Tulsi Vivah/ Wedding of Basil plant

Tulsi or the Basil plant is venerated as a goddess in Hinduism and sometimes considered a wife of Lord Vishnu. Hence she is also epithet Vishnupriya, "the beloved of Vishnu". The wedding of Tulsi plant and Salegram stone signifies the end of the monsoon and the beginning of the Hindu wedding season. The legend behind Tulsi Vivah and its rites has been narrated in the Hindu mythological text Padma Purana.

Kartik is a holy month for the Hindus. Women celebrate a variety of religious festivals in this month. Amongst them, Tulsi Vivah is one which is the ceremonial marriage of the Tulsi plant (holy basil) to God Vishnu or his Avatar Krishna. Usually the holy wedding is performed between the Salegram stone (considered as Lord Vishnu Himself) and the basil plant. It is believed that by executing this heavenly marriage one can get the blessings of God.

Legend

As per the legend the Tulsi plant was a woman named Vrinda. She was married to the demon-king Jalandhar, who due to her piety and devotion to Vishnu became invincible. Even lord Shiva could not defeat Jalandhar, so he requested Vishnu to find a solution. Vishnu disguised himself as Jalandhar and tricked Vrinda. Accordingly, her chastity destroyed, Jalandhar lost his power and was killed. Yet, after knowing the fact, Vrinda cursed Vishnu to become black in colour and would be separated from his wife, Lakshmi. This was later fulfilled when he was transformed into the black Shalegram stone, and in his Rama avatar, was separated from his wife Sita, who was kidnapped by the demon-king Ravana. Vrinda then gut herself with holy fire and turned into a basil plant. Though in disguise, since Lord Vishnu was her husband for some time people commemorate her wedding in the month of Kartik on the same day.

Himanshu Guru asked some women about the details of the ritual that they perform during this Godly marriage. Sarojini Patra of Bhubaneswar is taking part in Tulsi vivah organized in her home since a few years. She said, “The marriage of Tulsi with Lord Vishnu resembles the traditional Hindu wedding. Along with some other women of our locality we observe the ceremony in our house. A small marriage mandap is built in the courtyard of the house where the Tulsi plant is planted. We put a clothe or a saree around the plant and put vermillion and other fancy items in the brick plaster structure called ‘Tulasi chaura’. The Salegram stone that we regularly worship in our puja house is brought to the spot amid crunch and cymbal sound as well as hulahuli (a vocal holy sound made by Oriya women during worships) and the marriage rituals are performed. The Salegram stone is clad with a dhoti and janeu/paita after giving it a holy bath. Then it is garlanded. Finally the couple is linked with a holy thread amid Vedic hymns by an invited priest”.

“I mostly enjoy the rituals of the festival. It is, you know, like a human wedding. Most of the rites are identical to an actual marriage. I have not practically participated as a member of the Tulsi vivah, wedding execution group of women in our locality, but I watch other women doing it and I enjoy a lot. A white cloth is held between the bride and the groom and the priest recites the Mangal Ashtaka mantras. These mantras formally complete the wedding. Rice mixed with vermilion is showered by the attendees on Tulsi and Vishnu at the end of the recitation of the mantras and then the curtain is removed,” said Deepsikha Mishra from Birganj, Nepal.

Sukanti is a newly-wed woman in Bhubaneswar. She is from Cuttack and Tulsi vivah is observed in her home there. She is happy that even her in-laws here also celebrating this godly wedding. She narrated about the interesting things that are done in her house. “Two couples are chosen to act as the parents of the bride and the bridegroom. An invitation card is sent to the groom's house from the bride’s house. On Prabodhini Ekadashi, a bridal procession of Lord Vishnu sets off to the bride's house. The Salegram sila and an idol of the God and is placed in a palanquin accompanied by singing and dancing devotees. At the bride's side too preparations take place to welcome the bride groom carnival and finally the wedding takes place after which everybody get a full stomach anna bhoga,” she said.

Why should we love God, not human beings?

If you are a hard core lover at your heart, my suggestion is that you should love God and not any human being. It may sound strange, but this is of course the best possible way to get maximum happiness and minimize your worry.

May it be a child, a youngster, a woman or an old man; every human being seeks love. He wants to love and expects a lot more love in return. Not only human being, but animals and even plants too, seek love. You start petting an animal; it would expect love from you. You slowly put your hand beneath the neck of a cow; it will slowly tilt up its head, to allow you to continue the process. And in case of a plant, you put water to a plant and take care of it regularly; it will grow after some days. Is this not it's way of showing love?

Okay, leave the animal and plant case and let straight come to love or affection of human beings. In the first case, suppose you are a youth. You fell in love with a girl. Your love elevated and now you are passionate about her. There are many probabilities here. First, the girl may not love you in return, for which you’ll be frustrated. Suppose she loves you, her parents may not like or accept you. Even her brother or ex-boy friend may try to teach you a lesson. Okay, let us take that all her family members and other people of the society accept the relationship. Still you will have to remain far from her, when she would go either to her college or job. Take that if you also study with her or you are a colleague of her, still you can’t get her 24*7. Because, she will have to sleep for some long hours in a day and would also need to execute her daily routine.

But think here. You started loving Lord Krishna. None of His parents will limit you. None of His friends or lovers (devotees) will become a hindrance on your way to love Him. Moreover, He is omnipresent and omnipotent. Hence, you think of Him anytime anywhere and He will be right before you if you are such a dedicated devotee. Even if you don’t think yourself a dedicated devotee, you can take in the pleasure of thinking about Him anywhere anytime and nobody is going to check you.

If you are a kid and love your mother and vice verse, still both of you cannot stay together throughout the day to share your happiness with each other or to share your feeling of love to each other. Because the mother needs to go either to her job or if she is a house maker, she will have to give time to her household affairs. 

But on the other hand, if you started to think always about Durga Maa (Goddess Durga), she always will be with you. Your biological mother may not provide you protection, suggestion, benefit or wealth. But if Durga Maa blesses you, she can fill your life with success, love and wealth anytime anywhere you need.

If you are a father, your son will remain with you only for a few hours in a day. Because you need to go to your job and he needs to go to his school, then you will be away from your son for long hours in a day. Even, if your biological parents have already passed away, still you can reap the benefit by loving Gods. Your deceased parent may not be in a position to help you out, but God always is there.

Jay Mata Di….

Alarnath in Odisha

The state of Orissa is an immense treasure not only of natural resources, architectural monuments and human resources but the same is also having interesting rituals of worship. In this nexus, while Lord Jagannath of Puri is regarded as the prime deity his rituals are very much identical to the lifestyle of human being. Like, he falls ill after a grand bathe on the Devasnana Purnima and then falls ill. In this two week nobody is allowed for a darshan in Puri, but interestingly it is believed that during this tenure one can earn the same amount of virtues visiting his abode in Bramhagiri. There, he is worshipped in the name Alarnath. Himanshu Guru attempts to provide a brief report on this temporary abode of the Lord.

Legend

In the Satya Yuga, Lord Brahma, one of the Hindu trinity came and worshipped Lord Vishnu in today’s Brahmagiri atop a hill. Pleased with his endeavor, Lord Vishnu surfaced before him and advised him to raise a four-armed Deity of him holding conch shell, disk, club and lotus in his arms. He also hinted that the Deity should be made off from a piece of black stone and the stature of his ‘bahana’ Garuda should also be erected. The lord named the place as Brahmagiri since Lord Brahma worshipped him there.

The tale of Sri Chaitanya

Legendary saint Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is also believed as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, was an ardent devotee of Lord Jagannath. He used to visit the Lord’s abode at Puri regularly. Yet, as per the ritual, once during Anasara period, when the lord is believed to have fallen sick and so darshan was not allowed in Srimandira, Chaitanya was restricted from darshan. It was too intolerable for the devotee to live for long 15 days without getting a glimpse of the God. It is believed, being impressed by his devotion, Lord Jagannath advised in his dreams to visit him in the temple of Alarnath in Brahmagiri. Accordingly the saint visited Alarnath and got a glimpse of his cherished God. Even a piece of stone (shila) found in the temple premises is believed to be the one where the saint stood to get darshan of the God.

History

As per history long ago Alwars visited the famous shrine in Brahmagiri and the temple was named after their name as Alvarnaath which was later simplified to Alarnath. 

Location

Alarnatha temple is located in Brahmagiri block around 20 kms away from the district head quarter of Puri. The place is well connected in roadways through National Highway 203A. Puri railway station is the nearest railhead while the Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport to the place.

Festivities

Alarnath is not a very famous place around the year but the temple witnesses thousands of devotees/tourists during the Anasara period that falls normally in the month of June each year. For fifteen days during the krishnapaksha of Ashadha, after the Snana Yatra when lord Jagannath of Puri cannot be visited, large number of people visits Alarnath.

Kheer, the sweet offering

It becomes crowded During this period, popularly known as Anasara or 'Anavasara' (literally meaning no opportunity to see the lord of Puri), instead of having darshan in Jagannath temple, people believe that Lord Jagannath during this time manifests as Alarnath Dev, at the Alarnath temple in Brahmagiri.

Temple Timings

The Temple opens at 6 AM and closes at 9:30PM.Morning Baal Bhoga is offered and mid day different kinds of rice, daal and vegetable curries with Payasam is offered. In the night different kinds of Pitha and Khichudi with Plantain fry is offered. During Anavasara time the Payasa or Kheeri bhoga offered to Alvarnaath Swami is much hyped and in demand.

Anasara in year 2015

Year 2015 being the Nabakalebara year, Anasara of Lord Jagannath will continue for 45 days unlike other normal years when the normal span of Anasara is two weeks. Accordingly, this year devotees can take the privilege of darshan of Lord Alarnath in Bramhagiri for 45 days.

Alarnath temple in Brahmagiri, Puri District, Odisha

Ghanteshwari in Sambalpur District of Odisha

Goddess Ghanteshwari

Orissa is replete with natural treasures and religious shrines with rare and distinctive features. The Ghanteshwari temple in Sambalpur district is one of them. Ghanteshwari, the goddess of bells, is the presiding deity of the temple. The Oriya word ‘ghanti’ means bell, and hence the name. Situated in a naturally opulent atmosphere adjacent to the Chiplima hydroelectric power plant, the temple is visited by tourists throughout the year. The most spectacular sight of Ghanteshwari is the numerous bells, of sizes ranging from the tiniest to the biggest. They are seen knotted everywhere in this spot. Before construction of the famous Hirakud dam, the spot served as an alarm zone for the sailors. Besides being a place of devotion and tourist attraction, it is also an ideal picnic spot. A report by Himanshu Guru.

Walk-able Iron bridge to reach Ghanteshwari

Backdrop

Ghanteshwari is located on the banks of the Mahanadi and is the meeting point of the three streams of the river. Here the water current is fast enough to form a whirlpool. Resultantly, it was a risky zone for the boatmen and sailors in the early days. People say a number of boats drowned in this particular spot in the river. Again, during those days roadway connectivity was not very good and the water route served as a prime route for communication. It is said even traders from Madhya Pradesh travelled through this route to sell their stuff in Sambalpur and would often travel right up to Cuttack. However, to deal with the situation huge bells were fixed. As this place witnessed high wind speed, the bells rang loudly, thereby giving out an alarm to the sailors. Thus the spot was known as the ‘lighthouse without light’. The goddess was also established soon after. Yet, after construction of the famous Hirakud dam, the water stream lost speed and it was no more a risky water zone. In the following years, the roadway developed a lot and the earlier usage of bells became a legend.

Bells in Ghanteshwari

Description

The shrine of Ghanteshwari is not a big edifice but the surroundings are very beautiful. The main attraction of the spot is the bells that people tie up to make their wishes come true. As the place is on the banks of the Mahanadi one can witness a picturesque landscape, immense greenery and lush water bodies. The Chiplima hydroelectric project adjacent to the spot is also worth a watch. The only way to reach the shrine is via the walk-able iron bridge and taking a stroll on this man-made bridge is an experience by itself. After moving through the bridge you need to get down a number of steps to reach the deity. One can witness slivery fishes swimming in the river – a sight to behold.

View of river Mahanadi from Ghanteshwari

How to reach

Ghanteshwari is situated 33 km southwest of Sambalpur.

When coming from Sambalpur you need to take a left turn at Goshala chowk and travel 15 km to reach Chiplima, the nearest village. The place is merely at a distance of 2 km from Chiplima. The road from Goshala chowk to Ghanteshwari is not very smooth but manageable. The place is accessible throughout the year but visitors should avoid the monsoon season. The nearest railhead to Ghanteshwari is the Hirakud station and Sambalpur junction. Most visitors hire a cab from Sambalpur. Also, ferry buses run from Sambalpur to Chiplima, but tourists usually avoid ferry buses as they again need to travel 2 km to reach the spot.

Facilities

As facilities are scant it is wise to stay in Sambalpur. Also, there are no eateries nearby. Of course, there are small markets nearby the shrine from where you can buy flowers and sweets for worship. Tourists usually make their own arrangements for food, vehicles and night stay.

Touristspeak

Alok Ranjan Guru, lawyer, Sambalpur

Once my grandfather told me what he had learnt from the old and the learned. He said, “As we all are sailors of our own voyage, sailing without any compass, sometimes without any aim of direction, many times get entangled and lose hope. The divine grace of goddess Ghanteswari comes like a north star raising hope; the goddess is so kind that the mere act of tying a bell with utmost devotion and submissive request brings Her grace. Highly revered by the local populace, the goddess of bells has protected the sailors every time against bad weather and guided them with proper directions. Situated on the banks of the Mahanadi, bounded by mountains, cascading waters and forests, the temple of goddess Ghanteswari serves as an excellent destination for pilgrims as well as tourists. Thirty-five km off Sambalpur, this place with innumerable bells, is a perfect spot for those seeking divine grace as well as recreation.

Shiba Prasad Sahu, lyricist, Balangir

As I am a part of the Sambalpuri entertainment industry, I visit Ghanteshwari to worship a script, otherwise assumed as the ‘mahurat’ of an album. We flock to the shrine to seek the blessings of the goddess for an upcoming project.

Surendra Nayak, teacher, Jharigaon

I have visited the shrine on several occasions. Once we visited the spot for a picnic. The temple is an excellent place to sit for a while and to meditate on the idea of divinity since it is a calm and quiet place far away from the hustle-bustle of city life. It is place enveloped in natural beauty and splendour.

Nrusinghanath in Odisha: Abode of the divine cat

Nrusinghanath idol

The Nrusinghnath temple in Bargarh district of Odisha (India) stands amidst the verdant beauty of the picturesque Gandhamardan hills. Coupled with a series of beautiful waterfalls and eye-catching sculptures, its location offers an air of serenity and visual delight. Lord Vishnu is worshipped in the incarnation of a cat in this popular and attractive temple that beckons pilgrims and devotees from far and near. The place was a centre of Buddhist scriptural learning as well according to Huen Tsang, the historic Chinese traveler. A report by Himanshu Guru.

Background & Legend

Some 600 years ago, a tribal woman from the Kandha caste named Jamuna, (as referred to in the book Nrusingha Charitra) composed an epic that sang the glories of Marjara Keshari who played a stellar role in overthrowing the reign of suppression, tyranny and torture of Musika Daitya (both mythological characters).

According to the legend, at a time when people were greatly afflicted by Musika Daitya (the incarnate Mouse Demon), Lord Vishnu in the incarnation of a cat (Marjara Keshari) entered the scene to put an end to the demon’s excesses. He gave the demon mouse, Musika Daitya, a hard chase and the demon took refuge in the place. While the cat could not enter the mouse hole, the mouse never came out of the tunnel. Since that time, the God has been guarding the mouse-hole at the foothills of the Gandhamardan. He is worshipped as Nrusinghanath in this temple. 

The story symbolizes the holing up, as it were, of the demonic evil power of tyranny and torture, that never dares to come out into the open, as Lord Nrusinghanath, alias Marjara Keshari, has been guarding it ever since. It is also a strange that not a single crow can be spotted near the temple.

Location

The temple of Lord Nrusinghanath is situated at Durgapali in Paikmal block under the Padampur sub-division in Bargarh district. The place is 400 km away from Bhubaneswar, 160 km from Sambalpur; 110 km from Bargarh district headquarter, 115 km from Bolangir and 150 km from Raipur in Chhattisgarh. Khariar Road and Bargarh Railway Stations are the nearest railheads. 

In and Around 

At Nrusinghanath one can visit Chal Dhar, a stream which lies at a distance of 400 meters from the temple, Bhima Dhar, another stream (425 meters from the temple), Sita Kunda, a natural reservoir (500 meters from the temple), Panchupandava, a place of mythological interest (1.5km from the temple), Kapil Dhar and Supta Dhar, other streams located nearby, and Bhima Madua (11km from the temple).

As per historical evidence, Baijal Singh Dev, king of Patnagarh, laid the foundation of this historic temple in 1313 AD. The temple is 45 feet high and divided into two parts. While the first is the throne of the deity the second is allotted to Jagamohana. It is a chamber with three gates and supported by four pillars. The temple displays the Odiya style of architecture. 

Asthabhuja Ganesh

A statue of Lord Ganesha with eight hands is found near the entrance of the temple. It is a unique piece of sculpture. The Asthabhuja statue is carved on a large slab of stone and is a rare sculptural specimen. 

Festivals

A massive fair is held every year on the 14th day of the bright fortnight in the month of Vaisakha here. Visitors and devotees from the adjacent districts as well as those from Chhattisgarh flock in to witness the great ‘Baisakha Mela’.

In the small market near the temple rare medicinal herbs and roots are available. The Gandhamardan hill has precious herbs that are not available anywhere else. Also, trekking at Narsinghanath can be immensely exciting. People trek up to Harishankar traversing the seven hills during Baisakha Mela.

The beautiful garden that attracts tourists has statues of Lord Krishna in His different avatars and a 28 ft Hanuman statue. There are many guesthouses here like the Mandir Guesthouse, Vindhyavasini Guesthouse, Dharmasala and the Panthanivash of the tourism department – all near the temple. So, tourists can plan to stay over for a night or two if they want. But there are not only good eateries around, and if you are on the lookout for quality cuisine you would be disappointed.

Pramod Rath

Pramod Rath

I have visited Nrusinghanath several times. It is a calm and quiet place and the picturesque location beckons tourists. The tourism department should create more facilities for visitors. The temple is a religious shrine of great importance as rituals performed to wash off sins like the killing of cows and cats are performed here unlike in many other temples in the state.

Swaroop Rath

Swaroop Rath

The thread ceremony of my son was held at Nrusinghanath. I am happy that my son got the blessings of the Lord at this sacred shrine. This is a place loaded with mythological significance. We really enjoyed our two-day stay as the ambience is simply divine. The experience of taking a bath in the Chal Dhar was thrilling. 

Sujata Sadangi

Sujata Sadangi

The idol of Lord Nrusinghanath went missing a few years back. It was later found at Sambalpur railway station. A person was accosted by the police carrying the idol in a jute bag. Surprisingly, he found it extremely difficult to carry the bag, though it was light. The stolen idol was found in the bag.