Kedareshwar Cave Temple

Hare Krishna

The Kedareshwar Cave Temple is a significant and ancient rock-cut temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in the Ellora Caves complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site situated near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in the state of Maharashtra, India. The Ellora Caves are renowned for their stunning rock-cut architecture, which includes temples, monasteries, and other structures carved into the Charanandri Hills.

The Kedareshwar Cave Temple, numbered as Cave 34 in the Ellora Caves sequence, is particularly noteworthy for its unique design and the intricate sculptures that adorn its interiors. The Kedareshwar Cave Temple is carved out of a single rock, showcasing remarkable craftsmanship. The temple's layout consists of a central shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, along with various sculptures and carvings that depict scenes from Hindu mythology and legends. The sanctum houses a Shiva Linga (an iconic representation of Lord Shiva) that serves as the primary deity.

The Shiva Linga of this temple is located below the mountain and only one single pillar is holding the whole mountain, as the other three pillars are broken. It is said that each pillar belongs to each Yuga. The Pillars breaks as each Yuga ends and at the end of Kaliyug the last pillar will also break. It is said that the water surrounded around Shiva Linga is hot during winter and cool during summer and during monsoon when water around the Linga gets filled up, the Shiva Linga automatically rises above.

The temple's walls are adorned with intricate sculptures, including depictions of deities, celestial beings, and various mythological narratives. These carvings reflect the artistic prowess of the craftsmen who worked on the temple. Some of the sculptures illustrate episodes from the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.One of the distinctive features of the Kedareshwar Cave Temple is the presence of a massive sculpture of Nandi, the sacred bull that serves as Lord Shiva's mount, in front of the sanctum. This sculpture is intricately carved and adds to the temple's artistic grandeur.

Visiting the Kedareshwar Cave Temple and the Ellora Caves complex provides a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of ancient India and offers a spiritual and aesthetic experience for those who appreciate art and history.

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Panjurli Daiva

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Panjurli Daiva is a significant and intriguing figure in the folk traditions of coastal Karnataka, India. The term "Panjurli" is derived from the words "Panju," meaning wild boar, and "Daiva," meaning deity or spirit. It is believed Panjurli daiva possesses the ability to heal diseases, protect against evil spirits and bring prosperity. He also protects the field.

The story of Panjurli Daiva is deeply rooted in the cultural and spiritual beliefs of the people of Tulunadu. It revolves around the worship of ancestral spirits and natural forces that are believed to influence and impact the lives of the community members.

According to legends, A Wild Boar was found dead in Lord Shiva's pleasure garden. The Boar's progany was adopted by Parvati. The Young boar became destructive as he grew older and started destroying crops, plants and trees in Shiva's garden. Lord Shiva got angry and decided to kill the boar, but Parvati took boar's side and stopped Shiva from killing him and asked to forgive him for his mistake.

Instead of killing the boar, Lord Shiva banished the boar to earth and gave him task to protect the people and their fields. The Boar became daiva from then and people started praying him he was started knowing as "Parjurli Daiva".

 His spirit embodies itself into the Kola dancers and speaks to his people, also protect and blesses them.

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Guliga Daiva

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Daivas are worshiped in Southern Karnataka and part of Kerala. They are considered as Demigods (Bhuta) to whom certain responsibilities are given by the almighty. Every house in Tulunadu has a particular Daiva to whom they worship. For them they organize Kola also known as Bhuta Kola. There are many Demigods to whom people of Tulunadu worship namely Varthe, Panjurli, Koragajja, Guliga, Jumadi, Kallurti, Kalkuda, Koti Chennayya and others. Daivas are called Kshetrapals or the guardian deities of a particular land. 

Guliga Daiva is the oldest daiva of Tulunadu. He is known with different names in different places. Guliga daiva is considered among Shiva Gana.

According to legends, One day in Kailasa, Parvati found a stone in ashes she took it to Shiva who threw the stone and Guliga appeared from that stone. He was sent to serve Lord Vishnu, but due to his destructive behavior Vishnu cursed him to take birth from the stomach of Nellaulla-Sanke. 

When Nellualla Sanke was 9 months pregnant, the baby in her stomach asked her from which path of stomach should he take birth, the mother replied him to take birth as a normal baby. The baby rejected  her advise and came out tearing his mother's belly. He was uncontrollably hungry and started eating everything, he even tried eating the sun, he drank all the water from Vishnu's Lake and ate all fishes. He was even given blood to drink but his hunger did not end. 

Lord Vishnu appeared in front of him and gave his little finger to eat, his stomach was full and he was sent on earth for evil sacrifice. One day Jala Durge were sailing on the sea when they saw Guliga and gave shelter to him. Later he was blessed and appointed as the Protector (Kshetrapal) of that temple. When a battle was fought between Guliga Daiva and Panjurli Daiva, Jala Durge calmed them and advised to live like a sibling. That's why in some places they are worshiped together.

In different places and merging with different spirits he is worshipped in the form of Subbi Guliga,  Raja Guliga, Mantra Guliga, Rahu Guliga, Mookamba Guliga and many others 

The Daiva is considered to get rid of evil and infuse discipline among his devotees. His Idol is unstructured stone mostly placed in open space under the tree.

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Barbarik: Khatu Shyam

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The Story of Barbarik is from the time of Mahabharat. The Pandavas wandering forest after saving their lives met a demoness named Hidimba. She wanted to have Bheem as her husband. By the order of Mother Kunti, Bheem and Hidimba got married, from which Ghatotkach was born. The son of Ghatotkach was Barbarik who was more powerful and elusive than his father. Barbarik was a worshiper of Goddess. With the boon of the Goddess, he had received three divine arrows which pierced their target and returned back. Because of them Barbaric had become invincible.

During the war of Mahabharata, Barbarik was coming to Kurukshetra with the intention of seeing the war. Shri Krishna knew that if Barbarik joined the war, the result would be against the Pandavas. To stop Barbarik, Shri Krishna disguised himself in the form of a Poor Brahmin. Becoming ignorant, Shri Krishna asked Barbarik who you are and why you are going to Kurukshetra. In response, Barbarik told that he is a charitable warrior who can decide the Mahabharata war with only one of his arrows. When Shri Krishna wanted to test him, he shot an arrow which pierced all the leaves of the Peepal tree. A leaf was under Shri Krishna's feet, so the arrow stopped above his feet.

Shri Krishna was amazed by Barbarik's ability and wanted to prevent him from participating in the war by any means. For this, Shri Krishna told Barbarik that you are very mighty, you will not donate anything to me poor. When Barbarik asked for donation, Shri Krishna asked Barbarik for his head. Barbarik understood that this is not a Brahmin but someone else and asked to give the real introduction. When Shri Krishna gave his real introduction and told him who he really was, Barbarik happily accepted donating his head.

By performing prayers and worship throughout the night and taking bath on Phalgun Shukla Dwadashi, Barbarik donated his head to Shri Krishna with his own hand. Before donating the head, Barbarik had expressed his desire to see the war with Shri Krishna, so Shri Krishna installed Barbarik's severed head at a high place to watch the war. At the end of the war and victory of Pandavas Shri Krishna asked Barbarik's wish, with great satisfaction Barbarik replied that he just need Moksh (Salvation). Shri Krishna was pleased with his devotion and gave a boon to the severed head of Barbarik that, "In Kalyug you will be worshiped by my name Shyam, only by remembering you, the devotees will get welfare and religion, meaning, work, salvation will be attained". Shri Krishna also gave a boon saying that, "No one can change the fate of the person in whose fate I have written sorrow, but the fate of the devotee who has come under your spell will also change".

At present he is known as Khatu Shyam or Baba Shyam who is considered to be appeared from the Shyam Kund located in Khatu Dham after the visions. Shri Krishna is fulfilling the wishes of the devotees by being situated in the temple of Khatu Shyam ji since Samvat 1777 in the form of Virat Shaligram.

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Vrajwani Dham

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Do you know that Krishna took avatar in Kaliyug too???

Yes, that's True...

There is a village name Vrajwani located on the banks of a large desert in Rapar taluka of Kutch  (Gujarat, India). Today there is a grand temple here. If you go inside the temple, you will see a completely different view from all other pilgrimage sites. Different because here you will find 140 statues of women in a circle! Outside, there is another large area in the courtyard. These 140 women are Ahirani of Kutch.

It is said that Krishna had promised his Gopi's he will visit them and give his darshan. So around 600 years ago, In Vrajwani Dham of Kutch, Krishna took avatar in the form of Dholi (the person who plays drum) and he started playing drum. The music from the drum was so magical that 140 woman that is Ahirani of that village came together and started doing Rass (form of dance). Almost 3 days continuously the dholi played the drum and the 140 Ahirani didn't stopped. Seeing this one of the youngster of that village went to meet the dholi but till that time Krishna disappeared and the women who were dancing on the beats of drum stopped.

The 140 Ahirani of that village prayed to Krishna that, "There is no fascination left in this world and requested him to take them to his abode". After saying this 140 Ahirani left their soul together and went to the abode of Krishna. There are still 140 pillars of Ahirani at the same place from where they left and there is also a pillar from where Krishna disappeared. It is said that by listening to that pillar carefully, you can still hear the sound of that drum.

Even today many people come to Vrajwani Dham and bow their heads in front of Ahirani's Palanquins.

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Ashwathama

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Ashwatthama was the son of Dronacharya, the royal teacher of the Kuru princes, and played a crucial role in the Kurukshetra War, a major conflict in the Mahabharata. He was born with a gem on his forehead which give him power over all living being also it protected him from hunger, thirst, and fatigue. He was on the side of  Kauravas. 

After the war, Ashwatthama was filled with anger and grief over the death of his father and the destruction caused by the war. In a state of extreme distress and rage, he committed a grave act by targeting the sleeping Pandava camp during the night. He entered their camp and ruthlessly slaughtered the sons of the Pandavas, mistaking them for the Pandava brothers themselves.

When this heinous act was discovered, Ashwatthama was pursued and captured by the Pandavas. In response he confessed of killing Pandavas sons and said he will also kill Abhimananyu's unborn child so that Pandavas doesn't have any heir left, he used the most powerful weapon Brahmastra directing it to attack Uttara's womb (Uttara was the wife of Abhimanyu) . Krishna who saw this got very angry with Ashwatthama's act, as a punishment the gem (mani) on Ashwatthama's forehead was taken away, and he was cursed by Krishna that he will roam in the forest till the end of Kaliyuga with blood and puss oozing out of his injuries and cry for his death but death would not meet him.

Later Krishna revived the unborn child and the baby was named as Parikshit (considered as the first person of Kaliyug). Many has claimed of seeing Ashwatthama. It is believed that he visits the very old Shiva Temple to offer pooja early in the morning in Asirgarh Fort (Burhanpur district, Madhya Pradesh).

The Curse of Ashwatthama serves as a moral lesson about the consequences of unchecked anger, revenge, and the misuse of power. It also highlights the concept of dharma (righteousness) and the karmic repercussions of one's actions. Ashwatthama's curse underscores the complexities of human nature and the profound themes explored within the Mahabharata epic.

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Sapta Chiranjivi

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"Sapta Chiranjivi," which in Hindu mythology are believed to be seven immortal beings or sages. These Chiranjivi are said to still be alive and are often associated with different legends and stories. Here is a list of the seven Sapta Chiranjivi along with brief descriptions:

1. Ashwatthama: 

He was a great warrior and a key character in the Indian epic, the Mahabharata. He was the son of Dronacharya, the royal teacher of the Kuru princes. Ashwatthama possessed a gem on his forehead that granted him immortality and protection. However, he also carried a curse that made him suffer and roam the Earth forever.     

2. King Mahabali: 

Also known as Bali, he was a generous and righteous king who was blessed with immense power and ruled over the netherworld. Lord Vishnu took the Vamana avatar to subdue Bali and sent him to rule the netherworld, where he is said to continue his benevolent rule.

3. Vedavyasa: 

Vedavyasa, also known as Vyasa, is a legendary sage who is credited with composing the Mahabharata, one of the longest epic poems in the world, as well as other Hindu scriptures. He is also considered one of the seven immortals. 

4. Hanuman: 

Hanuman is a prominent figure in Hindu mythology and is known for his unwavering devotion to Lord Rama. He played a crucial role in the Ramayana, aiding Rama in his quest to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana.

5. Kripacharya: 

Kripacharya was a respected teacher and warrior who played a significant role in the Mahabharata. He was the teacher of the Kaurava and Pandava princes and was known for his wisdom and martial skill.

6. Parashurama:

 Parashurama is the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu. He was a warrior with an axe (parashu) and is known for his devotion to his father and his legendary confrontations with Kshatriya warriors.

7. Vibhishana:

Vibhishana is a character from the Ramayana, the younger brother of the demon king Ravana. He chose to side with Lord Rama during the battle against Ravana due to his righteousness and devotion to dharma.

These seven figures are believed to be immortal and continue to exist in various forms, according to Hindu mythology. Each of them has their own unique stories and significance in Hindu culture and philosophy.

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