Dec 30, BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA (SAT) — A four-part series on the Vedic origins of science.
‘Veda’ means knowledge. Since we call our earliest period Vedic, this is suggestive of the importance of knowledge and science, as a means of acquiring that knowledge, to that period of Indian history. For quite some time scholars believed that this knowledge amounted to no more than speculations regarding the self; this is what we are still told in some schoolbook accounts. New insights in archaeology, astronomy, history of science and Vedic scholarship have shown that such a view is wrong. We now know that Vedic knowledge embraced physics, mathematics, astronomy, logic, cognition and other disciplines. We find that Vedic science is the earliest science that has come down to us. This has significant implications in our understanding of the history of ideas and the evolution of early civilizations. (more…)
Dec 31, KUALA LUMPUR (SUN) — The pious and saintly Yudhisthira Maharaj said, “Oh Lord, You have so nicely explained to us the wonderful glories of the Saphalaa Ekaadasi, which occurs during the dark fortnight (Krishna paksha) of the month of Pausha (December - January). Now please be merciful to me and explain to me the details of the Ekaadasi that occurs in the light fortnight (Shukla or Gaura paksha) of this month. What is its name, and what Deity is to be worshipped on that sacred day? Oh Purushottama, Oh Hrishikesha, please also tell me how You can be pleased on this day? (more…)
Dec 23, KUALA LUMPUR (SAT) — Disappearance Day of Srila Jiva Goswami and Sri Jagadisa Pandit.
Srila Jiva Goswami
Srila Jiva Gosvami made his appearance in 1455, Sakabdha (1533 A.D.), on the 12th day of the bright fortnight in the month of Bhadra. He disappeared from view at the age of 85 in 1540 A.D., (Sakabdha, 3rd day of bright fortnight, Pausa).
As a child, Sri Jiva took up the worship of Sri-Sri Rama-Krsna Deities. Carefully decorating Them, and offering bhoga and arati, he served Them attentively. Even when playing, Jivas games were often connected with Lord Krsna’s pastimes.
Sri Jiva studied under the local pandits, becoming proficient in grammar, poetry and rhetoric. Watching the expression of his great intellect, his teachers predicted that he would be a very saintly person. Later in his life, he composed a grammar in Sanskrit for the pleasure of the Lord. This composition described the rules of grammar, which was explained with examples that used the holy names of the Lord. Known as Hari-namamrta-vyakarana, this grammar is still current and is prescribed in the syllabus of schools in Bengal. (more…)
Dec 20, PURI, ORISSA (WED) — The Supreme Lord of the Universe Jagannath is invariably called Purusottama, and his abode Sriksetra is known as Purastama or Purusottama Ksetra. The deep reverence to Lord Purusottama is found in the very beginning of the invocatory verses of the Sirpur Stone Inscription of the Panduvamsi queen Regent Vasata, who ruled Kosala as dowager queen in the first half of the 8th century A.D. on behalf of her minor son, Balarjuna (later on known as Mahasivagupta Balarjuna). In 1904, Henry Cousens discovered this inscription engraved on a thick red-coloured stone-block around four feet in length and two feet and a half in breadth. This inscription was edited by Hiralal. (Epigraplia Indica, Volume- XI, PP- 184-202 ff).
In the first line itself the queen paid her deep reverence to God Purusottama. (Om! Narasimha Purusottamaya //) The three verses immediately follow, narrating the greatness of the Lord in His Narasimha avatara. The translation by the late Dr. Satya Narayan Rajaguru runs like this: (more…)
Dec 20, LONDON, ENGLAND (TIMES OF INDIA) — The first state-aided Hindu School in the UK is expected to be opened in September 2008 after the application for planning permission to build the 20-million pounds institute at Harrow is made next month, its promoters said on Tuesday.
“In January, we will be applying for the planning permission and it will take a few months for the Local Council to take it up for consideration,” Nitesh Gor, Director of I-foundation, a charity organisation which is the promoter of the school, told.
He said an expert team of educationists were currently looking at various aspects including incorporating “Hindu ethics and values” in the prescribed national curriculum that will be taught at the school. (more…)
Dec 21, KUALA LUMPUR (THU) — Appearance Day of Sri Locana das Thakur.
Lochan Das Thakur was born in 1523 in Kogram, in the Katwa block of Burdwan district. This village is about ten miles north of Guskara train station. The Thakur’s home is situated near the Ajaya River.
His birth tithi is given by some as the first day of the fortnight of the waxing moon in Paush. He was born in the Rarha clan of the physician caste (vaidya). His father’s name was Kamalakar Das, his mother’s Sadanandi. Lochan Das studied at his maternal grandfather’s house. He displayed devotion for Mahaprabhu from his childhood.
Lochan Das was married at a very early age, according to the customs of that époque. Since he had been married so young, his wife first remained with her parents in the village of Amedpur Kakuta. As he grew older, Lochan showed a highly renounced attitude to life and spent all his time discussing Krishna katha with other devotees of Gauranga. As the time approached when his wife was to join him, her family began to worry because of Lochan Das’s indifference to material life. They approached his guru Narahari Sarkar and told him of their disquiet. As a result, Narahari ordered Lochan Das to go to his in-laws’ home. (more…)
Dec 17, PURI, ORISSA (SUN) — More on Lord Jagannath’s Veshas (costumes).
Orissa is glorious and boastful because of presence of Lord Jagannath at Puri. He is the Bada Thakura, the Chief among Gods, His, temple is known as Bada Deula, the Chief temple among temples and the path in front of His temple is called Bada Danda, the Chief path way. The sea washing the shore of His Khetra is called Mahodadhi, which means the great ocean. The food offered to Lord Jagannath is known as Mahaprasad. Hence His greatness cannot be narrated in words.
To add to his greatness, the deities in the temple (Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Mother Subhadra) are adorned with ceremonial costumes on various occasions throughout the year. These ceremonial costumes are 36 in numbers out of which 20 are considered most important.
There are two Veshas, which take place outside the temple while the remaining 18 take place inside the temple on Ratna Bedi, where the deities take their seats. All these Veshas of the deities are linked with different events of His incarnations, the major Veshas relating to His incarnation as Lord Krishna. These Veshas draw the attention of countless devotees and visitors every year and the deities look so beautiful that one cannot retract his attention from the magnetic attraction of the eyes of Lord. (more…)
Dec 17, MEXICO (SUN) — “And I declare that he who studies this sacred conversation [Bhagavad-gita] worships Me by his intelligence.” - Bg 18.70.
Somehow or other, people in history who read and properly appreciated Srimad Bhagavad-gita had succeed and excelled in their activities.
The following poem to Bhagavad-gita and Lord Krishna was written by Amado Nervo, the original is in Spanish and so, you will have to excuse any grammatical inconsistency. His work was published in the French language in France as well.
Dec 17, DELHI, INDIA (HPI) — A nearly 500-year-old Deity of Lord Krishna worth nearly Rs two-and-a-half crore in the international market was today recovered from two persons in Jama Masjid, claim police. The Deity weighs around 1,250 gm and is about 10 inches in height. It is said to date back to the Mughal era. Its cost in the international market is over Rs.20 million, said a police official. (more…)
Dec 18, KUALA LUMPUR (MON) - Disappearance Days of Sri Mahesh Pandit and Sri Uddharana Datta Thakur.
Sri Mahesh Pandit
In Vraja, Mahesh Pandit was Krishna’s cowherd friend, Mahabahu. Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika 129
Mahesh Pandit was one of the Dvadasa-gopala, or twelve cowherd boys. His home (Sripat) was first situated in Masipur across the river from Jirat on the eastern bank of the Ganges. When Masipur fell into the river, the Sripat was moved to Beledanga near Sukhasagar. Here too, the banks of the Ganges fell into the river causing the destruction of the village. Once again the Sripat was moved, this time to its present location in Pal Para near Chakdaha. This last move took place in the Bengali year 1334, or 1927 A.D. Pal Para is situated within the Panchnagar administrative block. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur mentions in his commentary to Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.10.32 that this final resting place for Mahesh Pandit’s Sripat is in Kanghal Puli. (more…)
Dec 16, SUBANG JAYA, MALAYSIA (SAT) - My children and I went Deepavali Caroling in 27 houses during Damodara / Kaarthik month. It was quite an experience. But the saddest part was none of the children in those houses we visited knew the reason why Deepavali was celebrated. Not even the killing ofNarakasura story! The Hindu philosophy will virtually be unknown in the coming generation in Malaysia. This spurred me to do something simple but beneficial for the children.
Dec 16, KENDRAPADA, ORISSA (HPI) — Following the court ruling declaring their rights to enter the Jagannath temple regardless of the upper caste ban, Dalits on Thursday, with police protection, entered the temple in Keradagarh village and worshipped. A day after the 200 Dalits worshipped, the Jagannath temple’s priests said they would perform purification rituals before the temple reopened. (more…)
Dec 15, PURI, ORISSA (FRI) — In Oriya and Sanskrit, the word Besha means dress or adornment. It is a very common feature observed in all the temples that the Deities are dressed and decorated in suitable manner. Similarly, every day from the Mangala Alati to Ratri Pahuda, the Deities on the Ratnavedi of Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri, wear and enjoy different types of dresses. These include Suta bastra (cotton) and Pata bastra (silken clothes) namely Tadapa, Uttariya, Paharana, Phuta, Srikapada/Sirkapada, Baralagi-pata (set), Srimukhabala, Chandanaguda, Chadara and gold ornaments studded with precious stones, flower ornaments, Tulasi leaves, Chandana, camphor and musk etc. Flower ornaments namely Kara pallaba, Kundala, Tadagi, Chandrika, Gava, Alaka, Tilaka, Jhumpa, Nakuasi, Dayana, Adharamala, Makara kundala, Sripayara mala, Hrudaya pallaba, Kali padaka, Kaustubha padaka, Chausara Mala and Guna etc. are made out of different types of flowers, leaves of tulasi, banana, panasa etc. In this article, a few important beshas of the deities are briefly discussed.
1. Abakasa or Tadapa Uttari Besha: Abakasa means the brushing of teeth and bathing rituals of the deities. The clothes, which are worn for this purpose, are known as tadapa and uttariya. This besha is done everyday after Mangala Alati for the abakasa rituals (more…)
December 16, 1966, New York Bhagavad-gita 9.26-27
“Just establish, just propagate this everywhere. In the hospital, in the charitable societies, in industrial places, everywhere distribute this prasada and chant this Hare Krsna. Just see what is the result.” December 16, 1966, New York
Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya 20.245-253
“Anyone who understands about the appearance and disappearance of God or His incarnation, simply by understanding this, one is liberated.” (more…)
Dec 15, SOUTHHAMPTON, ENGLAND (BBC) — Intelligent children are more likely to become vegetarians later in life, a study conducted by a Southampton University team. They found those who were vegetarian by 30 had recorded five IQ points more on average at the age of 10. Researchers said it could explain why people with higher IQ were healthier as a vegetarian diet was linked to lower heart disease and obesity rates.
The study of 8,179 was reported in the British Medical Jour (more…)
Dec 14, KUALA LUMPUR (THU) - Disappearance Day of Sri Devananda Pandit.
Purananam artha-vetta sri devananda-panditah
Purasin nanda-parisat-pandito bhandarir munih
The scholar Devananda Pandit knew the meaning of all the Puranas. Previously, he was bhandari Muni, the scholar in Nanda Maharaj’s court. Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika 106
Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya’s father was named Mahesvara Visharada. Mahaprabhu visited his house, which was situated on an embankment. Devananda Pandit, a peaceful Brahmin who desired liberation, made his home nearby. Chaitanya Bhagavata 2.21.6-7
The Lord delivered Devananda Pandit in the town of Kuliya. Chaitanya Charitamrita 2.1.152
According to Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada, Kuliya was a suburb of Nabadwip situated on the west bank of the Ganges. In that time, the central part of the town of Nabadwip, also known as Mayapur, was situated on the eastern bank of the river. The modern city of Nabadwip stands on the site of the former Kuliya, which is also known as “the place where offenses are forgiven” (aparadha-bhanjaner pata). Proof of this is found in the old names of many neighborhoods, such as Koler Ganj, Koler Daha, and Gadkhali Kol. Gaudiya-bhasya to Chaitanya Bhagavata 2.9.98
Each of the nine islands of Nabadwip Dham represents one of the nine types of devotional service. Koladwip is the island of service to the Lord’s lotus feet (pada-sevana). The word kola had been distorted into the popular speech as Kuliya. (more…)
Dec 16, KUALA LUMPUR, (SAT) -Saphalaa Ekadasi (or Pausha-krshna Ekadasi) from the Bhavishya-uttara Purana.
Yudhisthira Maharaj said, “O my Dear Lord Sri Krishna, what is the name of that Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Pausha (December-January)? How is it observed, and which Deity is to be worshipped on that sacred day? Please narrate these details to me fully, so that I may understand Oh Janardana.”
The Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna then replied, “O best of kings, because you desire to hear, I shall fully describe to you the glories of the Pausha-krshna Ekadasi. “I do not become as pleased by sacrifice or charity as I do by My devotees observance of a full fast on Ekadasi. To the best of one’s ability, therefore, one should fast on Ekadasi, the day of Lord Hari. (more…)
Dec 12, GARHWAL, INDIA (IGNAC) — There is an enormous variety of Indian folk traditions, each related to particular socio-economic, political and cultural history. Born of these cultural contexts, the theatre forms converge and diverge at several stages.
The folk Theatre in Garhwal, Himalayas, gradually grew and developed within the cultural context, reflecting the patterns and sub-patterns of the culture. Many share broad themes such as love, hatred, victory, valour and regaining lost empires. But the most extensive body of folk performance is that based on the Mahabharata tales, popularly known as the ‘Pandava Nrta’ or the Pandava dance theatre. (more…)
Dec 11, MATHURA, INDIA (MON) — Mathura, the holy city that is most popularly associated with Lord Krishna, is a pilgrim centre for the Buddhists and the Jains alike. It has a long and chequered history, having been invaded several times and razed to the ground on four occasions. But the city came up again and again, faster than it was destroyed. Today, Mathura is not only a pilgrim centre but also a rich treasure trove of various art forms and relics of several faiths that are part of the Indian Sansktriti.
Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, was a flourishing business centre, situated as it was at the junction of Daksinapath (southern route) and Uttarapath (modern route). Caravans used to break their journey and camp here. Due to this economic activity, elegant buildings and temples came up in the city. In fact, the Kushanas, understanding the value of Mathura, unfurled their victory flag here and made it their political capital. The rulers also contributed to the city some of its most imposing buildings and public facilities, the ruins of which can be seen at the Mathura state museum. (more…)
Came to this world as the son of Padmavati Devi
He gave this miserable Kali Yuga the light to see
That Gaurasundar Vishwambar is our real master
Let us start running to him, faster and faster
Hadai Pandit could not leave Nitai alone anywhere
He always took his beloved son with him everywhere
Their love grew and grew until their bodies melted together
Seeing this the happiness increased within the mother
But Nityananda’s parents couldn’t keep him for long
In came a sanyassi singing his heartbreaking song
Just like king Dasarath his father felt the knife
And out of intense separation soon gave up his life (more…)
Dec 16, KUALA LUMPUR, (SAT) - Saphalaa Ekadasi (or Pausha-krshna Ekadasi) from the Bhavishya-uttara Purana.
Lord Indra
