Ram Navami

13th April - Ram Navami

Ram Navami is one of the oldest festivals celebrated by the Hindu . It is said that the date of Ram Navami can be seen back to the pre-Christian era, as Hinduism is the oldest religion of the world. The reference of Ram Navami can also be found in the Kalika puran. In Hindu religion, it is considered to one of the five major holy festivals and it is said that properly observing this fast leads to the attainment of salvation.

Every year, the month of March-April observes a flurry of activities in the temples and religious spots  full with millions of Hindus with faith in their hearts and dedication in their minds. It is not something unusual for the knower who is fully known that the Hindu month of Chaitra are near and Ram Navami, one of the holy Hindu occasions, is to be celebrated in 'Shukla paksha' or the waxing moon phase on the ninth day of the same.

The devoted Hindus believe that on a similar day in the year 5114 BC, the prayers of Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya (an ancient city in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India) was answered. This king had three wives named Kausalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi. But none of the three bore him a male child which the king needed to take care of his empire and as a successor to his throne. Even after several years of his marriage, the King was not able to be a father.

Then the great sage Vasistha advised him to perform Puthra Kamesti Yagna, the holy ritual carried out to obtain an offspring. With King Dasharatha's consent, the great sage Maharshi Rushya Shrunga performed the ritual in the most detailed manner possible. The king was handed over a bowl of payasam (a preparation of milk and rice) and asked to distribute the food between his wives. The king gave one-half of the payasam to his elder wife Kausalya, and another half to his younger wife Kaikeyi. Both wives give half of their portions to Sumithra. This unequal distribution of the holy food leads to both Kausalya and Kaikeyi giving birth to one son each while twin sons are born to Sumithra.

The day was one of the ultimate celebrations in Ayodhya where not only the royal family but every resident of the place heaved a sigh of relief and thanked the God for this miracle, little knowing that god himself was present among them in the form of Rama, the newborn son of Kausalya. The great Hindu epic Ramayana (written by the ancient sage and Sanskrit poet Valmiki) as also a host of other ancient epics mention Rama as the seventh incarnation of the supreme god Lord Vishnu, who was born on earth to restore mankind to its previous glory, annihilate the evil and protect the innocent.

In his adulthood, Rama's execution of Ravana, the terrible demon-king of Lanka, and his army, as well as many other astonishing deeds, proved his divine status before the people. When Rama became a king, the people of Ayodhya supposedly began to observe his birthday out of extreme faith to their godly ruler. It is highly difficult to point out the exact time when Ram Navami celebrations were started.

Nag Panchami

What is Nag Panchami

Nag Pachami is the day of snakes. Nags are worshiped this day in by every hindu. Nags are snakes and Panchami means the fifth day after no-moon day. This year it is on 16th of August 2018

Nags are worshiped on the fifth day following the no-moon (aushi). Hence, the day is called Nag Panchami. Aushi means no-moon day in Nepali. 

What is Nag

Nags are deity snakes or special snakes. Those snakes have especial roles in Hindu Mythologies. 

There are various mythological beliefs about Nagpanchami and its celebration. 

Mahabharata tells that Lord Krishna conquered Nag Kalia and put an end to his evil deeds on the day of Shrawan Panchami. People believe that is the reason why people started celebrating this panchami as Nag Panchami.

Lord Bhrama’s son Kashyap rishi had thirteen wives namely Aditi, Dit, Kadru, Danu, Arishta, Surasa, Sauravi, Vinata, Tamra, Krodhavasa, Ida, Khasa, and Muni. Aditi gave birth to Devta, Diti to Garud, Kadroo to Nags, Danu to Daitya. 

Those Nags were the rulers of Patal lok.The great eight nags are Ananta, Vashuki, Padhmanavha, Kambala, Shankhapala, Dhartarashtra, Takshaka, and Kaliya. These Nags were very powerful and worshiped.

What is Nag Panchami Mantra

 अनन्तं वासुकिं शेषं पद्मनाभं च कम्बलम्।

 शंखपालं धार्तराष्ट्रं तक्षकं कालियं तथा ।।

एतानि नवनामानी नगनां च महत्मनाम् ।

सायंकाले पठेन्नित्यं प्रात:काले विशेषत:।।

तस्मै विषभयं नास्ति सर्वत्र विजयी भवत् ।।  

Nag Panchami matra is written on the footer Nags posters to stick on the door. The mantra is enchanting the names of those eight nags.

How is Nag Panchami celebrated by Hindu 

In this day, the hindu Bhramin traditionally post pictures of Nags above the doors of their home and goes door to door of each houses  to keep off evil spirits. The hindu devotee  worship the nag by offering a symbol of milk (the white color liquid from the paste of rice). People keep milk for snakes near snake holes.

Puran says the earth is lifted by Shesh Nag on his head. Lord Vishnu is sleeping on its coil inside the Ocean. Kali Nag, Bashuki Nag, Astha Nag, Padma Nag; and the Karkot Nags are the very powerful Nags. 

Scripture explains that without Nags’ help there will be no rain.So people worship Nags for the cause of water, offer prayers to Nags, and place food items such as milk and honey in their fields for Nags.

Source: internet

Maghe Sankranti

Maghe Sankranti(Nepali:माघे सङ्क्रान्ति, Mathili:माघि, Nepal Bhasa:घ्यःचाकु संल्हु) is a Nepalese festival observed on the first of Magh in the Vikram Sambat (B.S) calendar (about 14 January) bringing an end to the winter solsticecontaining month of Poush. Maghe Sankranti is similar to solstice festivals in other religious traditions.[2]

Observant Hindus take ritual baths during this festival, notably at auspicious river locations. These include Sankhamul on the Bagmati near Patan; In the Gandaki/Narayani river basin at Triveni, Devghat near Chitwan Valley and Ridi [3]on the Kaligandaki; and in the Koshi Riverbasin at Dolalghat on the Sun Koshi. Festive foods like laddoo, ghee and sweet potatoes are distributed. The mother of each household wishes good health to all family members.

Date and significance

Generally makar sankranti falls on 14 January, and is called Makar Sankranti or other names in the Indian subcontinent. Maghe Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in Madhesh and Tharuhat of Nepal. The movement of the sun from one zodiac sign into another is called Sankranti and as the Sun moves into the Capricorn zodiacal sign known as Makara, this occasion is named as Makara Sankranti in the Pahari context. It is one of the few Nepalese festivals of Madhesi and Tharu people that are celebrated on a fixed date, i.e., 14 January because this solar festival in the honor of deity Surya follows the solar cycle of the Bikrami calendar, unlike other festivals that follow lunar cycle.[4] [5]

Maghe Sankranti is regarded as marking the beginning of an auspicious phase in Nepaless culture. It is cited as the 'holy phase of transition'. It marks the end of an inauspicious phase which according to the Hindu calendar begins around mid-December. It is believed that any auspicious and sacred ritual can be sanctified in any Nepali family, this day onwards. Scientifically, this day marks the beginning of warmer and longer days compared to the nights. In other words, Sankranti marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or spring season.

All over the country, Maghe Sankranti is observed with great fanfares. However, it is celebrated with distinct names and rituals in different parts of the country. In the states of northern and western Nepal, the festival is celebrated as the Makar Sankranti day with special zeal and fervour. The importance of this day has been signified in the ancient epics like Mahabharata. So, apart from socio-geographical importance, Maghe Sankranti holds historical and religious significance. As it is the festival of Sun God, and he is regarded as the symbol of divinity and wisdom, the festival holds an eternal meaning.

Makar Sankranti and the Winter Solstice

Many Nepalese conflate this festival with the Winter Solstice, and believe that the sun ends its southward journey (Sanskrit: Dakshinayana) at the Tropic of Capricorn, and starts moving northward (Sanskrit: Uttarayaana) towards the Tropic of Cancer, in the month of Poush on this day in mid-January.

While there is no overt solar observance of Winter Solstice in the Nepali religion, the Vaikuntha Ekadashi festival, calculated on the lunar calendar, falls the closest. Further, the Sun makes its northward journey on the day after winter solstice when day light increases. Therefore, Makar Sankranti signifies the celebration of the day following the day of winter solstice.

Scientifically, currently in the Northern Hemisphere, winter solstice occurs between 21 and 22 December. Day light will begin to increase on 22 December and on this day, the Sun will begin its northward journey which marks Uttarayaan.[6] The date of winter solstice changes gradually due to the Axial precession of the Earth, coming earlier by approximately 1 day in every 70 years. Hence, if the Maghe Sankranti at some point of time did mark the day after the actual date of winter solstice, a date in mid-January would correspond to around 300CE, the heyday of English mathematics and astronomy.

See also

Vaikuntha Chaturdashi

Makar Sankranti

References

http://www.weallnepali.com/nepali-festivals

N. P. Manandhar (2002). Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press. pp. 39–. ISBN 978-0-88192-527-2.

Ridi Bazaar. vegetarian-restaurants.net

J. Gordon Melton (2011). Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations. ABC-CLIO. pp. 547–548. ISBN 978-1-59884-205-0.

Chaturvedi, B.K. (2004), Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd Bhavishya Purana

Sun - in Hindu Mythology by Anindita Basu

External links

Information about festival

http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2012/01/15/metro/maghe-sankranti-marked-feasting-on-food-varieties/230436.html

Compiled from: Internet

Bhagawad Gita Quote on emotions

Delivered from selfish attachment, fear, and anger, filled with me, surrendering themselves to me, purified in the fire of my being, many have reached the state of unity in me.

Actions do not cling to me because I am not attached to their results. Those who understand this and practice it live in freedom.

The wise see that there is action in the midst of inaction and inaction in the midst of action. Their consciousness is unified, and every act is done with complete awareness.

The process of offering is Brahman; that which is offered is Brahman. Brahman offers the sacrifice in the fire of Brahman. Brahman is attained by those who see Brahman in every action.

The offering of wisdom is better than any material offering, Arjuna; for the goal of all work is spiritual wisdom.

Approach those who have realized the purpose of life and question them with reverence and devotion; they will instruct you in this wisdom.

Even if you were the most sinful of sinners, Arjuna, you could cross beyond all sin by the raft of spiritual wisdom.

Krishna delivers the Gita to Arjuna.

As the heat of a fire reduces wood to ashes, the fire of knowledge burns to ashes all karma.

Those who surrender to Brahman all selfish attachments are like the leaf of a lotus floating clean and dry in water. Sin cannot touch them.

Those who renounce attachment in all their deeds live content in the “city of nine gates,” the body, as its master. They are not driven to act, nor do they involve others in action.

Those who possess this wisdom have equal regard for all. They see the same Self in a spiritual aspirant and an outcaste, in an elephant, a cow, and a dog.

Pleasures conceived in the world of the senses have a beginning and an end and give birth to misery, Arjuna. The wise do not look for happiness in them. But those who overcome the impulses of lust and anger which arise in the body are made whole and live in joy. They find their joy, their rest, and their light completely within themselves. United with the Lord, they attain nirvana in Brahman.

Free from anger and selfish desire, unified in mind, those who follow the path of yoga and realize the Self are established forever in that supreme state.

Knowing me as the friend of all creatures, the Lord of the universe, the end of all offerings and all spiritual disciplines, they attain eternal peace.

It is not those who lack energy or refrain from action, but those who work without expectation of reward who attain the goal of meditation.

Those who cannot renounce attachment to the results of their work are far from the path.

Reshape yourself through the power of your will; never let yourself be degraded by self-will. The will is the only friend of the Self, and the will is the only enemy of the Self.

To those who have conquered themselves, the will is a friend. But it is the enemy of those who have not found the Self within them.

The supreme Reality stands revealed in the consciousness of those who have conquered themselves. They live in peace, alike in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, praise and blame.

With all fears dissolved in the peace of the Self and all actions dedicated to Brahman, controlling the mind and fixing it on me, sit in meditation with me as your only goal.

Arjuna, those who eat too much or eat too little, who sleep too much or sleep too little, will not succeed in meditation. But those who are temperate in eating and sleeping, work and recreation, will come to the end of sorrow through meditation.

In the still mind, in the depths of meditation, the Self reveals itself. Beholding the Self by means of the Self, an aspirant knows the joy and peace of complete fulfillment.

Wherever the mind wanders, restless and diffuse in its search for satisfaction without, lead it within; train it to rest in the Self.

I am ever present to those who have realized me in every creature. Seeing all life as my manifestation, they are never separated from me.

When a person responds to the joys and sorrows of others as if they were his own, he has attained the highest state of spiritual union.

No one who does good work will ever come to a bad end, either here or in the world to come.

Through constant effort over many lifetimes, a person becomes purified of all selfish desires and attains the supreme goal of life.

Meditation is superior to severe asceticism and the path of knowledge. It is also superior to selfless service. May you attain the goal of meditation, Arjuna!

Even among those who meditate, that man or woman who worships me with perfect faith, completely absorbed in me, is the most firmly established in yoga.

With your mind intent on me, Arjuna, discipline yourself with the practice of yoga. Depend on me completely. Listen, and I will dispel all your doubts; you will come to know me fully and be united with me.

The birth and dissolution of the cosmos itself take place in me. There is nothing that exists separate from me, Arjuna. The entire universe is suspended from me as my necklace of jewels.

Arjuna, I am the taste of pure water and the radiance of the sun and moon. I am the sacred word and the sound heard in air, and the courage of human beings. I am the sweet fragrance in the earth and the radiance of fire; I am the life in every creature and the striving of the spiritual aspirant.

My eternal seed, Arjuna, is to be found in every creature. I am the power of discrimination in those who are intelligent, and the glory of the noble. In those who are strong, I am strength, free from passion and selfish attachment. I am desire itself, if that desire is in harmony with the purpose of life.

Retrieved from: www.patheos.com

Dispute Over temple

The dzongkhag chapter of the Hindu Dharma Samudaya of Bhutan (HDSB) in Tsirang recently wrote to the dzongkhag administration stoking ownership to a temple located near Damphu Higher Secondary School, which the chapter says is traditionally Hindu.

Members of the HDSB lodged the complaint when a group of people announced that they would install an idol of “Kirat Guru” (religious master) in the temple on February 21. The temple is also called the Prabu temple as the place is locally known as Prabu Dara.

The group identify themselves as followers of what they call the Kirati religion, which they imported from Nepal.

The Kirati people claimed ownership of the temple a few years ago and have been organising gatherings at the temple since. They comprise Rais and Limbus (Subba) who broke from Hunduism some years ago.

The group withdrew their plan to install the idol of their religious master but displayed posters of their guru. The group also sought to organise a public function at the temple.

An active member of the local chapter of HDSB, UN Bhattarai, said: “We wrote to the dzongkhag administration requesting the authority to stop the plan.”  The complaint letter stated that the group was not registered as a religious organisation and that it should not be allowed to organise public functions.

The group had printed and distributed invitation cards under the banner “Kirati Association of Bhutan with a logo” of its own. They had also invited people for the planned installation of idols.

Members of the Kirat group say they want to register their group as a religious organisation. A founding member of the group, RD Subba, claimed that the motive of their plan was to “preserve the community’s culture and tradition.”

According to sources, some members of the group claims that the group is one of the branches of Hinduism. However, the HDSB does not buy the group’s claim and says that there was no need to form a separate group if they were one of the branches of Hinduism.

According to the HDSB, there are nine Panthas or branches of Hinduism in the country.

Members of the HDSB believe that formation of new religious group would not serve the best interests of the country. They say that any group of people who call themselves a religious organisation should be allowed to organise functions only if they are registered with the Commission for Religious Organisations.

As asked by the Commission for Religious Organisations (CRO), the HDSB on March 2 submitted a detailed report on the history and status of the Kirati group and how it spread in Bhutan. The HDSB wants all the members of their community to subscribe to their age-old traditions.

Meanwhile, the HDSB has announced that its annual general meeting will be held in Thimphu on March 27. Changes in the board of directors and other office bearers of the organisation are the expected outcomes of the meeting.

Nirmala Pokhrel | Tsirang

Bhairav kunda Shiva Mandir significance- NaSri Khadka

Bhairav Kunda shiva mandir has two significances. Its one of the most widely visited and valued mandir of shiva amongst 108 shiv mandir spreaded all over the globe. First its related to lord shiva n devi Sati n second is its a place where Bhairavnath visted n meditated for while. Bhairavnath is a fierce manifestation of shivaji only. Since he visited later.....ppl named the mandir as Bhairavkunda. Here kunda means pond...which was created astonishingly below present mandir which isnt existing anymore there. Since then ppl started to call it as Bhairavkunda mandir. There is no harm in calling this mandir as  Daifam Shiva mandir after all shiva n Bhairavnath is a single soul. Tinali derived this name from here much later.
     -NaSri Khadka

Bhairava history

Bhairava (Sanskrit, "Terrible, Frightful") is a Hindu deity, a fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation. Bhairava originated in Hindu legends and is sacred to Hindus and Jains alike. He is worshiped throughout India and Nepal.

Bhairava is the wandering form of Lord Shiva and they guard the cardinal points. There are 64 Bhairavas. These 64 Bhairavas are grouped under 8 categories and each category is headed by one major Bhairava. The major eight Bhairavas are called Aṣṭāṅga Bhairavas. The Ashta Bhairavas control the 8 directions of this universe. Each Bhairava has eight sub Bhairavas under them, totaling 64 Bhairavas. All of the Bhairavas are ruled and controlled by Maha Swarna Kala Bhairava otherwise known as Kala Bhairava, who is the supreme ruler of time of this universe as per Hindu scriptures. Bhairavi is the consort of Kala Bhairava. Bhairava is also called as protector, as he guards the eight directions of the universe. In all Hindu temples, there will be a Bhairava idol. This Bhairava is the protector of the temple. In Shiva temples, when the temple is closed, the keys are placed before Bhairava. Bhairava is also described as the protector of women. He is described as the protector of the timid and in general women who are timid in nature.