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Showing posts from August 17, 2016


Story Origin Of Weapon Gada or Mace In Hinduism

Gada, or mace, is a very popular weapon in Hindu scriptures. Gada was the favorite weapon of Bhima and Duryodhana in the Mahabharata. The story of the origin of Gada is found in the Agni Purana, Chapter 114. Gada was a demon. He was the son of Sage Kashyapa and Diti. The demon was killed by Lord Vishnu to protect Dharma. Vishwakarma, the divine architect, made a weapon from the bones of the demon. The weapon was mace. Since the weapon was made from demon Gada’s bone, it came to be known as Gada. Gada is used by majority of Hindu gods and goddesses. The mace of Vishnu is known as Kaumodaki. Hanuman is always depicted as wielding a mace.

Tapa – Marks on Each Shoulder of Srivaishnavas

Tapa is part of the Panchasamskara ritual and is adopted to make a devotee eligible for rendering service to Lord Vishnu. Panchasamskara ritual is mentioned in the Pancharatra Agamas. Tapa refers to the marks on each shoulder of the initiate made by the acharya by putting heated metalmark in the form of Vishnu’s discus (Sudarshana Chakra) on the right shoulder and another in the form of His conch (Shankh) on the left shoulder. The scars made by these marking insignia unmistakably distinguish Srivaishnavas from the devotees of all other cults.