Rituals after death as per Hinduism

To enable mankind to get closer to God through the medium of various events that occur from birth to death, Hindu Dharma has formulated various religious sanskars. Among them, the post-death rite is the final sanskar.

Rituals are to be performed after cremation till the 13th day after death.

1)The standard cremation ceremony begins with the ritual cleansing, dressing and adorning of the body. After bathing the dead body, it is decorated with sandal paste and garlands after applying Pundram as per family tradition. Sastra says that if the body is decorated with sandal paste, garland etc. offered to Lord Vishnu, the jiva attains to meritorious world. The thumbs of hands and feet should be tied with white thread. Then the body should be laid on stretcher („Paadai‟ in Tamil) built for the purpose from bamboo etc., with head in the southern direction slightly lifted and the body should be covered completely in new cloth with chanting of mantra.Son should keep his parents head on his right thigh and chant in his right ear sacred mantras including Panchaksharam, Ashtaksharam, Rama Shadakshram etc. Once the life departs the son should spread Darbha grass on the floor and lay the body on it with head in south direction. The son and the other relatives can wear Utthariyam now and wear the yagnopaveetha on the right shoulder (Prachinaveeti) and perform Namaskaram to the dead person. Women should leave the hair open and perform Namaskaram. When the body is carried to the cremation yard from the home, grandsons (Poutras) hold fire stick („Theevetti‟ in Tamil)) burningin ghee. Karta will carry Agni in a mud pot in hand, followed by Gnaatis carrying the body. No one should come between the Agni and the body. The seven Prana Sthalas(life centres) of the body viz., mouth, two eyes, two ears and two nostrils should be purified with ghee; Gnaatis and Karta should feed raw rice in the mouth through thumb. Then the Karta should take Agni and stand at the eastern side of the body facing west and place the Agni in the chest area. Then he chants mantras offering the body as Ahuti in Agni and praying for the Jiva‟s attainment of good state and the Indriya Devatas to get back to their abodes leaving the body and seeking help of people on the way travelled by the Preta.

2) Rituals to be performed on the same day after cremation:
Immediately after cremation, bathe by taking a dip in a river, lake or with well water while chanting continuously. Offering tilānjali (Offering sesame seeds [til] and water) After returning home, keep the ashma in the area around the tulsī. Bite a neem leaf before entering the house. Then perform āchman (Sipping water from the palm), touch Holy items like fire, water, cow-dung, white mustard etc. and then step on a stone (Step made of stone) before finally entering the house slowly.

Some neighbouring house, prepare a food item called ‘pithalē-bhāt’ (pithalē – a sauce like gravy made from gram flour boiled and spiced; bhāt – plain white cooked rice) for meals and bring it to the house of the deceased. Take a small portion of this on a leaf (preferably a banana leaf) and place it outside the house as naivēdya (Food offered to the Deity as part of ritualistic worship) for Vāstudēvtā (Presiding Deity of the house) and Sthāndēvatā (Presiding Deity of the area). The remaining food is to be offered to the Ishtadēvatā (Benevolent Deity) and then consumed by all.

3) Immersion of asthī (Bones of the deceased)
The asthī (bones of the deceased) are collected either on the day of cremation or on the 3rd, 7th or 9th day and are immersed in flowing water before the 10th day. It is better to collect asthi on the 3rd day following cremation rites. If asthī are to be immersed after the 10th day then it should be done only after performance of the ritual of tīrtha-shrāddha.

The death ritual does not end with the elimination of the body. There is still the safety of the soul to look after. To ensure the passage during its voyage to the Otherworld, an eleven-day ritual called shraddha is performed. It "consist(s) of daily offerings of rice balls, called pindas, which provide a symbolic, transitional body for the dead.

4) Pashana Sthapanam and offer of Tilodakam, Vasodakam and Pinḍadān
According to the science of rituals, rites such as tilānjali and pinḍadān (Ritual of offering of rice balls) should be performed beginning from 1st day till the 10th day. Visham shrāddha should be performed on odd days. If that is not possible then uttar-kriya should begin from at least the ninth day. Nowadays, however, pinḍadān that should be performed from 1st day to 10th day is performed as a combined ritual beginning on 9th day or on the 10th day. Though the body has been burnt, the Preta undergoes burning sensation in its subtle body, severe hunger, thirst and dryness of mouth. For offering relief from this suffering, Tarpanam with tilodaka (offering of til and water) and vasodaka (offering of water from squeezed cloth with three folds) and offering of coconut water etc., is done in two specially erected Kundams, one in the home and the other on the bank of the river.The two Kundas are known as Nadi teera Kundam and Griha dwara Kundam. In these two places, Pashana sthapanam is done; here Preta is invoked in a piece of stone over which a thread is tied. The house in which the Pashana stapanam has been done retains Aasoucham (impurity) till the Pashana, stone is taken away and disposed of. Tilodakam is offered three times on the first day, four times on the second day and so on, increasing by one everyday, to 12 times on tenth day. Vasodakam is three times every day. The youngest Karta will do the Tarpanam first and eldest at the last. Til (gingelly seed), kusa (darbha) and Tulasi are held to be very sacred and dear to Vishnu.

5) Tenth day is called Dasaaham. On this day, all Gnatis do Vapanam, take bath; with hair untied and single Vastra, they sit against NaditeeraKundam facing south and offer 75 Tilodakadanam and 30 Vasodakadanam.

Prabhutabalidanam
On the floor, as per the family practice, Kolam with odd number of lines is drawn; Vastra (cloth) is spread with tip facing south; Darbha laid tip facing south again; til with water is offered silently through the thumb; Annam, appam, and other snacks are spread. A large ball of rice kept in the middle over which ghee, honey and curd, are poured and Til with water is offered again. Prayer is offered to the PretaJiva to accept all these foods and to bless for the family to grow. With hair untied everyone performs Namaskaram facing south. Women also join in this.
Karta comes to GrihadwaraKundam and prays to the Pashanam (stone) for the Preta to depart to his place. Closing his eyes he removes the stone and places it on the cloth with eyes open, washes his hand, performs Achamanam with Upavithi; he takes Yava or paddy with cowdung and praying for the family‟s growth, he drops it in the Kundam and covers it with soil. He then proceeds with Prachinavithi taking the Pindam and the stone and reaches the river bank. Here too, he prays to the Preta to depart from the stone, removes the stone and covers the Kundam with paddy and cow dung. He then deposits the Pindam and the stones at the same location where he was disposing off the Pindam all these days. He then tears off the Vastram, which was used all along for Vasodakadanam and then takes bath. Then he pays obeisance to Brahmanas and prays for successful fruition of the Karmas. He does Vapanam and takes bath.

After completing Madhyahnikam, Karta performs Shanti homam and thus gets rid of Aasoucham.

After Aasoucham is gone,Anandahomam is performed for attainment of happiness. Then Punyahavachanam is done. Karta takes the Anandahomaagni home and protects the Agni (this agni is used for lighting lamp). That night snacks like pori and appam are offered to relatives. It was the practice in earlier times to ask brahmanas to read Garuda Puranam in the evenings during these ten days. Owing to paucity of brahmanas this has become rare now.

On 10th day, pinḍadān is performed in a Shiva temple or in a temple of another Deity situated on the bank of a river. After the pinḍadān on the 10th day, a little coconut oil is poured on the ashma and it is immersed in flowing water.

6) Eleventh day-Ekadasaaham
On the 11th day, panchagavya hom (Fire-sacrifice to appease Deities) should be performed in the house and panchagavya (A mixture of cow’s milk, curd, ghee, cow’s urine and cow dung) should be sprinkled all over the house. All family members should sip panchagavya. The kartā should make a sankalp (resolve) for the benefit of the deceased and donate food-grains and perfom dasha-dāns (Ten types of donations or offerings). Shrāddhas (Special rituals performed for the departed ancestors) such as Ekoddishta shrāddha, Vasugan shrāddha and Rudragan shrāddha should be performed outside the house, in a cowshed or elsewhere.

7) Twelfth day - Sapindikaran shrāddha :
Sixteen monthly shraddhas are performed on 11th or 12th day so that one becomes authorised to perform sapindikaran shrāddha. Sapindikaran shrāddha is performed on the 12th day. With the performance of sapindikaran shraddha, the individual attains the title of ‘Pitru’ and gets a place in Pitrulok. Really speaking, it is appropriate to perform sixteen monthly shrāddhas in the respective months and sapindikaran shrāddha a day before the yearly shrāddha; however, the present custom is to perform all this on the 12th day post-death itself. The departed jivas attain the Pitru state on getting relieved from the Preta state and then live in Pitru Lokam. They are in three forms, Vasu, Rudra and Aditya. When a person dies his father and mother are both Vasus in Pitru Lokam; Grandfather and grandmother are Rudras; Great Grandfather and Great grandmother are Adityas. The person who is dead now joins these three Pitrus in Pitru Lokam. The existing Vasu in Pitru Lokam becomes Rudra, after granting the status of Vasu to the newly joined jiva. The earlier Rudra becomes Aditya. The earlier Aditya merges with Pitru Devatas. The kriya which enables the departed Jiva to join his or her Sapindas, ancestors is called Sapindikaranam.

As Udakumbham (pot filled with water) is given as Danam, this Sraaddham is known as Sodakumbha Sraaddham. Coconut water is also given. This Sraaddham should be done on 12th day after Sapindikarnam is completed and continued everyday throughout the year till Abdikam.

Dasa danam are: cow, land, til, gold, ghee, clothes, grains, jaggery, silver and salt. In addition Deepa (lamp), Nouka (boat), saiya (bed), kambala (blanket), chatra (umbrella), chappal (padaraksha) etc. are all gifted on this day. If danams are not given, the Yamabhatas taunt the jiva saying that no help has come from the karta to mitigate his suffering. This helps to cross Vaitarani river close to Yamaloka.

8) The ritual of Nidhanshānti (Shānto-dak){Nava Graha Homam} On the 13th day, Pathēya shrāddha is performed and ritual of Nidhanshanti is performed. All the near and dear ones should be invited and served a sweet meal. In today’s times, this ritual is performed on the 12th day itself. Inviting everyone on the 13th day for a meal comprising sweets Due to the rituals performed on the 13th day, the linga-dēha (subtle body) penetrates the atmospheric range of earth and attains further momentum. Attaining momentum means cutting off all ties with his family members by the linga-dēha and developing a relationship with God. To greet this blissful process of doing away with the attachment with the gross body and developing attraction towards God, everyone is invited for a meal comprising sweets as a symbolic gesture.

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Rules for Mourning:

The "mourners" are considered to be the close family members on the male side. Women do not observe mourning rituals for their own parents but for the parents of their husbands, since through marriage they change their "gotra". Sons and daughters observe the rituals for their parents. Parent's do not observe for their children. Siblings can observe the rituals for each other. The The mourners should not eat meat, salt or drink alcohol, wear perfumes or shave during the 10 days of mourning from the day of death onwards.
Showering should be done daily with the minimum amount of luxury.
Cooking should not be done in the house and all food should be brought from friends' houses or take-away.
The mourners should sleep on the ground and not engage in any form of entertainment.
It is customary not to greet anyone or even to return a greeting.
Visitors to the house should not be entertained in anyway.
These rules should be observed until the 10th day ceremonies.
Restrictions should be observed during the entire period by Kartha by eating only once, sleeping on
floor, avoidance of union with woman etc.
If due to social and professional circumstances these rules of mourning cannot be observed for all 10 days they should be observed for at least 3 days.

Post Mourning Rituals On the 10th , 11th, 12th, and 13th day after the death, rituals are performed in order to mark the termination of the social isolation of mourning and the returning to normal life. Again these differ among the various communities.

These rituals consist of:
Apara Kriya - extending over first 12 days where son or Karta gives water and Pindam (food); he cremates (or buries) the body with mantras, thus taking it back to the five Mahabhutas (Akasa, Vayu, Agni, Water and Prithvi) and helps in cutting off the jiva‟s relation with the body. The Karta removes the Preta state of the jiva, raises him to „Pitru‟ state and unites him with his Sapinda ancestors.
Sapindi-karana — a rite to mark the transition of the deceased and a merging with the ancestors.
Punyaha vachanam — A purification ceremony
Shanti Homa — a fire-ritual for peace of mind for the family and for the departed one.
Ananda Homa — for inviting a return to joyous living and severance with death and mourning.
Sraddham - As the ceremony is to be performed with sraddha, it is called Sraaddham. Sraddha means faith and the resulting keenness to perform all rituals as per procedure. Dharmasastra prescribes ninety-six (Shannavati) Sraaddhas to be performed in a year.The Sraaddha, which, if neglected, results in sin and need for Prayaschitta (expiation), is of Nithya category.Pratyaabdika (Abda-year; Pratyaabdika- annual) Sraaddham for father and mother on the days (tithis) of their death is Nithya and must be performed without fail.
Shubha-svikrana (Nava Graha Homam) — done on the 13th day — offerings are made to the 9 planets and all the mourners bathe and wear new cloths. In the evening all the relatives and friends are invited for a feast.
Danam — giving gifts in charity. These are a minimum of five (1) sesame seeds (2) clothing (3) gold (4) a water vessel (5) coconut representing a cow and the price thereof. According to the wishes of the family a further 10 items may be given or even 16.
If 10 items are to be given they are: (1) Bhumi (potting mix) (2) sesame seeds (3) gold (4) ghee (5) clothing (6) rice (7) Jaggery (8) salt (9) silver (10) go-danam & a coconut and the price of a cow.
Basically at least three set of umbrella, fan, floor mat, and chapels are given as Danam.
Vapanam (shave)
Diksha - Sastra prescribes that after the death of father or mother, the karta should refrain from shaving, Abhyanga Snanam (oil bath), Tambulam, union with woman etc. This is the diksha to be observed throughout the year till Aabdikam.
Aasoucha Sangraham - Aasoucham is the impurity caused in an individual owing to birth (Janana Aasoucham) or death (Marana Aasoucham) among close relatives. Aasoucham goes away on expiry of the prescribed period of time and taking bath.
Gnati – Sapinda; Samanodaka The seventh generation ancestor of a person on his father‟s side is called „Kutastha‟. He is Prapitamaha‟s Prapitamaha. The male successors of this Kutastha in 7 succeeding generations are called „Dasaratra Gnatis‟ or ‘Sapindas’.Forefathers in father‟s side, above the 7th generation, are called Samanodakas.

Garuda Purana and Ramayana are also read during this time.
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Rituals in Continuation to 13 days:

Ekoddishta Sraaddham

Ekoddishta Sraaddham is Eka-Uddishta Sraaddham, where the Uddesya, the intended person, is only one (eka). This is to distinguish it from the normal Paarvana Sraaddham, in which the Uddesyas are three ancestors- father, grandfather and great grandfather; or mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Pavitram is of one darbha; there is only one Argya Patram in this. Aavahanam and Agnoukaranam are done without mantra chanting. In case suitable Brahmana is available for Ekoddishta Sraaddham, Sraaddham shall be performed invoking the Brahmana. In case Brahmana is not available, Homam in Agni shall be performed.

This is called Adya Masikam. Sixteen Sraaddhas starting from this Sraaddha on eleventh day are performed for the Jiva to get relief from Preta state and also from the state of Pisacha, and to enable the Jiva to attain the state of Pitru.
There are totally 16 Ekoddishta Sraaddhas to be performed during the year. They are: “Adya Masikam” on 11th day, “Unamasikam” between 27th and 30th days, Trai Pakshikam between 40 and 45 days, Una Shaanmasikam between 170 and 180 days and Unaabdikam between 340 and 355 days;

11 Anu Masikas ( which occur in the Tithi of death every month).

As per correct procedure, Sapindikaranam is required to be done only after Unaabdikam. But it is not certain that the Mukhya Karta shall be alive till that point of time. In case karta dies before Sapindikaranam, the karma done till then shall remain incomplete with the departed jiva not getting released from Preta to Pitru state. Hence it has become the practice to attract 15 Masikas and Una Masikas and perform them as Aama Sraaddham (offer of rice and vegetable), immediately after performing Adyamasikam, on 11th day itself. Sapindikaranam is done on 12th day and it completes the kriyas. This helps the departed Jiva to rise from Preta state and attain Pitru state and reach Pitru Lokam. As Ekoddishta Sraaddham is done before Sapindikaranam, it is performed for only one, namely the departed Jiva.

Masikam and Una Masikam Sraaddhas shall be performed during the year at the appropriate times, even though they might have been done on 11th day has Aama Sraddhas. This is very important for helping the Jiva on his long travel to Yama Loka on the tough route. However as Preta state has gone away after Sapindikaranam on 12th day, all these Sraaddhas shall be performed, not as Ekoddishtam, but as Paarvana Sraaddham for not one,
but three ancestors, namely father, grandfather and great grandfather; or mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Abhisravanam should not be done during Ekoddishta Sraaddham, Masikam, Sapindikaranam, Anumasikam, Naandi Sraaddham, Gaya Sraaddham etc.

Masikam etc.
As noted earlier it takes one year for the departed Jiva to move from the state of Preta to Pitru. One human year on earth is one day for Devas. Pitrus are also Devas. Hence the Jiva attains to Pitru State on the Deva Day next to the day of his death. As Preta Jiva under goes many changes during this period and suffers from severe thirst and hunger owing to memories of association with his earlier body,Sastra prescribes that Anumasika, Unamasika and Sodakumba Sraaddhas should be performed during this period. The days on which the sixteen Anumasika and Unamasika Sraaddhas are to be performed have been mentioned earlier. As regards Sodakumbha Sraaddham, Sastra prescribes that it should be performed
every day in the year other than the days of Anumasika and Unamasika Sraaddhas. This is called Nitya Sraaddham. In Sodakumbha Sraaddham, a pot filled with water is given as Danam along with coconut water. If not every day, this should be done at least on the day before the Masika Sraaddhas. In Anumasikam, Unamasikam, Ekoddishtam and Sapindikaranam, Abhisravana mantras are not chanted.

It was noted earlier that all though all the twelve Anumasikas and four Unamasikas are attracted in advance and performed on 11th day itself, it is necessary that they should be performed again on the due dates during the year. Further, as mentioned earlier, performing Sapindikarnam on 12th day and attracting Anumasikas and Unamasikas in advance and performing them on 11th day enables the karta to perform Naandi Sraaddham on occasions of marriage etc. during the year.

As these Sraaddhas are performed after completing Sapindikaranam, the two ancestors in addition to the dead person are invoked in them. While choosing the days for Unamasikam, Tithi of Prathama, Shashti, Chaturdasi and Amavasya, and Friday, and stars of Krittika, Jyestha (Kettai), Aslesha (Aayilyam) and three Pooras (Pooram, Pooradam and Poorattadi – Purvaphalguni, Purvashadha and Purvaproshtapada) should be avoided.

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General The traditional procedure of performing yatra is as follows:

One goes to Rameswaram initially and performs Tirtha Sraaddham. Bath in Agni Tirtham in the sea together as husband and wife and in the 22 wells in the famed Ramanathaswamy Temple are completed. Sand is collected from the Agni Tirtham. At Prayag the sand brought from Rameswaram is formed into Sivalingam and dissolved in Ganga after Pooja. Ganga water is collected from Prayag. After the Kashi/ Gaya trip is over, one has return to Rameswaram again and perform Abhishekam with Ganga Jal to Sri Ramanathaswamy. After this the karta returns home, performs Ganga Pooja and Samaradhana followed by Brahmana Bhojana. Prior to going on Gaya/ Kashi/ Prayag trip, one can carry dhotis (9*5) for danam- 12 Nos., other danam materials like Panchapatra etc., materials for Dampati Pooja like sari, blouse piece etc. Some people think that once Gaya Sraaddha is performed, it is not necessary to perform Pratyabdika Sraaddha annually any more. This is not correct. Performing Gaya Sraaddha is no doubt highly meritorious, but Pratyabdika Sraaddha is a compulsory karma which should be continued all through one’s life.

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Offering sesame seeds (tiltarpan) to departed ancestors:

When you leave this body you are guided into another world by a set of Devas or Angels. Pururava, Vishvedeva - these are their names. They come and guide you from one level to another level.

There is an ancient tradition in which the family members take a few sesame seeds and little bit of rice, and then they think of their ancestors and say, ‘May you be contented, may you be contented, may you be contented.’ They say this three times and then they drop the little grains of sesame seeds with some water.

The significance of this ritual is to tell the departed that – If you still have some desires in your mind, know that they are like sesame seeds. They are not significant, just drop them. We will take care of them for you. You be free, happy and contented! There is huge universe in front of you. The universe is infinite, so look forward and go; drop whatever is pulling you back. This is called Tarpana.

Tarpana means bringing satisfaction and fulfillment to the departed. It is done to tell them to be contented and move further. Water is the symbol of love. To give anyone water means giving love. In Sanskrit, Ap means water and it also means love. And in Sanskrit someone who is very dear is called Apta.

Significance and meaning: ‘Trup’ means satisfying others. The word ‘Tarpan’ has been formed from the root word ‘Trup’. Offering water to God, Sages, ancestors’ soul and human beings and satisfying them through it is called tarpan.
Objective: The objective of performing tarpan is that God, deceased ancestors’ souls etc whose names are pronounced while performing Tarpan, should bestow happiness on us. Tila tarpan means offering sesame seeds mixed in water to the deceased ancestors’ souls. Black sesame seeds should be used for Shraddha. If sesame seeds are not available then gold or silver should be used.
• Sesame seeds are the favorites of deceased ancestors’ souls.
• By usage of sesame seeds, the demons do not obstruct the ritual of Shraddha.

Another reason for the use of Sesame seeds are: Wikipedia says that the sesame is a small seed storing (vast) energy and is the favorite of Lord Siva (and others) for this reason. It makes sense to me that a deva would like a seed and that sesame seeds were handy at the time the ritual began.

Black sesame seeds are used during pind daan because it increases the chance of crow pecking the rice ball (white in colour) by 50%. Pecking of rice balls (pind) by crow is considered essential so that we can be sure of presence of subtle energies (our revered pitras) around us. Crows are usually considered to be vigilant of these subtle energies which our bodies are unlikely to feel.

It is also believed that Til originated from sweat and kusa (Darba) from the hair of Vishnu.

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Darbha (Kusa) grass

Another most important item used is Darbha. It is belived that at the base of Darba grass is Brahma, vishnu in the middle and Siva in the top. All three Devas are present in the Darbha.

It is given in few websites that there was a scientific study of Kusha grass. They found that this grass can absorb about 60% of radiation. It is proof that this grass has power to absorb all negative radiations in the environment.

Puranas and Upnishads describe that this grass came into existence after Samudra Manthan, the churning of cosmic ocean. When demigods and demons got ready to churn the cosmic ocean of milk, there was no one to support the base of Madhara mountain. Lord Vishu took the form of Tortoise [Kurma Avatar] and gave the needed support. During the churning, the hairs of the tortoise came out and washed away to the shore. These hairs turned to Kusha grass.

When the Amrita, the nectar was finally achieved, due to improper handling of the nectar, few drops of nectar fell on the grass. This further sanctified the grass giving it more healing properties.

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Another item widely used is Tulsi plant dearer to the Lord Vishnu. Tulsi symbolises purity. It is considered as the holy plant in the Indian Subcontinent. Tulsi got its name from Tulasi Devi, who was one of Lord Krishna's eternal consorts.

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Significance of feeding crows:

Crows play a significant role in Hindu mythology. ... Feeding food to crows is considered as being delivered to our dead ancestors. Crows are only birds which act as a messenger to pitra loka. it is said that when a crow makes a sound in the house, they are chances that some guests will come to meet them.

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There is one thing that is certain in this lifetime: eventually we all must die. A belief in the cyclical reincarnation of the soul is one of the foundations of the Hindu religion.

Suffering...

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls, the most massive characters are seared with scars.

Every one in this world suffer.

If you have money you suffer, if you don't you suffer;
If you are talented you suffer, if you do not have talent you suffer;
If you have a job you suffer, if you don't have a job you suffer;
If you are married you suffer, if you are single you suffer.

Why do we suffer?

Why should comfort and convenience become suffering? We wanted it, so why should what we want become the source of suffering?

"People coming out of a restaurant have more joy and fulfilment on their faces than people coming out of a temple. What a shame that a dosa can do something more than the divine! " So says SADHGURU JAGGI VASUDEV

Here are five Baxter-inspired reasons that God graciously afflicts his saints.  

1. To prepare us to fully enjoy rest. 
2. To keep us from mistaking earth for heaven.
3. To draw us nearer to God.
4. To quicken our pace toward God.
5. To give us sweeter tastes of him.

Below are three compelling ideas. Some may resonate for you and others may seem forced or flat, but all present a way to see life's difficulties as mechanisms for growth.

The first idea may be stated as:
Overcoming Difficulties Elevates Us
The ancient Greek philosopher, Epicurus, stated:

The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.

The second approach to understanding life's difficulty may be stated as:
Difficulties Present the Necessity for Choices

Difficulties are necessary so that we can make choices. Through choosing between compassion or anger, action or resignation, or generosity or selfishness, we literally create ourselves. Without the possibility of adversity, these choices would not be needed and we would remain blank slates. It is through difficult choices, and the effort required to implement these choices, that we become agents for personal and societal growth, or apathy and decay.

The third approach to understanding life's difficulty may be stated as:
Difficulties Develop Confidence and Faith.

By remaining open to the possibility that we simply don't know, we learn to let go of our immediate response to classify and judge, and thereby develop faith -- which is the existential confidence in the goodness of ourselves and the world.

It is important to understand that these approaches are not intended to diminish the feelings of pain and loss that come from tragedies. Here, we are called to respond with compassion and a desire to help. Once we accept the truth that life's difficulties are the mechanism for growth, though, our resistance to the events that occur in our lives will begin to soften, and we can experience life with openness to new possibilities.

Suffering produces an insatiable desire to blame. No BSE please - Don't Blame Someone Else. (i.e. BSE)

Why are we so bent on finding fault? Partly because we hope to prevent future suffering, like avoiding spicy food because it once gave you heartburn. Partly because if the sufferer is to blame, we can accept the hardship as a legitimate recompense to sin: “She deserved that,” or “I had it coming.” If someone else is to blame, we at least have someone to take our anger out on.

But mostly, we hunt for a cause of suffering because the lack of one is too painful and too terrifying a reality. To think that hardship happens for no reason is too difficult to face.

Be Strong.

If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it.

This too will pass away.

Life: Simple or Complex

Life has no meaning when you arrive into this world . However, your education and upbringing gives you ideas to create a purpose or meaning to your life. It is entirely up to you on what you want to do with your life. Ideally, you should aim to be useful to your family and society in someway or other.

Life is complex because you have to deal with money issues, family issues, health issues, friends issues, relationship issues, crime, death, negative emotions, etc.

Life is like a book. Some chapters are sad. Some happy and some exciting. But if you never turn the book, you'll never know what the next chapter holds.

No matter how sad or how happy you feel about the things in your life, it’s all temporary. Life is always like a roller coaster ride, the rise and fall of which defines our journey.

No matter how hard life gets, it never stops existing our loved ones leave us, there are so many leaving the world every day, but LIFE ALWAYS GOES ON…

Life is as simple or complex as you want it to be.


It is our perspective that makes it seem what it is. The choices which we make at each step in our life determine the “complexity” of our life.

You think about all the issues that you’re going through and… bamm.. life will seem much more frustrating and lonely! You get rid of everything and just focus on your objective and everything will appear to be much simpler!

We have to enjoy and live our life like a kid and we should use our maturity wherever it needs. Choose happiness instead of keeping on worrying. Our option decides the life's complexity.

“ Live your life you love, love your life you live”

Choose Happiness!

Essentially life is simple, it is the importance that we give to the non-essential parts that makes it complex!

We make it complex by measuring our lives against others rather than following our inner voice. We've all been blessed with an innate sense of what is right and true for us to do. What paths we need to follow. The challenges come when we face a choice in paths where the right one is harder than the wrong one. That's when faith must lead. Following the voice within that speaks to the truth of the matter despite the fears. Take the step through the terror and find the reward and the joy.

Life is as simple or complex as you make it.

A story I read on Facebook, I think it, tells of an executive who is taking a vacation at the beach. He sees a guy who comes in the morning, surfs, while he's there he helps people with their boards and technique, making enough money to get dinner and spend the night singing and partying. The exec sees the guy has a home made board wax that everyone loves.

The exec talks to the guy about how he can start to market it beyond the one beach he's on, selling it up and down the coast. The guy nods and smiles. Then if we work hard, we build the business to other coasts. The guy nods and smiles. Then in a couple years of work, we can go international, making money from all over the world. You'd be rich.

The guy asks, “Then what do I do?” The ad exec says, “You can retire, live on the beach and enjoy your life.” The guys says, “I'm already doing that, man.” Grabs his bag and board and smiles and waves as he heads for the night's party.

Make life as simple as you can and start enjoying it now, not having to wait until you retire.

Life is utterly simple and yet most complex:

You have to simultaneously attend to both facets of life. When life appears most complex, turn to the simplicity. Simplicity brings peace. When you are peaceful, attend to the complexity within you. That will make you more skilful. If you are only with simplicity, it makes you lazy and dull. Being only with complexity makes you angry and frustrated. The intelligent ones balance them and rejoice in both. If you look only to simplicity, growth is not there. Looking only at the complexity, there is no life at all. All that you need is a skilful balance. If you recognize both simplicity and complexity of life, you will be skilfully peaceful! Colors are the complexity of life. White is the simplicity. When your heart is pure, your life becomes so colorful.

Read this conversation between a student and his teacher (guruji).

Arjun: Guruji, you are all white and yet so colorful.

Guruji: Like our knowledge, which is so profound and yet so simple!

Life is not complex. We are complex. Life is simple, and the simple thing is the right thing.

Oscar Wilde

Life’s simple!

We’ve got to ask. “What’s simple?” Here’s a little list of things everyone should know—

Simple is to love, and do what you like
Simple is doing your best and somebody might like it
Simple is not complex. We are complex. Life is simple. And the simple thing to do is the right thing
Simple is putting aside all the fancy words and academic doubletalk
Simple is an exact medium between too little and too much
Simple is making the journey of life with just enough baggage
Simple is like white light — complex, but the complexity doesn’t have to be obvious
Simple is keeping a lamp burning, but to do that, keep putting oil in it
Simple is first saying to yourself what you would be—and then doing what you have to do
Simple is like walking. If you walk, just walk. If you sit, just sit. But whatever you do, don’t wobble
Simple starts by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible, and suddenly you’re doing the impossible
Simple is success—and success is this simple—do what’s right, the right way, at the right time
Simple is obvious. But simple is never known until somebody says it simply
Simple is not asking do-ers to dial for dollars. It’s seeing people and saying, “You look like you know what you’re doing. Can I hang around with you?”
Simple is the ultimate sophistication

Here is a true story about bread and fish.

A young minister was preaching his very first sermon. But nervousness got the better of him and—to his great embarrassment—he actually heard himself saying, “And five were fed with 5,000 loaves and 2,000 fishes,” as an example of miracles.

“Some miracle,” Mr. Brown criticized loudly from his seat. “Anybody could do that!”

The following Sunday, the young minister spoke again on miracles in his sermon. This time he offered the correct example: “And they fed 5,000 people on five loaves of bread and two fishes.” Afterwards he looked toward the congregation and asked, “Who among you could do such a thing?”

All eyes turned to Mr. Brown who piped up, “I could!”

“How? How could you feed 5,000?” questioned the minister.

“I’d use what was left over from last Sunday!”

In Mathematics, any ‘complex’ number is generally represented as a+ib, where ‘a’ is the ‘real’ part and ‘b’ is the ‘imaginary’ part.

So,unless you add a imaginary part the number is a ‘simple’ real number .

Similarly Life is always ‘Simple’ unless you imagine(added ‘imaginary’ part) it is ‘Complex’.

Another story on buying a mouse pad to clarify this:

I wanted to buy a Mouse Pad for my new laptop. I went to some shabby low cost shop to buy my dream Mouse Pad. I was having fair idea about what I needed and how it should be. So my selection and shopping was to be simple.

After gripping the pad, the seller has offered me low cost gaming CD. The game was well known but at a dirt cheap price. So I grabbed it. I wanted to buy mouse pad. But now I bring gaming CD and ALSO a mouse pad.

I have mustered all my technical skills to install the CD. Somehow it installed. But actually it was either not compatible with my computer or my computer has relatively low technical specifications. So I was not able to play right away. Now, as the game was apparently installed but I was not able to play so I become more frustrated and trying all my means to get success in my gaming mission. I spent whole evening and next day to figure out the real issue with full of frustration. I even was not looking at the mouse pad which I bought and it was perfect for my use. Thus I made my life complex.

Life is neither complex or simple it just is.

Life is as complicated as it needs to be to exist, no more, no less.

Reality always wins, it cannot be denied or explained away, this includes life.

To humans life only appears overly complex because in the end no human is capable of fully understanding it. This is because humans in the grand scheme have limited intelligence. The all encompassing scientific model of the physical world is far to complex for any human to ever completely understand. This includes the present and the future.

People may delude themselves into believing they know everything about life, this delusion is often a coping mechanism. This probably includes some religious people as the notion of God sometimes creates the illusion of understanding. "Knowing" God should never imply you know everything despite what people may claim when acting on "behalf" of God.

A reasonable course for many people is to simply live with the knowledge that full understanding of life will always remain unachievable. Understand what you can and have a reasonable expectation with regards to the limits of your knowledge.

In the end this is a often very pragmatic and wise decision.

Life is very simple if one is ready to escape from this cage of useless desires. Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life and the labors of life will reduce by itself.

What's your say? Do you think life is essentially simple or complex?

Be Simple, Live Simple.

Stop Cribbing - Stop spreading guilt and pain.

Enjoy & Cherish Life.

Live, Love, Lead, Learn, Leave a Legacy.

Happiness Humesha!

The Forest of Enchantments - Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Could not wait to know, Chitra Banerjee's view on Sita, after reading her mesmerizing Draupadi in "The Palace of Illusion".

Valmiki could not better understand a women's feelings. What occured when Sita was alone in the darkness, under the sorrow tree, her despair, exhilaration, - in the forest, in Ayodhya.

While Ramayana resonates even today, she has the underlying questions in the novel: How should women be treated by their loved ones? What are their rights in a relationship? When does a woman need to stand up and say, "Enough".

Sitayan in red; was written realizing three important things:
- Sita might be incarnation of goddess but having taken a mortal body, is human with failings.
- Sita's choices and reactions stem from courage, easy to mistake for meekness.
- Sita's and Ram's story is most tragic love stories.

Love: Other face is compassion.
- It isn't doled out, drop by drop. It doesn't measure who is worthy and who isn't. It is like the ocean. Unfathomable, astonishing, measureless.
- In a moment it could fulfil the cravings of a lifetime, like a light that someone might shine into a cavern that has been dark for a million years.
- Is wild and optimistic in the beginning
- For the sake of love you give up anger.
- Golden rope, that bind you and pull you in different direction
- It's found in its purest form, on this imperfect earth, between mothers and young children, because there's nothing they want except to make each other happy.
- Even the strongest intellect may be weakened by love.
- The more love we distribute, the more it grows, coming back to us from unexpected sources. And it's corollary; when we demand love, believing it to be our right, it shrivels, leaving only resentment behind.
- What a chameleon thing love was, lifting us up one minute, casting us down the next.
- It made us ready to wreak havoc - even on people we cared for
- It could make us forget out own needs. It could make us strong even when the world was collapsing around us.
- It could kill. Sometimes it could kill instantaneously.
- It's not enough to merely love someone. Even if we love them with our entire being, even if we're willing to commit the most heinous sin for their well-being. We must understand and respect the values that drive them. We must want what they want, not what we want for them.
- Once mistrust has wounded it mortally, love can't be fully healed again.
- How it makes us back down from protesting because we're afraid of displeasing the beloved, or because we're afraid that our disagreement is the symptom of a greater disease: incompatibility of values.
- How entangled love is with expectation, that poison vine! The stronger the expectation, the more our anger towards the beloved if he doesn't fulfil it - and the less our control over ourselves.
- When we want to please the one we love. That same love clouds our eyes and doesn't allow us to see what's right in front of us.
- Love is the spade with which we bury, deep inside our being the things that we cannot bear to remember, cannot bear anyone else to know. But some of them remain, and they rise to the surface when we least expect them.

Other lessons are:
- If you want to bring about change, do it in a way that doesn't bruise a man's pride. You'll have a better chance of success.
- The way of Gods are strange, hard for our limited human minds to encompass. Sometimes our Ill luck has consequences that bless others
- We come into the world alone, and we leave it alone. And in between too, if it is destined we will be alone. What you can't change you must ENDURE.

If Panchaali’s tone, in 'The Palace of Illusion', is youthful and spiky, Sita, by contrast, sounds stately and serene, a woman schooled in the treacherous ways of the world by her foster mother Sunaina, long before she arrives in King Dashrath’s household, bristling with feminine intrigue. Divakaruni also pays close attention to the voices of the other women who orbit Sita—Dashrath’s queens Kaushalya and Kaikeyi; Ahalya, cursed by her husband Gautam for alleged infidelity; Sarama, Vibheeshan’s wife, who loses her son Taranisen during Ram’s battle with Ravan to rescue Sita; and Mandodari, Ravan’s chief queen (and according to some versions of the epic, like the Adbhuta Ramayana, Sita’s long-lost mother), who remains, as Divakaruni puts it, “at once so powerful and powerless". “Manthara wants to be Kaikeyi’s protector, she acts out of love," Divakaruni says, “as does Kaikeyi, though she misunderstands her son Bharat entirely." The tragedy of Kaikeyi, which is also the tragedy of the entire Ramayan, is that of love—one that only Sita is able to transcend. “For Sita realizes that it’s not enough to love people," Divakaruni says, “she also learns that we have to love people for what they want for themselves."

Narrated in first person - where Sita is 'I': Book covers, life from girlhood onwards, how each important moment had felt. How excited it was when Ram was met; consternation when he strung Lord Shiva's bow; elation on putting the wedding garland; ecstasy on coming together with Ram; determination to follow him to exile; exciting wanderings in forest; terror of abduction and despair under sorrow tree; heartless rejection and stepping into fire; willingly starting new life; filling a dispirited and dilapidated country with abundance and hope; drawing Ravan's image under the influence of Surpanakha; being banished in the forest with Valmiki and Indira without a word being said because of frivolous gossip, where the twins protective Lav and perceptive Kush were born and later defeats the army and befriends the white horse which was part of ashwamedh yagna; courage through out - of endurance, of moving forward in spite of obstacles, of never giving in, and in the final amazing and heartbreaking moments of her life, refusing to compromise to go through the test by fire for the second time, no matter how much was at stake, keeping aside useless emotions like Anger and self-pity, and speaking calmly, when heart was breaking and driving home the point how important it was to balance duty with love and that private life must not be sacrificed for the public one.

She does this so society will not point on women, when they aren't guilty, the burden of proving their innocence should not fall on them. She did this for the sake of her daughters in the centuries to come. She stood up against the unjust action. As she had lived for the sake of her children when she was abandoned. She called on her mother earth and father fire, and dissolves into them; telling one crucial thing to her husband that she forgave him long time ago. For she knew Ram was compensating for the mistakes his father made when he gave into the demands of his favorite wife and banished him, even though he knew it was bad for the kingdom, as it left a deep mark on Ram.

Blessed to end this Karkidakam month reading the amazing, and much awaited Sitayana.

The Sound of the Mountain - Yasunari Kawabata

Forgetfulness and loss lay pressing against the nape of Ogata Shingo's neck. How much responsibility must a parent take these days for Children's marriages? He wonders. Out of a translucent web of attachments, Noble Prize winning author has crafted a novel that is a powerful, serenely observed meditation in the relentless march of time.

Shingo observes and questions his relations with his family members, his wife Yasuko, his philandering son Shuichi, his daughter-in-law Kikuko, and his married daughter Fusako, who has left her husband and returned to her family home with her two young daughters. Shingo realizes that he has not truly been an involved and loving husband and father.

A subdued yet compelling book! Lyrical and poetic too, with nature, reflecting on age old blues. The theme of death permeates this book. It is as if the author is preparing himself for his own demise, especially running in tandem with another theme, that of suicide. And that Kawabata is in fact searching for a way in which to make that ultimate separation from life. Thus I was not at all surprised to read that Kawabata committed suicide in 1972.

Value Addition

As someone rightly mentioned - " Economy is not struggling, the business models are changing". We are experiencing a transition phase. It's challenging for those whose business models are based on ancient data. It's mystery for those who have never looked beyond traditional methods or have assiduously resisted change of any kind.

Booking keeping, has come a long way - every thing today is Analytics and Robotics. Basically activities go through three phases:
1) First is Data Analytics - This involves Segregating Data.
2) Then comes Business Analytics - Means working on segregated data and
3) Data Science - Use of Machine tools on segregated, worked upon data.

Everyone looks for Value creation. How can we make it happen? Get the concepts right and apply. It involves two parts viz: Creative Analytics and Prescriptive analytics.

Every difficulty would go through three phases viz: Hindsight, Insight and Foresight. How we can add value in each of the situation is:
1) Understand What happened? - Descriptive Analytics; based on Hindsight.
2) Know Why did it happen? - Diagnostic Analytics - Get Insight and work on Foresight viz:
3) What will happen? - Predictive Analytics
4) How can we make it happen? - Prescriptive Analytics.

Optimization is the key. We need to upgrade ourselves in this transition phase. Cope up with change, Create (Add) Value.

Wrath of Nature

Deluge!! The blue rain!

India is going through an unprecedented natural disaster with six states experiencing heavy to very heavy rains for days now.

Maharashtra so far has nearly 2 lakh people displaced in the state. The situation remaining especially grim in Kolhapur and Sangli districts. As many as 27 people have died due to floods in five districts of Pune division.

Gujarat the plight continues. So far over 21,000 people have been shifted to safer places in south Gujarat region.

There is a flood-like situation in Goa too after heavy rains. People have been evacuated from villages of Pilgao, Usagoa and Amona as well as from Mala, in the capital city of Panaji.

In Andhra Pradesh, the heavy rains and flooding have displaced over 19,000 people in East and West Godavari districts.

Around 10 districts of the Karnataka state are flooded by Krishna river spurt. The release of water from dams is adding to the flood woes of Karnataka.

11 out of the 14 districts of Kerala are currently under the floodwaters. More than 50 people are reported to be missing as of now. North Kerala is worst hit this time, with major wrath being on Wayanad. It is sad to see Kerala suffering grievously again just a year after the last floods. The public, our heroic fishermen, uniformed personnel & the district administrations have again risen to the occasion.

But with the rains showing no signs of slowing down things could further deteriorate as all the dams in the state are filled to capacity and could be forced to open, pumping out more water to the already overflowing rivers.The public, our heroic fishermen, uniformed personnel & the district administrations have again risen to the occasion. But we need more resources to reconstruct the state & make it flood-proof.

Orissa seems to have the wrath again this year - hope it do not have to go thorough it again.

Meanwhile the situation in Bihar and Assam which were battling floods have been improving in the past few days and normalcy have returned to many places. Nepal, Hong Kong too are recovering.

Two Typhoons hit China around this time Viz. Typhoon Lekima and Typhoon Krosa spread heavy rain and caused mass destinations in Wenling, Taiwan, Shanghai, Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.

Tropical Storms are called Cyclone in South Pacific and Indian ocean, hurricane in North East - Atlantic & Pacific and Typhoon in North West pacific they are rotating ,organised system of clouds and thunderstorms formed when air rises quickly when heated by warm sea water, cools down is pushed by more warm air rising below it.

Scientists say the temperature of ocean water is going up and that can lead to hurricane increasing in intensity in the future. The past years has been a busy one for hurricanes. There is no clear upward trend though, for its formation. Though seas are getting warmer, other factors can prevent hurricane from forming viz. Strong winds. Hurricane hates them.

Rainfalls during hurricane are always devastating. Housing development are expanding into more marginal, poorly drained land. This puts more people in harm's way. Climate change is causing seas to rise. Melting glaciers and land based ice sheets contribute to higher sea level. It has been clarified that it is modelling rather than historical data that predicts stronger and wetter hurricanes.

With many states that has been facing the wrath of nature in the past few days throwing normal life out of gear all around, it makes me ponder if it would be war or water that would end the world? Probably war over water with adjacent state struggling for water with other states around it flooding?

Irrespective of heavy rain, we soon have water-shortfall. Even simultaneously in the neighborhood. As rainfall becomes more erratic, the water supply becomes less reliable. At the same time, as the days grow hotter, more water evaporates from reservoirs just as demand for water increases. Sao Paulo was ravaged by floods a year after its taps nearly ran dry. Chennai suffered fatal floods four years ago, and now its reservoirs are almost empty.

This water should have been percolating into the earth to replenish aquifers and groundwater. Strategic planting of Trees would mitigate floods to a large extent. -Sg
There should be curb on sanctioning new projects, which should be approved considering locality, drainage etc. City officials can plug leaks in the water distribution system. Wastewater can be recycled. Rain can be harvested and saved for lean times: lakes and wetlands can be cleaned up and old wells can be restored. And, farmers can switch from water-intensive crops, like rice, and instead grow less-thirsty crops like millet. Local solutions can also be arrived at.

“Rivers change course, and there is no clear way to ­predict it,” says an IIT expert. “River-linking will cause ­deforestation, and lead to increase in water conflicts.” He adds that if the Indian rivers don’t have enough water to feed themselves, how can they help others?

Post-Independence, when the Indian states were reorganised based on language, the government formulated the Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956, to resolve conflicts over use, control and distribution of interstate rivers or river valleys. However, it failed to resolve any of the interstate disputes, which have become hot-button issues for pol­itical clashes and civic unrests. At present, dozens of states fight over sharing of water from dozens of rivers and dams.

“Every state wants to be prosperous and, as water is ­crucial, everybody wants more,” says a senior state official from Tamil Nadu. Interstate water conflicts depend on ­several factors such as politics, water requirement, and weather conditions. Dragging water conflicts to courts or ­tribunals helps to justify to the populations that the governments are fighting for their shares.” Amicable solutions aren’t possible in an environment of political and ­bureaucratic egos, and the cases drag on.

Rainwater harvesting, conservation, recharging of ­groundwater, and recycling hold the key to the country’s water security. Or else, like in the other parts of the globe, India may find itself in the midst of intense water wars—­battles between states, conflicts with our neighbors and civic unrest.

K. Kasturirangan-led high-level working group (HLWG) was constituted to advise the government on the recommendations of an earlier report of ecologist Madhav Gadgil-led "Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel" (WGEEP).

The WGEEP had recommended 64% of Western Ghats to be declared as an ecologically sensitive area. It had suggested three levels of categorization where regulatory measures for protection would be imposed and had recommended the establishment of the Western Ghats Ecology Authority for management of the Ghats.

“The Western Ghats is a biological treasure trove that is endangered, and it needs to be protected and regenerated, indeed celebrated for its enormous wealth of endemic species and natural beauty”, the report says.

Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said that the recommendations would be looked into urgently so that action can be taken to address these challenges. Wondering what has happened after that? Hope and wish government just don't spend crores on another committee and do nothing.

Kasturirangan said, “The message of this report is serious, alarming and urgent. It is imperative that we protect, manage and regenerate the lands now remaining in the Western Ghats as biologically rich, diverse, natural landscapes”.

The signs are there; it’s time to wake up, and smell the bitter coffee. We have 2 immediate problem now:
1. Basic necessities of people effected, in camps and stuck across locations.
2. With flood and landslide, people have lost houses and lands as well and do not know where to go to.

Some people literally need everything to start their lives. The list is endless.

Stay Safe All. May people move out of flood/ drought prone area. Prayers. Thanks to all trying to restore peace and harmony with Decency and Persistence. Let's join hands and do all that we can. Save Life. Save planet.

Arthashastra - Kautilya (The King)

It's never that easy to be a king
And rule a populace;
For popularity's a fickle thing
Which might easily gobble us.

A king must always make it clear
That in his realm he's boss;
Nobody else, though near and dear,
May inflict on him a loss.

A king must always show his might
Even 'gainst kith and kin;
It doesn't matter if he's right
But he must be seen to win.

There's not much point in being strong
If no one sees your strength;
A tiger shows power all along
His striped and muscular length.

Any weakness must be concealed
As a tortoise hides his head;
A king must never be revealed
Quaking under his bed.

Stealth and discretion are the means
To employ in making plans;
A clever king, though, never leans
In trust on another man's.

Pretend! Conceal! Find out! Mistrust!
These are the vital things;
Maintain a cheerful outer crust
But permit no rival kings.

Keep your intentions to yourself
Don't reveal them on your face;
Purchase silence with your pelf
And pack a knife(in case).

Give orders only when you're sure
Of their effective execution;
Make certain you are seen as pure
-Innocent of persecution.

Eradicate the slightest threat!
Don't forget the thinnest thorn
Embedded in your flesh, might yet
Fester; and this I warn:

A small spark can start a forest fire-
No enemy's too minor-
Before the danger gets too dire
Don't make the fine points finer

There never is a genuine need
To issue an ultimatum;
Before a rival does the deed-
Simply eliminate him.

Do it sharp, and do it quick!
But never let him catch on.
(To be safe, keep a big stout stick
And always sleep with the latch on.)

Dissimulate! When angry, smile;
Speak soft; then strike to kill;
Then weep-oh, never show your bile-
And mourn your victim still.

Amass all the wealth you can;
Cash, jewels, humans too;
Resources are needed for every plan,
And any means will do.

Remember it's said a crooked stick
Serves just as well as a straight one
When it's fruit from a tree you wish to pick
(An early plum, or a later one).

So employ your own crooked men
To gather information;
From the market and the gambling den
Let them take the pulse of the nation.

Regarding enemies, I only wish
You'd learn from the fisherman's book;
He traps and slits and strips his fish,
And burns what he dosent cook.

That's the only way to treat all those
Who pose a threat to you;
They may genuflect, and touch your toes-
But don't let them get you.

This of the future; it's time to start
To anticipate the threat;
If you don't grow callouses on your heart
You might just bleed to death.


-Arthashastra

The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor

The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor marries "The Mahabharata (probably the greatest book ever written) and Indian polity during the pre and post independence. The resultant is, as expected, an Indian marriage ceremony. Grand. Dazzling. Filled with lots of laughter. Little sense of nostalgia. But, pointless. Nevertheless, the writing is brilliant. Informed. Ornamental. Intelligent. Humorous. But the parallels - forced. Not all. Some are really interesting. But it is not easy to mix two complex narratives. It was an audacious attempt. By the way, who do you think would be Dhritarashtra and Pandu in this book?"

"Well. He drew the parallel between Dhritarashtra and Nehru. Indira Gandhi was Duryodhan. Karna was Jinnah. And surprise surprise. Subash Bose was Pandu. Janta Party was the Pandavas with Jayaprakash Naryan as Drona." Gandhi as a modern day Bhishma: the renunciate, the grand old man of India's epic freedom struggle. This book should be compulsory reading for all those people who question Gandhi's role or the meaning of his legacy. To his credit, Tharoor paints a balanced portrait of the legend with all his 'weirdness', his 'theatricality' and a moist-eyed nostalgia for all that Gandhi stood for:
"Let us be honest: Gangaji (Gandhi) was the kind of person it is more convenient to forget. The principles he stood for and the way in which he asserted them were always easier to admire than to follow. While he was alive, he was impossible to ignore; once he had gone, he was impossible to imitate."

Democracy with its five pillars, was Draupadi. But here alone I wonder if Draupadi was Sushma Swaraj?

"Considering the tough format, there is some real inspired writing here."
The author’s ingenuity lies in recreating the political events of the last 250 years using characters from the great Indian epic of Mahabharata (from where the book also derives its name = Maha (Great) Bharata (Indian)).

The story begins and ends with the same sentence - " They tell me India is an underdeveloped country.

For more details - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Indian_Novel

The Butterfly effect !! - Freedom at Midnight (Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins)

A bit of history:

On March 23rd 1940,Muslim League passed the Lahore Resolution demanding a separate country for them. In this context it will be worth reading the following excerpt from “Freedom at Midnight” ....

The Butterfly effect !!

" Sometimes a very small and insignificant event can lead to a huge effect later on.

It’s called Butterfly Effect.

It can also lead to the creation of a new country,
the displacement of twelve million people,
the loss of around two million lives and
permanent animosity among people who used to share their bread and ancestry at one point of time.

If we study the life of Muhammed Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, we will find three incidents which led to the butterfly effect, resulting into one of the most significant and bloodiest midnights in the world history.

To know these three small events, we will have to start with Jinnah’s grandfather, Premjibhai Meghji Thakkar, who was a prosperous Hindu merchant from Kathiawar, Gujarat. He had made his fortune in the fish business, but he was ostracized from his vegetarian Lohana caste because of their strong religious beliefs. When he discontinued his fish business and tried to come back to his caste, he was not allowed to do so because of the huge egos of the self-proclaimed protectors of Hindu religion. Resultantly, his son, Punjalal Thakkar (the father of Jinnah), was so angry with the humiliation that he changed his and his four sons’ religion, and converted to Islam.

This was not the first incident when a Hindu had tried to come back to his religion and he was not allowed to do so by the priest class. When Islamic invasion began in India in 12th century, many Hindus had lost their religion because of petty rules like drinking the water poured by a Muslim in their ponds, being forcibly converted to Islam or going to places outside India. When they tried to reconvert to Hinduism, the stubborn priests blocked their path and branded them as permanent dharmabhrashta. This led to animosity in them for Hindus, and they converted to Islam and taught a lesson to those priests by killing them mercilessly. Today, a lot of Indian Muslims don’t want to accept their Hindu ancestry, and the humiliation their ancestors felt centuries ago could be the reason behind it.

That’s the first butterfly effect. If Jinnah’s grandfather were allowed to come back to his caste and religion, Jinnah would have remained a Hindu, and he won’t have used his genius in creating a new country for Muslims.

In 1929, Jinnah’s wife, Rattanbai Petit, died due to a digestive disorder. He was so devastated at her death that he moved to London. He led a very private life, lived in a large house, played billiards and attended theatre. But things took a drastic turn when he heard a comment made by his arch-rival, Jawahar Lal Nehru. In a private dinner party, Nehru had remarked that Jinnah was ‘finished’. It made Jinnah so furious that he packed up and headed back to India with the intent to ‘show Nehru’. He fired up the Muslim League, and transformed it from a scattered band of eccentrics to the second most powerful political party of India.

That’s the second butterfly effect. If Nehu hadn’t made that remark, Jinnah would have stayed in London, Muslim League won’t have become so powerful and India might have stayed united.

Just one year before the partition and independence of India, Jinnah’s doctor, Dr. J. A. L. Patel, discovered something in the X-ray report of Jinnah which could have destroyed the gigantic efforts to create Pakistan. Dr. Patel discovered two dark circles in the report which could have upset the Indian political equation and would have almost changed the course of history. Jinnah was suffering from Tuberculosis which left him only two or three years to live at most. He pushed Mountbatten for a speedy freedom and partition of India to make sure he made the mark in history before he died. The secret of Jinnah’s disease and imminent death stayed between him and his doctor, ensuring the bloody historical event.

That’s the third butterfly effect. That grey film had the secret to block the partition, and it was stopped from coming out by a Hindu doctor who thought his professional ethics was more important than the lives of millions. Had this report become public knowledge, Gandhi and Mountbatten might have delayed the independence of India to let the gentleman die and avoid the partition.

In the movie, Gladiator, the main character, Maximus says, “What we do in life echoes in eternity.” We have no idea what eternal effect can come from something insignificant we are doing today. Jinnah’s grandfather would have never thought that his decision to go into fish business would have impacted the lives of millions one century later.

SOURCE: Freedom at Midnight (Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins)

Vrindhavan - Brijbhoomi to Dwaraka

RadheShyam – The tradition prevails – As per Mythology though Krishna was born in Madhura, he was brought up in Vrindhavan, where his father took him, the night he was born. This Brijbhoomi is 11 kms from Madhura and will mesmerize you with its temples and prayers and is now in the state of Utter Pradesh. After Killing his uncle Kans, when grown up he went to Dwaraka which is now in Gujarat.

In Sept. 2016 visited Vrindavan, also spelled Brindavan, the holy town in Uttar Pradesh. The name 'Vrindavan' is a derivative of the term 'Vrinda', which is akin to Tulsi plant that grows profusely through out the length and breadth of the city. Legend says that the entire surroundings were a tulsi coppice at one time. Some others believe that the term Vrindavan stands for Vrinda devi, one among the milkmaids. It is located on the original forest of where the Hindu deity Krishna spent his childhood, on the banks of the Yamuna river. It is a major pilgrimage destination for Hindus, and features by some counts as many as 5000 temples. Entry into all temples is free, but have some coins handy for the shoe handlers.



· Bihariji, . The best-known temple in Vrindavan, home to a Krishna idol known as Thakur-ji. The idol's eyes are said to be so powerful that it is kept hidden from view behind a curtain, which is opened and closed every few minutes.

· Mandir Sri Dham Goda Vihar, There are about 200 idols in the temple. As the prime centre of Hindu Sanatan Culture, the temple is a perfect reflection of devotion and faith. Visiting this divine temple is like exploring the complete Hindu chronology of faith.

· Govinda Dev Mandir. Built by Raja Sawai Man Singh of Jaipur in 1590, this squat, bulky temple reportedly had four stories lopped off during Aurangzeb's reign of terror. These days it's just infested by monkeys.

· Jaigurudeo Temple, . Also named "Naam Yog Sadhna Mandir". It resembles the Tajmahal, built with white marble. It is a unique temple in that you are prohibited from donating if you are a non-vegeterian.

· Krishna Balaram Mandir, better known as the ISKCON Temple, . A major draw for Hare Krishna (ISKCON) pilgrims to India, and uniquely among Vrindavan's temples well equipped to deal with foreign visitors. Free breakfast and lunch are available. Great restaurant. Comfortable guesthouse on the Temple grounds.

· Kesi Ghat, by the Yamuna. According to the legend, this is where Krishna killed the demon Kesi and then bathed to celebrate. Aarti (prayer lamps) are offered to the Yamuna here every evening.

· Seva Kunj. Planted with countless tulsi (holy basil) trees, this is the garden where gopis dance for Krishna at night, and where Krishna and his lover Radha spend the night locked in the Moti Mahal.

· Rangji Mandir, . The single largest temple in Vrindavan, built in 1851 in a South Indian style, complete with intricate seven-story gopuram(gateway) at the entrance. Inside is a 50-ft high wooden chariot, taken out yearly for festivals, and in the inner courtyard is the 50-ft high gold-plated pillar known as Dhwaja Stambha.

· Radhavallabh Mandir, .A very wellknown ancient temple of Vrindavan, founded by Shri Hith Harivansh Mahaprabhu, Sri Radhavallabh Lal's idol resemble Sri Radha and Sri Krishna to be embodied in it together- "One soul and two bodies".

· Radharaman Mandir In Seva Kunj, see the Deity of Radharaman that self-manifested from a Shalagrama Shila (sacred stone).


Vrindavan is also known as the Shelter City for Widows. By Hindu tradition, widows may not remarry, and many make their way here, having either abandoned their families or been abandoned by them on the death of their husbands. In Vrindavan they are given meals and a little money (around Rs.10-20) in exchange for singing bhajans (hymns) for 7-8 hours in bhajanashrams. Some of the trusts that operate the ashrams are regularly accused of skimming off vast amounts from donations. There are an estimated 20,000 widows, some of whom are very old having spent over 30 years there, while others have not even reached their teens.



Vrindavan is absolutely infested with monkeys, who are adept at stealing anything you're not keeping a close eye on. Wear contacts or go without if you can.


March 2017

Could Visit Dwaraka.

Dvārakā, also known as Dvāravatī is a sacred historic city in Hinduism, Jainismand Buddhism. ... Pandu's sons lived in Dwaraka during their exile to woods.

The ancient Dwarkadhish Temple has an elaborately tiered main shrine, a carved entrance and a black-marble idol of Lord Krishna. the 'Lord of Dwarka', also known as the Jagat Mandir or temple of the world. This temple is dedicated to the Lord Krishna and was constructed over 1400 years ago. This temple has a 5 floors supported by 60 columns.

Dwarka Beach and nearby Dwarka Lighthouse offer views of the Arabian Sea. Dwaraka is located on the extreme western end of Kathiawar peninsula, where the River Gomti meets the Arabian Sea.

Southeast, Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary protects migratory birds and endangered species like the Indian wolf.

Besides the Dwarkadhish temple, there is a popular temple dedicated to Rukmini, the Lord Krishna's wife, who is also considered as an incarnation of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and beauty. There are various other temples which are dedicated to Mirabai and Narsinh Mehta and Shank Narayan. There is also a temple which is dedicated to the Matsyavatar, the incarnation of Vishnu as a fish.


A pilgrimage to Dwaraka is not complete until a visit has been made to the Beyt Dwaraka. It is a Hindu temple on the island off the coast.

Legend: After Sri Krishna left for His abode and the major Yadava heads were killed in fights among themselves, Dwaraka became submerged in the sea. This is the account given by Arjuna in the Mahabharata: ... The events start near the city of Dwarka 35 years after the end of Kurukshetra war.


Okha is a small port at the head of the Gulf of Kutch and is about 30 kms north of Dwaraka. The island nearby is connected with the legend of Vishnu slaying the demon.

We could also visit:

Somnath Temple

Located in the state of Gujarat in India, the famous Somnath Temple is a very sacred Hindu pilgrimage site. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered to be first and one of the twelve "Jyotirlingas" (lighted lingas), which is a symbol of Lord Shiva. The temple of Somnath has existed since times immemorial and it is also mentioned in the oldest holy scriptures, Rig Veda

The principal temple of Somnath is believed to have been built in gold by the moon god Soma, in silver by the sun god Ravi, in wood by Krishna and in stone by the Solanki Rajputs in the 11th century. The present temple, built in 1951, is the seventh reconstruction on the original site. Tales of its riches attracted a series of invasions, but each time the temple was invaded, it was restored to its original glory by devout Hindu worshipers. Commanding a breathtaking view from the tip of the Saurashtra peninsula, kissed by the waves of the Arabian coast, the temple has been constructed in the Chalukyan style with a shikhara nearly 50 m tall. The temple's imposing architecture includes intricate carvings, silver doors, an impressive Nandi idol and the central shivalinga. In the vast courtyard stand the massive mandapa (hall), as well as the main shrine, whose gently curved pyramidal forms tower over the whole complex.

Through a side door the sea is visible shimmering in the sunlight. Try slipping out to gaze at the roaring waves below, which though not safe for swimming, present an exhilarating spectacle. In view, you will find a tower called Deep Stambha erected on the embankment. On the top is a shape like a conch shell on its side, and in the tower is an arrow pointing directly to the south pole (interestingly, a line between here and the south pole crosses no land until Antarctica.) The architecture of the present temple reflects the Chalukya style of construction. The intricate and flawless carvings speak volumes about the skilled artisans of Gujarat. An inscription on the Arrow Pillar on the sea protection wall states that there is no piece of land between the point where the temple stands and Antarctica.

Other spots in the temple are Shri Kapardi Vinayak and Shri Hanuman Temple in addition to Vallabhghat. Vallabhghat is a beautiful sunset point. The temple is illuminated every evening. Similarly, the Sound & Light Show “Jay Somnath” is also displayed every night during 8.00 to 9.00, which allows the pilgrims an ethereal experience in the backdrop of grand Somnath temple and the holy wave sounds of the Ocean.

Ahalyabai temple is also close by, which was built by the queen mother Shri Ahalyabai Holker during 1782. This temple maintained the Pooja Parampara of Bhagvan Shiva during the hostile political conditions.



AKSHARDHAM

'Akshardham' literally means the divine abode of God. It is an eternal place for one to offer devotion and experience everlasting peace. Swaminarayan Akshardham at Gandhinagar is a mandir – a Hindu house of worship, a dwelling place for God, and a spiritual and cultural campus dedicated to devotion, education and unification. Timeless devotional messages and vibrant Hindu traditions are echoed in its art and architecture. The mandir is a humble tribute to Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781- 1830) and the avatars, devas and sages of Hinduism. This traditionally-styled complex was inaugurated on October 30th, 1992 with the blessings of HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj and through the devoted efforts of skilled artisans and volunteers.

Also visited Ahmedabad while returning.

Himalayan Lust : Holy Chardham Yathra : Dev Bhoomi (Uttarakhand)

These mountains are so alive with spiritual vibrations. Many known and unknown spiritual masters chose these mountains as their abode and have illuminated the place with their energies. The Himalayas are certainly an uplifting experience for all spiritual seekers. Even the rocks reach out to the heavens. No wonder beings seeking the divine, made you their abode.

Char Dham, literally ‘the four abodes’, yatra refers to the journey up the mountains to four sacred temples in the North Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is also referred to as 'Chhota Char Dham' to differentiate it from the bigger circuit of Char Dham sites. The four temples that comprise Char Dham are Yamunotri Dham, Gangotri Dham, Badrinath Dham and Kedarnath Dham. Nothing spells devotion more than a visit to the Char Dhams nestled in seclusion, among the mighty Himalayan peaks.


Uttarakhand also called as the Dev-Bhoomi, as the state is known for many religious centres like Rishikesh, one of the most revered place in the books of Hindus, Haridwar, the home of Kumbh Mela, other than the sacred Chardham Yatra. There were a couple of pilgrim places we were fortunate to visit during our Char Dham visit.

Haridwar –
In Hindi, Haridwar stands for Dwar of Hari or Gateway to God, with 'Hari' meaning god and 'dwar' meaning gate. Haridwar is regarded as one of the seven holiest places to Hindus. Evening Arti at Har ki Pauri Ghat.


· Har ki Pauri – According to the Hindu mythology, it is at ‘Har ki Pauri’ in Haridwar that king Bhagirath performed a penance to Lord Shiva in order to rescue souls of his ancestors from vicious circle of rebirth. Pleased with his prayers, Lord Shiva asked holy river Ganga to flow through his locks. Bhagirath took a dip in the holy waters of river Ganga and rescued the souls of his ancestors from their sins. Since then, thousands of devotees take a dip at ‘Har ki Pauri’ to pray for salvation of their ancestors.

· Mansa Devi Temple – The temple is perched on a hill top and can be reached through a cable car ride. It is believed that Goddess Mansa fulfils the wishes of her devotee, so, lots of pilgrims flock to the temple to have their wishes fulfilled from the Goddess. Devotees tie a thread with their wish to the branches of a sacred tree in the temple and when the wish gets fulfilled, they come back again to untie the thread from the tree.

· Chandi Devi Temple – Located on top of the Neel Parvat, the ‘Chandi Devi’ temple can be reached through a bus from Mansa Devi temple. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Chandika Devi and is considered to be one of the Siddha peethas of Haridwar where the wishes of true devotees get fulfilled.


First Dham : Yamunotri Dham:
Named after the Goddess Yamuna, is the first Dham en route the yatra. A bath in the holy waters of Yamuna river is said to cleanse one of all sins and protect from untimely death. The shrine of Yamunotri is believed to be built in 1839 by the king of Tehri, Naresh Sudarshan Shah. Besides the Yamuna Devi (goddess), the idol of Ganga Devi too is housed in the revered temple. There are many hot water springs near the temple; Surya Kund is the most important among them. Devotees boil rice and potatoes in the kund and accept it as a Prasad of the devi. Divya Shila– It is a rock pillar located near the Surya Kund. As per rituals, devotees first need to pay homage at the ‘Divya Shila’ before entering the main shrine of the ‘Yamunotri Temple’.

Champasar Glacier– Actual point of origin is the ‘Champasar Glacier’ which is further few km. above the main temple. Due to a steep climb and limited accessibility, most pilgrims pay homage in the main temple only and return.

Prakateshwar Cave– This mysterious cave falls enroute to Uttarkashi from Barkot. Famous for its limestone formation resembling the Shivlinga, this cave is visited by many pilgrims on their way to Gangotri.


LEGEND

Yamuna Goddess is believed to be Sun's daughter and twin sister of Yama (the god of death). It is said that sage Asit Muni lived here and bathed in both Ganga and Yamuna. In his old age, when he was unable to go to Gangotri, a stream of Ganga started to flow across the steam of Yamuna.


Uttarkashi -
This is an ancient holy city located on the banks of River Bhagirathi. Uttarkashi is adorned with many beautiful temples and ashrams. Pilgrims heading to Gangotri usually stop by at Uttarkashi for a day to seek blessings from the God. Here are some religious places to see in Uttarkashi.

· Vishwanath Temple– This temple is the oldest and most sacred shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to the legends, Lord Shiva appeared here to save Rishi Markandeya from Yama, the God of death. The temple houses a ‘swayambhu lingam’, idols of Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesh and Rishi Markandeya sitting in a meditative position.

· Shakti Temple– Opposite the Vishwanath Temple is the ‘Shakti Temple’, dedicated to Goddess Durga. Pilgrims visit this temple to seek blessings from Goddess Durga and to have a look at the heavy trident which is revered here in the form of ‘Shakti’.

Gangnani
It is a small town situated enroute to Gangotri and is famous for its natural thermal water spring known as ‘Rishikund Teerth’. Pilgrims heading to Gangotri usually stop by and take the holy bath in the warm waters of the spring.

Harsil
This hidden jewel of Uttarakhand is situated on the banks of the Bhagirathi River. Unspoilt natural charm, fresh mountain air and salubrious weather makes it a perfect place to stop by for few hours enroute to Gangotri. An interesting attraction near Harsil is ‘Sattal’, a breathtakingly beautiful cluster of high altitude alpine lakes that can be reached through a 7 km. trek from Harsil.

Dharali
Located at a distance of 2km. from Harsil, Dharali is another picturesque village famous for its apple orchards. Striking views of these Apple Orchards all along the route to Gangotri seem to be embracing you with their open arms. Another famous attraction of this small town is the ancient ‘Shiva Temple’ that is flocked by many pilgrims enroute.

Mukhba Village
This pretty little village near Dharali is the home for Goddess Ganga where she is worshipped for almost 6 months owing to the closure of the main Gangotri Temple during peak winters. Small rustic wooden huts, trees of pine and rhododendrons, and vibrant coloured flowers all around; seem to have directly come out from a picture postcard. When at Mukhba Village, you can visit the ‘Ganga Temple’ where idol of Goddess Ganga is housed during winters.

Bhairon Ghati
This scenic valley lies around 10km. before Gangotri, sitting on the confluence of Bhagirathi River and Jat Ganga. Adorned with pine trees and gargling Bhagirathi gushing down the mountains, the valley is famous for its ancient ‘Bhairon Temple’ that is visited by many pilgrims on the ‘Char Dham Yatra’.


Second Dham : Gangotri Dham:
The second temple that falls on the Chota Char Dham circuit, is the birthplace of the holy river Ganga. Goddess Ganga, who is said to have descended on earth to absolve the sins of human kind. The river originates at Gaumukh from the Gangotri glacier which is some 18 km from the town of Gangotri.


Fillowing is the list of must-see places in Gangotri.

· Gangotri Temple– This is the main shrine dedicated to Goddess Ganga. Serene and tranquil settings of the temple provide you with inner peace and solitude.

· Submerged Shivlinga– This is a natural rock Shivlinga submerged under water and is visible when the water level decreases during certain time periods. As per the beliefs, the place where Shivlinga resides, Lord Shiva sat to receive River Ganga in his matted locks to minimise the devastating effect on earth from her majestic flow.

· Suryakund Waterfalls– Another most famous attraction in Gangotri is the picturesque ‘Suryakund Waterfall’ that is located half a kilometre ahead of the Gangotri Temple.

· Pandava Gufa– Walk past the Suryakund waterfall in the forest for around 2 km. to reach the Pandava Cave. It is believed that Pandavas of Mahabharata stayed in the cave during their ascent to heaven after the battle.

· Bhagirathi Shila– It is the holy rock near the banks of Bhagirathi where King Bhagirath prayed to Lord Shiva.

· Gaumukh Glacier– ‘Gaumukh Glacier’ is another must-see place in Gangotri. To visit Gaumukh, you need to trek uphill a distance of 18km. on foot from Gangotri and take special permits from the forest department office in Uttarkashi as the route is quite prone to landslides. Panoramic views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks and beautiful meadows will enamour you in the mood of spirituality.

· Tapovan and Nandanvan– From Gaumukh, few courageous people also head towards the scenic sites of Tapovan and Nandanvan from where the views of Shivling Peak are just indescribable in words. These treks are quite arduous and one needs to be mentally prepared for accidents and natural calamities.

LEGEND
King Sagar undertook an Ashwamedha Yagna and sent his 60,000 sons along with the horse. The horse was lost; tracing the horse to the Sage Kapila's ashram, the 60,000 sons stormed the ashram and disturbed sage who was in deep meditation. Enraged Kapila opened his fiery eyes that turned all 60,000 sons into ashes. Later, on Kapila's advice, Anshuman (Sagar's grandson) started praying to Goddess Ganga, requesting her to come down to earth to cleanse the ashes of his relatives and grant salvation to them. Anshuman failed in his aim; it was his grandson Bhagirath whose rigorous meditation made Ganga to come down to earth. Lord Shiva tied Ganga and distributed its water in a number of streams to save the earth from its mighty force.

After the divine darshans of Gangaji at Gangotri, the journey to the third Char Dham of Kedarnath begins. Two routes to Kedarnath can be taken from Uttarkashi. First route takes you through Srinagar – Rudraprayag – Augustmuni – Ukhimath – Guptkashi – Sonprayag – Gaurikund.

The second route takes you through- Gangotri – Uttarkashi – Tehri – Mayali – Ghanshali – Ukhimath – Guptkashi – Sonprayag – Kedarnath.

Ukhimath
This is a little village where deities of Lord Kedarnath and Lord Madhyamaheshwar are worshipped during winters when the main temples of Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar remain closed. Here are few main attractions of Ukhimath.

· Omkareshwar Temple– Shrine where deities of Lord Kedarnath and Lord Madhyamaheshwar are worshipped.

· Madhyamaheshwar Temple– Another holy temple of the ‘Panch Kedar’ group, the temple is located at the place where the belly part of Lord Shiva fell during his run from the Pandavas.

· Kali Math Temple– Considered to be one of the 108 divine Shakti Peeths, the ‘Kalimath Temple’ is dedicated to Goddess Kali. It is believed that Goddess Kali here, killed the demon, Raktabeej. Thousands of pilgrims visit this temple every year.

Gupt Kashi

Gupt Kashi is a picturesque town situated on the banks of River Mandakini and snuggled between the Chaukhamba peaks of Garhwal Himalayan range. As per mythological legends, Gupt Kashi is the place where Lord Shiva proposed Goddess Parvati for their marriage. A second legend behind Gupt Kashi goes back to the days of Mahabharata when Pandavas, after the battle, prayed to Lord Shiva to relieve them from the agony of fratricide. Lord Shiva avoided meeting them and hid himself in Gupt Kashi in the form of Nandi bull. When Pandavas reached Gupt Kashi, they recognized Shiva in the form of bull and tried to hold him by its tail and hind legs. That very moment, Lord Shiva disappeared from Gupt Kashi. As Lord Shiva secretly hid himself here, the town has got the prefix of ‘Gupt’ to its name.

Following are the main attractions in Gupt Kashi:

· Vishwanath Temple– As mentioned above, the ‘Vishwanath Temple’ is home to the original Shivlinga of Lord Shiva that is believed to have been brought from the Vishwanath Temple in Kashi when the temple was attacked by the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb. Many pilgrims gather here is huge numbers to seek blessings of the God.

· Ardhanarishwar Temple– The ‘Ardhanarishwar Temple’, located near the main Vishwanath Temple, houses the deity of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in the form of half man and half woman.

· Manikarnika Kund– Manikarnika Kund also holds a great religious significance as the Shivlinga residing in the centre of the kund is bathed by waters of two springs representing Ganga and Yamuna.

Sonprayag
It is another small enchanting town situated on the confluence of holy rivers Basuki and Mandakini. The ‘Triyuginarayan Temple’ in the village of Triyugi near Sonprayag is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. As per the puranic legends, this is the place where Lord Shiva married to Goddess Parvati in front of Lord Vishnu.

Gaurikund
This place is located 15km. ahead of Gupt Kashi and is the base site from where the trek of around 20 km. needs to be commenced to reach Kedarnath. Pilgrims first take bath in the hot waters of the Gaurikund and pay homage in the ‘Gauri Temple’ before proceeding with their journey to Kedarnath. As per mythological beliefs, Gaurikund is the place where Goddess Parvati meditated to attain Lord Shiva as her husband. According to a second belief, Lord Shiva blessed Lord Ganesha with the elephant head at this sacred site of Gaurikund.

From Gaurikund, either pilgrims can choose to trek on foot or hire ponies and palanquin services to reach the town of Kedarnath, perched at a height of 11,700 ft. above sea level. Many private helicopter services also operate at Gaurikund enabling pilgrims to take helicopter rides up to Kedarnath.


Third Dham: Kedarnath:
Known as the land of Lord Shiva, has the highest located jyotirling. Situated on the banks of Mandakini River, the view of this temple against its snowy backdrop is resplendent. Situated in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, Kedarnath is the most remote pilgrimage spot in the yatra. It is believed that originally the temple of Kedarnath was built by Pandavas. And Adi Shankaracharya got the present structure constructed in the 8th century adjacent to the old temple site. The grey stone structure is an architectural marvel because of its imposing design and its ability to survive for so many centuries in such a harsh terrain. Following are main tourist attractions of Kedarnath.

· Kedarnath Temple– It is the main shrine of Kedarnath, considered to be the home to one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Also, revered as one of the ‘Panch Kedars’, the temple is visited by thousands of pilgrims all across the world. Perched on the head of River Mandakini and flanked by the breath-taking vistas of the Kedar and Swargarohini peaks of the Garhwal Himalayas, a visit to the Kedarnath Temple fills hearts of all devotees with divinity and spirituality.

· Vasuki Tal– This is a sacred lake where Lord Vishnu is believed to have bathed in ancient times. The Tal can be reached through an 8 km. challenging trek from the Kedarnath Temple.

· Bhairav Temple– Dedicated to Lord Bhairavnath, who is believed to be the guardian deity of Kedarnath town and temple while everything is covered under snow during winters, this temple can be reached through a 1 km. hike from the Kedarnath Temple. Views of the Kedarnath valley from the Bhairavnath Temple are indescribable in words.

LEGEND
Pandavas were searching for Lord Shiva to absolve themselves from their sins committed at the battlefield of Mahabharata. Lord Shiva was in no mood to forgive them so easily, so he converted himself into a bull and went to Garhwal side of Uttarakhand. On being found by the Pandavas, he dived into the ground. Different parts of the Lord came up at different parts - hump at Kedarnath, arms at Tunganath, navel at Madhya-Maheshwar, face at Rudranath and hair emerged at Kalpeshwar. Taken together, these five sites are known as Panch-kedar. Pandavas got temples made at each of the five places.


From Kedarnath, two routes can be taken for Badrinath, the last Dham amongst the Char Dhams. First route takes you through Ukhimath – Chopta – Gopeshwar – Chamoli – Joshimath -Vishnuprayag. Second route to Badrinath from Kedarnath is via Rudraprayag – Karnaprayag – Nandprayag – Chamoli – Joshimath –Vishnuprayag, skipping Ukhimath and Chopta. The two routes merge at Chamoli. Following are some places to see enroute to Badrinath via these routes.


Nandprayag
One of the ‘Panch Prayags’, the Nandprayag lies at the confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Nandakini in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. As per puranic stories, it is at this place where King Nand (husband of Yashoda who brought up Krishna) worshipped Lord Vishnu to grant him the boon of Lord himself to be born as son to him and Yashoda. A small temple at this place is visited by many pilgrims heading towards Badrinath.

Joshimath
It is an important stopover enroute to Badrinath from where buses, cars and taxis move in convoys till Badrinath and the roads remain closed at night. Captivating vistas of Himalayan peaks along the route, makes you appreciate the striking craftsmanship of nature and God. It is also the major destination enroute to Auli, the skiing paradise for adventure sports lovers in winters. A 3km. cable car ride from Joshimath can be taken to reach Auli. Joshimath also acts as the base site for treks to ‘Valley of Flowers’ and ‘Hemkund Sahib’. Main attractions in Joshimath include the following.

· Narsingh Temple– This is the winter home for Lord Badri who is shifted here when main temple of Badrinath remains closed from the time of Diwali to Akshay Tritiya. The deity of Lord Vishnu in the form of Narsingh (half human and half lion) is revered in this temple.

· Shankaracharya Math– Believed to be established by the Hindu Guru, Adi Shankaracharya, it is a sacred place housing the temples of Lord Badri and Rajrajeshwari Devi.

Vishnuprayag
Another sacred prayags of the ‘Panch Prayag’ group, the Vishnuprayag lies at the confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Dhauliganga in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is believed that sage Narad worshipped Lord Vishnu at this holy confluence. Lots of pilgrims take a holy dip in the waters of the ‘Vishnu Kund’ and visit the ‘Vishnu Temple’ dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Hanuman Chatti
The place enroute to Badrinath is famous for its ancient temple of Lord Hanuman. According to legends, this is the place where Lord Hanuman crumpled the ego of Bheema, second of five Pandava brothers of Mahabharata. A true devotee praying to Lord Hanuman in this temple is granted with all his wishes.

Pandukeshwar
The place is famous for its ancient ‘Yog Dhyan Badri Temple’ which as old as the main Badrinath Temple. The temple is dedicated to lord Vishnu who is worshipped in a dhyan mudra or meditative posture. This temple is also considered to be one of ‘Sapt Badris’ or the seven abodes of Lord Vishnu.



Fourth Dham: Badrinath:

Named after Lord Badri(Vishnu), is located along the banks of Alaknanda River. ‘Badri’ means berry in local language. Also part of the bigger Char Dham circuit, it stands beautifully on Garhwal Hill, rearing its golden head and fluttering its red flags with Godly presence. One of the 108 Divya Desams, Badrinath temple is part of both Char Dham and Chota Char Dham. Adi Shankaracharya found the idol of Lord Badri in Alaknanda River and put it up in a cave near the Tapt Kund. In 16th century, a Garhwal King got the temple erected, which has been renovated many times as a result of natural calamities. Sandwiched between Nar and Narayan peaks, the beauty of Badrinath Dham is further enhanced with the glorious background of Neelkanth peak.

· Tapt Kund– A natural hot water spring believed to contain medicinal properties. Before entering the main shine, pilgrims need to take a holy dip in the hot waters of this kund.

· Narad Kund– This is another holy kund near Tapt Kund. It is believed that Narad Muni authored ‘Narada Bhakti Sutra’ at this place. Also, this is the place from where Guru Adi Sankaracharya discovered the idol of Lord Vishnu and erected it in the Badrinath Temple.

· Mana Village– It is the last Indian village before Tibet and is home to the ‘Vyas Cave’ and ‘Ganesh Temple’. It is believed that great sage Vyas while composing the Mahabharata took the help of Lord Ganesh to write it in a great speed. Vyas Cave and Ganesh Temple are associated with this legend.

· Bheem Pul– It is a natural rock bridge which according to mythology, is believed to have been constructed by Bheema by laying a huge rock on the Saraswati River, while their ascent to heaven.

· Saraswati River– The Saraswati River holds a great religious significance as it is believed that Rigveda was composed at the banks of this holy river. Also known as the ‘Lost River’ because the river dried away many thousands of years ago, a small stretch of river flowing from the mountains near the Mana Village, merging in the Alaknanda River just a km. ahead, is believed to be the lost Saraswati River.

· Vasudhara Falls– These beautiful falls can be reached through a 6 km. trek from the Mana Village. Captivating views of snow clad Himalayas and glaciers feeding the Alaknanda River are just a sight to behold at the Vasudhara Falls.



LEGEND
As per one of the legends, the indulgent lifestyle of Lord Vishnu was criticised by a sage, after which Vishnu went to meditate as an act of penance, over here. Goddess Laxmi (his wife) became a berry tree to shade him from the sun and other harsh elements of nature. Another divine tale states that Badrinath used to be the realm of Shiva. Vishnu tricked Shiva into leaving the site and established himself instead.



After the darshans of Lord Badri at Badrinath, pilgrims make their way back to Rishikesh-Haridwar. Following are some additional places that can be seen enroute to return journey.

Karnprayag
It is situated on the confluence of Alaknanda River and Pindar River. According to the puranas, it is at this place where Karna worshipped the Sun God. According to a second story, Lord Krishna cremated Karna at this place and hence the name ‘Karnaprayag’. Ancient ‘Karna Temple’ and ‘Uma Devi Temple’ are the main attractions of this place.

Rudrayprayag is a major stopover enroute to Badrinath. It is a religious town located on the confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini. It is believed that Lord Shiva appeared here in his Rudra avatar to bless rishi Narad. Bountiful beauty of the town with its shimmering rivers, majestic Himalayas, gushing waterfalls and salubrious weather, makes this place a hotspot for tourists throughout the year. Must visit places in Rudraprayag are listed below.

· Rudranath Temple– The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva in his rudra avatar.

· Chamunda Devi Temple– The temple is dedicated to Goddess Chamunda who is worshipped here as wife of Lord Rudra.

· Koteshwar Temple– Situated on the banks of Alaknanda River in a cave, this is one more temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple lies at a distance of 5 km. from the main market of Rudraprayag. According to mythological beliefs, this is the place where Lord Shiva worshipped Lord Vishnu to help him kill the devil, Bhasmasur.

· Hariyali Devi Temple– Located at a distance of 35 km. from main town of Rudraprayag, the temple is dedicated to Devi Hariyali, another sacred manifestation of Mata Vaishno Devi. The temple is also one of the 58 ‘Siddha Peeths’ in India. It is believed that when Kansa threw the seventh child of Devki on ground, her body parts fell at different places on earth; with hands falling at Hariyali Devi.

· Kartik Swami Temple– Situated at one of the most scenic locations, Kartik Swami Temple is the highlight of Rudraprayag. Perched at a height of 3050m, the temple is devoted to Kartikeya, son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Paravati. Apart from its religious values, the shrine is known for offering indescribable beauty of the Himalayan Range. The temple indeed is the place of tranquility and serenity and is a must visit on Rudraprayag- Nagnath Pokhri Route in Uttarakhand

Augustmuni
This small town is situated at a distance of 18 km. from Rudraprayag and sits on the banks of Mandakini River. It is believed that sage Agastya meditated here for a long time. The ‘Agasteshwar Mahadev Temple’ in Agastyamuni is visited by many pilgrims enroute to Kedarnath. Helicopter rides for Kedarnath can also be availed from this town.

Srinagar
This beautiful town is situated on the banks of Alaknanda River and is famous for its ancient temples. Details of two of the most revered temples are listed below.

· Kamleshwar Mahadev Temple– The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Rama worshipped Lord Shiva at this place with his ‘Kamalnetra’ (Lotus eye). This is the reason temple came to be referred to as ‘Kamleshwar’.

· Dhari Devi Temple– Located on the banks of Alaknanda River, the deity of Goddess Dhari in the temple is believed to change her appearance from girl to woman to old lady during the course of the day. The temple holds a great religious significance for the locals.

Devprayag
Devprayag is a small pilgrim town situated on the holy confluence of Rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda. Splendid beauty of the town also makes it popular among travel enthusiasts and nature lovers apart from pilgrims.

· Raghunath Temple– This is the oldest shrine dedicated to Lord Rama. The temple houses the carved figures of Rama, Sita and Lakshman.

· Brahma Kund and Vashisht Kund– Sacred kunds on confluence of two holy rivers. This kund is on Bhagirathi River.

· Baital Shila– A small water spring which is believed to cure various diseases, especially leprosy.

On completion of Chardham, when we were reaching Rishikesh, people in Uttarakhand district itself came to touch our feet, as it is believed to be a tough task to complete all. In fact for some it was the third trial, and they were successful only at this time.

Rishikesh

Rishikesh is also known as the gateway to the Himalayas.

Rishikesh derives its name from 'Hrsikesa', which is a name of Vishnu. It means the Lord of Senses. It is a holy city located in the foothills of the Himalayas. The place gets its name from Lord Vishnu, who appeared to Raibhya Rishi as a result of the tapasya, as Lord Hrishikesh. The River Ganga also flows through Rishikesh. It is at Rishikesh that the Ganga leaves the mountain ranges in Shivalik and flows onto the plains in northern India.

Places here are Lakshman Jhula, Triveni Ghat, Swarga Ashram, Gita Bhawan, Baba Kali Kamliwala Pachyati Kshetra, Shri Sivananda Ashram and Diving Life Society

The scenic beauty is something worth beholding and their natural charm is a must-experience in the state.

The ‘Char Dham Pilgrimage Tours embark you on a spiritual journey where you can soak your spirits in true devotion and enlightenment. Besides the spiritual bliss, the tour also takes you through a roller coaster ride of fun and adventure. One of the most hectic trip too. We were deadly tired by the end, but worth it.

On 30th August finally all were back home safe with grace after completing third trip with Punyathirthangal Team a year before the mammoth Kerala flood and Kashi visit. Thanks for making our dreams come true. Looking forward for many more. RadheShyam.