THE STORY OF BRAHMIN SHATANAND IN SATYANARAYAN KATHA.

We already know that this katha was narrated by Vishnu ji to Narad Muni. So once a Brahmin named Shatanand, who lived in Kashi, went out to gather Bhiksha for his son Kaltraadi. Shatanand was an ardent devotee of Vishnu ji.

HOW TO DIMINISH THE ILL EFFECTS OF SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS OF SHANI IN YOUR HOROSCOPE / शनि देव की साढ़े साती का निवारण

The son of Raja Ajj was Dashrath ji from Raghukul. He was very friendly with Indradev. It was their routine to play together in the evenings at Alkapuri.

Indradev was informed that Shani or Shanaischar dev was going to pierce the Rohini Nakshatra. This was a great cause of worry for Indra.
He related this worry to Dashrath and elaborated that this deed will see the end of mankind if Shani dev is successful in his misdeed.

This would stop the rain. If there will be no rain there would be famine everywhere. People will die of hunger and thirst.

Dashrath ji immediately sprung into action. He attacked Shani dev. When Shani dev tried to dissuade Dashrath from war,

Dashrath took out his divine weapon to strike with warning Shani of its consequences of his actions.

Shani dev replied that he was satisfied with the courage of Dashrath ji who faced him otherwise people generally ran away from him knowing that if Shani glanced at them directly,

they would burn to ashes(Due to the curse given by her Wife as per Ganesh puran). He asked Dashrath to ask for a boon.

Dashrath said that on your particular day if people apply oil on his body, they would be protected till next day.

IMPORTANCE OF SATYA NARAYAN KATHA AND ITS ORIGIN.

We all have heard and read the Satyanarayan katha. But none of us dont know the original stories that Shatanand or Sadhu or Kalavati must have heard. Also, as a habit we hear or read this katha

but dont know the proper way it should be conducted.

We find its mention in Skanda puraan(Reva khand) and Bhavishya Puraan(Pratisarg parva).
Both Bhagwatam and Gita call Bhagwan Narayan as Satv or Truth. So Satyanarayan denotes this name as the one which is Truth incarnate.

The story began in Naimisharanya when Vyasji asked Sutji about a way to eliminate all the sorrows and fulfill all the desires and about who is the devta who can grant these at the same time.

So Suutji first prayed to Bhagwan Satyanarayan who is no one else but Vishnu ji.

Then he remembered all his avatars.After that he narrated the story of Narad. Once while visiting Mrityulok, Naradji was pained to see the sufferings of People around. He was deeply moved by these sufferings and wanted to know the means by which we could rid ourselves from these.

So he went to Vishnu ji and after paying his respects stood in front of him. Naradji narrated the purpose of his visit.

So Bhagwan Vishnu said to him that in Satyug and Tretayug, Bhagwan eliminates sorrow in Vishnuswarup. In Dwapar he assumes different forms to help people.

SHRI GOSWAMI TULSIDAS

It is believed that whenever society is oppressed, depressed and feels helpless, it calls out for help from Parmatma. The cries and pleas, when mixed with true devotion and true feelings are always answered by Parmatma.

Either he comes as avtaar or he sends his Representative to heal the society.

So when Goswami ji appeared the society was facing the same type of crisis. He brought about a calmness through his healing touch expressed through his writings which oozed positivity.

He presented Ishwar as saviour who always stood for his bhakts. His language of writing was the then used dialect understood by all. Anyone could read and find answers and solace in it. Other poets were busy pleasing the wily rulers.

Tulsidas is believed to be avtaar of Valmiki.

He was born in Vikram samvat 1554 in Banda district in a village called Rajapur to Atma ram Dubey and Hulsi. He was born with all his teeth intact and did not cry at birth. He was named Tularam.

Goswami ji himself mentioned his date of birth.

पंद्रह से चौवन बिषै, कालिंदी के तीर।
स्त्रावन शुक्ला सप्तमी, तुलसी धरेउ सरीर।।

He was married to Budhimati in Vikram samvat 1583. He was very attached to his wife.

#THREAD
1.JALAKANDESWARAR TEMPLE,Vellore,#TamilNadu It's dedicated to God SHIVA is located inside the Vellore Fort. The temple is named Jalakandeswarar,as it is located at a lower height than the temple moat.The construction of the temple began in the year 1274 CE @LostTemple7

2.its construction continued for 50 years.The temple has two courtyards and has a main shrine with a closed path around it and a number of sub-shrines. Inside the Garbha griha, main deity Jalakandeswarar is seen in the form of Shivalinga. @ReclaimTemples

3.Goddess Sri Akilandeswari Amman is seen in separate sanctum in the inner enclosure of the temple. To the outer walls of Amman sanctum one can get the darshan of Vinayaka, Madeswari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Lakshmi & Saraswathi.

4.There is also a Nandi statue in front, facing Sri Jalakandeswarar sanctum.According to puranas, Athri muni installed a Shiva Lingam in this place and worshiped. After he left, without proper maintenance the Shiva Lingam in the temple was covered by an ant-hill.

5. Rain waters in the lower levels of the ant-hill made a tank there. God Shiva appeared in the dream of a chieftain Bommi Reddy who was ruling the region and asked him to build a temple there.

The revelation of the mystery: BODY OF CHRIST

Ephesians 3:6 KJV
That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Gentiles have become heirs of God and ALL MEMBERS of the same body (Rom 8:17). Just like...

a human body is formed by God, each believer is 'put into' (baptized) Christ's body by one Spirit (Holy Spirit).
1 Corinthians 12:12-13 KJV

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ...

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

And this body is a NEW MAN, made up of Jews and Gentiles, reconciled to peace by the cross...

Ephesians 2:15-16 KJV
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; [16] And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross...

having slain the enmity thereby:

..of which Christ Jesus is the HEAD, and this body declared to be the CHURCH

Ephesians 1:22-23 KJV
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, [23] Which is his body,...

Whenever we discuss about Mahabharata, we discuss same characters again & again. I thought we should discuss about lesser known but significant characters.

My #thread on Shalya, he was Charioteer of Karna & how he played an important role in the duel between Arjun & Karna. 👇🏼

Shalya was King of province called Madra. He was also known as Madra Naresh and he was the brother of Queen Madri, 2nd wife of King Pandu & Maternal Uncle of Nakul & Sahdev.

Pandavas called him Mama. Mama Shalya had pledged his supports to Pandavas, but then comes a twist.

Pandavas had gathered 7 Akshauhini Sena, while Kauravas had 9 Akshauhini Sena

According to epic Mahabarta, one Akshauhini contains four different types of armed forces
 21,870 chariots
 21,870 elephants
 65,616 horses
 109350 infantry

Pandavas knew Shalya has 2 Akshauhini Sena

With Mama Shalya joining Pandavas, things would have been squared at 9 Akshauhini Sena each. But Shakuni tricked him.

While Shalya was travelling towards Kurukshetra, Shakuni arranged excellent hospitality for him along the road for him & his Sena. Shalya was highly impressed.

Shalya was under the impression that this has been arranged by Yudhistir. After Madri went Sati, Nakul & Sahdev lived with Kunti instead of living with their uncle. Hence Shalya barely got chance to meet his nephews

He met Duryodhana on his arrival & he thought it was Yudhistir