Temple of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh is recognised as one of the most culturally effervescent states in India owing to its glorious past. The temples in Uttar Pradesh stand huge amidst other Hindu temples across the nation. Many of the Uttar Pradesh temples are built in commemoration of the Hindu Gods, Lord Rama and Sri Krishna; because legend holds that Sri Rama and Sri Krishna were born in Ayodhya and Mathura, respectively.
Uttar Pradesh is the most populous State in the Indian territory, with more than 190 million people in an area of around 93, 933 square kilometers. The State apart from being prominent place for the Hindu mythology also is important for Buddism.
Augurnath Temple is located at Meerut. The temple is a little-known place of worship but of great historical importance all over northern India. Its significance comes out from religious significance but also for its distinctive role in India’s freedom struggle. The legend goes that Shivalinga embedded in this temple has emerged on its own – it being one of the miracle which has been attracting the followers of Lord Shiva ever since its inception.
Ayodhya is believed to in existence before the start of human race on earth. The city has been the capital of Lord Rama’s kingdom.When Gods were present on earth, Ayodhya was the centre of their activities. Lord Rama, the legendary God’s birth took place here and was brought up here and later ruled the kingdom from Ayodhya. Sri Ram is the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
The word Ayodhya clearly means “which can’t be defeated”. There are many temples in this small town. The temples are mostly dedicated to Lord Rama and his family. Places which a person must visit in Ayodhya are: Janmabhoomi, Guptar Ghat, Ramkot, The Hanuman Garhi, Treta-Ke-Thakur and Nageshwarnath Temple. Other places one can visit in Ayodhya are the river surrounding Lakshman Ghat, Vasistha Kund, Kshireswara Nath Temple, Bharata Kund and Swarga Dwara or Ram Ghat.
Baladeva Temple is located about 18 km south-east of Mathura which is one of the ancient temples in Uttar Pradesh. The deity worshipped here is idol of Balarama, Lord Krishna’s brother, which is believed to be installed around 5,000 years ago around 1535 AD.
Banke Bihari Temple is one most scared temples at Vrindavan, in Mathura, founded by the famous Hindu saint Haridas of Nimbarka Sampradaya, who was one among the contemporary of the six Gosvamis. ‘Banke’ means ‘bent in three places’ while Bihari constitutes the ‘supreme enjoyer.’ The idol here of Banke Bihari was discovered by Haridas at Nidhivana in the 16th century, where the original Lord was worshiped and moved here as the temple was constructed in 1864. Previously Banke Bihariji was worshipped alone but later on a small deity of Radharani was added. One thing that remains common throughout the temple is the chant of ‘radhe radhe’.
Bharat Mata Temple is located at Varanasi which is the only temple dedicated to Mother India. It is situated near the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth campus. In 1936, the Mandir was built by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi. The statue of Bharat Mata is built with marble and is a model of undivided India, which is depicting the mountains, plains and oceans. The most peculiar thing about the Bharat Mata Temple is that instead of the customary gods and goddesses, it houses a map of India, carved out of marble.
Dwarkadhish Temple is the most inexorable part of the religious shrines of Mathura. The Dwarkadhish Mandir was built in 1814 and is said to have been constructed by Seth Gokul Das Parikh. As he was the great devotee of Sri Krishna he erected the shrine to commemorate the followers of the Vallabhacharya section.
Kashi Vishwanath Temple
In the heart of Varanasi city is standing with the fullest majesty the Kashi Vishwanath Temple enshrined with the Jyotirlinga of Shiva, Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha. Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi is also called ‘Golden Temple’ which was at times in full of ups and downs. This particular temple and city of Varanasi has always been on the receiving end for the invaders be it Afghans, Turks, Rohilas or Marathas. Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi is mainly dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Temple is always occupied by millions of Indians who seek spiritual peace by the darshan of Jyotirlinga which confers liberation from the bondages of maya and even the inexorable entanglements of the world.
Sankat Mochan Mandir
This holy temple of Sankat Mochan Hanuman was founded by Tulsidas who wrote the famous Hindu epic Ramayana. Sankat Mochan temple is one of the sacred temples of Varanasi. It is located in the southern part of Varanasi, near the Banaras Hindu University. It is dedicated to the Hindu God, Hanuman. The word “Sankat Mochan” is the meaning of divine that helps in removing sufferings i. e. Lord Hanuman.
Sarnath Temple is located at a distance of 8 km from Varanasi. Sarnath Temple is the scared place where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon to his five disciples, who was preaching the middle path for attaining ‘Nirvana’.
Shri Katyayani Peeth temple is located at the Peethsthan at Vrindavan. Shri Katyayani Peeth of Ashtdhatu (8 metals) idol was installed in accordance with Santandharam rites by learned pandits invited for the ceremony from Bengal, Varanasi and other cities. As per the Sanatandharam practice the main temple of Katyayani Temple has five deities corresponding to the five forms of worship.
Tulsi Manas Temple
Tulsi Manas Mandir is one of the most famous temples of Varanasi. The Tulsi Manas temple is nearly located to the famous Durga temple. In the year 1964, the temple was built in white marble. The temple has become more charming by the magnificent landscaping around it. The Tulsi Manas Mandir is dedicated to Lord Ram. The walls of the Tulsi Manas temple are engraved with verses and scenes from the Ramcharitammanasa, the Hindi version of the Ramayana.
—Aniket Raja
(Inputs from Uttar Pradesh Tourism )
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