NORTH INDIA TEMPLES

DECLARATION

This Project Report North India Temples Submitted to in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Post graduates Diploma in Tourism Management. I hope this world help Fulfillment of Tourists and the growth of tourism Industries. I here by declare that this is my original work & has not been Submitted else here .

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In order to accomplish a task, facts, situations and persons integrate together to form a background. Greatness lies in being grateful and not in being great. This research report is a result of contribution of distinct personalities whose guidance here made my effort a producing one, as no task is a single mans effort. I would like to express my deep sense of gratitude to the respectable guide distinguished personalities for their precious suggestions and encouragement during the project. Last but not least, it was the blessing of my Parent, brother & friends for keeping me motivated throughout the training period their close attitude and expressions of love and patience have been nothing short of incredible.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Sr. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY: Title Temple History of Temples Location 6 Part of the Temples Famous Temples in North India Map of North India Temples Page No.

WHAT IS TOURISM? Tourism is travel for recreational or leisure purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited". Tourism has become a popular global leisure activity. In 2008, there were over 903 million international tourist arrivals, with a growth of 6.6% as compared to 2007. International tourist receipts were USD 856 billion in 2008. Despite the uncertainties in the global economy, arrivals grew at around 5% during the first four months of 2009, almost a similar growth than the same period in 2008.

TOURISM IN INDIA It is boom time for India's Tourism and hospitality sector which offers almost all types of tourism at one destination. The Indian subcontinent is bounded by the majestic Himalayan ranges in the north and edged by a spectacular coastline surrounded by three seas Arabian Sea in the West, Bay of Bengal in the East and Indian Ocean in the South, India is a vivid kaleidoscope of landscapes, magnificent historical sites and royal cities, golden beaches, misty mountain retreats, colorful people, rich cultures and festivities. The worlds leading travel and Tourism Journal, Conde Nast Traveler, ranked India amongst top 4 preferred holiday destinations in the world! There are number of factors responsible for the growth of Indian tourism at global level. India is a peaceful country without any political disturbance except for few destinations where a tourist is required to get special permission from local authority to enter into that area. There is healthy competition among all the states to attract the tourists from all over the world for speedy economic growth and employment generation. Not only this Ministry of Tourism and Culture
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has recently launched a campaign called Incredible India! in order to encourage different types of tourism in India. WHAT IS CULTURAL TOURISM ? Cultural tourism' (or culture tourism) is the subset of tourism concerned with a country or region's culture, specifically the lifestyle of the people in those geographical areas, the history of those peoples, their art, architecture, religion(s), and other elements that helped shape their way of life. Cultural tourism includes tourism in urban areas, particularly historic or large cities and their cultural facilities such as museums and theatres. It can also include tourism in rural areas showcasing the traditions of indigenous cultural communities (i.e. festivals, rituals), and their values and lifestyle. It is generally agreed that cultural tourists spend substantially more than standard tourists do. This form of tourism is also becoming generally more popular throughout the world, and a recent OECD report has highlighted the role that cultural tourism can play in regional development in different world regions. Cultural tourism has been defined as 'the movement of persons to cultural attractions away from

their normal place of residence, with the intention to gather new information and experiences to satisfy their cultural needs'. Destinations One type of cultural tourism destination is living cultural areas. For an indigenous culture that has stayed largely separated from the surrounding majority, tourism can present both advantages and problems. On the positive side are the unique cultural practices and arts that attract the curiosity of tourists and provide opportunities for tourism and economic development. On the negative side is the issue of how to control tourism so that those same cultural amenities are not destroyed and the people do not feel violated. Other destinations include historical sites, modern urban districts, theme parks and country clubs, coastal or island ecosystems, and inland natural areas.

THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF INDIA India with its centuries old civilization is perhaps one of the few nations, which has a cultural heritage that is rich, diverse and unique. The richness and diversity of the Indian culture has its roots in its history. The history of India is testimony to the fact that foreign invasions influenced the polity and culture of India. Right from ancient times when Alexander invaded India and brought with him Greek influences till the coming of the British in the 16th century, India was constantly targeted by many invaders. These invasions from outside made India the melting pot of different faiths and cultures. With these invasions came the art and architecture, different beliefs and customs of the invaders to India. The cultural heritage of India is not limited to the art and architecture that we see today in the form of many architectural wonders that dot many Indian cities but it traverses beyond that. Cultural heritage of India is the embodiment of all things beautiful that make one stand and take notice. For example a music concert in the backdrop of the Taj Mahal or a dance festival at the famous Konark Temple leaves visitors enthralled and spellbound.

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This is exactly what one feels when on a heritage tour of India. Be it music, dance, fine arts, cuisine, customs or festivals, the cultural heritage of India touches you in more than one way. Experience the age-old customs and traditions followed by Indians on your cultural heritage tour to India. Enjoy the sounds, sights and taste of India with Heritage in India. India colorful and vibrant, a land as diverse as its people. A mosaic of faiths, cultures, customs and languages that blend harmoniously to form a composite whole. One of the worlds oldest living civilizations which gave to the world - the concept of zero, the primordial sound Aum, Yoga, and Buddhism. Today - the India of the 21st century is carving a niche for itself as an economic superpower. The Maharajas of yore have yielded place to some of the wealthiest tycoons of the world. Our country has achieved remarkable breakthroughs in missile, aeronautical and space technologies. India has become the hub of Information technology in south Asia, owing to its vast pool of English-knowing technical manpower!

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Enchanting Indiaa treasury of art, architecture; philosophy, classical dances and music; the mesmerizing Taj, the eternal Ganges, the Thar desert, the mighty Himalayas, tropical rainforests, the Cape where the waters of three seas minglethe rich faunasnakes, peacocks, Royal Bengal Tiger, lionsIndia is all of these and more India-perennial, yet young and dynamic; come discover its myriad moods- in the pages of India Heritage-a website whole-heartedly devoted to providing a kaleidoscopic view of this wonderland to the world!

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India Land of Temples India - A land of intense spirituality and religious faith reflected in the profusion of temples present in this subcontinent. Temples are found every where in India from large monumental structures to small stone buildings, each having certain significance and greatly influencing the lives of the people who regard the temple as a place where they could be close to god. Hinduism is the religion followed by the Hindus. The Hindu philosophy has a very strong influence on the people governing various aspects of their lives including their spiritual life. The Hindu temples apart from being religious also play the role of a social, cultural and economic center influencing the lives of the people both in the cities and villages. These wonderful monuments form a part of the Indian cultural heritage.

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TEMPLE TOURISM We as Indians have always had and will continue to have an obsession for Temples. Temples have been a part of the Indian tradition since times Immemorial. The Concept of improving the Tourism in India has always enthralled me and thats the reason for me to choose Temple Tourism as a Topic for my paper presentation. It is an absolute pleasure to know about the cultural diversity of our country. Any other kind of tourism has to be developed to increase the popularity among people but when it comes to temple tourism the situation is totally different weve got the Temples with us, its just a question of preserving the temples and promoting the temple tourism among the tourists. India is famous for its temples and that is the reason that among the different kinds of tourism in India, pilgrimage tourism is increasing most rapidly.

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Significance of Pilgrimage Pilgrimage is an important part of spiritual life for many Indians. Indians see life itself as a journey, coming from God and returning to God. The pilgrim seeks to separate himself from the everyday concerns of the world, and to spend time in the presence of God as he travels to a place of special meaning. A pilgrimage is a symbol that is acted out. Back in the middle Ages pilgrimages were very popular. It may have taken many years. The pilgrims would usually travel in groups, and stay in monasteries or inns overnight. But now the situation is totally different the Pilgrims take time out of their busy schedule to keep their mind at peace.

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Promoting Temple Tourism Secular India is home to Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and other innumerable religious traditions. Hinduism is the dominant faith, practiced by over 80% of the population. Besides Hindus, Muslims are the most prominent religious group and are an integral part of Indian society. In fact India has the second largest population of Muslims in the world after Indonesia. Common practices have crept into most religious faiths in India and many of the festivals that mark each year with music, dance and feasting are shared by all communities. So let us now see as to what are the most important tourist destinations in India when it comes to temples. There are Temples in India which fills the heart of tourists with peace and they are truly bewildered at the aspect of the humungous structures of architecture and cultural traits of India.

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TEMPLE A temple (from the Latin word templum) is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur.[1] It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out on the ground by the augur. Templa also became associated with the dwelling places of a god or gods. Despite the specific set of meanings associated with the religion of the ancient Rome, the word has now become quite widely used to describe a house of worship for any number of religions and is even used for time periods prior to the Romans.

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History of Temples: In the Vedic period there were no temples. The main object of worship was fire that stood for God. This holy fire was lit on a platform in the open air under the sky, and oblations were offered to the fire. It is not certain when exactly the Indo-Aryans first started building temples for worship. The scheme of building temples was perhaps a concomitant of the idea of idol worship.

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LOCATIONS OF TEMPLES: As the race progressed, temples became important because they served as a sacred meeting place for the community to congregate and revitalize their spiritual energies. Large temples were usually built at picturesque places, especially on river banks, on top of hills, and on the sea shore. Smaller temples or open-air shrines can crop up just about anywhere - by the roadside or even under the tree. Holy places in India are famous for its temples. Indian towns - from Amarnath to Ayodha, Brindavan to Banaras, Kanchipuram to Kanya Kumari - are all known for their wonderful temples. Temple Architecture: The architecture of Hindu temples evolved over a period of more than 2,000 years and there is a great variety in this architecture. Hindu temples are of different shapes and sizes rectangular, octagonal, semicircular with different types of domes and gates. Temples in southern India have a different style than those in northern India. Although the architecture of Hindu temples is varied, they mainly have many things in common.

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The 6 parts of a Hindu Temple: 1. The Dome and Steeple: The steeple of the dome is called shikhara (summit) that represents the mythological Meru or the highest mountain peak. The shape of the dome varies from region to region and the steeple is often in the form of the trident of Shiva.

2. The Inner Chamber: The inner chamber of the temple called garbhagriha or womb-chamber is where the image or idol of the deity (murti) is placed. In most temples, the visitors cannot enter the garbhagriha, and only the temple priests are allowed inside.

3. The Temple Hall: Most large temples have a hall meant for the audience to sit. This is also called the nata-mandira (hall for templedancing) where, in days of yore, women dancers or devadasis used to perform dance rituals. Devotees use the hall to sit, meditate, pray, chant or watch the priests perform the rituals. The hall is usually decorated with paintings of gods and goddesses.

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4. The Front Porch: This area of the temples usually has a big metallic bell that hangs from the ceiling. Devotees entering and leaving the porch ring this bell to declare their arrival and departure.

5. The Reservoir: If the temple is not in the vicinity of a natural water body, a reservoir of fresh water is built on the temple premises. The water is used for rituals as well as to keep the temple floor clean or even for a ritual bath before entering the holy abode.

6. The Walkway: Most temples have a walkway around the walls of the inner chamber for circum-ambulation by devotees around the deity as a mark of respect to the temples god or goddess.

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WORLD FAMOUS TEMPLES OF INDIA SHORE TEMPLE AT MAHABALIPURAM

It is believed that there were seven magnificent temples what are known as the seven pagodas, built near the sea shore. But the lonely survivor is the shore temples. It was originally constructed during the 7th century and later it was Narasimha Varman II, completed the skilled work in his rule. This is one of the oldest of the south Indian Temples which were structural temples constructed in the nature Dravidian style. This shore temple has gained popularity and tourists gather here because it has been listed among the world heritage sites of the UNESCO. The temple is full of designs made by carvings.

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MEENAKSHI AMMAN TEMPLE

This is decidedly the oldest city of South India, truly representing Dravidian culture. European scholars have compared it to Athens of Greece. It was in the past the seat of the Tamil Academy (the Tamil Sangam). It is estimated that there are 33 million carvings in the Madurai temple. Gopuram, in South Indian architecture, is the entrance gateway to the Hindu temple enclosure. Relatively small in the earlier period, the gopuras grew in size from the mid-12th century until the colossal gateways came to dominate the temple complex, quite surpassing the main sanctum for architectural elaboration.

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GOLDEN TEMPLE

The Golden Temple or Darbar Sahib, situated in Amritsar, Punjab, is the most sacred temple for Sikhs. It is a symbol of the magnificence and strength of the Sikh people all over the world. In the evolution of the Darbar Sahib, is entwined the history and ideology of Sikhism. Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as Sri Darbar Sahib or Golden Temple, is named after Hari(God) the temple of God. The Sikhs all over the world, daily wish to pay visit to Sri Amritsar and to pay obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib in their Ardas

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TIRUPATI BALAJI

The ancient and sacred temple of Sri Venkateswara is located on the seventh peak, Venkatachala (Venkata Hill) of the Tirupati Hill, and lies on the southern banks of Sri Swami Pushkarini.It is by the Lord's presidency over Venkatachala, that He has received the appellation, Venkateswara (Lord of the Venkata Hill). He is also called the Lord of the Seven Hills. The temple of Sri Venkateswara has acquired unique sanctity in Indian religious lore. The Sastras, Puranas, Sthala Mahatyams and Alwar hymns unequivocally declare that, in the Kali Yuga, one can attain mukti, only by worshipping Venkata Nayaka or Sri Venkateswara. The benefits acquired by a pilgrimage to Venkatachala are mentioned in the Rig Veda and Asthadasa Puranas. In these epics, Sri Venkateswara is described as the great bestowed of boons.
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KASHI VISHWANATH TEMPLE

The oldest living city in the world, Varanasi is the ultimate destination of all Hindu pilgrims searching for moksha from the cycle of birth and re-birth. The word 'Kashi' originated from the word 'Kas' which means to shine. Kashi is mentioned repeatedly in the scriptures - the Brahmanas, Upanishads and the Puranas. It is the oldest center of learning and the University here is still widely respected for its Sanskrit, Philosophy, and Arts faculties. Hyuen Tsang, the Chinese traveler visited Varanasi in the 7th century.

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KONARAK

Konark Sun Temple is located , in the state of Orissa near the sacred city of Puri. The sun Temple of Konark is dedicated to the sun God or Surya. It is a masterpiece of Orissa's medieval architecture. Sun temple has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO.

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FAMOUS NORTH INDIAN TEMPLES

KALIBARI TEMPLE:

A stone's throw from Birla Mandir to the right is the much smaller but quite popular temple devoted to the Goddess Kali. Especially dear to the Bengali community of Delhi, it is the centre of celebration during the festival of Durga Puja held every October. Since, Kali is believed to be the manifestation of Durga in her most terrifying, warlike avatar, liquor is offered to the goddess in this temple. The temple is rather small and very simple in design. From within the temple grows a huge 'peepul' tree that pierces through the ceiling to shade the temple. Hindus consider the peepul sacred and red threads are tied around its bark when beseeching a boon.

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In the year 1974, by the grace of Divine Mother Kali a piece of Land admeasuring about 2000 sq. yds was donated by Late Shree S.Madhusudan Reddy , Ex-M.L.C. Malkajgiri a devotee of Mother Kali. Subsequently, a number of devotees particularly, Late Lala Chowdhury Maman Ram Agarwal, a philanthropist came forward in offering / collecting donations substantially for the construction of the Kalibari at Vivekanandapuram, Secunderabad. The organization started in 1974 and the foundation stone was laid by the Swamy Ranganathanandaji Maharaj , the then President of Ramakrishna mission Hyderabad. On the 28th of August 1976, an idol of Kalimata made out of a single piece of Black stone, in the pattern of Kalimata of Dakshineshwar temple at Calcutta was purchased from Chitpur (W.B.) in 1975 and was installed by Swamy Ranganathanandaji Maharaj, Ramakrishna Mission , Late Raja Sagi Suryanarayana Raju, the then Minister for Endowments, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh was the chief guest on this occasion. The idol sthapana and Pran Pratistha of the image was done by Late Sree Gostha Behari Bhattacherjee, Vidyaratna, a
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famous Tantric priest of famous Chunagali Kali Temple of Kolkata. Late Sree A.K.Ganguly assisted him to perform the pooja under vedic and tantric ways in accordance with shastrik injunctions. Late Sree A.K.Ganguly was the 1st priest of Hyderabad kalibari. Swamy Ranganathanandaji Maharaj was approached for necessary guidance. He himself suggested that the Kalibari should be called as the Hyderabad Kalibari. Devotees visit the holy Kalibari premises in search of solace. They pray, they are blessed by the divine mother. Their questions are answered by her .Their vows are fulfilled. They leave the premises with a sense of heavenly comfort. Please note ,The Hyderabad Kalibari is registered under Public Society Act 1977 and Regn. No. 459.

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KALKAJI TEMPLE: dedicated to the goddess Kalka Devi. This domed twelve-sided Shakti Kalkaji temple, also known as Kalika or Kalka Devi lies on the same hill. Its oldest section dates back to 1764 and additions were made in the mid-19th century, yet, most of the building is modern. This popular Kali shrine is at the heart of a village and the Hindu worship of its 'Mahants' (important sadhus) makes a fascinating contrast with the brash new faith of the Baha'is.

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THE LEGEND The legend which tells about the circumstances attending to the birth of Maan Kalika Devi is as below : "Millions of years ago, the gods who dwelt in the neighbourhood of the present temple were troubled by two giants and were compelled to prefer their complaint to Lord Brahma, 'the god of all'. But Lord Brahma declined to interfere, and referred them to the goddess Parvati. Out of the mouth of Maa Parvati sprung Kaushki Devi, who attacked the two giants and slaughtered them, but it so happened, that as their blood fell on the dry earth thousands of giants came into life, and the battle was maintained by Kaushki Devi against great odds. Maa Parvati took compassion on her offspring and out of the eyebrows of Kaushki Devi came the monster Kali Devi, 'whose lower lip rested on the hills below and the upper lip touched the sky above. She drank the blood of the slaughtered giants as it poured out of their wounds; and the goddess obtained a complete victory over their enemies.

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Maa Kali Devi then fixed her abode here, and she was worshipped as the chief divinity of the place. According to the Government gadgets of Hindu and Muslim 'The temple of Kalka Ji is said to have a very ancient origin, but the oldest portions of the present building is believed to have been constructed not earlier than the 1764 A.D. In 1816 A.D. Mirza Raja Kidar Nath, the Peshkar of Akbar II, made some additions to it, and for the last 50 years a considerable number of dharamshalas have been erected in the vicinity by the Hindu bankers and merchants of Delhi.' "

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SHEETHLA DEVI TEMPLE (Gurgaon): One of the major Hindu pilgrimage is the Sheetala Devi Temple located near a pond at Gurgaon village, a suburb of Gurgaon, in the state of Haryana. Also referred to as a 'Shakti Peeth', the presiding deity of this temple is Mata Sheetala Devi.Thousands of pilgrims visit the temple during the Hindu month of 'Chaitra' corresponding with the months of March and April. Situated near a pond, this temple witnesses hordes of pilgrims throughout the year, except during the month of 'Shravana' (July-August). People also come to this temple to conduct the 'mundan' (shaving the heads) ceremony of their children.

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There are many legends, which are connected with the building of the present temple of Shri Mata Sheetla Devi. According to one legend, a poor carpenter living in Farukh Nagar had a beautiful daughter of marriageable age. On hearing about her beauty, the Mughal ruler expressed his desire to get married to the girl. The carpenter resented giving away her daughter to a person from a different religion and so appealed to King Surajmal of Bharatpur. The matter being outside his jurisdiction, the king refused to interfere. The disappointed carpenter met Prince Bharatpur, son of King Surajmal while returning home who tried to talk it out with his father but to no avail.Consequently, the prince revolted against his father. On his way to attack Delhi, he passed through Gurgaon and he pledged to the Shri Mata Sheetla Devi that if he returned victorious, he would build a proper temple. The prince won and upon his return, he built the temple. There is another version of the same temple. It is said that when prince of Bharatpur was proceeding towards , he and his army rested at Ballabhgarh. But the horses refused to move further from here. The court astrologer was summoned to explain the strange behaviour of the

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horses, whereupon it was found that since obeisance was not paid the goddess after entering Gurgaon on their way, this had angered her. Thus an elaborate worship of the goddess was arranged and the horses started moving. The prince pledged that he would build a temple on his victorious return.

The Queens At War : The third legend also includes king. On a pilgrimage to Pushkar, a verbal fight ensued between the queen and the king of Bharatpur, Kishori on who would first jump into the waters. The man finally took over and it resulted to King Bharatpur attacking the king of Ajmer, defeating the latter in the process. Queen Kishori was jubiliant and urged the king to build the Shri Mata Sheetla Devi temple and King Bharatpur and Chaudhary Jawahar Singh consecrated the idol made of eight metals in this temple.

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LEGEND OF VAISHNO DEVI:

During the time when the Goddesses were wreaking havoc on the evil Asuras, the 3 main manifestations, Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati, pooled their collective strength and sent a divine child to be born in the house of one Ratnakar. She was to uphold righteousness and attain a level of consciousness by which she would merge with Vishnu. An extraordinary child, she went deep into
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the forest, in search of god. Intrigued by reports of her piety, Gorakhnath the tantric sent his disciple Bhairon Nath to look for her. But he began invading her privacy and even suggested that she become his wife. To escape him, Vaisnavi left Trikuta

mountains.While passing through a ravine she shot an arrow into the earth from where water gushed out -- this stream came to be known as Banaganga. Charan Paduka, marked by the imprints of her feet, is the place where she rested. The Goddess then meditated in the cave at Adhkawari. It took Bhairon Nath nine months to locate her, the reason why the cave is known as Garbh Joon. Mata Vaishno Devi blasted an opening at the other end of the cave with her Trident when Bhairon Nath located her.On arriving at the Holy Cave at Darbar, she assumed the form of Maha Kali and cut off Bhairon Nath's head which was flung up the mountain by the force of the blow and fell at the place where the Bhairon Temple is now located. The boulder at the mouth of the Holy Cave according to the legend is the petrified torso of Bhairon Nath who was granted divine forgiveness by the benevolent Mata in his dying moments.

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THE SHRINE DISCOVERED:

Legend goes, that the holy shrine was discovered by a Brahmin, Pandit Sridhar about a thousand years ago. He used to live in Hansali village at the foothills of the Trikuta Mountains. One day, as he was grazing cattle, he met a beautiful child, Vaishnavi, on the hills. She urged him to call the people of his village to a feast. By mid-day when his guests arrived he had still not made arrangements for any provisions.Suddenly, he saw Vaishnavi coming out of his hut and she asked Sridhar to call his guests saying the food was ready. He watched in amazement as all the villagers went inside his small hut

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and finished their meal. As they left, he called out to young Vaishnavi knowing that the answer to the mystery lay with her. But she was not to be found.His search for her led him to a cave up a cliff where he thought he spied her. But in vain, as he wept in anguish a light shone on him, and he had a vision: Vaishnavi was transformed into a transcendental beauty with eight arms and astride a lion. She told him she was Shakti and in this cave she was manifested in her three forms of Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Sridhar's progeny have been worshipping the Goddess in this Holy Cave since those hoary days! The Aarti (Prayer): The two-hour long Aarti or Prayer is performed twice a day, first at sunrise and again at sunset. The holy cave is closed to pilgrims at this time. Only the priests, attendants and an officer is permitted in the holy premises.

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CHAMUNDA DEVI TEMPLE:

It is an enchanting spot with glorious views of the mountains, the Baner Khud, Pathiar and Lahla forests. 15-km from Dharamshala a tiny village of Dadh on Palampur road is the famous temple dedicated to Goddess Chamunda Devi. On reaching the temple a glorious view
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of Dhaula Dhar on three sides and 'Baner Khud' flowing alongside the temple. The temple has artistic carvings on its lintel, pillars and the ceiling. Behind the main temple is a small shrine of Lord Shiva in the Shikhara style. There is another platform in front of this temple where two very old peepul trees provide shelter to the visitors. From this platform a bird's eye view of most of the land marks in the town including Chaugan, Circuit House, most of the temples and river Ravi can be had. There is a Shiva 'lingam' under the rock where the temple of Chamunda is sited. There are no legends about the lingam. The idol is called Nandikeswar. So the sacred site is called 'Chamunda Nandikeshwar'.Legend of Chamunda Devi: In Jallandhar Mahatmya, Chapter VI reference is made to 'Chamunda

Nandikeshwar' and people believe the reference is to these two deities 'Chamunda' and 'Nandikeshwar'. The legend associated is well known. In 'Satya Yuga' two 'Daityas' (demons), 'Shumbh' and 'Nishumbh' engaged themselves in deep meditation and were blessed by Lord Brahma with immense power.The Daityas deified 'Indra' and other Gods. The Gods were terrified of the Daityas and resorted to Jadrangal village and propitiated 'Jagadamba Devi'. The
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Devi was pleased and promised to rescue them from the Daityas.She created a Devi out of her body, a beautiful person 'Kaushika'. Kaushika was given the assignment of destroying Shumbh and Nishumbh. The two Daityas heard of her beauty and wanted to bring her to them. They failed to persuade her to come to them through a 'doot' (messenger) who was scornfully sent away. Kaushika sent word through the messenger that she could only be won by a war.A dreadful war started. Kaushika Devi created 'Kalika' Shakti from her forehead and Kalika cut off the heads of 'Chund' and 'Mund', two brave and fearless commanders of the two Daityas. The destruction of the Daityas followed and the three worlds were relieved of the Daityas. Kaushika Devi blessed Kalika Shakti and asked her to be seated at Jadrangal village and be known as Chamunda. She would fulfil the desires of the needy persons. This mythological story is based on Devi Bhagwati, Markandey Puran and Durga Saptsati.

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JWALAMUKHI TEMPLE:

(The Flaming Goddess) recognized as one of the 51 Shaktipeeths of India, Jwalamukhi's Devi Temple, tended by the followers of Goraknath, is set against a cliff. The picturesque temple, built against a wooded spur, in the Indo-Sikh style, has a dome that was gilded by Mughal Emperor Akbar. An eternally burning flame that issues from a hollow rock in the sanctum is considered the manifestation of the goddess Devi.The Legend of Jwalamukhi: Jwalamukhi is a famous
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temple of goddess Jwalamukhi, the deity of flaming mouth, built over some natural jets of combustible gas, believed to be the manifestation of the Goddess. The building is modern with a gilt dome and pinnacles, and possesses a beautiful folding door of silver plates.Under the gaze of the Dhauladhar range and set amidst the undulating hills that character sub-Himalayan Himachal Sati's tongue is believed to have fallen at Jwalamukhi and the goddess is manifest as tiny flames that burn a flawless blue through fissures in the age old rock.Raja Bhumi Chand Katoch of Kangra, a great devotee of goddess Durga, dreamt of the sacred place and the Raja set people to find out the whereabouts of the site. The site was traced and the Raja built a temple. The burning flames and the complex have come to be known as Jwalamukhi. The temple located on a small spur on the Dharamsala-Shimla road at a distance of about 20-kms from the Jwalamukhi Road Railway Station attracts lakhs of pilgrims every year. No idol is located in the temple but only the flames, which come out from the crevices of the rock, are worshipped. They are natural jets of combustible gas.There is a small platform in front of the temple and a(check usage) big mandap where a huge brass bell presented by the King of Nepal is hung. Usually milk and water are offered and
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the ahutis or oblations are offered to the sacred flames in the pit, situated in the centre of the temple in between the floor pillars supporting the roof.The deity is offered Bhog of Rabri or thickened milk, Misri or candy, seasonal fruits, milk and arti is done. There is a mystic Yantar or diagram of the goddess, which is covered with, shawls, ornaments and mantras are recited. The puja has different 'phases' and goes on practically the whole day. Arti is done five times in the day, Havan is performed once daily and portions of "Durga Saptasati" are recited. Maharaja Ranjit Singh paid a visit to the temple in 1815 and the dome of the temple was gold-plated by him. Just a few feet above the Jwalamukhi temple there is a six-feet deep pit with a circumference of about three-feet. At the bottom of this pit there is another small pit about one and a half feet deep with hot water bubbling all the time.

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CHINTPURNI TEMPLE:

A winding road goes up to the temple dedicated to 'Bhagwati Chinmastika' or Goddess 'Chintpurni' who grants all wishes.The Legend of Chintpurni: Along with hundreds of mythical legends about the origin of a temple in different parts of India, the very popular temple of Chintpurni temple is of the same type. The legend is that one 'Bhagat Mai Dass' was a great devotee of Durga deity and worshipped her with great devotion and never bothered over mundane affairs. He was a married man and his family along with

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others had shifted from Patiala side to village 'Rapoh' in Una district of Himachal Pradesh. The legend is that one-day Bhagat Mai Dass was going to his father-in-law's place and felt tired while by a jungle and slept under a tree. He had a dream: a young girl appeared before him and wanted him to stay there and worship her. He woke up in bewilderment. He came back to the particular spot from his father-inlaw's place and went on praying to Durga. The girl appeared this time in human form and told him the whereabouts where he would find her in the form of a 'pindi' (a round stone-ball). He should install the Pindi in a temple. The Devi blessed him that he would have no fright, as it was a 'Devasthan' (site of Gods) though so deserted. She disappeared and Mai Das discovered the Pindi and installed it in a temple.

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MANSA DEVI TEMPLE:

A typical example of North Indian architecture Mansa Devi Temple, lying in Bilaspur village, about three kilometers east of Mani Majra in Chandigarh, has two temples dedicated to the goddess. It is believed that the older temple was built by the ruler of Mani Majra. The Legend of Mansa Devi: According to a popular legend, the shrine was
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originally in the territory of erstwhile princely state of Nahan. Some hill people cut off the stream, which supplied water to the pilgrims visiting the temple, causing distress to the pilgrims. Thereupon, the goddess appeared in dream of Gurbaksh Singh, ruler of Mani Majra and asked him to construct a temple for her at this place. This temple contains thirty-eight panels of wall paintings besides floral designs painted all over the ceiling and the arches leading into the temple. The drawings of the temple are not of high standard but a great variety of themes is illustrated. The other temple is said to have been constructed by Maharaja Karam Singh of erstwhile Patiala State to commemorate his success in the battle against the Gurkhas.

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Map

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Strategies to enhance religious tourism through Corporate Market Responsibility (CRP) Definitely, the marketers would get benefit out of the booming religious tourism as they could find new territories to sell their products and services. They would also take part in developing these Places along with local development authorities.

a) Marketers could participate in providing basic sanitary facilities along with they could promote their products viz. If X company sponsors the Free or Paid Rest room facilities, its products would only be sold. b) Marketers could also participate in constructing rooms for devotees to stay and promote their products c) Marketers could offer free/paid transportation facilities which will carry the promotion of their products/ services d) Pharmaceutical companies could sponsor free medical camps in which their products could be promoted

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e) Food products companies could set up their outlets to sell products with subsidized /actual prices f) Clothing/Garment companies could set up their stalls to promote their products and services It clearly shows that there is enough room for marketers to participate in Corporate Market Responsibility which offers the dual benefit of offering services to the society as well to promote their

products/services. This would definitely provide a lucrative mind space in potential target group in which would not have done by spending millions on conventional promotion tools.

Hence, it is the marketers and the state and central government could join their hands to concentrate on these locations in order to generate business and employment opportunities as well to promote their products/services. If this done, the government would not worry about offering minimum 100 days employment opportunities, they will take care of themselves. The government could seek help from marketers to offer necessary infrastructure support viz. transportation, water and

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sanitation, power and other basic facilities which ensure the influx and pleasant stay of pilgrims.

Role of Religious Tourism in Balanced Economic Growth In India, religious tourism plays a vital role in narrowing economic imbalance. Most of the places, especially rural areas and the areas which have no core competence or business, survive due to religious tourism. It provides business and employment opportunities to local population helps to take care of their requirements. For instance, 'Sulli Karadu' a small dry rural area near Coimbatore, TamilNadu, India, well known for a rural deity which is very powerful, ought to be worshipped by offering Camphor in big quantities which is available in nearby shops. Devotees stand in mile long queue to offer their offerings. It provides livelihood to local population who sell camphor to the devotees which is supplied by camphor manufacturers. Also, it was interpreted that the whole exercise was orchestrated by the camphor manufacturers to sell their products which has been banned by TamilNadu Endowment Board to camphor in temples, by quoting the reason that would spoil the environment. How ever, this is a
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classical example on the religious tourism which fed the whole village. Also, a place called "Thadi Kombu" near Madurai, well known for a deity viz. "Shorna Bairavar" which is very powerful to collect the bad debts, it is the believe that if a pilgrim visit the place for 8 times in a particular day of the month, his/her prayers would be answered. This generates employment opportunities in the sleeping semi-urban small town, also generated business for bus owners who take devotees for charter trips on that particular day from far off places. These are all the examples of small places which generates business and employment opportunities for the local population, let alone, many famous places like "Palani", Madurai, Rameswaram,

Kanyakumar, etc. in Tamil Nadu, and well known, "Sabari Malai" in kerala, which generates millions and provides employment

opportunities to many. The whole kerala belt has been benefiting from lakhs for devotees visit sabari malai during particular seasons. These provide tremendous opportunities for marketers to focus on these locations to market their products and services. It is the dual benefit of catering location population as well to promote the products/services.

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PROTECTING TEMPLES It must be understood that all objects, whether natural or manmade have their lifespan. But by doing proper, periodical maintenance & protecting them from vandals, the possibility of providing extended lifespan to these inanimate structures always remain. When these places of interest are not maintained, the chances are that theyll fail to live up to their 'intended' life span is dim. So, proper maintenance not only preserves them for their entire life period, but also gives them a "Bonus" lifetime. When a person thinks about India, he can either think about the wellbuilt, well-maintained Delhi Metro, which is one of the best in Asia. The Delhi Metro has world class infrastructure, security & service & wears the look of a corporate major. But on the other end lies the poorly maintained, poorly equipped, sub-standard Indian Railways. Though the largest employer in the world & the most profitable government company, the railways leaves much to be desired when it comes to safety, standard, infrastructure etc.,

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Though both are owned & operated by the govt., there is a contrasting difference between these two. The government is treating our ancient monuments too with the same attention it gives to the railways! The Archaeological Survey of India, responsible for the exploration & maintenance of these monuments is dangerously under-staffed & poorly funded. So, the ASI devoted most of its manpower & money power to the high-end monuments such as Taj Mahal, Red Fort etc., starving our antique Indian temples of any funds

Though India is a Hindu dominated country, it doesn't mean that our temples should be preserved well! In Tamilnadu for instance, temples are maintained by the 'Hindu Aranilaya Thurai' which is shredded by politics. Even the world's most revenue-rich temple, in Tripathi does not offer any better prospects. People who pay a high some of money to "see" the God are allowed a closer peep, whereas the freely serviced poor people are forced to wait in their queue's for several hours, if not days! The housing & lodging facilities there are very poor. Transportation is bleak, but collection is great!
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Many temples in India refuse to receive any funding from the governments & solely rely on philanthropists. They do not want to rely on governments claiming to be secular! So, with very little funding, poor knowledge of history & its greatness from the part of the temple boards, which priorities the religious aspect of the temple more than its cultural & historical value will do anything, but improve the status of these "iconic" symbols of the world's oldest religion.

There needs to be an effective co-ordination between the government, a well-funded ASI, the temple authorities & of course the devotees. The government should rein in on "illegal" roadside temples & encourage historically significant temples. The temple board should also allow non-Hindu & foreign visitors to come in & visit the temple by charging them a fee & diverting it to welfare works. By allowing tourists, the historical significance of the temple & its image will be defeated.

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So if these great monuments have to be maintained properly and if the Temples have to viewed by tourists and great tourist destinations it is up to the People and Government of India to Protect these Architectural Masterpieces by Educating the general public about their importance and Proper funding to maintain them.

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CONCLUSION

I personally believe that temple tour give me a positive attitude for my tour report. But at the same time we have need to improve are tourism better, What we need to do is to control and manage tourism in a more effective and efficient manner. Temple in north india are every precious so it will are duty to save to billions of year.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Www.templenet.com www.en.wikipedia.org Hinduism.about.com Www.lds.org

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