Shabaridham and Pampa Sarovar, Dangs, Gujarat

Shabaridham

Located on a hill called ‘Chamak Dungar’ off 4 km from village Subir on Ahwa-Navapur road, this temple of Shabarimata is a place where Lord Rama met Shabari, a Bhil woman. Legend goes that Shabari offered tasted berries to Lord Rama at this place. Three stones on which Lord Rama, his brother Laxman and Shabari are said to have sat are still worshipped. Present temple with statues of Rama, Laxman and Shabari was constructed in 2004.

Shabaridham Temple

Idols of Shabari, God Ram, Laxman

Idol of Shabari

Pampa Sarovar

Pampa lake near village Jarsol, around 6 km from Shabaridham, is a fresh water lake on the banks of river Pampa. Mythological belief is that Matang Rishi, guru of Shabarimata, established his ashram on the banks of Pampa lake.

Pampa Sarovar

Pampa Lake

Lumbini - The BirthPlace of Lord Buddha

"After I am no More ,O Ananda,men of Belief will visit the four Places with Faith,Curiosity and Devotion.Lumbini Where I was born,Bodhgaya where i attained enlightment,Saranath where I gave the first Sermons, and Kusinara where I Shall Pass into MahaParinirvana."
    -  Lord Buddha




As the birthplace of the lord Buddha - the apostle of Peace and the light of Asia was Born in 623 BC  - the scared area of Lumbini is one of the holiest places of one of the world's great religion,and its remain contain important Evidence about the nature of Buddhist Pilgrimage centres from a very early period. Lumbini,in the South-western Terai of Nepal,evokes a kind of holy sentiment to the millions of Buddhist all over the world,Like Jerusalem to Christians and Mecca to Muslims.
Lumbini is the Place where Lord Buddha,was born.It is the place which Should be visited and seen by a person of Devotion and which should  cause awareness and apprehension of the nature of impermanence.The site and its sorroundings area is endowned with a rich natural setting of domesticable fauna and Favorable agricultural environ.Historically,the regions is an exquisite treasure -trove of ancient ruins and antiquities ,dating back to pre-christian era.The Site,Described as a Beautiful garden in Buddha's time,still retains its legendary charm and beauty.



The birthplace of the Gautam Buddha ,Lumbini,is one of the four holy places of Buddhism.It is said in Parinibbana sutra that Buddha himself identified four places of future pilgrimage: the sites of his birth,enlightment,First Discourse, and death.All these events happened outside in nature under trees.There is no particularly significance on this,other tha it perhaps explains why Buddhist have always respected the environment and natural law.
Lumbini is Situated  at the foothills of Himalayas in Modern Nepal.In the Buddha's time,Lumbini was beautiful garden full of green and shady sal trees.The garden and its tranquil environment were owned by both the Shakyas and clans. King Suddhodhana ,father of Gautam Buddha,was of Shakya Dynasty and Belonged to Kshatriya(Warrior Caste). Maya Devi ,his mother,gave birth to child on her way to her parents home in Devadaha while resting in Lumbini under a sal tree in the month of May,642 BC.The Beauty of Lumbini is Described in Pali and Sanskrit Literature.Maya Devi ,it is said,was spellbound to see the natural grandeur of Lumbini.While she was standing,she felt labour pains and catching hold pf a dropping branch of a sal tre,she gave birth to baby.
           In 249 BC,when the Indian Emperor Ashoka visited Lumbini,it was flourishing Village.Ashoka Constructed four stupas and a stone pillar with figure of horse on top.The stone pillars beads an inscription ,which in translation runs as follows:'King Piyadasi(Ashoka),beloved of devas,in the 20th year of the coronation,himself made a royal visit,Buddha Sakyamuni having been born here;a stone railing was built built and stone Pillar erected to the Bhagavan having been born here,Lumbini village as taxed reduced and entitled to the eight part'.




 
Lumbini remained neglected for centuries.In 1985,Feuhrer ,a famous German archaeologist ,Discovered the great pillar while wandering about the foothills of the churia range.Further exploration and excavation of the surrounding area revealed the existence of brick temple and Sandstone sculpture within the temple itself,which depicts the scenes of Buddha's birth.
It is Poined out by Scholars that the temple of Maya Devi was constructed over the foundations of more than one earlier temple or stupa,and that this temple was probably built on an Ashokan stupa itself.To the south of the Maya Devi temple there is the famous scared bathing pool known as Puskarni.It is believed that Maya Devi took a bath in this Pool before the delivery.By the side of Ashoka Pillar a river which flows south-east is locally called ythe OI.In 1996,an archaeological dig enearthed a 'flawless stone' placed there by Ashoka in 249 BC to mark the Precise location of the Buddha's birth more than 2600 years ago.
Source - Image nepal,Unesco,Clt,whc,srishaligram.com,

Source : http://srishaligram.com/gautam-buddha

Muktinath Temple - Kaligandai river Nepal- Shaligram dham

Intoduction

'Sri Muktinath is Also known as Muktichetra (Kshetra),or Muktinath Dham or Muktinarayan Saligram Dham'.

Muktinath is Famous Scared Pilgrimage place to all Hindu , Vaisnava devotee and to Buddha Devotee due to residential of lord vishnu,shiva and brahma in such a Holy site.The Big Moutain,Trekking of Himalaya ,Temple and Gumba(Stupa)  is influenced to every devotee,Trekkers and Visitors due to natural beauty and 3rd Largest Peak of World ,Mountain De 'Annapurna' . Mostly some visitors planned to visit  Muktinath to Learn Himalayan Culture and People, visit to Shaligram dham(Lord vishnu pilgrimage),For Ritual ceremony and Mainly mostly Indian and Nepalese come from different city and village to Worship 'Muktinath Temple',The Famous and Powerful Temple of Lord Vishnu.



Muktinath Temple





Muktinath(Lord vishnu) with Laxmi Saraswati



Above Picture in taken in Way to Muktinath - Temple and Muktinath Valley

Location, Distance and Geography

Muktinath is Situated in 3749 m Above Sea level in an Isolated Valley of the Vast Snowy Wilderness of the Himalayas.
- The Famous Muktinath lies in Mustang District of Dhawalagiri Zones ,North-West of Nepal, Muktinath Temple Can be Reached After  6 Hours journey From The Holy and Hindu Ritual Ceremony observing Place Name as "KAGBENI" or 'KAGBENI KUNDA' which also lies in Mustang.
So About The Famous Pilgrimage and Valley Site of Muktinath it is about 70 Miles(2 days) From North of Pokhara City Valley and 3 days From Kathmandu City By Bus.Kathmandu is Capital City  where Only One International Airport of Whole Nepal is Situated  ,where every visitors is checkout in entry of Nepal,After entering kathmandu city,many visitors plan to visit Different Scared Place of Whole Nepal.
Religion - Vaisnava/Hindu and Buddhist .
Cast - Brahmin,Vaisnava,Tibetan,Sherpa,Lama,Himalayan People and Few Migrated hilly people.

Muktinath Temple

Muktinath Temple is One of the Four Great Pilgrimage of Nepal. Muktinath is Famous Due to its Famous Temple Muktinath,Lord vishnu Temple(Mandir). The Image(Murti) of Lord Lord Vishnu is Placed in Small Pagoda Temple.Both Hindu/Vaisnava and Buddhist Worship with Great Veneration. We can see lord vishnu,along with laxmi Saraswati in Temple and Different Devidevta(Lord/lordess) in inside temple.
According to Different Hindu Mythology Script and Glory,The Epic of Muktinath is Described as Sanskrit Manta -

"मुक्तिहेतो : कृतो यज्ञओ  ब्रहाअण  योग संज्ञक://
मुक्तिक्षत्रमिति ख्यात तासमालोके घटोद्रब्//
प्रत्यअक्ष येत्र रुद्रोशाःबगति मुर्तिधरइस्तता//
विष्णुचाम्रित मुर्तिस्च होताजस्तत्र कि पुन ://
लोकाश्चतुबिधोद्रबता: स्नान्त्वा यत्र कलेवरम //
तेक्ता मुक्ति प्राप्नुबन्ति मुक्तिक्षेत्र  तत् स्मृतम//

English Meaning - " Once God Brahma Did Yog Rup Yagya to attain Mukti(Salvation),So this place is Famous as Muktichetra, On Muktinath, God Shiva is Situated as Agni Rup(Fire Form),Lord Vishnu as Water form and Brahma as 'The' or 'होता' Form,So who Can described a Such a Holy and Spirtual Place?, where god vishnu,shiva and Brahma live together.

In Temple there is 108 WaterSpouts and Trapta Kunda(Pond),Where All Four Varanas(All Cast) People Attain Salavation(Mukti) who Even Bath and Drinks Water in Once ever in Life.The all sin will be washes and attain blessing of Hari(lord Narayan).




शिव पुराण अनुसार - " तदा रानम्ममुक्तिनाथख्य शिवलिंगम महाद्रभुतम//
दर्शनाद्चनातस्य भुक्तिमुक्तिस्च लब्यते//

(According to shiva puran,51),Thus who worship and darshan of Advut Muktinath Shivalinga and bath in kunda  will attain both Mukti and Bhukti.

God Shaligram in Kaligandaki River in Muktinath, Mustang district.

Kaligandaki River is Also Known as Krishna Gandaki River as Ancient names,the Holy ganges river related to Krishna(lord vishnu). In Gandaki river,lord vishnu himself reside as being Shaligram shila,so gandaki river is important and main powerful holy river in world. Shaligram is direct Symbol of lord vishnu.Shaligram is one of the main incarnation of lord vishnu in form of Murti(stone).


The Bank of Kaligandaki river in Muktinath, and the Vicinity of Damodar Kunda,north of muktinath are only Found Sri Shaligram shila and no where else in world.The importance  and Significance of Shaligram is described Detailly in Agni puran,Devi bhagavat gita,skanda purana etc most of Supreme hindu Scripts.




Above picture - Kaligandaki river,Shaligram Dham

According To vishnu Puran - Lord Vishnu incarnated Himself in form of Saligram(Holy stone),Tulsi (holy bassil),Peepal trees(holy tree) and Kush (holy grass),due to curse of Women Brinda,Wife of Devil Jalandhar.So Shaligram is Found in Chakra marks,Symbol and in every form of shaligram because lord vishnu ordered lord Bishwakarma(lord of artitecture) to makes beautiful stone in my shaligram.
Lord Vishnu said to Lord vishwakarma that  -Hey Bishwakarama,you makes my saligram different chakra and design being Inscect Bagrakeeta(water insect),so it is now also shaligram is found in different chakra and marks.

Drinking holy godly water of kaligandaki river will attains happiness and purify their bodies,Those person will consider as pure human in world.Those who Do their Ancestor Yearly Ceremony or those who go pilgrimage to Kaligandaki river muktinath any time once in life time will attain lord vishnu hood and washes all their sin done in every past,present life and finally attains mukti(salvation),the journey to Baikuntha(lord vishnu home) after birth cycle in earth.More about shaligram jump to Saligram silas .

DamodarKunda - Damodar kunda also lies in muktinath.DamodarKunda is Place where lord vishnu in form of Damodar direct dwells. Damodar Kunda is also known as Only one resting water Pond (Kunda) and home of lord vishnu in universe.Lord vishnu rest in Damodarkunda.



Above Picture - DamodarKunda Muktinath Nepal



From most place of around Nepal,every cast people comes to bath in damodar kunda every year as well as many indian and American Bhaktajan.Rarely Saligram is also found in Damodar Kunda luckily. It is Said that any one who observe Pitri(ancestor)Worship and offering in Damodar kund,pleases their ancestor in heaven.All Ancestor will attain Baikuntha loka due to offering and worship done by their Son or Grandson in Damodarkunda.

History of Muktinath .

Muktinath or Muktikshetra ,A names is Derieved From Sanskrit Language,Muktinath is composed of Two words Mukti and Nath. Where mukti means Salvation and Nath means god. Muktikshetra is Derived is composed of two words, Mukti mean lord of Salvation and Kshetra means Residential place.
Muktinath is a such a place where different devotee from South Asia,Western country and mostly Indian Devotee Visit to attain Mukti(Salvation),freedom from cycle of Birth and rebirth.
According to most hindu Devotee " This World is an Illusion,the earliest one gets out of it the better,and visit to muktinath will help to attain free from illusion".It is Said that One Should Visit Muktinath after completing Char Dham Yatra(four Powerful Pilgrimage worship) Sites. According to Religious Book it is said that Muktinath is also 51th Shakti peeths.

According to Some Sri Vaisnva Devotee,Muktinath is also known as Salagrama,the home of lord vishnu.Salagrama is lord vishnu himself,found in muktinath,One of the name of lord vishnu.MuktiDham is only place to attain lord narayana.So Some devotee spend oldage whole life in muktinath to please lord vishnu.

Buddhist - Buddhist Calls Muktinath Valley the 'Chuming Gyasta',which means 'Hundred Waters' in Tibetan Language. According to Different  Buddhist in Muktinath,Muktinath is also very important place of Dakinis,Goddess Known as Sky Dancers and one of the  24 Tantric Places.They Believe the idol of Muktinath to be Manifestation of Avalokiteshwara.

The Temple of Muktinath is small in comparison with other Temples.It is One of the most ancient Hindu temples of God vishnu. The Pagoda Style of Muktinath is Symbol of Religious Harmony between Hindu and Buddhist.

Hindu Regards Muktinath as Lord vishnu,where as Buddhist regard as Buddha.The Idol is made of gold and tall is enough to compare with man.

According to Sri Vaisnva and Sriman Narayana,Muktinath is One of the 8 DivyaDesam,Scared Shrines for every Hindu and Vaisnava Known as "Svayam Vyakta Ksetras" which is said to have risen on its own,the Other Seven DivyaDesam are,SriRangam,SriMushnam,Tirupati Balaji(Venatakeshvara),Naimisharanya,Totadri,Pushkar and Badrinath.It is also One of the 108 Vaishnava Shrines(Divya desham).

Pujari(Priest of The Main Temple of Muktinath) - There is an old Buddhist Monk who looks after the temple and worship is Conducted by Buddhist Nuns.A Local nun Manages the Puja in temple.The Piligrims who go there should offer Prasadam to the deity.The Buddhist Pujari offered all ritual Puja in temple.

Main Rules in Muktinath Temple

1 - Photography and Filming of Deities inside Temple and monastries is Strictly Prohibited,we should not take camera inside temple.
2 - This place is Opened throughout the year but specially in Rishitarpani,Ram Nawami,and Bijay Dashami thousand of pilgrims gather to celibrate the festicval.

Suitable Climate - Time to Visit Muktinath

The most suitable time to visit muktinath is From March to June and September to November as weather condition would not be favorable to travel in other time. The Journey passes through many archological sites and temples.

Against a Backdrop of incredible Starkness you can sit and stare at snow covered Annapurna range in the south or at the Tibetan Plateou in North.
The temple and Religious Shrines are above 90 Km in elevation above Ranipauwa.There are no hotels and commitee doesnot allow Camping.

The Valley Has Seven Historic Village,Putak,Jhong,Chhyonkhar,Purang,Jharkot and Khinga. Ranipauwa is a New Settelement founded by people of Purang. The main ethnic Group of the valley is Bhotias,sherpa,lama.

Famous and Powerful Temple in Muktinath

Jwala Mai Temple -

http://www.srishaligram.com/muktinath-dham.html