Tīrtha-Yātrā
The term “Tīrtha-Yātrā” means a piligrimage to holy places
that are at confluences of sacred rivers associated with the Puranas, Ithihasas
and Alwar Naalayira Divya Prabhandams. One who goes on a yatra is known as a
yatri. A tirtha possesses of three elements that make it sacred and holy - Suchi (pure) -- purify oneself at a tirtha
by bathing; it brings Punya (good merit) and
it is Shubha (auspicious, just by darshan of diety).
Tirtha is a place where we can gain Nirvana: enlightenment and achieve Moksha or liberation. It is to symbolize one’s passage from the profane to the sacred world, and to bring oneself closer to the divine. These places are sanctified or purified by great Rishis. All the puranas suggests a clockwise circular piligrimage of India.
Each Tirtha kshetra is associated with Sthalapurana (ancient stories of a sacred place) or Mahatmya (greatness of a shrine). They speak about tirtha, with regard to their spiritual importance and sanctity of the place.
The Vedic religion presupposes that Dharma is maintained by the observance of truth, prayer and ritual. If religion were viewed as a human body, its ritualism would be the legs and its philosophy would be the head. It means that no religion can stand without ritualism. Since moral and spiritual discipline have a special place in the Vedic religion, rituals like Tīrtha-Yātrā form an integral part of it. Some Tīrtha-Yātrās are obligatory and some others are optional. It is one of the ways towards self-realisation and bliss.
The central theme of Tīrtha-Yātrā is to feel a profound mystical experience in which the soul feels close to God. Various ritual acts play a role in achieving this. Some places are particularly beneficial for removing sins, some for performing obsequies for the dead (shraddhas), some for achieving darshana, an experience of a deity; some, especially more regional or local sites, are famous for fulfilling various desires.
One should go to Tīrtha-Yātrā for attaining God (Bhagavatprapthi), to increase knowledge about God, to get rid of vasanas (subtle desires), greed, annihilate lust from the mind and to make oneself a true brahmachari, sadachari and yogi. It brings self-discipline and purity in thought, word and deed. Tīrtha-Yātrā gets our indriyas engaged in Bhagawan’s sweet service. It helps us get in contact with Sadhu and Sants from whom we get true knowledge and devotion.
The Srimad Bhagavatam (7.14.30-33) “Grihastashrama Sadaachara” explains: “ The sacred lakes like Puskara and Places where saintly persons live, like Kurukshetra, Gaya, Prayaga, Pulahasrama (Salagraam, Nepal), Naimisaranya, the banks of the Phalgu River (Phalguna kshetra), Setubandha Rameshwaram, Prabhasa, Dwaraka, Varanasi (Kashi), Mathura, Pampa Sarovara, Bindu-sarovara, Badarikasrama, the places where the Nanda River flows (Alakananda) –These are the punya kshetras. The places where Lord Ramachandra and mother Sita took shelter, such as Ayodhya, Chitrakuta, SitaRamashrama kshetras, and also the hilly tracts of the lands known as Mahendra and Malaya - all of these are to be considered most pious and sacred.”
Similarly, places where Krishna Bhagawan is worshiped must all be visited and worshiped by those who want to be spiritually advanced. One who intends to advance in spiritual life may visit all these places and perform ritualistic ceremonies to get results a thousands times better than the results of the same activities performed in any other place.
Pulastya Rishi in Mahabharata Tirtha Yatra Parva explains about importance of Tirtha Kshetrams to Bhishma as follows (there is a list of Tirtha kshetrams and importance of them mentioned in Tirtha Yatra Parva. These stanza from the Mahabharata will be referred to in the explanation about pilgrimages in our virtual tour -- http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03082.htm):
“Sojourns in tirthas which are meritorious and which constitute one of the high mysteries of the rishis, are even superior to sacrifices. One having gone to a tirtha should fast for three nights, give away gold and distribute cow. Perform Agnishtoma and give gifts to Brahmanas.”
During the Tīrtha-Yātrā:
Haridwar: Har ki Pauri
Tirtha is a place where we can gain Nirvana: enlightenment and achieve Moksha or liberation. It is to symbolize one’s passage from the profane to the sacred world, and to bring oneself closer to the divine. These places are sanctified or purified by great Rishis. All the puranas suggests a clockwise circular piligrimage of India.
Each Tirtha kshetra is associated with Sthalapurana (ancient stories of a sacred place) or Mahatmya (greatness of a shrine). They speak about tirtha, with regard to their spiritual importance and sanctity of the place.
The Vedic religion presupposes that Dharma is maintained by the observance of truth, prayer and ritual. If religion were viewed as a human body, its ritualism would be the legs and its philosophy would be the head. It means that no religion can stand without ritualism. Since moral and spiritual discipline have a special place in the Vedic religion, rituals like Tīrtha-Yātrā form an integral part of it. Some Tīrtha-Yātrās are obligatory and some others are optional. It is one of the ways towards self-realisation and bliss.
The central theme of Tīrtha-Yātrā is to feel a profound mystical experience in which the soul feels close to God. Various ritual acts play a role in achieving this. Some places are particularly beneficial for removing sins, some for performing obsequies for the dead (shraddhas), some for achieving darshana, an experience of a deity; some, especially more regional or local sites, are famous for fulfilling various desires.
One should go to Tīrtha-Yātrā for attaining God (Bhagavatprapthi), to increase knowledge about God, to get rid of vasanas (subtle desires), greed, annihilate lust from the mind and to make oneself a true brahmachari, sadachari and yogi. It brings self-discipline and purity in thought, word and deed. Tīrtha-Yātrā gets our indriyas engaged in Bhagawan’s sweet service. It helps us get in contact with Sadhu and Sants from whom we get true knowledge and devotion.
Sants meditating near Charana Paduka, Badrinath
The Srimad Bhagavatam (7.14.30-33) “Grihastashrama Sadaachara” explains: “ The sacred lakes like Puskara and Places where saintly persons live, like Kurukshetra, Gaya, Prayaga, Pulahasrama (Salagraam, Nepal), Naimisaranya, the banks of the Phalgu River (Phalguna kshetra), Setubandha Rameshwaram, Prabhasa, Dwaraka, Varanasi (Kashi), Mathura, Pampa Sarovara, Bindu-sarovara, Badarikasrama, the places where the Nanda River flows (Alakananda) –These are the punya kshetras. The places where Lord Ramachandra and mother Sita took shelter, such as Ayodhya, Chitrakuta, SitaRamashrama kshetras, and also the hilly tracts of the lands known as Mahendra and Malaya - all of these are to be considered most pious and sacred.”
Triyugi Narayan Mandir
Similarly, places where Krishna Bhagawan is worshiped must all be visited and worshiped by those who want to be spiritually advanced. One who intends to advance in spiritual life may visit all these places and perform ritualistic ceremonies to get results a thousands times better than the results of the same activities performed in any other place.
ISKCON Temple, Rishikesh
Pulastya Rishi in Mahabharata Tirtha Yatra Parva explains about importance of Tirtha Kshetrams to Bhishma as follows (there is a list of Tirtha kshetrams and importance of them mentioned in Tirtha Yatra Parva. These stanza from the Mahabharata will be referred to in the explanation about pilgrimages in our virtual tour -- http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03082.htm):
“Sojourns in tirthas which are meritorious and which constitute one of the high mysteries of the rishis, are even superior to sacrifices. One having gone to a tirtha should fast for three nights, give away gold and distribute cow. Perform Agnishtoma and give gifts to Brahmanas.”
During the Tīrtha-Yātrā:
- One should have whole control over one’s hands, feet, mind, knowledge, and asceticism and act accordingly.
- Should have ceased to accept gifts, should be content in life and free from pride.
- Should be sinless, eat light and have senses under control.
- Should be free from anger; adhere to truth and should be firm in vows.
- Regard all creatures, as one’s own self.
Ritualistic codes
during
- Holy dip in Tirtha with bhakti, and subdued soul.
- Visit the temples and worship the kshetra deity, think constantly about God.
- Control over senses
- Have Yama and Niyama
- Satvic in diet: preferably vegetables, roots and fruits
- Clockwise circular of piligrimage
- Atleast one night stay at the kshetram
- Give oblation of water to gods and pitrus in Tirtha and do pinda daanam
- Lead Brahmacharya mode of life during Yatra
- Do satpaatra daanams
- Puja vrata
- Katha / Purana recital, Recital of Slokas and Mangalaasanas of alwars at Divya desams in glory of God.
- Tell the greatness about Tīrtha-Yātrā to others.
According to the Brahma
Purana, number of Tirtha Kshetrams is so large that they cannot be enumerated. Puranic
verses entirely devoted to the subject of tirthas is about 1,200 in Matsya
Purana, 3,182 in Varaha Purana, 4000 in Padma Purana and 6,700 in Brahma
Purana. A statement in Skanda Purana claims as many as half crore tirthas exist
in the country.
वलीपलीतदेहो वा यौवनेनान्वितोऽपि वा |
ज्ञात्वा मृत्युमनिस्तीर्ये हरिं शरणमाव्रजेत् ||
तत्कीर्तने तत्श्रवणे वन्दने तस्य पूजने |
मतिरेव प्रकर्तव्या नान्यत्र वनितादिषु ||
सर्वं नश्वरमालोक्य क्षणस्थायि सुदुःखदम् |
ज्ञात्वा मृत्युमनिस्तीर्ये हरिं शरणमाव्रजेत् ||
तत्कीर्तने तत्श्रवणे वन्दने तस्य पूजने |
मतिरेव प्रकर्तव्या नान्यत्र वनितादिषु ||
सर्वं नश्वरमालोक्य क्षणस्थायि सुदुःखदम् |
जन्ममृत्युजरातीतं भक्थिवल्लभमच्युतम् ||
सा हरिर्ज्ञायते साधुसंगमात् पापवर्जितात् |
येषां कृपातः पुरुषा भवन्त्यसुखवर्जिताः ||
सा हरिर्ज्ञायते साधुसंगमात् पापवर्जितात् |
येषां कृपातः पुरुषा भवन्त्यसुखवर्जिताः ||
ते साधवः शान्तरागाः कामलोभविवर्जिताः |
ब्रुवन्ति यन्महाराज तत् संसारनिवर्तकम् ||
ब्रुवन्ति यन्महाराज तत् संसारनिवर्तकम् ||
तीर्थेषु लभ्यते साधू रामचन्द्रपरायणः |
यद्दर्शनं नृणां पापराशिदाहाशुशुक्षिणः ||
यद्दर्शनं नृणां पापराशिदाहाशुशुक्षिणः ||
तस्मात् तीर्थेषु गन्तव्यं नरैः संसारभीरुभिः |
पुन्योदकेषु सततं साधुश्रेिणविराजिषु ||
पुन्योदकेषु सततं साधुश्रेिणविराजिषु ||
(पद्मपुराण, पातलखण्ड १९ । १० - १२; १४ - १७)
The major sacred pilgrimages of Tirthas of India are:
Char dhams: Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri and Rameshwaram. Adi Shankaracharya has defined these as the char-dhams.
Badrinath temple
Saptapuris: seven sacred cities - Mathura, Ayodhya, Mayapuri (Haridwar), Kashi (Varanasi), Kanchi (Kanchipuram), Avantipuri (Ujjain) and Dwarka;
Four places of Kumbha Mela - Prayag, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik;
Seven most sacred rivers are - Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri;
Eight self-manifested holy places (Swayam Vyakta Khshetras) are - Sri
Rangam, Trirumala, Sri Mushnam and Thotadri in South India; and Shalagram,
Pushkara, Naimisharanya and Badrinath in North India;
Tirupathi perumal and thayaar
108 Divya Kshetrams
These are
places where Sriman Narayana is worshipped. Alwars have sung Mangalasasanam
(song in praise of the lord) for God. Divyadesam, literally means Holy Shrine
spots. There are 108 Divya desams, 106 of them are on this earth and other 2
are TiruPaaRkadal and Paramapadham which one can go after attaining Moksha or
Liberation from birth and rebirths. They are abode of Sri Maha Vishnu. (Refer
to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divya_Desams)
SriRangam Main gopuram, Trichy
Nepal
|
North
India
|
Malai
Nadu (Kerala)
|
Madurai
|
Muktinath (Saligramam, Nepal)
|
Andhra Pradesh
Ahobilam
Uttar Pradesh
Naimisharanya
Mathura
Gokul (Thiru Aaipadi)
Ayodhya
Uttarakhand
Devaprayag (ThirukkaNdam
Kadinagar)
Joshimutt (Thiruppirithi)
Badrinath
Gujarat
Dwaraka
|
Thiruvananthapuram
Thirukatkarai
Moozhikkalam
Thiruvalla
Thirukadithanam
Sengunroor
Thiruppuliyoor
Thiruvaaranvilai
Thiruvanvandoor
Thiru naavaay
Viththuvakkodu
|
Thirumeyyam
Thirukoshtiyur
Koodal Azhagar temple
Azhagar kovil
Thirumogoor
Srivilliputhur
Thiruththangal
Thiruppullani
|
Kanchipuram
|
Chennai
|
Mayiladuthurai and Sirkazhi
|
Thanjavur
|
Thiru vEngadam (Sapthagiri, Tirumala, Tirumalai,
Thirupathi)
Thirukkacchi
Ashtabujakaram
Thiruvekkaa
Thiruththanka
Thiruvelukkai
Thirukalvanoor (inside Kamakshi amman temple)
Thiru oorakam
Thiru neeragam
Thiru kaaragam
Thirukaarvaanam
Thiru parameshwara vinnagaram
Thiru pavala vannam
Thiru paadagam
Thiru nillaththingalthundam (Inside
Ekambareshwarar temple)
Thiruputkuzhi
|
Thiruvallikeni
Thiruneermalai
Thiruvidandai
Thirukadalmallai
Thiruninravur
Thiruvallur
Thirukkadigai
|
Thiruvazhunthoor
Thiruindaloor
Kazheesirama Vinnagaram
Thirukkavalampadi
Thiruchsemponsey
Thiruarimeya Vinnagaram
ThiruVanpurushothamam
Thiruvaikunda vinnagaram
Thirumanimadam
Thiruthevanartthogai
Thiruthetriyambalam
Thirumanikkoodam
Thiruvellakkulam
Thiruppaarththanpalli
Thalai Sanga Nanmathiyam
Thiruchsirupuliyoor
Thiruvali-Thirunagari
|
Thiruccithra kootam
Thirukkannangudi
Thirunagai
Thiru Thanjai
Tirukkoilur
Thirukkoodaloor
Thiru Kavith Thalam
ThiruAdhanoor
Thirupullabhoothangudi
Thirukkudandhai
Thiruccherai or Thirucherai
Thirunandipura Vinnagaram
ThiruNaraiyoor
Thiruvinnagar
Thiruvelliyangudi
Thirukkanamangai
Thirukkannapuram
Thirukkandiyur
|
Trichy
|
Tirunelveli
|
Kanyakumari
|
Vinnulagam (Outside the Earthly realm)
|
Sri Rangam
Thirukkozhi
Thirukkarambanoor
Thiruvellarai
Thiru Anbil
Thirupper Nagar
Thiruvanthipuram
|
Thiruvaramangai
Thirukkurungudi
Srivaikundam
Thiruvaragunamangai
Thiruppulingudi
Thirukkurugoor (Azhwar
Tirunagari)
Thirutthulaivillimangalam
(Irattai Tirupathy)
Thirukkoloor
Thirukkulandhai
Thentirupperai
|
Thiruvattaru
Thiruvanparisaram
|
Thirupaarkadal
Thiruparamapadham
|
Twelve Jyotirlingas:
Places of worship of Lord Shiva.
सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम्।
उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोङ्कारममलेश्वरम्॥
उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोङ्कारममलेश्वरम्॥
परल्यां वैद्यनाथं च डाकिन्यां भीमशङ्करम्।
सेतुबन्धे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुकावने॥
सेतुबन्धे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुकावने॥
वाराणस्यां तु विश्वेशं त्र्यम्बकं गौतमीतटे।
हिमालये तु केदारं घुश्मेशं च शिवालये॥
हिमालये तु केदारं घुश्मेशं च शिवालये॥
एतानि ज्योतिर्लिङ्गानि सायं प्रातः पठेन्नरः।
सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं स्मरणेन विनश्यति॥
सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं स्मरणेन विनश्यति॥
एतेशां दर्शनादेव पातकं नैव तिष्ठति।
कर्मक्षयो भवेत्तस्य यस्य तुष्टो महेश्वराः॥:
Kedarnath
कर्मक्षयो भवेत्तस्य यस्य तुष्टो महेश्वराः॥:
Jyotirlinga
|
State
|
Location
|
Description
|
Somnath
|
Gujarat
|
Prabhas
Patan, Saurashtra
|
Somnath is the first amongst the
holy shrines and traditionally, the Dwadash Jyotirlinga pilgrimage begins
with the Somnath Temple. It is the prime abode of Lord Shiva and is
considered to be holiest of all the Jyotirlingas. The temple was destroyed
and re-built sixteen times, is held in reverence throughout India and is rich
in legend, tradition, and history. It is located at Prabhas Patan (Somnath -
Veraval) in Saurashtra in Gujarat.
|
Mallikarjuna
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
Srisailam
|
Mallikārjuna,
also called Śrīśaila, is located on a mountain on the river Krishna.
Srisailam, in Kurnool District in Andhra Pradesh enshrines Mallikarjuna in an
ancient temple that is architecturally and sculpturally rich. It is one place
where Shakti peeta and Jyotirlingam are together. Adi Shankara composed his
Sivananda Lahiri here.
|
Mahakaleshwar
|
Madhya
Pradesh
|
Ujjain
|
Mahakal, Ujjain (or Avanti) in
Madhya Pradesh is home to the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple. The Lingam at
Mahakal is believed to be Swayambhu, the only one of the 12 Jyotirlingams to
be so. It is also the only one facing south and also the temple to have a
Shree Yantra perched upside down at the ceiling of the Garbhagriha (where the
Shiv Lingam sits). It is one place where Shakti peetha and Jyotirlingam are
together
|
Omkareshwar
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
Island in the Narmada River, Omkareshwar
|
Omkareshwar
in Madhya Pradesh on an island in the Narmada River is home to a Jyotirlinga
shrine and the Mamaleshwar temple.
|
Kedarnath
|
Uttarakhand
|
Kedarnath
|
Kedarnath in Uttarakhand is the
northernmost of the Jyotirlingas. Kedarnath, nestled in the snow-clad
Himalayas, is an ancient shrine, rich in legend and tradition. It is
accessible only by foot, and only for six months a year.
|
Bhimashankar
|
Maharashtra
|
Bhimashankar
|
Bhimashankar
is very much debated. There is a Bhimashankara temple near Pune (pictured) in
Maharastra, which was referred to as Daakini country, but Kashipur in
Uttarakhand was also referred to as Daakini country in ancient days and a
Bhimashkar Temple known as Shree Moteshwar Mahadev is present there. Another
Bhimashankar is in the Sahyadri range of Maharashtra. The Bhimashankar temple
near Guwahati, Assam is the jyotirlinga according to Sivapuran.
According
to "LINGA PURAN", Bhimasankar temple in Bhimpur near Gunupur of
Rayagada district in South Orissa is also believed as Bhimasankar
Jyotirlinga, which is situated at the western part of the holy Mahendragiri
mountains and at the river bank of Mahendratanaya(which is also believed as
the Daakini area by many historian), was excavated in the year 1974, having
quadrangular Shakti around the Linga and decorated by a Upavita as per the
puran.
|
Kashi
Vishwanath
|
Uttara
Pradesh
|
Varanasi
|
Kashi Vishwanath Temple in
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh is home to the Vishwanath Jyotirlinga shrine, which
is perhaps the most sacred of Hindu shrines.
|
Triyambakeshwar
|
Maharashtra
|
Triyambakeshwar
near Nashik
|
Trimbakeshwar
Temple, near Nasik in Maharashtra, is a Jyotirlinga shrine associated with
the origin of the Godavari river.
|
Vaidyanath
|
Jharkhand
|
Vaidyanath jyotirlinga, Deogarh.
|
Deoghar Vaijyanath Dham also
associated with Ravana.
|
Nageshvara Jyotirlinga
|
Gujarat
|
Near
Dwaraka
|
|
Rameshwar
|
Tamil
Nadu
|
Rameshwaram
|
Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu is home
to the vast Ramalingeswarar Jyotirlinga temple and is revered as the
southernmost of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of India. It enshrines the
Rameśvara ("Lord of Rama") pillar
|
Grishneshwar
|
Maharashtra
|
Near
Ellora, Aurangabad district
|
Grishneshwar
Jyotirlinga shrine, in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, is located near the
rock-cut temples of Ellora. This shrine is also known as Ghushmeshwar.
|
Fifty-eight ‘Shakti-Peethas’: Places of worship consecrated to the goddess Shakti or sati. They are sprinkled throughout the Indian subcontinent.
(Refer to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakti_Peethas#The_51_Shakti_Pithas)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakti_Peethas#The_51_Shakti_Pithas)
4 Adi Shakti peethas:
Sl
no
|
Place
|
Body
part or ornament
|
Shakti
|
1
|
In Puri,
Orissa (inside Jagannath Temple complex)
|
Pada
|
Bimala
|
2
|
Near Berhampur-Orissa
|
Sthana khanda
|
Tara Tarini
|
3
|
Guwahati-Assam
|
Yoni khanda
|
Kamakshya
|
4
|
Kolkata- West Bengal
|
Mukha khanda
|
Dakshina Kalika
|
Sr No
|
Place
|
Body
Part or Ornament
|
Shakthi
|
1
|
Kanchipuram, Kamakshi temple, Kamakoti Peetam mentioned in Lalita
Sahasram, Trishati, Astothram etc.
|
Ornament (Covering stomach)
|
Kamakshi
|
Nainativu (Manipallavam), Northern Province, Sri Lanka. Located
36 km from the ancient capital of the Jaffna kingdom, Nallur. The murti of
the Goddess is believed to have been consecrated and worshipped by Lord
Indra. The protagonist, Lord Rama and antagonist, Ravana of the Sanskrit epic
Ramayana have offered obeisances to the Goddess. Nāga and Garuda of the
Sanskrit epic Mahabharata; resolved their longstanding feuds after
worshipping this Goddess.
|
Silambu (Anklets)
|
Indrakshi (Nagabooshani / Bhuvaneshwari)
|
|
3
|
Shivaharkaray, a little distance from Sukkur Station from Karachi,
Pakistan
|
Eyes
|
Mahishmardini
|
4
|
Sugandha, situated in Shikarpur, Gournadi, about 20 km from
Barisal town, Bangladesh, on the banks of Sonda river.
|
Nose
|
Sugandha
|
5
|
Amarnath in Kashmir, India from Srinagar through Pahalgam 94 km by Bus,
Chandanwari 16 km by walk
|
Throat
|
Mahamaya
|
6
|
Jwalaji, Kangra, India from Pathankot alight at Jwalamukhi Road
Station from there 20 km
|
Tongue
|
Siddhida (Ambika)
|
7
|
Ambaji, at Anart, Gujarat, India
|
Heart
|
Ambaji
|
8
|
Nepal, near Pashupatinath Temple at Guhyeshwari Temple
|
Both knees
|
Mahashira
|
9
|
Manas, under
Tibet at the foot of Mount Kailash in Lake Mansarovar, a piece of Stone
|
Right hand
|
Dakshayani
|
10
|
Bardhaman in West Bengal, India
|
Navel
|
Mata Sarbamangala Devi
|
11
|
Gandaki in Pokhara, Nepal about 125 km on the banks of Gandaki river where
Muktinath temple is situated
|
Temple
|
Gandaki
Chandi
|
12
|
Bahula, on the banks of Ajay river at Ketugram, 8 km from Katwa,
Burdwan, West Bengal, India
|
Left arm
|
Goddess Bahula
|
13
|
Ujaani, 16 km from Guskara station under Burdwan district of West Bengal,
India
|
Right
wrist
|
Mangal
Chandika
|
14
|
Udaipur, Tripura, at the top of the hills known as Tripura
Sundari temple near Radhakishorepur village, a little distance away from
Udaipur town of Tripura, India
|
Right leg
|
Tripura Sundari
|
15
|
On Chandranath hill near Sitakunda
station of Chittagong District, Bangladesh. The famous Chandranath Temple on
the top of the hill is the Bhairav temple of this Shakti Peetha, not the
Shakti Peeth itself.
|
Right arm
|
Bhawani
|
16
|
Locally known as Bhramari Devi. Behind a rice mill,
near Jalpesh Temple in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, India.
|
Left leg
|
Bhraamari
|
17
|
Kamgiri, Kamakhya, in the Neelachal hills near Guwahati, capital of
Assam, India
|
Genitals
|
Kamakhya
|
18
|
yoga adya at Khirgram under Burdwan district, West Bengal, India
|
Big Toe (Right)
|
Jugaadya
|
19
|
Kalipeeth, (Kalighat, Kolkata), India
|
Right Toes
|
Kalika
|
20
|
Prayag near Sangam at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
|
Finger
|
Alopi Devi Mandir or
Madhaveswari
|
21
|
Jayanti at Nartiang village in the Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya state,
India. This Shakti Peetha is locally known as the Nartiang Durga Temple.
|
Left thigh
|
Jayanti
|
22
|
Kireet at Kireetkona village, 3 km from Lalbag Court Road station
under district Murshidabad, West Bengal, India
|
Crown
|
Vimla
|
23
|
Varanasi at Manikarnika Ghat on banks of the Ganges at Kashi, Uttar Pradesh, India
|
Earring
|
Vishalakshi
& Manikarni
|
24
|
Kanyashram, Kanyakumari the Bhadrakali temple within the
precincts of Kumari temple, Tamil Nadu, India (also thought to be situated in
Chittagong, Bangladesh)
|
Back
|
Sarvani
|
25
|
Present day Kurukshetra town or Thanesar ancient Sthaneshwar, at Haryana, India
|
Ankle bone
|
Savitri/BhadraKali
|
26
|
Manibandh, at Gayatri hills near Pushkar 11 km north-west of
Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
|
Two Bracelets
|
Gayatri
|
27
|
Shri Shail, at Joinpur village, Dakshin Surma, near Gotatikar, 3 km
north-east of Sylhet town, Bangladesh
|
Neck
|
Mahalaxmi
|
28
|
Kankalitala, on the banks of Kopai River 10 km north-east of
Bolpur station in Birbhum district, Devi locally known as Kankaleshwari West
Bengal, India
|
Bone
|
Devgarbha
|
29
|
Kalmadhav on the banks of Shon river in a cave over hills near to
Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh, India
|
Left
buttock
|
Kali
|
30
|
Shondesh, at the source point of Narmada River in Amarkantak,
Madhya Pradesh, India
|
Right buttock
|
Narmada
|
31
|
Ramgiri, at Chitrakuta on the Jhansi Manikpur railway line in
Uttar Pradesh, India
|
Right
breast
|
Shivani
|
32
|
Vrindavan, near new bus stand on Bhuteshwar road within
Bhuteshwar Mahadev Temple, Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, India
|
Ringlets of hair
|
Uma
|
33
|
Shuchi, in a Shiva temple at Suchindrum 11 km on Kanyakumari Trivandrum road,
Tamil Nadu, India
|
Upper
teeth
|
Narayani
|
34
|
Panchsagar exact location not known (thought to be near Haridwar)
|
Bottom teeth
|
Varahi
|
35
|
Bhavanipur union, at Karatoyatat, 28 km distance from interior
Sherpur upazila, Bogra District, Bangladesh
|
Left
anklet (ornament)
|
Arpana
|
36
|
Shri Parvat, near Ladak, Kashmir, India. Another belief: at
Srisailam in Shriparvat hills under Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India
|
Right anklet (ornament)
|
Shrisundari
|
37
|
Vibhash, at Tamluk under district Purba Medinipur, West Bengal,
India
|
Left ankle
|
Kapalini
(Bhimarupa)
|
38
|
Prabhas, 4 km from Veraval station near Somnath temple in
Junagadh district of Gujarat, India
|
Stomach
|
Chandrabhaga
|
39
|
Bhairavparvat, at Bhairav hills on the banks of Shipra river a little
distance from Ujjaini town, Madhya Pradesh, India
|
Upper lips
|
Avanti
|
40
|
Goddess Saptashrungi (Goddess with 18 arms)]], at Vani in Nasik,
Maharashtra, India
|
Chin (2 parts)
|
Bhramari
|
41
|
Sarvashail or Godavaritir,
at Kotilingeswar temple on the banks of Godavari river near Rajamundry,
Andhra Pradesh, India
|
Cheeks
|
Rakini or
Vishweshwari
|
42
|
Virat, near Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India
|
Left toes
|
Ambika
|
43
|
Locally
known as Anandamayee Temple.
Ratnavali, on the banks of Ratnakar river at Khanakul-Krishnanagar, district
Hooghly, West Bengal, India
|
Right
Shoulder
|
Kumari
|
44
|
Mithila, near Janakpur railway station on the border of India and
Nepal
|
Left shoulder
|
Uma
|
45
|
Nalhati, known as "Nalateshwari Temple" near Nalhati
station of Birbhum district, West Bengal, India
|
Vocal
chord with part of the tracheae
|
Kalika
Devi
|
46
|
Karnat, Kangra, himachalpradesh.
|
Both ears
|
Jayadurga
|
47
|
Bakreshwar, on the banks of Paaphara river, 24 km distance from
Siuri Town, district Birbhum, 7 km from Dubrajpur Rly. Station West Bengal,
India
|
Portion
between the eyebrows
|
Mahishmardini
|
48
|
Jessoreswari, situated at Ishwaripur, Shyamnagar, district
Satkhira, Bangladesh. The temple complex was built by Maharaja Pratapaditya,
whose capital was Ishwaripur.
|
Palms of hands and
soles of the feet
|
Jashoreshwari
|
49
|
Attahas village of Dakshindihi in the district of Bardhaman, near the Katwa
railway station, in West Bengal, India
|
Lips
|
Phullara
|
50
|
Sainthia, locally Known as "Nandikeshwari" temple. Only
1.5 km from the railway station under a banyan tree within a boundary wall,
Birbhum district, West Bengal, India
|
Necklace
|
Nandini
|
51
|
Hinglaj (Or Hingula), southern Baluchistan a few hours North-east of Gawadar
and about 125 km towards North-west from Karachi, Pakistan
|
Bramharandhra
(Part of the head)
|
Kottari
|
52
|
Danestwari (Kuldevi Of Bastar state), Dantewada 80 km from
Jagdalpur Tehsil, Chhattisgarh
|
Daant (teeth)
|
Danteshwari
|
53
|
Vajreshwari, Kangra 18 km from Dharamshala Tehsil, Kangra
|
left
Breast
|
Vajreshwari
|
54
|
[Padmavati Devi] (Padmavatipuri Dham), Panns 80 km from Satna
Madhya Pradesh
|
Padm
|
Padmavati Devi
|
55
|
Tarapith, on the banks of Dwarka river, about 6 km from Rampurhat
sub-division, Birbhum district, West Bengal, India
|
Third eye or
spiritual eye (Tara)
|
Tara
|
56
|
Chandika Sthan or chandisthan, at Munger temple on the banks of
Ganges near Ganga Darshan, Bihar, India
|
Left eye
|
Chandika or Chandi devi
|
57
|
Patan Devi, at PATNA, BIHAR, India
|
left
shoulder with cloths
|
Badi Patan
Devi/chhoti Patan Devi
|
58
|
Arbuda Devi, at Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India
|
Adhar
|
Arbuda Devi or Adhar
Devi
|
Seven Parvat: Himalaya, Arawali, Vindhyachal, Mahendra, Malaya, Sahyadri and Raivatak.
Five sacred lakes – Vindhum, Narayana, Pampa, Pushkar and Manas Sarovar.
Other popular spiritual destinations: Guruvayur, Shri Nath ji, Pushkara, Vaishno Devi, Amarnath, Gaya, Kurukshetra, Pandhrapura, Kollahpur, Sringeri, Udupi, Melkote, Manas Sarovar yatra, Gangotri (Gaumukh), Yamunotri etc.
Udupi Krishna
All our yatras are due to anugraham of our Acharya Srimath Srimushnam Andavan Sri Ranga Ramanuja Maha Desika swamigal and our elders.
Sri:
Srimathe RangaRamanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha
Srimathe Srinivasa Ramanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha
Srimathe Vedantha Ramanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha
Srimathe Srinivasa Mahadesikaya Namaha
Srimathe Nigamantha Mahadesikaya Namaha
Srimathe Bhagavathe Bhashyakaraaya Mahadesikaya Namaha
Sri Ranganatha Parabrahmane Namaha
Sri Ranganatha Divyamani Padhukabhyam Namaha
Vedantha lakshmana muneendra krupAtthabOdham
ThadpAdha yugmasaraseeruha brunga rAjam
Thraiyantha yugma kruthaboori parishramamtham
Sriranga lakshmana munim saranam prapadhyE
SARVAM SRI KRISHNAARPANAMASTHU
