Teej: Fasting Festival for Women

The Hindu festival of Teej is marked by fasting of women who pray to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati seeking their blessings for marital bliss. It is a three-day festival that occurs on the third day of 'Shukla Paksha' or bright fortnight of the moon in the Hindu month of Shravana or Sawan, which falls during the Indian monsoon season, i.e., July - August.

History and Origin of Teej

It is believed that the name of this festival comes from a small red insect called 'Teej' that emerges from the earth during the monsoon season. Hindu mythology has it that on this day, Parvati came to the Shiva's abode, marking the union of the husband and wife.

Teej symbolizes the reunion of Shiva and his wife Parvati. It exemplifies the sacrifice of a wife to win the mind and heart of the husband. According to myths, Parvati carried out a rigorous fast for 108 years to prove her love and devotion for Shiva, before he accepted her as his wife. Some scriptures say that she was born 107 times before she was reborn as Parvati, and at her 108th birth she was granted the boon to be the wife of Shiva because for her long penance and perseverance over many births. Hence, Teej is celebrated to honor the devotion of Parvati, who is also known as 'Teej Mata,' by those who observe this auspicious day when women seek her blessings for a happy married life and a good husband like Shiva.

Teej - A Regional Monsoon Festival

Teej is not a pan-Indian festival. It is mainly celebrated in the northern Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab in various forms. In northern and western India, Teej celebrates the arrival of monsoon following the hot months of summer. It has a broader significance in the western Indian arid state of Rajasthan as it is observed to provide relief from the scorching heat of summer. Rajasthan Tourism organizes a Teej fair called 'Sawan Mela' or 'Monsoon Festival' every year to showcase the customs and traditions of the state during this time. It is also celebrated in Hindu Himalayan kingdom of Nepal, where Teej is a major festival. At the famous Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, women circumambulate the Shiva Linga and perform a special Puja of Shiva and Parvati.

Celebrations of Teej

While ritual fasting is central to Teej, the festival is marked by colorful celebrations, especially by the womenfolk, who enjoy swing rides, song and dance. Swings are often hung from trees or placed in the courtyard of homes and decked with flowers. Young girls and married women apply mehendi or henna tattoos on this auspicious occasion. Women wear beautiful saris and adorn themselves with jewelry, and visit temples to offer their special prayers to goddess Parvati. A special sweet called 'ghewar' is prepared and distributed as Prasad or divine offering.

Significance of Teej

The importance of Teej is mainly two-fold: First, as a festival for women, Teej celebrates the victory of a wife's love and devotion towards her husband - an important factor in Hinduism - symbolized by the union of Shiva and Parvati.

Second, Teej ushers in the advent of the monsoons - the season of rains bringing in a reason to celebrate when people can take a break from the sweltering heat and enjoy the swing of the monsoon - "Sawan ke jhooley." Besides, it's an occasion for married women to visit their parents and return with gifts for their in-laws and spouse. So, Teej provides an opportunity to renew family bonds.

Temple History & appearance of Bihari ji

The image of Bihariji installed in the Shri Banke Bihari Mandir, is the one granted to Swami Haridas by the celestial couple Shyama-Shyam themselves. Submitting to the desire of devotees The Lord appeared in person with his divine consort and left back a black charming image before disappering.

Swami Haridas ji was born to Shri Ashudhir and his wife Smt Gangadevi on the day of Radha Ashtami i.e. eighth day of second (bright) fortnight of Bhadrapad month of the year 1535 Vikrami(1478 A.D.). He was born in a small village, now known as Haridaspur, near Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh. The linage of the family can be traced back to Shri Gargacharya. Shri Gargachrya was the kulguru (family guru) of Yadavs and visited Brij secretly for conducting the Namkaran Samskar (naming ceremony) of young Krishna and Balram on request of Sri Vasudev. A branch of the family migrated to Multan (now in Pakistan), but some of them returned after a long time. Sri Ashudhir was one such migrant who after returning from Multan settled at the outskirts of Brij, near Aligarh.

Swami Haridas was the reincarnation of Lalita ‘sakhi’ (female friend), of the inner consortium of Lord Krishna. This easily explains the fact that even in his childhood, he was more into meditation and scriptures, while other children of his age were busy playing. He was married at the suitable age according to the time to Harimati. Even after his marriage, young Haridas stayed away from worldly pleasures and concentrated on meditation. Harimati ji was such a saintly soul herself that on realizing the inclination of her husband, she prayed intensely and was bodily transported to the heavenly abode of Lord by entering the flame of a small lamp in the presence of Haridas. No physical remains were left behind! 

Soon after that Haridas left his village for Vrindavan, which was a dense forest at that time and choose a secluded spot, which is now known as Nidhivan, to practice his music and to enjoy eternal bliss of meditation. He constantly and continuously meditated on Nitya Ras and Nitya Bihar of Lord at Nitya Vrindavan. His way of Sadhna was to compose and sing songs in the praise of Lord. While on earth, living in a mortal state, he facilitated his regular unobstructed entry in the Nitya Bihar and always enjoyed the pleasure of closeness of Lord. He chose a secluded and densely forested area, Kunj, in Nidhivan as his gateway to the nirvana and was mostly sitting there, singing, meditating and surfing in the ocean of eternal bliss. 

His disciples were curious about this place and one day with permission of Swamiji, they all entered the kunj. But instead of seeing anything they were almost blinded by bright, intense light, which seemed to fill the whole place. On knowing of their plight Swamiji himself went there, and then after his requests, lord appeared in person with his divine consort, pleasantly smiling and in a playful mood and casting a spell of charm on every living being present there. Those who witnessed this, were so spell bounded by the beauty of the Lord and his consort, that they couldn’t even blink their eyes, it seemed that all of them had turned into stone statues. 

The legend as handed down to the generations of Goswamis, says that the beauty of the divine couple was such that no one wanted to loose the sight and proximity of divinity, but then what kind of divinity is it, which cannot make a mere mortal swoon and charmed enough to forget and give up the world and its luxuries? The beauty of the divine couple was so much that lesser mortals, like you and me, won’t be able to bear such a heavenly beauty. Sensing this Swami Haridasji requested both of them to take a single form, as the world won’t be able to bear their image. He requested them to take a single form like Ghan(cloud) and Damini(lightning) thus giving a perfect metaphor to the combined beauty of dark Lord and his fair consort, Radhaji. 

Also he wanted his beloved lord to be in front of his eyes always. Granting him his both wishes, the couple turned itself into one single black charming idol, the same one that you see in the temple today. The charm and beauty of Shri Banke Bihariji is the only reason why the ‘darshan’ in the temple is never continuous but is broken by the curtain drawn on him regularly. It is also said that if one stares long enough into the eyes of Shri Banke Bihariji, the person would lose his self consciousness. 

Thus came into existence the physical form of Lord Banke Bihari, popularly know as Bihariji. The responsibility of Sewa of Bihariji was handed over to Goswami Jagannath by Swamiji himself. Goswami Jagannath was one of the principal disciple and younger brother of Swamiji. By tradition, the Sewa is performed by descendents of Jagannath Goswami till day. 

Initially the deity was installed in a temple close to the first appearance in Nidhivan. A new temple befitting the glory of Bihariji was constructed in 1862 AD. Goswamis themselves mobilized resources for the construction. The temple is an architectural beauty in itself and follows the contemporary Rajasthani style. 

The sewa of the Bihariji is unique in its own way. It is performed in three parts every day ie Shringar, Rajbhog and Shayan. While shringar (which includes bath, dressing and adornment with jewellery like crown and necklaces) and Rajbhog(feast) is offered in the forenoon, Shayan Sewa (shayan means sleep) is offered in the evening. The temple doesn’t have a tradition of Mangala (early morning) sewa. Swami Haridas did not favour Mangla Sewa as he wanted his child like Lord to take complete rest and did not want to disturb him out of deep slumber so early in the morning. 

So, the temple today stands with its full glory, inside which the Lord himself resides. It is thronged by thousands of visitors everyday. 

The Legend of Radha-Krishna

The Legend 

Young Krishna is known to be very playful and mischievous. The story goes that as a child, Krishna was extremely jealous of Radha's fair complexion since he himself was very dark. 

One day, Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda about the injustice of nature which made Radha so fair and he so dark. To pacify the crying young Krishna, the doting mother asked him to go and colour Radha's face in whichever colour he wanted. 

In a mischievous mood, naughty Krishna heeded the advice of mother Yashoda and applied colour on her beloved Radha's face; Making her one like himself. 

Well, there is also a legend to explain Krishna's dark complexion. It so happened that once a demon attempted to kill infant Krishna by giving him poisoned milk. Because of which Krishna turned blue. But Krishna did not die and the demon shriveled up into ashes. 

The beautiful scene of Krishna's prank in which he played colour with Radha and other gopis has been made alive in myriad forms in a number of paintings and murals.

The Celebrations

Somehow, the lovable prank of Krishna where he applied colour on Radha and other gopis using water jets called pichkaris gained acceptance and popularity. So much so that it evolved as a tradition and later, a full-fledged festival.

Till date, use of colours and pichkaris is rampant in Holi. Lovers long to apply colour on their beloveds face and express their affection for each other. 

This legend is wonderfully brought alive each year all over India, particularly in Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana and Nandgaon-the places associated with Krishna and Radha. 

In fact, the entire country gets drenched in the colour waters when it is time for Holi and celebrate the immortal love of Krishna and Radha. 

In some states of India, there is also a tradition to place the idols of Radha and Krishna in a decorated palanquin, which is then carried along the main streets of the city. All this while, devotees chant Krishna's name, sing devotional hymns and dance in the name of the lord.

Story about brahma according to Hindu mythology?

Brahma is one of the three children of Brahm (Kaal). The other two being Vishnu and Shiv. 

Brahm keeps the three sons unconscious through Durga until they grow up. When they grow up, Brahm brings Shri Brahma Ji into consciousness on a lotus flower, Shri Vishnu Ji on a snake bed (Shesh Shaiya) and Shri Shiv Ji on a Kailash mountain. He then makes them assemble, gets the trio married via Prakriti (Durga), and appoints them (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv) as ministers of one department each, in three loks [Heaven (Swarglok), Earth (Prithvilok) and Nether world (Patal lok)] in one brahmand; for instance, Shri Brahma Ji of Rajogun department, Shri Vishnu Ji of Satogun department and Shri Shiv Shankar Ji of Tamogun department.

When the three children became young, then mother Bhavani (Durga/Prakriti/ Ashtangi) said, "You may churn the ocean". When churned the ocean for the first time, four Vedas came out (Jyoti Niranjan created four Vedas with his breaths and ordered them by secret speech to reside in the ocean) and Brahma took them all. When the three children brought the Vedas to mother, she said that Brahma may keep the four Vedas and read them. 

On churning the ocean the second time, got three girls. Mother distributed all the three. Prakriti (Durga) acquired her own three other forms (Savitri, Lakshmi and Parvati) and hid in the ocean. Then came out during churning of the ocean. That same Prakriti

acquired three forms and was given in the form of 'Savitri' to god Brahma, 'Lakshmi' to god Vishnu and 'Parvati' to god Shankar, as wives.

{When the ocean was churned the third time, Brahma got fourteen gems; Vishnu and other gods got 'nectar'. Demons got alcohol and the righteous Shiva stored the 'venom' in his throat. All this happened a lot afterwards.}

When Brahma started reading the Vedas, he found that someone else is the Master-Purush (God) of the lineage, the Creator of all the brahmands. Brahma Ji told Vishnu Ji and Shiv Ji that Vedas describe some other God as the Creator, but Vedas also say that even they do not know the mystery. It has been indicated in the Vedas to ask some Tattavdarshi Saint2. Brahma came to mother and narrated everything to her. Mother used to say that there is no one else other than me. I am the sole doer. I am the

Almighty, but Brahma said that Vedas have been created by God so, they cannot be untrue. Then Durga said that your father has sworn that he will never appear before you. Brahma said, "Mother, you have become untrustworthy now. I will surely find out that Purush (God)." Durga said, "What will you do if he would not appear before you?" Brahma said that I will not show you my face. On the other hand, Jyoti Niranjan has pledged that he would never appear before anyone i.e. would never appear in form in his actual 'Kaal' form in the 20 brahmands. He only appears in the twenty-first brahmand where no one else is there.

Samudra Manthan - Story of Shravan Month

The legend says that Samudra Manthan i.e. the churning of oceans by Gods and demons took place in the month of Shravan. It was decided that all the things which would come out from the ocean would be share between Gods and demons. 14 divine items emerged from ocean and where divided accordingly. But when a most deadly poison called Halahal came out, it created panic among Gods and demons. Nobody was the taker of the Halahal poison. At this critical situation Lord Shiva appeared. He accepted the pot of poison and drank in such a manner that the poison could not able to surpass his throat. The effect of the poison was so strong that the whole throat turned blue. Since then lord Shiva named as NeelKanth(means blue throat) .

To reduce the strong effect of poison all the Gods started offering Gangajal to Lord Shiva.

This lessened the effect of poison to some extent. Since, all this happened in the month of Shravan, we offer the Ganges water to Lord Shiva during Shravan. Worshiping Lord Shiva during Shravan is said to fulfil all your wishes.

Besides religious benefits Shravan Maas also accompanies a series of auspicious days and festivals. To know more about these festivals, 

Essence Of Maha Bhagavatha Purana

Sati Devi and Lord Siva

And the youngest and the sixteenth daughter of Daksha Prajapathi, ‘Sati Devi’, was married to Lord Siva. This was the most significant Event of the Yuga, which occurred as an unforgettable and extremely distressing episode that caused  the most furious reaction of Lord Siva and made way to the destruction of the highly self-opinionated and haughty Daksha Prajapati and his ‘Yagna’.The most painful tragedy was of Sati Devi’s invoking own Yoga power causing her demise.Since the time of the wedding of Sati Devi, Daksha felt insulted by the lack of artificial civil manners of Lord Siva and his dislike got snowballed as the latter was indifferent all along. But the Lord was highly fond of Sati Devi, quite ignoring Daksha’s envy for him as the latter had in inferiority complex.

Daksha organised a huge function(‘Yagna’) and did not deliberately invite the Siva couple, although in the Yagna, Lord Agni would have been invoked normally to takepart in the offerings to various demi-Gods and Gods, including Lord Siva. The entire Guest list of Gods downward the Sages and others were invited otherwise. Sati Devi felt extremely humiliated but got desirous of attending the Function especially to meet the family members. Lord Siva advised her not to go uninvited, but she insisted. While she attended the Fesivities, the father gave a cold reception to her  and those who accompanied her like Nandi and a retinue of ‘Pramadha- ganas’, Lord Siva’s personal entourage. In an Open House where all the invitees were being entertained, Sati Devi made a powerful address to her father and his party including Bhrigu Maharshi who too disliked Lord Siva. She said: “Even if there was no invitation, she made it to her own father’s function as a gesture of goodwill, despite her dear husband (who is none else than the Lord of Destruction Himself) counselled against attending a function uninvited. Lord Siva had no ill will against Daksha, but the latter was highly envious of the Lord. Also, He liked her so immensely that He always called her as Dakshayani to please and respect her.But unfortunately, I have no right to exist  as the daughter of Daksha who brought me to the World.” By so saying, she seated herself in a Mystic Yoga Posture, raised her ‘Prana Vayu’ (Life Air) from the  position of equilibrium near the navel upwards to heart and the Central point of eyebrows, known as (‘Bhrookuti’) and while imagining her head on Lord Siva’s lap, released the Spiritual Air lit up with the Sacred Fire to merge with ‘Paramatma’. The Entire Universe reverberated with the Sound of ‘Om Namah Sivaya’. Even while the Spiritual Message of Sati’s demise was known, Narada conveyed the news to Lord Siva formally. The Lord became highly incensed and pulled out a strand of hair banged down on earth, and out emerged a Powerful ‘Bhoothnath, named ‘Veera Bhadra’who was ordered to instantly destroy the site of the invalid and illegal Sacrifice Place ( ‘Yagna shala’), eliminate those responsible for the purpose and wipe out all traces of the shameful Event. Veera Bhadra and his followers removed Daksha’s head and burnt it in the Fire Place of the Sacrifice, tore off the moustache and of Bhrigu the Head Priest, caught ‘Bhaga’ by his eyebrows which were raised while reacting to a remark against Lord Siva, broke the teeth of Dantavakra who laughed at a wit against Siva, and similarly punished all those who heckled at the Function. The rest of the gathering ran helter-skelter for their own lives or limbs. Therafter Siva picked up the physical remains of Dakshayani on His shoulders, wandered and danced with fury the entire Universe, sending shock waves by way of earth tremors  and oeanic tsunamis. Vishnu realised that the body of Sati had to be cut into 51 pieces by His discus representing as many letters of Alphabet in Sanskrit) and tossed them all over(now known as 51  ‘ Shakti Peethas’or  Sacred Temples). Brahma and Vishnu foresaw the tragedy and avoided attending the Yagna. They requested for mercy to Daksha and as a result provided life back to the latter by replacing his burnt head with that of the Sacrificial Goat. Also, Bhrigu’s moustache and beard  were replaced with those of the Sacrificial Goat’s as also the gourged eyes of Bhaga were restored. The physical losses of other culprits were also suitably adjusted, thanks to Lord Siva’s grace and kindness. In course of time, Sati Devi was reborn as Parvathi and was wedded to Lord Siva.

Beautiful pic...

Radha Krishna..

Mata Laxmi

Lakshmi : Hindu Goddess of wealth , fortune , love and beauty :

Lakshmi or Mahalaxmi ( Mahalakshmi ) is the Hindu Goddess of wealth, fortune, love and beauty, the lotus flower and fertility. Representations of Lakshmi (or Shri) are found in Jain and Buddhist monuments, in addition to Hindu temples. Generally thought of as the personification of material fortune and prosperity, she is somewhat analogous to the Greco-Roman Aphrodite or Venus, as she also represents eroticism and is similarly thought to have originally "borne of the sea" in her most famous myth, as did those love goddesses.

Various Avatar of Lakshmi - Consort on Vishnu :

She is the consort of Vishnu and married his incarnations Rama (in her incarnation as Sita), Krishna (as Rukmini) and Venkateshwara (as Alamelu). In addition to Rukmini, however, she was also thought to have incarnated as the milkmaid Radha, Krishna's youthful lover prior to his marriage to Rukmini. In Vaishnava traditions, She is believed to be the Mother Goddess and the Shakti of Narayan.

Goddess Laksmi is the deity of wealth, affluence an ruling power. In astrology Venus represents Lakshmi, Durga, Santoshi Ma and Shiva-Parvati. Venus rules over Taurus and Libra signs. Venus in odd signs represents Lord Shiva. Venus in even signs represents Lakshmi, Annapurna Parvati, Vaishnavi Durga, Santoshi Ma etc. When Venus owns Lagna, 5th, 9th and 10th house and when Venus occupies Lagna, 5th, 9th, 10th and 12th house worship of Laxmi may give immense prosperity.

Legends : Story of Lakshmi's appearance :

The appearance of goddess Lakshmi is related to an ancient story. Durvasa the short-tempered sage once presented Indra, the king of the gods (devas) with a garland of flowers which would never wilt. Indra gave this garland to his elephant Airavata. Sage Durvasa saw the elephant trampling the divine garland and cursed Indra, for he had shown disrespect to the sage. The sage cursed Indra that he and all the gods would lose their power because it had made them so proud and vain. Due to the curse, the demons vanquished the gods out of the heavens.

The defeated gods then went to seek refuge to the Creator Lord Brahma who asked them to churn the ocean of milk, Ksheersagar, to obtain the nectar of immortality. The gods then went to Lord Vishnu, to seek his assistance. Lord Vishnu took the Avatar Kurma (Tortoise) and supported the Manthara Parvata (mountain) as a churning rod, while the king of the serpents, Vasuki, became the churning rope. The gods and the demons (under the leadership of the pious and wise King Bali Chakravarti) both helped each other in churning the ocean of milk.

Amongst the host of divine gifts which appeared from the ocean, goddess Lakshmi appeared and then chose Shri Vishnu as her consort, as only He had the power to control Maya (illusion). Because of this, Lakshmi is also called the daughter of the sea; since the moon also appeared from the ocean during the churning, the moon is called her brother. Alakshmi, the goddess of misfortune, is Lakshmi's older sister. She is said to have also arisen from the sea of milk.

Lakshmi in Vishnu purana :

According to the Vishnu Purana, Lakshmi is the daughter of Bhrigu and Khyaati and resided in Swarga but due to the curse of Durvasa, she left Swarga and made Ksheersagara her home. The reappearance of Lakshmi after Samudra manthan and her marriage to Vishnu thereafter, remain the same. Laxmi is the power and Maya of Lord Vishnu. In some places She is seen in two forms, Bhudevi and Sridevi, both either side of Vishnu. Bhudevi is the fertility form in which She is Mother Earth. Sridevi is the wealth and knowledge of Her which is seen with Narayan. Most people are mistaken that they are separate beings although they are one, Laxmi.

Names of Lakshmi :

Lakshmi has many names. She is known to be very closely associated with the Lotus, and her many epithets are connected to the flower, such as:

Padma:    lotus dweller.

Kamala:    lotus dweller.

Padmapriya:    One who likes lotuses

Padmamaladhara devi:    One who wears a garland of lotuses

Padmamukhi:    One whose face is as beautiful as a lotus

Padmakshi:    One whose eyes are as beautiful as a lotus

Padmahasta:    One who holds a lotus

Padmasundari:    One who is as beautiful as a lotus

Other names of Goddess Lakshmi :

Bhargavi: One who is the incarnation of the daughter of Sage Bhrigu

Sridevi: Goddess of wealth

Chanchala: One who is fickle and does not stay at one place

Bhumi Devi: Earth goddess

Indira: Beautiful goddess

Rama devi/Vaishnavi: Wife of Vishnu

Jalaja: Born from sea.

Aiswarya: Wealthy.

Roma: Wife of lord Hari

Appearance of Goddess Lakshmi :

Physically, goddess Lakshmi is described as a fair lady, with four arms, seated on a lotus, dressed in fine garments and precious jewels. Her expression is always calm and loving. The most striking feature of the iconography of Lakshmi is her persistent association with the lotus. The meaning of the lotus in relation to Shri-Lakshmi refers to purity and spiritual power. Rooted in the mud but blossoming above the water, completely uncontaminated by the mud, the lotus represents spiritual perfection and authority. Furthermore, the lotus seat is a common motif in Hindu iconography.

Vehicle of Goddess Lakshmi :

Goddess Lakshmi's traditionally accepted vehicle, the owl (Ulooka in Sanskrit), is a bird that sleeps through the day and prowls through the night.

Time for Celebration and worshipping Lakshmi by Hindu's :

Hindus worship Lakshmi the most on Diwali, the festival of lights. According to tradition people would put small oil lamps outside their homes on Diwali and hope Lakshmi will come to bless them.

The prefix Sri (also spelled as Shri, pronounced as shree) renders as 'one who takes delight in Sri' Lakshmi, meaning wealth, wealth of any kind. Primarily eight kinds of wealth are established, associated with goddess Lakshmi. They are:

1) Adi Lakshmi     [The main goddess] 

2) Dhanya Lakshmi     [Granary wealth] 

3) Dhairya Lakshmi     [Wealth of courage] 

4) Gaja Lakshmi     [Elephants, symbols of wealth] 

5) Santana Lakshmi     [Wealth of progeny] 

6) Vijaya Lakshmi     [Wealth of victory] 

7) Vidya Lakshmi     [Wealth of knowledge] 

8) Dhana Lakshmi     [Monetary wealth]

Any thing that need be affluent gets the auspicious prefix or suffix 'Lakshmi', or 'Sri' like Rajya Lakshmi (Wealth of Empire), Shanti Sri (Wealth of Peace), etc. In modern India, common titles standing in for the English Mr. and Mrs. are Shri (also Sri or Shree) and Shrimati (also Srimati or Shreemati), as in "Sri Gupta" or "Srimati Mangeshkar".

Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped by those who wish to acquire or to preserve wealth. It is believed that Lakshmi (wealth) goes only to those houses which are clean and where the people are hardworking. She does not visit the places which are unclean/dirty or where the people are lazy.

In Uttarakhand, after the worship of the goddess on Diwali night, the Shankh or Conch is not blown. This is because the shank is also from the ocean like the goddess herself, so it is given a day of rest.

Laxmi is the patron goddess of Kolhapur city, Maharashtra.

Prayers for worshipping Goddess Lakshmi :

Two of the most famous prayers for worshipping Ma Lakshmi are: Sri Lakshmi Stuti By Indra and Sri Sukta. There is another famous prayer pronounced by the great sage Agasti: Agasti Lakshmi Strota

Kashyap Rishi

It is believed that Kesarwanies are the descendants of Rishi Kashyap from whom they got their gotra "Kashyap". Also, Kesarwanies have their origin from Kashmir, which was founded by Kashyap Rishi.

There are many Legends about Kashyap Rishi in Hindu mythology. As per Padma Purana, once goddess Parvati expressed her desire to know about all the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Lord Mahadeva replied - Lord Brahma had created numerous Prajapatis like Bhrigu, Mariachi, Atri, Daksha, Kardam, Pulastya, Pulaha, Angira and Kratu.

Sage Kashyap was the son of Marichi (a sage - one among the Saptarshis). He was created by sage Marichi using his mental powers.

In the Mahabharat, according to Vedvyas, Marichi was the son of Brahma. In time, Mariachi had a son named Kashyap who then married the daughters of Daksh Prajapati; Diti, Aditi, Vinta and Kadru.

In other texts it is said that Daksha Prajapati was born out of the right thumb of Brahma and all the people were his descendants. He had one thousand sons and fifty daughters. Sage Kashyapa was married to Daksha Prajapati and Prasuti’s thirteen daughters, named Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kala or khasha or Vishwa, Danayu or Danu, Sinhika, Krodha or Krodhavasha, Pradha or Muni, Vinata, Kapila or Surabhi, Tamra , Ira and Kadru

Om Namah Shivay......

Ganesha Story....

Let us enjoy reading this Hindu Mythological Story of The Story of Lord Ganesha. 

One day, Goddess Parvathi, the wife of Lord Shiva, was getting ready for her bath and needed someone to guard her chamber. 

Therefore she made a beautiful, young boy from the sandalwood from her body. She gave him life by sprinkling the Holy Ganges water on him and entrusted him with guarding the door. 

While she was away, Lord Shiva returned and was surprised to find a little boy standing at the entrance to his wife’s chamber. When he tried to enter, the boy blocked his path. 

“Who are you and why are you blocking my path?” demanded Lord Shiva. 

“No one enters my mother’s chamber”, declared the boy boldly. 

Taken aback, Lord Shiva replied, “Step away; I have the right to enter my wife’s chamber.” 

But the young and courageous boy did not move but stood his ground. 

Not knowing that this was his own son, Lord Shiva who was quick to anger grew enraged. Not used to be disobeyed he cut off the boy’s head. 

Goddess Parvathi on returning from her bath saw her son lying dead and was overcome with grief. She was filled with both anger and sorrow. 

Seeing this Lord Shiva sent his soldiers to fetch the head of the first beast that they saw. The men rushed and finally came upon an elephant. They immediately took the head to Lord Shiva, who quickly attached it onto the body of the slain boy and gave him life once again. 

To further appease his grief-stricken wife he promised that her son would be worshipped first, before all other Gods. 

Even today at the entrance of all temples one would find the idol of the elephant-headed God, Lord Ganesha. 

HISTORY OF KEDARNATH TEMPLE

although kedarnath temple history have two myth but which one is known better is that here

Thousand years ago.......

When the Pandavas after having big triumph over the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra war in epic MAHABHARTA (Largest epic of Hindu) they felt guilty for killing their own Kith and Kin and sought the bless of Lord Shiva for liberation.When the Pandavas brothers were asked to seek Shiva's blessings purging them of the sin of killing their kith and kin. Lord Shiva unwilling to give darshans (glimpse) to the Pandavas brothers and go to hide  incognito in Guptakashi, Guptakashi is the place where lord shiva was detected by the pandavas. When pandavas brothers found lord shiva in Guptakashi then lord shiva covered himself  at Kedarnath in the form of a Buffalo and started to go underground when he was go down he was spotted by the Pandavas brothers. He  was trying to dived deeply into the underground, but unfortunately leaving behind his hump on the surface.this hump of buffalo become history of kedarnath.

In mythological past history, no marvel on this hump of a buffalo which formed later in  natural rock and worshiped here as lord kedarnath in form of hump of buffalo.after that incident Lord Shiva pleased with the doggedness of the Pandavas, absolved  them from their sin, gave them darshan and and also the opportunity for worshiped as hump form.The other four places where Lord Shiva is worshiped take their appearance from different parts of his body  as arms at Tungnath, face at Rudranath, hair at Kalpeshwar,the naval at Madmaheshwar.and thease all places along with kedarnath is called as PANCH KEDAR.

Radha Krishna

Dwarka Nagari - Little History

According to Hindu tradition still extant, the earliest known conqueror of Okhamandal was Shri Krishna, called also Ranchodji, the eight incaranation of Vishnu, Who after his seventeenth battle with Jara Sangh, king of Magadh Desh, fled from Mathura, and eventually arrived with his army at Okhamandal which he subjected after a hard struggle with the Kalas. Shri Krishna established his capital at Dwarka on the bank of the Gomti Creek.

Krishna was succeeded by the great grandson of Vajranabh, who enjoys the saintly reputation of having built the present temple Dwarkanath, called also Trilok sundar, signifying 'the handsomest of the three world' Many Hindus religiously believe that the temple was erected in one night by supernatural agency, under Vajranabh's direction.

Certain it is that whole of western and south-western Saurashtra, now included in a Jamnagar and Junaghadh districts was colonized by the Yadavas, whose most important leader was Shri Krishna. The Yadavas ruled and when they perished in a family quarrel under the influence of drink, and after Shri Krishna's death Dwarka submerged under the sea. In this region the original in habitants are said to Kabas, Modas and Kalas, The Kabas and Modas now seem to be extinct but the present day Vaghers are said to have descended from the Kabas.

The Kalas re-conquered Okhamandal in the 2nd Century A.D next a Syrian Sukkur Belium conquered this region and during this time Dwarka submerged by the sea. He was driven out by another Syrian named Mehem Guduka. Again Kalas now know as Vaghers.

It was 13th century when the Rathods came and took advantage of the Herule-chavada quarrels. The few surviving chavadas and Herules were absorbed by the Vaghers. Veravalji, the Rathod now became the sole ruler of Okhamandal. During the periods of Bhimji, Mahmud Begada who was sultan of Gujarat, conquered Okhamandal destroying the temple at Dwarka. Later the Vaghers drove out the Muslim.

The history of Okhamandal upto 1800 seems to be uneventful but since this date, until their final extermination or submission the Vadhelas and Vaghers came up repetedly against to the British and the Gaikwads.

Radha and Krishna

Narayankripa