Film Boost to Hindu Pilgrimage Sites

Documentary to Highlight Sikkim’s Link to Mythology :

A local filmmaker is shooting a documentary on sites across Sikkim that apparently find mention in different Hindu Mythologies to develop the state as a pilgrimage destination. The director said the project was inspired by the Char Dham complex, also called Siddhesvara Dham in Namchi.

Tourists are increasingly coming to Sikkim for sightseeing. However, off late, Sikkim has also become a pilgrimage destination for the Hindus with the inauguration of Siddhesvara Dham.

There are some sites in Sikkim that are mentioned in Hindu mythologies. The rich Buddhist heritage of Sikkim is known all over the world. But very few people know that the Himalayan State is also linked to the Hindu Mythologies. The documentary is an attempt on our part to highlight that Sikkim is not only important for the Buddhist but it is also a holy place for the Hindus.

According to Hindu scriptures, Goddess Durga has slain two demons on Mount Kanchenjunga and the Ramayana, Lord Hanuman had rested at a hill-top above Gangtok, while searching for the Sanjivani buti for Lakshman. The hill-top, 15 km from Gangtok, has a temple dedicated to lord Hanuman and is known as Hanuman Tok.

In Mahabharata it is also mentioned that the eldest of the Pandavas, Yudhisthira, had answered correctly the questions asked by a goddess at the Khecheopalri lake in West Sikkim. The answers had saved the lives of his four brothers. The lake is 147 km from Gangtok. The Pandavas had also rested in Sikkim during their 14 years exile. During the exile, Arjuna, one of the Pandavas, had lost a duesl with Lord Shiva, who had disguised himself as a tribal warrior. The place where the fight took place is now known as Legship.

On the bank of the Rangit river at Legship there is Kirateshwar Mahadev temple dedicated to the tribal warrior, the incarnation of Lord Shiva. Legship is in West Sikkim and 110 km from Gangtok.

Research on the importance of the Teesta river for the Hindus is going on.

Char Dham at Namchi will also be shown in nthe documentary. The Char Dham complex or Siddhesvara Dhaam has a 108 ft statue of Lord Shiva and replicas of the four dhams of the country. The place also has replicas of four sacred shrines, Jagannath, Badrinath, Dwarka & Rameswaram and replicas of 12 Jyotirlingas spread across India. the Char Dham also has an 18 feet tall statue of Lord Kirateswar.

Courtesy : The Telegraph