My Pilgrimage: 2024

Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar (1725-1795) the queen of Malwa kingdom established her capital at Maheshwar 84 Kms from Indore. You may wonder why I am referring to a queen in my pilgrimage post. This great queen is pride of our country as she constructed and supported to restore many Hindu temples especially after they were destroyed by the invaders

Some famous temples in that prestigious list are Puri jagannath, Omkareshwar, Badrinath, Dwarka, Rameswaram, Haridwar. Every pilgrimage Centre in India received contribution from Ahilya Bai in one way or the other.

Most notable was the Kasi Viswanath temple which she rebuilt and restored after 111 years after its destruction by Aurangzeb . The Ghats which we see on the banks of Ganges today were also built by Queen Ahilya Bai hence I made a post in her name; without her contribution we would have lost our precious gems forever .

Maheshwar fort or Ahilya Bai fort

There are several shrines within the premises of Maheshwar fort dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu , Ganesha and Narmada river on whose banks the fort stands. The ghat and fort view from the river is breathtaking and magnificent. Here are a few pictures . Camera was not allowed inside the queen's residence and could get only a picture from outside ( shot 1)

Queen's Fort

Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar

shrines inside from the fort

Ghat of the fort

Fort view from Narmada river side

Do you know, there is a temple dedicated to Anantha Padmanabha Swamy in Tiruvattar, Kanyakumari district similar to the one in Thiruvananthapuram. Lord here is known as Adikesava Perumal and is believed to be very much more older than the Padmanabha Swamy of Thiruvanthapuram.

This temple was part of Kerala and was under Travancore kings but presently it is part of Tamilnadu after State reorganization. This is one of the 108 divyadesham of Vishnu, Nammalwar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Adi Kesava here. Legend also says that Lord killed the demon Kesi and came to be known as Adi Kesava .There is lot of resemblance in pooja rituals of Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruvattar temples.

Known as the Dakshina Vaikuntam, one has to view the Lord through three dwaras akin to the Padmanabha temple. it is said that both deities are reclining on Adisesha in respective temples facing each other . This temple is surrounded by 3 rivers Pahrli, Kodhai and Tamirabharani,

One can view the Lord; the saligrama sila only with the help of oil lamps in the sanctum and one may get a better view if one can have darshan from the raised platform outside the sanctum. The Panchloha idols were being worshipped outside and we could have beautiful darshan.

The temple is a magnificent edifice and is on an elevated ground. One has to climb a few steps to reach the temple. The temple corridors on all four sides are lined on either side with granite pillars.

Beautiful murals and sculptures from our puranas decorate the walls and interior. There is huge dwajasthambam as this a Mahakshetram and there is small shrine for Tiruvambadi Krishna. One can enter and exit the temple through East or West gate.

Tiruvattar is a village panchayat and is 6 kms form Marthandam in Kanyakumari district.

The temple surroundings are serene and very clean. The peace and quiet one feels during the visit was a added blessing.

Dress code -women can wear saris/chudidhars. Men can enter the inner precincts of the temple without shirts just like any Kerala temple. Those who plan Kaniyakumari can definitely add this in their itinerary.

No Photography allowed inside the temple .

A few pictures from my recent visit.