Char Dham

Badrinath

Dwarka

Puri

Rameswaram

Char Dham

Char Dham (literally: 'the four abodes/seats') are the names of four pilgrimage places in India that are widely revered by most Hindus: Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram.^[1] The Char Dham defined by Adi Shankaracharya consists of three Vaishnavite, one Shaivite, and one mixed site^{[citation needed]}. Over the years, the term "Char Dham" has lent itself to the all-denomination Char Dham pilgrimages in the Garhwal Himalayas, where Adi Shankaracharya attained freedom from embodiment. Earlier known as Chota Char Dham or 'Little' Char Dham to differentiate them from the bigger circuit of Char Dham sites, after the mid-20th century they themselves started being called the Char Dham.^[2] Today, the term "Char Dham" usually refers to the all-denomination Himalayan Char Dham. The Char Dham are often considered the most revered sites for Hindus that have to be visited in one's lifetime.

History

The four temples are Badrinath Temple, Jaganath Temple, Rameswaram, and Dwarka.^[3] Though the origins are not clearly known, the Advaita school of Hinduism established by Sankaracharya, who created Hindu monastic institutions across India, attributes the origin of Char Dham to the seer.^[1] The four monasteries lie across the four corners of India and their attendant temples are Badrinath Temple at Badrinath in the North, Jagannath Temple at Puri in the east, Dwarakadheesh Temple at Dwarka in the west and Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram in the South. Though ideologically the temples are divided between the sects of Hinduism, namely Saivism and Vaishnavism, the Char Dham pilgrimage is an all Hindu affair.^[4] There are four abodes in Himalayas called Chota Char Dham (Chota meaning small): Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri - all of these lie at the foot hills of Himalayas.^[5] The name Chota was added during the mid of 20th century to differentiate the original Char Dhams. ^{[citation needed]} The journey across the four cardinal points in India is considered sacred by Hindus who aspire to visit these temples once in their lifetime.^[6] Traditionally the trip starts at the eastern end from Puri, proceeding in clockwise direction in a manner typically followed for circuambulation in Hindu temples.^[6] Geographically speaking the char dham make a perfect square with Badrinath and Rameswaram falling on the same longitude and Dwarka (old) and Puri on the same latitude, representing the farthest north, east, west, and south points of India (at that time, before coastlines changed).^{[citation needed]}

Pilgrimage Centers

Badrinath

Badrinath Temple, Badrinath

Badrinath is located in the North Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is in the Garhwal hills, on the banks of the Alaknanda River. The town lies between the Nar and Narayana mountain ranges and in the shadow of Nilkantha peak (6,560m).

Dwarka

Dwarakadheesh Temple, Dwarka

Dwarka located in the west is in the state of Gujarat, India. The city derives its name from word dvar meaning door or gate in the Sanskrit language. It is located close to where the Gomti River merges into the Gulf of Kutch. However, this river Gomti is not the same Gomti River which is tributary of Ganga River The city lies in the westernmost part of India. The legendary city of Dwaraka was the dwelling place of Lord Krishna. It is believed that due to damage and destruction by the sea, Dvaraka has submerged six times and modern day Dwarka is the 7th such city to be built in the area.^{[citation needed]}

Jagannath Puri

Jagannath Temple, Puri

Puri located at the east, is located in the state of Odisha, India. Puri is one of the oldest cities in the eastern part of the country. It is situated on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. The main deity is Shri Krishna, celebrated as Lord Jagannatha. It is the only shrine in India, where goddess, Subhadra, sister of Lord Krishna is worshipped along with her brothers, Lord Jagannatha and Lord Balabhadra. The main temple here is about 1000 years old and constructed by Raja ChodaGanga Deva and Raja Tritiya Ananga Bhima Deva. Puri is the site of the Govardhana Matha, one of the four cardinal institutions or Mathas established by Adi Shankaracharya. Brahma, Vishnu & Maheswara three are together in all-time every place. In Kali yuga Sreemandir as jagannath temple in Puri. Jagannath-Vishnu, Balabhadra-Maheswara & Subhadra-Brahma. This is the plume for Oriya people to celebrate a special day in this Dham which is known as Ratha Yatra ("Chariot Festival").^{[citation needed]}

Rameswaram

Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameswaram

Rameswaram located in the South is in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated in the Gulf of Mannar at the very tip of the Indian peninsula. According to legends, this is the place from where Lord Rama, built a bridge Ram Setu to Lanka. The Ramanatha Swamy Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva occupies a major area of Rameswaram. The temple is believed to have been consecrated by Shri Rama Chandra. Rameswaram is significant for the Hindus as a pilgrimage to Benaras is incomplete without a pilgrimage to Rameswaram. The presiding deity here is in the form of a Linga with the name Sri Ramanatha Swamy, it also is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Brahma, Vishnu & Maheswara three are together in all-time every place. Rama-Vishnu, Laxman-Brahma & Hanuman-Maheswara.^{[citation needed]}

References

Information on Char Dham of Uttrakhand Include Badrinath Dham

Notes

• Char Dham Yatra, by G. R. Venkatraman. Published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1988.
• Chardham Yatra, by Savitri Dubey. Published by Alekh Prakashan. ISBN 81-88913-25-1.
• Brockman, Norbert C. (2011), Encyclopedia of Sacred Places, California: ABC-CLIO, LLC, ISBN 978-1-59884-655-3 
• Chakravarti, Mahadev (1994), The Concept of Rudra-Śiva Through The Ages (Second Revised ed.), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 81-208-0053-2 
• Gwynne, Paul (2009), World Religions in Practice: A Comparative Introduction, Oxford: Blackwell Publication, ISBN 978-1-4051-6702-4 .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Char Dham Temples.

v t e Hindu holy cities India Char Dham Badrinath Badrinath Temple Dwarka Dwarakadheesh Temple Puri Jagannath Temple Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy Temple Chota Char Dham Badrinath Badrinath Temple Kedarnath Kedarnath Temple Gangotri Gangotri Temple Yamunotri Yamunotri Temple Panch Kedar Kedarnath Tungnath Rudranath Madhyamaheshwar kalpeshwar Pancharama Kshetras Amararama Draksharama Ksheerarama Kumararama Somarama Six Abodes of Murugan Palani Swamimalai Thiruthani Pazhamudircholai Thiruchendur Tiruparankunram Ashtavinayaka Morgaon Moreshwar Lenyadri Girijatmaj Pali Ballaleshwar Mahad Varadvinayak Ranjangaon Mahaganapati Siddhatek Siddhivinayak Ozar Vighneswar Theur Chintamani Jyotirlinga Prabhas Patan Somnath Srisailam Mallikājuna Ujjain Mahakaleshwar Omkareshwar Omkareshwar Kedarnath Kedarnath Shiradhon Bhimashankar Varanasi Kashi Vishvanath Trimbak Trimbakeshwar Deoghar Vaidyanath Dwarka Nageshvara Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy Ellora Caves Grishneshwar Others Allahabad Ahobilam Ambaji Ambalappuzha Annamalai Annavaram Ayodhya Basar Bhadrachalam Chidambaram Chitrakoot Chottanikkara Dakor Dharmasthala Ettumanoor Gaya Gokul Guruvayur Haridwar Jageshwar Kalighat Kanchipuram Khatu Kollur Madurai Mangalagiri Mathura Nashik Nathdwara Pandharpur Pushkar Rishikesh Ryali Sabarimala Somnath Sringeri Shirdi Simhachalam Sonamukhi Srirangam Sri Kurmam Tirupati Thirunavaya Tripunithura Udupi Jajpur Vrindavan Vijayawada Yadagirigutta Nepal Kathmandu Janakpurdham Sri Lanka Kataragama

In Sehore (MP) There is a Chintaman Ganesh Temple which is a 2000 years old temple and here lord ganesha's moorti is "SWAYAMBHOO"....