Prachin - The Ancient

Manvantaras

2009-08-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

Manu is the first man or the progenitor of the living beings. The descendants of Manu are known as the Maanavas.

The ruling period of one Manu is known as 'Manvantara'

The four yugas that come in cyclic order are called the 'Chaturyugas'.

71 consecutive Chaturyugas make 1 Manvantara

14 Manvantaras equals 1 daytime of Brahma, called Kalpa.

Another 14 manvantaras equals 1 night time or Pralaya of Brahma.

After Pralaya, when Brahma wakes up, it is yet another Kalpa.

Manvantara has great importance since each Manvantara has a different Indra (King of Gods). The Gods achieve their Godly status through their good Karma. Once their Karma is used up, they reincarnate somewhere to earn their Karma. So even the Gods do not retain their status for ever.

The current manvantara is the 7th manvanthara. Name of the Manu is Vaivasvata Manu, who is the son of Surya (Sun God ) and his wife Sapjna. Yama (God of Death) and Yamuna (the River) are his siblings.

The Sapta Rishis in each manvantara are also different. The Vaivasvata manvantara has Atri, Vashista, Kashyapa, Viswamitra,Gautama, Jamadagni, and Bharadwaj as the Sapta Rishis.

Time line on which Indian mythology is based

2009-04-21T00:38:00.000-07:00

The Trimurthys of Indian mythology are

Brahma - the creator

Vishnu - the sustainor

Shiva - the destroyer

Each work day of the creator Brahma is known as a 'Kalpa'. The dissolution or the corresponding night is called the 'Pralaya'.

In human years, 1 kalpa +1 pralaya = 4,320 million years !

There are 4 types of yugas (ages)- Krita yuga, Treta yuga, Dwapara yuga and Kali yuga

Currently, we are supposed to be in the kali yuga.

A kalpa equals 1000 cycles of the 4 yugas.

Each cycle of 4 yugas combined are completed in 4,320,000 human years.

Sons of Draupadi - Upa Pandavas

2009-03-02T04:44:00.000-08:00

Draupadi was born as the daughter of King Drupada. She and her brother Drishtadyumna were a result of the yagna performed by the King to take revenge on the sage Drona.

Draupadi was won in a Swayamvara (a contest where the suitors showed their prowess and won the hand of a princess) by the Pandava Arjuna. But then, was married to all five of the Pandavas due to a thoughtless remark by Kunti (the mother of the Pandavas). This instance is also said to be pre-ordained.

Other sons of the pandavas, like Gatothkacha(Son of Bheema and Hidumbi), Abhimanyu (Son of Arjuna and Subhadra), Iravan (son of Arjuna and Uloopi) are mentioned at length for their heroics in the Kuruksherta war. Not much is mentioned but that Draupadi had five sons and they were killed while they were asleep, by Aswathama - the son of Sage Drona. The names of the five sons of Draupadi were thus - Prathivindya, Srutasoma, Sruthakeerthi, Sataaneekaa,Sruthasena

Always, throughout the Hindu mythology, whatever seems senseless to us mere mortals, seem to have a different objective. And the root of this death is traced to the time of Raja Harischandra of Kosala.

The sage Viswamitra decided to test if king Harischandra really deserved his reputation as a most truthful king. He managed to trick the king into giving up his Kingdom and everything in it, including his clothes and ornaments and forced the king to leave, along with his Queen and son. the sage actually beat the queen to push them out of the kingdom. The five guardian deities of the kingdom were enraged by this and condemned the Sage. The sage became enraged and cursed them to be born as mortals. Once they begged Viswamitra's pardon, the sage revised his curse, saying that though they would be re-born as mortals, they would get their moksha before forming any attachments that would reduce their status and sanctity as guardian deities.

And hence, the guardians were born as the sons of Draupadi, who were killed before they were old enough to earn a name or marry and have any progeny of their own. Their souls attained relief from Sage Viswamitra's curse, while their murderer Aswathama - not content with having killed the five Upa-Pandavas as they were known, decided to summon the Brahmastra and tried to kill the son of Abhimanyu in Uttara's womb. The baby was saved by Lord Krishna and He cursed Aswathama to always roam the lands without attaining moksha.

DASHA AVATAR - Ten Incarnations of Lord Vishnu

2009-02-26T02:52:00.000-08:00

Lord Vishnu is the sustainer of the 'Thrimurthy'. And so to sustain peace and well-being,and to restore Dharma,He incarnates on earth in various forms and does the needful. To quote one of the most popular lines of the Bhagavad Gita...

Yada yada hi dharmasya

Glanir - bhavathi bharata

Abhyudhanam adharmasya

Tadathmaanam srijaamyaham

Parithraanaya cha saadhunam, vinaashaya cha dushkrithaam

Dharma samsthaapanaarthaaya sambhavaami yuge yugey...

The First Avatar - Matsya (Fish form)

Object of incarnation - To destroy the horse-headed asura (demon) called Hayagriva,and restore the sacred Vedas he stole from Brahma. Also guided the vessel filled with his devotee Satyavrata and other beings to safety as the Pralaya (tsunami)to signify the end of that Kalpa (a measure of time) ravaged Earth.

The Second Avatar - Kurma (Tortoise )

Object of Incarnation - To keep mount Mandhara from sinking into the Paalazhi (Ocean of milk), while the devas and asuras used the mountain as the churn and vasuki the serpent as rope. This was done to help the Devas (gods)regain their immortality by drinking Amrit (nectar) that could be churned up from the ocean. Vishnu also appeared as 'Mohini' to make sure that the evil Asuras would not get their share of Amrit.

The Third Avatar - Varaha (Wild Boar)

Object of Incarnation - During the Pralaya at the end of the Kalpa, Bhoomi Devi (mother earth) sank to the ocean bed. Lord Vishnu her back up,balanced on his snout. Also killed the Asura Hiranyaksha.

The Fourth Avatar - Nara-Simha (Half man-half lion)

Object of Incarnation- To destroy Hiranyakashapu,brother of Hiranyaksha who terrorises earth and heaven after getting a boon from Brahma that death would not come to him in the form of Man or beast, day or night, indoors nor outdoors, on earth or in the sky. And so Vishnu appears as Narasimha neither man nor beast. At the twilight hour (neither day nor night). He drags Hiranyakashapu to the threshold (neither indoors nor outdoors) . And kills the asura by laying him on His thighs (neither on earth nor in the sky)!

The Fifth Avatar - Vaamana (Brahmin boy)

Object of Incarnation - To prevent the righteous King Mahabali (King of Asuras) from taking over the heavens. He was performing the Viswajit sacrifice with that aim, guided by Sukracharya. The small brahmin goes to Bali and demands a strip of land three paces long, measure by his own feet. As soon as Mahabali gives his consent the boy starts growing till his first stride measure the whole of the earth, and the second the Heavens. And being a man of his word, Bali asks Vishnu to measure his third stride on his head, which he does and pushes Bali to the nether-worlds. Vishnu is so pleased by the Asura's righteousness, that he lets Mahabali come to earth every once a year to visit his people. (Aithihya says that his annual visit is the festival celebrated as ONAM by the malayalees)

The Sixth Avatar - Parasurama (the Ascetic warrior)

Object of Incarnation - To destroy all the evil Kshatriyas like Arjuna of the Haihayas. Vishnu was born as Rama son of the ascetic Jamadagni and his wife Renuka. Though the son of a sage he was an expert with weapons, his favourite being the Axe (Parashu). King Arjuna steals Kamadhenu from Rama's ashram in his absence and he kills Arjuna. But in turn Arjuna's son wrecks havock and kills Jamadagni. In his rage , Parashurama vows to wipe out the ksatriyas 21 times (the same number his mother beat her breast and lamented). King Dasharatha (father of the next avatar Rama) hides in the ladies' quarters in disguise and thus escapes.

The Seventh Avatar - Rama (the Kshatriya)

Described in the Epic called 'Ramaayana'

Object of Incarnation - To put an end to the asura king Ravana and his atrocities. It is said that an amsha (part)of Vishnu was manifest in all the four sons of Dasharatha. But it is also said that his favourite brother Lakshmana was the incarnation of the serpent Ananda (on whom Lord Vishnu lay). Sita is said to be the incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. Also there is a part in Ramayana where Parashurama (The sixth)and Rama confront each other.

The Eighth Avatar - Krishna (the Yadava)

Described in the Epic called 'Mahabharata' of which Bhagavad Gita is a great part.

Object of Incarnation - To wipe out evil kings like Kamsa, Shishupala, Jarasandha and the whole Yadava race. The most powerful of all the incarnations.Born as the eight son of King Vasudeva and Devaki. Also his Gitopadesha to Arjuna during the Kurukshethra war (Bhagavad Gita) helps people understand the purpose of being and how to make the journey, whose ultimate goal is One-ness with Him.

The Ninth Avatar - Buddha (the Enlightened one)

Object of Incarnation - To spread peace and enligtenment among the folk, who lost their way to the Supreme. Prince Siddhartha of Kapilavastu, was born in the Lumbini Gardens under a Sal tree. He was upset by the truth of illnesses, old age and death that had been kept from him by his parents. Siddhartha was greatly influence when he saw a peaceful and calm ascetic between all the sufferings of the others. He renounced his life at the palace and started his quest for truth. He found it under a Bodhi tree and hence came to be known as Bodhisatva or Buddha. His first sermon was held at the Deer park at Sarnath near Varanasi. His teachings influenced so many people and filled them with such calm and peace that a separate religion known as Buddhism was founded on his teachings.

This essentially makes a person dwell upon the truth that no matter what path we take, the final goal is to be One with Him.

The Tenth Avatar - Kalki (the Exterminator)

Object of Incarnation - To wipe out the robbers, murderers and corrupt forces by the millions when the Kali yuga reaches it's nadir.To reinforce the Moral sense and humanitarian views in the good people.

Arujan's Wives - answer to the quiz

2009-01-14T03:51:00.000-08:00

Arjuna had three wives besides Draupadi.

1) Chitrangada - the princess of Manipur. Their son was named Babruvahana.

2) Uloopi - a Naga (serpent) princess. Her son with Arjuna was called Iravan. She also had a big role to play in the up-bringing of Babruvahana.

3) Subhadra - the sister of Krishna - Abhimanyu was born of this union.

Shown above is the painting of Arjuna and Subhadra by Raja Ravi Varma. Arjuna was disguised as an ascetic when they met.

A QUIZ.......

2009-01-06T20:17:00.000-08:00

How many wives did Arjuna have besides Draupadi?

Name them if you can....

Answer will be posted soon.........

Ancestors of Rama

2008-11-30T04:05:00.000-08:00

Rama descents from a long line of illustrious men, like King Dilipa of the Ikshvaku dynasty. Then came Dilipa's son Raghu, who achieved such fame that from his time onwards, his dynasty came to be known as 'Raghuvamsham'.

Raghu' son Aja sired Rama's father Dasharatha.

A Makeover

2008-11-28T19:37:00.000-08:00

I have umpteen number of prayers yet to post, but I thought that with that it would be great to post a few myths and puraanas that I have managed to collect too. I aim to make this blog slightly more interesting.

Tulasi

2008-07-03T21:24:00.000-07:00

The Tulasi or the Holy Basil has a lot of significance in the Hindu prayer or Puja. In most Hindu homes, it is usual to see a Thulasi thara or a platform on which the Holy basil is planted.

The most auspicious direction is where there is direct sunlight and that should be seen from the main door of the house(which should face east).

The platform or Thualsi thara should always be higher than the floor of the house.There should always be more than one plant in the thulasi thara.Krishna thulasi is the best one for this purpose. It needs to be water daily, weeded and kept free of insects, dead leaves etc.

It also has medicinal properties that cures fever, cough, stomach ailments,diarrhoea, headaches, insect bites, mouth ulcers etc.

In the evenings , while one lights the Sandhya deepam, it is usual to keep a light at the Tulasi thara. Take three pradakshinas around the thulasi thara and chant this mantra...

Praseeda thulasi devi
Praseeda hari-vallabhe
Ksheeroda-madanodbudhe
Thulasi thwaam namaamyaham

When one plucks the thulasi flowers, chant

Thulasi amritha sambhootha
sadaa thwam keshava priye
Keshavaartham lunaami thwaam
Varadaa bhava shobhane.

The thulasi thara should be kept with as much piety and respect given to the Puja room . The thulasi leaves or flowers hsould not be plucked during the twilight time, ekadashi days, tuesdays or fridays.

Naarayanam Bhaje...

2008-06-22T22:43:00.000-07:00

Naarayanam bhaje naarayanam - Lakshmi
Naarayanam bhaje naarayanam

Vrindaavanasthitham naarayanam - deva
Vrindairabhishtutham naarayanam

Dinakara madhyagam naarayanam - bhaktha
Kanakaambaradharam naarayanam

Pankaja lochanam naarayanam - bhaktha
Sankada mochanam naarayanam

Karunaapayo nidhim naarayanam - bhavya
Sharanaa gatha nidhim naarayanam

Rakshitha jagathrayam naarayanam - chakra
Shikshitha surachayam naarayanam

Ajnaana nashakam naarayanam - shudha
Vijnaana bhaasakam naarayanam

Shrivatsa bhushanam naarayanam - nanda
Govatsa poshanam naarayanam

Shringaara naayakam naarayanam - pada
Gangaa vidhaayakam naarayanam

Sreekandha sevitham naarayanam - nithya
vaikuntha vaasinam naarayanam

Naarayanam bhaje naarayanam - lakshmi
Naarayanam bhaje naarayanam.......

The meaning for the Prayer before sleeping

2008-06-20T05:24:00.001-07:00

This was requested to me by Jhanvi

My mom and grandmom used to insist that we pray before going to bed. This was not just a way to thank God and think about Him, but also to make sure that we did not have nightmares, or worries AND to ensure that we got up to see a new dawn!!!!

I don't specifically use this prayer alone, (I have a bunch of them...), but this was given in a prayer book I bought and sounded good. And it was specified in the book to chant the mantras before going to bed....

For easy access, I am linking the prayer here.

It is in sanskrit and basically is the chanting of names of various Gods to salute them.

'Namaha' means to salute

So salutations to Krishna,
Anantha (the serpent bed of Maha Vishnu),
Vaasuki (King of serpents),
Chithraguptha (assistant of Yama, the god of death)
Vishnu and Hara (Shiva)

As far as I know, Krishna and Vishnu are the protectors, Anantha and Vaasuki deal with fears and Shiva has in his power to even stop Yama from taking a life. Since chitraguptha is the person who keeps track of our ticking clocks and informs Yama when the time is up, I guess it is good to keep on his good side.

Mantras sooth and gives power for meditation...
I give a tune and then chant them...Hope this helps you too .

Shiva - Panchakshari stothram

2008-05-28T04:51:00.000-07:00

Naagendra haaraya thrilochanaaya
Bhasmmaga ragaaya maheswaraaya
Nityaaya shudhaaya digambaraaya
Thasmai nakaaraya namah shivaaya

Mandakini salila chandana charchitaaya
Nandiswara pramadha naadha maheswaraaya
mandaara pushpa bahupushpa supoojithaaya
Thasmai makaaraya namah shivaaya

Shivaaya gowri vadana-aravinda
Sooryaaya dakshadwara naashanaaya
Sree neelakanthaaya vrishadhwajaaya
Thasmai shikaaraya namah shivaaya

vasishta kumbho-dhbhava gowthamaarya-
muni-indra dvaarchitha sekharaaya
Chandra-arka vaishwanara lochanaaya
Thasmai vakaaraya namah shivaaya

Yaksha swaroopaaya jadaa dharaaya
Pinaaka-hasthaaya sanathanaaya
Divyaaya devaya digambaraaya
Thasmai yakaaraya namah shivaaya

Eka-sloka Ramayanam (Ramayana in One sloka)

2008-03-18T23:31:00.000-07:00

Poorvam rama-thapovanaadhi gamanam
Hrithvaa Mrigam kaanchanam
Vaidehi-haranam, Jataayu-maranam
Sugreeva-sambhashanam
Bali-nigrahanam, Samudratharanam
Lankapuri-dahanam,
Paschath raavana-kumbhakarna nidhanam
Hye-thadhi ramaayanam

Sandhya deepam - Do's and Dont's (Evening prayers)

2008-03-04T22:52:00.000-08:00

Sandya (twilight) is the time to light the lamp(deepam) and pray. Before the deepam is lit everyone should have washed their hands, legs and face and put bhasmam.

The right time is 24 minute( one naazhika) before twilight . The light is taken from the kitchen. The person carrying the light chants deepam, deepam..... and the others in the room stand up and pray. The most auspicious directions to salute the lamp, is from the east and south.

Lamps are lit at the Sarpa-kaavu and the thulasi-thara. The lamp is then taken to the four corners of the court-yard, the trees, cows and then the lamps in the puja room are lit. Finally, the lamp is brought and kept in a place in the living room so as to be visible even from outside.

Dont's are thus...

At the time of lighting the lamp, it is not auspicious to eat, to read books, to treat visitors, to quarrel, to give away money-grains-oil etc, to exit the house, to comb hair etc. It is not good to use oil that has been already used, the oil in which insects have fallen etc. The wick should be of cotton or washed and dried old clothes. unwashed cloth should never be used.

The flame should not flicker, flare up, or burst periodically. Also it is inauspicious for the flame to face south. In case visitors come in at that time, include them in the prayers.............

Saraswathy - before studies

2008-02-28T21:34:00.000-08:00

Saraswathy namas-thubhyam
Varade kaama roopini,
Vidya-arambham karishyaami
Sidhir bhavathu mey sadaa

FACT - Sunrise

2008-02-28T21:25:00.000-08:00

We have all been taught that te Sun rises in the east...but in acual fact, the direction in which the Sun rises, is considered as the East! Confusing???

Dhyanasloka - Ganesha

2008-02-18T21:45:00.000-08:00

Eka-dantham mahakaayam thaptha-kaanchana sannibham

Lambodaram vishaalaksham vandeham gananaayakam

Chitra ratna vichitraa-ngam chitra maala vibhooshitham

Kaama roopa-dharam devam vandeham gana naayakam

Ambika-hridaya-anandam mathrubhi pariveshtitham

Bhakta-priyam madonmatham vandeham gana naayakam

Sarva-vighna haram devam sarva-vighna vi-varjitham

sarva-sidhi-pradaa-thaaram vandeham gana naayakam

Gaja-ananam bhootha-ganaadi sevitham

Kapitha-jambu-phala saara bhakshitham

Umaa-sutham shoka-vinaasha kaaranam

Namaami vighneswara paada pankajam

Shuklaam bharatharam vishnum

Shashivarnam chathurbhujam

Prasanna vadanam dhyayeth

Sarva-vighna prashaandaye

Prayer before sleeping

2008-02-18T21:31:00.000-08:00

Achyuthaaya namaha
Anandaaya namaha
Vaasukaye namaha
Chitragupthaaya namaha
Vishnave haraye namaha

Bhoomi

2008-02-18T21:26:00.000-08:00

One may salute bhoomi devi (mother earth)) by touching the ground and then your forhead and chanting...

Samudravasaney devi
Parvatha-sthana mandaley
Vishnu pathni namasthubhyam,
Paada-sparsham kshamaswa mey

FACT

2008-02-18T21:23:00.001-08:00

The best time to rise is called Brahma-muhurtham......that is 48 minutes before sunrise!

Sree-Krishna Sandhyaanaamam

2008-02-18T01:59:00.000-08:00

Please note....wherever u see K, read Krishnaa.

Jaya janaardhanaa K raadhikaapathey
Janavimochanaa K janmamochanaa
Garudha vaahanaa K gopikaapathey
Nayanamohanaa K neerajekshanaa
Sujana baandhawa K sundaraakritey
Madana komalaa K maadhavaa hare
Vasumathee pathey K vaasavaanujaa
Vara gunaakaraa K vaishnavaakruthey
Suruchiraananaa K showrya vaaridhey
Murahara vibho K mukthi daayakaa
Vimalapaalaka K vallavee pathey
Kamala lochanaa K kaamadaayakaa
Vimala gaathrakaa K bhaktha valsalaa
Charana pallavam K karuna komalam
Kuvala-yekshanaa K komalaa kruthey
Thava padaambhujam K sharanam ekaney
Bhuvana naayakaa K paavanaakruthey
Gunaganojwalaa K nalinalochanaa
Pranaya vaaridhey K guna-ganojwalaa
Raama-sodaraa K deena valsalaa
Kaama sundaraa K paahi sarvadaa
Naraka naashanaa K narasakhaa jayaa
Devakee-sutha K karunya-mbudhey
Kamsa naashanaa K dwaarakaa vasin.
Bhaasurathmajaa K dehimangalam,
Thrippadambhujam K kaama komalam
Bhaktha daasanaam K adiyane sadaa
kaathu kollaney K sarvadaa vibho.

Navagraha - Sthothram

2008-02-18T01:26:00.000-08:00

Neelaanjana samaabhasam,
Raveeputhram Yama-agrajam,
Chaaya-marthanda sambhootam,
Tham namaami shanaishwaram.

Palaasha-pushpa sankaasham,
Thaaraka-agraja masthakam,
Rowdram, rowdrathmakam-khoram,
Tham kethum pranamaamyaham.

Devanaam cha risheenaam cha,
Gurum-kaanchana samnibham
Budhi-bhootham thrilokesham,
Tham namaami brihaspathim.

Priyamgu-kalika shyaamam
Roopena prathimam budham
Sowmyam sowmya-gunopetham
Tham budham pranamaamyaham.

Japaa kusuma sankaasham,
Kaashya-peyam mahaadyuthim,
Thamo-rim sarva paapaghnam,
Pranatho-smi divaakaram.

Himakunda mrinaa-laabham,
Daithyaanam paramam-gurum,
Sarva shaasthra pravak-thaaram
Bhaargavam pranamaamyaham.

Dathee-shankhu thushaarabham,
Ksheerodhaarnava sambhavam,
Namaami shashinam somam,
Shambhor-makuda bhooshanam.

Dharanee-garbha sambhootham,
Vidyuth kaanthi samaprabham,
Kumaaram shakthi-hastham tham,
Mangalam pranamaamyaham.

Ardha kaayam mahaa-veeryam,
Chandra-aditya vimardanam,
Simhika-garbha sambhootham,
Than raahum pranamaamyaham.

Early morning chant

2008-02-17T11:09:00.000-08:00

Look into your open palms..

Kara-agre vasathe laksmi,
Kara-madhye, saraswathy,
Kara-muule thu govinda,
Prabhaathe kara-darshanam.

Prayer before taking food

2008-02-17T11:06:00.000-08:00

Brahmaarpanam,brahma-havir
Brahma-agnao, brahmana-ahutham
Brahmair-vadena gandhavyam,
Brahma-karma samadhinaa.

Gayathri manthra

2008-02-17T11:01:00.000-08:00

Aum bhoor bhuvaswaha
Tath-savithur varenyam,
Bhargo-devasya dheemahi,
Dhiyo-yona prachodaya.

Saraswathy

2008-02-17T10:50:00.000-08:00

Yaa- kundendu thushaara haara dhavalaa
Yaa-shubhra vasthraa vruthaa
Yaa-veena vara danda mandithakaraa-
Yaa-shwetha padmaasanaa
Yaa-brahma-achyutha shankara-prabhrithihi
Devai sadda pujithaa
Saamaam paathu saraswathy-bhagavathy,
Nish-sesha-jadhyaa-pahaa.

Guru

2008-02-17T10:46:00.000-08:00

Aum
Gurur brahma, gurur vishnu,
Gurur devo - maheshwara,
Guru-saakshath parabrahma,
Thasmai shree gurave namaha.

Krishna

2008-02-17T10:44:00.001-08:00

Nanda-laala, yedu nanda-laala,
Brindaavan govinda-laala,
Raadhaa-lola, nanda-laala,
Raadha-maadhava nanda-laala.

Krishna

2008-02-17T10:38:00.000-08:00

Unni-krishna, venna-krishna,
Gokula-krishna ,govindaa,
Gopi-krishna, gopaala-krishna,
Raadha-krishna, govindaa,
Paanduranga, pandari-naatha,
Paandava-mithra - govinda
Anaadha-rakshaka, aapal-baandhava
Aashritha-valsala - govinda.

Ganesha

2008-02-17T10:30:00.000-08:00

Gananaadha gananaadha,
Gowri nandana gananaadha,
Paarvathi puthra gananaadha,
Mahesha puthra gananaadha,
Mooshika vaahana gaja vadana,
Modaka hasthaa Shiva nandana,
Paarvathi puthra gajaanana,
Gangadhara sutha shubhaanana.