2010 in review

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is doing awesome!.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 2,400 times in 2010. That’s about 6 full 747s.

In 2010, there was 1 new post, growing the total archive of this blog to 11 posts. There was 1 picture uploaded, taking a total of 10kb.

The busiest day of the year was November 9th with 49 views. The most popular post that day was Thanks to all the viewers for making this blog in top ten blogs of 2010.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were indianmythology.com, google.co.in, mail.yahoo.com, facebook.com, and lmodules.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for indian mythology, who assisted lord krishna in defeating this asura, indian mythology blog, hindu mythology blog, and indian mythology blogs.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

Thanks to all the viewers for making this blog in top ten blogs of 2010 August 2010

2

Ugadi heralding the New Year March 2009
3 comments

3

About March 2009
1 comment

4

Dussehra and related stories September 2009

5

Diwali and legends related to it October 2009

Thanks to all the viewers for making this blog in top ten blogs of 2010

Top 10 Hinduism Blogs

Diwali and legends related to it

Diwali is celebrated on the new moon day of the Kartika month in the Hindu calendar. Diwali also known as Deepawali is a row of lamps. Deepa means “lamps” and awali is “a row”. The significance of this festival is to lead human race from darkness to light. It is for this reason that lamps are lit on the new moon day when the sky is completely dark. There are many stories in IndianMythology associated with this festival.

Return of Rama to Ayodhya: Lord Rama goes to forests on his father’s word. His father,  Dusherata does this to grant the wish of his wife Kiakeyi. In his absence Rama’s brother and Kaikeyis son, Bharata was ruling the country, Lord Rama returned from forests to Ayodhya after 14 years. Ramas brother Bharata was ruling the country representing Rama for these 14 years in the absence of Rama. In the absence of Rama Ayodhya, kingdom of Rama, was dull and people lived in grief and sorrow missing Rama. There was no cheer in the lives of the people.  On the day when Rama returned to Ayodya after defeating Ravana, people of Ayodhya rejoiced themselves, they decorated their houses with flowers. Each of them prepared delicious sweets and lit lamps in and out of the houses celebrated the return of Lord Rama. This day of Ramas return to Ayodhya is celebrated as Diwali

Death of Naraka: Narakasura was a demon and was troubling the world. On the day before Diwali is 14^th day that is the Chaturdasi. On this day Lord Krishna killed Demon Narakasura with the help of SathyaBhama, Lord Krishnas wife. This day is thus known as NarakaChaturdasi and celebrated as part of Diwali.

Bali Padyami: Lord incarnated as Vamana, it was on the  day, next to the new moon day in the month of Kartika in the Hindu calendar, that is the day next to Diwali, Lord in the form of Vamana sent King Bali to nether.This day is also a part  of the diwali celebrations

Story of Godess Lakshmi: Godess Lakshmi was incarnated on this day during churning of ocean (link) That is reason why Diwali is associated with Lakshmi and Lakshmi pooja.

Return of Pandavas: In the great epic Mahabharata, Pandavas returned from 12 years of banishment  on the day of Karthika Amavasya, the new moon day of the Kartika month, which is celebrated as Diwali.

 

Diwali is celebrated with lot of passion and vigor in India. People fire crackers, eat sweet dishes, wear new clothes. Diwali is one of the most celebrated festival in India.

Fasting for the well being of better half – the “karwa chauth” way

Karwa Chauth is celebrated on the fourth day (chauth is the fourth day) after the full moon in the Kartika month of the Hindu calendar. Karwa means a pot and Chauth refers to  the fourth day.  This festival is mostly celebrated in the North India. This festival is celebrated by married ladies for the welfare and long lasting lives of their husbands. On this day, married ladies observe strict fasting. Married women leave the fast only after they see their husband before which they see the moon through a sieve.

There are many tales related to Karwa Chauth in Indian Mythology. Some of them are as listed below:

Story of Queen Veeravati: Once upon a time there was a queen by the name of Veeravati. She had seven brothers who were very caring and loving. On the first Karwa Chauth after her marriage she went to her parents place and started on fast before sunrise and observing fast and could not bear her hunger. Observing their sister facing the problem of hunger, her brothers tried to deceive her by showing a full moon after which she broke her fast, though the moon did not appear till then.

      After this she got to know that her husband had fallen ill and rushed to her kingdom. On her way to the kingdom she met Lordess Parvati who informed that her husband has died. Veeravati then asked to forgive and give back his life. Parvati asked Veeravati to be follow Karwa Chauth very faithfully after which Veeravati got back her husband alive.

Story of Draupati in Mahabharata: Once Arjuna went to Nilgiris for penance and the remaining Pandavas faced many problems. Unable to see her husbands’ problems, Draupati approached Lord Krishna for help. Krishna recalling a similar situation faced by Parvati, advises Draupati to be on a strict fast on the day of Karwa Chauth and pray for the long lives of her husbands, as did Parvati. Draupati sincerely followed the advice of Lord Krishna and could rescue her husbands’ from the problems.

Story of Karwa There was lady named Karwa who was a great Pati – vrata (deeply devoted to her  husband). One day her husband was caught by a crocodile while taking bath in the river. Karwa used a cotton yarn to bind the crocodile and prayed god Yama (death god) to kill the crocodile and send it to hell. Yama was not ready to do that and so she scared Yama that she would curse him using her Pati-vrata powers. Yama, being scared of her, granted her the wish. The day when this happened was the fourth day after the full moon in the Kartik month of the Hindu calendar. It is on this day that Karwa Chauth is celebrated by all married ladies.

Karwa Chauth day Puja:

     Married Ladies get up early in the morning and eat food prepared by their mother in laws. This food is called as “Sargi”. They pray to Gods Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and Kartikeya for the long lives of their husbands. After this they are on a strict fast. They even abstain from water till they see the moon in the night thru a sieve. They end the fast only after worshipping moon and seeing the moon through a sieve. After this the next they see is their husband.

Ladies take this occasion to dress up well and enjoy the ceremony. On this day ladies apply mehendi decorating their hands and feet. After this ladies receive gifts from their mother-in-law. They decorate a Karwa (pot) for the puja very artistically by painting it form outside, putting some sweets, chocolates, a small handkerchief.

Lordess Parvati is prayed with lots of flowers on this day by groups of ladies sitting around the Lordess. A red colored thread is tied around the Karwa. Ladies put the Karwa in front of them while performing puja. An elderly lady also holds the Karwa and narrates the stories related to Karwa Chawth to the ladies.

After the puja is done, ladies look at the moon and leave the fast.

Dussehra and related stories

Dussehra also known as Vijayadashami is celebrated across India, Nepal and some Asian countries. This festival is celebrated on the Dashami (tenth day) of the Shukla paksha (bright fortnight) in the month of Asvin of the Hindu calendar. This festival starts on Padyami (first day) of the Shukla Paksha and is celebrated for nine days which is also referred as Navratri (nine nights)

               Durgastami (the eight day in the series), Navami (ninth day) and  Vijaya Dashimi (the tenth day ) are the most important days of the festival. There are couple of stories related to Dussehra. On this day of Vijayadashimi, good wins over wickedness.

Lord Ramas Victory over Ravana:

          In the great epic of Ramayana, Rama lived in forests for 12 years with his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana. During his stay in the forests Ravana kidnapped Sita and took her away to his kingdom in Lanka.

   Rama fights a successful war against Ravana. In this war against Ravana, Lord Rama took the help of Vanaraas, the monkeys led by Hanuman and Sugreeva and fought against the wicked Ravana and his soldiers. In the war which lasted for a long time, Rama, symbolizing the good, killed Ravana, the symbol of wickedness, on the day of Vijayadashami.  It is usually celebrated in form of a drama ending in burning of effigy of Ravana, commonly this termed as Ram-leela (act of rama).

Death of Mahishashura:

Often some of the Asuras (the demons) had great powers and tried to take over the heaven from the Gods. One such Asura was Mahishasura. Mahishasura was a very powerful asura and   he tried to conquer the complete world including the heaven. He wanted to get many more powers and wanted to lead the world. Underestimating the power of a woman, Mahishasura took a boon from Lord Shiva that he should not be killed by any male.

   As the powers of Mahishasura increased, the problems in the world increased and it appeared to  Devatas (Gods)  like there was no end for this tyranny. Lord Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu and other devtas combined their energy to form a single power called “Lordess Durga” who was a female incarnation.

      Lordess Durga fought a fierce battle with Mahishasura for nine days and nights and killed Mahishasura on the tenth day that is on the Dashami which is celebrated as Vijaya Dashami.

 

These are just a few of the many more important stories related to the Hindu festival occasion of dussehra.

Celebration of Ganesha Festival

Celebration of Ganesha Festival

Ganesh Chathurthi, the birth day of Lord Ganesha, falls on  fourth day of the moons bright fortnight in the month of Bhadrapada of the Hindu calendar. This festival is celebrated for five days, 7 days, ten days or 21 days varying based on  the local sentiments.

Birth of Ganesha

               The story of creation of Ganesha is a fascinating one. When Lordess Parvati was alone at home, she created a son for herself from the sandalwood she used for her bath. She instructed her son to guard her while she was bathing. On return of Shiva, the little son of Parvati stops Shiva from entering the house and Shiva gets furious at him and slashes the head of Ganesha. Later, Ganesha was given rebirth by giving life to the head of an Elephant. The details of the birth of Ganesha can also be found at the location  http://indianmythology.com/finish/seestory.php?storyID=24 .

Avoiding misfortune on Ganesh Chaturthi

                  Ganesha was very fond of food. There is an interesting story where the moon god laughs on seeing Ganesha with a huge stomach. As per the mythology, one needs to hear this story of Moon laughing at ganesha, on Ganesh Chathurthi to avoid running into a misfortune. The story can be viewed at http://indianmythology.com/finish/seestory.php?storyID=25 .

Race around the World

Lord Ganesha is also known as Vigneswara (the god who removes all obstacles). The story behind this is about a race between Ganesha and his brother Kartikeya. The one who wins this race was to be declared as Vigneswara – one who destroys all the problems and the one who is to be prayed before starting any deed. More details of the story can be viewed at http://indianmythology.com/finish/seestory.php?storyID=26  

                 After the puja, the statue of Ganesh is immersed in a water body like a lake. A popular belief is that this immersion of Lord Ganesh in water is done as a symbol of sending him to his parents Shiva and Parvati.  Yet another belief talks of the “anant” (neverending) promise of praying to Ganesh year after year.

Krishna Janmashtami

Janmashtami Krishna Janmashtami is a festival celebrating the birth of Lord Sri Krishna. It is celebrated on the eighth day, Astami thithi of the dark half of the Krishna paksha in the month of Bhadrapadam. Bhadrapadam is a month in the Hindu calendar.

Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated in different names like Janmashtami, Krishnastami, Gokulastami, Krishna Jayanthi. Krishna is one of the most glamorous avatars of Vishn, who appeared in the dwapara yugam. Krishna was a charismatic personality and was a darling child of Brundavan Janmasthami’s main celebration is at Mathura, which is the birth place of Lord Krishna.

The actual place of birth of Krishna is now converted into a temple called “Krishna Jama Bhoomi Mandir”. On this day of festival , ladies of the house get up early morning and draw little child footprints from the doorstep to the interior of the house symbolizing Krishnas entrance into the house. These footprints are drawn using the paste prepared by soaking rice grains and grinding it. A cloth is dipped into this paste and the patterns are made. Ladies are on fast on this day and do the puja celebrating Lord Krishna’s birth making many dishes welcoming Lord Krishna who liked variety of foods especially sweets and milk foods.

In the southern part of India, ladies put an idol of Krishna in an artistic cradle and sing songs at midnight of Krishnastami. After this ladies break their fast. In some parts of India like Maharashtra, a popular ritual is Dahi Handi. Dahi Handi is celebrated with lots of zeal and vigor.

On this day, Handis ( that is the clay pots filled with buttermilk and hung at a reachable height). The girls challenge boys to form human pyramids by standing on top of each other, and the group which breaks the Handi with a stick forcefully first wins.

 

 Check out the story of Krishna at http://www.indianmythology.com

Legends related to Rakhi Festival

The festival Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on Shravana Pournima that is the full moon day of the month of Shravana. Sisters tie Rakhis (a symbolic holy ornamental rope)  that is Raksha Bandhans to brothers on this day wishing for the safety and success of their brothers’s  lives. Brothers in return bless their sisters with all possible good wishes and happy life by giving them a gift as a token of love and affection.

                    In Indian mythology there are many contexts where this festival is mentioned. One of the prominent contexts is about Lord Indra’s (king of Gods) success over the rakshasas. There was a war between rakshasas and Gods and it so happened that the rakshasas were about to win. Indra’s wife Indrani tied a Rakhi to Indra wishing him success over the rakshasass. With the power of the good wishes with which Rakhi was tied, Gods could win the battle.  

The other story is about King Bali and Indra. King Bali was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. Feeling insecure of his throne Indra worshipped Lord Vishnu and got the promise from Lord Vishnu for Indras prayers.  Later Vishnu gave Bali immortality and promised that he would protect his Kingdom. Owing to his promise, Lord Vishnu left for Bali’s kingdom.

          Lordess Lakshmi, wife of Vishnu, went to Bali’s kingdom as a poor Brahmin lady. And on the day of Shravana pournima that is the day when Rakhi is celebrated, she tied Rakhi to king Bali and inturn took a blessing from him for the return of her husband Vishnu.

      There are many such contexts in Indian Mythology where sisters tying Rakhis to brothers have helped the brothers acheive victory. Wish all the sisters and brothers a happy Rakhi.

The story of the root cause of Grahanas (Solar Eclipse of 22nd July)

There was an eclipse on 22nd July 23, 2009. Exploring the Indian Mythological roots of eclipses, the story goes as given below.
In Indian Mythology there is a myth behind the formation of the eclipses. It was decided by Devatas (gods) and Asuras (demons) to extract amruta (the eternity granting nectar) by churning the ocean.
During the churning of the ocean, many items that came out including poison, kamadhenu (the unlimited food provider) etc. At the end, after the amruta was extracted by churning the ocean, devatas and asuras quarreled for it. Lord Vishnu then took the avatar of Madhumathi and asks asuras to sit on one side and the asuras on the othe other side. Enticed by the beauty of Madhumathi (Lord Vishnu’s avatar) they accept it and do so. But an asura smelled the trick and disguised himself as God and sat between Surya Devata (the Sun God) and the Chandra Devata (the moon). Madhumathi starts distributing the amruta to the devatas and the asura from her Kamandalam (a pot with a spout used to serve liquids). In the process she serves amruta to the asura also disguised in the form of a devata.
Only when Moon god and Sun god signaled, Vishnu realized that it is an asura but by that time the amruta had been swallowed by the asura. The asura runs away frightened, but Lord Vishnu follows him and uses Vishnu chakra to cut the head of the asura from the body. But because the asura had already swallowed the amruta, he does not die. The head part of the asura is called as Rahu and the body is called as Ketu. However, Vishnu curses Rahu and Ketu to be two planets along with the seven other planets already present. As per astrology these planets symbol inauspicious time for living beings. And it is also said that because of the anger at Sun and Moon gods, Rahu and Ketu swallow/eat parts and whole of Sun and Moon, causing the eclipses. These days when Rahu/Ketu eat Sun or Moon periodically partially/fully manifest as eclipses.

Celebrating Ramanavami, the birth of Rama

Today is Ramanavami, the auspicious occasion of the birth of Lord Ram, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and considered the most ideal and respected incarnation.

 

 It is essentially the story of an ideal king, son, father and man, RAMA. As an ideal son, he agrees to abide by wishes of his father King Dasaratha to spend 14 years in forest, along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman. During the course of his stay in forest, the demon Ravana abducts his wife Sita. Ram then sets out in search of his wife. During this he makes friends with king of monkeys Sugreeva, and his devotee Hanuman. In the end he wages a war with Ravana and rescues Sita to return to Ayodhya and rule it as an ideal king for 1000 s of years

 

Check out http://www.indianmythology.com/stories.htm for details of the story of incarnation of Rama.