The Forgotten Shivlings of Sati Shaktipeeths

The Forgotten Shivlings of Sati Shaktipeeths PDF Author: Pratha Sharma
Publisher: Zorba Books
ISBN: 9387456129
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 99

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Book Description
” Lord Shiva gets married to Sati, the daughter of Prajapati Daksh. Sati goes to Her father’s yajna uninvited, and burns Herself in the sacrificial fire as Daksha insults Lord Shiva and Her. Lord Shiva traverses the creation with Sati’s burnt body on His shoulders, dancing the Rudra Tandava. Lord Vishnu cuts the body into pieces by Sudarshana chakra, that scatter on Bharatvarsha in Bhooloka. Lord Shiva refuses to part with Sati, and establishes Himself along with each Pindi as Swayambhu Shivlinga. Demon Tarakasura attempts to steal the Devi Pindi, and consequently Lord Shiva appoints Kshetrapal Bhairav to protect each Shaktipeeth from evil, demonic forces. The Shaktipeeths are worshipped, and an unknown span of time passes. Bharatvarsha is attacked by the mlechhas. The temples are attacked, broken and plundered. The Shivlinga is broken, and the Bhairav temple is lost. The Pindi is not visible anymore, and the idea of the existence of the Swayambhu Shivlinga is forgotten. At some places, Goddess appears in the dream of devotees to look up a particular spot where She exists. So, Kalighat temple, Attahas Peeth and Kalkaji temple are rediscovered. As a thousand years pass, the memory of the Swayambhu Shivlinga is lost and forgotten. Mahadev remains bound with Sati Pindi as Swayambhu Shivlinga, and waits to be found and worshipped again at each of the Shaktipeeth temples. As the exact spots of the Swayambhu lingam wait to be rediscovered along with the Devi Pindi, the real Shaktipeeth temples await to welcome back the lost glory of ancient Vedic India and Her cultural magnificence. ”

The Forgotten Shivlings of Sati Shaktipeeths

The Forgotten Shivlings of Sati Shaktipeeths PDF Author: Pratha Sharma
Publisher: Zorba Books
ISBN: 9387456129
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 99

Get Book Here

Book Description
” Lord Shiva gets married to Sati, the daughter of Prajapati Daksh. Sati goes to Her father’s yajna uninvited, and burns Herself in the sacrificial fire as Daksha insults Lord Shiva and Her. Lord Shiva traverses the creation with Sati’s burnt body on His shoulders, dancing the Rudra Tandava. Lord Vishnu cuts the body into pieces by Sudarshana chakra, that scatter on Bharatvarsha in Bhooloka. Lord Shiva refuses to part with Sati, and establishes Himself along with each Pindi as Swayambhu Shivlinga. Demon Tarakasura attempts to steal the Devi Pindi, and consequently Lord Shiva appoints Kshetrapal Bhairav to protect each Shaktipeeth from evil, demonic forces. The Shaktipeeths are worshipped, and an unknown span of time passes. Bharatvarsha is attacked by the mlechhas. The temples are attacked, broken and plundered. The Shivlinga is broken, and the Bhairav temple is lost. The Pindi is not visible anymore, and the idea of the existence of the Swayambhu Shivlinga is forgotten. At some places, Goddess appears in the dream of devotees to look up a particular spot where She exists. So, Kalighat temple, Attahas Peeth and Kalkaji temple are rediscovered. As a thousand years pass, the memory of the Swayambhu Shivlinga is lost and forgotten. Mahadev remains bound with Sati Pindi as Swayambhu Shivlinga, and waits to be found and worshipped again at each of the Shaktipeeth temples. As the exact spots of the Swayambhu lingam wait to be rediscovered along with the Devi Pindi, the real Shaktipeeth temples await to welcome back the lost glory of ancient Vedic India and Her cultural magnificence. ”

What Exactly Is A Shiva Lingam

What Exactly Is A Shiva Lingam PDF Author: Mr. Rahul Dudhane
Publisher: Rahul Dudhane
ISBN:
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 133

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Book Description
A Shiva lingam is an aniconic representation of Lord Shiva. Hindus worship Lord Shiva mostly in the form of a Shiva lingam, but its meaning has been one of the most debated topics. There are mainly two groups; one believes it is a sexual organ and others believe it is not. They both give many different arguments in the support of their perspective. With the advent of science and technology, one more group has emerged which strongly believes that there is some sort of science behind the concept of Shiva Lingam. But what are the reasons behind this confusion? 1. There are some stories in the Hindu scriptures that depict it as a sexual organ while some stories say it is a column of fire. 2. Many different meanings of the words linga and yoni. 3. Ancient pillar/phallus worship. 4. Different practices of different Hindu sects. 5. The shape of a Shiva lingam. In February 2010, the encyclopedia Britannica removed a sentence about Shiva lingam from its article.“In temples and private shrines, Shiva is ... worshipped in the form of the lingam, or phallus, often embedded in the yoni, the symbol of the female sexual organ.”It is believed that it did so because of the pressure of Netizens, but I doubt that a website like Britannica would do so unless there is some valid reason behind it. When we talk about religion, the scriptures are of utmost importance. Therefore, in this book, I have sought refuge mainly in scriptures to determine what exactly a Shiva Lingam is, but I have also considered other things like archaeological evidence, logic, history, science, etc. I am sure that this book would not only answer what a Shiva lingam really is but also you would learn many new things about Hinduism.

Oudhr Magadh Nritya Shaili

Oudhr Magadh Nritya Shaili PDF Author: Pratha Sharma
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781691589333
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 105

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Book Description
A comprehensive guide for students learning Odissi classical Indian dance; serving as a text book plus reference book.The book provides an insight to the origins of Indian classical dance, development of the Oudhr Magadh presently known as 'Odissi' style of dance. The later chapters give the basics of steps, Odissi dance repertoire, Hasta Mudras and is a guide for students right from introductory stage to advanced levels.

Temple Recipes of Ancient India

Temple Recipes of Ancient India PDF Author: Pratha Sharma
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 31

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Book Description
The ancient Hindu temples offered Naivedyam or Prasadam to the deity as an inherent part of the daily ritualistic worship. This culture is prevalent till date, and some of the large ancient temples in South India follow the same Sattvik culinary preparations that have been epigraphed on the temple walls. The book presents an overview of some temple recipes that are distributed as Prasadams to the devotees.

Shakti

Shakti PDF Author: Vanamali
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1594777853
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 275

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Book Description
Presents the mystery of the Divine Mother in all her manifold aspects • Explores more than 30 different goddess aspects of the Shakti force, both beneficial and malefic • Includes Sanskrit hymns and classic verses by Sri Auribindo for each of the goddesses Shakti is synonymous with the Devi, the Divine Mother or divine power that manifests, sustains, and transforms the universe. She is the womb of all creatures, and it is through her that the One becomes the many. Our first and primary relationship to the world is through the mother, the source of love, security, and nourishment. Extending this relationship to worship of a cosmic being as mother was a natural step found not only in the Shakti cult of Hinduism but also in ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Babylonian cultures. Shakti presents more than 30 goddess incarnations of the Divine Mother that represent both the beneficial and malefic aspects of the Shakti force. From Lakshmi, Parvati, and Saraswati to Durga, Chandika, and Kali--each of the different functions of the female goddesses in the Hindu pantheon is revealed, accompanied by traditional Sanskrit hymns, classic verses by Sri Auribindo, and discussions of tantric philosophy. The author draws from the Devi Bhagavatham, which describes all the stories of Shakti, and the Devi Mahatmyam, the most powerful scriptural text that glorifies Shakti in her form as Durga. Using these texts she shows that through the power and grace of the Divine Mother we may be released from the darkness of ignorance and taken to the abode of knowledge, immortality, and bliss--the source from which we have come.

Rethinking India's Oral and Classical Epics

Rethinking India's Oral and Classical Epics PDF Author: Alf Hiltebeitel
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 0226340554
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 575

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Book Description
Throughout India and Southeast Asia, ancient classical epics—the Mahabharata and the Ramayana—continue to exert considerable cultural influence. Rethinking India's Oral and Classical Epics offers an unprecedented exploration into South Asia's regional epic traditions. Using his own fieldwork as a starting point, Alf Hiltebeitel analyzes how the oral tradition of the south Indian cult of the goddess Draupadi and five regional martial oral epics compare with one another and tie in with the Sanskrit epics. Drawing on literary theory and cultural studies, he reveals the shared subtexts of the Draupadi cult Mahabharata and the five oral epics, and shows how the traditional plots are twisted and classical characters reshaped to reflect local history and religion. In doing so, Hiltebeitel sheds new light on the intertwining oral traditions of medieval Rajput military culture, Dalits ("former Untouchables"), and Muslims. Breathtaking in scope, this work is indispensable for those seeking a deeper understanding of South Asia's Hindu and Muslim traditions. This work is the third volume in Hiltebeitel's study of the Draupadi cult. Other volumes include Mythologies: From Gingee to Kuruksetra (Volume One), On Hindu Ritual and the Goddess (Volume Two), and Rethinking the Mahabharata (Volume Four).

Sadhguru, More Than a Life

Sadhguru, More Than a Life PDF Author: Arundhathi Subramaniam
Publisher: Penguin Books India
ISBN: 067008512X
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 250

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Book Description
‘The thirst to be boundless is not created by you; it is just life longing for itself.’ —Sadhguru This is the extraordinary story of Sadhguru—a young agnostic who turned yogi, a wild motorcyclist who turned mystic, a sceptic who turned spiritual guide. Pulsating with his razor-sharp intelligence, bracing wit and modern-day vocabulary, the book empowers you to explore your spiritual self and could well change your life. It seeks to re-create the life journey of a man who combines rationality with mysticism, irreverence with compassion, ancient wisdom with a provocatively contemporary outlook and a deep knowledge of the self with a contagious love of life. Described as ‘a profound mystic, visionary humanitarian and prominent spiritual leader of our times', he is equally at home in a satsangh in rural Tamil Nadu as at the World Economic Forum in Davos. In his early years, Jaggi Vasudev (or Sadhguru as he is now known) was a chronic truant, a boisterous prankster, and later a lover of motorbikes and fast cars. It is evident that the same urgency, passion and vitality echo in his spiritual pursuits to this day, from his creation of the historic Dhyanalinga—the mission of three lifetimes—to his approach as a guru. In Sadhguru's view, faith and reason, spirituality and science, the sacred and the material, cannot be divided into easy binaries. He sees people as ‘spiritual beings dabbling with the material rather than the reverse’, and liberation as the fundamental longing in every form of life. Truth for him is a living experience instead of a destination, a conclusion, or a matter of metaphysical speculation. The possibility of self-realization, he strongly believes, is available to all. Drawing upon extended conversations with Sadhguru, interviews with Isha colleagues and fellow meditators, poet Arundhathi Subramaniam presents an evocative portrait of a contemporary mystic and guru—a man who seems to pack the intensity and adventure of several lifetimes into a single one.

The Śākta Pīṭhas

The Śākta Pīṭhas PDF Author: Dineschandra Sircar
Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass Publ.
ISBN: 9788120808799
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 156

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Book Description
The holy places associated with the Mother Goddess and spread over various parts of the indian subcontinent have been popular pilgrim spots for a long time. According to some late Tantric texts ascribable to Eastern India, the number of such Sakta-Tirthas is fifty-one and the present monograph is a dissertation on the origin and development of this conception. Thus it is at the same time the study of a number of Tantric and other texts as well as of certain problems of Tantric religion and of historical geography. It is unique in its approach because Tantra Studies have not progressed satisfactorily so far on scientific lines.

Historical Dictionary of the Bengalis

Historical Dictionary of the Bengalis PDF Author: Kunal Chakrabarti
Publisher: Scarecrow Press
ISBN: 0810880245
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 605

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Book Description
The Bengali (Bangla) speaking people are located in the northeastern part of South Asia, particularly in Bangladesh and two states of India – West Bengal and Tripura. There are almost 246 million Bengalis at present, which makes them the fifth largest speech community in the world. Despite political and social divisions, they share a common literary and musical culture and several habits of daily existence which impart to them a distinct identity. The Bengalis are known for their political consciousness and cultural accomplishments The Historical Dictionary of the Bengalis provides an overview of the Bengalis across the world from the earliest Chalcolithic cultures to the present. This is done through a chronology, an introductory essay, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 750 cross-referenced dictionary entries on politicians, educators and entrepreneurs, leaders of religious and secular institutions, writers, painters, actors and other cultural figures, and more generally, on the economy, education, political parties, religions, women and minorities, literature, art and architecture, music, cinema and other major sectors. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the Bengalis.

Chasing a Mirage

Chasing a Mirage PDF Author: Tarek Fatah
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 446

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Book Description
In Chasing a Mirage, Tarek Fatah Writes: Islamists argue that the period following the passing away of Muhammad was Islam's golden era and that we Muslims need to re-create that caliphate to emulate that political system in today's world. I wish to demonstrate that when Muslims buried the Prophet, they also buried with him many of the universal values of Islam that he had preached. The history of Islam can be described essentially as the history of an unending power struggle, where men have killed each other to claim the mantle of Muhammad. This strife is a painful story that started within hours of the Prophet closing his eyes forever, and needs to be told. I firmly believe the message of the Quran is strong enough to withstand the facts of history. It is my conviction that Muslims are mature and secure in their identities to face the truth. This is that story. Advance Praise for Chasing a Mirage "Tarek Fatah has written a provocative and challenging book which is a must read for anyone who cares about these issues." —Janice Gross Stein "Chasing a Mirage is an extremely valuable contributing to the fight by progressive Muslims against Islamist fascism. This book should be required reading for the Left in the West who have mistakenly started believing that Islamists represent some sort of anti-imperialism." —Farooq Tariq "Fatah argues passionatley for universalism instead of exclusivism, integration instead of ghettoism, and makes a powerful appeal for the silent majority of Muslims to speak out before it is too late. This work of courage and daring needs to be read widely." — Pervez Hoodbhoy "This fascinating work by brave and bri8lliant tarek Fatah is simultaneously thought-provoking, instructive and enlightening for laymen and scholars, Muslims and non-Muslim...an invaluable and rare addition to the corpus of Islamic literature in the post-9/11 world, a bold step towards Islamic Reformation and Enlightenment." —Taj Hashmi "Tarek Fatah's is a voice that needs to be heard. Canada needs a healthy, reasoned debate about the issues he is raising, and indeed so does the world." —Bob Rae "This fascinating work by brae and brilliant Tarek Fatah is simultaneously thought-provoking, instructive and enlightening for laymen and scholars, Muslim and non-Muslim... an invaluable and rare addition to the corpus of Islamic literature in the post-9/11 world, a bold step towards Islamic Reformation and Enlightenment." —Taj Hashmi "Tarek Fatah's is a voice that needs to be heard. Canada needs a healthy, reasoned debate about the issues he is raising, and indeed so does the world." —Bob Rae, Member of Parliament, Canada