Ramtek and Nagpur Yatra

[Chandan Yatra Das]

🏹🛐 Ramtek and Nagpur Yatra 🛐🍊

Ramtek ~ Where Lord Rama took Vow to relieve world from the Demons

 

Ramtek is the place where Lord Ramacandra rested while He was in exile. Here He took a vow to relieve the world from the demons. ‘Tek’ means vow in local language, hence the word Ramtek comes from ‘Vow of Ram’, and here there is ancient heritage of great Agastya Muni. Ramtek is 52km from Nagpur. Nagpur is in central India in Maharashtra and is the orange 🍊 capital of India. Two hours from Nagpur is another important place called Kaundinyapur. This is birthplace of Rukmini Ji, and this is where the famous Rukmini Haran (kidnapping) pastime took place. ISKCON has centre in Nagpur. Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Gopinath are the presiding deities.

 

Close to Nagpur, across the border at Jam Sawali in Madhya Pradesh is a rare temple of Hanuman. Here Hanuman Ji s lying down underneath a large Pipal tree. This is the only temple in the world where Hanuman Ji is lying. Hanuman Ji is the eternal serviator of Lord Rama. Also close by is important Sri Vitthala Temple similar to the one at Pandharpur Dhama.

 

🐉🐲 Atrocities by Demons 🕷🦟

The incomparable Agastya Muni was tri-kala-jna: He could see the 3 features of time - past, present and future. Hence he was well aware that Sri Rama was none other than the Supreme Lord, and that in the very near future He would fight a great war with the enemies of dharma, the demons (asuras).

 

Many sages of the Dandaka Forest had already suffered grievous harassment at the hands of atheistic asuras, and many had fallen victim to their evil schemes. Yet try as they might, none of these asuras could trap the wily Agastya. Through his unbreakable penance and high intelligence, the sage had even outwitted the evil duo Ilvala and Vatapi. Ilvala, taking the form of a Sanskrit-speaking brahmana, would invite different sages to share a meal. Then Vatapi would assume the form of the meal. After dinner Ilvala would smile and say, “Come out, Vatapi,” and Vatapi would suddenly burst forth, splitting the poor rsi’s belly.

 

Once Agastya, requested by the devas (demigods), accepted Ilvala’s invitation to dine with him. After the meal, the grinning Ilvala called for his wicked brother to exit the sage’s body. But Agastya smiled and declared, “Your brother cannot come out now because he has already been sent to the abode of Yamaraja [the Lord of death] by the fire of my digestion.” The infuriated Ilvala sprang forward, rushing at Agastya, but one stern and fiery look from the powerful sage reduced him to ashes in an instant.

 

When Lord Rama came to Agastya’s ashram, he received Sita, Rama and Laxmana offering obeisances. Then he presented Lord Rama with the Brahma-datta bow. The bow had been inset with diamonds. Agastya also handed over a quiver of arrows that included the undefeatable brahmastra weapon. 

 

In His talks with the sages of Dandaka Forest at Agastya’s hermitage, Lord Ramacandra took a vow to vanquish the trouble-making demons. When the Lord took His vow, Rama Giri shook. By accepting the weapons from Agastya, the Lord displayed His intention of protecting His devotees. Today the village at the foot of Rama Giri is called Rama Tek, literally “Rama’s vow.” 

 

In Bhagavad-Gita 4.7-8, Lord Krishna explains His vow to shelter His devotees: “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion at that time I descend Myself. To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to re-establish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.”

 

Saint Agastya’s Ancient Heritage

Lavishly preserved in marble and carefully maintained by a group of devoted sadhus, this ancient hermitage has been developed as a pilgrims’ destination of much importance. Even the yajna-sala, the holy place of fire sacrifice where the rsi received Lord Rama, has been continuously maintained since Treta-yuga. An iron door has been installed over Agastya’s deep cave of meditation; only select yogis are allowed entrance into the chamber, called Hatiphor. The ashram’s astute crew of ascetics display extreme care in the upkeep and worship of Saint Agastya’s shrine.

 

Beyond Agastya Muni’s peaceful cave is a large group of temples, the first of which is dedicated to Laxmana, who led the way to Rama Giri, announcing to the sages the arrival of his brother and sister-in-law. This explains why the Laxmana Mandir is first. The other temples are separately dedicated to Lord Rama, Sita and Hanuman.

 

Places to visit near Nagpur:

1. Ramtek (52 km from Ramtek)

2. Kaundinyapur (2 hours from Nagpur in Amravati) - Birthplace of Rukmini Ji and place of Rukmini Haran (kidnaping) pastime

3. Jam Sawali Hanuman Temple

4. ISKCON Nagpur

5. ISKCON Amravati

 

Saint Agastya’s Ancient Heritage at Ramtek

Saint Agastya’s Ancient Heritage at Ramtek

Saint Agastya’s Ancient Heritage

Saint Agastya

Saint Agastya’s Ancient Heritage

Sri Sri Radha Krishna at Saint Agastya’s Ashram

Map where Lord Ramacandra’s lotus feet fell

 

The Deities in the Main Temple at Ramtek:

The local history of the deities is noteworthy. In 1736 King Raghu Bhonsle visited Rama Giri only to discover that just the padukas or wooden sandals of Lord Rama were being worshiped. The deities were no longer present. The king vowed to commission Jaipur deities for the temple. But once the sacred murtis were prepared for temple installation prana-pratistha the king had a dream in which Lord Rama told him to search under the waters of the River Sur a few miles north. Finally, in 1753, the original deities were discovered and re-installed atop Rama Giri amidst much festivity and celebration. The Jaipur deities are privately cared for in a reserved area. This temple is located on the Ramgiri Hill in Ramtek, which is 52 km northeast of Nagpur city. One can travel by car up to the entrance of the temple on the hill.

 

Ramtek

Sri Sri Sita Rama at Ramtek

King Raghu Bhonsle re-installed original deities in 1753

Sri Sri Sita Rama at Ramtek

Beautiful Ramagiri - view from atop of Ramtek Hills

Ramtek

Ramtek

 

Rare deity of Lord Visnu-Varaha:

Near Ramtek, there is huge rare deity of Lord Visnu-Varaha. Overlooking the valley and the fort, this is one of rarest giant Varaha deities weighing several tons.

 

Rare deity of Lord Visnu-Varaha at Ramtek

 

Ambala Kunda: This lake below the hill is said to have been named for King Amba, who was cured of a terrible disease after his bath in these waters, which originate from an underground river called Patala Ganga. In the 18th century King Raghu Bhonsle had the lake and many of the shore temples renovated with fine stone work. These temples include those of Lord Jagannatha, Pancamukhi Mahadeva (“five-faced Siva”), and Surya Narayana (the Sun incarnation of Visnu).

 

Ambala Kunda lake

 

Hanuman Temple at Jam Sawali: Close to Nagpur, across the border at Jam Sawali in Madhya Pradesh is a rare temple of Hanuman. Here Hanuman Ji lying down underneath a large Pipal tree. This is the only temple in the world where Hanuman Ji is lying. Hanuman Ji is the eternal serviator of Lord Ramacandra.

 

Hanuman Temple at Jam Sawali

 

ISKCON Nagpur:

International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has centre in Nagpur. Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Gopinath are the presiding deities.

Address: Gate No.4 Near Gandhi Sagar Lake, Empress City, Nagpur, Maharashtra.

 

ISKCON Nagpur

ISKCON Nagpur

Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Gopinath at ISKCON Nagpur

Sri Sri Radha Gopinath

Sri Sri Radha Gopinath

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Founder-acarya of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)

Srila Prabhupada

Lord Krishna - The Supreme Personality of Godhead

Gift stall at ISKCON Nagpur

Lord Krishna

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare |

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||

Lord Krishna

Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra Festival organized by ISKCON Nagpur

New Tempe construction at ISKCON Nagpur

 

ISKCON Amravati:

ISKCON has Temple at Amravati. Their Lordships Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadhish are the priding deities at the Temple.

Address: Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadhish Adhyatmik Sanskar Kendra, Sarswati Colony, Rathi Nagar, VMV Road, Amravati, Maharashtra – 444603

Website: http://www.iskconamravati.com/

 

Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadhish at ISKCON Amravati Temple

Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadhish

Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadhish

 

Nagpur is the Orange 🍊 capital of India. Around Nagpur there are many Orange orchards. Cotton crop is also grown in abundance.

 

Orange 🍊 orchards around Nagpur

Nagpur oranges 🍊

 

​​Kaundinyapur ~ Birthplace of Rukmini: https://archive.org/details/KaundinyapurYatra/

 

Mayapur TV: http://Mayapur.tv   /  Vrindavana TV: http://Vrindavana.tv

 

Holy Pilgrimages: www.Holy-Pilgrimages.com / Facebook: www.facebook.com/HolyPilgrimages

Holy Dham: www.HolyDham.com

 

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare |

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||