Spiritual Retreat in Banares - 3 - Maa Vindhyavasini

[Guest guest]

Day 3 - 09/11/2008

 

More on Manikarnika

 

There is a well near Manikarnika ghat called Manikarnika Kund. It is

said to be so ancient that it was present before King Bhagiratha

brought the Ganges to Varanasi. This Kund is also called

Chakra-Pushkarini Kund or “Discus Lotus-Pond.†Mani-karnika means

“Jeweled Earring.†It is said that this name was given because Lord

Siva’s ( or was it Maa Parvati's) earring fell into the well. It is

said that at one time this Kund was a very large lake. I took a dip in

the Kund last time I visited Banares.

 

Vindhyachal

 

Vindhyachal is a Sakthi Peeth located about 70 kilometers from

Varanasi. The main Deity is Maha Lakshmi(Maa Chandi). There are images

of Maha Kaali and Maha Saraswati also. This has no relation to the

Vindhya mountains which are in the central part of India.

 

You can find some information about the temple and photographs of Maa

here.

 

http://vindhyachaltemple.com/

 

We had engaged three cars to take us to the temple. The first two cars

reached just before the afternoon Aarti. We had Dharshan of Maa and

all other deities of the temple. The third car reached after the Aarti

started. We were fortunate to see the Aarti through a window provided

for that purpose. After the Aarti we went to the top of the temple and

recited slokas from Chandi path. This was the day that Deva Deepavali

was being celebrated in Vindhyachal.

 

Day 4 - 10/11/2008

 

Chanted Chandi path at the Annapurna temple. The chanting was led by

Sreeni.

 

Some of us went to The Kala Bhairava temple in the afternoon. Kala

Bhairava is the presiding deity of Kasi. He is called Kotwal or

Magistrate of Kasi. Adi Sankara calls him " Kasikapuratinatha

Kalbhairavamm Bhaje " in his Kalabhairavashtakam. As per some

traditions Kala Bhairava should be first worshiped before worshiping

any of the other deities in Kasi.

 

This is an old temple. We had good dharshan. Recited the Kala Bhairava

Ashtakam ( attributed to Adi Sankara) and Ashttora namavali. Then

Parvati led us in singing Lingashtakam. You find a number of dogs here

in the temple. The Dog is the mount of Kala Bhairva.

 

You can read about the Kala Bhairav temple here.

 

http://www.religiousportal.com/KaalBhairavTempleVaranasi.html

 

We then visited the Dhanda pan temple where a stone Dhanda or stick

which is the weapon carried by Kala Bhairava is installed.

 

We went to see the samadhi of Trailanga Swami at the Pancha Ganga

ghat. Unfortunately it was closed for the afternoon. However we were

able to view the samadhi and the murti of Maa Kaali through a window.

 

You can read what Shree Maa has written on Trailanga Swami here.

 

http://www.shreemaa.org/drupal/node/353

 

Came back by boat.

 

Sundara Kand singing in Sankata Mochan Hanuman temple in the evening.

I missed this.

 

Day 5 -11/11/2008

 

Chandi Path recitation at the Annapurna temple in the morning.

 

Some of us visited the Durga temple in the afternoon. This is an old

temple. It was known as the monkey temple earlier because of the

presence of a large number of monkeys. But alas no more monkeys now.

There is a tank in the temple called Durga Kund.

 

We sat down and recited some slokas on Maa Durga.

 

There was a sathsang organized by some of the local devotees in the

evening.

 

Day 6 -12/11/2008

 

Swamiji conducted the Chandi Yagna in the Annapurna temple in the

morning. Though I have participated in many Chandi yagnas, this was

the first time I was participating in one conducted by Swamiji. The

involvement of the group was total and it was a thrilling and

fulfilling experience.

 

We had a fantastic evening with Swamiji. I will write in detail later.

 

Jai MAA !!!

 

Sankar

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your post.The links are grand. Takes you right to where you are.Love,Devi--- On Sun, 11/23/08, Sankar Viswanathan <sankarrukku wrote:Sankar Viswanathan <sankarrukku[www.ShreeMaa.org] Spiritual Retreat in Banares - 3 - Maa Vindhyavasini Date: Sunday, November 23, 2008, 11:32 PM

 

Day 3 - 09/11/2008

 

More on Manikarnika

 

There is a well near Manikarnika ghat called Manikarnika Kund. It is

said to be so ancient that it was present before King Bhagiratha

brought the Ganges to Varanasi. This Kund is also called

Chakra-Pushkarini Kund or “Discus Lotus-Pond.” Mani-karnika means

“Jeweled Earring.” It is said that this name was given because Lord

Siva’s ( or was it Maa Parvati's) earring fell into the well. It is

said that at one time this Kund was a very large lake. I took a dip in

the Kund last time I visited Banares.

 

Vindhyachal

 

Vindhyachal is a Sakthi Peeth located about 70 kilometers from

Varanasi. The main Deity is Maha Lakshmi(Maa Chandi). There are images

of Maha Kaali and Maha Saraswati also. This has no relation to the

Vindhya mountains which are in the central part of India.

 

You can find some information about the temple and photographs of Maa

here.

 

http://vindhyachalt emple.com/

 

We had engaged three cars to take us to the temple. The first two cars

reached just before the afternoon Aarti. We had Dharshan of Maa and

all other deities of the temple. The third car reached after the Aarti

started. We were fortunate to see the Aarti through a window provided

for that purpose. After the Aarti we went to the top of the temple and

recited slokas from Chandi path. This was the day that Deva Deepavali

was being celebrated in Vindhyachal.

 

Day 4 - 10/11/2008

 

Chanted Chandi path at the Annapurna temple. The chanting was led by

Sreeni.

 

Some of us went to The Kala Bhairava temple in the afternoon. Kala

Bhairava is the presiding deity of Kasi. He is called Kotwal or

Magistrate of Kasi. Adi Sankara calls him "Kasikapuratinatha

Kalbhairavamm Bhaje" in his Kalabhairavashtakam . As per some

traditions Kala Bhairava should be first worshiped before worshiping

any of the other deities in Kasi.

 

This is an old temple. We had good dharshan. Recited the Kala Bhairava

Ashtakam ( attributed to Adi Sankara) and Ashttora namavali. Then

Parvati led us in singing Lingashtakam. You find a number of dogs here

in the temple. The Dog is the mount of Kala Bhairva.

 

You can read about the Kala Bhairav temple here.

 

http://www.religiou sportal.com/ KaalBhairavTempl eVaranasi. html

 

We then visited the Dhanda pan temple where a stone Dhanda or stick

which is the weapon carried by Kala Bhairava is installed.

 

We went to see the samadhi of Trailanga Swami at the Pancha Ganga

ghat. Unfortunately it was closed for the afternoon. However we were

able to view the samadhi and the murti of Maa Kaali through a window.

 

You can read what Shree Maa has written on Trailanga Swami here.

 

http://www.shreemaa .org/drupal/ node/353

 

Came back by boat.

 

Sundara Kand singing in Sankata Mochan Hanuman temple in the evening.

I missed this.

 

Day 5 -11/11/2008

 

Chandi Path recitation at the Annapurna temple in the morning.

 

Some of us visited the Durga temple in the afternoon. This is an old

temple. It was known as the monkey temple earlier because of the

presence of a large number of monkeys. But alas no more monkeys now.

There is a tank in the temple called Durga Kund.

 

We sat down and recited some slokas on Maa Durga.

 

There was a sathsang organized by some of the local devotees in the

evening.

 

Day 6 -12/11/2008

 

Swamiji conducted the Chandi Yagna in the Annapurna temple in the

morning. Though I have participated in many Chandi yagnas, this was

the first time I was participating in one conducted by Swamiji. The

involvement of the group was total and it was a thrilling and

fulfilling experience.

 

We had a fantastic evening with Swamiji. I will write in detail later.

 

Jai MAA !!!

 

Sankar