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Showing posts from December 1, 2014


Download Bhagawad Gita in English in PDF format - Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Book titled ‘Bhagavad Gita As It Is’ is the English translation of the Holy Bhagavad Gita by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the Hare Krishna Movement (ISKCON). His English translation of the Bhagavad Gita is one of the most widely read translation of the Gita. The book is available in PDF format for free from Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBTI). Link - Download Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada You have to download the zip file and then unzip it to get the pdf format.

Achala – Name in Hinduism Associated with Gods and Living Beings

Achala is a term associated with Hindu deities and is mainly found in the Puranas. The term is used to refer to Bhagavan Vishnu, Mahadev Shiva and Kartik (Skanda or Muruga or Subrahmanya). The meaning of the term Achala is ‘the immovable.’ Achala is also the name of a woman who assisted God Kartik in his fight against the demon Tarakasura. Achala is also used as an adjective to refer to the quality of a deity. The term is also used to refer to numerous other living beings in the Puranas. It is also the name of a mountain. Achala is included in the list of the names of Vishnu and Shiva – in both Vishnu Sahasranama and Shiva Sahasranama. 

Bhagwangad Dasara Mela – Dussehra Festival Gathering at Bhagwangad near Pathardi in Maharashtra

Bhagwangad is the holy place associated with the Vanjari Community in Maharashtra . The Samadhi or the final resting place of Bhagwan Baba is located here. In 2024, Bhagwangad Dasara Mela is on October 12. Every year during Dasara, nearly a million people arrive here for the annual gathering. The Dussehra festival and ritual at Bhagwangad near Pathardi is an important pilgrimage for the Vanjari Community. Bhagwan Baba spread the message of equality and truthfulness. He was ardent devotee of Lord Vitthal. An ornate temple located at Bhagwangad is the focal point. The Samadhi of the great gurus of the Vanjari Community is located here.

Sarpam Thullal in Kerala – Ritualistic Dance Dedicated to Snake Gods

Sarpam Thullal in Kerala is a ritualistic dance dedicated to Snake Gods. In Sarpam Thullak girls perform a ritual dance and crawl like snakes on a decorated floor unbinding their hair to the tunes of the songs and music instruments played generally by Pulluva clan members. But like many traditional art forms, Sarpam Thullal too is slowly disappearing due to lack of patronage. The New Indian Express reports ‘Sarpam Thullal’, a unique form of mystical ritual for propitiating snake Gods,is slowly losing its sheen owing to the lack of patronage from the public and authorities concerned apart from the paucity of artists to perform and preserve the centuries-old art.‘Sarpam Thullal’ is conducted during the traditional festivals like ‘Aayilya Maholsvam’, a ritual performed on ‘Ayilyam’ star of the local almanac every year in sacred groves and temples dedicated for snake gods. Though the ritual is still prevalent in temples like Sree Pambumkavu Sree Nagaraja Temple, Parappur Ngathankovi