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Showing posts from September 29, 2021


Lalata Tilaka - A Karana In Indian Dance

Lalata Tilaka, literally means the forehead mark, is one of the 108 karanas. A karana is defined as ‘simultaneous movements of hands and feet while dancing.’ Karana can also be defined as a basic dance sequence comprising a combination of the movements of the hands and feet which may be supplemented with movements of parts as well. Two karanas constitute one matrika. Two or more such matrikas constitute or make up one angahara. There are well known angaharas constituting six, seven, eight or nine karanas. The karanas are expected to be employed in the course of dance and involve fighting, strolling and in all general movements. Lalata tilaka is the 50th karana described in Natyashastra. To make vrischika of the right leg and form the tilaka on the forehead with the big toe, the movement is described as follows: Vriscikam caranam kritva padesyangustha kena tu Lalate tilakam kuryallalata tilakam tu tat (Natyashastra IV verse III) Most of the Natyashastra inspired texts, like Vish

Anti-Aging In Hinduism

Anti-aging in Hinduism is found in Ayurveda. There are the concepts of vajikarana (making man as virile as a horse) and rasayana (freeing man from the signs of old age). In Ayurvedic text books, especially in the chapters concerning rasayana, the human life-span is fixed as one hundred years. In Chandogya Upanishad (LXVI), certain measures area described which would prolong life to the 116 th year. In occasional cases that life-span could be extended to 12 years, but rasayana is mainly intended to add life into years but not years into life. In other words, the intention is to improve the quality but not the quantity of life. Ayurvedic Acharyas say that rasayana is meant for the improvement of memory, wisdom, luster, color of the skin, voice, healthy state of all organs, vocabulary and sexual power, along with the attainment of the prescribed long life. They have stressed that measures for the improvement of health should be undertaken from middle age. In ancient India, purity of life

Lakshmidhara Bhatta – 12th Century Hindu Lawgiver

Lakshmidhara Bhatta was a Hindu lawgiver of the 12th century CE. He was the author of the Hindu dharmashastra called Kritya Kalpataru (wish yielding palm tree of domestic rites and duties). He hailed from Mithila in North India, the second home of Hindu writers on Dharma. Son of Hridayadhara Bhatta, Lakshmidhara was the Sandhi-Vigrahika-Amatya (Minister of War and Peace) of King Govinda Chandra of Varanasi, who ascended the throne in 1115 CE. Lakshmidhara Bhatta has presented the massive material that he had collected and digested from earlier works in his Kritya Kalpataru in fourteen classified sections, which are devoted to – Brahmachari Kanda setting out the daily duties of a Vedic student. Grihastha Kanda on the multifarious functions, both domestic and ritualistic of an orthodox Brahmin. Niyatakala Kanda on the daily duties of a householder from morning to nightfall. Shraddha Kanda on the performance of the annual rites relating to the manes. Dana Kanda on numerous gif

Thiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha Temple – Cherpu – Famous For Ezhuthiniruthu

Thiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha temple is located at Cherpu in Thrissur district, Kerala. The murti worshipped here is that of Sree Dharma Sastha who is along with Prabha and Sathyaka. The temple is famous for ezhuthiniruthu ceremony (vidyarambham – initiation of children into the world of letters) during Vijayadashami as the Sastha is Vidya Murti. The murti of Sree Dharma Sastha is believed to be swayambhu. The prathishta is below ground level and only two to three inches are visible. The darshanam of the deity is towards west. Only a single puja is held during the day. This is because the Shakti of the murti is believed to be increasing and it will become uncontrollable if more pujas are held on a day. The main offering in the temple is Kadalipazham. The most important festival held here is Navratri and Vijaya Dashami (Vidyarambham). It is believed that the temple belonged to Chittoor Namboothiri. As per history Thiruvullakkavu Sree Dharma Sastha was the Grama Paradevata

Lakshmidhara – Sanskrit Scholar And Commentator – 14th century CE

Lakshmidhara of Andhra Pradesh was a Sanskrit scholar and commentator of the 14 th century CE. He is well known for his commentary on Saundarya Lahari (Waves of Beauty), a poem on the Divine Mother Goddess in Hinduism, by Adi Shankaracharya. Lakshmidhara belonged to the Lolla family. His parents were Parvati and Visvanatha Bhattarka. He mentions Gajapati Virarudra (Prataparudra) as his patron. In his commentary, Lakshmidhara catalogues the literary contributions of his forebears up to seven generations. His father was a noted scholar. Lakshmidhara was well versed in philosophy. It may be inferred from his references that he was proficient in tantric (esoteric) literature. He is said to have secured the grace of Bhramarambika (a manifestation of the Divine Mother Goddess Shakti). In addition to the commentary on the work of Adi Shankracharya, he has commented on another tantric word, Subhagodaya. The commentary on Saundarya Lahari reveals the vast erudition of the author. He does not h

Pandit Lakshmi Chand – Great Haryanvi Poet

Pandit Lakshmi Chand was a great poet of Haryanvi dialect of India. He was born in 1903 CE in Jatti Village (district Sonepat, Haryana) in a Gaur Brahmin family. The ragini style of Haryana, initiated by Heeradas Udasi, developed by Pandit Deep Chand, reached its apogee with Pandit Lakshmi Chand. At the age of nine, he came in contact with Deep Chand, Nihal, and Shri Chand, who were the prominent Sanga (a traditional Haryanavi folk dance drama) artists. Consequently, he was inspired to become a Sangi (Sanga artist) himself and he accepted Guru Man Singhji as his preceptor. Later on, he joined Mahatma Teeka Ramji, a great scholar of the Vedas. This association proved a turning point in the life of Lakshmi Chand. It is noteworthy that Chand wrote 21 types of Sangas and composed 200 loka dhunas. Lakshmi Chand drew upon the religious texts heavily for his sangas. He deftly wove various aspects of Haryanavi culture, philosophy and spirituality, the concepts of punarjanma (rebirth) and k

T Lakshmana Pillai – Composer And Musician

T Lakshmana Pillai (3 May 1964 – 23 July 1950) was a well known composer and musician. He was the Principal of Swati Tirunal Music College, Thiruvananthapuram, prior to Muthiah Bhagavatar. He was known as Tamil Thyagaraja even prior to Papanasam Sivan. He was associated with the Madras Music Academy from its inception. Lakshmana Pillai was a sensitive poet and serious moralist. His compositions amply reflect his sensitivity and concern for morality. His themes were philosophical, ethical, and patriotic – not devotional ones concerned with gods such as Bhagavan Rama and Bhagavan Sri Krishna. He devise a new raga called Amarasenapriya in honor of the American poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Lakshmana Pillai was a source of inspiration to many composers of later generations. He was honored with the titles such as “King of poet composers” and “Darling of Tamil music.” The name of T Lakshmana Pillai is often linked with Nilakantha Shivan, a senior contemporary.

Dreaming Of Arranged Marriage – Meaning

Dreaming of arranged marriage is good as per dream interpretation and meaning. It means you will get support of your family members to fulfill your desires. The dream is asking you not to take risk with relationships if you are not sure about it. Dreaming of arranged marriage and you are unhappy means it is warning regarding some bad things in life. It is usually associated with a failed love affair. Dreaming of arranged marriage and your happy is associated with new friends and better relationships. Dream of arranged marriage of someone else and you are mere witness means your partner cheating you. You need to be careful about your relationships. Some people dream about arranged marriage after seeing movies, reading about it or after talking about them during daytime. Dreams after such incidents have no value. The dreams have to happen naturally without any influence of day time events.

Dreaming Of Army Soldiers – Meaning

Dreaming of army soldiers and whether it is good or bad depends on the situation as per dream interpretation and meaning. If you are dreaming of army soldiers happily and feel good about it then it means you will hear happy news about career or you will travel to a distant place. Dreaming of you simply seeing army soldiers means good transformation in your life with the help of another person. Dreaming of army soldiers and they are running means you will not have any control over a future incident. Seeing army soldiers in dream and you seem tensed or you are hiding then it means you might commit some blunder or mistake which might put you in the mercy of others. It is a kind of warning to do your work with utmost care. It also means stick to your work and not to take other people’s work. After dream of army soldiers you should be careful about the activities of your enemies and be cautious about jealous people.

Dreaming Of Arguing With Someone – Meaning

Dreaming about arguing with someone is very common as we do that in real life a lot nowadays. The meaning of arguing with someone in dream is that you will be facing numerous problems in future – the problems might be small or big but it will give you sleepless nights. Dreaming of arguing with someone you know is that you are making bad friendships which will destroy you without your knowledge. It also means enemies will cause problems. The dream of arguing with someone unknown means that you will have to go to unknown places and there you will face tough times. The dream of arguing with family members is also a kind of warning that you need to be clean and you need to be clutter free. This dream happens when you know very well that you are doing bad things and are not doing anything to get out of it. Please note that the dream has to happen naturally for it to have a meaning. Seeing the dream at night after having an intense argument during daytime with someone does not have any mean

Dreaming Of The Color Aqua – Meaning

Dreaming of the color aqua is considered good as per dream meaning and interpretation. Seeing the color aqua means you will soon achieve peace, progress and prosperity. There will be opportunity to join a job of your liking. The dream is basically associated with hope and progress Dreaming of huge amount of the color aqua means there will opportunity to travel to distant locations. Dreaming of the color aqua spilling on you means you will have to work hard to get the desired results. Dream of the aqua color spilling or breaking out of container means you will face enemy threats but you will overcome them. Dreaming of aqua color on your body means you will require from a health condition. Dreaming of aqua color changing color means you will see return of something bad or a matter that you had dreaded most.

Quotes From Human Ecology In The Vedas Of Dr Marta Vannucci

Human Ecology in the Vedas (1999) written by Of Dr Marta Vannucci critically examine Vedic literature. Here is a collection of quotes from Human Ecology in the Vedas. These quotes are highly relevant in this era when living beings, trees and plants are being wiped out by human beings to satiate greed, lust and power. Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) teaches to prosper by protecting and nurturing all animate and inanimate. Judaic, Christian, Islamic philosophies willfully disregarded the obvious changes over time and the evolution of everything in the universe. One of the great merits I see in Vedic and Vedic derived philosophies, and other oriental philosophies is the recognition that nothing is ever static, everywhere in the universe.   (‘Human Ecology in the Vedas’, p.viii) Though the ancient rsis probably did not see the need to knit together the knowledge acquired into a well defined and formulated whole or theory having general validity, they did recognise the importance of fa

6 October 2021 Tithi – Panchang – Hindu Calendar – Good Time – Nakshatra – Rashi

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Wednesday, 6 October 2021 – It is Amavasya tithi or the no moon day in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Amavasya tithi or the no moon day till 5:09 PM on October 6. Then onward it is Shukla Paksha Pratipada tithi or the first day during waxing or light phase of moon till 3:36 PM on October 7. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on October 6, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Uttara Phalguni or Uthiram nakshatra till 2:00 AM on October 6. Then onward it is Hasta or Atham nakshatra till 1:14 AM on October 7 . (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Uttara Phalguni or Uthiram nakshatra till 1:11 AM on October 6. Then onward it is Hasta or Atham nakshatr