The Holy Triangle ( Part - 5) - Junagadh

Junagadh - It's a small city surrounded by mountains, and forts all over. The name itself signifies Gadh means - hill. The 9th day of our trip and the best place to conclude our vacation of 10 days. We reached Junagadh by 11 am and checked into a beautiful resort just below the famous Mount Girnar hill. Our room was facing towards a huge spread of mountains, which was a breathtaking view. Junagadh is famous for its mountains, temples, and old caves. After refreshments, we started towards the ancient Girnar hill. Standing tall at 3672 feet, this centuries-old hill is covered with 866 Hindu and Jain temples that are spread over the summits. 

Girnar hills hold a special place for Hindu devotees. Dattatreya Paduka, an ancient temple located on 9,999 steps of Girnar hill, is the most revered site for Hindus. Locals say that the Paduka of Guru " Dattatreya" is resting on the uppermost tonk of the Girnar. Many of the sadhus say they have seen the sights of Guru Dattatreya. Jain pilgrims call Girnar Mount Neminath. The group of temples on the top of Girnar hill is sacred to both Digambar and Shewtambar, two main sects of Jainism. 

Adhya Shakti Goddess Ambaji temple is located on Girnar hills at around 4840 steps and 3300 feet height. This temple is a very important pilgrimage for both Hindus and Jains across the world. It is believed that the Ambaji temple in Girnar hill is the oldest and the holiest. This is the first highest peak of Girnar as well. This temple is one of the 51 shakti peethas. As per the legend, lord Shree Vishnu had given a boon to Girnar that all the gods will stay here at Grinar and named as "Giri Narayana". 

Earlier devotees used to climb 5000 steps to reach Ambaji temple. In the year 2020 October, our honorable Prime Minister - Shree Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ropeway facility to reach Ambaji temple, which takes just 8 minutes. This is supposed to be Asia's biggest ropeway. It takes pilgrims at 2,800ft above the hill to the Girnar Amabaji temple from Bhavnath Taleti. We witnessed a scenic aerial view of the lush green beauty surrounding Mount Girnar. 

Upon reaching the Ambaji temple, we had a soulful darshan of the mother divine. Felt so pure and fresh, between mountains and temples. Besides these temples, there are some minor temples namely "Meravasi" built in the 15th century. Married couples visit this temple to seek blessings. In the present day, Girnar is one of India's biggest pilgrimage places. A race is conducted every year, the race involves climbing to the top of 8000 steps. A large number of people take part in it, and it is a major attraction here. 

After Ambaji darshan, we went shopping in the bazaars. Here in Junagadh, you will witness remembrances such as wall hangings, cloth toys, embroidered footwear, silk sarees, and herbal medicines. One will witness narrow lanes, market shifts, shopkeepers harking, and street shops. As the place is supported by the giant Girnar hill there is a giant market for herbal products here. Many manufacturing companies are making the product and also selling them at good affordable prices. 

We concluded our 10 days vacation in one of India's beautiful state truly vibrant in its culture, food, art, folk music, heritage, and traditions. A state which offers only the best thing. Isn't there one thing that binds all these stories and images? Devotion or say faith or call it love. You feel that buoyant joy here, a feeling that you have been dragged out of the stream of life, the continuous time and space you live in, to a place where everything has settled, where one can find the calmness in the roaring sea and peace in the mystic stories of Meera and Krishna. And standing amid this divinity, Gujarat is the land where life processes condense into devotion or love, one realizes that love is the central force where all the forces mingle. Love is devotion. Love is awareness. Krishna is love and Meera is devotion. 

The real pride of India - Gujarat. Concluding the last part -5 of this Holy Triangle - 

Dwarka, Somnath, and Junagadh. "Jai Shree Krishna" 

The Holy Triangle ( Part- 4 ) Somnath

After a journey of 3 hours from Dwarka we reached Somnath. Checked in to the hotel. This city has descent 3-star hotels, where one can have a pleasant stay. After having luscious lunch we started towards Shree Somnath Jyotirling darshan. The temple is beautifully carved with honey-colored stone. Somnath is one among the 12 Shiva Jyotirling that our country has. There is a legend saying this temple was destroyed serval times by Muslim invaders and thus was attacked and destroyed 6 times until the present 7th version emerged. 

This temple has a few fascinating tales - Chandra or the moon god had undertaken rigorous penance here to free himself from the curse given by his father-in-law Daksha Prajapati. Out of 27 wives, Chandra favored only Rohini and neglected the rest. Daksha Prajapati was exasperated by the neglect of his other daughters thus cursed the moon that he would soon lose his entire luster. The anxious moon came down to Prabhas Patna to pray to Lord Shiva to get rid of the curse. Lord Shiva was ultimately got impressed by his devotion and freed him from the curse. Out of gratitude Moon god set up a jyotirling at this place which later became famous as Somnath temple. 

The temple of Somnath is well maintained upon having hundreds of devotees visiting in a day. We too got a very nice darshan of the lord. One can offer Ganga jal to the lord which is kept in small shops inside Somnath temple. We offered Ganga Jal to the lord. The magnificent Shiv ling, looked heavenly, decorated with bhasma/vibhuti. With our hearts full of gratitude, we took the darshan of Mahadev. We registered our name for Rudra Abhishek the next day morning. After having darshan and prasad we headed towards the beach which is located adjacent to the Somnath temple, a 10 min walk. On that cool breeze evening, walking on the chilled sandstones of the huge temple of Somnath we felt alive. It was our 4th Jyotirling darshan.

We had a great time on the beach after Somnath ji darshan. I love sunsets on the seashore. R was busy and enthusiastic building Shivling from the sand on the seashore, Those happiness and sparkle in the eyes of R was so refreshing, I just wished him - may your joys be as deep and huge as an ocean. After spending a nice cool breeze evening near the sea, we started towards a place called " Baan Ganga". One should not miss visiting this place who comes to Somnath. It is a shrine in the Arabian Sea near Somnath temple. It's a place of serenity and faith. There are three Shivaling submerged in water, quite visible as it is near the seashore. Two Shiv ling is easily visible and the third is submerged in water due to high tides. These shivlings are said to be Swambhu (appeared by themselves) This is the place where hunter Jara bathed and worshiped lord Shiva before going on hunting, and later Jara shot an arrow to the toe of lord Krishna. We entered the ocean and walked near the Shivling and did Abhishek to the lord. The waves splash these shivlings for ages but they are unharmed. The level of salt is so high in this ocean that all the rocks have turned sharp and slippery. But the Shivling is intact. It was a mesmerizing view. 

Later we started towards - "Balka Tirth". This temple is dedicated to lord - Sri Krishna. It is believed that this was the place where - "Jara- The hunter mistakenly shot an arrow to the toe of lord Krishna who was resting in meditation pose under a Pipal tree, where Jara misunderstood the foot of  Krishna as a deer and he hit the arrow by a distance from Baan Ganga. As per Ramayana, during Ram Avtar, lord Shree Ram killed the Vanar king Vali indirectly hiding behind a tree. Thus lord Shree Ram blessed with a boon to Vali that during Davpar yug, I will take birth as Krishna and you take birth as hunter Jara, and I will be shot by your arrow at Balka Tirth in Prabhas Patna area. After Lord Krishna was shot by Jara's arrow then walked a small distance and arrived at the holy banks of river Hiran from there the lord left his earthy existence for his heavenly abode. 

This Leela of Krishna is immortalized by a beautiful temple and an ancient pipal tree at Balka Tirth. By the time we reached Balka Tirth, it was 7 pm, and we attend the evening arti of the lord. Inside the same premises, there is also a Sun temple, which is 5000 years old. As per the legend this temple was constructed by Pandavas in one night. We were fortunate to visit this holy place and have the blessings of Surya Dev. 

It was half past 8 as we reached our hotel. The area in and around was decorated with bells and X-mas trees, as it was Christmas time. There was a nice delicious spread of Gujarati cuisine. We had a hearty meal and went back to our room. They say the night is the mother of thoughts. R had slept and I was just recollecting our experience while watching the pictures which we had captured during the day.  It was the 7th day of our 10 days trip which was a fulfilling one. Travel leaves one speechless. It is good for the soul. And experience is necessary for one's growth. These are an education in themselves.

Concluding holy triangle - Somnathji - Har Har Mahadev!

To be continued.....