Showing posts with label Lord Shiva. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lord Shiva. Show all posts

Monday, June 18, 2012

School of Hinduism (Lesson-3)


Why do we ring a bell in the temple? The ringing of the bell produces what is regarded as an auspicious sound. It produces the sound Om, the universal name of the Lord... There should be auspiciousness within and without, to gain the vision of the Lord who is all-auspiciousness...

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Why do we blow the conch (shankh) as part of worship (pooja)? When conch is blown, the primordial sound of Om emanates. Om is an auspicious sound representing the Truth behind the world. Om is the universal name of the Lord.

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A kalasha is placed on all important Hindu rituals. It is a pot filled with water with mango leaves kept at its mouth, a coconut placed over it and a thread tied around its neck. The water in the kalasha symbolizes the primordial water from which the entire creation emerged. The leaves and coconut represent creation. The thread represents the love that "binds" all in creation. The kalasha is therefore considered auspicious and worshipped...

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Meaning of fasting in Hinduism: Fasting means 'Upavaas' in Sanskrit. 'Upa' means 'near' and 'vaas' means 'to stay'. Upavaas means 'to stay near the Lord'. Purpose of not taking food was to free oneself from the time consumed with preparing food and resulting effects like dullness and agitation. So we either eat only fruits, light food or no food at all, thereby making our mind free, alert and pure, only to spend time in devotion. Staying near God... Upavaas...

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Lord Shiva is also worshipped as Pashupati, literally Lord of the beasts and symbolically He who Controls our beastly passions... Shiva as Pashupati is worshipped in Pashupati Nath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal.

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Lord Shiva is also called Vrikshanath. Mythology says that when Shiva meditated, from the heat of his austerities, tapas, rose every herb, shrub, grass, creeper and tree... Shiva became lord of all vegetation, Vrikshanath... I think closeness with nature is a unique feature of our Hinduism...

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Lord Shiva is also called Bhuteshvar, meaning "Master of the Elements"... There are five elements, the bhutas: earth, air, light, water and ether...

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"Under a great banyan tree, seated on a tiger skin, facing the south, dakshin, Shiva revealed all secrets of Yoga to seekers... He charged no fee, dakshina, and so his students called this great cosmic teacher 'Dakshinamurti'..."

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Shiva wandered in cremation grounds amidst the blazing pyres... Smearing His body with ash, bhasma, He became 'Bhasmeshvar', the lord of ash. "Every joy, every sorrow, every birth, every death, everybody, every mind, every event, every god and every cosmos, will end up in its own funeral pyre. After every fire only ash will remain. Why then be excited, why then be frustrated? Let me just be, exist in eternal equanimity, Vairagya." Shiva was at peace...

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Lord Shiva is also called Ekavratya, who lives by his own rules; Vaidyanath, the supreme physician; Somnath, keeper of the sacred plant Soma; Chandrashekhara, saviour of the moon; Jvareshwara, lord of fevers; Hara, the ravisher; Shankara, the benevolent one, a kind god...
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When Shiva went to marry Parvati, the bride's parents were shocked to see the groom with matted hair, ash smeared face, snakes around his neck and riding a bull. They called off the marriage. After Parvati ji's prayers Shiva transformed into the most handsom person ever seen, the personification of beauty... Lord Shiva is also called 'Sundaramurti'...

- Rahul Tiwary

Previous Posts: (1) School of Hinduism (Lesson-1) ; (2) School of Hinduism (Discussion-1 on Lesson-1) ; (3) School of Hinduism (Lesson-2)

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Why do Ladies Sing ‘Gaali ke Geet’ (slang-songs) during Marriage Ceremonies?


One of my Marathi friends went to attend his friend’s marriage in Banaras (Varanasi), UP and came back surprised. He asked me “Tumare side me shaadi ke samay gaali ke gaane kyon gaye jate hain?” (Why do they sing gaali (slang) songs during marriage ceremonies?)

The practice of singing taunting slang songs during marriage is prevalent in many parts of India. It can even be seen in Hindi movies, when bride’s friends sing that kind of songs to taunt the bridegroom and his friends/relatives. The usual practice is that the ladies on the bride’s side sing such slang-songs when the baarat (bridegroom’s party) arrives at the groom’s place. It is an interesting part of “welcome” ceremonies. It creates a funny situation, often embarrassing for the bridegroom and his friends. Such songs provoke groom’s side too and even they can answer the taunting songs with their own taunting songs thrown back towards the bride’s side. At times it becomes a curious pitted battle between the two sides. The reason why such a practice exists is not difficult to understand. Most importantly it “breaks the ice” between the two parties. As not all friends/relatives of bride and groom know each other, and this kind of a battle results in they dropping their ego and connecting with each other. At times, memories of such gaali-wars remain with both sides for a long time. Whenever they remember those, they can’t stop without smiling…

It is also to remember that this custom of singing slang-songs is only a part of the gamut of marriage ceremonies which involve lots of fun and adventures. For example, friends of the bride steal the shoes of the groom and they won’t return them back until the groom pleads to them (and of course sheds some weight from his purse). Next, the girls do “dwaar-chhekaai” when they cover the door and won’t allow the groom to enter the house. They will let him in only if he pleases them with whatever they demanded, for example singing a song, telling them a joke, or again, giving them some currency notes! Such teasing and harassing not only lightens up the environment, but also makes the ceremonies adventurous and fun. (May be psychologically this helps the bride-side to cope up with the sorrow of their daughter leaving them forever for a new place/family.)

Returning back to (gaali) slang-songs; as I said, it is part of the “welcome” ceremony alone. Afterwards when actual puja or hawan starts when sacred light is lit and offerings are made to gods after invoking the deities, such slang-songs are never repeated. When puja starts, ladies sing “mangal-gaan” (auspicious songs). There is a very clear distinction between the slang-songs (gaali ke geet) and the auspicious-songs (mangal-geet) which are sung as part of the marriage ceremonies. If we forget their distinct purpose and don’t notice the phase and time of the ceremonies when these are sung respectively, we would probably misunderstand the intentions involved…

While I explained this to the extent possible to my friends who had questioned it, I wanted some backing. Today, I got what I needed. (It is said that whenever you have doubts, read out random pages from our holy scriptures and you will get the answer.) Today, I read a page of Ramcharitmanas written by Tulsidas (published by Gita Press, Gorakhpur, with Hindi translation) and it gave me exact evidence and explanation behind this custom.

The following verses from Tulsidas’ Ramcharitmanas (baal-kaand) tell about the marriage ceremony of Shiva and Parvati:

“Vividh paanti baithi jevnaara| Laage parusan nipun suaaraa||
Naarivrind sur jewant jaani| Lagin den gaarin mridu baani||”

Meaning in Hindi:

“Bhojan karne walon ki bahut si pangaten baithin. Chatur rasoiye parosne lage. Striyon ki mandaliyan devtaon ko bhojan karte jaankar komal vaani se gaaliyan dene lagin.” ||4||

Meaning in English:

“They (gods in groom-side) sat down in many rows to eat. Smart waiters started to serve the food to them. When groups of ladies (from bride’s side) saw the gods eat, they started to sing slang-songs in soft voices.”

Next verse is like this:

Gaari madhur swar dehin sundari vyingya Vachan sunaavahin|
Bhojan karahin sur ati vilambu vinodu suni sabu paavahin||
Jewant jo badhyo aanandu so much kotihun na parai kahyo|
Achwai dinhe paan gavne baas Jahan Jaako rahyo||

Meaning in Hindi:

“Sundar striyan meethe swar me gaaliyan dene lagin aur vyangya bhare vachan sunaane lagin. Devgan vyangya sun kar bahut sukh Anubhav karte hain, is lie bhojan karne me badi der lagaa rahe hain. Bhojan ke samay jo anand badha woh karodon much se bhi nahi kahaa ja sakta. (Bhojan kar chukne par) sabke haath-muh dhula kar paan diye gaye. Fir sab log, jo jahan thahre the wahan chale gaye.”

Meaning in English:

Beautiful ladies started singing slang-songs and speaking taunting jokes in sweet voices. The gods were pleased with the humor in their songs and hence they were taking longer time to finish their food. The pleasantry spread during the time of food was such that it can’t be described even by 10 million mouths. After they finished their food, they were offered water for cleaning hands and then they were served with beetle leaves (paan). After that everyone went back to their place where they had stayed.

(Notice that the custom to offer paan to our guests has survived thousands of years of time; it was present during Shiva-Parvati marriage and is present even today.)

After one more verse, Ramcharitmanas tells that when marriage ceremony started with Vedic methods, the ladies started singing “mangal-geet” (auspicious songs). This is the exact sequence in which the custom is still followed in the present times.

So what do we conclude? I think after seeing this episode from Sri Ramcharitmanas, we understand that this custom is very old. Even gods (all gods including Vishnu and Brahma had come as part of Shiva’s baaraat) and Rishis accepted this gesture of slang-songs (gaali-ke-geet) in the right spirits. They didn’t mind being ridiculed in the ladies’ songs. When gods didn’t mind it but if we mind it today, it would show only our own lack of understanding of our culture and the true meanings behind customs and traditions. I am sure many of us don’t take this custom in the positive sense and would even ridicule UPites or those regions where such a custom even exists today. I wish they showed a better understanding of this tradition.

Now a day our children are studying in English schools and imitate the Western way of life. It is not surprising if our ladies don’t even know a single traditional song to sing on any such occasion! When they can’t sing a “mangal-geet” also, it is highly likely that they won’t know or show any inclination to sing these slang-songs too! (Though this custom has survived in our Hindi movies and can be seen in many TV soaps also. It indicates that may be this custom will not die forever). But there are chances that this custom can die, like many other harmless customs and traditions are on the verge of becoming extinct since they don’t fit with our young generation’s way of life and aspirations. But I would wish to see each one of us showing some respect in case we witness such customs and traditions still being practiced…

I strongly believe that today there is the greatest need for us to spread the true meaning of our religion (Hinduism), its customs, our culture and everything around it. If people don’t know true meaning behind the customs and abandon those, they are not totally at fault! I hope the above elaboration and quotation from Sri Ramcharitmanas would have been an eye-opener for many. Let us all prove that we care for our culture and traditions and trying to know the real meanings of things is part of that care…

Note: I have written the above article using my little experience and exposure. Your comments sharing your knowledge on this issue are highly welcome.

(Kumar Rahul Tiwary)

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

School of Hinduism (Lesson-2)


Shiva is not just a Tapasvin. He is also a Yogi. The aim of yoga is to unknot the mind, uncrumple the consciousness, attain the triple state of sat-chitta-ananda: unconditional truth, purified consciousness, tranquil bliss. Shiva is therefore associated with bilva leaves, whose three leaves represent sat-chitta-ananda and whose stalk holding the three leaves together represents yoga. The three blades of Shiva's trident also represent sat-chitta-ananda and its staff represents yoga.

When Parvati ji was doing Tapa to become worthy of marrying Shiva, she used to eat only leaves - Bel patra. In the last stage she even quit taking leaves. Hence she got the name "Aparna".

Lord Shiva is shown to carry a Drum in his hand. It is actually a rattle-drum which is used by men who control and train monkeys. Monkeys are Symbols of our Mind: like monkeys our mind is Restless. So rattle drum in Shiva's hand is a Symbolism to control and tame our mind through yoga, tapa, or bhakti... Om Namah Shivaya...

Lord Shiva is shown to have moon on his head. That moon is like a cup and hence it is the last day of the waning moon before it disappears from sky on a new moon night. When it appears so in the sky, it's Shiv-ratri and people pray to Shiva. The Moon is Symbol of our Moods. Like moon waxes and wanes our mood changes too from sadness to happiness. So people pray to Shiva on Shivratri to bless them with happiness, symbolized in moon coming back after new moon night by His blessings. Om Namah Shivay.

Bhagwan Shankar is called 'Bholenath'. He is not 'Ignorant' but 'Innocent'. There is a difference between

Devas wanted Shiva to marry Parvati, so they sent Kamdev to Shiva. But Shiva's third eye opened and Kamdev was burnt down. Devas told Parvati jokingly that Shiva had destroyed Kama. Parvatiji said, "In your eyes He has destroyed Kama today. But I know that He has always been Nishkaam and victorious." Such was her trust and devotion on Shiva... Only she was worthy of being Shiva's wife... Jai Shiv Shambhu, jai Ma Parvati!

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Why do we touch the feet of elders? Man stands on his feet. Touching the feet is a sign of respect for the age, maturity, nobility and divinity that our elders personify. It symbolizes our recognition of their selfless love for us. This tradition reflects the strong family ties in Indian/Hindu culture...

Homa (offering of oblations into the fire with sacred chants) signifies the offering or surrender of ego and egocentric desires into the flame of knowledge. The resulting ash signifies purity of mind resulting from such actions. Bhasma is especially associated with Shiva. Ash doesnt decay. God is the imperishable Truth that remains when all illusions of forms are dissolved.

At the end of the aarati, we place our hands over the flame and then touch our eyes and the top of the head. It means - may the light that illumined the Lord light up my vision, may my vision be divine and my thoughts noble and beautiful...

We break a coconut and offer as prasaada. The coconut is broken, symbolizing the breaking of the ego. The juice within, representing the inner tendencies (vaasanas) is offered along with the white kernel - the mind, to the Lord. A mind thus purified by the touch of the Lord is used as prasaada (a holy gift)...

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What is freedom? Some take it that freedom is identified with slavery to their own impulses. This is the freedom that makes drunkards, gluttons, and libertines. ... Liberty to realize what is our own will may be an essential condition of freedom, but until we are as free from that will, and the desires suggested by that body and mind, as from those of all the other hundreds of millions of human beings, we do not know what real freedom is. - Sister Nivedita of Ramkrishna-Vivekananda, around 1905.

Sri Ramakrishna was gathering flowers one morning for the temple worship. It suddenly flashed upon his mind that the whole earth was a vast altar, and the flowers blossoming on the plants were already offered in worship at the feet of God. Sri Ramakrishna never again gathered puja-flowers...

When Swami Vivekananda was a small kid, he got to know that our Rishis and sadhus sat on meditation such that they won’t know and their hair and beard will grow long enough to touch the ground... He also then sat on Dhyan mudra and after every 5 minutes he opened his eyes to check if his beard grew or not :-)) Then he went to his mother and complained, "Maa, why doesn’t my beard grow??" Ma told him that it happens when one meditates for too long... From that day, he started meditating regularly...

- Rahul Tiwary 

Previous Posts: (1) School of Hinduism (Lesson-1) ; (2) School of Hinduism (Discussion-1 on Lesson-1)

Monday, December 10, 2001

Book Review: Shiva Plays Dumb Charades by Devdutt Pattanaik


‘Fun in Devlok: Shiva Plays Dumb Charades’
By: Devdutt Pattanaik
Puffin Books
ISBN 978-0-143-33169-8

Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik is one of India’s most popular present day mythologists. I am a big fan of his writings and I picked up this book looking at its curious title. In his “Fun in Devlok” series of books which he has written for the children, Dr. Pattanaik tells simple and very interesting mythological stories explaining concepts in the easiest ways for children to grasp.

“Shiva Plays Dumb Charades” is set into a home where a group of children are playing the game of dumb charades. Suddenly, Lord Shiva, the ultimate and Supreme God, appears in front of them and becomes a participant. Next, as they all play Dumb Charades, the children get to know the real meanings of the symbols, gestures and portraits of Lord Shiva as seen in the Nataraj form. I found myself unable in explaining many of those concepts and this book was an enlightening read for me too.

The book is full of sketches friendly to children and font sizes are big. I found the back cover mentioning that the book is for children above 6 years age. Since I am also above 6 years of age, so I hope no one gives me a curious look if I collect all the books in this series for myself!

It’s a wonderful gift to children and an enlightening read for all. I highly recommend it to everyone.

- Rahul