Chitika

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Rabindranath Tagore


Rabindranath Tagore

Birthday of Rabindranath Tagore 
On this day in 1861, the Indian polymath and Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore was born in Kolkata. Tagore, who began writing poetry at eight years old, published his first major collection of poems when he was sixteen, under the pseudonym, Bhanushingho, Sun Lion. Tagore protested against the British Raj and endorsed independence for India. He was a great admirer of Mohandas Gandhi, whom he called Mahatma or Great Soul out of his deep respect.
Tagores famous volume, Gitanjali is a collection of 103 English poems, translated from Bengali. Company prior to a visit to England in 1912, the translations were very well received in the UK, where they were published in 1913, with a foreword by William Butler Yeats. In the same year, 1913, based on a small body of translations, Rabindranath became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize.

Life of Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1901)
The youngest of the 13 surviving children, was born in Tagore Jorasanko mansion in Kolkata by parents Debendranath Tagore (1817-1905) and Sarada Devi (1830-1875). Tagore family patriarchs were the Brahmo founding fathers of the Adi Dharm faith. He was mostly raised by staff, so that his mother had died in his early childhood, his father traveled a lot. Tagore largely fallen classroom schooling, preferring to roam the mansion or nearby idylls: Bolpur, Panihati, and others. As he upanayan initiation at age eleven left Tagore Kolkata February 14, 1873 to tour India with his father for several months. They visited his father's Santiniketan estate and stopped in Amritsar before reaching the Himalayan hill station, Dalhousie.

Where young "Rabi" read biographies and was home-educated in history, astronomy, modern science, and Sanskrit, and examined the poetry of Kalidasa. He completed works in 1877, pioneering Mon far poem by Maithili style by Vidyapati. Ha, a newly discovered 17th-century Vaisnava Published under the pseudonym, experts accepted them as the lost works Bhanusimha With irony and seriousness that they depicted a wide range of Bengali lifestyles, particularly village life. Ava poet. He wrote "Bhikharini" (1877, 'Beggar Woman "-the Bengali first novel) and Sandhya Sangita (1882), including the famous poem" Nirjharer Swapnabhanga "(" The rousing of the waterfall ").

A prospective barrister, Tagore enrolled at a public school in Brighton, East Sussex, England 1878th. His first was a few months in a house that Tagore family owned near Brighton and Hove, in Medina Villas, in 1877, his nephew and niece - Suren and Indira, children Satyendranath Tagore's brother - was sent with his mother ( Tagore's sister-in-law) to live with him. He studied law at University College London, but left school to Shakespeare and many more to discover: Religio Medici, Coriolanus and Antony and Cleopatra. Less degree, he returned to Bengal in 1880. However, this exposure to English culture and language later seep into his previous acquaintance with the Bengali musical tradition, allowing him to create new forms of music, poetry and drama.
Yet Tagore neither fully embraced English strictures or his family's traditional strict Hindu religious observances, either in life or in his art, but chose to select the best of both worlds of experience.

In 1890, Tagore began managing his family's vast estates in Shilaidaha, a region now in Bangladesh, he was accompanied by his wife and children in 1898. In 1890, Tagore gave her Manasi poems, including his most famous works. As "Zamindar Babu", Tagore crossed holdings while living out of the family's luxurious barge, the Padma, to collect (mostly token) rents and bless villagers, who held festivals in his honor. The years-1891-1895: Tagore's Sadhana period, after one of Tagore's magazines - was his most prolific. During this period he wrote more than half of the stories of the three-volume, 84-story Galpaguchchha.

Ravindranath Later years and death
Tagore's last four years were marked by chronic pain and two long periods of illness. These began when Tagore lost consciousness in late 1937, he remained in a coma and near death for a long time. This was followed three years later, in late 1940, a similar spell, from which he never recovered. Poetry Tagore wrote in these years are among his best, and is distinctive for its preoccupation with death. After extended suffering, Tagore died on 7 August 1941 (22 Shravan 1348) in an upstairs room in Jorasanko mansion, where he was raised, aged 80 years. His death anniversary is mourned Bengali-speaking world. The last person to see Tagore lived Amiya Kumar Sen (brother of Sukuma Then, the first head election commissioner), Tagore dictated his last poem, SEN, who wrote it down. Sen later won the resulting draft to a museum in Kolkata.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Saraswati Puja


Saraswati: Goddess of Knowledge & Arts
Saraswati Puja is celebrated throughout India by Hindus. Saraswati is the goddess of Education, Arts and Crafts. This festival held in the month of Magh (January-February). This is a festival celebrated with young people, especially students who invokes the blessings of the goddess for success in learning, arts and crafts. More than any other state, is Saraswati Puja is celebrated in West Bengal in a stately manner. Next to West Bengal it is celebrated in the southern states of India as Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh etc. I schools, colleges and homes. Basant is celebrated as Saraswati Pooja Punjami OR Vasanat Punjami in many states of India.
Bakdevi, Biraj, Sarada, Brahmi, Satarupa, Mahasweta, Sarbasukia, Prithudar, Bagiswari are some of the other names of Goddess Saraswati.

Myths of the Goddess Saraswati
Amongst all the Hindu deities, Saraswati stands out as the most controversial. From the Vedas, Puranas, Upanishads to the popular ancient mythology, Saraswati appears through a veil of mystery. The Matsya Purana, Saraswati evolved from the mouth of Brahma. Such was her beauty and grace that Brahma pursued her. As she fled in different directions a head appeared, and as Brahma is attributed with five heads, she was the most unique creation of Brahma.

Celebration of Saraswati Puja
The idol is decorated in white, representing purity. The place where the idol is kept for Pooja is decorated with floral designs or Rangolois and design of a fish is considered favorable. Although different states India follow different methods to follow, following the method of worship is usually followed by the majority of the Indian people:
Family members bathe early and dress in yellow attire and assemble in front of the Goddess. A flat low stool made of wood covered with yellow cloth and the idol is placed on to the east direction. Then remain face idol covered until the priest starts singing mantras at the beginning of Puja.
A green coconut is placed on an earth embankment pot with a red checked cotton cloth called Gamcha. The actual puja flowers are used but the most significant is the Palash or flame of the forest and marigold flowers. In the southern part of the country, Lotus and other fragrant flowers like jasmine offered.
Books by students at home are placed before the goddess.
The main puja offerings to the goddess are mainly fruit, berries are most of the wild plum. Other fruit tapioca. Sweets containing puffed rice, jaggery and yogurt. The earthen pot is tied with a string that will be untied only on the next day by the priest before Bisarjan or immersion ceremony.
A Havan (hymn) is done by the priest (or the oldest in the family) using special wood, ghee, incense and incense. The absence of a burning smell means success for the puja. A diya or lamp is kept also shines with Prasad.
Arati performed by the person in the morning and again in the evening. This is done while chanting sanskrit slokas (in Brahmans house) or slokas from the regional language in non-Brahmins houses) and accompanied by the blowing of conch shells and beating of drums (in northern India or holy pooja bell in southern India) .
The lit lamp used during the Arati is passed around to each devotee to warm their hands and touching their heads.
The most important part of Saraswati Puja is, no one touches books on that day. This means that the goddess is blessing the books placed in front of her that day.
Eating vegetarian food is strictly followed on this day of Saraswati Pooja. Young Kids in the family is asked to write for the first time in life, the alphabets of the pastor   family elders. It suggests the first step in the acquisition of Knowledge.
The day the children take back their books, but standing in front of the goddess and read from them or write them.
Many people visit the temple on that day to worship God Saraswathi to get her blessing to get the Best of  Education   Arts   culture.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Mahavir Jayanti


 
Mahavir Jayanti
Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana.M Mahavir Jayanti is the most important Jain festival. Mahavirswami is twenty-fourth Tirthankar. He was born in 599 BC at Kshatriyakund near modern Patna in Bihar. His father, King Siddhartha, and his mother, Queen Trishla, were very religious people and followers of Lord Parshwanath, the twenty-third Tirthankar. The Queen Trishla predictable child she had 14 beautiful dreams (some believe sixteen dreams). If the scholars were asked about the dreams they said she was an extraordinary child. , One that will be the path to true happiness for mankind.
About Mahavira, his Birth and explanation

According to Jain mythology, Mahavir had acquired all the necessary qualities to become a Tirthankara in his previous life. Six months before birth, made the supreme authority of a nice atmosphere and leading to Mahavir's birth, which was a great character. Gods and goddesses came down to bestow his blessings on Tirthankara's expectant mother, and to satisfy their needs. Wealth was showered from heaven, which exempts everyone from poverty and extend the superior atmosphere.
Just before Mahavir was born, his mother had 16 dreams. Mahavir was born in the morning, which is considered very promising in Jainism and Hinduism.
Trishla (Mahavir mother)sixteen dreams were:

·         A white elephant
·         A lion
·         Goddess Lakshmi with two elephants at her side showering flowers
·         The moon lighting the universe with silvery beams
·         A pair of jumping fish
·         The radiant sun, a golden pitcher
·         A lake full of lotus flowers
·         A calm ocean of milk
·         A celestial palace
·         A throne of rubies and diamonds
·         A celestial king ruling the earth
·         A garland
·         A white bull
·         A fragrant Mandara flowers
·         and a vase as tall as Mount Meru, filled with gems.
·         And immediately after this, she felt a white elephant enter her through her mouth. She also didn't feel any pain associated with childbirth.

It is believed that at the correct moment of his birth, life forms in all the three worlds were cheerful and content. Several gods and goddesses from the sky to pay homage to Tirthankara. They bathed him ceremonially and named him Vardhaman, Vir, Mahavira, Ativira and Samvati. The child was of outstanding beauty and developed great physical and mental strength. At the age of 13, Mahavir renounced the material world, and sat for meditation. After 12 years of meditation under an Ashoka tree, also called Jonesia Ashoka, he achieved the ultimate enlightenment. The divine gods witnessed this great event, and carried him in a palanquin to a park where he was put on a five-tiered throne and acknowledged as Mahavira. Here he stripped himself of all his clothes. Instead of shaving his head, he tore his hair from the roots, for he was above pain. The Digambaras, Mahavir wore no clothes then, but Svetambaras believe that Indra gave him a white robe.
About Jainism
The term Jain is derived from Jina, which means that the Conqueror. Jainism rests on the three fold path right conduct, right faith and right knowledge. It is not believe in a God who forgives the sins of their worshipers. It teaches practitioners to take full responsibility for his actions, which is the basis for the Karma theory. It teaches the followers to live a very austere life, in an attempt to clear its debt to humanity and also achieve the highest form of salvation.
The devout followers of this religion does not even hurt a fly. Some followers cover their mouths with a small cloth, to avoid the slightest chance to kill bacteria in breathing. It was this doctrine of nonviolence (ahimsa), adopted and popularized by Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle.
Ainism can be divided into two sects - the Jains Shwetamabara (ones wear simple white clothes) and Digamabara Jains, who practice the most extreme form of asceticism by not adorn any clothes on their bodies. Both of these schools follow closely the teachings Mahavira, known as Jina, or conqueror.
His Teachings
Mahavir Jayanti Mahavira taught that people can save their souls from the pollution of substance by living a life of great plainness and by practicing non-violence towards all living beings. The defense of non-violence, confident his followers - monastic and lay - to be strong advocates of vegetarianism. Mahavira's followers were aided in their quest for salvation by the five mahavatars. Ascribed to Mahavira, lift these great was the renunciation of killing, speaking untruths, out of greed, of sexual pleasure, and of all attachments to living beings and non-living things.
Sects
The most important sects now Digambaras and Shvetambaras, with the latter further divided into Deravasis and Sthanakvasis. Deravasis While visiting temples and worship the statue of Mahavir, the Sthanakvasis emphasize the internalization of the faith. Mahavir himself was against idolatry.
Digambaras and Shvetambaras
    Around the year 80 AD the Jains split into two sects:
Digambaras (clothed space) and Shvetambaras (dressed in white). Digambaras determine that sadhus should be naked as a sign of total renunciation. Other doctrines held by the Digambaras but rejected by the Shvetambaras are: 1. Only men can achieve the final liberation (moksha), women must be reborn as men. 2 Pictures of Tirthankars must be represented with eyes cast down, naked and unadorned. 3. Mahavir never married. 4 Once the highest state of knowledge is reached, a holy life can keep without eating, and 5. By the 2nd century the canon holy books were lost.
THE SIGNIFICANCE

Mahavir Jayanti is observed on the 13th day of the month of Chaitra according to Hindu calendar. This day is celebrated, not with pomp and festivities, but with a prayer and worship, in accordance with the Saint Mahavir doctrine of austerity and renunciation.
Jain religious leaders spend the day in solitude, while the rest of the Jain people organize peaceful marches, children act out stories from the life and times of Saint Mahavir. Mahavir Jayanti is observed particularly in places like Old Delhi, Gujarat and Rajasthan, which consists of a large Jain population. At certain places (like the highly revered shrines of Girnar and Palitana in Gujarat, Bihar and Pawanpuri Parasnath temple in Calcutta), the day is celebrated with much joy and enthusiasm. Mahavir Jayanti is widely regarded as beneficial across the country.
Celebrations
On the day of Mahavir Jayanthi (birth anniversary), many community members make offer of milk, rice, fruit, incense, lamps and water to tirthankar. Some parts of society, even participate in a grand procession.

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