“I
ndia can be accurately referred to as the "country of temples," "a land pulsating
with the devotion of the people," and "a land where the tolling of the bells, the
scent of the incense sticks, and the smell of camphor permeate the air venerating
the innumerable Gods, as per the Hindu religion." The Kanak Bhavan and the Kala
Ram Temple , are among the most significant of the numerous temples.One of the most
sacred towns in India is regarded to be the location of the birth of Lord Ram, the
seventh manifestation of Lord Vishnu. The Ram Janma Bhoomi is a complex of more
than a hundred temples in Uttar Pradesh, on the banks of the Sarayu river. The Kanak
Bhavan which houses the gods Sita and Ram, are among the most significant of the
numerous temples.
The other noteworthy temples consist of: The Vashishtha Kund,
in the shape of a well. Treth Ka Mandir where Lord Rama is believed to have performed
a yajna, a fire sacrifice. Kshireshwaranath temple of Sita established by Lord Rama’s
mother Kaushalya. Hanuman Gadhi, a temple honouring Lord Hanuman, the monkey deity
who spent his entire life to serving Lord Rama. The city of Ayodhya is also peppered
with numerous kunds (wells) constructed in memory of prominent Ramayana figures
including Brahma, Sita, and Bharat. The Rama Ghat, also known as the Swaragdwar
and literally meaning "portal to heaven," is one of the more fortunate ghats that
lead to the river. Lakshman Ghat is where Rama's brother Lakshman bathed.
Mathura
On the banks of the Yamuna River is the Krishna Janma Bhoomi, the birthplace of
Lord Krishna, the eighth manifestation of Lord Vishnu. Mathura, often referred to
as Braj Bhoomi, is regarded as a holy city and is mentioned in the Vedic and Purana
literatures. Since the seventh century, this city has served as a major centre for
pilgrimage. On the same spot where Vajranabha, Lord Krishna's great-grandson, built
a temple 5000 years ago, the current Keshav Dev Temple now stands. The idols of
Radha-Krishna, Jagannath, a manifestation of Krishna, Balarama, and Subhadra may
be found at Mathura's main temple. Mathrua also has other houses of worship, such
as: Inside the 40 m (130 ft) high Amarnath Cave, the stalagmite is formed due to the
freezing of water drops that fall from the roof of the cave onto the floor and grows
up vertically from the cave floor. It is considered to be a Shiva Linga by Hindus.
The Cave waxes from May to August, as the snow melts in the Himalayas above the
cave, and the resultant water seeps into the rocks that form the cave and gradually
wanes thereafter. As per the religious beliefs, it has been claimed that the lingam
grows and shrinks with the phases of the moon, reaching its height during the summer
festival.
The Vishramaghat - After killing the evil monarch and his uncle Kamsa, Lord Krishna
is said to have taken a break at this ghat on the Yamuna River. The idols of Yamuna
and her sibling, Yama, the God of Death, are also located on the ghat. Rangabhumi on the Kansatila Hill where Krishna killed Kamsa Within the premises
of the Keshav Dev Temple there is a small shrine, which is believed to have been
the prison during the rule of Kamsa where Devki gave birth to Krishna. The shrine
has the idols of Vasudev, Devki and four-armed baby Krishna. Some of the other important temples include Prem Mandir Vrindavan, Govindji temple,
Madan Mohan temple, Radha Damodar temple, Radha Gopinath temple, Banke Bihari temple,
Krishna Balarama temple, Rangaji temple and Seva Kunja. Vrindavan, where Lord Krishna
spent his childhood, is 12 km away from Mathura and has nearly 5000 temples.
Dwarka
According to the Bhagavat Purana, some 5000 years ago, Lord Krishna moved the Yadava
Kingdom's capital from Mathura to Dwarka in Gujarat, on the banks of the Gomti River.
One of India's seven holiest towns, Badrinath, Puri, and Rameswaram. The Dwarakadheesh
Temple, the oldest temple in Dwarka and also known as the Jagat Mandir, was erected
by Vajranabha, the great-grandson of Lord Krishna, and contains an idol of Krishna.
Later, Adi Shankaracharya embellished the temple with an Adi Shakti idol. The temple's
structure appears to be emerging from the Arabian Sea. In Bet Dwarka, a village
located two kilometres from Dwarka, there is a shrine dedicated to Rukmini, Lord
Krishna's consort.
Haridwar
The name Haridwar, which means "the doorway to Lord Vishnu," refers to the holiest
state in Uttarkhand. It can be found on the western side of the Ganga River, when
it starts to flow through the plains. According to tradition, King Bhagirath was
successful in sending Ganga to the earth after pleading with Lord Shiva to assist
in atoning for the misdeeds of his forefathers. At the very spot where the Ganga
enters the plains, Har-ki-Pauri Ghat or Gangadwara was built.
Every year, thousands
of pilgrims come to this ghat to bathe in the most sacred river in India. Lord Vishnu's
footprint is preserved on a rock in this location. According to legend, Haridwar
is one of the locations where Amrit, the immortality-granting liquid drawn from
the churning of the cosmos' oceans, spilt while being carried by the celestial bird
Garuda. Every 12 years, Haridwar hosts the well-known Kumbh Mela, which draws tens
of thousands of visitors to this holy city. Among the well-known temples in Haridwar
are:Mansa Devi Temple, Chandi Devi Temple,Maya Devi Temple, Bharat Mata Mandir
Kashi (Varanasi)
One of the earliest cities in the world to have been inhabited is Kashi, also known
as Varanasi. It is situated along the Ganges River. Here, in what is thought to
be Lord Shiva's favourite city and is referred to as "Shiv ki Nagri," the first
Jyotirlinga manifested itself. It is also thought that the Pandavas travelled to
Kashi to ask Lord Shiva's blessings. Anyone who passes away in Kashi is thought
to achieve moksha, or liberation.Kashi contains more than 2000 temples and 81 ghats,
and its mention in the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and even the Puranas dates back 5000
years.
The more significant ghats and temples are as follows:
Ghats: Manikarnika, Dashashwamedha and Pancha-ganga, Asi Sangam and Varana Sangam.
Temples: Adi Keshava Vishnu temple located at the confluence of River Ganga and
River Varana.
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, one of the seven sacred Indian cities, is situated in Tamil Nadu on
the banks of the Vegavathy river. The city is well-known among Saivites and Vaishnavites
and includes 108 Shaiva and 18 Vaishnava temples with magnificent architecture.
Among the well-known temples are: The most well-known and one of the oldest temples in Kanchipuram is the Kamakshi
Amman Temple, which has ties to Adi Shankara.
In order to become Lord Shiva's spouse,
it is thought that Goddess Shakti, then known as Kamakshi, created a shivling out
of sand and prayed to him here. Ekambareswarar Temple, Kailasanathar Temple,Vaikunta Perumal Temple.
Ujjain
One of the four locations where the Kumbh Mela is held is on the Kshipra river's
bank. This revered city is home to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva,
one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The demon Tripura is thought to have been slain by Lord
Shiva in Ujjain. Here, Muni Sandipani taught Lord Krishna and Balarama. Aside from
the Mahakaleshwas Temple and the Jyotirlinga, other well-known temples include the
Gopal Temple, which houses a silver image of Krishna and Balarama, and Muni Sandipani.
India is a privileged nation where many gods have lived throughout their various
incarnations, rather than just one. The people of India are unwavering in their
commitment, which retains their belief in and eternal confidence in the Supreme
Being.