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Showing posts from August 10, 2016


Story – Why Narmada River is known as Shankari? – Daughter of Shiva

Shankari is one among the numerous names of Narmada River. When she is referred as Shankari, she is the daughter of Shiva. This story is mentioned in the Skanda Purana. Once, Shiva and Goddess Parvati performed intense meditation and austerities atop the mountain Rikshasaila for the welfare of humanity. The sweat that formed on Shiva’s body flowed down the mountain and took the form a beautiful woman. She was liked by the Devas and Sages. Shiva named her Narmada, the giver of delight. As Narmada sprung from the body of Shiva, she is also referred as Shankari, daughter of Shiva. Please note that Shankari is also one among the numerous names of Goddess Shakti. In this context, the meaning of Shankri is ‘one who is loved by Shiva.’

Vaikhanasa Agama

Vaikhanasa Agama is one of the two main divisions of Vaishnava Agamas, the other being Pancharatra. Vaikhanasa Agama is the cream of all the four Vedas, where the pathway to the Highest objective of human life i.e., moksha, is prescribed through iconic worship of Vishnu. Lord Vishnu taught the Vedas to Brahma, who, in turn, taught them to mythical sage Vaikhanasa or Vikhanas. Sage Vaikhanasa taught the religious cult through his Vaikhanasa Sutra and other vast writing on the subject, said to be in millions of Shlokas to four of his disciples Marichi, Atri, Bhrigu and Kashyapa, who propagated the tradition through their 28 available works, of which 8 are printed. Vimanarchana Kalpa (VK) of Marichi is one of the representative texts of this Agama. Vaikhanasa Agama depicts god in five iconic forms. These are: Dhruva, mulabera, without parts (nishkala), corresponding to garhapatya fire of the Vedic rituals. Ugra the dynamic aspect symbolizing the cosmic form of the God Ut