Sacred science behind Ganga Dussehra

Ancient blessed stories always allured the devotees to gain spiritualism and live a blissful life. Ganga Dussehra is a holy parv (festival) celebrated with full devotion and enthusiasm to liberate mental sins of living and purify the mind. The significance of Ganga Dussehra is great for people of earth.

It is documented in religious literature that there is a famed and touchy story behind the festival of Ganga Dussehra. The sage Kapil Muni cursed King Sagara’s 60,000 children and reduced them to ashes for deceptively blaming him of stealing their sacrificial horse. After several Generations, King Bhagiratha performed intense penance to bring Ganga on earth to purify sins of his ancestors. Goddess Ganga was pleased by deep devotion and meditation of king Bhagiratha and decided to descend on earth.

Goddess Ganga agreed to descend, but worried about her torrential flow and force which may lead to sinking of many places on Earth. To protect devotees and people of earth, Maa Ganga advised Bhagiratha to pray Lord Shiva to slowdown the velocity of Ganga’s pure water. King Bhagiratha performed Tapasya,( prayer and puja) for lord Shiva with immense devotion who can be seated on the top the Himalayas to absorb Ganga's pouring fall. Lord Shiva pleased with King Bhagiratha and agreed to reduce the fast-moving rush of Ganga water in his matted hair to gently flow on earth. The enchanted devotion of King Bhagiratha to bring Holy Ganga from heaven to earth is the religious celebration of Ganga Dussehra. It signifies the strong connections between humans, divinities, and natural species on earth.

Ganga Dussehra falls on the 10th day of Shukla Paksha of Hindi Jyeshta month when Goddess Ganga descended from heaven to earth. The number 10 is important during the Pooja of Ganga Dussehra such as offering flowers, sweets like khoya ladoo, and fruits.  Devotees dip in the Ganga River to cleanse their mind and body. Since ancient times, the river has escorted human life, agriculture, pilgrimage routes and spiritual sanity all over north India. Holy cities like Varanasi, Haridwar, Prayagraj and Rishikesh people take holy dip in full devotion to commemorate Ganga Dussehra festival. Devotees unable to reach Ganga bank may take bath at home using Gangajal mixed in water and do Pooja procedures for Maa Ganga. At this festival, devotees chant mantras and perform aarti of Goddess Ganga which give them eternal happiness. There is a tradition to donate food, clothes, water and essentials to the deprived humans to get immense satisfaction and gain emotional proximity to God.

In Hindus, It is a religiously entrenched belief that humans pray to Goddess Ganga to seek their blessings when offering Pooja and “deep daan” at the bank of Ganga River. Devotees think that enchanting Ganga mantra may purify their mind, body, and soul and wash out sins of their actions or thoughts.

Final spiritual threads: Ganga Dussehra is one of the cherished festivals celebrated in India. Devotees pray with heart for Goddess Ganga to extricate their sins and generate strong bonding with divine forces. Devotees perform puja with procedure and voyage to riverbanks to offer “deep daan” on Ganga River to express their deep devotion.

Important note:

Above article is based on environmental input and displays personal views of the writer. Information provided in the article is for general awareness.  Any resemblance is just a coincidence. Writer is not responsible for any disagreement.

 

 

Gautam Buddha: Devotional narrative to learn untouched facts of human life

 Tagline: Spiritual rays of Buddha to cleanse impurities of human mind and body

Teachings and sermons of Gautam Buddha truly impart noble facts to adopt high moral standards and achieve enlightenment in life. Buddha accentuated to learn ethical knowledge and embrace supreme qualities such as wisdom, compassion, kindness, and patience to shape healthy society.

Life segments of Gautam Buddha:

Siddhartha Gautama, originator of principles of Buddhism was born in Lumbini in the Shakya Clan residing in the Himalayan foothills, currently nestled in Southern Nepal. He belonged to a very affluent Hindu family. His father Suddhodana, was the head of the Shakya clan while his mother Maya was a Koliyan princess. At the time of his birth, drastic social and religious transformation was going on and religion promoted devotional worship.  His mother, Maya dreamed that a white elephant entered her right side when she conceived him and delivered the baby at the standing position while holding a tree in a garden. The child arose from Maya's right side fully developed and it is documented that the baby took seven steps immediately after birth and spoke words of wisdom. Lotus flowers blossomed where he walked seven steps. From ancient literary sources, the court astrologers of the kingdom forecasted about Gautam Buddha that the child will gain miraculous religious knowledge and he will be known as a great sage. After knowing this fact, Buddha’s father was alert and protected him from the outside social environment and major unpleasant events that occur in society.

In childhood, Gautam Budhha was nurtured in a luxurious atmosphere. At the age of 16, he got married with Yasodhara who belonged to an affluent family. Afterwards, the couple had one son, named Rahula. After living a comfy life till 29 years, Buddha got exposure to the real world. One day when he was walking in the streets of Kapilavastu by a convincing to charioteer, Channa (a royal servant of Prince Siddhartha), Buddha saw an old man, a sick man and a corpse. He was told by his charioteer that all people suffer these painful stages of life. After knowing the real happenings of the natural world, his mind was changed and decided to search the basis of human agony and make efforts to overcome dark side life. Therefore, he left the lavish life of the kingdom and voyaged different places to find the root cause and solutions to human sadness. After years, wandering numerous places and learning the causes of sufferings, he was engrossed in meditation under the Bodhi tree and after gaining mystical knowledge, he started spreading his teachings with the help of his sangha.

Gautama rebuffed his comfortable life in the palace and adopted a simple, self-disciplined lifestyle. In Buddhism literature, once a disciple attains enlightenment, the truth about life, he is freed from the cycle of rebirth because he has touched Nirvana. Once people get to Nirvana, they are not born again into sansara (suffering). The noble teachings of Buddhism emphasize that human life is full of sorrow which can be diminished with sincere practices of meditation, spiritual and physical labor. People who embrace high moral values and conduct good behavior may attain enlightenment, or nirvana.

Inspirational Quotes by Gautam Buddha:

- It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles.

- Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

Significance of Budhha Purnima:

Buddha Purnima, named as Buddha Jayanti is the renowned festival in India, celebrated on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Gautam Buddha, the originator of Buddhism tradition. Buddha Purnima is the full moon day that memorializes the birth, enlightenment and attainment of Mahasamadhi by Gautama Buddha. According to conventional literature, on this day, Buddha attained enlightenment. The great significance of this festival is to remember the sacrifices and follow great teachings of Buddha that moved towards enlightenment. People can refer to real inspirational thoughts and principles of Buddha to modify their living and develop a noble society.

People all over the world celebrate Buddha Purnima with devotion and enthusiasm. On the auspicious occasion of this day, Buddhist followers visit holy places that include Bodh Gaya, Lumbini, and Sarnath to offer their devoutness to Buddha. Disciples in India also take a holy dip in rivers to celebrate Buddha Purnima.

Ashvaghosha was a great poet who wrote a biography of Buddha, universally called, “Buddhacharitra”.

Final thought:

Buddha was an honored and spiritual educator who spread dogmas of Buddhism to transform the life of masses. Buddha was blessed with charismatic religious and reforming traits. He greatly influenced the global populace through his sermons and noble teachings. Putting light on his life, he was born in a patrician family and facilitated with all the luxuries.  Once he observed intense anguish of people in his kingdom, he was deeply shocked and left his lavish life to explore the truth of human suffering.  After attaining enlightenment, Budhha shaped the dogmas of Buddhism and scattered among people to get relief from sadness of their life. His principles of Buddhism are adopted by huge people and disciples devotionally dipped into his significant teachings to rejuvenate their living.

Important note:

Above spiritual narration is written by compiling information from environmental inputs. Aim of the writer is to provide general information about the great persona, Buddha, who attained enlightenment and spread noble teaching. Readers can refer to literature to further understand the creed of Buddhism. Any resemblance is just a coincidence. Writer is not responsible for any disagreement

 

Celebrate Vasant Panchami with full devotion

There are several festivals being celebrated in India. Vasant Panchami is a holy festival of spring season which is celebrated with devotions and fervour. Vasant Panchami is basically a Hindu festival that signifies the arrival of spring. The festival falls on the fifth day of Maagh (a month in the Hindu calendar) each year. People from different parts of India celebrate this festive in traditional form. Vasant Panchami is also called as Shri Panchami and Saraswati Panchami. It is celebrated at Sufi shrines as Sufi Basant.  In Bihar, it is celebrated as a harvest festival and the birthday of Deo-Surya God.

In Hindu mythology, Vasant Panchami celebrates the birth of Goddess Saraswati, the deity of knowledge, music and arts. Through blessings of Goddess Saraswati, people can gain knowledge and wisdom. On the occasion of Vasant Panchami, every pupil is supposed to lay his/her books at the feet of the Goddess to get blessing of Goddess. It is thought that students may get huge success in their academic career.

Vasant Panchami is regarded as the commencement of the Cosmos, celebration with happiness. It is the festivity of spring, of life, of vitality. In this great festive occasion, young girls wear bright yellow costumes and partake in various festivities. The colour yellow has a unique meaning for this celebration as it denotes the brilliance of nature, peace, prosperity and the enthusiasm of human life.  Yellow sweets are distributed as Prasad to devotees.

The significance of Basant Panchami is big in Hindu culture. The day is considered extremely auspicious to start new work, get married or perform house warming ceremony (griha pravesh).

There are some ideas of sweets that can be prepared on this holy occasion to celebrate with full devotion and joy. These may be

·        Moong dal halwa,

·        Basen laddo with kaju and khoya

·        Meetha chawal

·        Puran pori

·        Turmeric lemon rice

·        Sweet saffron rice

·        Mango rawa halwa

·        Lemon cupcake

·        Gatte ki Sabzi

·       Kesar Rabdi

Devotees may perform puja according to their traditional style.

Additionally, Vasant Panchami also indicates the commencement of the preparation for Holi, which is again important and colourful festival of Hindus.