QUES ANSW DIVINE 86
Dearfriends,
These areinformation posted by members compiled as QA by me in 1998’s-2004’s
and storedin my computer. At this date I have no information of the members
posted.
BEING COMPILATION THERE MAY BE ERRORS.
Sincerely,
R. Gopalakrishnan, 78, Former ITS, AGM Telecom Trivandrum dated 24-12-2021
Q1 Do Rahu’S head seveared by vishnu istold in Srimad Bhagavata?
A1 Yes as follows..But one demon, named Rahu, dressed himself like ademigod and
sat down in the line of the demigods. He sat beside the sun and themoon.
When the SupremePersonality of Godhead understood how Rahu was cheating, He
immediately cut off the demon’s head.Rahu, however, had already tasted the
nectar, and therefore although his headwas severed, he remained alive
Srimad-Bhagavatam 8:9 Summary
“Rahu, the demon who causes eclipses of thesun and moon, covered himself with
the dress of a demigod and thus entered theassembly of the demigods and drank
nectar without being detected by anyone,even by the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.
The moon andthe sun, however, because of permanent animosity toward Rahu,
understood thesituation. Thus Rahu was detected.
Rahu could understand that Mohini-murti was cheating thedemons, and therefore
he changedhis dress, disguised himself as a demigod, and sat down in the
assembly of thedemigods
Here one may ask why the Supreme Personality ofGodhead could not detect Rahu.
The reason is that the Lord wanted to show theeffects of drinking nectar. This
will be revealed in the following verses.
The moon and sun, however, were always alertin regard to Rahu. Thus when Rahu
entered the assembly of the demigods, themoon and sun immediately detected him,
and then the Supreme Personality of Godhead also became awareof him.”
Q2 Do people from allover India visit Gaya?
A2 Yes is the answer. If anyone doubts that there is some underlying
unifyingfactor in India, that doubt will be dispelled by a visit to Gaya.
During mytrip, I saw folks from Karnataka, Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra,
Bengal,(thisis my observation from the languages I heard) etc., performing the
shraddhaceremony for their forefathers.
Thecore belief that Gaya is the ultimate holiest place (notPrayag/Allahabad,
not Benares/ Varanasi) as far as funeral ceremonies areconcerned is widespread
throughout India.
[Among the Brahmins of the South,there is a tradition that the Shraddha needs
to be performed only once if itwere to be done in Haridwar or Rameshwaram,
otherwise, there is the annualShraddha ceremony.]
Probably,this belief varies from community to community.
Shraddha at Gaya can betreated as the final and last ceremony one has to
perform if for some reasonone has to discontinue the practice of annual
remembrance though annual ceremonies are stronglyrecommended even after the
Gaya shraddha if circumstances would permit it.
Never heard of a final ceremony in Hardwar orRameshwaram though it is
entirelypossible that the priests at these places worked out something for
families whoare unable to travel to Gaya and want to perform one final ceremony
and get itover with.
My note- This was the posting by a member which I made into answer in the QA.
One member may surelydisagree, but that need not be by calling me ignorant and
stupid.
Q3 What are the attributes ofRameswaram island?
A3 It islocated on an island separated from mainland India by the Pamban
channel and is less than 40 kilometers from the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka.
Together with Kashi,it is considered to be one of the holiest places in India
to Hindus.Hence, it is a bustling pilgrim centre.
The religiousisland is spread in an area of 61.8 square kilometers and happens
to be in the shape of aconch.
The Ramanatha Swamy Temple occupies major areaof Rameshwaram.
As of 2001 India census,[3] Rameswaram had a population of38,035. Males
constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Rameswaram hasan average
literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%:
Rameshwaram is significant for theHindus as a pilgrimage to Benaras is
incomplete without a pilgrimage toRameswaram.
The presiding deity here is in theform of a Lingawith the name Sri Ramanatha
Swamy, it also happens to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
The masterpieceof South Indian architecture boasts of the largest temple
corridor in India. Differentrulers built the Ramanatha Swamy Temple over a
period of time starting from the12th century. The temple comprises forty wells
where the taste of the water ofeach well is different from the other.
According to the Puranas, upon the advice of Rishis(sages), Ramaalong with
Sitaand Lakshmana,installed and worshipped the Sivalinga here to expiate the
sin of Brahmahatya (killingof a Brahmin) (Ravana was a Brahmin the great
grandson of Brahma
Rama fixed anauspicious time for the installation and sent Anjaneya to
MountKailas to bring a lingam. As Anjaneya could not return in time,
Sitaherself made a linga of sand.
When Anjaneyareturned with a linga from Mount Kailas the rituals had been over.
Tocomfort the disappointed Anjaneya, Rama had Anjaneya’s lingam
(Visvalingam)also installed by the side of Ramalinga, and ordained that rituals
beperformed first to the Visvalingam.
Q4 What are the special attributes ofVaranasi/Kasi?
A4 Kāśī is a citysituated on the left (west) bank of the river Ganga (Ganges)in
the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, regarded as holy by Hindus, Buddhistsand
Jains,and one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world[3][4].
The city hasbeen a cultural and religious centre in northern India for several
thousandyears. A particular style of classical Hindustani musicdeveloped in
Varanasi centuries ago, and many prominent Indianphilosophers, poets, writers,
and musicians resided or reside in Varanasi,including Kabir,Ravi Das, Munshi
Premchand, Jaishankar Prasad, Acharya Ram Chandra Shukla, Pandit Ravi Shankar,
Hariprasad Chaurasia, and Ustad Bismillah Khan.
Tulsidas wrote his Ramacharitamanasthere, and Gautama Buddha gave his first
sermon at Sarnathnear Kashi.Ayurvedais said to have originated at Varanasi.
American writer Mark Twainwrote, "Benares is older than history, older than
tradition, older eventhan legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put
together."[6]
The name, Varanasi, has its origin possibly in the fact that the city lieswhere
the Varuna River and the Assi Riverin its north and south, respectively, flow
into the river Ganga
The name, Varanasi,was written as Baranasi in the ancient Pali language, and in
later times the nametransformed into Banaras
According to legend,the city was founded by the Hindu deity, Shiva, around
5,000 yearsago,[3].thus making it oneof the most important pilgrimage
destinations in the country. It is one of the seven sacred cities of Hindus.
Many Hinduscriptures, including Rigveda, Skanda Purana, Ramayana, and
Mahabharata,describe the city.
During the time of Gautama Buddha (born circa 567 BCE), Varanasi was the
capital of the kingdom of Kashi. The celebratedChinese traveler, Xuanzang,
attested that the city was a center of religious,educational, and artistic
activities, and that it extended for about 5 kmalong the western bank of the
Ganges.
Varanasi is closelyassociated with the Gangesand has many temples along its
banks
Varanasi has ahumid subtropical climate with large variations between summer
and wintertemperatures. Summers are long, from early April to October,
withintervening monsoon seasons.
Cold waves from the Himalayanregion cause temperatures to dip across the city
in the winter from December toFebruary.
The temperature ranges between 32°C – 46°C (90°F – 115°F) in thesummers, and
5°C – 15°C (41°F – 59°F) in the winters.[14]
The main residential areas ofVaranasi (especially for the middle and upper
classes) are situated in regionsfar from the ghats;they are more spacious and
less polluted.
Varanasi has nearly100 ghats. Many of the ghats were built when the city was
under Marathacontrol
Many ghats are owned privately. Theformer Maharajaof Kashi (Kasi) owns Shivala
or Kali ghat.
Most of the ghats are bathing ghats,while others are used as cremation sites.
Many ghats are associated with legends or mythologies.
According tomythology, Agni (the Lord of Fire) was born here. Hindu
devoteespropitiate at this place Vireshwara, the Lord of all heroes, for a son.
Devout Jainsvisit Bachraj Ghat in particular because it has three Jain temples
near theriver's banks.
Tulsidaswrote Ramcharitmanas at Tulsi Ghat.
More than1,000,000(Ten Lakhs) pilgrims visit the city each year. It has the
holy shrineof Lord Kashi Vishwanath (a manifestation of Lord Shiva), and also
one of thetwelve revered Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. According tomythology,
Lord Shiva once in fact lived in Kashi (Varanasi).
Above the ghat,several of Kashi’s most influential shrines are located within
the tight mazeof alleyways of Siddha Kshetra (the Field of Fulfillment).
Varanasi is one ofthe holiest places in Buddhism too,being one of the four
pilgrimage sites said to have been designated by GautamaBuddha himself, (the
others being Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya, and Lumbini).
Varanasi is a city of temples. Almost every road crossing has a nearby temple.
Suchsmall temples form the basis of daily local prayers and other rituals.
Butthere are many large temples too, erected at different times through out the
historyof Varanasi.
The populationof Varanasi urban agglomeration in 2001 was 1,371,749; the sex
ratio was 879females every 1000 males.[23]
Varanasi iswell connected by air, rail and buses with all the main Indian
cities. Itsdistance from Delhiis 776 km.
The Babatpur airport is about 25 km from the city center (about 45 minutesby
taxi)
Varanasi is the site of three publicuniversities.
Banaras Hindu University, which includes Institute of Technology and Institute
ofMedical Sciences is among the top 3 largest residential universities in
theworld having more than 128 independent teaching departments.[31] Mahatma
Gandhi Kashi VidyapeethUniversity and Sampurnanand Sanskrit University are the
other two universities.
Banaras Hindu University (1916) was foundedby Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya with
thecooperation of Dr Annie Besant.
Its1350 acre (5.5 km²) campus was built on land donated by the Maharaja of
Kashi.
Governor General Lord Cornwallis established theSanskrit College (1791), which
was the first college in Varanasi.
Since ancient times people have beencoming to Varanasi to learn philosophy,
Sanskrit, astrology, socialscience and religious teachings.
In Indiantradition, Varanasi is often called "Sarva Vidya Ki Rajdhani"(capital
of knowledge).[34] The city also has the JamiahSalafiah, a
SalafiIslamicinstitution.[35]
Varanasi is a noted centre for silkweaving and brassware
In the Rigveda, the city wasreferred to as Kasi or Kashi, "the luminous
one"[citation needed
Another reference to Varanasi isfound in a hymn by Sri Veda Vyasa:
Ganga-taranga-ramaneeya-jataakalaapam,
Gauri-nirantara-vibhushita-vaamabhaagam.
Narayanapriyam-Ananga-madaapahaaram,
Varanasi-pura-patim bhaja Vishwanatham.
Q5 What are the special attributes of Dashashwamedh Ghat ?
A5 Dashashwamedh Ghat is located close to "Vishwanath Temple", and isprobably
the most spectacular ghat. Two Hindu mythologies are associated withit:
According to one, LordBrahma created it to welcome Lord Shiva. According to
another, Lord Brahmasacrificed ten horses in a yajna here.
A group ofpriests daily perform in the evening at this ghat "Agni
Pooja"(Worship to Fire) wherein a dedication is made to Lord Shiva, River
Ganga, theSun, Agni (Fire), and the whole universe.
Q6 What are the special attributes of Manikarnika ghat ?
A6 Two legends are associated with Manikarnik Ghat:
According toone, it is believed to be the place where Lord Vishnu dug apit with
his Chakraand filled it with his perspiration while performing various penances.
While Lord Shiva waswatching Lord Vishnu at that time, the latter's earring
("manikarnik")fell into the pit.
According tothe second legend, in order to keep Lord Shiva from moving around
with hisdevotees, his consort Goddess Parvati hid her earrings, and asked him
tofind them, saying that they had been lost on the banks of Ganga.
Goddess Parvati's idea behind the fib was that Lord Shiva would then
stayaround, searching forever for the lost earrings.
In this legend, whenevera body gets cremated at the Manikarnik Ghat, Lord
Shiva asks the soul whetherit has seen the earrings. and that Vishalakshi
Temple stands on the spot whereGoddess Sati'searrings fell.[16]
According to mythology, the owner of Manikarnika boughtKing Harishchandra as a
slave and made him work on the Manikarnika at Harishchandra Ghat.
Hinducremations customarily take place here, though a majority of dead bodies
aretaken for creation to the Manikarnik Ghat.
Q7 What arethe special attributes of Kashi Vishwanath Temple,?
A7 Kashi Vishwanath Temple, also called Golden Temple, which in its present
shape wasbuilt in 1780 by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkarof Indore,is located on the
outskirts of the Ganga.
This temple makes Varanasi a place of great religiousimportance to the Hindus
It is said that a single view of VishwanathaJyotirlinga is considered to merit
more than that of other jyotirlingas.
The temple was once destroyed by theMuslim Emperor Aurangzeb who built a mosque
over it.
It was laterresurrected at a location near the mosque, and is many times a
cause of localstrain among Hindus and Muslims.[18]
Q8 What arethe special attributes of Durga or Monkey temple?
A8 DurgaTemple, also nicknamed "Monkey temple," was built at some point oftime
in 18th century by a Bengali Queen. The temple got the name 'Monkey
temple'because of the presence of large number of monkeys in the temple in the
temple.
According tolegends, the present statue of Goddess Durga was not made by man
but appearedon its own in the temple
Q9 What arethe other temples at Kasi and their attributes?
A9 Sankat Mochan Temple is dedicated toLord Hanumanand is very popular with the
local citizens.
The new Vishwanath Temple, calledBirla Mandir, mainly funded by Raja Birlaof
the Birla family of industrialists, was built as a replica of the old
KashiVishwanath Temple.[19] Planned by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, the temple
ispart of the Banaras Hindu University, and stands for national revival.
Thetemple is open to people of all castes and religions.
Q10 DO we get divine grace through abishekamsubstances?
A10 Yes. We getdivine grace through abishekam substances. This is because these
substances,having come into contact with the divine form, get elevated to a
high spiritualstate and thus become receptors of divine grace.
Q11 Whom does Soorya worship with His hands?How does Soorya do this worship?
A11 Heworships the Siva Lingam form of the Universal Lord; He worships the form
ofthe Universal Mother, of Maha Vishnu and other deities.
By bathingthe divine form with his rays. His rays are at once both His hands
and theabishekam substance that He offers to the Supreme Lord.
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