eastern side of the town, and then returns to the temple the folowing morning.

In the month of Maasi, (Feb 15 through March 15) Shiva is crowned as the King in the absence of a royal heir to King Ballala of the Hoysala dynasty (an early 14th century ruler) whose statue adorns the Vallala Gopuram. Interestingly Ballala's death is announced as an element of the festival tradition during the Tai Poosam celebration season. Associated with these events, Annamalaiyaar visits Pallikondapattu, one of the villages to the east of Tiruvannamalai, where the King's palace is said to have stood.

The Parivettai (Royal Hunt) festival is a part of the two Bhrammotsavams celebrated during the winter and summer solstices. This festival represents a royal hunt on the borders of the town.

The celebration of Kartikai Deepam marks the conclusion of the ten day Bhrammotsavam in the month of Kartikai (Scorpio , Nov 15 through December 15). Each of these festival days is marked by the procession of the Pancha Murthys (Somaskandar (Annamalayar), Unnamulaiyaal, Ganapati, Subramanyar and Chandikeswarar) in gaily decorated mounts. Most noteworthy among these are the Rishabha Vahana Utsavam celebrated on the fifth evening of the festival and the Rathotsavam, celebrated on the seventh day of the festival.

Kartikai Deepam is preceeded by the Bharani Deepam celebration when a lamp is lit in the main shrine of the temple following a fire sacrifice before the shrine of Surya. A small bowl of ghee lighted at this fire is used to light five other lamps representing the five aspects of Shiva. Preparations begin for the Kartikai Deepam which is to be celebrated in the afternoon. A group of fishermen carry a portion of this fire inside a container of baked earth to the summit of the mountain where a large copper utensil filled with offerings of ghee and pieces of cloth has been placed.

Crowds begin to throng the temple complex, and a discernible order prevails among the crowd as the tens of thousands gathered begin their patient wait for the auspicious moment when the Deepam celebration would reach its peak.

In the meanwhile, preparations go on for the afternoon’s climax. Four of the five decorated Pancha Murthys are are brought out from the main shrine of the temple and housed in Vimanams in the 3^rd prakaram of the temple, facing the flag staff and the Annamalai Hill. The last to arrive is Annamalaiyar who comes out of the second prakaram, dancing with his consort.

The crowd waits to catch a glimpse of the deepam which is then brought out of the inner shrine towards the Utsavar Annamalayaar. The anticipation of the lakhs gathered there can only be experienced, not described in words. The deepam is brought out in a gait by the bearers and a deeparadanai is offered to the Utsavar, and at this very instant, the lamp on the hill is lighted as the crowd breaks into a frenzied devout cheer, yet retaining the order that was there when it was just beginning to assemble. The human mass gathered within and around the precincts of the temple, along with the residents of the town and neighboring towns catch sight of the flame atop the Annamalai hill, cherishing the age old belief that it is a representation of Shiva himself, who appeared in the form of a flame whose origins could not be deciphered by the other two of the Trinity namely Bhramma and Vishnu. Keeping with tradition, the inner sanctum doors close, with the arrival of the deepam outside, and it is believed Annamalaiyaar is to be worshipped only as the beacon until the next morning when the shrine is reopened.

Access and Accomodation: Tiruvannamali (located in the erstwhile North Arcot district of Tamilnadu) has several hotels and ashrams and it attracts visitors from all over the world Ramanashramam and Seshadri Swami ashram being examples. Each occurrence of a full moon attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. The Kartikai Deepam celebration also attracts lakhs (hundreds of thousands) to the extent that all incoming traffic is halted at the boundary of the town on the day of the festival. The government of Tamilnadu runs special bus and train services during the occasion. By car, it is a four to five hour drive from Chennai, and there are several 'point to point' non-stop bus services. Tiruvannamalai is located on the railway line linking Villuppuram and Katpadi, and is therefore connected conveniently by rail to centers such as Tirupati and Thanjavur. Tirukkoilur with the Trivikrama temple and the Veeratteswarar temple, Saathanur Dam, and Vellore with its Jalakanteswarar Fort Temple are some of the nearby attractions.

beejakshara mantra Sabarimala Ayyappan Importance of the place

Sabarimala Sree Ayyappa Temple is one of the most ancient and prominent Sastha temples in the country. Located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, Sabarimala Sri Dharmasastha Temple is one of the few Hindu temples in India that is open to all faiths. The shrine of Sabarimala is one of the most remote shrines in southern India yet it still draws three to four million pilgrims each year. Surrounded by mountains and dense forest Sabarimala is believed to be the place where Ayyappan meditated. Perhaps the best known pilgrimage destination in Kerala is Sabarimala. Sabarimala Sri Dharmasastha Temple is the most famous and prominent among all the Sastha Temples. It is believed that "Parasurama Maharshi" who retrieved Kerala from the sea by throwing his axe, installed the idol of Ayyappa at Sabarimala to worship Lord Ayyappa.



The pilgrimage begins in the month of November and ends in January. The temple attracts pilgrims not only from the southern states of India, but also from other parts of the country and abroad. The shrine gets thronged with devotees especially during the main pilgrim season from November to January. Mandala pooja (November16,2009) and Makaravilakku(Jan.14th) are the two main events of the pilgrim season. The temple stays closed during the rest of the year except for the first five days of every Malayalam month and during Vishu (April).


Certain customs are to be strictly observed if one has to undertake a pilgrimage to Sabarimala. A pilgrim attending the Mandalapooja should observe austerities for 41 days. During this period, the pilgrim should abstain himself from non vegetarian food and carnal pleasures. Pilgrims set out in groups under a leader, and each carry a cloth bundle called Irumudi kettu containing traditional offerings. Unlike certain Hindu temples, Sabarimala temple has no restrictions of caste or creed. The temple is open to males of all age groups and to women who have either passed their fertility age and those before reaching the stage of puberty. The easiest route is via Chalakkayam, by which one can reach the banks of the river Pamba by vehicle. Pamba is the main halting point on the way to Sabarimala. From here one has to trek 4 to 5 kms to reach the temple.
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beejakshara mantra Murdeshwara Temple - Uttara Kannada Dist (Karnataka)

Murudeshwar Temple

Location : Murudeshwar is around 180 km from Mangalore on the National Highway. On the route along the highway is the alluring Maravanthe Beach with the Arabian Sea roaring on the west and a serene river on the east along this route for almost 2 km.



Temple : Bounded by the shimmering sea and rolling hills, the place is a favourite picnic spot. WIth the roaring sea to the west, the towering hills to the east and the coconut and areca groves nearby, the temple attracts a lot of devotees and tourists as well. The sea is an intrinsic part of the temple scape at Murudeshwar. The sea surrounds the temple towering on the small hill called Kanduka Giri on three sides.

Two life-size elephants in concrete stand guard at the steps leading to the temple. The Murudeshwar temple has a history that dates back to a few centuries. The temple, which embodies a linga, is believed to have erupted when Ravana flung the cloth covering the atmatlinga at Gokarana while lifting it. As one ascends the hillock, there is a shrine of Jattiga seated on a horse.
The locals here have an interesting legend to relate as to how the linga came to be established at Murudeshwar. It is said that Ravana’s mother expressed a keen desire to worship the atmalinga of Lord Shiva. Ravana, the ever-devoted son, set out to Kailash to fulfill his mother’s wishes and went into penance. Lord Shiva was pleased with him and asked him what he wanted. When Ravana told him that he wanted the atmalinga, Shiva willingly parted with it. But the atmalinga came with a warning. Shiva told him that the atmalinga would fix itself at the first site on which Ravana would place it. Had Ravana established the atmalinga, he would have become the all powerful, invincible and immortal.

beejakshara mantra Chennai temples -Sri Kalikambal Temple

The temple is located at Thambu Chetty Street. Chennai city was once called Chennamman Kuppam in the name of Goddess Chennaman and later Chenna pattinam. The Kali of the erstwhile Chennamman Kuppam is today’s Kalikambal. The temple was once located inside the St George fort and later shifted here during the British regime. The temple has the sanctity of the two Pancha bootha Sthalams - Kanchipuram and Thiruvannamalai.

At the foot of the Goddess is present the Arthameru installed by Aadhi Shankarar. Kamadeswarar is present in a separate shrine. Many sages Vyasar, Parasar, Agasthiar, Ankiresar, Pulasthiar and Varunan and Celestial Gods Indhran, Guberan and Viwaakarma worshipped Kalikambal. It is said that Guberan got all his wealth only after worshipping Kalikambal here

Chathrabathi Sivaji worshipped Kalikambal in 1677. Bharathiar used to worship Kalikambal while working in Suthesamithran magazine and his verse ‘Yathumahi Ninral Kali’ was sung on Kalikambal only. The famous TMS’s song ‘Ullam Uruhuthaiya’ was sung for the first time here only, in 1952 by Sri Andavan Pichai.

More details in Vikatan Publication’s ‘ Nimmadhi Tharum Sannidhi Part 1‘ book.

beejakshara mantra Chennai Temples - Pancha Bootha Sthalams:

There are Pancha boodha sthalam equivalents in Chennai at the heart of the city which are considered very powerful and they are:
1) Kalahasthi temple at Pavalakara (Coral Merchant) street, near Mallikeswarar temple, Mannady representing Air
2) Arunachaleswara temple near Lakshmi Amman Koil stop in Thiruvotriyur bus route representing Fire. There is one more Arunachaleswarar temple at the end of Palliappan street (George town).
3) Gangadareswarar Temple, Purasawalkam representing Water
4) Chidambaranatha (Nataraja) temple near Choolai Post office representing Sky and
5) Ekambareswara Koil at Mint representing Earth

Note: Thanks to Mrs Prasanna Rajagopalan & shantiraju trips blog for the information

beejakshara mantra Halebidu - Preserved Oldest Heritage and culture

Halebidu -

A place where culture and heritage is preserved in the form of great shiva temple..

Facts And Figures



* Total Population: 3000

* Best time to visit: October - February

* Area: 2.248 sq km

* Languages: Kannada and English

* STD Code: 08177





Formerly known as Dwarasamudra, Halebid is also referred as the Gem of Indian Architecture. Once the capital of the Hoysala Empire after Belur, Halebid is famous for the remnants of the glorious Hoyasala period and has one of the finest Hoysala temples. Location

Halebid is in Hassan district in Belur taluk, 16 km east of Belur and 34 km from Hassan.

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit Halebid is between the months of October and February.

History

Halebid flourished as the capital of the Hoysala Empire during the 12th & 13th centuries. During the reign of Veeraballala II, the grandson of Vishnuvardhana, it reached the pinnacle of its greatness and saw its fall in 1327 AD when it was conquered by Muhammad Bin Tughlaq.

Tourist Attractions

• Shiva Temples:

The twin Shiva Temple with a common platform have two garbhagrihas - one housing the Vishnuvardhana Hoysaleshwara Linga and the other Shanthaleshwara Linga.

• Hoysaleshwar Temple:

The construction of this temple started in 1121 AD, but never completed. This is a scriptural extravaganza, richly endowed with most finely detailed scrollwork in stone.

• Nandimantapa:

In front of the Hoysaleshwara is the Nandimantapa and behind that is a shrine of Surya with a 2-m-tall image. The place has a Parshwanatha basadi with highly polished pillars in which strange images of on-lookers are reflected.

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Museum of Archaeological Survey of India:

This museum is located in the temple premises displaying sculptures, woodcarvings idols, coins and inscriptions of 12th and 13th centuries.

• Kedareshwara Temple:

This is another monument built by Ketaladevi, Ballala II's Queen.

Places around Halebid

• Belur:

A famous temple town in Karnataka, Belur is especially renowned for the grand Hoysala Temple Complex. Also known as Dakshina Varanasi, Belur is located in Hassan district.

• Somnathpur:

Located 38 km from Mysore, the 13th century Keshava Temple in Somnathpur is the best-preserved most complete monument of Hoysala architecture.

Fairs And Festivals

Though there are no major fairs and festivals in Halebid, the Mahamastakabhisheka of the 17-m-high statue of Lord Bahubali (Gomateshwar) in Shravanbelgola after every 12 years is celebrated grandly. On this occasion, the statue is smeared with thousands of pots of coconut oil, yoghurt, ghee, bananas, jaggery, dates, almonds, poppy seeds, milk, saffron and sandalwood. This statue is said to be the tallest monolithic structure in the world.

Where to stay

Some of the major hotels in Halebid, offering a remarkable blend of tradition and modernity as well as a comfortable stay, are Hotel Hassan Ashok, Hotel Southern Star, Hotel Suvarna Regency, Hoysala Village Resort, etc.

How To Reach

• By Air

The nearest airport is at Bangalore about 226 km away.

• By Rail

The nearest railhead is in Hassan.

• By Road

Halebid is well-connected by a network of roads to Bangalore, Mysore and Mangalore. Regular buses ply from Hassan.

beejakshara mantra India - At a Glance

Introduction to Indian Tourist Attractions


India is actually a ‘Jewel in the Crown’ as far as tourism is concerned. The country is a hot-spot tourist destination for tourists from all over the world. India is synonymous with great culture, unique civilization, glorious history and ancient traditions. India is a paradise for travelers and has many cultural, architectural, historical, culinary, adventure, religious, spiritual, sports, and more wonderful opportunities for travelers. There is a lot to see and do in India. India is a vast country with people of many different ethnic backgrounds, religions, customs, languages, lifestyles and cuisines.

A visit to this great country offers a wonderful opportunity to see the interesting mix of various religions, festivals, customs, sounds and sights. The whole of India encompasses numerous tourist attractions from Kashmir in the north to Kanyakumari in the south, Gujarat in the east to Arunachal Pradesh in the east. Some of the more magnificent tourist attractions that can be found in India come in the form of beautiful natural places – the mighty Himalayan Mountains and other mountain ranges like Sahyadris, Shivaliks, Nilgiris, Aravallis etc. and majestic rivers likes Ganges, Yamuna, Jhelum, Narmada etc. and beaches, coastlines, deserts, forests, sanctuaries and national parks and so on. Other tourist attractions include the exquisite temples, palaces, forts, museums, historical monuments and so on. The famous tourist places are Delhi, Rajasthan, Agra, Goa, Kashmir, Kerala, Kovalam, Alleppey, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Aurangabad and many more.

Delhi


Delhi is India’s capital city and is a well developed and modernized city with a pulsating and happening lifestyle. Most of the tourists start their tour of the country from this city. Delhi has always been the home of the highest seat of power and administration since long ago. Even today, it is the political and administrative nerve center of India and is home to the highest offices of the government. Delhi was the capital of Mughal Empire and thus has many Mughal buildings with typical Mughal architecture. The places of tourist interest in Delhi are the Qutub Minar, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Chandani Chowk, Hauz Khas, Safdarjung’s Tomb, Lodhi Gardens, Raj Ghat, India Gate, Old Fort, Zoo, Nehru Planetarium, Pragati Maidan, Doll’s Museum, Birla Mandir, Jantar Mantar Lotus Temple, Parliament House and Rashtrapati Bhawan etc. All the Mughal buildings are impressive structures made of red sandstone with marvelous carvings. The places for shopping are the Janpath, Palika Bazaar, Connaught Place, South Extension and Sarojini Nagar Market and so on.

Rajasthan



Rajasthan is the desert state of India and is famed for the glorious history of the Rajput kings and warriors. It is home to magnificent forts, palaces, temples, lakes, lake palaces, shrines and mausoleums. The places worth visiting in Rajasthan include Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Ranthambore and Jaisalmer etc. Jaipur, the Pink City is home to the famous Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal etc. The tourist attractions of Jodhpur are Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan Palace and Mehrangarh Fort along with many more. Udaipur is famous as the Lake City and the major tourist attractions include City Palace, Lake Palace, Saheliyon ki Bari, Lake Pichola and Jagdish Palace etc. Rajasthan has many tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries like Ranthambore National Park, Bharatpur Bird sanctuary and so on. The heritage hotels in Rajasthan are wonderful places and they also form perfect venues for lavish weddings. Ajmer is famed for the Ajmer Sharif Dargah.

Agra



Agra is famous for being the home of the world famous and world heritage site the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Other tourist attractions in Agra include the Agra Fort, Jama Masjid, Sikandara, Itmad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb and Fatehpur Sikri. Taj Mahal is a magnificent building made of white marble, built by Shah Jahan in the memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

Kashmir

Kashmir is rightfully called a Paradise on Earth and is renowned for its lovely valleys, mountains, and lakes. The places interest for tourists in Kashmir are Srinagar, the capital city, Dal Lake, Nagin Lake, Shankaracharya Temple, ChasmeShahi, Shalimar Garden, Nishat Garden, Hazratbal Shrine, Gulmarg, Khillanmarg and Pahalgam.

Goa



Goa is famous all over the world for its dazzling beaches and beautiful coastline. The major tourist destinations in Goa are Panaji, Mapusa, Margao, Ponda, Bicholim, Mormugao, Tiracol etc. The tourist attractions in Goa include the St Francis Church, Mangeshi Temple, Miramar Beach, Dona Paul, Colva and Calangute Beach in addition to many more.

Kerala

Kerala is home to some of the best beaches and backwaters in the world. It is also the home of beautiful temples like the Swami Ayyappa Temple, various churches, synagogues etc. in Kerala. Kovalam Beach is a very popular beach of untold beauty. Kerala is well known for its ayurvedic treatments and spas. Alleppey is full of lagoons, backwaters, canals, coir factories and lovely nature with lush green plantations.

Mumbai

Mumbai is Maharashtra’s capital city and is considered to be India’s financial capital. Mumbai is famed for its Elephanta Caves, Malabar Hill, Mahalaxmi Temple, Hanging Gardens, Haji Ali Shrine, Siddhivinayak Temple, Kamala Nehru Park, Taraporewala Aquarium, Gateway of India and Marine Drive.

Bangalore

Bangalore is Karnataka’s capital city and is also known as the ‘Garden City of India’. The well known tourist attractions of Bangalore are Lal Bagh, Bangalore Palace, Bull Temple, Vidhana Soudha, ISKCON, Cubbon Park and Venkatappa Art Gallery etc. There are many more attractions in the state of Karnataka like Mysore City, Vrindavan Gardens, and Vijayanagara.

Chennai

Chennai is Tamil Nadu’s capital city and houses many forts, palaces, temples and shrines. The popular tourist places in Chennai are Kapeeleswarar Temple, Fort St. George, Government Museum, Marina Beach, George Town, National Art Gallery, Corporation Complex and the High Court Complex.

Kolkata



Kolkata is West Bengal’s capital and the tourist attractions here include Howrah Bridge, Belur Math, Kali Temple, Victoria Memorial, Alipore Zoo, Millennium Park and Birla Planetarium etc.

There are many more world heritage sites in India like the Ajanta and Ellora Caves of Aurangabad, Khajuraho Temples, Bodh Gaya, Varanasi etc.

HYDERABAD

beejakshara mantra Sri Ekambareswarar Temple

This 500 year old temple is located at the Thangasalai street (Mint street), Parktown and is one of the three temples that were popular even before the arrival of the British. A big, beautiful and well maintained temple with a temple tank (with water as well). In almost all the (ancient) temple tanks in this area, it is quite heartening to see water in spite of being in the densest commercial place. JJ’s water harvesting has paid off??.

The temple is considered equivalent to Kanchi Ekambareswarar temple, one of Pancha bootha sthalangal representing land. Lingams of all the other Panchabootha sthalams (Kalahasthi, Thiruvannamalai, Thiruvanaikaval and Chidambaram) and all the 63 Nayanmars are also present. There are 300 years old Ashwatha Tree and Kallala tree and there is a lingam shrine under the Ashwatha tree, the speciality of which being that people can do pooja to the lingam themselves. In a single sculpture, Panchamuha Vinayahar is on one side and Murugar is on the other side with a five headed Snake. The Navagraha shrine here is considered one of the most sacred shrines in the city.

Location : 70 kms south of Chennai
Also Known as : The City Of Thousand Temples
Prime Attractions : The Ekambareswarar Temple
Temperature : Max 37°C to Min 20°C
Population : 30.38 lakh (2001 census)
Area : 11.6 Sq. Kms

beejakshara mantra Udipi - Lord Krishna

About Udupi Tourism

Sixty kilometers from Mangalore, is the temple
town of Udupi, famous for its Krishna temple
established in the 13th century by the great
Sanskrit philosopher, Madhavacharya. The
temple attracts pilgrims from all over India and
is also a centre for the Dvaita philosophy. Udipi
is also the district headquarters and is the third
-most important city of Karnataka, after
Bangalore and Mangalore. The economy is
based on agriculture and fishing, as well as
small scale industries such as food processing,
dairy and cashew production. It is also
developing into a hub for the software industry.

Udipi is synonymous with the world-famous
Udipi cuisine, which is served all over India in
the efficiently-run Udipi restaurants, famous for
dosas, idlis and other snacks. The tradition of
this cuisine started in the great kitchens of the
Krishna Temple which serve meals in the form
of prasada to the thousands of devotees

Sightseeing Highlights:



Sri Krishna Temple

This is Udipi's most famous attraction and
draws thousands of pilgrims, especially during
the Paraya festival in January. The great
composer Kanakadasa is believed to have seen
the Lord here and there is a window called
Kanakana Kindi commemorating this fact. The
Madhava Sarovar is the holy tank in which
devotees take a dip.


Sri Anathesvara Temple

This is another famous temple right in the
middle of the temple square and is dedicated to
Vishnu. It has intricate carvings in wood and
stone, especially in the alter.


Chandramauleshvara Temple

This temple is in the busy market area of
Temple Square. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva
and has a towering pyramidal roof.



Around Udipi:


Manipal, 3km away from Udipi, is the famous
educational centre with its well-known Medical
College. You can also visit a small museum
established by Vijayanath Shenoy and
displaying his private collection of artifacts.



Malpe is a port town 6 km from Udipi. It draws
many tourists for its beautiful natural
surroundings. There is a secluded beach at the
estuary of the Malpe River and the St. Mary's
Island, with stunning rock formations of basalt.



Brahmavar, 13 kms north of Udupi, draws
pilgrims to its three famous temples: the 9th
century Mahalinga temple, the Gopinatha
temple a fine example of Hoysala architecture,
and the Janardhana temple.



Shopping & Food:

Udipi has a bustling shopping area in Car Street
which is in the heart of town. You will find all
the branded shops, along with supermarkets and
malls here. Udupi is also a famous jewellery
making centre and you can shop here for
traditional designs. As mentioned earlier, Udipi
is the original destination for the famous

vegetarian South Indian cuisine and tiffin items,
now so popular all over India. Naturally you
have to eat the real stuff in the restaurants here.
A sit-down meal at the temple is a great
experience too.


Tourism info:

Regional Tourist Office

Krishna Building, Car Street, Udupi - 576 101
Phone: 91 8252 29718



Karnataka Tourism Information Centre
Triveni Lodge Building, Hampanakatta,
Mangalore
Phone: 91 824 442926

beejakshara mantra Mantralaym - A Place where great saint burried himself.

About Mantralaya Raghavendra Swamy - 
Mantralaya Acharya Sri Raghavendra Swamy

Madhwa(it is a sub sect of brahmins in indian caste system) Saint Sri Raghavendra attained his Jeeva Samadhi (burried himself when alive) at Mantralayam near Kurnool some 300 years ago.

A large number of followers and devotees of all religious sects throng this little town located on the banks of river Tungabhadra all through the year. The mutt, called the Raghavendra brindavanam, houses the jeeva samadhi of Swamy Raghavendra, a great saint of the sixteenth century who was an exponent of the Dwaita School.

01-SREE RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY BHAJANALU1
He entered alive into the samadhi on Bidagi day on shravana bahula in Vasodhikritanama sanvatsara. On that day the saint completed all the morning rituals and granted final benediction to the assembled devotees and said, "Though I cast off my mortal frame, I shall always be here and protect the sanatana dharma according to the command of Shri Hari.

I will abide here in my subtle body and protect all my devotees". So saying the saint directed his tearful devotees to raise a structure of holy stones and seal it with 1200 Laxminarayana Saligrams. The life of Saint Raghavendra is a source of great inspiration and strength to his myriad devotees. Called Venkatanath in his purvashrama days, Swami Raghavendra was a grahastha.

When his Guru Sudhindra Tirtha wanted to make him the head of his Peetha, Venkatnath politely refused saying that he could not abandon his duties as a grahastha to his wife and his son. However, as per divine design he had a vision that convinced him that he should enter sanyasa and assume the mantle of the peetha. Thus began the story of saint Raghavendra.

Throughout his life Swami Raghavendra worked tirelessly to spread the worship of Hari and with the blessings of his lord performed many a miracle. The Devotees are allowed to do the ’arathi’ themselves to the sanctum sanctorum.

Listen Raghavendra Swamy Bhajans. 02-SREE RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY BHAJANALU2
The mutt also undertakes the feeding of the devotees once a day during lunchtime. The drive back to the railway station to catch the Chennai mail is pleasant. Thousand sunflowers bid you farewell on the way.

How to reach Mantralayam

• Air: The nearest air port to Mantralayam is Hyderabad at a distance of 351 km.
• Rail: The nearest rail head is Mantralayam Road on Madras - Raichur route at a distance of 15 km from Mantralayam.
• Bus: A.P. Tourism conducts a package tour from Hyderabad, Buses are available to Mantralayam from Kurnool to Hyderabad.

Mahatma Gandhi Memorial bus station (Gawliguda):

• Reservation 040-24734158
• Enquiries 040-24618685, 24614406
• Alighting Point 040-24601919

Jubilee Bus Station:

• Enquiries & Reservations: 040-27802203

beejakshara mantra Amazing Temples

Tiger's Nest Monastery, perched precariously on the edge of a 3,000-feet-high cliff in Paro Valley, is one of the holiest places in Bhutan


Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Mai, Thailand is unlike any Buddhist temples in the world

Prambanan is a Hindu temple in Central Java, Indonesia. The temple was built in 850 CE, and is composed of 8 main shrines and 250 surrounding smaller ones

No one knows exactly when the Shwedagon Paya [wiki] (or Pagoda) in Myanmar was built - legend has it that it is 2,500 years old though archaeologists estimate that it was built between the 6th and 10th century.
Temple of Heaven is a Taoist temple in Beijing, the capital of China. The temple was constructed in 14th century by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty
Chion-in Temple [wiki] was built in 1234 CE to honor the founder of Jodo (Pure Land) Buddhism, a priest named Honen, who fasted to death in the very spot.

In the 19th century, Dutch occupiers of Indonesia found a massive ancient ruin deep in the jungles of Java. What they discovered was the complex of Borobudur, a gigantic structure built with nearly 2 million cubic feet (55,000 m³) of stones. The temple has nearly 2,700 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.
The Harmandir Sahib (meaning The Abode of God) or simply the Golden Temple [wiki] in Punjab, India is the most sacred shrine of Sikhism.

The Temple of Srirangam (Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple [wiki]), in the Indian city of Tiruchirapalli (or Trichy), is the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world (Ankor Wat is the largest of all temple, but it is currently non-functioning as a temple - see below).

Last but definitely not least is the largest temple in history and the inspiration to countless novels and action movies of Hollywood: Ankor Wat.