ESSENCE OF BHARAT YATRA SMRITI (Annexed by Lord Shri Rama’s Tirtha Yatras) Compiled, edited, and interpreted by V.D.N.Rao, former General Manager, India Trade Promotion Organisation, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India, now at Chennai 1 Other scripts by same author Essence of Puranas: Maha Bhagavata, Vishnu, Matsya, Kurma, Varah, Vamana, Narada,Padma, Shiva, Skanda, Markandeya, Devi Bhagavata, Brahma, Brahma Vaivarta, Brahmanda, Agni, Bhavishya, Nilamata, and Shri Kamakshi Vilasa. Index of main subjects covered in Essence of Puranas too. Dwadasha Divya Sahasra Naama: Charurvidha Devi Sahasra Naama: Lakshm, Lalitha, Saraswati, Gayatri Chaturvidha Shiva Sahasra Naama: Shiva- Linga-Brahma Puranas and Maha Bharata Chaturvidha Vishnu Sahasra Naama: Padma-Skanda-Narada Puranas and Maha Bharata Stotra Kavacha- A Shield of Prayers Purana Saaraamsha Select Stories from Puranas Essence of Dharma Sindhu Essence of Paraashara Smriti Essence of Pradhana Tirthas Essence of Amarnath Yatra Essence of Dharma Bindu Essence of Upanishads Rig Veda Base: Kausheetaki, Atreyi Yajur Veda Base: Brihadaaranyaka, Katha, Taittiriya, Isha, and Shvetaashvatara Saama Veda Base: Chhandogya, Kena Atharva Base: Mundaka, Maandukya and Prashna Quintessence of Dwaadasha Upanishads Essence of Virat Parva of Maha Bharata* [ Note: All the above works already released vide kamakoti.org/news and google except that with* being processed] 2 CONTENTS Introduction Dwadasha Shiva Lingas- Kedar, Bhima Shankar, Varanasi, Triyambika, Somnath, Shrishailam, Ujjain, Omkareshwara, Vaidyanath, Nageshwar, Rameshwara and Ghrishsneshwara. (P5) Other Prasiddha Lingas & Upa Lingas (P: 18); Shiva Murtis and 108 Shiva Kshetras (P 20-21) Ashtottara Shata Divya Devi Sthalas and Shakti Peethas (P 22-25) Ganapati Kshetras (P 25 ) ; Subrahmanya Kshetras ( (P 27-29 ) Navagraha Kshetras ( P 30-33 ) Divya Vishnu Sthaalas (108) reckoned by Alwars (P35-65) Other 72 Famed Tirtha Kshetras of Bharata (P66-129): Amarnath , Annavaram, Bhadrachala, Chennai, Chidambaram , Chilukur, Dakor,Dharmashala, Gaya , Gangotri-Yamunotri , Godavari , Gokarna, Guruvayur , Harihar , Halebid, Hampi , Jambukesha , Jogulamba , Kaladi, Kalahasti, Kanaka Durga, Kanchi ; Kangra, Kanyakumari , Karani Devi, Keshava Rai, Khato Shyam, Kheer Bhavani, Kolkatta , Kolhapur, Konarak, Kurukshetra, Lepakshi , Lohargala, Madurantakam , Madurai, Mahabaleshwara , Mahi Sagara Sangama, Manasarovra , Mandapalli , Mantralaya, Melkote, Mookambika, Mt. Abu, Nathwara, Narmada, Pandaripura , Pithapura, Prayaga , Puri Jagannadha , Pushkar, Sakshi Gopal , Shabarimalai, Shiridi -Shani Singapur, Shringeri, Shyamalaji, Siddhapur, Simhachala, Sonpur Patna, Sri Perambudur , Tanjore , Tiruvannamalai , Tiruvattrar Adi Keshava, Tiruvallur, Tripu - nittara ,Trissur , Tujla Bhavani , Udupi, Vaishnodevi, Vemulawada, Waavi , Yadagirigutta. Yatra Paribhasha Vijnaana or Some illustrations of Yatra-Jnaana (P130) Jain Philosophy: Digambara Jain and Shvetambara Jain Kshetras (P 134) Pradhana Bouddha Kshetras (141) Annexure: Shri Rama Tirtha Vidhana: Major -Pre wedding -Vana Vaasa Parikramas (PP 143-149) 3 PREFACE There has been an intense desire of mine to piece together even a rather incomplete compilation of Bharata Kshetras as propounded by various beliefs of the generic Hindu Thought and its fall-outs. Some believe that the Supreme is Singular, many believe that such a Unique Power is manifested in various Swarupas and as such worship to specified Forms would be appropriate, some conclude that Paramatma and Antaratma are subtle and unified, others are convinced that existence of body organs and senses with all of one‟s own pluses and minuses defies that logic of the Supreme and the Inner-Consciouness being identical. Indeed the Kshetras and Places of Worship would as such vary and are obviously conditioned by the Beliefs of one‟s own pursuance. The specified Swarups being worshipped are by themselves diverse; they could be Shiva or Vishnu or Shaktis, or Ganesha or Subrahmanya, Nava Grahas and so on. The concerned Kshetras are varied and some of these lend themselves of popular faith and belief. It in such a maze of the Kshetras of significance and boon-bestowing nature, any compilation would be not only incomplete but subjective. I have taken out relevant excerpts from another earlier script of mine viz. Essence of Pradhana Tirthas, as already released by the website of kamakoti.org. Despite the normal precepts of Dharma and Nyaaya or Virtue and Justice of the Core Hindu Philosophy, as descended by the Scriptures of Veda- Vedanga- Purana-Upanishads are well defined, the emphasizes on such Principles are kaleidoscopic and staggering. Pioneers like Acharyas-Nimbaka, Shri Natha- Gouda-Swami Narayana sects apart, certain well defined Jaina- Bouddha- and other Practioners are in strong positions too and accordingly, the Kshetras, Mandirs and Places of worship are interminable. Hence the desire to compile the Essence of Bharata Yatra Smriti is truly incomplete and perhaps very limited, yet the attempt is genuine and squirrel like endeavor of „Setu Bandhana‟. Appopriately enough, annexing Lord Shri Rama‟s Setu bandhana as an integral part of the present effort is perhaps not out of context. I am ever grateful to the constant encouragement of HH Vijayendra Saraswati especially to highlight the aspects of Tirtha Giri Pradakshina and on Jain Sacred Tirthas. I do dedicate this honest effort to the everlasing memory of Maha Swami theWalking God as my entire family is totally committed to his blessings. VDN Rao 4 ESSENCE OF BHARAT YATRA SMRITI Yasya hastou cha paadoucha manaschaiva susamyatam, Vidyaa tapascha kirtischa sa tirtha phalamashnute/ ( To all those undertaking Tirtha Yatras with their hands and feet under control and are full of devotion and faith in Paramatma are indeed blessed with fulfillment of one‟s desires) Introduction The length and breadth of the „Akhanda Bharat‟ is dotted by every inch of Sacred Land Tirthas. This presentation initiates with Dwadasha Jyotir Lingas, Upa Lingas, Prasiddha Shiva Lingas, Shiva Murtis and Ashtottara shata Shiva Kshetras, Divya Shakti Sthaalas and Devi Shakti Peethas, followed by Ganapati Kheshtras, Subrahmanya Kshetras, Navagraha Kshetras, Divya Vishnu Kshetras, Siddha- Shradha Sthalas, and various other Sanctified Places of Yatra Mahima of Basic Hindu Belief . The nuances of basic Hindu Thought as highlighted by the pilgrimage kshetras of successive Acharyas are highlighted too viz. Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, Nimbaka, Ananda, Madhva, Gouda, Nadha, Swami Narayana beliefs. Then there are highlights of Jaina and Boudha Tirthas of basic Hindu fall out are decribed. At the end, details of Shri Rama Bharata Yatra are detailed. Dwadasha Jyotir Lingas Kedaro Himavatprushthe Daakinyaam Bhimasankarah /Vaaranaasyam cha Viswestriumbako Gautami thatey/ Saurashtrey Sommanathasva Srisaile Mallikarjunah / Ujjainyam Maha Kala Omkare cha Amaresvarah / Vaidyanathaaschitha bhumo Nagesho Daarukaananey / Sethu bandhe cha Ramesho Ghrusneswara Siva lingo/Avatara Dvadasakamethchhambhoh Paramatmana/ Nandiswara in Shiva Purana described the Most Celebrated Twelve Jyotirlingas of Maha Deva as follows: Kedarnath in Himalayas, Bhima Sankar in Dakinya, Viswesvara in Varanasi, Triambaka on the banks of River Gautami, Somnatha in Saurashtra, Mallikarjuna in Sri Sailam, Maha Kala in Ujjain, Amareswara at Omkara, Vaidyanatha in Chitha Bhumi, Nageshwara at Daruka, Rameswara at Setu Bandhana, and Ghrishneswara. [ Kedarnath in Uttaranchal, Bhima Shankar near Pune in Maharashtra, Visveswara in Varanasi, Somnath in Gujarat, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, Maha Kala in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, Omkara also in Madhya Pradesh, Vaidhyanath at Deogarh (Bihar), Nageshawara near Dwaraka in Gujarat, Rameswara in Tamilnadu, and Ghrishneswar near Ellora Caves in Aurangabad in Maharashtra] There are some claims and counter claims of the geographical situation of some of the Jyotirlingas and one might possibly visit these Places too possibly! Kedarehwara: Flanked by breath taking views of snow-clad peaks of Himalayas at a height of 3585 m from Sea level on the banks of River Mandakini, Kedareswar is the highest point where Maha Deva‟s presence is indeed felt in the manifestation of a famed Kedareswara Jyotir Linga as spread out as a fairly large expanse of black 5 stone with an inclined elevation in the middle portion. Being inaccessible excepting by a difficult 14km trek by foot, or horse back or „dolis‟( palanquins) carried by two or four humans from Gaurikund, the Temple is open only during end April through November since residents, let alone pilgrims, have little access to the Mountain Top Temple during heavy snowfall in the intervening period. [A helicopter service is available now from Agastya Muni to Phata to reach Kedarnath]. The incarnations of Lord Vishnu in the form of two Sages Nara and Narayana meditated to Bhagavan Siva for several years and as the latter appeared and said that the incarnations of Vishnu Himself executed the penance without any basic reason excepting the welfare of humanity and thus agreed to manifest Himself as a Jyotir Linga at that hallowed place. Nara and Narayana are believed to have assumed their forms as hallowed mountains nearby. According to Puranas, Pandavas performed penance at the Temple and even in the opening Hall of the Temple at the entrance of the Sanctum, there are idols of Pandavas, Lord Krishna, Nandi and Veerabhadra. The belief is that Pandavas were chasing a Bull- Lord Siva Himself-