PrabhuBhakti Blog

The symbol aum is seen in all Hindu texts and sacred places. It has a wide spectrum of meanings and significant in life. The word Aum has three different sounds inside it which are a, u and m.  The three sounds relate to various aspects of life. It has relation with the Brahma, Vishnu and Badrinath and three stages of life vis birth, life and death. The three sounds refer three aspects of divine energy like Brahma Shakti as creation, Vishnu Shakti as prervation and Shiva Shakti as liberation. Pranava’, the Sanskrit name of Aum mean saying a word with a humming tone. According to Hinduism the word actually is beyond definition and is considered as a spiritual unit which can liberate huge amount of mental energy.

The important philosophies in Hinduism say that human beings have to perform their karma and dharma in a given life and they can only attain moksha by way of pilgrimage to holy places. Not just in Hinduism but other religions also project the importance and goodness of pilgrimage.

Hindu pilgrimages like any other holy journeys help you to understand God closely and you will retrospect in this process. It will be a period in which you will understand the virtues of life and mistakes. You will get chances to do charity which lowers your pride and ego and you will start to see the world from another person’s point of view. You will understand the peripheral dimension of this world and be more generous afterwards and lighten your inner lamp.

Aartis  will be performed to affirm God as the supreme power and you will submit yourself internally forever during Hindu pilgrimage. You will also listen to lot of good messages which will purify you from within. You will be able to understand the mortality of physical body and importance of nurturing the soul within for a satisfied life. Pilgrimages to holy places will cleanse your spirit to observe everything in a detached manner.

Lord Brahma is the creator among Hindu gods of the living and non-living beings of the world. According to Hinduism He took birth in the lotus grown out from Lord Vishnu’s navel. Brahma Is supposed to be the father of Manu from whom the human generation took birth. In the pictures of Hindu Gods, he is seen as sitting on the Lotus with saraswathi beside him. Gayatri and Savitri are his consorts. Brahma created Prajapatis from his mind and they are believed to be the ancestors of human race. Those eleven Prajapatis are Marici, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratuj, Vashishta, Pracetas or Daksha, Bhrigu, and Nārada. They are also called spirits or mana: putras where mana: means mind. He has also given birth to Saptarishis to help him in the creation of Universe. Dharma and Atri are his daughters.

Lord Vishnu is considered to be the preserver among the Trimurthys in Hindu gods. He is an embodiment of goodness and mercy. He rests on his snake Shesha and is always served by Lakshmi . Lakshmi is the goddess of prosperity. It is believed that whenever there in unrest in the world, Vishnu comes to the rescue of the needy and maintains the peace. Lord Vishnu is believed to possess attributes like the Sankh, Lotus, Vajra and a club. Sarnga and Nandaka are also His weapons. He is the destroyer of evil at the time of war between the Suras and Asuras and believed to have ten incarnations. These are Matsya, Koorma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parasurama, Rama, Krishna, Budhha and Kalki. All these incarnations are supposed to have taken birth at different yugas and the last incarnation is yet to come at the end of the present yuga, the Kaliyuga.

People offer their prayers to God in different ways according to their beliefs and religion. In India, Aartis  are the main way of acknowledging the supreme power and to submit our ego and pride before God. The tradition of aarti has been present in Indian culture and Hinduism from ancient times. The term aarti   is originated from Sanskrit word Aradhana means worship. Aarti also means ‘towards virtue’. By performing aarti, we start our journey through the path of virtue, calmness and harmony. The usual way of performing aartis in Hinduism is to soak wicks in pure ghee and light lamps with them. These lamps will be circulated in front of the deity with songs or mantras as accompaniment.

Performing aarti is very significant in life of a human being. While performing this, the person looks directly into the eyes of the idol which reflects that He is superior to all living beings. Aartis are rotated clockwise and anticlockwise which indicates life is a cycle and whatever occurs in one’s daily life is momentary. Performing aarti also brings one’s self close to God and gives the effect of meditation. It means that supreme power is God and all other positions and ranks in the world are insignificant. It will make you understand that world is full of illusions and worries will pass by. Aarti is performed in all Hindu pilgrimage places.

Karnataka is home to some of the famous and pious Hindu pilgrimage places. These places are significant in Hinduism and people from many states come to visit deities to offer their prayers. Hindu pilgrimage sites in Karnataka are well maintained and good transport services are made available. All temples in these historic places perform Aartis  for Gods.

Shravanabelagola – This pious place is known for its huge statue of Gomateshwara or Bahubali. This is a Jain pilgrim center but each year devotees belonging to all religions come here. There are two famous hills named Chnadragiri and Vindhyagiri in Shravanbelagola where Chandra Gupta Maurya of king of Maurya dynasty and Bhadra Bahu swami were believed to have meditated. Every twelve years, festival of Mahamastakabhisheka is celebrated in the presence of thousand of devotees.

Mysore – Chamundi hills in Mysore is well known Hindu pilgrimage  center. According to history of Hinduism, the fierce form of goddess Shakti called Durga or Chamundi is believed to have killed Mahishasura for the good of people.

Kollur Mookambika Temple – Mookambika temple has one of the ancient temples in India with Lord Shiva and Shakti as deities. Situated in a tiny hamlet of Kolluru in Karnataka, devotees have been attracted because of power of these deities.

Photo Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/albany_tim/2044379579/