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Showing posts from August 19, 2013


Unique Rudra Shiv Murti – Idol – at Devrani-Jethani Temple complex in Chhattisgarh

Rudra Shiva Murtis (Idol) are very rare. Devrani-Jethani Temple complex is located at Talegaon village, also known as Talagram and Amerikapagram. The temple is around 90 km from Raipur , the capital of Chhattisgarh State in India . The temple houses Rudra Shiv Murti – one of the earliest known forms of Shiva. Seven-foot-tall image of Rudra Shiva is believed to be one of its kind in the world. Creation, sustenance and destruction continuously takes place in Rudra Shiva. Deccan Herald reports The idol, placed under lock and key, is believed to weigh well over five tons and is characteristic of the tantric cult much in practice among the villagers and tribals of the region in those times. The anatomy of the idol is a curious mix of the Almighty’s creation at all levels — amphibians to avian to mammals! While nothing is known about the artiste who created this masterpiece, it may be surmised that the serpent was his favorite subject. A pair of coiled serpents represents the

Story of Kannappa – Shiva Devotee Who Donated His Eyes

Story of Kannappa is mentioned in the Peria Puranas. Kannappa was one of the 63 Tamil Saints – the 63 Nayanars. Before becoming a saint, Kannappa was known as Thinnan and he was a hunter by profession. Thinnan was attracted to Shiva and he was an innocent devotee. He had no knowledge about rituals and pujas. So he used to offer flowers, water and flesh of the animals he killed to Shivling. To the society, Thinnan’s offering were impure. But Shiva accepted them because it was offered with devotion and with no malice. Purity of devotion made the offering the best. One day Kannappa noticed that one of the eyes of the Shivling was bleeding. He tried to cure the bleeding eye with herbs. But it did not work. As his efforts failed, Kannappa plucked his one eye and transplanted it on the lingam. Then suddenly the second eye of the lingam began to bleed. Kannappa plucked his second eye and transplanted it on the lingam. Pleased with his devotion , Shiva gave darshan to Ka

Bhagavad Gita on Service – Helping Others

The inferior (tamasic) kind of service is that which is offered without respect or with disdain to an unworthy person at the wrong place and time. The mediocre (rajasic) kind of service is offered grudgingly and with the expectation of a return of favor or the meritorious fruit of the act. (17.21) The superior (sattvic) kind of service is offered with a feeling that it is one’s duty to give. Such an offering is made to a worthy person who can make no return and at the right time and place. (17.20) The following factors emerge from the Gita analysis. Service should be offered (1) to a worthy recipient; (2) at the right time and place; (3) without expectation of a return of favour; (4) without desire for the fruits of action; and (5) with due respect to the recipient. In the Bhagavadgita Sri Krishna gives a threefold prescription for purification: ‘Sacrifice (yajna), service (dana) and austerities (tapas) should not be relinquished, but should be per