Indian Monthly Magazine Volume 08 • Issue 02 September 2024
Hanuman also known as Anjaneya
Commander of the Monkey Army A Deity in Hinduism
03
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK: 72TH HINDI DIWAS CELEBRATION
On 14 September 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted Hindi written in Devanagari script as the official language of the Republic of India. Hindi Diwas is celebrated on 14th September in India since 1953 Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samiti, Wardha proposed Hindi Diwas on the birthday of Beohar Rajendra Simha, who lobbied pan-India in favour of Hindi. Notable AwardsRajbhashaKirtiPuraskarandRajbhashaGauravPuraskar.
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72TH HINDI DIWAS CELEBRATION
72TH HINDI DIWAS CELEBRATION
Hindu Gods and Deities:
Lord Hanuman
Indira Srivatsa
Lord Hanuman is worshipped by all sects of Hindu, he is a universal God. Hanuman is known as a popular devotee of Lord Rama. His help enabled Rama to rescue Sita Devi and then defeat Ravana in the war. Hanuman is a symbol of success and fulfillment. One needs courage, strength, intelligence, commitment and purity to be successful. Hanuman gets courage from his father - Kesari (Kesari means Lion), strength and Purity from his Father – Vayu. Intelligence from his mother - Anjana (Gurukripa) and Commitment from his Guru Surya - Come what may the Sun rises every day in the morning. Hanuman is known by different names.
Lord Hanuman or Hanumanji is known by many names as Anjaneya, Anjaniputra or Anjaneyudu or Hanumanthudu (Telugu), Bajarangabali, Kesari Nandan (“son of Kesari”), Hanumanta, Mahaveer, Maruti, Pavanputra etc. The name ‘Anjaneya’ was derived from his mother’s name ‘Anjana’, a female vanara. It is also believed that Hanuman is the incarnation of Lord Shiva. So Hanuman is known as ‘Maharudhra’ too. Some believe that Hanuman is the son of ‘Vayu’, the God of wind, so is also known by the name ‘Pavan Putra’. Marutinandan (“son of Marut”) or Pavanputra (“son of wind”); these names are derived from the various names of Vayu, the deity who carried Hanuman to Anjana’s womb. Bajrang Bali, “the strong one (bali), who had limbs (Anga) as hard as a vajra (Bajra)”; this name is widely used in rural North India.
Lord Hanuman Family:
He was born through the holy lap of his mother Anjani (Anjana) and his father was Kapiraaj Keshari so he is also called Anjani ka laala, Aanjaneya ( son of mother Anjani) or Keshari Nandan .
Lord Hanuman is also considered son of Air (Pawan Putra):
It is said that God of Air (VayuDev) had impregnated Anjana through Mind a super sensory manner therefore Lord Hanuman ji is also called son of air Pawan Putra . Once King Dashrath was performing Havana with his 3 wifes after which sage awarded them miracle kheer which can pregnant them. A portion was snitched by a crow and flew away where Anjana was Busy in Tapasya . With the wish of lord Shiva, Lord Vayu brought the miracle kheer in Anjana’s hand who is performing Tapasya of Lord Shiva. Thinking of that Prasad of lord shiva she ate it and become pregnant and gave birth as lord hanuman thus he is called Pawan Putra also. Though he was never married, Lord Hanuman when took a dip at the sea after burning Lanka a drop of his perspiration fell into the mouth of a mighty fish from who Makardwaja was born. In popular iconography, Hanuman may be depicted purely as a monkey, or as a basically human body with a monkey-like muzzle and face. He is usually depicted holding a giant mace (gada), a symbol of his strength and bravery, and often carrying the medicine hill that he carried to Lanka from the Himalayas. He may be shown carrying other weapons, as a sign of his protection of Rama and the faithful or medicinal herbs as a sign of healing. The image or name of Rama is often depicted alongside Hanuman, and sometimes Sita as well. Their image may be floating above him, or their names written on his body or his adornments.
Lord Hanuman
Indira Srivatsa
Sometimes their faces are emblazoned on his chest, or his is depicted pulling back the skin of his chest to reveal the image or name of Rama.
What does the name Hanuman mean?
In Sanskrit Hanu means Jaw and man means disfigured so Hanuman means disfigured jaw. No wonder, Hanuman’s jaw as a kid was disfigured by none other than Lord Indra who had used his vajra (Thunderbolt) against Anjaneya, who took sun as a riped mango and even went to trace it up in the sky. It was here in the sky that Lord Indra had used his vajra which threw Anjaneya straight on the earth damaging his jaw forever.
Hanuman’s Power – Ashta Siddhis and Nava Nidhis:
Lord Hanuman is believed to have got Ashta-Siddhi (Eight divine powers) and Nav-Nidhi (9 more powers). Siddha has no equivalent in English language, it can be understood as combination of perfection and establishment(when both are used simultaneously i.e. Perfection + Established or perfectly established). In hanuman chalisa the siddhi word means that person has attained such qualities by establishing himself into perfect self or atman.
In Hinduism, eight siddhis (Ashta Siddhi) or Eight great perfections (mahasiddhi) are described as follows:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
Aṇimā: reducing one’s body even to the size of an atom
Mahima: expanding one’s body to an infinitely large size
Garima: becoming infinitely heavy
Laghima: becoming almost weightless
Prāpti: having unrestricted access to all place
Prākāmya: realizing whatever one desires
Iṣṭva: possessing absolute lordship
Vaśtva: the power to subjugate all
Lord Hanuman’s Power of Devotion:
The character of Hanuman teaches us of the unlimited power that lies unused within each one of us. Hanuman directed all his energies towards the worship of Lord Rama, and his undying devotion made him such that he became free from all physical fatigue. And Hanuman’s only desire was to go on serving Rama. Hanuman perfectly exemplifies ‘Dasyabhava’ devotion — one of the nine types of devotions — that bonds the master and the servant.
Festivals and Vrats:
Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated on the full-moon day of the Hindu month of Chaitra (April) to commemorate the birth of Hanuman.
Thiruvonam - 15th September 2024 Sunday /
2024 Thiruvonam | Onam
Indira Srivatsa
Onam is a Hindu festival celebrated by the people of Kerala. Onam is Malayali festival which is celebrated by native speakers of Malayalam. Onam day is decided based on Solar Calendar. Onam is celebrated in Chingam month on Malayalam Solar Calendar. Chingam month is known as Simha month in other solar calendars and Avani month in Tamil Calendar. The day when Nakshatra Thiruvonam prevails in month of Chingam is considered for Onam celebrations. Thiruvonam Nakshatra is known as Shravana in other Hindu Calendars. The festival commemorates the appearance of Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the subsequent home coming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali. Onam celebrates the Asura King Mahabali's annual visit from Patala (the underworld). On Thiruvonam day, Asura King Mahabali is believed to visit every Malayali home and meet his people. The celebrations of Onam start on Atham day (the day when Atham Nakshatra prevails) and continue for 10 days till Thiruvonam day. Atham Nakshatra is known as Hasta Nakshatra in other Hindu Calendars.
Thiruvonam on Sunday, September 15, 2024
Thiruvonam Nakshathram Begins - 08:32 PM on Sep 14, 2024
Thiruvonam Nakshathram Ends - 06:49 PM on Sep 15, 2024
A Great Motivating City:
Going Round Guwahati
C.K. Subramaniam
By C.K. Subramaniam
A-8-1-5
Millennium Towers Flat 5
Sector 9 Sanpada Navi Mumbai
Postal Code - 400705
email: cksumpire@gmail.com
Phone: 7977825401
Your tour of Assam can start with Guwahati from where you can explore the areas in and around for a variety of experiences. Most tourists to Assam, however, begin their journey with a mandatory trip to Kamakhya temple, the seat of Tantra powers.
Guwahati is a pet city, much like Bhubaneswar or Kolkata. It has flashes of our cultural life that is akin to ours. When you visit Assam state museum, you find words like ‘Gohali’ or ‘Dhikisala’. Millennial babies will not understand this. Elders will appreciate the fact that we have similar sounding words in Oriya to describe the cowshed and domestic paddy-milling place. The inter-governmental coordination between Odisha and Assam to preserve the Bezbarua House in Sambalpur shows our fraternal affiliation. Called Pragjyotishpur in the ancient times and it is a powerful sentinel of pan-Indian culture. Reference of Kamaksha Devi is often made in our scriptures including that in Mahabharata. Arjuna’s two wives; Ulupi and Chitrangada, hailed from the North East.
On a fortuitous visit to Guwahati in the last week of the year, we looked around the city on the day of Christmas. We had no difficulty recognizing the streets and shops we were familiar with earlier; Bamunimaidam, Fancy Bazar, Paltan Bazar et al. GS Road remains the pride of the city and the nerve center of business activities. The mighty Brahmaputra remains graceful as ever. While most of our river systems are deciphered in the feminine gender, Brahmaputra is a masculine water body. It houses the largest river island of the world in Majuli and the longest river bridge in India in Dhola-Sadiya. People visiting Guwahati avail a sporting cruise in the river or a visit to Umananda temple located on an island.
Though we had paid a visit to Kamakhya temple in the past, we went to the holy shrine once again. There is a pool in the eastern flank of the temple where tortoises have grown to very large size. Devotees buy feed for them and throw the morsels to watch the tortoises grabbing them up. Fishes also join the tortoises to partake in the eatables. Some he-goats were on the loose vying for the food. We fed a couple of them with a banana or two. Unlike the tortoises, these goats will not live for long. They will soon be sacrificed at the altar of the Goddess. In the opposite flank of the temple, there is another pool where the animals are bathed before being sacrificed. Some fountains spray jets of fresh water to the pool to maintain the pollution level of the water. The head of a freshly sacrificed animal is often found in the sanctum sanctorum. Inside the temple precinct, an old man was vending live pigeons in a bamboo basket. Devotees buy them to sacrifice before the Goddess. How naïve it is to believe that sacrificing the little helpless bird will propitiate the Goddess to grant you a prayer!
Pigeons in a temple are often a symbol of deliverance. On the occasions of Independence Day, trained pigeons are set free as a mark of celebrating freedom. There were other pigeons fluttering around the temple walls and occasionally perched on the devotees standing on the queue. The practice of animal sacrifice often agitates the mind though we have such customs in most parts of our country. It is one thing to kill an animal for food in a slaughterhouse and another to impute religious motive in it. Faith has often overruled reason and we have no authority to pass a ruling. We have no guts to face the argumentative Indian. Somewhere inside our mind we could see the reason for losing it the way in the dreary sands of dead habit. Our inner jest to join the Tagore bandwagon is somewhere halted. Religion remains the opium of the masses because no one can decode the mystery of nature. In our limited life span, we can always extricate a couple of superstitions passing off as religion.
During our stay over a week, we missed cultural events, especially a chance to see a Bihu dance on the stage. Generally, we found the people to be smart and trendy. While they could be emotionally rooted to Bihu, they could easily catch up with the latest in the world of design and fashion. On the day of our return, I visited Vashistha Ashram. The serenity of the place is maintained well. Devotees were enjoying sunshine over the rocks present in the rivulet flowing beside the temple. Before driving to the Airport, we visited the Balaji Temple hailed as Purva Tirupati and repeated an old habit of buying Ladoos. Though we experienced a sense of completeness, we would love to go to the North East again.
While in Assam, you must pick the one item you are going to treasure all your life is the famed Mekhela Sador, a two piece saree. Finally how can you be in Guwahati and not visit the scenic wildlife sanctuary Pobitora. This grassland is home to the Greater Indian One-Horned Rhinoceroses with highest density in the whole world. Surrounded by villages from every side, the terrain of Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary is a breathtaking experience.
There are a million other things to experience, but for the time being let's enjoy the infectious Magh Bihu celebrations. Guwahati no doubt is a great motivating city.
Subramaniam
Subramaniam
Guru Pournima:
Respect your Gurus
C.K. Subramaniam
By C.K. Subramaniam
A-8-1-5 Millennium Towers Flat 5
Sector 9 Sanpada Navi Mumbai Postal Code - 400705
email: cksumpire@gmail.com
Phone: 7977825401
Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu mantra is a mantra that honors the Hindu gods and teachers Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. It may also be used more widely to revere and invoke the support of all spiritual gurus. In yogic tradition, a great deal of importance is placed upon the relationship between a student and their guru. The Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu mantra recognizes the value of the gurus’ teachings in finding a connection with divinity. It is ultimately an expression of gratitude for all spiritual teachers and the guidance they give in overcoming ignorance to find enlightenment and awakening. The idea of Guru cannot be defined in a few words. A lifetime goes in finding a true Guru.
Guru Purnima is a special day for artistes. It is a unique concept in India, when a full moon day in the month of Ashadh is dedicated to one’s guru, mentor or a teacher. In some parts of India, it is also called Ved Vyas puja or Buddha Purnima, since on this day Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath. In the ancient Hindu texts, Gurus had a great significance in a disciple’s life. Gurus refer to the spiritual guide who enlightens disciples by his knowledge and teachings. Guru Purnima is also celebrated as Vyasa Purnima as this day marks the birth anniversary of Guru Veda Vyasa, who is generally considered the author of the Mahabharata.
Guru Purnima or Vyasa Purnima is celebrated in the Ashadha month of the Hindu calendar on the Purnima or the full moon day of the Shukla Paksh or the waxing moon. This year, the festival will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 16. The Guru Purnima Tithi will begin at 01:48 am on Tuesday, July 16, and will end at 03:07 am on July 17. Interestingly, July 17 will also the mark the partial Lunar Eclipse 2019.
Guru Purnima (Poornima) is a spiritual tradition in Indian religion dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers, who are evolved or enlightened humans, ready to share their wisdom, with very little or no monetary expectation, based on Karma Yoga. It is celebrated as a festival in Nepal, India and Bhutan by the Hindus, Jains and Buddhists. This festival is traditionally observed by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains to revere their chosen spiritual teachers and express their gratitude. The festival is celebrated on the full moon day.
The celebration is marked by spiritual activities and may include a ritualistic event in honor of the Guru; that is, the teachers which is called Guru Pooja. The Guru Principle is said to be a thousand times more active on the day of Guru Purnima than on any other day. The word Guru is derived from two words, gu and ru. The Sanskrit root gu means darkness or ignorance, and ru denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore, a Guru is one who removes the darkness of our ignorance. Gurus are believed by many to be the most necessary part of our life. On this day, disciples offer pooja or pay respect to their Guru. In addition to having religious importance, this festival has great importance for Indian academics and scholars. Indian academics celebrate this day by thanking their teachers as well as remembering past teachers and scholars.
Guru is the creator guru is the protector and guru solely is the destroyer of evil. Guru is the supreme God so we bow upon Him and pay our respects. This day is also seen as an occasion when fellow devotees and teachers express their solidarity to one another in their spiritual journey. It is an auspicious way to begin a new life of learning.
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Meaning:ThislinefromtheHanumanChalisabasicallymeans-‘Heistheone whohasallthewisdomintheworld,andyetheiseverreadytodotheserviceof Lord Ram’. As a lesson, it teaches us that even though Lord Hanuman has immense knowledge, virtues, and wisdom, he was forever humble and eager when it came to serving Lord Ram. This teaches us that true wisdom lies in selflessservice.Nomatterhowstrong,intellectual,orcleverwebecome,being humbleanddown-to-earthiswhatgetsusahead.
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Ganesh Chaturthi - Festival - Sat, 7 Sept, 2024
Vinayaka Chaturthi is also known as Varad Vinayaka Chaturthi. Varad means "asking God to fulfill any desire one has". Lord Ganesha blesses devotees with wisdom and patience who observe this fast. The wisdom and patience are two virtues whose significance is known to human kind since ages. Anyone who possesses these virtues can progress in life and can achieve whatever one desires.
