Hi Huneybees,
Yipee! I've finally managed to settle all the photos for my India trip! As you guys may have seen from my previous blog post, I went to India during Presenting my virgin trip to the exotic India!
So many of you have asked, why India? Even my friends went "HUH?! India?! Really?!". I think alot of us don't really have a good impression of the place. But I must stress Taj Mahal is one of my must-go places on my list and yes! India is a place that you cannot miss!
The Pahadi Shiv Dham Yatra is an innovative spiritual activity at Shiv Mandir launched on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri, 2010. According to Hindu Mythology, a pilgrimage to different holy places helps one in attaining moksha (liberation). However, it is not possible for everyone to visit all these holy places due to various reasons. The Shiv Mandir has made it possible for everyone to visit all the different holy places by visiting this one shrine.
Milk Abhishek
Abhishek is a Sanskrit term denoting a devotional activity of giving Holy bath to a deity. It literally means “to cleanse.” Before starting the ritual, a devotee washes his hands and pours water over the Ling. However, this practice is not to cleanse the Ling, as God doesn't need any cleansing. He is the purest—but it is an implication of cleaning oneself. Later milk is poured on the Shiv Ling, which is a connotation of purifying one's life and washing all the sins from oneself.
Launched on Maha shivratri 2009, Ganga Snaan is yet another spiritual activity, wherein Ganga flows from a height of 65 feet onto a ling installed specially for this activity. This spiritual activity is known as the "Ganga Ling Darshan." Devotees with raincoats on, get to experience Ganga flowing down on them as they do this parikrama.
Faith has magical power! It makes all your dreams come true! To experience this magic, chant "Om Namah Shivaya" seven times and drop the special coin, available at the counter, in the holy Mansarovar Lake. If you do this with utmost faith in Lord Shiva, your wish will surely come true!
Paap Naash Diya
Pick up the Paap Naash Diya, a lamp from the Diya spot, pray for forgiveness and leave this lamp floating in the holy Ganges that indeed flows from Lord Shiva's jatha (hair) at the Shiv Mandir. It is believed that all your sins will be washed away by the holy water.
Havan
Havan or Homa is one of the most ancient, spiritual and religious practices in India. However, there is a special meaning to Havan which one must understand to get the true effect of performing a Havan. A Havan is an offering to God.
The Havan also implies a deep meaning, which is, as the twigs and the ghee burns, the Havan reminds us that life is temporary and we will all end just like the wood ends in the Havan. Therefore, before our life is over or before the journey of life ends, we must add meaning to our lives and live purposefully.
For you, to truly understand the meaning of Havan and to get the essence of it, it is best to do the Havan as an offering to God. Offer the twigs and ghee as if you are offering all that you have in your life to Him, to one who has given you this life.
Navagraha Pooja
Please the influencing Gods of the nine planets and bring harmony into your life. The navgraha pooja is conducted by making a thill batti for all the 9 grahas and offering it to the Gods in the form of an aarti and circumambulating the grahas 9 times.
Taking the night plane to Bangalore, India.
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| Already began my Indian trip on the plane... |
I've been anticipating this trip for 1/2 year and finally I'm going! When I landed in Bangalore (India's silicon valley, and the capital of Karnataka), it was already late night. Hubby was already in Bangalore for work and he had a private taxi waiting for me.
It took me 2 hours to travel from the airport to the hotel - Park Plaza Hotel (Sy. No. 90/4, Munnekollalu Village, Marathahalli Junction - Outer Ring Road, Bengaluru - 560 037 India). Security is really tight at the hotels.
It was the most frightful 2 hours of my life! Not only was there constant dust coming in (Yes, windows were wind down to save petrol usage from the air conditioner), the road was bumpy and constant honking which I don't understand what they were honking at!
Anyway, checks are done on the entering cars and every visitor have to go through the scan as well as the bags.
It all began when RVM, the founder of the temple, one morning, envisioned something different: a dream to build a temple with a gigantic statue of Lord Shiva Lingam (65 foot Tall), with River Ganga flowing out of his matted hair, meditating in an environment of peace, serenity and tranquility amidst the Himalayas. He was surprised, because when this inspiration struck him, he had no money, no land, and no architect, but only an inspiration from God to move on. With God by his side, he soon found an apt property in Bangalore, arranged funds for the project and found an architect who would bring his dream into reality.
The construction of the temple started in 1994. Many people worked internally and externally in building the 65-feet-tall manifesto. The temple reached its completion and 26 February 1995. The temple is a spot for many miracles. Many miracles have occurred in the temple and is continuing ever since. Lakhs and lakhs of devotees visit this temple every month. The temple has evolved and grown into a spiritual destination.
Lord Ganesha is also called "Vighnaharan Ganpathi." "Vighna" means problems or obstacles and "haran" means to remove or solve.
Pahadi Shiv Dham Yatra |
| Hubby settling the cab fare. It's calculated by per mile. |
It was the most frightful 2 hours of my life! Not only was there constant dust coming in (Yes, windows were wind down to save petrol usage from the air conditioner), the road was bumpy and constant honking which I don't understand what they were honking at!
Anyway, checks are done on the entering cars and every visitor have to go through the scan as well as the bags.
After just a few hours of sleep, I'm all awake and dressed up for my first day in India. My clothings for the whole India trip are all courtesy of Forever21. Not only this is a trip about the exotic India. I will also be featuring the apparels and accessories of Forever21. My everyday getup is less than SGD 100! I always say Forever21 is my favourite store. Not only it's affordable, it's also stylish!
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My outfit for the first day is a peplum sleeveless blue top with a black skirt. I'm totally digging the necklace and bracelets. It brightens up the whole outfit and the necklace is definitely the highlight. This is a great look for events or for work. especially when the peplum can hide little tummies. :)
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We booked a cab from the hotel and we were off to see India! It was hot, super hot, burning skin hot but India is so colourful and beautiful, we couldn't stop snapping photos! (*Tip: Bring and apply tons of sunblock as well as cap or sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun).
Yes, on the streets are alot of the legen-(wait for it!) DAIRY cows. Cars were a plenty, people were at every corner and cows were planted along the streets! Here are some of photos of the streets on Bangalore while we travelled to our first attraction.
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| It's amazing they can just set up stall by the roadside. |
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| Another mode of transport would also be the Tuk-Tuk. |
Our first attraction was recommended by the our driver. It was on the way to other attractions and come on, don't this huge statue already catch your attention?
Shiv Mandir is known as the silver temple and here, you experience how the locals pray and what are their traditions when asking for blessings.
Entrance was RP100 each and it's like a theme park in there. Every activity requires a ticket and all of them are already included in the ticket. Do note, bringing cameras to any attraction in India is chargeable.
Yes, your camera, but you have to pay for bringing it in and taking THEIR photos. :)
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| We also bought a bag of offerings. In there are flowers, a coconut, bananas and a stick of I'm-not-sure. |
Curious children who can't stop following us and posing for pictures.
Shiv Mandir History
What to do when in Shiv Mandir?
108 Om Namah Shivaya Yatra
In this yatra, to make your dreams come true, drop 108 coins one by one in the bowls chanting Om Namah Shivaya with faith. Pray for good health and surrender your problems to Lord Shiva with complete faith and belief in him and you will witness miracles!
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| Performing this Yatra again and again helps you build a closer connection with God. |
Vighanaharan Thread
Lord Ganesha is also called "Vighnaharan Ganpathi." "Vighna" means problems or obstacles and "haran" means to remove or solve.
As you offer your prayers to the 32-feet-tall statue of Lord Ganesha and surrender your problems while tying a holy thread, you will actually feel your problems diminish. Keep the faith that He shall indeed solve your problems.
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| The Sacred Ling of Amarnath |
In the Pahadi Shiv Dham Yatra, the devotees can climb the Himalayas, passing through Haridwar, Rishikesh, Badrinath, Kedarnath, and finally reach Amarnath. The devotees get a chance to witness all the shrines and also touch the sacred Ling of Amarnath, which is formed of ice. This journey through the mountains amidst the frosty breeze and a walk through the snowy mountains gives one the illusion of being at the actual shrines. This generates spiritual vibrations in devotees strengthening their faith in God.
Milk Abhishek
Abhishek is a Sanskrit term denoting a devotional activity of giving Holy bath to a deity. It literally means “to cleanse.” Before starting the ritual, a devotee washes his hands and pours water over the Ling. However, this practice is not to cleanse the Ling, as God doesn't need any cleansing. He is the purest—but it is an implication of cleaning oneself. Later milk is poured on the Shiv Ling, which is a connotation of purifying one's life and washing all the sins from oneself.
Ganga Snaan
Launched on Maha shivratri 2009, Ganga Snaan is yet another spiritual activity, wherein Ganga flows from a height of 65 feet onto a ling installed specially for this activity. This spiritual activity is known as the "Ganga Ling Darshan." Devotees with raincoats on, get to experience Ganga flowing down on them as they do this parikrama.
Miracle Point
Faith has magical power! It makes all your dreams come true! To experience this magic, chant "Om Namah Shivaya" seven times and drop the special coin, available at the counter, in the holy Mansarovar Lake. If you do this with utmost faith in Lord Shiva, your wish will surely come true!
Havan
The Havan also implies a deep meaning, which is, as the twigs and the ghee burns, the Havan reminds us that life is temporary and we will all end just like the wood ends in the Havan. Therefore, before our life is over or before the journey of life ends, we must add meaning to our lives and live purposefully.
For you, to truly understand the meaning of Havan and to get the essence of it, it is best to do the Havan as an offering to God. Offer the twigs and ghee as if you are offering all that you have in your life to Him, to one who has given you this life.
Navagraha Pooja
Please the influencing Gods of the nine planets and bring harmony into your life. The navgraha pooja is conducted by making a thill batti for all the 9 grahas and offering it to the Gods in the form of an aarti and circumambulating the grahas 9 times.
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| Before leaving, don't forget to crack open that coconut and bring home a piece of it! |
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| Shopping time on the way out! |
Our next destination is to an area called Basavanagudi to the Bull Temple. Yes, another temple, but the past coexists with the present, and is very much alive in India's ancient temples.
And this on this no ordinary temple. It houses the mammoth bull figure - Nandi Bull, the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Shiva, (4.5 m high and 6.5 m long).
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| Right at the entrance is a huge set of stone bull horn. |
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| Climb the flight of steps to the temple. |
According to legend, the fertile area around the temple was used for growing groundnuts. However, a wild bull began to destroy the crops, and an infuriated farmer attacked the animal with a club. It sat down and miraculously turned into stone! More was to follow-it began to grow in size, prompting the villagers to beg Lord Shiva for help. A trident (associated with Shiva) was placed on its head to stop the growth, and a small temple built nearby to appease it. As a celebration of this incident, the farmers of Basavanagudi organized a Groundnut Fair (Kadalekai Parase), near the temple. This fair continues till date and is attended by the people of Bangalore in large numbers. The present bigger temple was built in the sixteenth century by Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bangalore.
Gowda had four watch towers built, one of them being on Bugle Rock to mark the southern boundary of the city. The story goes that at sunset, a sentry would blow a bugle and hold a lighted torch which could be seen by the other towers, and served as a message to the citizens that they were safe. Lighted lamps were also placed in small holes drilled into the rocks.
Look up to admire the sculptures of the Gopuram, or tower, a special feature of many South Indian temples. Details were very intricate and you cannot stop been wow-ed as you look at each tier.
The monolithic granite structure of the Nandi can be seen once you step into the temple and it is decorated with garlands. The priest was very nice to introduce the Bull statue to us, saying that it already had 500 yrs of history and it used to white. But over the years of faithful followers who come to touch it and rubbing it with oil offerings, it faded and have been back to its granite colour.
At the back of the Bull statue are figures of Lord Surya (the Sun god) and Goddess Chandra (moon). It is also said that a river rises from the feet of the bull.
And when you leave, don't forget to touch the bull's right hind leg for luck and leave some $ offerings. The priest also dabbed a dot of red turmeric powder on my forehead and gave me a string of Jasmine flowers which I tied to my hair like the local Indian ladies do.
Outside the temple were a couple of stalls that sold accessories, food as well as offerings. We took some time looking and taking photos...
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| A bull in the premise of Bull Temple. |
There's another temple to visit when you are there. But as I was rushing for time, I did not get to visit here. Here's a little information about it - When you come down the steps after visiting the Bull temple, walk across to the adjacent temple: the Dodda Ganesha temple, and marvel at the idol of Lord Ganesha, which is visible even from the entrance!
At eighteen feet high and sixteen feet wide, it is made of one hundred and ten kg of butter, which is distributed to devotees every four years and a new idol made! Sometimes, decorative items like flowers, fruits, vegetables, buttons, turmeric etc are used to make it more colorful. An interesting ritual is that every Monday and Friday, the idol is decorated with a hundred kg of butter, which is again distributed to devotees. The weavers of the city have their own tradition of offering hundreds of coconuts to the deity.
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| Caught a picture with the Tuk Tuk outside the temple. |
I shall leave you guys with more photos of Bangalore's street and I will be back with a part 2!
It was their God Ganesha's birthday the day I landed and celebrations were still on going. There were so many versions and so many colours to the statues of Ganesha. It was very interesting to spot them along the streets.
