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Friday, October 22, 2010

Why do we worship the Kalasha?

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JAY SHREE POOJYASHREE SHREE AMMA

JAY MAHAN BRAHMASHREE GOPALAVALLIDASAR

JAY SHREE RADHEKRISHNA SATHSANG

Dear Readers,

Radhekrishna! We started a new question in our previous post on 6th October, “Why do we worship the Kalasha” We will continue with the same in this post.

Reiterating what we mentioned in the previous post, the Kalasha consists of:

  1. A brass, mud or copper pot
  2. Mango leaves
  3. Coconut
  4. A thread

Let us know what each of the above stands for.

Before the creation came into being, Lord Vishnu in was reclining on His snake-bed in the milky ocean. From His navel emerged a lotus from which appeared Lord Brahma, the creator, who thereafter created this world.

The water in the kalasha symbolizes the primordial water from which the entire creation emerged. It is the giver of life to all and has the potential of creating innumerable names and forms, the inert objects and the sentient beings and all that is auspicious in the world from the energy behind the universe. The leaves and coconut represent creation.

The thread represents the love that "binds" all in creation. The kalasha is therefore considered auspicious and worshipped. The waters from all the holy rivers, the knowledge of all the Vedas and the blessings of all the deities are invoked in the kalasha and its water is thereafter used for all the rituals, including the abhisheka.

We will continue with the topic in our next post.

Section II: Information about Indian herbs

In this post, let us know about a plant named ‘Genda’ also known as Marigold in English and Tagetes Erecta in Latin.

  1. It is a flowering plant; its yellow flowers are used mostly for making garlands
  2. It is a very good diuretic
  3. It is an antidote against wasp stings
  4. It is a cure against inflammations
  5. Juice of marigold flower helps to cure eczema and ringworm
  6. Lukewarm juice of its leaves cures earache
  7. Decoction of its leaves allays toothache

That concludes our topic for the fortnight. Till the next post, keep chanting the Radhekrishna namam and enjoy divine bliss.

Sarvam Guruvaarpanam

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Why do we worship the Kalasha?

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JAY SHREE POOJYASHREE SHREE AMMA

JAY MAHAN BRAHMASHREE GOPALAVALLIDASAR

JAY SHREE RADHEKRISHNA SATHSANG

Radhekrishna to our Readers!

In our previous article, we completed the question “Why do we ring the bell in a temple?” In this post, let us look at a new question.

Among Hindus, it is a common practice to keep a ‘Kalasha’ during any pooja. Our question in this post is “Why do we worship the Kalasha?”

First of all let us know what is a kalasha?

A brass, mud or copper pot is filled with water. Mango leaves are placed in the mouth of the pot and a coconut is placed over it. A red or white thread is tied around its neck or sometimes all around it in a intricate diamond-shaped pattern. The pot may be decorated with designs. Such a pot is known as a kalasha.

When the pot is filled with water or rice, it is known as purnakumbha representing the inert body which when filled with the divine life force gains the power to do all the wonderful things that makes life what it is.

A kalasha is placed with due rituals on all-important occasions like the traditional house warming (grihapravesa), wedding, daily worship etc. It is placed near the entrance as a sign of welcome. It is also used in a traditional manner while receiving holy personages.

But Why do we worship the kalasha?

…wait for out next post for the answer

Section II: Information about Indian herbs

In this post let us know about ‘Chirchata’ known as Rough Chaff Tree in English and Achyrantha Aspera in Latin.

  1. It is a herb with slender, knotty branches
  2. It is an excellent antidote for poison of snakes and scorpions
  3. It is one of the remedies for bleeding piles, inflammation
  4. Salt obtained from the ashes of the herb is an excellent carminative
  5. It is recommended as a medicine for disorders of the respiratory organs

That concludes our post for the fortnight. Till the next post on 22nd, Radhekrishna!

Sarvam Guruvaarpanam
 

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