Monthly Archives: November 2013

Nidhi Van – A mysterious place with unsolved riddles

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Nidhi Van is a sacred forest located in Vrindavan, India. It is believed to be the forest where Lord Krishna used to play and spend time with the gopis (cowherd girls) during his childhood. According to Hindu mythology, the forest is said to be enchanted, and is considered to be a place of spiritual power and blessings. Many devotees of Lord Krishna visit Nidhi Van to offer prayers and seek blessings. Nidhi Van at Vrindavan is an important place of worship for Lord Krishna’s followers. Swami Haridas done penance to receive Banke Bihari’s idol.

Swami Haridas at Nidhi Van

Nidhi Van is also considered as an important pilgrimage site and is a popular destination for devotees of Lord Krishna. The forest is home to several temples and shrines dedicated to Lord Krishna and Radha. Visitors can also find many traditional Indian sweets shops, where visitors can buy traditional sweets made from milk and other ingredients.

It is also said that Nidhi Van was the place where Lord Krishna revealed his cosmic form to the gopis. The forest is said to have been blessed by the Lord, and is considered to be a place of spiritual power and blessings. Many devotees of Lord Krishna visit Nidhi Van to offer prayers and seek blessings.

Nidhi van is the most mysterious and sacred place in vrindavan. Nidhi van is covered with small trees which are known as Vanatulsi. Swami Haridas, a divine saint was a great devotee of lord Krishna (Banke Bihari).  As a result of Swami Haridasa’s hard penance and spiritual aspiration, Lord Banke Bihari not only came in his dream but appeared also on ground blessed Nidhivan. Every day thousand  of pilgrims come here during the day.  It is closed after arti in the evening.

Nidhivan Vrindavan
Nidhivan Vrindavan

An interesting observation about Nidhivan

A very mysterious conception is associated with this temple i.e. after the sacred process of ARTI, not only human beings, but any kind of single animal also can’t remain in the periphery of this temple. In case anyone remains during night in the campus of this temple, either one becomes dumb, deaf, blind, lame or dies.

The person is not found hale and hearty in the morning to disclose the spiritual secret of the lord Radha-Krishna, as it is said even now that the priest puts two toothbrushes, some holy water in a jug with four sweets (LADDOO) and ready bed after Arti in the night, but in the morning everything is found and seen as if someone has used it because everything is found at sixes and sevens. It proves that Lord Radha Krishna, they appear in the night to perform their spiritual activities (Lilas).

Birds' eye view of Nidhivan
Birds’ eye view of Nidhivan

Trees in Nidhivan are said to be gopis. One interesting observation is that they are very humble and lay close to the ground. They are entangled with each other, signifying the love between themselves.

Nidhivan Vrindavan 1

The holy place and trees are said to be favourite of Lord Krishna. It is said that whosoever worships here, is benefited immensely.

Nidhivan Vrindavan 5

The ground at Nidhivan is cleaned by Bhakts.

Nidhivan Vrindavan 6

Legend about Nidhi Van

The legend about Nidhi Van goes as; there was adivine saint “Swami Haridas” used to please his Lord Banke Bihari (Krishan Ji) by pouring the melodious rapture of his thrilling music in Nidhivan. One day, kind Bihari ji appeared in his dream and also blessed him by appearing in the ground of Nidhivan and there is a temple at that place inside Nidhivan named Prakatya Sathal (place of appearance of shree Bihari ji).

  • https://ritsin.com/draupadi-could-have-fourteen-husbands-instead-of-five-mahabharat-indian-mythology.html/
  • https://ritsin.com/seven-unknown-facts-about-mahabharat-indian-mythology-story.html/

Nidhi Van – A mysterious place

Seven reasons why you would not like to be Arjuna

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Seven reasons why you would not like to be Arjuna

I am sure you would be surprised by this but please be patient. I am going to write few facts which are not unknown, and then you probably will agree with me.

1. He had to share his wife with his four brothers. Imagine someone winning the hand of the most beautiful girl in the land in a tough competition and then share her straight away.

Arjuna winning Draupadi's hand

Arjuna winning Draupadi’s hand

2. Had to be exiled for no fault of his. In a bid to save a Brahmin’s cow, he entered the room which was shared by Draupadi and Yudhishthir. So he was banished by entering the room where his wife was present whose hand he had won.
3. His father in law was Drupad and teachcr was Drona. These two were worst enemies. Now you, put yourself in that position when your mentor and your wife’s father at loggerheads. It is like that place when you are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

4. When Krishna praised his rival Karna in Kurukshetra. Being the best archer in business, you suddenly realize that your best friend is praising someone else and that someone else is your chief enemy.

Krishna and Arjuna

Krishna and Arjuna

5. This is no brainer. You are faced with the inevitable to fight with your brothers, gurus and everyone you respected.

6. When he had to resort to not so straight methods of overpowering his opponents. He had to break the rules of battle to kill his enemies, e.g. Karna.

7. To be penalized for being decent l. In swargalok, when Urvashi proposed and later cursed him for denying a union with her. Poor him.

Arjuna and Urvashi

Arjuna and Urvashi

I have not listed the sorrow of losing his son, Abhimanyu here,  as war takes away lives.  Above facts are the ones where he had to fight with the education,system, principles he had been taught and was living with. How would someone cope with these contradictions. Think.

Vidura – an incarnation of God – unknown fact from Mahabharata

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Vidura – an incarnation of God (Mahabharata)

Here we come again with an unknown fact from the great indian epic, Mahabharata. This is about the brother of Pandu and Dhritrashtra, who was knowledgeable and wise, the great Vidura.

Few people know that Vidura, the chief minister of Dhritrashtra was an incarnation of Dharma. There is an interesting story behind this. Dharma was cursed by a sage so Vidura incarnated on the earth.

Vidura in Mahabharata

Vidura in Mahabharata

Sage Mandavya was deep in meditation and he was mistaken as a chief of robbers by a king and was punished too. When the king realized the mistake, he came and asked for forgiveness. At that point of time, the Sage questioned Dharmaraj that what was his fault.

Lord Dharma, who knew the great power of the sage, replied in all humility: “O sage, you have tortured birds and bees. Are you not aware that all deeds, good or bad, however small, inevitably produce their results, good or evil?” Sage Mandavya was surprised and inquired that when did he commit the sin? Dharma said that when he was a little child.

Hearing this, Sage Mandavya cursed Dharma that he would be born as mortal as his punishment far outweighs the misdeed he did.

Lord Dharma who was thus cursed by the sage Mandavya incarnated as Vidura and was born of the servant-maid of Ambalika, the wife of Vichitravirya.

This story shows that Vidura was the incarnation of Dharma.  The great men of the world regarded Vidura as a sage who was unparalleled in his knowledge of dharma, sastras and statesmanship and was totally devoid of attachment and anger.

Vidura - chief counsellor of Dhritrashtra

Vidura – chief counsellor of Dhritrashtra

He was appointed by Bhishma, while he was still in his teens, as the chief counsellor of king Dhritarashtra. Vyasa has said that no one in the three worlds could equal Vidura in virtue and knowledge.

 

The story and boon of Tripurasura

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Tripurasura – The three sons of Tarakasura

Tripurasura were three sons of  Tarakasura. There names were Vidyunmali, Tarakaksha and Viryavana. Tarakasura was killed by Devtas and he instructed his family to ensure that his death was avenged.

The boon of Lord Brahma

With the advise of Shuracharya, the three sons started doing severe penance. Eventually, Lord Brahma got pleased of there penance and asked for a boon. Expectantly, they asked for immortality. Lord Brahma replied that this is against the rules of the nature. So ask me something else. They said – “Grant us the following: Let three forts be made. The first will be of gold, the second of silver and the third of iron. We will live in these forts for a thousand years. These forts built in different worlds shall align once in every 1000 years. This combined fort will be called Tripura. And if anyone can then destroy Tripura with only a single arrow that shall be the death destined for us”.

Tripurasura

Tripurasura

Three forts of Gold, Silver and Iron

Brahma granted this boon to them. There was a demon named Maya who was very entrusted to build the three forts. The golden fort was built in heaven, the silver one in the sky and the iron one on earth. Tarakaksha got the golden fort, Viryavana the silver and Vidyunmali the iron fort. All forts were as large as a city and had many palaces and vimanas (space vehicles) inside. The demons started living in the three forts and began to flourish.  They were following the things written in scriptures. As usual, Devas did not like this. They went to Lord Shiva for help but returned empty handed as demons were doing nothing wrong. God then reached out to Lord Vishnu.

Lord Vishnu and Arihant

Lord Vishnu knew that the Tripurasuras could not be killed till they remain Virtuous and religious.  He then created an entity from his body who had no hairs on his head. He had worn dirty clothes and a bag was hanging down his shoulder. He also had a broom in his head. The entity asked lord Vishnu about the purpose of his existence and his name. Lord Vishnu told him that his name was Arihan. He also instructed him to create a scripture which stresses upon the importance of action (Karmavad) and which is different from the rituals explained in the Vedas. Lord Vishnu specifically instructed him to keep the language of that scripture as simple and degenerated as possible. Lord Vishnu then preached Arihan on the science of illusion which stressed that the heaven or the hell does not exist anywhere else, but on this earth itself.

Sage Narada accepts new religion

Lord Vishnu instructed Arihan to get Tripurasuras initiated into with this philosophy so that the demon-brothers become irreligious. Vishnu ordered Arihan to make his residence in a desert with his disciples. The being did as he had been asked to. He and four of his disciples went to a forest that was near Tripura and began to preach. They were trained by Vishnu himself.  Therefore, their teachings were convincing and they had many converts. Even the sage Narada got confused and was converted. In fact, it was Narada who carried news of this wonderful new religion to king Vidyunmati. King, he said, there is a wonderful new teacher with a wonderful new religion. I have never heard before. I have got converted.

Narada and Lord Vishnu

Narada and Lord Vishnu

Since the great sage Narada had been converted. Vidyunmati also accepted the new religiqon, and in due course, so did Tarakaksha and Viryavana. The demons gave up revering the Vedas, they stopped worshipping Shiva’s linga.

Lord Shiva and killing of Tripurasura

Now the time was ripe of killing of Tripurasura, since they have now deviated from the good path. Once again, devas requested Mahadev to kill these demons. Lord Shiva acceded to this request. Lord Shiva called Vishvakarma and asked him to make a suitable chariot, bow and arrow. The chariot was made entirely out of gold. Brahma himself became the charioteer and the chariot was speedly driven towards Tripura. The gods accompanied Shiva with diverse weapons.

  1. Prithvi(Earth) was the chariot
  2. Sun and Moon was the wheels
  3. Bramha was the charioteer
  4. Meru was the bow and
  5. Vishnu was the arrow.

Shiva destroying Tripurasura

Shiva destroying Tripurasura

By then a thousand years had passed so that the three forts had become a single Tripura. Shiva installed a divine weapon known as pashupatastra (the arrow of pashupati- another name given to Lord Shiva ) into his arrow and shot it at Tripura. The arrow burnt up Tripura into ashes in a split second. So, all gods of the trinity were involved with Tripurasura. Lord Brahma gave a boon, Lord Vishnu thought of a way to neutralize them and finally, Lord Shiva destroyed them.