Sindhurodhasa Tirtha

About

Symbolizing the Arabian Ocean, near Somanatha, this is fairly large tank with stone stairways from the western side and surrounded by trees. At its southwest bank, divided by a footpath there is a shrine of Brahmadeva, a village guardian protecting the village. in between the tank and the main road there is a series of four small shrines interlinked to one another by a small doorway. All of them consist of many images of Shiva and his consort, Parvati, the village guardian, and also of folk deities. in the first block there is a tiny statue of Hanuman, the Monkey-God, as deity of wrestlers, named Hanuman; this place is known by his name. in the other room, behind the usual lingam, an image of Mahabhima brandishes both elephant and mace. While in another room, there are images of Brahma, goddess Mahi–asuramardini and Shiva in the forms of one-faced, two-faced, three-faced and four-faced. There are also several small images. in course of time a Rama Janaki temple has also been built in the vicinity. The area surrounding the temple complex is dominated by mango groves and holy trees like the banyan, fig and margosa (nima). This provides a proper setting for the tired pilgrims to stop and relax. Many older pilgrims make this their night halt by sleeping in the open or on the temple porch or veranda. Some pilgrims prefer to go a little further up to Dehli Vinayaka.