Itihasa - Sacred Lores, Fables & Parables

Itihasa - Sacred Lores, Fables & Parables I aspire to shed light on intriguing narratives I have unearthed from reading some ancient scriptures

You can also follow on Instagram to see more.
13/09/2024

You can also follow on Instagram to see more.

Yogasutras : Sage Patanjali in 500 BC compiled a text containing 196 Sutras in Sanskrit which is known as Yoga Sutras. O...
05/08/2024

Yogasutras :

Sage Patanjali in 500 BC compiled a text containing 196 Sutras in Sanskrit which is known as Yoga Sutras.

One sutra forms one statement, all the statements are in Sanskrit. The word sutra literally means “thread.”

Yogasutras is also known as the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Also referred to as Ashtanga Yoga. In Sanskrit, ‘asht ‘means eight, and ‘anga’ means limbs or components.

The eight limbs are mainly: Pranayama, Asana, Niyama, Yama, Pratyhara, Dharana, Dhyana & Samadhi.

The goal of Eight Limbs of Yoga within the yoga sutras is to reach ultimate awareness.

I have tried to explain the meaning line by line for a better understanding of the same.

What is Kaliyuga & how it resembles with various mythological beliefs across other cultures as described below who have ...
23/06/2024

What is Kaliyuga & how it resembles with various mythological beliefs across other cultures as described below who have remarkable coincidences in their descriptions of their shared archetypes of the human psyche not just via mythology but also modern day historians, anthropologists and archeologists write & believe so.

- Norse culture (Present day: Scandinavia, Denmark, Norway, Sweden)
- Celtic (Present day: Ireland)
- Hopi (Present day: South West America)
- Persian / Zoroastrian (Present day: Iran)
- Ancient Indian
- Ancient Egyptian &
- Lakota / Sioux (Present day: North America)

What is Yuga and why do we need to understand this concept? The ancient sages / yogis / seers looked at time with enormo...
09/05/2024

What is Yuga and why do we need to understand this concept?

The ancient sages / yogis / seers looked at time with enormous attention. The way we are connected to the immediate planet and the solar system and the universe as a whole.

The simplest thing such as the spin of the planet is so intertwined to the human body, that the human energies, human possibilities, human destinies are all related at both internal & at a larger level.

Hence, if one is not in tune with the dharma that governs this, one keeps spinning. Unfortunately, this is the state of most human beings today, they don’t know where they are going. Let’s see a few examples below.

According to Hindu Mythology, we come across the number 108 quite much.
- The Diameter of the sun x 108 equals = Distance between the sun and the earth,
- The Diameter of the moon x 108 = Distance to the earth from the moon
- 1 Nautical mile = 60 minutes = the number of heart beats you have if you are in good health
- The Circumference of the Earth at the Equator = 21,600 Miles = equals to the number of breaths we take in a day

So, if the planet is not moving on time, it is not good for us, if we are not in tune with this, still not good place to be in.

The making of the time and the making of the human body is deep rooted.

Kinjal Makwana Salvi











Chanchula & Binduga’s story – A Skanda Purana segment – another story recited in the purana emphasising the importance o...
13/04/2024

Chanchula & Binduga’s story – A Skanda Purana segment – another story recited in the purana emphasising the importance of Shiva Purana. If a person controls himself, listens to / reads through the Shiva Purana with devotion and chants it, he / she shall enjoy extensive objects of pleasure and obtain emancipation. My take on these stories is that while one reads this / comes across this, he / she shall be able to relate to their own lives & experiences. Well that is much it intends to do, so that when we come across the similar situation ever, we shall be mindful of our actions, which is what its intention is. It is somewhat similar to mums reciting bed time stories to their little ones to teach them about emotions, relationships, morals and etc.























Devaraja's story - Skanda Purana Segment
12/04/2024

Devaraja's story - Skanda Purana Segment











'Skanda Purana' is one of the largest purana's containing 81,000 shlokas and is dated back to 600-1200 CE. Skanda is a S...
11/04/2024

'Skanda Purana' is one of the largest purana's containing 81,000 shlokas and is dated back to 600-1200 CE.

Skanda is a Shaivite literature, titled after ‘Skanda’, Shiva and Parvati’s son, 'Kartikeya'. Kartikeya is also popularly known as Murugan in the Southern India and also in the Dravidian literature.

Skanda is a war god, whose birth was to bring down the demon named, Tarkasura.

Hence, this purana is based on the birth of Kartikeya and constitutes the effects of his birth, that is the the theme of this lierature.

Skanda is grouped into various khandas (chapters / travel guides and stories of the pilgrimage places). Travels may use this as a pilgrimage travel guide. Actually, the readings of this book are similar to that of an encyclopaedia / travel book noting geographical locations of pilgrimage centres in India, Nepal, Tibet along with their related stories.

To name a few:
- Kedarnath,
- Tirupati,
- Puri,
- Badrinatha,
- Mathura,
- Varanasi,
- Ujjain,
- Dwarka and more..

So these stories are widely divided in to the following parts: Maheshwar, Vaishnava, Brahma, Kashi, Avanti, Nagar & Prabhasa.






Bookstagram










Who were Sutas? (Sanskrit: सूत)The Vayu and the Padma Purana tells us how ancient genealogies, tales and ballads were pr...
04/04/2024

Who were Sutas? (Sanskrit: सूत)

The Vayu and the Padma Purana tells us how ancient genealogies, tales and ballads were preserved.

Sutas would similarly have as traditionally bards have preserved ballads and songs as well as genealogies. We can say that should have been the tradition at that time. Suta doesn’t associate with any caste/s, as that was only a later application of this word.

Suta mentioned in the Puranas are different from the mentions they would have from the later literatures.

Like how Bards existed in various countries in the earlier times and were considered highly esteemed. Suta’s had no duties with regard to the Vedas.

Source:
1. Ancient Indian Historical Tradition, P.E. Pargitier
2. Shiva Purana, Volume 1, Translated by Dr. Bibek Debroy

Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House - MLBD : Motilal Banarasidass Publishers, Delhi
Penguin India Penguin Classics

















In my previous post, I mentioned about Veda Vyasa, the author of the Shiva Purana. What was his real name? What do we me...
30/03/2024

In my previous post, I mentioned about Veda Vyasa, the author of the Shiva Purana.

What was his real name?
What do we mean by the title Vyasa?
Who did Vyasa recite the Shiva Purana to?

Source:

Shiva Purana, Volume 1, Translated by Dr. Bibek Debroy

Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House - MLBD: Motilal Banarasidass Publishers, Delhi
Penguin India Penguin Classics

















The Structure of Shiva Purana: What is Shiva Purana? What does it consist of? How is it structured? - The Shiva purana i...
28/03/2024

The Structure of Shiva Purana:

What is Shiva Purana? What does it consist of? How is it structured?

- The Shiva purana is categorized into 7 Samhitas (books/ parts/ divisions) that talks about aspects of Shiva’s life. Beginning with Skanda Purana which derives the Rules of listening and maintaining restraint.

- Vidyeshwar Samhita: Philosophical aspects of Shiva and his devotees, importance of meditation & spiritual knowledge. Description of Kali yuga, Lingam and its greatness, Trinity concept, Mantras, Rudraksha, Yagna, Bilva, Good behaviour, bo***ge and liberation.

- Rudra Samhita:

a) Srishti khanda: Mahapralaya, Creation of this universe, Origin of Shiva and his Avataras.
b) Sati Khanda: Kama’s origin, Story of Daksha, Sati, Virabhadra’s, Dadhichi.
c) Parvati Khanda: Himachala’s story & his marriage to Mena, Story of Parvati, Taraka and Vajranga, Saptarishis. Marriage of Shiva and Parvati.
d) Kumara Khanda: Birth of ‘Kartikeya’ & ‘Ganesha’
e) Yuddha Khanda: Story of Tripura, Jalandhara, Shankhachuda, Hiranyaksha, Andhaka, Shukra, Usha, Bana, Bansura, Ganapati, Gajasura, Dundubhi Nirharda, Vidala and Utpala.

- Shatarudra Samhita: Importance of Rudra homa (sacred fire rituals), Shiva’s avataras, Ardha-nar-nara-avatara, Story of Rishabha, Durvasa & Arjuna.

- Koti Rudra Samhita: Story of Koti rudras (1000 forms of Shiva), Ansuya and Atri’s austerities, Nature of lingam, stories of Jyotirlingams, Vishnu obtains Sudarshanchakra, Difference between saguna and nirguna & the nature of jnana.

- Uma Samhita: About Goddess Uma (Parvati) and her divine manifestations. Introduction sins and types of sins, Yama’s messengers and path to hell, description of hell, how to save from being in hell, description of the 7 dvipas (islands), origin of body, masculine & feminine, what is time? About lineages of Sage Kashyapa, Manu. The Kings of Surya vamsha, Vyasa’s origin, Story of Mahishasura, Mahalakshmi, Dhumralochana, Chanda, Munda and Raktabija, Saraswati, Shatashakti.

- Kailasa Samhita: This Samhita is a conversation between Vyasa and the sages, procedures & rules of sanyasa, Yogapatta & mendicants.

- Vayaviya Samhita: About religious practices, pilgrimage & charity.

What is a Puran? The Puranas are the encyclopedia's of literally ‘anything and everything’, they includes diverse topics...
27/03/2024

What is a Puran?

The Puranas are the encyclopedia's of literally ‘anything and everything’, they includes diverse topics such as cosmogony, cosmology, genealogies of gods, goddesses, kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, folk tales, pilgrimages, temples, medicine, astronomy, grammar, mineralogy, humour, love stories, as well as theology and philosophy.

Source: Shiva Purana, Translated by Dr. Bibek Debroy

Motilal Banarsidass Publishing House - MLBD : Motilal Banarasidass Publishers, Delhi
Penguin India Penguin Classics


















Address

Mumbai

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Itihasa - Sacred Lores, Fables & Parables posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category