Religious Place

A Sikh Gurdwara may simply be a terraced house or a fabulous temple like that in Amritsar.  A gurdwara is simply a place where the Sikh scriptures (the Guru Granth Sahib) are present.  Many homes contain a gurdwara because they have their own copy of the Guru Granth Sahib.  Like the Hindu temple shoes must be taken off before entering the building.

The feature that attracts your eye is the gold canopy in the centre of the room, this holds the Guru Granth Sahib (the holy book) you can look at this in more detail later.   Offerings of money, food and flowers are made at the foot of the Granth Sahib.   The money is used to help in the up-keep of the Gurdwara and the food will be used in the large meal that follows a service in the Gurdwara.  The Guru Granth Sahib is deliberately positioned so that worshippers can walk around the Granth Sahib,  it is located opposite the entrance, this is significant because it should be the first thing that is seen when someone enters the Gurdwara.

There are no seats in the Gurdwara, this is deliberate.  The Granth Sahib should be higher than the Sikhs to give it a high status, the members of the Gurdwara  show equality by being sat together, no-one has a special seat except the Sikh who is reading from the Granth Sahib at the time.

A feature that is common to all gurdwaras is the Sikh flag, the nishan sahib. It contains the silver symbol you can see in the picture on the left, a double edged sword, two scimitar-like swords (curved swords) and a circle.

The double edged sword, the Khanda, is a symbol of the teaching that Sikhs must fight for truth.  The two scimitar swords, the kirpans, represent the spiritual and earthly worlds.  The chakra or circle reminds the Sikh that God is one.

The main purpose of the Gurdwara is to be a place where Sikhs can study the Guru Granth and to praise God.  It is also used as a community centre for youth clubs and women’s meetings.  The gurdwara also serves as an education centre, teaching local Sikhs about their faith and language.  Any traveller is welcome to a free meal at the gurdwara and can find temporary accommodation there.

There are three hot-spots on the picture, taking you to different aspects of the gurdwara.

Delhi is India’s capital city and is a well developed and modernized city with a pulsating and happening lifestyle. Most of the tourists start their tour of the country from this city. Delhi has always been the home of the highest seat of power and administration since long ago. Even today, it is the political and administrative nerve center of India and is home to the highest offices of the government. Delhi was the capital of Mughal Empire and thus has many Mughal buildings with typical Mughal architecture. The places of tourist interest in Delhi are the Qutub Minar, Jama Masjid, Red Fort, Chandani Chowk, Hauz Khas, Safdarjung’s Tomb, Lodhi Gardens, Raj Ghat, India Gate, Old Fort, Zoo, Nehru Planetarium, Pragati Maidan, Doll’s Museum, Birla Mandir, Jantar Mantar Lotus Temple, Parliament House and Rashtrapati Bhawan etc. All the Mughal buildings are impressive structures made of red sandstone with marvelous carvings. The places for shopping are the Janpath, Palika Bazaar, Connaught Place, South Extension and Sarojini Nagar Market and so on.

Walkeshwar Temple

Best Time to Visit : January and October to March

Walkeshwar temple is among the most earliest temples of Mumbai having earned a heritage status for its architecture and popularity among the pilgrims. Originally built by the Silharas around 1050 years ago on Malabar Hill, Walkeshwar temple derives its name from Valuka Ishwar meaning Lord of Sand.

Walkeshwar temple is interested with pilgrims and devotees on the Full Moon and Amavasya (No Moon). Now a days Banganga tank in Walkeshwar temple is the cherished site for an annual Hindustani classical music festival when maestros and amateur singers come and participate at a grand scale. The festival is a vibrant occasion when live musical performances and concerts conjure an eclectic musical extravaganza in the whole of the atmosphere.

Legends have it that Walkeshwar temple is established at the same spot where Hindu God Ram paused during the raid of the kingdom of demon king Ravana, who had kidnapped his wife Sita. Here Lord Rama had built a lingam out of sand, when his brother Lakshman got too late to bring a lingam for puja. And the name Walukeshwar is inspired from this event.

Puri Temple

The visit to the Lord Jagannatha Temple, which is a landmark structure of the city, will be a memorable one. The temple is dedicated to Jagannath i.e. ‘Lord of the Universe’. The city itself is one of the four holiest places of India and a melting pot of all religious faiths. Innumerable pilgrims throng the city when the rath yatra (chariot festival) takes place in the month of June or July.

The sacred city of Puri is at a distance of 60-km from Bhubaneswar. It comprises of one of the four holy dhamas of Hindus, the other three being Puri, Dwarka, Rameswaram and Badrinath. For the followers of Hinduism the pilgrimage of the temples across India is not complete without making the journey to Puri.

The traditional sheen of the town makes it shine amongst the other temple towns of the Eastern Golden triangle of India. The temple structure was first built in 10th century and then again in the 12th century by the ‘Ganga’ King ‘Choda Ganga Deva’.

Besides the architectural beauty the natural beauty can also be spotted in abundance. Nature has gifted it with fine beaches, which are wide, and ideal for beach sports. But owing to the rough sea, water sports are not favored. A charming combination of golden sun, surf and sand, the beach at Puri is referred to as the world’s most picturesque seacoast, ideal for surf riding. Local fishing, bathing and other routine activities make the beaches of Puri flocked with localities as well as tourists to the town.

Mathura Temple

Area :3780 sq. km. (Mathura District)

Altitude above sea level :187 metres

Related Links :Vrindavan, ISKCON Temple

Covering an area of about 3,800 sq. km., today, Brajbhoomi can be divided into two distinct units - the eastern part in the trans-Yamuna tract with places like Gokul, Mahavan, Baldeo, Mat and Bajna and the western side of the Yamuna covering the Mathura region that encompasses Vrindavan, Govardhan, Kusum Sarovar, Barsana and Nandgaon. The city of Mathura, in Uttar Pradesh, the nucleus of Brajbhoomi, is located at a distance of 145 km south-east of Delhi and 58 km north-west of Agra.

Location

It is a part of the great northern plains and is situated on the west bank of the river Yamuna. Mathura is 141 km south of Delhi and 47 km northwest of Agra. The city of Mathura is located in the western part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, in the northern region of India. The climate of Mathura is extreme and tropical. Summers are extremely hot and winters are cold and foggy. It experiences southwestern monsoon rains from July to September.

Brij Culture in Mathura

The Raaslila in its present form is ascribed to Swami Haridas and Shri Narayan Bhatt. Only young Brahmin boys of 13 to 14 years of age can perform the Raaslila. In the agony of separation from their beloved Krishna, the gopis recalled and enacted his lilas (divine episodes of his life) which in course of time came to be known as the Raaslilas. The charming childhood pranks of Shri Krishna constitute the main them of these dramas. According to the Bhagwat Purana, Shri Krishna along with the gopis had danced the Raas on the banks of the Yamuna at Vrindavan. When the gopis felt conceited about Lord Krishna dancing with them, he disappeared from their midst.

Article–2

Popular Pilgriamge Attractions

* Radharamana Temple

The seva puja of Radharamana was established in 1542, after the Deity self-manifested from a saligram-sila. Also kept iin this temple is the wooden sitting place (hoki) and shawl (chaddar) or Lord Chaitanya, that He gave as a gift to Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. This is the famous temple of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. Radharamana means “one who gives pleasure to Radha”, and is one of the many names of Lord Krishna. There is no deity of Radharani in this temple, but a crown is kept next to Krishna signifying Her presence.

* Jugal Kisore Temple

It is sometimes called the Kesi ghata temple, as it is located next to this ghata. After Emperor Akbar’s visit to Vridavana in the year 1570, he gave permission for four temples to be built by the Gaudya Vaisnavas, which were Madana-mohana, Govindaji, Gopinatha and Jugal Kisore. This is one of the oldest temple of Vrindavana and was completed in 1627.

* Kesi Ghata

This is also very famous bathing place in Vrindavana. An arati to Yamuna Devi is held here every evening.This is the place where Lord Krishna killed the Kesi demon who appeared in the form of a gigantic horse and then took His bath in this very same ghata.

* Rangji Temple

This temple has a traditional South Indian gopuram (gateway) and is surrounded by high walls. It is one of Vrindavana’s largest temples. Once a year a grand car festival (Ratha Yatra) is held known as Brahmotsava, during the month of Chait (March - April), this festival lasts for 10 days.This South Indian style temple was built by the wealthy Seth family of Mathura in the year 1851, and is dedicated to Lord Sri Ranganatha or Rangaji - a form of Lord Vishnu lying down on the Sesa Naga (celestial serpent).

* Dwarkadish Temple

The Dwarkadish Temple, built in 1814, is a popular temple in the center of town. This is the most visited temple in the center of town. Once you enter this temple from the street, it is fairly interesting architechually and there is a lot of activity inside. It is located in the eastern part of Mathura, not far from the Yamuna River. This is the most visited temple in Mathura. This temple is managed by followers of Vallabhacarya.

Article–3

Unique Attractions of Mathura - Holi

Varsana Groups of visitors go around in small and large groups here. In the afternoon gopas (men) from Nandagram come to Varsana and play Holi with the local gopis (women) of Varsana. The women hit the men hard with 2 ½m (7ft) long bamboo staffs. Holi is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna (Feb-March). Holi in Braja is celebrated for several days, at different places around Braja, before the actual day of Holi.People throw colored powdered dye and colored water on each other. This is joyfully celebrated in Braja, especially at Varsana, Nandagram and Dauji.

Varsana Groups of visitors go around in small and large groups here. In the afternoon gopas (men) from Nandagram come to Varsana and play Holi with the local gopis (women) of Varsana. The women hit the men hard with 2 ½m (7ft) long bamboo staffs. The men have shields which they protect themselves with. During this time local songs are sung.

This festival is celebrated on the ninth day of the month of Phalguna (Feb-March). In Varsana the festival includes colorful processions with music, song, dance, and some boisterous scenes around the temples. If you go to these festivals you should expect to be totally covered in dye and never to be able to use the clothes that you are wearing again, at least until next year’s festival.

This is celebrated at the same time as Gaura Purnima.Nandagram The day after the Holi festival at Varsana, Holi is celebrated in Nandagram. The gopas (men) from Varsana come to Nandagram to play Holi with the gopis (women) there. After this, women play Holi with bamboo staffs. This festival is celebrated on the tenth day (dasami) of the month of Phalguna (Feb-March).