12) Manikya Daksha Vatike

Mnnikyambha,Draksharamam

12) Manikya Daksha vatike : Drakasharama is located in East Godavari district near Kakinada. Rajahmundry is the nearest airport. Draksharama constitues one of the five Arama kshetras of Andhra Pradesh, sacred to Shiva, the other four being Kumararama, Ksheerarama and Bheemarama and Amararama. Draksharama, Sree Sailam and Kaleshwar together constitute the three sacred Shivalingams of Andhra Pradesh, giving it its ancient name Trilinga Desh. Draksharama is one of the important centers of Shiva worship in Andhra Pradesh.Several legends tie together the five Pancharama temples dedicated to Shiva. Legend also has it that Vyasa installed the Shivalingam at Draksharama. Legend also has it that Draksharama was the site of Daksha yagna. Since it is believed that Sati immolated herself at the site of her father's sacrificial hall, no sacrificial yagna rituals are performed here.The Bhimeswara temple at Draksharama has two prakarams. The outer prakaram is pierced with four entrances each with a gopuram. The gopuram on the west is a five tiered one. The entrance to the inner prakaram is on the south. A pillared two storeyed verandah lines the inner prakaram (tiruchutrumaaligai in the ancient temples of Tamilnadu). The sculptural work in the mukha mandapam depicts clear Chalukyan features.There are shrines to Lakshmi Narayana, Sankaranarayana, Ganapati and the Navagrahas.The sanctum is two storeyed. The walls surrounding both levels are beautified with sculptural work. Two flights of stairs lead to the upper level of the sanctum. Bhimeswara is enshrined in the form of a ten feet high Shivalingam in the sanctum. Shiva's consort here is Manikyamba.Mahashivaratri and Navaratri are some of the festivals celebrated heHistory: This temple was built by the Eastern Chalukyan King of Vengi - Bhima, during very troubled times (9th -10th centuries), when his kingdom was under attack by the Rashtrakootas. Inscriptions reveal that he had to fight as many as 360 battles. Chalukya Bhima also built the Chalukya Bhimeswaram temple at Samalkota nearby. The Draksharamam temple contains as many as 400 inscriptions going back to the 11th century. These inscriptions can be traced back to the Eastern and the Western Chalukyas as well as the Cholas and Kalinga rulers.How to reachAir : The nearest airport to Draskharamam is in Vijayawada at Ryali Templea distance of 185 km. Rail :The nearest rail head is in Kakinada at a distance of 17 km. Road : One can easily reach Draskharam by bus from Kakinada and Rajahmundry.

Body part : Devi's left cheek has fallen here.

11) Odhyane Girija Devi

 Girija Devi

11) Odhyane Girija devi :It is in Jajpur in Orissa. The presiding deity of Jajpur Asta dasha shakti peetha is Goddess Girija Devi. Goddess Girija Devi is also worshipped with various names such as Goddess Birija Devi, Goddess Virija.
Jajpur is located at a distance of 120 Kms from Bhuvaneshwar, the capital city of Orissa. The road is excellent and one can go easily by taxi or bus. Jajpur has a rich cultural and historical reference in several hindu scriptures. This place was ruled by King Jajati Kesari in the 10th Century. Hence, the name of the town became Jajpur. Once it was the capital city of Kalinga emperors. Jajpur is also called as ‘Baithangi Theertha’ or ‘Birija Kshetram’. The whole idol of Goddess Girija Devi is decorated with flower garlands and gold jewelry. We can see only the face of Goddess Birija. The idol is decorated with silver crown full of jewels. Goddess Girija Devi blesses her devotees with her pleasant smiling face and charming looks. Another significance aspect of this temple is , a well near the main temple of Girija Devi in which devotees perform ritual rites to their ancestors. It seems the depth of the well is somewhere around 4 to 5 feet but it never dried up till now.

Body part : Devi's navel has fallen here.

On the way to Jajipur one  Jagannadha temple is there. It is as famous as Puri temple.Dont miss to visit it.
Nearest Rail way station : Bhubhaneswar
Air port : Bhubhaneswar
Bhubaneswar is the city of temples and we will find number of famous temples here. The main temple is Linga Raja temple.We will not find any idol here.

10) Peethikayam Puruhutika

 Puruhutika Devi , Pithapuram (AP)

10) Peethikayam Puruhutika : It is in Pithapurem in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.The temple of Puruhutika devi is located within the temple campus of Kukkuteswara swamy. Kukkuteswara swamy temple is present in the outskirts of the Pithapuram village towards Kakinada. It is a big temple. Just entering in to the temple we will see a pond which is called as Padagaya sarovaram (Pada Gaya Sarovar). Pilgrims will take holy bath in this pond. Main temple of Kukkuteswara swamy is present towards the right side of the pond. Puruhutika devi temple is present in the North-East corner of the Kukkuteswara swamy temple. It is constructed facing South. Puruhutha temple is small but looks very nice with the carvings of Ashtadasa Shakti peethas on it's walls.The idol of Puruhuthika devi has four hands. They contain bag of seeds (Beeja), axe (Parashu), lotus (Kamala) and a dish (Madhu patra) from lower-right to lower-left in order.Previously there were two sects of Upasakas in Pithapuram worshiping Puruhootika devi. The first one calling her as Puruhootha Lakshmi (Meditating on Kamala and Madhu patra) and worshiping in Samayachara and the second one calling her Puruhoothamba (Meditating on Parashu and Beeja) and worshiping in Vamachara. There is also a tale that the original statue of Puruhutika devi was buried under the temple which was worshiped by them. Pithapuram has many important temples: 1). Kukkuteswara swamy temple: It is the main temple in Pithapuram.2). Hunkruthi Durga / Humkruthi Durga: Also called as Humkarini Durga. She is present in the Garbha griha of Kukkuteswara swami towards the left.3). Rajarajeswari: She is the Deveri (wife) of Kukkuteswara swamy. Also present in the same campus.4). Sripada Srivallabha Dattatreya: This temple of Lord Dattatreya is present in the South-West corner of the temple.5). Kunthi madhava: This is an old temple of Lord Sri Krishna located in Pithapuram village.

Body part :Devi's left hand has fallen here.

9) Ujjainyam Maha kali

Hara Sidhi Mata




Board at the entrance of the Temple

  9) Ujjainyam Maha kali : Maha kali temple is in Ujjain. Here the devi is called as Hara Sidhi Mata and if you ask by Maha kali temple people may not be able to tell about this. Though it is a shakti peetha people are not aware of this.People are confused with Ujjaini Maha Kali temple at Secuderabad in Andhra Pradesh.

The Maha kali (hara sidhi mata) was the aradhana devi of The great King Vikramadithya. It is said that King Vikramadithya has offered his head (sirassu) by cutting 11 times to devi and all those times devi made him live by jointing it back. We will find his portrait a hall next to the temple.

King Vikramadithya

The decoration in the temple is different  ineach day. In the temple I was told it is the 6th shaktipeetha but as per above shloka it is 9th.We find in the top Parvati devi, in the centre Hara Sidhi Mata, in the bottom Maha Kali statues.

Hara Sidhi mata

In Ujjain we will find one more Kali temple which is called Ghat Kali which was the Aradhana Devi of Maha Kavi Kalidas.

Ghat Kalika Devi

Ujjain is famous for Maha Kaleswar Jyothirling. The deity here is called as Mahakaleswara. Ujjain is 50Km(2hrs) from Indore. Or you can drop at Ujjain while going to Somanath by train.You are allowed to touch the jyotirlinga when rush is not there. The decoration of the linga is different in the morning and evening. One should not miss the evening decoration which is made with the clay from the river shipra.
In the early morning at 4.30 AM Bhasmarchana is performed.for Maha Kaleswar. For this the ashes from the  burial ground of previous night last pyre is used. The ashes are taken in a thin cloth and this archana is performed.One should not miss this and there is a restrictions for ladies to see this archana directly. Special passes are issued for this archana at free of cost, one day earlier. we have to apply for the pass by producing the photo identity card between 11 to 13.00 hrs and the pass is issued at 7 PM. Next day at 4.30 AM you are allowed for abhishekam and as well as for Bhasmarchana.

Body part :Devi's left elbow has  fallen here.(earlier it was wrongly reported as upper lip in my earlier blog) This was clarified by the pandit in Harasidhi Mata temple during my recent visit.
Ujjain is place of historical importance and there are many places of tourist interests like Ghat Kalika(Kalidas aradhana devi ) temple,Char Dham mandir, bethala pipale tree, Bhatruhari Guha (elder brother of King Vikramadithya) and Kala Bhirava temple where liquor is offered as prasada, Bada Ganapathi mandir,Mangalanath Temple (son of Lord Siva), Gopal mandir,Iskon mandir,Sandeepani Ashram and Bhookhi mata temple. Chitamani Ganesh temple is very famous here.we will find standing nandi in the siva temple near this temple. Probably this is the only place where we find standing nandi .  You can see the rare portriat of King Vikramadithya in the court hall near Hara Sidhi mata temple aling with the portriats of Maha Kavi Kalidas and the great Varaha Mihiruludu.
Stay : Mahakalewara trust Dharma sala which is neat  and clean. and close to temple. But difficult to get and better go at 10 AM. Local tourist bus is available which takes 4 hours to cover the above places. MP tourism bus charges Rs50 and private bus charges Rs36.
Food : Pooha is availble in the break fast. Near the main temple Idlis are available in Hotel Shivam. AC rooms are availble in HotelSatyam.
Nearest Rail way station : Ujjain
Air port : Indore



8) Mahurye Ekaveerika

Ekaveerika Devi Temple

(8th Shakti peetha )

As per Sri Adi Shankarachrya's shaktipeethas shlok the 8th Shakti peethas is' Mahurye Ekaveerika'

Ekaveerika devi temple is in Mahur , Maharashtra. The deity here is called Ekaveerika mata. The temple is in Yavatmal district in Maharashtra. It is 50 km from Kinwat and 126 km from Nanded. Nagpur is 210 km by road from Mahur.

Body part : Sati's Right shoulder has fallen here.

 Air port : Sonegaon(Nagpur).

Rail way station : Kinwat.

Mahur is famous for Renuka Devi temple and very few people are knowing about Ekaveerika devi temple and mostly they call Renuka devi temple as shakti peeth. We find more rush at Renuka devi temple than Ekaveerika mata temple.

Renuka Devi temple

It is said that Ekaveerika Devi is the elder sister of Renukadevi.Renuka devi temple is 800 years old.

Prasad being grinded

Here pan patta and supari are grinded as paste and offered as prasad. Other temples which we can see here are Parashuram Temple, Jamadgni temple and Anasuya temple.

Anasuya temple

The Anasuya devi temple is on another sikhar/hill. Anasuya devi is the mother of Lord Dattatreyaa. We can get shared autos from Renukadevi temple to this place.

The board at Ekaveerika mata temple

Ekaveerika Devi temple is 8 km from Renuka devi temple on Nanded high way and 300M from the main road. Very few people visit this temple and we could not find even poojari in the temple. Opposite to the temple there is one Gomata samadhi. The story about this samadhi no body could tell us.

Gomatha samadhi
(opposite to temple)

Mahur assumes prominence as the birth place of Lord Dattatreya.This temple is very old and we find lot of langoors in this temple.

Dattatreya Temple , Mahur
( the author with friends)

DATTATREYA IN LINGA SHAPE

Datta temple is on another hill and harati is given at 5 Pm every day and abhishek is done on every thursday.

60 km from Mahur there is one pracheen shiva temple at Manpur which is 850 years old.

Shiva Temple , Manpur

Shiv linga, Manpur

We find Kala Bhirava temple here. It is said that each shaktipeeth must be have a Kala bhirava temple and there is no Kala bhirave temple in Ekaveerika devi complex.

20 km from Yavatmal at Kalam ,Chinta mani Ganesh temple is there. It is one of the eight Ganesh temples in Vidarbha and it is the only temple where deity faces south.

Chinta mani Ganesh,Kalam

The temple is 20 feet below the ground level and it is said that every 12 years the temple is submersed in water comes out of the well.

Vinayaka,at Kalam

(at main temple entry)

One can visit "Unkeshwar" (50 km from Mahur; 15 km from Kinwat), which has natural sources of hot water. This sulphur rich water is supposed to have medicinal value.

visit my another bolg at :    http://jyotirlingasinindia.blogspot.com/

7)Kolha pure Maha Lakshmi

7)Kolha pure Maha lakshmi : Shri Mahalaxmi Temple of Kolhapur is dedicated to Goddess Mahalaxmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that the Lord resides in this area, along with the Goddess. The temple holds the distinction of being one of the Shakti Peethas in India and is held in great regard by the people of Maharashtra. One can find the mention of the Mahalakshmi Temple of Kohlapur in the various puranas (holy books) of Hindu religion. It is believed to have been built somewhere around 700 AD, by the rulers of the Chalukya Empire.The temple holds special significance for the devotees, since it is believed to be one of the six places in India, where one will either get his desires fulfilled or obtain salvation from them. The image of the deity has been placed on a stone platform. The Goddess is shown having four arms and crowned with a beautiful tiara, which has been made of precious gemstone and weighs approximately 40 kilograms. The crown has been adorned with an image of the Sheshnag, the serpent regarded as the vehicle of Vishnu.In each of the four hands of the Goddess is a different object, believed to have symbolic value. The lower right hand holds a mhalunga (a citrus fruit) and the upper right hand holds a large mace (kaumodaki). In the upper left hand is a shield (khetaka), while in the lower left hand, there is a bowl (panpatra). Besides the idol stands a stone statue of a lion, considered as the vehicle (vahana) of Goddess Mahalakshmi. The image of Goddess Mahalaxmi looks towards the west (Pashchim) direction.Unusual Phenomenon On the western wall of the Mahalaxmi Temple of Kolhapur is a small window. It has been built in such a way that every year, the light of the setting sun falls on the face of the deity for three days. This phenomenon is noticed every year and it takes place around 21st of March and September

Body part : Devi's eyes (three) have fallen here.

 

Maha Lakshmi Temple

6) Srishaile Bhramarambika

 Sthala Purana : In the olden days there was demon called ' Arun'. The goddess has killed him with the help of Bhramaras (Butter flies) as such the devi is famous by Bhramarambha.

About the temple :

The shrine of Lord Mallikarjuna along with Goddess Bhramarambha Devi picturesquely situated on a flat top of Nallamalai Hills, Srisailam is reputed to be one of the most ancient kshetras in India.  It is on the right side of the River Krishna in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh.  This celebrated mountain is also named as Siridhan, Srigiri, Sirigiri, Sriparvatha and Srinagam.  It has been a popular centre of Saivite pilgrimage for centuries.

The prominence of this Divya Kshetram is highlighted by the fact that while performing our daily household rituals we specify place of location of our existence with reference to Srisailam.

The presiding Deities of this kshetram Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy is one of the twelve Jyothirlingas and Goddess Bhramaramba Devi is one of the eighteen Mahasakthis and both are self-manifested.  The unique feature of this kshetram is the combination of Jyothirlingam and Mahasakthi in one campus, which is very rare and only one of its kind.

There is a common belief in vogue that this Holy Kshetram exists from times immemorial.  The antiquity and origin of God Mallikarjuna Swamy and Goddess Bhramaramba Devi is not known.

Kumkuma puja to Devi is performed everyday between 6AM to 1 PM and 6PM to 8.30 PM at a cost of Rs 350 for a couple and pooja material will be given by temple authorities.

The Devasthanam is having 25 individual cottages, Pathaleswara Sadan with 23 Deluxe Suites, Sivasadanam guest house with 100 rooms, T.T.D Guest House with 10 rooms,Chandeswara Sadanam with 22 rooms and a dormitory Choultry consisting of 7 Halls.

Body part :Devi's neck part has fallen here.

Nearest places: The famous Srisailam dam which is 512M length and 270M height and it is a major hydro power station of Andhra Pradesh is very closed to the temple.

Alampur Jogulamba temple is 24 Km from Kurnool. It is one of the 18 shaktipeethas.