Difference between revisions of "Muktinath"

From Dharmawiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m
 
(3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
Located in Nepal, Muktinath temple is one of the 108 Divyadesams. Surrounded by Annapurna mountain range, it is at an elevation of 3710 meters. 
+
[[File:Muktinath-Deity.jpg|thumb|Muktinath]]
 +
== Location ==
  
Temple:
+
Located in Mustang district of Nepal, Muktinath temple is one of the 108 Divyadesams. Surrounded by Annapurna mountain range, it is at an elevation of 3710 meters. It is about 25 Kms from Jomson which has an airport. There is a daily flight from Pokhara to Jomsom. Most people travel by road from Kathmandu. It is a very scenic route with Trusuli, Modi and Kali-Gandaki rivers by the side passing through Manokamna Devi, Pokhara, Beni, Sri Galeshwordham and Jomsom. It is entirely mud road from Beni onwards. Sri Galeshwordham is known to be the place where Bharata, son of King Rishabha conducted austerities and penance after retiring from kingly life at a young age. It is after him that Bharatavarsha is named.
  
Muktinath is Lord Vishnu sitting in a meditative posture. It is a local belief that Lord Vishnu Himself is sitting and meditating under the deity. "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Mukthinathaya Narayanaya" is the mantra written at the entrance of the sanctum. The sanctum is surrounded by 108 ice-cold water outlets (mukti-dhara) signifying 108 Diyvadesams. The source is from Gandhaki river spring at the top of the mountain. A few meters from the temple is "nirantar jyothi" or eternal flame. The temple has a yajna-shala, where 108 saligrama-shilas are worshipped. One of the big saligrama-shilas weighs more than 70 kgs. Muktinath is worshipped by Acharyas from the Vaishnava Ashram.
+
== Temple ==
  
[[File:Yajna-shala.jpg|thumb|Muktinath Yajna-shala with Saligrama-shilas]]
+
Muktinath is Lord Vishnu sitting in a meditative posture. It is said that Lord Vishnu Himself is sitting and meditating under the current deity and is maintaining the whole cosmic manifestation from there. "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Mukthinathaya Narayanaya" is written on the entrance of the sanctum. The sanctum is surrounded by 108 ice-cold water outlets (mukti-dhara) signifying 108 Diyvadesams. The source of water is the Gandaki river spring at the top of the mountain. A few meters away from the temple is a Buddhist monastry housing the '''nirantara-jyothi''' or eternal flame fed by natural gas underneath. Muktinath deity is worshipped by Acharyas from the Vaishnava Ashram. Devotees in the Vaishnava ashram are eager to serve prasadam to visitors if informed in advance.
[[File:Big Saligrama.jpg|thumb|Big saligrama-shila weighing 70 Kgs]]
+
 
 +
== Yajna-shala ==
 +
The temple has a yajna-shala, where 108 saligrama-shilas are worshipped. One of the big saligrama-shilas kept outside the inner temple weighs more than 70 kgs.
 +
 
 +
[[File:Yajnashala2.jpg|150px|Muktinath Yajna-shala with Saligrama-shilas]] [[File:Yajna-shala.jpg|150px|Muktinath Yajna-shala with Saligrama-shilas]] [[File:Big Saligrama.jpg|150px|Big saligrama-shila weighing 70 Kgs]]
 +
 
 +
== Saligrama-kshetra ==
 +
 
 +
Saligrama-shilas are found only in the Gandaki river-bed. Saligrama-shilas are very precious as Lord Vishnu is already manifested in them. These are carved by insects known as Vajra-keeta residing in Gandaki river. That place where Saligrama-shilas are present automatically becomes a tirtha-kshetra (holy place). People from far and wide come to Muktinath in search of Saligrama-shilas.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
There are more than a hundred varieties of Saligrama-shilas. Those that can be enclosed within a fist are worshipable at home whereas others that are bigger are generally kept in temples or mutts. It takes a lot of expertise to identify a genuine Saligrama-shila. While few of them have external carvings spiraling inwards, most of the others have no trace externally. According to the head priest of Muktinath, one should never break a shila to check for carvings; they are to be worshiped in their whole form with faith.

Latest revision as of 20:17, 25 January 2019

Muktinath

Location

Located in Mustang district of Nepal, Muktinath temple is one of the 108 Divyadesams. Surrounded by Annapurna mountain range, it is at an elevation of 3710 meters. It is about 25 Kms from Jomson which has an airport. There is a daily flight from Pokhara to Jomsom. Most people travel by road from Kathmandu. It is a very scenic route with Trusuli, Modi and Kali-Gandaki rivers by the side passing through Manokamna Devi, Pokhara, Beni, Sri Galeshwordham and Jomsom. It is entirely mud road from Beni onwards. Sri Galeshwordham is known to be the place where Bharata, son of King Rishabha conducted austerities and penance after retiring from kingly life at a young age. It is after him that Bharatavarsha is named.

Temple

Muktinath is Lord Vishnu sitting in a meditative posture. It is said that Lord Vishnu Himself is sitting and meditating under the current deity and is maintaining the whole cosmic manifestation from there. "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Mukthinathaya Narayanaya" is written on the entrance of the sanctum. The sanctum is surrounded by 108 ice-cold water outlets (mukti-dhara) signifying 108 Diyvadesams. The source of water is the Gandaki river spring at the top of the mountain. A few meters away from the temple is a Buddhist monastry housing the nirantara-jyothi or eternal flame fed by natural gas underneath. Muktinath deity is worshipped by Acharyas from the Vaishnava Ashram. Devotees in the Vaishnava ashram are eager to serve prasadam to visitors if informed in advance.

Yajna-shala

The temple has a yajna-shala, where 108 saligrama-shilas are worshipped. One of the big saligrama-shilas kept outside the inner temple weighs more than 70 kgs.

Muktinath Yajna-shala with Saligrama-shilas Muktinath Yajna-shala with Saligrama-shilas Big saligrama-shila weighing 70 Kgs

Saligrama-kshetra

Saligrama-shilas are found only in the Gandaki river-bed. Saligrama-shilas are very precious as Lord Vishnu is already manifested in them. These are carved by insects known as Vajra-keeta residing in Gandaki river. That place where Saligrama-shilas are present automatically becomes a tirtha-kshetra (holy place). People from far and wide come to Muktinath in search of Saligrama-shilas.


There are more than a hundred varieties of Saligrama-shilas. Those that can be enclosed within a fist are worshipable at home whereas others that are bigger are generally kept in temples or mutts. It takes a lot of expertise to identify a genuine Saligrama-shila. While few of them have external carvings spiraling inwards, most of the others have no trace externally. According to the head priest of Muktinath, one should never break a shila to check for carvings; they are to be worshiped in their whole form with faith.