LIFE SCIENCESMRIGASHIRA PART-05EXTRACTS FROM SSS GLOBAL AND OTHER SITES

2014

Krishna Rao Khanapur

5/30/2014

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LIFE SCIENCES

INDEX

SL.NO.

PARTICULARS PAGENO.

1 HINDUISM PART-02 012 HOBBIES 203 HOLI FESTIVAL 344 ASHTAMA NATURAL

REMEDIES39

5 LORD KRISHNA 426 GODDESS LAKSHMI 457 GODDESS PARVATI 498 GODDESS SARASWATHI 519 LORD VISHNU 5210 NAISIMISARANYA 56

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Extracts from India Divine.org

Hinduism part-02

Newest Articles on Hinduism, Yoga, and Ayurveda

The Sacred Place of Naimisharanya Tirtha

Published on May 08 2014 01:28 PM | Posted by The Editor | Templesand Holy Places | 3,184 views

Naimisharanya is located in the state ofUttar Pradesh about 90 km from itscapital Lucknow in the district of Sitapur.Naimisharanya is situated on the leftbank of the river Gomathi, which is atributary of the river Ganges.

Naimisharanya is popularly known as Neemsar or Naimisha. In theBhagavata Purana it is mentioned: naimishe animisha-kshetre. This meansthat Naimisha is the abode of Lord Vishnu called by his name Animisha. SriVishnu Sahasranama (Sloka 23) describes Lord Vishnu as Animisha, whichmeans the one who is ever awake, ever alert, and ever vigilant. He is thewisest of all:

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guruh- gurutamodhaamah satyah-satya-parakramahNimishho-animishhah sragvee vaachaspatir-udaaradeeh(Vishnu Sahasranama, 23rd verse)

Antiquities of Shri Jagannath: AmazingFindings

Published on May 08 2014 09:02 AM | Posted by Sasanka SekharPanda | Articles on Hinduism | 1,119views

The massive earthern mound contain cutstone blocks, round Amalaka in four pieces,

broken Neel chakra in stone, which once adorned the temple top and othersculptures of historical importance. These antiquities were unearthed fromthe mound by Trilochan Bhoi, a villager of Kondh origin, almost singlehanded over a period of one year. Bhoi mentioned to me during my visit on29th June 2004 that three handless stone icons of Jagannath, Balabhadraand Subhadra were recovered from the mound and are presently kept inan adjoining hut for worship. This discovery confirms the theory ofconstruction of the oldest temple for the holy trinity by the Somavamsi kingYayatikeshari ninth century A.D. as mentioned in Madala Panji, the templechronicle of Puri Jagannath temple.

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15 Most Amazing Predictions for Kali Yugafrom the Bhagavata Purana

Published on Apr 17 2014 05:38 AM | Posted by The Editor | Articleson Hinduism | 62,786 views

In the last canto of the BhagavataPurana there is a list of predictionsand prophecies about the dark timesfor the present age of Kali Yuga. Thefollowing 15 predictions, written5,000 years ago by sage Vedavyasa,are amazing because they appear soaccurate. Despite the negative tone ofthese prophecies, there is still one

bright spot for all of us, which is mentioned at the end.

Vigyan Bhairav Tantra in English

Published on Apr 16 2014 11:13 AM | Posted by The Editor | HinduScriptures | 2,687 views

The Vigyan Bhairav Tantra is a key text of the Trika school of KashmirShaivism. Cast as a discourse between the god Shiva and his consort Devi orShakti, it briefly presents 112 meditation methods or centering techniques(dharanas).

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These include several variants of breath awareness, concentration on variouscenters in the body, non-dual awareness, chanting, imagination andvisualization and contemplation through each of the senses. A prerequisite tosuccess in any of the 112 practices is a clear understanding of whichmethod is most suitable to the practitioner.

The text is a chapter from the Rudrayamala Tantra, a Bhairava Agama.Devi, the goddess, asks Siva to reveal the essence of the way to realizationof the highest reality. In his answer Siva describes 112 ways to enter intothe universal and transcendental state of consciousness. References to itappear throughout the literature of Kashmir Shaivism, indicating that itwas considered to be an important text in the monistic school of KashmirShaiva philosophy.

Introduction to Devi MahatmyaPublished on Apr 15 2014 12:16 PM | Posted by P.R.Ramachander | Articles on Hinduism | 5,936 views

The book which relates the story of how thedevi (mother Goddess) killed Madhu andKaidabha as Vishnu Maya, killed Mahishasuraas Lakshmi, and killed Shumbha andNishumbha in the form of Goddess Saraswathi,is known as Devi Mahatmya in South India,Chandi in West Bengal and as DurgaSapthasathi in the northern parts of the country including Varanasi. Itconsists of Chapters 74 to 86 (13 chapters) of the Markandeya Purana andhas 700 stanzas. This Purana is also authored by Veda Vyasa and is amedium sized Purana.

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More Mystical Experiences atThiruvannamalai

Published on Apr 08 2014 02:07 AM | Posted by keerthanavaradarajan | Mystical Experiences | 25,560 views

I too had a very divine and celestial experience at Thiruvannamalai, andwanted to share it here. To the common man, it might sound unbelievable,but such are divine experiences. No science can ever explain it.

When I was a kid, I used to hear that myneighbor uncle travels toThiruvannamalai every month. I toowanted to go there and circumambulatethe hill. At that time, in my fifth grade, Ihad no idea about anything. I just had animaginary picture of a hill, moonlit night,trees and forests and a few people circumambulating. Someday I wanted tobe there.

In my sixth grade, my parents happened to attend a wedding atThiruvannamalai. That was their first visit to the temple. Both my momand dad came and praised the Lord, saying that they could feel divinepower, some sort of vibration. Again, I was left to wonder, when will I gothere?

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My Strange Experience in Thiruvannamalai

Published on Apr 04 2014 05:06 PM | Posted by AnandaMokshapriyan | Mystical Experiences | 116,466 views

A couple of years back, in November of2008, Surya, Me, Neeraja and myuncle and aunt from the US had gonefor a visit to Thiruvannamalai. On thenight of the 10th, we spent a lot oftime in the temple and sat for a whileat the Kalabhairava shrine near thetemple tank. I was telling Surya aboutthe Kalabhairava temple we went to in Varanasi with Swamiji and thestory of how he took away one of Brahma's heads.

The next day a little before 6 am we all started on the 14 km Girivalam orcircumambulation around the Arunachala hill. A few minutes into the trekjust as we crossed the South Gopuram, a small beige dog started followingus. My first instinct was to shoo it away. It moved back but kept taggingalong. After a while I felt sorry for the dog. After all we were in theterritory of Ramana who was friends with all animals in the area. So Istopped shooing it. I figured it was hungry and following the visitors was anadaptation by the animals to get food.

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The Shiva Maha Purana in English

Published on Apr 03 2014 05:50 PM | Posted by The Editor | HinduScriptures | 6,665 views

Sage Shaunaka requested Sutaji to tellabout the proper method of listening toShiva Purana, so that mankind getscomplete benefit. Sutaji replied: "First of all,an auspicious moment should bedetermined by an Astrologer. After that,friends and relatives should be invited,especially those who have the tendency of

being away from such occasions. The sages and the virtuous people should beinvited too. The 'Katha' must be help in scared places like Shiva temple, anyplace of pilgrimage or in one's home after doing a Bhumi Pujan of the landWhere one intends to held the Katha of Shiva Purana. The canopy should bewell decorated."

"After making a resolution and doing worship of Ganapati - the destroyerof all hurdles and obstacles the Katha should be commenced. The personwho is telling the 'Katha' should be facing north and all the listeners shouldsit facing east. The person who is telling the 'Katha' should be a scholar andshould be capable of clearing all the doubts from the listener's mind. Thereshould be no kind of distraction during the 'Katha' period. A devotee, wholistens to the Katha leaving behind all of his worldly worries get completebenefits.

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A devotee should also make donations and offerings according to hiscapacity and capability otherwise he would become a wretched Mantra'OM NAMAH SHIVAYA' should be chanted through out the period of Katha."

Evolution and Reincarnation from theVedantic PerspectivePublished on Mar 24 2014 05:29 PM | Posted by SwamiAbhedananda | Science and Nature | 4,599 views

The amazing achievements of modern science have been opening every daynew gates of wisdom and slowly bringing human minds nearer and nearerto the ultimate reality of the universe. The fire of knowledge kindled byscience has already burnt down many dogmas and beliefs, held sacred bythe superstition of the past, which stood in the way of truth-seeking minds.In the first place science has disproved the theory of the creation of theuniverse out of nothing by the action of some supernatural power. It hasshown that the universe did not appear in its present form or come intoexistence all of a sudden only a few thousand years ago, but that it hastaken ages to pass through different stages before it could reach its presentcondition. Each of these stages was directly related to a previous stage bythe law of causation, which always operates in accordance with definiterules.

Heredity and Reincarnation from theVedantic PerspectivePublished on Mar 24 2014 05:24 PM | Posted by SwamiAbhedananda | Science and Nature | 1,115 views

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Those who accept the theory of heredity deny the existence of the humansoul as an entity separable from the gross physical organism. Consequentlythey do not discuss the question whether the individual soul existed in thepast or will continue to exist after the death of the body. This kind ofquestion does not disturb their minds. They generally maintain that theindividual soul is inseparable from the body or the brain or nervous system;consequently what we call soul or the conscious entity or the thinker isproduced along with the birth of the organism or brain, lasts as long as thebody lasts and dies when the organism is dissolved into its elements. Butthose, on the other hand, who accept the theory of Reincarnation admit theexistence of soul as a conscious entity which is independent of the physicalorganism, that it continues to live after death and that it existed before thebirth of the body.

The theory of heredity has always been supported by the materialisticscientists, atheists and agnostics of all ages and also by those who believe inthe special creation of the first man and woman at a certain definite timeand that their qualities, character, life and soul have been transmitted to allhumanity through successive generations. The commonly accepted meaningof the theory of heredity is that all the well-marked peculiarities, bothphysical and mental, in the parents are handed on to the children; or, inother words, heredity is that property of an organism by which its peculiarnature is transmitted to its descendants.

Vedantic Perspectives on ReincarnationPublished on Mar 24 2014 04:35 PM | Posted by SwamiAbhedananda | Science and Nature | 968 views

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The visible phenomena of the universe are bound by the universal law ofcause and effect. The effect is visible or perceptible, while the cause isinvisible or imperceptible. The falling of an apple from a tree is the effect ofa certain invisible force called gravitation. Although the force cannot beperceived by the senses, its expression is visible. All perceptible phenomenaare but the various expressions of different forces which act as invisibleagents upon the subtle and imperceptible forms of matter. These invisibleagents or forces together with the imperceptible particles of matter makeup the subtle states of the phenomenal universe. When a subtle forcebecomes objectified, it appears as a gross object. Therefore, we can say, thatevery gross form is an expression of some subtle force acting upon the subtleparticles of matter.

The Narada Purana in EnglishPublished on Mar 24 2014 03:08 PM | Posted by The Editor | HinduScriptures | 12,300 views

1. Penance of the Sages in NaimisharanyaOnce upon a time, twenty-six thousand sages assembled in the holyambience of Naimisharanya. All of them had renounced their desires andhomely comforts and were worshipping Lord Vishnu for the benefit of theentire humanity.

During their stay in Naimisharanya, thosesages called a huge assembly to discussabout the means of attaining all the fourgoals of life, Dharma, Artha, Kama andMoksha. The great sage Shaunaka waspresiding over the assembly.

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He said: "O sages! We have assembled here to discuss the most crypticdisciplines of life. But it is beyond my powers to answer the questions youhave put before me. Only a great sage like Suta, who is the most learneddisciple of Vedavyasa, is able to answer these questions. Presently, he lives ina hermitage in Siddhipeeth. Let us all go there and request him to preach tous about the cryptic disciplines of life."

Rasika Mangala of Gopijanavallabha Das(Biography of Sri Rasikananda)Published on Mar 17 2014 09:49 AM | Posted by GopijanavallabhaDas | Articles on Hinduism | 734 views

EASTERN PARTThe First Wave

1. There are numerous Puranas in the world, but with the exception ofGita-Govinda, none of them show the handwriting of Sri Krishna. In thesame way no devotee was ever painted by the Lord, Srimati Radharanipainted a mark on the forehead of Sri Syamananda Deva.

2. Syamananda, a gem of kindness, is amine of extreme joy, an ocean of favour,proprietor of the beauties of the threeworlds, the abode of the essence of love,the abode of all good fortune, the onlyresort of those who are aggreived, thesupreme jewel of sports, a gem of mercyand full of the most elegant intelligence.

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3. I bow down to Sri Rasikananda who is like the Sun, the giver of deep joy,the possessor of ujjvala rasa, a mine of Krishna-bhava, who can bring peaceto our minds and remove the darkness of ignorance, the well-wisher of thedevotees, the extinguisher of all miseries, the source of all joy, the father ofsuch wealth as mercy and the deliverer of the poor.

Prema Vivarta of Jagadananda PanditPublished on Mar 17 2014 08:32 AM | Posted by JagadanandaPandit | Hindu Scriptures | 526 views

Srila Jagadananda Pandita was a close and confidential associate of LordCaitanya. A resident of Navadvipa, he was Nimai's boyhood friend andclassmate. They enjoyed a unique relationshipthroughout life. He was continually pickingfights with the Lord. These quarrels beganfrom their early boyhood days and continuedin Jagannatha Puri. By then Lord Caitanyahad already entered the sannyasa order oflife; for the sole purpose of benedicting thefallen souls of Kali-yuga. Some of theboyhood pastimes depicting their innocent disputes have been described inthis book. The emotional exchanges between Lord Caitanya andJagadananda Pandita should not be misunderstood. Their relationship isunspoilt by mundane hate, selfish motivations or evil designs. Whether thepastimes took place in their early boyhood or late in their mature dealingsthey are completely free of envy. Their seemingly acrimonious demeanourstemmed from a deep concern for each other and indeed not from selfaggrandisement.

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Bakasura by Bhaktisiddhanta SaraswatiPublished on Mar 16 2014 10:47 AM | Posted by Srila BhaktisiddhantaSaraswati Thakur | Articles on Hinduism | 581 views

(The following essay was printed in the February 1932 edition of Sajjana-tosani Magazine.)

Bakasura is one of the demons slain by theBoy-Krishna. He represents evils that arepeculiar to boyhood. The neophyte isextremely susceptible to such evils. Theycannot be got rid of except by the Mercy ofKrishna. If one engages in the service ofKrishna the juvenile vices are completelyeradicated at an early stage.

There is an English proverb that sowing of wild oats is inevitable at a youngage. The term “Puritanism” was originally coined to express the protest ofboys and young men against any undue curtailment of the scope ofenjoyment that should be regarded as permissible to them. Boys and youngmen claim the right to be merry and frolicsome. There is nothingobjectionable and much that is of positive value in the display of thesejuvenile qualities. If the attempt be made to stifle this innocent play of theboyish nature under the impression that is an exhibition of sensuousness andfor that reason, as being as harmful as similar conduct on the part ofgrown up persons, the result is not assurance but discouragement, ofjuvenile innocence. There are, indeed, black sheep and these should not beallowed to taint the whole flock, for this purpose caretakers with full sense

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of their delicate responsibility are required to keep watch over them forensuring the innocence of boyhood and youth without killing their joys.

Associates of Sri Caitanya byBhaktisiddhanta SaraswatiPublished on Mar 16 2014 10:25 AM | Posted by Srila BhaktisiddhantaSaraswati Thakur | Articles on Hinduism | 2,535 views

(Published in Sajjana-tosani Magazine, February 1933)

[In this immortal work of spiritual genius,Srila Sarasvati Thakura describes themethod by which the Lord descends todeliver the fallen souls. Although composedin very high English, the sincere seeker willfind in this short essay profoundexplanation as to the nature and function of guru.— ed.]

Sri Krishna Caitanya is Sri Krishna Himself. The associates of Sri KrishnaCaitanya are constituents of Himself. It is our object in this short paper tostudy the implications of these doctrines.

Sri Krishna's active existence involves the undivided operation of thefollowing six divine entities viz., gurus, devotees, avataras (divine descents),divine manifestations, divine powers, and Godhead Himself. All these arejointly and severally divine.

As Sri Krishna Caitanya is identical with Sri Krishna the active existence ofSri Caitanya also implies the cooperation of the above six divine categories.

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Sri Vedanta Shyamantaka of BaladevaVidyabhushanaPublished on Mar 16 2014 09:34 AM | Posted by Sri BaladevaVidyabhushana | Hindu Scriptures | 414 views

Prathamah Kiranah: First Ray of LightPramana-nirnayah: Evidence for the Truth

1 May the wonderful moon of LordCaitanya, a moon that reveals the eternalform of the Supreme Personality ofGodhead, a moon that creates greatwaves in the flooding ocean oftranscendental bliss, a moon that taught the truth to Rupa Gosvami andSanatana Gosvami, a moon that removes the darkness, rise in our hearts.

2 Evidence is needed to understand the truth. The philosopher Carvakaaccepts only the evidence of direct sense perception (pratyaksa). TheVaisesika philosophy accepts both sense perception and logic (anumana).Patanjali and pseudo - Kapila accept sense-perception, logic, words andanalogies (upamana). The mimamsakas accept sense perception, logic, words,analogies and also inference (arthapatti) and the impossibility of nonexistence (anupalabdhi). The followers of the Puranas accept senseperception, logic, words, analogies, inference and the impossibility of noneexistence and tradition (aihitya) and equivalence (sambhava) as well. We seeall these as evidence for the truth. In this way there are eight kinds ofevidence to find the truth: sense perception, logic, words, analogies,inference, the impossibility of non existence, tradition and equivalence.

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Prameya Ratnavali of BaladevaVidyabhushanaPublished on Mar 16 2014 08:58 AM | Posted by Sri BaladevaVidyabhushana | Hindu Scriptures | 434 views

Table of Contents:

Prameya 1: Maggalacaranam, The disciplic succession, Madhvacarya's NinePhilosophical Truths, Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead

Prameya 2: The Supreme Personality of Godhead Is Known By Study of theVedas

Prameya 3: The Material WorldIs Real

Prameya 4: The Jivas (LivingEntities) Are Different From LordVisnu

Prameya 5: The Jivas (Living Entities) Are By Nature the Servants of theSupreme Personality of Godhead

Prameya 6: In Both Conditioned and Liberated States, the jivas AreSituated in Higher and Lower Statuses

Prameya 7: Liberation Does Not Mean an Impersonal Merging,But theAttainment of Direct Association With Lord Krsna

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Prameya 8: Pure Devotional Service Grants Liberation

Prameya 9: Direct Perception, Logic and Vedic Revelation Are ThreeSources of Actual Knowledge

New finds take archaeologists closer toKrishnaPublished on Mar 14 2014 01:11 PM | Posted by Bhama DeviRavi | Hinduism in the News | 4,060 views

The conch and the Sudarshana Chakra are unmistakable. Although thefigures do not match popular images of Krishna sporting a peacock feather,archaeologists are convinced that the coins are of Krishna, revered as anavatar of Vishnu.

"These square coins, dating back to 180BC, with Krishna on one side andBalram on the other, were unearthedrecently in Al Khanoun in Afghanistanand are the earliest proof that Krishnawas venerated as a god, and that the worship had spread beyond theMathura region," says T K V Rajan, archaeologist and founder-director,Indian Science Monitor, who is holding a five-day exhibition, In search ofLord Krishna,' in the city from Saturday.

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Holi Festival: Heralding the Colors of SpringPublished on Mar 13 2014 11:24 AM | Posted by Radha Pukan | HinduFestivals | 1,313 views

Every Indian has distinct childhood memoriesof Holi. Showers of colorful powder, gettingdoused by colorful water from ‘pichkaris’ andthe resounding greetings of ‘Holi Hai’.Marking the end of the cold winter andwelcoming the advent of vibrant spring.

Indians celebrate this delightful festival of colors everywhere. Holi usuallyfalls on the day after Purnima or full moon in early March every year.There are bursts of different hues all around as people throw ‘gulal’ withgreat laughter and glee. This unique festival was celebrated from pagan daysto usher in good harvests and pay homage to the fertility of the land. Therewas also an association with legends from the Hindu Puranas, ancienthistories of previous ages.

Sri Shiva Sahasranama from the LingaPurana in Sanskrit (PDF)May 08 2014 09:59 AM The Sri Shiva Sahasranama from the LingaPurana in Sanskrit in PDF format.

Aditya Hridayam in Sanskrit with EnglishTranslation (PDF)May 08 2014 09:54 AM The Aditya Hridayam in Sanskrit with EnglishTranslation in PDF format.

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Devi Sukta and Devi Aparadha KshamaStotra in Sanskrit with EnglishTransliteration (PDF)May 08 2014 09:50 AM The Devi Sukta and Devi Aparadha KshamaStotra in Sanskrit with English Transliteration in PDF format. These arerecited after completing chanting of Durga Shaptashati (Devi Mahatmya).

Sri Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati) inSanskrit with English Transliteration (PDF)May 08 2014 09:43 AM The Sri Devi Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati) inSanskrit with English Transliteration in PDF format. This is originally fromthe Markandeya Purana.

SarasMaha wati Sahasranama in Sanskritwith English Transliteration (PDF)May 08 2014 09:36 AM The Maha Saraswati Sahasranama in Sanskritwith English Transliteration in PDF format.

2. Hobbies, in abundance, a widechoice!Thanks to Sri R P for forwarding.

Why not make a start with 'Origami' ?

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SeshadriOn Tuesday, May 6, 2014 11:08 PM, Ramachandran Padmanabhan <p.ramachandran.1939@gmail.com> wrote:

Inexpensive Hobbies> By JenniferDerrick<http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/author/jennifer/>,> .<http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2012/01/30/109065_67-free-and-inexpensive-hobbies.html#comments>> .<http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2012/01/30/109065_67-free-and-inexpensive-hobbies.html#><http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2012/01/30/109065_67-free-and-inexpensive-hobbies.html#>> 15>> [image: sand collection]<http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/sand-collection.jpg>> *We often think of hobbies as expensive, and some are.* If you want to> raise horses, collect antique cars, take up drag racing, or own your own> plane to indulge your passion for flying, you’re going to pay a lot of> money. However, there are plenty of hobbies available that are free or> inexpensive. With almost any hobby, there are ways to make it less>expensive<http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2011/12/12/108386_11-ways-to-get-into-an-expensive-hobby-without-busting-the-budget.html>.> You can shop the used market, borrow or rent supplies, or trade supplies> with other hobbyists.

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Don’t make the mistake of thinking that, just because you are on a tightbudget (or don’t want to spend a lot of money), you> can’t have any hobbies. Here are some ideas for inexpensivehobbies:Reading There are a lot of places that you can get reading materialon the cheap if not for free. Use the library, shop used book stores and sales,hit thrift stores and yard sales, and read free eBooks.> Metal Detecting Who doesn’t have the fantasy of stumbling across hiddentreasure? You can buy a metal detector for under $100 (less if you buyused) and search for thosetreasure<http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2010/12/08/106802_treasure-hunting-strange-ways-to-make-money.html>in your spare time.Anything you find can be sold or recycled for money.> Arts/Crafting Crafting can get expensive, but if you create somethingunique or useful, you can sell it to recoup your costs<http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2009/07/30/104908_is-crafting-a-good-way-to-make-money.html>.> Some ideas:> - Knitting> - Embroidery> - Cross sttich> - Decoupage> - Jewelry making> - Painting> - Scrapbooking> - Latch hooking> - Sculpting> - Drawing

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> Crocheting

> - Wreath making (inexpensive especially if you use natural, seasonal> materials)> - Quilting> - Pottery (Rent a wheel, got to a facility where you can rent time on> a wheel, or buy used)> - Paper mache> - Beading> - Stamping> Look for sources of less expensive supplies (clearance sales, wholesalers,> trades, online stores) and try to use leftovers from one project in future> projects to cut your costs. When you’re just starting out, buy the cheapest> materials you can get so you don’t waste money on your “learner”projects.> You can also find instructional books at the library and free/low cost> classes at craft stores or community schools.> Writing> Whether it’s poetry, fiction, or just journaling, writing is basically> free. You don’t have to write to publish if you don’t want to. If you find> enough enjoyment in the process, you can do it just for yourself.> Puzzles/Board Games/Cards> These things can keep you busy for a while for little cost:> - Jigsaw puzzles> - Cards (Get a copy of Hoyle’s Rules of Games for endless game ideas.)> - Board games> - Crossword puzzles> - Sudoku> - Word search puzzles

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Card games (using a game-specific deck like UNO or Rook)Chess,Backgammon, Checkers (often available as a 3-in-1 game set)- Dice games (Get a copy of Hoyle’s Rules of Games for endless game> ideas.)> - Find-the-items-in-the-picture puzzles> - Free logic, word, and picture puzzlesonline<http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2007/11/20/101903_free-online-puzzles-where-to-get-your-daily-dose.html>> Gardening> It doesn’t matter if you rent or buy<http://onecentatatime.com/should-i-buy-or-should-i-rent-a-calculated-approach/>,> this is a hobby that can be adjusted to either situation. Seeds are> inexpensive. If you start with a small patch of land if you own, or a> simple container garden if you rent, you won’t have to invest muchmoney in> fertilizer, soil, or water, either. If you can follow the frugal> gardening 10Commandments<http://www.frugalgardening.com/gardening-ten-commandments.html>,> this often thought of expensive hobby can be anything but. Even better, if> you’re successful, you’ll get your money back by eating your harvest.> Photography> When many people think of photography as a hobby, they think of hugeSLR> cameras and professional editing software, or even a darkroom. But even> small point and shoot digital cameras can give good results andGIMP<http://www.gimp.org/>is a free, open source alternative toPhotoShop. Free online photo sharing

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> and blogging lets you post your creations.> Saving Money> The ultimate inexpensive hobby is saving money. Finding new ways to cut> costs and use things more wisely and differently can be a great way to> spend time. Couponing <http://www.grocerycouponguide.com/> oftenbecomes> a hobby for frugal people.> Origami> All you need is some paper and instructions, which are available online or> in books you can get at the library. If you get good at it, you can then> use your new found skills to leave an originaltip<http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2007/02/21/101116_5-great-ways-to-leave-a-tip.html>whenever you eat out.> Walking/Hiking> Both exercise and a hobby, walking has health benefits as well as being a> way to pass some time. Go to a nationalpark<http://www.nationalparksblog.com/>,> local state park, nature trail, beach, or hiking trail for a change of> scenery. Walking with friends is a great way to spend time together it’s a> great wau to explore those places both near and far that you have always> wanted to see.> Bird Watching> There is something serene and relaxing about watching birds go abouttheir> business. All you need to start bird watching as a hobby is an inexpensive> pair of binoculars, some paper to write down what you see, and a book> (obtained from the library or used book store) to identify your finds. Put> up a feeder in your yard to attract more species.

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> Insect/Butterfly Watching> See number 11. The idea is the same and this is one that the kids mayfind> a lot more enjoyable than bird watching if you want to include them inthe> hobby.> Collecting> Pick something you like and collect it. Maybe you like rocks, bottle caps,sea> glass<http://www.nationalparksblog.com/sea-glass-beach-fort-bragg-california/>,> small figurines, stuffed animals, trading cards, or even sand. Sure, some> collections can get expensive if you chase rare items or antiques, but a> simple collection can be amassed for little or no money, and you can havea> great time putting it together.> Free Online Games> If you like video games but find them too expensive, try some free online> offerings. There are a wide variety to choose from and you can playagainst> people from all over the world.> Playing Music> Beginner versions of most instruments can be found used and groupclasses> are usually inexpensive. With the wealth of resources available online> today, you can probably even teach yourself.> Foreign Language> Teach yourself a foreign language using books and tapes obtained from the

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> library, or software and online resources. You can also learn a lot by> watching the subtitles on DVD’s.> Volunteering> Whatever skills or time you have can be put to use in the service of> others. Find something you like to do and then find an organization that> can use you.> Astronomy> Buy a used or a kids’ telescope and a star map and you’re all set. Go> somewhere where there is little light pollution and see what you can find.> Meditation/Yoga> A quiet room and maybe a mat is all you need. Yoga DVD’s are availableto> rent or borrow from libraries and there are many workouts online.> Baking/Cooking> This has the advantage of cutting your eating out budget, too.> Blogging> Start a blog for free online and blog about whatever interests you. If you> get enough traffic, you can run some ads and make a little money.> Listening to Music> You don’t have to buy CD’s to enjoy music. YouTube and Pandora aregreat> places to discover new artists. Amazon and iTunes usually have a free song> of the day and may run deep discounts on albums and other songs. And,> there’s always the radio.> Museums/Zoos/Aquariums> If your area has a lot of museums, you can make a hobby out of visiting> them often. If they’re government funded, they’re probably free and youcan

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> do this hobby in any new city you visit.> TV> We sometimes give TV a badrap<http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2012/01/17/108885_20-ways-to-break-your-tv-habit-and-save-a-fortune.html>,> but for many people it’s a hobby and not a source of wasting time. They> love watching their favorite actors and seeing what’s new.> Cartooning> If you have a sense of humor and can draw, start creating cartoons.> Watching Movies> You don’t have to go to the theater. An inexpensive Netflix subscription> can provide you with more than you’ll ever watch. Or, you can borrowDVD’s> form some libraries.> Become an Expert> Many people have a topic that they are passionate about. Maybe it’s a> sport, a celebrity or otherwise famous person, a historical period, space> travel, gardening, or military history. Whatever passion you have, spend> your time learning all you can about it. Before you know it, you’ll be an> expert.> Kite Flying> A department store kite costs a few dollars and can be fun on windy days.> Computer Programming/Website Design> There are plenty of free tutorials available online and in library books.> There are many free and open source tools available, too.> Juggling> Get three balls and use an online tutorial to teach you how.> Organize Old Family Photos

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> You probably have tons of old photos lying around. Spend time identifying> the people and places and writing the information on the back so you’ll> always know why these photos were important.> Flower Arranging> You can use inexpensive silk flowers instead of real blooms to practice> your arrangements. They’re reusable so you can try them in all kinds of> different arrangements.> Sports> Swimming is inexpensive if you have a community pool or a YMCA nearby.> Tennis only requires a racket and some balls available at Wal-Mart.> Community courts are usually free. Basketball can be played at home onyour> own driveway with a goal purchased used or from Wal-Mart, or you canplay> on community courts. The same goes for soccer and baseball.> .Art from Scavenged Materials> I recently saw someone make a giant Lite-Brite out of old water bottles> and a piece of wood. Another person made a large grasshopper out of old> garden hose. If you’re creative and can make things from the discards of> others, there’s your hobby.> Dancing> Group instruction in most forms of dance is relatively inexpensive. Or you> can just watch videos and model what you see in your own home. You’llget> your exercise, if nothing else.> Camping> Tents and other equipment are relatively inexpensive and widely available

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> used. Camping can allow you to travel and spend time with loved ones fora> fraction of a the cost of a “real” vacation.> Whittling> All you need is a knife and a block of wood to create whatever youimagine.> Genealogy> Online resources abound to help you in your search for your family> history. Librarians and other family members can also help you.> Running> While running just to run can be a hobby unto itself, it gets more fun if> you enter races. Local 5K’s, marathons, triathlons, and half marathonshave> reasonable entry fees and you usually get a lot of fun and camaraderie for> your money. You can either race to win or just for the fun of entering.> Animation> You can either hand-draw your animations in a “flip book” style, or use> free, open source computer software like Blender to create computer> animations.> Singing> You can sing in the privacy of your own home or, if you have talent, sing> in a church choir, perform the national anthem at local sporting events,or> go to local karaoke nights. But if you feel like your singing could use> some improvement so you can actual perform somewhere besides akaraoke bar> or your shower, you can always take lessons on singing for beginners.> Sewing

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> You can make clothes, bags, or other household items, or sew “artsy”> projects. Scavenge fabric from old clothes or clearance racks and buy your> machine used or get a hand-me-down from a family member. Even anew,> entry-level machine is relatively inexpensive.> Woodworking> You don’t have to build complicated projects. Simple shelves, birdhouses,> and other small projects can be a good way to start and can be built from> left over materials.> Plant/Flower Identification> Take nature hikes and identify the plants and flowers that you see using> books borrowed from the library.> Coloring (Seriously)> Coloring books and crayons are cheap and it’s a great stress reliever and> something you can do with the kids.> Fantasy Sports> Join a fantasy sports league and build your teams, track stats, and have> fun all season.> Community theater> If you have the acting bug, visit your local theater and see if you can> audition for any roles.> Home Movies> Many cell phones and digital cameras have video capability, or you could> pop for an inexpensive video camera. Document your family life, vacations,> or pets and edit the movies in a program like iMovie.> Calligraphy> You can get the special pens at the craft store and practice using online> tutorials or library books and some paper. If you get good, you could make

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> money doing wedding and party invitations for friends and family.> Legos> Don’t get the specialized sets ($$$), but instead opt for the big box of> bricks and your own imagination.> People Watching> Go where there is activity and just see what people do. Human behavior is> really strange sometimes.> Part-Time Work> Some people find a job that they love, but which does not pay enough to> make a full time living, to be a good hobby. If you hate your day job, do> what you like to do on a part time basis.> Darts> A board and darts can usually be found cheap at yard sales or thrift> stores. Just be sure to set up somewhere where you don’t mind dart holesin> the wall.> Magic> Simple tricks can be learned from books or online tutorials and most use> household items.> Candle Making> Supplies are surprisingly cheap at craft stores and you can make yourown> shapes and scents.> Public Speaking> Practice at home with family, or join Toastmaster International for a> small fee to practice with others.> Cake Decorating

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> If you can learn to do this well, you can make some side money doingcakes> for friends and family.> Take Classes> Some people make a hobby out of just taking classes through their local> community college or library system. Usually inexpensive, you can take a> class every term in whatever interests you at the time.> Learn Sign Language> You can learn the basics from books and online tutorials.> Take up Parkour> Sometimes hobbies don’t cost a lot of money to do, but can end upcosting> a lot of money if you aren’t careful when you are doing them.Parkour<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkour>is a good example of this. Gofor it if it’s something you think you would> enjoy — just don’t hurt yourself or do anything illegal.> Planking> There are some strange hobbies that take off for unknown reasons.Planking<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planking_%28fad%29>is one of these.Again, don’t do anything illegal or get hurt.> Geocaching or Letterboxing> If you already have a GPS capbable device, you can get into geocaching for> little money. If not, try letterboxing which is much the same but uses old> school supplies like a compass and paper. You’ll defintely get to know some> out of the way places even in areas that you thought you knew well.> Storm Chasing> Please, don’t get killed. Seriously.> Meteorology

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> If storm chasing isn’t your thing, you can still follow the weather with> your own wind gauge, thermometer and barometer. Learn about clouds,storms,> and get better at reading changing weather patterns.> Graphic Design> If painting with actual paint’s not your thing, you can try graphic> design. There are a lot of free software programs available online.> Hobbies are limited by your imagination. For more ideas, visit your local> community college or look at some community bulletin boards to see what> kinds of activities are being taught or offered. You’ll likely find that> many of these offerings are free or low cost and may become your next> hobby. Just be sure that you don’t get so involved in the hobby that is> ends up being a cause ofunemployment<http://www.20sfinances.com/2012/01/03/cause-of-unemployment/>— or if you do love it so much, make sure that you takethe steps to make> your hobby a moneyearner<http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2006/03/08/10459_want-to-make-extra-money-look-at-your-hobby.html

3.Holi FestivalHoli

What is Holi?

Colorful powders for Holi

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Holi (also called Holaka or Phagwa) is anannual festival celebrated on the day afterthe full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna(early March). It celebrates spring,commemorates various events in Hindumythology and is time of disregarding social norms and indulging in generalmerrymaking. Holi is probably the least religious of Hinduholidays. DuringHoli, Hindus attend a public bonfire, spray friends and family with coloredpowders and water, and generally go a bit wildin the streets.

Also see: Diwali in Hinduism and Symbols of Hinduism

The central ritual of Holi is the throwing and applying of colored water andpowders on friends and family, which gives the holiday its common name"Festival of Colors." This ritual is said to be based on the above storyof Krishna and Radha as well as on Krishna's playful splashing of themaids with water, but most of all it celebrates the coming of spring with allits beautiful colors and vibrant life.

History and Meaning of Holi

Celebrated all over India since ancient times, Holi's precise form andpurpose display great variety. Originally, Holi was an agricultural festivalcelebrating the arrival of spring.

This aspect still plays a significant part in the festival in the form ofthecolored powders: Holi is a time when man and nature alike throw off

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the gloom of winter and rejoice in the colorsand liveliness of spring.

Holi also commemorates various events inHindu mythology, but for most Hindus itprovides a temporary opportunity for Hindusto disregard social norms, indulge inmerrymaking and generally "let loose."

See Hinduism main page

See Hinduism beliefs

See Hinduism facts

The legend commemorated by the festival of Holi involves an evil kingnamed Hiranyakashipu. He forbade his son Prahlad from worshippingVishnu, but Radhu continued to do offer prayers to the god. Getting angrywith his son, Hiranyakashipu challenged Prahlad to sit on a pyre with hiswicked aunt Holika who was believed to be immune to fire. (In an alternateversion, Holika put herself and Prahlad on the fire on orders from herbrother.)

Prahlad accepted the challenge and prayed to Vishnu to keep him safe.When the fire started, everyone watched in amazement as Holika was burntto death, while Prahlad survived without a scar to show for it. The burningof Holika is celebrated as Holi. According to some accounts, Holika beggedPrahlad for forgiveness before her demise, and he decreed that she would beremembered every year at Holi.

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See Hindu belief of cows and the bindi and namaste

See Hindu belief in the swastika symbol and the aum symbol andthe lotus symbol

An alternative account of the basis of the holiday isassociated with a legend involving Lord Shiva, one ofthe major Hindu gods. Shiva is known for hismeditative nature and his many hours spent in solitudeand deep meditation. Madana, the God of love, decidedto test his resolve and appeared to Shiva in the form ofa beautiful nymph. But Shiva recognized Madana andbecame very angry. In a fit of rage he shot fire out ofhis third eye and reduced her to ashes. This issometimes given as the basis of Holi's bonfire.(See Hindu beliefs)

The festival of Holi is also associated with the enduringlove between Lord Krishna (an incarnation of Vishnu)and Radha, and Krishna in general. According to

legend, the young Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda about whyRadha was so fair and he so dark. Yashoda advised him to apply colour onRadha's face and see how her complexion would change. Because of thisassociated with Krishna, Holi is extended over a longer period in Vrindavanand Mathura, two cities with which Krishna is closely affiliated. (See Hinduhistory)

'Celebration ofSpring by Krishna

and Rama'18th cent.painting(Guimet

Museum, Paris)

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Krishna's followers everywhere find special meaning in the joyous festival, asgeneral frivolity is considered to be in imitation of Krishna's play withthe gopis (wives and daughters of cowherds).

Holi Rituals and Customs

Holi is spread out over two days (it used to be five,and in some places it is longer). Theentire holiday is associated with a loosening ofsocial restrictions normally associated with caste,sex, status and age. Holi thus bridges social gapsand brings people together: employeesand employers, men and women, rich and poor,young and old. Holi is also characterized by the loosening of socialnorms governing polite behavior and the resulting general atmosphere oflicentious merrymaking and ribald language and behavior. A common sayingheard during Holi is bura na mano, Holi hai ("don't feel offended, it's Holi").

On the evening of the first day of Holi, a public bonfire is held,commemorating the burning of Holika. Traditionally, Hindu boys spend theweeks prior to Holi combing the neighborhood for any waste wood they canfind for the bonfire. The fire is lit sometime between 10 PM and midnight(at the rising of the moon), not generally in an orderly fashion. Everyonegathers in the street for the event, and the air rings with shouts, catcalls,curses and general mayhem. .

In Bengal, Holi features the Dolayatra (Swing Festival), in which images ofthe gods are placed on speciallydecorated platforms and devotees take turns

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swinging them. In the meantime, women dance around and sing specialsongs as men spray colored water at them.

4. Asthama natural remedies

Wed May 7, 2014 10:02 pm (PDT) . Posted by:"premji hotmail" p_b40001

Here are the top 10 home remedies for asthma.1. Ginger Ginger is a well-known natural treatment for various ailmentsincluding asthma. Researchers have found that it can help reduce airwayinflammation and inhibit airway contraction. Plus, studies indicate that ithas compounds that may enhance the muscle relaxant effects of certainasthma drugs. Mix equal quantities of ginger juice, pomegranate juice andhoney. Consume one tablespoon of this mixture two or three times a day.Alternatively, you can mix one teaspoon of ground ginger in one and a halfcups of water and take one tablespoon of this mixture at bedtime. Cut oneinch of ginger into small pieces and add it to a pot of boiling water. Let itsteep for five minutes, allow it to cool down and then drink it. To detoxifyyour lungs, prepare a fenugreek decoction by boiling one tablespoon offenugreek seeds in a cup of water and mixing one teaspoon each of gingerjuice and honey in it. Drink this solution every morning and evening. Youcan also eat raw ginger mixed with salt.

2. Mustard Oil -When having an asthma attack, massaging with mustardoil will help clear the respiratory passages and restore normal breathing.

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Heat some mustard oil with a little camphor and gently massage it into thechest and upper back. Do this several times a day until the symptomssubside

.3. Figs -The nutritional properties of figs promote respiratory health andhelp drain phlegm and alleviate breathing difficulties. Wash three dried figsand soak them in a cup of water overnight. In the morning, eat the soakedfigs and drink the fig water on an empty stomach. Continue this hometreatment for a couple of months. This method helps the nutrients quicklyenter your bloodstream and provide relief from asthma symptoms.

4. Garlic -The following garlic remedies will clear congestion in your lungs,giving you quick relief from asthma symptoms. Boil 10 to 15 cloves of garlicin one-half cup of milk. Drink this once a day. You can also make garlic teaby adding three to four cloves of garlic to a pot of hot water and letting itsteep for five minutes. Allow it to cool to room temperature and then drinkit.

5. Coffee -The caffeine in regular coffee can help control asthma attacksbecause it acts as a bronchodilator. Hot coffee also will relax and clear theairways to help you to breathe easier. The stronger the coffee, the betterthe result. But try not to drink more than three cups of black coffee in aday. If you do not like coffee, you can opt for a cup of hot black tea. Do notuse caffeine as a regular treatment though

.6. Eucalyptus Oil- Pure eucalyptus oil is an effective treatment for asthmasymptoms because of its decongestant properties.

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Research indicates that it has a chemical called eucalyptol which can helpbreak up mucus. Just put a few drops of eucalyptus oil on a paper toweland keep it by your head when sleeping so that you breathe in thearoma.You can also put two to three drops of eucalyptus oil in a pot ofboiling water and breathe in the steam. Try to take deep breaths for fasterresults

.7. Honey -Honey is one of the oldest natural cures for asthma. The alcoholand ethereal oils in honey help reduce asthma symptoms. Just inhaling thesmell of honey produces positive results for some people. You can also mixone teaspoon of honey into a glass of hot water and drink it slowly aboutthree times a day. Before going to bed, swallow one teaspoon of honey withone-half teaspoon of cinnamon powder. This will help remove phlegm fromyour throat and allow you to sleep better.

8. Onions-Onions have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduceconstriction of the airways when suffering from asthma. Also, the sulfurcontent in onions helps decrease inflammation in the lungs.Simply eat rawonions to clear your air passage ways for better breathing. If you cannotbear the taste of raw onions, try eating cooked onions.

9. Lemon-People with asthma often have low levels of vitamin C. Lemonsare rich in this vitamins and antioxidants that can help reduce asthmasymptoms. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon in a glass of water and addsome sugar according to your taste. Drink this regularly to reduce asthmaattacks. Oranges, papayas, blueberries and strawberries are also rich innutrients that help minimize asthma symptoms.

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10. Salmon (Fish) Omega-3 fatty acids in salmon will help your lungs reactbetter to irritants that cause asthma symptoms. It can also reduce airwaynarrowing and inflammation. Along with salmon, you can eat other fishessuch as cod, sardines, mackerel and tuna. If raw salmon is not readilyavailable, you can try salmon oil. The next time you suffer from an asthmaattack, try these natural treatments. When followed in a proper manner,you’ll breathe easier and get relief from other symptoms of asthma.Resources:http://www.top10homeremedies.com/home-remedies/home-remedies-for-asthma.html/3www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18432287www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130519145647.htmwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0010864/With Regards and Best Wishes Premji Bhanushali

5 Names of Lord Krishna, Mythologicalnames

AbhijeetAnishBanbihariBankeBankebihariBankimBanwariBrijeshDamodarDarshDhrupad

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GadinGhanshyamGirdhariGirivarGopalGopeshGovindHarekrishnaHareshHariharJagmohanJaspalKanaiyaKanhaKannanKanuKeshavKishanKishoreKrishnaMadhavMadhusudanMakheshManharManmohanMohnishMukundMuralidharMurariNaggar

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NathanNatwarNandanNandakishoreRadheshRasbihariRaseshRasmaruRukmineshSaketSanwariyaSatyanarayanShrihariShrikantaShrikrishnaShyamsundarSiddhanta

Please support Indian Hindu names, make a small donation .

TirthayaadVanamalinVansidharVasumatVasupatiVatsapalVedamohanVibhavasu

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VibhumatVihariVitaharyaVrajalalVrajeshVrajkishoreVrajmohanVrajrajVrisaYadavYadavendraYadunandanYadunathYadurajYaduvirYajnarup

Also see 108 Names of Lord Krishna, Shri Krishna AshtottaraShatanaamavali

6. Lord LakshmiNames of Goddess Lakshmi, Mythological names

AditiAhladajananiAmruthaAnaghaAshoka

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BhaskariBhuvaneshwariBilvanilayaBuddhiChandaChandrarupaChandrasahodariChandravadanaChaturbhujaDaridriya DhwamsiniDaridriyanashiniDeepaDeeptaDeetyaDeviDhanadhanyakiDhanyaHariniHarivallabhiHemamaliniHiranmayiHiranyaprakaiHymavathyIndiraIndusheetalaJayaKamakshiKamalaKamalasambhavaKantha

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KarunaLakashokavinashiniLakshmiLokamatriMahalakshmiNavadurgaNityaPushtaPadmahastaPadmakshyaPadmamaladharaPadmamukhiPadmanabhapriyaPadmapriyaPadmasundariPadminiPadmodbhavaParamatmikaPrabhaPrakrutiPrasadabhimukhiPrasannakshiPushti

Please support Indian Hindu names, make a small donation .

RamaaSanghaviSanviSamudratanayaSarvapadravanivariniSatya

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ShivaShivakariShraddhaShubhaShubhapradaShuchiSiddhiStraina SoumyaSudhaSwahaUdarangaVachiVaralakshmiVararohaVasudhaVasudhariniVasundharaVasupradaVibhaVibhutiVidyaVikrutiVimalaVishnupatniVishnuvakshahVishwajananiYashaswini

Also see 108 Names of Goddess Lakshmi, Shri Lakshmi AshtottaraShatanaamavali

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7.Godess ParvatiNames of Goddess Parvati/ Durga, Mythological names

AmbaAmbikaAnikaAnnadaAnnikaAryahiBaruniBhagavatiBhargaviChandikaDakshayaniDeveshiDurgaEkaaIshanaIshaniIshiJyotsnaKiratiKujaKumariNandanaNandiNiranjana

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PatalaPingaPinglaPragalbhaRimaRudraSadabhujaSadhanaSadhikaSanataniSarvagjnaSasthiSatvikiSaumyaaShambhaviSharadaSharanyaSharvaniShatakshiShibaniShivakantaShrividyaShuddhiShuliniShyamaShyamalaSiddhamaSinhayanaSrirudraStuti

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SubhadraSurasaSureshi

Please support Indian Hindu names, make a small donation .TanisiTaritaToshaniTripuraTriputaTvaritaVajraVamikaVaralikaVaruniVasanaVidyaVishalakshiYadavi

Also see 108 Names of Goddess Durga, Shri Durga AshtottaraShatanaamavali

8.Godess Saraswathi

Names of Goddess Saraswati, Mythological names

BaniBharathiGayathriGyanada

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HamsiniIraKadambariMahaswetaMedhaPavakiPrajnaSaradhaShardambhaVaniVagishwariVeenavaniVidya, Vidhya

Please support Indian Hindu names, make a small donation .

Also see 108 Names of Goddess Saraswati, Shri Saraswati AshtottaraShatanaamavali

9.Lord VishnuNames of Lord Vishnu, Mythological names

AdiseshAdinathAjiteshAkshajBhudhavBhuvanesh

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ChakradevChakradharChhatrabhujEhaEkaEkanaEvyavanHemangHiranyaHrishikeshIjayIndivarIneshIshJagannathJaipalJanardanJinaKumudKundaLiladharLohitakshLoknathMadhubanMahakramMahatruMahendraNamdevNarayanNarottam

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NityantaPadmeshParmeshPitambarPramodanPurshottamRakshanRamRatnabhuRatnanidhiSamarendraSamarenduSamarjitSatindraShridharShrinathShripadShripalShripatiShriramShrirangaShrivatsaShriyansSourish

Please support Indian Hindu names, make a small donation .

TaranTirthankarTrilokeshTrinabh

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UchadevUdarathiUddiranUpendraUtpalakshVaikhanVaradrajVarishVatsinVedatmanVidhuVikraminViksarVikunthVirochanVishatanVishnahpuVishnuVishodhanVishvadharVishvahetuVishvanabhVitthalYajnadharYajneshYamahil

Also see 108 Names of Lord Vishnu, Shri Vishnu Ashtottara Shatanaamavali

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10.NaisimisaranyaAntiquities of Shri Jagannath: Amazing Findings

Published on May 08 2014 09:02 AM | Posted by SasankaSekhar Panda | Articles on Hinduism | 946 view

The massive earthern mound contain cut stone blocks, round Amalaka infour pieces, broken Neel chakra in stone, which once adorned the templetop and other sculptures of historical importance. These antiquities wereunearthed from the mound by Trilochan Bhoi, a villager of Kondh origin,almost single handed over a period of one year. Bhoi mentioned to meduring my visit on 29th June 2004 that three handless stone icons ofJagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra were recovered from the mound andare presently kept in an adjoining hut for worship. This discovery confirmsthe theory of construction of the oldest temple for the holy trinity by theSomavamsi king Yayatikeshari ninth century A.D. as mentioned in MadalaPanji, the temple chronicle of PuriJagannath temple.

It may be relevant to mention that thisauthor in one of his earlier visits to thistemple site in 1985 had discovered a bigstone slab engraved with "Astadala-Padma" design, besides stone amalaka andother temple sculptures scattered all around. He had also come across ahuge stone block with the image of "Anant Sayana Vishnu". This ancientsculptures since been shifted to a place on the right bank of river Tel, atributary of Mahanadi. It seems, many other sculptures like the doorjamb

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with vase folige motif, Gajalaksmi and Nabagraha panel etc. were shiftedfrom this site to a neighbouring village Deulgudi about seventy years back.This is an extremely potential site which calls for a planned excavation bythe State Archaeology.

With the discovery of this anthropoid forms of Jagannath, Balabhadra andSubhadra cast in stone, intriguing questions may be asked about the originof Jagannath cult and present wooden form of holy trinity worshipped inthe Jagannath temple of Puri. For the first time we get the anthropoidform of Jagannath sculpted in two panels on the walls of the famous 13thcentury Sun temple at Konark. In these panels, Balabhadra is shown as aShivalinga and Subhadra has been depicted as Mahishamardini Durga. Inone of these two stone panels, presently kept in the National MuseumJagannath is flanked by Durga on his right, whereas in the stone panel onthe temple walls of Konark, he is flanked by Durga on his left.

Positioning of Holy Trinity is not so relevant but depiction of Siva linga,anthropoid form of Jagannath and Durga depicted in both panels of Konarkconclusively prove that during the reign of the Ganga king Narasimhadeva I(circa 1238-1264 A.D.) builder of Sun temple, the three images of HolyTrinity were not worshipped in the present form. In the Pancharatraphilosophy, Balabhadra Samkarsana is identified with Siva. Bramhapuran(23-132) states that Rudra is known as Halayudha. Scholars like Eschmann,Kulke and Tripathi have further suggested that Balabhadra could have beenworshipped as Ekapada Bhairava in the remote past, since EkapadaBhairava is represented in the uniconical form as single-legged.

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The portion of the image below waist is shaped like a tree-trunk or a pillar.Such an uniconical figure of Ekpada Bhairava could be seen as rock-cutfigure on the monolithic rock in a hillock called Bhairo Pahad situated about5 kms to the south of Titlagarh town in the upper Mahanadi valley, datedto eigth century A.D.

Legend has it that king Indradyumna of Malava had a dream wherein hesaw Purusottama Narasimha being worshipped in a form, over whose headsnake Sesa had spread his hood. This was indicative of the association of thedivine snake Ananta Sesanaga with Purusottama Narasimha. BhagawataPurana (v.25.2.3) has identified Balabhadra as Ananta - SamkarsanaBalabhadra, who has been elevated to the status of elder brother ofPurusottama.

Anncharlott Eschmann, Hermann Kulke and Gaya Charan Tripathi are ofthe view that the uniconical figure represented in Konark was taken overfrom the Saiva model of Ekapada Bhairava, the Ugra aspect of Siva. Theyhave further assumed that the Jagannath figure developed from theidentification of a tribal deity represented as Narasimha in the form ofa wooden post or pillar. In fact, Narasimha came out of a pillar to kill thedemon Hiranyakasipu. In the upper Mahanadi valley a temple was built byqueen-mother Vasata of the Panduvamsa some time in the 8th century A.D.at Sripura, the capital city of Kosala for worship of Purusottama Narasimha.Anantasayana Visnu image has been carved on the door-lintel of theentrance to the sanctum of this temple, which is known as Laksmanatemple at present.

Goddess Subhadra has been identified with goddess Khambesvari ( theGoddess of the Pillar or Post) whose worship was prevalent in the upper

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Mahanadi valley in the 5th-6th century A.D. as recorded in the Teresinghacopper-plate charter of king Tusthikara, discovered from the Teresinghavillage in Kalahandi district in 1947.

Goddess Subhadra is worshipped in the Bhubaneswari mantra in theJagannath temple at Puri. It is pertinent to note in this context thatgoddess Samlei, enshrined in the temple at Sambalpur is also worshipped inthe same Bhubaneswari mantra. The uniconic form of goddess Samlei likethe present anthropoid form of Subhadra seems to be identical. Is Samlei acorrupt form of the name Somalai or Samalei, a deity of the tribal origin,initially worshipped by the tribals and later absorbed into the Hindu fold bythe Somavamsis, who were ruling over Orissa from the upper Mahanadivalley first from Suvarnapura and then from Yayati Nagara in around 9th-11th century A.D. Another fact comes to mind that goddess BhagabatiPanchambari Bhadrambika was enshrined at Pattana Suvarnapura (presentSonepur town) during the rule of the Somavamsi king MahasivaguptaYayati-II Chandihara (Ruling Period: Circa 1024-1060 A.D). Is goddessBhadrambika converted into Subhadra?

The concept of Harihara worship can also be found in the upper Mahanadivalley as early as the 8th century A.D. when the twin temples ofGandharadi were built by the Bhanja king Ranabhanja of Khinjlimandala,one dedicated to Nilamadhava Visnu and the other to Siddhesvara Siva.Most probably during the time of Yayati II the Somavamsi king,Panchambari Bhadrambika was also worshipped along-with Visnu and Sivaon one platform.

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But if we take intoaccount the recent discovery of the stone images of Jagannath, Balabhadraand Subhadra in the uniconic anthropoid forms then the sculptural findingsfrom this Tentelkhunti mound allure us to date the sculptures of this site tothe early Somavamsi period and probably to the reign of Yayati-I (Circa885-925 A.D) . In that case it can be surmised that in these forms theJagannath triad were worshipped in the upper Mahanadi valley in the 9thcentury A.D.

Like the anthropoid forms of the Jagannath triad, Daksina Kalika in thesimilar form and also made of stone has been discovered from the samemound. In the Mahanirvana Tantra, Jagannath has been identified withDaksina Kalika. ( Tara Saksyat Sulapani Subhadra Bhuvanesvari / Niladroutu Jagannatha Saksyat Daksina Kalika // ).

A stone Chakra (Nilachakra) found in this site is also of much significance. Ahuge stone- block with Visnu Anantasayana is also found here. The earliestVisnu Anantasayana panel is found fitted to the door-lintel of the entranceto the sanction of the Laksmana temple at Sirpur, which is dated to the8th century A.D. The Visnu Anantasayana panels are found widely in theupper Mahanadi valley of Orissa in places like Kusang, Ranipur Jharial,Kagaon, Sonepur, Vaidyanath and Charda, all in the undivided Balangirdistrict, which was the seat of a civilization during the early Somavamsiperiod in the 9th-10th century A.D.

Traditional account credits Yayati-I with the construction of an earliertemple of Purusottama at Puri. In that case, he might have installed thestone image of the uniconic anthropoid form symbolising Lord Jagannath inthe temple at Puri, which he had already done earlier at Tentelkhunti, thesite under discussion, situated in his original home land Daksina Kosala.

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Then during the time of Yayati-II this anthropoid form of Jagannath mighthave been worshipped alongwith Sivalinga, symbolising Siva and Durgasymbolising Sakti, upto the time of the Ganga king Anangabhimadeva IIIand also during the reign of his son Narasimha-I, the builder of the Suntemple at Konark.

Now the question arises, when were the three images made in the presentuniconic anthropoid forms? In this context, learned scholar late Dr.Satyanarayan Rajaguru's view assumes significance. According to him, theanthropoid features of the stone images in the temple at Puri were notmade of wood upto the rule of Narsimhadeva-I (circa 1238-1264 A.D.).They were worshipped in the similar forms as depicted in both the stonepanels from Konark, when Baladeva - Ekanamsa - Krisna trinity wereinstalled and worshipped by Chandrikadevi, the widow sister of Ganga kingNarsimhadeva-I in the sanctum of the Ananta Vasudeva temple built on thebank of Vindu Sarovara at Bhubanesvar.

It is a known fact in history that during the reign of the Ganga kingAnangabhimadeva - III (circa 1211-1238 A.D.), the century old Ganga -Kalachuri war ended in favour of the Gangas, as a result of which theSonepur-Sambalpur region was annexed to the Ganga empire. This victorycould be achieved due to the generous gesture of Anangabhimadeva-III, whogave his daughter Chandrikadevi in marriage to a Kalachuri princeParamardideva. This Paramardideva became the General of the royal Gangaarmy during the reign of Narasimhadeva- I, the son and successor ofAnangabhimadeva- III.

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Thereafter the Gangasof Utkal-Kalinga joined hands with the Kalachuris of Tummana-Ratanpur(Chhattisgarh) in fighting against the Muslim forces of north-eastern India.Learned historians like late Prof. N.K. Sahu, Prof. J.K. Sahu and Prof. P.K.Mishra are of the view that Narasimha Deva-I (circa 1238-1264 A.D.) waspowerful enough to engage himself in a war with the Muslim ruler ofLakhnauti in Bengal, who was defeated by him. Dr. Satyanarayan Rajaguruis of opinion that Narasimhadeva-I was victorious due to the great valour ofthe tribals (Savaras) who then formed a large section of his army, andtherefore, to appease them the king might have installed suchanthropomorphized figures of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra in aHindu temple.

But the recent discovery of not only Jagannath, but all the three deities ofthe Jagannath triad in a temple ruins belonging to the 9th century A.D.leads us to believe that the Holy Trinity of Puri were being worshipped inthe anthropoid forms, (with only the handless torso and having the face)right from the ninth century A.D. in the ancient Daksina Kosala region,which was predominantly inhabited by the Savaras. Such an image of LordJagannath was also simultaneously installed by king Yayati-I at Puri.

The Muslim rulers of Lakhnauti in Bengal were constantly at war with theGanga kings of Utkala even after the reign of Narasimhadeva-I and duringthe time of Bhanudeva-III (Reigning Period : circa 1352-1378 A.D.) SultanFiruz Shah Tughlaq of Bengal attacked Baranasi Kataka and defeated theGanga king in war. The Muslim invader destroyed the temple of LordPurusottama built by Anangabhimadeva-III at Baranasi Kataka (presentCuttack).

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It is quite possible thatdue to this destruction, the stone images of the Jagannath triad as depictedin the stone panel of the Konark temple were taken away to some unknownplace in Sonepur (Sunapura) region and later were again installed in thetemple at Puri. Following the tribal traditions, all three images were madeof wood perhaps convienorce of shifting as and when required in case ofsuch attacks. The construction of a temple by the Somavamsi king Yayatifor the worship of the Great Lord (Jagannath) has found mention in thetemple chronicle Madala Panji (Prachi Edition, p.6). Since we find themention of Jagannath in the introductory verse, ( Pranipatya JagannathamSarvajina-vararchitam / Sarva Buddhamayam Siddhi VyapinomGaganopamam // ) and four other verses of the text Jnyanasiddhi byIndrabhuti, the king of Sambala (present Sambalpur) who was ruling sometime in the 8th century A.D., the origin and antiquity of Jagannath shouldbe traced to the Sambalpur - Sonepur region.

The Bhagavata cult of Vaisnavism held its sway in the upper Mahanadivalley, right from the time of the Nala king Skandavarman (ReigningPeriod : Circa 480-515 A.D.) who was ruling the present undividedKoraput-Kalahandi region of Orissa and the Bastar region of Chhattisgarhstate. As soon from his Podagad Stone Inscription he installed a foot-print(Padamula) of Visnu. The occurrence of Vasudeva in the epigraphic record ofthe Nala king testifies the prevalence of Vasudeva cult in the Nala domainand its amalgamation with Visnu in the Vaisnava philosophy. Dr. C.B. Patelhas rightly pointed out that 'Vasudeva Krishna cult which is resplendent inIndian sacred literature was a very popular creed since the ages. In theMahabharata he is described as an invincible fighter god, a guide andphilosopher. Skandavarman, a valiant warrior of his age was a worshipperof Vasudeva, who appears to have been inspired by his personality.'

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In this record, Vishnu (Hari) has been called Vijayo Jeta which epithet findmention in Verse- 16 of the Visnu Sahasranama.

The Nala were replaced by the Sarabhapuriyas in the upper Mahanadi valleysome time in the 6th century A.D. In the upper Mahanadi valley of Orissa,strong royal patronage was given to the Bhagavata cult of Vaisnavism bythe Sarabhapuriya kings, who ruled this part of the present Orissa around5th-6th century A.D. All the rulers of the Sarabhapuriya dynasty weredevout worshippers of Visnu. Learned scholar Dr. S.P. Tiwari is of opinionthat they were the followers of the Pancharatra system of the Bhagavatacult, which accepted Krisna Vasudeva as the supreme deity. Like the Guptakings, they designated themselves as Parama Bhagavatas. The Guptaemblem of Garuda flanked by Samkha and Chakra is found embossed onthe repousse gold coins of kings like Prasannamatra, Mahendraditya andKramaditya of this dynasty. Similarly, the standing figure of the Vaisnavitegoddess Laksmi, flanked by two elephants was the royal emblem of theSarabhapuriya kings, as this emblem is found in the seals attached to therings of their royal charters.

Vaisnavism flourished in full swing during the reign of the Panduvamsi kingsof Sripura, succeeded the Sarabhapuriyas in the upper Mahanadi valleysometime in the second half of the 6th century A.D. Queen Vasata, themother of the Panduvamsi king Mahasivagupta Balarjuna was a greatdevotee of Lord Purusottama Narasimha. In the upper Mahanadi valleybrick temple tradition in the same pattern of the Bhitargaon brick templeof the Gupta period was popularised during the Panduvamsi rule in the7th- 8th century A.D. Queen Regent Vasata built a brick temple forworshipping Lord Purusottama Narasimha in the capital city of Sripura,which is presently known as Laksmana temple.

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This temple is built in bricks although the gateway of the Garbhagriha ismade of stone, on which Dasavataras and Krishnalila themes are carved. ABhogasayana - murti, which is also called the Anantasayana Visnu is carvedon the Dvaralalatavimba of this gateway. This type of image ofAnantasayana Visnu is also found carved on the Dvaralatavimba of theGarbhagriha doorway of the Rajivalochana Visnu temple at Rajim. Sirpurand Rajim, both places are situated in the Raipur district of the present dayChhattisgarh. When the Panduvamsi rulers left Sripura, their capital citydue to the menace of the Kalachuris of Dahala sometime in the first half ofthe 9th century A.D., they migrated down- stream of Mahanadi to thearea around Balangir- Sonepur-Bargarh-Jharsuguda-Sambalpur region ofOrissa and subsequently established themselves as Somavamsis atSuvarnapura, the present Sonepur town on the right bank of riverMahanadi around 850 A.D.

The Somavamsi king Mahabhavagupta Janmejaya (850-885 A.D.) throughhis Sonepur copper-plate charter donated a village named Gettaikelasituated in the Luputura Khanda of Kosaladesa in his 17th Regnal Year tothe illustrious Kamalavana Merchants' Association situated in Suvarnapura,which in turn bestowed the same village to two temples, one of Lord Kesavaand the other of Lord Aditya for charity, oblation and offerings as well asfor repair of both the temples.

Mahabhavagupta Janmejaya Svabhavatunga's son and successorMahasivagupta Yajati has been been compared with the divine Visnu whokilled the epic Chaidya or Shishupala in the Rajasuya Yajna performed byYudhisthira.

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The Gopalpur plates of the 10th Regnal Year of the Somavamsi kingMahabhavagupta I Janmejaya records the grant of a village "Jollamura-grama" of Lupattora-Khanda to Bhatta Sadharana, who instead of keepingthe village, made over the same for the maintainance of a temple, built byhim at Suvarnapura, enshrining god Jalasayana Narayana Bhattaraka. Thetext of this grant concludes with the Vaisnava Mantra: Om NamoBhagavate Vasudevaya

The Gond tribals, who are predominantly inhabiting central India(Gondwanaland), stretching from Orissa to Maharastra, worship two majorgods called Bad Deo (Dev) and Jangha Deo (Dev). Are they Bad Devata orBalabhadra and Lord Jagannath ? If so, then the tribal origin of these twogods can be established.

In the context of historical findings and inscriptions one could safely inferthat from the days of Nala Kings of Koraput-Kalahandi rigion (said to bethe descendents of Nishada king Nala of Nala-Damayanti epic fame) i.e.4th-5th century A.D. till the advent of Somavamsis, upper Mahanadi valleyhas witnessed a rare churning of the tribal cults of Ekapada Bhairava,Khambeshwari, Maheshwari, Bhubaneshwari and above all Narasimha,Purushottama, Tantrik God Jagannath of Vajrayana. This amalgamationhas crystalised on the cult of Jagannath, literally the Lord of universe. Thuswe would see that the period from the 5th to the 9th-10th A.D. was epochmaking when the concept of Holy Triad evolved absorbing the tribal andnon-tribal religious beliefs leading to harmony and peaceful coexistence.

Author's Name: Sasanka Sekhar Panda

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