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martaban-rajanluthra · 4 years

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Durga - The Women of Bengal

The conversation on sensuality drifted to a decade old Wild Stone deodorant ad. A steamy portrayal of a saree clad woman, in traditional finery, prepping for pujo bumps into a young man. Her imagination paints a sensational, passionate and visibly satiating encounter. While the later cuts were censored on our TV screens, the sex appeal lingered on.

With plenty such characterisations and beyond, what’s with women of Bengal that they often come across as free spirited, free-willed and liberated? Even if marginally more than women from other parts of the country. At the outset is a disclaimer: this may be a generalisation. Also, lopsided gender roles exist here as well.

One lens to decode culture is beliefs and mythology. Histories, languages and rituals intertwine around and shape our collective cultures. Massive Durga bhakti is evident, but what more can she tell us to make sense of our understanding?

Stemming from the reverence of Earth, fertility and the womb – the feminine divine/Nature has had a fickle equation across societies. Later sidelined in many of them, she’s largely relegated as the ‘mother’ in others. Shakti in Indian mythology, though has had fascinating stories, circumventing the trinity of Bhrama-Vishnu-Mahesh.

Associated with the three of them in her several forms and roops, the primal Goddess is most closely tied with Shiva. Sati, an avatar of Adi Parashakti (original supreme feminine divine) despite her father Daksha’s wishes married Shiva. The father-king not very fond of his naked hermit son-in-law, skipped Sati and Shiva’s name from an invitation list for a yagna at his place. Obstinate Sati had her way and reached the yanga. Following an altercation with her father upon her husband’s dishonour, Sati immolates herself. A furious Shiva is on a destruction spree as he carries his wife’s corpse and performs the tandav. In order to stop him from the pillage Vishnu shoots his Sudarshan Chakra and Sati’s body scatters in 51 pieces. Wherever they fell, the places became potent with energy. These are the 51 Shakti Peeths – the supreme seats of the Devi.

While most states of India may have two, three or four Shakti Peeths, Bengal has an astounding eleven and Bangladesh, six. The sheer density of these along with those of the neighbouring Assam and Orissa makes for a compelling reason to dig deeper – that could have moulded belief systems of Bengali women and men.

In contrast to the Shakti story of the headstrong Sati setting herself ablaze, is Ramayana’s docile Sita; who was decreed to agnipareeksha to prove her chastity. Popular deity in northern India, she models an ideal wife along with her maryada-purushottam husband.

As the prime Goddess, Shakti is the wife of Shiva in her many forms. After Sati (from the Vedic age), Shakti takes birth as Parvati (in the post Buddhist Puranic literature) who resolves to marry Shiva (the persistence quite a contrast to the day’s popular media love-chase). The idea is to transform the hermit to a householder. Vedic importance of yagna and fire gives way to Puranic puja and water – Parvati makes Shiva to break the flow of Ganga – she rejuvenates Shiva and the world. Her nudging transforms Shiva into Nataraj, their conversations are the source of all wisdom – stories, sensory pleasures and esoteric Tantras. [1]

Hence, the ritualistic form of worship, that cares not much for abstinence traces Shaivism and Shaktism. Several Shiv and Shakti temples have liquor as prashad, meat is prepared as an offering, animal sacrifice isn’t unknown. Tantra texts also hold the view of the world blooming from the union of Shakti and Shiva thereby celebrating Kama (love-making and the God of love). Marking the passion of Shakti and Shiva as the creation source of all life and death, several temples adorn explicit sculptures and art – a belief that all that is, is before the eyes of the divine. Therefore, perhaps the underlying essence of these rituals find stronger relevance to the believers of Shakti and Shiva – acknowledging all aspects of nature valid, contrary to Bhrama’s sense of ‘purity’.

Tracking tales from the temples

In Guwahati – the Kamakhya temple is where Sati’s yoni and garbh (vagina and the womb) fell. Understandably, one of the mightiest Shakti Peeths. The goddess of desire and fertility, Kamakhya literally means the conscious awareness of love (Kama ~ love/lust + aakhya ~ consciousness/wisdom). Lore has it, this was an amorous hideout for Sati and Shiva. Childless couples throng the temple offering the goddess animal sacrifices and red hibiscus flowers. In the month of June, the mighty Bhramaputra turns red for three days which as believers have it is when the Goddess menstruates. The actual reason could be the cinnabar deposits on the hill where the temple stands. The powerful goddess has been worshipped since time immemorial as a gramdevi (village goddess) before being included in the Hindu pantheon as Shaivism expanded in the region that is today Assam.

Shakti’s stronghold is Bengal. While Amba, Rukmani, Meenakshi and other roops of the Goddess are worshipped in other regions, she’s often worshipped there along with more popular Gods – Vishnu or Shiva or their forms. Punjab and Jammu have Shakti following in the form of Sherawali Maa or Vaishno Devi, though her manifestation is starkly benign, a smiling mother – possibly a gramdevi adapted to the imagery of Durga. One of the reasons could be the perpetual invasions, interaction and intermingling of cultures in the region of Punjab that the earlier versions of the goddess may have waned.

Durga is all encompassing, an amalgamation of the powers of Bhrama Vishnu Mahesh – the prime Shakti, risen to end evil. Mahishasura – a buffalo-human devil had a boon that no man or animal could kill him and hence the fearless Durga manifested, Durg translates to a fort or invincible.

Resounding stories of her valour are celebrated throughout pujo, the biggest festival for Bengalis. Durga here is a daughter, visiting her maiden home on Earth and hence celebrations must know no bounds. There is no sanction on alcohol or meat or fish – which otherwise are impure during prayers to other deities.

Iconography of Durga distincts itself from the mother-goddess worshipped elsewhere. Her autonomy with her ferocious lion/tiger vaahan is more dynamic here and she’s not simply seated. Strikingly away from other goddesses, her hair is loose and free-flowing – unrestrained. Remember Draupadi – who’s veritable woe was her being dragged into the court with her hair untied – a great dishonour. The inherent belief that women’s hair should be tied in place – which is traditionally desirable, Durga demonstrates women to be, untied, unrestrained and untamed.

Sringaar, dear to the goddess explains the deep kohled eyes, bigger bindis, and sindoor. Sindoor khela during pujo celebrations is where women smear it on each others’ faces is distinct to the region. Chemically, sindoor is made of turmeric, lime and cinnabar (mercury). Physiologically it is believed to keep one’s blood pressure in check and enhance one’s sexual appetite. While this attempts to explain its fertile importance to married women across India, the festivity of it in Bengal perhaps sets the tone apart to the celebration of female energy of Durga.

The untied hair and the bridal finery keep Durga at the cusp of free-willed Nature (essence of Shakti) and rule-led culture. [2]

While Durga is worshipped in pandaals through the nine day festival, it is really Kali who is worhsipped in temples across Bengal. One of the other more proiminent Shakti Peeths is Kalighat in Kolkata. Kali is one of the das mahavidyaas (ten great wisdoms) of the goddess. Her story is about a demon called Raktabij who cloned himself with every drop of his blood that fell down. Kali was summoned to tackle him and she does, she drinks his blood till the last drop as he drops dead.

Kali is the feminine of Kaal (Shiva) which means time and death. She is Nature, which existed before culture took birth, and will be beyond culture. Her depiction as dark coloured goddess grew along with the idea of the infinite being mysterious. She consumes all life and is fierce. Her imagery conveys the decapitation of ego in the form of Raktabij’s head that she holds. The human hands that adorn her waist is the killing of rage, while her voluptuous breats are sexual and nurturance. The nosering is conspicuously absent – a traditional marker of domesticity. Her hair is matted and unfettered. Her nakedness connotes carnality, purity and nature in its raw form. The tongue sticking out is the distinct iconography of Kali.

Certain Shakta literature narrate how Kali not only steps on her husband Shiva, but nudges him to make love to her. Nature nudging man to acknowledge, care and pay attention to the other, including nature. Shiva and Shankti stories have how sages bump into them making love which is why the sages decreed Shiva to be worshipped only as a ling. One version says how Shakti is embarassed and she covers her face with a lotus flower. The version gave rise to Lajja-Gauri; the other is where Shakti sticks her tongue out daring the sages’ disapproval, or deriding them for they are judging nature. Kali’s tongue that mocks the finiteness of human gaze changed meaning through centuries and during the colonial era become more ‘sanitised’ as per Victorian moralities. [3]

The now popular story (evolving through 18th-19th century) is about shame of having stepped upon her husband Shiva who lies beneath her so as to stop her from her devastating frenzy. The other is really lust for more to destroy – blood from the animal sacrifice is at some temples, smeared on her tongue.

Contrast the Devi with her more motherly roles being worshipped in other regions. Her other raudra roops that depict her sovereignty and true to nature forms such as the blood drinking Chinnamasta upon a copulating Ratti and Kama have largely been sidelined in their native regions such as the Himachal. Between Vishnu, Shiva and his sons, and their popular avatars or forms, the feminine is mostly rolled into the dutiful Sita, gentle Gauri, her avatar as the royal warrior Meenakshi marrying Shiva, or the chanchal Lakshmi who is either by the side of Ganesh or that of Narayana. Saraswati has her set of niche worshippers. Radha emerged only in 13th century Bengal and Orissa and eventually becoming popular in the Hindi speaking northern states. Yet her more emancipated, Nature/Kali-alluding, clandestine, night-time forest fantasies have somehow been veiled just as her head-covered portrayals through the medieval ages.

If our stories and mythologies shape our cultures, the immense popularity of, and devotion to Kali and Durga forms the belief system of Bengali men and women. We do idolise our idols.

[Another lens to look at why perhaps the women of Bengal are relatively more free-willed, is the region’s captivating modern history, the rise of reformers and early Indian feminist thinkers/writers through Bengali renaissance. Does their genesis too lie in Durga? Stay tuned for part 2.]

First published in Oct, 2019 at DY Works

[1], [2], [3]: Devdutt Pattnaik’s texts including 7 Secrets of the Goddess

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harshchikucab · 2 years

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Chardham Yatra

Char Dham are the names of four journey locales in India that are generally loved by Hindus. It involves Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri and Rameswaram. It is thought of as exceptionally sacrosanct by Hindus to visit Char Dham during one's lifetime. The Char Dham characterized by Adi Shankaracharya comprises of four Vaishnavite journeys.

As indicated by Hindu folklore,

Badrinath became unmistakable when Nar-Narayan, a manifestation of Vishnu did Tapasya there. Around then that spot was loaded up with Berry trees. In Sanskrit language they are called Badri, so the spot was named Badrika-Van for example the woodland of Berry. The specific place where the Nar-Narayan did Tapasya, an enormous Berry tree shaped covering him to shield him from downpour and sun. Local people accept that Mata Lakshmi turned into the Berry tree to save Narayan. Post Tapasya, Narayan said, individuals will continuously take her name before his name, consequently Hindus generally allude "Lakshmi-Narayan " in contrast to "Shiva-Parvati" . It was in this manner called Badri-Nath for example the Lord of Berry timberland. This all occurred in the Sat-Yuga. So the Badrinath came to be known the primary Dham.

The subsequent spot, Rameshwram got its significance in the Treta-Yug when Lord Rama fabricated a Shiv-ling here and loved it to get the favors of Lord Shiva. The name Rameshwram signifies "the God of Lord Rama". Rama himself is viewed as a manifestation of Lord Vishnu.

The third Dhaam Dwarka got its significance in Dwapar Yug when Lord Krishna, one more manifestation of Lord Vishnu, made Dwarka his home rather than Mathura, his origin.

The Four Shankaracharya Peeth (Seats) at the Chaar Dham school of Hinduism, made somewhere around four Hindu religious foundations. He coordinated the Hindu priests under four Maṭhas (religious communities), with the base camp at Dwarka in the West, Jagannatha Puri in the East, Sringeri Sharada Peetham in the South and Badrikashrama in the North.

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THE CHAR DHAMS ARE :

1. Puri : Jagannath Temple, Puri

Puri is situated in the province of Odisha, India. It is quite possibly of the most established city in the eastern piece of the nation and is arranged on the shore of the Bay of Bengal. The fundamental god is Shri Krishna which is praised as Lord Jagannatha. It is the main sanctuary in India, where goddess, Subhadra, sister of Lord Krishna is adored alongside her siblings, Lord Jagannatha and Lord Balabhadra. The principal sanctuary here is around 1000 years of age and was developed by Raja Choda Ganga Deva and Raja Tritiya Ananga Bhima Deva. Puri is the site of the Govardhana Matha, one of the four cardinal foundations or Mathas laid out by Adi Shankaracharya. Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara, each of them three are together all over and here Jagannath is held to be Vishnu, Balabhadra to be Maheswara and Subhadra to be Brahma. Oriya individuals commend a unique day in this Dham which is known as Ratha Yatra.

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2. Rameswaram : Ramanathaswamy Temple

Rameswaram situated in the South is in the Indian province of Tamil Nadu. It is arranged in the Gulf of Mannar at the actual tip of the Indian promontory. As per legends, this is the spot from where Lord Rama, fabricated an extension, the Ram Setu to Lanka. The Ramanatha Swamy Temple devoted to Lord Shiva involves a significant area of Rameswaram. The sanctuary is accepted to have been blessed by Shri Rama Chandra. Rameswaram is huge for the Hindus as a journey to Benaras is inadequate without a journey to Rameswaram. The managing god here is as a Linga with the name Sri Ramanatha Swamy, it likewise is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara, each of them three are together all over and here Rama is held to be Vishnu, Laxman to be Maheswara and Hanuman to be Brahma.

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3. Dwarka : Dwarkadeesh Temple

Dwarka in the west is a city in the province of Gujarat, India which gets its name from "dvar" signifying 'entryway' or 'door' in the Sanskrit language. It is found where the Gomti River converges into the Arabian Sea. Be that as it may, this waterway Gomti isn't a similar Gomti River which is feeder of Ganga River.The incredible city of Dwarka was the residence of Lord Krishna. It is trusted that because of harm and annihilation by the ocean, Dwarka has lowered multiple times and cutting edge Dwarka is the seventh such city to be inherent the region.

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4. Badrinath : Badrinath Temple

Badrinath is situated in the province of Uttarakhand. It is in the Garhwal slopes, on the banks of the Alaknanda River. The town lies between the Nar and Narayana mountain ranges and in the shadow of Nilkantha top (6,560m).

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#travel #india #char dham yatra #chardham news #chardham tour package #char dham route #char dham pilgrims

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travelnew · 5 years

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Balwantgad, a trek through gossamer & fog.

On 15 September 2019, Sunday - 6 of us friends explored the unknown territory of a watchtower that kept an eye over the Kasara Ghat.

The blog post is divided as follows:

1) How to go?

2) Time line.

3) Experience in photos & a video.

4) Expenses.

HOW TO GO?

Way: Kasara > hired vehicle (jeep) > Vihigaon > Maal > Balwantgad > Ghoti > Taked > Ghoti > Kasara.

Grade: easy.

Distance from Maal to Balwantgad = 0.51 km.

Actual moving time = 14 minutes.

Total trekking time = 27 minutes.

The GPS mapped route of Balwantgad is available here on Google maps & Wikiloc.

Though the trek is short, it is beautiful in the monsoon. Not a single soul on this hillock. Only spiders and their cobwebs swaying in the wind with purple and yellow flowers around.

TIME LINE:

05:20 wake up alarm. 07:00 train to Kasara. 09:30 reach Kasara. 30 minutes travel from Kasara to Maal in a hired non-AC vehicle (jeep). 30 minutes ascent. 06:30 train from Kasara to home. 09:45 home sweet home.

EXPERIENCE IN PHOTOS & A VIDEO:

↑ Locals informed us that this was the tunnel or secret passage to Balvantgad in times long gone. Now it is blocked and no longer in use. ↑

↑ Maal, the base village of Balvantgad. ↑

TAKED:

A holy pilgrimage place, where the legendary vulture, Jatayu fought the demo king Ravana of Ramayana and fell down wounded. A temple with a perennial spring resides in this holy place. Legend goes that the wounded bird was thirsty and holding his breath to tell the story of abduction to Lord Ram. When Lord Ram arrived on this site and saw the bird in distress, He shot an arrow in the earth and out spran the now perennial spring of water, that quenched Jatayu’s thirst.

Lord Shiva at Taked:

↑ The Shiv Ling is placed buried within ↑

↑ The reservoir in the temple ↑

↑ The Shiv Ling in the hands of one of the devotees. ↑

There is an interesting thing happening at this temple. Devotees queue to bring up the Shiv Ling that is placed under ground. The Shiv Ling is the oval smooth and heavy stone that has to be picked up from the Earth with one hand & then washed in the holy kund (square water reservoir with steps in the temple) and then again placed within the Earth.

It is said, those who are able to perform this task has his or her wishes fulfilled.

ANCIENT WELL CREATED BY QUEEN AHILYABAI HOLKAR:

Enjoy the trek video with headphones & music on:

youtube

EXPENSES:

55/- rickshaw fare. 70/- return train ticket. 500/- fare of hired vehicle (3000/- full jeep). 60/- coffee.

Total = 685/-.

All done in our usual non-commercial TTMM way.

#balwantgad #Balvantgad #Trek #WanderLust #Kasara #Vihigaon #Maal #Taked

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grpmarbles-blog · 5 years

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Black Marble Shiv Ling

Are you contemplating how to enhance the beauty of your home, office, terrace, garden or balcony? Do you want to add something quite precious to make your area attention grabbing? Go with Marble Statues as it has emerged as the best option. These incredibly beautiful marble statues are available at the best and competitive prices. Moreover, it has emerged as the best option for home decoration and gifts too. Quality of these marble statues is just outstanding. So, what are you waiting for? It is time to go ahead with quality based marble statues. Go and check more marble statues to get steeped in the beauty of amazing statues

#black marble #shiv ling

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pen-of-dunwall · 7 years

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Tales of the Heart, Ch. 15 - Now I Got My A’s and Z’s

by essie-essex

for citywatchoverseer

City Watch Guard

“He taught himself how to read.”

There oh... uh... once was a cat named Ollie who lived in a co-cozy ho-hose... hoss... a house, a cozy house, with his Mama, Papa, Bro-Bruh-Brother, and... Sister. But Ollie was no oh-or-di-na-ry cat. He was very c-curious and... oh-often got into tr... tr... trou-ble.

Un... One cold w-win-ter eh... ehven... even... e-ven-ing, it beg-an to s-snow...

...and s-snow, and snow, and SNOW. Haha.

“Oh, boy!” said Ollie. “My f-first w-win-ter!”

Ollie le-leapt on-to the... the, uh... the w-win-dow-sill, his eye-eyes fo-fol-low-ing the stra-strange white dots as they flo-a... flo-floated to the ground. He put his paws up to the cold gla-glass, rai... rais... rais-ing himself up on his two hi-hind legs to get a bet-better look. Brother and Sister played ou-out-side, thro-throwing hand... fuls of white po-po-pow-powder at each other, their ch... cheeek... cheeks and noses red and ro-round. Ollie's tail swis... swis-sh... swished with, oh boy, ex... exit... exit-me-excitement as he watched them.

“How I would love to play in the snow,” Ollie said, his eyes filled with de-des-desire. “I would buh... buh... bur... burr-ow under it oo... uh-until I found the per-fect spot, warm and dark.”

The cat til-tilt-tilted his head back, pee-king at the door. Papa sat in his big chair reading a book, and Ollie could hear Mama in the kit-kitchen.

Surely, they would not not-notice...

Ollie ju-jumped to the gro-ground and cro... croch... croached... no, crouched, he crouched low, ti-tip-tip-toe-ing his way to the front door where the ch-child-ren would be re... ret-returning at any mo-ment, and when they open-opened the door, he would spr... sprin... sprint out into the snow and bur-bury himself in it before they could catch him.

He heard fa-faint la... lau... log... log-ha... lag... la... laugh-laughter as the ch-children ne-nea-neared the door and his ears per... perk... perked as he heard moo... muh... muffleh... muffle... muffled sto-stomp-ing.

“Ready... Ready...” he said to himself. He dar-dared not move. It was almost time.

The door click-clicked as one of the children turned the dork-door-doorknob, the door crack-ing open a mom-moment later. Ollie star-star-ted to change-charge but stopped sud-den-ly as the cold breeze cau... caused his skin to shiv-shiver. The children enter-ed the house, brus-brushing white powder from their coats.

“The door will close soon,” Ollie said. “This is my last chance!”

He took a deep breath, cr-crouched low, and chan-charged outside.

I let my arm drop, still holdin' the open book between my fingers, and sigh.

When I got this book from the library, the lady told me that this was for kids, but Ollie the Cat's First Winter by T.J. Brownstone ain't no easy reader. I can feel myself gettin' tired, and my head kinda hurts.

I probably shouldn't be readin' durin' my shift, but it can get real borin' just standin' here waitin' for somethin' to happen. It's kinda rainy today, so the market ain't too crowded, so that means no fights over the last fresh fish to break up, no youngsters stealin' sweets to chase after, and no pretty ladies to holler at. Nope, nothin' to do but just stare at the sky... or read if you know how.

I hear laughter from in front of me and spot two boys in worn clothes whisperin' to each other. I guess the rain didn't keep everyone away. They stop, the larger one takin' a few steps towards me.

“Hey, aren't you reading Ollie the Cat?” The boy looks up at me with tight lips and somethin' that ain't just innocent curiosity hidden behind his eyes.

“Yeah, what about it?” I say, pullin' my shoulders back. “Shouldn't you kids be at home anyways?”

“It's a free city,” the boy says. “We're just walking home from school.”

“Yeah, well, keep walkin'. I gotta job to do,” I tell him.

“You didn't look like you were doing your job. You looked like you were reading an Ollie the Cat book.” The little brat smirks.

“Well, you kids just don't know any better. Now, scram.”

The boy snorts, his mouth tight and his face red. He looks back at the other, who has the same expression on his face, like he thinks somethin's funny.

“That's a kids' book,” the boy says. “Like for babies. I read all the Ollie the Cat books when I was nine.” He turns to look at his friend behind him, who giggles.

“Yeah,” says the smaller boy. “Me too. Isn't that the one where Ollie goes outside in the winter and freezes--”

“Hey!” I scream. “Don't give it away! I ain't read the whole thing yet!”

The boys jump at the sound of my voice, but pretty soon they ain't scared no more and start laughin'.

“Wow, City Watch Guards really are dumb!” The taller boy says. His little friend giggles along with him, but I'm about done with their shit.

I draw my sword and lunge towards 'em, like I'm about to attack.

“Yeah, keep laughin' when you're in damn pieces on the ground!”

The boys scream, scurryin' away like rats, and I watch until they're out of sight, takin' a deep breath to calm myself.

“It's okay, Murray,” I say. “They're just a bunch of spoiled kids.”

That's right. They're a bunch of spoiled schoolboys. Not everyone had the money to go to school when they was kids.

I grew up during the Morley Insurrection, when spyin' on your neighbor, makin' sure they wasn't helpin' the Morlish (or the “Morleyans” as we was s'posed to call 'em, just to piss 'em off), or that, stars forbid, they was Minnows themselves, was much more important than goin' to school or doin' any kinda work that wasn't helpin' the Empire win against the rebels.

There was plenty of jobs with the war on, and the factory fatcats was glad to get their hands on any children, so they could work 'em hard. An eighteen-hour workday, each and every day, is what I remember from my childhood. But there was bread to eat and bunks to sleep in. Sure, they was dirty, but they was indoors. I sent my pay home to my parents so they could take care of my sisters and brothers who was too young to work.

So, no, I didn't have no time to read like the little brats these days, but that don't make 'em better than me. Hell, I'm better than them, since I learned how to read all on my own. That's right, all by myself. No one helped me learn my letters.

Now that I know how to read, though, there's plenty around to practice with. It's crazy how many signs they got posted 'round the city, and there's even more than usual in the marketplace with words like “FRESH FISH” “HOMEMADE SOAP” “GARDEN VEGETABLES” “RARE FRUITS” and “BAKERY”. I tried to read them all when I first started learnin' my letters, but now those signs are so easy to read, I can understand 'em all in just a second or two.

I've learned a lot from readin' posters on the walls and such, too. Like the recruitment ads for the City Watch say guards are s'posed to make a whole four coins a day, and Officers make six coins. I ain't never seen more than three coins in a day, and lately they've been givin' me just two. I told this to the others so maybe we could get together and ask for our real pay, but they just told me to quit bein' so smart.

“You read it on a poster?” Jackson was the first one to speak when I told the boys about our pay.

“Yeah, we're s'posed to be gettin' four whole coins a day,” I 'member foldin' my arms and leanin' against my bunk, thinkin' I was somethin'. Like I was gonna start some kinda movement, leadin' all the guards in the Watch through the streets holdin' up signs. But that attitude didn't last for long.

“I think he's just makin' that up,” another one of the guards said from across the room. “You can't even read anyways.”

“I learned,” I said. “Well, I'm learnin', but the poster really does say that. There's one right next door. Just come with me, and--”

“You tryin' to get us fired, Murray? Quit bein' so smart.” Jackson turned toward the door. “Now, I'm gonna go steal me some food, and then I know a certain lady who's waitin' for these two coins in my pouch. You all comin'?”

The others followed Jackson, leavin' me alone. Just a year ago, I never would'a passed up a night with a girl, but sometimes a man just wants somethin' more.

I'd thought that by learnin' to read that maybe I'd feel better about myself or the world or somethin' like that, but I don't know. Now instead of others makin' fun of me for bein' dumb, my own fellow guards make fun of me for bein' too smart.

But now that I can read faster, I'm startin' to get why there's people that actually like to read. Some books are really interestin'.

My shift ends, and I head back to the bunks while the others go for a drink.

I wish that boy from earlier today hadn't told me what would happen to Ollie the Cat. So, he freezes to death? I take the book out of my bag, flippin' through it and lookin' at the pictures. On one page, I can see Ollie racin' out the front door into the snow. I turn the page and see a picture of a sad little cat, all curled up in a ball, with icicles hangin' from its fur.

Poor Ollie.

But the book's not over. There's more. I turn the page and gasp. Papa carries Ollie into the house. He's alive!

I turn the page again. Now he's in front of the fireplace, and on the next page, he's smilin' and warm, and on the next—wait.

I slam the book shut.

No, I gotta read it. I can't just look at the pictures.

Cold and wet, Ollie had no energ-energy to run from Papa and, in-stead, curl-ed... curled up in his arms, shiv-shivering v-vio-vio-lent-ly. He cried when Papa tried to put him down, hanging on tight to his clothes with his sharp claws. Fin-finally, Papa man-aged... managed to set Ollie on the floor, where Sister and Brother waited for him with two flu-ffy to-wels. They dried him off as well as they could, and handed him to Mama, who w-wrap-ped... wrapped him in a soft blan... blanket.

“Let's put you some-place nice and warm,” she said, cudd-ling him in her arms. Papa picked up a box and took a woo... wood-en stick from it. Ollie watched the stick, which nor-normally, would have looked very fun to play with, but he was far too cold to play. With a quick g-g-gues... gest... gesture, Papa stuck it against the box, making o-rang... o-range light come from it.

“How strange,” Ollie said, tilt-ing his head to the side. Thog...though Papa had now cau-caught his at-ten-ti-on, he was still much too cold to do anything but watch laz-lazily from Mama's arms.

Papa put the stick into a hole be-hind a grat-grating. Ollie had never not-not-noticed that hole before. It looked like a great place to hide. But Ollie was too cold to think of hid-ing there now.

Wips-wisps of smoke and then orange waves grew from the bo-ttom of the hole, con-sum-ing the large chunks of wood in its in-ter-i-or. Ollie watched the flames. They were like nothing he had ever seen before. Mama took him closer and set him down, and Papa replac-ed... replaced the grat-ing, ob-scur-ing the dan-king... dancing fig-ur-es... figures. Ollie was dis-a-ppoin-ted. He wanted to watch them dance, but he was too cold to arg-argue. He lay in front of the fireplace, feeling the warm-th flow from it. Oh, how good that warmth would feel ag-ainst his skin. How good it would be to bury himself in warm orange waves.

Ollie stood, get-ting closer to the fireplace, but Mama st-stopped him.

“No, no, Ollie. That is fire. It is hot. You cannot get too close, or you will get burn-ed... burned.”

But Ollie did not un-der-stand. What was hot? Like a hot sum-mer's day? He could almost puh-purr, think-ing of the past summer when he lay out under the sun, while Mama stood near-by fan-fanning herself with her hand.

“W-hew, it's so hot today,” Ollie re-mem-ber-ed... remembered her saying. “It feels like I'm burn-ing up out here.”

So, hot was not bad at all! Mama mig-might not like it, but Ollie lov-loved when it was hot.

Hearin' voices outside, I look up from the text and close the book. The boys are back, drunk and loud as usual. I have a bad feelin' about this story, but I'll have to finish it later.

But I'm so worried about Ollie that I can't even sleep.

That mornin', the boys and I reach the marketplace and then go our separate ways, heading to our posts. Up ahead is Lee, who does the shift before me. He's singin' a song. I can't make it out at first, but as I get closer I hear the familiar tune of the A's and Z's song.

“A, B, C, D, E, N, G/ haych, I, J, K, elementally,” he sings.

I can't help but laugh.

“It's not 'elementally'. It's 'L, M, N, O, P,'” I almost say, but I don't wanna come off as a smart-ass.

It's funny how easy it is for me to sing that song now. When I first tried to learn it, I couldn't understand it. It was just a bunch'a sounds. How could anyone memorize it?

I 'member first hearin' it bein' sung by a bunch'a little kids goin' to school. They walked behind their teacher in a straight line, and she sang right along with them. It was the weirdest song I'd ever heard. It didn't have no words in it – at least not until, “Now I know my A's and Z's/Tell me what you think of me.”

Now, I was at least smart enough to know that A's and Z's meant letters. So that's what all that gibberish was. The kids was learnin' their letters!

Every mornin', I tried to listen to the whole song, but I never caught the whole thing, and I still didn't know what any of it meant. Finally, one day I just went up and asked.

I 'member the teacher saw me comin' and slowed down before she put her arm out to shield the children.

“Hello, Ma'am,” I said, rememberin' to be polite, of course.

“Good day,” the teacher said. She eyed me real cautious, like she was scared I was gonna attack her or somethin'. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“No, I mean, yeah. I was, uh--” I took a deep breath. “I just wanna know what that song is you're singin'.”

“What song are we singing?” The teacher's eyes got wide, and she looked at me like there was somethin' funny. “It's the A's and Z's song. We're reciting the alphabet.”

“So, that's letters, right?” I asked.

“That's, uh, that's correct, yes.” The teacher nodded. “Um, is there anything else?” she asked, after I didn't say nothin' for a moment.

“Could I learn it, too?”

The teacher opened her mouth and closed it again.

“I – sure. I mean, I could.” She stopped to think for a moment. “We could use an escort on our way to the school. I much prefer walking my students there to letting them go by themselves, but I would feel much safer with an actual guard to protect us.”

I knew I wasn't supposed to just leave my post, but I only had to walk them to school and then I'd be right back. Plus, there was other guards nearby.

“Sure,” I agreed. “And you'll teach me the song?”

“You can learn right along with us,” she said. She took a piece of paper from a bag hanging on her shoulder.

“Oh, I can't read,” I said, lookin' at all the funny symbols on the paper.

“Well, each one of those is a letter. So, here's A, B, C...” she pointed to each as she said it. “Let's get going. Children? A's and Z's, but let's sing it very slowly so... Sorry, I didn't get your name.”

“Murray,” I told her.

“And I'm Helena Delaney,” she said, smilin' kinda quick and then turnin' to the kids. “Okay, let's sing slowly so that Murray can read along with us.”

The moment I heard her say those words, I couldn't help but think how strange it sounded. “...so that Murray can read along with us.” Me. Readin'. How crazy was that? But I guess it was also kind of excitin'.

The school kids' voices interrupt my thoughts, and I wave Lee off and take his place.

“Murray! Hi, Murray! Good morning, Murray!” the kids all say as the line approaches with their teacher, Miss Delaney, at the front.

“Good morning, Murray,” she says, smiling.

“Mornin' Miss Delaney. Mornin' kids,” I say, givin' them all a big wave.

“Shall we carry on?” says Miss Delaney, and they head off, the A's and Z's song startin' automatically as I line up behind them.

“So, Murray, how is the reading going?” Miss Delaney asks.

We've arrived at the school, and all the kids are gettin' ready for the day and sittin' at their desks. I notice the familiar A's and Z's chart at the front of the classroom. I can recognize all the letters real easy now, and to think I used to not know what any of it meant.

“It's goin' pretty fine,” I answer. “I'm readin' a book about this cat. His name's Ollie.”

“Oh, Ollie the Cat. A bit too advanced for my children, but I'm still very familiar with those books. Which one are you reading?”

I lift up my helmet to rub the back of my head.

“It's the one where it's snowin' and Ollie goes outside.”

“Oh, that one.” Miss Delaney frowns and shakes her head. “Those books are always so tragic for an animal lover like me, but that one was especially sad.”

“Don't tell me!” I nearly yell, holding my hands up. “I haven't finished it yet.”

“Okay, okay!” Miss Delaney chuckles, putting her hands out. “Calm down, I won't spoil it for you.”

“Thanks,” I say, relaxing my arms. “Well, I gotta go back to my post. I'll see you tomorrow.” I turn to the kids. “Bye, kids!”

“Bye, Murray!” They all say, and I turn to leave while Miss Delaney starts class.

Time to get back to Ollie.

The flames wigg-led wiggle-wiggled and pop-popped, dancing in a way that made them almost ir-re-sis-ti-ble... irre-sistible to a cat like Ollie. He watched the emb-ers float into the air and disappear as he w-hipp-ed... w-hipped his tail back and for-th, his eyes con-cen-tra-ting in-ten-se-ly on the tan-ta-li-zing fire.

But how would he get past the grating? He would have to move it, but sure-ly Mama or Papa would stop him before he could get past.

He sc-scanned the room, noticing-noting that the children had gone to bed and Mama and Papa sat do-doz-dozing off on the nearby sofa. So, he stood, war-i-ly stepping forward, his eyes locked on the nearly-sleeping couple. Creep-ing toward the bar-bar-ri-er s-se-pa-ra-ting him and the fire, he put his claws through the grating and yank-yanked it right down. It fell to the floor with a loud cla-clank that nearly made him dart in the other di-rec-tion, but he clamed-calmed himself and jumped on the grating, ready to make the final po-pounce.

“Ollie! No!”

The sound had wo-ken Mama and Papa, and they stoo-d, making their way to him. Ollie pa-nic-ked... panicked. He didn't have much time. The warmth from the fire toa-toast-toasted his skin like a hot summer's day, but he wanted those fla-mes flames for himself. He pounced, ready to trap the w-rig-gling w-riggling fire under his paws, as Mama sc-rea-m-ed... sc-reamed from behind him.

But soon he was the one sc-rea-ming.

“Hot! Hot! Hot!” he scree-ched... screeched. The fire was too hot. He bat-ted at the flames co-ver-ing his body, trying to keep them away, but it was no use as the fire cha-char-red... charred his bea-u-tiful fur, turn-ing it to the color of ash. Ollie screamed and screamed and screamed until his black-en-ed... blackened body went still, his life having fl-fled his us-use-useless co-corpse.

The End.

I can't believe it.

“Hey, Murray, you comin'?”

What in the Void just happened?

It's the end of my shift, and my buddies are all ready to go, but I clutch the book in my hand, my heart banged up and all but broken.

“No, you all go on. I'm gonna take a walk,” I say and push past 'em without sayin' another word.

You know, I figured things wouldn't turn out good for Ollie, but still the endin's left me kinda down. I got just as much into that book as someone would get into a story bein' told 'round the fire--

The fire.

Emotion hits me and leaves me with a bad feelin' in my stomach. Why'd that cat have to be so damn stupid?

I curse Ollie and T. J. Brownstone and the damn librarian that gave me the book and the goddamn library that kept the book on its shelves like it wasn't nothin' but another kid's story, just like the rest.

“Murray, what are you doing here?”

I walk into the classroom, and seein' the look on Miss Delaney's face, I let the tears fall.

“Is something wrong?” Miss Delaney asks. Her eyes get real wide, and she looks from side to side, but I'm too busy blubberin' to notice.

“Ollie died,” I sob, sniffling between words. “He... just jumped into the fireplace... and burned up.”

I look up at Miss Delaney, who, for just a moment, smirks before putting on a sympathetic face.

“It ain't funny,” I cry. “Why are you laughin'? Don't laugh!”

“Oh, Murray,” Miss Delaney approaches, putting her hand on my arm. “You didn't know?”

“Didn't know what?” I swallow, trying to keep my sobs at bay.

“Murray... Ollie dies in every book.”

The tears stop, and I stare at her through blurry eyes.

“W-What?”

“The cat dies in every book.” Miss Delaney replies. “That's the theme of the series. It's supposed to teach you not to be so curious that you get yourself into trouble.”

“I... wait a—What?”

Miss Delaney smiles a bit and then giggles, taking a handkerchief from her pocket.

“You poor thing!” she says, dryin' my eyes. I take the cloth from her, rubbin' it all over my face, wet with wasted tears.

“It's the same cat in every book? But how does he come back to life?” I hold up my finger. “Wait, wait, I know this. Cats got nine lives, right? So, as long as he doesn't die a whole nine times, he's okay.”

“Not quite,” Miss Delaney chuckles. “I think the trick here is that Ollie isn't a real cat. He's just a book character.”

“Well, that ain't realistic.” I sigh. “I could write a better story than that.”

“Maybe,” says Miss Delaney. She raises an eyebrow. “Are you looking to be a writer now?”

I laugh, feelin' my eyes dry up. Look at me, cryin' over a book.

“Oh no, nothin' like that. I just wanna read a better story. Somethin' happier.”

“Well, the library's still open. Maybe I can help you find some books you'd like to read.”

I nod, thinkin' of the possibilities—plus maybe Miss Delaney has a better taste in books than the librarian.

“Yeah, that'd be nice. Just no sad endin's,” I say. “And no cats.”

#dishonored #TotH #tales of the heart #for city watch overseer

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indirameehan40-blog · 7 years

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spencerfergerson-blog · 7 years

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Microsoft Phrase Tutorials, Tips & Exactly how.

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prasanttricolour · 4 years

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Best Monuments & Temples in Odisha - Brahmeswara Temple - Bhubaneswar Devoted to Lord Shiva, Brahmeswara Temple is found in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The temple is fenced by four smaller shrines. The presiding god of the temple is Shiva who is worshiped within the variety of a Shiv Ling. The pillar formed idol is formed of black stone. At the bottom of this rock, a pillar is that the Yoni that is that the image of immortal Hindu deity, the feminine power of creation. The union of the 2 symbolizes the origin of life. Brahmeswara Temple is standard for its sculptural art, Ddeul just like the tower and Jagmohana, the porch. The temple conjointly homes idols of immortal Lakshmi and Lord Shiva in fierce kind. many pictures associated with Buddhism activities also can be seen here. Temple History and Temple design The richly carved main temple was established at the top of the ninth century atomic number 58. The inscription indicates that the temple was restored by Kolavatidevi, the mother of Udyota Kesari, a Somavamsi king. it's believed that the queen had conferred several young ladies within the service of Lord that is perhaps liable for the tradition of Devadasis. This tradition has influenced the culture and design of the many temples in Odisha. The temple resembles the Mukteswara temple in many ways. The temple is assessed as a Panchatanaya temple wherever the most shrine stands within the middle and therefore the four subsidiary shrines within the four corners around the temple. The temple has four divisions particularly “Sikhara” or “temple tower, the Jagmohan, the “Natamandira” and therefore the Bhogmandapa. The sanctum sanctorum is found within the Jagmohan or auditorium wherever devotees gather to worship and to get blessings of Lord Shiva. The temple tower stands sixty two.2 foot tall that was designed to be the most sanctum sanatorium for Lord Brahmeswar Shiva symbol to consecrate. The temple is made with ancient subject strategies of wood carving that are applied to a stone building. The structures were in-built a form of a pyramid, then they might be carved within and outdoors. The sandstone walls and therefore the wood structures of the inside ar value looking. The temple conjointly has eight guardian Gods protective the sanctum. Festivals and Celebrations The festivals of Dhegiha Shivratri, Karttika Purnima, and Diwali ar celebrated with nice devotion during this temple. How To Reach By Air: Biju Patnaik flying field at Bhubaneswar is the nearest flying field. By Train: Bhubaneswar is that the nighest terminus. By Road: The place is well connected by smart roads with all the most important cities of Odisha. Buses are obtainable from the Bhubaneswar bus stand. For More Details, please visit - http://www.elicitodisha.com/

http://unmaskodisha.blogspot.com/2020/05/brahmeswara-temple-bhubaneswar.html

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learnncook · 3 years

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Mercury-Shiv ling for home taken from Omkareshwar https://www.instagram.com/p/CWCjHF7KqT8/?utm_medium=tumblr

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karmicroutes-blog · 6 years

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Holy Amarnath Yatra

As per Hinduism, the processes of God are three fold – Creation, Preservation and Destruction. The first two are attributed by Brahma and Vishnu and the the last one is attributed by Lord Shiva – the destroyer whose primary role was to purge all the obstacles and unwanted from the world cycle. The Transcendent God called Shiva is the timeless God of the universe and he alone exists as an existence itself, even before the creation of our world and can be understood as the ultimate transcendence and the supreme being.

Amarnath Caves are located in Pahalgam in Jammu & Kashmir at a height of 3888 mts and considered as the most revered pilgrim destinations of the Hindus. Despite not being a Jyotirling, lakhs of Hindu pilgrim brave the unfriendly mountain terrain, harsh climate and not to mention personal safety & security to have a glimpse of the icy Shiv Ling which is open to the public for a short duration from June end till August end every year. The Shivling is Swayambhu (self created) by when the water drips from the cave’s roof and starts to freeze as it touches the ground and consecutive accumulation results in formation of the Shiv Ling. One can also find two other such formations which are designated as Maa Parvati and Lord Ganesh.

THE LEGEND OF AMARNATH

As per the legend, Lord Shiva chose Amarnath, an isolated and inhabited location, to render the secret Amar Katha to goddess Parvati who wanted to be immortal just like Lord Shiva. As they wanted absolute isolation with no one around, he left all his belongings stating with Nandi at Pahalgam, Moon at Moon at Chandanwari, Snakes at Lake Sheshnag, son Ganesh at Mahgunas Parvat and his five elements at Panjatarni.

Once inside the cave, Lord Shiva started the rendition by getting into Samadhi or the meditative state. Further, to ensure that no one is around to hear the Amar Katha, he created a rudra named Kalagni and ordered him to set fire around the cave so that everything living around that place could be destroyed. He then started narrating the story of immortality to Maa Parvati. But in spite of all these efforts, one egg remained protected under the deer skin on which the Lord was sitting. But it was considered as non-living. A pair of pigeons was born out of that egg and supposedly became immortal. Pilgrims can still see the pigeon pair while going towards the Amarnath Cave.

DISCOVERY OF THE CAVE

It is believed that a Muslim shepherd by the name Buta Malik discovered the cave when he chanced upon a saint at a cave while grazing his sheep. There he met a saint who gave me him a bag full of coal which turned into gold when he reached home. The saint was none other than the Mahadev himself and from then on hoards of pilgrims visit the cave where one can find icy shiv ling signifying the lord himself.

HOW TO REACH

Traditional Route : Srinagar / Jammu – Pahalgam – Chandanwari – Pissu Top – Sheshnag – Panchtarani – Sangam – Amarnath Caves (minimum 3 days)

This is the most popular route as it passes thru all the significant places associated with the mythical tale of Amarnath. One can reach Chandanwari by vehicles and later need to embark on a challenging trek of 21 kms to reach Amarnath Caves. Enroute destinations include Pissu Top, believed to be formed out of the dead rakshasas slayed by Lord Shiva followed by Shesh Nag with its picturesque set up with a flowing stream with hovering seven peaks that resemble the head of Sheshnag. From Sheshnag one needs to proceed to Panchatarni which is the last base to Holy Amarnath Caves. Be prepared to face the cold winds and lack of oxygen from here onwards. From Panchtarni, the Amarnath Cave is located at a distance of just 6 km. As there is no place to stay, so pilgrims have to start their journey early in the morning so that you can come back to the base camp on time. The entire route is very beautiful and out of the world.

New Route : Srinagar / Jammu – Sonmarg – Baltal – Amarnath Caves (minimum 1 day)

This new route via Baltal is much steeper and challenging but is gaining a lot of popularity because of the ease of completing the yatra in just one day if done by helicopter. Else two days are quite sufficient if done on foot.

One can drive down to Baltal, located about 15 kms from Sonmarg and then trek for 14 kms to Amarnath. Alternatively one can take the helicopter to Panchtarni and then do the final leg of 5 kms to the holy Amarnath Caves.

For more: http://karmicroutes.com/Pilgrimage/Blog/Holy_AmarnathYatra?BlogId=5

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