Happy VijayaDashami, Durgotsab, Durga Pooja and Dussehra to all…
On this auspicious day, let us all pledge to do our best to get rid of the three major evils that plague India…Terrorism, Poverty and Illiteracy…and promise ourselves to work towards building a proud, strong and united India.
Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!
(Above) An effigy of the demon king Ravana go up in flames, marking the victory of good over evil, on the occasion of the Dussehara festival in New Delhi [ Original Link ]
A scene from the immersion the idol of Goddess Durga at the Ichamati river in between India and Bangladesh. The idol is loaded on a typical conjoint boat called ‘taki’. The other side of the river is Satkhira in Khulna district of Bangladesh. [ Original Link ]
Photographs Courtesy: Press Information Bureau of India
Related Posts:
Om Namah Shivaya
Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!
October 9th, 2008
Posted by
B Shantanu |
Ancient Indian History, Hindu Festivals, Indian Culture, Arts and Music, Women in Hinduism & India |
2 comments
Today is ”Ganesh Chaturthi” - birthday of BhagwAn Shri Ganesh (celebrated on the 4th day of Bhadrapada - usually Aug/Sept in Julian calendar). Ganesh-ji is widely revered as the remover of obstacles (”VidhnhartA”) and is usually invoked when beginning something new (I usually begin my day with the “VakratunDa MahAkAya…” shloka).
Ganesh Chaturthi is (one of the) most popular (festivals) in Maharashtra and heralds 10days of celebrations that end with the “Visarjan” on Anant Chaturdashi (or Anant Chaudas).
As many of you would know, the public celebration of Ganesh Utsav (SArvajanik Ganeshotsav) is an important chapter in the freedom movement of India. This “festival” was started by Lokmanya Tilak in 1894 when when Tilak himself placed an idol of Ganesh-ji in Vinchurkar Wada in Maharashtra.
Tilak transformed the birth anniversary from a private, family affair into an occassion to bring people together against the opressive British Raj. Because of Ganesh-ji’s widespread appeal amongst the masses, the celebrations proved to be very useful in breaking bariers within Hindu society at that time.
Let us not forget this motivation of Lokmanya Tilak as we celebrate the day today.
On the auspicious occassion of Ganesh Chaturthi, let us take a vow to treat all Hindus as equals and work towards strengthening the ties that bring us together.
May Bhagwaan Shree Ganesha shower his blessings on you and your loved ones, today and always.
|| गनपति बप्पा मोरिया ||
For those of you who may have forgotten the story of Shri Ganesh’s birth, here it is:
Once upon a time, the Goddess Gauri (consort of Lord Shiva), while bathing, created Ganesha as a pure white being out of the mud of Her Body and placed Him at the entrance of the house. She told Him not to allow anyone to enter while she went inside for a bath. Lord Shiva Himself was returning home quite thirsty and was stopped by Ganesha at the gate. Shiva became angry and cut off Ganesha’s head as He thought Ganesha was an outsider.
When Gauri came to know of this she was sorely grieved. To console her grief, Shiva ordered His servants to cut off and bring to Him the head of any creature that might be sleeping with its head facing north. The servants went on their mission and found only an elephant in that position. The sacrifice was thus made and the elephant’s head was brought before Shiva. The Lord then joined the elephant’s head onto the body of Ganesha.
Lord Shiva made His son worthy of worship at the beginning of all undertakings, marriages, expeditions, studies, etc. He ordained that the annual worship of Ganesha should take place on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapada.
Without the Grace of Sri Ganesha and His help nothing whatsoever can be achieved. No action can be undertaken without His support, Grace or blessing.
In his first lesson in the alphabet a Maharashtrian child is initiated into the Mantra of Lord Ganesha, Om Sri Ganeshaya Namah. Only then is the alphabet taught.
The following are some of the common Names of Lord Ganesha: Dhoomraketu, Sumukha, Ekadantha, Gajakarnaka, Lambodara, Vignaraja, Ganadhyaksha, Phalachandra, Gajanana, Vinayaka, Vakratunda, Siddhivinayaka, Surpakarna, Heramba, Skandapurvaja, Kapila and Vigneshwara. He is also known by many as Maha-Ganapathi.
Here is another version of the birth of Shri Ganesh:
The Brahma vaivarta Purana narrates a different story regarding the origin of Ganapati. Shiva instructed Parvati, who wanted to have a son, to observe the puNyaka vrata for a year to propitiate Vishnu.
harer ArAdhanaM kR^itvA vrataM kuru varAngane |
vrataM cha puNyakam nAma varshhamekaM karishhyasi ||
O Beautiful Goddess! Perform the worship of Hari by observing the punyaka vrata for a year.
vratasyAsya prabhAveNa svayaM gopAnganeshvaraH |
IshvaraH sarvabhUtAnAM tava putro bhavishhyati ||
The Lord of Gopikas, the Lord of all beings, Krishna Himself will be born as your son, as a result of the vrata.
On completion of the vrata by Parvati, it was announced that Krishna would incarnate Himself as Her son in every kalpa. Accordingly, Krishna was born as a charming infant, delighting Parvati who celebrated the event with great enthusiasm. All the Gods arrived to have a look at the baby. But Shani, the son of Surya, did not look at him and stared at the ground instead. Upon Parvati’s questioning regarding his behavior, Shani said that his look would harm the baby. Parvati, however, insisted that he should look at the baby. In deference to Her wish Shani cast his eyes on the baby. Due to his malevolent glance, the baby’s head was severed and flew to Goloka, the abode of Krishna. Parvati and all the Gods assembled there, including Shiva, were grief-stricken. Thereupon, Vishnu mounted Garuda and rushed to the banks of the Pushpa-bhadra river and brought back the head of a young elephant. The head of the elephant was joined with the headless body of Parvati’s son, reviving him. All the Gods blessed Ganesha and wished Him power and prosperity.
Further Reading:
Ganesha chaturthi, legends, and prayers
Some practical questions regarding Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations and suggested answers.
Related Posts:
Happy “Makar Sankranti”…
Om Namah Shivaya
Happy New Year !!
Adjacent post: Of Monkey Gods and Elephant Heads
September 3rd, 2008
Posted by
B Shantanu |
Hindu Festivals, Spirituality & Philosophy |
2 comments
Today is the first day of Chaitra and the beginning of the Hindu New Year for some Hindus*. The day has a special significance for me (in my personal life) because of an event that happened many years ago - but that is a story for another day 
It is widely celebrated as Gudi Padwa and Ugadi (Yugadhi)in western and southern India. Gudi Padwa is celebrated in Maharashtra and coincides with the onset of spring.
From the Wikipedia entry on Gudi Padwa:
Gudi Padwa is especially dedicated to the worship of Lord Brahma. Many legend states that this festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Rama over Bali.
Some Maharashtrians see the gudis as a symbol of victory associated with the conquests of the Maratha forces lead by the great hero Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Gudis are also displayed as they are expected to ward off evil and invite prosperity and good luck into the house.
The gudi, Brahma’s flag (Brahmadhvaj) is hoisted in every house as a symbolic representation of Rama’s victory and happiness on returning to Ayodhya after slaying Ravan. Since a symbol of victory is always held high, so is the gudi (flag).
…On Gudi Padwa, you will find gudis hanging out of windows or otherwise prominently displayed in traditional Maharashtrian households.
The day is celebrated as “Ugadi” in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
From a very informative and well written piece on eprarthana:
“The Hindu New Year’s Day commences on the first day of the month called Chaitra or Chithirai. It is also called Chaitra Vishu for this reason. The occasion is said to be an auspicious one because, at this time, the sun enters the sign Aries of the Zodiac.
The people call the occasion Chaitra Vishu Punyakalam or, the sacred occasion
…The reason why the people in India compute the Indian year from this month when the sun enters Aries — the ram in the signs of the Zodiac — is said to be one philosophically derived from the science of cosmo-genesis. The Sanskrit word for ‘ram’ is aja which means ‘that which is not born.’ Therefore the sign of the Zodiac under reference stands for the ultimate cause of everything, and consequently the month in which the sun enters this sign is rightly considered to be the first month of the year. From time immemorial, the Hindu conception of an ideal life has been one of sacrifices and religious observances. Thus the information regarding the appropriate time for the observance of particular rites or ceremonies becomes important. This information is furnished by the Hindu astrologers and astronomers in the form of a calender called panchangams.
…It is also said that the Chaitra Vishu day or the opening day of the first fortnight of the waxing moon was the occasion chosen by Brahma to create this world. Hence this day is also known as yugadhi or the beginning of a yuga.
Read more here- It also hasan interesting story of Narada Muni and his sixty sons in there.
Heres wishing you,your families and loved ones a veryHappy New Year, Happy Gudi Padwa, Happy Ugadi and also Happy Vishu, Happy Bohaag Bihu, Shubho Naba Barsha, Happy Nau Roz and Happy Baisakhi !!
Find of the Day: Gudi Padwa
Related Posts:
Happy MakarSankranti
Om Namah Shivaya -UPDATED
* Pl. see Patriot’s comment below.
April 6th, 2008
Posted by
B Shantanu |
Ancient Indian History, Hindu Festivals, Indian Culture, Arts and Music |
3 comments
While I am personally not very fond of Holi (I am in good company),it is no doubt one of the most popular (and certainly most colourful) festivals in northern India.
“Holi” is a two-day(or strictly speaking a night, followed by day) festival.
On the first day, bonfires are lit at night to signify burning the demoness Holika, Hiranyakashipu’s sister.
On the second day, known as Dhulhendi, people spend the day throwing coloured powder and water at each other. The spring season, during which the weather changes, is believed to cause viral fever and cold.
Thus, the playful throwing of the coloured powders has a medicinal significance: the colours are traditionally made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva, and other medicinal herbs prescribed by ?yurvedic doctors.
As many of you know, the sacred story* around Holi revolves around Bhakta Prahlad who incurred the wrath of his father, Hiranyakashyap for worshipping Vishnu. Hiranyakashypu’s brother had been slain by Vishnu and because of this he wanted to destroy Bhagwan Vishnu and kill all his followers.
Keep Reading…
March 21st, 2008
Posted by
B Shantanu |
Hindu Festivals |
no comments
Happy “Maha Shiv Ratri” to all of you.
As many of you no doubt know, Bhagwaan MahaDev has a special status in our Dharma and there are numerous sacred stories associated with this night…
For those amongst you who are curious to know more about this festival, here are a few links (in no particular order):
http://www.hindujagruti.org/hinduism/festivals/mahashivratri/
http://mahashivratri.info/(predominantly in Hindi)
http://www.mahashivratri.org/
On a related note, one of my dreams is to visit all the twelve “Jyotirlinga”(s) associated with Lord Shiva and then write a travelogue around that (I have been to six but half still remain)…Someday I hope will manage to do that.
Related Post:
Happy MakarSankranti
UPDATE: I should have “warned” everyone to be careful about this. It could cost you a job.
Mini-Quiz for the day (or “Night of the Great Lord Shiva”):
Who said this:“If Om Namah Shivay is the reason I didnt become president, then certainly its a great blessing…”
Answer: Dr Karan Singh
.
March 6th, 2008
Posted by
B Shantanu |
Hindu Festivals |
3 comments
Stumbled across this news today: “No love on Valentine’s Day, Sena on a rampage“
“… In Delhi, about a dozen Sena protesters briefly blocked a road early on Wednesday and burnt Valentine’s Day cards and gifts, chanting ‘Down with Valentine’.
In Lucknow, Sena activists sent out a diktat against Valentine’s Day celebration and threatened to beat up couples found celebrating their love.
“Our volunteers will check parks, hotels and restaurants and swoop upon young lovers found walking hand-in-hand,” Vijay Tiwari, a Shiv Sena activist in Lucknow, said. “We are deadly against Valentine’s Day,” Sapan Dutta, a Sena leader, said. “We are for civilized love and affection.”
In Pune, activists of Sena Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena, Shiv Sena’s student wing, protested outside prominent colleges. They tore Valentine’s Day cards and shouted slogans. Several Vidyarthi Sena activists were taken into custody and police pickets have been deployed outside the colleges.
In Indore, Sena activists demonstrated and raised slogans against Valentine’s Day celebration near the Gandhi statue.
…
The clarion call to Shiv Sena workers to oppose Valentine’s Day came from none other than the Sena chief himself. Writing on Sena mouth piece Saamna, Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray said the party’s opposition to Valentine’s Day will continue as it has ‘nothing to do with Indian culture’.
Only those who are not patriotic and has a lot of parents’ money to spend will celebrate the day, and ‘Sainiks’ will continue to oppose the foreign culture, he said through the article. “
I would love to rip this argument apart but unfortunately I am constrained by time today…so here are some extempore comments…
This is madness…
While I agree that Valentine’s Day has nothing to do with Bharatiya culture, does that mean that Shiv Sainiks have the authority to go about bashing people who may not agree or (more likely) are just having a nice time?
Vandalising property and threatening innocent, harmless couples is not Bharatiya culture either..
How far are we from a dictatorship? and what happened to the famed Bharatiya and Hindu virtues of tolerance and liberalism?
And in any case, what has allthis go to do with being “patriotic”?
Related Posts:
Lets shoot themessenger and
Dumb andDumber
And if you have some more time, let me know your thoughts on how far are we away from this?
P.S. Has anyone heard of Vasant-Utsav? Read this and this (recommended, unfortunately only in Hindi)
February 14th, 2008
Posted by
B Shantanu |
An Indian Identity, Distortions, Misrepresentation about Hinduism, Distortions, Misrepresentations about India, Hindu Dharma, Hindu Festivals, Indian Culture, Arts and Music, Women in Hinduism & India |
6 comments
I finally understoodthe symbolic significance of this first Hindu festival of the (modern) New Year, courtesy this site(excerpts):
Introduction of Makar Sankranti:
Makar Sankranti is one of the most auspicious day for the Hindus, and is celebrated in almost all parts of the country in myriad cultural forms, with great devotion, fervor & gaiety. Lakhs of people take a dip in places like Ganga Sagar & Prayag and pray to Lord Sun.
It is celebrated with pomp in southern parts of the country as Pongal, and in Punjab is celebrated as Lohri & Maghi. Gujarati’s not only look reverentially up to the sun, but also offer thousands of their colorful oblations in the form of beautiful kites all over the skyline…It is a day for which Bhishma Pitamah kept waiting to leave his mortal coil.
Makar Sankranti is the day when the glorious Sun-God of Hindus begins its ascendancy and entry into the Northern Hemisphere. Sun for the Hindus stands for Pratyaksha-Brahman - the manifest God, who symbolizes, the one, non-dual, self-effulgent, glorious divinity blessing one & all tirelessly.
Sun is the one who transcends time and also the one who rotates the proverbial Wheel of Time. The famous Gayatri Mantra, which is chanted everyday by every faithful Hindu, is directed to Sun God to bless them with intelligence & wisdom. Sun not only represents God but also stands for an embodiment of knowledge & wisdom. …
Of all the cosmic bodies Sun is the most glorious & important, thus every sun-centric cosmic event became very important spiritual, religious & cultural events. On Makar Sankranti day the Sun begins its ascendancy and journey into the Northern Hemisphere…
For the religious and astrological significance of “Makar Sankranti”, read on:
Keep Reading…
January 14th, 2008
Posted by
B Shantanu |
Hindu Dharma, Hindu Festivals, Indian Culture, Arts and Music |
2 comments
