Like each area of India, Mithila additionally is filled with Devi temples. I noticed a lot of them at Darbhanga, nonetheless, most of them are new. Historical Devi temple of Mithila embrace Uchhaith Bhagwati Temple and Ahilya Sthan, each of that are talked about in our Indian Scriptures.
We visited each these temples on our strategy to Janakpur – the traditional capital of Mithila.
Uchhaith Bhagwati Temple
Uchhaith Bhagwati will get her identify from the village that can be referred to as Uchhaith. It lies on the trail that many Rishi Munis took to go to Himalayas. Sure, it’s within the foothills of the Himalayas, very near Janakpur.
Temple story additionally says that Sri Ram additionally visited this temple on his strategy to Janakpur. Certainly, the Ahilya Sthan story that we’ll go to in a minute too, corroborates this story.
Kalidasa Story
Story goes that Kalidasa was a idiot with no data. He was married to a really discovered Vidyottama, by trick. When she came upon about Kalidasa, she kicked him out and advised him to return solely when he has sufficient data. It’s believed that Kalidasa began working at a Sanskrit Pathshala close to Uchhaith.
Being a Durga devotee, he used to go to and light-weight a lamp within the temple day by day. One stormy night time, he crossed the river with nice issue to mild the lamp. Devi was happy together with his devotion. She appeared earlier than him and requested him to hunt a boon. Kalidasa, in fact, requested for data and was awarded that present. He went on to develop into the best poet the world has seen.
Chhinmasta
You see a giant Machh Dwar asserting the temple, with two big golden fishes. The trail resulting in the temple is filled with outlets promoting Puja gadgets and prasad. Contained in the compound there are distributors promoting flowers, coconuts, chunris, surrounding the temple in crimson.
That is an historical temple devoted to Bhagwati within the type of Chhinmasta – the one with a severed head. She is without doubt one of the Sprint Mahavidyas. Within the Garbhagriha, you see a picture of Devi in black stone. It’s not straightforward to see it as it’s coated with piles of crimson hibiscus flowers. Pandit ji was type sufficient to raise the flowers to allow us to have the darshan.
Many ladies have been worshipping the Devi. It’s a stay temple pulsating with divine power. Once we visited, a katha was occurring, as a prelude to the upcoming Navaratri. There’s a Shiva temple within the premises.
The temple is tiny whenever you evaluate it to its significance and recognition. The tiles have been coming aside, there was filth throughout. How I want, the temple was cleaner. The chaos and uncleanliness take away the sanctity of the place.
I’m advised that lot of Tantra Sadhana is completed at this temple and the adjoining cremation floor. It’s believed that one will get no matter one needs for at this temple.
Navaratri attracts plenty of crowds at this temple. Ninth day of Navaratri that represents Siddhidatri or the type of goddess that bestows you’ll all doable needs is specifically worshipped right here.
Ahilya Sthan
Ahilya is the spouse of Gautam Rishi. They lived right here within the forest within the foothills of the Himalayas. As soon as Indra tricked Ahilya and that made Gautam Rishi indignant. He cursed her to develop into a stone.
As quickly as he did so, he realised that it was not her fault, as an alternative Indra was at fault. A curse cannot be taken again, so he restricted it by saying that when a Vishnu Avatar comes and touches her by his ft, she is going to revert to her human kind.
Sri Ram, because the seventh avatar of Vishnu, walked on this path, following his Guru Vishwamitra. On his manner, he touched Ahilya and obliged her. This place got here to be generally known as Ahilya Sthan.
Ram Temple at Ahilya Sthan
There’s a pretty temple in pale pink and yellow devoted to Ram-Janaki. We reached this temple at Ahiari village early morning, solely to search out it closed. On our request, Pandit ji agreed to open the temple. However, he wanted a while to take bathtub earlier than he may open the temple. Within the meantime, we walked round and located an Ahilya Temple shut by
The temple dates to late 17th CE and has been restored by the Darbhanga kings.
Inside it has lovely Murtis of Sri Ram-Janaki together with Gautam-Ahilya, Hanuman ji and Vishwamitra.
You possibly can go across the temple and admire its easy but elegant structure.
Ahilya Temple
Ahilya temple is a small temple positioned subsequent to a sq. stepwell. There are two Pindis on the bottom which can be coated with brass faces and dressed with clothes.
A platform behind holds the Murtis depicting Ram Darbar and Hanuman ji within the lap of his mom.
I used to be intrigued about Hanuman Murti and the girl priest there mentioned, that is the maternal grandparent’s residence of Hanuman ji. I requested how and he or she defined that Anjani, the mom Hanuman ji is daughter of Ahilya and Gautam Rishi. This was one thing new to me. Right here onwards, I began noticing the Hanuman ji, alongside together with his mom Anjani in lots of temples round.
Pores and skin Remedy Ritual
We seen an ritual right here. A younger lady was doing the parikrama of the temple holding two lengthy brinjals on a stick. After she was achieved together with her Puja, I requested her in regards to the Brinjals. She mentioned she had a pores and skin illness that would not be cured with all doable therapies. That’s when somebody urged her to hope to Ahilya with a promise that in case you are cured you’d go to Ahilya Sthan and supply brinjals to the Devi. She had come all the way in which from Mumbai the place she lives, after being cured. Religion, as they are saying, can transfer mountains.
In entrance of the temple stands a thick pillar in yellow with mantras written on it. In a distinct segment dealing with the temple are the traditional Murtis of Sri Ram and Lakshman. It’s believed that parikrama of this pillar is the same as parikrama of the world. We noticed just a few folks doing its parikrama.
An adjoining Yagnashala with a thatched roof point out common yagnas right here.
A platform with the footprints of Sri Ram marks his journey by this forest. In actual fact, for devotees, that is probably the most sacred a part of these temples.
I discovered these two temples at Ahilya Sthan very peaceable. They exude that stillness that one must go inward.
After this we visited Gautam Kund at Brahmpur village. It appeared extra like a modern-day pond. We prayed from a distance and carried on our journey in direction of Janakpur.
As per pauranik tales, Brahma himself created this pond for Gautam Rishi in his hermitage.
Journey Suggestions
For visiting each these locations closest airport is Darbhanga and railway station is Madhubani.
Uchhaith Is positioned 4 kms from Benipatti.
Except you need to do a Puja, half-hour is nice sufficient to go to the temple on a traditional day.
Ahilya Sthan is about 24 km from Darbhanga. Comply with the signal boards from the primary highway to achieve this temple.
Gautam Kund is way away and doesn’t look like an previous kund. So, until you have to go to, it’s avoidable.
There are not any services at Ahilya sthan, so carry your personal meals and water.
At Uchhaith, there are eateries however it might nonetheless be prudent to hold your personal.