Showing posts with label hindus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hindus. Show all posts
Monday, March 16, 2020
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Balaji Jayanti festival 2019 to 2026
Balaji Jayanti is a highly revered Hindu festival that is celebrated with great splendour all over the country. It is observed on the ‘Ashtami’ tithi (8th day) of the ‘Krishna Paksha’ (the waning phase of moon) during the month of ‘Margashirsha’ in the Hindu lunar calendar. The day of Balaji Jayanti, as the name implies, commemorates the birth anniversary of Lord Balaji. The devotees on this auspicious day throng the 600 years old Tirupati Balaji Temple and offer prayers. Special rituals and prayers are organized on this day in the temple. Hindus worship Sri Balaji devotedly on this day to seek His blessings for a prosperous and happy life. Balaji Jayanti is one of the most awaited events in Lord Balaji temples in Southern India.
Balaji Jayanti 2019 is on December 19 Thursday
1 month and 27 days to go for the event
Rituals during Balaji Jayanti:
The preparations for Balaji Jayanti begin several days in advance. On this day, the temples are cleaned and beautifully decorated with flowers. For this occasion, Lord Balaji is adorned with new clothes and jewelry.
On the day of Balaji Jayanti devotees get up at the time of dawn and take an early bath. They then perform the ‘Angapradakshina’ of the temple and surrender themselves to Lord Balaji. Hindus worship Him with full devotion, love and faith on this day. In the Tirupati Balaji Temple, Maha Aarti is performed in the evening, which is witnessed by thousands of devotees from every corner of the country. Prasad is distributed at the end of all the ceremonies.
Some devotees even worship Lord Balaji in their homes. They present kumkum, garlands and other sacred offerings to the image or idol of Lord Balaji.
On this day chanting Vedic mantras like ‘Om Namo Narayana’ that are dedicated to Lord Balaji is considered to be highly rewarding. These acts of devotion purify the soul and take the person close to the Supreme Being.
In some communities there is also a tradition of offering hair to Lord Balaji. This act is done to free the soul from all ego and negative feelings.
Important Timings On Balaji Jayanti
Sunrise | December 19, 2019 7:06 AM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sunset | December 19, 2019 5:41 PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ashtami Tithi Begins | December 18, 2019 11:30 PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ashtami Tithi Ends | December 19, 2019 9:23 PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place : Ujjain [ India ] |
Significance of Balaji Jayanti:
Balaji Jayanti is an auspicious event for Hindus. According to the Hindu mythological stories, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Balaji for the upliftment of humanity and to free earth from all the evils. He is also worshipped as Lord Venkatesh on this day. The Tirupati Temple is considered to be the ‘Vaikunth’ (Lord Vishnu’s celestial abode) of Kalyug. It is believed that by worshipping Lord Balaji removes all the fears and fills one’s life with never-ending happiness and success. By praying to Lord Venkatesh wholeheartedly on Balaji Jayanti all the desires will be fulfilled. Lord Balaji helps His devotees to attain peace and also work for the welfare of others. A person who performs Lord Balaji puja with dedication also attains ‘moksha’ or salvation in the end.
Balaji Jayanti festival dates between 2016 & 2026
Year | Date |
---|---|
2016 | Wednesday, 21st of December |
2017 | Sunday, 10th of December |
2018 | Saturday, 29th of December |
2019 | Thursday, 19th of December |
2021 | Monday, 27th of December |
2022 | Friday, 16th of December |
2024 | Monday, 23rd of December |
2025 | Friday, 12th of December |
2026 | Thursday, 31st of December |
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Google - Why Do Hindu women Pierce Their Nose?
Google - Why Do Hindu women Pierce Their Nose?
Curious to know what people were wondering about Hindus and Hinduism, I went to Google.com and entered some prompts. For example, I typed “Why do Hindus” and then paused to see what questions would come up. I’m going to be doing a series of answers for Google to help people get their most pressing questions answered. First up…
Why Do Hindus Pierce Their Nose?
Elaborate decoration of Hindu women (well, brides in particular) is a tradition from ancient times. Hindu women often have many beautiful pieces of jewelry. In ancient times and still through modern times for some people, a woman’s wedding jewelry was hers to keep while everything else became her husband’s. A woman’s family would provide her with expensive jewelry as a form of savings account. If times were hard, a woman always had valuable jewelry she could sell if she needed help.
A nose ring is also one of the several symbols of a married woman. In some regions a girl’s nose is pierced once she is “of marriageable age” and marks her as ready for a husband. (Not every region uses nose rings. There are plenty of Hindus who do not have that as a tradition).
There is another reason for the nose ring. As part of Ayurveda, ancient Indian medicine (which is still practiced today), it is believed that a hole in a woman’s left nostril relieves some of the pain in childbirth.
However, the side of the piercing (or if piercing both sides or the center) depends on region and community. I’m told that generally the left side is common in North India and the right side is common in South India.
I’ve often found it amusing that something like a nose piercing could be seen so very differently depending on the culture. In America piercing one’s nose is seen as an act of rebellion against one’s parents. It’s seen as improper and “wild.” In India, nose piercing is a deeply traditional choice and shows a respect to one’s heritage and family. I’ve heard young Hindu American friends talk about their grandmothers being very distraught that they had not pierced their noses. My family was less than thrilled when I pierced mine!
Though Hindus are more likely to have pierced noses, women of other religions can and pierce as well.
Friday, July 17, 2015
What do Hindus believe?
What do Hindus believe?
Hinduism embraces a diversity of beliefs, a fact that can be initially confusing to Westerners accustomed to creeds, confessions, and carefully-worded belief statements. One can believe a variety of things about God, the universe and the path to liberation and still be considered a Hindu. Perhaps the most well-known Hindu saying about religion is: "Truth is one; sages call it by different names."
Still, there are some beliefs common to nearly all forms of Hinduism that can be identified, and these basic beliefs are generally regarded as boundaries outside of which lies either heresy or non-Hindu religion. These fundamental Hindu beliefs include: the authority of the Vedas (the oldest Indian sacred texts) and the Brahmans (priests); the existence of an enduring soul that transmigrates from one body to another at death (reincarnation); and the law of karma that determines one's destiny both in this life and the next.
Note that a specific belief about God or gods is not considered one of the essentials in Hinduism, which is a major difference between it and monotheistic religions like Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism. Most Hindus are devoted followers of one of the principal gods Shiva, Vishnu or Shakti, and often others besides, yet all these are regarded as manifestations of a single Reality.
Is Hinduism Polytheistic?
Hinduism is a decidedly theistic religion, but it can be difficult to determine whether it is a polytheistic, pantheistic, or even monotheistic religion. Of course, this is chiefly a western question: the Indian mind is much more inclined to regard divergent views as complementary rather than competing.
Cows in Hindu Belief
In Hinduism, the cow is revered as the source of food and symbol of life and may never be killed.
Karma in Hinduism
The Sanskrit word karma means "actions" and refers to the fundamental Hindu principle that one's moral actions have unavoidable and automatic effects on one's fortunes in this life and condition of rebirth in the next.
Purpose of Life
In Hinduism, there is not just one purpose of human life, but four: Dharma - fulfilling one's purpose; Artha - prosperity; Kama - desire, sexuality, enjoyment; and Moksha - enlightenment.
Authority of the Vedas and Brahmans
The authority of the ancient scriptures known as the Vedas as well as that of the priests known as the Brahmans are two concepts that are fundamental to Hinduism and differentiate the faith from Buddhism and Jainism.
Brahman: Ultimate Reality
Most Hindus venerate one or more deities, but regard these as manifestations of Ultimate Reality. So who, or what, is the Ultimate Reality that is behind the universe and all the gods? In the Rig Veda, it is referred to as "the One." In the Purushasukta, it is given the name "Purusha," and in the Upanishads it is called "Brahman," "the One," and several other names.
Thursday, July 02, 2015
The Story of the Birth of Lord Krishna
The Story of the Birth of Lord Krishna
The birth of Krishna is in itself a transcendental phenomenon that generates awe among the Hindus and overwhelms one and all with its supra mundane happenings.
Mother Earth, unable to bear the burden of sins committed by evil kings and rulers, appealed to Brahma, the Creator for help. Brahma prayed to the Supreme Lord Vishnu, who assured him that he would soon be born on earth to annihilate tyrannical forces.
One such evil force was Kamsa, the ruler of Mathura (in northern India) and his people were utterly terrified of him. On the day Kamsa's sister Devaki was married off to Vasudeva, an akashvani or voice from the sky was heard prophesying that Devaki's 8th son would be the destroyer of Kamsa. The frightened Kamsa immediately unsheathed his sword to kill his sister but Vasudeva intervened and implored Kamsa to spare his bride, and promised to hand over every new born child to him. Kamsa relented but imprisoned both Devaki and her husband Vasudeva.
When Devaki gave birth to her first child, Kamsa came to the prison cell and slaughtered the newborn. In this way, he killed the first six sons of Devaki. Even before her 8th child was born, Devaki and Vasudeva started lamenting its fate and theirs. Then suddenly Lord Vishnu appeared before them and said he himself was coming to rescue them and the people of Mathura. He asked Vasudeva to carry him to the house of his friend, the cowherd chief Nanda in Gokula right after his birth, where Nanda's wife Yashoda had given birth to a daughter.
He was to exchange his boy and bring Yashoda's baby daughter back to the prison. Vishnu assured them that "nothing shall bar your path".
At midnight on ashtami, the divine baby was born in Kamsa's prison. Remembering the divine instructions, Vasudeva clasped the child to his bosom and started for Gokula, but found that his legs were in chains. He jerked his legs and was unfettered! The massive iron-barred doors unlocked and opened up.
While crossing river Yamuna, Vasudeva held his baby high over his head. The rain fell in torrents and the river was in spate. But the water made way for Vasudeva and miraculously a five-mouthed snake followed him from behind and provided shelter over the baby.
When Vasudeva reached Gokula, he found the door of Nanda's house open. He exchanged the babies and hurried back to the prison of Kamsa with the baby girl. Early in the morning, all the people at Gokula rejoiced the birth of Nanda's beautiful male child. Vasudeva came back to Mathura and as he entered, the doors of the prison closed themselves.
When Kamsa came to know about the birth, he rushed inside the prison and tried to kill the baby. But this time it skipped from his hand and reaching the sky. She was transformed into the goddess Yogamaya, who told Kamsa: "O foolish! What will you get by killing me? Your nemesis is already born somewhere else."
In his youth Krishna killed Kamsa along with all his cruel associates, liberated his parents from prison, and reinstated Ugrasen as the King of Mathura.
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Sunday, June 08, 2008
Nagpanchami / Nagapanchami - Nagpanchami also known as Guga-Navami is a ceremony celebrated by the Hindus all over India
Nagpanchami / Nagapanchami
Nagpanchami also known as Guga-Navami is a ceremony celebrated by the Hindus all over India. It falls on the fifth day of moonlit fortnight in Shravan (July/August). Snake worship was a ritual practice long before the Vedic times; by Hindus, Jains and Buddhists and still continues to be a pious celebration. There are quite a few mythological stories that cause the devotees to pray the serpent. Lord Shiva wears the snake as ornamentation around his neck. The ceremonies performed include sweetened milk and puffed rice offered to the snakes. People pray the Snake God for prosperity and safety from the venomous reptile. Goodies including sweets, fresh fruits and dry fruits along with flowers are gift hampers often exchanged among the devotees. In the corporate sector, this occasion is a good time to promote the corporation or a business by personalized Nagpanchami gifts.
Important Aspects of Nag Panchami
This so called "snake day" has several important components. In addition to offerings made to the snakes throughout the country during worship and celebration, men and women celebrate the day in these ways:
Cobras are bathed in milk and offered rice as this is thought to offer immunity from their bites.
Women often partake in early baths of milk and wear colourful saris.
Pots of milk and flowers are placed next to holes that are believed to contain snakes as an offering of devotion. If a snake actually drinks the milk it is thought to be the ultimate sign of good luck.
Mansa, the Queen of Snakes, is worshiped in most parts of Bengal during Nag Panchami.
In the Punjabi region, a large dough snake is created and then paraded around the village. The parade is colourful with plenty of singing and dancing; at the end of the parade the snake is buried. Nag Panchami is referred to as "Guga-Navami" in Punjab.
Snake charmers sit alongside the roads of Maharashtra and encourage women to offer milk, flowers and haldi-kumkum (a powdered offering of tumeric and vermillion) to the dangerous snakes the snake charmers carry.
In many villages, snake charmers carry pots containing cobras to a central temple where they are released and then worshiped with offerings of milk and rice.
Mainly in the south of India, people worship figures of snakes made of clay or sandalwood as alternatives to the real-life versions.
No Hindu home may fry anything on the day of Nag Panchami.
Girls who are hoping to marry believe that the cobra offers good luck in their quest for eternal happiness.