10-27-2004, 03:33 AM
Temples of gujarat
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Prabhas Patan (Bhalka Tirtha)-Somnath
"Bhalka" is the name of the village, and "Tirtha" indicates that it is a holy place. After the destruction of the Yadu and Bhoja dynasties in Dwarka, Lord Krishna left his palaces and came to this area called Prabhaskshetra. He was accompanied by Uddhava. When he was absorbed in deep thought, a hunter named Jara shot an arrow that accidentally hit Krishna's foot, which wounded him. There is a temple built by the tree that is said to be the tree under which the Lord was sitting. On-the altar there is a beautiful white Deity of Krishna sitting. One can see Krishna's foot - coloured pink with different auspicious symbols. Near him is the hunter, Jara, with folded hands and one knee on the floor. This place is a few km east of Veraval on the road to Somnath. Near Prabhasa, the Yadavas became intoxicated and fought with each other. Arjuna also came to Prabhasa. The Gita Mandir is located at the confluence of three rivers, called Triveni Tirtha, about a kilometer south of the Somnath Temple by the sea. It is said that Lord Krishna walked about 4 km, from Bhalka Tirtha to this place, after He was shot in the foot by the hunter, and left the Planet at this point. There are a few other temples here and the place where Lord Balarama passed away. The ancient Suraja Mandir, which is a temple dedicated to the sun god, was partly destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Ranchorji Temple-DAKOR
Krishna is the most loved God in Gujarat. He is also referred to as Ranchor because he fled from the battlefield while fighting against the armies of King Jarasandha. Ranchor literally means "one who gave up the battlefield". This Deity was installed and worshiped in Dwarka since 800 years. The present temple was built in 1772, about 200 years ago. The Deity of Sri Ranchorji is similar to the Deity of Dwarkadish in Dwarka, both being made from black stone. Devotees are allowed to touch the feet of the Deity. Every full moon day a large numbers of devotees come to this temple. After the death of Kansa, Mathura was besieged by the soldiers of Kalayavana and Jarasandha. At that time Krishna fled from the city, and thus He is known as Ranchor, or one who fled from fighting. In order to prevent further killing of soldiers and to attend to other important business, Lord Krishna left the battlefield without fighting. Krishna, the Ranchorji, did not leave the battlefield because He was afraid, but because He had some other purpose. The purpose was to attend to a confidential letter sent by Rukmini, His future first wife. The act of Krishna's leaving the battlefield is a display of one of His six opulences. Krishna is the supreme powerful, the supreme wealthy, the supreme famous, the supreme wise, the supreme beautiful, and the supreme renouncer. His leaving the battlefield is an example of His super-most opulence of renunciation. Mangala-arati is every morning at 6.45 am. Ranchorji is dressed and decorated in full view of the public. Ranchodji is especially fond of moga laddus. Saffron-flavored milk that has been cooked overnight in silver pots by a process of slow combustion of cow dung is offered in the morning. There are 5 aratis a day-three in the morning and two in the afternoon �and eight darshans. There is a big festival on Sharad Purnima day, the full-moon day of Sharad season (Sept-Oct). The temple is closed in the afternoon.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Rukmini Devi Temple-Dwarka
This small temple, which is 1.5 km north of town, is an architectural masterpiece. Rukmini is the most important of Krishna's 16,108 wives. The temple walls are decorated with beautiful paintings depicting the pastimes of Rukmini and Krishna. This temple is said to date back to the 12th century. The story behind this temple is that one day Durvasa Muni, who is easily angered, invited Lord Krishna and His wife Rukmini to dinner. When a person was invited to dinner, etiquette demanded that he, not eat or drink until served by his host. On the way to dinner Rukmini felt very thirsty, and she asked Krishna for help. Krishna put his foot in the ground and the waters of the Ganges came from the earth. Durvasa was not aware of what was happening. But, as Rukmini was drinking the water, Durvasa turned and saw her drink without his permission. Angered he cursed her that she would be separated from her Lord Krishna. Therefore the Krishna temple is in the town and her temple is located just outside the town.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Somnath Temple-Somnath
Somnath temple is on the shores of the Arabian Sea, 6 km south of Veraval. It is one of the 12 Shiva jyotirlingas. A Shiva temple has stood at this place since ancient times. The temple was destroyed and raided by invaders several times, first by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026. It is said that this temple was originally built by Soma, the moon-god, to atone for the curse Daksha put on him. it is said that Soma was cursed by Daksha because he showed partiality to Rohini over his other wives, who were also daughters of Daksha. Because of the curse the moon began to wane. Daksha advised Soma to go to Prabhasa to get rid of the curse. The moon bathed here on amavasya- the new moon day and regained light. Since the moon gained light here this place is know Prabhasa. Somnath means the "Lord of the moon". Somnath is located by the River Saraswati. This temple is said to have been made by the moon-god out of gold, then by Ravana out of silver, then by Krishna out of wood, and later by (one of the Pandava brothers) from stone. Two thousand brahmanas are suppose to have served in this temple. The temple was also supposed to have once had barbers, 500 dancing girls, and 300 musicians. The temple was raided and destroyed, by Mahmud of Ghami in 1026. He moved a solid silver gate at that time and brought it back to his homeland. The temple was also destroyed in 1297, 1394 and for the last time in 1706 by Aurangazeb, just before he died. The present temple was rebuilt 1950. It is big, but not very artistic. The present temple has a tower over 50m (165 ft) high over the main sanctum (altar). It was constructed on the exact spot where the original temple was situated. You can see the remains of an ancient temple next to the present temple. The main aratis are at 7 am, noon and 7 pm. It is a very popular temple as non-Hindus can also enter.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Prabhas Patan (Bhalka Tirtha)-Somnath
"Bhalka" is the name of the village, and "Tirtha" indicates that it is a holy place. After the destruction of the Yadu and Bhoja dynasties in Dwarka, Lord Krishna left his palaces and came to this area called Prabhaskshetra. He was accompanied by Uddhava. When he was absorbed in deep thought, a hunter named Jara shot an arrow that accidentally hit Krishna's foot, which wounded him. There is a temple built by the tree that is said to be the tree under which the Lord was sitting. On-the altar there is a beautiful white Deity of Krishna sitting. One can see Krishna's foot - coloured pink with different auspicious symbols. Near him is the hunter, Jara, with folded hands and one knee on the floor. This place is a few km east of Veraval on the road to Somnath. Near Prabhasa, the Yadavas became intoxicated and fought with each other. Arjuna also came to Prabhasa. The Gita Mandir is located at the confluence of three rivers, called Triveni Tirtha, about a kilometer south of the Somnath Temple by the sea. It is said that Lord Krishna walked about 4 km, from Bhalka Tirtha to this place, after He was shot in the foot by the hunter, and left the Planet at this point. There are a few other temples here and the place where Lord Balarama passed away. The ancient Suraja Mandir, which is a temple dedicated to the sun god, was partly destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni.
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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Ranchorji Temple-DAKOR
Krishna is the most loved God in Gujarat. He is also referred to as Ranchor because he fled from the battlefield while fighting against the armies of King Jarasandha. Ranchor literally means "one who gave up the battlefield". This Deity was installed and worshiped in Dwarka since 800 years. The present temple was built in 1772, about 200 years ago. The Deity of Sri Ranchorji is similar to the Deity of Dwarkadish in Dwarka, both being made from black stone. Devotees are allowed to touch the feet of the Deity. Every full moon day a large numbers of devotees come to this temple. After the death of Kansa, Mathura was besieged by the soldiers of Kalayavana and Jarasandha. At that time Krishna fled from the city, and thus He is known as Ranchor, or one who fled from fighting. In order to prevent further killing of soldiers and to attend to other important business, Lord Krishna left the battlefield without fighting. Krishna, the Ranchorji, did not leave the battlefield because He was afraid, but because He had some other purpose. The purpose was to attend to a confidential letter sent by Rukmini, His future first wife. The act of Krishna's leaving the battlefield is a display of one of His six opulences. Krishna is the supreme powerful, the supreme wealthy, the supreme famous, the supreme wise, the supreme beautiful, and the supreme renouncer. His leaving the battlefield is an example of His super-most opulence of renunciation. Mangala-arati is every morning at 6.45 am. Ranchorji is dressed and decorated in full view of the public. Ranchodji is especially fond of moga laddus. Saffron-flavored milk that has been cooked overnight in silver pots by a process of slow combustion of cow dung is offered in the morning. There are 5 aratis a day-three in the morning and two in the afternoon �and eight darshans. There is a big festival on Sharad Purnima day, the full-moon day of Sharad season (Sept-Oct). The temple is closed in the afternoon.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Rukmini Devi Temple-Dwarka
This small temple, which is 1.5 km north of town, is an architectural masterpiece. Rukmini is the most important of Krishna's 16,108 wives. The temple walls are decorated with beautiful paintings depicting the pastimes of Rukmini and Krishna. This temple is said to date back to the 12th century. The story behind this temple is that one day Durvasa Muni, who is easily angered, invited Lord Krishna and His wife Rukmini to dinner. When a person was invited to dinner, etiquette demanded that he, not eat or drink until served by his host. On the way to dinner Rukmini felt very thirsty, and she asked Krishna for help. Krishna put his foot in the ground and the waters of the Ganges came from the earth. Durvasa was not aware of what was happening. But, as Rukmini was drinking the water, Durvasa turned and saw her drink without his permission. Angered he cursed her that she would be separated from her Lord Krishna. Therefore the Krishna temple is in the town and her temple is located just outside the town.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Somnath Temple-Somnath
Somnath temple is on the shores of the Arabian Sea, 6 km south of Veraval. It is one of the 12 Shiva jyotirlingas. A Shiva temple has stood at this place since ancient times. The temple was destroyed and raided by invaders several times, first by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026. It is said that this temple was originally built by Soma, the moon-god, to atone for the curse Daksha put on him. it is said that Soma was cursed by Daksha because he showed partiality to Rohini over his other wives, who were also daughters of Daksha. Because of the curse the moon began to wane. Daksha advised Soma to go to Prabhasa to get rid of the curse. The moon bathed here on amavasya- the new moon day and regained light. Since the moon gained light here this place is know Prabhasa. Somnath means the "Lord of the moon". Somnath is located by the River Saraswati. This temple is said to have been made by the moon-god out of gold, then by Ravana out of silver, then by Krishna out of wood, and later by (one of the Pandava brothers) from stone. Two thousand brahmanas are suppose to have served in this temple. The temple was also supposed to have once had barbers, 500 dancing girls, and 300 musicians. The temple was raided and destroyed, by Mahmud of Ghami in 1026. He moved a solid silver gate at that time and brought it back to his homeland. The temple was also destroyed in 1297, 1394 and for the last time in 1706 by Aurangazeb, just before he died. The present temple was rebuilt 1950. It is big, but not very artistic. The present temple has a tower over 50m (165 ft) high over the main sanctum (altar). It was constructed on the exact spot where the original temple was situated. You can see the remains of an ancient temple next to the present temple. The main aratis are at 7 am, noon and 7 pm. It is a very popular temple as non-Hindus can also enter.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->