Madhaveswari devi of Prayaga,
Uttarpradesh is one another among the ASHTADASA SHAKTIPEETHAS. It is believed
that the Fingers of the Sati Devi had fallen here when her corpse is cut by
Shri Maha Vishnu with his SudarshanChakra. She is also called as Alopi
Mata/Lalitha. Bhava is the Bhairava of this Shaktipeeth. Prayaga is confluence
of 3 sacred rivers (Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati) which is Allahabad where the
Maha Kumbha Mela happens every 12 years. Prayaga means Prakrishta Yaga,that
means it is the place where Lord Brahma did a very great Yaga. Hence its name
became Prayaga. Prayaga is considered as one of the Sapta mokshapuras.
Sthala Purana of Alopi Shaktipeeth:-
There are mainly three stories about the word Alopi. They are
1)Alopi means the one who disappeared. After Sati dahana and
Dhaksha Yagna destruction, Lord Siva disturbed mentally and lifted Satidevi’s
body and roaming without any destination. Lord Vishnu cut Sati devi body parts
by using Sudarshana Chakra. Every place, where Satidevi’s body part fell,
became a Shaktipeeth. Prayaga is the last place, where last part of Sati devi’s
body fell on ground. Here Sati devi body became disappeared, hence the name
Alopi.
2) There are some other stories about Alopi mata. In every temple, at least one idol or one symbol will be there for worshipping the goddess. But here, there is no idol or symbol. We have to imagine the goddess present on a wooden jhula. Hence the name Alopi.
3) According to a local story, Alopi mata is a newly married bride. She disappeared from pallaki, when robbers attącked the marriage troop. As the bride disappeared as a miracle, she is worshipped as Alopi mata.
Akshayavat (The
Immortal Tree):-
A sacred tree is located within the Patalpuri Temple at the Allahabad Fort which is worshipped as the Akshayavat . A permission from the Commandant of Allahabad Fort’s Ordinance Depot is needed to visit this tree. On one day during the Kumbh Mela, the site is open to all the pilgrims. According to the local belief, the sage Shukdeva narrated Srimad Bhagavatam to the king Parikshit under this tree.Once the Sage Markandeya asked Lord Narayana to show him a specimen of the divine power.Lord Narayana flooded the entire world for a moment, during which only the Akshayavat could be seen above the water level. Hence this Akshay Vat is immortal and indestructible even during the time of complete destruction of this universe. But one can see the Akshay Vat from while traveling to Triveni Sangam via boat from Yamuna River.
A sacred tree is located within the Patalpuri Temple at the Allahabad Fort which is worshipped as the Akshayavat . A permission from the Commandant of Allahabad Fort’s Ordinance Depot is needed to visit this tree. On one day during the Kumbh Mela, the site is open to all the pilgrims. According to the local belief, the sage Shukdeva narrated Srimad Bhagavatam to the king Parikshit under this tree.Once the Sage Markandeya asked Lord Narayana to show him a specimen of the divine power.Lord Narayana flooded the entire world for a moment, during which only the Akshayavat could be seen above the water level. Hence this Akshay Vat is immortal and indestructible even during the time of complete destruction of this universe. But one can see the Akshay Vat from while traveling to Triveni Sangam via boat from Yamuna River.
Bade Hanuman at
Triveni Sangam:-
This idol of Hanuman Jee in
sleeping position exists only in Allahabad at Sangam. As per the mythology,
when Lord Ram after conquering Lanka and defeating Ravana came here to worship
at Sangam, Hanuman Jee experienced severe body ache and laid at Sangam.
Finishing his prayers, when Lord Ram asked Hanuman Ji to proceed further,
Hanuman Jee denied to proceed due to severe pain. Sita Maa then blessed
Hanuman jee and all the pains were flown away from his body by the sacred water
in the Triveni Sangam.
Another belief lies with the people
that, the year in which Ganga water do not reach Hanuman Jee’s foot,
undesirable situations occur, such as draught and famines. People await the
moment when the Ganges meets Hanuman Jee in the monsoons.
Mankameshwar
Mahadeva Temple Allahabad:-
Mankameshwar means God of
fulfillment of wishes and the Mankameshwar temple of Allahabad was made to do
just that. The legend of the temple is that when Sita Maa bathed in the
Sangam and wished to pray to Lord Shiva, there was no Lord Shiva temple nearby
the Sangam. Lord Shri Ram built a new temple for her, thus fulfilling her wish.
This was the fulfillment of wish, which lead to the naming of this temple as
Mankameshwar. Even now it is believed that honest wishes made in this
temple are fulfilled.
mAdhavEshvarI mAngaLyE prayAgasthalavAsinI /
trivENI sangamE tIrE bhuktimukti pradAyini //
trivENI sangamE tIrE bhuktimukti pradAyini //