I have posted articles on the existence of Hinduism, Sanatana Dharma in Mesopotamia,including the Arabian Peninsula.
These articles were about the Kaaba, Mecca being a Hindu place of
worship and there is a Shiva Linga;King Vikramadhitya’s Inscription is
found there.
I shall be posting a detailed article on the History of Kaaba.
In the meanwhile, I would like to share a Poem, Stuthi on Lord Shiva by Umar-Bin-E-Hassham, an Uncle of Prophet Muhammad.
Muhammad’s uncle was one of the resident priests of the Shiv temple known as “Kaaba”.
Poem on Lord Shiva By Prophet’s Uncle.
The Shiva Sloka
Kafavomal fikra min ulumin Tab asayru
Kaluwan amataul Hawa was Tajakhru
We Tajakhayroba udan Kalalwade-E Liboawa
Walukayanay jatally, hay Yauma Tab asayru
Wa Abalolha ajabu armeeman MAHADEVA
Manojail ilamuddin minhum wa sayattaru
Wa Sahabi Kay-yam feema-Kamil MINDAY Yauman
Wa Yakulum no latabahan foeennak Tawjjaru
Massayaray akhalakan hasanan Kullahum
Najumum aja- at Summa gabul HINDU
Translation.
The man who may spend his life in sin
and irreligion or waste it in lechery and wrath
If at least he relent and return to
righteousness can he be saved?
If but once he worship Mahadeva with a pure
heart, he will attain the ultimate in spirituality.
Oh Lord Shiva exchange my entire life for but
a day’s sojourn in India where one attains salvation.
But one pilgrimage there secures for one all
merit and company of the truly great.
सत सृष्टि तांडव रचयिता नटराज राज नमो नमः हेआद्य गुरु शंकर पिता नटराज राज नमो नमः गंभीर नाद मृदंगना धबके उरे ब्रह्माडना नित होत नाद प्रचंडना नटराज राज नमो नमः शिर ज्ञान गंगा चंद्रमा चिद्ब्रह्म ज्योति ललाट मां विषनाग माला कंठ मां नटराज राज नमो नमः तवशक्ति वामांगे स्थिता हे चंद्रिका अपराजिता चहु वेद गाए संहिता नटराज राज नमोः
I
remember the only Mahādeva, Who is the enemy of Smara (Kāmadeva), Who
is the Lord of the animals for sacrifice, Who destroys the sins, Who is
the Lord beyond everyone, Who has a cloth made from elephant-skin, Who
is the best, and Who has a shaking stream of Gańgā in the midst of the
matted-hair locks.||1||
महेशं सुरेशं सुरारातिनाशं विभुं विश्वनाथं विभूत्यङ्गभूषम् विरूपाक्षमिन्द्वर्कवह्नित्रिनेत्रं सदानन्दमीडे प्रभुं पञ्चवक्त्रम् ॥२॥ I
praise Lord Śiva, Who is Maheśa, Who is the Lord of demi-gods, Who
destroys the grief of demi-gods, Who is resplendent, Who is the Lord of
the world, Who has abundant ornaments, Who has variegated (colorful)
eyes, Who has the Sun, the Moon and the Fire as three eyes, Who is
always blissful, and Who has five-heads.||2||
गिरीशं गणेशं गले नीलवर्णं गवेन्द्राधिरूढं गुणातीतरूपम् भवं भास्वरं भस्मना भूषिताङ्गं भवानीकलत्रं भजे पञ्चवक्त्रम् ॥३॥ I
adore Lord Śiva, Who is the Lord of the Himālaya, Who is the Leader of
Gaṇa, Who has a blue-colored throat, Who sits on the best among bulls,
Whose true nature is beyond the qualities, Who is the universe, Who is
resplendent, Who is adorned with ashes, Who is the consort of Bhavānī,
and Who has five-heads.||3||
शिवाकान्त शंभो शशाङ्कार्धमौले महेशान शूलिञ्जटाजूटधारिन् त्वमेको जगद्व्यापको विश्वरूपः प्रसीद प्रसीद प्रभो पूर्णरूप ॥४॥ O
Śambhu, Who is the resplendence of Śivā, Who has the half-moon on the
forehead, Who is the great Īśāna, Who holds a trident, and Who has
matted-hair tress-locks! You are the only One pervading in this
universe, manifesting as the world. O Lord, Who is complete! Please be
happy. Be happy.||4|| परात्मानमेकं जगद्बीजमाद्यं निरीहं निराकारमोंकारवेद्यम् यतो जायते पाल्यते येन विश्वं तमीशं भजे लीयते यत्र विश्वम् ॥५॥ That
Lord — Who is beyond the Ātman, Who is the only One, Who is the
fundamental element of the world, Who is the beginning, Who is without
passion, Who is without form, and Who is propounded by the ॐ-kāra — Who
gives birth, nourishes, and deludes this whole universe, I adore that
One.||5||
न भूमिर्नं चापो न वह्निर्न वायु- र्न चाकाशमास्ते न तन्द्रा न निद्रा न गृष्मो न शीतं न देशो न वेषो न यस्यास्ति मूर्तिस्त्रिमूर्तिं तमीडे ॥६॥ That
Lord, Who is not the ground, Who is not the water, Who is not the fire,
Who is not the wind, Who is not the skies, Who is not the sleep or
deep-sleep, Who is not the heat, Who is not the cold, Who is not a
country, Who is not a physical form, and Who does not possess a form — I
praise that Lord in the trinity-form.||6||
अजं शाश्वतं कारणं कारणानां शिवं केवलं भासकं भासकानाम् तुरीयं तमःपारमाद्यन्तहीनं प्रपद्ये परं पावनं द्वैतहीनम् ॥७॥ I
take the refuge in Śiva, Who is without birth, Who is eternal, Who is
the reason behind all the reasons, Who is the Only One, Who shines
everything that shine others, Who is turīya (pure impersonal state of
soul), Who is beyond darkness (tamas), Who is without a beginning and an
end, Who is beyond everyone, Who is pure, and Who is without
duality.||7||
नमस्ते नमस्ते विभो विश्वमूर्ते नमस्ते नमस्ते चिदानन्दमूर्ते नमस्ते नमस्ते तपोयोगगम्य नमस्ते नमस्ते श्रुतिज्ञानगम्य ॥८॥ I
bow to You, I bow to You, O Śiva, Who is resplendent in all the
wordly-manifestions! I bow to You, I bow to You, O Śiva, Who is the idol
of complete bliss! I bow to You, I bow to You, O Śiva, Who is reachable
by penance and Yoga! I bow to You, I bow to you, O Śiva, Who is
reachable by Veda and knowledge.||8||
प्रभो शूलपाणे विभो विश्वनाथ महादेव शंभो महेश त्रिनेत्र शिवाकान्त शान्त स्मरारे पुरारे त्वदन्यो वरेण्यो न मान्यो न गण्यः ॥९॥
O
Lord, Who holds a trident in hands, Who is the resplendent Lord of the
world, Who is Mahādeva, Who is Śambhu, Who is the great Lord, Who has
three eyes, Who is the resplendence of Śivā, Who is serene, Who slayed
Smara (Kāma), and Who slayed Pura! There is nothing better or different
from You which is countable or respectable.||9||
O
Śambhu, Who is Maheśa, Who is full of compassion, Who holds a trident,
Who is the Lord of Gaurī, Who is the Lord of sacrificed animals, Who
destroys the shackles of animals, Who is the Lord of Kāśī! Only You are
with compassion in this world. You are the great Lord, Who destroys,
protects, and holds the world.||10||
त्वत्तो जगद्भवति देव भव स्मरारे त्वय्येव तिष्ठति जगन्मृड विश्वनाथ त्वय्येव गच्छति लयं जगदेतदीश लिङ्गात्मके हर चराचरविश्वरूपिन् ॥११॥
O
Deva, Who is the universe, Who slays Smara! This world emanates from
You. O Mṛḍa, Who is the Lord of the world! The world sits inside You. O
Īśa, O Hara, Who pervades the entire universe as moving and unmoving
forms! This world finally contracts into Your egg-shaped form (lińga)
during deluge.||11||
Virat Shakti Peeth is among the 51 Shakti Peeth
of Maa Sati. It is said that, the left leg Maa Sati fell here, when
lord Vishnu in order to relieve lord Shiva from grief of losing his wife
Sati, used his ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ to incise maa Sati Body. Then, at the
place of fall of left leg, this temple was constructed. Virat Shakti
Peeth is situated in Bharatpur in Rajasthan, India. Here the idol of maa
Sati is called as ‘Ambika’ and the lord Shiva is worshipped as ‘Amriteshwar’.
History of Virat Peeth
History to this place dates back in the time when it is said that the
left leg of Maa Sati fell to this place. Best information about the
origin and the formation of this temple, people can be taken from with
local people. Religious books, Purans etc are worth trying to find out
the history about the Shakti Peeth.
Festivals in Virat temple
Makar Sankranti, Sharad Purnima, Deepawali, Somvati Amavasya, Ram
Navami are some of the other important festivals being celebrated here.
Navratri that falls two times in a year- one in the month of March
or April and other in the September or October month depending on the
Hindu calendar, is among the major festival here. Navratri are
celebrated for over 9 days, with some people not eating any type of food
that is derived from the soil for these nine days. Special ceremonies
and rituals are carried during these days
Another festival that is celebrated with great enthusiasm is the
‘Shivaratri’ and during this day, people keep fast, pour milk on the
Shiv Lingam and offers ‘Bail’ (A type of fruit) to the god idol.
People (Almost every day) offer their offering to the god in form of fruit, milk, homemade sweets etc
Bheemakali Temple or Vibhasha Shakti Peeth is among the 51 Shakti
Peeth of Maa Sati, located on the banks of the River Roopnarayana at
Tamluk village, Purab Medinipur in West Bengal, India. It is the place
where Devi Sati’s left ankle fell. Here Devi is worshipped as Kapalini
or Bhimarupa and Lord Shiva as Sarvanand.
In the Sanctorum of the
temple, there is a large ‘Shiv Ling’ and it is made of black stone.
Priest and pilgrims worship here and Ygya are also carried from time to
time. All around the ‘Shiv Ling’ is the White marble boundary. The
temple is also known as Bheemakali Temple.
History and Significance
History to this Bheemakali Temple dates back in the time when it is said that the left ankle of Maa Sati fell to this place.
Tamluk
village is also considered as an important Vaishnava Tirtha. According
to Jaimini Mahabharat and Kashidas Mahabharat, Lord Krishna came to
Tamluk and released the Divine Horse of Ashwameda Yagna. Tamluk is
considered sacred as it is sanctified by the lotus feet of Lord Krishna.
Vedas and ancient Indian science theories are often considered as the
most advanced works in the world from their era. There are scientists
taking who are fascinated by the knowledge of the ancient Indian
scholars and dedicated their life researching on the ancient Indian
Science.
The list here presents 13 greatest ever inventions of ancient Indian science.
1. They knew the existence of solar system long before. Rig Veda 1.35.9
“The sun moves in its own orbit but holding earth
and other heavenly bodies in a manner that they do not collide with each
other through force of attraction.
2. They Theorized gravity way before the western world.
The verse 10.22.14 of Rig Veda says “This earth is devoid
of hands and legs, yet it moves ahead. All the objects over the earth
also move with it. It moves around the sun”.
3. They knew the speed of light way before the rest of the world knew it.
A Vedic scholar by the name of Sayana discovered the speed of light back in the 14th century AD.
His quote which translates to “With deep respect, I bow to the sun, who travels 2,202 yojanas in half a nimesha.”
A yojana is approximately 9 miles; a nimesha is 16/75 of a second.
So,
2,202 yojanas x 9 miles x 75/8 nimeshas = 185,794 miles per second
which is remarkably equal to the actual value of 186 282.397 miles per
second.
4. They knew the science behind eclipses when the rest of
the world was scared thinking eclipses are caused by some sort of black
magic.
Rig Veda 5.40.5 has a phrase which translates to “O Sun!
When you are blocked by the one whom you gifted your own light (moon),
then earth will be surprised by the sudden darkness.”
This is a remarkably accurate description of a solar eclipse.
The
Vedas’ detailed descriptions of the universe, planets, and other
phenomena demonstrates the vast knowledge of the people of those times
far before modern civilization even started to exist.
5. They accurately predicted the distance between Sun and Earth.
“Yug sahasra yojana par bhanu, leelyo taahi madhura phal jaanu” -Hanuman Chalisa
The above verse written by Tulasidas in Hanuman chalisa translates to how “The Surya, situated thousands of Yojanas(a unit of distance) away was swallowed by Hanuman thinking it to be a fruit”
Here
1 Yuga = 12000 years
1 Sahsra Yuga = 12000000 years. Also, 1 Yojan = 8 miles
So, Yug Sahsra Yojan(the first three words) would mean 12000*12000000*8 = 96000000 miles.
Converting it to kilometers, 96000000 X 1.6 = 153,600,000 kms
Actual distance from earth to sun = 152,000,000 kms(error of around 1%)
How cool is that??
6. They measured the circumference of the Earth. Brahmagupta in the 7th century CE proposed that the circumference of the
Earth to be 36,000 km, which is close to the actual figure of 40,075
km, with an error margin of 1%.
7. They estimated the Length of an Year. Surya Sidhhanta speaks of 4 ways to measure the length of an year namely “Nakshatra“, “Savana“, “Lunar” and “Saura“, of these The Saura method accurately estimates the length of year to be 365 days, 6 hours 12 mins and 30 seconds.
If you are still wondering how they could do it go and visit temples at
Konark or Humpi where you will find the incredibly complex and
technically correct architecture systems of the temples that use the
sunlight to measure the length of the day and year.
8. They deduced Pi value.
Aryabhata worked on the approximation of value of pi () and came to the conclusion that is irrational and is approximately 3.1416 in 499 CE when he was 23 years old.
He
can be considered as one of the smartest brains of ancient India
because because the irrationality of pi was proved in Europe only in
1761 by Lambert.
Not to mention, he even derived the values of sine & cos and gave birth to the concept of trigonometry.
9.They Theorized that earth is a sphere.
Although the discovery of Earth being round is credited to Greek
astronomers . Interestingly, Indian astronomers had already claimed that
Sun is a star and that earth is spherical long before the Greeks. It is
documented that various attempts had been made to measure the
circumference of earth during the Vedic periods. Aryabhatta deduced a
formulation which proves that the Earth is rotating on an axis. By
estimating the value of pi to be 3.1416 he deduced the circumference of
earth to be 39736 Kilometers which is only 100 kilometers below its true
value.
In fact, in his book Aryabhatiya, he also asserts that the
movement of heavenly bodies like the sun, the stars are all relative,
and only earth is moving.
“Just as a passenger in a boat moving
downstream sees the stationary (trees on the river banks) as traversing
upstream, so does an observer on earth see the fixed stars as moving
towards the west at exactly the same speed (at which the earth moves
from west to east.”
-translated from Aryabhatiya Gola 9
10. They build the worlds first underground drainage system. Indus valley civilization designed the worlds first Underground
sanitation system back in 3300–1300 BCE which was adopted by the rest of
the world centuries later. They are also the first civilization to
create modern sanitation.
11. They theorized and actually implemented the concept of
surgical procedures using surgical tools centuries before the rest of
the world.
The Sushruta Samhita written by Sushruta is
the earliest medical encyclopedia known to world being written during
1200BC containing 184 chapters contains descriptions of 1,120 illnesses,
700 medicinal plants, 64 preparations from mineral sources and 57
preparations based on animal sources. You name a disease and it has a
chapter on it.
It was announced in a scientific journal that the
oldest and the first evidence for the drilling of human teeth of a
living person was found in Mehrgarh. Eleven drilled molar crowns from
nine adults were discovered in a graveyard in Mehrgarh that dates from
7,500–9,000 years ago. A few evidences of orthopedic surgeries were also
found concluding that ancient India had the technology to implement
surgical procedures. Anesthesia was made using herbs in Ayurveda.
12.They theorized the concept of cloning , test tube babies and surrogate mothers.
The epic Mahabharata describes Gandhari as a mother of 100 sons who
were called Kauravas, the eldest of them being Dhuryodhana. The Kauravas
were created by splitting the single embryo into 100 parts and growing
each part in a separate kund (container).
The birth story of Karna & the Pandavas shockingly resembles the modern test tube baby concept. Being born from the “characteristics adopted from men of her choice”
In
other words, they not only had the concept of cloning, test-tube babies
and embryo spliting but also had the dream to grow human fetuses
outside the body of a woman something that is not known to modern
science very recently.
13. Nikola tesla took inspiration from Swamy vivenakanda and Indian vedas for his world acclaimed work.
After his lab was burned down and his life’s work had vanished.
Nikola Tesla studied the concept of Prana and Akasha to work on FORCE
and MATTER. He developed a new perspective on the world and started
viewing world in terms of frequencies and energy which resulted in him
establishing his concepts on energy.
We
intended to write this article not to take sides or argue against
anyone’s beliefs but only to give a small idea on the intensity of the
knowledge and imagination of our ancestors.
They even had the
concept of sustainable energy, projectile science, and many others like
Thrust, momentum, Thermodynamics , Astrophysics etc to name a few.
Time to feel proud of India and share this with friends.
Past
Lives, or Rebirth as it is often referred to, is not a theory in Hindu
culture; it is a fact. Generally we have amnesia about out past lives,
but with the help of Vedic Astrology we can get some clues about where
we came from, and how that past is influencing our present
circumstances.
One of the best techniques for examining the past life is
through the analysis of the placement of Ketu in the natal astrology
chart. Ketu is the South Node of the Moon, one of two eclipse points:
crossover points of the path of the Moon with that of the Sun, as seen
from the Earth. Ketu is known as the 'inlet point' for past life karmas.
Here the word karma is referring to past life completed actions. The
prior activity of the soul comes through in this lifetime as unconscious
behavior patterns, naturally familiar due to the prior experiences. The
past life actions have created a 'groove' in the soul's memory. Thus,
in this life, we are prone to fall back into that groove.
Opposite Ketu is Rahu, the North Node, which is considered to
represent the karmas (actions) that have to be encountered in this
lifetime for the soul's continued education. The relative strength of
Ketu vs. Rahu has to be determined to tell whether the person tends to
'hang out' in the old, familiar, past life behaviors, or else embraces
the new lessons shown by the Rahu position. Additionally, at different
times in one's life one or the other of the Nodes will be emphasized,
most notably during the Dashas (the planetary periods) connected with
that node, but also through activation from other planets when they
transit over the natal nodal positions. The activation of Ketu brings up
unresolved issues from the past. The activation of Rahu makes us
confront dilemmas related to what we are becoming in this life's
incarnation.
If we wish to take a more active part in our soul's evolution,
and move forward in this life, it would be good to understand more about
our past life. We can become aware of where we are repeating the past;
where we fall back into the old groove. The Houses of the chart
correspond to specific different areas of human activity. Thus, the
house position of Ketu in your Vedic Astrology chart will tell you
something of what activities in the former life were a dominant concern.
For instance, if Ketu is placed in the 3rd house of everyday
survival, then running around doing errands, keeping busy with the
affairs of close relatives and neighbors, and promoting oneself to
others with gossip, etc., are familiar activities that one tends to
naturally fall into. In this case, Rahu's placement would indicate that
the lessons of the opposite 9th house: the pursuit of higher knowledge,
practice of religion, relationship with father and guru, are areas that
need development. If the reverse is true, where Ketu is in the 9th
house, then one has a tendency to study scripture, hang out in an 'ivory
tower', and/ or stick to a religion or philosophy inherited from the
past life. Rahu's corresponding position shows the 3rd house with its
practical everyday requirements, cooperation with others, and
development of mundane skills to be what one has to focus on this time.
The sign that Ketu occupies gives us clues about the qualities
of the person we were in the former birth that become natural
inclinations in this lifetime. These qualities are particularly obvious
while we are young: the past life is still fresh in the soul's memory.
The opposite sign position of Rahu shows what qualities and attitudes
the soul seeks to learn to express in this birth. If Ketu is in
Sagittarius, then you come in with a strong belief that your own way is
best, that your own freedom to act comes first, and so feel threatened
by anything that comes from another's reality. What you need to learn is
to become more 'Gemini-like': to be interested in gathering more data,
cultivate an interest in other people's truths, and to enjoy the
exchange of ideas. Another example: if you are born with Ketu in Virgo,
the past life was given over to the examination of details, with a need
for exactness, getting everything right, and an attachment to order and
routine. This lifetime you need to become more Piscean: be aware of the
universal consciousness, surrender to the Higher Power, and trust what
can't be measured or controlled.
A more detailed analysis of the relative strength of Ketu vs.
Rahu is necessary to determine which house and sign position tends to
predominate in one's life, and what potential issues will arise from the
imbalance. But by simply knowing our own chart's nodal locations we can
become more aware of unconscious behavior patterns inherited from the
past birth and thus see more clearly what we have to overcome to
continue on our path.
Vishalakshi Manikarnika or Vishalakshi Manikarni Shakti Peeth is one
of the 51 Shakti Peethas mentioned in the Puranas. It is said that
karna kundala (earring) of Devi Sati fell here. Hence Devi Maa here is
also known as Manikarni or Manikarnika. The Puranas say that this city
exists even after the Pralaya. The famous place ‘Manikarnika’ is located
here and named so because the earring of Goddess Sati was like a pearl
(Mani). Goddess worshiped here as Maa Vishalakshi & Lord Shiva as
Kala or Kaal Bhairva.
Vishalakshi Manikarnika
Some pundits feel that karna kundala is merely an ornament and not
part of the body. Therefore this place can at best be considered as a
upapeetha, a minor or sub-centre. Another version says that this is a
shakti peetha only because one of the three eyes (Akshi) fell here. As
the divine eye can perceive the entire universe, Mother here is called
Vishalakshi, the vast-eyed.
. Mangala Chandika ShaktiPeetha : This Peetha is situated in
Ujani Village in Guskara of Barddhaman district, West Bengal in India.
Here, in this holy place, right wrist of Sati
had fallen, she is in the form of Devi Mangala-Chandika or Mangal
Chandi and Kapilambar appears as Vairabh. It is 16km from Guskara
Railway Station.
One of the great gifts of spiritual knowledge is that it realigns your sense of self to something you may not have even ever imagined was within you. Spirituality says that even if you think you're limited and small, it simply isn't so. You're greater and more powerful than you have ever imagined. A great and divine light exists inside of you. This same light is also in everyone you know and in everyone you will ever know in the future. You may think you're limited to just your physical body and state of affairs — including your gender, race, family, job, and status in life — but spirituality comes in and says "there is more than this."
Notice that spirit sounds similar to words like inspire and expire. This is especially appropriate because when you're filled with spiritual energy, you feel great inspiration, and when the spiritual life force leaves your body, your time on this earth expires. These are two of the main themes of the spiritual journey: