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Showing posts from March 30, 2016


Gandharva Nagari – Concept Of Imaginary City or Mirage Town in Hindu Books

Gandharvanagara is a concept found in Hindu books. It is an imaginary city or mirage town. Hindi Sabdasagara describes Gandharva Nagari as follows: Owing to different optical illusions, villages and cities may appear to exist in the sky and also on seas, rivers, etc. When during summer the air on the upper strata of deserts, seas etc. gets heated, expanded, and rises up, the light passing through it becomes multi-coloured and gives reflections in the sky in the form of village parts or  cities. Also can be seen therein reflections of trees, boats etc. This is a mere optical illusion. This reflection immediately fades out also. This unreal city, which is an optical illusion, is Gandharvanagara. Sage Vyasa in Mahabharata equates Sages disappearing from sight like the Gandharvanagara fading out. Gandharva Nagari, an interesting atmospheric phenomenon, is also mentioned in works on Hindu philosophy — especially the Advaita Vedanta — as an illustration of something which a

Badi Patan Devi Temple at Patna, Bihar

Badi Patan Devi Temple, at Patna in Bihar, is one among the 52 Shaktipeethas. The temple is located near Harmandir Sahib in Patna. The popular belief is that right thigh of Goddess Sati  fell here. Legend has it that when the body part of Goddess Sati touched the ground here three Goddesses – Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati – appeared. All the three goddesses are worshipped at the Badi Patan Devi Temple. Black stone murtis of the three goddesses are worshipped in the main sanctum sanctorum. The goddesses are in standing posture. Their attire is sari and crown. Murti of Vyom Bhairav represents Shiva in the sanctum. Devotees make offering in a big havan kund found in front of the sanctum. A murti of Mother Goddess sitting on a lion is found on the Verandah behind the main sanctum. A large bell is also found here. Tuesday is the most auspicious day in the temple. Pujas are performed here as per Vedic and Tantric tradition. The most important festival he