Guru as Trinity - #Thread

This sloka is taught to all of us in early childhood. This is very popular sloka. This sloka can be recited in front of any Guru. The widely prevalent meaning of this sloka is to
worship Guru as the form of Trinity & hence Parabrahma.

The distinction of measuring the time in a scientific manner is achieved only by Bhāratīyas. Time has been measured from the smallest dimension to infiniteness. Even Time is envisioned as God and venerated. Paramēśvara was extolled as ‘Mahākāla’, the very embodiment of Time.

Nārāyaṇa Upaniṣad envisages Nārāyaṇa as ‘Kālaśca Nārāyaṇa:’, the very embodiment of Time, ages ago. The measurement of Time by Bhāratīyas is as ancient as the very God Himself. Count of many future ages has also been done even from very ancient times.

Since these calculations aren't dependent upon the birth & death of any individual, but are done based on astronomical science, they are thoroughly scientific. Unfortunately, during the British rule, the Bhāratīya way of Time measurement was casted as an illusion...

...with an evil intention to establish their command. Though it is 70+ years since independence, blindly time is still measured as BC & AD or CE in this religion-less land without even making any attempt to comprehend the magnanimity of Bhāratīya Time measurement methods.

Time measurement based on inhalation and exhalation : (image)

śambhōrmurtiścarati bhuvanē. #Thread

Maharshi Veda Vyasa’s compassionate contribution towards the upliftment of humanity is incredible. As time is the biggest devourer of everything, few centuries after His advent, around 72 different Anti-Vedic schools appeared on the horizon.

Vedas r thoroughly misinterpreted suiting one’s convenience & such propaganda reached its pinnacle. It’s like the gigantic tree of Sanatana Dharma is encircled in poisonous creepers producing poisonous fruits & covered by thorny bushes, which though r attributed 2 d tree itself.

Chaos prevailed all over. In such dangerous situation, Sanatana Dharma needed one who has clarity in direction, command in Vedas, conviction in Dharma, control over senses, capacity to organize, and courage to establish truth. All the gods decided to seek the help of Lord Siva..

They all went to Lord Dakshinamurti & said "Till now, You have been catering towards the intellectual community, which is not sufficient. Of course, to come down to earth, You have to hide two hands and third eye." Lord Dakshinamurti adhered to the request of gods.

He hid His two upper hands and left the bottom two hands that contain the book and chinmudra i.e. the symbol of Self-knowledge. He sent His third eye backward. Thus, Lord Dakshinamurti came down to earth as Sankara Bhagavatpada. Sage Vidyaranya described this as below.

Agree or Disagree - This Country is Hindu Country

During an informal discussion some time back in St. Louis USA, a researcher of medical sciences said, ‘After attaining independence, couple of leaders left Hindus without their own country’.

Though he is settled in USA for around 50 years, he is great person still intact with roots of Bhaarata.

This statement is thought provoking. Except those having hatred towards Hinduism, every individual endowed with positive vision, accepts this truth.

Before obtaining independence, every struggle for the freedom of this country was identified with the word ‘Hindu’

All the people in this country were declared as Hindus. Even to this day, some remember the slogan ‘Hindustan Hamara’ i.e. Hindustan belongs to all of us.

Many are aware that ‘Hindu’ word originated from the word ‘Sindhu’. Right from Ganga to Kaveri, all the rivers in this country are called ‘Sindhu’. Truly the Vedas that elucidated the ‘Sapta Sindhus’ have their origin in Bhaarata.

Having flourished on the banks of Sindhus, Bhaarata is rightly called ‘Hindu Country’. Another name for this country is ‘Bhaarata’. These two names are but for natural for this country.

But, foreigners mentioned it as India. Some prominent leaders of the day confirmed the same.

significance & worship to be performed on a rare combination occurring Jan 12th

In the culture of Bhāratadēśa, ‘Time’ has great significance. Tithis, days of the week, stars – everything has its own distinction. All the beings are bound by time and time is in the control of God.

With compassion, the Supreme God graced that one performing worship in some special stipulated times acquires special merits. This is true in case of every deity. Worship of a particular deity on a particular tithi bestows the grace of that particular deity quickly and certainly.

Among those, Kr̥ṣṇāṁgāraka Caturdaśi is imp. The combination of Tuesday & Caturdaśi in the dark fortnight is a great occasion.

विरिन्चिशक्रविष्णूनां मनुष्याणां तु का कथा ।
तेन त्वं सर्वसत्त्वेन ग्रहराजो महाबलः॥

Not only present as one among the nine planets, Aṅgāraka..

Aṅgāraka (Mars) planet is the king of all the planets. The reason for this is mentioned below that Aṅgāraka is the son of Śiva.

पुरा तपस्यतः शम्भोर्दाक्षायण्या वियोगतः ।
भालस्थलात्पपातैकः स्वेदबिन्दुर्महीतले ॥

ततः कुमारः सम्जज्ञे लोहिताङ्गो महीतलात् ।
स्नेहसम्बन्धिनः सोఽथ धात्र्या धात्रीस्वरूपया ॥
माहेय इत्यतः ख्यातिं परामेष गतः सदा ।

Skānda Purāṇa mentions that a waterdrop fell on the earth from Paramēśwara deeply immersed in tapas from which came a red-complexioned boy.

Ratha Saptami, Surya Jayanti - Importance - #Thread

The seventh day of the lunar calendar in the bright half of ‘Magha’ month is called ‘Ratha Saptami’. Worship of Sun on this day grants immense merits equal to the worship of Sun for one complete year.

On this day at the time of brahmi muhurta, all the stars will be in the shape of chariot. Worship of Aditya, the embodiment of all gods, on this day grants brilliance, abundance, health etc. Giving ‘Arghya’ to Sun in copper pot, worshipping with red sandalwood and red flowers..

..should be done and milk pudding cooked using cow dung cakes as fuel should be offered in leaves of green bean tree. Offering of pumpkin is very meritorious, as this time is equivalent to the time when the eclipse of sun is happening.

Goddess presiding the Saptami Tithi is propitiated with the following sloka.

जननि सर्व लोकानां सप्तमी सप्त सप्तिकौ
सप्त व्याहृति के देवि नमस्ते सूर्य मण्डले॥

Those who want to have health, knowledge, wealth & good life should worship Sun irrespective of caste, creed, & gender.

"सूर्यग्रहण तुल्या तु शुक्ला माघस्य सप्तमी".

As this time is equivalent to the time when the eclipse of sun is happening, it is very auspicious for bathing, charity and Japa. Offering of pumpkin is very meritorious on this day.

#DoYouKnow -The place where
Lalitha Sahasranamam -1000 names of Devi originated.

It is in Lalithambigai temple -Thirumeeyachur,Near Mayiladuthurai,TN

There is a Legend #story & it is related to this beautiful #sculpture of Kshetrapuraneswarar & Ambal Lalithambigai #Thread 👇

#Legend #story
It is believed that this is birth place of Kashyapa Maharishi’s sons, Arunan& Garudan. Arunan(charioteer of Surya)was physically handicapped.He was a Shiva devotee.Arunan wanted to visit Kailash to have Shiva Darshan,but Surya Dev denied permission.

So Arunan disguised as a girl & was on his way to Kailash.On the way Surya Dev saw this girl & outraged her modesty.Shiva was very angry with Suryan for misbehaviour & cursed him to get darkened. Whole world plunged into darkness.Surya Dev pleaded to Bhagwan Shiv to forgive him.

Shiva Bhagwan asked him to go to Thirumiyachur & worship him there. As advised, Surya Dev performed rigorous penance, placed murthi of Shiva& Parvathy on an elephant & took them to the clouds.Shiva in this temple is known as Meganathaswamy,Devi is known as Lalithambigai

Even after severe penance,Shiva does appear,so Surya Dev cries out in agony.Disturbed by his call, Parvathy protests.Siva pacifies her & offers relief to Surya Dev.The sculpture of Shiva pacifying Ambal shows her sullen from one angle &smiling from another.

Muslim thought in India can be thought of as having two lineages

1. Islamic puritanism

Lineage : Sirhindi -> Shāh Walīullāh ->Syed Ahmad Barelvi, Deobandi movement, Maulana Azad -> Jamaat e Islami

2. Muslim nationalism

Syed Ahmed Khan ->Jinnah, Iqbal - > Ayub Khan/Musharraf

The former originated largely as a religious movement.

It has its origins in Sirhindi, who voiced the view in 16th cen, that Akbar's policy was "Indianizing" Islam too much

Too much of Din-e-ilahi crap.

Let's keep Islam pure

That lineage continues in the thinking of 18th cen theologian Shah Waliullah , the Delhi based Islamic scholar who lived b/w 1703 and 1762

Waliullah like Sirhindi emphasized segregation/purity
and loyalty to the Ummah (the global Islamic whole)

Not to South Asian muslims per se

Waliullah once said

"Muslims, no matter where they live, they should be completely separated from the natives of that country in their culture, traditions and mannerisms. And wherever they are, they must be immersed in their Arabic splendor and Arabic trends”

This line of thinking continues in two 19th cen movements-

That of Syed Barelvi - who fought valiantly against Sikh rule in Punjab at Balakot

And that of the Deobandis in late 19th cen

STORY OF PURANAS AND SUB PURANA (उप पुराण).

We have already gone through the series on importance & characteristics of all the eighteen Purans. We also know that originally there were hundred crore shlokas but were divided by Vyas in each Kalp and was compiled as eighteen Purans

for the common people to understand it properly and now their total is about four lakhs.

In Brahm Puran, Brahma preached this to Marichi. So this Puran of ten thousand shlokas is called Brahm Puran.

In Padma Puran, the base of the story is the appearance of Brahma on a lotus(Padm) from Vishnu' s navel.This has fifty five thousand shlokas.

Vishnu Puran is primarily based in Varah kalp. This book is on Vishnu and this book has twenty three thousand shlokas.

Vaayu Puran is written in Shwet Kalp and has twenty four thousand shlokas. Here Vayudev preaches about Dharma.

In Bhagwat Puran, which is written with the base of Gayatri mantra describes Dharma extensively. It has 18000 shlokas. It also mentions the story of Vritrasur.

In Narad Puran, which has twenty five thousand shlokas, is a sermon on Dharma by Narad based in Brihad Kalp.

Markandeya Puran has nine thousand shlokas and here it is through the birds that Dharma is described.

'Tera mera rishta kya, hindu, hindu,hindutva' is a clear take on 'tera mera rishta kya,la ilaha illallah'. As much as Hindutva hates the monotheistic religions especially Islam, there's a strange wistfulness and subliminal need at display now, to BE that they hate. 1

Charlie Hebdo doesn’t come up as a cautionary tale now but rather 'why cant we be like that'?
Growing up, Hanuman was an adorable deity for us, who swallowed the sun, or who couldn’t figure out what was Sanjeevani booti so he picked up a whole mountain and came back with it. 2

Or he was loyal, admirable and when he cleaved his chest, you saw both Ram and Sita. Now we have a lot of “Angry Hanuman” stickers. Why is a cute childlike God angry? We don’t know. It's a convenient blank space where to paint all the angst of Hindu Khatre mein hain narrative. 3

The other strange thing that has started happening is pictures of Ram appearing sans Sita. “Jai Siya Ram” has become “Jai Shri Ram”. Some people disingenuously explain it as being the same thing - because Shri is a name of Lakshmi. Not really. Siya is an apbhransh of Sita. 4

Shri is a prefix of respect in this case. Hinduism is being militarised. A woman/Sita has no place in it. Even the militaristic Goddess that is Durga has no place in this conception of neo-Hindu divinity, as evidenced by Dilip Mandal wondering where Durga came from. 5

Hinduism is a minority religion in Punjab.

During the Khalistan movement, the minority Hindus and Jains were subjected to several attacks. Hindu and Jain temples were frequently vandalized and desecrated. This thread documents a few instances.

Thread

Durgiana Mandir is one of the oldest temples of Amritsar. According to the regional Hindu tradition, the temple was built on the spot where Lava and Kusha bound Hanuman. The temple annually attracts millions of Hindus from all over the country.

Amristsar has a very ancient Hindu history.

According to the regional Hindu tradition recorded in the "Survey of Amritsar", Amritsar got its name from Amrit immersed by Lava and Kusha in a pond.

Durgiana Mandir was rebuilt in 1921.

It was used to house the Murtis of Vishnu and Durga which were thrown out from the Parikrama of Harmandir Sahib in 1905.

Because of its presence in Amritsar, it became a frequent target of radicals during the Khalistan movement.

In 1982, in what was a completely unprovoked attack, the Dal Khalsa "activists" threw a severed cow head inside Durgiana temple.