Lord Shiva: The Enigmatic Deity of Destruction and Transformation
Lord Shiva is one of the most prominent and revered deities in Hindu mythology, known for his enigmatic and multifaceted nature. He is often depicted as a complex and contradictory figure, embodying both destructive and transformative forces in the universe.
In Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is considered the destroyer of the universe, responsible for ending cycles of creation and ushering in new ones. He is also known as the god of asceticism and meditation, representing the power of spiritual transformation and enlightenment.
Shiva is often depicted in art and sculpture as having a third eye, which represents his ability to see beyond the physical world and into the realm of the divine. He is also associated with the sacred river Ganges, which is said to flow from the matted hair on his head.
One of the most prominent symbols associated with Lord Shiva is the trident, which represents the three aspects of existence: creation, preservation, and destruction. This symbolizes the power of transformation, and the ability to let go of the old in order to make way for the new.
Despite his association with destruction, Lord Shiva is also considered a compassionate deity who helps those in need. He is often depicted as having a calm and peaceful demeanor, and his devotees believe that he can bring inner peace and spiritual enlightenment to those who seek his blessings.
Lord Shiva is also associated with many festivals and celebrations throughout the year, such as Maha Shivratri and Navratri, where devotees come together to worship and seek his blessings.
In conclusion, Lord Shiva is a complex and enigmatic deity who embodies both destructive and transformative forces in the universe. His multifaceted nature makes him one of the most intriguing and revered deities in Hindu mythology, inspiring awe and reverence in his devotees. Whether seen as a destroyer or a savior, Lord Shiva continues to hold a significant place in the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world.
What are the roots of Hinduism?
Hinduism developed over many centuries from a variety of sources: cultural practices, sacred texts, and philosophical movements, as well as local popular beliefs. The combination of these factors is what accounts for the varied and diverse nature of Hindu practices and beliefs. Hinduism developed from several sources:
Prehistoric and Neolithic culture, which left material evidence including abundant rock and cave paintings of bulls and cows, indicating an early interest in the sacred nature of these animals.
The Indus Valley civilization, located in what is now Pakistan and northwestern India, which flourished between approximately 2500 and 1700 B.C.E., and persisted with some regional presence as late as 800 B.C.E. The civilization reached its high point in the cities of Harrapa and Mohenjo-Daro. Although the physical remains of these large urban complexes have not produced a great deal of explicit religious imagery, archaeologists have recovered some intriguing items, including an abundance of seals depicting bulls, among these a few exceptional examples illustrating figures seated in yogic positions; terracotta female figures that suggest fertility; and small anthropomorphic sculptures made of stone and bronze. Material evidence found at these sites also includes prototypes of stone linga (phallic emblems of the Hindu god Shiva). Later textual sources assert that indigenous peoples of this area engaged in linga worship.
According to recent theories, Indus Valley peoples migrated to the Gangetic region of India and blended with indigenous cultures, after the decline of civilization in the Indus Valley. A separate group of Indo-European speaking people migrated to the subcontinent from West Asia. These peoples brought with them ritual life including fire sacrifices presided over by priests, and a set of hymns and poems collectively known as the Vedas.
Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest religions. It has complex roots, and involves a vast array of practices and a host of deities. Its plethora of forms and beliefs reflects the tremendous diversity of India, where most of its one billion followers reside. Hinduism is more than a religion. It is a culture, a way of life, and a code of behavior. This is reflected in a term Indians use to describe the Hindu religion: Sanatana Dharma, which means eternal faith, or the eternal way things are (truth).
The word Hinduism derives from a Persian term denoting the inhabitants of the land beyond the Indus, a river in present-day Pakistan. By the early nineteenth century the term had entered popular English usage to describe the predominant religious traditions of South Asia, and it is now used by Hindus themselves. Hindu beliefs and practices are enormously diverse, varying over time and among individuals, communities, and regional areas.
Unlike Buddhism, Jainism, or Sikhism, Hinduism has no historical founder. Its authority rests instead upon a large body of sacred texts that provide Hindus with rules governing rituals, worship, pilgrimage, and daily activities, among many other things. Although the oldest of these texts may date back four thousand years, the earliest surviving Hindu images and temples were created some two thousand years later.
Le temps de piété
S’il y a au monde une communauté qui prie pour se fortifier, ce sont les hindous du monde. Maurice est connu comme ‘Little India’. Ce n’est pas rien. C’est une gloire. À Dieu. Alors, une unique chose : prions…
C’est pour cette raison que les hindous de notre pays prient ces temps-ci. Ils le font pour notre pays. Pas d’hypocrisie, pas de hantise, pas de colère. C’est de l’amour simplement.
Certains se demanderont pourquoi ils ont si foi en Dieu, d’autres se diront qu’ils aussi prient. Il y a quelque chose d’inexplicable, d’incomprenable. Mais il y a une foi. Cela, il faut l’avoir vécue.
Des services religieux, des rites que certains ne comprennent pas, des cérémonies simples. Un seul but : c’est la bénédiction pour le pays et pour notre famille. Donc, accueillons ces temps de piété, ces moments de prière, de se laisser aller vers Dieu, le leur, car chacun a dans son cœur un petit Dieu. Quelle que soit sa religion.
Dans ces instants d’intenses prières des hindous du monde et de Maurice, respectons-les, car ce sont une source de bienfaits pour nous tous. Il y a plusieurs cérémonies, des sacrifices personnels, des dons qui sont faits, alors soyons unis. Chacun faisant sa prière. Pour notre pays, pour nous.
Happy holly hours, be it for every single prayer and festival, thanks to the Holly. God bless.
En passant, qui c’est d’entre nous qui n’a pas apprécié une jeune fille taper à notre porte nous apporter un petit plateau de friandises le jour de Dipavali ou de Diwali ? Nous, on s’en régale. Car c‘est un partage commun. C’est ce vivre ensemble que nous devrions garder, c’est notre force. Sinon, ce sera le désastre. Pire que le Wakashio.
C’est à vous de voir…
JCD
Ganesh Chaturthi : un rituel qui défie le temps
Ganesh Chathurti (Fête de Ganesh) est une fête indienne au cours de laquelle le Seigneur Ganesh, fils de Shiva et de Pârvatî, est vénéré particulièrement par des fidèles de la communauté marathi de par le monde et également à Maurice. Après dix jours de jeûne et de prières dans les temples, les devôts vont chanter et prier le Dieu Ganesh pour qu'il leur apporte joie, santé, sagesse et l'amour de l'autre avant l'immersion de l'idole dans un cours d'eau ou à la mer. Cette fête est célébrée le week-end des 22 et 23 août de cette année.
Ayodhya Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan
Ground-breaking ceremony done by Indian PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Ayodhya for the grand ground-breaking ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Modi is among the 175 people present at the ceremony. He is sharing the dais with just four other people — RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, trust chief Nritya Gopaldas Maharaj, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, and CM Yogi Adityanath. Keeping in mind the pandemic, seating arrangements are made in accordance with social distancing principles.
PM Modi has unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of the foundation stone of the temple, followed by the release of a commemorative postage stamp on ‘Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir’ last week. After the event, Modi has addressed the gathering before leaving for the helipad.
Before this, the Prime minister along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had offered prayers at Hanuman Garhi. Modi also paid a visit to Ram Janmabhoomi.
Ahead of the ceremony, Ayodhya has been decked up. The city has been painted yellow – an auspicious colour of knowledge and learning. On Tuesday last, prayers were offered to the nishan (flag) of Lord Hanuman, revered as the protector of the city. Starting Tuesday last, all local temples started a continuous Akhand Ramayan recitation with temples and homes being lit as in Diwali.
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Ayodhya verdict: The man who helped Lord Ram win
For more than a decade, he sat in musty courtrooms, representing a Hindu God in one of the country's most contentious and deadly disputes.
In court papers, Triloki Nath Pandey is described as the "next friend" of the infant Lord Ram. The deity was one of the litigants in the long-running dispute over a plot of land in the northern Indian temple town of Ayodhya, which was decided in his favour by the Supreme Court on Saturday.
"To represent God is a glorious job. To think that I was chosen to do this job from among millions of Hindus made me proud and joyful," Mr Pandey, 75, told recently.
For centuries, a deity or an idol has been treated as a "juristic person" in Indian law because many devotees donate their land and possessions to idols who are synonymous with their shrines. A devotee or the manager of the shrine or trust typically handles the deity's possessions. In light-hearted legalese, the idol is represented by someone called a "friend" of God.
But how do you define the best interests of God? And how can you be sure that the person is acting in God's best interests?
These are tricky matters which have never been statutorily defined in the law, and have been handled on a case-by-case basis. But usually, unless another person also claims to be a "best friend" of the deity, there is no dispute. In other words, says a lawyer, God is entitled to one friend.
A Hindu mob tore down the 16th Century Babri mosque in Ayodhya in 1992, triggering riots in many parts of India. Many Hindus believed that the mosque stood at the exact spot where their deity, Lord Ram, was born and wanted to build a temple there. On Saturday, the Supreme Court acceded to their wishes and ruled that Muslims would get another plot of land to construct a mosque.
Mr Pandey spoke for the deity who millions of Hindus revere for his sense of justice and benevolence. Lord Ram is also the protagonist of a mythological epic, Ramayana, where he is a symbol of self-sacrifice and heroism for many Hindus.
Lord Ram's petitions in the court - essentially backed by a clutch of Hindu groups and meticulously written and represented in courts by some of India's leading lawyers - talked about worship, divinity, incarnations, and spirits of the divine.
They spoke about how it was "manifestly established by public records of unimpeachable authority" that the disputed plot was actually the place where the deity was born. The petitions added that the deity's spirit "can be experienced by those who pray there".
the judges also concluded that it was the "faith and belief of Hindus" that the place was the birthplace of Ram, even before the mosque was constructed.
Mr Pandey, a tall, strapping man, has actually been the third "friend" of Lord Ram after the deity became one of the litigants in the dispute in 1989. The first two were a deceased high court judge, and a retired university lecturer.
Legal aid
Mr Pandey was born to a farming family in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. The eldest of four children, he went to a local school and college, studying Hindi and later training to be a teacher. But he never really held a job.
In high school he got involved with the right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is widely regarded as the parent organisation of the ruling BJP. Much later, he moved to work with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), or World Hindu Council, which was at the forefront of the demolition of the mosque. Political scientist Manjari Katju describes the group as a "clamorous and militant sibling of the RSS".
uring the marathon 40-day final hearings in the Supreme Court, Mr Pandey, who is battling arthritis, sat on a chair. "I must have visited courtrooms hundreds of times in the last 10 years or so. I didn't talk much there. The lawyers spoke on my behalf. Remember, I am the symbol of God," he said. He would also sign papers on behalf of the deity."
Mr Pandey lives in a single-room on the sprawling dusty VHP campus in Ayodhya, where other members of the organisation have been agitating and waiting for a temple to be built since they demolished the mosque. After the verdict, he ceases to be a "friend" of God, but he is unfazed by this.
"I am with Lord Ram always. When I am with him, what is to fear? God has been vindicated."
(News source and pics : Internet)
Life-Changing Quotes By Lord Krishna That Are Relevant Even Today
Lord Krishna was the eighth avatar (Incarnation) of Lord Vishnu. He represents love, wisdom and intellect.
He gave sacred knowledge to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, which we know today as Bhagvad Gita. From Dharma to Karma, the quotes by Lord Krishna from Bhagavad Gita is highly motivational and still relevant today.
1.Do everything you have to do, but not with greed, not with ego, not with lust, not with envy but with love, compassion, humility, and devotion.”
2.No one who does good work will ever come to a bad end, either here or in the world to come.”
3.A man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he becomes.”
Women
Before reading, just answer for this simple question.
Do you want to give bad habits to your children, and more money which will eventually be used to destroy your children?
OR
Do you want to give good habits to your children, and make them as good persons in the world?
If your answer is Yes for the first question, then you don't need to read this. You can just go ahead and do your work.
Many people think that taking care of children is an ordinary task. But, it is the one of the most difficult tasks. It is very important to take care of many things for a woman, starting from the day she became pregnant, to make her child a good person.
The child gets the mental state of the mother when she was pregnant. Whatever a pregnant does, the child gets interest in the same thing. In the previous age, when the women become pregnant, they don't do anything other than reading Mahabharata, Ramayana, Bhagavad-Gita etc. If they do that, then the child also gets the message of that. Nowadays, everyone is watching dirty movies, and serials. That's why children are also getting dirty habits at very young age.
Prahlada maharaj learned about Lord Narayana when he was in the womb only. Narada taught to his mother, and he learned in the womb. He became one of the 12 authorities in the bhagavatham.
There are so many evidences for this in the scriptures.
Satyavathi:Satyavathi used to scull the boat on yamuna. One day, the great sage Parasara saw her and thought of giving a child to her, and she asked the sage that her child should become a great person. And parasara granted that, and her child became the greatest sage. That child compiled the four vedas, and composed Puranas, and Mahabharata. He is the great sage of all the time, Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa (Veda Vyasa).
Ambika: When Ambika lost his husband without any child, her mother-in-law Satyavathi thought of having a grand child by her another son Veda Vyasa, and Ambika. But, Ambika refused that, and she ignored that there should be one child to rule the kingdom. She met Veda Vyasa reluctantly, and she closed her eyes completely. Because of that, she got a blind child, Dhritarashtra.
Ambalika:Ambalika was another daughter-in-law of Satyavathi. When she met with Vyasa, her face was paled. And she got a son, whose skin is paled. He is Pandu, the father of the Pandavas.
Servant of Ambika:Ambika got a blind son, because of her mistake when she met Vyasa. To get a good son, Satyavathi asked Ambika to meet Vyasa again. But, Ambika did not like that, and asked her servant to meet Vyasa. Her servant completely co-operated Vyasa to get a good son, and she got very good son. Her son became the one of the great devotees, and the great authority for the Dharma. He is Vidura, the incarnation of Yama Dharmaraj.
Kunti:When Kunti was in youth, Sage Durvasa came to her house and stayed there for one year. Kunti served him very well, and durvasa liked that, and gave one boon. That boon was, whenever kunti calls any god, he would come and give a son who is like himself. Kunti did not understand the greatness of boon, and she thought of testing the boon. She called the sun god, and when sun came, she told him that she had called just to test the boon. But, the boon should not go wasted. For that reason, sun gave a child to kunti, eventhough she does not like to have a child. She got a child who is considered as a bad person in the Mahabharat. Eventhough, he was not actually bad, he associated with bad people, and got a bad name. He is Karna.
From all the above examples, it is clearly understood that, mother decides the life of his son. It is extremely important to do every activity with very much consideration while one is pregnant, because, those 9 months mainly decide the future of the child. And even after giving birth, it is extremely important to take care of the child properly, at least up to the age of 15. A child does not know anything. They just repeat what they hear. If we don't take care of children properly, then they will become bad. Even if we take care properly, still, they may become bad, once they enter the college. The only way to avoid this is to make them extra ordinarily good before the age of 15. Then only, they won't be destroyed. Because, the world is so bad. If not at the age of 15, people will destroy him/her at the age of 20. At the age of 20, if they feel that those things are very bad, then only they don't do it. Millions of people can tell "100 good reasons to smoke/drink" etc. For an ordinary person who is not that much inclined to spiritual, definitely falls. There are so many people who are ready to give drinks for the first 100 times for free. After that he becomes addicted, and will continue with his own money.
There are millions of things and ways in which a person can be trapped to bad things. Unless one is on the extreme side of good, he/she won't be good for the whole life. This is an absolute truth for this kali yuga.
Everything should be completed before the age of 15. Otherwise, nothing would be in the control of any person. He/she would be controlled by the society. There is a saying that "the whole world is running with the speed of Light towards Hell". The society became very bad in such a way that, if anyone does not drink or smoke, then he appears as a fool to many people. Many people ask him, "You studied in that big X institute. What did you learn there?". If everyone moves towards hell with that much speed, then we have to take so much effort just to move with less speed towards hell, because everyone throws us towards that side. So, even if we don't try to move, we also move towards hell with the same speed. If we don't want to move towards hell, or even just to survive at the same place, we should have lot of energy.
If a child enters outside world (college) at the age of 15, without any energy, what would happen? He/she would be surely moved towards hell by others. There is no way to prevent that except giving very high energy before the age of 15. Giving high energy means, he/she must be advanced in spiritual knowledge.
Nowadays, most of the ladies are interested in doing jobs, but not taking care of children. If they don't take care of their children, obviously, the children will get bad habits. It is more important to make them very good, than earning some money by thinking that their children would enjoy with that. But, if we give more money to enjoy to our children, and if they have bad habits, they would be destroyed soon. Money can be used in good ways, as well as bad ways. If we don't make our children as good, they use that money to destroy themselves. If any husband asks her educated wife to just sit in the house, and take care of the children, then everyone will abuse him, that he is controlling his wife, and start revolutions that ladies are not considered as equal to men. But, they don't consider about taking care of children, and making them as a good citizens of the society. They just see their fame and prestige in the society.
If you are the one who wants fame and prestige more than the growth of your children, and ready to spend more time to achieve that, then do not give birth to a child.
If there are two tasks, and two people, and if one person can do both, and another person can do only one, then the person who can do only one can get that task, and the other person has to do the other task. This happens in every company. If there is only one person who can do some task, then only that person gets that task, and (s)he has to do that. Women can do both job, and taking care of children. But, men cannot take care of children as women. Because of that, women are getting the work of taking care of children. Not because of that, they cannot do jobs. It is very difficult and great to make a great person, than just becoming great. Women have more challenges. But they think that they are getting zero challenging work like taking care of children, and not getting more challenging work like doing job. That is just foolishness. They are not at all considering the challenge in taking care of children. It is the one of the most difficult tasks.
All Mothers, think about one simple question with your commonsense.
If you were given opportunity to choose exactly one of the two choices, money, and good children, which one would you chose?
Hope to see a great person made by you.
What is Darshan?
What is the meaning of this? Is it like a shopping window, “I want to see?” No. What most people do not understand is, when you say “I see you,” when you say “I behold who you are,” the experience, the image of the other, is happening within you. If energy forms are powerful enough, they are capable of imprinting themselves upon your system. If you are too full of yourself, if you are too identified with things that you are not, then nothing goes in; the image just bounces to your eyeballs. But the less you are, if there is nothing much of you, this image, if it is properly taken in, imprints itself and grows within you.
Right from the moment you rst sit with me, I have been saying, “Just be with me.” That means being in darshan.
This is why people want to behold the divine for a moment. Once you see something, even if you close your eyes, it is there and if you behold something with a total willingness of wanting to take that imprint into you and if you reduce yourself, then this image grows and becomes a live process; it has become a part of you. When you will allow it to become the whole of you is just a question of when you will make yourself into nothing.
Devotees claim because of their god or goddess, their business is working wonderfully, their family is functioning very well – everything in their life is going fabulously. This is because in some way, they are taking an imprint. A superior machine is working for you, and suddenly, you experience a different level of functioning altogether.
Darshan is not about listening to some great talk. But how to make you behold? Either I must sing or I must speak. Because I am not good at singing, I speak. This is not a complex philosophy that you have to understand. Simply behold so that the energy imprints itself, because I don’t come and sit here as a person. I have arranged myself in such a way that there is a certain level of vibrance that is worth getting an imprint of.
Unfortunately, inspired by other religions, people have started praying in temples too. Telling the Creator what He should do is the most idiotic thing. None of us has the intelligence to create even a blade of grass. Then who are we to give daily advice to the one who created such a phenomenal existence? You only behold – you do not ask your divine entity for anything. You are not willing to settle for anything less than the best – you want Him. You do not want anything less than becoming divine, so you want to take an imprint of the Divine within yourself.
If darshan has to happen, you have to take the maximum input into you. If you are so meditative that you are absolutely not there – you are an empty house that is a great way to behold. But if you are in a house-full state, then it is best that you behold with utmost love and tenderness because this is when the imprint of what you see is deepest.
Love & Live
Lord Krishna says all humans worship according to their nature. Every religion creates belief in GOD, as the creator of Universe. The deep thinkers of Hinduism understood the religion as a concern and faith in humanity and coexistence with other living creatures. The reasons of India’s survival remain with the deep faith in Artha, Kama, Dharma, and if practiced to best of his ability attain Moksha. Religion rarely imposed and controlled individuals against his wishes.
Every one emphasized that you are the creator of your destiny. All are for one reality that you are the ATMA and your goal is to reach the PARMATMA, that is the Almighty. Many who are knowledgeable used the understanding of the Vedas and Upanishads for their survival rather than creating the love for Hinduism .If a person converts to other religion, he has not understood the philosophy of their own religion. Mere identity with religion doesn’t turn sub human to human race. If understood in the true sense, The Mahabharata, great epic on human destiny, teaches how Dharma win over Adharma. Every character is hidden in us, only waiting for an opportunity to surface. If any Adharma committed with knowledge or ignorance will bear fruit how mighty you are. Every character, how noble in their attitudes has reaped the consequences.
Today’s problems in Hinduism are man-made, but not GOD made, are misinterpreted for selfish goals. The strength of Hinduism lies in the choice of way of life. The Doctrine of Karma, every living human guided by his acts of omission and commission, also guides the destiny of the Nation or even the Universe. Time is the best teacher, a great instrument in the hands of Almighty, yet no one escaped. The job of a Guru is not to interpret the scriptures, but to take you to another dimension of life.
Sawariya Baba is also the founder of Shree Radha Damodar Seva Ashram in Goverdhan which has been dedicated to the well being of individuals.