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Showing posts from September 25, 2015


Kapil Muni Temple in Gangasagar – Kapila Muni Ashram and Temple at Gangasagar in Bengal

Kapil Muni Temple and Ashram in Gangasagar, Bengal, is believed to be the spot at which Ganga River washed away the sins of the ancestors of King Bhagirath. It is a quiet and clam place where Ganga River joins the Bay of Bengal in Sunderbans Island. The temple has three sindhoor (ochre) colored murtis (idols) which are attached to the wall. The murtis are of saints. Digambara Saints who do not wear any dress. The head of the Ashram is also a Digambara Saint. The Temple and Ashram attracts a million devotees during Makar Sankranti (January 14/15). The place especially the small temple and ashram is decorated with led lights and a huge fair is organized during the period popularly known as Gangasagar Mela . Thousands of tents come up on the beach on Gangasagar Island to accommodate the devotees.

Goddess Manikarnika – Manikarni Devi

Goddess Manikarnika is a manifestation of Goddess Shakti. She is associated with the famous Manikranika Kund or pond at Kashi ( Varanasi ). There are two legends associated with the kund. One legend has it that Goddess Parvati used to take bath in the pond and she sanctified the pool when she left her earrings here. Another legend has it that when Vishnu cut Sati’s body using Sudharshana Chakra to stop Shiva from his world annihilating Tandava, Sati’s earrings fell at this spot. The image of Goddess Manikarnika Devi is painted on the walls near the Manikarni Kund after the monsoon rains. Information about the Goddess is found in the Linga Purana and Kashi Khanda. Special pujas, which includes decorating the Manikarnika Pond, are held twice in a Hindu calendar year. An important Ghat at Varanasi where dead bodies are cremated is also known as Manikarnika Ghat.

Story of Bhusunda – The Wise Crow

Bhusunda is a wise crow and his story is found in the Yoga Vasishta. It is believed that Bhushunda lived on a Kalpavriksha on a peak near Mount Meru . Rishi Vasishta met him during one of his visits to the Devaloka. It is believed that Bhusunda is a Chiranjeevi - one without death. He witnesses infinite cycles of dissolution and creation. He is also regarded as the master of the yoga Pranayama.  Bhusunda and his twenty brothers were born from seven swans. The swans were the Vahanas or vehicles of Goddess Brahmi . His father was a crow named Chanda. He was the Vahana or vehicle of Goddess Alambusha. The wise crow and his brothers lived of several kalpas. All his brothers renounced the world and attained Shivaloka. When Sage Vasishta met Bhusunda, he had seen five cycle of creation and dissolution, twelve Samdura Manthan or churning of the ocean of milk for elixir o Amrita and several other events that take place in each yuga and kalpa. Related Teachings of Bhu

Why do we Hindus tie red thread – Mauli or Kalava – at the beginning of a Religious Ceremony?

A red thread known as Mauli or Kalava or Charadu is tied on wrist by Hindus before the beginning of a religious ceremony. The thread is tied on the right hand by males and on the left hand by females. The thread is tied to invoke the blessings of the Hindu deities especially of the particular deity to whom the puja is dedicated. Legend has it that Lord Vishnu during his incarnation of Vamana tied a red thread on the hands of King Bali to grant him immortality and to rule the netherworld. There is also a popular belief that the sanctified red thread with blessing of the deity protects a person from diseases, enemies and other dangers.

Sanjoba Yatra at Kadethan in Daund

Kadethan Sanjoba Yatra is observed in Ashwin month. It is the annual fair and festival at Sanjoba Temple at Kadethan Village in Daund. The jatra is the important ritual at the mandir here. Sanjoba Yatra 2024 date is October 22. Sanjoba is a Grama Devata or village deity and is worshipped in many villages in Maharashtra and North Karnataka. Hundreds of people participate in the various spiritual programs organized on the day. Sanjoba Yatra is annually observed on Ashwin Krishna Paksha Sashti Tithi or the sixth day during the waning phase of moon in Ashwin month as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar followed in Maharashtra.

Important Ghats in Benaras or Kashi on the Banks of Ganga

Ghats, or stone steps, leading from the banks to Ganga River are an important feature of Benaras or Kashi. There are more than 100 ghats in the Holy City of Benaras. Here are the names of the most important ghats in Varanasi. Asi Ghat – It is located in the southern end of Varanasi at the confluence of Asi and Ganga River. Two important Shivlings are located here. Dasaswamedh or  Dashashwamedh    – It is located near Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Brahma performed ten horse sacrifices here. Manikarnika Ghat – cremations are conducted here. Panchaganga Ghat – Four invisible rivers meet Ganga here. Barna Ghat – It is located on the northeast end of Varanasi. It is on the confluence of Barna River and Ganga. Trilochan Temple Ghat – The ghat is part of the Trilochan Temple.

Bhabanipur Temple – A Shakti Peeth in Bangladesh – Goddess Ma Tara Temple

Shakti Peeths are sacred places associated with Goddess Shakti. There are 51 Shakti Peeth and majority of them are located in India . A couple of them are located in Pakistan and Bangladesh . Bhabanipur Temple , also known as Goddess Ma Tara Temple, at Sherpur Upazila of Bogra in Bangladesh is a Shakti Peetha. The shrine is also known as Maa Bhabani or Aparna Peetha. After the death of Goddess Sati, her body disintegrated and fell in 51 places. Each of these places became a center of Shakti Worship. Bhabanipur Temple in Bangladesh  is located where the right eye of Goddess Sati fell. As per sources it is her left anklet that fell here. The Bhairava worshipped in the temple is Vaman. The main temple is south facing and has subsidiary shrines dedicated to Shiva, Naat, Bashudeb and couple of other murtis. The holy pond is known as Shakhari pond.  Devotees visiting the temple take holy dip in the Karatoya River. There is a belief that taking holy dip in the temple pond he

Story Of Origin Of Varanasi

Story of origin of Varanasi, one of the holiest cities in Hinduism, is found in the Vamana Purana. Varanasi is situated between two rivers, Varana and Asi. These two rivers flow into the Ganga River from North and South respectively. The place is also known as Benares and Kashi.  As per Vamana Purana, Varana and Asi rivers originated from the primordial Purusha at the beginning of time. Primordial Purusha is the first form that Supreme Truth took during the beginning of creation. The land lying between the two rivers is a sacred place or Kshetra. It is the most important pilgrimage center in the three worlds.

Hindi Mantra To Overcome Fear of Death - Mantra in Hindi Language to escape from fear of death

Below is a prayer in Hindi language to overcome fear of death. Anyone can chant this mantra to escape from death. All sorts of fear, thoughts and dreams about death will be solved with this mantra. The mantra should be chanted continuously for 40 days to be effective. The person can decide the number of times it is chanted. It is ideal to chant the prayer in the morning. During the chanting your mind should not wander around.

Kannada Mantra To Overcome Fear of Death - Mantra in Kannada Language to escape from fear of death

Below is a prayer in Kannada language to overcome fear of death. Anyone can chant this mantra to escape from death. All sorts of fear, thoughts and dreams about death will be solved with this mantra. The mantra should be chanted continuously for 40 days to be effective. The person can decide the number of times it is chanted. It is ideal to chant the prayer in the morning. During the chanting your mind should not wander around.

Telugu Mantra To Overcome Fear of Death - Mantra in Telugu Language to escape from fear of death

Below is a prayer in Telugu language to overcome fear of death. Anyone can chant this mantra to escape from death. All sorts of fear, thoughts and dreams about death will be solved with this mantra. The mantra should be chanted continuously for 40 days to be effective. The person can decide the number of times it is chanted. It is ideal to chant the prayer in the morning. During the chanting your mind should not wander around.

Tamil Mantra To Overcome Fear of Death - Mantra in Tamil Language to escape from fear of death

Below is a prayer in Tamil language to overcome fear of death. Anyone can chant this mantra to escape from death. All sorts of fear, thoughts and dreams about death will be solved with this mantra. The mantra should be chanted continuously for 40 days to be effective. The person can decide the number of times it is chanted. It is ideal to chant the prayer in the morning. During the chanting your mind should not wander around.