Samudra Manthan – The Churning of the Ocean

Samudra Manthan – The Churning of the Ocean

Samundra Manthan is also known as Kshirsagar manthan meaning churning of the ocean of milk. This episode was an elaborate process to gain the immortal nectar by deities and demons. During the process, various valuable items came out of the ocean that was then divided between the two sides.

 Legend

Indra (God of Thunder and Lightning) was presented with a special garland by a sage named Durvasa. He was traveling with his elephant, Airavata. Indra after accepting the garland, he placed it on the trunk of the elephant. Irritated by its smell, the elephant threw the garland on the ground. Taking it as an insult, the sage cursed Indra and deprived him and all the other Gods from their powers. As soon as the demons came to know about the vulnerable condition of the Gods, they defeated them and took control over the universe. 

Gods then went to Lord Vishnu (One of the Supreme Gods of Hindus, also known as the Preserver) for help. He asked the deities to manipulate the demons and tell them about the nectar that can make anyone immortal but to gain that one has to churn the water of the ocean. 

Deities took the advice and went to demons with the proposal, to which they easily agreed. A mountain named Mandara (believed to be the abode of Lord Krishna, incarnation of Vishnu) was used as the churning rod and Vasuki, the King of serpents, who rests at the throat of Lord Shiva (one of the Supreme Gods of Hindus, also known as the Destructor) played the role of the churning rope. 

Demons decided to hold the face of the serpent and deities held the tail. Demons were poisoned by the fumes emitted by Vasuki throughout the process. Both the teams started pulling the snake to and fro alternatively thus causing the mountain to rotate. Soon the mountain started sinking in the water. Vishnu then came to the rescue and took the form of a turtle, Kurma and held the mountain on his back... Read More

Dus Mahavidya Sadhana Puja Vidhi with Mantra

Once there was Sati, who was the daughter of Daksha Prajapati. Sati was devoted to Shiva since her childhood. She had married Shiva against the wishes of Daksha. 

Once Daksha performed a great yajna and not invited Shiva and Sati to attend it. 

Sati came to know about her Daksha’s yajna from the sage Narada. She requested Shiva to let her attend the yajna. Shiva tried to explain Sati that her father was trying to offend him, and so even if she attend the yajna, the fruit of the sacrifice would not be auspicious. Therefore, he denied Sati not to attend the yajna.

Enraged Sati thought that Shiva was treating her like an unaware lady and not as the Goddess. She assumed a form of the angry goddess and shook the entire Universe and frightened Shiva.

Shiva tried to flee from Kailash (his abode). Sati tried to stop him and incarnated into ten different forms, guarding each of the ten directions, and blocked each escape route.

These ten forms of Sati are known as the Das Mahavidyas. Each form has a unique identity, saga, significance, and Mantra. The literal meaning of Das Mahavidyas is:  Das – ‘Ten’, Maha – ‘Great’, and Vidya – ‘Wisdom’.

The ten great wisdom Goddesses are given below:

•    Kali
•    Tara (Devi)
•    Tripura Sundari
•    Bhuvaneshvari
•    Chhinnamasta
•    Bhairavi
•    Dhumavati
•    Bagalamukhi
•    Matangi
•    Kamala

Now, we try give brief on each Goddess and Mantra dedicated to her and its... Read More

Ganga Dussehra

Ganga Dussehra is commemorated on the tenth day of the waxing phase (Shukla Paksha) of the moon in the month of Jyestha(May-June). It is also known as ‘Gangavataran’ that signify the descent of the River Ganga on the Earth.

In 2015 Ganga Dussehra will be celebrated on 28th May, Thursday. The auspicious time for the prayers will be as follows:

05:29 - 07:11

10:36- 15:43

Legend behind Ganga Dussehra

As the name suggests, Ganga Dussehra is dedicated to Goddess Ganga. According to Hindu Mythology, Ganga Dussehra is the day when River Ganga was descended to the Earth to accomplish her mission to get Bhagiratha's ancestors out of the spell of the curse of sage Kapila.

The Goddess Ganga was residing in Kamandal (Stoup) of Lord Brahma before descending on the Earth. She brought the purity and divinity along with her from the heaven to the Earth.

Celebration of Ganga Dussehra

Ganga Dussehra is celebrated with grand pomp & show in Varanasi. On this day, many devotees visit to Garhmukteshwar, Allahabad or Prayag, Rishikesh Varanasi and, Haridwar (Gateway of Hari) to be the part of great celebrations.

They take a holy dip in the sacred river Ganga.and participates in Ganga Aarti. There is special Aarti on all important banks of River Ganga especially at Dasaswamedh Ghat in Varanasi, burning lamps on the leaf boats, offering charity or Dan-Punya on Ganga Dussehra day.

The significance of Ganga Dussehra

Ganga Dussehra is considered highly propitious. It is believed that when one take a holy dip in Ganges on Ganga Dussehra day that can let her devotees get rid of the severe consequences of their sins... Read More

Partial Lunar Eclipse, 2015

Partial Lunar Eclipse occurs on the Full Moon Night, when the Sun, Earth, and the Moon get aligned in one line with the Earth in the middle of the three. During this time, the Earth blocks partially or totally block the Sunlight from directly reaching the Moon's surface and cast Partial or total shadow over it.

In 2015, there are two lunar eclipses:

Date:  4th April - Visible In India (Partial) - Most parts of Asia, Australia, North and South America, Antarctica, India. Eclipse can best visible in the cities such as Brisbane, Mexico City, Honolulu, Melbourne, Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo and San Francisco.

Date: 28th September - Visible In India (Partial) - Western parts of Gujarat & Rajasthan, West Asia, Africa, Europe, America and Arctic Ocean

The details of the eclipse occurred on the 4th April

Moonrise - 18:42:56

First Contact with the Penumbra - 14:33:29

First Contact with the Umbra - 15:47:38

Maximum of Lunar Eclipse - 17:31:29

Last Contact with the Umbra - 19:15:20

Last Contact with the Penumbra - 20:29:29

Duration of Partial Phase - 03 Hours 27 Mins 42 Secs

Duration of Penumbral Phase - 05 Hours 55 Mins 59 Secs

Eating During Grahan - All types of food items either solid or liquid are prohibited during Sutak and Eclipse. Hence, one should not eat during twelve hours before Solar Eclipse and during nine hours before Lunar Eclipse till Eclipse is over. However, for children, sick and old people food limitation is restricted to only single Prahar or 3... Read More