Popular Hindu Tattoos – Gods and Symbols in Hinduism

I still vividly remember a small tattoo of Lord Krishna on my grand father’s hand. It was very small, had no designs and was green in color and in local language such tattoo is known as ‘Pacha kuttuka.’ But today body Tattoos of Hindu gods and symbols associated with Hinduism are very popular in the world and are no longer simple figures but are of elaborate designs and many times awe-inspiring.

Lord Ganesha continues to be the most popular Hindu God when it comes to body tattoos. ‘Om’ or Aum’ is the most favorite symbol.

Other popular Hindu gods employed in tattoos include Shiva, Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswathi, Hanuman, Vishnu, Krishna, Durga, Kali and very rarely Lord Vishnu in Anantha Shayanam form (Lying on five-headed snake Anantha in the Ocean).

Among symbols after the ‘OM’ symbol, it is the trident of Shiva and Sanskrit verses or Sanskrit letters. There are also people who opt for the Swastika symbol and rarely the Poorna Kumbha symbol.

India has a strong tradition of tattoo drawing especially in the rural regions. But the tradition was limited mostly to simple drawings, writing names of one’s favorite god or lover in local languages.

The modern tattoo culture around the world has redefined the way in which Hindu gods are depicted in tattoos. The images of Hindu gods have been adopted into the mainstream tattoo drawing by using various techniques developed in the West.

Interestingly, it is not Hindus who are interested in the Hindu tattoos. This is understandable as many Hindus would not prefer tattoos of Hindu Gods on their body. And some Hindus might find it an insult of their culture.

It is mainly westerners and people who are foreign to Hindu culture that finds the tattoos of Hindu gods interesting. What kindles their interest is the elaborate and mind-boggling Hindu religious iconography.

Image courtesy found on Flickr

Kurma Jayanti

Kurma Jayanti celebrates the second incarnation or avatar of Lord Vishnu – Kurma Avatar. Kurman means Tortoise and the aim of this particular avatar was to help the Devas (gods) and Asuras (demons) in helping in Samudra manthan (Churning of ocean). In 2008, the date of Kurma Jayanthi is May 19.

Once due to a curse from Sage Durvasa, the Devas lost all their power and the demons gained upper hand in the battle between good and evil. Soon evil flourished and the demons drew the Devas out of heaven.

The Devas took refuge in Vaikunta and asked Lord Vishnu to help them. He suggested the churning of ocean which would derive Amrit (potion of immortality). By drinking Amrit the Devas will gain immortality and thereby they can defeat the Demons.

Mountain Mandara was used as the churning rod and Snake Vasuki was used as the rope.

But when the churning started the Mount Mandara started sinking as there was no firm foundation. Lord Vishnu took the form of Kurma or tortoise to keep the mountain afloat.

Kurma Jayanthi celebrates the timely intervention of Lord Vishnu in the battle between good and evil.

Related

Ten Incarnations of Lord Vishnu and Evolution

Sant Kabir Das Quotes

Use the strength of your own arm,
Stop putting hope in others.
When the river flows through your own yard,
How can you die of thirst?

The Jogi cries:
“Gorakh Gorakh!”
The Hindu utters
The name of Ram,
The Mussalman repeats:
“God is one!”
But the Lord of Kabir
Pervades all.

The best place to look for God is “in the heart of your heart.”

Online Live Darshan from Shirdi Sai Baba Temple

Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi, is offering live webcasting from the Samadhi Temple and Dwarkamai. The live darshan of Samadhi Temple is from 0400 hrs to 2315 India Standard Time. The live darshan of Dwarkamai is from 0500 hrs to 2220 India Standard Time.

To view the live webcasting you will need Windows media Player 9 or higher installed on your system. Also the darshan is best viewed on 512 kbps or higher connection.

There seems to be some technical errors with the live web casting in Firefox and Opera browsers. So the ideal choice would be Internet Explorer.

Follow this link for the live darshan from Samadhi Temple.

Follow this link for the live darshan from Dwarkamai.

Alternatively you can follow this link to visit the official website of Shirdi Sai Baba Temple to find the latest on online darshan and link to both the sacred places.

The official website updates about all technical problems faced during live darshan.

Related

Mumbai Siddhivianayak Temple Live Darshan

Kashi Vishwanath Mandir Online Darshan

Purnima Vrat – Fasting on Full Moon

Purnima or Poornima is an auspicious day in Hinduism. Poornima is the full moon day and many important rituals and festivals takes place on full moon day. In South India, the day is known as Pournami. Upvaas (Fasting) is observed on this day by some people.

The Purnima Fasting begins at Sunrise and ends after sighting the Moon. Most people only take food after seeing the moon or after evening prayers.

In some places in South India, the Pournami Vratam is dedicated to Devi, Mother Goddess.

Special pujas are performed in temples on Poornima day including the Pournami Pooja.

Satyanarayana or Satya Narayana Puja is another important Pooja performed on the Purnima day.

Related

Fasting on Each Day of Week For a Particular Deity

Sky or Space the Third Guru of Dattatreya

This all-pervading and all-embracing space is my fifth guru. Space has room for the sun, moon, and stars and yet, it remains untouched and unconfined. I, too, must have room for all the diversities, and still remain unaffected by what I contain. All visible and invisible objects may have their rightful place within me, but they have no power to confine my consciousness. (Source: The Himalayan Masters: A Living Tradition by Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, PhD)

• Another Interpretation of the Third Guru of Dattatreya from Srimad Bhagavadam

A thoughtful sage, even while living within a material body, should understand himself to be pure spirit soul. Similarly, one should see that the spirit soul enters within all forms of life, both moving and nonmoving, and that the individual souls are thus all-pervading. The sage should further observe that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as the Supersoul, is simultaneously present within all things. Both the individual soul and the Supersoul can be understood by comparing them to the nature of the sky: although the sky extends everywhere and everything rests within the sky, the sky does not mix with anything, nor can it be divided by anything.

Although the mighty wind blows clouds and storms across the sky, the sky is never implicated or affected by these activities. Similarly, the spirit soul is not actually changed or affected by contact with the material nature. Although the living entity enters within a body made of earth, water and fire, and although he is impelled by the three modes of nature created by eternal time, his eternal spiritual nature is never actually affected.

• Yet another thought on the Third Guru by a realized soul

The soul is also like the sky, which is omnipresent. I have noticed that sometimes the sky (or space) gets thickly overcast, or filled with dust or smoke. At sunrise and during night, it apparently takes on different colors. But in fact, it ever retains its colorless self, and it is never touched or stained by any thing. From this I learned that a true sage should remain ever pure like the sky or space, untouched or unaffected by anything in the phenomenal universe in time, including his own physical processes. His inner being is totally free from emotional reaction to things and events even like the space. Thus I accepted the sky or space as my third guru.

Related

Wind or Air – the Second Guru of Dattatreya

Download Gayatri Mantra MP3 for Free

Gayatri Mantra is undoubtedly one of the most chanted mantras by Hindus daily. The mantra is addressed to the Sun and chanting of it is an excellent way to start the day.

You can Download Gayatri Mantra MP3 from this link – Gayathri Mantra MP3. File size is (4.7 MB) and will not take much time. The mantra is only repeated 3 times and if you want to hear it more you can use the loop option in winamp or other mp3 players.

The Mantra is

Om Bhur Bhuva Suvah
Tat Savithur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayat

Related

Significance of Gayatri Mantra

Download Lingashtakam MP3

Porcelain Figurine Ganesha Diya from Lladro

The porcelain figurine Ganesha Diya is part of the 2008 Spring Lladro figurines. Lladro is a world famous Spanish company noted for its porcelain figurines.

The Ganesha Diya is priced at $175 and is available online and in India it is available in select Lladro stores.

Diya or lamp is lit daily in Hindu houses and especially during festivals like Diwali. The $175 priced Ganesha Diya would be ideal for display not for lighting.

Lladro had earlier released highly quality limited edition porcelain figurines like Bansuri Ganesha, Goddess Lakshmi, Veena Ganesha, Radha Krishna and Lord Krishna.

The limited editions were priced above $900.

Ganesha is the favorite theme of several noted companies dealing in collectibles. Two years back Lenox had brought out a limited edition Ganesh figurine priced at $2000.

English Translation of Nirvana Shatkam of Adi Shankaracharya

Nirvana Shatkam or Shatka illustrates the ‘neti neti’ (not this not this) concept in the Upanishads. Through this short poem Adi Shankara illustrates that ultimate reality or Brahman is without qualities.

I am neither the mind, intelligence, ego, nor chitta,
Neither the ears nor the tongue, nor the senses of smell and sight.
Neither ether nor air, nor fire, nor water, nor earth,
I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness
I am Shiva! I am Shiva!

I am neither the prana nor the five vital breaths,
Neither the seven elements of the body, nor its five sheaths,
Nor hands, nor feet, nor tongue, nor other organs of action.
I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness.
I am Shiva! I am Shiva!

Neither greed nor delusion loathing nor liking have I.
Nothing of pride or ego, of dharma or liberation,
Neither desire of the mind, nor object for its desiring.
I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness.
I am Shiva! I am Shiva!

Nothing of pleasure and pain of virtue and vice do I know
Of mantra or sacred places, of Vedas or sacrifice.
Neither am I the eater, the food, nor the act of eating.
I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness.
I am Shiva! I am Shiva!

Death or fear, have I none, nor any distinction of caste.
Neither father nor mother, nor even birth have I.
Neither friend nor comrade, neither disciple nor Guru.
I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness.
I am Shiva! I am Shiva!

I have no form or fancy.
The All-pervading am I.
I exist everywhere, and yet am beyond the senses,
Neither salvation, am I, nor anything to be known.
I am Eternal Bliss and Awareness.
I am Shiva! I am Shiva!

Adi Shankaracharya

Importance of Pradakshina or Going Around the Deity or the Sanctum Sanctorum in Hindu Temple

Pradakshina or circumambulating is an important customary act performed in a temple by Hindus. Going around the Deity or the Sanctum Sanctorum in a Hindu Temple is of great significance and it also has symbolic meaning.

Everything begins and ends in God or Bhagvan or Ishwara. God is the point of origin of everything and we are constantly connected to it. After praying to the deity we go around the deity or the Sanctum Sanctorum to recognize the fact that we begin in him and end in him.

While circumambulating, we kill our ego and we realize, we are moving at the end of the thread which is controlled by him.

It is also believed that the deity in the sanctum sanctorum is placed in such a way that it absorbs and sends out vibrations and radiations. And a person going around the deity will be benefited from this.

‘Pradakshina’ means ‘moving rightward.’ Some people also go around themselves or turn in a full circle suggesting that the divinity resides in them.

It must be note that the devotees do not the complete the full circle in Shiva Temples. Usually, people only walk the ¾ part of a circle. They stop at the position from where the water flows out of the sanctum sanctorum. This is because it is believed that after receiving Ganga River in his hair, Shiva turned to one side and Ganga came down to earth from this side. The channel through which water comes out from the sanctum sanctorum is believed the channel through which Ganga flows.