ShravanaBelagola – Statue of Gomteshwara

image credit : Ashok666

One of the holiest Jain pilgrimages, or Jain Temple in India  Shravanabelagola is synonymous with the colossal monolithic statue of Jain saint Lord Gomateshwara. Shravanabelagola occupies a significant place in the Jain legacy of Karnataka, for being the place where Chandragupta, the founder of the Mauryan dynasty, became a Jain ascetic after relinquishing his throne. The place where Chandragupta breathed his last was named Chandragiri.

image credit : Suchana Seth

The gigantic statue of Lord Gomateshwara has been the piece de resistance among a multitude of Jain architectures in Sravanabelagola. The statue, created around 983 AD by Chamundaraya, a general and minister of the Ganga King Rachamatta, stands atop the Indragiri hill and at a height of 18 meters, is regarded the tallest monolithic statue in the world.

iamge credit : Distra

During the auspicious event of Mahamastakabhisheka, held in Sravanbelagola once in 12 years, attracts a huge number of devout worshippers from all over the world. As part of the ceremonies that last for about 20 days, the image of Bahubali or Gomateshwara is anointed with 1008 kalashas (painted earthen pots) of water, milk, coconut water, clarified butter, saffron, jaggery, bananas, sandal paste and marigold flowers.

Hanseswari Temple (West Bengal)

image credit : DR HIRAK MOOKHERJEE

Hanseswari Temple is situated at Bansberia, which is 47 km north of Kolkata in West Bengal. It was built in the beginning of 19th century. The main deity is the blue neem-wood idol of the four-armed goddess Hanseswari, a manifestation of Goddess Kali.

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The temple is 21 m high and has 13 towers. The peak of each tower is shaped as a lotus flower. Built according to Tantric principles, this five-storey shrine follows the structure of a human body – Ira, Pingala, Bajraksha, Sushumna and Chitrini.

It is stands on theeastern side of Hooghly, and is the largest temple in the vicinity. It was completed in 1814-15 after 15 years of work; Several Benaras masons were employed, and the roof is of the Benaras style. It has 13 cupolas, eight over the verandahs and their corners, then four higher cupolas in the middle, and lastly a central tower (the tallest) rising 60 to 70 feet high. The structure of the Goddess Kali temples is the representation of ‘Tantrik Satchakrabhed’.

Bhimeshwar Temple ( Nainital, Uttarakhand )

Bhimtal is a town and a nagar panchayat in Nainital district in the state of Uttarakhand, India situated at an altitude of 1370 meters above sea level and is about 22 kilometers from Nainital. The major attraction in Bhimtal is the Bhimtal Lake which has an island at its centre. Besides tourism, Bhimtal has also now become a mini district headquarters since most of the district administration offices have been shifted to the newly constructed Vikas Bhawan, the building complex for district administrative offices.

Bhimtal is an ancient place named after Bhima of Mahabharata. Bhimeshwara Mahadev Temple, an old Shiva temple in the bank of Bhimtal lake, is believed to have been built when Bhima visited the place during the banishment (vanvas) period of Pandavas. The present temple was built in 17th century, by Baz Bahadur (1638-78 AD), a King of the Chand dynasty, and the Raja of Kumaon

Bhimtal came under British rule after the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–16), when Naintal became the summer capital of the province.

Bhimtal is older than nearby Nainital as the city of Nainital is just 150–160 years old. But Bhimtal has been a stoppage for the travellers of the region from hills to plains or vise versa for a long time. The old pedesterial road is still in use here and this road connects nearby Kathgodam to all Kumaun region and even to Nepal and Tibet. It might have been the part of the famous ancient silk route.