The festival of Navaratree has welcomed us from this week and this is the right time to have blessing from temples around Delhi,the temples are in my mind as I have a lot planning to have blessings from these temples.The festive mood and aarti programs in those temple attract me lot.
Bhairon Temple
Sri Kilkari Bhairav Temple or Bhairo Temple is situated in the backyard
of the Purana Qila (Old Fort) in Pragati Maidan. It is believed that
this shrine was built by the Pandavas. Bhairo Temple is one of its kinds
as the temple allows devotees to offer alcohol to the deity. There are
two wings of the temple – the Doodhiya Bhairav Temple, where milk is
offered to the idol, and the Kilkari Bhairav Temple, where the devotees
offer alcohol to the presiding deity. It is also believed that Bheem
(One of the Pandavas), worshipped in this temple and attained Siddhis as
well.
Akshardham Temple
This temple is more than just a place of worship! Reflecting the eir
good taste in architecture, Akshardham is a must visit temple in Delhi.
This massive shrine is situated near the Common Wealth Games Village on
NH 24. The temple is dedicated to Swaminarayan Akshardham. A large
complex situated amidst gardens; it is one of the well-maintained
temples in Delhi. Along with paying homage to Swaminarayan, one can look
at the rich collection of Indian culture here; the light and sound show
in the evening is worth seeing.
Hanuman Mandir, Connaught Place
This ancient temple is reckoned to be one of the five temples that were
built during the time of the Mahabharata. However, the current structure
had been reconstructed by Maharaja Jai Singh in 1724. It is situated on
the Baba Kharak Singh Marg in Connaught Palace and is evidently one of
the most popular places of worship in Delhi. The main deity in the
temple is that of Lord Hanuman. The ceiling of the shrine is worth
appreciating where the images of Lord Rama are embossed. Although the
temple remains open on all days, a large number of devotees throng on
Tuesdays and Saturdays here.
Gauri Shankar Temple
It is an ancient temple that is located near the Digambar Jain Temple on
the main Chandani Chowk Road. According to legends this temple was
built by a war soldier who had vowed to construct the temple if he
managed to come through the injury he suffered in the battle. It is
reckoned that the Shiva Linga or the Phallus presiding in the shrine is
800 years old. Other than the idols of Shiva, his consort Parvati and
their two sons Ganesha and Kartik, the silver paintings hanging on the
walls and depicting scenes from the life of Lord Shiva are the major
attractions. On Mondays the temple is thronged by devotees.
Hanuman Mandir, Jhandewalan
It is one of the most popular Hindu temples in Delhi. The shrine is
marked by the colossal 108ft statue of Lord Hanuman and can be seen from
the both Jhandewalan and Karol Bagh metro station. Tuesdays are quite
crowded here, despite the fact that the temple stays open every day.
Other than the massive effigy of Lord Hanuman, which fairly does its job
of attracting devotees and tourists, the entrance of the temple is also
an attraction. The entrance door has been carved in a shape of the
mouth of the deity and one can reach the main hall of the shrine through
a passageway.
Jhandewalan Mandir
Dedicated to Goddess Durga, this temple is built after Badri Bhagat (one
of the great devotees of Mother Goddess) who saw an idol hidden
underneath the ground at the place where the temple stands in one of his
dreams. Today, the exact location of the temple is the Jhandewalan Road
on the way to Karol Bagh. The temple got its name from the act of
people offering flags in the temple in order to get their wishes
fulfilled. It is believed that the original idol of the Goddess is
established safely on the ground level of the temple. On the occasion of
Durga Puja and Navratra a large number of Hindu devotees throng this
temple.
Sai Baba Temple
Located on Lodhi Road, it is one of the oldest Sai Baba temples in
Delhi. The temple is simple yet majestic and if people are to be
believed then many testimonies regarding feeling the divine presence of
Baba have been recorded since the time the temple was built. The temple
has a big idol of Sai Baba that sits in the main hall, where devotees
offer chadar and flowers. A sizable population throngs the shrine on
Thursdays each week here.
Uttara Swami Malai Mandir
Known as a South Indian Temple, the Uttara Swami Malai Mandir is
situated in R.K.Puram Sector-7. Dedicated to Lord Murugan, this temple
boasts of a unique architecture, where no cement and mortar have been
used to construct the shrine. It is also one of those few places where
Hindus from the Tamil, Telegu, Kannada & Malayali communities
worship together. The main deity in the shrine is that of Lord Murugan;
however other deities presiding here are of the Lord’s mother, father
and brother. The complex also has a number of peacocks sanctifying the
ambiance. According to legends, the peacock is the Vahana of Lord
Murugan and therefore the temple authority decided to have a few
peacocks as pets. On Saturday, the temple is swarmed by a large number
of devotees.
Shri Jagannath Mandir
A replica of the Old Jagannath Temple in Puri, Shri Jagannath Mandir is situated in Hauz Khas. Highly revered by the Oriya community, this temple has a lot of cultural significance as well. The main deity here is that of Lord Jagannath; other than this the temple has established idols of Lord Balabhadra (brother of lord Jagannath), Maa Subhadra (sister of lord Jagannath) & Sudarshan Chakra. The period when Rath Yatra festival is held is the best time to visit this holy shrine as one can witness the festival being celebrated with great pomp and show.
Shri Sheetla Mata Mandir
Situated on Sheetla Mata Road near Gurgaon Railway station, this temple
is one of the most famous temples in Delhi area. Dedicated to Sheetla
Mata, who is believed to be the wife of Guru Dronacharya from the famous
epic of Mahabharata, this temple is situated in one of the most
congested areas in the city. However, a large structure like this can be
spotted easily; the temple has a large hallway and within the secure
railing is the seating of the idol of Sheetla Mata. Devotees are not
allowed to touch the idol but can offer the flowers and prayer from the
window like structure built at a safe distance.
ISKCON Temple
ISKCON is a highly renowned name in Delhi if we speak about the places
of worship. A massive structure built for the praise and worship of Lord
Krishna, ISKCON is situated on Hare Krishna Hill in East of Kailash.
The holy shrine has incredible architecture, which has been designed by
famous architect Achyut Kanvinde. There is a massive hall that has been
embossed with scenes depicted from the Mahabharata. The angelic chant of
the Hare Rama, Hare Krishna and the melodious beating of the Mridangam
makes the ambiance of the temple extremely pious. ISKCON also has a
museum, where one can find copies of the Bhagvad Gita in any language.
Shri Digambar Jain Lal Mandir
This 17th century temple is probably the one thing other than
the Red Fort that you cannot ignore in Old Delhi. A red-stone
structure, it is situated opposite the Lal Qila (if you are on Netaji
Subhash Marg, going to Kashmiri Gate from Daryaganj) and is amongst the
biggest Jain temples in the city. It is a two-storied building with an
inquiry office and a shoe house located in the lower floor and the main
deity presides on the floor above it. The second floor opens to a
balcony that overlooks Chandani Chowk. There are three main chambers
inside where statues of various Tirthankars are placed. The most famous
ones are that of Lord Mahavira & Lord Adinath.
Chhatarpur Mandir
This colossal complex in Chhatarpur is worth seeing in Delhi. Dedicated
to Goddess Katyayani, this temple is one of the most popular places in
Delhi to see. Sprawling across 70 acres of area, the temple has a blend
of both South and North Indian architectural styles and thus offers a
unique picture to the visitors. There are about 20 major and minor
temples in the complex and it houses different statue of Hindu Gods like
Rama Darbar, Lord Shiva, Laxmi and Radha Krishna. The100ft tall Hanuman
statue is one of the major attractions here. During Navratra, around 1
lakh devotees visit this temple.
Lakshmi Narayan Temple
Also known as Birla Mandir, Lakshmi Narayan Temple is situated on the west of Connaught Place on the Mandir Marg. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi and had been constructed in 1930s by the famed industrialist B.D.Birla. The shrine is a multi-storied building with most of the structure built with red sandstone and has intricate designing on its walls and pillars. There is also a big garden in the premises with artificial caves, stone animals, cascading waterfalls and fountains. A life size horse-drawn chariot in white marble is one of the major attractions here.
Kalkaji Temple
Dedicated to Goddess Kali/Shakti, Kalkaji Temple was built around1764AD.
The temple is reckoned to be the replica of Vaishno Devi and is often
thronged by a sizable population of devotees all through the year. It is
believed that people who believe in the Goddess attain everything they
want in life and then they come here to pay their gratitude. Kalkaji is
amongst the most popular Hindu temples in Delhi and is often crowded
during the weekends and during Navratri.
Arya Samaj Mandir, Janakpuri
Founded and established by Swami Dayanand, Arya Samaj Mandir in Delhi is
situated on Hanuman Road in Janakpuri. Unlike other Hindu temples, this
shrine is a simple structure with plain walls with few posters of
Swamiji pasted here and there. The temple was established only to
provide a common roof to those who want to learn about the Vedas. There
are no idols in the shrine and all one can hear is the melodious
chanting of the mantras. The immense peace and the opportunity to learn
about the ancient text make this place ever so special.
Mangal Mahadeva Birla Kanan
The tall Shiva statue is the identifier of this one of its kind temple
in Rangpuri. The shrine is amongst the well-maintained ones in Delhi;
neat and clean premises and only one single stall to buy incense and
other offerings. The garden on the left of the temple has tall statues
of Ram and Sita, in silver and bronze, respectively; while opposite them
are statues of Radha and Krishna. The temple has a Shiva Linga that is
usually seen encircled by bees and there are idols of Lord Shiva, his
consort Parvati and their sons Lord Ganesha and Kartikeya. The temple
even has the effigy of a mouse, which is reckoned as the Vahana of Lord
Ganesha.
Lotus Temple
The temple of the newest religion in the world called Bahai, the Lotus
Temple in Kalkaji is the reminder of freedom from the bondage of chains.
The lotus-shape of the temple is what attracts the visitors and no
doubt that this has made it one of the major tourist attractions in
Delhi. The shrine is maintained pretty well and has high security as
well. There are many entrances to the main building, which opens to a
large prayer hall. People are often seen here offering prayers in total
silence; there is nothing inside…noaltar or idol, symbols or any
religious artifacts to indicate that it is a house of worship. The peace
here is impeccable, and a person can spend hours here meditating and
contemplating this unique place.
Svetambara Jain Temple
Reckoned
to be the oldest Jain temple in Delhi, Svetambara Jain Temple is
situated near the Kinari Bazaar in Chandani Chowk. It is a two-story
marble stone structure with the main deity carved in black stone (called
Kasauti stone), which is a sculpture of Lord Parshavnath, the 23rd
Tirthankara of Jainism. The temple also has sculptures of other
prominent Jain Tirthankaras such as Lord Sumatinath (the 5th
Tirthankara), Lord Adinath and Lord Ajinath. Since it is the oldest Jain
temple in the city, a large number of devotees and tourists visit here.
Pracheen Shani Mandir
Situated in Gurgaoun Sector 45, Pracheen Shani Mandir is a popular
place of worship for those who have faith in the power of Shanidev. The
temple consists of deities of Lord Ram, Lord Lakshman and Mother Sita,
Goddess Kali, Lord Shiva(Shiva Linga), Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman, Sai
Baba and Goddess Durga. It also houses an ancient peepal tree that is
believed to hold significance in Hindu mythology. Next to the Shani
Mandir is the temple of Dakshinmukhi Kali, whose main peeth is in
Kathmandu; devotees who come to Pracheen Shani Mandir also offer prayer
at the Dakshinmukhi as well.
Ladakh Buddhist Vihara
The Ladakh Buddhist Vihara is situated in Civil Lines, Delhi. This Tibetan Buddhist place of worship
is a little difficult to find as the entrance to the place is through a
market that is always crowded. A left turn from tmarket end takes one
to Buddha Vihara, where the monastery is situated. The entrance of the
shrine is marked by fluttering colourful Tibetan prayer flags, a statue
of Jawaharlal Nehru and Kushok Gyalsras Bakula, who is an important
religious as well as political figure for the community. The interior of
the monastery reflects the artistic skills of the Tibetans. A large
statue of Lord Buddha at the centre is kept and the walls are adorned
with large paintings that depict various stories and myths related to
the life and times of Lord Buddha.
Yogmaya Temple
This is the only temple of Yogmaya in Delhi and it is situated in
Mehrauli. It is believed that Yogmaya was the incarnation of Lord Vishnu
and she is worshipped as the Mother of all beings. It is also believed
that this temple has been standing in Mehrauli for over 5000 years
despite many attempts of sabotage it. During the month of October, when
the famous Phoolon ki Sair festival takes place in Delhi, this temple
comes to life. Many devotees and visitors walk from the dargah of
Qutbuddin Bhaktiar Khaki in Mehrauli till the Yogmaya mandir where the
floral fans and canopies are offered to the goddess Yogmaya.
Shri Shiv Mandir
A simple yet majestic Shiv Temple near Dilli Gate, Shri Shiv Mandir is a
popular place for the Shiva devotees to offer prayers. Despite the
congested location of the temple, it receives a large number of
believers, who come here to pray for their wishes to get fulfilled. The
identifier of the temple is the huge blue coloured statue of Shiva on
the roof of the shrine. The temple covers a small stretch, with sacred
trees (Peepal and Neem) covering its periphery. The idol of Kalka Mata
marks the entrance of the temple. Inside the temple is the deity of
Bhairav who is often offered Madera (rum/whisky) as part of the Hindu
rituals.
Kali Mandir, Chittaranjan Park
This Hindu shrine called Chittaranjan Park Kali Mandir is an earthly
abode of Devi Kali who is worshipped with profound intensity by the
Bengali community. The temple complex has “Kali Maa” temple and a Shiv
temple and a Radha Govinda temple is located on either side of the main
shrine. It is just not only a religious place but is also reckoned to be
a centre for social and cultural activities for Bengalis all over
Delhi. During the Durga Puja this place comes to live and lakhs of
devotees visit here to offer their prayers and gratitude to their
beloved Kali Mata.
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