Author: theshiva

Bhimashankar Temple is located in the village of Bhorgiri 50 km north west of Khed, near Pune and is located 127 km away from shivaji nagar(Pune) in the Ghat region of the Sahyadri hills , in India. Bhimashankar is the source of the Bhima river, which flows south east and merges with the Krishna river near Raichur. Bhimashankar in Maharashtra is an ancient shrine, enshrining Bhimashankara one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva. This temple is closely associated with the legend of Shiva. Eons ago in the dense forests of Dakini, on the lofty ranges of the Sahaydris lived an evil Asura by the name Bhima with his mother Karkati. Compassion and kindness shivered in the presence of Bhima. The divine and the mortals were scared of him alike. But he was confronted by certain questions about his own existence which continuously tormented him. When Bhima could no longer sustain his agony and curiosity, he asked his mother to unveil the mysteries of his life.

He urged his mother to tell him who his father was and why he had abandoned them in the wilderness of the forest. After much hesitation and with a lingering fear, Karkati his mother, revealed to him that he was the son of the mighty Kumbhakarna, the younger brother of the Lankadheeswara – the mighty all powerful King Ravana of Lanka. Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Lord Rama annihilated Kumbhakarna. Karkati told Bhima, that his father was killed by Ram in the great war. This infuriated Bhima and he vowed to avenge Lord Vishnu. To achieve this he embarked on a severe penance to please Lord Brahma. The compassionate creator was pleased by the dedicated devotee and granted him immense prowess. This was a terrible mistake. The evil tyrant caused havoc in the three worlds. He defeated King Indra and conquered the heavens. He also defeated a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva – Kamarupeshwar, and put him in the dungeons. He started torturing Rishis and Sadhus. All this angered the Gods. They all along with Lord Brahma beseeched Lord Shiva to come to their rescue. Lord Shiva consoled the Gods and agreed to rescue them from the tyrant. On the other hand Bhima insisted and ordered Kamarupeshwar to worship him instead of Lord Shiva. When Kamarupeshwar denied, the tyrant Bhima raised his sword to strike the Shiva Linga, to which Kamarupeshwar was doing abhishekam and pooja. As soon as Bhima managed to raise his sword, Lord Shiva appeared before him in all his magnificence. Then the terrible war began. The holy sage Narada appeared and requested Lord Shiva to put an end to this war. It was then that Lord Shiva reduced the evil demon to ashes and thus concluded the saga of tyranny. All the Gods and the holy sages present there requested Lord Shiva to make this place his abode. Lord Shiva thus manifested himself in the form of the Bhimashankar Jyotirlingam. It is believed that the sweat that poured forth from Lord Shiva’s body after the battle formed the Bhimarathi River.

The Bhimashankara temple is a composite of old and the new structures and is built in the Nagara style of architecture. It is a modest temple yet graceful temple and it dates back to mid 18th century. The shikhara of the temple was built by Nana Phadnavis. The great Maratha ruler Shivaji is also said to have made endowments to this temple to facilitate the carrying out, of worship services. As with other Shiva temples in this area, the sanctum is at a lower level. There are Buddha style carvings of Amba-Ambika, Bhootling and Bhimashankar in the hills of Manmod near Bhimashankar. This is at the height of 1034 mtrs. A big size bell in Hemadpanthi structure built by Nana Phadanavis is also a feature of Bhimashankar. Various places that could be visited in Bhimashankar are Hanuman Lake, Gupt Bhimashankar, Origin of River Bhima, Nag Phani, Bombay Point, Sakshi Vinayak and lot more. Bhimashankar is conserve red forest area and wildlife sanctuary where a variety of birds, animals, flowers, plants can be seen. A rare animal “Shekru” can be found in deep woods. Bhimashankar is worth visited for jungle lovers and trekkers as well as for pilgrims.

Badrinath is a Hindu holy town and a nagar panchayat in Chamoli district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Badrinath temple (Badrinarayan temple), is situated along the Alaknanda river, in the hill town of Badrinath. It is the most important of the four sites in India’s Char Dham pilgrimage.

The Badrinath temple is the main attraction in the town. According to legend Shankara discovered a black stone image of Lord Badrinarayan made of Saligram stone in the Alaknanda River. He originally enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund hot springs. In the sixteenth century, the King of Garhwal moved the murti to the present temple. The temple has undergone several major renovations because of age and damage by avalanche. The temple is approximately 50 ft (15 m) tall with a small cupola on top, covered with a gold gilt roof. The facade is built of stone, with arched windows. A broad stairway leads up to a tall arched gateway, which is the main entrance. The architecture resembles a Buddhist vihara (temple), with the brightly painted facade also more typical of Buddhist temples. Just inside is the mandapa, a large pillared hall that leads to the garbha grha, or main shrine area. The walls and pillars of the mandapa are covered with intricate carvings. Badrinath Temple was originally built by King Pururava, and none other than the great artisan of gods, Vishwakarma, artistically carved it. Much later in 8th century, well-known Hindu reformist Adi Shankaracharya re-enshrined the temple.

The temple architecture puts a fabulous semblance for the eyes of the on looker. It is divided into three segments namely the ‘Garbha Griha’ or the sanctum sanctorum, the ‘Darshan Mandap’ the Ritual Hall and the ‘Sabha Mandap’ or the Devotees Assembly Hall. The whole temple complex has 15-idols, of which the statue of Lord Badri or Vishnu, subtly chiseled from Black stone, simply catches the imagination by awe and reverence. Badrinath Temple open every year in April and May, and closes in third week of November. The temple is opened for the devotees from 0430 hrs till 1300 hrs. It opens again from 1600 hrs to 2100 hrs after the Rawal recites Geet Govind. Rawal is the celibate temple administrator or the Pujari who is well versed in performing special morning prayers, Abhishek and Mahaabhishek; and evening Pujas such as Aarti and Geet Govind in Sanskrit respectively. The individual devotees can also carry out sacred oblation. And every Puja ceremony must be carried out only after taking holy dip in Tapta Kund.

Two naturally joined Rudraksha called Gauri Shankar is regarded as the form of Shiva & Parvati. It Posses the power of 2 mukhi rudraksha. It represents a combined form of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

This is a very powerful Rudraksha for improving relations between husband-wife, family and friends, and is considered as a best Rudraksha for bringing peace and happiness in the family. Rudraksha is a divine bead and it bestows all sorts of spiritual , Mental & Physical benefits to its wearer.

However, in order to get maximum benefits from Rudraksha it needs to be sanctified & energized also known as Pran Prathista prior to its use for the first time.

Twenty-one faced Rudraksh represents Lord Kuber the God of wealth (related to Ek Alakh Nirnjan). It is one of the rarest of all the Rudrakshas. It is called Ek Alakh King; the Omkar(Om) itself. It is the creator and do preservation of the universe and it is the past, present and future itself.

This Rudraksha belongs to each and every Shakti (power). Lord Brahmma, Vishnu and Mahesha along with all other God and Goddess live in this Rudraksha. The person who wears this Rudraksha after proper Sidhhi will involve deeply in Bhakti.

The wearer of this Rudraksha gets all the comforts, leisure and happiness and in the end get the Moksha.

A Twenty Mukhi Rudraksha represents Lord Brahma. The person who wears this Rudraksha after proper Sidhhi will involve deeply in Bhakti. It is enhance knowledge as well as bestows mental peace.

It also Improves the visual power. This is one of the rarest bead. The wearer of this Rudraksha is known for his words. he always speak truth and his wordings becomes truth. Lord Shiva opens the power of truth for his words. This Rudraksha reaches to the Sadhu, saints and brahmins by the virtue of their devotion for Lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva bless them with 20 Mukhi Rudraksha and removes their sins. It provides Moksha (liberation) in the end.

A Rudraksha of Nineteen face is Narayan Roopam and is related to Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha. This Rudraksha have Lord Shiva residing in it. Lord Shiva made this nineteen faceted Rudraksha which is priceless and has magical powers; therefore it makes the life of the wearer complete with every comforts and free from all kind of troubles.

This Rudraksha have mother Parvati also residing in it. Who is very merciful to her devotees. Mother bless all his devotees to become free from all kind of troubles and provides with every comforts and happiness. Lord Ganesha is the provider of all kind of Riddhi and Siddhi ( attainments). Every work is started with the Ganesha Puja and by remembering Lord Ganesha. The person who wears this Rudraksha after proper Sidhhi will never get any disease in the life time and get all kinds of success, happiness and comforts in his life. This Rudraksha provides comfort of money, wife, sons and daughters.

The wearer of this Rudraksha should go to the temple of Lord Shiva and should offer milk, curd, water and Bilva patra to the Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati and Shree Ganesha regularly to get their blessings.

Eighteen faced Rudraksha represents Mother Earth and is related to Eighteen types of Vanaspati (herbs) in the Body. It is a very rare Rudraksha.

The person who wears this Rudraksha after proper Sidhhi will never get any disease in the life time and get all kinds of happiness and comforts in his life. This Rudraksha have 18 Eighteen powers in it which protects the wearer from all kinds of evils and problems. It removes the laziness and excessive sleep from the wearer of this Rudraksha. This Rudraksha helps in Ayurveda, chemical process, cloths etc. It is a very powerful antedote for Saturn miseries and provides miraculous cures to several ailments.

Recommended to be worn on chest as a necklace , on forehead on third eye region or on right arm. This Rudraksha can be worn on Monday or Friday.

Seventeen-faced Rudraksha represents Lord Vishvakarma the builder of the materialistic world and is related to Mother Seeta. The person who wears this Rudraksha after proper Sidhhi will get Raja-bhoga and get all kinds of happiness and comforts in his life.

This Rudraksha removes all sins done in the life time and provide liberation in the end. The wearer of this Rudraksha should pray to the mother Goddess Seeta.

The wearer of this Rudraksha gets Moksha (liberation) and get success in all of his ventures. This Rudraksha gives the wearer all kind of comforts, leisure and happiness. It provides the wearer with Gold.

This Rudraksha is related to Sixteen Kala (i.e.; attainments and Siddhi) and is also known as “Jai” Rudraksha as its wearer emerges victorious in any situation by the blessings of Lord Rama. The person who wears this Rudraksha after proper Sidhhi ( method of purification & charging with Mantra) will get success in his all the ventures.

This Rudraksha invokes 16 Kala of Moon in the wearer and opens the passage of 16 attainments. He attains 16 Siddhis and attainments. The wearer of this Rudraksha becomes devotee of the almighty God and live his life on the passage of Satya (Truth) and gains the Punya of 7 birth. It is the form of 16 Shakti (Power). It is said that Arjun strike the Eye of fish while wearing this Rudraksha.

The wearer of this Rudraksha no longer remains an ordinary person; he will become a powerful person. This Rudraksha gives all comforts and liberate the wearer from all the sins.