Shrinathji Form of Sri Krishna – Story of Shrinathji of Nathdwara

Shrinathji form of Sri Krishna is worshipped in the famous Nathdwara Temple in Rajasthan. This form of Sri Krishna is also known as Govardhanadhari. The story of Shrinathji is associated with the Govardhan Mountain. The murti of Shrinathji is swayambhu – it appeared on its own.

It is believed that Sri Krishna appeared in the dream of famous guru Vallabhacharya and assured him that He will appear on earth again to help his devotees attain moksha or liberation.

Legend has it that a cow used to daily shed her milk in the opening in the Govardhan Mountain. The cow was known as Dhumar and was a direct descendent from the cows that Sri Krishna attended to in the Vrindavan.

Soon the villagers came to known about the cow shedding its milk at a particular spot and they discovered the murti of Sri Krishna in the form of Shrinathji in August 1409 AD. On the same day, Guru Vallabhacharya was born.

The murti appeared in its entirety in 1478 AD and Vallabhacharya consecrated the murti and named the murti as Gopal. Earlier it was known as Devdaman Shrinath. Another guru Vitthalnathji gave name Shrinathji to the murti.

Mughal ruler Aurangzeb tried to destroy the temple and murti during its rule. It was then shifted to Nathdwara in Rajasthan.

Aadi Amavasai 2014 date – No Moon Day in Tamil month Aadi in 2014 - Aadi Amavasi

Aadi Amavasya is the no moon day in the Tamil month of Aadi and is considered highly auspicious for performing rituals to the dead like Shradh and Tarpan. Aadi Amavasai 2014 date is July 26. The day is also auspicious to Lord Muruga. Important rituals on the day include performing rites for dead ancestors in sacred Teerths and riverbanks and also taking a holy dip in sacred rivers and spots.

Devout Hindus perform holy bath in various scared rivers, seas and sacred ponds or Teerthams in Tamil Nadu. Thousands of Hindus take a holy dip and perform rites to the dead ancestors at Agni Theertham in Rameswaram, Thriveni Sangamam in Kannyakumari and various holy spots on the banks of Cauvery River.

Fasting on Aadi Amavasai is considered highly beneficial and some people only have a single meal on the day.

Aadi month is of great importance to Lord Muruga and on Amavasai day special abhishekams and pujas are held. It is also widely believed by Muruga devotees that one will be purified and all sins will be washed away by taking a holy dip in the Shanmuga River in Palani on the Aadi Amavasya day.

As a mark of respect and thanksgiving people also tonsure their head at Palani Muruga Temple on the day.

Ekadashi August 2014 dates – Monthly Fasting for Hindu God Vishnu in August 2014

Ekadashi, or Ekadasi Vrat, is observed on the eleventh day of a fortnight in a Hindu lunar calendar. The date (s) of Ekadashi in August 2014 – August 7 and August 21. The day is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and many devotees undertake Upvaas or fasting on the day. There are two Ekadashis in a lunar month.

The Ekadashi Vrat on August 7, 2014 is known as Putrada Ekadasi in some region. In some regions it is the Pavitra Ekadasi.

The Ekadasi on August 21 is known as Aja Ekadasi.

The preparation for Ekadashi fasting begins on the Dasami day – the day before Ekadasi. On the Ekadasi day, devotees observe complete fast. The day is meant for hearing religious discourses and performing pujas.

There are also devotees who do not observe total fast. They avoid grains especially rice and consume fruits, nuts and milk.

The fasting comes to an end on the Dwadashi day with the consuming of food cooked in one’s house.

More on Ekadasi fasting can be found in this article.

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New Study Finds Water from Ganga River Can Cause Cancer

New study finds that the water in Ganga River is suffused with Chromium 6 metal. Chromium 6 is a well-established carcinogen associated with lung, nasal, and sinus cancer. Dermal exposure to Chromium 6 can also cause skin irritation, corrosion, ulcers, sensitization, and allergic contact dermatitis.

Z News reports
"Chromium is essential as well as toxic. The toxic form of chromium is hexavalent chromium. We have determined its content in the Ganga water collected during Kumbha Mela. It was 1 ng/ml, almost 50 times the permissible limit," NCCM head Dr Sunil Jai Kumar, was quoted as telling a leading newspaper.

We should hang our heads in shame. We are responsible for the state of Ganga and 100 other rivers in India.

Dhopeshwar Nath Mandir at Bareilly – Dhopeshwar Nath Shiva Temple in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh

Dhopeshwar Nath Mandir, located at Bareilly near Uttar Pradesh, is dedicated to Shiva. The temple also has murtis of several Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The main Shivling is 12 cm in height. The sanctum sanctorum of Dhopeshwar Nath Mandir has murtis of Kartik, Ganesha, Parvati and Nandi.

The huge entrance wooden door with images of twelve Jyotirlinga is a main attraction.

The temple complex has a pond known as Dhopa Sarovar. The water in the pond has medicinal properties and cures skin ailments.

Vaishno Devi Gufa, Murtis of Ram Parivar, Ganesha, Lakshmi Narayan, Surya, Nav Durga, Vishnu, Brahma and Mahesh are located in the temple complex.

Another huge attraction is the 21-feet murti of Hanuman.

There is another 21-feet murti of the Ardhanarishwara form of Shiva.

Vaishno Devi Gufa in the temple complex is similar to the famous Vaishnodevi Mata Shrine near Jammu. There is also another cave shrine dedicated to Adi Kumari.

Thakurdwara Temple in the complex is dedicated to Sri Krishna and Radha.

Shivratri and Janmashtami are the two important festivals observed here.