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Rao Bika – Founder and King of Bikaner

Apr 6

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Rao bika Personal Profile:
Rao Bika was the founder of the city Bikaner in Rajasthan. He was the son of Rao Jodha, founder of the city and principality of Jodhpur.

In 1465, provoked by a stray comment by his father, Rao Bika left Marwar (Jodhpur) to create his own kingdom. His mother Rao Jodha supported Bika. He left Marwar accompanied by his uncle, Rawat Kandhal, who provided politico-strategic advice and a small contingent of Rathore warriors (500 soldier and 100 cavalrymen).

He met with Mata Karni:
During his travel, Bika stopped at Deshnoke where he met with the mystic Karni Mata. She gave him her blessings for his success. Rao bika got encouraged by her support and took advantage of the internal rivalries of the Jat clans and by 1485 build a small fort called Rati Ghati at the site of the city which today bears his name. .

Establishment of Bikaner:
In 1488 he began the building of the city itself. In the beginning the neighbouring Bhati chiefs were suspicious of the new growing power in their vicinity. Karni Mata, who had become the kuladevi of Rao Bika brought the rivalry to an end by inspiring Rao Shekha – the powerful Bhati chief of Pugal, to give the hand of his daughter in marriage to Rao Bika. .

In 1488 what Rao Jodha died, Rao Bika attempted to claim the heirlooms promised him, only for his brothers to refuse his request. In a surprise attack he stormed Mehrangarh Fort but left his brothers unharmed and departed with only the promised heirlooms (among which were a sandalwood ’Pugal’ throne, a royal umbrella, a sword and a horse of ’divine origin’).

Bika’s grandfather Raimnal through palace intrigues had been drugged with opium and tied to his bed with his own turban and murdered. Remembering this Rao Bika had a special short lightweight bed made so his feet hung over the edge. The idea being that if the same thing happened to him he would still be able to stand up and fight with it on his back. This bed is today on display in the Phul Mahal in Junagarh Fort in Bikaner.Rao Bika died in 1504. .

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Pushkar Fair, Rajasthan – Largest Cattle Fair in Rural Rajasthan

Feb 16

Posted by mystaterajasthan in festivals fairs rajasthan | No Comments

About Pushkar

The small and beautiful town of Pushkar is set in a valley just about 14 km off Ajmer in the north Indian state of Rajasthan.

Surrounded by hills on three sides and sand dunes on the other, Pushkar forms a fascinating location and a befitting backdrop for the annual religious and cattle fair which is globally famous and attracts thousands of visitors from all parts of the world.

It transforms into spectacular fair ground for twelve days during the month of kartik (Oct- Nov).
About Pushkar Fair – History

The Pushkar Fair, a major tourist attractions draws people from all over the ancient and secluded environs of Pushkar town. Devotees throng to its Ghats to bathe and cleanse their sins in the sacred Pushkar Lake to attain a place in heaven.

It is belived that this lake appeared miraculously on the spot where petals of a lotus flower fell from the hands of Lord Brahma, the creator. This answers for the famous temple here, dedicate to Lord Brahma.

Camels Resting at Pukhar Fair, Rajasthan

Camels Resting at Pukhar Fair, Rajasthan

Sight Seeing at Pushkar Fair

The fair is predominantly a rural gathering. Villagers come from different parts of the state and bring their cattle with them.

On spectacular sand dunes camel, horse and bullock races are great crowd pullers. All roads lead to the lake, which is flooded with pilgrims.

The movement of the crowd is like a tide of color with currents of crimson, yellow and turquoise.

Evenings at the Pushkar Fair have their own charm. The silent night is pierced by calls of camels. Ballads are sung by actors in passionate tones. Folk dramas, skits and folk dance are organized for the entertainment of the tourists.

Arrangements of Staying during Fair

The Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) puts up a tourist village during the fair.

The tourist village is self sufficient and specially designed to complement the natural beauty of the site. It has a Coffee Shop and Dining Hall which can cater to 1500 guests at a time.

The village is arranged in blocks of tents, each with its own identity, being named after the famous dances of Rajasthan. The village also has huts with attached western style toilets and running water.

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Bhaneshwar and Sandheswar Temples – Bikaner Rajasthan

Dec 30

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Bhaneshwar & Sandheswar Temples in Bikaner

The oldest existing structures in Bikaner are the 14th century Jain Temples built by two merchant brothers. Sandeshwar and Bhandeshwar. Neither had a son to carry on the family name, so each built a temple.  The temples are dedicated to 23rd Jain teerthankar, Parsvanathji.

Unlike other Jain shrines across the country, these temples are adorned with brightly coloured wall paintings. These temple maintains the piety of the traditional Jain place of of worship despite their radical appearance.

Architecture

The Bhandeshwar temple-rich in mirror work and the Sandeshwar temple-stylized enamel and gold leaf wall paintings.

The Bhandeshwar Temple is decorated with gold-leaf work, beautiful sculpted pillars, and floral designs. This temple is carved in red sand stone and white marble – its famous for carvings, wall paintings, structural beauty and artistically designed statues. The rich mirror work, decor and frescoes of Bhandashah and their gold leaf paintings are noteworthy.

What’s Unique about these temples

According to myth, it is said, that 40, 000 kg of ghee had been used in laying the foundation of these temple.

It is carved in red sand stone and white marble, famous for its carvings, paintings, structural beauty and artistically designed statues.

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Parshavanath Temple, Nakoda – Barmer , Rajasthan

Dec 29

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Parshavanath Temple, Nakoda, Rajasthan

Parshavanath Temple, Nakoda, Rajasthan

About Parshavanath Temple – Location

Nakoda pilgrimage, built in the desert land of Rajasthan, bears a gloriously pious dignity.  Dedicated to Jain Tirthankara Shri Parshavanath, this temple was built by the Mandlik family in 1458-59 A.D.

It is situated on a beautiful hill as high as 1500ft on the road from Jodhpur to Barmer.

The Temple at Nakoda is one among the main Jain tirth centres in India.  Because of the importance given to Adhisthayak in India, tirth is always full of pilgrims.

Architecture of the Parshavanath Temple

This is the tallest of all temples having three storeyes. The outer walls of the sanctum have beautiful sculptures in gray sandstone showing Dikpals, Vidhyadevis, Yakshinis and Shalabhanjikas. These beautiful sculptures are frequently compared to the ones in Khajuraho and Konark temples.

There is an image of the Jain saint (tirthankara) Parshvanath in black stone and the ancient idol of Shri Parshwanath Bhagwan is very attractive and full of magical powers.  It is said that 2300 years ago two brothers namely Veersen & Nakorsen has built up this city and the temples.

The main temple consists of the teerth Adhiraj idol along with the idols of Shri Adinath Bhagwan & Shri Shantinath Bhagwan in other temples in its campus. Shri Nakoda Parshwanath Bhagwan in Padmasan mudra, 58 cm in height, is an amazing blueish colour statue. The life history of Shri Shantnath Bhagwan is displayed in form of idols and placed on the walls of Shri Shantinath Bhagwan temple.

Other Jain Temples in Nakoda

There are several small and big temples near the main temple. On the right side of the temple a magnificent idol of ‘Sanwalia’ (dusky) Parshwanath is installed. In this very chamber the idols of Mother Saraswati, Dada Jindutt Suri, Acharya Kirtiratna Suri et al are also installed. There is the magnificent temple of Lord Aadinath at the rear of the main temple. The outer arch of this temple is very artistic.

The miraculous deity of this place, Shree Bhairavji Maharaj was ceremoniously installed here in samvat 1511 by Acharya Kirtiratna Suri. This pilgrimage continuously prospered after the installation of Nakoda Bhairav. The miracles of this place found abode in the minds of the people. The devotees poured in from various places of the country and abroad.

Image Source: Wikipedia

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Shri Mahavirji Temple – Chandanpur, Rajasthan

Dec 27

Posted by mystaterajasthan in about rajasthan, rajasthan pilgrims | 1 Comment

Location of Shri Mahavirji Temple

Shri Mahavirji Temple is a Jain temple devoted to the 24th Jain Tirthankar. This Digember Jain pilgrimage centre is 90 Kms by rail from Sawai Madhopur on the Delhi-Mumbai Broad gauge route. The main temple is in side in inclosure known as katla.

The town of Sri Mahavirji is one the most popular Jain pilgrimages in India for here is one of the holiest Jain temples in Rajasthan. The Shri Mahavirji temple on the banks of the river Gambhir was built in white marble in honor of Mahavira, the 24th Jain saint. The temple has a nice legend attached to it.

Legend of Shri Mahavirji Temple

The legend behind the construction of this temple is rather quaint; it is believed that a local milkman observed that his cow, after a long day’s grazing, would return in the evening with her udders empty. Obviously puzzled, the man followed the cow, and discovered that the creature would stand atop a nearby hillock and allow all her milk to flow away on it.

Shri Mahavir Ji Temple, Chandanpur, Rajasthan - A Famous Jain Pilgrimage

Shri Mahavir Ji Temple, Chandanpur, Rajasthan - A Famous Jain Pilgrimage

Architecture of Temple

Shri Mahavirji Temple is an amalgamation of ancient and modern Jain architecture – quite contemporary in design, unlike the ancient Jain temples which were highly ornamented and richly carved.

It is a complex of smaller temples with the main temple having idols of Jain saints, placed within delicately carved pillared niches.

The temple is a vast complex constructed with white sandstone, and has cupolas of red sandstone along with the chhatris & spires visible from all around.

A huge statue of Shantinath, one of the Jain ford makers, stands as high as 32 feet and there is a tower where the footsteps of Mahavira have been consecrated. The main Chattries are visiable from a distance and are built of red sandstone. The walls of the temple are illustrated with carvings of religious scenes.

A man stambh (Tower) Made of marble is installed in front of the main temple. Devotees pay specail homage at this point their Chattri is also erected bearing the footprints of Shri Mahavirji.

An annual fair is also held here which attracts Minas, Gujars Jains, and people of other communities in large numbers. The fair last for the five days and ends with a colorful Rath yatra.

It is a spendid sight to view the temple at night when lights illuminate the entire complex.

Best Time to Visit

The period between Chaitra (March-April) and Vaishakh (April-May) is when the Sri Mahavirji annual fair is held. It’s an occasion for great rejoicing, and definitely the best time to visit the shrine.

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The Brahma Temple – Pushkar Rajasthan

Dec 1

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About Pushkar

Pushkar is a famous pilgrimage center in Rajasthan, It is located 11 kms to the north west of Ajmer . The Winding road from Ajmer through Nagpahar leads to the holy Pushkar Lake. The town stretches around the lake with hills on three sides and a sandy streatch on the fourth.

According to Padam Puran the Pushkar Lake is a divine location as it is here, where a Lotus fell from the hands of Lord Brahma, when he was on his search for tranquil spot to perform a Yagna of sacrifice.

Brahma Temple, Pushkar Rajasthan

Brahma Temple, Pushkar Rajasthan

Brahma Temple – An Architectural Marvel

A visit to the Brahma Temple showcase an architectural marvel built in the 14 century AD near the Pushkar Lake. This is the only temple in the world where Lord Brahma is worshiped. A goose believed to be the official carrier of Brahma sits on the gateway to the temple, crowned with a red spire.

A beautiful carved turtle sits on the floor of the GARBHA GRIHA and the marble floor around it has hundreds of silver coins with donors names engraved on them, embedded on it.

According to legends, for five days in a year , in the month of Kartik, all the Gods visit Pushkar and bless the devout. An unbelievable number of devotees flock the lake to take a dip in the holy lake. The temple finds a special mention in the Hindu pantheons. You can see the life- sized idol of Lord Brahma, the creator in the foyer.

There are images of the peacock – the vehicle of Brahma’s consort Saraswati on the walls. The temple with marble floors has silver coins that adorn the walls placed by devotees to mark the birth or death of the loved ones.

About Pushkar Fair

These five crucial days also coincide with the biggest cattle fair of the country, called the Pushkar fair. Actually this world be quite a sacrilege to call something as vibrant as the Pushkar fair, just cattle fair. As this is when Pushkar, with palpable festivities virtually comes alive.

The scenic lake of Pushkar forms a fascinating location and a befitting backdrop for the annual religious and cattle fair. The colorful headgears of men and veils and skirts of women bring alive the arid landscape of Pushkar.

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Rajasthan – Land of Pilgrimages and Temples

Nov 28

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The land of colour and vibrance – Rajasthan – resounds with the pure and beautiful melodies of hymns, sung with love and devotion. It is blessed with a rich tradition and a golden heritage that spreads all around. The sanctified pilgrim centres in Rajasthan are not only places of worship but also monuments of great artistic beauty.

The very sight of these centres evoke feeling of purity and devotion, in the hearts of the pilgrims and draws them close to the Drive. The monuments make one feel that eternity has been preserved by mortal men, who have built brilliant architectural wonders to act as places of worship.

The various pilgrimage centres of different faiths are an excellent demonstration of communal harmony – an inherent component of the Rajasthan built magnificent forts and places but at the same time paid due attention to the today Rajasthan attracts thousands of devotees, pilgrims and lovers of art from all parts of the world to marvel at the wonders of architecture, craftsmanship and devotion.

There are many religious places in Rajasthan which should not missed while tours to Rajasthan. It will give you an insight to the rich culture and heritage of India.

Famous Pigrimage in Rajasthan

Some of famous pilgrimage are  Shrinathji Temple Nathdwara, Jain Temple Ranakpur Brahma Temple Pushkar, Govind Dev Ji Temple,Karnimata Temple,Shri Ramdev Temple, Dilwara Temple Prashvanath Temple, Eklingji Temple, Shri Mahavirji Temple, Dargah Sharif etc.

We would be starting a series on pilgrim centres in Rajasthan from Monday. So stay tuned and find out all about Rajasthan from a religious and spiritual perspective.

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Kumbhalgarh – The Fort

Sep 1

Posted by iloverajasthan in rajasthan fort | 1 Comment

Kumbhalgarh - The Fort in Rajasthan

Kumbhalgarh - The Fort in Rajasthan

Perched on 3568 feet lofty precipitous hill of the Arwallis, the fort of Kumbhalgarh shows its majestic form to the curious visitor from a distance of almost 8 miles or more. Surrounded by the lofty ranges with their summits sparkling in the sun and encircled by the dense fort on its chaotic masses of rocks, Kumbhalgarh is situated at a strategically important place on Mewar – Gujrat border over looking the plains below.

The hill on which this fort Kumbhalgarh stands is one of the highest in the range.  Its solid fortification, soaring height, intricacy of approach and rich growth of forest all around have added to the defences of the fort. Kumbhalgarh is situated 60 miles north of the famous city of lakes Udaipur.  The construction dates back to 1443 AD.

Architecture and Monuments

There are entry gates to the fort named as Aretpol, Hanumanpol, Vijaypol which are part of the first portion of the fort, the second portion fort gates are Bhaironpol, Nimboopol, Chauganpol, Pagarapol and the Ganeshpol. Entering the last gate, the visitors confront with the new palaces built on the ruins of the older palaces. There are numerous temples of varied design and forms inside the fort which definitely marks the breadth of the fort’s area.

Outside the fortess is a fine temple consisting of a square sanctuary with a vaulted dome and a colonade of elegant pillars all around. Narachhali reservoir, Topkhana, Nova choki are other places here which attract eyes. The Mamadeo temple was build by King Kumbha and the history of Mewar is inscribed on the black marble structure.

Maharan Kumbha was a great builder and a lover of art. He has built a large kund (reservoir) inside the fort. One day when he was praying on the edge of it, he was killed by his son Udaikaran. This fort is associated with extraordinary events of history. Its said that there are almost 70 forts in and around the fort . The fort which has been a silent witness to rise and fall of many kingdoms now stands desolate. Though tourists visit the place in numbers because of its historic importance and beautiful architectural designs.

The fort cant be described in words. The Fort and its walls stood so many wars that a visit to such a famous fort becomes must when a tourist visits Rajasthan. Kumbhalgarh with its known history and popular temple architecture is been described in as shortest account as possible. There is another in line to the forts which I will post tommorrow. So stay tuned as our series will be a thrilling experience of travel thorugh the walls and barriers of Rajputana dynasty.

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