Sage Durvasa is known for his curses. But there were times, when he was helpless before the power of a humble of follower of Lord Vishnu. One such instance was of Ambarisha. The full story goes as:
Ambarisha was a king and he was deeply into following Lord Vishnu. He and his queen used to observe various fasts over the year. On second day of Ekadashi, Ambarish had to end his fast. On that very day, Sage Durvasa paid a visit to Ambarisha.
Durvasa and Ambarisha
Sage Durvasa got angry with Ambarisha for petty reason and Ambarish resigned to his fate with folded hands. But nothing happens to a person, who is helped by the Lord himself. Lord Vishnu sends his sudarshan chakra to safeguard Ambarish.
The short documentary presents the viewer with some mesmerizing visuals of the Naga sadhus and gives a sneak peak into their lives and spirituality. The festival is one of the largest peaceful gatherings in the world, and the “world’s largest congregation of religious pilgrims”. An estimated 120 million people visited Maha Kumbh Mela in 2013 in Allahabad over a two-month period, including over 30 million on a single day, on 10 February 2013 (the day of Mauni Amavasya). According to medieval Hindu theology, Lord Vishnu dropped drops of Amrita (the drink of immortality) at four places, while transporting it in a kumbha (pot). These four places are identified as the present-day sites of the Kumbh Mela, Nasik being one of them. This documentary about Nasik Kumbh and the Naga sadhus gives the viewer a chance to get up, close and personal to the Nagas and get to learn about their definition of spirituality. It also mesmerizes the viewer with some eye catching imagery and captivating music. Kumbh ‘The Foot Soldiers’ (Nasik)
As per a story, Sita is believed to be daughter of Ravana and his wife Mandodari. Soon after her birth, there was prediction that she will be the reason for the destruction of Ravana lineage. Scared, Ravana scared decided to abandon the child. Sita was kept in a basket and buried in the ground where she was later discovered by King Janaka who adopted her.
This story appears in Sanghadasa’s Jaina version of Ramayana and also in Adbhuta Ramayana.
Sita and Ravana
Reincarnation of Manivati
Another Story tells that she was incarnation of Manivati. According to Gunabhadra’s Uttara Purana, Ravana disturbs asceticism of Manivati and she pledges to take revenge on Ravana. She is later reborn as the daughter of Ravana and Mandodari. But, astrologers predict destruction of Ravana because of this child. So, Ravana orders to kill the child. Manivati is placed in a casket and buried in the ground of Mithila where she is discovered by some of the farmers of the kingdom. Then Janka, king of that state adopts her.
After the victory in the Kurukshetra war, Yudhishthira was crowned the king of Hastinapur. He then decided to perform a grand yagna for the well being his subjects. He gave precious and expensive gifts to all his subjects. Everyone thought this was the grandest yagna they have ever seen. Everyone was praising for the grand yagna and the precious gifts.
Saraswati is the goddess of education, art culture and music. The story of Saraswati Puja is available in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana. This was because of Shri Krishna, who granted Saraswati a boon that she will be worshipped on Vasant Panchami.
श्री गणेश मंत्र ऊँ वक्रतुण्ड़ महाकाय सूर्य कोटि समप्रभ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरू मे देव, सर्व कार्येषु सर्वदा।।
Lord Ganesha
प्रथम पूजनीय श्री गणेश जी को विनायक, विघ्नेश्वर, गणपति, लंबोदर के नाम से भी जाना जाता हैं। हिन्दू धर्म के अनुसार किसी भी कार्य से पहले गणेश जी की पूजा की जाती है।
Aum Bhur Bhuvah Svah Tat-Savitur-Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat
Gayatri mantra is the oldest and powerful of all the mantras. It is also known as Guru mantra, Savitri mantra, Maha mantra because from this all is born. Gayatri mantra is the basic of all the vedas and the universal prayer enshrined in Vedas hence also known as Veda sara or Veda mata.
It is believed that the Gayatri mantra was revealed to Brahmarshi Vishwamitra.The Gayatri Mantra is addressed to the energy of the Sun (Surya).
Chanting of Gayatri mantra leads to wisdom and illuminates deeds. Gayatri mantra should be chanted at dawn,noon and dusk. But we do not have to be bound by these three periods.
Gayatri Mantra
Gayatri mantra comprises of 3 parts
(1) Praise to Savitha – The Divine is first praised.
(2) Meditation or dhyaan on Savitha – The Divine is then meditated upon.
(3) Prayer or prarthana to Savitha.
The first nine words represent the attributes of the Divine
“OM BHUR BHUVA SVAH
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASYA”
“DHEEMAHI” pertains to Meditation.
“DHIYO YO NAH PRACHODAYAT“
is the Prayer to God to confer on us all powers and talents.
Meaning of Gayatri Mantra
The First line Bhur Bhuvah Suvah means or depict unity of body, mind and soul.
The Second line Bhargo Devasya Deemahi throw away the darkness.
Last line Dhiyo yo naha Prachodayat means let the effulgence of Divine dispel the darkness of ignorance.
May the Sun Illumine our intellect in the same way he shed his effulgence.
Word by word meaning of Gayatri mantra
Aum means Parabrahman
Bhur is Physical world
Bhuvah is Mental world
Suvah is Spiritual world
Tat means That
Savitur is Sun who is Creator and Preserver
Varenyam is adorable
Bhargo means illumination
Devasya is Divine Grace
Dheemahi We meditate upon
Dhiyo means understanding intellect
Yo means Who
Nah means Our
Prachodayat means enlighten, guide or inspire.
Aspect of Gayatri Mantra
Gayatri has three names: Gayatri, Savitri and Saraswati. Gayatri is master of Senses, Savitri is master of Prana, Saraswati is presiding deity of Speech
These three represents purity in thought, word and deed.
If one chants Gayatri mantra various kinds of power will emerge in one. It should be chanted at Dawn, Noon and Dusk. But we do not have to be bound by these three periods. It can be chanted any time and any where. The person chanting Gayatri Mantra should ensure that his heart is pure at all time. After Chanting Gayatri mantra we repeat shati Three times as it gives shanti or peace to body, mind and soul.
Five faces of Gayatri
Gayatri is said to have five faces and hence called Panchmukhi.
Panchmukhi Gayatri Mata
Om Pranava is the 1st face (Pranava principle represents 8 different forms of wealth)
Bhur Bhuva Svah is the 2nd face.
Tat Savitur Varenyam is 3rd face.
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi is 4th face.
Dhiyo yo naha prachodayat is 5th face.
All these 5 aspect of Gayatri Mantra is within us. Gayatri Mantra teaches us to achieve harmony in thought word and deed.
Gayatri is reliever of all disease- Sarva roga nivarini
Gayatri is fulfiller of all desire- Sarva vancha phalashi Gayatri.
Gayatri ward off all misery – Sarva dukha parivahini
Gayatri is bestower of all that is beneficial.
It illuminate the mind and intelligence and promote knowledge and wisdom. Gayatri Mantra improves our thinking and judgement and give better control over our anxiety and emotions, cultivate determination and self esteem, inner peace, and prosperity. Meditating on Gayatri mantra calms the disturbed mind.
Sita’s Journey in Ramayana is an inspiring tale of a woman’s strength and determination. Devi Sita, consort of Lord Rama was known for her dedication, self sacrifice, courage and purity. She is one of the main characters of Ramayana. She was a adopted daughter of King Janak of Mithila and Queen Sunanya. She was considered as an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi.
Sita’s Birth
Sita was found in a furrow while ploughing the field. King Janaka has no children of his own so when he saw Sita, he was overwhelmed with love for her and declared her his own daughter.
Thus she is considered as daughter of Bhumidevi or Goddess Earth. Also, she was adopted daughter of King Janak so she was also known as Janaki. King Janaka was ruler of Mithila hence Sita was also known as Mythili. King Janak was also known as Videha hence, Sita was also known as Vaidehi.
Sita’s marriage
When Sita was a little girl, Sage Parashuram saw her playing with Bow of Lord Shiva. He advised Janaka to marry Sita with the man who lifts the Lord Shiva’s bow (Pinaka) and able to string it. When right time arrived, Janaka organised a swayamwarawith a condition that Sita will marry only that person who would be able to string Pinaka, the bow of Lord Shiva.
Rama winning hand of Devi Sita in Swyamvara
Many Princes and Kings tried their luck but failed to even move the bow. To the utter surprise of all, Rama not only lifted the bow with an ease string it and finally broke it.Thus on fulfilling the condition Ram got married to Sita.
Sita weds Ram
Exile
Some time after wedding, Kaikeyi (stepmother of Rama) forced Dasharatha to crown Bharat as King and send Rama to forest for fourteen years. Sita and Lakshman willingly renounced the comfort of palace and joined Rama in exile. Dasharatha in utter guilt and grief died by the next day.
Sita and Ram in forest
Sita’s Abduction
In which chapter in Ramayana is Sita kidnapped? – Aranya Kand
Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were spending their time peacefully in the forest of Dandaka (later known as Panchwati). One day, Sita saw a golden deer she was charmed and asked Rama to catch it. Golden deer was actually a demon who was sent by Ravana to lure Rama and Lakshmana away from hermitage so that Ravana could abduct Sita.
When Rama went in the forest in search for dear he ordered Lakshmana not to leave Sita alone in any circumstances. When Rama killed the deer- Mareech imitated Rama’s voice and cried for help. In Spite of Lakshmana refusal to leave Sita alone, she forced him to go and help his brother Rama.
Ravana in disguise of Sage
Before leaving Lakshmana took his arrow and made a line(Lakshmana rekha) and asked Sita not to step out of it in any circumstances.
Which vehicle Did Ravana use to abduct Sita Devi as per Srimad Valmiki Ramayana?
When Sita was all alone in the hut, Ravana disguised as sadhu came for alms. The moment Sta crossed Lakshman rekha to give alm Ravana came in his original form and abducted Sita on his aerial chariot named the Pushpak Vimana.
When Rama and Lakshmana came back they find Sita missing . They started searching for her. Deep in the forest they saw Jatayu, who was badly wounded. Jatayu said he saw Ravana forcefully taking away Sita, when he tried to rescue her Ravana cut his wings. Then Jatayu took his last breath.
Ravana took Sita to Lanka and kept her in Ashok van. Ravana appointed many demonesses to take care of Sita and prevent her from escaping. During her captivity for a year in Lanka, Ravana keep expressing his desire for her, but Sita refused his advances and struggled to maintain her chastity. Meanwhile Rama meets Hanuman and his Vanara sena and made plan to rescue Sita.
Sita in Ashokvan
Ram wages war against Ravana
Rama with the help of vanara sena build a bridge- Ram Setu connecting India and Lanka. Rama waged a war against Ravana. Finally, Sita was rescued by defeating Ravana.
Rama and Ravana – The Ramayana
Sita’s Agnipariksha
Since Sita was kept in captivity by Ravana she had to give a agnipariksha in order to prove her chastity.In some version of Ramayana , during this test Fire God Agni appeared before Rama and handed over him real Sita and said it was Maya Sita who was abducted by Ravana.While other version states that Sita voluntarily enters the fire, and when she stepped in the coal turned into lotuses.
Sita agnipariksha
Abandonment of Sita
Couple came back to Ayodhya, Rama was crowned king. Ram’s faith and affection for Sita has never wavered but some people of Ayodhaya could not accept Sita after her long captivity. Rama being a noble king had to listen to his praja and send Sita off into exile once again.
Later life of Sita
Abandoned Sita was pregnant she wandered in the forest and finally got shelter in the hermitage of sage Valmiki. She gave birth to twins, Kusha and Lava. Sita raised her sons all alone under the guidance of sage Valmiki. Twins grew into brave and intelligent princes. When Lava and Kusha were united with their father Rama, Sita considered her mission complete and decided to take final refuge in the arms of her mother Bhumi.
Sita with Luv and Kush
Sita requested Bhumi devi to have mercy on her and give her release from unjust world and sadness filled life. The earth suddenly split open and Bhumi devi emerge from inside and took Sita away with her. This was the extraordinary life of Devi Sita. Who went to the forest with her husband only to be denounced later. Even she passed the test of Agnipariksha. Who says our society is matured?
Read the following interesting conversation between a mother and the son which relates to Dashavatara.
Things were going exactly as Srinivasan had feared, his Mother would come in from India and crush his American way of life under her strong South Indian influence. For a genetic scientist like Vasu, as Srinivasan was called by his friends, the only kind of order was disorder. So consumed he was by his research that the world and it’s affairs mattered little to him. When his last girlfriend walked out on him, “Find a girl on planet Srinivasan,” she had screamed as she stomped out.
Now Vasu’s Mother had taken over the administration of the planet. It irritated him, this milk at night and chywanprash every morning. “Have you been wearing the same pair of Jeans for the past three days?” Mother was beginning her morning interrogation.
Dashavatar of Lord Vishnu – Indian mythology
Vasu stared at the hot idlis in front of him, the chywanprash to follow and the wardrobe interrogation that had begun. Something snapped in his mind. “Mom I love you and I love that you come all the way from India to take care of me but plesse don’t fuss over me! It irritates me! And then I cannot work!”
His Mother did not really care if Vasu was upset, “The idlis are getting cold,” was her matter of fact response.
“You don’t really care, do you Mom?”
“I care about you Vasu. The work you do is alright. If you don’t do it, someone else will do it.”
“Mom, I am genetic scientist. I am working on the evolution of man. Theory of evolution, Charles Darwin, have you heard of him? ” Vasu was exasperated with her unwillingness to understand. His Mother sat down next to him and smiled, “I know Darwin, Vasu. I also know that what you think he discovered was old news in India.”
” Yeah sure Mom!” Vasu said with sarcasm.
“Well if you are too smart then listen to this, ” his Mother countered.” Have you heard of Dashavatar? The ten avatars of Vishnu?” Vasu nodded. “Then let me tell you what you and Mr. Darwin don’t know. The first avatar was the Matsya avatar, it means the fish. That is because life began in the water. Is that not right?” Vasu began to listen with a little more attention.
“Then came the Kurma Avatar, which means the tortoise, cause life moved from the water to the land. The amphibian. So the Tortoise denoted the evolution from sea to land. Third was the Varaha, the wild boar, which meant the wild animals with not much intellect, you call them the Dinosaurs, correct? ” Vasu nodded wide eyed.
“The fourth avatar was the Narasimha avatar, half man and half animal, the evolution from wild animals to intelligent beings. Fifth the Waman avatar, the midget or dwarf, who could grow really tall. Do you know why that is? Cause there were two kinds of humans, Homo Erectus and the Homo Sapiens and Homo Sapiens won that battle.” Vasu could see that his Mother was in full flow and he was stupefied.
“The Sixth avatar was Parshuram, the man who wielded the axe, the man who was a cave and forest dweller. Angry, and not social but the seventh avatar was Ram, the first thinking social being, who laid out the laws of society and the basis of all relationships. The eight avatar was Krishna, the statesman, the politician, the lover who played the game of society and taught how to live and thrive in the social structure. The Ninth avatar, the Buddha, the man who rose from Narasimha and found man’s true nature. The nature of Buddha, he identified man’s final quest of enlightenment. And finally, my boy, will come Kalki, the man you are working on. The man who will be genetically supreme.”
Vasu looked at his Mother speechless. “This is amazing Mom, how did you.. This makes sense!”
In Indian mythology, there are seven immortals, who are also known as Sat Chiranjeevi. These characters are integral to Indian mythology and Jambavant is believed to longest living entity.
Jambavant
Jambavant is a famous character in Indian mythology. He is believed to be created by Brahma to help Rama fight Ravana. He is also an immortal entity. His presence is found at number of places, in the times of Rama, Shri Krishna and Bali. He was also present at the time of churning pf ocean.
Jambavant advises Hanuman – Ramayana
Jambavant in his previous life was the King of the Himalayas who had incarnated as a bear in order to serve Lord Rama. He received a boon from Lord Rama that he would have a long life, and have the strength of ten million lions. In the epic Ramayana, Jambavantha helped Rama find his wife Sita and fight her abductor,Ravana. It is he who makes Hanuman realize his immense capabilities and encourages him to fly across the ocean to search for Sita in Lanka. In the Mahabharata, Jambavantha had killed a lion, who had acquired a gem called Syamantaka from Prasena after killing him. Krishna was suspected of killing Prasena for the jewel, so he tracked Prasena’s steps until he learned that he had been killed by a lion who had been killed by a bear. Krishna tracked Jambavantha to his cave and a fight ensued. After eighteen days, realizing who Krishna was, Jambavantha submitted. He gave Krishna the gem and also presented him his daughter Jambavati, who became one of Krishna’s wives.
Jambavantha and Shri Krishna
Jambavant, together with Parasuram and Hanuman, is considered to be one of the few to have been present for both Ram and Krishna avatars. Said to have been present for the churning of the ocean and thus witness to the Kurma avatar, and further the Vaman avatar, Jambavan may well be the longest lived of the chiranjivis and have been witness to nine avatars.
