~*~NAVRATRI (FESTIVAL OF NINE DAYS) ~*~

NAVRATRI (FESTIVAL OF NINE DAYS) 
 
 
The whole delusions of the world consists of nine elements - 'Panchamahabhurt' (the fine basic & fundamental elements from which the matter is made.) and four 'Antahkaran' (four types of consciousness) .
According to the Sadhakas, these nine elements symbolize the nine forms of 'Shakti' or goddess Durga. This Shakti prevails in the whole world. The same Shakti is known as 'Mahakali' (which symbolises physical, strength & power), 'Mahalaxmi' (which symbolises materialistic wealth and prosperity), and 'Mahasaraswati' (which symbolises mental).
Eighteen days have been fined as the most auspicious days, for the worship of three forms of Durga. Out of these eighteen days, nine days come in the Hindu month of 'Vasant' (spring) and the remaining nine-days fall in the Hindu month of 'Sharad' (Autumn). This is the reason behind the importance of the number nine of the famous Navratras.'
KANYA PUJAN (Worship of the girl child)
During the Navratra especially on the eighth day and ninth day, worship of small girl-child is customary. The girl child is worshipped with complete devotion, after purifying them by the chanting of mantras and he is made to seat on a special pedestal. She is worshipped by offering 'akshat' (rice grains) and by burning incense sticks.
She is worshipped because, according to the philosophy of 'Striyah Samastastava Devi Bhedah', women symbolize 'Mahamaya' (The goddess Durga). Even among these a girl child is considered to be the purest, because of her innocence.
If the worshipper is desirous of acquiring knowledge then he should worship a Brahmin girl child. If he is desirous of acquiring power, then he should worship a Kshatriya-girl child. Similarly if he is desirous of acquiring wealth and prosperity, then a girl child belonging to a Vaishya family should be worshipped by him. If a person is desirous of attaining Tantrik-power, Mohan (hypnotizing) , Uchchatan (causing hurdle in the path of other success), then he should worship a shudra-girl- child.
This way a devotee of mother Jagdamba, contributes his lot in the social integration, by having a provision of girl child worship of all the four castes.
Scientific Explanations
The festival of Vijayadashami, nourishes all the aspects of human life including religiousness, the aspects, spiritual aspects and it also provide us with an opportunity for entertainment. No other festival has such a combination of religion and politics, art and culture, as the festival of Vijayadashmi.
When a devotee wakes up in the morning and takes a bath in a nearby river or pond, then worships goddess 'Dashahara', it helps him to destroy al the ten forms of sin.
This festival also in an occasion for family gets together. After the worship of goddess Durga, receipt of 'Prasad', strengthen the physical aspect of the devotee.
Watching the Ramleela in the evening gives mental nourishment. It also inspires us to follow the ideal path of Sri Ram. The burning of the effigy of Ravan warns us against evil conducts. Ravan - who was killed by Sri Ram, some nine lakh years ago also strengthens our belief, that no matter how powerful a sinful person becomes, he is ultimately doomed to destruction.
The scriptural command for 'Seemolanghan (not being tied down by the boundary) symbolizes progress. It inspires a man to constantly try to make progress and not get tied down by restrictions.
A provision of tree-worship is also made on Dashahara. This signifies the importance of the preservation of our forest-wealth.

~*~OnE eYe~*~

~*~Read Once a Week~*~

This is something we should all read at least once a week.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio.

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Its estimated 93% won't forward this. If you are one of the 7% who will, forward this with the title '7%'. I'm in the 7%. Remember that I will always share my spoon with you!

~*~Happy Janmastami~*~

~*~Crux of life !~*~

God created the donkey

and said to him. 

"You will be a donkey. You will work un-tiringly from sunrise to sunset 
carrying burdens on your back. You will eat grass, 
you will have no intelligence and you will live 50 years." 
The donkey answered:

"I will be a donkey, but to live 50years is much. Give me only 20years" 

God granted his wish. 

~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~! 

God created the dog

and said to him:

"You will guard the house of man. You will be his best Friend. 

You will eat the scraps that he gives you and you will live 30years. 
You will be a dog. " 

The dog answered: 

"Sir, to live 30years is too much,give me only15 years. 

" God granted his wish.

 ~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~! 

God created the monkey 

and said to him: 

"You will be a monkey. You will swing from branch to branch doing tricks. 

You will be amusing and you will live 20 years. " 

The monkey answered:

"To live 20years is too much, give me only 10years."

God granted his wish.

~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~! 

Finally God created man...

and said to him: 
"You will be man, the only rational creature on the face of the earth. 
You will use your intelligence to become master over all the animals. 
You will dominate the world and you will live 20years.." 

Man responded: 

"Sir, I will be a man but to live only

20 years is very little, 
give me the 30years that the donkey refused, 
the 15years that the dog did not want and 
the 10years the monkey refused. 
" God granted man's wish .................................................................. 

And since then, man lives

20 years as a man , 

marries and spends 30 years like a donkey, working and carrying all the burdens on his back.

Then when his children are grown, 

he lives 15years like a dog taking care of the house and eating whatever is given to him, 

so that when he is old, 

he can retire and live 10years like a monkey, going from house to house and from one son or daughter to another doing tricks to amuse his grandchildren. 

That's Life. 

~*~Hanuman chalisa with meaning~*~

HANUMAN GYAN GUN SAGAR JAI KAPISH TIHUN LOK UJAGAR

 
Shree Guru Charan Saroj Raj, Nij Man Mukar Sudhari, 
Barnau Raghuvar Bimal Jasu, Jo dayaku Phal Chari 

With the dust of Guru's Lotus feet, I clean the mirror of my mind and then 
narrate the sacred glory of Sri Ram Chandra, The Supereme among the Raghu 
dynasty. The giver of the four attainments of life. 

Budhi heen Tanu Janike, Sumirow, Pavan Kumar, 
Bal Buddhi Vidya Dehu Mohi, Harahu Kalesh Bikaar 

Knowing myself to be ignorent, I urge you, O Hanuman, The son of Pavan! O 
Lord! kindly Bestow on me strength, wisdom and knowledge, removing all my 
miseries and blemishes. 

Jai Hanuman Gyan Guna Sagar 
Jai Kipis Tihun Lok Ujgaar 

Victory of Thee, O Hanuman, Ocean of wisdom and virtue, victory to the Lord of 
monkeys who is well known in all the three worlds 

Ramdoot Atulit Bal Dhamaa, 
Anjani Putra Pavansut naamaa. 

You, the Divine messager of Ram and repository of immeasurable strength, are also 
known as Anjaniputra and known as the son of the wind - Pavanputra. 

Mahebeer Bikram Bajrangi, 
Kumati Nivaar Sumati Ke Sangi. 

Oh Hanumanji! You are valiant and brave, with a body like lightening. You are the 
dispeller of darkness of evil thoughts and companion of good sense and wisdom. 

Kanchan Baran Biraaj Subesaa, 
Kanan kundal kunchit kesa. 

Shri Hanumanji's physique is golden coloured. His dress is pretty, wearing 
'Kundals' ear-rings and his hairs are long and curly. 

Hath Bajra Aur Dhvaja Birjai, 
Kandhe Moonj Janeu saage. 

Shri Hanumanji is holding in one hand a lighting bolt and in the other a banner 
with sacred thread across his shoulder. 

Shankar Suvna Kesari Nandan, 
Tej Pratap Maha Jag Vandan. 

Oh Hanumanji! You are the emanation of 'SHIVA' and you delight Shri Keshri...... 
Being ever effulgent, you and hold vast sway over the universe. The entire 
world proptiates. You are adorable of all. 

Vidyavaan Guni Ati Chatur, 
Ram Kaj Karibe Ko Atur 

Oh! Shri Hanumanji! You are the repository learning, virtuous, very wise and 

highly keen to do the work of Shri Ram, 

Prabhu Charittra Sunibe Ko Rasiya, 

Ram Lakhan Sita man basyia. 

You are intensely greedy for listening to the naration of Lord Ram's lifestory and 
revel on its enjoyment.. You ever dwell in the hearts of Shri Ram-Sita and Shri 

Lakshman. 

Sukshma roop Dhari Siyahi Dikhwana, 

Bikat roop Dhari Lank Jarawa 

You appeared beofre Sita in a diminutive form and spoke to her, while you 
assumed an awesome form and struck terror by setting Lanka on fire. 

Bhim roop Dhari Asur Sanhare, 
Ramchandra Ke kaaj Savare. 

He, with his terrible form, killed demons in Lanka and performed all acts of Shri 

Ram. 

Laye Sajivan Lakhan Jiyaye, 

Shri Raghubir harashi ur laye. 

When Hanumanji made Lakshman alive after bringing 'Sanjivni herb' Shri Ram 
took him in his deep embrace, his heart full of joy. 

Raghupati Kinhi Bahut Badaai, 
Tum Mama Priya Bharat Sam Bahi. 

Shri Ram lustily extolled Hanumanji's excellence and remarked, "you are as dear 
to me as my own brother Bharat" 

Sahastra Badan Tumharo Jas Gaave, 
Asa kahi Shripati Kanth Laagave. 

Shri Ram embraced Hanumanji saying: 
"Let the thousand - tongued sheshnaag sing your glories" 

Sankadik Brahmadi Muneesa, 
Narad Sarad Sahit Aheesa 

Sanak and the sages, saints. Lord Brahma, the great hermits Narad and 
Goddess Saraswati along with Sheshnag the cosmic serpent, fail to sing the 
glories of Hanumanji exactly 

Jam Kuber Digpal Jahan Te, 
Kabi Kabid Kahin Sake Kahan Te 

What to talk of denizens of the earth like poets and scholars ones etc even Gods 
like Yamraj, Kuber, and Digpal fail to narrate Hanman's greatness in toto. 

Tum Upkar Sugrivahi Keenha, 
Ram Miali Rajpad Deenha 

Hanumanji! You rendered a great service for Sugriva, It were you who united 
him with SHRI RAM and installed him on the Royal Throne. 

Tumharo Mantro Bibhishan Maana, 
Lankeshwar Bhaye Sab Jag Jaana. 

By heeding your advice. Vibhushan became Lord of Lanka, which is known all 
over the universe. 

Juug Sahastra Jojan Par Bhaanu, 
Leelyo Taahi Madhur Phal Jaanu 

Hanumanji gulped, the SUN at distance of sixteen thousand miles considering 
it to be a sweet fruit. 

Prabhu Mudrika Meli Mukha Maaheen, 
Jaladhi Langhi Gaye Acharaj Naheen. 

Carrying the Lord's ring in his mouth, he went across the ocean. There is no 
wonder in that. 

Durgam Kaaj Jagat Ke Jeete, 
Sugam Anugrah Tumhre Te Te. 

Oh Hanumanji! all the difficult tasks in the world are rendered easiest by your 

grace.... 

Ram Duware Tum Rakhavare, 

Hot Na Aagya Bin Paisare. 

Oh Hanumanji! You are the sentinel at the door of Ram's mercy mansion or His 
divine abode. No one may enter without your permission. 

Sab Sukh Lahen Tumhari Sarna, 
Tum Rakshak Kaahu Ko Darnaa.. 

By your grace one can enjoy all happiness and one need not have any fear under 
your protection. 

Aapan Tej Samharo Aapei, 
Tanau Lok Hank Te Kanpei 

When you roar all the three worlds tremble and only you can control your might. 

Bhoot Pisaach Nikat Nahi Avei, 
Mahabir Jab Naam Sunavei. 

Great Brave on. Hanumanji's name keeps all the Ghosts, Demons & evils spirits 
away from his devotees. 

Nasei Rog Hare Sab Peera, 
Japat Niranter Hanumant Beera 

On reciting Hanumanji's holy name regularly all the maladies perish the entire 
pain disappears. 

Sankat Te Hanuman Chhudavei, 
Man Kram Bachan Dhyan Jo Lavei. 

Those who rembember Hanumanji in thought, word and deed are well guarded 
against their odds in life.. 

Sub Par Ram Tapasvee Raaja, 
Tinke Kaaj Sakal Tum Saaja 

Oh Hanumanji! You are the caretaker of even Lord Rama, who has been hailed as 
the Supreme Lord and the Monarch of all those devoted in penances. 

Aur Manorath Jo Koi Lave, 
Soi Amit Jivan Phal Pave. 

Oh Hanumanji! You fulfill the desires of those who come to you and bestow 
the eternal nectar the highest fruit of life. 

Charo Juung Partap Tumhara, 
Hai Parsiddha Jagat Ujiyara. 

Oh Hanumanji! You magnificent glory is acclaimed far and wide all through the 
four ages and your fame is radianlty noted all over the cosmos. 

Sadho Sant Ke Tum Rakhvare, 
Asur Nikandan Ram Dulare. 

Oh Hanumanji! You are the saviour and the guardian angel of saints and sages 
and destroy all the Demons, you are the seraphic darling of Shri Ram. 

Ashta Siddhi Nau Nidhi Ke Data, 
Asa Bar Din Janki Mata. 

Hanumanji has been blessed with mother Janki to grant to any one any YOGIC 
power of eight Sidhis and Nava Nidhis as per choice. 

Ram Rasayan Tumhare Pasa, 
Sadaa Raho Raghupati Ke Dasa. 

Oh Hanumanji! You hold the essence of devotion to RAM, always remaining His 
Servant. 

Tumhare Bhajan Ramko Pavei. 
Janam Janam Ke Dukh Bisravei.. 

Oh Hanumanji! through devotion to you, one comes to RAM and becames free 
from suffering of several lives. 

Anta Kaal Raghubar Pur Jai, 
Jahan Janma Hari Bhakta Kahai. 

After death he enters the eternal abode of Sri Ram and remains a devotee of 
him, whenever, taking new birth on earth. 

Aur Devata Chitt Na Dharai, 
Hanumant Sei Sarva Sukh Karai 

You need not hold any other demigod in mind. Hanumanji alone will give all 
happiness. 

Sankat Kate Mitey Sab Peera, 
Jo Sumirei Hanumant Balbeera 

Oh Powerful Hanumanji! You end the sufferings and remove all the pain from 
those who remember you. 

Jai Jai Jai Hanuman Gosai 
Kripa Karahu Gurudev Ki Naiee 

Hail-Hail-Hail-Lord Hanumanji! I beseech you Honour to bless me in the 
capacity of my supreme 'GURU' (teacher). 

Jo Sat Baar Paath Kar Koi, 
Chhutahi Bandi Maha Sukh Hoi. 

One who recites this Hanuman Chalisa one hundred times daily for one hundred 
days becames free from the bondage of life and death and ejoys the highest 
bliss at last.. 

Jo Yah Padhe Hanuman Chalisa, 
Hoy Siddhi Sakhi Gaurisa 

As Lord Shankar witnesses, all those who recite Hanuman Chalisa regularly are 
sure to be benedicted 

Tulsidas Sada Hari Chera, 
Keeje Nath Hriday Mah Dera. 

Tulsidas always the servant of Lord prays. "Oh my Lord! You enshrine within my 
heart.! 

Chopai 

Pavan Tanay Sankat Haran , Mangal Murti Roop. 
Ram Lakhan Sita Sahit, Hriday Basahu Sur Bhoop. 

O Shri Hanuman, The Son of Pavan, Saviour The Embodiment of 
blessings, reside in my heart together with Shri Ram, Laxman and Sita 

~*~Problems always seem bigger in the dark~*~

Problems always seem bigger in the dark

A farmer came into town and asked the owner of a
restaurant if he could use a million frog legs. The
restaurant owner was shocked and asked the man where
he could get so many frog legs! The farmer replied, 
"There is a pond near my house that is full of
frogs--millions of them. They croak all during the
night and are about to drive me crazy!"
 
So the restaurant owner and the farmer made an
agreement that the farmer would deliver frogs to the
restaurant five hundred at a time for the next several
weeks. The first week, the farmer returned to the 
restaurant looking rather sheepish, with two scrawny
little frogs. The restaurant owner said, "Well...where
are all the frogs?" The farmer said, "I was mistaken.
 
There were only these two frogs in the pond. But they
sure were making a lot of noise!" Next time you hear
somebody criticizing or making fun of you, remember
it's probably just a couple of noisy frogs.
 
Also--remember that problems always seem bigger in the
dark. Have you ever lain in your bed at night worrying
about things which seem almost overwhelming- -like a 
million frogs croaking?
 
Chances are pretty good that when the morning comes,
and you take a closer look, you'll wonder what all the
fuss was about . . .

~*~Find your Tree~*~

होली है भाई होली है

दोस्तों, इस पर्व में फैले है रंग सारे

पिचकारी संग खेलो होली, या ले आओ गुबार

छोटी छोटी बातें है, छोटी छोटी खुशिया

तुम भी ज़रा हस्लो आज, जब हस्ती यह दुनिया

ना बुरा सोचो किसिका, ना रखो किसी से ईर्ष्या

करो कुछ ऐसा, की लगे रंग लाई है शिक्षा

~*~HOli poojan vidhi evam saamagri~*~

होली पूजन विधि एवं सामग्री

होलिका दहन तो रात्रि मे होता हे परंतु महिलाओ द्वारा सामूहिक होली की पूजा दिन मे दोपहर से लेकर शाम तक की जाती हे,पहले ज़मीन पर गोबर और जल से चौका लगाया जाता है चौका लगाने के बाद एक सीधी लकड़ी के चारो तरफ बडकुला (गूलरी) की माला लगा दे,फिर जो पूजन का समय निसचीत हो उस समय जल,रोली,मौलि,चावल,ढाल,फूल,गुलाल,गुड,नारियल,कचे सूत की पिंडी आदि से पूजन करने के बाद ढाल,तलवार अपने घर मे रख ले,चार जेलमाला (गुलेरी की माला) अपने घर मे पितर जी,हनुमान जी,शीतला माता तथा घर के नाम की उठाकर अलग रख दे. 

यदि आपके घर मे होली न जलती हो तो सब और यदि जलती हो तो एक माला,उख,पूजा की समस्त सामग्री,कचे सूत की कूकड़ी,जल का लोटा,नारियल,बूते (हरे चने की डाली),पापड आदि सब सामान जिस स्थान पर होली जलती हो वहा ले जाए,वहाँ जाकर डंडी होली का पूजन करें,जेलमाला नारियल आदि चढ़ा दे,फिर पॅरिकम्मा दे कर पापड ,बूते आदि होली जलाने पर भुन ले और बाँट कर खा ले,उख घर पर वापस ले आएँ.यदि घर पर होली जलाए तो गाँव या शहर वाली होली मे से ही अग्नि लाकर होली जलाएँ,घर की होली में अग्नि लगाते ही उस लकड़ी को बाहर निकाल, दे उस डंडे को भक्त प्रहलाद मानते हे,स्त्रियाँ होली जलते ही एक लोटे से सात बार जल का अर्ध्या दे कर रोली अक्षत चढ़ाए,फिर होली के गीत तथा बधाई गाए,पुरुष घर की होली मे बूते और जौ के बाल,पापड आदि भूनकर तथा उन्हे सब मे बाँट कर खा ले,पूजन के बाद बचे और पुरुष रोली से तिलक लगाए तथा छ्होटे अपने से बडो के पाँव च्छुकर आशीर्वाद ले.इसके पूर्व सर्व प्रथम होली के दिन स्नान आदि से निवृत हो कर पहले हनुमान जी,भैरो जी आदि देवताओ की पूजा करे,फिर उन पर जल,रोली,मौलि,चावल,फूल,प्रसाद,गुलाल,नारियल,चंदन आदि चढ़ाए,दीपक से आरती करके सबको दंडवत प्रणाम करे,फिर सबके रोली से तिलक लगा दे और जिन देवताओ को आप मानते हो उनकी पूजा करे,फिर थोड़े से तेल को सब बचो का हाथ लगाकर किसी चौराहे पर भैरो जी के नाम से एक ईंट पर चढ़हा दे.

~*~Why Shout when angry? ~*~

Why Shout when angry? 

A saint asked his disciples, 'Why do we shout in anger? 
Why do people shout at each other when they are upset?' 

Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout for that.' 

'But, why to shout when the other person is just next to you?' asked the saint. 
'Isn't it possible to speak to him or her with a soft voice?
Why do you shout at a person when you're angry?' 

Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the saint. 

Finally he explained, 'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. 
To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. 
The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other through that great distance.' 

Then the saint asked, 'What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, why? 
Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is very small...' 
The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens? 
They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. 
Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. 
That is how close two people are when they love each other.'

MORAL: When you argue do not let your hearts get distant, do not say words that distance each other

~*~Happy Maha shivratri~*~

Shiv Samaan Data Nahi
Vipatti Vidaran Haar
Laaz Sabki Rakhiyo 
He Bailan Ke Aswaar !

Jai Jai Jai
Dewadhidev Mahadev Ji

The Powerful God: 

Shiva is 'shakti' or power, Shiva is the destroyer, the most powerful god of the Hindu pantheon and one of the godheads in the Hindu Trinity. Known by many names - Mahadeva, Mahayogi, Pashupati, Nataraja, Bhairava, Vishwanath, Bhava, Bhole Nath - Lord Shiva is perhaps the most complex of Hindu deities. Hindus recognize this by putting his shrine in the temple separate from those of other deities. 

Shiva As Phallic Symbol: 

Shiva, in temples is usually found as a phallic symbol of the 'linga', which represents the energies necessary for life on both the microcosmic and the macrocosmic levels, that is, the world in which we live and the world which constitutes the whole of the universe. In a Shaivite temple, the 'linga' is placed in the center underneath the spire, where it symbolizes the naval of the earth. 

A Different Deity: 

The actual image of Shiva is also distinct from other deities: his hair piled high on the top of his head, with a crescent tucked into it and the river Ganges tumbling from his hairs. Around his neck is a coiled serpent representing Kundalini or the spiritual energy within life. He holds a trident in his left hand in which is bound the 'damroo' (small leather drum). He sits on a tiger skin and on his right is a water pot. He wears the 'Rudraksha' beads and his whole body is smeared with ash. 

The Destructive Force: 

Shiva is believed to be at the core of the centrifugal force of the universe, because of his responsibility for death and destruction. Unlike the godhead Brahma, the Creator, or Vishnu, the Preserver, Shiva is the dissolving force in life. But Shiva dissolves in order to create, since death is the medium for rebirth into a new life. So the opposites of life and death and creation and destruction both reside in his character. 

The Most Fascinating of Gods: 

He is also often portrayed as the supreme ascetic with a passive and composed disposition. Sometimes he is depicted riding a bull called Nandi decked in garlands. Although a very complicated deity, Shiva is one of the most fascinating of Hindu gods. 

The God Who's Always High!: 

Since Shiva is regarded as a mighty destructive power, to numb his negative potentials he is fed with opium and is also termed as 'Bhole Shankar', one who is oblivious of the world. Therefore, on Maha Shivratri, the night of Shiva worship, devotees, especially the menfolk, prepare an intoxicating drink called 'Thandai' (made from cannabis, almonds, and milk) sing songs in praise of the Lord and dance to the rhythm of the drums.

~*~Dasavtar The 10 Incarnations of Lord Vishnu ~*~

Matsya the fish

In the earliest yuga (era) of Sata-yuga, a king named Manu was performing severe penance for thousands of years. One day as he was performing ablutions with river water, a small fish came into his hands and just as he was about to throw the fish back into the river, the fish requested the king to save its life. Heeding its request, the king put the fish into a jar of water but the fish started growing and the jar was not big enough for it. Then the king threw it into the river, but it soon it outgrew the river and the king then threw it into Ganges and then into the ocean. The king realised that it was Lord Vishnu himself and then the lord made an appearance and made a special request to the king. It predicted that the world would come to an end by a huge flood in seven days and requested the king to build a huge boat and take the seven sages(hermits) , seeds of all plants, one animal of each type and told him that he would appear as a fish to propel the boat to Mount Himavan for surviving the flood to the next yuga(eon). True to his word, after seven days the Lord appeared and the king tied the boat to the fish by using the royal serpent Vasuki and the fish took all of them to Mt Himavan and kept them there till the flood was over and in the new era, the king started procreation a for the new era.

Kurma the Tortoise

Further to Pralaya- deluge at the beginning of the present Kalpa the Gods (devas) lost their immortality due to a curse by the short-tempered sage Durvasa.The sage had once presented a garland of flowers to Indra,king of gods, who carelessly gave it away to his elephant which trampled it. The Devas approached Vishnu for help. Vishnu then asked them to churn the ocean of milk after adding medicines into the ocean. Mt Mandara could be used a the churning stick he said. He requested them to ask them help of Asuras in lifting the mountain in exchange for offer of the share of nectar of immortality that would ensue from the churning. Both the devas and the asuras churned the ocean using the serpent Vasuki as the rope. At the start, playing a Machiavellian trick, Indra, king of the gods asked the asuras for the head end of vasuki. But asuras suspecting foul play, took the head end, only to be deceived as the poison from Vasuki was slowly weakening them. But as churning was proceeding the mountain was sinking and then Lord Vishnu took the form of the tortoise KURMA and kept the mountain afloat. As soon as the bowl of amrita, the nectar of immortality was out, the asuras grabbed it. Then Lord Vishnu took the form of an apsara, a beautiful maiden, and seduced the asuras into letting her distribute the nectar and also to abide by her order of distribution. As soon as the devas were served the maiden disappeared thus totally deceiving the asuras and making them totally weak.

Varaha the Boar

A demon Hiranyaksha, had prayed for Lord Brahma and got awarded a boon that no beast nor man nor god could kill him. But somehow from the list of beasts the name of boar was missing. This proved to be his lacunae. He then started a campaign of plunder across the worlds. He pushed the world to the Pataal loka, or the under of the sea. He stole the Vedas, the holy scriptures from the Lord Brahma, while he was asleep and performed huge atrocities.To retrieve the Vedas and to save the world the Lord Vishnu assumed the role of a boar and brought out the earth from the under of the ocean, using its two tusks. It then killed Hiranyaksha and retrieved the Vedas from the asura and brought it back to the safe custody of the Lord Brahma.

Narashima giant lion-man

In NARASIMHA Avatar, Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as a semi-man,semi- lion in this world. The king of demons(asuras) , Hiranyakasyapu, wanted to become immortal and wanted to remain young forever. To this end, he meditated for Lord Brahma and because of his severe penance, the gods were frightened and asked Brahma to pacify the king. Brahma was impressed by his austerity and granted him a wish. Hiranyakasyapu wished that he be killed neither by a man or beast, nor in daylight or at night and neither inside or outside a building. Having obtained the wish he considered himself the supreme God and forbade all worship of gods by anyone. But his son Prahlada, was an ardent devotee of Vishnu. This enraged Hiranyakasyapu very much. He ordered numerous ways to kill Prahlada including asking his sister Holika to sit with Prahlada in the fire. But every time Prahlada escaped unhurt. Enraged, once he asked Prahlad to show him the Lord Vishnu. Prahlad said, "He is everywhere". Further enraged, Hiranyakasyapu knocked down a pillar, and asked if Lord was present there. Lord Vishnu then emerged as a half lion, half man from the pillar, and carried him under the arch of the doorway (neither indoors nor outdoors), and the time was evening (in the twilight), neither night nor day. He then killed Hiranyakasyapu with his claws by keeping him on his thighs (neither on earth nor in the sky) thus saving the life of his devotee Prahlada.

Vamana the dwarf

BALI, the grandson of Prahlada was a very valorous and mighty asura. By his penance and might, he conquered the whole world. Indra and other gods fearing that he and the asuras would conquer all the three worlds, went to Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu was then born as a dwarf Vamana in the household of a brahman priest. He went to Bali on growing up and asked for alms. Bali was delighted to offer him anything he requested even though his royal guru warned him that it was Lord Vishnu. Vamana then requested for the amount of land that could come under his three feet. Bali gracefully agreed. Lord Vishnu then grew in size and covered the earth and heaven in two stride. And due to lack of space, he put his third leg on Bali himself and crushed Bali to the nether or the Patala loka (underground world), thus helping the Gods out.

Parasurama Rama with the axe

In PARASURAMA Avatar, Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as a brahman priest in this world. He was brought in this world to avenge all kshatriyas who had become arrogant and were suppressing the brahmans in the world. He was born with unusual physical power, and became better fighter than any Kshatriya.He was born to Jamadagni and Renuka, and belonged to the Brighu clan. Parashurama was always carrying an axe presented to him by Lord Shiva of whom he was an ardent devotee. Kartavirya a powerful king, once went to Jamadagni's home when he was out, and after a meal, stole the Kamadhenu cow, which was supposed to give endless quantity of milk. Jamadgni was enraged and he went and killed the king and brought Kamadhenu back. On hearing this the son of the king came back and killed Jamdagni. Parasurama was enraged at this and went and avenged the death of his father by killing all kshatriyas in 21 battles. His life is story of the supremacy of brahmans over the kshatriyas.

Sri Rama 

It is the most important Avatar of Vishnu. Rama represents the peak of the historic incarnations, and by him it is defined the ideal character of Indian people.He is Vishnu descended upon earth to conquer all the Indian peninsula, included Sri Lanka, under the Bharata rule. Lord Rama is one of the most adored gods in India. He is always holding a bow and arrow indicating his readiness to destroy evils.His story forms the epic Ramayana. He is perfect in every aspect; the perfect man, the perfect husband, the perfect brother, the perfect king, etc. and the obedient son. Commonly he is pictured in a family style, with his wife Sita, and brother Lakshman.

Sri Krishna

In KRISHNA Avatar, Lord Vishnu incarnates himself as KRISHNA , the central character in the epic MAHABHARATA. In this biggest epic of Indian mythology a myriad of topics are covered, including war, love, brotherhood, politics etc. It is essentially the story of two warring groups of cousin brothers, the PANDAVAs and the KAURAVAs. As a part of the Mahabahrata, during the war KRISHNA, gives a long discourse to his disciple ARJUNA, collectively termed as Bhagvad-Gita. Krishna, during his child-hood was responsible for the killing of Kansa. Krishna is also considered to be an ultimate playboy who was resonsible for charming all gopikas (cowherdesses) around him. Unlike Ramayana, Mahabharata deals with more down to earth issues like politics, human nature, human weaknesses, and does not attempt to idealise the characters as in RAMAYANA. His death marks the beginning of Kali yuga.

Buddha

With the departure of Lord Krishna (Krishna Avatar), the Kali yuga set in. In this age, the true devotion to Vedas was replaced by empty rituals. To enlighten the world, Lord Vishnu descended the earth as Buddha, the enlightened one.

He was born as the crown prince of the Kapilavastu to King Suddhodana and Maya. He was named Siddhartha, meaning "All thing fulfilled". But his mother died soon after his birth and was broughtup by Prajapati, the sister of Maya. Buddha was saddened by death of living creatures, and vices like poverty. He wasn't happy with any answers that were provided to him and he decided to find out the meaning and the absolute truth and he left his wife and child to a hermit's life in the forest and became the enlightened one.

His preachings spawned off the religion of Buddhism now popular across the whole world. Buddha advocated the Middle Path, in which he offered a balanced, harmonious way of life, steering between two extremes of self-indulgence and total abstinence. Buddhism rests upon four Noble Truths:

Suffering is universal,

It is caused by desire and yearning

Suffering can be prevented and overcome and

Eradication of desires can lead to removal of suffering.

To prevent suffering one has to conquer craving and desire and this conquest leads to the attainment of nirvana or complete enlightenment.

Kalki is believed as the next Avatar of Vishnu.

It is believed that He will appear, riding his white horse and drawing a flaming sword, at the end of the Kali Yuga, the dark age through which we are now passing. His task will be to exterminate the evil and restore the Dharma. Thus will begin a new cycle, starting with the new Satya Yuga.

~*~About The Sun~*~

A sweeping prominence, a huge cloud of relatively cool dense plasma is seen suspended in the Sun's hot, thin corona. At times, promineces can erupt, escaping the Sun's atmosphere. Emission in this spectral line shows the upper chromosphere at a temperature of about 60,000 degrees K (over 100,000 degrees F). Every feature in the image traces magnetic field structure. The hottest areas appear almost white, while the darker red areas indicate cooler temperatures. (Courtesy of SOHO/EIT consortium)

Detailed closeup of magnetic structures on the Sun's surface, seen in the H-alpha wavelength on August 22, 2003. (Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST) operated by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Oddbjorn Engvold, Jun Elin Wiik, Luc Rouppe van der Voort) #

NASA's STEREO satellite captured the first images ever of a collision between a solar "hurricane", called a coronal mass ejection (CME), and a comet on April 4, 2007. The collision caused the complete detachment of the comet's plasma tail. Comets are icy leftovers from the solar system's formation billions of years ago. They usually hang out in the cold, distant regions of the solar system, but occasionally a gravitational tug from a planet, another comet, or even a nearby star sends them into the inner solar system. Once there, the sun's heat and radiation vaporizes gas and dust from the comet, forming its tail. Comets typically have two tails, one made of dust and a fainter one made of electrically conducting gas, called plasma. (NASA/STEREO) #

Image of an active solar region taken on July 24, 2002 near the eastern limb of the Sun. The image highlights the three-dimensional nature of the photosphere when seen at these large angles. The structures in the dark sunspots in the upper central area of the image show distinct elevation above the dark "floor" of the sunspot. The height of the structures has been estimated by Dr. Bruce Lites of the High Altitude Observatory to be between 200 and 450 km. The smallest resolvable features in the image are about 70 km in size. There are also numerous bright "faculae" visible on the edges of granules that face towards the observer. (Prof. Goran Scharmer/Dr. Mats G. Löfdahl/Institute for Solar Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences) #

The total solar eclipse of February 16, 1980 was photographed from Palem, India, by a research team from the High Altitude Observatory of the National Center for Atmospheric Research. The photograph of the solar corona was taken with a camera system developed by Gordon A. Newkirk, Jr. This specialized instrument photographs the corona in red light, 6400 A -- through a radially graded filter that suppresses the bright inner corona in order to show the much fainter streamers of the outer corona in the same photograph. (Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee / High Altitude Observatory (HAO), University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR)) #

The planet Venus is seen by NASA's TRACE satellite, at the start of its transit across the sun on June 8, 2004. (NASA/TRACE) #

A view of a sunspot and granules on the Sun's surface, seen in the H-alpha wavelength on August 4, 2003. (Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST) operated by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Göran Scharmer and Kai Langhans, ISP) #

Solar flares produce seismic waves in the Sun's interior that closely resemble those created by earthquakes on our planet. On May 27, 1998, researchers observed this flare-generated solar quake that contained about 40,000 times the energy released in the great earthquake that devastated San Francisco in 1906, equivalent to an 11.3 magnitude earthquake, scientists calculated. Over the course of an hour, the solar waves traveled for a distance equal to 10 Earth diameters before fading into the fiery background of the Sun's photosphere. Unlike water ripples that travel outward at a constant velocity, the solar waves accelerated from an initial speed of 22,000 miles per hour to a maximum of 250,000 miles per hour before disappearing. (Courtesy of SOHO/EIT consortium. SOHO is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA) #

An animation of the sun, seen by NASA's Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) over the course of 6 days, starting June 27, 2005. (Courtesy of SOHO/EIT consortium) #

Hinode (formerly known as Solar-B) successfully captured a massive solar flare on 13 December 2006. It was one of the largest flares occurring in that period of solar activity minimum. (JAXA/NASA/PPARC) #

The image shows the corona for a moderately active Sun, with some (red) hot active regions in both hemispheres, surrounded by the (blue/green) cooler plasma of the quiet-Sun corona. Notice also the north polar-crown filament, the trans-equatorial loops, and the coronal hole in the south-east (lower-right) corner of the image and the smaller one over the north pole. This image shows the solar corona in a false-color, 3-layer composite: the blue, green, and red channels show the 171Å, 195Å, and 284Å wavelengths, respectively (most sensitive to emission from 1, 1.5, and 2 million degree gases). (TRACE Project, Stanford-Lockheed Institute for Space Research, NASA) #

A view of an irregular-shaped sunspot and granules on the Sun's surface, seen on August 22, 2003. (Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST) operated by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Oddbjorn Engvold, Jun Elin Wiik, Luc Rouppe van der Voort, Oslo) #

On November 8, 2006, Mercury is seen, beginning a transit in front of the Sun. (NASA/TRACE) #

This TRACE 171Å-wavelength image from November 11, 2006 shows a sizeable active region at the east limb of the Sun (rotated clockwise 90 degrees so north is to the right) just as it rotates onto Earth-facing hemisphere. Notice the low-lying dark structures of filaments at the leading edge of the region, some "levitating" dark material on the right-hand side of the region, and the small ephemeral region towards the lower right. (NASA/TRACE) #

The Sun, observed on May 22, 2008. With the Sun persisting in a near-minimal state of activity, only a few small regions of some activity are seen on the disk. The cell-like appearance is formed by the multitude of small clusters of magnetic flux that are collected in the downflow regions of the supergranular network of convective motions. (NASA/TRACE) #

A display of thin loops is seen arching above active regions of the Sun on January 1, 2001. (Courtesy Dick Shine, NASA/TRACE) #

This LASCO C2 image, taken 8 January 2002, shows a widely spreading coronal mass ejection (CME) as it blasts more than a billion tons of matter out into space at millions of kilometers per hour. The C2 image was turned 90 degrees so that the blast seems to be pointing down. An EIT 304 Angstrom image from a different day was enlarged and superimposed on the C2 image so that it filled the occulting disk for effect (Courtesy of SOHO/LASCO consortium) #

Detailed closeup of magnetic structures on the Sun's surface, seen in the H-alpha wavelength on August 22, 2003. (Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST) operated by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Oddbjorn Engvold, Jun Elin Wiik, Luc Rouppe van der Voort, Oslo) #

NASA's STEREO (Ahead) spacecraft observed this visually stunning prominence eruption on Sept. 29, 2008 in the 304 wavelength of extreme UV light. It rose up and cascaded to the right over several hours, appearing something like a flag unfurling, as it broke apart and headed into space. The material observed is actually ionized Helium at about 60,000 degrees. Prominences are relatively cool clouds of gas suspended above the Sun and controlled by magnetic forces. (NASA/STEREO) #

A transit of the Moon across the face of the Sun on February 25, 2007 - but not seen from Earth. This sight was visible only from the STEREO-B spacecraft in its orbit about the sun, trailing behind the Earth. NASA's STEREO mission consists of two spacecraft launched in October, 2006 to study solar storms. STEREO-B is currently about 1 million miles from the Earth, 4.4 times farther away from the Moon than we are on Earth. As the result, the Moon appears 4.4 times smaller than what we are used to. (NASA/STEREO) #

On September 30, 2001, TRACE observed an M1.0 flare in an active region very near to the solar limb. Fragments of a prominence hovered above the regions, with filamentary dark (relatively cool) material moving along the field lines, which then spread to form this dragon-like bright outline. (NASA/TRACE) #