Muktinath & Gandaki Devi Shakti Peetha 🕉️🙏Nepal Travel Guide скачать в хорошем качестве

Muktinath & Gandaki Devi Shakti Peetha 🕉️🙏Nepal Travel Guide

Today we are heading to the incredible Muktinath Temple and the Gandaki Shakti Peetha. Situated in Nepal’s Mustang district at a breathtaking altitude of 3,800 meters, Muktinath is one of the world's highest temples. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the holy abodes of God Vishnu, and one of the eight Svayam Vyakta Kshetras or self-manifested Vishnu temples. it is the only Divya Desam Outside India, accessible to humans, as Vaikuntha and Ksheera Sagara exist in the celestial realm. This sacred temple is mentioned in Vishnu Purana, Skanda Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Padma Purana, Narada Purana, and even the Mahabharata, where it is said that Draupadi and the Pandavas visited this divine shrine on their way to the Himalayas. The Devi here is known as Gandaki Chandi, the one who overcomes all obstacles. The Bhairava here is known as Chakrapani, meaning the one who holds the chakra in his hand. Muktinath is the place where the Devi's right cheek is believed to have fallen. The Muktinath temple is sanctified by the flow of the sacred Gandaki River, which is a blessing from Devi Adi Para Shakti. Adi Shakti is the mother, the graceful one, and the grantor of all knowledge. For Gandaki Devi, she is the embodiment of all the siddhis and spiritual accomplishments. The very name "Muktinath" translates to "Lord of Liberation" or "Lord of Moksha." This signifies its revered status as a place where devotees seek and believe they can attain freedom from the cycle of birth and death. Legend has it that God Vishnu, in his form as Muktinath, resides here, and the temple is believed to be the place where he attained liberation from a curse. The sacred stone found in the Kali Gandaki River nearby, known as Shaligram, is also highly revered as a manifestation of God Vishnu and is a key element of pilgrimage to Muktinath. For Buddhists, Muktinath is an abode of dakini goddesses and is considered one of the twenty-four Tantric places. In Tibetan Buddhism, the site is known as Chumig Gyatsa, which translates to "Hundred Waters," referring to the 108 water spouts surrounding the main temple. It is believed that the revered Buddhist master Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), who introduced Buddhism to Tibet, meditated at this site, adding to its spiritual aura for Buddhists. Muktinath Temple is deeply connected to the legend of Jalandhara, as mentioned in the Skanda Purana, Shiva Purana, and Padma Purana. Jalandhara, a powerful asura born from the third eye of God Shiva, gained immense strength due to his wife Vrinda’s unwavering devotion and purity, which made him unbeatable. When Jalandhara started a war against the Devas and even challenged God Shiva, the gods realized that as long as Vrinda remained pure, Jalandhara could not be defeated. To break his power, God Vishnu took the form of Jalandhara and appeared before Vrinda. Believing him to be her husband, Vrinda welcomed him, but the moment she touched him, her purity was lost. This caused Jalandhara to lose his divine protection, and God Shiva quickly defeated him. When Sati Vrinda discovered the truth, she was devastated and cursed God Vishnu to turn into a stone for deceiving her. To make up for this, God Vishnu meditated at Muktinath, where God Shiva and Brahma granted him freedom from the curse, making the site a sacred Moksha Kshetra. The temple is also linked to Vrinda’s sacrifice, as she set herself on fire, and from her ashes, the Tulsi plant was born, becoming the most sacred offering to God Vishnu. Muktinath is considered a gateway to liberation, with its 108 water spouts (Muktidhara), sacred Shaligram stones from the Gandaki River, and an eternal flame that burns naturally. The architecture of Muktinath Temple reflects the confluence of Hindu and Buddhist artistic traditions. It is built in the pagoda style, common in Nepali temple architecture, with a tiered roof and intricate wooden carvings. Inside the main sanctum sanctorum resides a golden Murthi of God Vishnu as Sri Muktinath, along with Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Lakshmi. One of the most unique features of Muktinath is its 108 stone spouts, called Muktidhara, arranged in a semi-circle around the temple. These spouts continuously release holy water, which is believed to come from the Gandaki River. Even in warmer months, the water remains icy cold and is believed to purify the soul and wash away sins. Next to the main temple, there are two sacred ponds—Mukti Kunda or Lakshmi Kunda and Saraswati Kunda. Devotees take a dip in these holy ponds as part of their purification ritual, believing it helps them attain Moksha or liberation. Near the temple, we can see a huge Sri Buddha Murti, and next to it is a beautiful temple dedicated to Tara Devi and Bhairava Baba. This temple is called Jwala Mukhi Temple. #muktinathtemple #nepal #hindutemple #hinduism #templesofindia