Indian Columbus

Chengalpattu is an important town located near Chennai, the gateway to South India. The Kodandaramar Temple is one of the notable temples and local landmarks of Chengalpattu. It is situated in the heart of the town, hardly one kilometre from the railway station and bus stand. The main shrine of the temple has a rare icon of Lord Rama seated in Pattabhisheka posture, the royal coronation form. Sita is also seen seated beside him, with her left leg raised and her right leg folded. Rama’s brothers, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna, along with a small icon of Hanuman, are also found around the divine couple in the sanctum. The bronze utsava icons of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman are also housed in the main shrine. Near the main shrine, there is another shrine that enshrines the icons of Vaishnava saints and devotees, including a few Alwars, Mudali Andan and Ramanuja. There is also a separate shrine for Varadar. This small old temple does not have a tower. However, it has a flagsta...

Akhnoor is a historic town with strong traditional associations. It is located about 20 kilometres from Jammu city in Jammu and Kashmir. This picturesque town stands on the banks of the Chenab River and has several places of interest for travellers. Akhnoor is a small town, but the Chenab gives it a special charm. The river flows along the town, and because it is fed by the Himalayan glaciers, it carries water throughout the year. One of the first attractions here is the Gurudwara on the riverbank. Built in white marble, it looks graceful against the backdrop of the Chenab. Another important place in the town is the temple dedicated to Lord Parashurama, an incarnation of Vishnu. Unlike the temples of Rama and Krishna, temples dedicated to Parashurama are comparatively rare. Apart from the Parashurama shrine, this temple also has shrines for Vaishno Devi and Shiva-Parvati-Ganesha. Akhnoor is traditionally believed to be associated with Virata Nagara of the Mahabharata. It is said to be...

Kali, the fierce form of the Divine Mother, holds a very important place in the religious life of Bengal. Kolkata, in West Bengal, is especially known for its Kali temples. Interestingly, Jammu, located in the northern part of India, also has a famous Kali temple. Jammu is often called the City of Temples because of its many sacred places. However, the presiding deity deeply revered by the people of Jammu is not housed in a grand standalone temple, but within the historic Bahu Fort. As per local tradition, Bahu Fort is believed to be one of the oldest forts of Jammu. It is said to have been originally built by Raja Bahulochan several centuries ago. The fort is located about five kilometres from the city centre, on the banks of the Tawi River. Historically, it was rebuilt by the Dogra ruler Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1822 CE. The Mahakali Temple, located inside the fort, was an important shrine for the Dogra rulers and continues to be one of the most revered temples for the people of Jamm...

Jammu, the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir, is known for its many temples and is often called the City of Temples. Har Ki Pauri is the name of the famous bathing ghat in Haridwar, one of the sacred cities of the Hindus. Interestingly, Jammu too has a temple named Har Ki Pauri, inspired by the famous ghat. The Har Ki Pauri Temple of Jammu is a modern temple built on the banks of the Tawi River. Today, it attracts a large number of devotees because of its impressive icons and the presence of almost all major Gods and Goddesses of Hinduism within one complex. The temple is broadly divided into three sections. The riverbank here is called Ganga Ghat, although the river flowing beside it is the Tawi. The first section of the temple has a magnificent icon of Ganesha on the roof, visible even from a long distance. This section has a shrine for Chamunda Devi, shown seated on a lion. On either side of this main shrine, one can find the icons and shrines of Surya, Dharma, Yama, Chitragupta,...

Jammu, the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir, is home to many important temples. It is, therefore, often called the City of Temples. Among its popular shrines is the Peer Khoh Jambavan Cave Shrine, located on Circular Road in Jammu. The cave temple consists of three caves: the Shivji Cave, the Jambavan Cave and the Nav Durga Cave. The main cave is dedicated to Shiva and enshrines a Shiva Linga, along with an icon of Ganesha. A narrow passage inside this cave is believed to be connected with Amarnath. It is also traditionally believed that Jambavan, the bear-chief from the Ramayana, entered through this passage before his encounter with Lord Krishna. This association with Jambavan gives the shrine its name. An icon of Hanuman is also found near the entrance of the main cave. The second cave is known as the Jambavan Cave. It houses the icons of Jambavan, Dharmaraj, Chitragupta, Gorakhnath, Krishna, and Shiva with Parvati and Ganesha. The third cave is the Nav Durga Cave, where the n...