--> Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from August 25, 2014


Story Of The Birth Of Nandi – The Bull Of Shiva

Nandi is the bull associated with Shiva. The story of the birth of Nandi begins with Sage Shilada doing intense penance to be blessed with a child. He offered the prayers to Indra, the king of Devas. When Indra appeared before him, Sage Shilada prayed for a son who would be immortal. But Indra was incapable of granting such a boon and so he asked the sage to pray to Shiva. Sage Shilada performed intense penance for several years. The tapas was so intense that he was reduced to a bony figure. Finally Shiva appeared and gave the boon that He Himself will appear as his son. To get the son, He asked the sage to perform a yajna. The sage performed the yajna and at the end of it a child appeared from the fire. As the child brought joy and happiness to everyone, he was called Nandi. The sage took the child to his hermitage. But the child did not show any signs of his divinity. He moved around like an ordinary child. One day Mitra and Varuna, Vedic gods, visit

Mahalaxmi Puja after Ganesh Chaturthi in North India in Bhadrapad Month – Lakshmi Puja after Ganapati Festival

Mahalaxmi Puja after Ganesh Chaturthi in North India in Bhadrapad Month begins after four and half days on Ashtami. Mahalaxmi Puja after Ganesh Chaturthi in 2024 is on September 11. In some regions the Mahalaxmi Puja is observed for a fortnight. In some regions it is limited to five days. In places in Madhya Pradesh, a special murti of the Goddess is brought on the Shukla Paksha Ashtami day in Bhadrapad month. When Goddess Lakshmi arrives, Ganesha is shifted to next to Her and he is considered as the son of the Goddess. A Mahapuja is performed. Simple puja is performed two times a day for next couple of days. The murti of goddess is adorned beautifully with brass masks, sarees, and other jewelry. A symbolic immersion of the murti is performed on Dasami day in some regions. In some regions the Mahalaxmi Puja and Vrat concludes on the Krishna Paksha Ashtami in Ashwin month (15 days after the ritual begins). You can read more about the Mahalakshmi Puja h