Sri Bhavnath Mahadev mandir

Sri Bhavnath Mahadev mandir is located at the foot hills of the Girnar Hills. 

This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has been believed to have stood here at Junagadh from ancient times. Bhavnath Mahadev Temple is one of the foremost Holy Places in Junagadh city and famous for Bhavnath Fair which is visited by devotees from around the world. 

The temple is located in the neighbouring area of Girnar mountain range which is near to Girnar Taleti. From Girnar Taleti one has to reach the temple by foot climbing up to the Girnar hills. The Bhavnath Mahadev Temple is surrounded by many ancient holy places resting at the foothills of Girnar. 

Every Year at the temple two key festivals are celebrated which include Maha Shivaratri and Lili Parikrama.

A five day Bhavnath Mahadev Fair (Bhavnath Mahadev Mela) is held during the festival of Mahashivratri which is a worldwide tourist attraction. The Mahapuja (Prayers) of Lord Shiva takes place at midnigh in this temple on the 14th day of the dark half of the month of Magh, as per the Hindu calendar. (Somewhere in February).

Somnath temple

The Somnath temple located in Prabhas Patan near Veraval in Saurashtra on the western coast of Gujarat, India, is the first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva. The temple is considered sacred due to the various legends connected to it. Somnath means "Lord of the Soma", an epithet of Shiva. The principal temple of Somnath is believed to have been built in gold by the moon god Soma, in silver by the sun god Ravi, in wood by Krishna and in stone by the Solanki Rajputs in the 11th century. The temple's imposing architecture includes intricate carvings, silver doors, an impressive Nandi idol and the central shivalinga. In the vast courtyard stand the massive mandapa (hall), as well as the main shrine, whose gently curved pyramidal forms tower over the whole complex.

Through a side door the sea is visible shimmering in the sunlight. Try slipping out to gaze at the roaring waves below, which though not safe for swimming, present an exhilarating spectacle. In view, you will find a tower called Deep Stambha erected on the embankment. On the top is a shape like a conch shell on its side, and in the tower is an arrow pointing directly to the south pole (interestingly, a line between here and the south pole crosses no land until Antarctica.)

The Kartik Purnima Fair is held here for four days beginning on Kartik Sud 14 according to the Hindu calendar, and attracts crowds in large numbers.Somnath Temple is known as "the Shrine Eternal". This legendary temple has been destroyed and rebuilt several times by Islamic kings and Hindu kings respectively. Somnath is related with release of Chandra (Moon God) from the curse of his father-in-law Daksha Prajapati. The research based on ancient Indian classical texts show that first Somnath Jyotirling Pran-Pratistha was done on the auspicious third day of brighter half of Shravan month during the tenth Treta yug of Vaivswat Manvantar. Swami Shri Gajananand Saraswatiji, Chairman of Shrimad Aadhya Jagadguru Shankaracharya Vedic Shodh Sansthan, Varanasi suggested that the said first temple was built 7,99,25,105 years ago as derived from the traditions of Prabhas Khand of Skand Puran. Thus, this temple is a perennial source of inspiration for millions of Hindus since time immemorial.

The later sources of history account for several desecration by Muslims invaders during eleventh to eighteen century A.D. The temple was rebuilt every time with the reconstructive spirit of the people. The modern temple was reconstructed with the resolve of Sardar Patel who visited the ruins of Somnath temple on November 13 1947. Then President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, did the Pran-Pratistha at the existing temple on 11 May 1951.

Sita Navami

Sita Navami is known as ‘Sita Jayanti’ or ‘Janaki Navami.’ It is an important Hindu observance dedicated to Goddess Sita, who was married to Lord Ram. Sita Navami celebrates the birthday of Goddess Sita. It falls on the ‘Shukla Paksha’ ‘Navami’ of the ‘Falguna’ month. It is believed that Sita was born in Pushya Nakshatra. According to the legends, Lord Rama was also born on the Navami tithi in the ‘Chaitra’ month.

Significance of Sita Navami

Sita Navami has a great religious significance for Hindu devotees. Goddess Sita is considered as an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. Devi Sita was an adopted daughter of King Janak and was also known as ‘Janaki.’ Lord Ram married Goddess Sita in a ‘Swayamvar,’ organised by King Janak in Mithila. Goddess Sita was always recognised for patience and dedication towards her husband. By observing Sita Navami, one will be blessed with a joyful and contented married life.

Legend

Goddess Janaki was born on Tuesday in Pushya Nakshatra. A legend is famous regarding the birth of Goddess Sita. Once, Ravan the king of Lanka saw a female sage Vedati. His mind was fascinated by her. He asked her the reason behind not getting married. Vedati said that her father wants to marry her to Lord Vishnu. But a demon got charmed by her and killed her dad. In that sorrow, her mother also died. Hence, she has been meditating to get married to Lord Vishnu. Ravan tried wooing her. On Vedati’s refusal, he forcibly caught her hair. She immediately jumped in a fire and died. Before that, he cursed Ravan saying “In my next birth, I will take the revenge of the insult. And I will become the reason of your destruction.”

In the next life, she was born as Lotus In the sea. The Lotus reached the Yagaya Mandap of King Janak’s land. He got this girl from a land called Jyoti. This girl was named Janaki and called Sita after marriage.

Other legends

According to Uttara Purana, Ravana had bad intentions for Manivati the princess of Alkapuri.  Manivati pledged to take revenge on Ravana. Later she was reborn as the daughter of Ravana and Mandodari. But the astrologers predicted that the child would destroy his lineage. So, Ravana ordered his servant to kill the child. However the servant did not kill the girl and instead buried her in Mithila where she was found by Janaka.

According to Jaina Ramayana, Sita was born as daughter of Ravana. However the astrologers predicted that the first child of Ravana would be responsible for his death. Therefore Ravana ordered his servants to take the child to some distant lands and bury her there. Thus, she was found and adopted by Janaka.

It appears in Jaina Ramayana that Ravana was in love with Sita but only as a father loves his daughter. Though Ravana ordered his servants to bury her in a distant land,  he kept a check on Sita’s whereabouts. He was overjoyed to find that Sita was adopted by a Janaka. He also attended Sita’s swayamvara ceremony to see her get married.

He was happy to see that Sita got married to Raghuvamshi Rama. All was well until Ram was sent to exile for 14 years. He didn’t want his daughter to suffer in forest and wanted to put an end to the misery. So he abducted her and brought her to Lanka.

Rituals

On Sita Navami, especially married women worship Devi Sita along with Lord Ram and Lakshmana. A puja mandap is set and decorated with colorful flowers. The idols of Lord Ram, Devi Sita along with Lakshmana, King Janaka and Mata Sunayana are placed in the mandap. Goddess Sita emerged from a ploughed land. Hence, Mother Earth is also worshipped on this day. Devotees perform the puja by making various offerings in the form of Sesame seeds, rice, barley, and fruits. Special ‘Bhog’ is prepared and distributed as Prasad after Aarti. Women observe a strict fasting on this day. Performing Sita Navami Vrat brings virtues like modesty, motherhood, sacrifice and dedication. Married women keep the fast for the long life of their husbands. On this day, special rituals and prayers are held in Janaki temples across the country. Rituals like Shringar Darshan, Maha Abhishekam and Aarti are performed in temples. Recitals of Ramayana, followed by bhajan are also held. Few temples take out processions with the idols of the deity on a chariot, chanting ‘Jai Siya Ram’ and singing devotional songs.