Fwd: India Tour

[srinivasa ramakirushnan]

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From: India Temple Tour <vishwan...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jan 10, 2011 at 12:57 AM
Subject: India Tour
To: kond...@gmail.com

India Tour

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Narada Puranam - King Bhagiratha/ The sins / Origin of holy river Ganga !! Posted: 09 Jan 2011 05:53 AM PST Jai Sriman Narayana !! Varaha Puranam describes the conversation between King Bhagiratha and Lord Yama about Righteousness and Sins.  Lord Yama explains about the sins and Types of Hell. Lord Yama continues to narrate about the types of Hell a sinner has to undergo after death.  They are Tapana, Valkakumbha, Rourava, Maharourava, Kum-bhipaka, Nirucchavasa, Kalasutra, Pramaradana, Bhishana, Asipatravana, Lalabhakshya, Himothkata, Mrishavastha, Vasakupa, Shvabha-kshya, Mutrapana, Purishahrada, Taptashula, Taptashila, Shalmali-druma, Shonitakupa and Shonitabhojana. The sinners have to suffer punishments according to the sins they had committed.  Some may eat their own flesh, some may burn their fleshes, throwing weapons and stones on the sinners,etc...  Sinners have to spend in extreme hot conditions or cold, they were fed with molten iron and were hanged upside down.  The worms feed on their body.  The sinners were forced to  lie on the burning coal or hurled down from the mountains.  The sinners are beaten up to death by the servants or Lord Yama and their body was chopped down or bitten by venom snakes.  The scorpion scrawl on the bodies of the sinners, Jackals and lions eat the  meat of the sinners.  The punishments and miseries in the Hell are indescribable  and is terrible to explain each of them in detail. Lord Yama explains about the types of sins and they are Brahmahathya (killing of a Brahmin), Drinking intoxicated drinks, stealing Jewels and precious things, Criticism of Brahmin, elders, scholars etc..committing  crime, keeping away from promises, Ego, one who explains Sastras and Puranas without any knowledge, One who manipulates things in the field of astrology and medicine, consuming meals offered by a  Shudra, Lying, Jealousy, Pride and association with the people who commit sins.  Jai Sriman Narayana !!

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[srinivasa ramakirushnan]

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From: India Temple Tour <vishwan...@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jan 13, 2011 at 1:10 AM
Subject: India Tour
To: kond...@gmail.com

India Tour

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Makara Sankrathi /Makara Vilakku/Utharayana Punyakalam - 14th January, 2011 !! Posted: 12 Jan 2011 09:48 AM PST Jai Sriman Narayana !! Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa !! Makara Sankrathi is  movement of Sun from Dakshinayana to Utharayana -  the movement of Sun from Tropic of Cancer  to Tropic of Capricorn.  In Tamil Nadu the day is Celebrated as 'Pongal'.  In the states of Punjab & Haryana it is known as Lohri Festival.  In Assam it is celebrated as 'Bhigu'.  Six months of Utharayana  Punyakalam is a day for the deities and Six months of Dakshinayanam is a Night.  One who leaves the mortal body from this world during the Utharanaya Punyakalam attains moksha in the Lotus Feet of Sriman Narayana.  Those who leave their mortal body from this world during the Dakshinayanam has to take rebirth in this world again and again.  Bhishma Pitamaha had a boon to leave this world as and when he desires for it.  At the end of the Great War of Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamaha lying on  the bed of Arrows advised King Yudhishtira 'Vishnu Sahasranama' - The thousand sacred names of Lord Vishnu.  He did not want to leave this world of Samsara during the Dhakshinayana.  He waited for the Sun to move to Utharayana Punyakalam and attained the Abode of Lord Vishnu.  There are a few more significant events linked to this day of Utharayana Punyakalam.  It is believed that Yasoda Mai underwent austerities on this day to attain Krishna as her son.  King Bhagiratha brought the holy river Ganga on this earth , in order to give life to his cousins on this auspicious day.  Bathing in the early morning before sunrise, giving charity and alms on this day brings abundance of merits. Taking bath in the early morning on this day brings the merits of bathing in Milk.  Bathing in the Punyakala (Auspicious days) of Kartik Pournami, Magh Pournami, Ganga Dussehra, Moni Amavasya are equally auspicious and are capable to  bring all the virtues.

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Do's and Don'ts !! Simple things to follow !! Posted: 12 Jan 2011 09:33 AM PST

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

I happened to read a mail regarding things which are treated as auspicious and inauspicious in spiritual life.  I remember some of them from my Mom's say.  I think it will be useful for the readers who really want to improve their spiritual living style. 1. Washing feet and hands before entering into the temple.  Should not enter into the sanctum sanctorum with socks,shoes,sandals on.  Should not enter into the temple in a palanquin. 2. Observing festivals and following the rituals within one's own capacity. 3. Paying obeisance to elders/Guru/Sanyasins in front of the deities are  treated as inauspicious.  One should not forget to pay respect and obeisance  to elders/Guru/Sanyasins. 4. One should do abulations before the prayers.  The dresses selected to wear should be fresh and clean.   Sitting on the plain floor while performing rituals is inauspicious. It is advisable to sit on a mat (Jute). 5. While carrying out the rituals, one should remember to observe discipline in sitting posture, avoid Yawning, not attending calls, not conversing with others, acts which cause deviation  from concentration and devotion should be avoided. 6.While Performing rituals and daily prayers, one should not use single hand  or left hand for offerings to deity. 7.  Sleeping   Eating , laying down, speaking loudly, harshly, lying, punishing somebody, criticising, argueing, showing anger etc.. should not be done in front of the deity. 8. One should not wear woollen blankets while praying 9.  One Should not eat any single thing without offering to Lord. 10.  Breaking of silence while offerings are made to Lord is the most inauspicious thing to do. 11.  While entering a temple, it is an auspicious sign to ring the Bell 12. Worshipping  Lord with forbidden flowers is inauspicious.  Performing rituals according  to the custom is very important.  13.  Hygiene is very important in worshipping Lord.  The place of worship, cooking Prasadams (Bhog) offerings made to Lord, the devotee's personal hygiene is a very  very important thing to consider. 14.  Worshipping Lord after having a meal is inauspicious.  If one had a meal before the rituals, he/she should wait for another few hours to digest to continue worship. 15.  Stale and used flowers should not be used for worshipping Lord. 16.  Worship of deities should always begins with Lord Ganesha. We all are committing sins knowingly and unknowingly in our daily life.  Let us pray to Lord to Forgive.  I thought of spreading the above message for whoever willing to follow them.

Jai Sriman Narayana !!