Bisrakh will get its identify from Rishi Vishwashrva, that should have obtained distorted over time. We higher know him as the daddy of ten headed Ravana, the one who dominated golden Lanka. Some accounts say that he was born right here whereas others say that he spent part of his childhood right here.
Bisrakh is an historical village positioned within the city metropolis of Noida. Technically it’s Sector 1 of Larger Noida. From Delhi, it could be 20-30 kms, relying on the place you begin from.
Visiting Bisrakh
It took us 15–20-minute drive on swanky expressway roads of Noida and Larger Noida to achieve Bisrakh.
The very first thing we seen right here was a grocery retailer known as Ravan Kirana Retailer. Proper subsequent to it, Ravan DJ introduced its presence in a storage. This was my introduction to the residing legend of Ravana within the village. Reverse the store was a reasonably large Anami Dham Ashram.
We spoke to the Kirana retailer proprietor and requested him for instructions to the temple of Ravana. We have been advised to observe a lane by the village. It was a slender lane, however we might see giant well-maintained homes on both facet.
On the opposite facet of the slender lanes, we reached a patch of wilderness, amidst which stood a temple with a tall shikhara. Nonetheless, this isn’t the temple we have been looking out. That was just a little forward to our left.
Historic Shiva Temple at Bisrakh
We entered by an arch and between the ornate temple entrance and us stood a lone tree. The temple prakara or the boundary wall is being constructed with tales from the life and occasions of Ravana.
We walked round and met the artisans who have been sculpting a picture of Vibhishan, Ravan’s youthful brother on the facet wall. They’ve come from Odisha for this mission. My thoughts went again to the stone carvers of Odisha I had met in Jajpur.
You may prominently see the ten headed Ravana on the appropriate of the door. On the left you possibly can see, Rishi Vishwashrva worshipping Brahma, he and his spouse praying collectively and Ravana providing his head to Shiva. Scenes of his brothers Vibhishan and Kumbhakaran have been being sculpted once we visited.
On prime of the doorway doorway is a big sculpture of Ganesha in sitting place. On his both facet is Lakshmi driving an owl and Saraswati driving a swan. There are sculptures of Rishis blowing the conch and a few Naga sculptures.
We entered the temple compound which is large in comparison with the small temple that’s only a small room constructed round a Shivalinga. A small Nandi in black stone sits within the open compound. A pale pink construction surrounds the principle linga.
It’s believed that Rishi Vishwashrva found a linga within the forest right here that he put in and worshipped right here. So, the linga is Swayambhu or self manifested.
Because it was the month of Shravan that’s sacred for Shiva devotees, we noticed lots of people come and provide the Jalabhishek or water abulations to the linga. A woman along with her face coated along with her Dupatta was sitting and meditating subsequent to the Shivalinga. Her presence added to the divine aura of the temple.
Linga seems to be outdated and has a Naga in metallic surrounding it. I might see its octagonal shaft. It seems to be prefer it was put in inside a Yoni as soon as however now stands alone embedded in granite tiles.
In a distinct segment within the wall, there’s small however stunningly stunning Murti of Devi alongside her sons Ganesha and Kartikeya.
Navagraha Temple
Subsequent to Shiva temple stands a small open temple devoted to Navagraha or the 9 planets. The Murti of Solar could be very distinctive right here. It reveals the only wheel chariot of Solar being pushed by two horses, who occupies the centre of Navagraha mandala.
A Murti of Yama overlooks the Navagraha Murtis. Murtis look outdated and certainly one of them damaged.
Vishwashrva Temple
Subsequent to the Navagraha temple, there’s lengthy room that has the life dimension Murtis of all of the deities. The distinctive Murti right here is after all of Rishi Vishwashrva who’s seated in entrance of a Shivalinga.
I discovered an attractive Murti of Solar with seven horses in black stone, proper subsequent to the Murti of Vishvashrva Ji. This jogged my memory of the Surajkund that isn’t too removed from right here.
Different deities embody:
Gauri Shankar together with Ganesha and Kartikeya
Kalki Bhagwan driving a white horse
Lakshmi Narayana
Kuber – keep in mind he was the half brother of Ravana
Radha Krishna
Baba Mohan Ram ji driving a horse
Hanuman ji
Ma Kali
Who’s Baba Mohan Ram ji? Effectively, he’s the saint who’s renovating this temple and Bisrakh Dham as it’s known as. He has a numerous devotees within the village as I gathered in my restricted interactions.
Shiva Parvati Mandir
After visiting the principle temple, we visited the temple with a tall Shikhara in vivid pink colour. It’s once more a small temple with a Devi Murti that was behind an iron cage.
Across the temple, few males have been doing Mantra Japa.
On the facet there have been Murtis with oodles of prasad provided to them.
Festivals
In North India, Dussehra is well known by burning effigies of Ravana together with brother Kumbhakaran and son Meghnad.
Nonetheless, Bisrakh being a village of Ravan, Dussehra is well known by worshipping Ravana. No Ramlila performances happen right here. Even the Diwali celebrations are minimal and subdued.
This makes this a novel island within the Ramayana Panorama of Indian Subcontinent.
Journey Suggestions
Bisrakh is just about within the Nationwide Capital Area, so you possibly can simply attain it.
Temple is open by the day.
I didn’t see any amenities for vacationers because the temple is primarily utilized by locals.
Stroll across the village that’s like every other city village but distinctive.
