Vindhya Range

Itihaas Keh Gawaah*Kalinjar*Kartik Purnima Naman*Banda district*Uttar Pradesh

• Report rights infringement
• published: 06 Nov 2014
• views: 1444

The Neelkanth temple inside Kalinjar Fort in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh is an ancient temple, believed to be over a thousand years old according to historians but much older according to local legends and traditions. This rock cut - depicting Shiva in his Mahasadashiva form - is hewn out of solid rock and stands over 25 feet high.This great temple of Neelkanth was built during the reign of Parmardi Dev, a Chandela Rajput. Here Shivling is made of a dark-blue stone, about 1.15m high. Tarapith. Jara is the goddess of household, domestic health, happiness and prosperity. Kartik Purnima Vrat - 06 November (Thursday) http://www.drikpanchang.com/vrats/purnima-vrat-dates.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalinjar_Fort Kalinjar(Hindi: कालिंजर) is a fortress-city in the Bundelkhand region of central India. Kalinjar is located in Banda District of Uttar Pradesh state, near the temple-city and World Heritage Site of Khajuraho. The fortress is strategically located on an isolated rocky hill at the end the Vindhya Range, at an elevation of 1203 feet overlooking the plains of Bundelkhand. It served several of Bundelkhand's ruling dynasties, including Chandela dynasty of Rajputs in the 10th century, and Solankis of Rewa. The fortress contains several temples, dating as far back as Gupta dynasty of 3rd-5th centuries. Kalinjar means The destroyer of time in Sanskrit. 'Kal' is time and 'jar' destruction. Legend says that after manthan Hindu God, Lord Shiva, drank the poison and his throat became blue (hence the name Neel (blue) Kantha (throat)) and he came to Kalinjar and overcome the 'Kal' i.e. he achieved victory over death. This is the reason the Shiva temple at Kalinjar is called Neelkanth. Since then, the hill has been considered a holy site, casting its shadow across the patches of grasslands as well as the densely forested valley. The natural splendor of the surroundings makes it an ideal place for penance and meditation and, surprisingly, a strange mystique still pervades all over the hill. The western part of the fort rewards all who take the time to look inside the temple of Neelkanth Mahadev. Each time one peeps through a cave-like opening and glances at an imposing Shivlinga of around five feet, one is awe-struck. Its intrinsic feature is to reflect and refract light in the appropriate seasons, letting in light in winter and darkening to restrict its entry in summer. Just above the temple is a natural water source and water in this source never dries up. Water continually drips on Shivalinga. The priests, who are Chandela Rajputs since the time of the Chandela kings, point out an interesting factoid: The neck of the sculpture of lord shiva on the shivalinga, though made of solid rock, is always moist to touch. In some sense reminding every visitor the "neelkantha" or drinking of poison story. Close to the Shivling cave, stand the idols of Bhairava and goddess Parvati, made of black stone. Images of numerous gods and goddesses are carved on both sides of the gateway. Trimurti images are also many, showing the faces of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh(Shiva). Some distance away is a massive figure of Vishnu lying in the ocean of milk, enclosed within the coils of the Sheshnag. It presents a unique artistic charm. The presence of images of Lord Shiva the god of love Kamadev, Indrani the wife of Indra etc. speaks of influence from diverse cultures and religions. It also leads us to believe that the creation of the Chandela culture was not the handiwork of artists from one region. The Bargujar princes who ruled before the Chandelas were influenced by the 'Shaiva' cult. Therefore, among the rock-cut and stone images are mostly those of Shiva, Parvati, Nandi and the Shivling. Shiva is seen at times in his dancing posture of tandava and at others in a close embrace with goddess Parvati. ******** http://bandacity.com/kalinjar.php http://mixedfeelingsdazedthoughts.blogspot.in/2013/07/formidable-but-unforgettable-kalinjar.html Tripuri Poornima or Tripurari Poornima derives its name from Tripurari - the foe of the demon Tripurasura. In some legends of Kartik Poornima, the term is used to denote the three demon sons of Tarakasur. Tripurari is an epithet of god Shiva. Shiva in his form as Tripurantaka ("Killer of Tripurasura") killed Tripurasura on this day.Tripurasura had conquered the whole world and defeated the gods and also created three cities in space, together called "Tripura". The killing of the demon(s) and destruction of his/their cities with a single arrow - by Shiva overjoyed the gods and they declared the day as a festival of illuminations. This day is also called "Dev-Diwali" - the Diwali of the gods. Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights. Kartik Poornima is closely associated with Prabodhini Ekadashi which marks the end of Chaturmas, a four-month period when Vishnu is believed to sleep. Prabodhini Ekadashi signifies the awakening of the god.