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Temples in Himachal Pradesh : |
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Himachal is god's own abode. There
are too much temples that one cannot even count them all. Alsmost
every temple has some kind of fair or festival connected with it.
Dotted with temples, the State has literally one every hamlet.
Most of the temples have legends dating back to centuries, some
as old as mankind itself. Some of the famous temples are described
below :
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Baijnath Temple : |
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By
the roadside on the Mandi-Palampur road, within a vast enclosure
is the Baijnath Temple. Known as Kirangama, its name was changed
after the temle was dedicated to Lord Shiva in his form as vaidyanath
or the lord of Physicians. The temple is a good exaple of the Nagari
style of architecture. The walls have the characteristic niches
and the Shikhara ( tower ) has an amalaka and enshrine images of
goddess Chamunda, Surya the Sun God, Kartikeya, son of Lord Shiva.
A life sized stone Nandi, believed to be the carrier of Lord Shiva
stands at the entrance. Also are other miniature shrines and memorial
stones within the complex said to have been built around 804 A.D.
The Lingam enshrined in its sanctum is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas
in the country. Every year during the Shivratri Fair, pilgrims
descend on Baijnath for the colorful fair and festivals.
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Chamunda Mata Temple : |
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| Another 20 km. from Kangra is the famous Chamund Nandikeshwar Dham.
This place also has a beautiful bathing ghat and a small temple across
the bridge joining the ghat. Up in the Dhauladhar hills, a trek of
about 16 km. is the place where Bhagwati Chamunda, according to the
puranas, vanquished the demons Chand and Mund. |
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Shri Naina Devi Temple : |
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| Shri Naina Devi Temple is at a distance of just 65km from Bilaspur.
It is one of the 51 SHAKTI PEETHS. According to a belief once Shiva's
consort Sati, died to avenge an insult. The distranged Shiva picked
up her corpse and gyrated in his horrific dance of destruction. Then
Vishnu, the preserver, unleashed his Chakra and cut the body into
51 pieces to save the earth from Shiva's wrath. Naina Devi, is where
Sati's eyes are believed to have fallen. The temple is situated on
a beautiful hillock. Nearby is a holy cave in the name of Shri Naina
Deviji. A big fair during Shravan Ashtami is held every year. Again
in the Navratras of Chaitra and Ashwin, fairs commemorating the goddess
are held here. For night stay, rest houses and sarais are available.
For tourist a Route to -Ritual Aerial Passenger Ropeway- is also
available from is also available from main Swarghat-Bhakra road to
the temple. |
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Jwalamukhi Temple : |
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| At a distance of 10 km. from Nadaun is Jwalamukhi, the town of
temple is dedicated to Bhagwati Jwalamukhi, where eternal flames
represent the deity Jwalamukhiji. Besides, there is the Gorakh Dibbi,
Chaturbhuji Temple and a host of other smaller shrines. The gold
plated dome of present Jwalaji temple was erected by Maharaja Ranjit
Singh. There are legends of Akbar having sent his offering to the
Deviji. |
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Bajreshwari Devi Temple : |
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| The Kangra town known to the ancients as Nagarkot, is the seat
of Shri Bajreshwari Devi. Though the main temple was ravaged by foreighn
invaders and flattened by the 1905 earthquake, it has since been
restored to its pristine glory. At Kangra one can also visit the
historical Kangra Fort and also trek up to Jyanti Devi Temple. |
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