Kailash Yatra 2011 - 12

After worshiping the Mother Goddess who fulfills ones desires at Manokamna Devi 0n 20-05-2011, the next day the pilgrims left for Muktinath. This place is also called Salagramam and is one of the 108 Divya Desams of Lord MahaVishnu sanctified the hymns of mystic Tamil poets called Azhwars. Two Azhwars namely Peryazhwar and Thirumangai Azhwar has sanctified this abode of Lord Vishnu. This shrine is situated in the Davlagiri ranges of Himalayas and about 272 Kms from Kathmandu. Those who worship Lord Vishnu are liberated from the cycle of birth and death and obtain salvation. This is tablates as 106th Divyadesam which one can have darshan with body, because of the difficulties one have to undergo to reach this shrine.

The yatris at Pokhara airport

From Pokhra one can go by small aircraft or by bus to Muktinath. Aircraft services depend upon weather. By bus it takes two days to reach Mukthinath. Yatris left by aircraft. yatri's can trek from Jomsom to Muktinath also a trek in the secenic Himalayas. During the flight they saw the beautiful snow covered Annapurna peaks.

The cockpit of aircraft

Beautiful view of Snow covered
Annapurna peaks from above

The Annapurna ranges glowing in the morning sun

They reach Joshmu from where they have to trek to Muktinath here you see Ravi with another yatri at Joshmu,

The Lord Mukthi Narayanan along with His consorts

Periazhwar calls him Krishna where as Thirumangaiazhwar calls him Rama.

Beautiful view of Kandaki River

In this Kandaki river is obtained Salagramam, the formless form of Lord Vishnu which is used for worshipping. These stones have special marks like spiral, chakras, thread etc. formed on them. As per belief, Salagramas are sacred with the presence of God and part of their worship. depending upon formations in these stones and they are classified into different forms of Lord Vishnu.

A worm called vajra-Kita ( adamantine worm), which is gold hued is born in these stones as an aspect of Lord Maha Vishnu which is mighty and brillaiant like that of lightning which carves out these patterns in these stones. The worm is believed to remain in this stone for ever , hence the presence of Godhead is inbroken here.

There are many legends associated with the formation of Salagramam. One of them is Lord MahaVishnu turned into a mountain because of a curse, so His consort Mahalakshmi took the form of a river to break the mountain so She breaks the mountain slowly the day whole mountain is broken Vishnu will be liberated from his curse.

View of Mukthinath

Welcome arch

Mukthinath temple

The idol of Muktinath is a self formed one . So this shrine is known as Swyam vaktha kshethram. The others being Srirangam. Srimushnam, Tirupathi, Vanamamalai, Pushkar, Naimisaranyam and Badrinath.

108 theertha in Mukthinath

The outer prakram( courtyard) has 108 bull faces through which water is poured. It is of freezing temperature. The sacred water that flows in 108 pipes around the temple complex denotes all sacred Pushkarini waters (Temple Tanks) from all 108 Sri Vaishnava Divyadesams. where the devotees take their sacred bath even in the freezing temperatures.

Another legend is that, once there was a woman of street who treated every visitor to her as her husband and did service to him. One day a leprosy afflicted persons stays with her, Though others despised him she did service to him and in the morning he dies, as per custom she decides to become a sati , and at that time Lord Vishnu appeared before everybody and gives her a boon in which she requests to be near Him always. Lord Vishnu grants the boon that she will run as a river around him when he stands as a mountain. Kandaki actulallu surrounds the mountain and is considered equivalent of Ganges in Nepal.

Around Muktinath is the Fire Gompa, Narsingh Gompa, Sangdo Gompa and the Shiva Parvati mandir. The Fire Gompa is interesting. Its also called the Four elements temple or Jwala Mai. Inside the temple is a hole in the ground where you can see a flame burning out of natural gas. You will also hear the flow of an underground stream of water.

The best time to visit Mukthinath is from April first week to May third week and septemper middle to October middle but during this time heavy woolen is required. The journey depends mainly on weather which is very fickle in these altitudes.

Garudalwar ( The mount of Lord Vishnu)

Yatra continues.........