Chilkur Temple Information

Chilkur Balaji Temple is located at Chilkur in Moinabad mandal in the Rangareddy district, just 30 km off Hyderabad on the Old Bombay Highway(Vikarabad Highway).

This temple is also popularly known as Visa Temple because many devotees come here with the wish of going abroad and get their wishes fructify.

It's customary to go around the temple (known as Pradakshina) eleven times and pray to god for a specific wish. Once this wish comes true, the recipient has to go again and take 108 Pradakshinas.

This is one of the few temples in India which does not accept monetary donations.

Chilkur Balaji temple is one of the most famous temples in Hyderabad area. The nice concept that is implemented in darshan of the Lord Balaji, is that all the devotees must stand in queue with utmost discipline. When people ask for wish from the god here, they have to do 11 pradakshinas and ask their wish with the witness of Lord Anjaneya. When the wish gets fulfilled, they need to do 108 pradakshinas. The 11 pradakshinas have a significant meaning according to the temple priests. When people wish anything from god, mind has to think about only god and one's self i.e 11(1-1) signifies that god takes care of everybody and everybody should understand that.

HISTORY

Set in sylvan surroundings, the temple attracts thousands of pilgrims every year and is an ideal place for sequestered retreat and meditation. It enjoyed in the past, great days of pomp and glory.

The temple is one of the oldest in Telangana, having been built during the time of Akkanna and Madanna, the uncles of Bhakta Ramdas. According to tradition, a devotee , Madhav Reddy who used to visit Tirupati every year could not do so on one occasion owing to serious ill-health. Lord Venkateshwara appeared in his dream and said, "I am right here in the jungle nearby. You don't have to worry." The devotee at once moved to the place indicated by the Lord in the dream and saw a mole- hill there, which he dug up. Accidentally, the axe struck Lord Balaji's idol covered by the mole-hill below the chin and on the chest, and surprisingly blood started flowing profusely from the "wounds", flooding the ground and turning it scarlet. The devotee could not believe his eyes when he saw this. Suddenly he could not believe his ears also when he heard a voice from the air which said,"Flood the mole-hill with cow's milk. "When the devotee did so, a Swayambhu idol of Lord Balaji accompanied by Sridevi and Bhoodevi(a rare combination) was found, and this idol was installed with the due rites and this temple built for it.

Sri Balaji venkateshwara, the Pratyaksha Daiva in Kaliyuga, is thus available at Chilkur to shower blessings on His devotees who for any reason are unable to go to Tirupati. Many devout worshippers flock to the temple, to receive the blessings of the Lord and his consorts throughout the year particularly during the Poolangi, Annakota and Brahmothsavams

With the earnest desire to revive the former glory and importance of the temple, the idol of Ammavaru was installed in 1963 the year following the Chinese aggression, and when the aggression was unilaterally vacated, Ammavaru was given the name of Rajya Lakshmi, signifying this welcome event. The unique feature of this idol is that lotus flowers are held in three hands and the fourth hand is in such a position towards the lotus feet which signifies the doctrine of Saranagathi.

About the Temple

Good news for the devotees who are willing to donate to the temple.

Excerpts from Deccan Chronicle: Hundi-less temple gets new scheme 

Hyderabad, April 1: Think before donating at Sri Chilkur Balaji temple as the hundi-less temple, which became famous as Viswa Balaji all over AP, will now accept donation only through notified banks. Endowments department has okayed the temple authorities to accept donation of Rs 100 and above through two banks. The interest accruing out of the donations will be utilised for conducting daily pujas. Devotees from all over the world can deposit cash in different branches of Andhra Bank including the one located at Pedda Mangalaram (Moinabad).

Even the branches of State Bank of Hyderabad all over the country, including the one at Moinabad, are authorised for this. The temple priest, Dr Sounder Rajan, said, "Devotees who contribute to this fund will have the satisfaction that their most coveted place of worship will continue to work in this unique system," he said. The Chilkur Balaji temple became famous for its unique hundi-less system. This was done to prevent endowments department taking over the administration of the temple. The cash can be deposited at Andhra Bank branches under head of account "SB A/c No 911/SB/1/8633 of Sri Balaji Venkateswara Swamy Temple or State Bank of Hyderabad SB A/c No. 62055583940.

Outside the temple you will find many shops (as usual) selling coconuts,and flowers to offer to God. The Balaji idols,pictures and prasadam and other paraphernalia are all available on the back portion of the temple near the entrance and Shiva Temple's exit. Floral/coconut offerings are not allowed inside the sanctum sanctorum nor accepted by the priest. So, be ready to crack the coconut yourself.

Don’t forget to carry a pen and take the numeric card (given free).It will make your circumambulatory thanks to the lord that much easier to carry out.

Eat,especially before you start off on the 108 pradakshinas.The Lord or His servents should not be blamed if you can’t sustain the physical exertion.

Take regular breaks beetwen the circumambulations.It’s only human if you head’s spinning from going round and round, so rest.

Last, but not the least ,remember not to close your eyes during darshan . Balaji idol here has four hands.

This Balaji is very flexible and modern too. He is receptive to change or the changing world. Here you dont have to close your eyes while taking darshan which is clearly written on boards in the temple premises. 

The best way to reach Chilkur Balaji Temple is, if you have got your own vehicle then it becomes easy. But since many of us go by bus/shared autorikshaws , then the best route is to reach Mehdipatnam from wherever you have put up your accomdation as the frequency of buses to Mehdipatnam is high from almost all parts of the city. And when you reach Mehdipatnam, do take 288D buses which ply almost every half an hour. So your travel becomes easy if you reach Mehdipatnam and there is a good frequency of buses every 30 minutes. Nevertheless, you can catch a shared autorikshaw if you are in a hurry. Visiting early in the morning is however better for anyone who has plans to make 108 pradakshinas, in view of the large crowd of pilgrims.

Directions from Mehdipatnam

From Mehdipatnum, follow the road to Langar house. At Langar house crossroads, follow straight towards Artillery Center (Towards CBIT / Ocean Park). As you pass Artillery Center (towards your right), fork left and continue ahead on the main road until you pass SHAAZ Engineering College . After passing Shaaz Engineering College, as you go ahead, the road Forks ( Y junction), main road continuing on the left and a road leading right. At this Y - junction, follow the road leading right. Continue on this road, passing the houses, until you come across another fork ( Y - Junction), here take the road forking right and this road will take you to the temple. 

The Prominence of Vishnu Sahasra Namas (Thousand names of the Lord Vishnu)

Vishnu Sahasranama was first composed & recited by Bhishma, when he was on his deathbed. Lord Krishna went to see Bhishma because he was breathing his last. When Bhishma had darshan of Lord Krishna, he started reciting Vishnu Sahasranama immediately. Vishnu Sahasranama means, rosary of thousand names of Lord Vishnu.

He started reciting Vishnu Sahasranama in the order he saw lord's form continuously and successively.

Vishnu Sahasranama is found in Mahabharata, the great epic of India.

If confers all the mundane transcendental benefits to the person who chants it. There are so many Sahasranamas of Vishnu, but among them this happens to be the most cardinal and important one because right from Sankaracharyalu there are so many Sages and Saints who have recited and commented in their own way. Even today, it is recited with the fervor and gaiety in all the temples of Lord Vishnu.

Vaidyanath Jyothirlingam

This shrine represents one of the 12 Jyotirlingams of Lord Shiva held in reverence throughout the country. Vaidyanath is located at Deogarh in the Santal Parganas region of Bihar now in Jharkhanda.

The twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva are Somnath Temples in Gujarat, Bhimeshwar, Grushneshwar, Nageshwar and Triyambakeshwar in Maharashtra, Vaidyanath in Deogarh (or in Parali in Andhra Pradesh), Sree Sailam in Andhra Pradesh, Rameswaram in Tamilnadu, Benares in Uttar Pradesh, Ujjain and Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh and Kedarnath in the Himalayas.

Deogarh is also known as Vaidyanath, Haritaki Vana, Ketaki Vana, Ravana Vana, Chitabhoomi and Hardapeetha. Some schools of thought believe Vaidyanath near Parali in Andhra Pradesh to be the Vaidyanatha Jyotirlingam. Other schools of thought claim that Kiragram in Punjab and Dabhoi in Gujarat are the Vaidyanatha Jyotirlinga temples. The Vaideeswaran Koyil temples in Tamilnadu (which is not a Jyotirlingam temples) enshrines Vaidyanathar.

Legend has it that Ravana meditated upon Lord Shiva, and requested him to come over to Sri Lanka, in order that his capital may become invincible. It is said that he attempted to lift Mount Kailash and take it with him to his capital; however Shiva crushed him with his finger, and Ravana prayed to him and sought his mercy, after which Lord Shiva gave him one of the twelve Jyotirlingams with the condition that if it was placed on the ground it would take root immediately.

Ravana carried the Jyotirlingam and began his trek back to his capital. Varuna the Hindu God of water, entered his belly, and caused him to feel the need to relieve himself. Vishnu then came down in the form of a lad and volunteered to hold the Jyotirlingam as he relieved himself. Before Ravana returned, Vishnu placed the Jyotirlingam on the ground, and it became rooted to the spot. A disappointed Ravana offered severe penances to Lord Shiva here, and cut off nine of his heads. Lord Shiva revived him and joined the heads to the body, as if by the work of a Vaidya or a physician, hence this Jyotirlingam goes by the name Vaidyanath. The same legend holds at Gokarnam Temples in Karnataka.

Another legend has it that this temple was re-discovered by a cowherd Baiju, and hence the name Baijnath Temple.

Vaidyanath Temple is also considered to be one of the 52 Shakti Pitha shrines of Sati. It is believed that the heart of Sati fell here, when her half burnt body being carried by Shiva at the end of Daksha's yagna, was chopped to pieces by Vishnu's discus. The temple: The temple is situated in a spacious courtyard bounded by stone walls. In the temple complex are twenty two other temples. The Baijnath or Vaidyanath temple faces east. The top of the Shiva Lingam is slightly broken, keeping with the legend that it chipped away when Ravana tried to uproot it. Near the temple is the Sivaganga lake. The Chandrakoopa well, near the main entrance is said to have been built and consecrated with water from several thirthams by Ravana.(Know about Lord Shiva, Picture and Photo of Lord Shiva Jyotirlinga, Vandana, MP4, MP3, Temples, Temples Photo, Pictures and many more)

Varanasi - Pilgirms Heaven

Varanasi  

Varanasi (Sanskrit: वाराणसी Vārāṇasī, Hindustanipronunciation: [ʋaːˈɾaːɳəsiː] , also commonly known as Benares or Banaras (Hindi: बनारस, Urdu: بنارس, Banāras [bəˈnɑːɾəs] and Kashi (Hindi: काशी, Urdu: کاشی, Kāśī [ˈkaːʃiː], is a city situated on the left (west) bank of the River Ganga (Ganges) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, regarded as holy by Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and probably the oldest of India.

The Kashi Naresh (Maharaja of Kashi) is the chief cultural patron of Varanasi and an essential part of all religious celebrations. The culture of Varanasi is closely associated with the River Ganges and the river's religious importance. The city has been a cultural and religious centre in North India for several thousand years. The Benares Gharana form of Indian classical music developed in Varanasi, and many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians resided or reside in Varanasi, including Kabir, Ravidas Their Guru Swami Ramanand, Trailanga Swami, Munshi Premchand, Jaishankar Prasad, Acharya Shukla, Ravi Shankar, Girija Devi, Hariprasad Chaurasia, and Bismillah Khan. Tulsidas wrote his Ramacharitamanas there, and Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath near Kashi.
 Varanasi is home to four universities: Banaras Hindu University, Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies and Sampurnanand Sanskrit University. Residents mainly speak Kashika Bhojpuri, which is closely related to the Hindi language. People often refer to Varanasi as "the city of temples", "the holy city of India", "the religious capital of India", "the city of lights", and "the city of learning."
 American writer Mark Twain wrote: "Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together."
 

Etymology

The name Varanasi, has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi for it lies with the confluence of Varuna with the Ganges being to its north and that of Assi and the Ganges to its south. Another speculation about the origin of the name is that the river Varuna itself was called Varanasi in olden times, from where the city got its name. This is generally disregarded by historians though there may be some earlier texts suggesting it to be so.

Through the ages, Varanasi was variously known as Avimuktaka, Anandakanana, Mahasmasana, Surandhana, Brahma Vardha, Sudarsana, Ramya, and Kasi.

In the Rigveda, the city was referred to as Kasi or Kashi, "the luminous one" as an allusion to the city's historical status as a center of learning, literature, and culture. Kasikhanda described the glory of the city in 15,000 verses in the Skanda Purana. In one verse, God Shiva says,

The three worlds form one city of mine, and Kasi is my royal palace therein.
 Another reference to Varanasi is found in a hymn by Sri Veda Vyasa: 

 Ganga-taranga-ramaneeya-jataakalaapam,
Gauri-nirantara-vibhushita-vaamabhaagam.
Narayanapriyam-Ananga-madaapahaaram,
 Varanasi-pura-patim bhaja Vishwanatham.

 

According to legend, the city was founded by the Hindu deity, Lord Shiva, around 5,000 years ago, thus making it one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in the country. It is one of the seven sacred cities of Hindus. Many Hindu scriptures, including the Rigveda, Skanda Purana, Ramayana, and the Mahabharata, mention the city.
  

Varanasi is generally believed to be about 3,000 years old. Varanasi was a commercial and industrial center famous for its muslin and silk fabrics, perfumes, ivory works, and sculpture. During the time of Gautama Buddha (born circa 567 BCE), Varanasi was the capital of the Kingdom of Kashi. The celebrated Chinese traveler, Xuanzang, attested that the city was a center of religious, educational, and artistic activities, and that it extended for about 5 km along the western bank of the Ganges.
 

Kashi Naresh and Ramnagar  

Kasi Kingdom
Varanasi became an independent Kingdom of Kashi in the eighteenth century, and under subsequent British rule, it remained a commercial and religious center. In 1910, the British made Varanasi a new Indian state, with Ramanagar as its headquarters but with no jurisdiction over the city of Varanasi itself. Kashi Naresh still resides in the fort of Ramanagar. The Ramnagar Fort of the Kashi Naresh is situated to the east of Varanasi, across the Ganges. The Ramnagar Fort was built by Kashi Naresh Raja Balwant Singh with creamy chunar sandstone in the eighteenth century. It is a typically Mughal style of architecture with carved balconies, open courtyards, and picturesque pavilions. The other fort of the Kashi Naresh is the Chet Singh Palace, near Shivala Ghat, Varanasi built by Maharaja Chet Singh.

 

Ramnagar Fort and its museum are the repository of the history of the kings of Benares and since the 18th century has been the home of Kashi Naresh. Even today the Kashi Naresh is deeply revered by the people of Benares. He is the religious head and the people of Benares consider him the incarnation of Lord Shiva. He is also the chief cultural patron and an essential part of all religious celebrations.

Geography and climate


Geography 
The city of Varanasi is located in the middle Ganga valley of North India, in the Eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, along the left crescent-shaped bank of the Ganga river. It has the headquarters of Varanasi district. The "Varanasi Urban Agglomeration" — an agglomeration of seven urban sub-units — covers an area of 112.26 km² (approximately 43 mi²).[19] The urban agglomeration is stretched between 82° 56’E - 83° 03’E and 25° 14’N - 25° 23.5’N.[19] Being located in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of North India, the land is very fertile because low level floods in the Ganges continually replenish the soil.


On a local level, Varanasi is located on a higher ground between rivers Ganga and Varuna, the mean elevation being 80.71 m.[20] As a result of absence of tributaries and canals, the main land is continuous and relatively dry. In ancient times, this geographic situation must have been highly favorable for forming settlements. But it is difficult to ascertain the original geography of Varanasi because the city's current location is not exactly the same as the one described in some old texts.

Varanasi is often said to be located between two confluences: one of Ganga and Varuna, and other of Ganga and Assi [disambiguation needed], (Assi having always been a rivulet rather than a river.) The distance between these two confluences is around 2.5 miles, and religious Hindus regard a round trip between these two places—a Pancha-kroshi Yatra (a five mile journey) ending with a visit to a Sakshi Vinayak Temple as a holy ritual.
 

Climate
Varanasi has a humid subtropical climate with large variations between summer and winter temperatures. Summers are long, from early April to October, with intervening monsoon seasons. Cold waves from the Himalayan region cause temperatures to dip across the city in the winter from December to February. The temperature ranges between 32°C – 46°C (90°F – 115°F) in the summers, and 5°C – 15°C (41°F – 59°F) in the winters.[20] The average annual rainfall is 1110 mm (44 in).[21] Fog is common in the winters, while hot dry winds, called loo, blow in the summers.

Through a combination of water pollution, new constructions of upstream dams, and increase in the local temperature, the water level of the Ganges has recently gone down significantly, and small islands have become visible in the middle of the river.


Economy
Varanasi has several small cottage industries, including Banarasi Silk sari making, the production of textiles such as hand-woven carpets, and handicrafts. Banarasi paan (betel leaf) and khoa (a milk product) are popular, and the related small-scale industries employ many people.
Banarasi Silk is known all over the world for its finery and softness. Banarasi Sarees are adorned with intricate designs and zari embellishments making it popular during traditional functions and weddings. Earlier, the embroidery on sarees were often done with threads of pure gold.
Indian Railways runs a major diesel locomotive factory in Varanasi, Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW). The first Indian business house of Varanasi and Kanpur was the firm NihalChand KishoriLal established in the year 1857 which set up the fourth Oxygen plant in the country here by the name of Indian Air Gases Ltd.
According to Macaulay, Varanasi was the "city which, in wealth, population, dignity and sanctity was among the foremost in Asia". He described the commercial importance saying "from the looms of Benaras went forth the most delicate silks that adorned the halls of St. James and of Versailles." Varanasi is a centre of Child labour.



Culture
Varanasi's "Old City," the quarter near the banks of Ganga, has crowded narrow winding lanes that are flanked by road-side shops and scores of Hindu temples. As atmospheric as it is confusing, Varanasi's labyrinthine Old City is rich with culture, and a deservedly popular destination for travelers and tourists.[33] The main residential areas of Varanasi (especially for the middle and upper classes) are situated in regions far from the ghats; they are more spacious and less polluted.

Ram leela at Ramnagar
When the Dasara festivities are inaugurated with a colourful pageant Kashi Naresh rides an elephant at the head of the procession.[5] Then, resplendent in silk and brocade, he inaugrates the month long folk theatre of Ramlila at Ramnagar, Varanasi.[5] The Ramlila is a cycle of plays which recounts the epic story of Lord Rama, as told in Rāmacaritamānasa, the version of the Ramayana penned by Tulsidas.[5] The plays sponsored by the Maharaja, are performed in Ramnagar every evening for 31 days.[5] On the last day the festivities reach a crescendo as Rama vanquishes the demon king Ravana.[5] Maharaja Udit Narayan Singh started this tradition of staging the Ramleela at Ramnagar in mid-nineteenth century.<[5] This is very important to the river ganges ritual

Varanasi is a holy city in Hinduism, being one of the most sacred pilgrimage places for Hindus of all denominations. More than 1,000,000 pilgrims visit the city each year. It has the holy shrine of Lord Kashi Vishwanath (a manifestation of Lord Shiva), and also one of the twelve revered Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.

Hindus believe that bathing in Ganga remits sins and that dying in Kashi ensures release of a person's soul from the cycle of its transmigrations. Hindus regard Kashi as one of the Shakti Peethas, and that Vishalakshi Temple stands on the spot where Goddess Sati's earrings fell.[15] Hindus of the Shakti sect make a pilgrimage to the city because they regard river Ganga itself as Goddess Shakti. Adi Shankara wrote his commentaries on Hinduism here, leading to the great Hindu revival. Vaishnavism and Shaivism have always co-existed in Varanasi harmoniously.

Varanasi is one of the holiest places in Buddhism too, being one of the four pilgrimage sites said to have been designated by Gautama Buddha himself (the others being Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya, and Lumbini). In the residential neighborhood of Varanasi lies Sarnath, the site of the deer park where Gautama Buddha is said to have given his first sermon about the basic principles of Buddhism. The Dhamek Stupa is one of the few pre-Ashokan stupas still standing, though only its foundation remains. Also remaining is the Chaukhandi Stupa commemorating the spot where Buddha met his first disciples (in the 5th century or earlier, BC). An octagonal tower was built later there.

Varanasi is a pilgrimage site for Jains along with Hindus and Buddhists. It is believed to be the birthplace of Parshvanatha, the twenty-third Tirthankar. Islamic culture has also had an influence on Varanasi. There has been some degree of continuous tension between different religious communities in the city.
  
Ghats
 Varanasi has nearly 100 ghats. Many of the ghats were built when the city was under Maratha control. Marathas, Shindes (Scindias), Holkars, Bhonsles, and Peshwes (Peshwas) stand out as patrons of present-day Varanasi. Most of the ghats are bathing ghats, while others are used as cremation sites. Many ghats are associated with legends or mythologies while many ghats are privately owned. The former Kashi Naresh owns Shivala or Kali ghat.


Dashashwamedh Ghat is located close to Vishwanath Temple, and is probably the most spectacular ghat. Two Hindu mythologies are associated with it: According to one, Lord Brahma created it to welcome Lord Shiva. According to another, Lord Brahma sacrificed ten horses in a yajna here. A group of priests daily perform in the evening at this ghat "Agni Pooja" (Worship to Fire) wherein a dedication is made to Lord Shiva, River Ganga, Surya (Sun), Agni (Fire), and the whole universe.

 Manikarnika Ghat: Two legends are associated with this Ghat. According to one, it is believed to be the place where Lord Vishnu dug a pit with his Chakra and filled it with his perspiration while performing various penances. While Lord Shiva was watching Lord Vishnu at that time, the latter's earring ("manikarnika") fell into the pit. According to the second legend, in order to keep Lord Shiva from moving around with his devotees, his consort Goddess Parvati hid her earrings, and asked him to find them, saying that they had been lost on the banks of Ganga. Goddess Parvati's idea behind the fib was that Lord Shiva would then stay around, searching forever for the lost earrings. In this legend, whenever a body gets cremated at the Manikarnika Ghat, Lord Shiva asks the soul whether it has seen the earrings.


According to ancient texts, the owner of Manikarnika Ghat bought King Harishchandra as a slave and made him work on the Manikarnika at Harishchandra Ghat. Hindu cremations customarily take place here, though a majority of dead bodies are taken for cremation to the Manikarnik Ghat.

Scindia Ghat also known as Shinde Ghat borders Manikarnika to the north, with its Shiva temple lying partially submerged in the river as a result of excessive weight of the ghat’s construction about 150 years ago. Above the ghat, several of Kashi’s most influential shrines are located within the tight maze of alleys of Siddha Kshetra (Field of Fulfillment). According to tradition, Agni, the Hindu God of Fire was born here. Hindu devotees propitiate at this place Vireshwara, the Lord of all heroes, for a son.

 Mana-Mandir Ghat: Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur built this Ghat in 1770, as well as the Yantra Mantra equipped with ornate window casings along with those at Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, and Mathura. There is a fine stone balcony in the northern part of the ghat. Devotees pay homage here to the lingam of Someswar, the Lord of the Moon.

 Lalita Ghat: The late King of Nepal built this Ghat in the northern region of Varanasi. It is the site of Ganga Keshav Temple, a wooden temple built in typical Kathmandu style, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple also has an image of Pashupateshwar, a manifestation of Lord Shiva. Local festivals including musical parties and games regularly take place at the beautiful Assi Ghat which is at the end of the continuous line of ghats. It is a favorite site of painters and photographers.

 Other
Man Singh of Amber built Mana-Sarowar Ghat. Maharaja of Darbhanga built Darbhanga Ghat. Tulsidas wrote Rāmacaritamānasa at Tulsi Ghat. Devout Jains visit Bachraj Ghat in particular because it has three Jain temples near the river's banks.

 Temples
Varanasi is a city of temples. Almost every road crossing has a nearby temple. Such small temples form the basis of daily local prayers and other rituals. But there are many large temples too, erected at different times through out the history of Varanasi.

 

Kashi Vishwanath Temple, also called Golden Temple, which in its present shape was built in 1780 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore, is located on the outskirts of the Ganga. This temple makes Varanasi a place of great religious importance to the Hindus, as Vishweshwara or Vishwanatha, the aforementioned Jyotirlinga of the Lord Shiva is enshrined here. It is said that a single view of Vishwanatha Jyotirlinga is considered to merit more than that of other jyotirlingas. A Naubatkhana was built up in front of the Temple by the collector Mohammed Ibrahim Khan at the instance of Governor General Warren Hastings in 1785. In 1839, Punjab Kesari, the Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the ruler of Punjab donated gold to cover the two domes of the temple. On 28 January 1983 the Temple was taken over by the government of Uttar Pradesh and its management was transferred to a trust with Late Dr. Vibhuti Narayan Singh, then Kashi Naresh, as president and an executive committee with Divisional Commissioner as chairman.

 The temple was once destroyed by the Muslim Emperor Aurangzeb who built a mosque over it. It was later resurrected at a location near the mosque.

Durga Temple, also nicknamed "Monkey temple," was built at some point of time in 18th century. The temple got the name 'Monkey temple' because of the presence of large number of monkeys in the temple. According to legends, the present statue of Goddess Durga was not made by man but appeared on its own in the temple. Thousands of Hindu devotees visit the Durga temple during Navratri and other auspicious occasions. Non-Hindus can enter the courtyard of the Durga temple but not the inner sanctum.
 

The architecture is of Nagara Style, which is typical of North India. The temple is accompanied by a rectangular tank of water called Durga Kund. ("Kund" meaning a pond or pool.) The temple has multi-tiered spires and is stained red with ochre, signifying the red colour of Durga. The Kund was earlier connected to the river itself thus refreshing the water. This channel was later closed, leading to locked water which is replenished only by rain or drainage from the Temple. Every year on the occasion of Nag Panchami, the act of depicting Lord Vishnu reclining on the coiled-up mystical snake or "Shesha" is repeated in the Kund.
 

Sankat Mochan Temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is very popular with the local citizens. It is a place for many yearly religious as well as cultural festivals. On 7 March 2006, one of the three explosions carried out by Islamic militants hit the temple, while the aarti, in which numerous worshippers and wedding attendees participated, was in progress.
 

Vyasa Temple at Ramnagar According to a popular Puranic story, when Vyasa failed to get alms in Varanasi he put a curse on the city. Soon after, at a house where Parvati and Shiva had taken human form as householders, Vyasa was so pleased with the alms he received that he forgot his curse.However, because of his bad temper Shiva banished Vyasa from Varanasi. Resolved to be near at hand, Vyasa took his residence on the other side of the Ganges where his temple may still be seen at Ramnagar.
The new Vishwanath Temple, called Birla Mandir, mainly funded by Raja Birla of the Birla family of industrialists, was built as a replica of the old Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Planned by Madan Mohan Malaviya, the temple is part of the Banaras Hindu University, and stands for national revival. The temple is open to people of all castes and religions.


Art and literature

Varanasi has its own culture of fine art and literature. Great Indian writers have lived in this city from Kabir, Ravidas, Tulsidas who wrote much of his Ram Charit Manas here, Kulluka Bhatt who wrote the best known commentary of Manusmṛti here in 15th century and Bharatendu Harishchandra, later writers have been Jaishankar Prasad, Acharya Shukla, Munshi Premchand, Jagannath Prasad Ratnakar, Devaki Nandan Khatri, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi, Tegh Ali, Kshetresa Chandra Chattopadhyaya, Vagish Shastri, Baldev Upadhyaya, Sudama Pandey (Dhoomil) and Vidya Niwas Mishra.
 

Art lovers and historians like Rai Krishnadasa, his son Anand Krishna, musicians like Omkarnath Thakur Ravi Shankar, Bismillah Khan, Girija Devi, Siddheshwari Devi, Lalmani Misra and his son Gopal Shankar Misra, N. Rajam, Rajbhan Singh, Anokhelal, Samta Prasad, Kanthe Maharaj, M. V. Kalvint, Sitara Devi, Gopi Krishna [disambiguation needed], Kishan Maharaj, Rajan and Sajan Mishra, Mahadev Mishra and numerous others have kept the city alive to the spiritual aspect of fine arts apart from their ability to entertain. Numerous festivals are celebrated that preserve traditional styles of classical and folk culture. All night, open music concerts like ones organised at Sankat Mochan Temple, Hori [disambiguation needed], Kajari and Chaiti Mela, Budwa Mangal, are annual features that draw connoisseurs from all over.
 

Sushruta, the great surgeon and author of Sushruta Samhita, the Sanskrit text of surgery, also lived in Varanasi.

Badarinath Temple Information

Badrinath is one of the holy towns of the Hindus located at Chamolidistrict of Uttarakhand in India. It is the most important of all the four dhams in India. The town of Badrinath lies between Nar and Naryana mountain ranges and in the shadow of Nilkantha peak, 301 km north of Rishikesh. The town is located at an elevation of 3,133mts above sea level on the left bank of Alakananda River.

The main attraction of Badrinath is the Badrinath temple also known as the Badrinarayan temple. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is also one of the 108 Divya Desams or holy shrines of Vaishnavities. The present temple is conical in shape built two centuries ago by the Garhwal kings. 15 idols are present in the temple complex, each built in black stone. Lord Vishnu is represented here in a meditative posture and is flanked by Nar and Narayan. According to legend, the temple was originally established by Adi Shankaracharya which was renovated several times after its establishment. Badrinath is also one of the Panch Badris. The other four badris are Yogadhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Bridha Badri or the 'Old Badri' and Adi Badri.Badarinath Lord MahaVishnu is believed to have done his penance. Seeing the Lord doing his penance in the open, Goddess Mahalaxmi is believed to have assumed the form of Badari tree to provide him shelter to face the onslaught of the adverse weather conditions, therefore the name Badari Narayan. It is believed that Lord Vishnu revealed to Narad rishi that Nar & Naryans forms were his own. It is also believed that Narad rishi, who also did his penance here, is even now worshipping the supreme God with Ashtakshara mantras.The image of Badarinarayan here is fashioned out of Saligramam. Badarinarayan is seen under the Badari tree, flanked by Kuber and Garuda, Narad, Narayan and Nar. Mahalakshmi has a sanctum outside in the parikrama. There is also a shrine to Adi Sankara at Badarinath.

Behind the temple of Lord Badarinarayan is the Lakshmi Narsimh mandir, with shrines to Desikacharya and Ramanujachary.At Badarinath one can witness one of the greatest wonders of Nature in the Hot water springs of Taptkund on the banks of ice chilled river Alaknanda. The temperature of the water in the Kund is 55 degree centigrade whereas the normal temperature in this region for most part of the year remains at 9-10 degree centigrade to sub-zero levels. Before visiting the temple the pilgrims take a holy bath in the Taptkund.The Temple's present structure was built by the Kings of Garhwal. The Temple has three sections - Garbhagriha (Sanctum), the Darshan Mandap, and Sabha Mandap. The Garbhagriha (Sanctum) houses Lord Badari Narayan, Kuber (God of wealth), Narad rishi, Udhava, Nar & Narayan.

Lord Badari Narayan (also called as Badari Vishal) is armed with Shankh (Conch) and Chakra in two arms in a lifted posture and two arms rested on the lap in Yogamudra.The principal image is of black stone and it represents Vishnu seated in meditative pose. The temple also houses Garuda (Vehicle of Lord Narayan). Also here are the idols of Adi Shankar, Swami Desikan and Shri Ramanujam. Guru-Shisya parampara is supposed to have its roots here.

Some of the other attractions of Badrinath include the Tapt Kund a natural thermal spring on the banks of the Alakananda. It is believed that the water of this kund has medicinal properties. An important pilgrimage detination of both the Hindus and the Sikhs is Hemkund Sahib located at a distance of 43kms from Badrinath. Neelkanth is another prime attraction of Badrinath which is a snow-covered peak of Badrinath. You can also visit the Panch Prayag i.e. Devprayag,Rudraprayag, Nandprayag, Karnaprayag, Vishnuprayag; from Badrinath. You can also visit the Mata Murthi temple which is dedicated to the mother of Sri Badrinathji. 3km from Badrinath is Mana village inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe

Sri Ananta Padmanabha swamy Temple Kerala

In the 108 Divya Deshams, or the holiest shrines of Lord Mahavishnu, the idols of Lord Vishnu are in one of the three different postures. Either reclining, sitting, or standing. Lord Padmanabhaswamy is enshrined here in Anananthasayanam posture (in eternal sleep of yognidra). The main idol inside the sanctum sanctorum and viewed from three doors is in the reclining posture. In the left end door, devotees can see the face and upper body of Lord Padmanabha; from the middle door one can worship the nabhi (abdomen) part, where devotees can also see Lord Brahma, Goddess Lakshmi Devi, and the  Utsava Murthi idol, along with Goddess Bhoodevi and Goddess Sridevi.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple stands at a place considered as one of the seven Parasurama Kshetras; texts including the Puranas, particularly the Skanda Purana and Padma Purana, have references for this shrine. Tradition states that in this place, the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu gave darshan to Indian sages like Divakarmuni and Vilvamangalam Swami.

Nammalvar had sung in praise of Lord Padmanabha Swamy. Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma wrote many songs on Sri Padmanabha Swamy. Most of these songs have the word "Padmanabha" in it.

Paintings & Murals

There are lots of beautiful painting and murals all over the inner walls of the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Some of the noted paintings include Goddess Astha Lakshmi, life size pictures of Lord Vishnu's Anananthasayanam, Narasimha Swamy, Ganapathi, Gaja Lakshmi, and Aswarooda Lakshmi Devi.

Importance of the Idol

The idol of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is made up of 12008 salagramams that compose the reclining lord. They are special because they are from Nepal, from the banks of river Gandhaki and they were brought to the temple with all pomp and gaiety on elephant top. On top of them "Katusarkara Yogam", Navaratnams, a special Ayurvedic mix, was used to give a plaster. Followers believe that the Lord has personally come in disguise and had saved many times the Travancore Kingdom from the clutches of enemies.

Significance of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is also one of the seven Parasurama kshetras in Kerala. The city of Thiruvananthapuram is named after the Lord. The word Thiruvananthapuram literally means "The land of Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy".  

Dhanvantari Lord of Ayurveda

The avatara (God taking human form) of Dhanvantari appeared billions of years ago. Although an avatara is unborn, He takes His divine birth among the living beings to display His divine pastimes. The First Appearance of Dhanvantari In this epoch , He first appeared during the great churning of the cosmic milk ocean to deliver amrta (nectar) for the nourishment of the demigods.

The churning of the milk ocean (Samudra manthanam) is one of the most famous episodes in Puranic history and is celebrated in major way every twelve years in the festival known as Kumbha Mela. The story is related in the Srimad Bhagavatam, a major work that describes the avataras in great detail. Here is what happened: The great leader of the demigods Indra was riding on his elephant, when he came across Durvasa Muni.

Seeing the great demigod, Durvasa offered him a special garland (mala). Indra accepted this garland and put it on the trunk of the elephant. The elephant threw the garland onto the floor, thus enraging Durvasa Muni. In a fit of anger, the sage explained that the garland was the dwelling of Sri (fortune) and was therefore to be treated as prasada.

Therefore cursed Indra and all the demigods to be bereft of all strength, energy, and fortune (Sri). In the ensuing battles, the demigods were defeated in battle and the demons headed by Bali gained control of the universe. The demigods sought out the help of Lord Vishnu, who instructed them in the art of diplomacy. The demigods then entered into an alliance with the demons to jointly churn the ocean for the nectar of immortality and to share it among them

Rudraksha History and Many more Features

Rudraksha meaning—the eye of Rudra [Shiva] is considered to be the most potent anifestation of the Cosmic Force. Hence Rudraksha is the object of veneration and also the source to reach the higher self. Rudraksha is often believed to symbolize the link between the earth and the heaven. These beads are the seeds of the Rudraksha fruit obtained from Rudraksha trees. The Rudraksha tree is botanically known as ELAEOCARPUS GANITRUS ROXB. Its English name is UTRASUM BEAD TREE.

Rudraksha trees are mostly found in South Eastern Asian Islands of Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Bali, Iran, Java, Timor (Indonesia) and parts of South Asian Kingdom of Nepal. Around 70% of the Rudraksha trees are found in Indonesia, 25% in Nepal and 5% in India. Considered a major stress reliever, reducing circulatory problems and of course as the best beads, the berry (Elaeocarpus Ganitrus) was first spotted in Indonesia and is now grown in Nepal and Hardware. However, because it is expensive, clinical research of its medicinal properties has not been possible, often resulting in the berry being subjected to esoteric mumbo jumbo.

There are clefts called Mukhi on the surface of the beads. The number of Mukhi on the surface of a Rudraksha beads helps in determining its quality. According to the number of Mukhi the Rudraksha bead ranges from single face to a several faced bead. Asians have used Rudraksha beads traditionally. Asian Yogis and Monks found that merely wearing the Rudraksha beads gave them astonishingly tremendous amount of tranquility, concentration that helped them meditate for a long period of time with spectacular control over their mind.

Properties of Rudraksha

Scientific research says that Rudraksha beads have some electrical and magnetic powers. Researches also say that when there is a difference in the faces seen in Rudrakshas then they have different electromagnetic properties. Rudraksha beads are composed of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and some trace elements. Rudraksha bead are available in 1 to 108 faces, however currently 2 to 21 faces are only available in common. Single faced Rudraksha seed is rarely available, while some people claim that 22 to 108 faces Rudraksha plants are still found in the foot hills of Himalayas and Mansarovar regions.

Instructions , Precations to wear : 

Once you have managed to obtain a high quality, empowered and energised Rudraksha, it is of extreme importance that you take certain precautions in order to get the maximum benefit from it and maintain its sanctity.

BEFORE wearing the Rudraksha for the first time, it should be blessed and empowered by chanting the specified mantra, performing the prayers and ritual rites for its sanctification. 

ALWAYS keep the Rudraksha oiled... After regular cleaning, oil the bead and treat it with incense. This is of UTMOST importance. especially when not using the bead for sometime, or storing it for a while. 

ALWAYS wear the Rudraksha bead around the neck in a thread or gold or silver. Never wear the Rudraksha in form of bracelet. 

ALWAYS keep your Rudraksha clean. Dust and dirt can settle in the pores of the bead. Clean these as frequently as possible with something with soft, fine bristles. If the thread becomes dirty or worn out, change it.

AFTER cleaning, wash your Rudraksha with some blessed holy water. This helps maintain its sanctity.

NEVER wear the Rudraksha while having sex. 

WOMEN must not wear the Rudraksha during their menstrual cycle.

NEVER wear the Rudraksha to a funeral or when visiting a new born baby.

One mukhi: One mukhi rudraksha is ruled by Mahadev Himself. Enlightens the Super Consciousness. Destroys all sins and leads one to liberation. One mukhi rudraksha is Sakshat Siva swarupa. The wearer elevates in awareness and merges with the absolute consciousness of the divine. It is only with grace of Lord Shiva and divine karmas that a person gets to wear this rare bead. One who wears it surely goes to path of Moksha. This bead works on the Sahasrar chakra to align oneself to Shiva. The wearer’s mind begins to concentrate on the Supreme Element that is Partattva Dharana cha jayate Tatprakashnam thus the discoverers of Aatma Tattva must wear One Mukhi Rudraksha . This is the best of all Rudrakshas for meditation and spiritual growth . The person who wears this has all worldly pleasures at his feet but remains unaffected by them.

Two Mukhi: Two mukhi represents Ardhanareshwar, a joint image of the Lord Shiva and Shakti and blesses the wearer with 'UNITY' and harmony. It could be related to Guru-Shishya, parents-children, husband-wife or friends. Maintaining ONENESS is its peculiarity. This rudraksha removes the malefics of planet moon and cures emotional instability . Releases fear, insecurity and gives inner happiness and fulfillment.

Three Mukhi: Three mukhi Rudraksha represents "Fire" God Agnidev. Wearing of this rudraksha frees the person from bondages of his past birth karma and paves way for success by deeds in this birth. It is said that the wearer of 3 mukhi never takes birth again, means he gets Moksha. Agnidev rules over planet Sun, so this rudraksha removes malefics of Sun. Wearer is released from low self esteem, stress and anger. Cures diseases related to stomach and liver. 

Four Mukhi: Four mukhi represents the four faced God Brahma. The wearer gains power of knowledge and creativity . Expands memory power, vocal power, wit and intelligence. Wearer is blessed with melodious speech. Lord Brahma rules over planet Jupiter, so four mukhi removes malefics associated with Jupiter. 

Five Mukhi: Five mukhi represents Rudra Kalagni. This highly auspicious rudraksha is important for people who wish to discover their higher selves meaning UpaGuru. Enhances awareness, memory , word power and intellect. This it is extensively used in malas for wearing and chanting mantras. This highly auspicious rudraksha connects wearer to grace of Lord Shiva. Removes malefics of planet Jupiter. 

Six Mukhi: 6 mukhi rudraksha is ruled by Lord Kartikeya and pacifies planet Mars. Gives wearer stability in life with willpower, grounding and focus. Makes wearer free from mental lethargy and emotional instability. Increases connection with mother earth. Wearer gets luck and assets of properties and vehicles. 

Seven Mukhi: Seven mukhi Rudraksha represents Goddess Mahalaxmi , the Goddess of wealth. Wearer is blessed with good health, wealth and new opportunities. It should be worn by those who are suffering from miseries related to finance and luck. By wearing Seven Faced Rudraksha the person progresses steadily in life with name and fame and abundance. 

Eight Mukhi: Eight mukhi Rudraksha represents Lord Ganesha and planet Ketu. Removes obstacles in path and brings success in all undertakings. His opponents are finished, means their minds and intentions are changed to favourable ones. Wearer is blessed with self power, focus, grounding and divine knowledge. 

Nine Mukhi: Nine mukhi Rudraksha is ruled by Navdurga, according to Jabaloupanishad and ruled by Bhairav according to various Shastras. The wearer is blessed with lots of energy, powers, dynamism and fearlessness, which are needed to live a life of success. Gives Bhogha (worldly comforts) and Moksha (liberation). Removes malefics associated with planets Rahu. 

Ten Mukhi: Ten mukhi rudraksha is ruled by Lord Krishna, Yama (God of death), Dus Mahavidyas and the ten directions. One who sees it or wears it gets eternal peace. This rudraksha works like a shield on one's body and the wearer gets immense protection from negative energies . Gives success in court cases, land deals and relieves wearer from debts and losses. This rudraksha is mentioned in ancient texts as one of the most powerful rudraksha which pacifies all the nine planets. 

Eleven Mukhi: 11 mukhi is ruled by the 11 Rudras. According to ancient texts the fruit obtained after performing 1000 Ashavamedh Yagya and 100 Vajpaye Yagya is obtained by wearing this bead. Blesses wearer with high level of awareness, divine consciousness, wisdom, right judgment, control over all senses, powerful vocabulary, adventurous life, fearlessness and success. Very much sought after bead for meditation and sadhanas. This powerful bead pacifies malefics of all planets. 

Twelve Mukhi: 12 mukhi Rudraksha is ruled by Lord Sun. Wearer gets the quality of the sun - to rule and shine with brilliance, radiance and power . Releases stress, anger, worries, suspicion and low self esteem. Wearer is blessed with confidence, self power, energy and motivation in life. 

Thirteen Mukhi: 13 mukhi Rudraksha is ruled by Lord Kamadeva. Fulfills worldly desires of the wearer. Gives hypnotic power of attraction (Vashikaran) to the wearer and blesses him with divine charisma and immense power. Also used to awaken many Siddhies and raise Kundalini energy.

Fourteen Mukhi: 14 mukhi Rudraksha is the most precious divine gem - Deva Mani. It is said to have born from the third eye of Lord Shiva. It is ruled by Lord Shiva Himself and mighty Hanuman and removes malefic s of planet Mars. The wearer is honoured by Gods due to the merit of this rudraksha. It awakens the sixth sense organ by which the wearer foresees the future happenings. Blesses wearer with perfect decisions, spiritual insight and psychic powers. Its wearer gets rid of all the calamities, miseries, worries. It protects from ghosts, evil spirits and black magic. It provides the wearer safety, security and riches and self power.

In Ramayana it is mentioned that Hanuman saved the nine planets during the war from the clutches of King Raavana. And as a favor for saving them, the planets blessed Lord Hanuman by saying that any malefic effects of the 9 planets can be averted by praying to Lord Hanuman alone. It is a very powerful antidote for Mars miseries and provides miraculous cures to several ailments. 


Fifteen Mukhi: This bead is form of Lord Pashupatinath. This rudraksha bead heals the heart chakra. The wearer gets freedom from grief, loneliness, depression and ailments related to the heart. Wearer gets fulfillment of his innermost desires, success, name and fame. The wearer elevates himself from worldly attachments and can focus on knowledge, creation and wealth generation. Pashupatinath Shiva is Lord of animals. He kills the animal instincts within us which is desire to possess and expectations from others.

For: Those suffering from symptoms of blockage of heart chakra due to expectations from others which manifests as Grief, feeling of neglect, loneliness and depression at the emotional level. Physical ailments can manifest as fevers, asthma, diabetes, allergies, heart ailments, lung problems, dysfunction of thymus or immune gland, problems in circulatory system, common cold, blood pressure, anemia, giddiness, sinus disorders, respiratory illness or hypertension. Also for diseases of blood cancer, epilepsy, tuberculosis, Multiple Sclerosis and jaundice which manifest due to blockage of heart chakra. 

Sixteen Mukhi: 

For: Cure of diseases , protection , release of fears and insecurities . Liberation from the fear of death. 16 mukhi rudraksha is Mahamrityunjaya form of Lord Shiva. The wearer becomes fearless & gets victory against the most fearsome of diseases and most adverse circumstances . It protects from physical illness , negative people and negative energies . This protects from physical illness due to placement of planets . If one has fear of loss of a loved one or fear of loss of name and fame or loss of faith in oneself or God or fear of death , or nightmares then one should wear the mahamrityunjaya rudraksha which is 16 mukhi . Wearing this rudraksha is equivalent to chanting the Mahamritunjaya mantra 125000 times everyday . Even Yama the Lord of Death turns back from the wearer of this rudraksha .The path of the wearer become surmountable by grace of Lord Shiva and he rises in Victory and grace.

Seventeen Mukhi: 17 mukhi rudraksha is ruled by Katyayani Devi , the sixth form of Durga . Person who worships this form of goddess attains all the four fruits, ‘Dharma’, ‘Artha’, ‘ Kama’ and ‘Moksha’. This Rudraksha destroys the limiting beliefs of the wearer in gradual course of time and thus destroys past Karma . Wearer becomes a jivanmukta, a liberated person while still alive. He or she will obtain the 8 great paranormal powers (siddhis) and the 32 minor paranormal powers." On a psychic level, it controls the superior intuition, clairvoyance, telepathic capacities, self-control, mental understanding through intellectual identification, creative intelligence. 

Very beneficial for project leaders, businessmen and political leaders and people desiring growth in career . Blesses wearer with immense power of creation of wealth and divine magnetism . Gives fulfillment of all desires related to getting a life partner , progeny, good luck and prosperity.

Eighteen Mukhi: This rudraksha is form of Goddess Bhumi Devi who is the divine wife of Lord Vishnu. This is one of the most powerful rudraksha for prosperity. Katyani tantra mentions that wearer of this bead gets health, intelligence and prosperity by blessings of mother earth. Since it is mother earth who nurtures every being on this planet, wearing Her rudraksha quickly paves way for success in business, land dealings and immense wealth.

This bead has power to provide relief in diseases like diabetes, arthiritis and paralysis.

For: Immense abundance. Profit from land/real estate/own business.

Nineteen Mukhi: 19 mukhi is form of Lord Narayan the supreme of all gods. The wearer never has lack of anything in life. It gives immense wealth, success in business , abundance in all spheres and good health . The wearer gets blessings of Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi and is blessed with many virtues , beauty and prosperity. The wearer gets freedom from dreaded diseases as this bead opens most of the chakras in the body . The wearer attracts perfect life partner . It removes obstacles in job/business/education and removes planetary afflictions. The wearer gets Moksha.

Twenty Mukhi: This rare Rudraksha is ruled by the Creator of the Universe , Lord Brahma. Gives blessings of attainment of divine knowledge in Creation, sciences, arts and music. Wearer becomes the Creator with immense knowledge and intellect . Wearer is blessed with immense power, wealth and fulfillment of desires . Worn by those who desire to manifest projects for the benefit of humanity.

Twenty One mukhi: This rare Rudraksha is represented by Kuber. The wearer is blessed with immense prosperity and fulfillment of pleasures and materialistic desires. Removes all kinds of diseases . Even if a poor person wears it, he becomes rich. Gives the wearer immense protection from any kind of tantra and malefics. Kuber is the guardian of wealth . Without His consent , even Mahalaxmi cannot give wealth. Lord Shiva has blessed Lord Kuber. He is the chief of the Ganas and the leader of Yaksha. The wearer never has lack of anything in life. He is the guardian of the North direction