Pilgrimages in Rajasthan

The Brahma temple is an important pilgrimage centre for the Hindus. It is the only one temple of Lord Brahma which is situated in Pushkar. According to Hindu Mythology, the Lord Brahma together with all the gods and goddesses performed a Yagna here. A silver turtle situated at the entrance of the marble temple is a symbol of his means of transport. The Pushkar Lake is regarded as the most sacred lake in India. This lake is surrounded by many fine temples and their stepped ghats, and remains dotted with devotees and bathers, doing some rituals. This view becomes more enchanting during the Kartik Snana, when thousands of pilgrims gather on the steps to bathe in its holy water. According to legend, the Lord Brahma dropped a lotus here and as a result this lake was created.   More....

The Govind Devji temple was the family temple of the Kachchwahas of Jaipur, and open to the public. This temple houses the images of Govind Devji or Lord Krishna and Radha. The idols in the temple were brought from Vrindavan, are believed to have been carved by Vajranath, one of the greatest sculptors of the time, and grandson of Krishna. The temple was built as a part of the City Palace complex by Sawai Jai Singh II. It is a simple temple, with an open pavilion surrounded by columns, and a tiered courtyard. The idols are mounted on a silver throne, and ornamented with gold jewellery, and are particularly venerated during Janamashatmi.

The Jhulelal temple is the recently renovated temple in Jaipur. This temple is dedicated to the patron saint of the same name, and located in the tourism zone of Hawa Mahal, on the Amber Road. This temple has always been a source of pilgrimage for the Sindhi community. The white temple complex is situated within a garden, and stands on an elevated platform that is reached by a verandah surrounded by pillars. A dome is painted entirely with scenes depicting the birth and childhood of Lord Krishna. There are also idols of Jhulelal and Durgam, the Guru Granth Sahib, and images of other deities in the temple.

Galtaji, the medieval Hanuman temple rises sharply from a deep gorge on the hills. This temple is visited by a large mass of people, mainly during the monsoon.

Shri Mahavirji Temple is located about 90 km from Ranthambore. Shri Mahaveerji is a famous centre of Jain pilgrimage. It is believed that this place was converted into a pilgrimage centre following the unearthing of a statue of Mahavira by a cowherd. The temple is a vast complex which is constructed with white sandstone, and has cupolas of red sandstone. Its chaatris and spires are visible from all around. The walls are painted with religious scenes, and facing the temple is a tower where the footsteps of Mahavira have been consecrated.

The Venkatesh Devasthan has been recently built in 1994 in Sujangarh in the Shekhawati region. Sri Venkatesh Devasthan is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who is also known as Venkatesh in the South. This temple is a replica of the temple in Tirupati, with its gopurams, and sculpted façade. This temple is open throughout the day and specific times have been set for the ritual prayers to be offered at dawn, in the morning, and evening.

According to the legend, the Lord Krishna asked for the head of a Brahmin named Babhruvahan. The Brahmin readily sacrificed himself, and the pleased Krishna then placed the head upon a hillock, to be worshipped in his own name. One of the major attraction in this place is an annual fair which is held at the temple of Khatu Shyamji.

The Dilwara Jain temples were built in 1031 AD, and among the finest examples of Jain architecture in India. The Dilwara temples are located within an ancient mango grove and are only open between noon till six in the evening. In the morning, the priests perform several rituals, that the local people can't view. The complex has four temples in which the art of marble carving reached a great height. These temples are the Vimalshahi, Lunavashahi, Rishabhdeo and Chaumukha. The two main shrines of Adinath and Neminath are elaborately carved from doorways and lintels to ceilings, pillars, walls and arches. Every pillar, arch and ceiling has been carved with great delicacy from marble.   More....

The Jain temples in Ranakpur were built during the reign of the Rana Kumbha in the 15th century and are well preserved. The Ranakpur temples are built on the tract of land which was gifted by the Ranas to the Jains in the 15th century. The main temple, popularly called as Chaumukha is dedicated to the Rishabhdeo. This temple is open on all four sides and enshrines the four-faced image of Adinath. An enormous basement of this temple covers 48,000 square feet. This temple rises three storeys and has four subsidiary shrines and twenty four pillared halls with 80 spires supported on 420 columns. The total number of columns is 1444, all of which are intricately carved, no two being alike. A small Parshvanath shrine faces the main temple. Within the complex, there is also the Sun temple, with carvings of warriors, horses and solar deities riding chariots.   More....

The Shrinathji temple is located at Nathdwara, about 48 kms. north of Udaipur. This place is a famous pilgrimage centre of the Vaishnavas. In this temple, there is a unique image of Lord Krishna, which has been sculptured from a single piece of black marble. At the temple, the glimpses of the idol are permitted for very short intervals, at fixed times of the day and it is believed that the faithful see him in the different moods associated with his life. According to the legends, the Goswami Dev was bringing the idol of Lord Krishna from Mathura in a chariot to save it from the hands of Aurangzeb. While coming, the wheel of the chariot got stuck in the sand and could not be pulled out. Seeing it as an act of the divine will, he decided that the image of the Lord should be kept at that particular spot, as a result the temple of Shrinathji was built in the early 18th century. Thousands of tourists and pilgrims who pass the lofty mountains and serene lakes of Udaipur, surely visit this temple. The ruling house of Udaipur also worship in this temple and the Maharana of Udaipur is also known as the Shriji among his people. Holi, Janmashtami and Annakoot festival are celebrated with great enthusiasm in this temple.    More....

Eklingji, about 22 kms north-east of Udaipur, was built in 734 AD as a beautifully sculpted temple complex of 108 temples within its high fortified wall. According to the legends, the Bappa Rawal, the founder of Mewar dynasty, had a dream in which he prayed before an image of Lord Shiva and as a result his problem was removed. So he resolved to construct the temple and so he constructed this temple at Eklingji and ever since, Eklingji has been regarded as the true ruler of Mewar and on his name, the Maharanas governed Mewar. The main temple dedicated to Eklingji, the Lord Shiva is the tallest temple and built of granite and marble and has an ornated, pillared hall, under a pyramidal roof. The Linga of Lord Shiva is in black marble and contains four images of Surya, Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra in four cardinal directions. Outside, opposite the west-facing side of Shiva is a statue of the bull, Nandi, Shiva’s vehicle. The complex also has life-size image of Bappa Rawal, and its numerous temple have carved images of Ganesh, Durga, Kali and other Shivalingas, and other celestial bodies.

Nagda, the old capital of Mewar is also located near Eklingji. There are various temples in Nagda which belong to the 4th century AD, and are mostly worshipped and respected by Bhil tribals. A fair is held during the Shivratri festival in Nagda.