Mahalaya - Pitru Paksh....the legend

Today is Mahalaya....marked as the auspicious beginning of Durga Puja, the greatest of the festivals in Bengal. The countdown for festival begins from the Rathayatra when the construction of the Durga idol first begins. From the day of 'Janmastami', everyone eagerly awaits Mahalaya. Mahalaya only marks that the preparations for the Durga Puja has reached the final level and everyone starts counting hours for the ceremony to inaugurate. Mahalaya means Homecoming.
According to the Hindu mythology, Goddess Durga who was married to Lord Siva returns to her paternal residence during the Puja, and this is the preparation for the welcome of the diving homecoming. (to know more in details refer to my previous blog article, "Durga Puja, the mythology, the ritual" written in Oct'09). It is on the dawn of Mahalaya only that the artists, the makers of the Durga idols, paint the eyes of the Goddess. This is known as Chakshudanam, literally meaning - giving eyes. The famous idol makers in Kumartuli or Kumortuli, a popular place in Kolkata, remain very busy with this all the day.

There is also a very interesting legend & story from Mahabharat, the mythological epic, which is of significance. It explains why Pitra Paksh is marked by Daan & Charity. When Karna, died in the battlefield of Kurukshetra, his soul went straight to heaven.
In his lifetime, he was popularly known as Daanveer Karna, & because of this quality & all the good deeds, he earned a place in heaven. It is said that, everyday, after he finished taking his bath & made ritual offerings to Surya Devta (Sun God), if anyone approached him and asked for anything he would give, without any hesitation, even if that meant risking his life. When the war of Kurukshetra was imminent, Karna gave away his Kavach Kundal ( protection shield) to Indra Devta ( King of the Gods), who came in the disguise of a brahmin asking for the Kavach - Kundal as daan(donation), in order to save Arjuna.
So when the soul of Karna transcended to Heaven, amongst many things to enjoy, he was offered gold & jewellery for food. Hungry & astonished at this strange offering, Karna asked Yama, the God of Death & Destiny, "Oh Lord, why dont I get normal food to eat? Why am I given gold & jewellery instead?" Lord Yama said, "My dear Karna, you made such wonderful charities during your lifetime on earth & therefore you are getting them back manifold, but unfortunately you never gave food in the name of your ancestors......you did not perform Shraadhh!! Hence you are deprived of food here". To this Karna said, "But my Lord, I never knew who my ancestors were, till almost the end of my life. I was known as Sutputra, throughout my life. I came to know about my original family, my Pandav Lineage just before the beginning of the war & hence had no time or reason to perform Shraadh. I performed Dharma to the best of my abilities & knowledge."
Lord Yama knew the truth of all the curses Karna had to face in life, & gave Karna the chance to make amends. Legends say that Karna was given permission to come back to earth for a period of 15 days to perform all the rituals that were left unfinished....to offer & donate food & water in the memory of his ancestors. Karna came down to earth & as instructed by Lord Yama, fed many Brahmins & needy persons for 14 days. This period, since then, came to be known as Pitru Paksh. It is believed that these 15 days, the souls of our ancestors are the closest to the orbit of earth, & if we fail to recognise them, they return to their abode unsatisfied & unhappy. The 15 days are named as Pratipath, Dwitiya, Tritiya, Chaturthi, Panchami, Sasti, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, Dashami, Ekadashi, Dwadashi, Trayodashi, Chaturdashi & Sarvapitru Amavasya or the New Moon Day. Mahalaya marks the end of this Pitru Paksh.  This is the reason, in the Hindu society, why no elaborate celebrations like wedding, purchasing something prominent like house, vehicle etc is done during these 15 days.

Offerings done on Mahalaya day is also known as Tarpan. Considering the whole of India, there are more than 1008 Pitru Mukti Sthals (ancestor salvation spots), including the well known ones like Varanasi, Prayag, Gaya, Kedarnath, Badrinath, Trambakeshwar, Rameshwaram, Nedungudi, etc. It is said that, in all these Pitru Mukti / Moksha Sthals, the exalted Pitru Devas themselves accept your Tarpan, Arghya & Shraddha offerings at all times, particularly during the Pitru Paksh fortnight.

Om Namah Shivaye.....

Subho Bijoya.... Durga Mai ki Jai....

Today is Bijoya Dashami....& I realise that, this year, my Durga Pujo celebrations have been rather subdued.
No pandal hopping, no new dress, no anjali, no bhog.......OMG, am I going mad???...am I nuts???...I am being an utter disgrace to the traditions & heritage of Bengal. Cant remember any year, that I have done so !!!  Even when I have been in our Blore Ashram for Navratri Celebrations, I would still sneak into a Pujo pandal, at least one of the days to offer Pushpanjali & eat Bhog.
Maa would be so unhappy...Baba would be furious...every Bengali would be ashamed of me!!

Typical of any Bengali, across the world, these five days of celebrations ( Shasthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami & Dashami) are synonimous to coming together in unison, celebrating the triumph of Good over Evil.
Durga Maa, comes to her paternal home, the Earth along with her children to celebrate & spread peace, prosperity, joy & laughter. Maa Durga, also known as Durgatinashini, kills Mahishasur, the demon, & the world rejoices Bijoya Dashami !! ( for details refer to my earlier posts last year, "Durga Pujo...the mythology...the rituals"). 

Across the world, bengalis, wait eagerly for these five days...plan their yearly holidays, save money for elaborate spendings. Its time to leave behind all worries, all troubles, ignore any official work et all & join in celebrations wit the gusto of a child. Kolkata, the epicentre of celebrations for all Bengalis, comes to a virtual standstill. You cannot imagine any office open for these days...its like sacrilege. Everyone has to be a part of the Durga Pujo celebrations !!!!!
A typical day starts, with Pujo, Arati & Pushpanjali,......the traditional drums beating in the background, in an unique rhythm. The Pondit Moshai ( the priest) is on the stage, chanting shlokas...Yaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu, Shakti rupenu Shamastitha, Namastassai, Namastassai, Namastassai Namoh Namah..... 
People thronging the deity to offer Pushpanjali.......Kids, youth & old, all alike dressed in traditional outfits, coming together......
After Pushpanjali, everyone rushes towards food....The Bhog!!!.....the Prasad!!! in form of the afternoon lunch....The most delicious part of the celebrations. Hot khichuri( a traditional preparation from rice & mung dal), Labra(another traditional preparation from a mixture of vegetables), Alur Dom ( a pasty tasty preparation of potatoes), Begun Bhaja(bengali eggplant fry), Chatni & Payesh & Sondesh(sweet dishes). All of these very unique & traditional & extremely mouthwatering food. The content on everyone's face, while eating is so wonderful....one could just keep on eating & eating....the taste is such.....The food is served to one & all.....everyone is welcome to join in the celebrations, sit & eat !!!
As if Devi Annapurna has come down to feed her devotees. This goes on till late afternoon.
Evening becomes colourful with Dhunichi Naach ( a unique form of Aarti, where dried coconut cover burns slowly on an earthen pot, with traditional perfumed camphor), amidst the chanting of shlokas,...the pandals resplendent with sandal perfumed smoke. The drums beating in their unique rhythm adds to the momentum & mood. The whole environment becomes pious, poignant & Divine.
This is followed with various cultural programs, which are a reflection of our rich tradition & heritage.
By the time one is back home, its way past midnight.....
Through the day, people shout in unison, almost every minute .......Durga Maai ki Jai!!!!........

Wish all of you a very Happy Bijoya Dashami......may your life ahead be full of happiness & prosperity & solidarity.
For the next two weeks, Bengalis all over would visit each other's home & wish Shubho Bijoya. Elders will bless, while the youngers will take blessings by touching feet of elders.. traditional sweets(sondesh, rosogolla, chitrokut, golapjam, payesh, shorpuria, kanchagolla & so many more)& delicious eatables(ghugni, luchi-alurdom, chop, bhaja & so many more) would be distributed, as the celebrations continue...amazing culture & heritage India brings to the world.....
Durga Mai ki Jai....Asche bochor aabar hobe !!!!( Will come  back again next year)

Spread the message of Love.

Dont get misled in the name of religion...plsssss !!!!!

One of my friends had sent out a mass mail over the last weekend......some stuff which I did not agree to fully & hence wrote back with my comments. Later, I felt, I should put up the whole mail exchange here for everyone to view & comment :

Hi,

Christianity ….One Christ, One Bible Religion…
But the Latin Catholic will not enter Syrian Catholic Church. These two will not enter Marthoma Church. These three will not enter Pentecost Church. These four will not enter Salvation Army Church. These five will no enter Seventh Day Adventist Church. These six will not enter Orthodox Church. These seven will not enter Jacobite church. Like this there are 146 castes in Kerala alone for Christianity, each will never share their churches for fellow Christians! Not very nice..! One Christ, One Bible, One Jehova???

Now Muslims..! One Allah, One Quran, One Nebi....! Great unity?
Among Muslims, Shia and Sunni kill each other in all the Muslim countries. The religious riots in most Muslim countries is always between these two  sects. The Shia will not go to Sunni Mosque. These two will not go to Ahamadiya Mosque.These three will not go to Sufi Mosque. These four will not go to Mujahiddin mosque. Like this it appears there are 13 castes in Muslims.  Killing / bombing/conquering/ massacring/. .. each other !The American attack on Iraq was fully supported by all the Muslim countries surrounding Iraq !
One Allah, One Quran, One Nebi....????

Hindus -
They have 1,280 Religious Books, 10,000 Commentaries, more than one lakh sub-commentaries for these foundation books, innumerable presentations of one God, variety of Aacharyas, thousands of Rishies,  hundreds of languages. Still they all go to All other TEMPLES and they are peaceful and tolerant and seek unity with others by inviting them to worship with them whatever God they wish to pray for!
Hindus never quarreled one another for the last ten thousand years in the name of religion.

My reply :

Hi Mani,
Very well drafted, but not totally correct.
While I am a devout Hindu & take enormous pride at being one, I cannot over look the fact that we Hindus have also fought amongst ourselves in the name of religion.
The Vaishnavas worship Vishnu as the Supreme God; Shaivites worship Shiva as the supreme God; Shaktas worship Shakti or Mother Goddess & Smartas believe in the oneness of five deities, Panchadeva. There have been many clashes between the Vaishnavas & the Shaivites for supremacy.
Another bad impression has been categorising the society into four classes.
Brahmans - teachers, priests etc
Kshatriyas - warriors, kings & nobles etc
Vaishyas - merchants, businessmen, farmers etc
Shudras - labourers, servants, etc.
This classification has been so badly misunderstood & implemented that, the basic fabric of the society has been disrupted over generations & continues to do so, especially in the rural remotes of the country.

We then have the Arya Samaj, which does not believe in Idol worship. Sati Pratha - bride burning, has been another black spot in our culture.
We then have a Hindu calender, which has at least 5-6 deviations across regions.
Incidentally, even the word Hindu, in origin is a Persian word in use from the time of Moghul Empire, referring to any tradition that is native to India as opposed to Islam. The word actually is derived from the Sanskrit word Sindhu ( Indus River).
So while, we emerge from the Sanatan Dharma & follow the teachings of Advaita Vedanta, we need to put the right practices in place & correct ourselves as well.

I would like to believe that each religion, whether Christianity or Islam, has good fundamental teachings, but, its the followers who mould it to their selfish motives & make it look so unacceptable. The Bible or the Quran in their original form do not preach these differences.
I would remain a devout Hindu & pride myself for the same till my last breath, but I would also respect the base of each religion.

I just thought of putting down my personal thoughts in this as a response to your mail. Do give me your opinions !!!!

Loads of Luv,
Biprashish

Badrinath Dham......a legend, a journey : Part 4

Some 1200 years ago, Adi Shankaracharya was born in India. He is claimed to be a reincarnation of Lord Narayana himself, who had taken birth to re establish the knowledge of Hinduism & the Vedas amongst the people.

From an early age, he started displaying signs of things to come & by the time he was just 12 years old, he had demonstrated command over the Shastras & ancient scriptures. His mother needed a lot of persuasion to allow him to become a Sanyasi. He is considered the propagator who consolidated the doctrines of Advaita Vedanta in India. He was responsible for re establishing the ageless teachings of the Vedas. By the time he was just 12 years of age, he had already created a huge following of disciples from all over the country.

It is said that in his efforts to establish the faith of the Hinduism across the country, he travelled for about 3-4 months through the jungles & mountains to reach Badrikshetra. After taking a dip in the Tapt Kund, he visited the temple to see that there was no idol & Lord Narayana was being worshipped on a Shaligram ( a black stone, considered to be sacred by Hindus). On enquiry, he was told that for fear of vandalism, the priests of the temple had hidden the sacred idol in the waters of Alaknanda.
Shankaracharya, as if guided by divine insight, went & took a dip in the Kund & came up with a four armed idol of Narayana. However, he found that the right hand’s fingers of the idol were broken. Since in Hindu tradition, there cannot be any deformity or limb broken of any object of prayer, he flowed that idol into Alaknanda & took a dip in the Kund again. Once again he came up with anidol & quite surprisingly, this also had a limb broken. He again put the idol in the waters of Alaknanda & took a third dip & came up with another idol, which also had a finger broken. It is said that, there was a divine voice from the sky saying, “ Hey Shankar, don’t be worried. You have got the right idol. Since it is Kali Yuga, it is ordained that the idol will be deformed. In Kaliyuga, only the broken idol would be worshipped. Go and establish this idol. People visiting the temple & worshipping this idol will get the same benefits as seeing Narayana in person. This place will become the holiest of all pilgrims.”

Hearing this, Shankaracharya, went to the temple & established the idol of Narayana. Since then the tradition of a Namboodari priest conducting the rituals of Badrinath has been established.
While, legend says that the temple was first made by Vishwakarma, the architect of the Gods, even before the Vedic age, at the behest of all the Gods, it was re established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. However, the temple had to undergo several renovations, due to damages by avalanches over the centuries.
The present temple, was built by the Garhwal Kings about 200 hundred years ago. It now has a Singh Dwar(Lion Gate or main entrance), & the temple is basically in three parts. The Garbha Griha(the sanctum sanctorum), where the various idols are housed along with the Narayana idol in the centre, Darshan Mandap(for Pujas) & the Shobha Mandap(where the devotees assemble).
Badrinath is considered to be the holiest of all the pilgrims in India. It is said that a visit to this place washes away all the sins.

Jai Badri Vishal…….. may there be peace & prosperity for all.

Badrinath Dham......a legend, a journey : Part 3

The Legend has it that, according to the Puranas, Lord Narayana was in Vaikunth, resting on Shesh Nag & Goddess Laxmi was attending to him, when Rishi Narada visited them. He did not like the lifestyle of the Lord & said, “You are the creator of this universe & whatever you do would set an example for the mortal beings. Your resting here like this will leave a wrong impression & therefore you need to renounce all of this & perform some Tapas for the benefit of the Universe & Creation.” Lord Narayana agreed to what Rishi Narada had to say & decided to comply with the wish. He sent Goddess Laxmi for some errand work with the Nag – Kanyas & himself left Vaikunth to travel to the Himalayas.

On reaching the snow capped mountains, He was mesmerized by the beauty of the place. However, Lord Narayana realized that Lord Shiva stayed here with Goddess Parvati & it was their abode. Narayana was now keen to get a place for himself here & being mischievous, he thought of a plan. He went to the doorsteps of where Lord Shiva was staying with his wife, Goddess Parvati & assuming the form of a small child, started wailing loudly. Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati were at that moment about to leave for their bath at the Tapt Kund. Parvati was taken in by her motherly instincts & she took up the child in her lap lovingly. Lord Shiva, knew what was going on & persuaded Parvati to give up the child. “You don’t need to take up all this trouble. All these are various phases of this mortal world, where it is quite natural for someone to be happy or sad. Let the parents of this child take care of him. Let us go, as it is getting late for us.” Being a mother, Parvati however, could not sense the trick of Lord Narayana. She insisted on keeping the child. Shiva tried explaining again, “Don’t involve yourself with this child. He is very mischievous, & if you show mercy on him, he will take advantage & take away everything.” But Parvati would not listen & was firm on keeping the child. “No. Whatever happens, I shall provide him with shelter.” Lord Shiva knew that the matter was going out of hands & just smiled as the events unfolded. “You are the owner of your wish. You will have to live with the choices you make. You may give shelter to this child, but you will have to repent later.” Parvati, ignored the advice & took the child inside, consoled him & put him to sleep in her room.

When they went out for their bath, Narayana came into his own self & closed the door from inside. When Shiva & Parvati returned, they found they door locked from inside, and try as much they could not open it. Shiva now smiled at Parvati & said, “ I had warned you, but you would not listen. It was Narayana, who had taken the form of the child. He has now taken away the place & will stay here. We will have to find a new place for ourselves.” So Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati then travelled some distance & on another mountain decided to build their new abode. This place came to be known as Kedarnath.

Narayana stayed at Badrikhestra & meditated for the welfare of the Universe. He came to be known as Badrinath.It is said that in Satya Yuga, Narayana lived in Badrikashram in visible form. In Treta Yuga, the saints saw Lord through the practice of Yoga. In Dwapar Yuga, Narayana came to Earth in the form of Krishna. When the saints & rishis asked him about Kali Yuga, Lord Narayana said, “ Kaliyuga would be full of sins & wickedness & hence I will not be visible. There would be an idol of mine under the Narad Shila in Alaknanda river. You may take that & establish it for the welfare of people. Whoever sees that idol, will get the same reward, as seeing me in visible form. So Vishwakarma (chief architect of the Gods) built a temple & the Gods and the saints took that idol & established it. They made Rishi Narada, the head priest & a rule was made that Lord Narayana in the form of Badrinath would be worshipped by human beings for six months & by Gods for the balance six months.

The rule is applicable even today, as the temple closes down for six months from November to April. It is said that when the temple doors are opened after six months by the priests, the oil lamps at the altar inside are still lit & inside looks completely fresh. As if someone has been keeping it clean every day.

to be continued...........

Badrinath Dham......a legend, a journey : Part 2

Outside, it was almost freezing, & the rumbling of the Alaknanda river, added to the dip in the temperature, & yet I felt so nice & energetic. The sky was lit with millions of stars, as if welcoming us to the heavenly abode, the dark mountains in the backdrop looked like sentinels, guarding the mankind.
After the Pujas, we met the Head Priest of the temple, a young, simple yet peaceful & content looking man in his late 20s maybe or at best in his early 30s. He is called the Raawal. It’s a Title given to the Head Priest as a reverence. He is traditionally a Nambudiri Brahmin from South India & has to be a Bramhachari. This tradition was started by Adi Shankaracharya, who also came from South India. The Rawaal enquired about us & our background. He would speak very little & had a beautiful smile lit up on his face. He asked us retire for the night & also told us to meet him again the next day after the morning Pujas.

We were hungry & ate like crazy at a restaurant nearby. Each preparation was fresh & hot and tasted simply yummm. We just hogged & hogged. The walk back to the Guest House was again in lost in thoughts……..amazingly, a lot of events from the past were sweeping my mind, as if a movie was on an action replay mode. Too many thoughts to handle, too many past events kept surfacing, but strangely, the mind seemed to be in peace, as if just observing the chain of events in dispassion. Naturally, I tried to engage myself in explanation, but the mind seemed least interested in doing so.
We went to sleep early as the morning Puja was scheduled at 5.00am. Everyone seemed to be engrossed in their own thoughts.

We woke up at 3.30am & quickly managed to take a shower, thanks to the hot water from the Tapt Kund. Getting ready as soon as we could, we almost dashed to the shrine for the morning Pujas. The place was almost full with devotees & but we somehow got to sit with a clear view of the shrine. The next couple of hours just went by in a trance, as the main priest performed the rituals amidst the chanting of the Mantras & the ringing of the temple bells. Sitting on the floor, I was transported to a world of celestial bliss. It felt divine & heavenly……even after the whole rituals were over, I did not feel like leaving the place. I was simply transfixed. The shrine, which is also called called the Garbha Griha(inner sanctum), houses idols of Badri Narayan, Kuber, Narad,Uddhav, Nar, Narayan, Laxmi, Garuda, Adi Shankar, & Sri Ramanujam. The idol of Badri Narayan is made of black stone, with conch shell(shankh) in one hand & chakra in another,(both the hands raised), & the other two arms are resting on the lap in a Yog Mudra position. This idol is believed to be only one of its kind.
Later, we went round the temple & then huddled around a Havan Kund ( a place where fire is lit & offerings are made to the Divine). With every Mantra, we were offering ghee & Yagya Samagri ( various offerings, as per rituals) to the fire. It was an amazing experience. The whole thing took a little more than an hour. After this we met up with the Raawal. He gave us his blessings & Prasad and wished us a safe journey back. For some strange reason, he asked quite a bit about me & then told me to come again, whenever I wanted to. It was as if he was reading my mind on what was happening to me the previous night.

We started our journey back around 10.00am. It had started to snow on the mountains & we were told that the winters had arrived. The temple would now close for six months & open again in April. As the majestic Badrinath Dham started to recede through the rearview mirrors of the vehicle, the longing to return started to increase.......return to meditate, to internalise, to go deep within........maybe some day in future.

to be continued..........

Badrinath Dham...... a legend, a journey : Part 1

This had been a strong wish for many years……. A trip to Badrinath ( One of the “Char Dhams”), considered to be very sacred amongst all the pilgrims in India by the Hindus.
Having taken a flight from Mumbai to Delhi on 6th Nov'09 evening, I drove straight from the airport to reach Kashipur around 1.30am, a small hamlet in Uttaranchal via Delhi, where we all had to assemble.

We were six people….Two couples, a driver & I, deciding to make this trip. After a quick shower & rest for a couple of hours, we took off on a Innova. The journey was arduous but extremely exciting, through the rocky & narrow roads. The fresh air of the mountains slapped against our cheeks, as the vehicle lumbered its way through, as if keeping us awake & aware of the terrains ahead. The winding road had huge mountains on one side, & deep gorging ravines on the other. We had started in the early hours of the morning, around 3.30am, just to beat the traffic & get a head start. The sound was the engine of the car & the wind outside, kept us in a trance, broken occasionally by a hooting owl & the crickets in the jungle…….in dark the mountains looked even larger & intimidating, yet serene & quiet.
Gradually, the eastern horizon broke into a crimson & birds started their morning chitter – chatter as if waking up the world….. we stopped first at Chakhautia, for hot ‘jalebis & chai’, as the mercury started dipping outside, & then at Girsain to have a proper breakfast at the Govt Guest House. Hot paranthas, along with another round of hot brewing tea, was just the right potion to get us rejuvenated.
Since the roads were not so good, we decided to save time by skipping lunch & continued driving. The view was just breathtaking…..the Ganges( in various forms & names)flowing deep down in the valley, sometimes broad & gurgling, sometimes quiet & slow, & sometimes thin, but charging its way through rocks & boulders…..always on the move…….the unending terrains, the mountains, got me to singing as usual, & time kept moving…..by the time we reached Joshirmath, it was already late afternoon. We took a short tea break by the roadside, & inhaled a lungful of fresh cool breeze, as we stepped out & stretched our cramped limbs for a while.
The rest of the journey was an eager rush to reach Badrinath, as if an invisible magnet was drawing us close to the pilgrim. The river, Alaknanda, kept gurgling down the ravines between the huge boulders, the mountains looked indomitably huge & the first specs of snow looked inviting & pleasing on top, as if telling us to gear up for the dipping temperatures. While the car lumbered on, there seemed to be a serene calm around, & each one of us looked lost in some private thought…….not wanting to be disturbed.

The rest of the journey was almost as if we were in silence. We reached Badrinath almost around twilight. Amazingly, the long trip through the treacherous terrains had not made us tired. We quickly settled in the Guest House & each one of us took a splash from the hot waters of the Tapt Kund(hot water spring). As if by miracle, all the fatigue of the journey evaporated, as we all changed into white clothes & made our way to the main shrine. The evening rituals started moments after we reached the place. The ambience was just so brilliantly radiant & pure. The chantings of the mantras & the mellifluous sounds of the conch shell & the temple bells in an amazing synergy transported us to a very different world……it was as if the time had come to a virtual stop & some invisible Divine aura was cleansing us all……I felt so very humble. We got to watch the Puja & the Aarti from very close to the shrine. There seemed to be something very mystical & enchanting about the whole ritual.

to be continued...........

Shiva Parvati.....the legend 3

One evening, when the atmosphere was serene & Shiva was in meditation, Parvati transformed the place, decorating it with beautiful flowers & putting up incense sticks to create a wonderful & mystic aroma. Nature came to her aid & made the surroundings very pleasant & beautiful…..there was divine music & the moonlight, captivating. Everything around was enchanting & mystical. As if something was to happen......

Kamdev decided to end Shiva’s meditation & turn his attention towards Parvati. He hit Shiva with flowery arrows, which were to raise the feeling of Love & desire in Shiva. However, being disturbed in his meditation, Shiva, lost his cool, & opened his third eye & looked straight into Kamdev…….burning him to ashes in the process, & went back to his meditation. There was pin drop silence. No one could believe, Shiva would destroy Kamdev with his third eye.

Rati was speechless with grief & Parvati was deeply pained. She resolved to do penance till Shiva relented. Sage Narada was passing by & he stopped to counsel & encourage Parvati. He taught her the Panchakshari(five lettered mantra) to please Shiva….."Om Namah Shivaaya". It is said that anyone with a devout mind & clean heart, chanting this mantra, can please Shiva enough to get any boon.
Parvati started her rigorous penance. She started living on fruits & then reduced to just leaves( her name became Aparna because of that) & then gradually gave up everything. In summers, she would do penance amidst fire…..in rains, she would sit in pouring rain & meditate,………in winters she would stand neck deep in cold water & chant Shiva’s name. The jungle, the animals, the nature, anyone around, was in awe of her. Everyone was moved by her devotion & determination.

Shiva, too started to feel the effect. He however, wanted to test her grit. So he sent Saptarishis to her. When questioned why she is doing this tapas, she narrated her desire to marry Shiva. They tried telling her that Shiva was not meant for her…..he would not be able to make her happy. However, Parvati stuck to her resolve, saying, “I know I am his wife forever. No one can change that….not even creation. He will certainly accept me some day, & I shall continue my penance till then”. The sages were pleased with her one pointed devotion & resolve. They blessed her & left.
Now Shiva, himself disguised as a young man & went to Parvati. He started making fun of her penance. He said, “Why are you wasting your beauty & youth on such an ascetic, who doesn’t even pay any heed to you……he lives like a beggar & has no sense of comfort of livelihood. He is peculiar in behavior, lives in burial ground, with a snake around his neck, ash over his body, Ganga & moon on his head, & he is so very cold. He moves on an ox & has spirits as his companions.”
Parvati got angry at this & said, “ You have no idea what Shiva is. He is the Lord of the whole universe, he is the Lord of my Universe, he is everything I ever wanted. He is & will always be my husband. I am not bothered by all the looks that you mentioned. The whole world may stay away from him, but I choose to be with him, where ever he wishes to stay. Please leave me alone with my husband. I need to do more penance for him to open his eyes for me”. Saying this, Parvati started to leave.

Shiva could bear no longer. He had tried & tested Parvati’s resolve beyond any imagination. He gave up his disguise & came out in his own self & said, “O beautiful Lady…..you have won over my mind. I am pleased with your devotion & penance. Please pardon me for testing you for so long. Marry me & come with me to our home abode in Mount Kailash. Parvati was overjoyed, as was everyone around.
However, Parvati however, remembered how, Kamdev had given his life to Shiva’s ire. She asked Shiva to restore life back to Kamdev. Shiva, now in happy state, gave Rati the boon, “So be it. Since Kamdev gave his life for the welfare of the mankind, he will take birth as son of Krishna & wed Rati again in Dwapar Yuga. Meanwhile, whenever, Rati would desire, Kamdev would come to her(secretly) & make her happy.

All the Gods & Goddesses came, as came all the sages, rishis, & learned ones to the grand marriage of Shiva & Parvati. Having married Shiva, Parvati became the mother of the Universe. They gave birth to a son, who was named Kartikeya, who was very beautiful to look at & very strong. He commandeered the army of Gods & killed Taraka to free the world of cruelty.

"OM NAMAH SHIVAAYA........"

Shiva Parvati.... the legend 2

Many years later, Sati was reborn, this time as daughter of Himavan(King of Mountains) & Mena(an apsara). Her name in this birth was Uma. From childhood itself, Uma showed clear inclination of her love & respect for Shiva. As she grew up to be a radiantly beautiful lady, her love for Shiva kept growing as well. Her life revolved around the thoughts of Shiva. Since her parents too were devout worshippers of Shiva, Uma had all the support of her father this time & she prayed & performed many rituals to appease Shiva.

Shiva meanwhile was living the life of an ascetic for many many years, at Mount Kailash, mostly in meditation, very much away from any worldly pleasures. He was still in grief of losing Sati, whom he loved so much. He did not want to be disturbed at all & did not appreciate anyone coming upto him.
Meanwhile, Narada(the holy sage of the Gods who keep travelling between the three worlds), visited Himavan & when he saw Uma, he said, “ She is the one who was Sati in her previous birth, & because of her undying love for Shiva, she is destined to marry Him & be his wife forever. However, Shiva needs to be appeased through penance, worship & devotion.” He told Himavan & Mena to allow Uma to do rituals & tapas for Shiva.

Meanwhile, another story adds on. It is said that Diti, one of the wives of sage Kashyapa, started the Rakshak race. Kasyapa & Diti gave birth to Vajranga who married Varaangi & they gave birth to Taraka, the demon king. Taraka did several penances to please Brahma (who is known to give boons very easily…..& create all the chaos!!!!) & got two significant boons. One was that Taraka would be the most powerful person on Earth. Second was that Taraka could be killed only by a son born to Shiva. Now since Shiva, was mourning the death of his wife Sati & not interested in marriage again, Taraka was sure that no one could kill him. This made him ruthless & wicked. He did now allow anyone to do penance or sacrifices, so that no one could attain any boons. He would immediately ruin any ritual or penance or charity that anyone would dare to do. Only Shiva continued his meditations, as that worked in Taraka’s favour. Unable to bear such harassment & cruelty, all the Gods & Goddesses went to Lord Brahma, but nothing came out of it. Having given the boons, even Brahma was helpless.

Meanwhile, now with the support of her parents, Uma kept on visiting the place where Shiva sat to meditate & live as an ascetic. Since she was daughter of Himavan(the king of Mountains), & she regularly visited the mountains, where Shiva meditated, she was also named Parvati. She would clean up & beautify the place, serve Shiva with food & water & attend to anything that he may need. Her world just surrounded with thoughts of Shiva whom she started looking upon as her husband. She would pray & make offerings to the Divine asking for only one boon…to become the wife of Shiva & live happily with him. However, Shiva would not relent & pay almost no attention to Uma or her presence.

Side by side, Taraka’s cruelty kept increasing. All the Gods now met up & decided that somehow, they have to break Shiva’s meditation & get him to marry Parvati. Lord Indra (King of the Gods), instructed Kamdev(God of Love) to go to Parvati along with his wife Rati, to help Parvati woo Shiva.
“ Kamdev, you are the only one who can save the world from Taraka. You have to instill Love in Shiva, so that he marries Parvati & gives birth to a son, who is destined to kill Taraka”. Finally after years of patient wait, Divine had send help to Parvati. Her penance was showing results.

Shiva Parvati....the legend

According to legends, it is said that Sati, the eldest daughter of Daksha Prajapati, a famous King was in love with Shiva & had married him against the wishes of her father, who did not approve of Shiva’s unconventional lifestyle, staying on Mount Kailash.
Out of anger, at his daughter going away to Shiva, Daksha decided to take revenge, & organized for a big ritual, where he invited all the Gods & Goddesses except Shiva & Sati. Though uninvited, Sati still went to the visit her parents at the event, & Daksha took this chance to humiliate her by speaking insultingly of Shiva. Sati could not take the insult & jumped into the fire to immolate herself.

She immolated herself with a wish that she be born again to a King who would respect her decision & allow her to enjoy a happy life with Shiva. When this news reached Shiva, he was beyond control with anger. He destroyed the ritual of Daksha & cut his head off. On being pleaded for mercy by various Gods, Shiva finally relented & brought back Daksha to life by placing the head of a goat. However, completely grief stricken, Shiva, picked up the charred remains of his wife Sati, & began the dance of destruction (tandaav nritya). The Gods were simply scared of Shiva’s anger & made every attempt to stop him. Scared that Shiva would destroy the whole Universe, all the Gods went to Vishnu for help. Vishnu realized that Shiva was overcome with grief & the dead body of his wife was adding to the sorrow. He was dancing in a trance & was beyond control. Vishnu then used his Sudarshan Chakra to remove the corpse of Sati from Shiva & in that attempt, various parts of the body fell at several spots of the Indian subcontinent. These spots (52 in total) later became famous as Shakti Peeths. (will write about this later)

Durga Puja...the mythology...the rituals - part 3

On the sixth day after the Mahalaya, better known as Maha Shasthi, the Durga Puja actually starts. Early morning a ritual is done which is mainly the act of making a Sankalp (sacred intention), a firm determination to conduct the Puja properly over the next three days. The ritual consists of installing the ghata (a copper pot filled with water) at a corner of the Durga Mandap(place of the Puja) & offering to the Devi. Later in the evening, when the sun is setting, Bodhan(awakening) is done. The Hindu mythology says that, all the Gods & the Goddesses go to sleep for six months during the southward journey of the Sun. Hence it is essential to awaken the diety. As mentioned earlier, this was done by Ram for the first time, when he was going to war with Ravan. The ritual of Bodhan consists of installing a water filled copper vessel, with a small branch of Bel leaves(a sacred tree) at the diety, & praying for the Divine Mother to awaken. After Bodhan, follows Adhivas & Amantran. Adhivas means invocation, as after the Devi has been awakened, she needs to be invoked in the water filled copper pot with Bel plant. This is also a ritual of sanctifying the Puja Mandap. So first the Devi is worshipped & invoked in the Bel. After that, twenty six mangalik dravyas ( sacramental objects) as per Vidhi(rituals), are sanctified by touching them with the Devi invoked Bel. Then to ward off any evil effects, a red thread is tied around the altar where the Puja would happen over the next three days. This is followed by Amantran(invitation), through which, the Devi is formally invited to accept the Puja from the next day. Devi is then worshipped with five items & Aarati(recitals with a multi headed lamp, lit with cotton ends doused in oil) is done. The ritual is normally celebrated with ladies putting up stalls of home cooked eateries, which the crowd assembled enjoy thoroughly.

On the seventh day, Maha Saptami, Puja starts in the morning with invocation. On the sixth day, Devi was invoked in the Bel. On the seventh day, the Devi is invoked in a group of nine plants, which are bundled together, known as ‘NavaPatrika’. It is believed that it is through a living medium that the Divinity manifests itself. So these nine plants, which also includes a branch of the Bel, are bundled together, give a ceremonial bath & covered with an orange cloth & installed on a wooden seat on the right side of the image of Goddess Durga. This is followed by Pran Pratishtha, through which it is believed that Devi Durga has come to life on the mandap. This is then followed by worshipping the Devi with sixteen items. The other deities & other objects associated with the Devi are then worshipped. This is followed by Pushpanjali (offerings through flowers & sacred mantras), where everyone gathers around the diety with flowers in hands & prayers(normally recited by Thakoor Moshai(the priest, who conducts the Puja). The Puja is concluded with Bhog(food offerings), which is then distributed amongst the devotees who gather. The evening, is normally another round of Pujas followed by Aarati done on wooden cups filled with narkel chobra(the dry fibrous husk, outer covering of a Cocunut). These are lit up & with karpur(camphor) & dhoop materials added, it creates quite a smoke(considered to be auspicious & healthy). Devotees pick up these hot cups & dance in tandem to the beats of the Dhak(traditional drums) & kashor ghanta(traditional copper heads, which are banged with a wooden spatula). It really is a sight to watch.

The next day is Maha Ashtami, considered by many as the main day of Puja. This day also, the ceremonial bath takes place which is again followed by worshipping the Devi with sixteen items. After this nine small pots are with flags of different colours are installed & the Nine Shaktis are invoked. After this various rounds of Pujas are done on Yoginis(mythical characters). This is followed by the worship of Nava Durga(nine aspects of Durga). Next comes the worship of Jayanti, Mangala, Kali, Bhadrakali, Kapalini, Durga, Shiva, Kshama, Dhatri, Svaha & Svadha…..various forms of the Devi. The Pujas are quite elaborate on this day. At some Puja mandaps, there is also a ritual of Kumari Puja, where young girls are treated as a Devi & worshipped, with a belief that the Devi manifests herself in a pure hearted girl. This is followed by Pushpanjali, which is considered to be the most auspicious of all the days. Normally, devotees keep fast till they have offered pushpanjali. Bhog follows & devotees rejoice in eating to their hearts content. This delicious food offerings is normally a piping hot traditional preparation of rice & pulses accompanied with an assortment of vegetables along with chatni & payesh(a traditional sweet preparation). This continues till quite late in the afternoon. Evening witnesses Aarati again to the rhythmic beating of Dhak & Kashor Ghanta. Towards the midnight, the last 24 minutes of Maha Ashtami & the first 24 minutes of Maha Navami( 48 minutes between two lunar days), Sandhi Puja takes place. This period is considered to be very auspicious. At this time the Devi is worshipped at Chamunda(as Kali, Devi had killed the demons Chanda & Munda). This puja is considered to be the most important ritual of the whole Puja. In earlier times, at some places, a goat was being sacrificed(Patha Boli) on the altar as a ritual, but now that has been stopped. Alternatively a fruit, (normally a banana) is being put up for sacrifice as a ritual.

Next day is Maha Navami, the ninth day. The usual rituals like previous days continue, as the Puja reaches towards its end. Homas, with Vedic chnatings are performed along with offerings of vegetables like white pumpkin & sugarcane. The pushpanjali, bhog etc continue as usual. The drum beats are more regular on this day, as the devotees start to realize that the event is nearing its end.

The last day, is Vijaya Dashami. The day starts, with a small puja followed by Shital Bhog(cool food offerings), which is a mixture of yogurt & puffed rice along with bananas & batasha(sugar candies). Later, ladies, especially married women, get to the stage, offer to the Devi sindoor, kumkum & sweets & then play within themselves. After this the priest & the tantradharak perform the Visarjan ritual. In this, the Devi who had been invoked in the Navapatrika, is entreated to return to her celestial abode. The devotees, towards the afternoon gather & take the Idols & the Navapatrika in a procession to any nearby river or lake & immerse the idols, as a ritual of the Devi returning to her heavenly abode. “Aashche bochor abar hobe……Durga Mai ki Jai” (we shall celebrate again next year………Hail to victory Goddess Mother Durga), chants render at the top of the voices. After the immersion, some water is collected from the river & brought back to the Puja spot, where it is sprinkled on the devotees. This water is called Shanti Jal ( water that brings peace & happiness). People them embrace each other in greetings. The young touch the feet of the elders & then embrace wishing each other “Shubho Bijoya”. This ritual continues till Kali Puja (for about a fortnight), where people visit each other’s homes & wish Shubho Bijoya along with sweets, mostly home made.

Durga Puja...the mythology...the rituals - part 2

There are references of Durga Maa in the epics of Ramayana & Mahabharata. It is said that in the time of Puranas, traditionally, Goddess Durga was worshipped in the spring season. Thus Durga Puja was also known as the Basanti Puja. However, during Treta Yug, Ram had crossed the Ocean with his Vanar Vahini (monkey army) & travelled to Lanka to end the tyranny of Ravan, the demon King & free his beloved wife Sita from the clutches of Ravan. Since Ravan was extremely powerful & was under protection of heavenly boons, Ram was advised by Narad to invoke the Goddess Durga, the epitome of Shakti. So though it was autumn time, Ram preponed the rituals & worshipped the Devi. Ram came to know that Devi would be pleased, if he offered her one hundred blue Lotuses. But travelling all over the place, Ram could only manage to gather ninety nine Lotuses. Since time was running out, Ram decided to cut & offer one of his eyes, as they were said to resemble the beauty of a blue Lotus. Just when he was about to do so, Goddess Durga appeared before him & stopped him. She also blessed him with victory. It is said that with her blessings, Ram was able to kill Ravan on the same Vijaya Dashami day & bring back peace & prosperity on earth.

That is why it is called ‘Akal Bodhan’ or the untimely Pujas. Over the years, ‘Akal Bodhan’, has become the traditional Durga Pujas for the Bengalis over the world. Interestingly, in Durga Puja, the Bengalis, claim that the Goddess Durga is visiting her parents, travelling from Kailash Parbat (home abode of Shiva & Parvati) to Bhoolok(the Earth), where her parents reside. (will write about this separately in details)..........

It all starts with Vishwakarma Puja, which normally falls on the 17th September every year. According to mythology, Vishwahkrama is known as the principal architect of the Gods……..the all who had fabricated , designed & created the entire Universe at the behest of Lord Brahma(Lord of Creation). He is also credited to creating the various missiles used in the mythological era. Vishwakarma is regarded as the supreme worker, the very essence of excellence & quality in craftsmanship. Vishwakarma Puja is celebrated in all industrial houses, artists, craftsmen etc & is observed on Kanya Sankranti day, normally on 17th September, which marks the beginning of the festive seasons, the first of the occasions being the Ganesh Puja on Ganesh Chaturthi.

Mahalaya, is the new moon day or Amavasya, ending the Pitr Paksha & the beginning of the Devi Paksha. According to ancient scriptures, this day is considered to be extremely auspicious for making offerings to the fore fathers & praying for the peace of the departed souls. This day, also known as “Torpon”, people throng river side, early in the morning, especially the Ganges, or visit temples like Trambakeshwar (near Nasik, Maharashtra),to make offerings & perform rites. For the Bengalis, this day starts very very early in the morning, with recitals & shlokas & beautiful musical renditions on the Devi over the radio… Since 1930s it has been the soul stirring voice of Birendra Krishna Bhadra, over the radio, which we have all grown up hearing these recitals over the years, & the magic & the enchanting music still enthralls every Bengali…….where ever he or she is.

"Ya devi sarbabhuteshu, sakti rupena sanksthita
Namasteshwai Namasteshwai Namasteshwai namo namaha...."
to be continued.............

Durga Puja....the mythology....the rituals !!!

It is said that many thousand years ago, Mahishasur, the king of Asuras, through years of austerities, was once granted a boon by Lord Bramha, that no man or deity would be able to kill him. This boon gave Mahishasur immense power & made him arrogant & greedy. He was filled with the urge to rule all the three worlds, Swarg Lok(the Heaven), Bhoo Lok(the Earth), & Pataal Lok(the world under the Earth bed). It was believed that while Gods & Godessess lived in Swarg Lok, mortal beings lived in Bhoo Lok & Demons & Asuras lived in Pataal Lok. Mahishasur started to terrorize heaven and the inhabitants. He pervaded the world with his battalion of Asuras and plundered & killed people ruthlessly. Chaos and anarchy reigned all over. Gods were driven from heaven and Mahishasur usurped the throne. Under the influence of the boon from Lord Bramha, Mahishasur was undefeatable & the Gods were unable to combat him. They were fighting a losing battle. So they all assembled & requested Lord Shiva, Lord Bramha and Lord Vishnu to stop Mahishasur's tyranny.

The Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu & Maheshwar, then decided to combine their divine energy & what emerged was a feminine form so brilliant & glaring that it immediately illuminated the whole Universe. This combined source of power was directed on the residence of a famous Sage, Kattayana on the Krishna Chaturdashi (fourteenth day of new moon), in the month of Ashwin(Sep-Oct). From this glow of energy emerged a beautiful woman with ten arms, riding a Lion. She went along to be called as Goddess Durga. Since she was born in the ashram of Sage Kattayana, she was named Kattayani. The sage worshipped her for three days; ShuklaSaptami; MahaAshtami & MahaNabami to invoke celestial strength & energy in her. Despite her grace & beauty, she started to bear a menacing expression, since her job was to kill Mahishasur & free the three worlds of evil. Her ten arms were laden with arms that were symbols of divine power. She had Vishnu’s discuss(Sudarshan Chakra), Shiva’s trident(Trishul), Varuna’s conchshell(Shankh), Agni's flaming dart, Vayu's bow, Surya's quiver and arrows, Yama's iron rod, Indra's thunderbolt(Vazra), Kubera's club and a garland of snakes from Shesha. She also had a lion as a charger & carrier from Himalayas to ride.

On the tenth day, now popularly known as the Vijaya Dashami, a fierce battle took place. Finally, when Mahishasur, in the guise of a buffalo, charged against Durga, the Devi beheaded the buffalo & from within emerged Mahishasur in his original form. He was facing Shakti, who was neither human nor a diety….she was an embodiment of energy created by the Trinity of Brahma – Vishnu – Maheshwar. Durga pierced his chest with the trident & relieved the three worlds of evil power. Mahishasur, it is said fell on her feet, & asked for being pardoned & cleared of all his Sins. With his death, evil was removed & peace was established. That is why she is called, ‘Durgatinashini Durga’…….our Mother Goddess, who destroys all evil & protects her devotees & establishes peace & prosperity.

Goddess Durga is known for two aspects : benevolence & fierceness. In benevolence, She is Uma(the Light), Gauri(Yellow or brilliant), Parvati(the mountaineer), Jagatmata( Mother of the World). In fierceness, She is Durga(the limitless Power), Kali(the Black), Chandi(the Fierce) & Bhairavi(the terrible).

to be continued.........

Guru Poornima.....a tradition to uphold!!!

Today is Guru Purnima..... On this day, Hindus from all over the world offer their gratitude to Spiritual Masters & all the teachers, from whom they have learnt & attained wisdom. This full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashad(normally in July), is observed as the auspiscious Guru Poornima day, in the sacred memory of Great Sage Vyasa, who is believed to have edited the four Vedas, written 18 Puranas, The Mahabharata & the Srimad Bhagwatam. The lineage of Gurus started with him, and over the centuries Hindus have attached paramount significance to spiritual Gurus. A Guru is equated with God & at times given an even higher position of respect, always considered to be a link between the individual & the immortal. This full moon day is also of deep significance to farmers, as it heralds the setting of the much needed rains for the crops, a life line for the paddy.

" Dhyaana moolam Gurur Murtih; Pooja moolam Gurur Padam;

Mantra moolam Gurur Vakyam; Moksha moolam Gurur Kripa"

"Meditate on the Guru's form/picture; Worship on the feet of the Guru;

Treat His words/ preachings as a sacred Mantra/chant; His Grace will ensure final Liberation"

Having a Guru in life is a blessing in itself, & having a Living Guru is probably blessings of many lifetimes....... While, we have had many Gurus in our tradition & lineage, the presence of a Living Guru, establishes an instant connect........the knowledge from the ancient scriptures & experiences of the past Gurus are made easily available. Guru is the light which removes all the darkness from our lives & walk us from ignorance to knowledge. Guru is a Tatva, which is all pervading, omnipresent & omnipotent. Its a connect with the Holy tradition & Supreme Consciousness, that is infinite & everlasting .

I am so eternally blessed & thankful to have a Guru........a Living Guru, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in my life. My whole being bows down to Him in reverence.

"Gurur Bramha, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshwarah;

Gurur Saakshaat, Para-Bramha, Tasmai Shri Guruveh Namah"

"Guru Matr Pita, Guru Bandhu Sakha;

Tere Charno mein Swami, mere Koti Pranaam"

Jai Gurudev!!!

Hinduism - Communal or Secular ???

Today I ask a question that I am sure rakes up in the heart of every Hindu in India.

Do you consider that - Sanskrit is communal and Urdu is secular, Mandir is Communal and Masjid is Secular, Sadhu is Communal and Imam is secular, BJP is communal and Muslim league is Secular, Dr.Praveen Bhai Togadia is ANTI-NATIONAL and Bhukari is Secular, VandeMatharam is communal and Allah-O-Akbar is secular, Shriman is communal and Mian is secular, Hinduism is Communal and Islam is Secular, Hindutva is communal and Jihadism is secular, and at last, Bharat is communal and Italy is Secular?

When Christian and Muslim schools can teach Bible and Quran, Why Hindus cannot teach Gita or Ramayan ? Abdul Rehman Antuley was made a trustee of the famous Siddhi Vinayak Temple in Prabhadevi, Mumbai. Can ever a Hindu - say Mulayam Singh Yadav or Laloo Prasad Yadav- ever become a trustee of a Masjid or Madrasa? Dr. Praveen bhai Togadia has been arrested many times on flimsy grounds. Has the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Delhi, Ahmed Bhukari been arrested For claiming to be an ISI agent and advocating partition of Bharat? When Haj pilgrims are given subsidy, why Hindu pilgrims to Amarnath, Sabarimalai & Kailash Mansarovar are taxed?
What happened in Jammu this year, over the land dispute for Amarnath Shrine Board would have made every true Indian hang his/her head in disgust & shame.
When will we wake up to our basic rights as a Hindu???

Our country has had a Muslim President, a Hindu Prime Minister and a Christian Defence Minister run the affairs of the nation with a unity of purpose.

Can this happen anywhere, except in a HINDU NATION - BHARATH?