15 Nov 2011

India Pilgrimage - 1st part

From time to time, we will post an update sharing some info about the course of the pilgrimage along with a few photos from the holy places that Swami Vishwananda and the pilgrimage group have already visited. Here is the first part:


After arriving at Mumbai Airport on Saturday night, all of the travellers boarded a bus to Nashik, one of the world's holiest Hindu cities. This place is important for Hindu rituals related to afterlife offerings. The Kumbha Mela is also held here once in every 12 years along the holy river Godavari.
Lord Rama along with Lakshmana and Sita spent 14 years in exile at Tapovan near Nashik.
Godavari Ghat: The Godavari river runs from western to southern India and is considered to be one of the biggest river basins in India.

The Godavari Temple was built by Elder Madhavrao Peshwa's mother, Gopikabai in 1760. This temple is open for devotees for 13 months during the period of Kumbha Mela (once in 12 years). It is also called the Ganga Temple.
Kalaram Mandir:
This temple was built in 1794 and is similar in its architectural design to the Triambakeshwar temple found nearby. The temple is 70 feet in height and was raised from the idea of Gopikabai Peshwa. It was built with black stone from the mines of Ramsej Hill. There is a beautiful gold-plated copper peak on the temple. Beautiful, lavishly adorned icons of Rama, Sita and Lakshman are found in the temple. The temple is surrounded by several smaller temples such as the Vithal temple, Ganapati temple and Maruti temple.