Ossian Temple ( Jodhpur, Rajasthan )

Located at the edge of the Thar Desert, Ossian was once a prosperous city. Though today, it does not find place in the regular tourist guides of India, Ossian boasts of more than 100 Hindu and Jain temples dating back to the Medieval Age. According to some legend, Utpaladeva, a Rajput Prince of the Pratihara Dynasty founded this town. Then it was known as Ukesha or Upkeshapur.

Ossian boasts the earliest of all medieval temples of Rajasthan. The earlier temples are like miniature shrines. Some temples are only eight feet in height. These are intricately carved red sandstone edifices. These are dedicated to Harihara or the union of Vishnu and Shiva. Even foreign scholars consider these as the architectural masterpieces for the carved raising plinths, pillars and the spires.

The Sun temple is among the oldest group of temples. It was built in the 10th century. They are also compared with the carvings of the Sun Temple at Konark. Further records shows that there is another magnificent Sun Temple right in the middle of the town. This temple and some other subsequent shrines were destroyed during the Turkish and Afghan invasions of India. The house of more than hundred temples, Ossian, today only houses sixteen of them.

image credit : Travels with a Hat

Majority of the temples at Ossian have decayed with time. The images of the deities have also been lost. The one temple that still remains vibrant is the shrine of Sachiyamata on a nearby hillock. This temple was built in 1234 AD and is dedicated to Durga or Mahisasura Mardini. Today it is a very important shrine of the Jains.

Raghunath Temple ( Jammu Kashmir)

Raghunath Temple is a well-known holy shrine of the Hindus. Located in Jammu, Raghunath Mandir is one of the largest temple complexes of the Northern part of India. The temple is dedicated to Lord  Rama, who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. In 1835, the construction of this temple was started by the founder of Jammu &  Kashmir, Maharaja Gulab Singh. After the death of Gulab Singh, it was completed by his son, Maharaja Rambir Singh in 1860. One can easily reach this temple from Srinagar/ Jammu Airport by hiring taxis or by taking regular buses from the cities.

image credit  : cognate

The huge temple has seven shikhars (spires), where every shrine has its own shikhar. On the very entrance of the Temple, a portrait of Maharana Ranbir Singh and an image of Lord Hanuman embellish the site. The central shrine is dedicated to Lord Raghunath/ Rama, who is the presiding deity. Apart from the main shrine, the other shrines encompass various incarnations of Lord Vishnu. There is a shrine of Lord Surya (Sun God), which is another striking shrine. There are many idols of different forms of the God.

image credit : viplab

Inside the temple, there are other shrines that house huge statues of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses. It is noteworthy to mention that gold sheets cloak the interior walls on three sides of this temple. It also has a gallery, where various ‘Lingams’ (phallic form of Lord Shiva) and ‘Saligrams’ are placed. Raghunath Temple comprises almost all the images of the Hindu Pantheon, which is quite uncommon. The sermons and rituals of the temple include both morning and evening Aarti.

image credit : chakshu

A glimpse of Mughal artistry can be seen in the architecture of Raghunath Temple. The carvings and arches are really beautiful and grasp the major attention. There is a library in the temple complex, where rare Sanskrit manuscripts are kept. People visit this temple in large numbers to pay their homage to the deity and get the blessings from the God.

Chamunda Devi Temple ( Himachal Padesh)

Chamunda Devi Temple is a renowned holy shrine of the  Hindus. Located in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, Chamunda Devi Mandir is at a distance of 10 kms from Palampur, on the banks of Baner River. This ancient temple dates back to the 16th century. The temple is dedicated to Chamunda Devi, who is a form of Durga / Shakti. Chamunda Devi Mandir is believed to be the abode of ‘Shiva and Shakti’. Due to this reason, it is also known as ‘Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham’.

image credit : arunasis2007

Chamunda Devi is considered as the wrathful form of Durga, but at the same time, the Goddess is kind to her true devotees. The term ‘Chamunda’ has been derived from two words, ‘Chanda’ and ‘Munda’. As per the mythological legends, Durga made a goddess with her power, to slay the demons, Chanda and Munda. With her immense power, the Goddess killed the demons. Goddess Durga became happy with the slaughter and blessed the goddess that she would be known and worshipped as Chamunda.

image credit : dishu

There is nothing extra-ordinary about the architecture of this temple, but the divine aura spell bounds the devotees with its spiritual appeal. In the temple, the main image is visible from the main entrance. The main shrine is adored by the images of Lord Bhairav and Lord Hanuman on its sides. Actually, these lords are considered as the guards of the Goddess. The main image of the Goddess is visible draped in rich clothes.

image credit : Ami

Chamunda Devi is worshipped daily while the sermons include ‘Aartis’ at intervals. Reciting the hymn of ‘Shat Chandi‘ with devoted heart at this temple is considered auspicious. In the corner of the temple, one can see small footsteps of the Goddess on a stone. Besides the main shrine, there is a marble staircase that takes down to the cave of Lord Shiva. This is a cave-like scoop where Shiva Lingam is placed. People visit this cave and worship Lord Shiva with great devotion.

Lord Shiva is said to be one of the complex Gods of the Hindu pantheon, since he is the destroyer as well as the restorer. Here, Lord Shiva is believed to have been present in the form of death, destruction and dead bodies. One can also observe ancestral worship near the banks of Ban Ganga River. In the vicinity of this temple, there is a cremation ground that serves to 22 villages of the nearby areas.

image credit : monisha

In the temple complex, there is a huge pond with images of Lords and people can take bath here. There is sculpture of Goddess, in which, she is garlanded with serpents, scorpions, and skulls. During the time of Navratras, the temple is crowded by large number of people. Pilgrims from far and near come to visit this temple of great legacy and religious importance. Chamunda Devi blesses all her true devotees.

The temple is situated in the picturesque beauty of lush green mountains. Many saints can be seen here involved in penance and meditation. In the past days, the image of the Goddess was situated on the hill above the present site of the temple. The site was found to be in a remote area, where it was not possible for everyone to reach and moreover, it was quite risky. There is a story behind the establishment of this temple.