))getting all bloggy ((

finially in Himachal pradesh .....

be — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:13:37 GMT

most picturesque place i seen in India .....Parvati valley snow capped mountains ,clean air and beautiful streams ....shanti shanti :-) (internet pic)

Victory for Gay Rights in India ! :-)

be — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:02:15 GMT

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/5720347/Indian-court-rules-homosexuality-is-not-a-crime.html

another fab movie ~this one set in India ~mostly on a train ! ~:-)

be — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:50:21 GMT

Darjeeling limited by Wes Anderson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO1bYukdvLI

must see movie ~:-)

be — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:24:30 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k-N6ri95Xs the title of the movie sucks alittle but its ironic because this film is not in favor of corporate life / bullshit labels etc ...its quirky ,very funny and most importantly thought provoking ........the main character wants to find out why he has had a certain synchronicity of meeting the same man three times so he hires 'existential detectives' ~ to uncover the connection to his life of these 'coincidences' ......the main characters all land up having breakdowns /breakthrus ~:-) .....

One <3 ~Aloha ~

be — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:58:00 GMT

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2g43w_israel-kamakawiwoole-over-the-rainb_music photo~flickr.com

four abodes of God ~char dhams ~India

be — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:13:56 GMT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Char_Dham Char Dham (Devanagari: चार धाम) (literally: 'the four abodes/seats') are the four abodes of God in the four directions of India - Puri in the east, Rameshwaram in the south, Dwarka in the west, and Badrinath in the north. These are the most revered sites for Hindus. ~History~ The great 8th century reformer and philosopher Shankaracharya (Adi Sankara) was prominently involved in reviving the Hindu Dharma in India (Bharat). He traveled throughout the country and grouped the four sacred places Badrinath, Rameshwaram, Puri and Dwarka as the Char Dham which are dedicated to the Vishnu Avatars (incarnations). ~Pilgrimage Centers~ Badrinath Badrinath templeBadrinath located in North India in the state of Uttarkhand, is the most important of the four sites of Char Dham[citation needed]. It is in the Garhwal hills, on the banks of the Alaknanda River. The town lies between the Nar and Narayana mountain ranges and in the shadow of Nilkantha peak (6,560m). Badri refers to a berry that was said to grow abundantly in the area, and nath refers to Vishnu. The legend Shankara discovered a black stone image of Lord Badrinarayan made of Saligram stone in the Alaknanda river. He originally enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund hot springs. In the sixteenth century, the King of Garhwal moved the murti to the present temple. Dwarka Dwarka located in the West is in the state of Gujarat, India. The city derives its name from word dvar meaning door or gate in the Sanskrit language. It is located close to where the Gomti River merges into the Gulf of Kutch. The city lies in the westernmost part of India. The legendary city of Dvaraka was the dwelling place of Lord Krishna. It is believed that due to damage and destruction by the sea, Dvaraka has submerged six times and modern day Dwarka is the 7th such city to be built in the area. Jagannath Puri Jagannath Temple, PuriPuri located in the East is located in the state of Orissa, India. Puri is one of the oldest cities in the eastern part of the country. It is situated on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. It is the only shrine in India, where Goddess Radha also referred to as Durga, Sati, Parvati, Shakti abode here with Lord Krishna who is Jagannatha. Puri is the site of the Govardhana matha, one of the four cardinal institutions established by Adi Shankaracharya. Rameshwaram RameswaramRameswaram located in the South is in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated in the Gulf of Mannar at the very tip of the Indian peninsula. According to legends, this is the place from where Lord Rama, built a bridge Ram Setu(also known as Adam's Bridge). The Ramanatha Swamy Temple occupies major area of Rameshwaram. Rameshwaram is significant for the Hindus as a pilgrimage to Benaras is incomplete without a pilgrimage to Rameswaram. The presiding deity here is in the form of a Linga with the name Sri Ramanatha Swamy, it also happens to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. "Chota" Char Dham There is another Char Dham also known as "Chota" Char Dham located in the North India. This circuit consists of four sites—Yamunotri (Hindi: यमनोत्री), Gangotri (Hindi: गंगोत्री), Kedarnath (Hindi: केदारनाथ), and Badrinath (Hindi: बद्रीनाथ). Char Dham in Uttaranchal, Uttarakhand photo ~ sadhus at Badrinath from Flickr.com

'a hobo works and wanders' .......

be — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:58:15 GMT

'a hobo works and wanders, a tramp dreams and wanders, and a bum drinks and wanders' quote from the “hobo doctor” Benjamin Reitman, P.h.D (found ~.”http://jaksview3.wordpress.com/category/anarchism/hobos/ ) i am a wanderer and a dreamer (seldom these days a worker or a drinker ....he he ) and in India these people ,who wander and dream .....are pilgrims and sadhus ....people on spiritual pilgrimage ...... photo ~flickr.com , a sadhu trekking near Gangotri (one of the char chota dhams ;4 small sacred dhams) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Char_Dham

Hindu Gods,Goddesses ~deities ~

be — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:14:47 GMT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_deities Within Hinduism a large number of personalities, or 'forms', are worshiped as murtis. These beings are either aspects of the supreme Brahman, avatars of the supreme being, or significantly powerful entities known as devas. The exact nature of belief in regards to each deity varies between differing Hindu denominations and philosophies. Often these beings are depicted in humanoid, or partially-humanoid forms, complete with a set of unique and complex iconography in each case. In total, there are over 330,000 of these supernatural beings in various Hindu traditions.[1] Bhagavan and Ishvara Main articles: Bhagavan and Ishvara Hinduism is a religion unlike any other, this is because it has no founder and no specific religious text, though the Bhagwat Gita could be considered as one. According to Hindu traditions as expounded in Bhagwat Gita, the religion is timeless and was first given to the Sun god by Lord Krishna and transmitted to the wordly beings in various steps. Many religions' (such as Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism) founders are Hindu and therefore many beliefs and customs are the same. Contrary to popular belief, Hindus believe in many many gods (each of which represents an aspect of life, e.g. water, crops, fertility and health to name a few) who are all part of one ultimate, formless deity. All in all Hinduism is more than a religion (though some try to argue this). Besides a wide diverse set of beliefs, it has a set of customs and traditions that were synonymous with the people of India. As invaders came and left India, the term "hinduism" loosely defined the people who believed in Indian customs and tradition (to separate the people who originally lived in India, from the invading people), for example in the past a Christian or Muslim could have been a Hindu as well, because the term only defined Indian customs and beliefs. More recently (last five hundred years), only people who believe in the traditional Hindu gods are called Hindus, hence it is now defined as a religion. Often Hindus celebrate Christmas, despite Christian origins and many people of other religions also celebrate Deepavali (Diwali), the festival of light, and Holi, the festival of colour despite their Hindu origins. "Bhagavān" is a word used to refer to the personal aspect of God in general; it is not specific to a particular deity. Bhagavān transcends gender, yet can be looked upon as both father and mother, child, or sweetheart.[2] Most Hindus, in their daily devotional practices, worship some form of this personal aspect of God, although they believe in the more abstract concept of Brahman as well. This may mean worshiping God through an image or a picture, or simply thinking of God as a personal being. "Ishvara" is a name or title used to emphasize God's role and function as controller of the universe. When Hindus refer to God as Ishvara, they are emphasizing a monistic idea of God as a principle of the universe, rather than a person. "Ishwar" is the ultimate supreme being believed by Hindus - there is only one God and similar to the way society functions, Ishwar had taken many forms to function the universe; Lord Brahma the creater, Lord Vishnu the preserver and Lord Shiva the destroyer. Different names and, frequently, different images of God will be used, depending on which aspect of Bhagavā is being discussed. For instance, when God is talked about in the aspect as the creator, God is called Brahmā.[3] If one is emphasizing God's capacity as preserver of the world, the name Vishnu is used. When referred to in the capacity as destroyer of the world, God is called Shiva. Many of these individual aspects of God also have other names and images. For example, Krishna and Rama are considered forms of Vishnu. All the various deities and images one finds in Hinduism are considered manifestations of the same God, called Bhagavān in the personal aspect and Brahman when referred to as an abstract concept Avatars as incarnations of God Main article: Avatar Many denominations of Hinduism, such as Vaishnavism and Saivism, teach that occasionally, God comes to Earth as a human being to help humans in their struggle toward enlightenment and salvation (moksha.) Such an incarnation of God is called an avatar (or avatāra.) In some respects, the Hindu concept of avatar is similar to the belief found in Christianity that God came to the earth incarnated in the form of Jesus. However, whereas most Christians believe that God has assumed a human body only once, Hinduism teaches that there have been multiple avatars throughout history and that there will be more. Thus Krishna, who is not only viewed as an incarnation but also source of all incarnations, says: Whenever righteousness declines And unrighteousness increases, I make myself a body; In every age I come back To deliver the holy, To destroy the sin of the sinner, To establish righteousness.[ Ten avatars Main article: Dasavatara The DasavataraThe most famous of the divine incarnations are Rama, whose life is depicted in the Ramayana, and Krishna, whose life is depicted in the Mahābhārata and the Srimad Bhagavatam. The Bhagavad Gita, which contains the spiritual teachings of Krishna, is one of the most widely-read scriptures in Hinduism. Matsya, the fish, appeared in the Satya Yuga. Represents beginning of life. Kurma, the tortoise, appeared in the Satya Yuga. Represents a human embryo just growing tiny legs, with a huge belly. Varaha, the boar,appeared in the Satya Yuga. Represents a human embryo which is almost ready. Its features are visible. Narasimha, the Man-Lion (Nara = man, simha = lion), appeared in the Satya Yuga. Represents a newborn baby, hairy and cranky, bawling and full of blood. Vamana, the Dwarf, appeared in the Treta Yuga. Represents a young child. Parashurama, Rama with the axe, appeared in the Treta Yuga. Represents both an angry young man and a grumpy old man simultaneously. Rama, Sri Ramachandra, the prince and king of Ayodhya, appeared in the Treta Yuga. Represents a married man with children in a very ideological society Krishna (meaning dark or black; see also other meanings in the article about him.), appeared in the Dwapara Yuga. Represents a person in more practical society, where there is one good or bad. Good or bad depends on society you live in. Gautama Buddha is considered an avatar that returned pure dharma to the world. Kalki ("Eternity", or "time", or "The Destroyer of foulness"), who is expected to appear at the end of Kali Yuga, the time period in which we currently exist. There is also a "hidden avatar" mentioned in 11th canto of the Bhagavata Purana. Some consider Balarama, brother of Krishna to be the eighth avatar of Vishnu, and delete Buddha. The Buddha avatar, which occurs in different versions in various Puranas, may represent an attempt by orthodox Brahminism to slander the Buddhists by identifying them with the demons.[5] Helmuth von Glasenapp attributed these developments to a Hindu desire to absorb Buddhism in a peaceful manner, both to win Buddhists to Vishnuism and also to account for the fact that such a significant heresy could exist in India.[6] photo ~Indian follower of Shiva in Nepal ~ photo from Flickr.com

Vishnu ~

be — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:17:07 GMT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnu Vishnu (IAST viṣṇu, Devanagari विष्णु), (honorific: Bhagavan Vishnu), is the Supreme God in Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God,[1] and his supreme status is declared in the Hindu sacred texts like Yajurveda, the Rigveda and the Bhagavad Gita.[2][3][4][5][6] The Vishnu Sahasranama[7] declares Vishnu as Paramatma (supreme soul) and Parameshwara (supreme God). It describes Vishnu as the All-Pervading essence of all beings, the master of—and beyond—the past, present and future, the creator and destroyer of all existences, one who supports, sustains and governs the Universe and originates and develops all elements within. In the Puranas, Vishnu is described as having the divine color of clouds (dark-blue), four-armed, holding a lotus, mace, conch and chakra (wheel). Vishnu is also described in the Bhagavad Gita as having a 'Universal Form' (Vishvarupa) which is beyond the ordinary limits of human sense perception.[8] The Puranas also describe each of the Dasavatara of Vishnu. Among these ten principal avatars described, nine of them have occurred in the past and one will take place in the future, at the end of Kali Yuga. In the commentary of creator Brahma in Vishnu Sahasranamam, he refers to Vishnu as "Sahasrakoti Yuga Dharine", which means that these incarnations take place in all Yugas in cosmic scales. The Bhagavad Gita mentions their purpose as being to rejuvenate Dharma[9] and vanquish negative forces as also to display His divine pastimes in front of the conditioned/fallen souls. In almost all Hindu denominations, Vishnu is either worshiped directly or in the form of his ten avatars, such as Rama and Krishna.[10] The Trimurti (English: ‘three forms’; Sanskrit: trimūrti) is a concept in Hinduism "in which the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction are personified by the forms of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the maintainer or preserver, and Shiva the destroyer or transformer."[11][12] These three deities have been called "the Hindu triad"[13] or the "Great Trinity".[14] Of the three members of the Trimurti, the Bhagavata Purana explains that the greatest benefit can be had from Vishnu photo ~ Vishnu devotees in Puri i snapped close to Jagannath Temple ~Orissa

Jagannath Temple~Puri

be — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:09:37 GMT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagannath_Temple_(Puri) The Jagannath Temple in Puri is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath (Krishna) and located in the coastal town of Puri in the state of Orissa, India. The name Jagannath (Lord of the Universe) is a combination of the Sanskrit words Jagat (Universe) and Nath (Lord of).[1][2] The temple is an important pilgrimage destination for many Hindu traditions, particularly worshippers of Krishna and Vishnu.[3] The temple is famous for its annual Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, in which the three main temple deities are hauled on huge and elaborately decorated chariots. Since medieval times, it is also associated with intense religious fervour[4]. The temple is sacred to the Vaishnava traditions and saint Ramananda who was closely associated with the temple. It is also of particular significance to the followers of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism whose founder, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, was attracted to the deity, Jagannath, and lived in Puri for many years photo ~ my pic from outiside the temple, going inside is off limits to non~Hindus ~:-(

Sacred Hindu Swastika ~

be — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:02:57 GMT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika photo ~i took in Bengali tola,Varanasi

Sarnath ~place of Buddhas first sermon

be — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:59:15 GMT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarnath Sarnath (also Mrigadava, Migadāya, Rishipattana, Isipatana) is the deer park where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna. Sarnath is located 13 kilometres north-east of Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh, India. Isipatana is mentioned by the Buddha as one of the four places of pilgrimage which his devout followers should visit, if they wanted to visit a place for that reason photo~ my pic from day spent in Sarnath

Kusuma Sarovara ~Govardhan

be — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:51:55 GMT

http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/Vrindavana/Govardhan-Hill/Kusuma-Sarovara.htm Kusuma Sarovar Kusuma Sarovara, a beautiful sandstone monument, is a 25-minute walk from Radha Kunda. Kusuma means “flower,” and here the gopis would pick flowers for Krishna. Kusuma Sarovara is the best swimming spot in Braja. After you go to Radha Kunda you could spend a relaxing hour here. It is a peaceful place, which not many people visit. During Lord Caitanya’s time this place was known as Sumanah Sarovara. It is stated in the Caitanya Caritamrita that Lord Caitanya took bath here. The ghatas at this kunda and the buildings above the kunda were built by Jawahir Singh, the king of Bharatpur around 1764, in honor of his father Raja Suraj Mall. Suraj Mall attacked the Mughal King of Delhi and was killed in the battle. His son Jawahir Singh then attacked Delhi and killed the Mughal king. On the upper level are three tombs. The main tomb of Raja Suraj Mall has beautiful paintings on its ceiling depicting the pastimes of Krishna and the lotus feet of Krishna engraved on the floor. There are also some paintings of Raja Suraj Mall in his court. The other tombs are those of his two queens, Kishori and Hansiya. There are beautiful paintings on the ceiling of these two tombs. There is also a Giriraja Temple here. Kusuma Sarovara is 140m (460 ft) long and the platforms go out 20m (65 ft) into the water. It is said that this kunda is as deep as three (some say 14) celestial elephants standing on top of each other. It is also said that it is bottomless. It is said that Asta Vakra Muni did austerities in Satya Yuga to get the darshan of Radha and Krishna, and that he left his body on the bank of Kusuma Sarovara. The small Siva linga temple on the western bank of the kunda marks the spot where he gave up his body. There is also a small murti of him next to the stairs that go up to the upper lever where the tombs are located. How To Get Here This kunda is about 2km from Radha Kunda. It is between Radha Kunda and the town of Govardhana. It is a large kunda with some impressive architecture, so it is very difficult to miss. Everyone knows where it is located. photo ~my pic from one glorious day spent in Govardhan ~

Madan Mohan Temple~Vrindavan

be — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:44:37 GMT

http://www.indianholiday.com/tourist-attractions/uttar-pradesh/vrindavan/madan-mohan-temple.html Madan Mohan Temple Vrindavan Introduction to the Madan Mohan Temple Vrindavan : Of all the Holy Places in Vrindavan, the Madan Mohan Temple is one of those most revered because it has the distinction of being the oldest temple in Vrindavan. On Tours to Vrindavan, one cannot possible let go the chance of visiting it. It is not just simply a place of worship; it is an old structure that has stood the test of times. History of the Madan Mohan Temple Vrindavan: There is a very long and interesting story associated with the Madan Mohan Temple. There was a merchant by the name of Ram Das Kapoor. It so happened that a ship he owned went aground. This was as it is very unfortunate and on top of that the ship happened to be loaded with a whole lot of goods. He would have to face severe financial losses because of this. After receiving Sanatana Goswami's advice, he prayed to Madan Mohan for help. The Lord answered his sincere prayers and his ship was rescued. He reaped a huge profit from the deal and decided to contribute the money to build a temple in honor of Madan Mohan. As for Sanatana Goswami, he was the person who had been entrusted with the responsibility of worshipping the deity of Madan Mohan by Purusottama Chaube even before he had advised Ram Das Kapoor to build a temple. Actually the original deity of Madan Mohan was founded by Advaita Acharya at the base of an old vat tree when he was on a tour to Vrindavan. He had given it to his disciple Purusottama Chaube who in turn had handed it over to Sanatana Goswami. After the temple was set up by Ram Das Kapur at the behest of Sanatana Goswami, the idol of Madana Mohana came to be worshipped there. The Madan Mohan Temple was positioned on top of a 50 feet hill known as Aditya Tila. It opened its doors for the devotees' way back in 1580. Till today it is visited by a large number of devotees even though unfortunately the deity that is now worshipped here is not the original one. It is just a replica of the original which was transferred from Vrindavan to a place called Karoli located to the south east of Jaipur in Rajasthan. This was done in the year 1670 to protect it from the invasions of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. At the foothills, there is yet another Madan Mohan Temple that is far newer and is believed to have been built by Sri Nand Kumar Bose of Bengal. Here too Madan Mohan deities are worshipped. Description of the Madan Mohan Temple Vrindavan : The Madan Mohan Temple is a fine old temple in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is old but nonetheless very impressive. It stands at a height of 60 foot. On one side of the temple is the Bhajan Kuthir of Sanatana Goswami and his Samadhi is at the back of the temple. The Grantha Samagra containing some original manuscripts of the Goswamis is also in the vicinity of the temple. One's mind is sure to be filled with a certain serene calm after visiting the temple and offering prayers. photo~ me @ madan mohan mandir ~:-)

Manasi Ganga & Govardhan Town

be — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:36:56 GMT

http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/Vrindavana/Govardhan-Hill/Manasi-Ganga.htm Manasi Ganga & Govardhan Town Mana means “mind” and Ganga is another name for the Ganges River. Manasi Ganga Kunda is traditionally the starting and ending point of the circumambulation of Govardhana Hill. In the Mathura-mahatmya it is recommended that you bathe in Manasi Ganga and then take darshan of Harideva before beginning Govardhana parikrama. One starts by bathing and ends by bathing here. This kunda is considered a million times more potent than the Ganges River, because by bathing in the Ganges River one gets liberation and by bathing here one gets “Krishna prema,” love of Krishna. Manasi Ganga is considered to be the neck of Govardhana. It is said that Radharani and Krishna would go boating on this lake. It is a good-size lake located in the town of Govardhana. It is in the center of Govardhana Hill. Manasi Ganga used to be a very large lake, but as Govardhana Hill is getting smaller, Manasi Ganga is also getting smaller in the same proportion. How To Get Here Manasa Ganga is on your right, just as you enter the town of Govardhana. Even though it is a large kunda, there are buildings blocking it, so you can barely see it from the road. Everyone knows where this place is located. Story of Manasi-ganga After Krishna killed Vatsasura, who was a demon who took the form of a calf, His friends told Him He had to go bathe in the Ganges for purification. Not wanting to travel all the way to the Ganges, Krishna by His meditation brought the Ganges to this place. Manasi-ganga was given its name because it was created by the mind of Krishna. Once Nanda and Yasoda, hearing of the glories of the Ganges River, had a desire to bathe in it. The residents of Braja did not want to leave Vrindavana, though Krishna was willing to take them there despite the great distance. They wishfully said, “I wish mother Ganga would come here.” To fulfill the desires of His devotees, Krishna entered into meditation and from His mind sprung the kunda known as Manasi Ganga. Krishna told His father that it was not necessary to go to the Ganges, as it was already present in Braja. Krishna then brought His father to Manasi Ganga and they took bath there. It is said that at this time everyone could see the Goddess Ganga riding on her crocodile carrier. Boat Pastime at Manasi Ganga Srimati Radharani and the gopis came to the bank of Manasi Ganga and wanted to take a boat across. Manasi Ganga used to be a large lake, but has gotten much smaller over the years. They were carrying their yogurt pots and other milk preparations. Krishna who was disguised as a boatman told them He would take them across. They then bargained for a while over the price. They then settled that the price would be some sweets and butter. He rowed for a while and then just stopped. Srimati Radharani and the gopis asked Him why he had stopped. He told then that He was tired and hungry and He could not go any further, if they did not feed Him. They then offered Him their milk products. He ate everything. He then told them that he would take a nap and that they should massage His arms and legs. They told Him if He did not keep rowing they would throw Him overboard. He then started rowing again. He then stopped again and the gopis asked Him why He had stopped. He told them that the boat was old and that water was coming in, because the weight they were carrying was too heavy. The gopis then threw overboard their yogurt pots and their jewelry. Then a storm came. The wind began to blow and the waves became upset. Krishna started rocking the boat. Radharani became frightened and put Her arms around the boatman. At this time She realized that the boatman was Krishna. The wind and waves then became calm. Radharani then pulled Krishna’s flute from under His clothing, and the gopis could understand that the boatman was Krishna in disguise. This pastime is called Noka-vihar (boating pastime) and is described in Gopala Campu by Jiva Gosvami. The descriptions of other boat pastimes are also in Vraja Vilasa Stava. Manasi Ganga Area There are several important places on the banks of Manasi Ganga or near by. Close together are the Harideva Temple, Manasi Devi Temple, and Brahma Kunda. The Harideva Temple is a minute walk from Manasi Ganga. The Manasi Devi temple and Brahma Kunda are right next to Manasi Ganga. On the other side of Manasi Ganga, all in the same area are Chakra Tirtha, Chakaleswara Mahadeva Temple and Sanatana Gosvami’s bhajana kutir. The Mukharavinda Temple is close to the Govardhana parikrama road, on the bank of Manasi Ganga. Across the road from the Mukharavinda Temple is Pancha Tirtha Kunda. Manasi Ganga, the Harideva Temple and the Manasi Devi Temple are usually the first places to be visited when doing Govardhana parikrama. Chakaleswara Mahadeva Temple and Sanatana Gosvami’s bhajana kutir are usually visited after going half way around the hill. The Mukharavinda Temple is usually visited after finishing Govardhana parikrama. photo~my pic from boat ride on Manasi ganga of Mukharavinda mandir

artist ~

be — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:26:04 GMT

http://www.rama9art.org/chakrabhand/realist.html painting ~Brahma ~

Sacred ~Prayag ~Tirtha

be — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:45:21 GMT

http://www.templenet.com/Ganga/prayag.html Prayag is one of the ancient pilgrimage centers of India, and it represents the confluence of the rivers Yamuna and Ganga, near (in) the city of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. Prayag is revered in the hymns of the Rig Veda. Tradition regards the region between the Ganga and the Yamuna as the most fertile region on earth. Prayag is referred to as Triveni Sangamam - where it is believed that the subterranian river Saraswati also meets the Ganga along with the Yamuna. Legend has it that at the time of the great deluge which submerges the earth at the end of each aeon, Prayag remains intact and that Vishnu resides here as a Yoga Murthy, on a banyan leaf in the form of a child. Vishnu is referred to as Veni Mahadeva, and Shiva is believed to be personified here as the immortal banyan tree or the Akshaya Vata Vriksham. (Alongside this tree is a shrine to Shiva). Prayag is also associated with the legend of the celestial nectar of immortality - Amritam. A variation of the legend has it that Jupiter, the guru of the Devas, picked up the pot of the celestial nectar as it emerged from the milky ocean and made off with it, to prevent the demons from having access to it. The enraged demons chased him. In the course of the chase, the pot Kumbha overflowed, and the nectar fell into four different places on earth, corresponding to Prayag, Nasik, Ujjain and Haridwar. Offerings are made to the souls of the departed by visiting pilgrims here, as in Benares and in Gaya. Bathing at the confluence of the three rivers - Triveni Sangam is considered special in the Hindu month of Magha - when the sun resides in Capricorn - especially on Makara Sankranti, Ratha Saptami, the full moon and new moon day. Prayag is the seat of Kumbha Mela celebrations once in twelve years when the planet Jupiter resides in the zodiac sign of Taurus. Kumbha Mela is celebrated at Nasik, Ujjain and Haridwar. when Jupiter resides in the signs of Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius. TIRTHA ~ tirtha is a pilgrimage site. Literally, the Sanskrit term tirtha means a ford, a shallow part of a body of water that may be easily crossed. A tirtha provides the inspiration to enable one to cross over from worldly engagement to the side of nirvanap ://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirtha photo~i took at triveni ghat ,rishikesh ~

Bhakti~

be — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 12:28:31 GMT

Bhakti (Devanāgarī: भक्ति) is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning devotion. Within Vaishnavism bhakti is only used in conjunction with Vishnu, Krishna or of the associated incarnations,[1] who are the source of attractiveness. Krishna is currently an important and popular focus of the devotional and ecstatic aspects of Hindu religion, particularly among the Vaishnava sects.[2] However, it is likewise sometimes used as a term toward Shiva by some traditions of Shaivism and Shakti by some traditions of Shaktism. Bhakti as a process of yoga (Bhakti yoga) is described in detail famously within the Bhagavad Gita, wherein it is given as the ultimate form of religious expression[3], for which all other dharmas should be abandoned[4] and also in other texts such as the Narada Bhakti Sutra. [edit] History Main article: Bhakti movement By Patanjali's time (2nd century BC) there appear to have been "followers of Vasudeva".[5] The term bhakti in the sense of "devotion" emerges in Puranic literature.[6] The Alvars were influential to the emergence of the Bhakti movement, which between the 13th and 17th centuries brought about the revival of Shaivism in Southern India and gradually grew into the various branches known today. [edit] The ultimate goal The forces that cause creation sustain and maintain that which has become created and eventually cause the destruction of that which was created – named Brahman, by the Upanishads – permeate everything in the Creation. Brahman is the self creating force that is in all that has a name and form as well as that which remains formless and nameless. The Bhagavata Purana describes three different levels of Brahman realisation. The first is an impersonal state of blissful consciousness, similar to moksha where one is aware of the great universal Brahman effulgence permeating everything; the second is classified as Paramatma realisation, wherein one is actually able to see the Form of Godhead alongside one's own soul (atma); the third and ultimate realisation is described as Bhagavan[7], in this state one has a direct loving relationship with The Supreme Personality of Godhead himself, in one or more of His transcendental forms. The main difference between bhakti philosophy and all others is that the goal is also the means of attaining the goal. In other words, bhakti, devotional service to the Supreme, is attained by engaging in devotional service to the Supreme. The difference between the starting and concluding stages is that in the beginning the activity of bhakti is a forced engagement, whereas in the conclusion it is a spontaneous, loving reciprocation. [8] [edit] Archana: Deity worship Deities of Rukmini and Krishna, as worshipped at a Vaishnava temple in Los AngelesThe Smarta tradition of Hinduism recommends that each person may choose a deity of worship (ishta-devata) to which they are most attracted. If the grossest manifestation is the only thing that suits one’s taste, or mood, or psychological make-up or intellect, one is free to worship God in that form, as long as the form itself is bonafide and from scripture (not imaginary). It is in this spirit that Sahasranama stotras (1000 names of God) and ashtottara-stotras (poems of praise through 108 names) are found in abundance in Hindu religious literature for almost every deity. It is this train of thought in the Smarta Hindu mind that lives with different puranas though they extoll different deities. In contrast, the Vaishnava tradition teaches that only Vishnu is to be worshipped. Meanwhile, the Saivite tradition teaches that only Shiva is to be worshipped. Krishnaites are also Vaishnavas who worship Lord Krishna as their ista devata but also recognize Lord Vishnu as an incarnation of Lord Krishna as well. [edit] All-encompassing eclecticism This article may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (April 2008) In addition, the choice of ishta-devata became, over the centuries, a choice of one among the thousands of temples scattered throughout the country and the deity chosen may very well be the particular deity enshrined in a specific temple, though certainly belonging to one of the six major streams listed above. It is this variety and possibility of ‘to each according to his needs and capabilities’ that brings together under one banner of Hinduism people with varying practices, attitudes and states of evolution. Accordingly carving of images of deity forms both for worship at home and in the temples became one of the most highly developed art and profession in India. The religious life of India was thus nourished through the ages on a visual statement, unmatched perhaps, in the history of civilization. More important than that is the feeling of love, or bhakti, the worshipper develops for the Deity of their choice. There are many instances of a particular Deity speaking with a devotee and sometimes even coming off the altar and following the bhakti-yogi, or devotee. [edit] Classifications of Bhakti The scripture known as the Narad Bhakti Sutra, believed to be spoken by the sage Narada distinguishes eleven forms of bhakti based on the different relationship to God that the devotee can assume. The devotee Prahlada, as explained in Srimad Bhagavatam, enunciates Nine Expressions of Bhakti. See also Bhakti yoga. Likewise, Hanuman expresses devotion to Rama. According to Adi Shankara, bhakti is the seeking after one's real nature[9]. Adi Shankara, in verse 61 of his Sivanandalahari lists five analogies of Bhakti. See Five Graded Analogies of Bhakti. Further detail classification of bhakti is presented by Rupa Goswami in his Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu. Bhakti as a term is sometimes found in other Indic religions and in some sects of Buddhism. Bhakti is roughly translated as love for God. [10] [edit] Theory of divine grace This article may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (April 2008) In any theory of grace it is the surrender to God’s will and humility that matters. The practitioner has to surrender by their own free will with the understanding that living people have the free will to obey or disobey God. The fatalist view of reality is only a fragmentary part of Hinduism. A person's fate is reflected mainly in the tendencies that he has created for himself through committed actions. He has total free will to surrender to God or not. But if he surrenders to Him heart and soul, He promises that He will take care of his pure devotee. This is famously illustrated in one of Krishna's final statements to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita: "Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear". (Bhagavad Gita 18.66) Thus Divine Grace is also known as causeless mercy and is enlightenment given freely by the Lord to his devotee. One cannot gain this causeless mercy of one's own accord, but through the grace of the Lord. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhakti photo ~ i took in Triverney ghat ,Rishikesh of one mataji doing puja under a holy tree~these kind of simple dvotion~bhakti you see all the time in India ~it always moved my heart to see these demonstrations of love ~service

Lord Shiva~

be — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:13:44 GMT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva Nataraja photo~flickr.com Shiva (pronunciation: [ʃɪ.ʋə]; Sanskrit: शिव, Śiva, lit. "Auspicious one" ) is a major Hindu god and one aspect of Trimurti. In the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, Shiva is seen as the supreme God. In the Smarta tradition, he is one of the five primary forms of God.[2][3] Followers of Hinduism who focus their worship upon Shiva are called Shaivites or Shaivas (Sanskrit Śaiva).[4] Shaivism, along with Vaiṣṇava traditions that focus on Vishnu and Śākta traditions that focus on the goddess Devī are three of the most influential denominations in Hinduism.[3] Shiva is usually worshipped in the form of Shiva linga. In images, he is generally represented as immersed in deep meditation or dancing the Tandava upon Maya, the demon of ignorance in his manifestation of Nataraja, the lord of the dance. In some other Hindu denominations, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva represent the three primary aspects of the divine in Hinduism and are collectively known as the Trimurti. In this school of religious thought, Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the maintainer or preserver, and Shiva is the destroyer or transformer.[5]

vipassana~

be — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:03:24 GMT

http://www.dhamma.org/

origin of Varanasi ~

be — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:43:39 GMT

http://www.riiti.com/2006-04-the-origin-of-kashi-varanasi.html Sage Agastya asked Lord Kartikeya how the sacrosanct place, Kashi came into being. He also asked how Kashi became famous as a place capable of giving salvation to a man. Lord Kartikeya revealed to Agastya that once Parvati had asked Lord Shiva the same question. Lord Shiva had told her–’ At the time of deluge when every thing had submerged in the ocean and darkness prevailed everywhere, only BRAHM-the embodiment of truth existed at that time and nothing else. BRAHM, the absolute truth is indescribable and inexpressible. No name can be attributed to HIM. HE is the absolute truth, the ultimate knowledge, the infinite, the omnipresent and the eternal bliss. Though basically formless HE attained a form on account of HIS own wish. That form is none other than me. Later on I created Prakriti from my body. All three of us (Shiva, Parvati and Kashi) manifested simultaneously by the grace of ‘Aadi purush’ (The Almighty God).’ Continuing with the tale of Kashi’s greatness, Kartikeya told Agastya-’ There is no holy place as dear to Lord Shiva as Kashi, which is not abandoned by him as well as his consort-Parvati even at the time of deluge. Lord Shiva named this holy place- Ananda van, because it gave immense joy to him. Subsequently, Lord Shiva and goddess Jagdamba put a glance on the left portion of their respective bodies as the result of which a divine entity manifested himself who was none other than Lord Vishnu and who was named Purushottam by Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva after blessing Purushottam went away. Later on, Lord Vishnu created a divine reservoir with his sudarshan chakra and filled it up with his sweat. He then engaged himself in an austere penance. Lord Shiva once again appeared along with Parvati and blessed Vishnu by saying-’ This holy place will become famously known as Manikarnika because this is the very place where I had once lost my diamond ear-ring.’ Lord Vishnu made a request to Shiva –’ May this place fulfill the wishes of those who seek salvation. Since it is blessed with your eternal presence hence its another name would be Kashi.’ Lord Shiva assured Vishnu by saying- ‘ This sacrosanct place is very dear to me and no event takes place here against my wish. Even if a person living here happens to be a sinner he has nothing to fear because I protect him. One who lives far from Kashi but remembers it with reverence becomes absolved of all his sins.’ There is a magnificent Shiva-linga at Kashi famously known as Kashi Vishwanath. Here is situated one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Just as the Sun is visible in the whole world despite its presence at a particular point in the horizon, in the same manner Kashi has its influence throughout the length and breadth of the world

history of Varanasi ~

be — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:22:22 GMT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasi http://www.flickr.com/photos/ombelight/sets/72157616518607964/ Varanasi (Sanskrit: वाराणसी Vārāṇasī, pronunciation [ʋaːɾaːɳəsiː] (help·info)), also commonly known as Benares ([bə.naː.rəs]) or Banaras (Hindi: बनारस, Urdu: بنارس, Banāras pronunciation [bənɑːɾəs] (info)) and Kashi (Hindi: काशी, Urdu: کاشی, Kāśī [kaː.ʃiː] (info)), is a city situated on the left (west) bank of the River Ganga (Ganges) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, regarded as holy by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Senthoo. It is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world.[3][4] The Kashi Naresh (Maharaja of Kashi) is the chief cultural patron of Varanasi and an essential part of all religious celebrations.[5] The culture of Varanasi is closely associated with the River Ganges and the river's religious importance. The city has been a cultural and religious centre in northern India for several thousand years. The Benares Gharana form of Indian classical music developed in Varanasi, and many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians resided or reside in Varanasi, including Kabir, Ravidas Their Guru Swami Ramanand,Tailang Swami, Munshi Premchand, Jaishankar Prasad, Acharya Ram Chandra Shukla, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Girija Devi, Hariprasad Chaurasia, and Ustad Bismillah Khan. Tulsidas wrote his Ramacharitamanas there, and Gautama Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath near Kashi.[citation needed] Varanasi is home of 4 universities of learning i.e. Banaras Hindu University, Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies and Sampurnanand Sanskrit University. Residents mainly speak Kashika Bhojpuri, which is closely related to the Hindi language. People often refer to Varanasi as "the city of temples", "the holy city of India", "the religious capital of India", "the city of lights", "the city of learning" and the "culture capital of India".[6] American writer Mark Twain wrote: "Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together."[7]

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ~incarnation of Krishna ~

be — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:04:00 GMT

http://harekrishnaharekrishna.ning.com/ From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (also transliterated Caitanya, IAST caitanya mahāprabhu) (Bengali চৈতন্য মহাপ্রভূ) (1486 - 1534), was a monk and social reformer of the 16th century Bengal,[1] (present-day West Bengal and Bangladesh) and Orissa in India.[2] Sri Krishna Chaitanya was a notable proponent for the Vaishnava school of Bhakti yoga (meaning loving devotion to Krishna/God) based on the philosophy of the Bhagavata Purana and Bhagavad Gita.[3] Specifically he worshipped the forms of Radha and Krishna and popularised the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha mantra[4]. His line of followers, known as Gaudiya Vaishnavas, revere him as an avatar of Krishna in the mood of Radharani[5] who was prophesised to appear in the later verses of the Bhagavata Purana.[6] He was also sometimes referred to by the names Gaura (Sanskrit for golden one") due to his light skin complexion,[7] and Nimai due to his being born underneath a Neem tree.[8] There are numerous biographies available from the time giving details of Chaitanya's life, the most prominent ones being the Chaitanya Charitamrita of Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami and the earlier Chaitanya Bhagavata of Vrindavana Dasa Thakura[9] (both originally written in the Bengali language but now widely available in English and other languages) and the Chaitanya Mangala, written by Lochana Dasa Thakura.[10] http://caitanya.krishna.org/

Hare Krishna website with beautiful maha mantra ~

be — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:56:10 GMT

http://harekrishnaharekrishna.ning.com/

haridasa thakura ~

be — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 16:38:21 GMT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagannath Sri Haridasa Thakura is considered the namacarya, the spiritual master in chanting the holy name of Krsna. Though he was born in a Muslim family, Lord Caitanya's devotees respected him as being better than the best of brahmanas. He would not eat or sleep until he finished his daily quota of chanting the name of Krsna 300,000 times. Along with Lord Nityananda, Haridasa Thakura spread the chanting of Krsna's name throughout Bengal. In Jagannatha Puri, where Haridasa Thakura spent his later days, Lord Caitanya would regularly send him prasadam and discuss with him topics of Krsna. Haridasa Thakura died chanting Krsna's name in the presence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After Haridasa Thakura's death, Lord Caitanya carried his body to the sea and with His own hands buried him in the sand. (See Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 10.43-47 and Antya-lila, chapters 3 and 11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haridasa_Thakur Haridasa Thakur (IAST Haridāsa) (born 1451 or 1450[1]) was a prominent Vaishnava saint, instrumental in the early appearance and spread of the Hare Krishna movement. He is considered to be the most famous convert of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, apart from Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami themselves, and the story of his heroism in the face of torture is told in Chaitanya Charitamrta, Antya lila.[2] Besides being an ex-Muslim,[3] he is famous because of his dedication to the religious practice of constantly chanting the names of God. Haridasa Thakura and Advaita Acharya are two senior and well-respected religious personalities of Gaudiya Vaishnavism in the local area of Mayapur, prayed for the descent of the yugavatara, (avatara of the era) believed to be Chaitanya.[4] As an associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, he is named the acharya of the holy name and he embodied concern for others.[5] Its believed that Chaitanya himself installed Haridasa as His nāmācarya, meaning the 'teacher of the Name', disregarding the fact that he was Muslim-born.[6] Haridasa Thakura, was a devotee of Lord Krishna and had practiced chanting the names of the Lord, Hare Krishna, 300,000 times daily

*))getting all bloggy ((*