Chandra Choodeswarar Temple – A Majestic Shiva Shrine on a Hilltop

Sri Chandra Choodeswara Temple, Hosur

A Dravidian-style shrine of great antiquity, Chandra Choodeswarar Temple in Hosur in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Naduis dedicated to Lord Shiva in his form as Chandrachoodeswarar, meaning "the one who wears the Moon (Chandra) as an ornament on his crest or tuft of hair on top of the head”. 

Perched on a hilltop offering breathtaking views of the surroundings,  Chandra Choodeswarar Temple was patronised by all the major powers of south India including Cholas, Hoysala and Vijayanagara. 

Featuring a soaring gopuram (temple tower), Chandra Choodeswarar Temple is 40 km from Bengaluru.

 

Salimgarh Fort's Gruesome History

Delhi's dark history, with tales of persecution, punishment, incarceration and execution, has been lived out over the centuries within the confines of Salimgarh Fort in Delhi, lying adjacent to the Red Fort built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, the builder of Taj Mahal in Agra.

Built by Jalal Khan who ascended the Sur throne in 1545 with the title of Islam Shah after the death of his father and founder of the Sur dynasty Sher Shah Suri, the fort he built in Delhi is known as Salimgarh Fort. This is because Islam Shah was popularly known as Salim Shah. 

The Salimgarh Fort was first used as a prison by the sixth Mughal emperor Aurangzeb to imprison his brother brother Murad Baksh who sided with the former in the deadly war of succession as soon as the fifth Mughal emperor Shah Jahan fell ill in September, 1657. Murad was later removed to the Gwalior Fort and was executed on the 4th December, 1661 on the charge of murdering Ali Naqi who was Murad’s one time Divan.

In 1788 Rohilla chief, Ghulam Qadir blinded the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II  (r.1759-1806) who was left languishing in the Salimgarh Fort until the Maratha leader Mahadaji Shinde defeated and executed Ghulam Qadir in 1789.  

Many people have lost their lives in Salimgarh Fort. The INA prisoners were incarcerated in the fort by the British from 1945 till Independence of India from British rule on 15 August 1947. Many had lost their lives during their incarceration in the fort.  

Kesariya: Tallest buddhist Stupa

Kesaria Stupa Bihar / Wikimedia Commons

A famous Buddhists sites in the East Champaran district of Bihar, Kesaria (Kesariya) is home to a imposing Stupa, excavated here in 1998 by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).  

This striking architectural remain of ancient India is hailed as the largest stupa in the world. Stupa is generally a mound commemorating the Buddha’s death. These stupas are revered by the Buddhists. Several stupas were raised by the great 3nd BC Mauryan emperor Ashoka throughout India.

Kesaria stupa / Wikimedia Commons

With a circumference of almost 400 feet and height of 104 feet, this colossal structure eclipses Indonesia's Borobodur stupa in size. Located in a serene ambience, the largest Buddhist Stupa is a testimony to the greatness of the ancient Buddhist architecture and stands out as a worthy emblem of a great religion.

History of Mandu

Located at an altitude of 2000 feet, the fortress town of Mandu in Madhya Pradesh is perched on the southwestern edge of the Malwa Plateau.  The place boasts an exciting array of architectural wonders such as Jahaz Mahal, Hindola Mahal and Hoshang Shah’s Tomb. Baz Bahadur’s Palace, Roopmati’s Pavilion.

An ancient place, Mandu came under the control of Rajput Paramara dynasty. It was included in the Delhi Sultanate by the Khilji Sutan Alauddin Khilji.  Later it was made capital of the Malwa Sultanate by its ruler Hoshang Shah (ruled 1405–34).

                                              Hoshang Shah's Tomb Mandu | Wikimedia Commons

Mandu was annexed by Mughal emperor Humayun (1534), Shēr Shah of Sūr Dynasty (1542) and Akbar (1561).

Nahar Jharokha Mandu / Wikimedia Commons

It came under the Marathas suzerainty in 1732 under Peshwa Baji Rao I.

History of Chunar

Oriel Window, Chunar Fort  / Image Credit 

Chunar, about 25 miles south-west of Varanasi, is in Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh. History weighs on this place. 

Many of the monolithic columns of the Mauryan period in the 3rd century BC bear Ashoka’s inscriptions. These columns were made of the sandstone from the same quarry at Chunar. The 10 meter long fifth century AD statue of the reclining Buddha  housed in the Mahaparinirvana Temple at Kushinagar (where the Buddha breathed his last) is made of the sandstone of Chunar. 

Chunar has an immense fort perched on a high rock overlooking the Ganga. This place has been the scene of many battles between Mughals and Afghan ruler Sher Shah. Second Mughal emperor Humayun’s treaty with the Sher Shah in 1533 allowed the latter to retain the Chunar Fort. The third Mughal ruler Akbar recaptured it in 1575.

Chunar is home to a magnificent tomb of Iftikhar Khan, an official under the reign of the Mughal emperor Jahangir who ruled from 1605 to 1627.  

Iftikar Khan Tomb Chunar / Image Credit

Famous for his bravery and courage, Iftikhar Khan died in Bengal in a battle in 1612. A fine specimen of the Mughal architecture, the tomb is made of the sandstone of Chunar.

In the mid - 18th century it was appropriated by Awadh and subsequently, the British. The fort has a sun - dial and a huge well, and affords a splendid view of the Ganga.

Legend of Baidyanath Temple

                                                                    Baidyanath Dham 

The Baidyanath Temple, situated in Deoghar in Jharkhand, is a famous Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, considered the most sacred Shiva temples in India. 

The legend of Baidyanath Dham goes something like this. Ravana, the demon king of Lanka (Ceylon), was performing penance in the Himalayan region to appease Shiva. He requested him to come over to Sri Lanka, so  that his capital may become invincible. 

Pleased with Ravana’s devotion and penance, Lord Shiva asked what boon he desired. Ravana,  a devout follower of Shiva, expressed his desire to take Shiva from Himalayan Mount Kailash (Lord Shiva’s abode) to Lanka. The demon king attempted to lift the holy mountain, Mount Kailash, and take it with him to his capital. However, Shiva crushed him with his finger, and Ravana prayed to him and sought his mercy, after which Shiva gave him one of the twelve Jyotirlingams with the condition that if it was placed on the ground it could not be moved. Hence Ravana had to carry it back on his trek to his capital. 

Celestial gods became worried upon hearing that Shiva had departed from his abode on Mount Kailash. Then Varuna. the God of water, entered Ravana’s stomach and caused him to feel the need to urinate in the vicinity of Deoghar.

Vishnu then came down in the form of  a shepherd named Baiju Gadariya and volunteered to hold the Jyotirlingam as he relieved himself. But before Ravana could return, the Shepherd placed the jyotirlingam on the ground to which it became rooted. A disappointed Ravana offered severe penances to Shiva here, and cut off nine of his heads as a part of his repentance. Shiva revived him and joined the heads to the body, like a Vaidya or a physician, hence this Jyotirlingam goes by the name Vaidyanath. 

 

Satsang Ashram Deoghar

Image Credit 

Located in south-west of Deoghar, Satsang Ashram is one of the most frequented pilgrimage destinations in Jharkhand. Established by Shri Shri Thakur Anukulchandra in 1946, the Ashram is a sanctuary of peace and serenity for his followers. It is visited by people from across the world.