Hinduism For All - Pilgrim Spots (Kshetra)

Hinduism For All

Pilgrim Spots (Kshetra)

Three entities associated with the Pilgrim spots makes them holy, viz. a deity (moorthy) a holy water body (teertha) and a holy tree (vruksha) associated with it.

In the various Puraanas, the Kshetras connected with various deities have been enlisted and eulogized. The Skanda Puraana is verily a treasure-trove of such descriptions. Many of the ancient towns and Kshetras, though have undergone a sea-change in their cosmetic appearance due to the foreign rule for almost 600 years, still maintain their essential spiritual status due to the greatness of the three entities listed above. It is this exalted spiritual significance that draws thousands of devotees to the places throughout the year, more so during the specific ‘period’ considered holy therein.

It would be outside the scope of the book to enlist all such Kshetras; we may take up some of the important ones.

a. Dvaadasha Jyotirlinga Kshetras :

Lord Shiva, worshipped in the form of Linga infused his Aatma-Jyoti in twelve different places. They are termed as Dvaadasha (12) Jyotirlinga Kshetras. Each has a legend connected with it.

1. Somanaatha : in Gujarat

2. Mallikaarjuna : in Srisaila, Andhra Pradesh

3. Mahaakaala : in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

4. Omkaareshvara : in Madhya Pradesh

5. Vaidyanaatha : in Parali, Maharashtra

6. Bhimashankara : in Dakinivana, Gujarat

7. Raameshvara : in an Island, Tamil Nadu

8. Naageshvara : in Daarukavana, Maharashtra

9. Trayambakeshvara : near Nasik, Maharashtra

10. Kedaarnath : in Kedaar Mount, Uttaranchal

11. Gusmeshvara : in Shivalik Mount, Maharashtra

12. Vishvanaatha : in Kaashi

Kaashi is one of the holiest towns on the banks of River Ganga. It is called Avimukta-Kshetra, for it is so dear to the Lord Shiva, that He does not let it go even during the great deluge (pralaya- destruction of the world). It is considered to be the capital city of Shiva (Tripuraari – Raajanagari) also called as Vaaranaasi as it is surrounded by two rivers Varuna and Asi which confluence with Ganga flowing northwards.

b. Pancha Bhoota Lingas :

In South India (Tamil Nadu), there are five shrines wherein the Lord Shiva manifests Himself, through the power of five elements.

1. Ekaambareshvara in Kaanchipuram / - (Pruthvi – Earth)

Vaalmeekinaathar in Thiruvaarur

2. Jambukeshvara in Tiruvaanaikka (Trichy) - (Ap – Water)

3. Annaamalaiyaar in Tiruvannaamalai - (Tejas – Fire)

4. Chidambareshvar in Chidambaram - (Aakasha – Ether)

5. Kaalahasteeshvara in Srikaalahasti - (Vaayu – Wind)

c. Sapta Moksha Puri :

The Hindus believe that seven cities (Puris) grant liberation to the devotees who go on a pilgrimage in the tradition manner prescribed. The Sapta (7) Puris are:

Ayodhyaa : (The birth place of Sri Raama)

Mathuraa : (The birth place of Sri Krishna)

Maayaa – Haridvaar :

(The place where Ganga descends from Himaalayas)

Kaashi :

(Considered to be one of the holiest places in India,

also known as Benaaras (or) Vaaranaasi

Kaanchi :

(Kaanchipuram, the city of temples wherein Goddess

Kaamaakshi rules the land and the mind of the devotees)

Avantikaa :

(Another name for Ujjain, the residence of Mahaakaaleshvara,

the Great Destroyer)

Dvaarakaa :

(The capital city from where Sri Krishna ruled.)

d.The Four Dhaams (Char Dhaam) :

The four abodes of God in the four directions of India - Puri in the east, Raameshvaram in the south, Dvaarakaa in the west, and Badrinaath in the north. These are the most revered sites for Hindus that have to be visited in one’s lifetime. They were collated by the 8th century reformer and philosopher Aadi Shankaraachaarya, into the archetype all-India pilgrimage circuit to the four cardinal points of the Indian subcontinent in a bid to unify people across the region.

The great 8th century reformer and philosopher Shankaraachaarya (Aadi Shankara) was prominently involved in reviving the Hindu Dharma in India. He travelled throughout the country and grouped the four sacred places Badrinaath,

Raameshvaram, Puri and Dvaaraka as the Chaar Dhaam which are dedicated to the Vishnu Avatars (incarnations). Geographically speaking the Chaar Dhaam make a perfect square with Badrinaath and Raameshvaram falling on same longitude and Dvaarakaa (old) and Puri on same latitude, representing the farthest north east west and south points of India.

Raameshvaram:

Raameshvaram is located in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated in the Gulf of Mannaar at the very tip of the Indian peninsula. According to legends, this is the place from where Lord Raama, built a bridge Raam Setu (also known as Adam’s Bridge). The Raamanaatha Swamy Temple occupies major area of Raameshvaram.

Raameshvaram is significant for the Hindus as a pilgrimage to Benaaras is incomplete without a pilgrimage to Raameshvaram. The presiding deity here is in the form of a Linga with the name Sri Raamanatha Swamy, it also is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.

Badrinaath:

Badrinaath located in the North Indian state of Uttarkhand, is the most important of the four sites of Chaar Dhaam. It is in the Garhval hills, on the banks of the Alaknanda River. The town lies between the Nara and Naaraayana mountain ranges and in the shadow of Nilkantha peak (6,560m).

Badri refers to a berry that was said to grow abundantly in the area, and nath refers to Vishnu. The legend Shankara discovered a black stone image of Lord Badrinaaraayan made of Saalagraam 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 Garhval moved the moorti to the present temple.

Jagannaath Temple Puri:

Puri located in the east of Orissa state, India. Puri is one of the oldest cities in the eastern part of the country. It is situated on the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

It is the only shrine in India, where Goddess Raadha also referred to as Durgaa, Sati, Paarvati, Shakti abode here with Lord Krishna who is Jagannaatha. Puri is the site of the Govardhana matha, one of the four cardinal institutions established by Aadi Shankaraachaarya.

Dvaarakadheesh temple:

Dwaarakaa located in the West Gujarat state in India. The city derives its name from word “dvaara” meaning door or gate in the Sanskrit language. It is located close to where the Gomati River merges into the Gulf of Kutch. The city lies in the westernmost part of India.

The legendary city of Dvaarakaa was the dwelling place of Lord Krishna. It is believed that due to deluge caused by the sea, Dvaaraka has submerged six times and modern the day Dvaarakaa is the 7th such city built in the area.

This article is a snippet from the Book Hinduism For All, Authored by TS Srinivasan and Edited By Dr Ramchandrashekar. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in & across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture & Tradition.

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