Palitana Jain Temples ( Gujarat )

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Palitana is situated at a distance of 51 km from Bhavnagar and serves as an important Jain pilgrimage of Gujarat. The Shatrunjay Hill loacted nearby the place hosts approximately 900 big and small Jain Temples. These temples are dedicated to the 24 Jain Tirthankarars. Apart from this, the significance of the place dates back to the Mahabharata era of India. It is said that three Pandavas, Yudhishthir, Bheem & Arjun got Nirvana here. Therefore, it is known as Siddhakshetra, where one attains Moksha, amongst Jain devotees.

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One of the most important temples in Palitana is the Digamber Jain Temple. It is an ancient temple that encompasses 9 shrines with the idols of all the Tirthankaras. The main shrine contains the idol of the principal deity, 1008 Bhagwan Shantinath. It is made of white stone and can be seen in Padmasana posture. According to the Jain calendar, it was installed here in 1686. The temple also houses beautiful idols of Yudhishthir, Bheem & Arjun. Two other idols of Bhagwan Parsavnath are located here.

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One is called Chintamani Parshvanath and other is called Vighnaharan Parshvanath. On the both sides of northern gate, foot images of Bhagwan Adinath & Bhagwan Sambhavanath can be seen. It is said that Bhagwan Adinath visited Shatrunjay Hill 93 times. All the Jain temples of Palitana are built in marble and stand adorned with ornate sculptures. Each and every temple located on this hill is a specimen of art. The temple trail starts from the foot of the hill. There are 3745 steps up to the peak of the summit.

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Devotees take around two hours to reach the top. The steps were constructed in 13th century, under the supervision of Jain Minister, Vastupal. On their way up, the pilgrims are not allowed to take any eatables along. They are only allowed to drink water. For the purpose, a number of water posts have been made available along the course. The pilgrims eat only after they descend the mountain. The major spot up the hill is the one with the footprints of the Tirthankaras. All the shrines contain the idols of the Tirthankaras, with bejeweled eyes.

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The devotees make offerings at the main shrine of Bhagwan Adinath. The magnificent temple has been renovated and rebuilt a number of times. The original temple was made of wood. Later, Siddhraj Jaisimha’s minister Udaymehta built it in marble. Siddhraj’s descendant Kumarpal further extended the temple. Besides these, there are other shrines dedicated to Adinath, Kumarpal, Vimalshah, Samprati Raja and the Chomukh. You will also find temples dedicated to Hindu Gods and Goddesses here. There is also a Muslim shrine known as the Angar Pir. Childless women pray here for children.

Hanuman Tok Gangtok ( Sikkim )

The Hanuman Tok is one of the most important places to see in the Indian state of Sikkim. It is one of the most renowned temples of the state. The Hanuman Tok at Sikkim is dedicated to Hanuman, one of the gods in the Hindu religion. The temple of Hanuman Tok is looked after by a division of the army department of India. The place surrounding the Hanuman Tok is also the last resting place for the royal family of Sikkim. This place is located only a small distance away from the stair case of the Hanuman Tok.

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A Lord Hanuman Shrine, Hanuman Tok is a functioning Hindu Temple where pilgrims and devotees come to offer their prayers. Very close, at a short distance to the temple is a small burial ground that commemorates the remains of royal family of Gangtok. In the vicinage are serials of stupas and chorten that mark the royal graves of Namgyal Dynasty. The temple is well-managed in partial collaboration of Indian Army at Gangtok; it can be easily gauged by the neatness and beauty of the tok. To fetch the Tok right, it is located at a distance of 5 km from white Hall on the forked Gangtok-Nathula Highway.

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The Hanuman Tok of Sikkim is located at a distance of 5½ km from the capital city of Gangtok. The total height of the Hanuman Tok is 7,200 feet. This tourist destination is located near the Gangtok-Nathula Highway. To reach this temple, you have to ascend a height of 5 kms from the White Hall. The Hanuman Tok in Sikkim itself provides wonderful photographic views of the Khangcendzonga. The snow-capped mountain peaks look heavenly from this temple. From the Hanuman Tok, one can also view the distant waterworks of Selep, the main source of drinking water in the entire city of Gangtok. The Hanuman Tok stands at a height of some hundreds feet above the Gangtok city.

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The journey to this temple is a fascinating one, which offers beautiful views of the capital city of Gangtok and the surrounding hilly regions. A short distance before the stair case leading to the Hanuman Temple is the cremation ground of the erstwhile royal family of Sikkim. There are quite a few chortens and stupas at this place, which signify the exact locations where the last rites of the royal corpses were carried on.

Salasar Balaji (Rajasthan)

Salasar Balaji is a religious place for the devotees of Lord Hanuman. It is situated in Churu district of Rajasthan. Salasar Dham attracts innumerable Indian worshipers throughout the year. On Chaitra Purnima and Ashvin Purnima large fairs are organized every year where more than 6 to 7 lakhs of people assemble here to pay their homage to the deity. Hanuman Sewa Samiti looks after the management of the Temple and the fairs. There are many Dharamshalas to stay and restaurants to eat. The temple of Sri Hanuman is situated right in the middle of the Salasar town.

Salasar town is a part of district Churu in Rajasthan and it is situated on the Jaipur – Bikaner highway. It is at a distance of 57 kilometers from Sikar, 24 kilometers from Sujangarh and 30 kilometers from Laxmangarh. Salasar town lies under the jurisdiction of the Sujangarh Panchayat Samiti and is well connected with Delhi, Jaipur and Bikaner by regular bus service run by the Rajasthan State Road Transport Committee. Indian Airlines and Jet Air fly to Jaipur, from where Salasar is 3.5 hours drive via a taxi or a bus. Sujangarh, Sikar, Didwana, Jaipur and Ratangarh are the nearest railheads for Salasar Balaji. This city is about 170 kilometers from the city of Pilani that hosts the Birla Institute of Technology and Science. The road from Delhi to Pilani is very good and Balaji is often accessed via that route by people approaching from the direction of Delhi.

On Saturday, Shravan Shukla-Navami -Samvat 1811, a miracle happened. A Ginthala-Jat farmer of village Asota in district Nagaur of Rajasthan was ploughing his field. All of a sudden the plough was hit by some stony thing and a resonating sound was created. He dug up the soil of that place and found an idol covered with sand. His wife reached there with his lunch packet. The farmer showed the idol to his wife. She cleaned up the idol with her sari (dress). The idol was that of Balaji Lord Sri Hanuman. They bowed their heads with devotion and worshipped Lord Balaji. This news of the appearance of Lord Balaji spread in the village Asota immediately.

The Thakur of Asota also heard the news. Balaji ordered him in his dream to send the idol to Salasar in the Churu district. Same night a devotee of Lord Hanuman, Mohan Dasji Maharaj of Salasar saw Lord Hanuman or Balaji in his dreams as well. Lord Balaji told him about the idol of Asota. He immediately sent a message to the Thakur of Asota. The Thakur was surprised to discover that Mohandasji knew minor details without coming to Asota. Certainly, it was all happening by the grace of the Almighty Lord Balaji. The idol was sent to Salasar and consecrated at the place known as Salasar Dham today.