Katha Charithra:: #4

Katha Charithra:: Answer # 3

An idol of Lord Ranganatha

Vibheeshana attends Lord Rama's paatabhishekam after the war and meets Rama to bid farewell. A teary eyed Vibheeshana requests Rama that the Lord must be his guiding force so that he can rule Lanka well. Lord Rama assures him and presents him an idol of Lord Ranganatha.

The lord instructs him not to place the idol on the floor until he reaches Lanka. Vibheeshana obeys his Lord's order and dutifully carries the idol. On reaching an island formed by the rivers Kaveri and Kollidam in southern India, Vibheeshana places the island on the floor to rest for a while, forgetting his Lord's order. The idol gets fixed to the place so rigidly that Vibheeshana was not able to pick it up again. Only then Vibheeshana recollects his Lord's order and laments on the sin he has committed. Lord Ranganatha appears before him and consoles him. He asks Vibheeshana to return to Lanka and promises to guard Lanka from this place. Hence the place assumes the name Srirangam - Abode of Sri Ranganatha.

There is another interesting anecdote connected to this temple. The initial temple was built by the greater Chola king - Killivalavan about 2500 years ago. The Pallavas, later Cholas and the Krishnadevaraya empires expanded and safeguarded the temple from time to time. But the southern Gopuram of the temple was never constructed so that Lord Ranganatha's sight on Lanka is not disrupted!

Katha Charithra:: Question #4

This one is simple :)Whom did Sage Vashista fail to acknowledge as Brahmarishi?

Katha Charithra:: #3

Katha Charithra:: Answer # 2

Guptkashi

After the Kurukshetra war, Pandavas repent that they had committed sin by fighting with their cousins. They are advised to seek the blessings of Shiva, so that their sins are cleansed and their forefathers attain Mukthi.

They go to Kashi to worship Shiva. Upon reaching Kashi, they realise that the Lord has left for Kailash. Determined to seek his blessings, they go on a mission to find him in Kailash. On reaching the foothills of the Himalayas, they feel the presence of Shiva around them but are unable to locate him. They realise that Shiva was testing their determination. Finally Yudhistra locates Shiva after a long hide and seek and hence the place derives its name 'Guptkashi'; Gupt meaning secret.

Pleased by their devotion, Shiva showers his blessings on Pandavas.


Katha Charithra:: Question #3

What did Lord Rama gift Vibheeshana during the Lord's Pattabhishaka?

Katha Charithra # 2

Katha Charithra:: Answer # 1

Turmeric Paste.

There were no guards at Parvati's abode and she had to take bath. So Parvati created a doll of a small boy using turmeric paste and induced life into it. She asked the little boy to take guard at the doorstep and ordered not to allow anyone inside.

Shiva entered the abode but was stopped by the little boy. This outraged Shiva and out of anger, he chopped the little boy's head. Enraged by this act, Parvati asked Shiva to bring him back to life. But the head of the boy was severely damaged and could not be fixed with the body.

Shiva ordered his commander Nandi to go in the northern direction and get the head of the first living thing he comes across. Nandi returned with an elephant's head. Shiva fixed the elephant's head on the boy's torso and induced life into him again. Thus the boy got the name 'Gajanana'

Shiva made him the leader of his army named 'Ganas' and hence the boy also took the name 'Ganapati' or 'Ganesha'.


Katha Charithra:: Question # 2

After the Kurukshetra war, Pandavas go in search of Shiva to seek his blessings in order to cleanse their sins. Where do they meet the Lord?

Katha Charithra - Prologue

Katha Charithra

~ The Indian Folklore

If something has held our attention for a long time, I would bet it has to be 'STORIES'. We have always been fascinated by stories. No wonder cinemas, books, news, theatre occupy a major portion of our lives.

Indian history and mythology is an ocean consisting of interesting stories and hence there is never a dearth for drama. Every kind of character can be found in our history. All powerful Shiva, his better half in the true sense Parvati, the master strategist Krishna, Maryada Purushotam Rama, the loyal wife Sita, the varana sena, the divine and knowlegeable Rishis, the mighty Arjuna, the lawful Dharma, the woman personified Draupadi, the cunning Shakuni, all conquering Ashoka and Raja Raja Chola and the list never ends...

Having grown up listening to these stories, our mythology has always fascinated me, just like you! This is an attempt to recollect and relish a few of those stories from the vast ocean of Indian history and mythology.

To make this more interesting, let us have this in Question and Answer format.
I would be posting a question regularly. Please post your answers in the comments section. I would post the answer and the relevant story in the the next post.

I promise to be as regular as I can!

Looking forward for your support and encouragement!


Katha Charithra:: Question # 1

Going by our tradition, lets start with Ganesha! :)

What paste did Parvati use to create Ganesha?