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Showing posts from May 12, 2015


Rakshasas in Hinduism – The concept of Rakshas in Hindu Religion

Rakshasas in Hinduism are fierce beings with magical powers that harass all living beings. There are three types of Rakshas – one which attacks saints, human beings, animals and other living beings. The second type of Rakshasas are constantly in war with the Devas. There are also Rakshasas who attack both living beings and Devas (celestial beings). As per Ramayana and Vishnu Purana, Rakshasas were created by Brahma to protect the waters. Some Puranas also suggest that they are the descendants of Sage Kashyapa and Khasa, one of the daughters of Daksha Prajapati through their son Rakshas. Rakshasas can take any form. They can enter a dead body and give it life. They take all forms to cheat and attack other living beings. They also eat human beings. As per Atharva Veda, Rakshasas generally have the form of human beings. Some have numerous heads and limbs. The skin color is green, blue or yellow. Some have deformities like backward feet or backward looking head. In th

Trishul in Hinduism – The Trident Symbolism

Trishul, the Trident, is one of the most popular symbols associated with Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. In the usual interpretation, it is a weapon used by Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga for the restoration of Dharma. But the Trishul has a deeper symbolic meaning. Trishul is always held by Lord Shiva or it is depicted as rooted on the ground near Shiva. The trident is also part of the iconography of Goddess Durga killing demon Mahisha – the Mahishasura Mardana. The Goddess is depicted as killing the demon with the Trishul. The Trishul symbolizes the balance of the three forces of preservation, creation and destruction. There are also two other interpretations of the Trishul symbol. One is that it represents the three aspects of consciousness – cognition, conation and affection. Another is that it represents the three Gunas or Praktriti – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.

Online Manuscript Cataloguing System in Orissa – E-Pothi on Orissa State Museum Website

The online manuscript cataloguing system in Orissa, E-Pothi, is meant to help research scholars, students and historians access rare manuscripts online. The manuscripts are available online on the official website of Orissa State Museum .  Times of India reports     Official sources said researchers can view about 40,000 manuscripts, which will be available in soft form in the state museum's website. The originals (hard copies, most of which are palm leaf and scripts and engravings) have been preserved at the state museum. Earlier, researchers had to come to the museum to get copies of the manuscripts on payment of fee, fixed by the museum authorities.    The manuscripts are based on Veda, tantra, purana, ayurveda, jyotisha, mathematics, grammar, lexicons, silpasashtra among others. Among these, the most sought-after manuscripts are Jayadev's Geeta Govinda, considered unparalleled in Indian literature. Scripts on alternative medicine Ayurveda are also available in th