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Showing posts from August 31, 2019


Meaning and Symbolism of the Big Ears of Ganesha

One of the striking features of Ganesha is his big ears. The ears of Ganapati are very prominent but do the large ears contain a hidden meaning or symbolism. The big ears of Ganesh represent his immense capacity of listening. Symbolically the big ears show us the importance of careful and active listening. Ganapati is capable of listening to the most faint and most complicated sounds. He can listen to all the sounds which are uttered in any speed and any volume. He will not miss a single syllable. Due to this quality and capacity of Ganapati, Sage Vyasa the author of the Mahabharata selected Ganesha to be his scribe. Whatever Sage Vyasa dictated was written down in a simple language by Ganesha so that human beings can understand. For devotees, the big ears means Ganesha carefully listens to their prayers with love and kindness. 

Duryodhana Temple in Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand

One of the largest temples dedicated to Duryodhan in the Mahabharata is found at Oslo in Uttarkashi District in Uttarakhand. Duryodhana is the main villain in the Mahabharata and one who practiced Adharma. So why is there a temple dedicated to Duryodhan in Oslo ? The popular belief is that the soldiers and people who supported Duryodhana escaped from the Kurukshetra and took refuge in this area of Uttarkashi. They built temples in memory of Duryodhana and Karna here. Today they are the protecting deities of the region. A couple of temples dedicated to Duryodhan can be found in the region at Saur, Sarnaul, Gangar and Datmir. Oslo village is on the way to Har Ki Doon, a popular location with trekkers. From Mussoorie one has to travel through Yamuna Bridge , Naugaon, Purola, Saur and Sankri to reach Osla. Related Duryodhana Temple in Kerala Ravana Temples in India

How to Observe or Perform Hartalika Vrat?

Hartalika Vrat is dedicated to Goddess Parvati and it is believed that those unmarried women who observe this fast will be blessed with good husbands and those married will have a happy married life. A strict fast by women (nirjala vrata) is the order of the day. On the Hartalika Vrat day, the idol of Goddess Parvati is decorated with fresh clothes and a pandal (small puja house) is made from banana bark and leaves. Today, most people prefer to observe the vrat in their usual pooja rooms and do not bother to create a pandal. A Shivling made from clay is placed along with Goddess Parvati. Listening or reading stories of Goddess Parvati and Shiva is considered auspicious. In the evening, special Aarti is performed on the idols. After the Aarti, relatives and friends join in traditional singing and dancing. Fresh fruits and vegetables are offered to Goddess Parvati. Some people make special delicacies from coconut. Women dress up beautifully on the day by applyi

How to Perform Gowri Habba or Swarna Gowri Vratha?

Gowri Habba or Swarna Gowri Vratha or Gouri Ganesha is a Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Parvati, also known as Gauri. The ‘Vrat’ is mainly observed by married and unmarried women and is mainly performed in Karnataka and other places in South India . An answer to How to do the Gowri Habba or Swarna Gauri Vratam is bit complex as there are numerous regional and community variations in performing the ritual. The festival is also known as Ganesh Gowri or Ganesh Habba as Ganesh Chaturthi is on the next day. Performing Gowri Habba On the Swarna Gowri Vratam day, the house is cleaned thoroughly. After bathing married women and young girls in the family dress up neatly. Some people perform the puja at home; others at the houses of relatives or friends and some opt for the nearby temples. A small temporary shrine is erected using banana leaves and banana stem. This is decorated with mango leaves, turmeric, tulsi and sandalwood paste. Those who already have a puja cabinet perfo