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Wednesday, August 1, 2007

श्रीगणपत्यथर्वशीर्षम्


श्रीगणपत्यथर्वशीर्षम्

The Highest Praise of the Lord Ganesh


Ganapati Atharvashirsha is The First Complete Prayer Of Lord Ganesha in Athervaveda,Shirsh Means Head, The Start Or The Beginning Point, And 
Atharva Means Stability So Atharvashirsh Gives Stability In Knowledge, Intelligence And Creations.

Ganak Rishi Has Created This Prayer. 

“OM GAM GANPATAYE NAMAHA” is The Beej Mantra (Basic Mantra) Of Lord Ganesha. 

Favorite colour is red to Lord Ganesha ( Like Red Fruits, Flowers, Cloth, Tilak On Forehead ) Atharvashirsha is Written in Gayatri Chhand in Sanskrit, Atharvashirsha is most important in any type of Ganpati Pooja.   

The name Ganesha is a sanskrit name Gana mean a group, multitude and isha mean Lord Or Master. 

In Sahastranama The Twelve Important Names Are:    
 
1 Vakratunda (one having face of elephant i.e ganesha with trunk bend towards
    left side or right side.)
 
2 Ekdanta (means ganesha having only one tusk in right side.)
 
3 Krishnapingaksha (means ganesha having two grey colored eyes)
 
4 Gajavaktra (means ganesha having only face of an elephant)
 
5 Llambodar (means ganesha having big stomach or pot belly)
 
6 Vikata (means ganesha having dangerous looks or appearance for enemies)
 
7 Vighnaraj (means ganesha the one who defeats the obstacles )
 
8 Dhumravarna (means ganesha the one who has the colors of smoke )

9 Bhalchandra (means ganesha the one who has crescent shaped moon on his
   forehead)    
 
10 Vinayak (means ganesha the one who always supports the good deeds ).
 
11 Ganapati (means ganesha the one who is lord of holly group)
 
12  Gajanan (means ganesha the one having complete face of elephant)

Ganesha is considered to be the lord of intelligence. in sanskrit, the word Buddhi is a feminine noun that is variously translated as intelligence, wisdom, or intellect. the concept of Buddhi is closely associated with the personality of Ganesha, especially in the puranic period, when many stories stress his cleverness and love of intelligence. one of Ganesha’s names in the Ganesha purana and the Ganesha sahastranama is Buddhipriya.

 





Ganapathi Atharva Seersha is a part of Atharva Veda. It is classified as an Upanishad and not as a chant; yet it is still considered universally as the greatest and most effective prayer addressed to Ganesh.
श्रीगणेशाय नमः
शान्ति मन्त्रः॥
भद्रं कर्णेभिः श्रृणुयाम देवा
भद्रं पश्ये माक्ष भिर्य जत्राः
स्थिरै रङ्गै स्तुष्टुवां सस्तनूभिः
व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः
स्वस्ति इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः
स्वस्ति नः पुषा विश्वैवेदाः
स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः
स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु
शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः
Aum! O gods,with our ears may we hear that which is auspicious; Adorable Ones, with our eyes may we see that which is auspicious ; while praising the gods with steady limbs, may we enjoy the life that is alloted by the gods. May Indra of ancient fame be auspicious to us; may Pusan and the Visva-Devas be propitious to us; may Tarksya, of unhampered movement, be well disposed towards us; may Brihaspati ensure our welfare.
Aum! Peace! Peace! Peace!
Shanti from Upanishads of Atharva Veda


अथर्वशीर्ष
Now let us explain the Ganapatiathrvashirsha,
The supreme of hority Ganapati (who is the authority of al ganas-Shakti, Surya, Shiva, Vishnu and Brahmadeva) and who is OM.


नमस्ते गणपतये
त्वमेव प्रत्यक्षं तत्त्वमसि
त्वमेव केवलं कर्तासि
त्वमेव केवलं धर्तासि
त्वमेव केवलं हर्तासि
त्वमेव सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्मासि
त्वं साक्षादात्मासि नित्यम् ॥१॥
You are the divine truth.
You are the only creator of the world.
You are the only protector of the world.
You are the only destroyer of the world.
You are the ultimate supreme divine power.
You are the only soul which is present party in each and every living form.

Here the meaning of Brahma is related with unknown total universal knowledge. The origin of the total universe is sound. The first basic sound or knowledge is self existent, ever lasting and full of happiness, full of spirit. The pictorial form of this original sound is OM and an idol of Ganapati is a symbolic form of OM. All the matter is created from the original sound. ( matter is made up of protons, neutrons and electrons) atoms which are. It means original soul is present partly in each and everything and it is the ultimate supreme knowledge means it is the Brahma and. The Brahma(Lord Ganesha) controls from birth till death.
[1]

ऋतं वच्मि
सत्यं वच्मि ॥२॥
The great sage Ganaka is speaking the divine truth. [2]

अव त्वं माम्
अव वक्तारम्
अव श्रोतारम्
अव दातारम्
अव धातारम्
अवानूचानमवशिष्यम्‌‍ |
अव पश्चात्तात्
अव पुरस्तात्
अवोत्तरात्तात्
अव दक्षिणात्तात्
अव चोर्ध्वात्तात्
अवाधरात्तात्
सर्वतो मां पाहि पाहि समन्तात् ॥३॥
(Oh Lord Ganesha) protect me. Protect the speaker, protect the listener, protect the donor, protect the sustainer, protect the learner and the teacher. Protet me from West direction, protect me from East, protect me from North, protect me from South. Protect me from top, protect me from bottom. Protect me from all sides and from surrounding. Lord Ganesha you protect me from all the obstacles when I am praising about your appearance, when I am listening about your merits/qualities. When I am passing the merit of your worshipping to others you protect me. When I am learning your worshipping from the Guru you protect me. The obstacles which will come across in my devotional worshipping you protect them from East, West, North, South and other surrounding/directions. [3]

त्वं वाङ्मयस्त्वं चिन्मयः
त्वमानन्दमयस्त्वं ब्रह्ममयः
त्वं सच्चिदानन्दाद्वितीयोऽसि
त्वं प्रत्यक्षं ब्रह्मासि
त्वं ज्ञानमयो विज्ञानमयोऽसि ॥४॥
You are the real speech and you are the real awakening. You are the real spirit of joy. You are the real universal divine knowledge. You are the incomparable everlasting real supreme joy. You are the perceptible/actual divine(substance) or as cause of the universe or an enigma. You are the actual knowledge and actual science and intelligence.(the meaning of science is spiritual experience) [4]

सर्वं जगदिदं त्वत्तो जायते
सर्वं जगदिदं त्वत्तस्तिष्ठति
सर्वं जगदिदं त्वयि लयमेष्यति
सर्वं जगदिदं त्वयि प्रत्येति
त्वं भूमिरापोऽनलोऽनिलो नभः
त्वं चत्वारि वाक्पदानि ॥५॥
The whole world is produced from you. The whole world is exists because of you. The whole world merged into you. The whole world again one can experience in only you. You are the Earth, water, air, fire and sky(the panchamahabhutas-the five elements). You are the four states of speeches. Sounded soul which is the origin of the Lord Ganesha is the self existent everlasting unexpressed total universal divine knowledge. The three states creation, maintenance(taking care) and destruction are originated from Lord Ganesha(Matter is originated from sound. The protons, neutrons and electrons are made up of atom. Atom is made from matter.) Proton, the creator(God Brahma), neutron the care-taker(God Vishnu) and electron the destructer (God Shiva). The five elements are originated from Lord Ganesha. From Ether the air is originated, from air the fire is originated, from fire the water is originated, from water the earth is originated. A human being is also originated from these five elements by processing cosmic energy. Lord Ganesha is the self existent original sounded soul. The knowledge of sound is visible or invisible. We can hear it but cannot see or feel it. Lord Ganesha(sound) is soul and the universe is the body. The source of words are from Lord Ganesha-the original sound. The four states of speeches are para, pashyanti, madhyama and vaikhari. The place of para is deep down inside the region of naval. The place of pashyanti is in the heart

The 'Madhyanma' is the throat and 'Vaikhari' is the movement of tongue and lips. It means the presence of Lorf Ganesha(sound) is present in all the objects in the world.
[5]
त्वं गुणत्रयातीतः
त्वं देहत्रयातीतः
त्वं कालत्रयातीतः
त्वं मूलाधारस्थितोऽसि नित्यम्
त्वं शक्तित्रयात्मकः
त्वां योगिनो ध्यायन्ति नित्यम्
त्वं ब्रह्मा त्वं विष्णुस्त्वंरुद्रस्त्वमिन्द्रस्त्वमग्निस्त्वं
वायुस्त्वं सूर्यस्त्वं चन्द्रमास्त्वं ब्रह्मभूर्भुवःस्वरोम् ॥६॥
You are beyond the three human qualities(Raj, Satva, Tam) You are beyond the three human states(waking, dreaming and deep sleep)
You are beyond the three states of bodies(gross, stable and causal)
You are constantly exist in the place 'Muladhara' in human body.
You are the three powers/Shakti (required for creation preservation and destruction)
The sages always meditate on Lorf Ganesha. You are Brahma, you are Vishnu, you are Rudra, you are Indra, you are Agni/God of Fire, you are Vayu/God of Air, you are Surya/Sun, you are Chandra/Moon, you are the Bramha(an organism from all living being) and the Earth, the Sky, the Heaven and the OM.

A human beings has three types qualities- Raj, Satva, Tam. Satva means Satvik means pure, holy or God fearing. A peson who is satvik, has always pure, noble clear thoughts. He is always well behaved well mannered thinking for others. Any type of bad element cold disturb him. 'Rajogna' means passionate. A person always thinks about what profit he will get if will do anything. He always accept positive results as per his thinking. If he doesn't achieve it he gets disturb. Could not keep control on his thoughts and mind. 'Tamasi' means hot headed irascible. A person is very hot tempered, selfish, his thoughts and his world is around eating, drinking, sleeping. They hurt to others never think care for anybodies feelings and duties towards anybody. Lorf Ganesha is beyond these three gunas.

Lord Ganesha always exist in place of 'Muladhara' according to the yoga there are seven 'Chakras'(states) in human body. These 'Chakras' are situated in various parts of the body. Through meditation a person can awake the power of thinking of body, correct decision power, through the power of kundalini which is in the 'Muladhara'. Lorf Ganesha the supreme power is situated in 'Muladhara'.
[6]
गणादिं पूर्वमुच्चार्य वर्णादिं तदनन्तरम्
अनुस्वारः परतरः
अर्धेन्दुलसितम्
तारेण ऋद्धम्
एतत्तव मनुस्वरूपम्
गकारः पूर्वरूपम्
अकारो मध्यमरूपम्
अनुस्वारःश्चान्त्यरूपम्
बिन्दुरूत्तररूपम्
नादः सन्धानम्
संहितासन्धिः
सैषागणेशविद्या
गणकऋषिः
निचृद्गायत्री छन्दः
गणपतिर्देवता
गं गणपतये नमः ॥७॥
Having recited the letter 'Ga' the first letter of 'Ganadhim' in the beginning, followed by the first alphabet 'A' and thereafter a dot means a crescent and with the sacred 'Om' up to these. This is the way of complete the pronunciation. 'Gakara' is the first part 'Akara' is the middle part and a dot 'anuswar' is the last part and 'bindu' is the latter form (pronunciation)
This is the 'Ganesh Vidya'(knowledge about Lord Ganesha) of Gananka Rishi(a sage) Niert Gayatri is its meter. 'Ganapati' is the God and symbolic form in words is 'OM Gam Ganapataye Namaha'.
The word Gam having the following four parts,
1) Ga
2) A
3) A dot above the letter to denote the nasal sound.
[7]


एकदन्ताय विद्महे
वक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि
तन्नो दन्ती प्रचोदयात् ॥८॥
(This Is The 'Ganesh Gayatri' Which Is Introduced After Knowledge Of Ganesha. By Chanting This 'Ganesh Gayatri' God Ganapati Will Take Care Of The Devotees Life, Wealth And Property) We Know Ekadanta
We Meditate vakratunda
May Anti Inspire Us For Meditation.
[8]


एकदन्तंचतुर्हस्तंपाशमङ्कुशधारिणम्
रदं वरदं हस्तैर्बिभ्राणं मूषकध्वजम्
रक्तं लंबोदरं शूर्पकर्णकं रक्तवाससम्
रक्तगन्धानुलिप्ताङ्गं रक्तपुष्पैः सुपूजितम्
भक्तानुकंपिनं देवं जगत्कारणमच्युतम्
आविर्भूतं सृष्ट्यादौ प्रकृतेः पुरुषात् परम्
एवं ध्यायति यो नित्यं योगी योगिनां वरः ॥९॥
First Nam mantra, then one letter mantra, then Gayatri mantra. After finishing these three mantras a description of Ganesh idol for meditation is said as follows, Who has one tusk(on right side), who has four hands, in upper right hand who is holding noose, in left upper hand goad. In lower left hand, who is holding elephant's tooth(ekadanta), right lower hand is giving blessings, granting boon, having the mouse as him emblem, red in colour, who is having big stomach, whos ears are like a small sift pan, who is wearing red coloured cloths, who's body is smeared with red sandalwood paste, who is worshipped with red flowers, who is always does favor and keeps kindness towards his devotees, who created this world, who is evelasting and who is the cause of the universe, who is beyond the primordial energy and individual soul. Whomever meditates on him, always is a yodi and is the best amongst the yogies. [9]


नमो वातप्रतये
नमो गणपतये
नमः प्रमथपतये
नमस्ते अस्तु लम्बोदरायैकदन्ताय विघ्ननाशिने
शिवसुताय श्रीवरदमूर्तये नमः ॥१०॥
Salutation to leader of crowd( Lord Ganesha is the leader of al kinds of living souls which are the Salutation to Ganapati(the supreme authority of total divine knowledge) Salutation to leader or chief of the soldiers and sages. Salutation to the big bellied(Lambodar), who is having one tusk, Salutation to Ekadanta. Again and again Salutation to God Shiva's son who destroys all obstacles and Varadmurti. A lord who always give blessings to his devotees. The main Atharvashirsha ends here, with salutations to Lord Ganesha . [10]

The following part is the recital of beneficial effects of the Atharvashirsha

फलश्रुती
एतदथर्वशीर्षं योऽधीते ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते
सर्वविघ्नैर्न बाध्यते
सर्वतः सुखमेधते  
पंचमहापापात् प्रमुच्यते
सायमधीयानो दिवसकृतं पापं नाशयति
प्रातरधीयानो रात्रिकृतं पापं नाशयति
सायंप्रातः प्रयुंजानो अपापो भवति
सर्वत्राधीयानोऽपविघ्नोभवति
धर्मार्थकाममोक्षं विन्दति
इदमथर्वशीर्षमशिष्याय देयम्
यो यदि मोहाद् दास्यति पापीयान् भवति
सहस्त्रावर्तनात्
यं यं काममधीते तं तमनेन साधयेत् ॥११॥
Whoever will study and learn this Atharvashirsha, he will attain the total divine knowledge. He will have the incomparable happiness, he does not have any obstacles. He is free from five great sins(1. Killing of a Bhrahmin. 2. Drinking of wine. 3. Theft of gold. 4. Violating the bed of preceptor's wife. 5. Remain in the company of the four kinds of people indulging in the said sins.) If one recites this hymn in the evening he is free from the sins done during the night. One who recites this in the morning and evening becomes sinless. One who recites this hymn everywhere will be free from all the obstacles and he will be safe from all the ways and gains all the four types of prowess namely, 1. Dharma-religin. 2. Artha - wealth. 3. Kama- desire. 4. Moksha-liberation. The Atharvashirsha should not be taught to a student who doesn't have respect about it. If anyone will learn this for acquiring money then he becomes and looses his power. If one will recites this thousand times he will fulfill his desire. [11]

अनेन गणपतिमभिषिञ्चति
वाग्मी भवति
चतुर्थ्यामनश्वन्जपति
विद्यावान भवति
इत्यथर्वणवाक्यम्
ब्रह्माद्यचरणं विद्यात्
बिभेति कदाचनेति ॥१२॥
Who dies the coronation to Lord Ganesha with milk or water or sugarcane juice y reciting continuously of Atharvashirsha becomes good speaker. Who does the fasting on the fourth lunar day becomes learned person. This is said by the great sage Atharva. If one will try to understand the illusion of divine he becomes fearless and safe. [12]
यो दूर्वाङ्कुरैर्यजति
वैश्रवणोपमो भवति
यो लाजैर्यजति
यशोवान् भवति
मेधावान् भवति
यो मोदकसहस्त्रेण यजति
वांछितफलमवाप्नोति
यः साज्यसमिद्भिर्यजति
सर्वं लभते सर्वं लभते ॥१३॥
He who worships with dhurva grass chanting this would become very rich,
He who worships with puffed rice chanting this , would become very famous,
He who worships with thousand modhakas would get all his desires fulfilled,
He who worships with fire sacrifice would get all that he wants.
[13]*

अष्टौ ब्राह्मणान् सम्यग् ग्राहयित्वा सूर्यवर्चस्वी भवति
सूर्यग्रहे महानद्यां प्रतिमासंनिधौ वा जपत्वा
सिद्धमन्त्रो भवति
महाविघ्नात् प्रमुच्यते
महापापात् प्रमुच्यते
महादोषात प्रमुच्यते
सर्वविद् भवति सर्वविद् भवति
एवं वेद
इत्युपनिषत् ॥१४॥

He who chants with eight Brahmins would get the effulgence of Sun God,
He who chants it during solar eclipse in the shores of great rivers or in front of Ganesa
every month,would become the master of this manthra and all he tells would become
true,
He would get rid of major road blocks,
He would get rid of great problems,
He would get rid of great dangers,
He would become greatly knowledgable, greatly knowledgable
This is the Veda and this is the Upanishad.
[14] **

Note: Stanza 13 and 14 alternative transalatation:
One who worships Lord Ganesha with durva becomes rich like the God of wealth Kubera.
Who does oblation of rice flakes by fire to Lord Ganesha becomes successful everywhere and becomes brilliant. Who does oblation of thousand modaks by fire to Lord Ganesha fulfills all the desires. Who performs oblation by offering sacrificial sticks with ghee gets all that is desired be the person(The sacrificial sticks are of the holy tree like Shami, Mandar, Banyan etc.)
Who teaches this to eight Brahmins becomes radiant as Sun. Who recites this hymn at the time of solar eclipse, on the bank of the great rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, or near the Lord Ganesha's idol becomes enlighten with the mantra(Siddha Mantra-is the mantra where one gets the power to achieve the thing, fruitfully and immediately as mentioned in the said mantra.)
He is freed from big obstacles.
He is freed from big faults.
He is liberated from great sins. One who understands this hymn correctly knows all.
This is the declaration of the Veda and Upanishada.

सह नाववतु
सह नौ भुनक्तु
सह वीर्यं करवावहै
तेजस्विनावधीतमस्तु
मा विद्विषावहै
शान्ति: शान्ति: शान्ति:

OM let both of us protect each other together, may both of us enjoy together, may both of us work together, let our study become radiant, let there be no hatred between us, OM Peace, Peace, Peace.
This Shanti Mantra is from Taittiriya Upanishad, Katha Upanishad and Shvetashvatara Upanishad (Krishna Yajur Veda)
इति श्रीगणपत्यथर्वशीर्षोपनिषद्


Monday, July 16, 2007

Planets , Days of the week & the dates and their respective deities


Planets and their deities

Sun                  Rudra
Moon                Gauri
Mars                 Kartikay
Mercury             Lord Narayana
Jupiter              Dakshinamurti
Venus               MahaLaxmi
Saturn               Lord Hanuman
Rahu                 Lord Kaal Bharava
Ketu                 Kartikay


Days of the week and deities

Sunday (Ravivar):                  Ravi (means Surya, the Sun deity)
Monday (Somvar):                 Shiva (Som means the Moon)
Tuesday:                             Parvati / Lakshmi
Wednesday:                         Pandurang
Thursday:                             Datta
Friday:                                 Parvati / Lakshmi
Saturday:                             Maruti



The dates (tithis) and their respective presiding deities

1. Pratipada (1st )                                 Agnidev (The deity of fire)

2. Dvitiya (2nd)                                    Brahma (The deity of origin) 

3. Trutiya (3rd)                                     Gouri

4. Chaturthi                                         Ganesh

5. Panchami                                         Sarpa (The serpent)

6. Shashthi (6th)                                   Kartikswami

7. Saptami (7th)                                    Surya (Sun)

8. Ashtami (8th)                                   Bhairav (Shiva)

9. Navami (9th)                                    Durga

10. Dashami (10th)                               Antak [Yamaraj (The deity of
                                                                                       death)]           

11. Ekadashi (11th)                              Vishvedev

12. Dvadashi (12th)                             Hari (Vishnu)\

13. Trayodashi (13th)                           Kamadev

14. Chaturdashi (14th)                         Pitar (ancestors)

15. Pournima (full moon day)               Chandra (Moon)

15. Amavasya (new moon day)             Pitar (ancestors)


If instead of the presiding deity of that date (tithi) one worships the presiding deity of another date then the benefit obtained is less, for instance if instead of Agnidev (the deity of fire) one worships other deities on the first day (pratipada) of the Hindu lunar calendar then the percentage of the benefit obtained is as follows.


The deity                                            Proportion of the benefit obtained %
1. Agnidev (The deity of fire)                                    100
2. Brahma (The deity of origin)                                   40
3. Gouri                                                                   70
4. Ganesh                                                                40
5. Sarpa (The serpent)                                              70
6. Kartikswami                                                         40
7. Surya (Sun)                                                          70
8. Bhairav (Shiva)                                                    40
9. Durga                                                                  70
10. Antak [Yamaraj (The deity of death)]                    40
11. Vishvedev                                                          70
12. Hari (Vishnu)                                                     40
13. Kamadev                                                           70
14. Pitar (ancestors)                                                40
15. Chandra (Moon)                                                 70
16. Pitar (ancestors)                                                40

Friday, June 1, 2007

Gotras of Aggarwal Community


There are 18 gotras (Family Name- Titles) of the Aggarwal community. All eighteen gotras are the names of sons of Maharajadhiraj Samrat  Agrasen Suryavanshi. The names are :-
  1. Garg
  2. Mangal
  3. Kucchal
  4. Aren
  5. Goyal
  6. Bansal
  7. Kansal is half gotra
  8. Singhal
  9. Jindal
  10. Tingal
  11. Goyan
  12. Dharan
  13. Madhukul
  14. Bindal
  15. Mittal
  16. Tayal
  17. Bhandal
  18. Naagal
All the gotras are in the hierarchy according to the age of sons of Maharaj Agrasen. Garg was name of Crown Prince Vibhu, the eldest son of Maharaj Agrasen, who ascended the throne of Agroha after Maharaja and became Narpati of daskdisha (King of Ten Directions), Samrat of Vaishyas (Lord of Business Men), Naresh of Suryavansh ( Biggest authority of Sun Dynasty) and received tiltes Mahayudhvir (Greatest warrior), SantiDhoot (Angel of Peace) and MahaDhanajarn (Great saver of Wealth). Mangal was king of Punjab, Goyal was king of central India, and all other brothers was given different states for rule in north India. Today Agrakul is the largest alive dynasty in the whole Indian sub continent . Goyal is most widespread Sub-dynasty of Agrakul. Mittal and Jindal prosperous a lot. Lashmi niwas Mittal , world fifth most Richest man belongs to mittal family, Among top 50 Richest business families , nearly 20 families belongs to Agrawal Dynasty. Billionaire corporates houses like Goyenkas (Indian Express), Goyals (Essel Group), Jindals, Singhanias(JK.Group), khaitans, Modi, Barjatiyas (Construction business family) are some wealthiest clans in India, who are again shaping the country into a modern goldern sparrow.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

नाग पंचमी : मन्त्र और पूजा / Naag Panchami : Mantra and Puja

नाग पंचमी : मन्त्र और पूजा   
Naag Panchami : Mantra and Puja


श्रावणमासके शुक्लपक्षकी पंचमी तिथिको नागपंचमी का त्योहार नागोंको समर्पित है इस त्योहारपर व्रतपूर्वक नागोंका अर्चन-पूजन होता है। वेद और पुराणोंमें नागोंका उद्गम महर्षि कश्यप और उनकी पत्नी कद्रूसे माना गया है। नागोंका मूलस्थान पाताललोक प्रसिद्ध है।

पुराणोंमें ही नागलोककी राजधानीके रुपमें भोगवतीपुरी विख्यात है। भगवान्‌ विष्णुकी शय्याकी शोभानागराज शेष बढ़ाते हैं। भगवान्‌ शिव और गणेशजीके अलंकरणमें भी नागोंकी मह्त्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका है।पुराणोंमें भगवान्‌ सूर्यके रथमें द्वादश नागों का उल्लेख मिलता है, जो क्रमश: प्रत्येक मासमें उनके रथके वाहक बनते हैं। नागदेवता भारतीय संस्कृतिमें देवरुपमें स्वीकार किये गये हैं।

देवी भागवतमें प्रमुख नागोंका नित्य स्मरण किया गया है। हमारे ऋषि-मुनियोंनें नागोपासनामें अनेक व्रत-पूजनका विधान किया है। श्रावणमासके शुक्ल पक्षकी पंचमी नागोंको अत्यन्त आनन्द देनेवाली है -‘नागानामानन्दकरीपंचमी तिथिको नागपूजामें उनको गो-दुग्धसे स्नान करानेका विधान है। कहा जाता है कि एक बार मातृ-शापसे नागलोक जलने लगा इस दाहपीडाकी निवृत्तिके लिये (नागपंचमीको) गो-दुग्धस्नान जहाँ नागोंको शीतलता प्रदान करता है, वहाँ भक्तोंको सर्पभय से मुक्ति भी देता है।

ब्रह्माजीने पंचमी तिथिको नागोंको पाण्डववंशके राजा जनमेजय द्वारा किये जानेवाले नागयज्ञसेयायावरवंशमें उत्त्पन्न तपस्वी जरत्कारु के पुत्र आस्तीक द्वारा रक्षाका वरदान दिया था। तथा इसीतिथिपर आस्तीकमुनिने नागोंका परिरक्षण किया था । अत: नागपंचमीका यह पर्व ऎतिहासिक तथासांस्कृतिक दृष्टिसे महत्त्वपूर्ण है ।

श्रावनमासके शुक्लपक्षकी पंचमीको नागपूजाका विधान है। व्रतके साथ एक बार भोजन करने का नियमहै। पूजामें पृथ्वीपर नागोंका चित्राड्कन किया जाता है। स्वर्ण, रजत, काष्ठ या मृत्तिकासे नाग बनाकरपुष्प, गुन्ध, धूप-दीप एवं विविध नैवेधोंसे नागोंका पूजन होता है।

निज गृहके द्वारमें दोनों ओर गोबरके सर्प बनाकर उनका दधि, दूर्वा, कुशा, गन्ध, अक्षत, पुष्प, मोदकऔर मालपुआ आदिसे पूजा करने और ब्राह्मणोंको भोजन कराकर एकभुक्त व्रत करनेसे घरमें सर्पोंकाभय नहीं होता है।

मन्त्र और पूजा 






Wednesday, April 25, 2007

GOING VEGGIE: FOUR GREAT REASONS


In the UK alone, 850 million animals and hundreds of millions of fish are killed every year to put meat on tables – that’s more than three million animals a day. Before they are slaughtered, hundreds of millions lead desolate, disease-ridden lives on factory farms. Turning vegetarian means you’re no longer a part of that cycle of death. 

According to Farm Animal Rights Movement, approximately 10 billion land animals are killed every year for food in the United States, and 58 billion are killed worldwide.
Note -It does not include: Sea creatures, wild animals killed by hunters, wildlife displaced by animal agriculture. 

Saving Animals


 
Misery and Medication
Disease, dirt and crowding, antibiotics and chemical growth enhancers - that's the five month life of most pigs.





No Reprieve
24 per cent of dairy cows are pregnant when slaughtered - many nearing full term.

Dairy Deaths
Calves are taken from their mothers a day or two after birth. Males are usually killed.



Legal Mutilation
75 per cent of all piglets have their teeth crushed and tails cut off without anaesthetics.


Boiled Alive
Up to one fifth of chickens may be fully conscious when they enter 
the scalding tank to loosen their feathers.




Saving Space
Broiler sheds may contain up to 50,000 birds - each one allowed a space the size of a telephone directory.

The Healthy Option?Nearly all 850 million UK chickens are fed antibiotics daily. 72 million die from disease.


Broiler Barbarity
Four-fifths of broiler chickens (killed for meat) have broken 
bones and deformed feet, legs and other bone deformities.

Assault and Battery
80 per cent of all eggs come from battery hens - kept five to a cage no bigger than a microwave oven. 







 Terror for Turkeys
25 per cent of turkeys are in chronic pain because of swollen joints - 70 per cent of big birds.



Ducks' Despair
Most ducks are factory farmed in crowded sheds. they never see daylight or swim in water.  




Not So Humane
Millions of calves, lambs and pigs are conscious when their throats are cut.
 
Silent Lambs
20 per cent of lambs die from cold, disease and starvation. 




Saving the Planet

Rainforests are cleared for grazing; methane from livestock causes global warming; soil is eroded by cattle; slurry poisons waterways; and the seas are laid to waste by overfishing. The global appetite for meat and the industrial techniques of the meat industry are destroying the Earth




 
Raining Acid
 

Animal faeces is a majorcause of acid rain - 
in Holland and Belgium, the main cause. Wageningen University

Astounding Appetites
More than 70 per cent of all agricultural land in Britain is used to feed animals. 




Desert Dangers
Deserts spread every year - by an area the size of England and Scotland. Livestock grazing is the main cause.
 
Felling Forests
Rain forests are still being felled to graze hamburger cattle. Going vegan saves one acre of forest every year.
Cornell University



 

Marine Madness
The world's 17 major fisheries are on the point of environmental collapse because of over-fishing. United Nations 

Wasting Water
On irrigated land, 1lb of vegetables uses 25 gallons. 1lb of beef uses 5,214 gallons. University of California. 



 Beg Your Pardon
Farmed animals rank second in causing global warming. Reason - methane from prolific farting and belching. SAFE
Land to Spare
If Britain went vegetarian, less than half the farm land would be needed - vegan, less than a quarter! Reading University
Chemical Killers
Every year in Britain, one billion gallons of pesticides are used - 200 chemicals, 50 suspected of causing cancer. Soil Association
   



Saving Others
While 750 million people go to bed hungry every night, one-third of the world’s grain is fed to farmed animals. A typical Western meat-based diet can only feed 2.5 billion people: a plant-based diet will feed every one of us



 


Food for a Future
35 per cent of the world's people can be fed on a meat-based diet. A plant diet could feed everyone - then plus some.
Sir Crispin Tickell

Waste Not, Want Not
It takes about 10kg of good quality plant protein - such as wheat and soya - to produce 1kg of meat protein.







 

Meat is Murder
The amount of veg protein fed to the US beef herd would feed almost the entire populations of India and China -
two billion people.


Veg is Best
Veg consumption is much more efficient than growing feed for meat production and dairying. WHO 






 



From the Mouths of Babes
90 per cent of the UK's animal feed protein concentrates come from poor countries - often those where children die from starvation.

Wicked Waste
Amount of grain needed to end extreme hunger - 40 million tonnes. Amount of grain fed to animals in the West - 540 million tonnes. United Nations  




Saving Yourself
Vegetarians live longer and suffer less from diseases such as hypertension, obesity, coronary artery disease, certain kinds of cancer and diabetes. Vegetarian diets can even be used to treat illnesses

Slowing Strokes
Vegetarians are less likely to suffer strokes caused by coronary artery disease. BMA

Perfect Protection
Vegetarian diets offer disease protection because of lower saturated fat, cholesterol and animal protein and higher folates, antioxidant vitamins and plant nutrients. ADA

Alzheimer's Awareness
New research suggest that dementia may be linked to a BSE-like 'prion' found in some meat.

Defeat Disease
Vegetarians have lower rates of obesity, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, large bowel disorders, cancers and gallstones. BMA 

Live Longer
Vegetarians often live longer and suffer less from several chronic diseases. ADA

Heart Disease - No.1 Killer
Vegetarians have half to three-quarters the risk of dying of heart disease compared to non-vegetarians. PCRM

Banishing Bugs
95 per cent of all food poisoning comes from meat and animal products. 

Better Births
Vegetarians have a much lower incidence of caesarean section. PCRM 

Cancer - No.2 Killer
Cancer rates among vegetarians are 25-50 per cent less than non-vegetarians. PCRM

Pressure Points
Hypertension (high blood pressure) in vegetarians is one third to one half that of meat eaters. PCRM

Ditch Diabetes
Diabetes is much less likely to be a cause of death in vegetarians. ADA 

Unclogging Arteries
Vegetarian diets have been successful in arresting and reversing severe coronary artery disease. ADA 


Note - These datas are collected from one of the website from UK