The goverenment of west punjab And Pakistan are doing laudable efforts in renovating Katasraj near chakwal.. now there’s plan to celebrate maha shivratri in katas campus in february..
pakistan has many holy and ancient shrines. hinglaj in balochistan is mentioned in durga Saptashati and is first amongs 56 shakti peeths..
any one having detailed pictures of katasraj …plz share
Re: Temples dying in Pakistan
I live around the area at Katas… Hindus come every year and do some upkeep work, although minimum.. But the last time I was there, they were doing some sort of restoration work.
They have built a cement factory nearby though, but im not sure how this will effect the area… Hopefully increased traffic wont due harm to the area.
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
thanks for replying friend. i got some pctures from this link
http://khalid.blogspot.com.pk/files/2006/03/P7220049.JPG
http://khalid.blogspot.com.pk/files/2006/03/P7220061.JPG
http://khalid.blogspot.com.pk/files/2006/03/P7220051.JPG
http://khalid.blogspot.com.pk/files/2006/03/P7220060.JPG
http://khalid.blogspot.com.pk/files/2006/03/P7220059.JPG
anyone having more
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
Lot of funds are needed to restore these. Else these will simply vanish.
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
Some very nice pics, thanks for sharing and best of luck to the Punjab Govt.
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
I have been there couple of times and took few nice pics.. it is breathtaking site..would share sometime.. if u see the second pic in the above post they painted the temples after Indian Punjab CM was visiting the site.. renovation should be done scientifically with help of professionals.. I am always interested in potohar temples..
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
thanks friends for sharing ur views.. i share here more about Katasraj
Located on a hill six kilometres from Choa Saidan Shah in Chakwal, Katasraj Temples have historic and religious value for Hindus. The temples have also been mentioned in Mahabharata – one of the three major Sanskrit Hindu epics. According to Hindu beliefs, both Katas and the Paskar (Ajmer) are the eyes of Shiva. It was also here that Alberuni attempted to measure the circumference of the Earth, studied Sanskrit and wrote his renowned famous book “Kitabul Hind”. To this day, Hindu pilgrims regularly visit the site for worship.
its place where the dialogue took place between devil and Yudhister and pandavs spend some part of life as an exile here also
There are no signs of Ketas Raj while passing through the scenic salt range on the motorway, but if you take the Kalar Kahar exit and ask anyone about it, you will have no problem in reaching the place. To get there, you have to take a well-maintained highway to Choa Saidan Shah. The Ketas Raj comes into view suddenly, without any prior indication, approximately 25 kilometers from the Kalar Kahar exit. It is an impressive complex of seven temples, known as Satghare. It has been described as the second most sacred shrine of the Hindus of Panjab, after the Jawalamukhi temple, now in Himachal Pradesh. This site was once a bustling place of pilgrimage for hundreds of thousands of Hindus and a huge mela was held here every year;The temple complex is built around a large tank. There is a legend surrounding the tank which is mentioned in the Mahabharata epic. According to the epic, the Pandav brothers were sent into exile after Yudhishtra lost in the gamble to the Kaurav leader, Duryodhan. Once during the exile, when the brothers were feeling very thirsty, Yudhishtra sent his youngest brother to search for water. The story of the brothers’ search for water is described as follows:
“Yudishthir asks Sahdev to go in search of a lake or stream from where they can drink water. Sahdev finds a lake, and is about to drink water for himself before calling his brothers that there is a voice, with no body to be seen around, asking him to stop and answer his questions first before drinking the water. Sahdev ignores the warning and continues to drink the water. Taking the very first sip of water, Sahdev faints(almost dead) and falls to the ground. Realizing that Sahdev hadn’t returned yet, Yudishthir sends Nakul in search of Sahdev. Nakul finds the lake and Sahdev but decides to drink the water first. The voice again gives him the warning but Nakul also ignores it and drinks the water prior to answering the questions and also faints. Yudishthir get worried and sends Arjun. Arjun finds the lake and Nakul and Sahdev but also drinks the water first ignoring the warning by the voice given to him and faints. Yudishthir then sends Bhim who also lands with the same fate as his younger brothers. Yudishthir then goes himself to find the four brothers. On reaching the lake he decides to drink some water but the voice gives him a warning to answer his questions before drinking the water, he then discovers his four brothers and asks why were his brothers lying fainted on the ground. The voice replies that they had ignored his warning . The Yaksha(a form of "Yama-Lord of Dharma") in that lake had cursed that until anyone who came to drink the water of that lake was to first answer his questions correctly before drinking the water otherwise that person would die. Yaksha offers to Yudishthir that if you are to answer the questions correctly I will spare the life of one of your brothers. Yudishthir then asked the Yaksha to ask the questions.”
The questions were about the philosophy of life. A sample of questions and answers:
Q. What is that which can give eternal happiness?
A : Controlling the mind and managing the thoughts to make the mind devoid of negativities and greed and ego and lust, makes the person get away from all problems and be happy.
Q. Who’s company is eternally beneficent?
A : The company of noble people is eternally beneficial.
Q. What rescues man in danger?
A : Courage is man’s only strength and salvation in danger.
The Yaksh was satisfied with Yudhishtra’s answers and returned to life all his brothers.
There have been other legends associated with the place as well.
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
Punjab government celebrating Shivratri at Katas
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\01\11\story_11-1-2007_pg13_1
buts its on feb 16 in india???
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
here are some more snaps
http://www.subhashsapru.com/Salvation.asp?num=9
http://www.subhashsapru.com/Salvation.asp?num=10
http://www.subhashsapru.com/Salvation.asp?num=11
http://www.subhashsapru.com/Salvation.asp?num=12
http://www.chowk.com/show_artwork.cgi?awid=00001500&point=2
http://www.chowk.com/show_artwork.cgi?awid=00001501&point=3
http://www.chowk.com/show_artwork.cgi?awid=00001499&point=1
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2797/251/1600/kkkk.jpg
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2797/251/1600/firstguru_katas.jpg
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2797/251/1600/nat7.jpg
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
where are the potohar temples.. plz share some information of those
thanks kumar
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
This is very interesting… I didnt know this years celebration would be this big… If it is, im sure you will be able to get pictures…
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
These images a really new, because the last time I was there, this footpath was only being built.. Seems they have done a descent job with it though…
The site is beautiful.. Many people from my village have been raised around this place. As kids we used to go and wash clothes there and catch fish… The area used to provide water to the nearby towns, but now there is a cement factory in the area, which unfortunately is taking the water for itself.
Many people go swimming there during the summer. Many also lose their life unfortunately because the misjudge the depth and drown, but those are usually not locals. But the site is beautiful, and must see when your in pak…
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
http://photo.net/photos/Naveed%20Malik
This is another link… These pics are by a gu from my village.
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
They also say that the area was visited Chinese traveler Xiang Hu.. Or I think thats his name… Apparently the ara was called Singapura at the time.
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
*His photographic prowess is simply superb. I was reading a book about photography few months back. This guy has covered almost all aspects of how to take photos which catch one’s attention. *
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
well thanks For sharing such a nice collection of yours.
thanks from core of my heart
regards
kumar
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
here one more snap
http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/57024/katas_temple_complex.jpg
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
see this too
http://www.azkhan.de/MyWebalbums_PhotosPakistan_KatasTempleComplex.htm
click on pictures to get full view
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
Yeah, that guy walks around with his camera like an Asthmatic walks around with an inhaler… Phtotgraphy is his passion.
He has some nice pics, including some from my village.
Re: Temples & Shrines in Pakistan
Yeah, the area over there is really beautiful… Kalar Kahar is famous as one of the places Babar rested on his way, and there is also a famous legend behind the site.
The shrine to a saint at the top, which is a BEAUTIFUL view, and tere are peacocks all around.
Kalar Kahar is about 30 minutes from Kalar Kahar, its all very beautiful…
I think if the temples are to be restored to their former glory, they will have to get help from India and some other outside groups.
