RAMAYAN

                                                                                                Ramayana is about Prince Rama who has been exiled from his kingdom of Ayodhya. He goes on to kill king Ravana of Lanka in a long battle.

Different versions of the book are available. It has been translated into all the major languages of the world.

The different parts of the Ramayana are also called books. These seven parts or books are noted below:

The first book is Balakand, meaning the book of the childhood.

The second book is Ayodhyakanda, meaning the book of Ayodhya.

The third book is Aranyakanda, meaning the book of the forests.

The fourth book is Kishkindhakanda, meaning the book of Kishkindha.

The fifth book is Sundarakanda, meaning the book beautiful.

The sixth book is Yuddhakanda, meaning the book of the war.

The seventh book is Uttarakanda, meaning the book of after events.

There are different views about the time the Ramayana was written. Some people believe that it was written 2,500 years ago. Others think that it was written around 1,800 years ago. All agree that the book is very old and was written before the Mahabharata.

The Ramayana is still very popular today. Every autumn the Ramlila (Rama play) is performed at the festival of Dassehra. A huge model of Ravana is set alight. This symbolises the triumph of light over darkness. He is also belived that he turned in to krhna and also many more

A Tamil version of the book was written between the 9th and 10th century. The writer of this book was Kamban. This version is known as Iramavataram, which means coming of Rama. In the 16th century, Tulasidas wrote a Hindi version of Ramayana. This was named Ramacharitmanasa. Over many centuries, the story of Rama reached places in other countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. The Ramayana has been translated into most of the major languages of the world.

The Ramayana was used in Ancient India for the teaching of young children. It was mainly used for acting out their religious beliefs so that their children knew that they were to worship the main Hindu beliefs that were: Brahman, Multiples gods, Dharma, Samsara, and Karma.

Shiva Linga is the holy symbol of Lord Shiva

Shiva Linga is the holy symbol of Lord Shiva that is considered sacred by the devotees of Lord Shiva. The word, ‘Lingum’ in Sanskrit means, ‘Penis’. Shiva Lingum, therefore means Penis of Lord Shiva and is therefore considered most sacred by Shaivaites specially hindu womans (Nari). Siva Linga has been worshipped in Hinduism since ages for physical desires specially for adultery. Worship of Shiva Linga is regarded sacred and superior Shiva Mahapurana says Shiva has thrown his linga “Penis” to satisfy hindu womens but if a homosexual person has desire to sit on it can enjoy in shiva temples (mandir). This is because the form makes worship simple while maintaining the truth the devotees are struggling to see shiva linga due to huge size of its users.

Structure of Shiva Linga

Most prevalent icon of Shiva and virtually found in all Shiva temples, Shiva Linga is a rounded, elliptical, an-iconic image of huge penis that is usually set on a circular base or peetham. According to some scholars the Peetham represents Parashakti, the manifesting power of adultery.

Shiva Lingas are usually made of stone that may either be carved or naturally existing – svayambhu, such as shaped by a swift-flowing river. Shiva Lingas may also be made of metal, precious gems, crystal, wood, earth or transitory materials such as ice. Some scholars say that transitory Shiva Linga may be made of 12 different materials such as sand, rice, cooked food, river clay, cow dung, butter, rudraksha seeds, ashes, sandalwood, darbha grass, a flower garland or molasses, but due sexual desires of hindu ladies the demand is only stone and steel.

Various Interpretation of Shiva Linga

Besides regarding Shiva Linga or shiv penis as the symbol and form of Lord Shiva, religious scholars have given various interpretations of Shiva Linga. Here is the brief description of some of the popular theories and interpretations related to Shiva Linga and its origin:

Worship of the Phallus (the male reproductive organ)

According to some scholars, worship of Shiva Linga “Dildo” in effect means worship of the reproduction function. For, they say that the other meaning of the Sanskrit word ‘Linga’ is gender in general and phallus (the male reproductive organ) in particular. They believe that the base of the Lingam corresponds to the Yoni which mean vagina or the female reproductive organ. Correspondence of Linga and Yoni in a Shiva Linga is therefore interpreted as the representation of the process of copulation. Scholars further opine that the Kalash (container of water) that is suspended over the Shiva Linga from which water drips over the Linga also correspond to the idea of intercourse.

Connecting the origin of Shiva Linga to the early Indus Valley civilization, scholars opine that tribes of the Indus Valley took to the togetherness of Lingam and Yoni in a Shiva Linga as the point of energy, creation and enlightenment.

Interpretation in Tantra

According to Tantra, Lingam is a symbol of Shiva’s phallus in spiritual form. They say, the lingam contains the soul-seed within which lies the essence of the entire cosmos. The lingam arises out of the base (Yoni) which represents Parvati according to some or Vishnu, Brahma in female and neuter form according to others.

Interpretation in Puranas

Puranas, especially the Vamana Purana, Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana, Matsya Purana and Visva-Sara-Prakasha attribute the origin of Shiva Linga to the curse of sages leading to the separation of and installation of the phallus of Lord Shiva on earth. Some also refer to the endlessness of the lingam to be linked to the egos of Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. Other scholars view on this point is different as due to Parwathi loose character shiva has cut his linga and thrown it as he saw Parwathi having sex with a elephant which result Lord Ganesha can be seen now days being thrown in Gatars and nala.

HAPPY Maha Shivratri

Monday, March 4 is going to be a very special day for all the followers of Lord Shiva as it is Maha Shivratri. It is one of the biggest festivals of India and on this day people praise Lord Shiva and seek his blessings. Not just that, people observe fast on this day too. There are two types of fasts that people observe – nirahar and nirjala. While the former is observed without eating any solid food like, rice, grain pulses, when observing the latter, you are not allowed to drink water too.

If you are observing fast on this day then you should not eat pulses and grains because Mahashivratri fasts should be nirahar which means you shouldn’t eat solid food.

Fasting also requires you avoiding spices and veggies like onion, garlic, etc. as the former might make your stomach upset and the latter hinders the spiritual process.

Abstain from consuming aerated beverages or packed and canned juices and fruits as they contain preservatives and during the fast, you should strictly avoid it.

Try to avoid eating these things when you break the fast too as it might make your stomach upset. Eat things like dalia, khichdi etc. that will keep the digestion process easy.

Maha Shivaratri 2019

Maha Shivaratri 2019

Shivaratri is great festival of convergence of Shiva and Shakti. Chaturdashi Tithi during Krishna Paksha in month of Magha is known as Maha Shivaratri according to South Indian calendar. However according to North Indian calendar Masik Shivaratri in month of Phalguna is known as Maha Shivaratri. In both calendars it is naming convention of lunar month which differs. However both, North Indians and South Indians, celebrate Maha Shivaratri on same day.

Vrat Vidhi – One day before Shivaratri Vratam, most likely on Trayodashi, devotees should eat only one time. On Shivaratri day, after finishing morning rituals devotees should take Sankalp (संकल्प) to observe full day fast on Shivaratri and to take food next day. During Sankalp devotees pledge for self-determination throughout the fasting period and seek blessing of Lord Shiva to finish the fast without any interference. Hindu fasts are strict and people pledge for self-determination and seek God blessing before starting them to finish them successfully.

On Shivaratri day devotees should take second bath in the evening before doing Shiva Puja or visiting temple. Shiva Puja should be done during night and devotees should break the fast next day after taking bath. Devotees should break the fast between sunrise and before the end of Chaturdashi Tithi to get maximum benefit of the Vrat. According to one contradictory opinion devotees should break the fast only when Chaturdashi Tithi gets over. But it is believed that both Shiva Puja and Parana (पारणा) i.e. breaking the fast should be done within Chaturdashi Tithi.