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Showing posts from July 30, 2009


Putrada Ekadasi Vrat Katha – Story of Putrada Ekadashi

Putrada Ekadasi Fasting is observed during the waxing phase of moon (Shukla Paksha) in Shravan month (July – August) in Maharashtra, Gujarat , Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa. This Ekadasi fasting is observed as Pavitra Ekadasi in North India . Putrada Ekadashi is also observed during the waxing phase of moon in December/January. An interesting story associated with this Ekadasi fasting suggests that it observed for begetting children. Legend has it that a king named Suketumana had no children. He and his wife, Saivya, performed several austerities and religious performances but without any success. The king was worried that he will not have children to perform his last rites and other rituals for forefathers. A sad king left his kingdom and wandered through many lands and finally reached the Manasarovar Lake in the Himalayas . Here he was greeted by saints. He wanted to know what the saints were doing at the Manasarovar Lake . They said that they were here to

Book – Spiritual Handbook India by Stephen Knapp

Spiritual India Handbook – a guide to a guide to festivals and traditions, temples and holy sites – written by Stephen Knapp explores the holy places in India . Stephen Knapp, a writer and philosopher, is noted for his works related to Santana Dharma. Basically, the book is a guide to foreign travelers who intent to visit holy sites in India . It’s not the usual travelers guide but a guide that apart from the basic information, gives details of why the spot is holy and what benefits you get by visiting the place – more of such spiritual notes. For Example this is how Stephen Knapp introduces Mathura As we begin our tour of the holy places of East and Central India, the first major holy place to see is only a short three hour ride by train or bus ride south from Delhi . Now that they have built a nice highway through the area, the road is much faster than it used to be. Vraja, which has a perimeter of 168 miles and is composed of many villages and towns, is considered no