BHAIRAVAKONA

                                    BHAIRAVAKONA

Bhairavakona is a holy place situated on the heart of Nallamala Hills in the Prakasam district of the Indian State of Andhra Pradesh.This place is home to an ancient Shiva temple. 

There is waterfall which falls from a height of 200 metres and there are eight temples carved in the hill there.
An interesting feature that attracts devotees to Bhairavakona is that the moonlight falls on the idol of goddess Parvati at a temple there on Kartik Poornima day.

History:
According to a legend, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi once visited the place and they were captivated by its beauty. 
They left a Shivalingam at the place that resembles the one at Amarnath.
The temples date back to 7-8 AD, according to the estimates by archaeologists.

How to reach:
Bhairavakona is located in the border of Prakasam, Kadapa and Nellore Districts in Andhra Pradesh.
The nearest towns are Pamuru,Kandukur in Prakasam District and Atmakur in Nellore District.

Though a large number of people reach the place by special buses run by the APSRTC. They suffer for want of facilities. The plans of the Tourism Department to develop Bhairavakona as a tourist centre have not yet borne fruit.

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Annamalaiyar (Arunachalam) Temple Tamil Nadu

ABOUT TEMPLE

Annamalaiyar temple is a tamil Hindu Temple dedicated to the deity to the shiva, located at the base of annamali hills in the town of Thiruvannamalai (District) in Tamilnadu (State), india.


The Annamalaiyar Temple Complex Covers 10 hectares , and it is one of the largest in india.



Lingothbavar

The Creator Lord Bramha and Protector Lord Thirumal entered into a controversy among themselves so as to ascertain who was the greatest. Lord Siva was asked to be the judge. Lord Siva told them that whoever was able to see his crown as well as his feet would be termed as the greatest. Then Lord Siva transformed himself into a Jothi (a column of fire) touching the heaven and earth. Thirumal took the avatar of varaha (wild boar) and dug deep into the earth to find Siva's feet but at last accepted defeat. Bramha took the form of a swan and flew to see the crown of Siva. Unable to see the crown, Bramha saw a thazhambu flower which had decked Siva's crown falling down. He asked the flower as to the distance of Siva's crown whereby the flower replied that he had been falling for forty thousand years. Bramha, realizing that he would not be able to reach the crown asked the flower to act as a false witness

The thazhambu flower acting as a false witness declared that Brahma had seen the crown. Siva became angry at the deception and cursed that Bramha should have no temple on earth and that the thazhambu flower should not be used while praying to Lord Siva. The place where Lord Siva stood as a column of fire to eliminate the ego is Thiruvannamalai.


The Annamalai Hill was Agni (fire) during Krithayugam, was Manikkam (Emerald) during Threthayugam, was pon (Gold) during Dwaprayugam and rock during Kaliyugam as per the ancient legends. On the request of Thirumal and Bramha by their devout prayer, Siva who was in the form of a fire column took the form of a Sivalingam at the foot of the hill hwere the Arulmigu Annamalaiyar Temple is located.

Annamalaiyar Temple:

By Road: Mostly, it is the Tamil Nadu   state transport buses which serve the local populace of the region.

By Train: The town has its own railway station in the form of Tiruvannamalai Railway Station and

   which is 44 KM away from Annamalaiyar Temple . 

By Air:  The nearest airport is the Chennai International Airport  (MAA) at a distance of 173 km.


Address: Pavazhakundur, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu 606601
Phone : 04175252438
Architctural Style: Tamil architecture

Consort: Unnamalai AAmman (Shiva-parvati)

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Kumbakonam Temple Tamil Nadu

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       Adi Kumbeswarar Temple  is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located at the center of the Tamil Nadu town of Kumbakonam, India. The Hindu festival of Mahamaham is associated with this temple. The huge temple is built over an area of 2,804 m² is reported to be more than 1300 years old.

   
      The temple is revered by the Tevaram hymns of 7th century Saiva nayanars - Tamil saint poets and is also classified as a Paadal Petra Sthalam (temple revered by the nayanars).

     LEGEND

     It is believed that after the deluge and just before the advent of Kaliyuga the celestial pot containing the nectar containing the seeds of life came to rest here. Lord Shiva in the garb of a hunter, shot an arrow at the pot held by Brahma and broke it, making it contents spill resulting in the revival of life. Kumbham means the pot and Konam means crooked - the pot the broke when Shiva's arrow hit it. The place where the nectar fell is the Mahamaham tank. The name of the town Kumbakonam is thus derived from Kumbeswaran temple.

     HISTORY

    The temple is in existence from Chola times of 7th century and has been widely expanded by Nayaks during the 15-17th century.

    THE TEMPLE

    Kumbeswarar temple is approached by a corridor 100 m long and 4.6 m wide. There are five silver plated chariots in the temple used to carry the temple deities during festive occasions. The temple is the largest Shiva temple of Kumbakonam and has a 9-storeyed rajagopuram (gateway tower) 125 ft tall. It is spread over 4 acres in the centre of the town. The temple has 3 concentric compounds, elongated along an east-west axis has triple set of gopurams.

     Adi Kumbeswarar is the presiding deity of the temple and the shrine is located in the centre. Kumbeswarar is in the form a lingam believed to have been made by Shiva himself when he mixed nectar of immortality and sand. Manthrapeeteswari Mangalambika is his consort and her shrine is present parallel to the left of Kumbeswarar shrine. The temple has a colonnaded hall and a good collection of silver vahanas (sacred vehicles used to carry deities during festival processions) Beyond the flagstaff, a hallway whose columns feature painted brackets representing yali (a mythological creature) leads to the gopuram. The Navarathiri Mandapam (Hall of Navrathri celebration) has 27 stars and 12 rasis (constellations) carved in a single block. The idol of Subramanya having six hands instead of 12, stone nagaswarams (pipe instrument) and Kiratamurti are main attractions of the temple.

      The central shrine of the temple houses the image of Adi Kumbheswarar in the form of lingam The shrine of Mangala Nayaki is located parallel to the of left of Kumbeswarar and Somaskanda is located to the right. The images of Nalvars (Appar, Sambanthar, Sundarar and Manickavasagar), images of the sixty three Nayanmars, Virabhadra, Saptakannikas, Visalakshi, Visvanatha, Valam Chuzhi Vinayaka, Bhikshatana, Karthikeya, Annapurani, Gajalakshmi, Mahalakshmi, Saraswathi, Jasta Devi, Durga, Chandikesa, Kuratirtha, Arukala Vinayakar, Nandi, Bali peetham, Sabha Vinayaka, Kasi Visvanatha, Nataraja are located in the first precinct around the sanctum. The temple also has images of Navaneetha Vinayaka, Kiratamurti, Bhairava, Jvarahareswara, Chaota Sri Govinda Dikshits-Nagammal, Chandra, Surya, Adikara Nandhi (the sacred bull of Shiva), Vallabha Ganapathi, Shanmukha, Navagraha (nine planetary deities), Nandhi, Lakshmi Narayana Perumal, Mutra Veli Vinayaka, Bala Dandayutapani, Nandhi, Vanni Vinayakar, Kumbha Munisiddhar, Kumarappar, Adilinga and Sattananthar. Chamber of repose, decoration hall, Sacrificial hall, grand kitchen, marriage hall, elephant shed, Vasantamandapam, cattle shed, garden and four-pillared hall are other notable parts in the temple. The flag mast is located in the second precinct, directly on the axis of the presiding deity.

      The Mahamaham tank, Potramarai Tirtha, Varuna Tirtha, Kasyapa Tirtha, Chakkara Tirtha, Matanga Tirtha and Bhagavad Tirtha (bathing ghats along the river Cauvery) are the seven outlying water bodies associated with the temple. Mangala Kupam Asva, Naga tirtha, Kura tirtha are the three wells, while Chandra tirtha, Surya tirtha, Gautama tirtha and Varaha tirtha are the four tanks located inside the temple.

      FESTIVALS

     The Mahamaham festival takes place once every twelve years during the Tamil Month of Masi (February - March), when lakhs of pilgrims from various parts of India visit Kumbakonam to take a holy bath in the sacred Mahamaham tank which is located in the heart of the town. The festival has archaeological and epigrahical evidence. Tulapurushadaram, the practise of weighing oneself against gold and donating to the temple was effected by Govinda Dikshitar and the funds were utilised for funding the construction of the 16 mandapas around the tank. Krishnadeva Raya (1509–1529 CE) is believed to have witnessed the Mahamaham festival during this time. He made donations to the temple on this occasion is found in another inscription.

   

     WORSHIP PRACTISES

     The temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Shaiva community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; Ushathkalam at 5:30 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: abhisheka (sacred bath), alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Kumbeswarar and Mangalambikai. The worship is held amidst music with nagaswaram (pipe instrument) and tavil (percussion instrument), religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred texts) read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast. There are weekly rituals like somavaram (Monday) and sukravaram (Friday), fortnightly rituals like pradosham and monthly festivals like amavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, pournami (full moon day) and sathurthi.

   

       LITERARY MENTION

       Appar, the 7th century Tamil saivite saint poet and nayanar has revered Erumbeeswarar and the temple in his verses in Tevaram, compiled as the Fifth Tirumurai. As the temple is revered in Tevaram, it is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, one of the 276 temples that find mention in the Saiva canon. The temple is counted as the seventh in the list of temples in the southern banks of Cauvery. Appar has glorified the temple in nine poems referring the place as Erumbiyur and the deity as "Kumbesar".

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Amarnath cave Temple Jammu & Kashmir

Amarnath is one of the top most Dhams in india. The holy cave is the Abode of lord shiva. In this cave , lord siva is in the form of an   ICE-LINGAM.

Lal chowk has been a historical spot for Kashmir's Struggle for freedom. All political movements in Kashmir, it is the emotional and sentimental heart of the valley.

Registration for Amarnath Yatra will be done only at Designated Counters . Health Certificate is Compulsory.

PREPARATION FOR YATRA

Prepare for the yatra by achieving high level of physical fitness. you are advised to start at least a month prior to yatra 4-5 km morning and evening walk. for improving oxygen efficiency of your body, you should start breathing exercises and yoga , pranamaya.

THINGS TO CARRY:

your journey shall involve trekking high mountains, facing strong roks, cold winds.so you must cary, a, ,.

                              I. woolen clothing

                              II. pair of thermal inners

                             III. raincoat

                            IV.   small umbrella

                              V.    good trekking shoes (preferably waterproof)

                             VI.   torch light

           VII.   walking stick

            VIII.    woolen monkey cap

                                 IX.    jacket and gloves & woolen socks, 

                                 X.    water bottle.

                                   XI.     Dry fruits.

             XII.  Biscuits, chocolates.

Registration process of holy Amarnath Yatra:-

First Download Amarnath Yatra Registration form and Health Certificate from Amarnath website. (WWW.amarnathyatra.org )

Int the Website, You can know the location of Authorized Docter to issue the health Certificate.

       1.    location of the nearest yatra registration counter.

       2.    After doctor certifies you to be fit to undertake yatra, then go to authorized Bank and submit:

      3.    Application Form with 4 passport size photos, recently taken.

      4.    Health certificate (CHC) issued by Govt Doctor.The formate of the Application from and CHC , and the list of Doctors/Medical Institutions authorized to issue CHC are available at SASB's website (WWW.shriamarnathjishrine.com) health certificate link (http://www.shriamarnathjishrine.com/Yatra2016/CHC/CHC-YATRA%202016.pdf)

       5.    Registration fee 50/- rs.

      6.    registartion process full details link (http://www.shriamarnathjishrine.com/Yatra2016/Yatra%202016%20Misc%20Docs/Step-By-StepProcedureForRegistration-Yatra-2016.pdf)

There are two Tracks to reach the holy cave.

1).JAMMU/SRINAGAR to PAHALGAM to HOLY CAVE (jammu-Pahalgam-Chandanwari-Pissu Top-Sheshnag-Panchtarni-Holy CAve)

2).JAMMU/SRINAGAR TO BALTAL TO HOLY (Jammu - Baltal -Domial - Barari - Holy Cave)

In the pahalgam medical center is there . pahalgam to holy cave distance is 48 km.nunwan base camp is 3 k, before pahalgam. it is a small township, has all facilities like toilets, tents for stay number of bhandaras for food and so many toys shops .

          There are so many langars serving free food to Amarnath yatra . we dont worry about food in whole yatra. prepaid mobile connections doesn't work in jammu and kashmir state. when you enter in kashmir, the prepaid connections automatically deactivated.

Chandanwadi is around 16 kms from pahalgam. Scenery between pahalgam and Chandanwadi is mind blowing. chandanwadi base camp is 9,500 feet above the sea level. chandanwadi to holy cave distance is 32 km only. two check posts at chandanadi base camp. all yatris and their belongings bags checking here thoroughly.trekking starts from chandanwari.

At the PISSUTOP 3-4 Bhadaras are availble . in this lace hight was 11,000  feet above the sea level . in this place some time oxygen levels are down , the government was provide oxygen in that place. the climate is changed within low time , temperature is very cool .

Zojibal is 5 kms away from PISSUTOP. it is straight rocky walk from there I NO climb till Zojibai. the climate is wonderful and very pleasant.

zojibal langar 11,300 feet height above the sea level.

sheshnag is 12,500 feet above the sea level . distance between zojibal and sheshnag is around 4 kms and have moderate climb. Altitude increases by 430 feet in these 4 kms.sheshnag lake is the origin of beautiful east lidder river.yatris can enjoy the breathtaking views of this charming lake. lot of arrangements are there in sheshnaag base camp.Food, tents, medical facilities, doctors, toilets, are available.

BABAL top 13,00 feet above the sea level.bubble top is 3 kms away from the sheshanag . it is steep and rocky climb. when Babaltop comes visible, there you find another mountain that is MAHAGUNAS TOP.mahagunas top is 14,800 feet above the sea level, it is 1.5 kms rocky climb from BABALtop. this is the highest point of the entire yatra .in this place oxygen level low .holy cave is 15km from here.

From Poshpatri to Panchtarni 3.5 km long path is total descend. full of stones and rocks, and is 12,000 feet above the sea level. there is CRPF helipad where we can get helicopter services.holy cave 6 kms from here.

Everything near the holy cave ,be it Tents,shops,Bhandaras or military camps all are constructed on the layer of ice above the river. Around 1 km before the holy cave , a market having many shops of puja items starts. horses and mules are not allowed beyond this point.

         When we reached holy cave, atmosphere is filled with the jaikar of BAM BAM BHOLE. we forget all our tiredness . we are feeling so energetic.

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TIRUMALA TIRUPATHI VENKATESWARA SWAMMI

Tirumala (tirupati) Sri Venkateswara Sami Temple is a World Famous hindu temple located in the tirupati in chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh ,india . tirumala is first divine pilgrim center of vedha religion 

INTRESTING FACTS OF TIRUMALA TIRUPATHI TEMPLE

Ø There is a real hair on the main idol of balaji. they say that this hair never tangles and silky smooth always .

Ø The deepa (lights ) lighted in front of the swami is said to be list since thousands of years . and no one exactly knows since when these lights are light.

Ø There is a village , exactly 23 kms from the temple in tirumala . the villagers are said to be living with strict practices and traditional. it is from this village,  that all the flowers , ghee, milk, butter are sourced for the God.

Ø sri venkateswara swami (BALAJI) appears to be standing in the middle of the garba gudi. Actually swami stands at the right side corner of the garba gudi. this can be noticed from standing outside.

Ø All the used flowers in garba gudi are in no condition brought out . there is a Well behind the swami behind , all flowers are thrown in this water well.

Ø the back side of the swami is dried , it remains wet always . if you carefully keep your ear in back side of swami and listen , sound of an ocean is heard.

Ø swami wife laxmi Devi is on the heart . on the Thursdays during nija Roopa Darsanam, swami is decorated with white wood paste . when this decoration is taken out , the imprint on laxmi Devi remains . this imprint is sold by the authorities .

Ø At the entrance of the main door , to the right side  a stick which was used by Ananthaalvar to hit Venkateswara swami is present . When this stick was used to hit the small boy venkateswara , his chin was hurt. since then the practice and tradition of applying sandalwood paste on swami's chin

Ø In 1800 . the venkateswara swami temple was said to be closed for 12 years . one king is said to have punished 12 people  by killing them and hanging them on the walls of the temple

Tirumala Temple:

By Road: Mostly, it is the Andhra Pradesh  state transport buses which serve the local populace of the region.

By Train: The town has its own railway station in the form of Tirupati Railway Station and  

  . 

By Air:  The nearest airport is the Tirupati, india (TIR)

 

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VIJAYAWADA DURGAMALESWARA SWAMI

                             Kanakadurgamma temple situated on the banks of river krishna, Indrakeeladri, vijayawada.(ANDHRA PRADESH ,INDIA) Sri kanakadurgamma  is swayambu (self-manifested). It is one of the largest and very famouse Temple in india . Temple commonly called as vijayawada kanakadurgamma temple, in the krithayuga goddess durga killed mahishasura who was a disaster for world . Then goddedd durga shined on the keela mountain with Eight arms in the form of "MAHISHASURA MARDINI" as she had given boon to keela. On this mountain , goddess durga had been glowing with the lighting of crores of suns, with golden colour. Since that, indra and all the deities praised her chanting "KANAKA DURGA" and they had been worshipping her daily.

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Sri veera venkata satyanarayana swami (annavaram)

Annavaram satyanarayana swamy Temple is one of the famous  Temple in india . The temple is built in the Dravidian style The presiding deity Lord satyadeva with his consort Sri Anantha Lakshmi on one side and with Lord Siva on the other side took his abode on Ratnagiri, Which is named after Ratnakara , son of Meru the king of holy mountains.The river pampa followed by the feet of the hill.

        satyanarayana swamy vratha katha

          

Hindu perform Sri Satyanarayana swamy vratham throughout india for wealth , education, relief from troubles , sickness , success in every work and business , prosperity. When it came to be known that lord satyanarayana swamy had manifested Himself on the Ratnagiri hills at Annavaram in unique form combining the Trimurthis viz, brahma , Vishnu and siva the number of pilgrims from far and near swelled to hundreds and thousands . The average attendance daily is about five thousand now a days . 

Though Ekadashi is considered to be very auspicious for the vratham, the individual devotees perform it even on other convenient days.The great popularity behind the vratham springs from the experiences narrated in stories and legends and also the faith gained by observances in daily life .

The importance legend connected with this vratham was that one stage Narada was very much distressed at the misery of martha's and prayed lord vishnu to be informed of a way out for them. The lord then told him that satyanarayana swamy vratham would relieve men of their troubles and would ensure worldly prosperity and salvation after death . He also narrated that a pious brahmin of banaras performed the vratham first . it was also described how king Ulkamukha of Bhadrasilanagaram, Emperor Tungadhwaja, and a community of gollas in his kingdom, a Vaishya business man named sadhuvu , and a poor woodcutter of Banaras has performed satyanarayana swamy vratham and were blessed by lord satyanarayana swamy with all they desired. The vratham has caught the fascination of millions owing to these stories within the understanding of scholars as well as laymen. all class of people took to its performance and it is popular for its efficacy.

 The origin of the vratham was narrated and follows . once a highly educated and pious brahmin who had no means of livelihood was wandering about from place to place being for food. lord vishnu had taken pity on his penury and appeared before him in the disguise of a Brahmin and advised him to perform the vratham of lord satyanarayana swamy who is the incarnation of lord vishnu. He also told him the way in which the vratham was to be performed.The brahmin thereupon got up early in the next morning and went out for alms . he could get funds enough for celebrating the vratham and did it as per the vratham directions given by lord Vishnu . Consperity and lived very happily with his family and attained salvation after death. A poor man who has been earning livelihood selling firewood from the forests chanced to go to that Brahmin's house for water to quench his thirst, while the Brahmin was engaged in performing satyanarayana swamy Vratham. He waited till the end , quenched his thirst and enquired as to what the vratham was. The brahmin told him in detail all about it and the poor man had decided to perform the vratham himself and to spend the next day's earnings for the vratham. What the got  the next day was enough for the vratham , Which he performed with great devotion and became prosperous , happy and attained moksham. 

Another legend connected with satyanarayana vratham  mentioned in skanda purana was as follows: A rich vaisya couple sadhuvu and leelavathi begot a daughter kalavathi as a result of the vow taken to perform satyanarayana vratham. They got her married with great pomp to a worthy young man. Sadhuvu and his son-in-law flourished in business and amassed great wealth by the grace of lord satyanarayana swamy. But they forgot to perform satyanarayana vratham . They went to Ratnapuram on the seashore and commenced business there to add to their wealth. But they had lost the grace of the lord, as they did not keep up their vow of performing vratham, amidst their prosperity. One night the treasury of the local king had been looted, sadhuvu and his son-in-law were imprisoned on suspicion , even though they were really innocent. the mother and daughter became poor and sick and were forced to beg for food from house to house. while begging for food kalavathi chanced to witness satyanarayana vratham in a Brahmin's house and waited there to receive the lord's prasadam. She explained to her mother this incident as the reason for her being late in returning home. Leelavathi then remembered about the vratham and decided to perform it with no loss of time. By the lord's grace she got all facilities to perform it.

  

 The lord was pleased as a result of the vratham. Sadhuvu and his son-in-law were released from prison and all their confiscated wealth was returned to them by the king at the command of the lord in a vision. They prayed to the lord, performed the vratham, gave large amounts in charity and started back to their original place in a boat. Satyanarayana Swamy appeared in the ship as a sanyasi and asked sadhuvu what he had on board. Sadhuvu retorted that it was no concern of the sanyasi to know what in the boat was and ridiculed him by saying that there was some trash. 'Be it so' , pronounced the lord and all the wealth in the boat was reduced to trash. Sadhuvu began to weep and wail and as advised by his son-in-law he fell on the feet of the sanyasi and prayed for his pardon. The sanyasi reminded him that he had once again failed to perform his pooja. Realising who the sanyasi was, sadhuvu prayed him , got back his wealth and safely reached the shores. He sent word to his wife and daughter that they were arriving soon at the house. Leelavathi was happy to receive the news and hastened her daughter to finish satyanarayana puja so that they could hurry up to the seashore to receive their husbands. In the hurry both of them forgot to take the prasadam of satyanarayana swamy. The consequence was that the boat with the cargo and the son-in-law drowned in the sea. Sadhuvu was much grieved to see his only daughter preparing for sahagamana. He soon realized that lord satyanarayana alone could come to his relief and fervently prayed to him.

The lord revealed that the catastrophe was the result of kalavathi not taking his prasadam in her hurry to go to her husband. Kalavathi rushed home, took the prasadam and hurried back to the seashore. There she saw her husband ratnakara safe on the shore. She told him all about the lord. He was so much impressed that he prayed to the lord and with his blessings changed into ratnagiri hill on which the lord took his permanent abode. It is believed that river pampa running by the hill is none other than kalavathi, ho melted with ecstasy at the grace of the lord and her husband's achievement and began to flow as pampa river.

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