TEMPLES IN INDIA - Indian temples

India is known as one of the few countries in the world that has a heritage dating back centuries ago. Well it can be proved till date as the temples stand witness to the rich cultural heritage of our country. 


Travel to the north of the country or the south there are temples and heritage sites that will take your breath away. Some are so profound with beauty that they are made tourist spots for people not only in the country but for tourists from abroad too. 


Some famous temples to mention are the Khajuraho Temple, Badrinath, Pushkar, Tirupati, Kanyakumari, Srimahavirji, Kedarnath, Dwarkadeesh, Ajanta Cave Temples, Kalkaji, Birlamandir, Lotus temple and Meenakshi temple. 




These however are the very famous ones. But if one loves to take a tour of temples then South India boasts of the best the country has. They are beautiful with architecture resounding from the tip that rises meters into the sky to its very edge that settles on the ground. Inside, outside there is drama in every window, door, steps and even in the bells that complete the temple. 


Also the rituals are very simple and temples are less orthodox in the North as compared to the South, where the rituals are elaborate and very long. The stone deities are dressed in the best and taken for processions during the year. The richer the temple the more elaborate is the festivities. Also the temples in Kerala are starkly different from the temples in the other three states. 


The temples are so large down south that they become mini complexes and serve as a place to feed people, wedding grounds, conduct festivals, hold kitchen wares and even religious schooling.

WOMEN OF FAME

ASHA BHOSLE (SINGER) ASHA BHOSLE -All her life she had to play a supporting role for her "Didi". She has a sensuous voice that even Lata can't match. Nobody young or old can match her allure. She is a great songstress who can beat the new generation singers as well. LATA MANGHESHKAR -She is India's most recognizable voice. Some of her songs are pure and full of pathos that would move us with tears. Even at this age Lata, enthralls everyone despite a number of new generation singers coming up. Nobody can replace this singing Queen. LATA MANGESHKAR (SINGER) BACHENDRI PAL BACHENDRI PAL- She went on to prove that if a man can do it, then a woman can do by climbing the highest mountain peak in the world. She is the first Indian woman to do so. An impoverished childhood did not obstruct her path to hard work and fame. Now she is busy at the Tata Steel Adventure Foundation training the next generation of climbers. DR. INDIRA HINDUJA - She was the first Indian doctor to produce a test tube baby. On August 6th, 1986, India's first test tube baby, Harsha was born thanks to the three years of painstaking research in invitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Now thanks to her, many Indian women yearning for motherhood are getting hope DR.INDIRA HINDUJA KALPANA CHAWLA KALPANA CHAWLA- She was a Tomboy, growing up in Karnal in Haryana. She learned Karate in her early years and she dared to dream. She had a special likening for flying. She qualified from over 2962 applicants to earn herself a place in the Space Shuttle Columbia for a 16 day out of the world experience. The NASA chief called her a "Terrific astronaut". The U.S. space shuttle Columbia with a seven-member crew that included Chawla, 41, disintegrated in flames over central Texas shortly before it was scheduled to land at Cape Canaversal in Florida. On February 1, 2003, at an altitude of 63 kilometers and a velocity of 20,000 km/hr, Columbia disintegrated killing Kalpana and her six colleagues.The satellite serves to perpetuate the memory of Kalpana who sacrificed her life to the cause of peaceful uses of outer space. KIRAN BEDI - "It is always possible" is the philosophy of her life. She is a Magsaysay Award winner for her writings. She is the most controversial IPS woman officer who was known for hauling off illegally parked cars in the city of Delhi, cleaning the Augean Stables of Tihar Jail. In between she ruffled a few feathers KIRAN BEDI M.S.SUBBULAKSHMI M.S.SUBBULAKSHMI- She had the voice of an angel and a face to match. She brought Bhakthi to her music like none other. It was purely spiritual quality that set her apart from many other voices. Incomparable, unsurpassable, she was one of India's two nightingales. One of the most influential singers of the last century she died on 11 December 2004 in Chennai in India. Her death is a great loss not only to Carnatic music but also to the entire music world. MANEKA GANDHI -She is the young "Bahu" of the Gandhi family. She is a dedicated and vocal environmentalist who crusades for the cause of animal rights which often land up her in controversies. She also fights for human rights and has freed many children working in the carpet industry. MANEKA GANDHI MEDHA PATKAR MEDHA PATKAR -She is a frail, prematurely graying figure who is fighting for the largest displacement of people on the banks of the Narmada. She is against the combined forces of the World Bank, The Government of India and an army of vested interests. She carries the struggle onwards through her other social crusades via the National Alliance of People's Movement. NAJMA HEPTULLAH - She has been the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha for three terms, an achievement nobody has equaled so far. During the tenure she maintained a fair play and at the same time maintained her dignity and control amidst the intemperate proceedings that often prevailed. One of her other successful projects outside the Parliament has been the setting of two all-woman post offices in Mumbai. NAJMA HEPTULLAH P.T.USHA Pilavullakandi Thekaparambil Usha- She is a woman of great determination. At the 1984 Olympics she heart-stoppingly came near to winning India its first bronze medal in athletics but missed it by the skin of her teeth. At the Asian Athletic events at Jakarta in 1985 she won many medals and got a huge haul of medals at the 8th Asian Games in Seoul. REITA FARIA - She was the first Indian woman to win the Miss world title in 1966. She made the whole world sit up and look at India. By winning the crown, she showed the way for later competitors and gave them a confidence that they can take the world by storm. After her one year tenure she refused modeling and films and concentrated on medical studies which is a sure act to make the present day Miss Worlds to look up on their promised professions. DR. REITA FARIA POWELL SHOBHA DE SHOBHA DE - She was prefixed as the rebel but now her writings sound matronly. Now and then she splutters with rage over the misdoings of the younger generations. She can be held responsible for the speeding up of the pace of sexual revolution in India with her sensuous novels.   SHAHNAZ HUSSAIN - She is the mother of all herbal cosmetics in India. Behind the veils lies a woman with sheer determination and hard work. Her creams and lotions have found their way into salons in different parts of the globe. She has 650 salons at 104 countries. SHAHNAZ HUSAIN USHA UTHUP USHA UTHUP - Her rich and resonant voice can be described as honey flowing on gravel! Her identifications are that plump figure, Kancheevaram saris, clinging glass bangles and a big Bindi. She sings in 14 languages and is incredibly staying still in this field. ARUNDHATI ROY- She is a great writer and won the Booker Prize for her debut novel, "the God of small things". She is a vociferous supporter of the rights of Phoolan Devi. MADHURI MATHUR- Almost 40 years ago this woman dreamed of a kitchen machine that would blend, chop, mince and totally make her life easier and then discussed it with her Engineer husband Mathur. And then the sumeet mixer was born and is a household name still. DEEPA MEHTA - Director. Her first film "Fire" ran into big controversies but eventually the sensor board released it with little cuts. We are eagerly awaiting more controversial films from her. KARNAM MALLESWARI- Weightlifter. She is known as the "iron woman" and she can be rightly called golden woman for all the gold medals she had got for India. To her latest credit is the Bronze medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympic games. ANITA SOOD- She is the first woman who stroked her way powerfully across the English Channel and became the fastest Asian swimmer to have crossed MATA AMRITANANDAMAYI DEVI- God woman. As a child she wanted to serve the poor. Now called as "Amma" she is offering hopes and solace to many needy people in India. She has set up many charitable institutions, educational centers and hospitals. JAYALALITHAA - Film star turned politician. For her all the world's a stage and she is moving from spotlight to spotlight. She is the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. SUHASINI MANIRATNAM - She is an award-winning film actress and a film director with a special concern for issues regarding woman. Her marriage with Mani Ratnam, the famous film Director in the South is a plus point for her. We are looking forward from her, many good films. ANJU BOBBY GEORGE - Anju Bobby George, made history when she won the bronze medal in Long Jump at the World Athletics Championships 2003 in Paris. With this achievement, she became the first Indian athlete ever to win a medal in a World Athletics Championship clearing 6.70 m. Anju now ranks 6th in the world. She also participated in the 2004 Olympics finishing 4th in her event. SANIA MIRZA- Sania Mirza became the first Indian to have won a Grand Slam title when she triumphed in the girls' doubles event at Wimbledon , partnering Alisa Kleybanova of Russia. She won the Wimbledon junior girls' doubles title and became their "brand ambassador" for 2004 - the year of the girl child. SHOBHA DE Model, copywriter and the first editor of Stardust and Society, Shobha De has published seven novels, Socialite Evenings, Starry Nights, Sisters, Strange Obsessions, Sultry Days, Snapshots and Second Thoughts, a collection of short stories, Small Betrayals. Kiran Majumdar-Shaw- Biotech entrepreneur.She is the CEO of Biocon India Corp. She was born in Bangalore and educated in Bishop Cotton Girls School and then Mount Carmel College. She started Biocon in 1978 collaborating with an Irish firm, floated 2 joint ventures, Biochemizyme and Biocon-Quest India Ltd.

HINDUISM

India's major religion, Hinduism, is followed by approximately 80% of the population. Hinduism is another name for what is known as Sanatana Dharma or the Religious Prennis. TIRUPATHI -VENKATESWARA Any one person did not propound Hinduism. Hinduism has a number of Holy books, including the Bhagavad-Gita, which is credited to Krishna, The Ramayana and Mahabharata, the Vedas, the Upanishads and the Puranas. The Vedas are the basic texts that the Hindus hold sacrosanct. These include themantras, Brahmanas, theAranyakas or forest treatises, and the Upanishads or philosophical dissertations. Basically the religion postulates that we will all go through a series of rebirths that eventually leads to Moksha, the spiritual salvation that frees one from the cycle of rebirths. With each rebirth, one can move closer to Moksha, the deciding factor being your Karma. Bad actions result in bad karma, which ends in a lower reincarnation. Dharma or the natural law defines the total social, ethical and spiritual harmony of your life. The Hindu religion has three basic practices. They are Puja or worship, The cremation of the dead and The rules and regulations of the caste system. There are four main castes in Hinduism; the Brahmin or priest caste, the kshatriyas or soldiers and governors, the Vaisyas or trades people and farmers, and the sudras or menial workers and craftspeople. Beneath all these castes lie those called Harijans or untouchables, the lowest class in society. The one omnipresent god has three physical forms or representations according to Hinduism; Brahma is the Creator, Vishnu is the Preserver, and Shiva is the Destroyer and Reproducer. Each god has an associated animal known as the "vehicle" in which he or she rides along with a consort with certain attributes. Generally each god has a symbol in his hands. Brahma's consort is Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning. She rides in a white swan and holds the Veena in his hands. Vishnu, the Preserver, has paid nine visits to the earth. In one of the visits he appeared as Lord Rama. Rama also managed to give a number of secondary Gods like the Hanuman; the monkey God, Rama's lady was Sita. On visit eight, he came as Lord Krishna, who was brought up by peasants and thus became a favorite of the working classes. Krishna is renowned for his exploits with the Gopis or the shepherdesses and his consorts are Radha, Rukmani and Sathyabama. When Vishnu appears as Vishnu rather than any of his incarnations, he sits on a couch made by the coils of a serpent and he holds a conch shell and a Discus in his hands. Vishnu's vehicle is the half-man and half-eagle called the Garuda. His consort is the beautiful Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity. Shiva is frequently worshipped in the Linga form with the bull as the vehicle. Shiva is also known as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer whose dance shook the cosmos and created the world. His consort is Parvathi, the beautiful. She however has a dark side when she appears as Durga, the terrible. In this role she holds weapons in 10 hands and rides a tiger. In the role of Kali, the fiercest of the gods, she demands sacrifices and wears a garland of skulls. Shiva and Parvathi have two sons. Ganesh is an elephant-headed god of prosperity and wisdom and is probably the most popular of all the gods. Ganesh's vehicle is a rat. The other son is Karthikeyan, the God of war. Hindus profess to be either Vaishnavites (followers of Vishnu) or shaivaites (followers of Shiva). The cow is the holy animal of the Hindus. HINDU SAGE Hindu Weddings Hindu weddings are full of color and much fanfare. On an auspicious day the members of the families of the bride and the groom gather in a mandapam usually in the vicinity of a temple. The bride remains out of sight while the groom parades the streets with a garland and a huge gathering. The ceremony takes place around the sacred fire where the groom ties the "Thalli", which consists of tying of three knots around the neck of the bride. Then the priest applies tilak on the foreheads of the bride and groom and the function comes to a halt after a sumptuous vegetarian meal. Places associated with Hinduism Varanasi, Haridwar, Ayodhya, Mathura, Dwaraka, Kanchipuram, Ujjain are the sacred seven holy Hindu cities of India. Varanasi and Haridwar are the important sites on the holy river Ganges. Other cities are the birthplaces of Hindu Gods like, Rama in Ayodhya, Krishna in Mathura. Badrinath, Puri, Rameswaram and Dwaraka are traditionally called the four corners of the holy India. Hindu Books The Ramayana The Ramayana is the most loved book of the Hindus.The story goes like this; Dashratha, ruled the kingdom of Kosala. King Janak ruled another kingdom Videha. At the touch of Janak's plough, a lovely daughter, Sita, appeared and she was married to Rama, the eldest son of Dashratha. Dashratha's second wife Kaikeyi compelled Dashratha to banish Rama from the kingdom for fourteen tears. Rama, his wife, Sita and his brother Lakshmana set out for the woods. Srupnakha fell in love with Rama, who resented her. On her instigation, her brother, Ravana snatched Sita. Rama raised an army, invaded Ravana's kingdom and rescued Sita after killing Ravana.Then they came back to Ayodhya, where Bharat another loyal brother, gladly surrendered the throne of kosala to Rama. The Mahabharata The Mahabharata is a grand epic and the greatest work that Asia has produced. Tradition attributes it to Vyasa. The story is; Yudhistra gambles away his wealth, his army, his kingdom, his brothers and even his wife Draupadi in a game in which his Kaurav enemies play with loaded dice. By agreement the Pandavas are to receive their kingdom back after a twelve-year banishment. The twelve years pass and the Kauravs don't keep their word and then the Pandavas declare war. Allies are brought on either side. All the Kauravs are slain. Bhagavad-Gita The Bhagavad Gita or "Lord's song" is the grandest philosophical poem in world's literature. It is embedded in the narrative of the great battle. The scene of the poem is the battle between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. The occasion is the reluctance of the Pandava warrior, Arjuna, to attack his own near relatives in the opposing force. Thereupon Krishna explains that it is just to kill one's relatives in war; that it is Arjuna's duty to fight and kill with a good conscience and goodwill. He says that it is only the body that is slain, while the soul revives. The Bhagavad- Gita is revered next to the Vedas. Hindu Temples TEMPLES IN VARANASI Hindu temples predominate in India, from the mysterious 13th century Sun Temple at Konark in Orissa to the Technicolor glory of Madurai Meenakshi temple in Tamilnadu. For Hindus, the square is the perfect shape, so most of the temples have square as the plan. Each temple is dedicated to a particular God. RAMESHWARAM TEMPLE CORRIDOR A conservative dress without the shoes is needed to get into the premises. But non are allowed to enter the holy Sanctum. Bhubaneswar in Orissa is known as the Temple Town, with a collection of about 500 temples. Temples worth mentioning include the richest Temple in India, the Venkateswara temple at Tirupathi in Andhra and the temple city of Tamilnadu, Kanchipuram.  ROCKFORT - TIRUCHIRAPALLI MEENAKSHI TEMPLE - MADURAI BRIHADEESWARA TEMPLE - TANJORE GOLDEN VIMANAM, CHIDAMBARAM

INDIAN ASTROLOGY

Vedic Astrology

Indian Astrology is an ancient science based upon the knowledge gained by ancient  Indian sages and saints on planetary influences. It had evolved long before the Western astronomers and astrologers were born. It has its roots steeped into the Vedas which date back  to 1500 BC.

Jyotish - Jyothisha or Light

No other science can be more interesting, instructive and useful to mankind in contributing to the moral and material advancement that Indian astrology. Indian Astrology is based upon the foretelling the future of indivudals, nations or other events relying on the planetary movements. In Sanskrit, it is known as Jyotisha or Light.

Indian Astrology interprets what it conceives to the future of the man as moulded by his previous Karma or birth and indicates by the planetary positions at the time of his birth.

Branches in Indian Astrology

Astrology in india has three branches namely: Siddhanta, Samhita and Hora. Siddantas are those who devote to astronomical study of celestial bodies.  Samhitas deal with mundane astrology, earth quakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, rainfall, weather conditions economic conditions,etc.Hora deals with predicting the suitable timing of various events in our day-to day life.

Nadi

Apart from these schools of Astrology in india, we have what we can call as Nadi Astrology (or) Nadi Shastra  which gives pictures of life and destiny patterns of people born at 12,24,48 seconds intervals. These have been written on palm leaves by our ancient sages. Only very few experts can  read and understand these, but the results and predictions are found to be amazingly accurate.

Nakshatras

The Indian Astrology study consists of 27 Nakshatras. The movements of the two luminaries Sun and Moon, the  five major planets  of Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mercury and the two nodal points of the Moon i.e., Rahu and Ketu are considered. The outer planets like Pluto, Neptune and Uranus that have been discovered lately are not recognised by the Indian Astrology.

Moon and Rasi / Rashi

Moon is given much importance in Indian astrology as it is the nearest to the Earth and it exercises much influences on us. The waxing and the waning of the Moon causes the tides of the seas and plants and animals as also man is also affected to greater extent. The Moon’s position in one’s birth chart is called the Rasi or Moon sign and this along with the Nakshatra or the star constellation of the individual is used for predictions.

Indian astrology techniques are vastly used in India and the world over for predicting the birth, nature of Marriage, career, finances, diseases, death of people. It is also used in Mundane analysis for predicting the future of countries, natural catastrophes.

Indian astrology uses a different zodiac than Western astrology and is a branch of Vedic science. In India, there is widespread belief in astrology and it is commonly used.

It generated interest with research oriented astrologers in the West from the early 1990s. Unlike astrology in the west, Vedic astrology deals with more natural matters and is not used to find lucky numbers for a lottery or to win a casino game. Siddhanta, Samhita and Hora are the basis of Vedic astrology and together they predict natural events such as earthquakes, rainfall, economic conditions and the suitable timing of various events in our day-to day life.

More recently, Indian scientists have denounced a proposal to use state money to fund research into Vedic astrology as it is a part of India's heritage and a science that we are continuously learning from.

Story of Ravana & Aathma Lingam

 Ravana, the king of Lanka was an asura, but he was an ardent devotee of Lord Siva. He reached mount Kailas & prayed to Lord Siva, that his Lanka should never be destroyed. Lord Siva gave him an Aathma Lingam, with the condition that he should go back on foot to Lanka & that he should not put down the Lingam at any point. If he were to put the Lingam down, the Lingam would remain firmly at that spot.

The Devas were worried that the Aathma Lingam would add to the might of Ravana & that he could never be destroyed if he succeeded in taking the Aathma Lingam to Lanka.


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They prayed to Lord Ganesha for help. Lord Ganesha caused Ravana's stomach to be filled with water. Ravana grew desperate to answer nature's call. Ganesha appeared before Ravana as a small boy. Ravana handed over the Aathma Lingam to the boy. Ganesha declared that he could not wait for long & when he grew tired, he would call out Ravana's name thrice & if he did not come & take the Lingam, he would place it on the ground & go away. Ravana agreed.


Soon Ganesha called out Ravana's name thrice, and since Ravana could not come and take the Lingam, he placed it on the ground. The enraged Ravana tried to remove the Lingam from the ground. But, in spite of using his twenty hands, he could not budge the Lingam. Though the Lingam could not be moved, the pressure from Ravana's hands had changed its shape like the ear of a cow & hence the place came to be called Kokarnam (Ko-cow, karnam-ear). The lingam came to be called Mahabaleswarar since it could not even be shifted by the mighty Ravana (maha-great, balam-power, Eswarar-Lord Siva).

Ravana started chasing the boy to hit him on his head. Lord Ganesha showed his true form & blessed him. The Ganesha statue in the temple has a hollow on the head, where Ravana is supposed to have strcuk him (Kuttu - to hit with folded fists). Lord Ganesha can be pleased by doing kuttu (gently tapping both temples with folded fists).

"Unity in diversity"

"Unity in diversity". It is not just another phrase or quotation. But, these words are highly prudent to a country like India that is incredibly rich in culture and heritage. Few quotations or statements cannot describe the pedestal that India holds in the world map because of its colorful and unique culture.

From the times of Mauryas, Cholas, Mughals till to the period of British Empire, India has always been famous for its traditions and hospitality. The warmth in the relations and euphoria in celebrations make the country stands out distinctively in the clutter. The country's liveliness and generosity attract a number of tourists. The cuisines, festivals, music, literature, and theatre..everything is 'special' in this 'land of gods'

Traditional yet Contemporary

The Indian culture has never been rigid and that's why it's surviving with pride in the modern era. It timely imbibes the qualities of various other cultures and comes out as a contemporary and acceptable tradition. That is what unique about the Indian culture..it moves on with the time. There are certain things about India that are famous worldwide, like: