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Showing posts from August, 2012


Amavasya Puja and Rituals and Dead Forefathers

Amavasya or No moon day in a Hindu lunar calendar is considered highly auspicious for performing pujas and rituals dedicated to dead parents, grand parents, brothers, sisters, wife, son, daughter and other relatives. The popular belief is that the light from the sun that instead of reaching the moon reaches the dead on the day. Another belief is that souls of the dead visit relatives on the earth on the day. On the day, living relatives can perform holy bath in river, lake or sea, perform tila tarpanam, feed the dead and perform annadanam – donation of food to hungry. As part of the puja and ritual people only take a single meal on Amavas. A simple vegetarian food is eaten on the day. The most important Amavasya in north western and eastern parts of India is the Mahalaya Amavasya (September – October). In Kerala, it is the Amavasya in the month of Karkidakam – Karikadaka Vavu Bali – that is important. In Tamil, the Amavasya in the month of Thai and Aadi are highl

Huge Shivling with Thousand Shivling Chiselled on It - Koteshwarnath Temple in Gaya in Bihar

Koteshwarnath Temple at Main Village near Belaganj in Gaya District in Bihar is a famous Shiva Temple with a unique Shivling – the huge Shivling has a thousand Shivling chiselled on it. The murti is known as Sahastra Lingi Baba Koteshwarnath. It is also believed that prayers offered in the temple are fulfilled immediately. It is said that the blessing of Koteshwarnath is  equal to one hundred thousand blessings Times of India reports Located on the bank of river Morhar river at Main village, the temple's sanctum sanctorum is carved in a single piece of red stone and within it is installed a large sized Shivalinga with around 1,008 miniature Shivlingas around 1200 years back. People call it Sahastra Shivalinga built in-one and believe Lord Shiva here showers blessings on the devotees.  An amazing thing near the Koteshwarnath temple is an old Pipal tree, whose large branches have turned towards the temple bending downwards as if offering prayers to Lord Shiva. The priests

Gita in Nepali – Download Bhagavad Gita in Nepali in Pdf format for free

Srimad Bhagavad Gita in Nepali in Pdf format for free is provided by Swami Shri Adgadanad Ji’s of Yatharth Geeta. This downloadable Nepali Bhagwad Geeta is strictly for personal use. You can only download the eighteen chapters in Nepali separately and not as a single book. The Nepali Bhagavad Gita is in pdf format and you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader or any other pdf reader installed on your computer. You can download the Bhagawad Gita in Nepali from this link –  Nepali Bhagavad Gita . Note – the chapter headings are given in English. On clicking each chapter you will get the Nepali Gita.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7 Quiz

This Bhagavad Gita Quiz is based on the seventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. The aim of the quiz is to understand few important teachings in the seventh chapter of the Gita. The questions might be tough. The aim of the quiz is to study Gita. You can use Bhagavad Gita in your home to find answers as this will help you in understanding Gita more. If there any mistakes or you would like to add more questions please mail the corrections and questions to hindublog@gmail.com HB Quiz Git Chap VII Related Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 Quiz Gita chapter 8 Quiz

Imaginary Google Doodle for Onam - And a Request from Maveli to Google

Hello Google ; this is Mahabali the demon king who ruled over Kerala in India . It is Onam festival for Malayalees in Kerala and all around the world. You might have already sensed it with the numerous searches based on Onam. My reign of Kerala is referred as the Golden Era and I visit my citizens on Onam day, which is marked by feast and festivities. Onam in 2012 is on August 29. Let me come to the point. I am a great fan of your holiday doodles and I would love to have one based on Onam. Don’t think that Onam is a regional festival in India . Malayalees are there in Google, Yahoo, Bing, Facebook, Google +… They are there in all parts of the world. They are there in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Europe, Middle East countries, Japan, China and now one of my subjects is undergoing space tourist training. Wherever they are in the world, Malayalees remember me on Thiru Onam day and they create the wonderful floral arrangements ( onapookalam ) to wel

Impact of Vedic Pravargya Ritual on Nature to be Studied by Professors from Harvard University

Pravargya Ritual is the introductory part of Somayagam (Agnishtomam). It is believed that the 'Pravargya' rituals help cleanse nature. Scholars from Harvard University will be documenting all the rituals associated with Pravargya and its impact on nature. Times of India reports  The scholars, Michael Witzel, department of south-Asian studies in Harvard University, Finnian Moore Gerety, department of Sanskrit, Harvard University and T P Mahadevan, professor of Indology at Howard University, Washington DC, will document all the rituals related to 'Pravargya' and conduct a detailed study on the positive and negative impacts of the rituals on the atmosphere with the support of scientists. Various studies have been conducted in the past on the effect of the Yaga rituals on the atmosphere. And scientists from Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) had found that the 'Yaga' had had a positive impact on soil, air and the atmosphere in general. Howev

Baidyanath Temple To Have Separate Shivling During Next Shravani Mela

Shravani Mela at the Baidyanath Temple will be different from next year as the temple authority (Baidyanathdham Temple Management Board) is planning to install a new Shivling, which will be connected to the original Jyotirlinga. Water offered at this new Shivlinga will go directly to the original one. This is to avoid heavy rush inside the Sanctum Sanctorum during the Shravani Mela. Times of India reports "Henceforth, devotees will not be needed to go inside the sanctum sanctorum to offer water," said the BDTMB chief executive officer and deputy commissioner of Deoghar district, Rahul Purwar.  The decision to have a second Shiva Linga was taken to cope with the rush at the shrine . The final decision will be taken after consulting the Panda Dharma Rakchhini Sabha (PDRS), the chief body of pandas at the temple. Many devotees fail to go inside the sanctum sanctorum because of the rush and are forced to make their offerings outside the temple.

Vasudeva – Meaning of Sri Krishna’s Name Vasudev

Vasudeva, or Vasudev, is one among the numerous names of God Vishnu. It is popularly used to refer to Sri Krishna. Vasudev was also one of the names given to Krishna during the naming ceremony. Meaning of Vasudeva is mentioned in the Vishnu Purana. Vasudev means one who resides in all objects and bestows them with splendor. Vishnu Purana states: He who is Prime and Greater than the greatest, who is the Supreme Soul resident in himself – who cannot be differentiated by form, color etc., who is without deterioration or destruction, and without birth, growth and dissolution; who can only be asserted as existing – is called by the learned as Vasudeva, in consequence of his existing everywhere and in all objects. Naming of Sri Krishna as Vasudev: As the infant was of dark complexion the first name that was given to the baby was Krishna . He was also given the name Vasudeva by Sage Garga.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 Quiz

This Bhagavad Gita Quiz is based on the sixth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. The aim of the quiz is to understand few important teachings in the sixth chapter of the Gita. The questions might be tough. The aim of the quiz is to study Gita. You can use Bhagavad Gita in your home to find answers as this will help you in understanding Gita more. If there any mistakes or you would like to add more questions please mail the corrections and questions to hindublog@gmail.com ProProfs - HB Quiz Git Chap VI Related Gita Chapter 5 Quiz Bhagavad Gita Chapter 7 Quiz

Story Of Asvasena Naga And Arjuna In Mahabharata

Asvasena Naga was a serpent that lived in the Khandava forest in the Mahabharata. This snake was the son of Takshaka and he tried to get away from the Khandava forest when it was burned down by Agni with the help of Arjuna. When Agni attempted to burn Khandava forest, Indra tried to extinguish the fire using rain. Arjuna built a canopy using arrows to help Arjuna. Asvasena Naga tried to escape from the forest when Agni was swallowing it. Arjuna tried to stop Asvasena using arrows. The naga then took his mother’s help. To save the naga, she swallowed him. But Arjuna cut off her head. Indra who witnessed this sent a cyclone that caused Arjuna to faint. While Arjuna was unconscious, Asvasena escaped from the Khandava forest. On waking, Arjuna cursed Asvasena that he will never get refuge anywhere in the world. Asvasena and Arjuna continued to be enemies and in the great Kurukshetra battle in the Mahabharata, the naga helped Kauravas. When Arjuna and Karna were

On Desires - Quotes from Hindu Scriptures

A collection of quotes on desires from Hindu scriptures. All your desires will be fulfilled in him who is One without a second. Know him to be enshrined in your heart always. (Shvetashvatara Upanishad) You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny. (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad) It is hard to find a man who has desire for what he has not tasted or who tastes the world and is untouched. Here in the world some crave pleasure, some seek freedom but it is hard to find a man who wants neither. It is hard to find a man who has an open mind, who neither seeks nor shuns wealth or pleasure, duty or liberation, life or death…He does not want the world to end. He does not mind if it lasts. Whatever befalls him, He lives in happiness. (Ashtavakra Gita) The senses are the horses and the roads they travel are the mazes of desire. When a man lacks discrimination and his mind is uncontroll

Story Of Origin Of Brihat Katha – Kathasaritsagara

Brihad Katha is a very large collection of stories believed to have been told to Goddess Parvati by Shiva. Kathasaritsagara is a small portion of the Brihat Katha and is the most popular part of the book. The stories in the Brihat Katha are believed to be the first stories in the world. It is said that the stories in the Brihat Katha were told by Shiva to entertain Goddess Parvati who was bored in the snow falling Himalayas . The stories were narrated to Goddess Parvati in one of the caves in the Kailash. Human beings would not have got to hear the stories were it not for a small bird that survived in the cave. The bird heard the stories that were narrated to Goddess Parvati. This bird then told the stories to a fish. The fish shared it with a Gandharva. The Gandharva narrated it to a Yaksha. Finally it reached the ears of first human. 

Nakshatra Vana – Medicinal Plant Garden of Sringeri Sharada Peeta

Nakshatra Vana, located at Menase on the outskirts of Sringeri in Karnataka, is a medicinal plant garden and nursery of Sringeri Sharada Peeta. Here you will find a collection of medicinal plants, trees, flowers, fruit bearing trees mentioned in various Hindu scriptures. Nakshatra Vana also contains plants related to the birth stars of a person. There is also a Navgraha Vana which contains plants related to the Navgrahas. Jagadguru Shankaracharya established four centers in the four corners of India for the safeguard and propogation of the four Vedas and appointed each of his prime ascetic disciples as the heads of each centre respectively. Sringeri Sharada Peeta is one of the four centers. Deccan Herald reports  Nakshatra vana has plants related to stars. It is believed that worshipping the plants of one’s star is good for the welbeing. Ashwini nakshatra— Strychnos nux vomica (Poison nut), Bharani nakshatra— Embilica officionalis (Amla), Krithika nakshatra— Ficus racemosa (

How to make Ganesh idols Using Paper? – Video of Making of Paper Mache Ganapati Murti for Ganesh Chaturthi

Paper Mache Ganapati idols can be made at home using paper. This is an eco-friendly Ganesha and you can use natural paint to give it a good look. People from all walks of life are joining into create awareness about the need to use eco-friendly Ganesh idols for Ganesh Chaturthi puja and make a positive difference. Some people are coming forward with unique solutions to Plaster of Paris idols and one such innovative idea is the making of Ganapati Idols using paper. Below is a video of making of paper mache Ganapati. The audio is in Marathi.

What is Karinaal in Hindu Astrology? – Especially In Tamil and Malayalam Calendars

Karinaal are inauspicious Nakshatras among the 27 Nakshatrams. Another school of thought states that Karinal is based on days in a Tamil and Malayalam month. It is believed that death taking place on Karinaal is highly inauspicious. These days are avoided for certain auspicious functions. Karinaal is only followed in South India, especially in Tamil Nadu and Kerala by certain communities. If a person dies on Sravishta (Avittam), Sadhayam (Chathayam), Purvashada (Pururuttathi), Uttarashada (Uthrittathi) and Revathi then it is believed that within three years a major tragedy will happen in the person’s family. The Shradh, tarpan and other rituals should be strictly followed if a person dies in any of these Nakshatras. All rituals after death should be strictly followed. The above said Nakhshatras are also known as Vasu Panchaka Nakshatras. Certain other schools of astrology claim that Karinaal is also present if a person dies on Triketta (Kettai), Pooram, Pooradam, Bharani, Ayil

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 5 Quiz

This Bhagavad Gita Quiz is based on the fifth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. The intend of the quiz is to understand few important teachings in the fifth chapter of the Gita. The questions might be tough. The aim of the quiz is to study Gita. You can use Bhagavad Gita in your home to find answers as this will help you in understanding Gita more. If there any mistakes or you would like to add more questions please mail the corrections and questions to hindublog@gmail.com ProProfs - HB Quiz Git Chap V Related  Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Quiz Bhagavad Gita Chapter 6 Quiz

Faith Declaration Compulsory for non-Hindus Visiting Tirupati Balaji Temple

Starting from August 13, 2012, those people who are practicing religions other than Hinduism should compulsory submit a declaration form stating that they have faith and belief in Lord Venkateswara, the presiding deity of Tirupati Balaji Temple .  The Hindu reports   Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, which manages the over 2,000-year-old hill shrine, has decided to make it mandatory for non-Hindu devotees, including VIPs, to sign the declaration forms, temple officials said today.  Non-Hindus have to give the undertaking that they have faith in Lord Venkateswara, they said.  The declaration form would be available in all TTD offices. 

Gatral Ma – Goddess Gatral Devi

Gatral Ma is a manifestation of Mother Goddess Shakti. She is associated with cow. Gatral Devi is mainly worshipped in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat . Rabaris community worships her. Gatral Mata is the kuldevata (family deity) of certain traditional families. Gatral Ma protects cows and other domesticated grazing animals. She ushers in peace and prosperity. In most images Gatral Ma is shown as wearing a red sari. She has four arms. She holds trishul (trident), sword and Sudarshana Chakra. In one had she is seen holding a vessel. This vessel symbolizes prosperity in the form of good yield. The vehicle associated with Gatral Devi is cow.

Plight of Hindus in Pakistan

Hindus in Pakistan are migrating to India and various countries around the world. Hindus do not feel safe in Pakistan – they are ostracized, tortured, kidnapped for ransom, abducted and are forcibly converted to Islam. Hindu girls are kidnapped and married to Muslim men. Here are various reports on the plight of Hindus in Pakistan : Mass Exodus of Hindus from Sindh in Pakistan (Hindu Currents) Several Hindu families from Jacobdabad are migrating to India due to the increasing cases of forced conversions, extortion and kidnapping for ransom faced by the community, said Dr Ramesh Kumar of the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC). Pakistandoes treat its Hindus callously (Daily Pioneer Editorial) Little else explains why the state machinery has largely refused to acknowledge that there is an anti-Hindu campaign at work. This is despite the fact that Hindu businessmen continue to be routinely held to ransom, Hindu shops are looted and Hindu women forcibly married off to Muslim

Sister Devamata Quotes

A small collection of quotes and teachings of  Sister Devamata  (1867–1942) – associated with Sri Ramakrishna Mission. Man is free to determine his own action; but he is powerless to control the reaction resulting from it; because that is governed not by the individual, but by the cosmic will. One force plays throughout Nature, one substance underlies it; and the endless variation apparent everywhere reduces itself to a question of what direction that force takes and what state that substance is in. We have, each one of us, in our hands at this moment the possibilities of the lowest and the highest. Not one is less well equipped than another, not one is lacking in a single element necessary to ultimate attainment. The only task before us is to realize where we stand; and if not desirable, to transform it. An explanation of the first quote: "Man is free to determine his own action": This part suggests the idea of human free will, the capacity of individuals to mak

Live Darshan From ISKCON Sri Krishna Temple in Bangalore, India

The  ISKCON   Temple  at Bangalore in Karnataka in  India  is offering live darshan of murtis worshipped in the temple for free. The main murti in the temple is that of Sri Krishna and Radha. You can also watch live satsang and other devotional programs in the temple conducted in the temple. Link  –  Live DarshanFrom ISKCON Bangalore Sri Krishna Temple Related Sri Krishna Janmashtami Live from Dwarka Temple on August 10 night

Goddess Madduramma

Goddess Madduramma is a manifestation of mother goddess that is worshipped in  South India , especially in Karnataka. She protects people from all forms of dangers and ushers in peace and prosperity. She is village deity and personal god of many families in Karnataka. Popular temples dedicated to Maduramma are located in Huskur, Mysore , Maddur and Bangalore . Certain Madduramma Temples conduct annual fire walking ritual which attracts thousands of people. Origin and legend regarding Goddess Madduramma are very sketchy. Related Why most villages in South India have a Mariamman Temple ?

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Quiz

This Bhagavad Gita Quiz is based on the fourth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. The intend of the quiz is to understand few important teachings in the fourth chapter of the Gita. The questions might be tough. The aim of the quiz is to study Gita. You can use Bhagavad Gita in your home to find answers as this will help you in understanding Gita more. The title of the chapter 4 of Bhagavad Gita is  Jnana Karma Samnyasa Yoga  Karma Yoga  Samkhya Yoga  Karma Samnyasa Yoga  Krishna says that at the very beginning of creation He imparted the knowledge of Vedas to  Brahma  Shiva  Surya  Manu  Which of the following statement is not from Chapter 4 of Gita?  Whenever there is decay of righteousness, O Bharata, and a rise of unrighteousness, then I manifest myself.  For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the wicked and for the establishment of righteousness, I am born in every age.  Many births of mine have passed and mine too, O Arjuna! I know all of

Maharshi Mehi Paramhans Ji Maharaj on Liberation

Mukti or liberation means to be freed. To be freed from what? From the body and the world. Liberation takes place when one is freed from the body and the world. There is a strong relationship between this body (of ours) and the world. Our body is made up of precisely those very elements of which the world is made as well. There are as many layers or levels of the world such as the gross layer, the subtle or astral layer, etc as there are in this body. This body is called pind or microcosm and the world is called the brahmaand or the macrocosm. At a given point of time a person remains or lives at the same level of the world as at the layer of the body in which he is living currently. Similarly, if one leaves or rises above any layer of the pind or body, he also transcends the corresponding layer of the brahmaand or world. Thus, it is known that if one can transcend all the levels of his/her body, he can transcend all the levels of the world as well. This body is ca

Grih Pravesh – House Warming – in Adhika Mahina – Extra Month

Adhik Mahina is an extra month added to Hindu lunar calendars followed in North India, Gujarat,  Maharashtra , Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka once in 2.5 years. Grih Pravesh or House warming is not performed in Adhik Mahina. Apart from moving in new house, there are several other rituals that are not performed in Adhika Mahina. They are Chaula, Upanayana, Samavartana, Vivaha, Purchase of new items (House, Gold etc), Nutana Vrata Arambha, Vrata Udyapana, Shantis like Shashti Poorti Shanti, Tirtha Yatra, Moorti Pratishtapana etc.

Sri Krishna Jayanti in Tamil Nadu in 2024 – Janmashtami 2024 in Tamil Nadu

Sri Krishna Jayanti or Janmashtami, the birthday of Bhagavan Sri Krishna, in 2024 as per traditional Tamil calendar followed in Tamil Nadu is on August 26. Birthday of Sri Krishna is observed on the Krishna Paksha Ashtami and Rohini Nakshatra day in Aavani Masam (4th Month in Tamil calendar in Tamil Nadu). The corresponding dates in other regions in some years vary by a day and sometimes by more than a month in some years.

Chitraramayanam in Palm Leaves – Ramayan in Pictures in Palm Leaf Kerala University Library

Chitraramayanam is believed to have been created by an unknown artist around 1453 AD. All the important incidents in the Ramayana are drawn on palm leaves using iron pen (Ezhuthani). This unparalleled creation is currently part of the Manuscript Library in Kerala University . C-DIT has brought out a CD of the Chitra Ramayanam and is available for sale. There are a total of 318 pictures. 7 of them have been lost.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Quiz

This Bhagavad Gita Quiz is based on the third chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. The aim of the quiz is to understand few important teachings in the third chapter of the Gita. The questions might be tough. The aim of the quiz is to study Gita. You can use Bhagavad Gita in your home to find answers. As this will help you in understanding Gita more. If there any mistakes or you would like to add more questions please mail the corrections and questions to hindublog@gmail.com HB Quiz Git Chap III Related Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 and 2 Quiz Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Quiz