The Second leg of Kashi Yatra – Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Gaya

After completing the first leg of Kashi yatra, i.e. Dhanushkodi, Rameswaram and nearby temples as an addition, the second leg started a month afterwards.  Went from Mumbai by Banaras Express and reached Prayagraj Chheoki next day late night.  

Prayagraj

The sand named Veni Madhava which was kept in puja room and taken to Prayagraj. After performing Veni Madhava puja along with other rituals, went to Triveni Sangam in a boat where the sand brought from Rameswaram was dissolved. Veni is given as Daan by cutting a portion of hair of your better half.  Veni Daan is performed only at Triveni Sangam. Like three rivers confluence here, a woman’s braid has a pattern formed by three strands of braids of hair, a little portion is offered into the holy waters of the Sangam. This is the point where the brown water of the Ganga meets the green water of the Yamuna, along with the mythical Saraswati, which remains unseen but believed to run underground. After Veni Daan, bath with your better half is taken at the sangam. Then proceed to do the remaining rituals like Shrardha, etc.

Sangam, Prayagraj

After a break of two hours, visited other places like Nag Vasuki Temple, which is located on the north of Sangam in the northern corner of Daraganj on the Ganga bank. It has statues of Nag Raj, Ganesh, Parvati and a reclining statue of Bhishma Pitamah. There is a Shiv temple in the premises. Lalita Devi Temple, located in Mirapur locality. It is counted among the 51 Siddha Shaktipeeth in the country. Alopi Devi Temple located in Alopibagh locality west of Daraganj. In the sanctum sanctorum of the temple there is a round platform there is a coloured cloth below which there is a small cot. Devotees pay obeisance here. It is said to be one of the Shaktipeeth. Veni Madhav Temple located in Daraganj locality and has attractive idols of Radha and Lord Krishna. There are 12 Madhav deities in Prayag but the Veni Madhav temple at Daraganj close to the Sangam is especially significant.

Vasuki Mandir, Prayagraj

    

Lalita Devi Temple, Prayagraj

Bade Hanuman temple, is a must visit place in Prayagraj. It is located very close to Sangam and Hanumanji is in lying position instead of being in sitting or standing form as is common in thousands of other Hanuman temples in India.  There is also Shankar Vimana Mandapam which was built on the initiative of Shankaracharya Chandrashekharendra Saraswati of Kanchi Kamakoti Peeth and was inaugurated by Shankarachrya Jayendra Saraswati in 1986. This three-storied structure is made on 16 huge pillars on the bank of the Sangam. Its height is 130 feet and it was completed in 16 years. It has the idols of Kamakshi, Lord Balaji and Lord Shiv. The Shiv idol weighs 10 tons.

Bade Hanuman, Prayagraj

Alopi Devi Mandir, Prayagraj

There are many places of interest in Prayagraj which you can visit if you have time. https://prayagraj.nic.in/places-of-interest/

Ayodhya

10 second bliss. Jai Shri Ram. Generations wait ended in flat 30 minutes. Joined the line and came out in 30 minutes. Separate line for ladies and gents. In Gents line, be on the right side line only. The extreme right line is for ladies only. For some distance ladies only but near the entrance of the main temple you can switch over and change to extreme right line. This is the nearest to the Ram Lalla and get more darshan time as you come out.  Do not take mobile, bags, belt, watches, etc. If you want to carry mobile, add at least 30 minutes for depositing and taking back. Chappal stand also takes time. Water bottles will be chucked out at the security check.

Ayodhya Mandir

Saryu River, Ayodhya

Hanuman garhi also crowded but you can carry mobile. As I have left mobile at the room itself no photo of Hanuman garhi Mandir. Vikramaditya got a temple constructed which later on came to be known as Hanuman Garhi. It is believed that Lord Hanuman (Pavan Putra) lived here to guard Ayodhya. You will find here a beautiful idol of Bal (young) sitting on lap of Maa Anjani at the main temple.

You can visit Kanak Bhavan, Dashrath Mahal, Sarayu River Front, Lata Mangeshkar Chowk, etc. after visiting Ram Lalla. Dashrath Mahal in Ayodhya is at a distance of 50 meters from Hanuman Garhi and attracts many due to its beautiful architecture and elite standards. Kanak Bhawan is to the north-east of Ram Janam Bhumi, Ramkot, in Ayodhya. Kanak Bhawan is one of the finest and famous temples in Ayodhya and is a must visit. It is believed that this Bhawan was gifted to Devi Sita by Kaikei immediately after her marriage to Lord Ram. This is private palace of Devi Sita and Lord Rama. Vikramaditya got it renovated. Later it was rebuilt/renovated by Vrish Bhanu Kunwari which exists even today. The main idols installed in the garbhgrih (sanctum), are of Lord Ram and Devi Sita.

Hanuman Garhi, Ayodhya

Kanak Bhavan, Ayodhya

Left Ayodhya for Varanasi in the morning.  Rain God greeted with showers on the way and in Varanasi.  Tried to have darshan of Kashi Vishwanath, but due to Holi celebrations, the crowd was too much and hence decided to have darshan in the early morning next day.  We had darshan of Visalakhsi Maa.

Ganga Arti at Dashashvamedha Ghat

The Ganga Arti at Dashashvamedha Ghat viewed from boat is a different experience altogether. Aarti starts at around 7.00 pm and goes on for around 45 minutes. There are no entry charges for the aarti. Depending on the space availability and the time one has reached the ghat one can witness the aarti. Boats are available from nearby ghats, in fact the moment you enter the area (i.e. road going towards the ghat), one would find many boatmen selling the boat ride both on seat basis or lumpsum hire basis in case of small boats. Haggling works here and one has many options in boat ride i.e. witnessing the aarti and then cruising the river Ganga, mostly just a glimpse of various ghats -Manikarnika ghat onwards to Assi ghat.

 

Ganga Arti, Dashashvamedh Ghat, Varanasi

The Arti started probably in 1991 and it has been continuing since then with the exception during COVID period when the Arti continued but without gatherings. The Ganga Arti is broadcast in loudspeakers and displayed in the LED screen and performed by 7 young priests denoting sapta rishis all facing the River Ganga. The priests start to move the many layered huge brass lamp in a clockwise direction in a rhythmic manner. The whole atmosphere is magical and an unique experience.

Next day morning we had darshan of Kashi Vishwanath and Annapurani inside the temple complex. After performing ritual at a place of convenience near our stay started for our next halt Gaya

Ma Visalakshi Mandir, Varanasi 

Gaya

Historically, Gaya was the part of the ancient Magadh Empire. The city is located on the bank of Falgu River and is considered among one of the most sacred cities for Hindus. But the river has no flowing water. Hence, the Pinda is not dissolved in the river but given to cows.  The Pinddanam is done at three places here. First on the banks of Falgu River, Vishnupad Temple and at AkshayVat, A peepal tree standing on the bank of Falgu River worshiped for its divinity.

Shri Vishnupad Temple, Gaya

The most attractive destination in Gaya is Vishnupad Temple. The temple is located on the bank of Falgu River and has footprint of Vishnu incised into a block of basalt. People believe that Lord Vishnu killed Gayasur by placing his foot on Gayasur’s chest. The old temple of Vishnupad was later renovated by the queen of Indore, Devi Ahilyabai in eighteenth century.

Bodhgaya

Bodhgaya is one of the most important and sacred Buddhist pilgrimage center in the world. It was here under a banyan tree, the Bodhi Tree, Gautama attained supreme knowledge to become Buddha, the Enlightened One. Born in the foothills of the Himalayas as a Sakya prince of Kapilvastu (now in Nepal), most of the major events of his life, like enlightenment and last sermon, happened in Bihar.

Mahobodhi Temple, BodhGaya

There is a magnificent Mahabodhi temple and the Tree from the original sapling still stands in the temple premises. The temple is an architectural amalgamation of many centuries, cultures and heritages. While its architecture has a distinct stamp of the Gupta era, it has later ages inscriptions describing visits of pilgrims from Sri Lanka, Myanmar and China between 7th and 10th century AD. It is perhaps still the same temple Hieuen Tsang visited in 7th century.  The temple stands in the east to the Bodhi Tree. Its architectural effect is superb. Its basement is 48 square feet and it rises in the form of a slender Pyramid till it reaches its neck, which is cylindrical in shape. The total height of the temple is 170 ft. and on the top of the temple are Chatras which symbolize sovereignty of religion. Four towers on its corners rise gracefully giving the holy structure a poise balance. This sacred edifice is like a grand banner unfurled by time to proclaim to the world the pious efforts of the Buddha to solve the knots of human miseries, to ascend above worldly problems and to attain transcendental peace through wisdom, good conduct and disciplined life. Inside the temple, in the main sanctum, there is a colossal image of the Buddha in sitting posture touching the earth by his right hand. In this posture the Buddha accomplished the supreme enlightenment. The statue is of black stone but it has been guilted by the devotees. The entire courtyard of the temple is studded with large number of votive stupas. These stupas are of all sizes built during the past 2500 years ago.

After the visit to Bodhgaya, started our journey back to Varanasi and reached past midnight.

Varanasi
Started our rituals in boat at five ghats, (Panch Ghat), and performed Dampati Puja.  After a break, had darshan at Sankat Mochan Hanumanji, Kal Bhairav, Sozhiamman and other temples in Varanasi.

Manikarnika Ghat, Varanasi

Started our journey back next day morning from Banaras.

Ayodhya Temples Photos courtesy: respective official website