Saturday, May 26, 2007

Secret of the trunk of Lord Ganesha

Most Ganesha idols are depicted with the trunk turning towards the left. The left side of our body symbolises the feminine side of our personality. It represents the moon. It is cool and relaxed.
The right side represents the masculine aspect, and symbolises the sun – hot, fiery and aggressive.A Ganesha idol having its trunk curved towards the right, is called the ‘siddhi vinayaka’ and needs special worship. It is said that one should be very careful in worshipping such idols. The puja that is performed on such an idol is supposed to be done after fulfilling all religious requirements and by adhering to a strict code of conduct.
According to the nadi system of the human body espoused by Hinduism, there are three nadis or channels which are responsible for overall health - the left channel is called the Ida Nadi and is connected to the right side and the back of the brain. This channel looks after our emotional life and our past.The right side channel is called as the Pingala Nadi. It is connected with the left side and the front of the brain. This channel controls the supraconscious mind. It creates our future.
The Sushumna is the central channel for our evolution. It is through this channel that we become collectively conscious It makes the connection between our conscious mind and the Spirit, which is a reflection of God.According to Hindu mythology, the direction of Lord Ganesha's trunk is related to these nadis. Since the Ida Nadi is on the left side, while the Pingala Nadi is on the right, the left-turning trunk has easy rules and one can do puja without following strict rules, since the Ida Nadi is the moon. But, the right turning trunk is the sun and will burn one, if rules are violated. When the trunk is facing straight, then it signifies that the Sushumna is entirely open.
Another logic is that the idol with a right-sided trunk is called dakshinabhimukhi murti (the idol facing the south). Dakshin means the southern direction .The southern direction leads to the region of Yama (Yamalok), the deity of death.The one who is able to face the direction of Yama's region is strong.Ganapati with the right-sided trunk is said to be 'active (jagrut)'. The ritualistic worship of this idol is performed observing all the norms of ritualistic worship meticulously.
The idol with the trunk towards the left is called Vamamukhi. Vam means the northern direction or the left side. Since the northern direction is spiritually favorable; it bestows Bliss; hence the Vamamukhi Ganapati is more commonly worshipped.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Curse to Moon

Twenty-seven of Daksha’s daughters were married to the moon-god Chandra. One of these wives was named Rohini and Chandra loved Rohini more than he loved the other wives. The other wives felt neglected and they complained to their father. Daksha repeatedly warned his son-in-law to devote himself equally to all twenty-seven wives. But Chandra was in no mood to listen. Daksha thereupon cursed Chandra that he would gradually fade away. Brahma told him that the only recourse was to pray to Shiva. Chandra went to Prabhasa tirtha and made a lingam on the banks of the river Sarasvati. He prayed to Shiva for six months. At the end of the tapasya Shiva appeared before Chandra and offered to grant him a boon. Lord Shiva said ,  "Daksha’s curse cannot be entirely ignored. During krishnapaksha you will wane. And during shuklapaksha (the bright part of the lunar fortnight) you will wax. That should satisfy everybody. "   Chandra was delighted. The lingam to which Chandra prayed is Somantha, the first of the Jyotirlingas.  

Curse to Lord Brahma

Once Vishnu and Brahmā approached a huge Shiva linga and set out to find it's beginning and end. Vishnu was appointed the end, and Brahma the beginning. Each took their journey, Vishnu took the form of a boar and began digging downwards into the earth while Brahma took on the shape of a swan began flying upwards. But neither could find their appointed destination. Vishnu, satisfied, came up to Shiva and bowed down to him . Brahmā did not give up so easily. As he was going up, he saw a ketki flower, dear to Shiva. His ego forced him to ask the flower to bear false witness of Brahmā's finding Shiva's beginning.Also during his return journey he found a cow. He force her also to gave false witness. When Brahmā told his tale, Shiva, the all-knowing, was angered by the former's ego. Shiva thus cursed him that no being in the three worlds will worship him. From that day flower of ketki is not offerd to shiva linga.Also Lord Shiva curse the cow that she will have to depend upon the rotten food in the kaliyuga

Thursday, May 3, 2007

The Story of Saturday

Once there were two sisters Lakshmi and Daridra. Lakshmi was the goddess of wealth while Daridra was the goddess of poverty. Though they were real sisters, their behaviour towards others and temperament were totally different. Lakshmi got up early in the morning. She took her bath regularly. She remembered God regularly. Daridra was very lazy. She got up very late. She did not take her bath. Washing clothes was a rare occasion for her.. She generally told lies and befooled others. Goddess Lakshmi was very much liked by Lord Krishna and he married her happily. Daridra remained alone. She became sad.

One day Lakshmi said to Lord Krishna, “ Daridra is my real sister. Please arrange for her marriage”.Lakshmi said,” Arrange her marriage with a Rishi. He would not expect much from her because most of his time he would be busy performing religious rites”.Lord Krishna agreed. He searched for a suitable match for Daridra. A Rishi agreed to marry her.
Goddess Lakshmi was happy that a Rishi had accepted her sister Daridra could not accept Rishi’s way of life. She went to Lakshmi again. She looked very shabby and disorderly. Lakshmi felt pity for her. She said to Krishna, “Please arrange a suitable abode for her”.
Lord Krishna accepted Lakshmi’s request. All the three came down to earth together. Krishna spotted out a Peepal tree in a lonely corner. They went to that tree. Lord Krishna said to Daridra, “You can reside under this tree. This is a lonely place suited to your temperament. You need not clean this place daily. None would visit this place either. You may live as you please.” Daridra said, “I will be fed up with lonely life. Lonely place is an abode of ghosts. Please do visit me frequently with my sister, Lakshmi.”

Lord Krishna agreed. He gave a word to her that he would visit and stay at the peepal tree on every Saturday alongwith Lakshmi. From that day onwards, people visit Peepal tree on every Saturday. They water it and offer their prayers, knowing well that Lord Krishna and Lakshmi reside in the tree on Saturdays.