--> Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from July 31, 2014


About Garuda – Story of Garuda in Hinduism

Majority of Hindu Gods and Goddess have a vehicle or Vahana and Garuda is the Vahana of Bhagvan Vishnu. Murti of Garuda is in the form of a man with a big beak and wings. The story of origin of Garuda is found in the Mahabharata and numerous other Puranas. Garuda was the son of Sage Kashya and Vinata. Legend has it that when Garuda came out of the egg, the Devas (demi gods) mistook him for Agni and praised him and requested him to diminish his splendor a little so that people can view him. Garuda soon discovered that his mother was held in slavery by his fathers’ other wife Kadru . The sons of Kadru were all snakes and promised to free his mother if they brought Amrut or ambrosia from the gods. He then went to abode of gods and after a fight with the guards got hold of the pot of ambrosia. While returning, he met Bhagvan Vishnu and requested him to make him his vehicle – the request was granted Garuda brought the amrit to his step brothers and placed it on a heap of

Bal Gopal Idol – Porcelain figurine from Lladro – Bal Gopal Murti

Bal Gopal Idol is from the world famous Spanish Company, Lladro, noted for high quality porcelain figurines. Lladro during the past couple of years had released idols or murtis of various Hindu gods. Bal Gopal is part of the series. Bal Gopal murti shows young Krishna playing flute and standing on a lotus flower. The murti is priced at Rs 70,000/- Lladro figurines are noted for its beauty, detailing and no compromise in materials used.

Baijnath Temple in Uttarakhand – Shiva Mandir at Baijnath near Bageshwar in Uttarakhand

Baijnath Temple is located at Baijnath town on the banks of Gomati River near Bageshwar in Uttarakhand. The Shiva Mandir here is popularly known Baijnath. The temple is around 19 km from Kausani and 26 km from Bageshwar. The temple is famous for a murti of Goddess Parvati carved from a single black granite stone. The temple is believed to have been built during the 11 th and 12 th century. Shiva here is worshipped in the form a Shivling – here He is Vaidyanath – the Supreme Physician. The six-foot murti of Goddess Parvati in the shrine is adorned with important scenes in the life of Shiva, Goddess Parvati and Goddess Sati. Apart from the Baijnath Temple , there are nearly 17 more shrines in the complex. They have murtis of Ganesha, Kaal Bhairav, Dwarpal, Vishwakarma and Kubera. The Gomati River near the temple is famous for Rahu Fish. The bhoga to the temples is first offered to the fishes.