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tourismirctc · 10 months

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Embark on a Sacred Journey: Discover Spirituality and Culture with Indian Railways

With the spiritual journey being an essential aspect of India's cultural fabric, Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) offers a beautiful experience through its South India pilgrimage tour packages. This exemplary initiative enables tourists and pilgrims to explore the sacred shrines and magnificent temples scattered throughout South India. Travellers can not only seek divine blessings but also experience the rich cultural heritage that makes this region truly special.

One of the notable highlights of the South India pilgrimage tour packages by IRCTC Tourism is the encompassing itinerary, which covers numerous sacred sites.

The temples of Tamil Nadu, including the majestic Meenakshi Amman Temple, are central to these tours.

In Kerala, the Sabarimala Temple, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, is a significant pilgrimage destination.

Additionally, the splendid temples of Hampi in Karnataka.

The ancient Sri Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh are must-visit site.

The temples of Tamil Nadu, including the majestic Meenakshi Amman Temple, are central to these tours.

In Kerala, the Sabarimala Temple, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, is a significant pilgrimage destination.

Additionally, the splendid temples of Hampi in Karnataka.

The ancient Sri Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh are must-visit site.

Apart from South India, IRCTC Tourism's devotional tour packages from Hyderabad extend to other parts of India as well. These packages include visits to the revered shrines in North India, with options for customised tours to suit the diverse preferences of the pilgrims.

Furthermore, IRCTC Tourism is not just about pilgrimage tours. The Corporation also offers an exciting array of packages that cater to different interests. One such unique package is the Darjeeling toy train ticket by IRCTC Tourism, allowing you to relish the charming landscapes of the Eastern Himalayas aboard the famous Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

Not only limited to specific regions, but IRCTC Tourism's India tour packages also comprise a broad spectrum of travel plans covering the length and breadth of the country. From the snow-capped mountains in the north to the golden beaches in the south, and from the dense forests of the east to the vast deserts in the west, IRCTC Tourism has something for every traveller.

South India pilgrimage tour packages by IRCTC Tourism are a brilliant amalgamation of spiritual fulfilment and cultural exploration. This venture of IRCTC is genuinely a boon for those who wish to embark on a sacred journey through the mystic lands of South India. Whether you are an avid traveller, a spiritual seeker, or someone looking to explore India's diverse heritage, IRCTC Tourism provides a plethora of options to create unforgettable memories. For more information and to book your tickets, visit www.irctctourism.com.

Source : https://tourismirctc.blogspot.com/2023/08/embark-on-sacred-journey-discover.html

#south india pilgrimage tour packages devotional tour packages from hyderabad darjeeling toy train ticket india tour packages

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pujasthan · 1 year

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The Ayyappa Swamy Temple, located in Madiwala, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bangalore. This ancient temple is devoted to Lord Ayyappa and has been an important part of the city’s culture for hundreds of years. The temple is situated in the picturesque and peaceful surroundings of Madiwala Lake, surrounded by lush greenery and crystal-clear waters. Inside the temple complex, one can find multiple shrines devoted to various gods and goddesses. The main temple structure of the Ayyappa Swamy Temple features intricate carvings and beautiful sculptures, depicting scenes from Hindu mythology. The temple also houses a library with texts related to Hindu philosophy and other spiritual knowledge. Every year, thousands of devotees and tourists come to this temple to offer prayers and witness the grandeur of this divine place.

#hinduism #temple #ayyappa

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thegulfindians · 2 years

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TDB changes darshan timings ;70,000 pilgrims visit Sabarimala on Monday .

Kerala :A temple official said that the earlier darshan timings were 3 AM to 1 PM and 4 PM to midnight,but due to the huge influx of devottees at the temple,it was decided to change the timings of the second half to 3PM to 11 PM. With an increase in football at the famed Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala here during this year,s Mandalam Makaravilakku pilgrimage, in the absence of the covid-19…

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freelawbydjure · 2 years

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Constitutional Morality And Judicial Justice

The dimensions of judicial justice and constitutional morality are the same. Without judicial justice, constitutional morality is insufficient for the advancement of Indian society; both indirectly contribute to the expansion of social fairness. Constitutional morality gives the judge the authority to consider and apply moral principles to constitutional provisions. The constitutional morality serves as a motivator for the court to change the law to satisfy social needs.

The judiciary and constitutional morality in India both exist to eliminate injustices and unconstitutional aspects from society because the Indian constitution incorporates moral and legal principles.

Also Read: Purpose and Powers of the Court to Issue Commissions

A number of legislation recently passed by the judiciary contradict the idea of constitutional morality, including:

In the Shreya Singhal Case, 2015, the decriminalisation of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (1860) nullified the provisions of Section 66 of the Information Technology Act (2000).

Opening of the Sabarimala shrine to women of all ages in the case of the Indian Young Lawyers Association under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 2006

In the 2017 Shayara Bano case, the Triple Talaq law should be outlawed and made illegal.

This article focuses on the overall idea of constitutional morality in the context of judicial justice, including how they are related, the significance of constitutional morality in the judiciary, recent judgments passed by the judiciary in support of constitutional morality, as well as recommendations for constitutional morality that the judiciary should follow.

Introduction

As we can see, the Indian court is using the idea of constitutional morality as a basis for judicial interpretation to deal with issues in contemporary society. As evidenced by previous judgments, it serves as a transformational tool for the judiciary to protect individual interests. The Sabarimala Temple’s custom of prohibiting women in their “menstruating years” from entering was declared illegal by the Supreme Court in the case of Indian Young Lawyers Association & Ors. V. Kerala & Ors., allowing all women to enter regardless of age. In this case, Lord Ayyappa devotees adhered to their religious conviction that menstruating ladies should not visit the temple.

The judiciary, on the other hand, viewed this matter through the prism of constitutional morality and decided in favour of individual rights. The Triple Talaq (Talaq ul Biddat) was ruled to be invalid and void by the Supreme Court of India in the case of Shayara Bano v. Union of India after it examined the case in the context of constitutional morality. As a result, the Supreme Court has made sure that the supremacy of the constitution and constitutional morality always prevails above private laws and traditions in its capacity as a custodian and interpreter of the constitution.

Constitutional Morality Has Evolved

Grote introduced the constitutional morality theory. In order to establish free and peaceful administration, he described constitutional morality as a mindset that must be shared by a variety of stakeholders, including individuals, public servants, political parties, the opposition, and political institutions.

Later, on November 4, 1948, during a discussion in the Constituent Assembly, Dr. Ambedkar, the chairman of the drafting committee, shared his opinions on constitutional morality. He argued that only in communities where individuals are deeply ingrained with constitutional morality, like the one Grote described, should administrative details be included in the constitution. You could take the chance of leaving the legislature in charge of establishing administrative concerns by eliminating them from the constitution.

He quoted Grote as saying that Indians “have yet to grasp constitutional morality” and that it is not a “natural attitude.” “Democracy in India” is merely a top-dressing on an inherently undemocratic Indian soil. Therefore, in their respective opinions, constitutional morality is not being upheld in India.

How Judicial Decisions Are Transforming the Idea of Constitutional Morality

Naz Foundation v. Delhi’s NCT government (2009)

This was one of the first instances where Section 377 of the IPC — which made “canal intercourse against the order of nature” a crime — was determined to be unconstitutional. It violated the privacy of the nation’s LGBTQ people and subjected them to discrimination. In this case, it was determined that Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which states that “popular morality or public disapproval of certain act is not a valid justification for restriction of the fundamental rights under Article 21,” is clearly in violation of Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Indian Constitution.

The idea of constitutional and social morality was examined in this instance, and it was held that constitutional morality would take precedence over social morality. The court was also instructed to consider “constitutional morality” and not societal or popular morality when deciding whether a law could be justified or not.

Navtej Singh Johar versus the Indian Union

The Supreme Court ruled that Section 377 of the IPC is unconstitutional because it discriminates against the LGQBT community and views sexual orientation as an integral part of their identity, dignity, and autonomy. In this case, Section 377 of the IPC was challenged because it criminalises “canal intercourse,” sexual intercourse against the order of nature.

The Supreme Court issued this ruling in accordance with constitutional morality, declaring that the court must be “directed by the theory of constitutional morality and not by the conception of society morality” and not be “remotely driven by majoritarian opinion or popular perception.”

“Public morality” and “constitutional morality” are distinct, according to Justice Chandrachud. As opposed to the latter, which “requires that an individual’s rights ought not to be affected by popular concepts of society,” the former states that “the behaviour of society is controlled by popular views extant in society.”

Kerala State v. Indian Young Lawyers Association

Due to the fact that it concerns the admission of women to the Sabarimala shrine, this litigation is sometimes referred to as the Sabarimala temple case. According to their religious principles, Lord Ayappa’s followers restrict menstruation women from entering the temple. The court decided in favour of women, holding that the Sabarimala Temple’s practise of barring entry to women in their “menstruating years” violated Articles 15, 17, 25, and 26 of the Indian Constitution and was therefore unconstitutional.

By ensuring that constitutional morality always takes precedence over traditions and religious views, the court safeguarded the range of individual rights while considering this matter from the perspective of constitutional morality.

Constitutional morality’s importance in the judiciary

The Supreme Court repeatedly invoked the Doctrine of Constitutional Morality in earlier rulings by rendering a landmark decision. It is a relatively new idea. The concept of constitutional morality and judicial principles assumes many forms and has numerous ramifications for the freedom and dignity of the individual in a democratic society. In recent years, the Indian judiciary has increasingly used this word in a variety of judgements.

Since the term “constitutional morality” isn’t mentioned explicitly in the Constitution, it too is a matter of judicial interpretation. Constitutional morality can be broken down into two subcategories in the modern era: as the spirit or power of the Constitution and as the opposite of popular morality. This progressive and revolutionary concept, as it has come to be known, has been used by the Supreme Court in a number of instances, some of which may rank among its most notable and significant rulings. Its goal was to ensure that the constitution’s principles prevailed over the populace’s malleable morality. The Delhi High Court’s judgement in Navtej Singh Johar’s case was later confirmed by the Supreme Court.

Criticisms

What cannot be done directly cannot be done indirectly is a premise that is explained by the doctrine of colorable legislation.

The Judiciary is an autonomous branch of government that is charged by the Constitution with resolving conflicts in a fair and just manner. It is dedicated to upholding law and order as well as the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and state laws. The primary argument against the Doctrine of Constitutional Morality as a judicial principle is that it is unmistakably in violation of a fundamental democratic principle, namely, the separation of powers between the three branches of the State’s government: the judiciary, legislature, and executive.

Another argument made by those who disagree with the idea of constitutional morality is that it has been left up to individual judges to decide what it means and how to apply it.

Furthermore, by giving the courts the authority to use a “top-down approach” in the name of the morality front concept, it obstructs the organic and natural evolution of liberalism or the correction of societal wrongs or ethical problems. A judiciary that fairly restricts its power and sparingly withdraws its jurisdiction when necessary escapes public scrutiny and lacks accountability.

Conclusion

All responsible people ought to be indoctrinated with a sense of constitutional morality. It may be argued that rather than being a means of thwarting or resolving government action, Ambedkar and Grote both considered constitutional morality as a self-imposed restriction by the people to uphold the constitutional ideals. But more than 70 years after Dr. Ambedkar delivered his presentation to the Constituent Assembly in 1948, numerous academics and courts have given the idea a number of different interpretations.

Constitutional morality must be upheld by individuals as well as the judiciary and the government. The preamble of the constitution explicitly mentions the kind of society we hope to create; it can only be realised through constitutional morality.

In the past few years, the judiciary has set forward-thinking and historic precedents where this theory has been used specifically in situations involving gender-justice, institutional propriety, social uplift, reducing majoritarianism, and other such problems. Achieving justice, social, economic, and political equality — a triune phenomenon enshrined as a pledge in the Preambular Glory of our Constitution — requires adherence to constitutional morality and judicial values, which are inalienable. The Constitution, which represents the people’s desire to be governed, is not an end in and of itself. Rather, it is a means to that end.

The two-pronged definition of constitutional morality for the time being entails: first, a legal mechanism for countering popular morality; and second, a reminder that courts should keep themselves free of, sometimes rigid, societal beliefs and opinions that need to be modernised for the benefit and overall advancement of the country. By enabling the courts to look into the spirit and intent of the Indian Constitution, it also helps keep the government accountable.

It is appropriately categorised as a second basic structural doctrine as a result. As with most other constitutional principles, which are largely dependent on the interpretation of judges while rendering judgements in various scenarios, it is appropriately vague and confusing in its definition. However, it is necessary due to the country’s judicial system and the requirement that judges fill the “empty vessels of these theories” with words derived from their years of practise and legal expertise.

#law

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todaynewsguru · 2 years

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Delhi Confidential: Spiritual Journey | Delhi Confidential News,The Indian Express

Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar took a short break from work to be on a spiritual journey — he went to climb the Sabarimala for a darshan of Lord Ayyappa. Chandrasekhar, who has been visiting the shrine in Kerala for 25 years — he missed it in the last two years due to the pandemic — made the trek on Thursday. The 58-year-old Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology said…

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headlines-twentyfour · 5 years

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Sabarimala protests: BJP MP’s home attacked; RSS office set on fire So far, over 1,700 people have been arrested in connection with violence in various parts of the state. Source link

#BJP #CPI (M)-BJP clashes #Hindutva activists #LDF #Lord Ayyappa Shrine #Pinarayi Vijayan government #RSS #RSS office attacked in Kerala #Sabarimala issue #violence over Sabarimala issue #young women entry into Sabarimala

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ancienthinduism · 5 years

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8 captivating HINDU GODS the ‘WEST’ might not know about !

1. AYYAPPA : Protector of natural law

Lord Ayyappan, or simply Ayyappa (also spelled as Ayappa), is a Hindu deity worshipped mainly in South India,. Ayyappa is believed to have been born out of the union between Lord Shiva and the mythical enchantress Mohini, who is regarded as an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Therefore, Ayyappa is also known as "Hariharan Puthiran" or "Hariharputhra," which literally means the son of both "Hari," or Vishnu, and "Haran," or Shiva. Ayyappa is also commonly known as "Manikandan" .

According to the legend of his birth, his divine parents tied a golden bell (mani) around his neck (kandan) soon after his birth. As the legend goes, when Shiva and Mohini abandoned the baby on the banks of the Pampa river, King Rajashekhara, “the childless monarch of Pandalam”, found the newborn Ayyappa, accepted him as a divine gift, and adopted him as his own son. Due to evil manipulations of his step mother, he went to forest and killed demoness Mahishi and came to kingdom riding on tiger for giving milk of tiger to his step mother. After that he went to dense forest and disappeared. Upon the instructions of Ayyappa, King built temple for Ayyappa in Sabarimalai. Sabarimalai means Sabari- the devotee of Ayyappa and malai- the hill. Sabari, the devotee of Ayyappa had become a hill for the place of stay for Ayyappa. The most famous Lord Ayyappan shrine or temple is located at Sabarimala, on the hills of Pathanamthitta in Kerala,India.It is estimated over 50 million people reach the temple every year to seek blessings of the Lord Ayyappa on the day of Makar-Sankranthi or Pongal. Lord Ayyappa is believed to have laid down strict religious adherence to receive his blessings. The devotees should observe a 41-day penance before visiting him in the temple.

2. KALI : the dark mother goddess of Hinduism

The love between the Divine Mother and her human children is a unique relationship. Kali, the Dark Mother is one such deity with whom devotees have a very loving and intimate bond, in spite of her fearful appearance. In this relationship, the worshipper becomes a child and Kali assumes the form of the ever-caring mother.

Kali is represented with perhaps the fiercest features amongst all the world's deities. She has four arms, with a sword in one hand and the head of a demon in another. The other two hands bless her worshippers, and say, "fear not"! She has two dead heads for her earrings, a string of skulls as a necklace, and a girdle made of human hands as her clothing. Her tongue protrudes from her mouth, her eyes are red, and her face and breasts are sullied with blood. She stands with one foot on the thigh, and another on the chest of her husband, Shiva.

Kali's fierce form is strewed with captivating symbols. Her black complexion symbolizes her all-embracing and transcendental nature. Says the Mahanirvana Tantra: "Just as all colors disappear in black, so all names and forms disappear in her". Her nudity is primeval, fundamental, and transparent like Nature — the earth, sea, and sky. Her three eyes represent past, present, and future, — the three modes of time — an attribute that lies in the very name Kali ('Kala' in Sanskrit means time).

In the eyes of westerners, Kali is a goddess dark of mind, body and soul, a mysterious goddess of death and destruction. However her story is far more complex and far-reaching; she cannot be easily fitted into a typical western narrative of good verses evil, and in fact transcends both.

Kali's guises and names are diverse. Shyama, Adya Ma, Tara Ma, and Dakshina Kalika, Chamundi are popular forms. Then there is Bhadra Kali, who is gentle, Shyamashana Kali, who lives only in the cremation ground, and so on. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Vamakhyapa, and Ramprasad are some of the legendary devotees of Kali. One thing was common to these saints — all of them loved the goddess as intimately as they loved their own mother.

We have an exclusive page dedicated to this beautiful & fearless mother goddess .click here - OM SHAKTI - Om Krim Kali

3. KARTHIKEYA : the hindu god of WAR

Kartikeya, the god of war and general of the army of the gods, is known for his extraordinary strength. He is known by many names , some of which are - Murugan, Subramanyam,Skanda,Vel etc.

Lord Kartikeya is said to be one of the most beautiful looking and handsome gods. He is often described as exuding boyish charm and yet with a serious face. Often depicted as a calm and serene character, he has a face that resembled the radiance of the full moon. A demon named Tarakasura was given a boon by Lord Brahma himself that he would only be killed by someone who is as strong as Lord Shiva which would only be his son. It is believed that Lord Kartikeya or Murugan manifested for the sole purpose of killing Tarakasura.

Kartikeya’s other name, Shadanana, which means ‘one with six heads’ corresponds to the five senses and the mind. The six heads also stand for his virtues enables him to see in all the directions - an important attribute that ensures that he counters all kinds blows that can hit him.The war imagery and the six heads of Kartikeya indicate that if humans wish to lead themselves efficiently through the battle of life, they must always be alert lest they are shown the wrong path by crafty people with the six demonic vices: kaama (sex), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (passion), mada (ego) and matsarya (jealousy).

Kartikeya carries in one hand a spear and his other hand is always blessing devotees. His vehicle is a peacock, a pious bird that grips with its feet a serpent, which symbolizes the ego and desires of people. The peacock represents the destroyer of harmful habits and the conqueror of sensual desires. The symbolism of Kartikeya thus points to the ways and means of reaching perfection in life. He is an embodiment of perfection, a brave leader of God's forces, and a war God, who was created to destroy the demons, representing the negative tendencies in human beings.

4. DHANVANTARI : the one who heals

Known as a physician of the Devas, Dhanvantari is a celebrated god amongst the practitioners of Ayurveda. . In Sanatana-dharma (Hinduism), praying to Dhanvantari is supposed to bring sound health for worshippers.

It is said that Dhanvantari was deputed by Lord Indra to take the science of Ayurveda to the mortals. Also to be noted, Dhanvantari is seen as an avatar of Lord Vishnu in Hinduism. Bhagavata Purana states that Dhanvantari appeared when the ocean was churned by the gods and demons in search of the elixir of life ( nectar), Dhanvantari came out of it holding the bowl of nectar in his hands. “Dhanus” denotes the science of surgeries and is only indicative. Thus, Dhanvantari is someone who has seen the end of it. “Dhanvan” also might mean a desert, according to Rigveda – V.36.1. Thus Dhanvantari, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, with a pot of nectar in his hand is like prapaa (oasis) in the desert of worldly existence.”

Lord Dhanvantari is an outstanding personality in the history of Ayurveda. He was the physician of the Gods (in both the Vedas and Puranas) and an excellent surgeon. It is also believed that Dhanvantari promulgated the practise of Ayurveda. According to the Charaka Samhita, the knowledge of Ayurveda is eternal and is revealed in each of the cycles of creation of the universe. When needed, Lord Vishnu himself incarnates as Lord Dhanvantari and reestablishes the tradition of Ayurveda in the world to help relieve some of humanity’s suffering.

Lord Dhanvantari is known as the father of Ayurveda, since he was the first divine incarnation to impart its wisdom amongst humans. It is written in the scriptures that, “One who remembers the name of Dhanvantari can be released from all disease.” Lord Dhanvantari is worshipped all over India as the God of Medicine. On the day of Dhanteras, birthday celebrations of Dhanvantari, the God of health, take place in an enthusiastic and delightful atmosphere. Dhanvatari Jayanti is celebrated throughout India by the practitioners of Ayurveda, the Indian traditional medicine.

5. KAMA ~ Hindu god of LOVE

Valentine's day on 14th February is celebrated by Indians with lot of fervour, while not many are aware of Lord Kamadeva or Manmatha , the God of Love in Hindu mythology. Indians do not worship Lord Kamadeva or celebrate his birthday since “love” is not expressed openly or is considered taboo among conservative Indians though ironically the younger generation celebrate “love” associating it with Valentine's Day - a concept borrowed from the western world. “Love” has been expressed in ancient temples built centuries ago, like Khajuraho or Belur-Halebeedu, but are labelled as erotic and not generally discussed in the open since it is considered inappropriate to do so .

Kamadeva is portrayed as young, handsome man with wings carrying a bow and arrows. His bow is made of sugarcane with a cord of honeybees, and arrows of sweet-smelling Ashoka tree flowers, white and blue lotus flowers, Jasmine and Mango tree flowers. Lord Kamdeva is seen sitting on a Parrot.

It is believed that Lord Shiva burned Kamadeva on the day of Holi. Down south in India ,people worship Kamadeva-the Love-god for his extreme sacrifice on the day of Holi. Like Cupid is the God of love for the west and Ero’s for the Greeks , Kamadeva is the Hindu deity of love. His wife is “Rati” - goddess love, carnal desire, lust, passion and sexual pleasure . Lord Kamadeva, is the incarnation of Pradyumna and son of Goddess Sri though spiritually Vaishnavas believe him to be Lord Krishna.The meaning of the name Kama-deva is 'divine love' or 'God of love'. Vishnu Purana and Bhagavata Purana say Kamadeva is Vishnu. Sometimes he is also called Shiva and is described as "Prayaschita padyata" in Sanskrit. Kama is also a name for Agni (Fire God)

We could say confidently, that only a handful out of 100 people who celebrate V-Day, will know about the 3rd Century Roman saint in whose name V-day is celebrated. challenge yourself - do you know ?

6. VARUNA : lord of the oceans

In the Vedas, he has been described as the supreme, all knowing deity who created Heavens, Earth and Air. He is believed to be omnipresent and omniscient. As the word Varuna means “he who covers”, Lord Varuna is believed to be someone who encompasses the whole world. Thus, he is generally worshipped as personication of sky. But it is believed that he is also the controller of rivers, streams, lakes, oceans and other reservoirs of water, thus giving him the title of “God of the Oceans”.

Lord Varuna is believed to be son of Sage Kashyapa. As he is said to have originated from Aditi, the mother of Gods, he is also acknowledged as Aditya. According to the Vedas, he has thousand eyes which help him to oversee the whole world. He is often pictured as riding a chariot drawn by seven swans while holding the lotus, noose, conch and vessel of gems along with an umbrella held over his head. But some temples in Indian subcontinent have depicted him as riding on a crocodile.

As being able to oversee the world with his thousand eyes, Lord Varuna is often also associated with moral law and community affairs. He is also said to be the keeper of cosmic order, a force called “rta” which means justice. As being the one who enforces law, he is worshipped as keeper of divine order and enforcer of contracts.

Hindus worship Lord Varuna in different forms and ways. A legend associated with the festival of Rakhi is that of the worship offered to the sea god, Lord Varuna. On the Raksha Bandhan day, devotees offer coconuts to him. He is said to keep watch over the various demons of the ocean. Nevertheless, Lord Varuna is still worshipped as the guardian of western direction.Lord Varuna’s worship is also considered to be vital part of the ritual ‘Sandhyavandanam’.

7. GARUDA : the messenger of gods

Garuda is the king of the birds and often acts as a messenger between the gods . Garuda has the head, wings, talons and beak of an eagle and the body and limbs of a man. He is said to have a white face, red wings and a golden body.

Garuda was the son of a great sage, Kashyapa. Since he was the son of the great sage, his wings had a peculiar quality in that every time they moved, verses from the Holy Vedas would be heard. The very presence of Garuda was thus a blessing and benediction. His immense powers were also a gift conferred upon his father the Valkhilya rishis, supernatural beings of miniscule size and immense spiritual accomplishments.

Garuda is said to have been born hungry, and while he was permitted to feast upon the natives, he accidentally swallowed and spit out a Brahmin, a member of the higher class that he was forbidden to touch. Still hungry, Garuda went on many escapades and every time he sat on a branch, it broke. One time as Garuda caught a branch from falling, in fear that it might kill a Brahmin, Lord Vishnu spied him and asked what he was doing. (Lord Vishnu is one of the Hindu Trinity Godhead: Brahma-the Creator, Vishnu-the Sustainer, and Siva-the Transformer.) Garuda told Vishnu that no tree or mountain seemed able to hold his weight, whereupon Vishnu offered him his arm to sit on and did not waiver at the weight.When Garuda was still hungry after eating, Vishnu offered him the flesh of his arm. After Garuda ate from Vishnu’s arm, there was no wound at all. Garuda bowed his head to Vishnu, realizing his divine nature and became Vishnu’s heroic friend for all time. In many Indian epics, Garuda carries Vishnu, and mostly serves him as his vehicle.

Garuda is known for his service, his concern for others and his impressive speed and strength. Among his many names, he is called “Chirad, the long eater” and “Garuda, the carrier of immense weight.”

8. YAMA

Yama, in hinduism, the god of the dead. The Vedas describe him as the first man who died, blazing the path of mortality down which all humans have since followed. He is the guardian of the south (the region of death) and presides over the resting place of the dead, which is located under the earth. In the Vedas, Yama was represented as a cheerful king of the departed ancestors, not as a punisher of sins, but in later mythology he became known as the just judge (Dharmaraja) who weighs the good and evil deeds of the dead and determines retribution. He is described as majestic in appearance, green or black, with red eyes and red garments. He carries a noose and a mace, which may be ornamented with a skull, and rides a buffalo.

Yama is the one who decides whether the souls of the dead shall come to heaven (Svarga) or to Naraka, where the souls of the wicked humans have to wait for their sins to be burned away so they can be reborn.In his abode, Yama decides about punishment and estimates the value of the actions for which the dead were responsible before their lives came to the end.

In the Tibetan beliefs, Yama is portrayed as the symbol of annihilation; he is a terrible monster crushing the wheel of life - unmercifully. In Hindu mythology, he is considered the benevolent god of the dead who treated humans friendly and well, but later, his attitude to humans significantly changes and he is portrayed as a frightening judge and punisher of human wrongdoings.

if you like to see more such posts on our page , comment & let us know !

#hinduism #interesting facts #ancient religion #hindufacts #hindugods

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