Twin Beaches Occupy A Significant Place In The History Of The Maharastra State

HARNAI- MURAD BEACH

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RATNAGIRI

A wide range of beautiful and serene beaches is what makes the twin villages of Harnai and Murud in the Dapoli taluka of Ratnagiri district such a big favourite of tourists all year round. Also, not only have they been blessed with natural attractions but they also occupy a significant place in the history of the state.

The white silky seashore at Harnai-Murud is adorned with a chain of sea forts such as Suvarnadurg, Kanakdurg and Goa. Murud is also famous for being the birthplace of two prominent personalities who have been awarded the Bharat Ratna.

Located 225 kilometers from Mumbai with the nearest railway station at Khed on the Konkan line and the closest airport at Mumbai, Harnai is an ancient port on the west coast of India. Though the village is very small, a visit to the sea fort Suvarnadurg makes for an amazing experience.

One can also travel from here to a village called Anjarle by crossing the Paaj Creek to visit the temple of Kadyavarcha Ganapati. The forts of Kanakdurg and Goa are situated on the shore of the Arabian Sea at Harnai. Murud, with Durga Devi as its local deity, is located just 14 kilometers from Dapoli, the taluka place.

This village too has a historical background apart of course from being on the map of pilgrims for its beautifully designed temple dedicated to Durga Devi.The temple has intricately carved eight wooden pillars and decorative slabs. A six-layered ‘deepmaala’ stands tall in front of the temple. A smaller temple of Svayambhuva Devi is located in the courtyard of this main temple.

A big bell hangs outside the main hall, this being a souvenir which Maratha warrior Chimaji Appa brought here to celebrate his victory over Vasai. Vasudev Joshi Murudkar was then the ‘subhedar’ of Vasai during the reign of Bajirao Peshwa I and is believed to have been instrumental in adorning the temple with this bell.

Murud is a tiny village with thick foliage of trees on its coastline. A unique feature of this village is that it has offered two well-known personalities in the service of the nation – social reformer Annasaheb alias Dhondo Keshav Karve and Sanskrit laureate Pandurang Vasudev Kane.

They both were honoured with the supreme civil award Bharat Ratna. The official residence of Annasaheb Karve is no longer in existence but a bust honouring him has been erected in the square near the temple. The school in which both these personalities finished their studies has completed its centenary and is a matter of pride for Murud.

By Air

The nearest airport is at Mumbai.

By Train

The nearest railway station is khed on Konkan railway.

By Bus

Number of state transport buses ply regularly to Dapoli from Mumbai, Pune and Kolhapur. Harnai-Murud is just 14 kms away from Dapoli and autorikshaws are available in ample.

Dakshinaarka Temple - It Is Different From The Other Temples On The Root Of Its Majesty.

DAKSHINAARKA TEMPLE OR SURYA TEMPLE

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GAYA

Dakshinaarka Temple is located in Gaya district of Bihar State of India. Dakshinaarka Temple or Sun Temple in Gaya is an ancient shrine, which is also mentioned in the Hindu religious book Vaayu Purana. The temple is of supreme significance for all those visiting Gaya for pind daan (a religious ritual performed for the peace of the departed souls).

Devotees make offerings to their deceased ancestors near the Surya Kunda or Dakshina Maanas tank built right in front of Sun Temple. Located close to the Vishnupad Temple, this shrine has simple architecture with a dome-shaped top.Offerings to the ancestors are made at the Surya Kunda or the Dakshina Maanas tank in front of the temple. Sun worship apparently was very popular in the Magadha region which included Gaya.

Numerous old images of the Sun God Aditya are found in the Gaya region and there are still quite a number of sun worshippers in Gaya. It is said that they may have descended from the fire worshippers of Central Asia.

In fact, the granite image of Aditya (this particular image here is also referred to as Dakshinaarka) or the Sun God worshipped here is portrayed as wearing a jacket, a waist girdle and high boots in the Iranian tradition. Hundreds of people visit this temple on Sundays.

Sun worship in the Magadha region that encompassed Gaya has been mentioned in the Puranas and thus this temple is said to be of very ancient origin. The current structure dates back to the 13^th century, where the South Indian emperor Prataparudra of Warangal in Andhra Pradesh is said to have built it.

The Sun Temple at Gaya faces east and is located close to the famous Vishnupaada temple where a footprint of Vishnu is said to be enshrined. To the east of the temple is the tank Surya Kunda. The temple is a simple and plain one, with a dome over it. The comparatively larger sabha mandapa stands in front of the sanctum. Massive pillars line the mandapa where there are graceful stone sculptures of Shiva, Bhramaa, Vishnu, Surya and Durga.

The temple is surrounded by many other Jain and Buddhist temples and also two other Surya temples are in Gaya. The temple remains can be visited any time during the year and is open throughout the day. The most important day for worship is a Sunday and hundreds of pilgrims flock to worship the sun God on this auspicious day.  It is different from the other temples on the basis of  its splendor.