Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Rajrappa Waterfalls, Ramgarh District, Jharkhand

Rajrappa Waterfalls, Ramgarh, Jharkhand
     I have written about Siddhpeeth Rajrappa in my earlier post. It was mostly about the Chhinnmasta and other temples. But at that time of my visit, the water flowing in the Bhairavi River was very low and one can easily cross it near its mouth. This time I visited the place in the month of November and the water level in the Bhairavi river was good. Since it falls in the Damodar river here from a height of about 15 feet, the waterfalls thus created are awesome to view from the Damodar river. 
         
Waterfall at Rajrappa, Ramgarh, Jharkhand
There is a facility of boating in the Damodar and they take the boat very near to the waterfalls that give you an excellent and memorable life experience. When I did the boating this time I realized what I missed in the earlier visits. The boating in the Damodar is generally a shared one with a charge of only Rs 30/- each person. First, they take you upstream through the serpentine rocky banks (average 15 feet high) up to a point where the width of the river is less and the flow of water is speedy. The boat can not sail further. Then the sailor will just stop the oars. The boat then just floats down on the water current and goes downstream till the confluence of the Bhairavi and Damodar. 
     
Fascinating twinkling patterns on the Damodar river surface due to Sun
     Here you see the awesome waterfalls at a close distance. In fact, you can feel the splash of waters. The boatman takes a slow U-turn here and it gives a few minutes to have you a good look at the falling waters and then the boat returns. 
Upstream boating on the Damodar river
         Though the height of the waterfall is not much like Hundru or Dasham, when there is water in the rivers this fall seeing is much more fascinating with a boat ride. I think October and November are the best months to see and enjoy the waterfalls here.   
       My friend remembered that in one of his earlier visits they had seen an Azgar snake clinging to rocks at one of the banks. 
     
Three pictures of Lugu Ashram, Rajrappa
 After having the waterfall visit we crossed the Bhairavi river. The flow of water below the causeway was very fast and lovely to see. We took some pics here and crossed the river. On the other side is an "Aashram" called "Lugu Aashram, Giri Baba Kutiya". It was full of social activities. Inside it, there is a statue of Lord Krishna holding up the Govardhan Parvat on his fingers. Another eye-catching thing was the exit gate on the backside. It is made like a monster (Rakshasa).
        In this blog, I have given pictures only. For videos, you may visit my Instagram account at the link below. 
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5qNnetBCgk/

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Sunday, October 13, 2019

Khutta Baba Mandir and The Tenughat Dam

Khutta Baba Mandir, Peterbar, Bokaro
          I was discussing with my friend the places of interest around Ramgarh which we had not visited. He recalled visiting Tenughat Dam some 10 years back and it was an awesome visit. He also remembered that there is a temple about 9 km before the dam. This temple is Khutta Baba Mandir and it is famous for fulfilling wishes of the devotees. We decided to visit the Tenughat dam. When his parents knew it they asked him to sacrifice a rooster (Murga) in the Khutta Baba temple for a wish being fulfilled. We started around 11:30 AM from Ramgarh. Near Peterbar we took a left turn at Tenu Chowk and reached Khutta Baba Mandir traveling 48 km. The temple is on the roadside. 
         
Garbh Grih, Khutta Baba Temple,
Peterbar, Bokaro.
We were a little late. The front verandah was being cleaned and there were only a few persons in the temple but all around the temple was crowded and full of activities. All the Jhuggi hotels were busy cooking mutton and chicken. Everybody was enjoying drinks. My friend had brought a rooster in a bag (Jhola) for sacrifice. This place is a tribal worship place and only their priest called "Pahan" can perform the worship and sacrifice. He asked a Pahan for sacrifice. Though it was a bit late he agreed but when he saw the rooster the Pahan refused. He said that the rooster to be sacrificed after the wish-fulfillment should be fully white and this one was not so. Also, a bottle of Daru is required. So he could not sacrifice it. As per the Sankalp, the devotees also sacrifice a white goat (Patha).
The surroundings of the Temple

          When asked about putting a wish before the god (Manauti) he informed that it has also a process. You either bring a red rooster or a black hen and a bottle of Daru. Also, come before 1:00 PM. No ladies are allowed here nor they like to come here. Since the mutton, chicken, and Daru are Prasad here which should be consumed near the temple itself, the surrounding here is like a feast for all. You may say in Hindi as "Khane Peene ka Mela". 
The awesome scene at Tenughat Dam, Bokaro
over the river Damodar
          Since our purpose was not fulfilled we offered our Pranam to God (Khutta Baba) in the temple and went ahead towards the Tenughat dam. After a 9 km drive, we were on the dam. It was a bright day. On one side of the dam was a vast reservoir of water while on the other side the water gushing down from one of the ten gates was creating a mesmerizing scene with a lot of noise. It was creating a mist and due to the sun on our back, we could see a stable rainbow there. The dam structure and the pieces of machinery were things to be seen. This Tenughat dam is on the river Damodar.
Downstream view from the dam
at Tenughat, Bokaro

            We wanted to see the splashing water at a close distance. Down there we saw some people near it. So we went back to the main road and taking a round road reached near the foot of the dam. It must have been a good park here that is not maintained now. From the long step near it, we reached near the water and saw the awesome scene of the waterfall. Few people were there. We took some pictures and videos on our mobile. We stayed there for some half an hour and then returned. 
On the Tenughat Dam

            Jharkhand has got nature's beauty spread across it and out of them the Tenughat dam is one of the lovely places to visit.
              For the videos visit my Instagram link.
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Friday, May 10, 2019

Maya Tungri Mandir - The Mahamaya Temple, Ramgarh, Jharkhand

Location
Goddess Mahamaya at Maya Tungri Mandir
at Ramgarh, Jharkhand
         When you go to Ramgarh from Ranchi via Ormanjhi, you go through the Ramgarh Ghati. The four-lane road is good to travel. This Ghati is between Toll plaza, Ormanjhi and Ramgarh with about 6.5 km length. Just before entering Ramgarh you get a look of Maya Tungri hillock which is just beside the road. The temple at the top is visible from a distance.

Introduction of Goddess

Shivalinga in a cave at Maya-Tungri Temple
at Ramgarh, Jharkhand
          This is a very old temple. According to Pujari Ji, it is about 300 years old. Till ten years ago the temple was simple as a hut and there was no idol or statue, instead, there was a "Shira" (A small round lump like structure). Such "Shira"s are still prevalent in many small village Devi temples. The Devi here is Mahamaya Goddess. This goddess is so powerful that She can even take God Vishnu under her influence. As it is said in the first Chapter (Adhyay) of Sridurga Saptshati that when God Vishnu was sleeping on the Ksheer Sagar under the influence of Goddess Mahamaya, earwax from the ears of Vishnu fell down and they turned into two fearful Demons named Madhu and Kaitabh. These demons saw Brahma sitting on a lotus flower which was put on the naval of sleeping Vishnu. They ran to kill Brahma. Brahma expected Vishnu to save him but He was sleeping under the influence of Mahamaya. So Brahma prayed to Goddess Mahamaya to let Vishnu wake up to save him. The Brahma's prayers are known as "Ratrisukta". The Goddess pleased with Brahma's prayers allowed Vishnu to wake up. Vishnu then killed both demons and saved Brahma. This Goddess Mahamaya is known as Maya Devi among local people. The small hillock (Pahadi) is said Tungri in the local language, hence this place is locally known as "Maya Tungri" located at Kankebar area at Ramgarh.

Distance from Ranchi

Image Source: Google Maps
          It is about 38 km from Ranchi and about an hour's journey by a car. The road is fine and you can see the forest on both sides of the road when out of the town. There is a Toll-gate at Ormanjhi which takes Rs 100 for one way journey and Rs 150 for both ways within 24 hours. The car will go up to the one-third height of the hillock. The parking space is good and pucca but the approach road from the main road is still kuchcha and under construction. Rest to-third height has pucca steps up to the temple. Solar lights are provided for evening visitors. Water is pumped through pipes from the boring at the base to the temple.

The temple at present             

       Now the main temple is a pucca structure with three idols in it. In the middle is the Goddess Mahamaya. The idol is a Goddess' head. Another idol is of Durga riding a lion. The third idol is of Sri Hanuman. There is a small Kali temple in front of this main temple with a black Kali idol facing South.
        Since there must be a Shiva temple near the Devi temple, there is a Shivalinga here which is inside a natural Cave like structure. It is on the right side of the temple at a down level. The way is Kuchcha and rocky. Locals call it Naag-Baba because of a Nag snake which is seen occasionally here. Darshan of Nag (seeing the snake) is said to be fruitful. You can buy Prasadam here to offer to the Goddess.
Steps to go uphill
           The uphill going is tiresome for older people but once you reach the top it is very peaceful and beautiful around. One side you can see the highway in the Ghati and on the other is villages, fields and some chimneys which look smaller in size.
          People have much faith in the Mahamaya Goddess and believe that She will fulfill their desires. Have time and visit this temple. Jai Maa Mahamaya _/\_.
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