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ancienthinduism · 6 years ago

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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.

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

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naseemmohammedabdullah · 3 years ago

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SITTING ON A TIME BOMB... How would the tens of thousands of Ayyappan devotees react if #Makaravilakku didn't appear on Ponnambalamedu at all?! Patience will give way to anger and before you know it there'll be rioting and looting! The security forces will retaliate with bullets and a stampede will follow! Thousands will die! Of course hardline Hindus will suspect a,'Muslim' hand and soon there'll be communal riots all over the country! The foreign media will have a field day! All of these because the powers that be weren't allowed to light their crucial fires by other powers that be! While security in Sabarimala is welcome; security in Ponnambalamedu shouldn't be ignored! You know what they say,"The show must go on"! (at Kuttichira Medicals) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYrfJ6SBgoH/?utm_medium=tumblr

#makaravilakku

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ziqitzahealthcare · 3 years ago

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Ziqitza Limited - Importance of Ambulance on the site of events

Ziqitza Rajasthan - Events, whether they are music concerts, carnivals, trade exhibitions, or even festive festivities, are always entertaining and energetic. With so many people from all walks of life coming together in celebration and merriment, such a melting pot of emotions and exuberance can easily devolve into an overly chaotic setting and ambiance. As a result, such gatherings have been afflicted by tragic disasters time and time again, eternally marrying them. Stampedes, fires, and other unforeseen disasters have erupted, causing significant and minor injuries, as well as deaths on multiple instances. In such situations, the presence of appropriate emergency services, particularly fully equipped ambulances, could have significantly reduced the number of casualties and fatalities. As a result, Ziqitza is going to tell you about the top five reasons why having ambulances at events is essential.

Medical Aid

Large groups of people in a confined place, combined with a large number of variables, is a prescription for disaster. In this case, the primary responsibility of an onsite ambulance is to treat and prevent life-threatening injuries from turning fatal. If necessary, a fully equipped onsite ambulance can also act as a mobile medical unit in such situations.

A Sign Of Reassurance

The true threat to human life in big gatherings may not be fire or explosions, but rather the terror that such events may induce. Every year, panic leads to deadly stampedes in India, resulting in countless deaths in a single instance. The 2013 Ratangarh stampede killed 115 people, while the 2012 Sabarimala stampede killed another 100; such catastrophes are all too common in this country. Ambulances (and other emergency services) merely by being present onsite comfort individuals that they will be attended to promptly in the event of a casualty, reducing panic.

Flexibility

Ziqitza’s Healthcare ltd Modern ambulances are able to deal with a variety of injuries, including burns, heart attacks, blunt force trauma, and overdose. As a result, they are more than competent of dealing with any potential calamity that may occur during a large-scale event.

Large gathering of people

There is always a heightened risk of mishaps and accidents when there is a large assembly of people, such as at a large-scale event. Anything could happen in such a huge area with so many people in attendance, from passing out due to heat and tiredness to meeting with an unexpected accident. As a result, having a number of ambulances on standby, each equipped with all of the necessary gear to give emergency medical assistance in the event of a disaster, is not only advantageous, but also necessary for the event to run smoothly and without a hitch. It guarantees that the situation is contained as soon as possible and that the harm is kept to a minimum. For example, the Mumbai India team always ensures that 1298 ambulances are present at all IPL matches in Mumbai.

Events with alcohol increase risks

With the festive mood having a stirring influence on everyone, alcohol drinks are practically an unavoidable feature of most closed-air events. Inhibitions are lifted when alcohol is freely flowing, and everyone becomes much more vivacious and effervescent. Things frequently go wrong in the midst of this, and people become rowdy, resulting in violent outbursts and tussles. Drunken brawls are not only prevalent, but they're also a lot more deadly than people realise. When you add shattered bottles and physical aggression to the mix, you've got a recipe for disaster waiting to happen. This is why, in addition to effective security, having an ambulance on standby is also a must in such a case.

Traffic conditions are affected by events

Due to the massive crowds that typically attend most major events, traffic in and around the event area is usually horrendous. Getting from one location to another becomes a major challenge, with few options for transportation available most of the time. In such circumstances, emergencies and mishaps can be exceedingly dangerous, as it would be nearly hard to get the victim out of the region and to a suitable hospital or medical centre in time to receive the necessary medical care. As a result, the need for a fully loaded ambulance on standby at the event becomes painfully clear, and it is frequently the decisive factor in a victim's life or death.

Speed

When it comes to saving people's lives, time is of the utmost, and any delay can be fatal to the sufferer. Large events often put a pressure on the infrastructure surrounding them, such as roads, bridges, and walkways, making it impossible for emergency vehicles from other sections of the city/town to respond quickly to an incident. As a result, having an ambulance on site cuts response times significantly in the event of an accident.

Any event organizer's top focus should always be safety and security. With so many lives on the line and so many hazards that could result in unimaginable devastation, it's always essential to take every precaution to limit any potential damage. If you're an event planner, you're in luck because Ziqitza Healthcare offers 1298 Ambulance services for events such as cricket matches, football matches, corporate ceremonies, and a variety of other large gatherings. You may rest confident that your safety is in good hands because of Ziqitza Limited impeccable track record.

#Ziqitza #Ziqitza Healthcare #Ziqitza Healthcare ltd #Ziqitza Rajasthan #Ziqitza Limited #ZHL Rajasthan #Ziqitza Limited Rajasthan

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the--revelation · 4 years ago

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Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman : Priest at Heart, Jurist by Profession

By Vineet Malik | February 06, 2021 | London, England

Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 7 July, 2014.

Nariman’s retirement is due in August this year

He is no ordinary Judge.

Justice Markandey Katju (Ret’d), on his blog revealed that, Nariman was trained as a learned Parsi priest at a tender age of 12.

He was taught at the Harvard Law School by the stalwarts; Professors Laurence Tribe and Roberto Unger. He practiced Maritime Law in New York at Haight Gardner Poor and Havens for a year.

In November, 2016 Nariman while launching his book : The Inner Fire, left his audience spellbound when he spoke at length on drawing a parallel between various faiths and the importance of karma in life.

Lawyers swear by Nariman’s integrity and impeccable knowledge of international laws and bona-fide litigants are often seen walking out crying from his court.

Wrongdoer’s shiver for getting their pleadings converted to perjury as Nariman’s memory is compared with an elephant and resolve to dispense justice is always at fore.

Justice Madan Lokur, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India says “Having known Rohinton from our days in the Law Faculty of Delhi University, I can confidently say, that he is a greater and more versatile genius.”

Nariman is often described as a “Rockstar Judge” after he struck down ‘draconian’ Section 66A of the Information Technology Act from the Constitution through his 123 page judgment.

The landmark judgement ruled vide Shreya Singhal Vs Union of India stated “No one can tamper with the Constitution, Governments may come and Governments may go but Section 66A goes on forever.”

The ruling reflects intolerance of people who misused the law to gag the Constitutional provisions of right to freedom of speech and expression in India.

His another judgment on dissent in the matter of Kantaru Rajeevaru Vs Indian Young Lawyers Association resurrected the Constitutional values where-in it stated “Women worshippers were thwarted despite a judgment ruled by the Supreme Court upholding their fundamental right to equality and worship at the Sabarimala temple.

It was up to the Government, it’s ministers and it’s officials to firm up and implement the judgment. The dissent, be it the Prime Minister or a Chief Minister, who failed to follow the judgment violated the rule of law.”

Nariman scrapped the 19th century law criminalising homosexuality vide Navtej Singh Johar & Ors. Vs Union of India which stated “The whole object of fundamental rights is to give court power to strike down laws which a majoritarian governments, swung by votes, will not repeal. We don’t wait for majoritarian governments to repeal laws.”

One of the most recent controversial order passed by Nariman pertains to issuance of notice against a lower court Judge alleging contempt of the top court and contravention of statutory articles of the Constitution vide Manubhai Hargovandas Patel Vs Learned A.P Khanorkar, Metropolitan Magistrate, 68th Court, Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Dinshaw K. Tamboly, Chairman, The World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust says

“Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman has grown in stature every time he has delivered a judgement, fortifying the necessity of what Caroline Kennedy has mentioned - “the bedrock of democracy is the true rule of law which means having an independent judiciary who can make decisions independent of the political winds that are blowing.

Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman has established that wisdom is not a product of schooling but lifelong attempt to acquire it. Indian judiciary is very fortunate that it has in Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman a judge who believes and practices that justice must be done, even though the heavens may have to fall, that real peace does not mean the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice. India survives as a democracy because Judges such as Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman and the likes of him have been dispensing real justice to one and all. His stint as a Judge of the highest Court of our land will be remembered for a very long time to come.”

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bigyack-com · 5 years ago

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The force awakens: How women are leading the fight in India - more lifestyle

What happens when women protest? A lifetime of bottled up angst finds voice in chants and slogans. Some bring along nursing babies, others put out old rugs to make space for more to join. There’s always food and water to go around. The rapturous applause you hear when one of them takes the stage to speak for the first time is the sound of resistance.In India, the level of women’s involvement in protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, has been unprecedented. Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh sit-in will enter its third month on March 14. Large numbers of women show up every day; and more than twice on Saturdays and Sundays. Similar women-led protests have surfaced in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Gaya and Mysuru. They’re braving unlawful detention, facing fire, tear gas, arrests and death threats. Most of these women are juggling day jobs, studies, household duties and child rearing. What’s driving them all to speak up? For many, it’s a combination of long-simmering resentment and resilience. “Many of us have grown up in cultures that value the silence of women. Our women have been asked to perpetuate cultures that devalue us, and we refuse to let that continue,” says Priyanka Paul, 21, an illustrator and activist who speaks through her art on @ArtWhoring on Instagram. “You’ll find there’s a stronger sense of sisterhood now. And yet, women have always been at the forefront of revolutions; we just haven’t been told those stories.”OUT IN THE OPEN Those stories are harder to hide now. In Chile, women showed up on the streets in the thousands last year, protesting sexual violence with the rallying cry, ‘The Rapist Is You’. Over the last few months, Iraqi women have taken to Baghdad’s streets in defiance of a radical cleric’s calls for gender segregation at anti-government protest sites. In Sudan, women protesters are leading the pro-democracy movement.A key trigger for Indian women’s public resistance was the December attack on students within the Jamia Millia Islamia and Delhi University campuses, amid the anti-CAA protests. “These protests are actually a fight against the larger system of inequality,” says Elsa Marie D’Silva, CEO and founder of SafeCity, an app that maps reported instances of sexual harassment of women in public places. “Women are more likely to stand by the LGBTQ community for transgender rights and same-sex marriage in India, they will push for climate change movements, stand in solidarity with other minorities and vulnerable groups. That is what is unique about women’s protests.”

A ‘women’s wall’ protest in Kochi in 2019, in support of a court order overturning a partial ban on women entering the Sabarimala temple. ( AFP ) Trisha Shetty, a human rights lawyer and founder of the NGO SheSays, which offers women legal and medical support in cases of sexual violence, agrees. “As women, we intrinsically know what that feeling of being excluded is like,” she says.LOCAL LEADERSHIPShetty sees the wave of involvement as a massive, decentralised, non-violent push. “Here, it’s not one leader but multiple local leaders, self organising and identifying leadership within them,” she says. It’s why she believes new voices must be encouraged. “The women who have taken to the streets for the first time must be given a mic, we must make sure their agency is celebrated and respected.”For that, the web has been liberating. “I can call myself beautiful on the digital space,” says Paul of ArtWhoring. “My identity is valued here. Individuals have a voice. That’s the kind of platform it offers.” The digital space, however, comes with its own set of violence and restrictions, says Paul. There’s trolls and censorship, assumed biases, and navigating through it can be slightly restricting. But the platform digital spaces allows for makes up for that. Artist Nalini Malani, whose works address issues of identity, gender and racial inequality, says making women’s voices heard is the only way for humanity to progress. But that must be preceded by the changing idea of masculinity, which might help sustain the movement too. “Men must not get away with feeling entitled. Men must find femininity in themselves and respect it. Therein lies the root.” says Malani. Read the full article

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news4me · 5 years ago

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SC Sets 10-day Deadline to Wrap Up Hearing Review Petitions Against Entry of Women in Sabarimala

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The court will also consider issues related to entry of Muslim women into mosques, female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community and barring of Parsi women, married to non-Parsi men, from the holy fire place at Agiary. PTI

Updated:January 28, 2020, 12:14 PM IST

Devotees arrive at the Lord Ayyappa temple that opened for the two-month long Mandala-Makaravillakku…

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#10Day #deadline #entry #hearing #petitions #Review #Sabarimala #SC #Sets #women #wrap

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newsreadersin · 6 years ago

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New Post has been published on http://newsreaders.in/sabarimala-protest-rss-office-set-on-fire-bomb-attack/

Sabarimala protest: RSS office set on fire, attack by bomb

Thiruvananthapuram : Day after Sabarimala protest violence following the strike by Sabarimala Karma Samithi, tension still prevailed in Kannur, especially in Thalassery, with the houses of CPM and an RSS leader coming under attack.

Violence continued over the entry of two women of menstruating age into the revered Sabarimala temple, as unidentified people hurled a country-made bomb at the ancestral home of BJP MP and set fire to an office of the RSS here, police said on Saturday.

The two fresh incidents of violence were reported hours after unidentified men threw country-made bombs at the houses of CPI(M) MLA A N Shamsee and the party’s former Kannur district secretary P Sasi.

The incident at the ancestral house of BJP Rajya Sabha member V. Muraleedharan occurred in the early hours of Saturday. No one was injured, police said.

Mr. Muraleedharan said his ancestral home at Vadiyil Peedikia near Thalassery came under attack, but no one was injured.

“My sister, brother-in-law and their daughter were in the house when the attack took place,” he told from Andhra Pradesh.

In another incident, unidentified people set fire to an office of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Pariyaram area in the morning, police sources said.

The entry of two women into the hill shrine on Wednesday, the first time since the Supreme Court in September last year lifted the age-linked ban on the entry of women devotees, triggered massive protests in Kerala.

Read more : News Readers

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keralacapers · 5 years ago

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Padmanabhaswami temple

A visit to a major temple in Kerala is unlike a wander around a cathedral or an important church in Britain. You cannot visit just as a tourist to admire the architecture and artwork.

You must visit as a worshipper.

Some temples insist that only Hindus can enter the temple. Most temples insist on particular forms of dress for people wanting to enter. The Kanyakumari temple, for example, on the southern tip of India requires men to be bare-chested and women to wear saris. The Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum requires men to wear a dhoti or mundu (similar to a sulu) and the upper body may be covered by a type of shawl. No shoes are worn inside the temple.

The Padmanabhaswamy Temple is devoted to the god Vishnu. It is among 108 sites, Divya Desams, that have a special significance to Vishnu worshippers.

But apart from its spiritual significance it is believed to be the richest religious site in the world, with a 2011 Supreme Court-directed survey of vaults in the temple complex revealing artefacts, precious stones and gold worth a minimum of £15bn. And that was in only four of the six vaults that were opened.

I was told the temple opened to worshippers at 4am and that an early-morning visit would be the best. We arrived near one of the four entrances (North, South, East and West Nada) just before 6am.

Cameras and mobile phones are banned in the complex, and I walked barefoot into the temple.

There is strict security all over the temple. At the entrance an official with a hand-held scanner checked me all over, I was reminded that I couldn’t take in certain items, and then moments later asked by another official if I was carrying anything like a mobile phone or camera.

Later I would see police dressed the same as devotees except for “Kerala Police” stamped on their shawls, mingling with worshippers, or helping to direct and guide the crowds of believers.

Inside there was a hive of activity with priests and acolytes busy with rituals and chanting. There were fire ceremonies with flames being carried around and people pausing respectfully and in prayer as the bearers passed by in the open corridors.

Temple workers, men and women, busied themselves cleaning paths and sweeping floors, while others seemed to be preparing food in kitchens.

I joined a host of pilgrims queueing for “Darshan” (the act of the viewing of a deity or sacred object or divine person). They were contemplative and expectant, and the queue, three or four persons wide, extended for at least 100 metres. Groups of pilgrims sat on the hard stone floor ahead of me, as they waited to move forward toward the holy of holies.

From behind me there would be occasional outbreaks of chanting, with the name of a Hindu deity being called out. Sometimes these chants would be taken up by those in front of me and passed on further, eventually subsiding in the crowd ahead.

The queue, quite eager yet disciplined, moved about five yards every 10 minutes or so. As the morning temperature rose we appreciated the open sides of the corridor which allowed some free circulation of air. The queue occupied half the width of the corridor, allowing other worshippers to travel the other way, including the group who were obviously doing some sort of circuit of the temple, their fervour, chanting and walking speed increasing each time they went past us.

All along the corridor were ornate sculpted stone pillars depicting religious icons, each pillar also supporting the carving of a woman holding an open-flame lamp – there are nearly 400 of these granite pillars supporting the roofs of the four corridors leading into the centre.

Eventually the 4-to-5 wide queue was forced into a narrower corridor, and jostling and shoving, the mass of believers surged toward the objects of their fervour and passion.

It was a little frightening at times, and a little claustrophobic, especially as one woman decided to go against the throng and head the “wrong” way, only to return a few minutes later with a companion.

All around me the excitement increased as we got closer to the centre of things, and finally the crowd was released from the queue with people spreading out in a much bigger room which held various objects of adoration and reverence. The mass of worshippers swirled around a man prostrate on the floor in front of an idol of a deity and others pausing in contemplation before other items of worship. They flowed around and past a woman, her palms pressed together and head bowed in prayer before another idol on a pedestal. Individuals paused at times to acknowledge holy men or to place gifts before them or to buy offerings to present at other opportunities elsewhere in the temple.

At one stage voices, and possibly a fist, were raised momentarily as a worshipper lingered longer than maybe he should have, thus delaying another pilgrim from getting as close as he wanted and as quickly as he wanted to the object of his adoration.

But in the main it was a co-operative, amicable and fervent event as people participated in their own way and together in a ceremony they regard as very significant.

And for many worshippers, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple is only one stop on a pilgrimage that could include several temples around Kerala – temples such as Sabarimala (the most popular pilgrim site), Guruvayoor near Thrissur, and Mahadeva Temple in Ettumanoor.

#Kerala #temple #padmanabhaswami #religion #pilgrims #india #culture #travel #asia

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myeditorialsarchive · 6 years ago

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Sabarimala: BJP MP’s home attacked with country-made bomb; RSS office in Kannur set on fire So far, over 1,700 people have been arrested in connection with violence in various parts of Kerala. Read More : Sabarimala: BJP MP’s home attacked with country-made bomb; RSS office in Kannur set on fire Courtesy : The Hindu - National

#The Hindu

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globalitair-blog · 6 years ago

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Gender inequality in India

A member of the right-wing nationalist party Bharatiya Janata died yesterday in an escalation of religious violence at the temple of Sabarimala in the state of Kerela, India. 15 other people were injured while demonstrators were pelted with stones from an office of the Communist Party, which holds power in the southwestern state. In Kochi, at 11 km distance from the temple, a police officer was molested by another group of protesters.

The incidents started after two women had entered the temple early in the morning in breach of a traditional rule that bans women of menstruating age from the grounds, dedicated to the god of growth and celibacy, Ayyappa. One of them claimed on local TV that she was given police protection for her pre-dawn visit.

The traditional ban was officially legalized in 1972. Last year in September, the Supreme Court of India revoked this regulation, judging it to be against the principle of gender equality and equal treatment of man and woman. This outraged vast parts of the Hindu community and the worshipers have since then pledged to keep females of the premises.

Earlier India's conservative Hindu Prime Minister Modi claimed the issue more about religious tradition than gender equality, pointing at other Hindu temples where men are not allowed to attend.

The religious conflict has become a real political standoff between the far-left Communist Party and the right-wing nationalist BJP and is splitting the public opinion into two camps. In October 2018 a preacher, supporting the ban, was put on fire by protesters.

So far the facts. Let's have a look at the ethical implications of these events now.

Gender equality is derived from the law of nature that all humans are equal. In the state of nature, women are equal to man and they enter as equal members of the society into a social contract. This social contract establishes a political society with the purpose of protecting everyone’s rights.

This social contract is based on the laws of nature and one of these laws states that every person should acknowledge the other one as equal by nature.

The right to be treated equal is an absolute right of nature. This is however not the case with the right to exercise religion. Religious freedom is most definitely an element of the social contract, but it is limited by several rights of nature.

Every person has a right to adhere to the religion of his choice and act according to his religious principles within the respect of the laws of nature.

If a religious principle encourages the believer to treat other people as unequal to him and he acts according to this, he breaks the social contract and acts against the fundamental laws of nature.

Laws and traditions are only valid if they are in accordance with the laws of nature. A sovereign or a government that does not honour these fundamental terms disregards the social contract that enables him to rule and compromises the trust of his subjects.

In such a case, a mediator should be asked to decide on the matter. That's why societies have Supreme Courts and international tribunals such as the International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court that judges political leaders.

Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu himself, believed in the fundamental truth of all great religions of the world. He said that the scriptures of the different faiths, at the bottom, all are one and helpful to one another. He also believed in non-violent resistance to end injustice.

If confronted with a breach of social contract, a violation of the rules of nature or injustice, to use Gandhi's term, a person should seek justice by all means and rely on courts of law or mediation to enforce this. Ultimately he can seek punishment for those who inflict intentional harm upon others but never in the intention to retribute evil with evil, never to take revenge. He has the right to defend himself, but without declaring hate or contempt upon another person, not by deed, not by word nor by any gesture. He should not reserve himself the right while seeking justice, that he would not grand to the other party. He should not do to the other party what he would not accept himself.

From this derives that it is wrongful for Indian left-wing protesters to pelt stones at conservatives, molest police officers and put preachers on fire. This is a serious breach of the social contract in itself and entitles the victims of these crimes to seek punishment and retribution.

On the level of religion and gender equality, the ruling of the Indian Supreme Court is in accordance with the laws of nature. The implementation of such a ruling in practice lies in the hands of the local and national political leaders. It is their responsibility to seek peace and follow it in the name of all people they represent. They are called to be wise and use common sense and above all show greatness and behave exemplary.

Let's hope that nowadays Indian political leaders find inspiration in the greatness of their political ancestor, Mahatma Gandhi to reinstall peace and safety in India and enable all Indian people to savour the social contract they concluded with each other.

Disclaimer:

Leviathanbriefs reflects the personal views and opinions of the author. It does not in any way reflect the policy or position of any legal entity on behalf of which the author operates professionally.

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#metoo genderequality lawsofnature socialcontract

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celebsrumorblog · 6 years ago

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Ashram Run by Priest Who Backed Sabarimala Verdict Set Ablaze, Kerala Minister Blames Sangh Parivar

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Two cars and a scooter parked outside Swami Sandeepananda Giri’s ashram on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram were set on fire around 2:30 am.

The ashram of Swami Sandeepananda Giri was attacked on Friday night in Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram:An ashram run by a Kerala seer, who supported the Supreme Court verdict allowing the entry of women of menstruating age…

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bigyack-com · 5 years ago

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Can refer legal questions to larger bench: Supreme Court in Sabarimala case - india news

The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the reference to larger bench of the legal questions surrounding entry of women into the Sabarimala temple. A nine-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde held that the Supreme Court, while exercising its powers under review jurisdiction, is empowered to frame legal questions and refer the same to a larger bench.The court also reframed questions to be heard by the bench.The hearing before the nine-judge bench will begin on February 17. One lawyer from each side will make leading arguments, and get one full day to argue. The court will also give two hours each to lawyers to make supplementary arguments.On November 14, 2019, a five-judge bench which heard the Sabarimala review petitions had framed seven questions to be answered by the larger bench. This included questions on interplay between the freedom of religion under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution and other fundamental rights, particularly right to equality under Article 14, the scope of expression ‘morality’ or ‘constitutional morality’ and the extent to which the court can enquire into whether a particular practice is an integral part of the religion or religious denomination.The court in that judgment had observed that the practices entailing restriction on entry of women in places of worship was not limited to the Sabarimala case, but also arose in respect of three other cases pending before the Supreme Court - one was on entry of Muslim women in a dargah/mosque and the other one on Parsi women marrying to non-Parsi men into the holy fire place of an Agyari. The third case, the court noted, was regarding the practice of female genital mutilation amongst the Dawoodi Bohra community.The court had said the review petitions can be decided only after the legal questions concerning women’s rights vis-a-vis religious practices are settled by a larger bench of not less than seven judges.The nine-judge bench came to be constituted pursuant to the judgment of the November 14, 2019.However, various petitioners and the Kerala government had opposed the reference arguing that the jurisdiction vested with Supreme Court while exercising powers of review is very limited. A review bench, it was argued, can only correct errors in the judgement which is being reviewed and it cannot frame legal issues and refer it to a larger bench.The nine-judge bench had then assembled to settle this issue before proceeding with the hearing. It had heard the matter on February 6 before reserving its order.The Sabarimala temple, abode of Lord Ayyappa, is one of the busiest pilgrimage sites in South India. Ayyappa devotees believe that the deity has vowed celibacy, what they call “naishtika brahmacharya”, which is the basis for barring entry of menstruating women into the temple. The top court, in its 2018 judgement, had struck down Rule 3(b) of the the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Rules, 1965, which was the legal basis for barring entry of women between the ages of 10 and 50 years into Sabarimala.Subsequently, at least 60 review petitions were filed in the Supreme Court challenging the September 2018 verdict which was heard by the five-judge bench in open court before it delivered its verdict on November 14 last year framing seven questions to be considered by a larger bench.The review petitions will be decided after the nine-judge bench answers the legal questions referred to it. Read the full article

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