Theme Rveal 2020 - Life just in 5 Sentences.

Life is a learning - A constant learning. So why not share the same . Sharing doubles the joy. Right! 

So this year I'll take this as the theme and put it across to you in just five sentences each day tailoring it around an alphabet each day - in the sequence A to Z …. That's the way Right.  

In the past I took this challenge twice. In 2015 I wrote travelogue - all about Himachal Reflections from Adi - A to Z Challenge and made you travel throughout HP - the hill state of India. In 2016 I took two writings each day - One was my poetic journey Reflections on A to Z 2016 - Let the Soul Pour and the other was Festivals of India Reflections on A to Z 2016 - Festivals of India. 

So now, stay with me - and this year enjoy four blogs each day. The first one would be the Learnings of life  - 5 Sentence Fiction.

Others would be my favourite - A poetic journey both in English & Hindi. And there would be a food blog too.....  True Indian Regional Cuisine.

So - Just stay glued.

Aditya Sinha

26.03.2020

P for Pilgrim Special - Shakti peeths in HP

This post is written for A to Z Challenge.

P for Pilgrim Special - Shakti peeths in HP

As per Hindu mythology Lord Brahma performed a yajna to please Shakti and Shiva. Goddess Shakti emerged, separating from Shiva and helped Brahma in the creation of the universe. Brahma decided to give Shakti back to Shiva. Therefore his son Daksha performed several yagnas to obtain Shakti as his daughter in the form of Sati. It was then decided that Sati was brought into this world with the motive of getting married to Shiva.

However, due to Lord Shiva's curse to Brahma that his fifth head was cut off due to his lie in front of Shiva, Daksha started hating Lord Shiva and decided not to let Lord Shiva and Sati get married. However, Sati got attracted to Shiva and finally one day Shiva and Sati got married. This marriage only increased Daksha's hatred towards Lord Shiva.

Daksha performed a yagna with a desire to take revenge on Lord Shiva near munimandala. Here Daksha invited all the deities to the yajna except Lord Shiva and Sati. The fact that she was not invited did not deter Sati from attending the yagna. She expressed her desire to attend the yagna to Shiva, who tried his best to avoid her from going but Shiva eventually relented and Sati went to the yagna. Being an uninvited guest, Sati was not given any respect at the yagna. To add to it, Daksha insulted Shiva. Sati was unable to bear her father's insults toward her husband, and she immolated herself.

Shiva on knowing this got angry and took virbhadra avatar and destroyed Daksha's yagna, cut off Daksha’s head, and later replaced it with that of a male goat as he restored him to life. Virabhadra did'nt stop fighting he kept raging with anger. Gods prayed Lord Vishnu who started fighting with Shiva. Still immersed in grief, Shiva picked up the remains of Sati's body, and started Tandava, the celestial dance of destruction, across all creation. The other Gods requested Vishnu to intervene to stop this destruction, to which Vishnu used the Sudarshana Chakra and cut the Sati's corpse. Thus, the various parts of the body fell at several spots all through the Indian subcontinent. These sites are known as Shakti Peethas today. It is believed that there are 51 Shakti Peeths across this subcontinent.

Out of 51 Shakti Peeths, Himachal is privileged to have 5 Shakti Peeths. 

1. Chintpurni Temple in Una district.

2. Chamunda Temple in Kangra district.

3. Bajreshwari Temple in Kangra district.

4. Jwalaji Temple in Kangra district.

5. Naina Devi Temple in Bilaspur district.

Chintpurni Temple in Una district : Chintpurni is around 45 km from Una towards Kangra and is motor able till the temple. It is believed that when one of the severed feet of Goddess Sati, fell in Chintpurni. It is also called Chinmastika.

Chhinmastika

Chhinmastika

Chamunda Devi : The Chamunda Devi Temple is in the heart of the city on the mainm highway from Dharamshala to Palampur about 18 kms from Dharamshala and 55 kms from Jwala Ji. It is on the banks of River Baner.

Main Chamunda Temple

The temple is dedicated to Chamunda Devi, who is a form of Durga / Shakti. Chamunda Devi Mandir is believed to be the abode of 'Shiva and Shakti'. Due to this reason, it is also known as 'Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham'. A second belief says that the term 'Chamunda' has been derived from two words, 'Chanda' and 'Munda'. As per the mythological legends, Durga made a goddess with her power, to slay the demons, Chanda and Munda. With her immense power, the Goddess killed the demons. Goddess Durga became happy with the slaughter and blessed the goddess that she would be known and worshipped as Chamunda.

In the corner of the temple, one can see small footsteps of the Goddess on a stone. Besides the main shrine, there is a marble staircase that takes down to the cave of Lord Shiva. This is a cave-like scoop where Shiva Lingam is placed. Its a must visit.

The Hanuman Idol in the temple complex

There is also a huge Hanuman Idol on the outside of the main temple which is worth a gauge. One can spent some time on the banks of the river flowing by the sides of the temple.

River Baner

The river sight besides temple

Bajreshwari Devi : Situated in the main Kangra district is believed to have been built on charred breasts of Sati.  Worth noticing in this white temple are the three Gumbaj of the temple which are designed as a temple , a mosque and a Gurudwara. This is also called Kangra Devi or Nagarkot Dham.

Bajreshwari Devi

Jwala Ji or Jwalamukhi : is 48 km south of Dharamshala or 30 kms from Kangra. If you are coming by road from Una, you can divert from Dehra to Jwalamukhi which is around 25 kms from Dehra. Its believed that the burning tongue of Goddess Sati fell in the Jwalamukhi region. 

The  main entry of Jwala ji

In the main Temple you can see continuous flames coming out which is till date unexplained.

Jwala ji Jyoti in Jwala ji complex

Jwala Ji

Its believed that once Akbar didn't believe in the sacredness of the temple, yet offered a gold Chhatra for the temple which Goddess didn't accept and converted the metal in a mysterious metal. The chhatra is still preserved here of which no scientists have been able to detect the exact nature of the metal till date.

Chhatra givedn by Akbar

Naina Devi : The eyes of Goddess Sati fell here. Naina Devi falls in the Bilaspur region of Himachal Pradesh. One can turn uphill around 24 kms  towards Naina Devi from Anandpur Sahib in Punjab to reach here. It is believed that the eyes of Sati fell here.

Mata Naina Devi

Naina Devi Temple

If one is travelling to visit only shakti peeths from Una/ Chandigarh , he can first visit to Chintpurni, then to Bajreshwari Devi, and lastly Chamunda. On the next day one can visit Jwalaji early and then move to Naina Devi and way back to Chandigarh.

This was with P. Tomorrow it would be Q.

For other posts on Himachal written as part of Ato Z Challenge : List of post on Himachal Pradesh written as part of A to Z challenge.

Aditya Sinha

For other participants in the challenge visit : A to Z Challenge

A - for Apple State

This post is written as a part of April 2015 A to Z challenge. So we start the challenge with the first letter A and for me this A is Apple State that is directly to the epicenter of the theme. The theme for the month for this challenge is travel and my stories are to revolve around the Himalayan State of HP.

Apple State of India

Snow Capped Dhauladhar Range in a Moonlit Night.

                               

So which is the apple state of India? 

No its not J&K its Himachal Pradesh.

Right! Though J&K produces the highest amount of Apples, the Himalayan State of Himachal has earned the fame as Apple State. Further, from Apple this is poised to now earn the distinction of fruit state of World. The Kullu valley here is famous for some of the rare fruits and has earned the state another name viz. Fruit Bowl of India. Aside from Apple, Figs, Apricots, Pomegranate, Almond, Pear, Plum, Walnut, citrus fruits like oranges, kinoos, grapes, raisin, and even fruits of deciduous region like mango, litchi, guava etc. are found in plenty over here. 

The Apple Orchards in Kullu

How the apple arrived in HP is also an interesting story which we can read on AIR page here. 

Aside from the Kullu Valley, the Shimla range, the Kinnaur valley are other famous fruit belts of the state. The state also provides rich supply of winter vegetables to the northern states of the country.

The Cauliflower field in Keylong

So, now if you are travelling to this hill state, be assured to return rejuvenated not only by enjoying the Himalayan ranges, the snow covered peaks, the deep gorges, the gushing streams, vast jungles, the arrays of tall Pines in the lower range giving way to Deodars in the upper, and even ending to cold deserts at high altitudes, the contouring roads etc. but also by visiting the bloom of orchards of the fruit valleys of Kullu, the vegetable fields in roads from Rohtang to Keylong among others. The state also offers enormous opportunity to pilgrims’ sites, pagodas, monasteries, mesmerizing hill stations, adventure sports, trekking routes etc. Even a month would seem short.

Glacier frozen in deep gorges

Beas flowing between mountain ranges

Fresh water lake at High Altitude enroute from Keylong to Leh

The Roads at high altitudes

Jwalaji - one of the Many Shakti peeths in HP

Paragliding at the World famous Paragliding Site - Bir

The Parashar Lake

River Beas

Enjoying Snow fall

Tea Garden of Kangra

The Contouring Routes

The Dense Deodar Forest at the back

Kal- Kal karte Jharne 

In the next thirty days I would try to touch some of the places to cover all the above aspects of your itinerary. Keep visiting. Tomorrow would be 'B'.

Aditya Sinha

Map Courtesy: http://hptdc.nic.in/map.htm

For other posts on Himachal written as part of Ato Z Challenge : List of post on Himachal Pradesh written as part of A to Z challenge.

For other participants in the challenge visit : A to Z Challenge

A to Z challenge

So many of you taking the challenge! I couldn't resist any more . 

Let's see how I cope up with the busy schedule and the travel plans in April. But yes I am with you all fellow bloggers. A special thanks for Sweta, Shashank and Amita, whose posts acted as a propellant and charged me to take this tour.

Now after deciding to enter the A to Z challenge, I was first planning to go on random thoughts. But then I have zeroed upon a common theme in the list. And the theme would be TRAVEL. So my blogs in the month would move around this theme with some travelogues, some places of visits, may be some food items, adventure sports, pilgrim points untouched locations some photoblogs and likes. Most of these would be articles, but surely I would not miss adding one or two poem in the whole month revolving around the theme. And the last but not the least - the places or spots would be from the Indian himalayan states of Himachal and Uttaranchal. I have spent around two years in each of these states and so would be able to do some justice. I am sure you would love it.

So let the Pandora Box open....

Aditya Sinha

01.04.2015

Aligarh.