Hindu Temples I have visited (Part-6)

Maa Samaleswari Mandir, Sambalpur, Odisha: This Devi temple on the banks of Mahanadi River is dedicated to Ma Samaleswari who is the presiding deity of Sambalpur and the temple is highly frequented by people from western part of Odisha and Chhattisgarh apart from other places. Important festivals of this temple are Nuakhai and Navaratra Puja. It is said that when Afghan invader Kalapahad camped near this temple with plans to destroy it, a milkmaid appeared selling milk, curd and cheese in the army camp. Next day entire army including Kalapahar suffered from cholera and had to abandon the invasion plans. Kalapahad had destroyed Konark and Puri temples. Tomb/graves of Kalapahad and his soldiers lie in Sambalpur. This temple is an important Shakta centre in the state.

Shinde Chhatri Mandir in Pune. This is a Shiva temple built by Great MarathaMahadji Shinde in 18th century. It was beautiful experience to worship the holy Shivlingam in the temple. Late Sri Madhavrao Scindia of Gwalior who was a descendant of Mahadji Shinde built the hall and samadhi outside the Shiva temple in memory of his ancestor. The hall has paintings of Schidia/Shinde family members including Late Madhavrao Scindia. The design, architecture and art are extremely beautiful and this remains one of the finest Temple complexes we have seen so far.

Kondhaneshwar Mandir near Pune: This Shiva Temple is inside Singhgad Fort near Pune. The statue of Nandi outside the temple indicate the wear and tear due to weather and destruction: 

Mahabaleshwar Temple in old Mahabaleshwar near Pune: 

Sri Panchganga Temple in Mahabaleshwar. Krishna river originates from inside this temple: 

Jagannath Mandir in Puri, Odisha: It is one of the four sacred Char-Dham pilgrimages. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu or Krishna, the temple was built in the 12th century atop its ruins by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva of Eastern Ganga dynasty. The temple is reported to be invaded and destroyed 18 times. In 1360 AD Feroz Shah Tughluq invaded it from Delhi. In 1509 AD, Ismail Ghazi, commander of Sultan of Bengal and in 1568 AD assistants of Sulaiman Karrani, the Afghan Sultan of Bengal invaded it. Thereafter several invasions and plunders on the temple happened by his successive rulers namely Bayazid, Daud, Kuya Khan and Kutlu Khan Lohani who ruled over Orissa one after another. When Ramachandra Deb established an independent kingdom at Khurda in Orissa, the temple was consecrated and the deities re-installed. Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh had donated massive amounts of gold to the Jagannath temple. The temple is famous for Rath Yatra. In our visit we could see preparations going on for next year's big event and festival. We also liked the temple surrounding and items being sold nearby. Also visited beautiful Puri beach...

Lingaraj Temple at Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Bhubaneswar is mentioned as Ekamra Kshetra in Brahma Purana. Historians say the temple was built first by the Soma Vanshi king Yayati Kesari in the 7th century who shifted his capital from Jaipur to Bhubaneshwar. Parts of it were added in 11th century and it displays Kalinga Architecture. Lingaraj means "The king of Lingam", the symbol of Shaivism. Shiva was worshiped as Kirtivasa and later as "Harihara" and is commonly referred as Tribhuvaneshwara (also called Bhubaneswar), the master of three worlds - heaven, earth and netherworld. His consort is called Bhuvaneshvari. It is a Shiva temple but Lord Vishnu is also worshiped here (Harihara = Vishnu + Shiva). The temple complex has 50+ other shrines inside it. Once a year, an image of Lingaraja is taken to the Jalamandir in the center of the Bindu Sagar lake. It was wonderful and is one of the biggest temples visited...

Baba Gorakhnath Temple: Gorakhpur is an important center of Hinduism. Gorakhpur was part of the famous kingdom of Koshal, one of the 16 maha janapadas in the 6th century BC. Gorakhnath Temple​ and Math at Gorakhpur is built at the place where Baba Gorakhnath (Go-raksh-Nath), a 11th century Yogi of Nath tradition did austerities for long. He traveled a lot - from Afghanistan to Assam, from Maharashtra to Sri Lanka, and wrote many important books. He is believed to be a yogic manifestation of Shiva. The main deity at the temple is Lord Shiva​ - and Shiv ji's idol is very peaceful and blessing to look at. Gorakhpur​ city's name is derived from Baba Gorakhnath.  Gorakhnath Matt runs one Gorakhnath Temple in Nepal in Gorkha district (word also derived from Baba Gorakhnath's name). (I read there is a historic Gorakhnath temple in Pakistan which has been vandalized many times). Followers of Nath traditions don't follow caste system and hence non-Brahmins are allowed as priests in temples. The present Mahant or Chief Priest is Yogi Adityanath​ (the famous BJP MP from Gorakhpur and founder of the Hindu Yuva Vahini). It has been wonderful to visit Baba Gorakhnath temple recently. The huge temple complex has many temples, shrines, and also a beautiful pond where ducks swim and you can also do boating. At one place statues of so many Yogis and sages doing tapas is kept under one roof - I have not seen something like it anywhere else. I am sure if you visit here once, your wonderful memories would never leave you.