8 Facts About Bhagavad Gita

8 Facts About Bhagavad Gita

1. Not only Arjun but 3 more legends heard Bhagavad Gita from Krishna directly.
Sanjay because of divine power gifted to him.
Hanuman, as he was residing on Arjun’s chariot.
Barbarik, son of Ghatotkach who was watching it all from a hill top.

2. This is the research paper on scientific explanation of Field Theory mentioned in Chapter 13 of Bhagavad Gita: A Scientific Explanation of Chapter 13 of the Bhagavad Gita

3.Bhagavad Gita is actually a song because it is spoken in rhyming meter called “Anushtup” and it contains 32 syllables in each verse. The general theme is in four lines of eight syllables each. In particular verses, a “Trishtup” metre is used, which contains four lines of 11 syllables each.

4.The Bhagavad-gita is composed of 700 Sanskrit verses contained in the 18 chapters divided into three sections each consisting of the six chapters.

5.The first English edition of Bhagavad-gita by Charles Wilkins in year 1975 in London,England.This was 174 years after the translation of the Holy Bible.

6.Till now Bhagavad-gita has been translated into approx. 175 languages.

7. The Mahabharat confirms that Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to Arjun at the Battle of Kurukshetra in 3137 B.C. According to specific astrological references in the Vedic scriptures, the year3102 B.C. is the beginning of Kali Yuga which began 35 years after the battle.

8. It is to be observed that the number eighteen is constantly recurring in the Mahabharata. The  word 18 in Sanskrit means Jaya and also implies Sacrifice. Another name  of Mahabharata is Jaya Itivrata (Itihaas). There are 18 Parvas, 18  chapters in Geeta, Akshauhinis are 18. There are 18 people required for the  sacrifice, Sabha construction to Rajasuya is 18 years, Jarasandh attacks  18 times. It is said that the size of Pandavas‘ army in the Kurukshetra war was 7 Akshauhini , and those of Kauravas 11 akshauhinis., totaling 18. The word 18 dominates the Epic.

An Akshauhini,  was an ancient battle formation that consisted of 21,870 chariots ;  21,870 elephants; 65,610 cavalry and 109,350 infantry. The ratio is 1  chariot : 1 elephant : 3 cavalry : 5  infantry soldiers. In each of these large number groups (65,610, etc.),  the digits add up to 18.

Eight Chiranjeevis of the Hindu Mythology

In Hindu mythology, there are said to be a group of Ashta-Chiranjeevis (Eight ‘Immortals’, Chiran- Long, and Jeevi- Lived). These eight immortals are said to still live on the Earth in flesh and blood today, for various different reasons. Specifically, Chiranjeevis are those born human, but blessed or cursed with extremely long life (perhaps not immortality as we know it, but I’ll use the word immortal for simplicity anyway).

1. Markandeya

Markendeya is a devotee of the Lord Shiva, and was granted immortality by him when Shiva and Yama (the God of death) fought to decide the Rishi’s destiny. A tale from the Bhagavata Purana states that once sage Narayana visited Markandeya and asked him for a boon. Markandeya prayed to sage Narayana to show him his illusory power or maya since sages Nara-Narayana are incarnation of Supereme Lord Narayana. To fulfill his wish, Vishnu appeared in the form of a child floating on a leaf, and declared to the sage that he was Time and Death. Sage Markandeya entered into his mouth and save himself from the surging water. Inside the boy’s stomach Markandeya discovered all the worlds, the seven regions and the seven oceans. The mountains and the kingdoms were all there. So were all living beings. Markandeya did not know what to make of all this. He started to pray to Vishnu. The sage spent a thousand years with Vishnu. He composed the Bala mukundashtakam at this moment.

2. Bali Chakravarthi

the Asura King Mahabali, who had conquered all the three worlds, had to be subdued by Vishnu on the request of Indra, after having developed an unhealthy arrogance. Vishnu banished Bali to the underworld, but his pious deeds on Earth granted him the boon of being able to visit his subjects once a year- now celebrated as Onam in Kerala.

3. Lord Hanuman

Lord Hanuman really needs no introduction, he is devotion personified, and his strength, form and knowledge characterise him. It is said that whilst other characters from the Ramayan achieved their sought-after Moksha, Hanumanji shunned the heavens and requested to remain on Earth as long as Lord Ram is venerated by people, to reside wherever the name of Ram is taken- such was, and is his love for God. Whoever recites the glories of Lord Hanuman is supposedly certain to overcome life’s miseries and obstacles. It is also said that the person who arrives first, and leaves last from a Ram Katha is always Chiranjeevi Hanuman. There is one very interesting story about a pilgrimage in Mansarovar in the Himalayas in 1998. A pilgrim supposedly saw a light in the cave, of which he took a photo. He died shortly after and when his fellow travellers had the photo developed. It depicts a monkey-formed being, studying what looks like the Vedas.

4. Kripacharya

Kripa was the Kul Guru of the Kurus during the Mahabharat, and whilst his status as a Chiranjeevi is disputed, his impartiality towards all of his students is the most commonly documented reason for his immortality.

5. Parashurama

6th avatar of Vishnu, master of all astras, sastras and divine weapons. The Kalki Purana writes that he will re emerge at end time to the martial guru of Kalki. He will then instruct the final avatar to undertake penance to receive celestial weaponry, required to save mankind at end time.

6. Vibhishana

The brother of Ravan, Vibhishan, who fought on Ram’s side in the Ramayan. He was made a Chiranjeevi to maintain morality and righteousness in Lanka and to guide people over the world in Dharma.

7. Vyasa

A sage who narrated the Mahabharata. He represents erudition and wisdom.He was the son of Rishi Prashar and grandson of Rishi vashist. He was born in almost last of Tretayug, lived to see the whole Dwaparyug and also had seen the initial phase of Kalyug.

8. Ashwasthama

Ashwatthama was the son of guru Drona. He is one of the seven Chiranjivis. Dronacharya loved him very dearly. The rumours about his death in the Kurukshetra war led to the death of Drona at the hands of Prince Dhrishtadyumna. He is the grandson of the Brahmin sage Bharadwaja. Ashwatthama fought on the Kaurava side against the Pandavas in the Mahabharata war.

source :quora 

5 Sati Women In Hindu Mythology

AhlyaAccording to our scriptures and Puranas, there are 5 Sati women in the Hindu Mythology.The Four women of five are always present in the every scripture while there is some what dilemma about the fifth.

The  Sanskrit Shlok answer our question :

“ahalyā draupadī sītā tārā mandodarī tathā । pañcakanyāḥ smarennityaṃ mahāpātakanāśinīḥ ॥”

English translation of the Sanskrit Shlok:
“Ahalya, Draupadi, Sita, Tara and Mandodari. One should forever remember the panchakanya who are the destroyers of great sins.”

A variant replaces Sita with Kunti. 

1.Ahalya

Ahalya, also known as Ahilya, is wife of sage Gautama Maharishi. Ahalya is often regarded as the leader of the panchkanya due to the “nobility of her character, her extraordinary beauty and the fact of her being chronologically the first kanya”.Ahalya is often described to be created by the god Brahma as the most beautiful woman in the entire universe 

2.Tara

Tara is Queen of Kishkindha and wife of monkey(vanara) King Vali. After being widowed, she becomes Queen of Sugriva, Vali’s brother. Tara is described as daughter of monkey physician Sushena in theRamayana and in later sources as an apsara(celestial nymph) who rises from the Samudra manthan.^[1][9] She marries Vali and bears him a son named Angada. 

3.Mandodari

Mandodari is queen consort of Ravana, the Rakshasa(demon) king of Lanka. The Hindu epics describe her as beautiful, pious and righteous. Mandodari is daughter of Mayasura, the King of Asuras(demons) and apsara(celestial nymph) Hema. Some tales narrate how an apsara called Madhura was cursed to become a frog and imprisoned in a well for 12 years, after which regains her beauty or a frog, blessed to a beautiful maiden;in both cases, she is adopted by Mayasura as his daughter Mandodari. Ravana comes to the house of Mayasura and falls in love with Mandodari and then marries her. Mandodari bears him three sons: Meghanada(Indrajit), Atikaya and Akshayakumara. 

4.Sita

Sita is the heroine of Ramayana and the consort of the Hindu god Rama (avatar of Vishnu) and is an avatar of Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and wife of Vishnu. She is esteemed as a standard-setter for wifely and womanly virtues for all Hindu women.Sita is adopted daughter of Janaka, king of Videha, found while he was furrowing the earth.The prince of Ayodhya, Rama wins Sita in her svayamvara. Later, when Rama is sentenced to a fourteen-year exile, Sita joins Rama and his brother Lakshmana in exile, despite Rama’s wish for her to remain in Ayodhya.While in exile in Dandaka forest, she falls prey to Ravana’s scheme and sends Rama away in quest of a golden deer, while she is kidnapped by Ravana. Sita is imprisoned in the Ashoka Vatika grove of Lanka, until she is rescued by Rama, who slays Ravana in war 

5.Draupadi

Draupadi is the heroine of Mahabharata. She is common wife of the five Pandava brothers and queen of Hastinapur, in their reign. Born from a fire-sacrifice of king of Panchala - Drupada, Draupadi was prophesied to lead to the end of Drona and Kauravas.Though the middle Pandava Arjuna - disguised as a brahmin - wins her in her swayamvara, Draupadi is compelled to marry all the five brothers on command of her mother-in-law Kunti. Pandavas agree to the plan that Draupadi will always be the chief consort of all brothers and always the empress. 

12 Names of Arjuna

Other Names of Arjuna, the greatest archer of the world came to known by:-

1. Dhananjaya
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This name is about the auspiciousness that Arjuna brought along with himself. Dhanañjaya means “one who can conquer over riches.” .he conquered over many kings and lands and thus brought riches to the kingdom of his older brother. 

2. Savyasachi
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Arjuna was capable and  skillful in wielding Gandiva and other weapons using both arms, (ambidextrous), and therefore he was called Savyasachi, the one who can wield using both hands.

3. Vijaya
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As clear from the name itself, it means the Victor and Arjuna was never defeated in a war. 

4.Jishnu
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Jishnu is a literal name given to Arjuna and it means the conqueror of enemies. Without doubt, he remained true to his name! 

5. Kiriti
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Being the son of Indra, he wore the celestial diadem, Kiriti, presented by Indra, and therefore was called by this name.

6. Vibhatsu
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Arjuna was so called because he created scenes of bibhatsa (terror) during war with his enemies.

7. Falguni
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Because Arjuna was born under the star named Uttara Phalguni, he was called by this name.

8. Gudakesha

Like Lord Krishna was called Rishikesha, Arjuna was called Gudakesha, which means having thick beautiful hair.

9. Krishna
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It is a lesser known name of Arjuna–he was also called Krishna, the one who attracts.

10. Shvetavahana
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As clear from the name itself, it should be about the chariot or vehicle. Because Arjuna had white horses mounted, he was called by this name. 

11. Kounteya 

As Arjuna was the son of Kunti ,he was referred as Kounteya literally meaning Son of Kunti

12.Partha 

 Kunthi was actually named by birth as Pritha by her father Shurasena. Then, Kunthibhoja, Shurasena’s cousin adopted her as he was childless. He then named her Kunthi.Thus Son of Pritha came to be known as Partha (Son of Pritha). While there another meaning to his name, Partha  is a Sanskrit word which means ‘one who never misses his target’. Since Arjun was the greatest archer of the time

Unknown Stories About Ganesha

On the eve of Ganesh Chaturthi. We at Indian Novella are celebrating the birthday of Lord Ganesha whom we pray before every major event of our lives be it exams,interviews, adventures.Let’s look into  some unknown facts about Lord Ganesha.

1.Most of us pray Goddess Laksmi along with Ganesh but Lakshmi is not the wife of the Lord Ganesha.”Riddhi” ( wealth and prosperity ) and “Siddhi” ( intellectual and spiritual power ) are the two wedded wives of Lord Ganesha.There is a popular story that since Ganesha was the elephant-headed no  one wants to marry him so he started making troubles in the marriages of the other demi gods with his mount, Mice.Then Brahma created Riddhi and Siddhi on the plea of other demi gods.

2.Ganesh has two sons named “Subha ”( auspiciousness ) and  “Labha” (profit).We usually paste stickers named Subha and Labha on the eve of Diwali are actually the names of the sons of the lord Ganesha.

3.Ganesha is also called “EkDanta” because his lost his one tooth while fighting with ParshuRam, the  devotee of Lord Shiva.When ParshuRam strikes with the axe provided by lord shiva then to show respect towards his father and the weapon he took the blow of the weapon on his tooth and thus lost his tooth and became”EkDanta”.

4. Lord Ganesha was the one who wrote the great epic Mahabharata as sage Vyasa recited it to him. This was done on the condition that Vyasa would not stop while reciting the epic and Ganesha would not stop while writing, and also that Ganesha would not merely write it but would also understand every verse of it.

5.Ganesha used his broken tooth to write down the Epic ,Mahabharata

6.The axe we see that Ganesha holds in his hand was actually provided to him by ParshuRam when he fought with Ganesha and broke his tooth.So in order to repent as Ganesha was merely following the instruction of lord Ganesha to not allow anybody to disturb lord shiva during meditation.

7. In the rare incidents when we hear of Lord Ganesha being angry, he once cursed the moon as he laughed at his fat belly. Lord Ganesha cursed him saying whoever looks at the moon on Ganesh Chaturthi would be falsely blamed. This is still believed in most sections of the Hindu faith, as people avoid looking at the moon on Ganesh Chaturthi.

8. Lord Ganesha has around 108 names, including Vighna Harta (the remover of obstacles) and Buddhi Pradaayaka (the giver of wisdom and intellect).

9.In 1893, revolutionary freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak urged the masses to come together to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi.His main motive was to inculcate the feeling of patriotism among people at a time when British discouraged social gatherings.

How Father Beheaded His Son?

Let’s Welcome the Lord Ganesha  in this blog post. Ganesha might be the only god from the tier II level to be worshipped as prominently as the Trinity or the incarnations of the Trinity. Here Tier II gods mean  basically the sons and daughters of the Trinity or other gods which are just a level below the Trinity and in no way it was a mean to disrespect to sentiments of the people or his devotees. Not only that Ganesha must be worshipped before any god is worshipped and must be invoked during any Puja and Yajna for  its completeness.

Lord Ganesha was blessed by the Trinity for all these things.To understand the story lets look a little back to understand the story of the birth of the Ganesha.

Once Lord Parvati was  going to meet  Lord Shiva while he was meditating .The Nandi , the mount of lord Shiva obstructed the path of Parvati and make her aware of the fact that Shiva had instructed him not to allow anybody to meet him while he was meditating.Parvati has no choice but to return .

Once Parvati was taking a bath and need someone to guard the door while she was inside. She thought of calling Nandi or other Ganas of Lod Shiva but the friendParvatirvati reminded her that these people wouldn’t go beyond the command of Lord Shiva  and are not dutiful to Parvati instead only obey Shiva.If Shiva commands  them to move aside they would not have any choice but leave the path unprotected.So they need someone who only listens to Parvati and do as per the command of Parvati.Then Parvati created a human menaquinone from the dirt of her body  and then induced life form in it and named it “Vinayak”.She commanded him not to allow anybody to enter the premises  while she is inside and provided Ganesha with divine power and weapons.

Then After some time Lord shiva arrived there and wanted to meet Parvati and  Ganesha(Vinayaka) was standing firmly outside the gate of the premises and was not allowing Shiva to enter the premises.Shiva  got infuriated and had to return and in the meanwhile asked his followers to remove the Ganesha from the door and after that the would arrive.All the Ganas of the Shiva including Nandi   fought with Ganesha but cannot  stand a ground against the divine power provided by Parvati to Ganesha. Now Devas like Indra,Agni etc fought with Ganesha but  all were defeated and finally  Mahadeva himself had to arrive at the battle scene and he  cut the head of the Ganesha with his ultimate weapon Trishul. The cry from the Ganesha while his head being severed from Shiva’s Trishul forced Parvati to come outside.Seeing  the headless body of Ganesha  provoked her to  take the form of Kali ,”The Goddess of Destruction” and started began destroying the universe. Everyone pleaded before her to stop the destruction.She told them she would not stop until her son is not alive.Everyone started thinking of possible solution then Sri Hari suggested the Ganas and the other gods to move into the North direction and bring the head of the first living being in the sleeping state.Then Ganas went into that direction and brought the head of the elephant which was later fixed by the Brahma on the body of Ganesha and brought to live.

Parvati also asked for the boon to Ganesha that he would be first to be worshipped among the gods which was granted by none other than lord shiva who provided him with weapons and bestowed the privilege to worshipped first even before himself and pronounced Ganesha to be the leader of his Ganas .Thus Ganesh became “Ganapati” and every other god also bestowed some power to the Ganesha  who ultimately become the god of well-being and Growth of Humanity.

And since Ganesha was born on the Fourth day of Shukla Paksha that’s why Ganesh birthday is celebrated as Ganesh Chaturthi.Later  Ganesha wedded two wives namely “Ridhi” and “Sidhi”.Now more on Ganesha  on some later post and let’s celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi on this auspicious day.

“Ganpati  Bappa Morya”