Religious Places

Religion is a way of life here which forms an integral part of the entire Indian tradition.

Historical Places

Soaked in history and embedded in architectural splendor, Indian civilization comprises of all those spectacular locations that have brought fame reflecting the grandeur of its past.

Heritage Places

Discover a mosaic of faiths, cultures and customs blended harmoniously to form a composite world of fascinating monuments and heritage sites in India.

Adventure Places

Brimming with exquisite locations that are just perfect for a varied number of adventure sports, India has something for everyone looking for adventure holidays.

Water Gateways

Experience the mystical charisma of India’s gushing waterfalls, serene backwaters, meandering rivers, glistening sands.

31 Aug 2012

Lord Ganesha Festival

Ganesh Chaturthi is also know as vinayaka chavathi,The Celebration of  vinayaka Chavathi continues for five,seven,nine and  elevens days,ending on Ananta Chaturdashi and some people will extend it to twenty one days.

Etymology

“Lord Ganesha” the word Ganesha is a Sanskrit word which derived from gana & isha and a group, multitude or categorical system refers to gana and the word “isha” master or lord. 

History of Lord Ganesha

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesha is the son of lord  Shiva and parvathi.There are many stories, why Ganesha been born and how he got the elephant head and lord ganesha’s mother Parvati, one day disappointed because of her appointed guards were out of lord shiva’s army failed to stop him from barging into her private chambers.  She decided to guard her for while until she completes her bath. She created a body from dust and oil and infused life into that body and told him that “I am your mother” and ordered until my bath, guards the entrance, 

Lord shiva came to see Parvati and lord shiva was unaware of his son and as his duty lord Ganesha blocked his way and would not let him in and that time, lord shiva became irate and in great anger fought with lord Ganesha, whose head got severed from his body.

As soon as, Parvati returned from her bath and saw her son, she got very aggrieved anguish and threatened to destroy the heavens and earth.Later, the gods and shiva pacified her and soon after sent out the ganas, to get the head of first living being his head towards in north direction, as north direction is associated with wisdom. After a while they found an elephant sleeping and faced towards north and ganas took the elephants head, returned to lord shiva and he emotionally involved the elephant’s head to the body and revived him back to life.

This elephant-headed god was welcomed into the first family of the Hindu heavens and named Ganesha or Ganapati.He is worshipped during every festival  Ganesha as initial God
                    
Ganesha is the god of wisdom and prosperity of  and  is invoked before the beginning of any auspicious work by the Hindus..It  is  celebrated  on of  fourth day of the waxing moon period in the month of Bhaadrapada according to the Hindu calendar.In Most of  the cities Vinayaka chavathi celebrations will start in the evening with Arthi pooja and ends with bajna's.The festival is celebrated with immense enthusiasm in
Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh for ten days,And eleven days in some places.
                                         
why and when a ganesh chaturthi celebration begins, but the earliest celebrations were started in the times of reign of dynasties of satavahan, rashtrakutha, chalukya.  As per historical records, ganesh chaturthi initiated in Maharashtra by chatrapati Shivaji maharaja. 

many stories revealed about lord Ganesha, and his presence in universe as a lord. Ganesh chaturthi will fall between in the month of august  and september.While vinayaka chavathi  celebrated all over India,

Ganesh Chaturthi festivities are most elaborate in states like Maharashtra, Goa (It is the biggest festival for Konkani people all over the world), Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, and other areas which were former states of the Maratha Empire. Outside India, it is celebrated in Nepal by the Newars.As the idol is immersed amidst loud chants of "Ganesh Maharaj Ki Jai!" (Hail Lord Ganesh), the festival comes to an end with pleas to the Lord to return the next year with chants of "Ganpati bappa morya, pudcha varshi laukar ya" (Hail Lord Ganesh, return again soon next year).

Tourists from all over the world come to witness this wonderful event in the sun kissed beaches of Goa and
Mumbai.Even muslims and christians will also celebrates vinayaka chavathi they present ganesh idols to well wishers and wish them.

It was around 1893, during the nascent stages of Indian nationalism, that Tilak began to organize the Ganesh Utsav as a social and religious function. He was the first to put in large public images of Ganesha in pavilions and establish the tradition of their immersion on the tenth day.

Vinayaka chavathi special recipes:


Modak:It is a famous Indian sweet, prepared especially on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. It is known as Lord Ganesha's favorite sweet. Thus, majority of the people consider it a must to make Modak on the
very first day of Ganesh Chaturthi. The celebrations are regarded incomplete without Modak, a sweet that is greatly associated to Ganesh Chaturthi.

Motichoor ki ladhu:It is thought to be the favorite food of Lord Ganesha. In fact, the sweet also finds a mention in the aarti of lord Ganesha, where a line goes "ladduan ka bhog lage, sant Karen seva". So, when it is occasion of Lord Ganesha's birthday i.e. Ganesh chaturthi, then how one can forget to make the sweetmeat.

Ravva Laddu:Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha. It is believed that Ganesh Ji is fond of sweet food and thus, His birthday is celebrated with variety of sweets and other dishes. A special sweet dish called Modak and many other sweets, along with milk, is offered to idols of Lord Ganeshji at home and in temples.

Moong Dal Ka Halwa,Purna poli,Puliyodarai,Besan Ke Laddu,Kaju Ke Barfi,Karanji.These are the special dishes prepared by hindus on vinayaka chavathi.

May the Lord Ganesha bless us, on which you initiate things to lead to a success in our lives.



29 Aug 2012

Gnana Saraswati Temple, Basar




Goddess Of Learning,Saraswathi Devi Basara, abode to Gnana Saraswati, is a small village near Nizamabad city that comes under Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh. Here is located the ancient temple of Gnana Sarasvati - the Goddess of Knowledge. It is believed to be one of the two oldest temples of Goddess Saraswati in India, the other being located in Kashmir. Sited at the convergence of rivers Mangira and Godavari.

Saraswati Temple appears serene and pious in the rustic setting. According to the legends, Veda Vyas did penance on the banks of Godavari. He used to bring fistful of sand daily after bath to make idols of Goddess Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali. Since the 6th century, Basar has been a pilgrimage centre for the Hindus. However, the present structure of the temple is believed to have been erected by Chalukya kings. In the sanctum sanctorum, the idol of Goddess Sarasvati adorns the sight, along with Goddess Lakshmi. In the 17th century, the idols of the temple were reinstated by a chieftain of Nandagiri (Nandeed) subsequent to destruction caused by the Muslim invaders.

 There is nothing extraordinary about temple's architecture yet its popularity is certainly creditable. Pilgrims from far and near come to pay their homage to the 'Goddess of Wisdom'. Basant Panchami and Navaratri are the major festivals observed at the temple. 'Akshara Gnana' is a special ritual, in which devotees bring their children to the temple. The significance of the ritual lies in the fact that it marks the formal starting of child's education. The child is given little bit of turmeric paste to taste, believing that it will clear his/her vocal chords for better learning. The Goddess answers all the prayers of the committed devotees, filling their life with bliss and happiness

To read more about Basara click here

28 Aug 2012

Edakkal Caves-Kerala, India


Edakkal Caves Situated on Ambukuthi hills, the caves are 10 kms from Sultanbathery, in Wayanad district. F. Fawcett, the then Superintendent of Police, who was also a pre-history enthusiast, accidentally discovered the caves in 1894. Archaelogists consider the caves as one of the earliest centres of human habitation.

The local legend says that the caves were formed by arrows fired by Lava and Kusha, the sons of Lord Rama. A few locals also believe that Lord Rama killed Surpanakha (sister of Ravana), in the narrow gap at the end of Edakkal cave.
inida caves

Another local legend associates the caves with Kutti Chatan (the little devil of Malabar) with the goddess Mudiampilli. The locals believe that the Goddess killed the demon in the cave by splitting the hill and even today they perform an annual pilgrimage to the peak of the hill to perform a puja (ritual offering) in her honor

Edakkal Caves Formed by a large split in a huge rock, the two natural rock formations represent the world's richest pictographic gallery of its kind. The caves contain several paintings and pictorial writings of the New Stone-Age Civilization which speaks volumes of the bygone life and civilization.

Edakkal caves are located at a height of 1000 m on Ambukutty Mala near Ambalavayal. The New Stone Age pictorial writings on the walls of these natural caves at Edakkal are evidence of the civilisation that existed in these regions in prehistoric times. The caves can be accessed only by a 1 km trekking trail from Edakkal. Morning hours are the best time to visit the caves.
India caves

Edakkal’ means ‘a stone in between’ which actually depicts the composition of this historical tourist spot which is a cave formed as a result of the gap in a huge rock formation. This rock has 2 layers and can be entered inside through a narrow passage which is sort of steep enough to raise your adrenalin flow.Is this the only rock with a specific shape? Or character? Am I trying to say this rock has got life? How a historical wonder in the middle of thick rain forests about 1200 meters above sea level claims interest? Why can’t we take a break from the myth.En-route to heaven Nearly a kilometer of trekking, down the rocky aisles could take you to the entrance of the historical caves. You don’t feel like taking chances by trekking with no trekking shoes on? No bother at all, get inside a jeep parked nearby avidly awaiting for someone and now it’s your turn to cruise your way towards Edakkal caves.
Caves of India

Edakkal caves, located at around 1200 meters above sea level in Wayanad district of Kerala, the green paradise and home to all spices.You would never know till you visit Guess what? You have just reached the main entrance; you may still have to climb a few more steps-believe it or not, it’s not the right place for hip-hop or hard core punk steps- to the historical caves with extra ordinary works of wall carvings of people, fox, deer, dogs, elephants etc. Various archeologists who visited and studied this site have written that, it was not just one culture but an array of cultures has been born here. It’s an incredible view to see a mystifying combination of infinite number of lines taking different forms and figures depending on the intensity of light flashing through the caves.

Many thousands of tourists visit Wayanad a year, but none of them misses Edakkal caves. Providing a bird’s eye view of the southern states of India including Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Edakkal caves at Wayanad is a feast for the nature lovers.
Get a Grip man Sounds annoying, yeah? Oops, didn’t mean it that way exactly. You should get well gripped foot wears while visiting Wayanad.Edakkal caves can be slippery in every sense during rainy seasons.

To read More about Kerala Tourism Attractions Click here



27 Aug 2012

భారత పురాణాలు: శివుడు చెప్పినట్లు చేద్దాం

భారత పురాణాలు: శివుడు చెప్పినట్లు చేద్దాం: శివాజ్ఞ లేనిదే చీమైనా కుట్టదంటారు. అంతటి ఆ లయకరకుడు మానవాళికి పుణ్యసంపాదన కొన్ని కొన్ని సులభ మార్గాలని ఉద్దేశించాడు. ఈ విషయాలన్నీ మహాభారతం అనుశాసనిక పర్వంలో ఉన్నాయి. ఒక రోజు పార్వతిదేవి పరమేశ్వరుడిని మానవులు ఏం చేస్తే సులభంగా పుణ్యాన్ని సంపాదించుకోవచ్చో చెప్పమని అడిగినప్పుడు శివుడు స్వయంగా ఆమెకు ఇలా వివరించాడు.
    ప్రాణాన్ని కలిగి ఉన్న ప్రతి జీవికి నీరు ఎంతో అవసరం. అలాంటి జలాన్ని దానం చేయడం ద్వార స్వర్గ సుఖం కలుగుతుంది. బంగారాన్ని దానం చేస్తే దాతకు పవిత్రత చేకూరుతుంది. గోవు ప్రత్యక్ష దైవమె. అలాంటి గోవును జ్ఞానవంతుడికి దానంమిస్తే ఆ గోవుకు ఎన్ని రోమాలు ఉన్నాయో అన్ని సంవత్సరాలపాటు దాతకు స్వర్గప్రాప్తి కలుగుతుంది. అందులో కపిల గోవుదానం ఇంకా ప్రశస్తమైనది. భూమిని దానం చేసిన వారికి భూమి ఉన్నంతకాలం స్వర్గసౌఖ్యం కలుగుతుంది. భూమి నుంచి అనేకానేక వస్తువులు ఉద్భావిస్తుంటాయి. కనుక భూమిని దానం చేసిన వారికి ఆయా వస్తువులు దానం చేసిన ఫలితం కూడా దక్కుతుంది. భూదానం వల్ల ఎన్నెన్నో పాపాలు తొలగిపోతాయి. దానాలలో కన్యాదానంవల్ల దేవతలంతా సంతోషిస్తారు. కన్యదాతకు తేజం, సంపద, కీర్తి కలుగుతాయి.

Hindu Adhyathmikam: Was Taj Mahal a Hindu Temple? - YES !!!

Hindu Adhyathmikam: Was Taj Mahal a Hindu Temple? - YES !!!

The Taj Mahal is as much a Islamic structure as is mathematics a muslim discovery! The famous historian Shri P.N. Oak has proven that Taj Mahal is actually Tejo Mahalaya - a shiv temple-palace. His work was published in 1965 in the book, Taj Mahal - The True Story. However, we have not heard much about it because it was banned by the corrupt and power crazed Congress government of Bharat who did not want to alienate their precious vote bank-the muslims.

After reading Shri Oak's work which provides more than adequate evidence to prove that Taj Mahal is indeed Tejo Mahalaya, one has to wonder if the government of Bharat has been full of traitors for the past 50 years! Because to ban such a book which states only the truth is surely a crime against our great nation of Bharat.

20 major evidences of Tejo Mahalaya....

1) Name (Tejo Mahalaya - Taj Mahal)
2) Temple tredition around Taj mahal
3) Documentary evidence
4) European Visitor's Accounts
5) Sanskrit Inscriptions on the walls of Mahal
6) Missing elephants
7) Koranic patches
8) Carbon 14 test by archeologists
9) Vedic architectural Evidence in and around mahal.
10) Inconsistencies
11) Treasury well inside of Mahal
12) Mumtaj Burial Date unknown
13) Baseless Love stories
14) Cost
15) Period of construction
16) Records doesn't exist
17) The Hindu dome
18) Tomb is the grave, not the building
19) Pre-Shahjahan References to the Taj
20) Forged documents