Hindu pilgrimage sites in India

Summary

In Hinduism, the yatra (pilgrimage) to the tirthas (sacred places) has special significance for earning the punya (spiritual merit) needed to attain the moksha (salvation) by performing the darśana (viewing of deity), the parikrama (circumambulation), the yajna (sacrificial fire offering), the Dhyana (spiritual contemplation), the puja (worship), the prarthana (prayer, which could be in the form of mantra - sacred chants, bhajan - prayer singing, or kirtan - collective musical prayer performance), the dakshina (alms and donation for worthy cause), the seva (selfless service towards community, devotees or temple), the bhandara (running volunteer community kitchen for pilgrims), etc. These sacred places are usually located on the banks of sacred waters, such as sacred rivers or their tributaries (among the rigvedic rivers of sapta sindhu the trio ganges-yamuna-saraswati are considered most sacred), the kundas (pond or lake, among these the Lake Manasarovar is considered most scared), the ghats (water bodies with stairs such as Ghats in Varanasi), or the stepwells (among these the rani ki vav in the form of inverted temple is considered most spectacular), or the temple tanks.

Shakumbhari devi,right side Bhima and Bhramari left side Goddess Shatakshi

In order of importance, in India there are 7 Sapta Puri holy cities, 4 Dhams (Char Dham) and 12 Jyotirlings devoted to the Lord Shiva, 51 Shakti Pithas devoted to the feminine manifestation of the god, the eight swayambhu Vishnu temples (Badrinath, Naimisharanya, Saligram Muktinath, Srimushnam, Tiruchirappalli, Tirupati, Nanguneri, Pushkar) and the important Lord Rama circuit (Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Hampi and Rameswaram)[1] and Lord Krishna circuit (Braj, Kurukshetra and Dwarka).[2]

List of Important Pilgrimage Places edit

Place State Importance
Ayodhya Uttar Pradesh Saptapuri
Dwarka Gujarat Saptapuri
Haridwar Uttarakhand Saptapuri
Kanchipuram Tamil Nadu Saptapuri
Mathura Uttar Pradesh Saptapuri
Ujjain Madhya Pradesh Saptapuri
Varanasi Uttar Pradesh Saptapuri
Haridwar Uttarakhand Kumbh Mela
Nashik Maharashtra Kumbh Mela
Prayagraj Uttar Pradesh Kumbh Mela
Ujjain Madhya Pradesh Kumbh Mela
Badrinath Temple Uttarakhand Char Dham
Dwarkadhish Temple Gujarat Char Dham
Jagannath Temple Odisha Char Dham
Ramanathaswamy Temple Tamil Nadu Char Dham, 12 Jyotirlinga
Bhimashankar Temple Maharashtra/ Odisha 12 Jyotirlinga
Vaidyanath Temple Maharashtra/ Jharkhand/ Himachal Pradesh 12 Jyotirlinga
Trimbakeshwar Temple Maharashtra 12 Jyotirlinga
Grishneshwar Temple Maharashtra 12 Jyotirlinga
Omkareshwar Temple Madhya Pradesh 12 Jyotirlinga
Somnath Temple Gujarat 12 Jyotirlinga
Nageshvara Temple Gujarat 12 Jyotirlinga
Kedarnath Temple Uttarakhand 12 Jyotirlinga
Vishwanath Temple Uttar Pradesh 12 Jyotirlinga
Mahakaleshwar Temple Madhya Pradesh 12 Jyotirlinga, Astadasha Maha Shaktipeeth
Mallikarjuna Temple Andhra Pradesh 12 Jyotirlinga, Astadasha Maha Shaktipeeth
Shrinkhala Temple, Pandua West Bengal Astadasha Maha Shaktipeeth
Mangla Gauri Temple, Gaya Bihar Astadasha Maha Shaktipeeth
Ekvira Temple, Mahur Maharashtra Astadasha Maha Shaktipeeth
Alopi Devi Temple, Prayagraj Uttar Pradesh Astadasha Maha Shaktipeeth
Biraja Temple, Jajpur Odisha Astadasha Maha Shaktipeeth
Kukkuteswara Temple, Pithapuram Andhra Pradesh Astadasha Maha Shaktipeeth
Bhimeswara Temple, Draksharamam Andhra Pradesh Astadasha Maha Shaktipeeth
Jawalamukhi, Kangra Himachal Pradesh Astadasha Maha Shaktipeeth
Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur Maharashtra Astadasha Maha Shaktipeeth
Jogulamba Temple, Alampur Telangana Astadasha Maha Shaktipeeth
Kamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram Tamil Nadu Astadasha Maha Shaktipeeth
Vishalakshi Temple, Varanasi Uttar Pradesh Astadasha Maha Shaktipeeth
Chamundeshwari Temple, Mysuru Karnataka Astadasha Maha Shaktipeeth
Sharada Peeth, Neelam POK Astadasha Maha Shaktipeeth
Vimala Temple, Puri Odisha Adi Shaktipeeth
Tara Tarini Temple, Ganjam Odisha Adi Shaktipeeth
Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati Assam Adi Shaktipeeth
Kalighat Kali Temple, Kolkata West Bengal Adi Shaktipeeth
Janai Malai Satara Swayambhu
Pushkar Swayambhu Vishnu
Naimisharanya Swayambhu Vishnu
Tirupati Swayambhu Vishnu
Srimushnam Swayambhu Vishnu
Tiruchirappalli Swayambhu Vishnu
Nanguneri Swayambhu Vishnu
Muktinath, Nepal Swayambhu Vishnu
Pashupati, Nepal Shiva
Shikhar Shingnapur Shiva
Narsobawadi Narsimha Saraswati
Ganagapura Narsimha Saraswati
Kudalasangama Lingayat
Manikanagara Manik Prabhu
Akkalkot Swami Samartha
Kurvapur, Raichur Sripad Vallabha
Hampi Rama circuit
Nashik Rama Circuit

Maya Puri edit

 
Shri Bharat Mandir (Hrishikesh Narayan Temple)

The importance of Maya Puri (Haridwar)-Rishikesh) tirth region is clearly mentioned in puranas. This tirth is located in Uttarakhand, India. Haridwar tirth region is mainly dedicated to shiva and Parvati, whereas Vishnu is primarily worshipped in Rishikesh tirth region.

Temples in Haridwar Tirth region:-

1.Daksheshwar Mahadev Temple

2.Shitla mata Temple (Sati mata janmsthan)

3.Narayani shila Temple

4.Mansa Devi Temple

5.Maya Devi Temple

6.Chandi Devi Temple

7.Bilkeshwar Mahadev Temple

8.Paradeshwar Mahadev Temple

9.Nileshwar Mahadev Temple

10.Har ki Paudi Ganga Ghat(Ganesh ji Temple)

11.Dakshin Kali Temple

12.Aanand Bhairav Temple

Temples in Rishikesh Tirth Region:-

1.Shri Hrishikesh Narayan Temple (Bharat Mandir)

2.Veerabhadra Temple

3.Neelkanth Mahadev Temple

4.Laxman temple

5.Shatrughna Temple

6.Chandreshwar Mahadev temple

Naimisharanya edit

 
Sabha Mandap of Shri Naimishnath Temple
 
Vishnu Idol Inside the Sanctum Sanctorum of Naimishnath Temple

Naimisa-Forest or Naimisharanya(Misrikh-Neemasar) is a Vaishnav tirth region located in Uttar Pradesh, India. Vishnu is mainly worshipped in this tirth.

Temples in Misrikh tirth region:-

1.Rishi Dhadichi Temple

2.Dhadichi Kund

Temples in Neemsar(Naimisharanya) tirth region:-

1.Naimishnath Vishnu Temple

2.Chakra Tirth Temple

3.Bhooteshwar Mahadev Temple

4.Vyas Gaddi

5.Sut Gaddi

6.Chakranarayan Temple

7.Hanuman Garhi Temple

8.Lalita Devi Temple

9.Devdeveshwar Mahadev Temple

10.Gomti river (Dashasumedh ghat)

11.Hatya-Haran Tirth (Hatya-Haraneshwar Mahadev Temple)

Tirths of Uttarakhand edit

 
Gopinath Temple

kedar Tirth Region:-

In kedar Tirth mainly Shiva and Parvati is worshipped.

1.Kedarnath Temple

2.Gaurikund Temple

3.Triyuginarayan Temple

4.Guptkashi Temple

5.Ukhimath Omkareshwar Temple

6.Kalimath Temple

7.Tungnath Temple

8.Rudranath Temple

9.Madhyamaheshwar Temple

10.Bhairav Temple,kedarnath

11.Gopinath Temple, Gopeshwar

12.Munkatia Ganesh Temple

13.Anasuya Devi Temple, Gopeshwar

 
Badrinath Temple

Badri tirth Region:-

In Badri Tirth mainly Vishnu and Lakshmi is worshipped.

1.Badrinath Temple

2.Kalpeshwar Temple

3.Bhavishya Badri Temple

 
Bagnath Temple

4.Vishnuprayag Temple

5.Kuber Temple, Pandukeshwar

6.Yog dhyan Badri Temple, Pandukeshwar

7.Dhyan Badri Temple

8.Vyas Gufa, Mana

9.Vriddha Badri Temple

10.Joshimath Narsingh Mandir

Panch Prayag Tirth Region:-

1.Uma devi Temple, Karnaprayag

2.Umra Narayan Temple

3.Rudranath Temple, Rudraprayag

4.Nandprayag Temple

5.Adi Badri Temple, Karnaprayag

6.Augustmuni Temple

7.Neelmegha Vishnu Temple, Devaprayag

8.Dhari Devi Temple

9.Koteshwar Mahadev Temple

10.Chamunda devi Temple, Rudraprayag

11.Tungeshwar Mahadev Temple

12.Kartik Swami Temple

13.Indrasani Devi Temple, Kandali, Rudraprayag

14.Karmajeet Temple, Pillu, Rudraprayag

 
Neelmegha Vishnu Temple

kumaon tirth Region:-

1.Bagnath Temple,Bageshwar

2.Baijnath Temple, Garur

3.Jageshwar Dham

4.Kot Bhramari Temple ,Kajyuli

5.Devidhura Varahi Temple

6.Poornagiri Temple

7.Danda Nagraja Temple

Garhwal tirth Region:-

1.Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple

2.Daat Kali Temple, Dehradun

3.Santala Devi Temple, Dehradun

4.Sem Mukhem Nag Temple

5.Budha Kedar Temple

6.Surkanda Devi Temple

7.Uttarkashi Shiva-Shakti Temple

8.Lakhamandal Temple

9.Yamunotri Temple

10.Gangotri Temple

 
Gangotri Temple

11.Gaumukh

12.Shani Dev Temple,Kharsoli

13.Kyunkaleshwar Temple

14.Mahasu Devta Temple, Hanol

15.Prachin Bhairav Temple, Gangotri

Shookar kshetra edit

In Narsingh Puran, It is mentioned that Shookar kshetra in one of the abodes of Vishnu which is Located in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is dedicated to Varah form of Vishnu. Today shookar kshetra consist of parts of Kasganj and Bulandsahar District. Whole Shookar kshetra is located on the banks of the river Ganga.

Temples in Shookar Kshetra(Soron) tirth:-

1.Shookar Temple(Varah Temple),Soron[Kasganj district]

2.Har ki paudi Teerth (Holy Tank),Soron[kasganj district]

3.Belon Devi Temple,Belon [Bulandsahar district]

4.kalyani Devi Temple,Karanwas [Bulandsahar District]

5.Ram ghat (ganga ghat) near Narora[Bulandsahar District]

6.Raj ghat(ganga ghat) near Narora[Bulandsahar District]

7.Suryakund,Soron [Kasganj District]

8.Navdurga Temple,Soron [Kasganj District]

9.Batuk Bhairav Nath ji Temple,Soron [Kasganj District]

10.Sheetla Mata Temple,Soron [Kasganj District]

11.Laddu Waale Balaji Mandir,Soron [Kasganj District]

Kanyakubj edit

kanyakubj or Kannauj is a very ancient tirth present in Uttar Pradesh,India.It is also has a great importance in Indian history. It was the capital of the Harshvardhan dynasty. Its importance is given in Devi Bhagwat puran and Brahma puran.Brahmins from kanyakubj are world wide famous and are regularly appointed as the head priest of many hindu temples located in kannauj and north india.

Major Temples located in Kannauj Tirth are:-

1.Gauri shankar temple

2.Phoolmati Devi temple

3.Annapoorna Temple, Tirwaganj

4.Dauleshwar Mahadev Temple, tirwaganj

5.Govardhani Devi Temple

6.Gangeshwarnath Temple, chhibramau

7.Mansheshwarnath Temple, chhibramau

8.Kalika Devi Mandir, chhibramau

9.Bagiya Waale Hanumanji Temple, Chhibramau

10.Maa Aanandi Devi Temple,Prempur

Braj edit

Braj, also called as Mathura Puri is a 84 kos tirth kshetra present in the state of Uttar Pradesh,India. It is dedicated to Vishnu as krishna. Today this Braj region consist of mathura district of uttar pradesh and some parts of the state of Haryana and Rajasthan.Temples present here are established by the Grandson of Krishna, "Vajranabh". Therefore this tirth is known by the name of Vajranabh as Braj.This tirth is mentioned in skand puran,bhagvat puran,Brahma vaivarta puran,etc.

Braj Region is divided into many villages,these villages and their respective temples are mentioned below:-

Mathura tirth region:-

1.Shri Keshav Deo Temple

2.Shri Bhooteshwar Mahadev Temple

3.Shri Rangeshwar Mahadev temple

4.Shri Gokarneshwar Mahadev Temple

5.Shri Galteshwar Mahadev Temple

6.Shri Pipleshwar Mahadev Temple

7.Vishram ghat(Yamuna mandir)

8.Chamunda Mata Temple

9. Shri mathura Devi Temple

10.Kankali devi Temple

11.Mahavidya devi Temple

12 Shantanu Bihari Temple

13.Dirgh vishnu Temple

Gokul-Mahavan-Baldeo Tirth Region

1.Gokulnathji Temple(Nand Bhavan 84 Khamba )

2.Nand Bhavan,Gokul

3.Chandravali Mata Temple

4.Chintaharan Mahadev Temple

5.Brahmaand ghat

6.Raman Reti Temple

7.Baldeo Temple

8.Bandi Anandi Manomanccha maa Temple

9.Rawal Radha Rani Temple

Vrindavan tirth Region:-

1.Bankey Bihari Temple

2.Radha Raman Temple

3.radha Damodar Temple

4 Radha Govind dev ji temple

5.Radha Shyam sundar Temple

6.Radha Madan Mohan Temple

7.Radha Gokulnand Temple

8.Radha Gopinath Temple

9.Radha Vallabh Temple

10.Shri Garud Govind ji Temple

11.Nidhivan

12.Mota ganesh ji Temple

13.Sewa kunj

14.Gopeshwar Mahadev Temple

15.chamunda Mata Temple

16.Katayani Mata Temple

Govardhan Tirth kshetra:-

1.Giriraj ji Temple,Daanghati

2.Giriraj ji Temple,Jatipura

3.Giriraj ji Temple,Mansi Ganga

4.Luk luk Dauji Temple

5.Chandra Sarovar

6.Kusum sarovar

7.Radha Kund

8.Haridev ji Temple

9.Punchhari ka Lauthra Temple

10.Chakleshwar Mahadev Temple

11.Indra Maan Daman Temple

12.Mansa Devi Temple

13.Vankhandi Mahadev Temple

14. Kundeshwar Mahadev Temple

15.Radha Kund Mukharvind temple

16.Narayan Sarovar

17.lalit Kund

7.Ra

List edit

 
Varanasi is one of the main pilgrimage sites.
 
Dwaraka temple
 
Tirupati temple
 
Jagannath temple
 
Badrinath temple
 
Amarnath temple
 
Prem Mandir, Vrindavan
 
Guruvayoor Temple

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Hindu Temple Yatra". Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  2. ^ "Hindu Temple Pilgrimage – India". Retrieved 2021-04-18.
  3. ^ Yogananda, Paramahansa (1997). Autobiography of a Yogi, 1997 Anniversary Edition p. 383. Self-Realization Fellowship (Founded by Yogananda) http://www.yogananda-srf.org/ Archived 2020-12-18 at the Wayback Machine,
  4. ^ "Kurukshetra map". kurukshetra.nic.in. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Haryana Tourism". Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Development of all pilgrimage sites located within a radius of 48 kos (miles) of Kurukshetra would be carried out". Chief Minister's Office, Haryana. 11 October 2015. Archived from the original on 27 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  7. ^ "The 48 Kos Kurukshetra Region". harekrsna.com. Archived from the original on 27 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.

Further reading edit

  • Bhardwaj, Surinder Mohan (1983). Hindu Places of Pilgrimage in India: A Study in Cultural Geography. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-04951-2.
  • Lochtefeld, James G. (28 December 2009). God's Gateway : Identity and Meaning in a Hindu Pilgrimage Place: Identity and Meaning in a Hindu Pilgrimage Place. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-974158-8.
  • Jacobsen, Knut A. (5 March 2013). Pilgrimage in the Hindu Tradition: Salvific Space. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-59038-9.