Narsingh Ji Temple -Kathua

 NARSINGH JI TEMPLE, KATHUA, JAMMU AND KASHMIR

(Narsingh Ji Temple)(source- justdial.com)

Narsingh Ji Temple is an ancient temple. The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Narsingh or Narshima, which is a form of Hindu God of Preservation, Lord Vishnu. Narsingh Ji Temple is a 1600-year temple which is located in the town of Ghagwal in the district of Kathua. 

(Foremost view of Narsingh Ji Temple)

(Source- justdial.com)

The Narsingh Ji Temple represents three idols namely, Narsingh Roop, Narsingh Avatar, Annpurana. Narsingh Ji Temple is the temple of Ghagwal where these three idols can only be spotted together. A large water pond can be spotted by the visitors in propinquity to this temple.

(Inner beauty of Narsingh Ji temple)

(Source- justdial.com)

Travelers can also see in the complex a Jinda Samadhi of Baba Nar Hari Dass Ji Maharaji in this Narsingh Ji Temple. Another thing the pilgrims can spot is a Maha Mandleshwar Gaddi which is popularly known as Shri Amarnath Jammu and Kashmir Nagar Khalsa at this religious center.

(Narsingh Ji temple, Kathua)

(Source- justdial.com)

At this site, the meal of all time (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are provided daily for more than 200 people. This religious site is thronged during the occasion of Ratha Khara, Makarsakranti, and Janamasthmi. During the special occasions, a fair is held in which people from the hilly areas come and sell their woolen items which include blankets, and handicrafts.

(Inner view of temple)

(Source- Facebook.com)

People can find this Narsingh Ji Temple in Jammu city by the official address: Kathua Ho, Kathua-184101

Ganpatipule, Maharashtra

Ganapathi Pule

( गणपतीपुळे )

ऊं गं गणपतये नम:

Source - ganpatipule.co.in

Ganpatipule is a renowned Hindu pilgrimage place in Maharashtra.

Thousands of devotees of Lord Ganpati visit this small town in the district of Ratnagiri in western Maharashtra.

Source - wikipedia

Ganpatipule is a beach town lying on the coast of the Arabian Sea with the temple of Lord Ganpati, Swayambhu Ganpati Mandir lying right on the pristine white-sand beach that is 3 km in length.

The temple is around 4000 years old with a self manifested orange  idol of Lord Ganpati.

The unique feature of the idol being that it faces the west and hence is referred as the Paschim Dwarpalak ( To guard the western gates )

The darshan of the Lord involves a pradakshina of the hill at the base of which the temple lies.

The top of the hill provides a panoramic view of the beach up to Malgund, Tivari, Kotwade and Varawade

Swayambhu = Self Originated

Ganapati = Lord of Ganas ( Army )

Pule = Sand dunes

Ganpatipule beach is rated as  the best beach in Maharashtra due to its natural beauty and unique white sand. 

The pristine, unspoilt beauty of the konkan beaches and the coast, clear sparkling sea water, coastal mangroves,coconut palms, dense greenery, quaint villages and serene beaches add to the allure. 

How to reach 

• By road - State run and private buses are the easiest and preferred modes along with private cabs and vehicles with easy connection to major cities of Mumbai, Pune, Sangli, Sholapur, Belgaum, Goa  and Kolhapur running up to Ratnagiri. From Ratnagiri, it's about 25 km to Ganpatipule.

• By train - Nearest railway stations are Ratnagiri  and Bhoke. Ratnagiri station is well connected with all the major rail networks with all express and passenger trains halting here.

• By airplane - Nearest airport being Ratnagiri

Distance from Major Cities 

• Mumbai - 375 km

• Ratnagiri - 26 km 

• Pune - 325 km 

When to visit 

Winter months - October, November, December, January and February

Months to avoid

Summer months - April and May

Monsoon months - June to September

Where to stay 

MTDC resort , private resorts , budget hotels 

Local Cuisine  

Includes Seafood like fish curry and rice, kokum curry, Modaks, Amba Poli,Phanas Poli, Alphonso mangoes,Sabudana khichdi 

What to do 

Visit the temple, sight-seeing, sun-bath, water sports, nature walks and treks 

Tourist attractions

1. Ganpatipule beach

2. Swayambhu Ganpati Mandir 

3. Prachin Konkan museum

4. Bhandarpule beach

5. Ware beach

6. Aare Ware park

7. Malgund beach

8. Magic garden

9. Ksb water park

10. Shree Mahalakshmi's House of wax

11. Kavi Keshavsut Smarak

12. Kajirbhati beach

13. Jaigad fort

14. British built lighthouse

15. Palanquin procession of the Lord ( 17 in a year )

Tourist activities 

• Shopping in the local markets for mango and mango articles like amba poli , jackfruit and phanas poli, homemade mango pickles, gooseberry pickles.

• Water sports ( Swimming is discouraged due to rocky stretches )

• Nature walks 

• Watching the Sunset over the Arabian sea

Temple Schedule

• 5 a.m to 9 p.m.

• Aarti time - 5 a.m, 12 noon , 7 p.m.

• Prasad distribution ( Khichdi ) - 12.30 p.m to 2.30 p.m.

Festivals celebrated :-

1. Bhadra shuddha pratipada to panchmi

2. Magha shuddha 

3. Dassara

4. Deepotsav 

5. Vasant puja 

6. Gauri Ganpati

7. Magh Chaturthi 

Sunset at Ganpatipule ( wikipedia )

Shree Vitthal-Rukmini Mandir, Pandharpur, Maharashtra

 Pandarpur or Pandiripur is a holy and spiritual place every devotee of Lord Krishna longs to visit. 

                            vitthalrukminimandir.org

Shree Vitthal - Rukmini Mandir

              " युगे अठावीस, विटेवरी उभा "

Come Aashadi Ekadashi & Kartiki Ekadashi, lakhs  of Lord Vithoba devotees, belonging to the Varkari community, take out massive professions called ' Dindi' ( डिंडी ) from all over Maharashtra & walk hundreds of kilometres , carrying Padhukas of the Lord in beautifully decorated palkis,singing abhangs, dancing & rejoicing each & every moment on their way to reach Pandharpur for a darshan of Lord Vithoba, who is a manifestation of Lord Vishnu / Krishn

After a 21 day walk over 250 kilometres , the palanquins gather at Warkhari, at a distance of 5 km from Pandharpur.

On the auspicious Ekadashi days, lakhs of devotees queue up for either / both :

• Mukh darshan ( Having a glimpse of the Lord's and Rukmini Devi's face )

•  Pad Sparsh darshan ( Touching the Lord's  Lotus feet )

   The Shree Vitthal - Rukmini Mandir  faces the Chandrabhaga river. The temple has 8 entrances with the Mahadwar opening in the main market place. 

The first step of the temple is Sant Namdeo Maharaj payri , a boon asked from the Lord by the Sant so that millions of devotees touch him while going in for the Lord's Darshan.

The legend of Bhakt Pundalik goes that he was once tending to his aged parents while Lord Krishna comes to visit him , being pleased with his devotion.

Pundalik continued with the task of serving his parents & made the Lord wait on the threshold.

Since it was the first day of the rains , it was muddy & wet. He threw a brick for the Lord to stand without getting his feet dirty.

Hence the Vithoba idol in the temple is the Lord standing on a brick, with his arms akimbo, a necklace of Tulsi beads, embedded with the Kaustubha gems & makara earrings ( fish shaped earrings ).

The Lord holds a Shankha ( Conch) in his left hand & a Chakra in his right.

The Lord is said to be waiting on the brick ( Vit in Marathi ) for 28 yugs.

Since Lord Krishna stands on the 'Vit' he is called Lord Vithoba in this form. 

The temple dates back to the 12 th century and was built by the Hoysala King Vishnuwardhan.  

To reach the Idol of Lord Vithoba and his consort Rukmini , one has to pass through a number of samadhis & shrines, starting with the 

• Samadhi of Sant Namdeo & Chokhamela.

• Ganesh Shrine

• A hall for bhajans

• Small shrine for Garuda & Hanuman

From this point the devotees can get the Mukh Darshan , with a relatively small queue & less time.

For the Padha Darshan, one has to go out to the queue complex where the waiting time can be anything from 2 to 36 hours depending on the day & occasion.

Moving forward, the devotee has to cross the following shrines

• Rukmini Devi 

• Satyabhama Devi

• Radhika Devi

• Lord Narasimha

• Lord Venkateshwara

• Goddess Mahalakshmi

• Nagaraj

• Ganesh Annapurna Devi

Another mandap follows where one can replicate the plays of Lord Krishna and the Gopis.

Trivia worth a mention - 

1. Darshan days 

• Wednesday

• Ekadashi

• Chaitra Ekadashi

• Ashadi Ekadashi

• Kartiki Ekadashi

• Maghi Ekadashi

2. Dindi Seva 

• Amrut Kalash

• Narayan Seva

• Medical Seva

• Building & repairing rural infrastructure seva 

These Seva are believed to develop personality,  cleanse the mind, purify the soul, bring good health , peace and prosperity &  help find the purpose of life. 

3. Architecture of the Temple 

• Hoysala

• Deccan with dome motifs and lobed arches 

Another legend worth reading is that of Bhakt Pundalik.