Rajasthan - Pilgrimages and Temples

Religious Traditions of Rajasthan:

- Swayam Vyakta Kshetra → Pushkar
- Pancha Sarovar → Pushkar
- Jyotirlinga → Siwar Ghushmeshwar (Ghushmeshwara Jyotirlinga)
- Shakti Peetha → Pushkar (Manivedaka Shakti Peetha) - Virat Nagar Ambika (Virata Shakti Peetha)
- Pancha Dwarka → Nathdwara Srinathji - Kankroli Dwarka

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1.

Brahma Tradition of Rajasthan:
(Padma Purana)

• Pushkar → Lord Brahma threw a Lotus from his Hand in Pushkara and performed a Yagna in Pushkar.

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2.

Varaha Tradition of Rajasthan:

• Pushkar → Lord Varaha abides in Pushkar (which is a Swayam Vyakta Kshetra) since ancient times.

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3.

Shiva Tradition of Rajasthan:
(Shiva Purana)

• Siwar → Lord Shiva revived the son of devotee Ghushma who was killed by his step-mother and abides as Ghushmeshwara Jyotirlinga (identified with Siwar Ghushmeshwar).

• Udaipur → Lord Shiva abides in Udaipur Kailashpuri temple complex as Sri Eklingji.

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4.

Devi Tradition of Rajasthan:
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)

• Pushkar → Devi abides in Pushkar as Manivedaka Shakti Peetha (identified with Devi Gayatri).

• Virat Nagar → Devi abides in Virat Nagar as Virata Shakti Peetha (identified with Devi Ambika).

• Sakrai → Devi abides in Sakrai as Devi Shakambhari.

• Sambhar → Devi abides in Sambhar as Devi Shakambhari. The temple of Devi Shakambhari is near the Sambhar lake which is said to have been converted by the Devi from a dense forest.

• Mount Abu → Devi abides in Mount Abu as Adhar Devi.

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5.

Saraswati Tradition of Rajasthan:

• Pushkar → Devi abides in Pushkar as Devi Savitri.

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6.

Gayatri Tradition of Rajasthan:

• Pushkar → Devi abides in Pushkar as Devi Gayatri.

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7.

Krishna Tradition of Rajasthan:

• Nathdwara → Sri Krishna abides in Nathdwara as Shrinathji in the form of a 7-year old infant. The idol of Shrinathji emerged from the Govardhan Hill and is worshipped by the Vallabha sampradaya.

• Kankroli Dwarka → Sri Krishna abides in Kankroli Dwarka as Sri Dwarkadheesh.

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8.

Vishnu Tradition of Rajasthan:

• Garbhor → Lord Vishnu abides in Garbhor as Sri Charbhujaji.

• Seventri → Lord Vishnu abides in Seventri as Sri Roop Narayanji.

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9.

Sages and Rajasthan:
(Skanda Purana - Arbuda Khanda)

• Vasishtha (Arbuda) → Sage Vasishtha is associated with Arbuda or Mount Abu. One day his divine cow Nandini fell inside a pit. Sage Vasishtha first rescued her by filling the pit with waters of river Saraswati. Then as a permanent solution asked the help of mount Himavan. Mount Himavan sent Nandivardhan and Arbuda. Nandivardhan filled the pit and Arbuda stood as Mount Abu. Sage Vasishtha made the place beautiful and performed penance invoking Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva appeared and abided as Achaleshwar Mahadev.

• Kapila (Kolayat) → Sage Kapila is said to have halted in Kolayat during his journey and performed penance.

• Galava (Galtaji) → Sage Galava is said to have had his hermitage in Galtaji and performed penance there. A natural spring emerged due to his penance.

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10.

Divine Personages and Rajasthan:

• Khatu Shyamji (Khatu Village) → Khatu Shyamji was Barbarik of Mahabharata who was blessed by Sri Krishna for his sacrifice during the battle of Mahabharata. Barbarik's severed head witnessed the battle of Mahabharata and is worshipped as Khatu Shyamji.

• Karni Mata (15th to 16th Century CE) (Deshnok) → Karni Mata was a mystic who displayed spiritual powers from early age (and is regarded as an incarnation of Durga). One when a child from her family died, Karni Mata requested Yama to restore the child. When Yama refused, Karni Mata revived the child by her spiritual powers. She declared that her followers will not go to Yama's abode but be born as rats (kabas) in her temple and later take birth as human beings. The Karni Mata temple houses thousands of rats.

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11.

Saints and Rajasthan:

• Meerabai (1497 - 1557 CE) (Merta) → Sri Meerabai was born in village Kudki (near Merta) and spent her childhood in Merta. Her devotion to Sri Krishna started in Merta. There is a temple of Meerabai in Merta.

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12.

Sacred Geography of Rajasthan:

Mountains:
☗ Gayatri Temple Hill → Pushkar
☗ Savitri Temple Hill → Pushkar
☗ Devgiri Hill → Siwar Ghushmeshwar
☗ Aravalli Hills → Kankroli Dwarka - Garbhor Charbhujaji - Seventri Roop Narayanji - Sakrai Shakambhari - Sambhar Shakambhari - Jaipur Galtaji - Karauli Kaila Devi (Trikut Parvat) - Pali Parashurama Mahadev - Jaipur Garh Ganesh (Nahargarh Hills)
☗ Moti Dungri Hill: Jaipur Moti Dungri Ganesh

Rivers:
▶ River Banganga Udgam → Virat Nagar

▬ Chambal flows → Kota Garadia Mahadev - Keshoraipatan Keshav Rai
▬ Banganga flows → Virat Nagar
▬ Gomati flows → Garbhor Charbhujaji
▬ Kalisil flows → Karauli Kaila Devi

◉ Mahi - Som - Jakham Sangam → Dungarpur Beneshwar Dham

Lakes:
◼ Pushkar Lake → Pushkar
◼ Sambhar Lake → Sambhar Shakambhari
◼ Shivalaya Lake → Siwar Ghushmeshwara
◼ Rajsamand Lake → Kankroli Dwarka
◼ Pichola Lake → Karni Mata
◼ Fateh Sagar Lake → Mahakaleshwar - Neemach Mata
◼ Gadisar Lake → Neelkanth Mahadev