I have visited the Lepakshi and the Tanjore temples listed in the video. I would love to visit the rest someday. I found another interesting video about the Kailasa Temple, something related to ancient aliens.
Tag: hinduism
WPC: Danger
Bull, as we all know, especially the dairy breeding ones, are considered dangerous. We have sports like Jallikattu (for which there was a large hue and cry in Tamilnadu last year because they were banned) involves bulls because of their ferocious and wild nature.
But this photograph, taken in Mumbai Airport (they have very good displays of Indian culture and tradition throughout the airport) is that of Nandi, a bull nonetheless, but also a deity in Hinduism. He guards the gates of Mount Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva. You can get to know him more through this Wikipedia article. You will see him in all the Shiva temples (and also in Temples where Shiva’s family resides 😉 )
Happy Ganesh Chathurthi!
“Lord Ganesh of curved elephant trunk and huge body,
Whose brilliance is equal to billions of suns in intensity,
Always removes all obstacles from my endeavours truly,
I respectfully pray to him with all my revered sincerity.”
― Munindra Misra
Give it to me!
There is a Hindu tradition of falling at the elders feet to take their blessings during special events and occasions like birthdays, marriage, festivals etc. There is lot of history and science behind it. I will add some references in form of links later if you want to know about it. But what also happens is that once we fall at our elders feet and take their blessings, they give us some cash. No idea why and when that part of handing money became a part of the tradition. Cash in form of 10Rs note, when we were kids, which used to be a huge amount at that time. But that was only for our birthdays. For other events, it would be a 1Re coin or such. We were taught to save it or use it wisely. It has been so long since I have actually taken someone’s blessings by doing a pranama. But I don’t like people falling at my feet to take my blessings. During my brother’s & sister’s marriage when they were made to fall at my feet to take my blessings, I almost jumped a feet away. It felt so odd. That deed should not be done just because I am an year and half older than them. When I was at my brother’s place last time for my first niece’s birthday, she did her pranam to my parents (her grandparents) and was handsomely rewarded with cash. Seeing her get some money, my other niece and nephew also did the same and demanded cash. 😆 So when they were asked to do pranam /namaskaram (as we call it in Tamil) to me, I told them that it wasn’t necessary. ( I have had enough of people falling at my feet and not for the right reasons 😉 ) My second niece looked at me and said, that is alright, you can just give us the cash and get it over with then.
Some references:
Why Do We Touch The Feet Of Our Elders?
Touching Feet Of Elders: Mere Tradition or Science?
Science Behind Touching Feet In India
Post for this week’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “cash.” Use it in your post as a noun or a verb… or a name! Enjoy!
K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge: Friday
The Cosmic Photography Challenge is a little tricky this week around. You might want to check out their posts to know about the challenge. I picked Indonesia, because that is where I have been last year. Very specifically to Bali.
What do the people over there equate to Friday? Since Hinduism is widely followed in Bali, they, like us Indians who follow Hinduism, like to do religious events and auspicious events on a Friday. 
This is the temple at Ayodhya Resort where a marriage had taken place just before we had checked in.
Wanna join in? Here is how:
Create a post with ‘K’lee and Dale’s Cosmic Photo Challenge’ in the title. This week, the prompt is : five ways Friday is said around the world.. Post a photo to your blog, pingback to either Dale’s or K’lee’s post and don’t forget to add the tag #CosPhoChal to your post’s tags and you’re done!
Books, Music, Photography, & Movies 