Visit to Panchavati
We visited Nasik (only a temple with all marble idols and also Padmavyuham) and Trayambak earlier when we went on a trip to holy places in a tourist bus. But they didn't take us to Panchavati.
Panchavati is an area of few acres where Rama used to live for 4 months during the Vanavasa period. (I wish the entire place is walled and there shouldn't be any residents but only trees to be planted.) We have to go through old and narrow streets to see 6 to 7 mandirs. Godavari water here is very dirty.
We can see 'Arthanareeswara' form of Lord Shiva before the confluence of Godavari river and two more rivers. We can see children diving into the water and they ask the pilgrims to throw coins into the water so that they can bring them back and keep those coins with them. Diyas (lamps) are also sold with flowers as a set to be left in the water.
After few yards, we can see the temple which houses the lords Dattatreya, Gayatri Devi, Shiva , Ganapati.
'Nasika' means Nose in Sanskrit. It is here that Lakshmana, younger brother of Lord Rama, cut the nose of Surphanakha, younger sister of Ravana. Hence the name 'Nasik'. The agitated Ravana sends his brothers with army to kill Lakshmana. Then Rama hides Sita in a secret place (Guha) and to remember the place he plants 5(Panch) trees (Vata) - (Pancha Vati). So we can see 'Seetaguha' there. We have to go downstairs through a very very narrow opening. We can see beautiful idols of Seeta, Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuma.
Besides that there is a Sivalinga in another room and we have to come upstairs from that side through another narrow opening. Near Sitaguha we will find the 5 trees numbered.
The best temple in Panchavati is Kalaram temple. One must visit this temple if they happen to go to Nasik. The story goes like this. In the godavari river (actually the confluence of three rivers) near this temple, people found the black idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman.
So the then peshwa of the place brought black stones from different places and built the present temple. They used only limestone and milk instead of cement. The significance of the architecture of the temple is that on the day of Srirama Navami, the first ray of sun falls at the feet of the idol of rama in the sanctum sanctorum.
The temple is in the middle and there is much open space on all sides inside the prakara (compound wall). We can take the photo of the idols here. The autowallas charge Rs. 51 to take us to all these temples and they act as guides too.
Panchavati is an area of few acres where Rama used to live for 4 months during the Vanavasa period. (I wish the entire place is walled and there shouldn't be any residents but only trees to be planted.) We have to go through old and narrow streets to see 6 to 7 mandirs. Godavari water here is very dirty.
We can see 'Arthanareeswara' form of Lord Shiva before the confluence of Godavari river and two more rivers. We can see children diving into the water and they ask the pilgrims to throw coins into the water so that they can bring them back and keep those coins with them. Diyas (lamps) are also sold with flowers as a set to be left in the water.
After few yards, we can see the temple which houses the lords Dattatreya, Gayatri Devi, Shiva , Ganapati.
'Nasika' means Nose in Sanskrit. It is here that Lakshmana, younger brother of Lord Rama, cut the nose of Surphanakha, younger sister of Ravana. Hence the name 'Nasik'. The agitated Ravana sends his brothers with army to kill Lakshmana. Then Rama hides Sita in a secret place (Guha) and to remember the place he plants 5(Panch) trees (Vata) - (Pancha Vati). So we can see 'Seetaguha' there. We have to go downstairs through a very very narrow opening. We can see beautiful idols of Seeta, Rama, Lakshmana and Hanuma.
Besides that there is a Sivalinga in another room and we have to come upstairs from that side through another narrow opening. Near Sitaguha we will find the 5 trees numbered.
The best temple in Panchavati is Kalaram temple. One must visit this temple if they happen to go to Nasik. The story goes like this. In the godavari river (actually the confluence of three rivers) near this temple, people found the black idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman.
So the then peshwa of the place brought black stones from different places and built the present temple. They used only limestone and milk instead of cement. The significance of the architecture of the temple is that on the day of Srirama Navami, the first ray of sun falls at the feet of the idol of rama in the sanctum sanctorum.
The temple is in the middle and there is much open space on all sides inside the prakara (compound wall). We can take the photo of the idols here. The autowallas charge Rs. 51 to take us to all these temples and they act as guides too.
posted by saigeetika | 2:45 AM
1 Comments:
THANKS FOR THIS VALUABLE INFORMATION
REGARDS
BM
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