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Showing posts from October 30, 2008


The Book of Ram by Devdutt Pattanaik

‘The Book of Ram’ by Devdutt Pattanaik delves into the life of Lord Ram through his relationships – son of Dashrath, student of various sages, husband of Sita, enemy of Ravana and many more. What the book deals about is better understood from the words of the author - ‘As Vishwamitra's student, aged 13, he had one of his first lessons. That decisions must be made in context,’ says Pattanaik. On the one hand, Ram had to protect Rishi Vishwamitra's yagna from the rakshasi, Tadaka, which means he had to kill her but wasn't killing a woman – a creator of life – one of the worst crimes in the Vedic world? On the other hand, with one touch of his hand, he liberated Ahalya, wife of Rishi Gautam, who had been sexually unfaithful and cursed to turn to stone. But wasn't infidelity a sin? ‘It showed him that everything had to be dealt with in context,’ says Pattanaik. ‘When do you kill a woman? When do you save a woman? Tadaka had to be killed whatever her sex because she int

Difference between Nagula Chavithi and Nag Panchami

Nagula Chavithi and Nag Panchami are two important festivals dedicated to Nagas (Sankes) in South India . Nag Panchami is widely observed throughout South India after Amavasi in Shravan month (July – August) and is a major festival in Karnataka. Nagula Chavithi is observed on the fourth day after Amavasi in Kartik month (October – November) and is a major festival dedicated to Cobras (Nagraj) in Andhra Pradesh. Nagula Chavithi is a three day event – first day is Nagula Chavithi, second day is Nag Panchami and third day is Nagasashti. Nag Panchami festival in south India is mostly restricted to one day and is observed on the fifth day after Amavasi (new moon day) in the Shravan Month. Nagula Chavithi is observed on the fourth day after Amavasi (new moon) in the month of Kartik and is observed for three days. The main festival is held on the Nagula Chavithi day. In South India , during Nag Panchami importance is given to worship of Snakes. There is no feeding of m