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Showing posts from January 31, 2017


Basant Panchami – Dedicated to Lovers – Long Before Valentine's Day Was Born

Basant Panchami heralds the arrival of spring season after the harsh winter and it used to be the celebration of love and friendship in Hindu tradition. Basant Panchami to Holi was the season of love – dedicated to lovers. Even today for many Hindu communities, Basant Panchami is an occasion for worshipping the Hindu God of Love, Kamadeva , and his companion Rati along with goddess Saraswati — the deity of knowledge. Basant ritu (spring) finds a mention in renowned Sanskrit poet Kalidasa's romantic play — Abhijnanasakuntalam — and poems like Ritusamhara. Other literary works — like Banabhatta's Kadambari and Harshacharita that were written in the 7th century AD — address the subject of spring as a season of love in an exquisite manner. Sri Krishna is believed to have played Holi during this season - all fun and frolicking of Sri Krishna happened during this period. Professor of Sanskrit at PU Shankarji Jha says, "Spring, which brings vitality and vigour, is undo

Uttaraphalguni Nakshatra Tree – Which is the tree associated with Uttara Phalguni birth star Born People?

There are trees associated with each 27 nakshatrams or birth stars. Uttaraphalguni Nakshatra also has a particular tree dedicated to it. People born on each nakshatra should worship the particular tree. The tree associated and worshipped by Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra Born People is dye fig or Ficus tinctoria. Hindi name of the Uttara Phalguni Nakshatra Tree is Paker Telugu name is Malayalam name is Ithi Tamil Name is  Kaliatthi Kannada name is Gudumittemara In Marathi it is known as Datir  Bengali name is  Uttaraphalguni Nakshatra born people should plant the dye fig. Water it. They should also protect the tree.

Chandika Devi Temple at Bageshwar in Uttarakhand

Chandika Devi Temple is a popular Shakti shrine in Uttarakhand. It is located around a kilometer from Bageshwar, a town popular for Shiva temples. The murti of Maa Chandika is carved out of white granite stone. Goddess Chandika is depicted as sitting on a lion. A kind and motherly form of Maa Chandika is worshipped in the temple. She has four hands and two of her hands are in blessing posture. One hand holds a raised weapon and another a pot. The main sanctum sanctorum is conical in shape. Navratri and Dura Puja are the important festivals observed here.