Showing posts with label jyotirlinga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jyotirlinga. Show all posts

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Kamnath Mahadev, Somnath, Gujrat

Kamnath Mahadev, Somnath, Gujrat and His Dwarpal Nandi

              Just on the opposite side and about a hundred feet from the main gate of Triveni Teerth, Somnath, Gujrat is located in this temple of Shiva that is named as Kamnath Mahadeva. The Shivalinga is situated about two and a half feet down the floor level in the "Garbh Gruh". There is a mirror placed on the wall behind the Shivalinga at such an angle that the visitor can see both the Shivalinga and its image at the same time. God's vehicle and gatekeeper "Nandi" the bull is placed in front of Him.                                                                                                                
श्री आद्यगुरु शंकराचार्य
कामनाथ महादेव मंदिर
सोमनाथ ,गुजरात 

Entrance to Kamnath Mahadev Temple,
Somnth, Gujrat.

 The Shivalinga is old but the temple is newly constructed about few years ago. The temple is spacious. Other idols present here are that of "Narsingh" avatar and "Shankaracharya". This place is related to 'Sharda Peeth' of "Shankaracharya". There is a cave here where "Shankaracharya" used to sit for meditation. The way to cave is behind the temple a few steps above. Before entering the cave you will find yourself in a hall. On a side is a shop selling bags, chains, photos, etc . A beautiful idol of Goddess "Saraswati" is in the hall on one side and on the other is twelve Shivalingas representing twelve "Jyotirlingas". Through this hall is the way to entrance to the cave.                          
AdiShankaracharya and four of his disciples inside the cave
at Kamnath Mahadeva Temple, Somnath, Gujrat
                                                       
Shardapeeth
Shankaracharya
idol in Kamnath
Mahadev Temple

            The cave entrance is quite small and floor of the cave is about two and half feet down the level of this entrance. Only one person at a time can enter that too with some difficulty. Cave floor is about eight by eight feet in size and the clearance from floor to roof is too small to stand a grown up person comfortably. In fact the head touches the roof. Except entrance there is no other opening for air and light to enter the cave. 

द्वादश ज्योतिर्लिंग प्रतिरूप
Before entrance to cave and in the hall
at Kamnath Mahadev Temple,Somnath
Gujrat
Really it is best place to meditate that is why it was chosen by "Shankaracharya". Inside the cave is idol of "AdiShankaracharya" with four of his main disciples. In front of them is a Shivalinga and Nandi idol. The floor and the walls of the cave are clad with white glazed tiles.   
Opposite Wall of the cave and the
mysterious picture (Cave at Kamnath
Mahadeva Temple complex,Somnath
Gujrat)
 

  You can see a close circuit camera at one corner of the roof of the cave so that the activities of a visitor inside the cave can be monitored. We saw a pedestal fan there that would be used on hot Summer days. What we saw mysterious, was a picture on the opposite wall of the cave. Can not say what was it !! 

Coming out of the cave
Kamnath Mahadeva temple complex
Somnath, Gujrat
          The visit was a satisfying one and the temple specially entrance hall to cave was neat and clean. Half an hour is sufficient to see this temple complex. People coming to Somnath for Jyotirlinga darshan come here too because it is one of the attractions of Somnath.

   

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Thursday, November 6, 2014

Bhalka Tirth, Somnath, Gujrat.

                                        
       Idols inside the Bhalka temple and 'Moksha-Pippal"

          About three kilometers from Somnath temple, en-route Veraval is situated this temple complex known as Bhalka Tirth. This place is related to the last part of "Leela" of God Krishna on this earth. After God Krishna took the glory of Yadavas to the zenith and ruled Dwarka many long years, Yadavas became arrogant. They even disrespected Brahmins whom God loved so much. Even though the Yadavas were God's own family he would not tolerate it. Krishna was no ordinary man. He was the avatar of Vishnu and he is also called the Yogeshwar. So when God Krishna saw that his purpose as an avatar was complete and disorder among Yadavas touched to its limit He decided to end His Leela and the Dwarka too. God ordered his bhakta (Follower) Uddhav to go to Badrinath as Dwarka would get submerged in coming days. He too left Dwarka and came to Bhalka near Somnath and sat under a Peepal tree ( a sacred tree like banyan) in the forest in half resting position. He got into meditation under that tree while one of his soles was looking golden yellow like a deer from a distance. It was that time when a poacher (व्याध) named "Jara" came there looking for some prey. He mistook Krishna's sole for a deer and shot an arrow into it. When "Jara" came there he saw the arrow pierced into Krishna's sole and the wound bleeding. "Jara" fell into God's feet and repentantly asked for forgiveness. God Krishna consoled him and said it was not his doing but everything was due to God's own wishes. And that He was going to end His Leela. Thus God sent him back to his place.

             Due to this incident, the Bhalka became a sacred place and it is now famous as "Bhalka Tirth". The idols in the temple here depict this incident - God Krishna half lying with an arrow pierced into His sole and "Jara" the poacher sat weeping both hands folded asking to forgive him. Near the idol is a sacred "Peepal" tree which is touched by devotees. It is called "Moksha Pippala" (मोक्ष पीप्पल).

Main Gate of the "Bhalka Tirth"

                When you enter the main gate of Bhalka Tirth complex a peaceful feeling surrounds your mind. There are many banyan trees under which devotees sit. A Mahadev temple and a clean pond is nearby the main temple. The pond has pucca steps all around. We saw a few turtles in the pond.

Main Temple at "Bhalka Tirth"


          We visited Somnath in the month of February this year with the main purpose of "Darshan" of first of the twelve "Jyotirlingas" the "Someshwar Mahadev" and then seeing of other religious places nearby. The time of visit was perfect as the weather was very pleasant. We booked hotel "Sagar Darshan Atithigruh" online through the trust's site http://www.somnath.org/ as it was very near to the Somnath Temple and very good sea facing rooms. With a rented cab, we visited many religious places in the Somnath including the Bhalka Tirth. The hotel had a big parking space for vehicles. Since Veraval is a center of fishing we saw numerous fishing boats on the way to Bhalka Tirth. These boats were in the fishing port just beside the highway with many flags furling over them. And the whole atmosphere was filled with a very objectionable bad smell like all the fishing centers do. At many places, we saw fishing boats repaired or being newly constructed.


Making of a "Fishing Boat" beside the highway
about a km from "Bhalka Tirth"

                 The months of February - March, and October- November are good seasons to visit Somnath as the weather remains mild and lovely.

"Kund" (Pond) at "Bhalka Tirth"
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