On the banks of the Bhagirathi river, in the small Himalayan town of Uttarkashi, stands a Shiva temple that locals simply call “North Kashi.” This is the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, not to be confused with the more famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. Most pilgrims run into it on their way to Gangotri or Yamunotri […]
Lord Vinayaka is the first god in the Hindu tradition. Every Hindu worships Lord Vinayaka as the remover of obstacles, and people pray to him daily before beginning their routines. Lord Vinayaka symbolizes wisdom and faith. He is regarded as the god of gods. Lord Ganesh temples are found in nearly every part of India. […]
Bhakta Prahalada was the son of the Demon King Hiranyakashipu. Lord Narasimha killed Hiranyakashipu and made Prahalada the king of the region. Bhakta Prahalada was an ardent devotee of Lord Hari. He preached the greatness of Lord Hari along with his fellow students and lived a life full of holiness, pure devotion, and kindness toward […]
There are several mutts dedicated to Sree Guru Raghavendra Swamy in Chennai. One such mutt is located in the Perambur area. The address of the mutt is No. 15, Srinivasan Street, Perambur, Chennai – 600 011. Several years ago, this mutt was donated by a couple belonging to the Smartha Brahmin community. They donated a […]
Beyond Mana, one of the last inhabited villages near the Indo-Tibetan border, a cluster of Himalayan peaks rises above 6,000 metres. People call the whole group Swargarohini — the “ascent to heaven.” The name comes from the Mahabharata. Most people searching for a “Swargarohini trek” aren’t planning to climb a mountain. They’re planning to walk […]
The Indian population has always worshipped the river systems that run across the entire subcontinent. These riversides have been home to some of the earliest civilizations in the world. Mentioned in the important Hindu text, the Rig Veda, this river plays a significant role for Hindus. The history of this river is tumultuous, and its […]
Devbhoomi Uttarakhand is known all over the world for its deep spiritual vibe and the holy rivers that make their way from the glacier slopes of the Himalayas. The rivers are worshipped wherever they go and are honored by Hindus for their spiritual and religious importance. Most of the temples and places of significance are […]
Pandukeshwar sits at 1,829 meters on the banks of the Alaknanda, directly on the road between Joshimath and Badrinath. Most road-based pilgrims heading to Badrinath pass through it. Few stop long enough to notice what’s actually here. The village takes its name from King Pandu, father of the Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata. Hindu tradition […]
The Yamuna carries more religious weight than almost any river in India, and more untreated sewage than almost any stretch of water near a national capital. Both things are true at the same time, and neither cancels the other out. Also known as Jumna or Jamna — not the Jamuna that runs through Bangladesh — […]
There’s more than one river called Mandakini in Hindu tradition, and mixing them up is a common mistake on travel pages. This article covers the Mandakini River of Uttarakhand — the one that rises near Kedarnath and joins the Alaknanda at Rudraprayag. The Mandakini described in the Valmiki Ramayana, where Ram shows Sita the river’s […]
