Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

from Kataragama to Kailasa - at Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
One of the 52 Shakti Peethams, and one of the Durga Alayas. Very significant for the pilgrim tracing the path of Shiva...
Devi is here as Kanya Kumari, steadfast in her intention to be a maiden, after Shiva missed the auspicious moment of the wedding when he started from Suchindram. That is a beautiful story. The temple with the golden covering is the one dedicated to Kanya Kumari and the taller one is at Suchindram.

[Photos from -
https://www.onlinekanyakumari.com/history-of-kumari-amman-…/
http://tamilnadu-favtourism.blogspot.in/…/thanumalayan-temp…]

Kataragama - the southernmost Shiva temple

a perspective truly representative of the South Asian Subcontinent
pilgrims walking from Nallur (in the northern region of Sri Lanka) to Kataragama (south Sri Lanka) along the East Coast to reach in time for the Esala festival at the sacred temple town. A panorama of devotees of Shiva, Kartikeya, Devi and Ganesha from Sri Lanka and all the way north to Mount Kailash, and uniquely on the same longitude... 81 deg East.

[read more at and photos from -
http://padayatra.org/sunday-observer-aug02.htm
http://kataragama.org/research/kailasa.htm
http://livingheritage.org/lht-aims.htm]

Gazetteer of Jyotirlinga Temples - Srisailam Sri Mallikarjunaswamy Jyotirlinga Temple - 16.074°N 78.868°E

On the pilgrimage from Rameswaram, from the Sri Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga Temple, northwards, is the Sri Mallikarjunaswamy Jyotirlinga Temple at Srisailam, Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh. Set deep within the mountain ranges, above the steep cliffs over the Krishna River, within the Nagarjunasagar Project Tiger Reserve, you cannot but help wonder about the significance of the association of Shiva with water. In Rameswaram, is the association with 65 natural freshwater perennial springs, continuing to flow with freshwater only, since the Ramayana. This, in an island out in the sea. And, now, at Srisailam, high up in the hills, nestling the amazingly wonderful watershed of the Nagarjunasagar forests, is the second Jyotirlinga temple, as you move northwards.

Srisailam town and mandal, hidden deep within the Nallamalai hills of Kurnool District is in one of the most pristine forests of India. On the River Krishna, it is located high up in the steep vertical cliffs that overlook the river. Just about more than 200 kms south of Hyderabad, it is easily accessible with excellent road network.

The temple is usually referred to as the Srisailam Jyotirlinga Temple. Shiva is recognised in his manifestation here at Srisailam as Sri Mallikarjunaswamy, and Parvathi is recognised in her manifestation as Bhramaramba. Thus, the temple is known as the Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Jyotirlinga Temple at Srisailam.

The temple is mentioned in the Skanda Purana with its own chapter titled Srisaila Kandam, and therefore indicates the antiquity of the Jyotirlinga manifestation. Several other leading saints have visited Srisaila over thousands of years. Adi Sankara has visited Srisaila and composed his veneration - Sivananda Lahiri at the temple. The temple finds mention in the puranas and the Mahabharata.

Important places at Srisailam for pilgrimage and tourism

Akka Mahadevi Caves - Named after the ascetic, lyricist and philosopher from Karnataka, it is said that Akka Mahadevi worshiped Shiva in his lingodbhava roopam in the deep caves.

Srisailam Nagarjunasagar Dam - On the Krishna River, is 512 m long.

Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Project Tiger Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary - One of the largest tiger reserves in India, covering 3500 sq km.

Hemareddy Mallamma Temple - about 500 meters near the Sri Mallikarjunaswamy Temple, is the Hemareddy Mallamma ashram. A devotee of Shiva, it is believed that she could talk to him and seek solace for her problems.

Mallela Teertham - Beautiful waterfall in the forests, 50 kms before one reaches Srisailam.

View Larger Map
Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Jyotirlinga Temple settlement areas
on the Srisailam Nallamalais Plateau within the Nagarjunasagar Project
Tiger Reserve and Reservoir area. Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh

The temple settlement on the Nallamalai hills

Close up view of the temple quadrangle

The temple precincts

Hemareddy Mallela temple and ashram premises

Chatrapati Shivaji Memorial near the Srisailam Temple

Gazetteer of Jyotirlinga Temples - Sri Rameswaram Jyotirlinga Temple - 9.288106°N 79.317282°E

The Sri Rameswaram Jyotirlinga temple as it is usually referred to, is the Shri Ramanathaswamy Temple at the Island of Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India. Ramanathaswamy - meaning, the Lord to whom Shri Rama himself had worshipped, Shiva, in the aspect of Lingodbhava. The temple is also one of the 275 sacred paadal petra sthalam of Shiva (= sacred places of Shiva's presence).

The Sri Ramanathaswamy temple is of course, the most photographed, with the longest corridor, with the many hundred pillars. Most importantly, the temple is the foremost of the Jyotirlinga temples, the first among the twelve.

If you are starting on a pilgrimage to travel across India, in search of Shiva, and to seek his blessings, and really really understand the amazing aspect of Rudra, then, start from Sri Ramanathaswamy and travel northwards from Rameswaram to Srisailam, Bhimashankar, Grushneswar, Tryambakeshwar, Somnath, Nageshwar, Omkareshwar, Mahakaleshwar, Vaidyanath, Vishwanath and Kedarnath. But, no pilgrimage is ever complete without ensuring homage to Devi Shakti herself, in her aspect of Sri Kanya Kumari at the southern tip of India, and to Kartikeya at the Aaru Paadai temples (= six sacred spots) in Tamil Nadu, to the Pancha Bhoota Sthala (= five aspects of energy) of Shiva in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, Lord Venkateswara at Tirupati, Ashtavinayaka (= Eight aspects of Ganesha) in Maharashtra, the Char Dham (= Four sacred pilgrimage spots) in Uttarakhand, the Pancha Kailash (= Five Kailash pilgrimage places) in Himachal and Uttarakhand, and finally, Pashupathinath in Kathmandu, Nepal and the absolutely final destination - Mount Kailash, in Tibet.

It begins in Rameswaram.

The legend and sthala purana (= story of the land) of Rameswaram explains that Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, worshipped Shiva to seek his blessings and to be absolved of the sins of killing Ravana. It was said that Ravana, the King of Lanka, was the greatest devotee of Shiva, and had received tremendous blessings from him through boons and weapons. Ravana had established the Pancha Ishwaram temples (= five Shiva temples) around the coast of Lanka, to protect the island from invaders and natural calamities. To establish these temples, the legends of these places mention that Ravana had traveled back and forth from Kailash to Lanka and had brought the Lingodbhavaroopam (= the aspect of Shiva in the form of the Lingam) and thereafter conducted the installation rituals himself.

Understanding the significance of the close affection of Shiva to his favourite devotee, Ravana, and to absolve himself of the sin of having to kill the King of Lanka, Rama desired that Hanuman should bring the Lingodbhavaroopam manifestation of Shiva from Kailash to be established at Rameswaram. Hanuman was delayed, and in order to ensure that the rituals were completed in time, Sita built a smaller version of the Lingodbhava and allowed for Rama to conduct the sacred prayers. In the meantime, Hanuman arrived with the larger aspect of the Lingodbhava and thus, both were installed at Rameswaram. The sanctum of the temple presents the Lingodbhava of Shiva, the smaller version built and established by Sita, and alongside, in the inner parikrama (= circumambulation), is the one brought by Hanuman.

The Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple at the city of Rameswaram

https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=9.288106,79.317282&spn=0.01,0.01&t=m&q=9.288106,79.317282

View Larger Map

Zoom in at the temple

Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple Quadrangle at Rameswaram Island

https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=9.288106,79.317282&spn=0.01,0.01&t=m&q=9.288106,79.317282

Zoom in - for spatial map between Rameswaram Railway Station and 

Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple

Notice the Rama and Lakshmana Teerthams and the Jetty with

the many fishing boats in the Sea

https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=9.288106,79.317282&spn=0.01,0.01&t=m&q=9.288106,79.317282

Zoom in at the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple

Sri Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga Temple

https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=9.288106,79.317282&spn=0.01,0.01&t=m&q=9.288106,79.317282

Zoom out to the Pamban Bridge link between Mandapam (on the mainland)

and Rameswaram Island

The Pamban Bridge link to Rameswaram Island

https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=9.288106,79.317282&spn=0.01,0.01&t=m&q=9.288106,79.317282

Teerthams of Rameswaram

One of the most significant aspects of a pilgrimage to Rameswaram is to visit all the sacred perennial water sources that had been identified during the times of the Ramayana. Many pilgrims take an oath to visit the teerthams in a certain chronological order, by vehicle, by foot, or by bicycle. These are really determined pilgrims, who know every single sacred spot on the island and are absolutely persistent in their goals. They are seen in groups or in pairs, and are very humble and are respected by the local people. 

There are 64 Teerthams in the island of Rameswaram. The Skanda Purana (= Purana about Kartikeya, elder son of Shiva and Parvathi, the generalissimo of the gods in their battles) considers 24 Teerthams to be important. 22 Teerthams are inside the precincts of the Sri Ramanathaswamy temple, while 42 Teerthams are at different locations of the Island. 

The 22 Teerthams inside the temple precincts are - 

1. Mahalakshmi Teertham - South of Sri Hanuman temple.

2. Savitri Teertham - West of Sri Hanuman temple.

3. Gayatri Teertham - West of Sri Hanuman temple.

4. Saraswati Teertham - West of Sri Hanuman temple.

5. Sethu Madhava Teertham - Near the Tank at the third corridor. 

6. Gandhamadana Teertham - Within the area of the Sethu  Madhava Temple.

7. Kavacha Teertham - Within the area of the Sethu Madhava Temple.

8. Gavaya Teertham - Within the area of the Sethu Madhava Temple. 

9. Nala Teertham - Within the area of the Sethu Madhava Temple.

10. Neela Teertham - Within the area of the Sethu Madhava Temple.

11. Sanku Teertham - Within the inner corridor of the Temple. 

12. Sakkara Teertham - Within the inner corridor of the Temple.

13. Brahmahathi Vimochana Teertham - Within the inner corridor of the Temple.

14. Sooriya Teertham - Within the inner corridor of the Temple.

15. Chandra Teertham - Within the inner corridor of the Temple.

16. Ganga Teertham - Within the inner corridor of the Temple.

17. Yamuna Teertham - Within the inner corridor of the Temple.

18. Gaya Teertham - Within the inner corridor of the Temple.

19. Siva Teertham - South of Nandeeswara within the Temple.

20. Sadyamirtha Teertham - Within the temple area of Devi Parvathi (sanctum)

21. Sarva Teertham - Opposite (in front of) the sanctum of Lord Ramanatha

22. Kodi Teertham - Within the first corridor of the Temple.

The Teerthams outside the temple area are -
23. Vedhala Varatham Teertham - South of Mandapam.
24. Papavinasa Teertham - South of Mandapam.
25. Bhairava Teertham - In Pamban.
26. Kabhi Teertham - In Pamban.
27. Sita Kundam (Teertham) - North  of Thangachimadam.
28. Mangala Teertham - North of Thangachimadam.
29. Amirtha Valli Teertham - Within the precinct of Sri Ekanda Ramaswami Temple
30. Ranavimosana Teertham - North of the Sri Ekanda Ramaswami Temple.
31. Lakshmana Teertham - On the Rameswaram Pamban Road
32. Rama Teertham - On the Rameswaram Pamban Road
33. Sita Teertham - On the Rameswaram Pamban Road
34. Sugreeva teertham - Enroute to Gandamadana Mountain
35. Angada Teertham - Enroute to Gandamadana Mountain
36. Jambavan Teertham - Enroute to Gandamadana Mountain
37. Gandamadana Teertham - Enroute to Gandamadana Mountain
38. Dharma Teertham (Pancha Pandava Teerthams)
39. Bhima Teertham (Pancha Pandava Teerthams)
40. Arjuna Teertham (Pancha Pandava Teerthams)
41. Nakula Teertham (Pancha Pandava Teerthams)
42. Sahadeva Teertahm (Pancha Pandava Teerthams)
42. Draupadi Teertham - Near Sri Bhadrakali Temple
43. Brahma Teertham - Near Sri Bhadrakali Temple
44. Hanuman Gundam (Teertham) - Near Sri Bhadrakali Temple
45. Naga Teertham - North East of the Temple
46. Agastya Teertham - North East of the Temple
47. Jatayu Teertham - Enroute to Dhanushkodi.
48. Dhanushkodi Teertham - Confluence of the rivers - Rathnaharam and Mahodathi. Near the sea at Dhanushkodi.
49. Deva Teertham - Opposite (in front of) Sri Rama Sannathi
50. Kajan Teertham
51. Saravana Teertham
52. Kumudan Teertham - Opposite (in front of) Sri Rama Sannathi
53. Haran Teertham - Opposite (in front of) Sri Rama Sannathi
54. Panagan Teertham - Opposite (in front of) Sri Rama Sannathi
55. Vibeeshana Teertham - Opposite (in front of) Sri Rama Sannathi
56. Chakra Teertham - Tirupallani (Darbhasayanam)
57. Vetala Varada Teertham - South of Chakra Teertham of Tirupallani
58. Amrita Vapi Teertham - Near Ekanta Rama Temple
59. Villundi Teertham - Near Thangachimadam
60. Sharada Teertham - Near Ekanta Rama Temple


The Teerthams (= sacred perennial water sources) outside the temple are found from Devipattanam (or Navapashanam) and Tirupullani (Darbhasayanam) near Ramnad, towards Mandapam.

Some Teerthams are not considered to be of importance, but this may be entirely due to poor maintenance and difficult of access.

Map of Rameswaram Island on the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple website - copyright of the original owners only. Presented here for reference value only.

Shiva Temples between the Tryambakeshwar Temple and the Godavari River

The smaller temple behind the Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple. 

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

Uniquely, this temple is positioned between the Godavari River and the Tryambakeshwar Temple.

Looks more ancient. 

The Shivlingas outside the smaller temple... These shivlingas are closer to the Godavari River.

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

Behind the Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, towards the Godavari River.

Is there a story here? 

Yet another smaller temple, between the Tryambakeshwar Temple and the Godavari River

Also dedicated to Shiva

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple precincts, Nashik, Maharashtra

The Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, at the Godavari River origins, Nashik District, Maharashtra

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

The gopuram of the Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

The inner view of the main entrance to the Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple.

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

A view of the queue complex from the main gate to the temple -

Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

A composite view of the inner side of the main entrance to the temple complex, the queue complex and the tryambakeshwar temple in its unique architecture

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

The administrative office of the tryambakeshwar temple with its entrance opening into the temple precincts.

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

Check out the metal detector - step through it and crash into the wall... 

For Shiva, he is within you, within you...

For goodness to prevail, there needs to be evil,

For destruction to prevail, there needs to be creation,

And thus for suffering to prevail, there is none,

For Shiva, he is within you, within you.

For light to exist, there is darkness,

For matter to exist, there is non-matter,

And thus for distance to exist, there is none,

For Shiva, he is within you, within you.

For him who does not believe, there is arrogance,

For him who does indeed believe, there is ignorance,

And thus for prayers to be answered, there is none,

For Shiva, he is within you, within you.

Bharat Bhushan - 8 December 2009

Om Namah Shivaaya

Lord Shiva is the God of Love. His Grace is boundless. He is the Saviour and Guru. He is the beloved of Uma. He is Satyam, Shivam, Shubham, Sundaram, Kantam. He is the Supreme Light that shines in your heart. Meditate on his Form. Hear his Lilas. Repeat his Mantra - "Om Namah Shivaaya".

---- Sivananda Saraswati

64 Forms of Lord Shiva

shivali.ngam     lingodbhavar     mukhali.ngam     sadAshivam     mahAsadAshivam     umAmaheshwarar     sukhAsanamUrti     umeshamUrti     somAska.ndhamUrti     cha.ndrashekaramUrti     vR^iShArUDhamUrti     vR^IShA.ndikamUrti     bhujaNGgalaLitamUrti     bhujaNGgatrAsamUrti     sa.ndhiyanR^ittamUrti     sadAnR^ittamUrti     chaNDatANDavamUrti     gaNGgAdharamUrti     gaNGgAvisarjanamUrti     tripurAntakamUrti     kalyANasu.ndaramUrti     ardanArIshwaramUrti     gajAsurasaMhAramUrti     jvarAbhagnamUrti     shArdhUlaharamUrti     pAshupatamUrti     gaNGgALamUrti     keshavArthamUrti     bhixATanamUrti     simhagnamUrti     chaNdeshwarAnugrahamUrti     vyAkhyAnadaxiNAmUrti yogadaxiNAmUrti     viNAdharadaxiNAmUrti     kAlA.ntakamUrti     kAmAri (kAmadahanamUrti)     vaguLeshwaramUrti     bhairavamUrti     ApatuddAraNamUrti     vaDukamUrti     xetrapAlamUrti     vIrabhadramUrti     agorAstramUrti     daxayaGYaharamUrti     kirAtamUrti     gurumUrti     ashvArUDhamUrti     gajA.ndikamUrti     jalandharavatamUrti     ekapAdatrimUrti     tripAdatrimUrti     ekapAdamUrti     gaurivarapradamUrti     chakradAnaswarUpamUrti     gaurilIlAsamanvitamUrti     viShAbhaharaNamUrti     garuDA.ndikamUrti     braHmasirachetakamUrti     kUrmasaMhAramUrti     matsyAri     varAhAri     prArthanAmUrti     raktabhixApradAnamUrti     siShyabhAvamUrti

I found you within, O Shiva

"I lost you out of ignorant attachment to my body. Then I wasted my time searching high and low. Finally I found you within, O Shiva, then we united in bliss." -

Lalleshwari

Lalleshwari (लल्लेश्वरी) (1320 – 1392) also known as Lalla or Lal Ded was a Hindu saint-poetess and a mystic of the Kashmiri Shaivite sect. She is a creator of the mystic poetry called vatsun or Vakhs, literally 'speech'. Known as Lal Vakhs, her verses are the earliest compositions in the Kashmiri language and are an important part in history of Kashmiri literature. (From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalleshwari)

Shaneeshwarar Idol at the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple, Pune District, Maharashtra, India

The Shaneeshwarar Idol with the Chilika Vaahana

at the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

The idol is maintained in good condition, and is placed exactly in front of the Jyotirlinga idol and Nandi, in a straight line towards the 2-Nandi-plus-linga location. A priest sits nearby and helps pilgrims conduct their prayers to Shaneeshwarar. Amazingly splendid in detail and allows for close proximity in prayers.

Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple, Pune District, Maharashtra

The Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple Gopuram 

(Photo - Bharat Bhushan)

Beautiful and Inspiring - in a mist-laden cloudy early morning day in September 2009

The two nandis in front of the temple, 

at a single location in front of a shivling

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

It seems that the Nandi at the right was to be repaired due to some problem or was to be replaced. The new Nandi was commissioned and brought to the temple premises. One and all, nobody could agree on the procedure to replace the earlier Nandi idol with the new one, and since then (probably for more than a 100 years), both the Nandis have remained.

The Deepmal (Pillar-of-oil wick lamps) at the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

Beautiful in its serenity, glistening in the early morning mist and dew that has settled on it.

The Deepmal (Pillar-of-oil wick lamps) at the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple

showing the temple gopuram profile to its right, sharpened by the early morning mist and dew

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

The Deepmal (Pillar-of-oil wick lamps) at the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple

showing the temple-settlement at Bhimashankara, with the forests behind and above

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

The shivling in front of the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple near the two Nandis

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

Amazing perspective and splendid detail on the yoni of the shivling

Check out the detail of the snake curling out towards the linga

The Nandi (of the two nandis) with the Shivling in front of the temple

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

The two Nandis with the Shivling in front of the temple

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

The Deepmal, The Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple and the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

The deepmal, temple-town settlement, the temple and the wildlife sanctuary

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan) 

Inside the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple

Inside the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

Convenient to move around when there are less pilgrims than on festival days

The priests of the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga Temple

(Photo: Bharat Bhushan)

The young priest at left in a dark vest is Yogesh. Very enthusiastic and helpful.

The head priest is his uncle and one can see the other priests at the rear. All pujas are organised, reserved and paid for in the front hall of the jyotirlinga and receipts are issued immediately. 

Jyotirlinga iconography

I have been collecting graphical iconography of the Jyotirlingas in India from various websites. Please do send additional images of a similar nature and depiction by e-mail.