Madhurima

En Route To Tulsi Manas Mandir – Here’s What To Expect

Madhurima · July 31, 2020

The city of Varanasi is considered to be one of the oldest and holiest cities in India. It is a place of great religious importance. The place is a heritage site for the Hindus. The city is located on the bank of the Ganga river. There are more than a thousand temples built all over the city. One of the famous temples is the Tulsi Manas Mandir. The Ramacharitmanas, which means, ‘Lake of the deeds of Rama’, was written by the great Hindu philosopher and poet, Goswami Tulsidas at this very place.

Tulsi Manas Mandir in Historical Terms

Sage Valmiki, the author of Ramayana, lived between 50 BC and 100 BC. He wrote the epic in Sanskrit. People later had a major problem in reading Sanskrit. So Goswami Tulsidas took the burden of rewriting the Ramayana in the Awadhi dialect and Hindi, so that it can be read by the masses. The place where he did this deed, became the ground on which a wealthy family from West Bengal, known as Sureka family, build the Tulsi Manas Temple in 1964 to honor the great reformer.

The Temple and Its Beautiful Design

En Route to Tulsi Manas Mandir: Here’s What to Expect — _{Photo of ‘Varanasi 25 – figurines in Tulsi Manas mandir’ by juggadery under CC BY-SA 2.0}

The construction was done the same year it was started. It became known as a place of heritage with a lot of sightseeing. The whole construction was funded by the head of the Sureka family, Thakur Das Sureka. The Tulsi Manas design has been erected with white marbles and with a lot of gardens around it.

If you have a glimpse of the Tulsi Mandir photo, you will find that the attractiveness of the gardens is unparalleled. The engravings on the walls are all based on Ramacharitmanas. Portrayals of Lord Rama, Mother Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman have been hung over the place. The Tulsi Manas Temple also has a separate museum, which was constructed to keep the different historical artifacts and collected manuscripts of the Ramayana.

En Route to the Temple

The main entrance of the mandir has the name of the philosopher engraved on it, Shri Tulsii Maanas Maandir Haridwar. The Tulsi Garden, located at the right of the gate is a beautiful place to spend time. The northern statue is of Shri Kakbhushundji, the southern one belongs to Shri Yagywalkaji Maharaj, the eastern ghats have a statue of Shri Ashutosh Shankar, and the westerns ghats have the statue of Goswami Tulsidas ji. The temple also contains a small temple in the centre dedicated to Lord Rama, with also Shiva and Goddess Parvati present there.

All the Gods and Goddesses, present in Ramayana, have been erected as statues all through the temple. Several types of Dohas, Chhandas, Sorathas and Chaupayees are described on the temple walls. Statues & scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata have been build and preserved on the second floor of the temple. The temple is famous for its evening aarti which starts at 4 pm. It also has an aarti at 6 o’clock in morning times, but it is the evening aarti that catches the eyes of the people.

Where is the temple located?

Varanasi, being the cultural capital of India and a medley of Indian Civilization, has a full-grown system of network transport and is connected with routes throughout the country. People can reach Varanasi by railways and waterways. After reaching Varanasi Railway Station, some kind of transportation should be used to reach the Mandir. The distance between the two places is 7 kilometers. To visit the temple from within the city, one can get bus, auto or taxi are best modes of transport to hire. The distance from Banaras University to this temple is 2 kilometers.

Best time to visit

Varanasi is a place of worship. People mainly visit the place to find inner peace. The best time to visit this place is between October and February. The winter season makes the weather chilly cold and woolens become the best friend of the visitors. The mighty Himalayas and the river Ganga, mix up to give the place a pleasantly cool vibe. The Tulsi Manas Temple follows a strict rule regarding visitors. The temple opens sharp at 5:30 am in to morning and remains open till 12 at noon and then the gates are closed. Again the gate are opened from 3:30 pm to 9 pm.

_{Featured Photo of ‘Varanasi 07 – Tulsi Manas mandir’ by juggadery under CC BY-SA 2.0}

Gujarati Patola Silk Sari Is A Priceless Heirloom

Madhurima · July 30, 2020

With recent revival of the weaves in India, it has led to renewed interests in the time-honored artistic techniques, and to say that Gujarat’s weave is high on this list is not at all exaggeratory. Patola Solk Saree is the traditional design and is as authentic as impactful. These sarees are double ikat woven pieces that are made of silk usually. Ever since its history can be traced, it has been originated in the regions of Gujarat. On that note, let’s take a note of its origin.

Origin and history of Patola Silk Sari

The term ‘Patola’ has been derived from Sanskrit. It means pattakulla and is the plural form of term patolu. It is surprising to state that in spite of having an origin in Gujarat, its history can also be discovered in the lands of South India as well. Anyone who has read the Narasimha Purana can get a fair idea of the fabric getting worn by women during the holy ceremonies.

As for the Gujarati origin, the first example of its history in Gujarat can be traced back in the 11^th century. Upon the declination of Solanki Empire, Salvis got a richer trade in the city. This is how Patola saris got its recognition as a sign of Gujarati women’s social status, especially during wedding ceremonies. As far as the history goes, around 700 silk weavers were moved from Karnataka’s Salvi caste to Gujarat in 12^th century. It helped them acquire patronage of Solanki Rajputs, at that time. Legends also indicate a story claiming that the origin of these silk sarees was 900 years ago.

An implication of how the fabric gets created

Patolas get manufactured by resist-dyeing procedure by using weft and warp techniques. It usually takes 4-7 months to weave such a saree. And the making of the saree needs at least three weavers. In spite of being expensive & time-consuming process, the sarees enjoy a fair share of popularity among Indian women even in a world where casual attire rules everyone’s life. ‘Vi’, the stick shaped as sword is made of rosewood, is used for the purpose of adjusting yarns.

In the initial process, it involves tying of its yarn with the cotton threads. Measurements are as small, and the yarn undergoes a multitude of cycles of dyeing and tying. There is a specific order for the colors that weavers follow. Note than no displacement occurs in the process because one single displacement can disturb the whole designing arrangement, resulting in making the set redundant.

Each color comprises a unique place in its design that requires getting carefully aligned in the process of weaving. This intricacy needs immense patience and precision. An outstanding feature of patola looms is its design to be tilted at one side. Two people need to work in tandem. The time takes entirely depends on the intricacy and length of the pattern.

Buy Different Styles of Gujarati Patola Saree Online

Geometric patterns and abstract designs are the fundamental designs to identify a Patola Silk Sari. If you want to purchase a Gujarati Patola Saree Online, look for different styles, including:

Kalash
Human figure
Paan
Parrots
Elephants
Flowers; and more patterns

Each patola sari design comprises a unique name, including:

Nari kunjar bhat (Elephant and women patterns)
Paan bhat (peepul leaf design)
Navratna bhat (square-shaped)
Voharagaji (inspired by Vohra community)
Rattanchowk bhat (geometric motif)

Patola silk sarees are believed to have certain cultural significance to have magical powers in warding off the evil. This is the reason why Gujarati women wear this sari in their weddings.

Featured Photo of ‘patola weaving, udaipur’ by nevil zaveri under CC BY 2.0

Elucidating A Brief On Tulsi Peeth – What Should You Expect?

Madhurima · July 29, 2020

Tulsi Peeth is an Indian social service institute and religious spot situated at Janki Kund in Chitrakoot (MP). Established by Hindu religious educator and Sanskrit scholar Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, the institute was formed in the year 1987 (Aug 2). According to legends and mythological stories, this peeth is a place where Lord Rama handed over his Sandals to his younger brother, Bharata. Here is an overview of its historical evidence.

Tulsi Peeth in Historical Terms

Elucidating a Brief on Tulsi Peeth: What Should You Expect? — _{Photo of ‘Tulsi Peeth’ by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya under CC BY-SA 2.0}

It was in the year 1983 when Rambhadracharya undertook the 2^nd six-month Payovrata and followed a strict diet where he only had milk & fruits. During this time, he only used to speak in Sanskrit. Hemraj Singh Chaturvedi, the Chitrakoot’s Yuvraj got impressed by him and hence he donated around 60 by 80 feet of land area. The area was adjacent to the Mandakini River. Rambhadradas’s sister, Gita Devi, used to persuade him to build an ashram here.

Rambhadradas had four rooms built there. He started going to the place more frequently. This is the time when he undertook the nine-month Payovrata at the newly constructed Ashram in the year 1986. He started performing Kathas and inspired his followers. This made Ramcharandas Phalahari, Rambhadradas’ guru to wish for staying with him in Prayag. However, Rambhadradas got reluctant.

In the year 1988, Umacharan Gupta, the Manikpur businessman gave an offer. Gupta wanted to build an Ashram with a more expansive area as well as a temple in order to stay there permanently. Soon after the offer was given, Rambhadradas agreed and started the construction. This is how the Kanch Mandir got its advent on 11 March, 1987. After this, the Tulsi Jayanti occasion in 1987 (AUG 2) was the day when Tulsi Peeth got its recognition here.

Which buildings and temples Tulsi Peeth runs?

Raghav Satsang Bhavan, aka Kanch Mandir, is the temple having three peaks, alongside the attached hall. It was built in the year 1987. The deities here are Rama, Sita & Lakshmana. There is a temple of Hanumana right to the south of this main temple. Upon your visit, you can find idols of Valmiki, Tulsidas, and Ramanandacharya in this temple.

The architectural face of this temple is so beautiful, with all doors and windows showcasing extraordinary glass attire. On walls of the hall, Ramcharitmanas’s stories are displayed in the form of glass paintings. One can also take a glimpse of the mesmerizing 24 incarnations of Lord Vishnu in regard with Bhagavata Purana.

Another building regarded to be of immense prominence here is the Tulsi School. This school is basically for the blinds, the ones who are visually challenged. This school was established on 23^rd of August in 1996 by Rambhadracharya. The pupils are assisted with free boarding, lodging, education, clothes and even food. Besides school education, the students also receive free vocational training services too. Then, there is the Sitaram Gaushala whciih is a bit smaller than other buildings. Here. cows get reared & cared.

Next, there’s the Manas Mandir which is the temple constructed in the year 2008. The mandir it is situated at Tulsi Peeth’s entrance. It houses the statue of saint Tulsidas at the center. Manas Bhavan is also an exhibition of sixteen scenes from Ramcharitmanas.It was established in the year 2011. Darshan happens to be a two-story building, and its ground floor serves the Tulsi Peeth office with a room for the students of Rambhadracharya. Its first floor is Rambhadracharya’s Residence.

Are you planning to visit Tulsi Peeth?

If you are planning to visit Janki Kund in Chitrakoot, there’s a reason why you might like your first-ever visit to Tulshi Peeth. Owing to its architectural magnificence and religious beliefs, the place has garnered ever-booming popularity.

_{Featured Photo of ‘Manas Mandir’ by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya under CC BY-SA 2.0}

Here’s How A Visit To Kanch Mandir In Indore Looks Like

Madhurima · July 29, 2020

Also known as the Kanch Ka Mandir, this temple of glass is a popular religious spot in Indore. As the name suggests, Kanch Mandir enjoys a spiritual prominence even in the current 21^st century. Built somewhere around 1903, the temple defines the true-blue architectural elements. From the magnificent elements of its floors, ceilings, pillars, and walls, to the marvelous appeal of the cut-glass chandeliers atop on the roof, everything inside the temple has got a tale to tell.

A little about the Seth Hukumchand Jain

Did you know that Kanch Ka Mandir was constructed by one of the industry pioneers of India and a prominent trader? Yes, it was none other than Seth Hukumchand Jain. In his early days, he had built one mansion in Itwaria Bazar which was known as Shish Mahal. Talking about Shish Mahal, it was at proximity to Kanch Ka Mandir. Both of which had been built elegantly by using the white stone.

Kanch Ka Mandir is a construction based on medieval mansion completed with a great canopied balcony as well as an outstanding shikhara. Now, coming to the interior of the temple – it is overall covered by the glass panels as well as mosaics that also include columns, floors, ceilings, and walls. On that note, let’s find out its architectural prominence in a country like India.

The architectural significance of Kanch Mandir in India

Here’s How a Visit to Kanch Mandir in Indore Looks Like — _{Photo of ‘Photo 15752’ by Public.Resource.Org under CC BY 2.0}

Kanch Ka Mandir is not an exception with regard to the architectural offerings that India has in its lap. In the midst of historical prominence in the country, its architectural elements define the ancient beauty of the place. Simultaneously, Kanch Ka Mandir also houses a multitude of architectural definitions for a history buff to treasure them for a lifetime.

If you are someone who loves portraying your love for history in every place you visit, then Kanch Ka Mandir is something you should never miss out on. Besides its eye-soothing elements dug on the walls and pillars, the temple also focuses on bringing its true glories through the glass chamber situated here. It creates visual illusions because with the three statues of Mahavira into an undefined number of portrayals.

Seth Hukumchand Jain was very particular about building this temple, so he thought of the Jaipur craftsmen to be appropriate for the job. However, he also walked the extra mile and hired constructional personnel from Iran also in order to parallelly work with the team. The architectural face of the temple is beautiful, and the ornamentation of the temple follows an old & medieval style of Jain architecture. The multicolored mirrors and glass are the special highlights here.

In the most significant Garbhagriha, idols of Tirthankaras have been flanked by the mirrors on the sides. So, one can see the images for an infinite number of times.

What can you learn after visiting the temple?

The temple is an abbreviation of Jain culture and traditions. Upon visiting the temple, one can learn about the stories of Jain cultures and traditions. If you are interested in the concept of ashta-karma in Jain traditions, you get to learn that too. You can also have an understanding of sapta-vyasan. Understanding the Samavasarana of Nadishwar dvipa and Lord Shiva and visiting the hall! You can also get an insight into the depiction of the most significant Jain tirthas. But, before you enter the interior, remember that the site does not allow you for photography.

Festivals celebrated in the temple in Indore

Jain festivals get celebrated with enthusiasm here in this temple. The most significant days of celebration are Sugandh Dashami. It is a special day where multi-colored rice-powder are used to make beautiful garlands for decorations. Indore collectively celebrates the vibrancy of kshamavani (also known as the festival of forgiveness). The temple organizes the rituals and celebrates it here. Annual rath-yatra is also a golden day for the temple where a golden palaki is taken out. This is the best time to visit Kanch Ka Mandir in Indore.

_{Featured Photo of ‘Kanch Mandir’ by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya under CC BY-SA 2.0}

An Enthralling Journey To The Raghupur Fort Near Shoja

Madhurima · July 26, 2020

There’s always a special thing about journeys that makes the destination worth showcasing in your travel memory lane. A sheer example of an enthralling journey would en route to Raghupur Fort.

Everyone knows that mountains hold special position in a travel nerdo’s heart. And if you ever wish to visit Tirthan Valley, Shoja should never be considered unworthy. That’s where the nature’s lap brings forth the spooky and dense view of forests. It sings to you the chirping of birds and buzzing of the bees. A trekking enthusiast finds deeper reasons to cherish the moments in Shoja because it paves the path of nirvana besides bringing you right amidst the nature’s charismatic attire.

Saryolsar Lake: From where your journey starts

If your whims find the notion of trekking evergreen, it’s worth stepping outside of your comfort zone and try out the easy to moderate trekking in the region. Let’s remind you that Shoja’s surrounding areas are a part of the great Himalayan national park. And a day trek from the hamlet will take you to Serolser Lake first.

Folklores say that this lake remains clean forever and for always. Thanks to the legendary beliefs that locals have here. It is said that the birds clean the lake and lave it pristine and tranquil all throughout. The lake is home to the Budhi Nagin temple where the deity lives ever since ages.

This lake holds special position in the hearts of the locals because of the mythological evidence. You might enjoy the lovely chilly daylight here. Perhaps, you can also try out camping for a day here. Lose yourself in the midst of the nature and find mouthwatering peace in your delicious and best ‘Meri Maggi’ version.

After having a good time near the lake, you can possibly find the ultimate peace of reaching the final destination here – Raghupur Fort.

A Visit to Raghupur Fort

A great add-on to the Saryolsar Lake is the hike to Raghupur Fort. It offers around 360 degree valley glimpses stretching until the Dhauladhar ranges. The Fort is also claimed to be known as the Raghupur Garh which is approx. 3 km trek away from the Jalori Pass. Sadly, many of the parts of this fort has been ruined, only some walls stand still. However, the trail of the Raghupur Fort passes via forests surrounding the mountains.

After you reach the beautiful meadows where this fort nestles in, you get to witness some unbelievable glimpses of nature. Remember, this post has earlier talked about the charismatic attire of the nature? You get it here, friend! And trust the fact that, you would not be able to blink your eyes (not even for ones).

You might have questions regarding the origin of the fort? However, let’s tell you that when the fort got constructed is still a mystery. You can anyway tune into the nature’s beauty here. Camping is another option that helps you discover solace in the midst of nature’s chaos. To have a great experience inside the tents, you can start planning for the trip. Here’s wishing you good luck.

Endnote

Before you start planning for the trip, let’s remind you the importance of proper trekking gear. Not to forget, you should always carry a pair of comfortable trekking shoes that will protect you from slippery area. Do not forget to carry your water bottle with you. That’s it. With these things kept in mind, your trekking journey to Raghupur Fort would turn out to be enthralling.

Featured Photo of ‘The Ruins of Raghupur Garh’ by Nathan Pratyksh Khanna under CC BY-SA 3.0