The nine goddesses of Navratri are called collectively Navdurga and are handed down in the Devi Mahatmya and Durga Saptashati. The nine goddesses worshiped in each of the nine days of Navratri are embodiments of the Divine Shakti. Their names are Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidatri.
Shail means mountains and Putri daughter. Its also known as Parvati or Hemavati. Shailaputri is believed to be the reincarnation of Sati, the daughter of Daksha and wife of Shiva. At his reincarnation became Parvati, daughter of the Himalayas and later wife of Shiva. And one of the main forms of Shakti and Shiva closely associated. Maa Brahmacharini - The Goddess of the second day of Navratri
In this case, Brahma refers to those who constantly meditates on the Supreme. Brahmacharini is perfect devotion, peace and meditation. It is also known by the name Tapashcharini, Aparna and Uma. This form of Durga is connected to asceticism undertaken by Sati and Parvati, in their incarnations, to win Shiva. Ratings (Vrata) that Indian women look at some periods follow the example of austerity Brahmacharini. Maa Chandraghanta - The Goddess of the third day of Navratri
The name comes from Chandraghanta quarter crescent moon that adorns the head. It is a terrible form of Goddess Shakti, roaring and furious. Completely different from the previous figures, if provoked can become terrible and vengeful. Maa Kushmanda - The Goddess of the fourth day of Navratri
The name Kushmanda consists of three words Ku which means small, Usma, energy, and Anda, the cosmic egg, or the universe. He also called Ashtabhuja perfectly happy incarnation of the Goddess, of which it is believed that defeated the eternal darkness with only smile. This fact is attributed to the origin of the world.
Maa Skanda Mata - The Goddess of the fifth day of Navratri. Skanda is the name of Subrahmanya, or Muruga or Kartikeya - commander of the heavenly and the fairest of the gods. Skanda Mata is the mother of Kartik. Also known as Padmasana. And the motherly form of Durga, full of benevolence.
Maa Katyayani - The Goddess of the sixth day of Navratri
It was called Katyayani because she was the daughter of the sage Katya Katya clan. And the form of Durga branch. And the loving daughter, a symbol of love and purity. No hesitate to fight, however, the defense of Dharma and justice. Maa Kalaratri - The Goddess of the seventh day of Navratri
Kalratri is the one who destroys ignorance and removes darkness. Also bears the name of Shubhankari. It is said that he drank a drop of the blood of the demon Rakta bija that could unleash thousands of demons from a single drop of his blood. And the most violent forms of Durga. She who evokes the darkness and that destroys. Maa Maha Gauri - The Goddess of the eighth day of Navratri
Mahagauri means clear and clear as a ray of light. And 'the form of Mata Parvati who performs the arduous path of asceticism to join to Shiva. Legend has it that the intensity of his dedication, he kept his posture still for such a long time that the earth and dust were deposited on her. Shiva succor washing it with water from the Ganges. The purity is, therefore, represents in this form of Durga.
Maa Siddhidatri - The Goddess of the ninth day of Navratri
With this form of the Divine Mother expresses Siddhi, the perfect knowledge. And the form that removes any residual metaphysics and allows the realization of the Supreme Brahman therefore surrounded by the figures of the Siddhas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Gods and Monsters that offer homage and devotion.
In Gujarat a special kind of dance is held, called Dandiya or Garba, and is played with two small sticks to the rhythms of mainly devotional music. It is held in public places and men and women of all ages participate in this dance in traditional costumes. In Punjab the goddess durga is worshipped along with fasting and chanting durga bhajans religious songs called jagrata during the navratri.
Dussehra is the culmination of the festival Navaratri a festival of nine nights hence the name dedicated to the worship of a deity Hindu Shakti, the goddess of strength. Dussehra falls on the tenth day of this period). In the days prior to Dussehra are represented, outdoors, in North India, the myths of the Ramlila, a short version of the epic Ramayana. The actors play in traditional costumes and ancient stories of Rama, Sita, Ravana, Hanuman, Lakshman, Sugriva, Meghnath and so on.
It is believed that this festival is the best opportunity to start something new, such as a trip, or a project and to buy jewelry of gold and silver, tools or household items. In this period, in fact in many stores are practiced price discounts, in fact, this festival coincides with the end of the harvest for which is the time when people have more money. On the day of Dussehra government offices and shops are closed.
Within this celebration, every area of India carries out various traditional rituals. For example, in Karnataka it makes a big procession in honor of the goddess Chamundeshwari on a throne that is transported on elephant back in the city of Mysore. Still, always in Karnataka, is used to bless household tools or working as books, computers, cooking utensils, cars etc.. In Bengal instead people prepare special foods including fried bread luchi and snacks with spiced potatoes aloo dum.
During this festival are remembered even the mythical stories of the Hindu Mahabharata, which tells of the five Pandava brothers who fought the forces of evil and, before going to exile for a year, then they forsook their special weapons in a Shami tree where, on their return, before fighting a battle that subsequently won, prostrated themselves in adoration of that same tree.
One of the most deep-rooted festival in India is that of Dussehra, which is celebrated in the month of Ashwin and Kartik. The Indians celebrate the event for almost 10 days, during which there are no special rituals of fasting. The festival celebrates the victory of Lord Ram over the demon's most popular Hindu mythology, Ravana, but also the defeat of Mahishasur, known as the buffalo demon, the work of Ma Durga. A festival that celebrates the victory of good souls therefore of bad ones.
The ancient glory of Mysore, in Karnataka, current returns during the ten days dedicated to the Dasara Festival in 2013 until October 13 to 14 which culminates with the parade as usual on the day of Vijayadashami, during which we celebrate the symbolic victory of good over evil. Referred to as Naada Habba or the State Festival , the festival of Dasara is transformed here than in other regions due to the mix of religious and secular elements introduced over time and which have earned a final character carnival parade with floats and performances of various matrix folk, but without diluting the popular feel the essence of the religious celebrations.
In recent years the festival has become then the hub of many activities and events designed to increase tourism and investment in the city, the cocktail offered, based on history, charm of past times and modernity, represents continuity and change, always impressing welcomed the visitors, who may therefore find among the many expressions of local culture, one of their greatest pleasure: art and culture lovers can immerse themselves in a refined program of Carnatic classical music and dance, the young wild concerts of stars of 'Indipop organized by the Yuva Dasara , Dasara for the youth, and lovers of art history can explore the splendor of the many buildings for which the city is famous.
But even outside of the holiday period, Mysore has all the potential to become a leading tourist center in South India, thanks to its proximity to centers such as the magnificent temple Hoysala of Somnathpur, the city-fortress of Srirangapatnam, the Bandipur National Park or to the ancient temples of Talakad, covered up by the dunes formed by the abrupt bend of the river Kaveri, not to mention the architectural heritage of the city itself.
It is assumed that this festival originally was a simple act of thanksgiving for the Vedic God Indra, held responsible for the much awaited seasonal rains. Later, he acquired connotations more complex, such as the victory of good over evil, symbolized by the killing of the demon king Ravana at the hands of the hero divine Rama. In Mysore the festival is also associated with, and especially that of the demon Mahishasura was killed by Durga , the principal local deity called here Chamundeswari , whose temple is situated on the hills of the same name Chamundi Hills from which you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city.
The tradition of Dasara, grand festivals such as the State, was born with the Vijayanagara Empire (1336 -1565 AD) and was later inherited by the local feudal lords, the Wodeyar, who have maintained until nowadays. When, after the fall of Tipu Sultan in 1799, the capital was dislocated by Srirangapatna in Mysore, the Wodeyar introduced the custom of holding a public hearing, a durbar, during the celebrations, this special durbar, which was addressed, however, exclusively to Notable British and European guests of fame, made over time in Mysore Dasara celebrations of the social event of the season. The twenty-six frescoes that adorn the Kalyana Mantapa in the Mysore Palace will show the splendor of the time.
After Indian Independence in 1947, several changes were introduced: the Maharaja seated on a howdah gold - saddle canopy elephant which was the focus of the parade of caparisoned elephants, was replaced with a statue of the goddess Chamundeshwari, carried in procession and durbar has been deleted.
What was the occasion for the Maharajas main allies and rivals to flaunt their wealth and military power of the state, but today has become an opportunity to showcase the cultural diversity of Karnataka and organizational efficiency of its government. And yet, for some it is still possible today to have a little taste of the past, as all the major religious rituals associated with the festival are officiated by the heir of the reigning house, Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wodeyar dressed in sumptuous clothes and gifts adorned with jewels of inestimable value.
During the days of the festival, the ruler of this kingdom that no longer is routinely subjected to ritual bath, after which performs the worship of the family deity in the palace, the Amba Vilas Palace, then journey towards the hall of the durbar accompanied by the chanting of mantras and ascend to the throne of gold, from which it receives the homage of the court, however, in what is now only a matter of family tradition attended by a select audience.
The most important ones are held in Mysore (Karnataka), Ahmedabad (Gujarat), Kullu (Himachal Pradesh). Spectacular Durga Puja in Calcutta (Kolkata).
Navaratri is the festival of Nine Nights (Nava = nine, ratri = nights); the feast that is 5 to 13 October has this name because it indicates its duration and its powerful spiritual significance. These nine these days and nine nights are dedicated to the feminine aspect of the divine principle. Navaratri is celebrated during the new moon in October: the days before the equinox open in conjunctions very important spiritual forces and movements of energy.
The name of this sacred festival, celebrated all over India with great intensity and devotion, specifically stating the nights Navratri is a festival of passage and passing of the Night. Here the Divine Feminine is strength and power that absorbs and destroys transformed into any form of dark If this universe, in the cosmos and on earth, in each individual.
The festival of Navratri is not simply the feast of the Goddess. The divine feminine these days do you intent, will and effective capacity for destruction and transformation of darkness and evil. The first three days of this festival honoring the power of Durga-Kali . In the darkness of night-conscience of mankind, and therefore also in the dark of the individual conscience Durga Kali , with its destructive power, free the world and our soul from the dark and demonic qualities that resist, do not subject themselves to the Light and do not bring you in His service. It clears out, around and within every human being.
It is said that many eons ago, when the Human Being had not yet appeared, these days the goddess Durga-Kali emerged from the waters of the ocean to fight the demons that had occupied the land. The land was cleared because it was intended as a "gym" experience, consciousness and spiritual evolution of the human race. Durga-Kali is the force that has made the human life on the globe. It is on this occasion that the Goddess is adorned necklace made of skulls : are the skulls of the slain demons. Symbolically, this image of Durga teaches that cleanse the world (inner and outer) allows humans to live a new life.
Ram Navami is one of the five most popular and oldest festivals of India, is celebrated in honor of the birth of Rama, the seventh avatar of Mahavishnu. It occurs on the ninth day of the month of Chaitra (April-May) of the Hindu lunar calendar. Rama born as the eldest son of Dasaratha King and Queen Kausalya of Ayodhya is the symbol of perfection, the Uttama purusha who embodies the archetype of rationality, honesty and right action. He represents the model of the perfect son, devoted brother, the ideal husband, faithful friend, the ruler of the opponent honest and noble.
Ramayana parayanam are the nine days before the event, where the pundits scholars of the Vedas describe in detail the history of crowds of devotees of Rama. It is believed that listening to the story of Rama to purify the soul. Rama is the hero of the Ramayana, one of the most beautiful and most popular stories of the Hindu tradition.
As per the epic, the young Rama, wins and marries the beautiful Sita, after managing to bend the divine bow of Lord Shiva. Deceived in succession to the throne of the kingdom of Kosala, he retreats into exile for fourteen years in the forest with his brother Lakshmana and his wife Sita. During the exile Sita is abducted by the demon Ravana that the door in his garrison on the island of Lanka . With the help of Hanuman, the monkey god, Rama attacks and destroys Ravana and his army, rescuing Sita, and re-establishing peace on Earth and in the Universe.
On his return to Ayodhya, the capital of his kingdom was proclaimed King. Rama is the symbol of perfection, the Uttama purusha who embodies the archetype of rationality, honesty and right action. Represents the model of the perfect son, devoted brother, the ideal husband, faithful friend, the ruler of the opponent honest and noble. He is depicted with a conical hat symbolizing his royal and divine attributes. Anyone meditate and recite his name Ram as a mantra, absorbed in devotion is freed from the pains of life and get "moksha" liberation.
It is believed that fasting on the Ram Navami, bring immense happiness and a lot of luck. The devotees, do not ask for personal favors to the deity but they ask for perfection in human values that Rama embodies.
If we all were to follow the example and the values that Rama has given us, we will live with the soul certainly lighter, in a better world.
According to the Vedas, the Supreme Lord appeared in treta Yuga the era of silver in the form of a warrior for Ramacandra accomplish his will by divine sankalpa and to manifest their pastimes lila. His life is told in the Ramayana of Sri Valmiki. Ramayana tells how Lord Ramacandra appeared on earth in human form by the greenish color and the sleek body as fresh green grass. For this reason, the color is the green of Rama and Sita his partner is the one who is "born of the rut of the Earth", the daughter of the Earth itself.
Sri Rama Navami falls on the ninth day as Ugadi, New Year India according to one of the two systems calculation used and concludes the festival of Vasanta Navaratri which lasts nine days Ugadi. 'Vasanta' is spring. 'Nava' means nine. Nine days of Spring, then. Rama, as Avatar is one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the Divine. Sri Rama Navami is the birthday of Rama, whose embodiment was intended to express all the ideals dear man. Rama was an ideal son, an ideal brother, an ideal husband and father, an ideal ruler.
The name of Rama is considered holy and without equal. The significance of Rama is bliss without limit. In the word 'Rama' there are three letters: R + but + a. letter 'R' symbolizing fire has the power to incinerate any "sin", slag, residue, crystallization ego. letter 'A' symbolizing the moon has the power to cool the fever of which man suffers and to confer peace. A stands for Chandra, the moon deity. Everyone loves the light of the moon. The moonlight is cool and serene: it soothes, calms, soothes, reassures us and makes us forget. It is bearer of peace and calm the agitations of the mind. The mind is turbulent and agitated, and a restless mind is calmed by the coolness of the moon.
'Ma' represents the sun (surya) and dispels the darkness of ignorance, giving the illumination of wisdom. So, the word 'Rama' has the triple power of destroying sins, to give peace and dispel ignorance pacifying emotions and anxieties "When you say the word 'Rama', before you open your mouth with the sound 'Ra', and all your sins come out, while your mouth is open. When you say the 'M', closing the mouth, the entry is barred, so that sins can not just come back. SB " Rama also has a second meaning: Two in One. There are two schools of philosophy in Sanatana Dharma: those who worship Vishnu, and who are called Vaishnavite, and those who worship Shiva, and are called Saivite.
The mantra of Vaishnavite is Namo Narayana Narayana Narayana, while Saivite read: Namah Shivaya Namah Shivaya. But since true wisdom consists in not dualism, thinking that Shiva and Vishnu are separated is meaningless, as Vishnu and Shiva are identical, they are one and the same. Shiva is the personification of the sacred mantra Namah Sivaya. Vishnu is the personification of the sacred mantra of eight syllables Namo Narayanaya the syllable Ma is the life force of five syllables of the mantra: Om Namah Sivaya.
If you remove But, it becomes Na Sivaya, which has a negative meaning, not auspicious. Similarly, the syllable Ra is the life force of eight syllables of the mantra: Om Namo Narayanaya. The Divine Name of Rama is formed, therefore, the life force of the sacred sound But, the mantra Namah Sivaya and by the sacred syllable Ra of Namo Narayanaya. SB A third meaning of Rama comes from Hara (Shiva) and Uma his consort Parvati. Ra is Shiva and Maa is Parvati. When we say Rama praise both.
Ra Rama also means: That the whole, the Divine, the Universal Soul, and 'But', the individual soul, the jiva. , in the name Rama are one and the same thing: Oh Man, you do not consider yourself as a separate entity name of the father of Rama Dasaratha, Dasaratha, it is simply not the father of Rama and a king of the past but the representation of the ten senses 5 senses of action and 5 perception of Dasa means ten, Ratha means chariot.
The human body is a chariot with ten senses. So each is Dasaratha. The capital city is ruled by Emperor Dasaratha that Ayodhya is a place where no enemy can never enter. Ayodhya was the capital of the kingdom of Kosala. No enemy was able to access it, which is why it was called Ayodhya which means invincible, unconquerable. It was founded by Manu name of the first man, the son of Surya Sun God, founder of the human race and the first legislature. The river Sarayu, which arises from Mânasasarovar, flowed near.
The lake Mânasasarovar deep and placid lake of the mind is the earthly manifestation of the divine will. Ayodhya symbolizes the man's body, no one can enter in our bodies and in our minds without our consent. This sacred city is ruled by Emperor Dasharatha, the father of Ramachandra and married with three queens. The three queens, Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi represent the three gunas or attributes constituent of matter, present in all of us rajas, sattva and tamas. According to the story, the king Dasaratha had four sons Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna representing the four Vedas.
The voice of God is called Veda. The breath of God is called Veda. Veda Purusha the Supreme Spirit of the Vedas was born as the son of Dasaratha, the Vedas were born from Prachetas another name of Valmiki. The Ramayana is the manifestation of the Vedas descended from Heaven to Earth. There are four parts of the Vedas: the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Vedas. In the Ramayana, Rama is the Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Lakshmana, Bharata and Atharva Sama Veda is Veda is Shatrughna. The four brothers, taking the form of the four Vedas, play their roles in the home of Dasaratha.
They also represent the four goals of life that every man should achieve: dharma, artha, kama, moksha. Dharma is righteousness, Artha is wealth, kama and moksha is the desire is liberation. With us earn the dharma artha - the well-being and get kama, desires fulfilled properly. When we gain rightly and properly our desires, we obtain in a natural way the fourth, moksha. Below are the four objectives represented by the four brothers, Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna.
Sita, Rama's wife is 'Brahma jnana', or Spiritual Wisdom. Legend has it that Sita Ramachandra followed unconditionally in the forest. She had been asked to follow him. He had no need to go, but simply followed her husband. He was very happy. While he was in the forest, he was fascinated by a golden deer. This was the cause of separation from Rama. "Until when Rama was in his mind, that her husband (the Divine) she always enjoyed the Spiritual Wisdom (Brahma Jnana). Once arisen a sort of enchantment and delight towards the golden deer, Sita had to be separated from Rama.
This means that when he took over kama, or desire the charm, it is moving away from Rama (God). When Sita was abducted, Rama went to his research. While he was looking, he found himself facing a mountain named Rishi Jamuka. The name of the mountain means detachment. There, on Rishyamukha, Rama met Sugriva. Sugriva and Hanuman were two monkeys human. Sugriva came to seek refuge at the feet of Rama. Hanuman was ready to help Rama. Hanuman was the head of the army of Sugriva and was ready to follow the commandments of Rama.
Rama, who is also the individual soul, seeking the friendship of Sugriva, that is discrimination. Even the latter seeks the help of Hanuman which represents courage. This means that a spiritual seeker should have discrimination viveka, and courage dratva. Dratva is the courage symbolized by Hanuman. Viveka is discrimination symbolized by Sugriva. Both are close to Ramachandra. In the Ramayana it is also said that Rama crossed the ocean.
This symbolizes the sea through the confusion and the illusion of those who still clings to life and transient. The transient pleasure is the ocean. We are all in the ocean, totally immersed in it. Hanuman is the one who crossed the ocean. He represents courage, a brave man only one who can cross this ocean, not a timid man or a coward. Hanuman crossed the ocean by repeating the name of God Sri Rama Navami is not only the birthday of Rama but also the day in which the marriage took place with Sita. Rama symbolizes the dharma. Sita symbolizes wisdom. Wisdom should be supported by dharma. You should have joined the dharma wisdom.
This is the meaning of holy matrimony or Sita Kalyanam. Sita yoga instead means separation from Sita. Sita Rama had to leave because of his desire for the golden deer. When the desire for the golden deer dominated Sita, the separation occurred. Viyoga is separation, is samyoga union. When dharma, righteousness and wisdom are united, Rama and Sita are together. This is samyoga or union. But when kama, or the desire dominates, this leads to viyoga or separation.
In the forest, Rama spent a lot of time alone with Lakshmana. This is what we call vanavasa, a life of exile. Dharma is accompanied by Lakshmana, the mind. Vanavasa means: the mind and the Dharma together. Atmarama Rama, Rama is our true Self. The Atma is Rama. Ra is the Self, But it is the mind. But, the mind must be submissive, must merge in the Self. Once the mind is put aside, there remains only the Self, which is Rama.
It is believed that fasting on the Ram Navami, bring immense happiness and a lot of luck. The devotees, do not ask for personal favors to the deity but they ask for perfection in human values that Rama embodies revered for his infinite compassion, courage and devotion to religious values.
Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Lord Rama. The Festival is recognized and celebrated throughout India with pujas, sacred songs and fast. in processions through the streets of cities and towns, parade floats with statues of Sita, Rama, his brother Lakshmana and Hanuman, His devotee. The temples are lavishly decorated and is read the Ramayana - text array Baghavatha (devotional) that tells His birth and His story.
Lord Rama was the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, and was a powerful king of the Solar Dynasty. Rama was an incarnation of God himself,of that aspect of God (Vishnu), which supports and nourishes its creation and defends life in all its forms. According to the Vedic tradition, Lord Vishnu incarnates on Earth over and over again to support the evolution of human beings and all beings in existence. His coming here responds to the promise of God to intervene whenever the Law and the Cosmic Balance and are upset by the bad. There have been several incarnations of Vishnu avatariche; Rama is the embodiment of Dharma specifically.
In the Ramayana (epic) tells of Kaikesi, Princess of demonic nature, that come in age of marriage only to those who decided to join her was equal to power and who could grantirle descendants exceptional capacity for dominance. Discarded all the kings of the world (because it is not powerful equal to her), Kaikesi chose as her husband a Brahmin, Visrava. From this marriage was born Ravana, who became ferocious demon king of Lanka. Ravana is the son of the Brahmin sage and Princess demons (asura = demon); as a child is educated by his father to the knowledge of the Vedas and raised by his mother in the values demonic (dark)
The origins of Ravana, therefore, were contemporameamente Light and Darkness; Ravana, then, was a brahmin who ASURA: Demon by nature and original Brahmin (knower of Divine Truth) for culture and learning. Ravana knew all the Vedas and sacred texts; mastered the sacred rituals and formulas divine. But his nature was obscure: Ravana, in accordance with its nature, was spontaneously attracted by power and dominance.
Ravana in his life he accumulated more and more power by using their rituals, sacred words and tools: the use of these was directed to personal ends to extend its hegemony over all the lands. When he became king Ravana of Lanka, and his hand on the ground swept unimaginable cruelty AND VIOLENCE.
The texts tell us that the Earth Goddess in person asked God for help, against the atrocities of Ravana.
God, therefore, in the aspect of Vishnu (defender and supporter of his own creation) decided to incarnate in order to defeat the demon Ravana and thus was born as Prince Rama, son of King Dasaratha and Queen Kausalya, in the kingdom of Ayodhya.
Rama was born with Avatar, defender of the Dharma. The Dharma is thought, word and action in line with the Self, the Divine Consciousness own and that, therefore, they thought, word, and action that respond to the Divine Plan on Earth.
Just before you kill him, Ravana Rama said: "You fool! Listen The first advice I'll give you Dharma. In the world there are three types of human beings. The first is similar to the tree 'Patali' giving beautiful flowers but no fruit; so are those who speak it very well and very happy, but not put into practice nothing of what they say. Then there are those like banana tree, which gives flowers and fruits: so are those who say the right and practice it. Finally, the tree 'jack', which does not only flowers but fruits: humans do not blather of the best kind, do not boast nor are rhetorical, but act in silence.
Rama is the Living Inside. Rama means that which gives happiness that is Atma, the Soul the presence of God who makes inner voice. The Feast of Rama is the feast of Dharma in human existence. Sing, meditate, repeat the name of Rama on this day (and every other day) is to connect with the Cosmic Law because they install in their lives, because to be installed in individual consciousness and become light and inner voice to guide their lives.
Ravana is the use of dark spiritual power; spiritual knowledge is not used in the service of consciousness, but in the service of self, of ego, of his fame and power. The spiritual power can be acquired through austere practices and studies or be innate, but it is dangerous if it increases the capacity of the ego vanity and presumption spiritual. Ravana is that part of us that slips attachment to social recognition to the role of vision - up to a desire for power. Anime can also be the source light, but if our desire for visibility, fame and power are beyond our government, and rampant at the expense of Truth and Dharma, then slip in the dark pole.
The answer to this dark side of the human being (Ravana) is Rama, the Cosmic Law. Rama Ravana wins Our dark aspects, our impulse to superiority, pride and spiritual manipulation spiritual can be put at the service of God, we can also express our strong ego drive if you put at the service of the divine law, not exploit it for its own purposes.
Mother Ganga purifies everything. The god who by the will of Brahma abandoned the amusements of the celestial world to immerse in the belly of India, among the mortals to accomplish work of purification. Varanasi city of death where death means to go directly to heaven. Magical place, where there are no differences hell or belonging, a place to live or die is not of great importance, where women, the elderly, children, people from all over the world live each in their size on the Ghat steps to the Great Mother sleep, eat, wash, pray, meditate, look at the charm of this river that surrounds and protects all.
Its enough along the river at dawn to see that nothing has changed for thousands of years, men, women, children and animals are there, those who dive, who washes, those who make offerings of milk, rice up to a candle and we do not we can only let ourselves be embraced by this Great Mother and offer a puja or a candle in our memory that one of these children Dom helps to take its course. A wonderful union between being and spirituality in which the deity can only be Woman and Mother
The mother of the rivers once lived in heaven with his sister Uma. When the demons evil raged on earth, the wise Agastya swallowed the ocean of demons, but the land remained barren and dry: in fact, the heat in the stomach of the wise was so high that the water evaporated immediately. Moved by the prayers of his people, the heavenly goddess Ganga water rushed on earth. The power of Ganga could sweep the world, if he had not met with obstacles, but the god Shiva received the torrent on the head and saved the Earth. Since then, the Goddess incarnate in the sacred river Ganges flows through India.
According to some Ganga was also in the sky in the form of the celestial river that we call the Milky Way, while another part of the Ganga would flow underground. Benares, where they meet the three Ganges, was considered one of the many sacred places in Ganga, to the point that people are immersed every day in the purifying waters. The pilgrims came there as they do today once a year to take advantage of the promise of Ganga to wash ten sins for each of the last ten lifetimes of the devotee who is immersed in its waters.
Many Hindu devotees even try to die when they are immersed in the Ganges, because the Goddess who assumes human form, he lives in his river; Ganga fact ensures the release from each instant so as punishment from reincarnation to those who die in its water. Ganga, which is one of the major dee Hinduism, often appears together with other powerful gods, for example a couple with Uma, or by forming a triad with the other goddesses of the river, Saraswati, and Yauni; or appears in a group of five deities, along with Saraswati, Lakshmi, Durga, Savitri, all aspects of Devi (goddess) and Prakriti (the earth).
The role of Ganga in all these combinations is to ensure the health, happiness, fertility and material wealth. Coventina Among the Celts, both insular and continental, the goddesses were often perceived in the form of streams. The Earth Goddess was seen in a territory not already in the ground, but that bathing in the river. Better defined as goddesses of the waters these deities included Boann of the Boyne, Belisama the Mersey, Sinnan Shannon, and Coventina's Carrawburgh in England. Dee Many of these were considered gods healing; the offerings were brought to the places sacred to them to achieve health.
In addition, Celtic water goddesses were also spirits of inspiration and prophecy, similar to the Greek muses or Carmenta Roman. Coventina was the personification of the sacred source of Carrawburgh located in Britannia, along Hadrian's Wall. The spring fed a small pit surrounded by a wall and was used by the Celts in the region that went beyond the wall, with coins, jewels and objects of everyday use as an offering to the Goddess. They were mostly women to make these offerings to propitiate a safe birth. Goddess Coventina was a healer for which it was believed that the waters of its source could heal many ailments.
It was often depicted as a water nymph lying half-naked in the waves or pouring water from a cup. In her sacred well in Northumberland were found the remains, including portraits of the goddess, in which it appears in graceful poses: in a sculpture, for example, it is seen lying on a bed of aquatic plants while pouring the river from an urn; other is based on the branches of some aquatic plants, while casual gesture timer with the contents of his bucket.
The immaculate, also called Ardvi Sura Anahita (the damp, the strong, the immaculate). Anahita was one of the main deity of the ancient Persian empire. Goddess of water sources, fertility and motherhood, embodied the physical and metaphorical qualities of water, fertilizer strength that flowed from its source in the stars supernatural. ruled by extension on the seed, and fertilizes welling and therefore on human generation and all other forms of propagation on earth.
In this virgin high and mighty his people saw the image of both the mother and the warrior; for his people it was essentially a protective mother who fed him generously and at the same time fiercely defended by the enemy. In statuary, Anahita appears as the mother of gold, attired with a golden headdress and a cape embroidered in gold, adorned with thirty otter skins and adorned with gold square earrings and a diamond-studded tiara. Other descriptions say it was traveling up and down our world in a chariot drawn by four white horses symbolizing the winds, rain, clouds and hail. His symbols were the dove and the peacock.
It takes place on Dasaswamedh Ghat where some officiants performing an elaborate puja ritual offering that has as its essential component of the fire, all in a very mystical and engaging. The Ganga Aarti is performed on a stage by a group of young pandit dressed in saffron robes.
It starts with the breath in a shell, it continues with the waving of incense sticks in elaborate pirouettes and then you go to the great lamps of fire that create a play of light and dark shapes in the sky. All this is accompanied by songs, hymns and bells. The heady scent of sandalwood fills the air.
This year the World Environment Day falls during the Ganga Dussehra, ten days of celebration in honor of the holy river Ganges. The rivers in India are considered goddesses what for us is the Ganges in India is the Ganga Mata, the mother Ganga with its sacred waters that nourish the earth, cleans the karma from the sins committed and helps men to break the bonds that condemn us to the continual rebirth.
At one time the goddess Ganga flowed on earth, but wants the myth , only the sky and the men could see only in his heavenly form, the Milky Way. Then one day the king Bhagirath tried his hand in the enterprise to bring the sacred river on earth to purify the ashes of his ancestors, the sons of King Sagara, the ocean. It was not easy to draw the attention of the god Brahma, the creator, and get her intercession; Bhagirath but he was a man who knew how to make pure-austerity incredible stay in meditation with his arms raised for a thousand years, for example.
Brahma convinced the goddess Ganga to descend to the world of men, but in his heart he was not at all happy to be surrounded by sinners, selfish and ignorant, and hoped to resolve the matter destroying the earth with the force of the water falling. Brahma prevented the catastrophe encouraging Bhagiratha to propitiate the god Shiva, so frenasse the wrath of the goddess during the descent.
Then the king began to meditate and do this austerity-time balancing on one foot only-until Shiva appeared to him and agreed to help him. Then came the longed for the day when the Ganges drained from the Milky Way live on the earth. Waiting on top of Mount Kailash Shiva who was captured the rushing waters in his thick head of dredlock. The Ganga flowing into India is the water that falls from one of the locks of the hair of the god.
The myth of the descent of the Ganges, Gangavataran , is recounted in many holy texts-Purana, Ramayana and Mahabharata-and it is a theme often represented in sculpture-two splendid example only Gangavataran the Shiva cave of Elephanta and the relief on the monolith of Mamallapuram .
The mythological stories are always imaginative and hyperbolic, but going up the Ganges in Uttarakhand up to its source in the glacier over Gangotri one of the goals of the pilgrimage of Char Dham, one has the feeling that tell the truth. At 3500 meters high, when the glacier flows from the Ganges is flowing in a while rushing plateau and its waters are not typical of the usual light blue glacial waters, but earthy and golden.
The most sacred river in the world is really special. Not only in the mountains where he was born, the Ganges and unique charm is strong even in the midst of his journey, when he touches slow and polluted the ghats of Varanasi city. It will be the charm, the thousands of prayers, the absolute faith of the people that you bathe and drink the water considered pure.
But along the banks of the Ganga is easy to feel in harmony with the world; as if the river, or the mother goddess that is, to do as she asked: accept and let it slide, take-everything-even the putrid and continue to give, with generous love. Ganga is also one of the most polluted rivers of the earth . Over the years, dams, factories, crops expanded, population growth and sewers threaten the life of the holy river. The Ganga Mata today is no longer what it was a hundred years ago.
In the myth of the goddess was afraid that the earthly descent and contact with men might compromise their purity, in fact, every year the glacier that feeds it withdraws its waters and pollute the most, although it continues to be considered a holy river . For ten days Ganga Dussehra, especially on 8 June, feast on the banks of the Ganges in the major cities that were born near: Varanasi, Rishikesh, Haridwar and Allahabad devotees make special ablutions, the priests chant holy mantras and all around is a continuous rise in the sky of devotional songs and praises to the goddess.
But the most compelling is the evening, after sunset, and when the aarti (fire ceremony) let themselves slide into the river hundreds of boats made of leaves on which are placed candles, flowers and sweets. To thank the goddess of his presence, which brings life on earth. To commemorate and celebrate her down hopefully still a thousand of these days.
The Ganges is evidence to the proof of a young man who spend his days immersed in the waters, and when he come to the ground tell the treasures of the beautiful mansions that he has seen down there, where the sun's rays never reach and it has barely monstrous currents that defy fantasy. His life flow beneath the river where he can go without breathing for hours, and every day with a new exciting adventure, every time to bring to light the fire that burn in the depths.
It all started with a challenge to cross a overflowing monsoon canal during our school days but nobody dared to take the even for his promise of a months supply of ice creams, when nobody was willing. But he won’t backtrack, but we were scared and eventually although tries to dissuade him through all means finally hit upon an idea to create a safety neck, so that in any extreme condition we would be able to help him and without his knowledge as he wouldn’t let us do it anyhow as he wanted to go for a challenge.
We secretly collected lots of bamboos and decided that our friend group will divide into two groups and will be watching our challenging friend from both banks of the canal, when he attempts for the unthinkable with almost an impossible challenge. A bet and that one of those easy to define absurd. On the fateful afternoon he decided to take the plunge and slowly pushed himself into the water but the enterprise proved impossible and in a couple of minutes the laughter gave way to fear and anxiety.
Unable to cross the waters, we suddenly were scrambling for getting the bamboos from our secret location but there he was who suddenly turned his body upside down and in moments we could see he gained more force and smoothly glide with the waters to the other bank. And now he repeats that event every other day that has become a tradition, dip in the hostile waters in challenging adverse weather conditions and the icy waters, heedless of the consequences that could arise.
Everywhere and always a brave half man and half fish challenged the deep waters to re-float in the treasure guarded by water, a symbol of a spiritual need and more cultural than material.
Today, the chap has not still abandoned his old dream to penetrate the depths to learn their secrets, perhaps in search of his life immersed in the silence of the amniotic fluid the man who chose to challenge an item that is no longer his to satisfy his own desire for adventure and knowledge, that every day when the gods of the river are friends wearing the suit and mask and runs into the unknown that is seventy perhaps, a hundred feet below him to sway driven by the current, the coveted treasure, or just a desert of sand and rock.
He has always been the symbol of man's challenge to the depths of the water, often unattainable mirage, myth and reality, waiting at the foot of a rainbow of hope that plunges into the waters until you reach the depth inviolate.
It’s hard to explain why a man decides to abandon the certainties of "normal" life to devote his body and soul to traverse the rivers. The lure of unknown alone is not enough, everyone knows that "good" branches covered with bright red, will be followed by many full of tiny water fans nice-looking but worthless, that a period of rich fishing will succeed other research in vain, in the whims of the water in few days of calm and most of the storm.
It is not the wealth that draws man toward the bottom, because often the gain will not even cover the costs, nor comfortable life without the worry of the card to be stamped at the office, because the activity of the diver is made of hard sacrifice, awake at dawn, dive into the icy water of December of days away from home and loved ones.
Still, every time the river closes over the fins at the beginning of a new dive, when the thread of the safety buoy is the only reference and the bubbles of the dispenser, the only evidence of life that continues there, only then the diver, the man becoming fish regains its true essence. At the end of each dive the diver finds himself richer, more or less has found his treasure.
The descent into the endless waters, the silence broken by the beating of the heart, a treasure hunt, the fleeting moment when the hand grabs the flower of the abyss and puts it in the basket, the ascent towards the sun, the long stop to purify tissues with nitrogen accumulated in depth, the return to the boat and air in an infinitesimal fraction of time passes the meaning of life, the journey into the unknown, the search for knowledge, the return to the prenatal and immediately after the reality that being alive is awesome.
Chaitra Navratri, also known as Ram Navratri or Basanti Puja is observed in the month Chaitra. It is observed from the first to the ninth day during Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) of the month of Chaitra (March-April) according to the traditional Hindu lunar calendar. The ninth day is celebrated as Ram Navami and then the party is also called Ram Navratri. The festival is popularly called Chaitra Navratri.
This festival of nine nights is dedicated to Goddess Durga and takes place during the spring season, so it is also known as Vasant Navaratri. In some regions the nine days are dedicated to the worship of Lord Ram and includes the reading of the Ramayana and the celebration of the week of the Ramayana.
Popular belief has it that the goddess Durga was worshiped in Navratri and Durga Puja during the month of Chaitra, which was known as Basanti Puja. But Sri Rama invoked the goddess Durga in the month of Ashwin (September-October) to get his blessing in the fight against Ravana. For this the celebrations of Durga Puja and Navratri have been moved from Chaitra month Ashwin.
Today, Ram Navratri is observed mainly in North India and includes various forms of worship of the goddess Durga. The main puja in some regions are dedicated to Rama, and his birthday is observed on the ninth day of the month Chaitra - Ramnavami.
Chaitra Navratri, also known as Ram Navratri or Basanti Puja is observed in the month Chaitra. It is observed from the first to the ninth day during Shukla Paksha waxing phase of moon of the month of Chaitra (March-April) according to the traditional Hindu lunar calendar. The ninth day is celebrated as Ram Navami and then the party is also called Ram Navami. The festival is popularly called Chaitra Navratri.
This festival of nine nights is dedicated to Goddess Durga and takes place during the spring season, so it is also known as Vasant Navaratri. In some regions the nine days are dedicated to the worship of Lord Rama and then it is customary to attend the reading of the Ramayana and the theater of the epic.