(Behind) The Story Of Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple - In Darukavana

"Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple"

याम्ये सदंगे नगरेऽतिरम्ये, विभूषितांगं विविधैश्व भोगैः ।सदभक्त्तिमुक्त्तिप्रदमीशमेकं, श्री नागनाथं शरणं प्रपघे ।।

Once upon a Time

in Darukavana

     The Darukavana, In there forest were mostly finded Daru Vriksha, It's called Deodar trees. For this reason, The ancient name of this forest was Darukavana.

        Deodar trees have been connected with lord Shiva from ancient time. Hindu sages used to live and perform meditation in Deodar trees to please lord Shiva. The Darukavana name finds in indian epics. The Darukavana is a only place which is indicates the location of the Jyotirlinga.

        The written name of Darukavana may be misread as a Dwarakavana Which is point to the Dwarka. But Today The actual location of the legendary forest of Darukavana is suspicious and debated.

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, Darukavana

Gujarati : નાગે‌‌શ્વર જ્યોતિર્લિંગ મંદિર

Hindi : नागेश्वर ज्योतिर्लिंग मंदिर

Location : Devanagari Dwarka

State : Gujarat

Country : India

Type : Hindu Temple Architecture

Festival : MahaShivratri

Lord Nagesh Shiva, Wearing a Snake

          According to Shiva puran and many other indian epics, It's finds mention as Darukavana, Kamyakavana, Daitavana, Dandavana. This city under the sea inhabited by sea snakes and demons.

          A demon named Daaruka Who lived in Darukavana along with his wife Daaruki. They had attacked, kidnapped, looted people and saints all over the forest. One day, Daaruka attacked a Shiva devotee Supriya and imprisoned him along with others. Supriya started to pray lord Shiva along with other prisoners for saving all of them life. They worshipped lord Shiva and chant by holy mantra 'Om Namah Shivaya'.

          lord Shiva pleased by this, appeared there and fight against to demon for saving them life. Daaruka demon lost his power against lord Shiva. The demon wife Daaruki who was devotee of Mata Parvatiji. To save power of the demons of Darukavana from the punishment of the gods, She worshipped Mata Parvatiji. Mata Parvatiji pleased by her penance and devotion. Mata Parvatiji given her power to become a master of the forest. She performed her devotion and renamed the forest name in her honour. Due to this reason, This forest name was Darukavana. Wherever Daaruki went the forest followed her.

          Now, She had power to whole forest. She started to misuse her power along with her demon husband Daaruka. They again started all past activities in all over the forest, like attacking, kidnapping the people and saints. After, They moved into the dark forest and started to keep the people in the jail as prisoners. Again, There was lord Shiva devotee Supriya one of other prisoners in the jail. Supriya set up a Shiva lingam and worshipped lord Shiva with chant the holy mantra 'Om Namah Shivaya' along with other prisoners. Due to this reason, The demon attempted to kill Supriya. At that time, lord Shiva was pleased by his penance and appeared there as limgam to save Supriya's life. At there, lots of Snakes wrapped on lord Shiva. He fighted again against to the demons of Darukavana for own devotees's life. Daaruki and the demons were defeated by lord Shiva, Mata Parvatiji saved the remaining demons.

           Supriya set up lingam as a Nagesha. lord Shiva as Nageshwara and Mata Parvatiji as Nageahwari, stayed as a Jyotirlinga in Daarukavana forest for protecting their devotees. For this reason, Shiva Lingam is famous as Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple all over the world. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is one of the adi twelve Jyotirlingas of India mentioned in Shiva Purana.

Lord Nagesh Shiva at Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

       There is also a 25 meter high Shiva idol and a green garden next to the temple. Photography is not allowed inside the temple but allow outside the temple. The temple is located 18 kilometers from Devanagari Dwarka in Gujarat state of India.

Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple, Daarukavana, Devanagari Dwarka, Gujarat, India

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(Behind) The Story Of Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple - In Prabhas Kshetra

"Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple"

सौराष्ट्रदेशे विशदेऽतिरम्ये, ज्योतिर्मयं चंद्रकलावसंतम् ।

भक्तिप्रदानाय कृतावतीर्णं, तं सोमनाथं शरणं प्रपघे ।।

Once upon a Time

in Prabhas Kshetra

         The holy place Prabhas Kshetra popularly as Somnath Patan or Prabhas Patan. Historically named Dev Patan.

                   At that place, Somnath jyotirlinga was established Which is one of the others twelve adi jyotirlingas of India. Somnath temple is most an important pilgrimage and tourists spot of Gujarat.

           It is situated on the Sea shor of Saurashtra region about 7 km south of Veraval village of Gir Somnath district in Saurashtra region of Gujarat state of India. Historically old and the holy place Somnath located on Triveni Sangam of three rivers Kapila, Hiren and Saraswati from ancient time.

Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple

Gujarati : સોમનાથ જ્યોતિર્લિંગ મંદિર

Hindi : सोमनाथ ज्योतिर्लिंग मंदिर

Location : Veraval

State : Gujarat

Country : India

Completed : 1951 (Present structure)

Type : Hindu Temple Architecture
Festival : MahaShivratri

Somnath Temple (1951)

-: Satyug :-

Lord shiva relived Chandra Dev from the curse of decay, Chandra Dev had built a golden temple at Somnath.

-: Tretayug :-

Ravana renovated Somnath temple by Silver.

-: Dwaparayug :-

Lord Krishna rebuilt Somnath temple by the sandalwood.

-: 13 November 1947 :-

Sardar Patel swore and ordered reconstruction of Somnath temple.

-: 11 May 1951 :-

Finally The work was finished and completed the installation ceremony by Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

Light and Sound Show, Somnath Temple

"Somnath is name find in ancient literature like Shreemad Bhagavat Geeta, Skand puran, Shiv puran, Rigveda which signifies the importance of the Somnath temple."

          Somnath means the lord Soma and lord Nath, The meaning of Soma is Chandra dev (lord Moon) and The meaning of Nath is Devon ke Dev Mahadev (lord Shiva). Here, One spiritual story behind it.

            Daksha Prajapati was son of Brahmaji and Prajapati of world. He had 27 daughters, Who all had married with Chandra dev, but All the attention and love of Chandra dev was only for Rohini. Due to this act, Daksha's other daughters was very unhappy. They narrated this story to their father. Daksha explained to Chandra dev many time on this topic. But He not understood due to the blind love toward Rohini.

            Chandra dev continued on his act then Daksha became enraged and cursed him to decay. He immediately started to decay due to the curse, His work coolness spread over the earth stopped for the curse. He was very sad and worried about the curse. All the gods and sages heard his prayer and went to Brahmji for his salvation. After heard to all conversation to gods Brahmji said, Chandra dev should go to the holy place Prabhas Kshetra and pray Mrityunjaya lord Shiva with all the gods and sages for release the curse. His curse will be surely destroyed by their grace and He will be diseased.

          According to their advice, Chandra dev severe penance and completed all the tasks of worshipping Mrityunjaya lord Shiva. Pleased by this, Mrityunjaya lord Shiva granted him the boon of immortality and said, Chandra dev! do not worried, You will be saved by my boon, as well as The words of Prajapati daksha will be also protected.

        Every day, every one of Your art will decrease in Krishna paksha but each of Your art will increase again in Shukla paksha. In this way, every full moon You will get moonlight. Due to get the boon to Chandra Dev by lord Shiva, All the people with world were happy. After again His coolness spread to each part of the earth. After getting out of the curse, Chandra dev along other gods prayed to lord Shiva that He along with mata Parvatiji should live here forever for the solvation of life. lord Shiva agreed with their prayer and stayed there as a Jyotirlinga with mata Parvatiji.

Lord Shiva as Jyotirlinga with Mata Parvatiji

         Soma is one of the other names of Chandra dev, He worshipped lord Shiva and accepted as nath or swami. Due to this reason, That holy place Prabhas Kshetra famous as Somnath.

"The Somnath temple was destroyed several times by the Muslim Ruler King, But After some time reconstructed many times by everyone's faith."

              The Somnath temple is believed to have been built for first time in unknown time in the past. The second temple is said to have been built at same place by the Yadava king Vallabhi around 643 CE, which was destroyed in 725 CE by the Arab king Al-junayd during his invasion on Gujarat. After a few years, The Gujarat king Nagabhata already knew importance of this tirthast temple, Which was reconstructed by him for the third time during 815 CE, Again destroyed it by Al-Junayd during his invasion. There is not available of historical record of an attacks on Somnath by Al-junayd. The Chalukya Solanki king Mularaja again reconstructed it at same site shortly before 997 CE.

          In 1024 CE, During the reign of Bhima, Muslim ruler king Mahmud Ghazni attacked Gujarat, destroyed the Jyotirlinga along with the temple and looted the gold or jewelery of the temple and killed about 25000 innocent people. Following this attack, After 70 years in 1093 this temple was reconstructed by King Jaysingh and The Solanki king Kumarapala redecorated of temple with gold and jewels in 1168.

        During 1299, Again Muslim Ruler Alauddin khilji attacked Gujarat led by his senapati Nusrat khan against to Solanki king Karna, Again destroyed jyotirlinga and looted the temple. Several times, The Muslim Rulers went to delhi taken with many idols from Somnath temple, then aim of revenge Khengar king of Saurashtra attacked on Muslim sultanate of delhi near Jalore and retrieved one of them.

"This chain of reconstruction and destruction continued many times in the coming years."

          In 1308, The temple was reconstructed by Mahipala king of Chudasama dynasty of Saurashtra region. The lingam was installed by his son Khengara sometime between 1331 and 1351. In 1395, The temple was destroyed by Zafar Khan, the founder of Gujarat sultanate. Again in 1451, it was destroyed by Mahmud Begada, the Sultan of Gujarat. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb destroyed the temple many times until 1665. In 1702, He ordered that if hindus continued worship there, the temple should be completely demolished.

           Before Independence, The ruler of Junagadh state left his kingdom and moved to Pakistan in 1947. When Sardar Patel visited the state of Junagadh with the army of India, He saw that the Somnath temple was completely destroyed in the Muslim Sultanate. He swore on the site that Somnath temple reconstruction work start in coming time.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, The first Deputy Prime Minister of India

          After Independence, The Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Patel came to Junagadh on 12 November 1947 and ordered the reconstruction of Somnath temple. He was death on 1950, After his death reconstruction work continued under K.M.Munshi. It completed in 11 May 1951. After K.M.Munshi invited Dr. Rajendra Prasad the first President of the Republic of India and performed the installation ceremony of the temple.

"The Somnath Temple indicates that the power of reconstruction always greater than the power of destruction."

        Today Somnath is the most popular and important tourist destination for India. It is possibly the most preferred place and tops the list of tourists.

In Morning Time, Somnath Temple

In Morning - 7am, Prabhat Aarti

In Noon - 12pm, Aprahan Aarti

In Evening - 7pm, Sandhya Aarti

In Evening - 8pm, Light and Sound Show

In Evening Time, Somnath Temple

           If You want to choose Gujarat as a vacation traveling place, Please don't forget to visit at Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple. I suggest you, Minimum one day spend here from Morning prayer to Evening light and sound show. It's open from 6 am to 9 pm. Before You visit at this temple, please know about something it's history Which is depends on your interest.

Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple, Near Saurashtra coast, Veraval, Gujarat, India

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(Behind) The Story Of Ranki Vav or Queen's Stepwell - In Patan

"Ranki Vav or Queen's Stepwell"

Once upon a Time

in Patan

                Once in era, Patan was a Capital of Gujarat during the medieval period and today stand as a testimony to the bygone era.

              Patan was a town built up during the 8th century by Raja Vanraj Chavda, The king of the Chavda kingdom of Chalukya Rajputs. He named the city 'Anhilpur patan' or 'Anhilwad patan' after his close friend and his prime minister Anhil Gadariya. It is variously referred in to the Sanskrit literature as 'anahilpatak','anahilpattan', 'anahilvadPattan' etc. 

Ranki Vav in ''Anhilpur Patan"

Gujarati : રાણકી વાવ

Hindi : रानी की वाव

English : Queen's Stepwell

City or Town : Patan

State : Gujarat

Country : India

Completed : 11th century, ( 1022 - 1063 )

Construction during : Chalukya or Solanki dynasty
Type : Hindu Architecture

'Ranki Vav' or 'Rani ki Vav'

            Due to the hot summer season, Water was scarce in dry and arid regions like Gujarat, Rajasthan and many places of India. People had faced more trouble and walked to miles for water. For solving this problem Vavs, Ponds, Stepwell, Bavdi, Checkdem were built up each place which was used for harvesting and conserving water, household needs, irrigation of land, and it was resting place to travellers, troops, people or ladies who arrived at the place. It was very unique form of underground construction wall with various designs and fabulous architecture.

              Beautiful Patan city was established near Saraswati river which was like to see. In this town was built up different and unique underground construction wall, it's called Stepwell. Also called Vav in Gujarat and Bavdi in hindi in Rajasthan.

'Stepwell', 'Vav' or 'Bavdi'

           In The Stepwell has various sculpture memories which was a Rani Udayamati's idea to built up this type monument in memories of her husband Bhima. Her idea was inspired by the 'Pabandha Chintamani' literature composed by the Jain monk merutunga suri (1304 CE).

           In Gujarat, Solanki dynasty was established by Raja Bhima. The Stepwell was built up as a tribute to Raja Bhima by his Rani Udayamati who is daughter of Khengara Saurashtra and Queen of the 11th century Chaulukya dynasty and Spouse of Bhima. So that it was called 'Rani ki Vav', 'Ranki Vav' and 'Queen's Stepwell'. It was probably completed after Rani's death ( 1022 - 1063 ).

'Queen's Stepwell'

           Ranki Vav is best example as a Design and Architecture. It is a best mainstay as a Sculpture beauty, Mythological, Spiritual and Secular Images. It is unique foundation as a combine religious.

          The entrance from the east and the end part of well is located at the western side. The Stepwell is separated into seven level of staircases in which the fourth level is the deepest and leads into a circular well. All levels of staircases leads to the pavilions which are fabulous intervals by the pillars. There is a small gate below the last step of the staircase of well which has a 30km tunnel leads to the near town Siddhapur which was used like an escape way during an invasion by enemy. Now it has been blocked by stones and mud.

Inside Ranki Vav

         Architecture, designs, sculpture images are exhibited on the wall, pillars, beams, columns and brackets. There are shown more than 500 sculpture statues and over a thousand minor Mythological, Spiritual, Secular images.

Sculpture images on Wall

"Apsaras"
(a) Apsara, (b) Apsara wearing Jewellery,
(c) Dancing pose, (d) Playing with Child

        There are represented female figure like Apsara, Nayika, Nagakanya, Yogini, Bhairavi which are show in different types of poses and moods. Some does dancing and Some playing with child, birds, monkey, snakes, scorpion etc. In enhancing it's wearing the ankles, earrings, chain, bracelets, mangtika, bajubandh and represented the best example of Indian Cultural Women who wear whole jewellery.

Mahishasura Mardini

Parvati, ShivaDevi

         There are different forms of hindu devis or goddesses like Mahishasura Mardini, Parvati, Saptamatrikas, Maha Lakshmi, Durga. There are another forms of hindu devas like Ganesha, Hari, Govinda, Purushottam, Narayana, Shridhara, Kesava, Vasu, Narsimha, Trivikarma, Visnu, Aniriradha, Shiva, Bhairava, Vaikuntha Visnu.

           The famous dashavatar of lord Vishnu are also represented like Varaha, Vaman, Rama, BalramaKrishna, Parasurama, Buddha, Kalki. In enhancing, The most famous pose is Shesahayin Vishnu which is evidently the main form of Vishnu. In this pose, Vishnu resting on Shesa snake on the water and creating a lotus from his navel of his own will, from which Brahma was born.

Shesahayin Vishnu

Ganesha

Varaha

Vaman

Parasurama

Rama

BalaramaKrishna

Buddha

Kalki

Shiva as Bhairava

            The Stepwell was later flooded by the nearby Saraswati river and silted over. It had completely buried under the earth until 1940 excavation.

            Ranki Vav was rediscovered in 1940 and restored in 1980. The restoration was carried out from 1981 to 1987 by Archaeology Survey of India(ASI).

        Ranki Vav was added to the list of UNESCO's world heritage site on 22 june 2014.

Ranki Vav image on 100₹ note

           Ranki Vav was named in India's Cleanest Iconic Place in 2016 and declared the monument of National importance and protection by ASI. After 2 years, on 6 November 2018 The new ₹100 note was released by Reserve Bank of India with image of Ranki Vav.

Historical landmark "Ranki Vav", Patan, Gujarat

     'Ranki Vav' or 'Queen's Stepwell' is located in the town of Patan in Gujarat State of India.

          Please noted down here, You can visit at this place between 8 am to 7 pm only but don't forget like to see the beautiful Sculpture images on fabulous Wall of Ranki Vav.

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(Behind) The Story Of Adalaj Stepwell or Rudabai Stepwell - In Adalaj

"Adalaj Stepwell or Rudabai Stepwell"

Once upon a Time

in Adalaj

           This story is around 14th-15th centuries at place of Adalaj in Gujarat (the Vaghela dynasty of Dandai Des).

             Gujarat and it's neighbouring state Rajasthan are dry and arid regions. So, The people faced Water issue and walked miles for Water. At a time, Rana Veer Singh Vaghela who was a king of the Adalaj. He promised to build up the well for his people.

              Sometime after, They commissioned to build up the well Which was famous after Adalaj Stepwell or Rudabai Stepwell.

Adalaj Stepwell or Rudabai Stepwell

Gujarati : અડાલજની વાવ

Hindi : अडालज बावड़ी

Town or city : Gandhinagar

State : Gujarat

Country : India

Completed : 1499, 15th centuries
Construction during : Vaghela dynasty or Muslim Ruler

Type : Hindu - Islamic architecture

Adalaj ni Vav

"It's amazing what People do for Love, But It's even more amazing what Love does to People."

             There was a very interesting and dramatically tragic story behind it. When well had worked in progress during that time A neighbouring Muslim Ruler King Mehmud begada had attacked on Hindu Ruler King Rana Veer Singh Vaghela who lost his life in battlefield. As a Result, the construction work of Adalaj ni Vav was stopped.

                 When King Rana Veer Singh's wife Rani Rudadevi got this news, She took pledge to complete her husband's work. After Muslim king Mehmud begada fall in love with Rani Rudadevi and proposed to her for marriage. She accepted his proposal with one condition first, If King Mehmud begada complete her husband's work. Soon after, King Mehmud begada continued the work of Adalaj ni Vav as original style and also added a little bit of Islamic influence on the architecture with Hindu influence.

                 Finally, The Stepwell work was completed and king Mehmud begada asked her to get married. Rani Rudadevi arrived at place of Stepwell and saw the complete her husband's dream. After She jumped into the well and committed suicide.

End of the stair steps near the Well

"The devastated King Mehmud begada But his love for Rani Rudadevi ensued that the Stepwell become a symbol of love, - Rani Rudadevi's love for her king Rana Veer Singh and King Mehmud's love for Rani Rudadevi."

Hindu - Islamic Architecture

   

            These caverns space are called Stepwell and also Vav in Gujarat and Bavdi in Rajasthan. A Stepwell is very unique form of underground well architecture which is used for conserving or harvesting of Water for household needs, Irrigation of the land for agriculture, shades or resting place of travellers, Itinerant traders and March of the troops.

Influence of Architecture

Balconies and Zarukhas

          In Adalaj Stepwell, The three entrance stairway meet at the first storey step at a large square platform which was surrounded by four fabulous curved is called balconies or Zarukhas. These corridor goes down to fifth storey steps and the end of this stair steps to find the deepest level of water storage in circular of well which has an Octagonal opening at the top with the curves of pillars.

Octagonal shape of the Stepwell

Ceilings and Pillars

            The flowers, Birds, Animals, Spiritual or Mythological images, war or battlefield images and Beautiful amazing fabulous Various types of designs and architecture show on the walls of the Stepwell. The ceilings and pillars allows the light and air to enter the well, but the sunlight reaches in the well only for a short time of period in the afternoon. The temperature in the well almost 6 degrees cooler than the outer atmospher.

Inner side of the Stepwell

Plan and Section
(Built along a North-South axis)

          The three staircases are from the South, West and East direction leading to the landing on the Northern side of well and Main Entrance from the South direction. The top part of well, Four small rooms with Oriel windows decorated and curved brackets are provided at the landing level, at the four corners. It's Octagonal plan open at the top with curves pillars.

Historical landmark in Adalaj, Gujarat

         Adalaj Stepwell is located in the Village of Adalaj in Gandhinagar the capital of Gujarat and close to the Ahmedabad city in the Indian state of Gujarat.
         
      Please noted here, Opening hours of this place in between 6 am to 6 pm only. I suggest to you visit of this place early in the morning. I have not word for describing that morning moment.

         I feel good and Thank You for reading and liking. I hope that It will be help you and useful before visiting Adalaj Stepwell.

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