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Abodes of Vishnu

70. Arulmigu Sri Devi samedha Sri Murthy (Mukthinath, Nepal)

Mulavar   Sri Murthy
Utsavar    
Thayar   Sri Devi
Kshethram   Mukthi Kshethram, Salagrama Kshethram
Pose & Direction   Standing Pose facing North
Theertham   Chakra Theertham, Kandaki River
Vimanam   Kanaka Vimanam
Sthala Vruksham    
Paadiyavar   Thirumangai Alwar, Periy Alwar
Travel Base   Katmandu,Nepal
Nearest Railway Station    

Location

It is located in Muktinath Valley at the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass in Mustang, Nepal. It is one of the world's highest temples (altitude 3,800 m). The site is close to the village of Ranipauwa. Road - From Kathmandu -> Pokhra ->Beni -> Ghasa -> Jomsom (Hill Base). From Gorakhpur -> Pokhra -> Beni -> Ghasa -> Jomsom (Hill Base). There are many hotels and lodges available at Mukthinath temple. Also, accommodation and food are available at hill base JOMSOM. There is flight services from Pokhra to Jomsom.

History

The sthalapuranam of salagrama divyadesam is closely related to Kandaki river, Thulasi and Radhai. Once, there lived a Manukula king by named Kusadwajan, who had a wife by named "Madhavi". She did a strong tapas towards Sriman Narayanan. As the result of her tapas, she earned a beautiful lady child and named haer as "Thulasi". Thulasi did strong tapas and she had in her mind that she should marry Sri Vishnu and attain him. Brahma appeared as a result of her tapas and gave her a varam that she will marry Sriman Narayanan in her next birth. And at the same time, Brahma devan said about her previous birth. He said that in the previous birth, she was born as one among the Gopikashrees (Radhai) and Sudhamar, hamsam of Lord Krishnar got attracted towards the beauty if you (Thulsi) and got the Sabham from Radhai that Sudhaman will be born in Earth and born as Sankha Choodan. Sriman Narayanan turned as Sankha Choodam and went towards Thulasi's house and Thulasi thinking that Sanka choodan has returned home, let her beauty to enjoy by Emperumaan. But soon after, she realised that the person who has aquired her beauty was not his husband but it is someone else and got rid from him. At that time, Emperumaan showed his seva and explained all about the varam she got and explained Sankha Choodan was also the hamsam of Sriman Narayanan. But, at the same time, Thulasi was very much worried about the act of Sri Vishnu. At that time, Sriman Narayanan, explained her that Sankha choodan was the Hamsam of him (Sri Vishnu) and Thulasi is the Hamsam of Radhai and as per the Varam given by Brahma devan, she married Sriman Narayanan. After this, the perumal told her that her purity and her Aathma will flow like a river and that river is Kandaki river and the perumal he himself will originate from the pure river as "Salagramam", the precious and spiritual stone. To explain more about Thulasi, the perumal in Paarkadal worn her as the Garland, so that she is found on his body forever. Bhaktas who do poojas and explain her fame in Kaarthigai pournami are said to attain good position and they are not only blessed with Thulasi but also by Sriman Narayanan.

Festival