Alaap

Dear readers,

Following is the extract from chapter 8 of Vishnu Puran.

I found this quite interesting.

Regards,

Souvik

CHAP. VIII.

Origin of Rudra: his becoming eight Rudras: their wives and children.

Sacrifice of Daksha.
PARÁŚARA.--I have described to you, oh great Muni, the creation of Brahmá, in which the quality of darkness prevailed. I will now explain to you the creation of Rudra

In the beginning of the Kalpa, as Brahmá purposed to create a son, who should be like himself, a youth of a purple complexion appeared, crying with a low cry, and running about Brahmá, when he beheld him thus afflicted, said to him, "Why dost thou weep?" "Give me a name," replied the boy. "Rudra be thy name," rejoined the great father of all creatures: "be composed; desist from tears." But, thus addressed, the boy still wept seven times, and Brahmá therefore gave to him seven other denominations; and to these eight persons regions and wives and posterity belong. The eight manifestations, then, are named Rudra, Bhava, Śarva, Iśána, Paśupati, Bhíma, Ugra, and Mahádeva, which were given to them by their great progenitor. He also assigned to them their respective stations, the sun, water, earth, air, fire, ether, the ministrant Brahman, and the moon; for these are their several forms The wives of the sun and the other manifestations, termed Rudra and the rest, were respectively, Suverchalá, Ushá, Vikesí, Sivá, Swáhá, Diśá, Díkshá, and Rohiní. Now hear an account of their progeny, by whose successive generations this world has been peopled. Their sons, then, were severally, Sanaiśchara (Saturn), Śukra (Venus), the fiery-bodied Mars, Manojava (Hanumán), Skanda, Swarga, Santána, and Budha (Mercury).
It was the Rudra of this description that married Satí, who abandoned her corporeal existence in consequence of the displeasure of Daksha 5. She afterwards was the daughter of Himaván (the snowy mountains) by Mená; and in that character, as the only Umá, the mighty Bhava again married her.

Aakash nivasi

Dear readers,

Here is a story from Vamana Puran.

Regards,

Souvik

Once, Sati requested Lord Shankar to make arrangements for a permanent abode. At that time, Lord Shankar had his abode at Mandaar Mountain. Summer season was approaching and Sati quite rightly had apprehensions of living in the open. Lord Shankar told her that as he was a recluse, he never felt a need of a permanent dwelling. Though Sati was not satisfied by his answers yet she kept quiet. This way, both of them continued to live there. The summer season had passed and now it was the turn of rainy season to arrive. Sati made the same request to Lord Shankar. This time, Lord Shankar told her that it was impossible for him to construct a house, as he had no wealth. He also told her that he had only a tiger skin as his clothing, the king cobra- his sacred thread, Padma and Pingal (snakes)- his ear-rings and Keval and Dhananjay as his armlets.
After hearing this, Sati became worried as to how she would pass the rainy season without a home. Lord Shankar then assured her that this problem would be easily solved if she lived above the clouds. This way, she would remain untouched by the showers. After this, both of them ascended towards the sky and started living above the clouds. From that day onwards, Lord Shankar came to be known as Jeebhootvaahan (one whose vehicle is the cloud).

Aashray

(Image from here)

(Article from here)

Shiva status at Bangalore

"I haven't yet seen a mainstream travel guide that includes Bangalore's enormous recently built Shiva idol as part of the sights to see. Maybe the guides just haven't gotten to it, and maybe its newness counts against it -- all I know is that I would take visitors here before heading to the interesting but overrated Bull Temple, on the other side of town. The statue -- over 60 feet tall! -- was built by the owners of the Kemp Fort chain of department stores. They placed it behind their Kemp Fort branch on Airport Road. Look for the huge fort-like building as you take your taxi into town -- Shiva's waiting for you in back. "

-- John Rambow

(Article from here)

Shiva temple to come up at Georgia
Coimbatore, March 29 (PTI): A landmark Lord Shiva temple would come up shortly at Nor Cross Bruke Hallow Parkway in Georgia, a commercial hub of the United States.
A sprawling 9.5 acres of land at a cost of Rs 37 crore has been acquired for the Rs 100 crore temple, the idols for which were being readied at nearby Thirumuruganpoondi.
With the construction of the temple, expected to be ready within a year, Georgia, home for a nearly 40,000-strong Indian population, would become a major tourist attraction, besides a religious centre, Sri Selvam Siddar, the man behind the mega project, on Tuesday told reporters through videoconference from California.
Claiming that the temple, to be built by 'The Hindu Temple of Georgia Trust', would be the World's first Shiva temple with 108 idols, Siddar said that all the statues, being sculpted at Swamimalai, Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu would be shipped to the US by the end of this month.
The 'Moola Vigraha,' (main idol) is being sculpted at Navabharathi Sirpa Kalaikoodam, Thirumuruganpoondi, about 50 kms from here, under the chief sculptor, Sambandam, he said.
About 1,600 feet of the 4,000-feet fencing work for the project has been completed, he said, adding that two gates and an arch were ready for shipment from here.
Stating that the temple has received clearance from the Georgian authorities, Siddar said clearance for all the idols and statues would be obtained from the Indian Archepological Department, Council of Handicrafts and Customs.

Ananda upobhog

Dear readers,

I wanted to share with you two wonderful videos I came across.

Here are the links:

Link1 : A dance video

Link2 : A Shiva Ratri kirtan

Hope you like them!

Souvik