Hindus attach paramount importance to spiritual gurus. Gurus are often equated with God and always regarded as a link between the individual and the Immortal. Just as the moon shines by reflecting the light of the sun, and glorifies it, all disciples can dazzle like the moon by gaining from their Gurus.
What is Guru Purnima?
The full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashad (July-August) is observed as the auspicious day of Guru Purnima, a day sacred to the memory of the great sage Vyasa. All Hindus are indebted to thisancient saint who edited the four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. Vyasa even taught Dattatreya, who is regarded as the Guru of Gurus.
Significance of Guru Purnima
On this day, all spiritual aspirants and devotees worship Vyasa in honor of his divine personage and all disciples perform a 'puja' of their respective spiritual preceptor or 'Gurudevs'.
This day is of deep significance to the farmers, for it heralds the setting in of the much-needed rains, as the advent of cool showers usher in fresh life in the fields. It is a good time to begin your spiritual lessons. Traditionally, spiritual seekers commence to intensify their spiritual 'sadhana' from this day.
The period 'Chaturmas' ("four months") begins from this day. In the past, wandering spiritual masters and their disciples used to settle down at a place to study and discourse on the Brahma Sutras composed by Vyasa, and engage themselves in Vedantic discussions.
MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2010
SHESH NAAG (the serpent God)
SHESH NAAG (the serpent God) comprises an important part of
Hindu mythology. As the reclining couch and the roofing canopy
of the god Vishnu, it has been a god venerated by all and
worshipped by many for centuries.
It is considered to be the king of the serpent race and the ruler
of the infernal regions called PATAL. God Vishnu sleeps over
the bed of its coils during intervals of creation. Shesh Nag is
also represented as one supporting the world on its hood.
The Nags have three Kings, VAASUKI, TAKSHAK and SHESH.
Shesh is said to represent the 'remainder' when the universe is
destroyed and the power of creation (Lord Vishnu) rests on its
coils. The Nags are dwelling in an underworld, called NAG LOKA,
which is an immense domain crowded with palaces, houses, towers
and pleasure gardens.
ANANTA - The Timeless
According to Varaha Purana, three of the lower worlds, PATAL,
ATAL and SUTAL belong to the Nags. Their favorite places of
visitations are the banks of river, IKSHUMATI, the NAIMISH
forest on the shores of the GOMATI, the northern banks of
the GANGA and the NISHAD land. They also dwell under the sea.
These nags are not always the enemy of man and they even inter
marry with them. Arjun of Mahabharata married a Nag girl named
Uloopi. Shesh Nag is the serpent with a thousand heads and is also
called 'ANANTA ', the timeless, because it does not die with
destruction of the universe.
All serpents are of divine extraction, because they are the children
of Kadru, who herself is the descendant of Kashyap. The main city
of Nags is Bhogvati (the city of pleasures), where Shesh appears
like the White Mountain adorned with gems. The later Purana
identify Shesh even with Krishna as Vishnu. Shesh is said to be
the soul of Krishna's brother Balrama. Thus Shesh emerged
from the body of dying Balrama and entered the earth, where
he received a warm welcome by all other serpents.
Hindu mythology. As the reclining couch and the roofing canopy
of the god Vishnu, it has been a god venerated by all and
worshipped by many for centuries.
It is considered to be the king of the serpent race and the ruler
of the infernal regions called PATAL. God Vishnu sleeps over
the bed of its coils during intervals of creation. Shesh Nag is
also represented as one supporting the world on its hood.
The Nags have three Kings, VAASUKI, TAKSHAK and SHESH.
Shesh is said to represent the 'remainder' when the universe is
destroyed and the power of creation (Lord Vishnu) rests on its
coils. The Nags are dwelling in an underworld, called NAG LOKA,
which is an immense domain crowded with palaces, houses, towers
and pleasure gardens.
ANANTA - The Timeless
According to Varaha Purana, three of the lower worlds, PATAL,
ATAL and SUTAL belong to the Nags. Their favorite places of
visitations are the banks of river, IKSHUMATI, the NAIMISH
forest on the shores of the GOMATI, the northern banks of
the GANGA and the NISHAD land. They also dwell under the sea.
These nags are not always the enemy of man and they even inter
marry with them. Arjun of Mahabharata married a Nag girl named
Uloopi. Shesh Nag is the serpent with a thousand heads and is also
called 'ANANTA ', the timeless, because it does not die with
destruction of the universe.
All serpents are of divine extraction, because they are the children
of Kadru, who herself is the descendant of Kashyap. The main city
of Nags is Bhogvati (the city of pleasures), where Shesh appears
like the White Mountain adorned with gems. The later Purana
identify Shesh even with Krishna as Vishnu. Shesh is said to be
the soul of Krishna's brother Balrama. Thus Shesh emerged
from the body of dying Balrama and entered the earth, where
he received a warm welcome by all other serpents.
No comments:
Post a Comment