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2023 - The Year That Was

Places impact you for a variety of reasons. And the same place impacts different people in different ways. This is especially true when it comes to spiritual experiences, where every single person’s experience is unique. And personally, every spiritual experience is unique, the same person can have different deeply spiritual experiences at different places, at different times. This thought has emerged because of my own experiences over the years, but especially so this year, with different and unique experiences at various places I have visited recently. I began this year with a visit to Baroda (Vadodara) with friends. It was meant to be a relaxed trip, a touristy trip, with our sons. We enjoyed ourselves to the hilt, but the highlight of that trip was a visit to the Lakulisha temple at Pavagadh. It was the iconography of the temple that I connected with, and I spent a few hours simply lost in the details of the figures carved around the temple. There was an indefinable connect with

Shitla Devi Temple, Kelwe Beach

One wouldn't really go to a beach to visit a temple, but in India, it isn't surprising to find temples near beaches. And usually, most visitors to the beach end up visiting the temple too! We have often seen such temples near beaches, but rarely feel enthusiastic enough to visit them. However, the temple at Kelwe beach was interesting, For one thing, it was the auspicious day of Ganesh Chaturthi, and since we were off to a beach for the festival, it seemed strangely appropriate to stop at the temple first!! Secondly, our auto driver kept telling us how old the temple was, which led to me expect a decrepit temple in ruins. Imagine my surprise then, to see this bright and shining structure...





Apparently, the temple has been recently renovated. Of course, as with all temple renovations, this one too has involved a huge amount of plaster and paint, leaving nothing of the original structure, but it was among the cleanest temples I have ever visited.... and the tank there was actually inviting us to take a dip in! If only all such temple tanks were kept as clean! And then again, these are early days yet. Hope the tank stays just as clean for the years to come!



Shitla Devi is a goddess worshipped all over India, with various names. There are two explanations to the world 'Shitla'. One theory is that the name comes from the word 'Sheetal', which means 'cooling'. Another theory suggests that its the name for Smallpox. Both meanings work, because this deity is prayed to, for alleviation from diseases like small pox, chicken pox and measles, which are believed to arise from the heat inside the body, or fever. In many places, she is shown killing the demon 'Jwarasura' - who brings fever. This temple has a swayambhu (natural) idol of the goddess, as well as shrines to Lord Shiva and Ganesha. 




Not surprisingly, it was the temple tank which attracted us. It was clean, as I have already mentioned before, and the water was sweet, in spite of being so near the sea! 


Besides, the tank was filled with turtles!!


A small decorative pond in the temple complex had these beautiful lilies... unfortunately, people had already started throwing coins into it!


It made me wonder about the tendency we have, to throw coins in water, and make a wish!! Wonder how long the temple and the tank will remain this clean!

Kelwe beach is located just 80 Km from Mumbai. The nearest railway station is Kelwe Road, on the Virar-Dahanu line. However, Palghar, about 20Km away, is a bigger town, and more vehicles are available from there to the beach. Besides, many long distance trains from Mumbai Central or Bandra also stop at Palghar, which make it a more convenient place to approach the beach. 

Comments

  1. Lovely set of pictures Anu particularly those around the tank!

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  2. It looks more like a house than a temple. Nice narration, Anu.


    http://rajniranjandas.blogspot.in

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    1. Interesting, Niranjan!!! never thought of it like that, but now that you mention it, well yes... seen from the front, it does resemble a house!

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  3. Wow, a beach temple ! In spite of the 'newness', the temple looks really nice. And clean and inviting too ! Was it not crowded or were you careful to keep people out of the frame, like I normally do?

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    1. Thankfully, it wasnt very crowded, Sudha.. esp since it was ganesh chaturthi and most ppl were busy praying at home... there were a few people around, but i managed to evade them while clicking :D

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  4. Nice set of beautiful photographs specially, I love the picture of Tortoise. By the way you've mentioned that "A small decorative pond in the temple complex had these beautiful lilies" but I guess this picture you've posted is of lotus, not lilies.

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    1. THanks so much, James! but those arent lotuses.. those are lilies... they have narrower petals and are quite different when seen in detail

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    2. Really, I've thought this because of its petals. Thanks for your attentions.

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