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Showing posts from July 1, 2021


Gangavatarana – Sanskrit Poem

Gangavatarana is a Sanskrit poem in eight cantos with 597 verses. The author of the poem is Nilakantha Dikshita. He was the son of Narayana and Bhumidevi and grandson of Accha Dikshita, younger brother of the famous Vedantist, Appayya Dishita. Nilakantha lived under Tirumala Nayaka of Madurai in the 17 th century (1576 – 1655 CE). Gangavatarana deals with the well known story in Hinduism of the descent of Ganga through the austerities of Bhagiratha, as narrated in Vamana Purana. At the outset, Nilakantha introduces himself and his family and expresses his ideas on genuine and spurious poetry. He disliked labored compositions displaying skill in verbal tricks of repeated syllables, known as yamaka or alliteration, and follows the illustrious example of poetry of Kalidasa. There was an ideal king of the Ikshvaku dynasty by name Bhagiratha. He learnt that his ancestors, i.e. sons of Sagara, who had been reduced to the ashes by Sage Kapila in the patala region, had been denied water-l

Folklore In Arunachal Pradesh – Stories Of Creation – Sorrow - Mortality

Literary and cultural folk traditions of Arunachal Pradesh include legends, myths, rituals, stories of creation, death, sorrow and so on. Arunachal Pradesh consists of 26 major tribes, each having their numerous lores. Much of the folklore is based on believes about a supernatural power at the root of all creation, including the human species. The Minyongs of the Adi community tell us how man became mortal. The tale narrates the making of an earthen vessel by one Nirur Bothe, which he carelessly dropped and broke into pieces. Upon this Danyi-Polo, the creator, let Nirur Bothe know that as his creation had been destroyed, man would no longer be immortal and must die. Another story by the Gallong section of Adi community relates how sorrow came to human beings. It is said that Tani, the progenitor, found a bird lamenting its lost fledglings, in a storm that had uprooted the tree on which it lived. Tani compelled the bird to spit on a leaf, which he then made into two necklaces. When

Hindu Death Rituals In Bengal

As per Hindu custom in Bengal, any death in the family is followed by ritual penance for a certain number of days. Some communities observe penance for ten days, while some do so for fifteen days. The food they eat during these days is very simple, pure, without much spice and strictly vegetarian. The days of penance are followed by the final obsequies. At the cremation ground, the eldest son of the dead person gives a ritual bath to the dead body and covers it with a new unstitched cloth. The body is laid towards the south, garlanded and anointed with sandal paste. The eldest son then lights the funeral pyre. If a sick person is dying, he/she is shifted out of the room and moved to the courtyard near the Tulsi plant. The eldest son and others pour drops of water into his/her mouth. A copy of the Bhagavad Gita is generally placed on the chest of the dead person. If a married woman dies, her body is covered with a red-bordered sari and her forehead is touched with vermillion. It is

Koduvayur Shiva Temple Festival – Ratholsavam – Koduvayur Viswanatha Swamy Temple

Koduvayur Viswanatha Swamy Temple is dedicated to Siva and is located at Koduvayur in Palakkad district, Kerala. The temple has a history of more than 700 years. It is believed that one Venkatarama Iyer and Lakshmi Ammal of Kollengode had got the Shivling worshipped in the temple from Kashi. It was they who built the temple and consecrated the Shivling. The main sreekovil faces east. The Upa Devatas worshipped in the temple are Subrahmanian, Ganapathy, Surya Narayana Moorthy, Dakshinamurti, Devayani, Valli, Chandikeshwara, Bhairavan, Vishalakshi, Vishwanathan and Meenakshi. The sreekovil of Meenakshi faces south. The puja in the temple is performed as per Tamil Shaiva method. The pujaris are known as Tamil Gurukkal. Koduvayur Ratholsavam The proceedings of Koduvayur Ratholsavam begins with the Muhurthakaal Ceremony exactly 18 days before the main festival day (Thiruvathira). In the ceremony a decorated bamboo is erected on the south-west corner of the temple, this marks the beginning o

Simple Definition Of Yoga - Understanding Yoga

A simple definition of yoga and understanding Yoga through the words of ancient Hindu teachers. Yoga is return to the source. We have been taught that we are different from the source and Yoga is an attempt to correct this wrong. In the process of this correction we find answer to questions like ‘Who am I.’ What is the meaning of life? New questions arise and we become seekers. Till now we have been seeking answers outside. But once we started knowing yoga, we realize that the answer is not outside but inside . What is all this here? Is there a life after death? Am I being constructive by being part of  the rat race? What is the source of all that I can see and I cannot? When you sit in a yoga pose you are slowly move towards finding answer to these and many other questions. What Is Meaning Of Term Yoga? The term ‘yoga’ is etymologically derived from two roots: yuj and yujir. Yuj means samadhi, deep concentration, in which the real nature of the individual Self is revealed. Yujir

Brahma Purana Quotes And Teachings

A collection of quotes and teachings from Brahma Purana. Persons of tranquility, engaged in truth and piety and devoid of all external symbols, are free from doubts. They are fettered neither by piety nor by blasphemy. Those persons who are omniscient, who are conversant with the principles of creation and annihilation, who see everything and who are devoid of passionate attachment to anything are released from the bonds of karma. Those who do not injure anybody or anything, whatsoever, mentally, verbally or physically and those who are not involved in anything are not bound by karma. Those who refrain from violence to living beings, who possess good conduct and mercifulness, and who have equanimity to others’ hatred and love are released from the bonds of karma. They have self-control. Those who are merciful to living beings, who are worthy of being trusted by living creatures and who have eschewed violent activities go to heaven. Those who are indifferent to others

8 July 2021 Tithi - Panchang - Hindu Calendar - Good Time - Nakshatra – Rashi

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Thursday, 8 July 2021 – It is Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi Tithi or the fourteenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Trayodashi Tithi or the thirteenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 2:39 AM on July 8. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi Tithi or the fourteenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 4:20 AM on July 9. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on July 8, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Mrigasira or Makayiram or Mrigashirsha Nakshatra till 9:09 PM on July 8. Then onward it is Ardra or Arudhara or Thiruvathira Nakshatra till 11:15 PM on July 9. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Go