Truth and Facts : Mythology

Durga Puja, or the annual celebration of Hindu goddess Durga, is one of India’s grandest festivals . It is a multiple-day celebration varying from 6 days in some parts of the country to 10 days in others. In most of Northern India the festival is celebrated as Navratri (nine nights). Regardless of these variations, the last four days of Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Vijay Dashami, are particularly important and accordingly celebrated with much splendor around the country. Origin and History The first grand worship of Goddess Durga in recorded history is said to have been celebrated in the late 1500s. Folklores say the landlords, or zamindar, of Dinajpur and Malda initiated the first Durga Puja in Bengal. According to another source, Raja Kangshanarayan of Taherpur or Bhabananda Mazumdar of Nadiya organized the first Sharadiya or Autumn Durga Puja in Bengal in c. 1606. The origin of the community puja can be credited to the twelve friends of Guptipara in Hoogly, West Benga...

Situated on the banks of the holy river Shipra in Ujjain , the Mahakaleshwar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is one of the most famous shrines in the country. The presiding deity of this ancient temple is the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, a Swayambhu , meaning a self-originated Linga. It derives strength from itself, and the need to infuse powers by performing the mantra shakti is not necessary. Temple Architecture: The gumbaj or the pinnacle of the temple has intricate and beautiful carvings, and it adds to the majestic beauty and enhances its divinity. This ancient monument finds a mention in the Puranas, and it proves that fact that it has been in existence since time immemorial. The idol of Mahakaleshwar is known to be dakshinamukhi, which means that it is facing the south. This is a unique feature, upheld by the tantric shivnetra tradition to be found only in Mahakaleshwar among the 12 Jyotirlingas. The idol of Omkareshwar Mahadev is consecrated in the sanctum above the Mahakal shrine...

India is a roller coaster ride with scenic locations, mountains, beaches, adventurous spots and rich flora and fauna. Apart from this, India is an extravagance of culture, beliefs and mysteries. In this Land of Wonders, every place either has a History or a Mystery. One such place well known for Mysteries is the Mehandipur Balaji Temple in Rajasthan. The Mystery of Exorcism Mehandipur Balaji Temple is a Hindu temple situated in Dausa district of the state of Rajasthan, dedicated to Lord Hanuman (the god of strength). The mighty Hindu God is also famously known as Balaji, hence the name of the temple. Many devotees believe that this place is bestowed with magical powers and hence this pilgrimage site stands witness to thousands of devotees flocking every day to get exorcised find relief from Black Magic. It is believed to provide the best counter-curse to weld off ghosts and evil spirits. The Legend of Mehandipur Balaji The shrine located at the temple has three deities who are mainly w...

Ravana is remembered as a demon king with ten heads and twenty hands. According to Hindu mythology, Ravana kidnapped Sita whom Rama defeated and killed in a battle at Lanka. The real name of Ravana is Dasamukha. His parents were Visravasa and Kaikasi. Technically, Ravan was Brahma's great-grandson. Ravan's father was the famous rishi, Visravas, who himself was a son of Prajapati Pulastya, one of Brahma's ten 'mind-born' sons. Ravan’s father Vishrava had two wives Ilavida and Kaikesi. Ilavida was the daughter of the great rishi Bharadwaja who was impressed with Vishrava. A scholar par excellence, Vishrava earned great powers through Tapasya, which in turn, earned him great name and fame amongst his fellow Rishis. Now Ilavida gave birth to a son, Kubera, the Lord of Wealth and the original ruler of Lanka. Ravana is depicted as the king of Rakshasas. He is said to have ten heads. But not many people know that he was not born with ten heads. Let's unravel the myster...

While a large percentage of people in India continue to remain aloof when it comes to speaking out loud about menstruation and the issues faced by women, a temple that is well worn with time celebrates one of the most natural biological processes. The Kamakhya temple is not just a famous pilgrimage site in Assam, but is also a unique temple in the country. Located on the Nilachal hill in the capital city of Guwahati, the deity of the temple, Kamakhya Devi is revered as the ‘Bleeding Goddess’. It is believed that the ‘Garvagriha‘ or the sanctum sanctorum of the temple houses the mythical womb and vagina of the Hindu goddess Shakti. Curiously enough, every year during the month of Ashaad (June), the Brahmaputra river near Kamakhya turns red. It is believed that the goddess ‘menstruates’ during this period. Contrary to the shaming treatment that menstruation gets elsewhere in India, here it is revered as the ability of a woman to conceive. Considering this to be a woman’s power to give bi...

"Draupadi has five husbands - but she has none - She had five sons - and was never a mother … The pandavas have given Draupadi … No joy, no sense of victory No honour as wife No respect as mother - Only the status of a Queen … But they all have gone And I'm left with a lifeless jewel And an empty crown … My baffled motherhood Wrings its hands and strives to weep". A long poem "Kurukshetra", written by Amreeta Syam, conveys this angst of Panchali (Draupadi), born unasked for by her father, bereft of brothers and sons and her beloved sakha (friend) Krishna. Draupadi was a heroic princess of the Hindu epic of Mahabharata. One who was firm and a woman with an unbending will. The Proud and angry heroine of the epic Mahabharata, Draupadi has remained an enigmatic woman of substance. Draupadi was the daughter of Drupad, the king of Panchala, and the wife and queen of the five great Pandavas, renowned alike for her loveliness and her granite will. Volcanic, she reduced ...

Tungnath is situated at 3,680 meters above sea level. It is home to the highest Shiva temple in the world. It’s a gorgeous climb from Chopta in Uttarakhand. A pilgrimage to Tungnath is undertaken as part of the Panch Kedar (five temples dedicated to Lord Shiva in Uttarakhand) trek covering the five temples of Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheswar and Kalpeshwar. The 170km trek route starts from Rishikesh. However, if you just want to explore Tungnath exclusively, the best way to reach here is after a 4km trek from Chopta. About the Chopta-Tungnath Trek: Tungnath trek is short and easy in the Chopta Tungnath trek which runs parallel to the sky-scraping Himalayan Treks. Tunganath is the highest temple of Garwal. During this hiking, one can enjoy a clear view of majestic peaks of Panchchuli, Nanda Devi, Nilkanth and Kedarnath. Chopta gives a picturesque view of the Himalayas. In the early spring, the Rhododendron forest glows red as the flowers bloom. Your journey for the Chopta ...