Navratri: Some Facts That You and Your Kids Might Like to Know.

Nava meaning nine, and ratri meaning night. Navratri in Sanskrit means nine nights. Shakti or feminine power is celebrated or worshiped during the sacred time of Navratri. Forms of shakti worshiped during Navratri are: 1. Durga, 2. Bhadrakali, 3. Amba, 4. Annapoorna, 5. Sarvamangala, 6. Bhairavi, 7. Chandika, 8. Lalita, 9. Bhavani.

In Chamunda Tantra we find these 10 forms of Shakti, called the "Dasa Mahavidya".

"Kali Tara Mahavidya Shorashi Bhuveneshwari
Bhairavi Chinnamasta cha Vidya Dhumavati tatha
Vagala Sidhdhavidya cha Matangi Kamalatmika
Ete Dus Mahavidya Sidhdhavidya Prakirtita".

These 10 "Mahavidya" are; Kali, Tara, Mahavidya, Shorashi, Bhuveneshwari, Bhairavi, Chinnamasta, Dhumavati, Vagala, Matangi and Kamala.

The "Brihat Dharma Purana" describes how these 10 forms of Durga Shakti have appeared. Sati, wife of Lord Shiva, wanted to go to her father's house, because her father, Daksha, was organizing a huge "yagya" (fire sacrifice). However, Daksha had not invited Lord Shiva to go and attend, so Shiva advised Sati not to go there. This angered Sati so much that fire emitted from her third eye, and she changed into Kali, a dark skinned Devi. Later, as the times passerby various other forms of Maa Kali took form.

The Navratri before Dusshera  being celebrated is known as Sharad Navratri, also known as Maha Navratri (The Great Navratri). Other months of Navratri celebrations include;

1. Vasanta Navaratri: Vasanta Navaratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Chaitra (March–April) and is observed during the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) of Chaitra. The beginning of this Navratri also marks the start of the new year as per the Hindu mythological lunar calendar (Vikrami Samvat).
2. Ashad Navratri  : Gupta Navaratri, also referred as Ashadha or Gayatri or Shakambhari Navaratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Ashadha (June–July). Gupta Navaratri is observed during the Ashadha Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon).this is mostly observed by shaktas only.
3. Sharad or Maha Navaratri: This is the most important of the Navaratris. It is simply called Maha Navaratri (the Great Navratri) and is celebrated in the 'pratipada' (first day) of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashvin. Also known as Sharad Navaratri, as it is celebrated during Sharad (beginning of winter, September–October).
4. Paush Navaratri: Paush Navaratri is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Tarashi (December–January). Paush Navaratri is observed during the Paush Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon).
5. Magha Navaratri: Magha Navaratri, also referred as Gupta Navaratri, is nine days dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti (Mother Goddess) in the month of Magha (January–February). Magha Navaratri is observed during the Magha Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon).

Thus Navratri is celebrated 5 times a year, and it is always celebrated 9 days at a time.

The festival of Navratri celebrates the welcoming of Spring and Autumn. The end of Navratri, or the tenth day, marks Dusshera to celebrate as the day Lord Ram's victory over  the demon King Ravan in Lanka. During the Dusshera celebration on the 10th day effigies of  “Ravan” are set on fire, representing the conquering of good over evil.

Diwali is celebrated 20 days after, on the day Lord Rama returns to Ayodhya as the king along with Sita, Lakshman as well as Hanuman. Diwali (Deepawali) is known as the "Festival of lights", signified through diyas, which are lit to guide Lord Rama’s back to his kingdom, after  14 years of exile.

Celebrations in Gujrat are especially known for their extravagant garba celebrations every night during the nine days of Navratri. In older times the dance was performed with a clay lantern at the center representing the Devi. Dancing around this lantern symbolises that each human has this form of energy within him or her. Being performed in a circle, it may also represent the cyclical belief of time.

In West Bengal, India, an elaborate Durga Puja (the biggest festival in Bengal) is performed with statues of Durga slaying the demon buffalo Mahishasura in temples and communities. They are worshiped for five days, and on the fifth day, the idols are immersed into the river.

In Tamil Nadu women belonging to the Iyer community invite married women to their homes in the evenings and gift them with accessories like bangles, earrings and other items that are symbolic of their marital status. These are suggestive of prayers for their husbands and their long lives. A coconut, beetle leaves and beetle nuts, and money are also given as gifts to these women. A special recipe called ‘Sundal’ made of lentil seeds and pulses is made on each day and served to the guests. Some also display a `Golu` at their homes. `Golu` is an arrangement made on a make-shift staircase with nine stairs. Each stair symbolizes each day of Navratri. Decorative items, idols of Gods and Goddesses are placed on the stairs. In most cases, the dolls that are used for the ‘Golu’ are handed over from generation to generation.

In Andhra Pradesh `Batukamma Panduga` is celebrated during Navratri especially in the Telangana region. `Batukamma Panduga` means `Come Alive Mother Goddess`. Batuku in Telugu means life and Amma,which means mother. These nine days are dedicated to Shakti and are celebrated in a very unique way. Women prepare `Batukamma` which is actually a beautiful flower stack, arranged with seasonal flowers, in seven layers. It is made to look like a pot made of flowers. So, this festival is devoted to celebrating universal motherhood. Women wear silk sarees and gold ornaments and make the most of these nine days to dig a hole in their husband’s pockets!After preparing their respective Batukamma’s, women gather in the evening for the ritual. They place them in the centre and dance around them by singing folk songs dedicated to Goddess Shakti. Then they march towards a lake or any other water body and set afloat their Batukammas.

In Kerala, the festival is celebrated only for the last three days of Navratri. Ashtami, Navami and Vijaya Dashmi are of utmost importance as these 3 days are the most auspicious time. During the puja books, musical instruments (if any) are placed in front of Goddess Saraswati’s idol on the day of Ashtami for granting them wisdom and knowledge. On the tenth day, the books are taken out for reading.

In Karnataka, celebration of Navratri dates back to the times of Raja Wodeyar since 1610 AD. People spend these 9 nights in the the same way as were by the great Vijayanagara dynasty. It’s called `Naada Habba’ in the state. However, the basic reason for the celebrations remains the same - victory of Goddess Durga over demon Mahishasur, known to be a resident of Mysore. The celebrations include procession of elephants on the streets along with community fairs and exhibitions of handicrafts and artefacts.

In Maharashtra, The Navratri celebrations in Maharashtra, bear resemblance to Gujarat owing to its geographical proximity to the state. Each and every locality has its own garba and dandiya nights celebrations and the whole family drenches itself in the festive spirit. Women put haldi and kumkum on the foreheads of the married women as a gesture of `Saumangalyam`. Navratri is also an auspicious time to initiate new beginnings, buying a new home or a car. Women invite their friends to their homes and gift them with a coconut, beetle leaves and beetle nuts.

In beautiful hill state of Himachal Pradesh Navratri is celebrated as community festivals where people meet up with their relatives to collectively pay their respect to the "Almighty". It is the most important festival of Himachal. The 10th day of this grand festive season is called "Kullu Dusshera". Songs and dance are common ways to express devotion and exhibitions of various items are set-up. On Dusshera or Dashami, the deities from the temples of the village are taken out in processions with much fanfare and musical dances.

In most of the northern states that include Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, Punjabis celebrate Navratri by paying obeisance to Goddess Shakti. Most of the people in Punjab go on a fast for the first 7 days. They also organize a jagraata (keeping awake whole night by singing devotional songs dedicated to the Goddess). On the 8th day or Ashtami, the fast is broken by organizing a bhandara (community feast that includes puris and halawa chana). Nine young girls (Kanya) are worshiped as a mark of respect to Devi (Goddess) representing 9 forms of Goddess Durga. These young girls are offered good food and are gifted with a red chunri.

Guru Poornima: Meaning and Significance

The Guru is the teacher who removes the fundamental ignorance, which hides the knowledge of this truth form us. The poornima or the full moon day has been fixed for revering him, for, the effect of the knowledge is to put an end to scorching agony and to shed cool comfort on the mind of man. Vyasa is reversed as Narayana Himself, for who but God can inspire such illumination?


Guru Poornima is a sacred day. It is the day when we honour Sage Vyasa, who gave mankind the precious gem of Saguna worship (worship of God with Form) and the hope and assurance that Manava (man) can become Madhava (God), that Nara can become Narayana, that Jeeva can become Brahman or rather that Jeeva (individual soul) is Brahman (Universal soul).


On the Guru Poornima day, people generally take initiation into spiritual life from some preceptor or get some directions for some law and fast or vigil. These preceptors can not claim the status of the guru as delineated in the sloka, Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu Guru Devo Maheswara Guru Sakshath Para Brahma Thasmai Shri Gurave Namaha. The Guru extolled there is the sage who as transcended name and form and beyond the effects of the three Gunas or attributes, he is neither enthusiastic nor uninterested. He is unaffected, clam and contend. He is the Atma, having realised that the Atma is the one and only one. He makes you cast off the fear of birth and death; he renders you for the vision of the eternal absolute truth.


Guru poornima is sacred for many reasons. This day, the seeker who suffers from identification with the false objective world is initiated into the reality of the ‘Unseen Motivator’ within him. This day, those who have no urge to tread the spiritual path are inspired to seek the bliss which that path will confer; and aspirants are helped to achieve the consciousness of the One; which is known by many names and though many forms, in various languages and land. With the rise of sun, the world is bathed in light and heat. So too, the oncoming of Guru Poornima, the human heart is bathed in peace and security. Guru poornima is not just one day in the year, marked out in the calendar. It is all days when the mind of man becomes full of pleasant wholeness, fully illumined with the light from the moon.


One thing which we must resolve to follow, this day, Guru Poornima (the full Moon day dedicated to the Divine preceptor). Do not seek to find fault in others, give up Paradushana and Parahimsa (maligning and injuring others); do not scandalise any one, do not feel envy or malice. Be always sweet in temperament, in talk. Fill your conversation with devotion and humility.


Vyasa was a great Rishi (sage). He is described as an incamation of Lord Narayana. He set down in writing the Vedas which previously were known only in the form of sound. He was the great grandson of Arundhati (wife of Vasishta). He codified the Vedas. As he was born on the full moon day in the month of Aashaada, this day is celebrated as Vyasa-poornima. Vyasa glorified the divinity that is equally present in all human beings and propagated this truth to the world. After writing the eighteen puranas, he summed up their message in one line : "Paropakaraha Punyaya, Paapaaya Parapeedanam"(Helping others is meritorious harming other is sinful). "Help ever, hurt never". Vyasa was the great teacher who gave many profound and sacred truths to mankind. Hence his birthday is celebrated as Guru Poornima.


There is a saying that "It is good to be born in Church; but, it is not good, to die in it". That is to say, before life ends one must go beyond the limits set by institutionalised religion and reach the vast limitless expanse of the Atman, which pervades all.

Today’s festival is called Guru Poornima It is a name full of meaning. Poornima means, the effulgent full moon. Guru means (Gu- ignorance, Ru-destroyer) he, who removes the darkness and delusion from the heart and illumines it with the higher wisdom.

There is no guru other than the one divine as along as you consider yourself as a disciple. But when you realise that you are the embodiment of the Atma, you become you own Guru.

What is real Guru Poornima day?

Is it simply the full moon day in the month of Aashaada (4th month in the Telugu Calendar)? This is the common view. But the great ones have given other meanings to it. One meaning is that it was on this day Vyasa began writing the Brahma Sutra. It was also on this day that the Buddha attained enlightenment and taught his disciples, "All is sorrow All is transient; All is void". For these reasons, the day is known as Guru poornima. On this day, one should try to transform his heart making it pure and sacred. The realisation of that wholeness is the real guru poornima not the offering of pada puja to some guru and obtaining a mantra from him. One should resolve today to turn his thoughts to God; to strive for the purification of his heart and to seek self-realisation.

There is only one guru. He is God. That Guru is within you. You are seeking the guru all over the world. Your qualities are in you in the form of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara and can protect you, elevate you or ruin you. when you act righteously and pursue the right path, they will protect you by their divine potency.

Significance of Guru Poornima:

The real significance of Guru poornima does not consist in worshipping the guru (preceptor) with some offerings, but in getting rid of the darkness of ignorance. "Poornima" refers to the full moon, but the full symbolises the mind filled with delight. There is a close association between the mind and the moon. Guru poornima signifies the elimination of all darkness and evil from the mind. The true Guru is in our heart. Purify the heart to let the Divinity dwell in it. Guru poornima is an occasion for cleaning the mind to make it absolutely pure. What does Poornima (full-moon) signify? It signifies wholeness. When the mind is filled with love, it achieves fullness.

Happy Guru Poornima

Muslim Medics Tend to Hindu’ Pilgrims Agony at Kumbh: Unity and Brotherhood at its Best

Haridwar, April 18, 2010: The Kumbh Mela with its swirling crowds can be as physically daunting as it is spiritually fulfilling. But soothing the aches and pains of pilgrims, mostly Hindus, has been a group of Muslims medics who have organised medical camps here, attending to as many 1000 pilgrims per day.

Hindu devotees arrive at the river Ganges to take a bath during the Kumbh Mela festival in Haridwar. The Kumbh Mela, world's largest religious festival, which is held every three years and rotates among four Indian cities, attracts huge crowds of devotees who believe a dip in the river cleanses them of sin and frees them from the cycle of life and rebirth. AFP

Azim Mir Khan is among the many doctors who has tended to devotees. "We attended to around 2,000 people in two days," said Khan, who was part of a camp set by the Sir Syed Forum, an alumni group of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) that believes in fostering unity and brotherhood among communities.

He said people came with problems like vomiting, stomach ailments, body aches, joint pains, dehydration and hypertension. "We kept a good stock of emergency medicines and those relating to fungal infections. We also sourced some medicines locally," Khan told IANS.

Hindu Sadhus cover their bodies with mud after a bath at the river Ganges during the Kumbh Mela festival in Haridwar. AFP

The camp set up at the Sati Kund temple in Kankhal near here coincided with Baisakhi and Mesh Sakranti - two of the most auspicious days for taking a bath in the Ganga during the Kumbh Mela.

As pilgrims had to walk long distances to reach the bathing ghats April 14-15, the doctors at the camp had their hands full. The forum organised two similar camps on the national highway leading to Haridwar.

Followers of a Hindu Sadhu pour water over his head as they bathe in the river Ganges during the Kumbh Mela festival in Haridwar. AFP

While one was held April 12-13 at Purkazi, 53 km from Haridwar, another was held March 15-16 (coinciding with the second royal bath) at Bhumanand Teerth Charitable Hospital, about seven kilometres from the holy city.

"The forum's decision to take this small step of holding medical camps is in keeping with the views and teachings of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and his followers, who believed in joint participation in all social and religious functions to foster unity and harmony," said Syed Hussain Waheed, convenor of the forum.

Hindu Sadhus, or holy men, take a bath on the river Ganges during the Kumbh Mela festival in Haridwar. AFP

"We believe that it is the common people who pay the price of social and religious tensions and it is they who must take the initiative to strengthen national unity," he said.

The devotees were all praise for the effort by the AMU alumni, saying the initiative would foster a sense of unity and brotherhood among the two communities.

Rajesh Singh, a resident of Jhijora near Jhansi, said he felt relieved after getting medicines for the pain in his hands and legs.

Jai Prakash Gupta from Kolkata who got some medicine for the blisters on his feet, said such camps were the need of the hour. "They increase love and respect between communities and foster the feeling of brotherhood," Gupta said.

Swami Mahamandelshawar Harish Chandra Maharaj, a Hindu saint who was invited by the forum to the Sati Kund temple camp to distribute juice cans among devotees, also lauded the effort.

"Such camps create a feeling of unity," he said and added that serving people does not need any religious sanction.

Kumbh Mela is one of the biggest religious gatherings on the banks of the Ganga river, with the number of pilgrims this year expected to total around four million since the first day Jan 14 till the time it concludes April 28. The auspicious days of the shahi snan or royal baths usually draw hundreds of thousands of devotees.

Source: IANS

Happy Makar Sankranti: Its meaning and importance

Thursday 14th January, Makar Sankranti 2010 will be celebrated by Hindus around the world. This festival is celebrated each year as a Festival of Harvest. The festival is also celebrated in Gujarat as the kite flying celebration. and Pongal in South India states. It is also celebrated as begining of Hindu New Year.

Hindus will fast and cook the famous Kichiri. For the insight, Makar means Capricorn and Sankranti means transition. In a nutshell it means the Transition of the Sun to Capricorn.

What many people do not know is that each month there is a Sankranti! That is a transition to another zodiac sign. However the two famous ones are the Makar Sankranti and the Mesh Sankranti. Makar Sankranti is a bit like the Thanksgiving of the western world. It is harvest time and harvest celebration. Different cultures in India celebrate this festival but each one has his own traditional touch to it. On Makar Sankranti, the Gayatri mantra is chanted and prayers to the Sun is performed to ask for blessing.

Legends also says that on Makar Sankranti, the Sun God meets his son Saturn. These two are generally not in good terms based on Hindu mythology. Well that was a little brief about Makar Sankranti.

Happy harvest festival and Happy New Year 2010 to everyone.

Happy Holi- Festival of Colour, Joy and Purification

Personal Note: All religious festivals have some spiritual or community message to convey. I believe this was the main reason that festivals came into being. Festivals were the instruments of collective enjoyment, joy and purification of mind, body and soul.  Festival of "Holi" is also one of important festival of "community togetherness', expression of collective joy of an important message  of reminding us to burn our inner impurities before we celebrate.

Significance and Meaning of Different Colours

Red - Purity
Green - Vitality
Blue - Calm
Yellow - Pious feeling

Historically "Holi" was originally known as 'Holika'. The festivals finds a detailed description in early religious works such as Jaimini's Purvamimamsa-Sutras and Kathaka-Grhya-Sutras. Historians believe that Holi was celebrated by all Aryans but more so in the Eastern part of India several centuries before Christ. 

There are two ways of reckoning a lunar month- 'purnimanta' and 'amanta'. In the former, the first day starts after the full moon; and in the latter, after the new moon. According to this purnimanta reckoning, Phalguna purnima is the last day of the year and the new year heralding the Vasanta-ritu (spring season, starting from next day). Thus the full moon festival of Holika gradually became a festival of merrymaking, announcing the commencement of the spring season. This perhaps is the reason for some of the other names of this festival - Vasanta-Mahotsava and Kama-Mahotsava.

Reference in Ancient Texts and Inscriptions

Besides having a detailed description in the Vedas and Puranas (Narad Purana and Bhavishya Purana), the festival of Holi finds a mention in Jaimini Mimansa. A stone inscription carved 300 BC found at Ramgarh in the province of Vindhya has mention of Holikotsav on it. King Harsha, too has mentioned about holikotsav in his work Ratnavali that was written during the 7th century.

The famous Muslim tourist - Ulbaruni too has mentioned about holikotsav in his historical memoirs. Other Muslim writers of that period have mentioned, that holikotsav were not only celebrated by the Hindus but also by the Muslims.

Reference in Ancient Paintings and Murals

The festival of Holi also finds a reference in the sculptures on walls of old temples. A 16th century panel sculpted in a temple at Hampi, capital of Vijayanagar, shows a joyous scene of Holi. The painting depicts a Prince and his Princess standing amidst maids waiting with pichkaris (water colour syringes) to drench the Royal couple in coloured water. A 16th century Ahmednagar painting is on the theme of Vasanta Ragini (spring song or music) shows a royal couple sitting on a grand swing, while maids are playing music and spraying colours. There are a lot of other paintings and murals in the temples of medieval India which provide a pictorial depiction of Holi. A Mewar painting (circa 1755) shows the Maharana (the King) with his courtiers. While the ruler is bestowing gifts on some people, a merry dance is on, and in the center is a tank filled with coloured water. There are several famous Bundi miniature painting on the theme which shows  king seated on a tusker and from a balcony above some damsels are showering gulal (coloured powders) on him.

Legends and Mythology

In the entire North and West India, the Legend of Lord Krishna is also associated with play with colours as the Lord started the tradition of play with colours by applying colour on his beloved Radha and other gopis. Gradually, the play gained popularity with the people and became a tradition. In Bengal and Orissa, Holi Purnima is also celebrated as the birthday of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (A.D. 1486-1533). There are various legends to explain the meaning of the word "Holi", most prominent of all is the legend associated with demon king Hiranyakashyap, His sister Holika, and His son pious Prahlad.

Hiranyakashyap wanted everybody in his kingdom to worship only him but to his great disappointment, his son, Prahlad was an ardent devotee of Lord Narayana (Vishnu). Hiranyakashyap asked his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap as she had a boon that fire can not burn her. However, she was not aware that the boon worked only when she enters the fire alone. As a result she got burnt in the fire while Prahlad was saved by the grace of the God for his extreme devotion. Hiranyakashyap too had a boon that neither human nor animal can kill him, he can neither be killed in the day nor in the night, he can neither be killed on the earth nor in the sky. However, Lord took the form of a half human and half lion to kill him in the presence of all after placing Hiranyakashyap in his lap at the time of dusk fulfilling all condition, against the boon he had.

Well the message here is; no matter how much powerful, schemer, talented and booned you may be. If you are evil with bad schemes, Almighty God will have his ways to punish you when it is appropriate. That evil can never triumph over good and in the long run goodness and devotion will celebrate its victory over evil and narcissism. 

There are also a few other legends associated with the festival - like the legend of Shiva and Kamdeva (God of Love) and those of Dhundhi and Pootana. All depict triumph of good over evil - lending a philosophy to the festival.

AUM: Resul Pookutty Dedicates His Oscar

Thirty-six year old Resul Pookutty has created history by becoming the first Indian to bag the Oscar for best sound mixing for the critically acclaimed film Slumdog Millionaire.

"I come from a country and a civilization that given the universal word. That word is preceded by silence, followed by more silence. That word is 'Om.' So I dedicate this award to my country. Thank you".

Om (AUM) is the universal name of the Lord. It is made up of the 3 letters . A (phonetically as in "around"), U (phonetically as in "put") and M (phonetically as in "mum").

The sound emerging from the vocal chords starts from the base of the throat as "A". With the coming together of the lips, "U" is formed and when the lips are closed, all sounds end in "M". The AUM chant has the resounding sound of a bell (aaooommm).

The three letters symbolize the three states (waking, dream and deep sleep), the three deities Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva), the three Vedas (Rig, Yajur and Sama),the three worlds (Bhur, Bhuvah, Suvah) etc. The Lord is all these and beyond.

The formless, attributeless Lord (Brahman) is represented by the silence between two AUM Chants. AUM is also called pranava that means, "that (symbol or sound) by which the Lord is praised". The entire essence of the Vedas is enshrined in the word AUM. It is said that the Lord started creating the world after chanting AUM. Hence its sound is considered to create an auspicious beginning for any task that we undertake.

AUM Parbat in Himachal Pradesh

In Puranic Hinduism, Aum is the mystic name the letter A represents creation, when all existence issued forth from Brahma's golden nucleus; the letter U refers to Vishnu the God of the middle who preserves this world by balancing Brahma on a lotus above himself, and the letter M symbolizes the final part of the cycle of existence, when Vishnu falls asleep and Shiva has to breathe in so that all existing things have to disintegrate and are reduced to their essence to him. More broadly, Aum is said to be the primordial sound that was present at the creation of the universe. It is said to be the original sound that contains all other sounds, all words, all languages and all mantras.

Cosmic Dance of Lord Shiva:"Tandav of The Natraj"

Shiva's Cosmic Dance

On June 18, 2004 at the Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire or European Center for Research in Particle Physics in Geneva — a 2m tall statue of the Indian deity Nataraja, the Lord of Dance was placed symbolizing Shiva's cosmic dance of creation and destruction.

On September 10th 2008, Large Hadron Collider (LHC) simulated the "Big Bang" which is thought to be "The Mother of Creation of Universe" by colliding particles on to the matter at the speed of light trying to create the elemantory particle known as "Boson" named after great Indian physcisist, Dr S N Bose. In choosing the image of Nataraja, the profound significance of the Cosmic dance of Shiva's or the cosmic dance of subatomic particles by physicists was acknowledged. The parallel between Shiva's dance and the dance of subatomic particles was first discussed by a scientist Fritjof Capra in an article titled "The Dance of Shiva: The Hindu View of Matter in the Light of Modern Physics," published in Main Currents in Modern Thought in 1972. Shiva's cosmic dance then became a central metaphor in Capra's international bestseller, first published in 1975 and still in print in over 40 editions around the world.

Dr. Capra explained that "Modern physics has shown that the rhythm of creation and destruction is not only manifest in the turn of the seasons and in the birth and death of all living creatures, but is also the very essence of inorganic matter," and that Shiva's dance is the dance of subatomic matter."

A special plaque next to the Shiva statue at CERN in Geneva explains the significance of the Shiva's cosmic dance. Here is the text of the plaque:

“Seeing beyond the unsurpassed rhythm, beauty, power and grace of the Nataraja, It is the clearest image of the activity of God which any art or religion can boast of."

Dance is an act of creation. It brings about a new situation and summons into the dancer a new and higher personality. It has a cosmogonic effect which rouses dormant energies in the dancer. Whilst dancing, the dancer becomes amplified into a "endowed-being" with supra-normal powers. His personality is transformed. Like yoga, the dance induces trance, ecstasy, the experience of the divine, the realization of one’s own secret nature, and finally, mergence into the divine essence.

Nataraj (The Lord or King of Dance) is a depiction of Lord Shiva as the cosmic dancer who performs his divine dance as a part of his activities of creation and destruction. He is both the destroyer and the creator of the universe.

"Lord Shiva dances away the destruction of a world of illusion followed by the creation of a world of enlightenment".

There are two forms of Lord Shiva's dance are the "Lasya" (the gentle form of dance) that is associated with the creation of the world and the "Tandava" (the violent form of dance) that is associated with the destruction of the world. In essence, the Lasya and the Tandava are just two aspects of Shiva's nature; for he destroys in order to create, tearing down to build again.

1. The upper right hand holds an hourglass shaped drum (that is called a damaru). A specific hand gesture (mudra) called damaru-hasta is used to hold the drum. It symbolizes sound of origin or creation.

2. The upper left hand contains Agni or fire, which signifies destruction. The opposing concepts in the upper hands show the counterpoise of creation and destruction.

3. The second right hand shows the Abhaya mudra (meaning fearlessness), bestowing protection from both evil and ignorance to those who follow the righteousness of dharma.

4. The second left hand points towards the raised foot which signifies upliftment and liberation.
The dwarf on which Nataraja is dancing is the demon Apasmara, which symbolises Shiv's victory over ignorance.

5. Lord of Dance (Nataraja or Shiv) performs the Tandav, the dance in which the universe is created, maintained, and resolved. HIS long, matted tresses, usually piled up in a knot, loosen during the dance and crash into the heavenly bodies, knocking them off course or destroying them utterly.

6. The surrounding flames represent the manifest Universe.

7. The snake swirling around his waist is Kundalini, the Shakti or divine force thought to reside within everything.

8. The stoic face of Shiv represents his neutrality, thus being in balance. This is also known as the Wisdom of Balance.

9. Nataraja dances with his right foot is over a crouching figure of a dwarf demon and his left foot elegantly raised. This dwarf demon is "Apasmara". Shiv dancing on the postrate body of a Demon (purusha) is symbolical of control over life’s blindness or man’s ignorance. A mirrored posture, where his right foot is raised, represents Moksha (salvation).

Most Beautiful Melody

THE TRUE RELIGION

An old man was visiting a city for the first time in his life. He had grown up in a remote mountain village, worked hard raising his children, and was then enjoying his first visit to his children”s modern homes. While being shown around the city, the old man heard a sound that stung his ears. He had never heard such an awful noise in his quiet mountain village. Following the grating sound back to its source, he came to a room in the back of a house where a small boy was practising on a violin.“Screech! Screech!” came the discordant notes form the groaning violin. When he was told that it was called a “violin”, he decided he never wanted to hear such a horrible thing again.

The next day, in a different part of the city, the old man heard a beautiful sound, which seemed to caress his aged ears. He had never heard such an enchanting melody in his mountain valley. Following the delightful sound back to its source, he came to a room in the front of a house where an old lady, a maestro, was performing a sonata on a violin.

At once, the old man realised his mistake. The terrible sound that he had heard the previous day was not the fault of the violin, nor even the boy. It was just that the young man had yet to learn his instrument well. With a wisdom reserved for the simple folk, the old man thought it was the same with religion. When we come across a religious enthusiast causing such strife with his beliefs, it is incorrect to blame the religion.

It is just that the novice has yet to learn his religion well. When we come across a saint, a maestro of her religion, it is such a sweet encounter that it inspires us for many years, whatever their beliefs.

But that was not the end of the story…..

The third day, in a different part of the city, the old man heardanother sound that surpassed in its beauty and purity even that of the maestro on her violin. What do you think that sound was?

It was a sound more beautiful than the cascade of the mountain stream in spring, than the autumn wind through the forest groves, or than the mountain birds singing after a heavy rain. It was even more beautiful than the silence in the mountain hollows on a still winter”s night. What was that sound that moved the old man”s heart more powerfully than anything before?
It was a large orchestra playing a symphony.

The reason it was, for the old man, the most beautiful sound in the world is that firstly, every member of that orchestra was a maestro of their own instrument; and secondly, they had further learned how to play together in harmony.

“May it be the same with religion,” the old man thought. “Let each one of us learn through the lessons of life the soft heart of our beliefs. Let us each be a maestro of the love within our religion. Then, having learned our religion well, let us go further and learn how to play, like members of an orchestra, with other religions in harmony together!”

That would be the most beautiful melody!