Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Bala Chturdashi: A day to remember dead ones

The fourteenth night of the dark half of Mangsir, Chaturdashi is celebrated as Bala Chaturdashi. On this day devotees visit Pashupatinath — the Lord of the animals — temple and worship him. In the night they keep vigil. Satbeej, the purified mixture of hundred different grains like maize, paddy is scattered.
Devotees throng to the different Shiva temples throughout the country on this day like Gupteshwor Mahadev of Panchthar, Haleshi Mahadev of Khotang, Narmadeshwor Mahadev of Okhaldunga, Dolakha Mahadev of Dolakha and Galeshwor Mahadev of Myagdi to scatter .
Those, whose relatives have died a years before perform Hom - a sacrificial worship to the fire God - for the peaceful departure of the dead ones.
In Kathmandu devotees throng Kailash, by the side of Pashupatinath temple, Budhanilkantha, Swoyambhu and Nagarjun hill and keep vigil throughout the night lighting the oil-lamp in the memory of the dead ones.
Nepal Mahatmya describes Gokarneshwor Mahadav as one of the shrine of Lord Mahadev. It states that once Lord Shiva got bored in the companionship of his regular battalion of ghosts and spirits in Kailash – his holy abode in the Himalayas, he wanted to roam around freely. He even wanted to decieve Parvati, his consort. So, he came to Mrigasthali in Shleshmantak Ban – a forest near Pashupatinath Temple. There he enjoyed his free life as a deer.
For a long time, when Gods could not find the Lord they were worried and set to find him. Gods sent Brahma, Vishnu and Indra to search for the Lord.
The Gods after searching the whole universe came to the Shlesmantak Ban where to there utter surprise they saw the Lord enjoying his freedom as a deer.
They prayed to the Lord and asked to return to Kailash. But the Lord, who in no mood to return did not pay any attention to them. So, instead they decided to catch the Lord – the deer and caught his horn.
All of a sudden the Lord disappeared and only the three broken pieces of his Deer horn remained in their hand. Lord Shiva then told them to establish those three pieces of horn in his remembrance: in three places. Indra installed his piece in Swarge - the heaven, Lord Vishnu in Patal -the lower planets and Lord Brahma in Martya - the earth at Gokarna as Gokarneshwor Mahadav.
The people till today visit this temple, where according to the scriptures, once Ravana also prayed the almighty and pleased him.
Posted by Myself at 10:22:34 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Sunday, September 16, 2007

TEEJ

Teej, observed by Hindu women folk, is celebrated on the third day of the waxing moon of Bhadra, Hasta Nachhatra, according to the lunar calendar.

Women in red attire, red bangles and red tika on the forehead are seen visiting the various Shiva temples in their locality. The most popular among them is the Pashupati Nath temple.

Hindu scriptures has it that those married women who fast on this day will be blessed for their husband’s longevity, good health and the strong marital bond where as unmarried will find suitable husband. According to Purana, Hindu scripture, Goddess Parvita fasted and kept vigil throughout this night and worshipped the Lord to have him as her husband and she was blessed accordingly.

Thenceforth, the celebration of Teej started. Nepali women due to the geographical inaccessibility in past times could not visit their parents frequently. Thus, this is a day for the marrieds in year when they visit their parents and reunite with their other siblings and friends. The reunion is marked with songs and dances.

The night before Teej is widely known as Dar khane Din in local term. The womenfolk prepare various delicacies and eat the whole night because on the Teej day they won’t take a morsel. The legend has it that on this day one who fast should not drink a drop of water either. But with changing times such unpractical traditions are changing slowly. Singing and dancing ladies then visit Shiva temples in their localities in groups.

Kathmanduites specially visit Pashupatinath temple on this day. Teej or Haritalika, is considered a necessary ritual in Hindu society, especially Shaibaities (women) must observe this. There is no such obligation for the sick, old and pregnant. If a wife cannot fast and worship the Lord then the husband has to do so, the Hindu scriptures say. Our traditions are falsified in the passing of times and given wrong interpretation by some pundits. Thus today they may seem discriminatory. But accoeding to the Hindu scriptures, men and women share equal responsibility in a family.

The fourth day of Bhadra is called Ganesh Chauthi. According to the Skanda Puran, on this day Lord Ganesh was born. “Those, men and women, who fast and worship Lord Ganesh on this day are blessed with the uninterrupted from all the chaos of life.”

The fifth day is called Rishi Panchami. On the Rishi panchami day women folk pay homage to the Sapta Rishis - the seven sagas.

Posted by Myself at 18:22:18 | Permalink | Comments (1) »