Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Monday, 14 January 2013
kumbh mela special
Lakhs take holy dip as 'Maha Kumbh' begins
Ash-smeared naked 'naga' ascetics, sadhus and seers perched atop decked up chariots led millions of pilgrims in taking a holy dip in the Sangam ¿ the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati – marking commencement of the nearly two-month-long 'Maha Kumbh' today.
A sea of humanity converged for the religious event dubbed as the "greatest show on earth" and with the break of dawn, 'Mahanirvani akhara', along with 'Atal akhara' began their majestic "royal bathing procession (shahi snan)" with 'naga' ascetics in the vanguard.
Opulence appeared to be rubbing shoulders with austerity in the grand procession wherein 'naga' sadhus with matted hair and little or no clothes on their ash-smeared bodies presented a glowing contrast alongside the 'mahamandaleshwars' and religious leaders of other sects who came atop well-decorated chariots, horses and elephants.
While the naga ascetics wore garlands of marigold and 'rudraksh', others displayed ornaments and crowns of gold in abundance.
Thousands of curious onlookers, with a fair sprinkling of foreigners, watched these processions and presented a a vast panoramic view of the country's unity in diversity.
On reaching the riverside, the sadhus first worshipped their traditional weapons like tridents and spears and their deities before proceeding for a holy dip in the Sangam.
These two akharas were followed by 11 other sects with time ranging from 30 minutes to about an hour allotted to each of them depending upon the size of their respective procession.
These 'akharas', originally set up by Adi Sankaracharya in the 8th century to defend and propagate Vedic religion, grew in number and size over the years and are considered pivotal to holding of 'Maha Kumbh' congregations, held after every 12 years.
However, in a discordant note to the congregation the Shankaracharya of Dwarka Peeth and Jyotirpeeth Badrikashram Swami Swaroopanand decided to keep away from the congregation despite it being held in an area under his jurisdiction. "Swami Swaroopanandji had demanded the setting up of a 'Chatushpath' for the Shankaracharyas of the four Peeths set up by Adi Sankara in order to distinguish them from self- styled ones mushrooming all over the country, but the administration declined the request saying it amounted to creating a new tradition," said the pontiff's close aide Swami Avimukteswarananda, who is camping at the Mela.
Over 8O lakh pilgrims had taken the holy dip in the Sangam by evening, Divisional Commissioner of Allahabad Devesh Chauturvedi said, adding "streams of people were still pouring in the area and the bathing is likely to continue till late in the night".
No untoward incident was reported from anywhere so far, according to authorities which have made massive security arrangement over the huge township of tents and ornately decorated marquees and "pandals" that has sprung up in 6,000 acres.
Significantly, the sprawling Mela ground has been notified as a temporary district in keeping with the complex administrative machinery involved in conducting the Maha Kumbh.
Over 10,000 security personnel have been deployed. Besides guarding different routes, they kept watch from 56 watch towers and 89 CCTV cameras. Anti-Terrorism Squads, Bomb Disposal Squads and Mine Detecting Units were also at hand to meet any eventuality, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kumbh Mela, R K S Rathore said.
Indian Air Force helicopters were also seen making aerial survey of the Mela area which falls in the vicinity of a vast swathe of defence land.
Nearly 5,000 voluntary organisations are rendering services as multitudes upon multitudes of people descend on the Kumbh township.
The routes for processions going to the river and returning were separated as to ward off possibility of any clash between rival sects of sadhus, given some past instances of violence.
Over 11,000 shops are catering to the mundane needs of those taking part in the congregation. These include shops selling spices and sandalwood from the south, herbs from mountain region and musk and curios from various parts of the country.
'Nai baras', an enclosure of barbers, was also doing brisk business as getting heads tonsured is considered auspicious on the occasion.
A number of these tents are meant for 'kalpavasis' who will begin their month-long penance from 'Paush Poornima' on January 27.
The 'akharas' will have two more 'shahi snans' on Mauni Amavasya (February 10) and Basant Panchmi (February 15). There are other concerns as well as the quality of water in the Ganga is still not good with biological oxygen demand (BOD) level still much above the permissible limit of 3 mg/l.
But with discharge of more water in the next few days, from dams upstream, it is likely to improve, sources in the Mela administration said.
Two other days of ritual bathing are considered particularly auspicious ¿ Magh Poornima (February 25), and Mahashivratri (March 10) when the congregation formally comes to an end.
The other akharas which took part in the bath were Niranjani and Anand, Joona, Agni and Avahan, Nirvani Ani, Digambar Ani and Nirmohi, Bada Udasin, Naya Udasin and Nirmal in the same order.
Meanwhile, according to a research scholar of Allahabad University, Pramod Sharma, a team of the varsity and Harvard University will document the past, the ongoing activities and future plans of these akharas and its findings will be
published in a book funded by Arundhati Vashishth Anusandhan Peeth of the city.
The team comprises 10 students of Allahabad University and five of Harvard who will join the team on January 19.
Almost all the hotels in the city have hiked their tariffs by 100 to 300 per cent because of heavy influx of people.
The state tourism department has set up luxurious cottages in the Mela area itself in which a night's stay costs between Rs 6,000 and Rs 12,000, according to a senior manager in the tourism department, D P Singh.
"On days other than the shahi snan, there will be a 40 per cent discount on the tariff of the tents", he said.
Private players have also set up Swiss cottages outside the Mela area where a night¿s stay costs about Rs 8,500.
A small hamlet of huts and tents has been set up in the Sector 9 of the Mela area where family members of those who laid down their lives in the Kargil conflict or were killed in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack will stay.
"A 'yajnashala' with 'havan kunds' has also been set up there to perform 'yajna' for the peace of the martyrs¿ souls", according to Balak Jogeshwar Dasji Maharaj of Badrinath who is managing the affairs at the hamlet.
Railways have run special trains on the day besides attaching additional bogies to other trains touching the city, officials in the North Central Railway zone, headquartered here, said.
Roadways operators have also pressed a large number of buses into service. Most of the roads in the city have been closed to vehicular traffic to facilitate movement of people to the Mela ground.
KUBH MELA SPECIAL
Maha Kumbh 2013
Maha Kumbh is going to start from tomorrow (January 14, 2013). This year about 5 crore people will reach there. This Kumbh is Lets learn about Kumbh.
Contents: Why Kumbh 2013 is Important, What is Kumbh Mela, Timing, History, Story, The ritual, Most Significant Days During The Kumbh Mela, Important dates in Kumbh 2013
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why Kumbh 2013 is Important -->
The 2013 Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, India was the largest gathering of humanity in recorded history. It was not just the final Kumbh Mela in a 12-year cycle of festivals. It was the final festival of 12 cycles - the conclusion of a giant 144-year cycle, making it "Maha" Kumbh Mela, the Great Festival. This 144-year buildup of spiritual meaning made it a powerfully auspicious time for pilgrims to bathe in the Ganges. Even the planets and stars joined in, providing heavenly alignments not seen for 144 years.
What is Kumbh Mela -->
Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather at the Ganges, river Godavari and river Kshipra, where bathing for purification from sin is considered especially efficacious. The festival is billed as the biggest religious gathering in the world. In 2001, more than 40 million people gathered on the main bathing day at Allahabad, breaking a world record for the biggest human gathering. The Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela is celebrated every six years at Haridwar and Allahabad, the Purna (complete) Kumbh takes place every twelve years, at four places Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. The Maha (great) Kumbh Mela which comes after 12 'Purna Kumbh Melas', or 144 years, is held at Allahabad. According to the Mela Administration's estimates, around 70 million people participated in the 45-day Ardh Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, in 2007. The previous Kumbh Mela, held in 2001 in Haridwar, was, before it occurred, estimated by the authorities to attract between 30 and 70 million people.
Timing -->
Kumbh Mela is celebrated at different locations depending on the position of the planet of Bṛhaspati (Jupiter) and the sun. When Jupiter and the sun are in the zodiac sign Leo (Simha Rashi) it is held in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik; when the sun is in Aries (Mesha Rashi) it is celebrated at Haridwar; when Jupiter is in Taurus (Vrishabha Rashi ) and the sun is in Capricorn (Makar Rashi) Kumbha Mela is celebrated at Prayag; and Jupiter and the sun are in Scorpio (Vrishchik Rashi) the Mela is celebrated at Ujjain. Each site's celebration dates are calculated in advance according to a special combination of zodiacal positions of Sun, Moon, and Jupiter.
History -->
The first written evidence of the Kumbha Mela can be found in the accounts of Chinese traveler, Huan Tsang or Xuanzang (602 - 664 A.D.) who visited India in 629 -645 CE, during the reign of King Harshavardhana. However, similar observances date back many centuries, where the river festivals first started getting organised. According to medieval Hindu theology, its origin is found in one of the most popular medieval puranas, the Bhagavata Purana. The Samudra manthan episode (Churning of the ocean of milk), is mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana.
Story -->
The account goes that the demigods had lost their strength by the curse of Durväsä Muni, and to regain it, they approach Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva than they directed all demigods to Supreme Personalty of Godhead Lord Vishnu and after praying to Lord Vishnu, He instructed them for churning ocean of milk Ksheera Sagara (primordial ocean of milk) for amrita (the nectar of immortality). This required them to make a temporary agreement with their arch enemies, the demons or Asuras, to work together with a promise of sharing the wealth equally thereafter. However, when the Kumbha (urn) containing the amrita appeared, a fight ensued. For twelve days and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years) the gods and demons fought in the sky for the pot of amrita. It is believed that during the battle, Lord Vishnu(Incarnates as Mohini-Mürti) flew away with the Kumbha of elixir spilling drops of amrita at four places: Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik.
The ritual -->
The major event of the festival is ritual bathing at the banks of the river in whichever town it is being held that is, Ganga in Haridwar, Godavari in Nasik, Kshipra in Ujjain and Sangam (confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati) in Prayag (Allahabad). Nasik has registered maximum visitor to 75 million. Other activities include religious discussions, devotional singing, mass feeding of holy men and women and the poor, and religious assemblies where doctrines are debated and standardized. Kumbh Mela is the most sacred of all the pilgrimages. Thousands of holy men and women attend, and the auspiciousness of the festival is in part attributable to this. The sadhus are seen clad in saffron sheets with ashes and powder dabbed on their skin as per the requirements of ancient traditions.
Most Significant Days During The Kumbh Mela -->
Makar Sankranti :: Holy bath during this period carries special significance. Those who take a holy bath in the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri acquire pious credits.
Paush Purnima :: The day occurs when the moon is full in the Hindu month of Paush. This is the last full moon of winter. By this time, the sadhu and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims arrive at the Kumbh Mela.
Mauni Amavasya Snan :: For the holy men and women, this is the main bathing day. New members to various holy monastic orders receive their first initiation on this day.
Basant Panchami Snan :: This is the fifth day of the luminous half of the lunar month and is the beginning of spring in North India.
Rath Saptami Snan :: Rath Saptami festival is observed on the seventh day of Shukla Paksha in the Magh Month (January – February) in the traditional Hindu calendar.
Bhishma Ekadasi Snan :: On this day, Bhishma Pithamaha, the oldest, wisest, most powerful and most righteous person belonging to the Kuru dynasty (approx. over 5000 years ago), narrated the greatness of Lord Krishna through Sri Vishnu Sahasranama to Yudhishtira, the oldest brother of Pandavas.
Important dates in Kumbh 2013 -->
• 14th January 2013 (Monday) :: Makar Sankranti
• 27th January 2013(Sunday) :: Paush Purnima
• 10th February 2013(Sunday) :: Mauni Amavasya Snan (Main Bathing Day)
• 15th February 2013(Friday) :: Basant Panchami Snan
• 25th February 2013 (Monday) :: Maghi Purnima Snan
• 10th March 2013(Sunday) :: Maha Shivratri
"Hari Om Tat Sat"
**This content is taken from Wikipedia and we do not claim its author rights. Many many thanks to its author for this explanation.
Maha Kumbh is going to start from tomorrow (January 14, 2013). This year about 5 crore people will reach there. This Kumbh is Lets learn about Kumbh.
Contents: Why Kumbh 2013 is Important, What is Kumbh Mela, Timing, History, Story, The ritual, Most Significant Days During The Kumbh Mela, Important dates in Kumbh 2013
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why Kumbh 2013 is Important -->
The 2013 Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, India was the largest gathering of humanity in recorded history. It was not just the final Kumbh Mela in a 12-year cycle of festivals. It was the final festival of 12 cycles - the conclusion of a giant 144-year cycle, making it "Maha" Kumbh Mela, the Great Festival. This 144-year buildup of spiritual meaning made it a powerfully auspicious time for pilgrims to bathe in the Ganges. Even the planets and stars joined in, providing heavenly alignments not seen for 144 years.
What is Kumbh Mela -->
Kumbh Mela is a mass Hindu pilgrimage in which Hindus gather at the Ganges, river Godavari and river Kshipra, where bathing for purification from sin is considered especially efficacious. The festival is billed as the biggest religious gathering in the world. In 2001, more than 40 million people gathered on the main bathing day at Allahabad, breaking a world record for the biggest human gathering. The Ardh (half) Kumbh Mela is celebrated every six years at Haridwar and Allahabad, the Purna (complete) Kumbh takes place every twelve years, at four places Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. The Maha (great) Kumbh Mela which comes after 12 'Purna Kumbh Melas', or 144 years, is held at Allahabad. According to the Mela Administration's estimates, around 70 million people participated in the 45-day Ardh Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, in 2007. The previous Kumbh Mela, held in 2001 in Haridwar, was, before it occurred, estimated by the authorities to attract between 30 and 70 million people.
Timing -->
Kumbh Mela is celebrated at different locations depending on the position of the planet of Bṛhaspati (Jupiter) and the sun. When Jupiter and the sun are in the zodiac sign Leo (Simha Rashi) it is held in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik; when the sun is in Aries (Mesha Rashi) it is celebrated at Haridwar; when Jupiter is in Taurus (Vrishabha Rashi ) and the sun is in Capricorn (Makar Rashi) Kumbha Mela is celebrated at Prayag; and Jupiter and the sun are in Scorpio (Vrishchik Rashi) the Mela is celebrated at Ujjain. Each site's celebration dates are calculated in advance according to a special combination of zodiacal positions of Sun, Moon, and Jupiter.
History -->
The first written evidence of the Kumbha Mela can be found in the accounts of Chinese traveler, Huan Tsang or Xuanzang (602 - 664 A.D.) who visited India in 629 -645 CE, during the reign of King Harshavardhana. However, similar observances date back many centuries, where the river festivals first started getting organised. According to medieval Hindu theology, its origin is found in one of the most popular medieval puranas, the Bhagavata Purana. The Samudra manthan episode (Churning of the ocean of milk), is mentioned in the Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana.
Story -->
The account goes that the demigods had lost their strength by the curse of Durväsä Muni, and to regain it, they approach Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva than they directed all demigods to Supreme Personalty of Godhead Lord Vishnu and after praying to Lord Vishnu, He instructed them for churning ocean of milk Ksheera Sagara (primordial ocean of milk) for amrita (the nectar of immortality). This required them to make a temporary agreement with their arch enemies, the demons or Asuras, to work together with a promise of sharing the wealth equally thereafter. However, when the Kumbha (urn) containing the amrita appeared, a fight ensued. For twelve days and twelve nights (equivalent to twelve human years) the gods and demons fought in the sky for the pot of amrita. It is believed that during the battle, Lord Vishnu(Incarnates as Mohini-Mürti) flew away with the Kumbha of elixir spilling drops of amrita at four places: Allahabad, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik.
The ritual -->
The major event of the festival is ritual bathing at the banks of the river in whichever town it is being held that is, Ganga in Haridwar, Godavari in Nasik, Kshipra in Ujjain and Sangam (confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati) in Prayag (Allahabad). Nasik has registered maximum visitor to 75 million. Other activities include religious discussions, devotional singing, mass feeding of holy men and women and the poor, and religious assemblies where doctrines are debated and standardized. Kumbh Mela is the most sacred of all the pilgrimages. Thousands of holy men and women attend, and the auspiciousness of the festival is in part attributable to this. The sadhus are seen clad in saffron sheets with ashes and powder dabbed on their skin as per the requirements of ancient traditions.
Most Significant Days During The Kumbh Mela -->
Makar Sankranti :: Holy bath during this period carries special significance. Those who take a holy bath in the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri acquire pious credits.
Paush Purnima :: The day occurs when the moon is full in the Hindu month of Paush. This is the last full moon of winter. By this time, the sadhu and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims arrive at the Kumbh Mela.
Mauni Amavasya Snan :: For the holy men and women, this is the main bathing day. New members to various holy monastic orders receive their first initiation on this day.
Basant Panchami Snan :: This is the fifth day of the luminous half of the lunar month and is the beginning of spring in North India.
Rath Saptami Snan :: Rath Saptami festival is observed on the seventh day of Shukla Paksha in the Magh Month (January – February) in the traditional Hindu calendar.
Bhishma Ekadasi Snan :: On this day, Bhishma Pithamaha, the oldest, wisest, most powerful and most righteous person belonging to the Kuru dynasty (approx. over 5000 years ago), narrated the greatness of Lord Krishna through Sri Vishnu Sahasranama to Yudhishtira, the oldest brother of Pandavas.
Important dates in Kumbh 2013 -->
• 14th January 2013 (Monday) :: Makar Sankranti
• 27th January 2013(Sunday) :: Paush Purnima
• 10th February 2013(Sunday) :: Mauni Amavasya Snan (Main Bathing Day)
• 15th February 2013(Friday) :: Basant Panchami Snan
• 25th February 2013 (Monday) :: Maghi Purnima Snan
• 10th March 2013(Sunday) :: Maha Shivratri
"Hari Om Tat Sat"
**This content is taken from Wikipedia and we do not claim its author rights. Many many thanks to its author for this explanation.
Thursday, 3 January 2013
Baratipura ancient History
About My Village Baratipura
by Ramesha gowda
My Village baratipura is located in Krishnaraja pet tallok mondya
karnataka
i born here grew up, and studied my pre school .
from the beginning of the childhood days i always interested
in mythology , gods , Ramayan, Geeta ,etc .
my father is a devotee of laxmi devi and we used to do pooja and
abhishekam to lalxmidevi god .
so whenever there is questions risen in my mind regarding village history
, Gods festivals , culture activities , village name i always asked my village
old and Senior people .according to what i heard from people of my village our
village baratipura was re named itself when the laxmidevi temple built.
700 years ago my village name was tripurapura it was a land of so many
transcended Brahmins ,holy lakes and powerful system , there was a 12
lakes in village in which holy water all temples deity's cleaning,abhishekam
happened .every morning 4.30 am Ramakrishna and Ramalingeshwara Mangala aarati
done then Ramanjaneya aarti after they done other temple pooja is to do .these
holy Brahmins are powerful and strict ,disciplined in every work .they are so
precise and perfect that this tripurapura was on high flames for its
festivals .as time gone by villagers are bitten by their ego they
started becoming walls to all punctual acts of temples and pooja
.Brahmins made them understand but it was already gone too far . people totally
opposed them ,cheaters ,liars born village became rage in its own agenda
.parties are being made on own caste systems in village .as year gone by this
holy swamiji's are troubled and disrespected by village main and strong peoples
yet they are doing their pooja vidhi perfectly but it become mess .as village
festival approached villagers neglected their work on temples and Brahmins
couldn't performed well on punctual activities of Gods ,so they are
deceased and cursed .in the meantime villagers become one part and they treated
this holy people as they are nobody .it was a rainy season and that day rain
god was angry it was flood in village and thunders are being flashed ,stormed
the village whole night that no one come out and this holy Brahmins tried so
much to reach the temples but because of rain and there was nobody to help them
they are drawn in rain floods and died one by one saving each other .
all Brahmin families are gave their lives sacrificed for god in one
night .the only Brahmin saved who was performing late night pooja to
ramakrishna swami hwe was stayed back in temple last night and this temple is
in high place of the village flood couldn't reach there he performed morning
pooja and opened temples doors he got shocked to know that his families are
dead no villagers are helped them .in the morning he mourned,requested
,preyed villagers to help him perform final rights according to vidhi but no
one cared .rain was still going on ,people stayed in temples are neglected, his
family members bodies are kept more then one day finally got angry he
asked god that he performed pooja well in the storm rain too his family
sacrificed their life for their vidhi and poojas still god did not saved them
and villagers stayed back why ? whats their fault ? after all using his all
power he cursed village that after this day tripurapura wil lost its
shine,there will be never pooja vidhi will happen perfectly ,no Brahmin will
come to this village ,temples will become forgotten ,no god will respected and
the villagers who are helped by thief's cheaters , liars will always be with
them no matter how much they gain it will go needy .they loose their charm no
one will be happy and peaceful . he cursed them given back the life to dead
bodies to take them all with him .being a holy and graceful Brahmin they walked
with him till place where a huge grace was saved for cow ,animals of village
he kept their bodies there and gave fire .after the curse given all this
villagers suffered from various type of fever and deceases they understood what
they have done they asked him to release them from curse falling on his
feet .finally he cooled down and told them that this curse was given using all
his powers so it can't be reversed back .they have to suffer but one day when
time comes a holy grace, transcendental body a jagadl guru ,holy Brahmin will
come to your village due to efforts of saadu people and from that day
this village will re born and reform till the date it will be as it is .he left
the village .
https://www.facebook.com/groups/264167827022557/
Friday, 28 December 2012
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