VALMIKI

The original composer of the story of Sri Rama was Valmiki, who was called the original poet (Adikavi) and a seer (Rishi). He was called Adikavi, the word kavi meaning one with a revolutionary vision. Rishi (seer) is one who has seen truth.

The man who was called Valmiki in his later years was not a wise man by birth, nor was he born in a family of learned persons.

Ratnakara was a highway robbery. One day he dared to waylay Narada, a celestial seer, who was the mind-born son of Brahma. Narada enquired of him, why he was tormenting others and committing the cardinal sins of way-laying and murdering people. Ratnakara replied, “I commit these heinous crimes, in order to support my wife and children. I know my life is sinful, but, what can I do? I cannot do anything else”. Narada put counter-question to him, “Your wife and children partake of food earned out of this sinful profession. Will they share the wages of your sin and the punishment that will be yours here-after?”.

Ratnakara wanted to consult his wife and children on this matter of primary importance. He tied Narada to a tree and ran home to ask his people. “You enjoyed the wealth I bought for you. Do you accept a part of sins which I had to commit in order to earn that wealth?”. They replied, “We are concerned with the wealth which you bring us. We do not care what means you adopt to earn it. And we are not a party to your crimes. That is your own doom”.

Ratnakara was shocked. Wisdom dawned upon him the relatives were only to share the gains but not to stand by him in his hour of retribution. He ran back to Narada, apologised for his present crime and sought means of atonement of his past misdeeds.

Narada, the compassionate, wanted to teach him a method of coming out of his past. He taught him the name of God-“Rama”. But Ratnakara, the illiterate and uncultured hunter could not utter the simple word ‘Rama’. All that he could utter was ‘Mara’. Narada asked him to chant repeatedly whatever form of the word he could, but instructed that he should do it with utmost faith-shraddha.

Then Narada went his way. Ratnakara went on chanting ‘mara mara’ which turned into ‘Rama, Rama’. He identified himself with that holy sound and lost consciousness of his body. He turned his mind inward and meditated upon the word and the sound. His earnestness and simple faith coupled with his intense urge to see truth helped his growth inwardly. He was not aware of external world. An ant-hill grew and covered him. As he attained spiritual maturity from an ant-hill, he got the name Valmiki-the sage of the ant-hill.

Sri Rama is the manifest form of the world-sound ‘Rama’. Ratnakara chanted the sound form of God and realised God’s Truth-consciousness-Bliss form. He saw Rama as Atma Rama, his own superior self. Once again Ratnakara, now Valmiki, approached Narada and learnt the story of Rama on earth. He composed the Ramayana in pure and original words. Valmiki’s life is the first proof of the greatness of Rama’s name and of the glory of the Ramayana.

The event of the Ramayana took place in the Tretayuga-the second cycle.

By

S.Jayaprakash

 

When Jesus was thirty years old, he traveled through Palestine and told people about God. He said that God was like a loving and forgiving father. Once when Jesus was surrounded by a crowd, he narrated the story of the prodigal son.

A rich farmer had two sons. One day, the younger son came to him and asked for his share of the wealth, so that he could have a good time. The loving father could not refuse. Later, the son packed his belonging and set off on a horse with the wealth.

A few days later, he reached an unknown place and bought himself a splendid house. He spent his money buying clothes for him self and expensive gifts for his new friends. He threw many parties. Musicians played at these parties. The guests enjoyed the free food and wine at his house.

Soon he ended up appending all his wealth. To pay his debts, he had to sell his house. Sad and alone, he searched for a job to earn money any buy food. However, there was a drought in that country and people return gave him some food. Sometimes, the young man even ate a share of the pig’s food. Miserable and sad, he missed his loving father and his comfortable home, where everyone plenty to eat plenty to eat. He said to himself, `in my father’s home everyone’s need is taken care of and here I am, dying of hunger.’ He thought, he would return to his father and ask for forgiveness.

With these thoughts in his mind the young man set for his home. It was a difficult journey as he had neither money nor a horse. He grew weak and dirty and wore old, torn clothes.

His father recognized him from a distance and ran t meet him. ``Father, I have sinned against you and God,’’ cried the young man. ``Please don’t send me away.’’

The old man hugged and kissed his son. He told his cook, ``Prepare the best feast to celebrate my son’s return. He was lost but now has been found. Invite to all my friends and neighbors to share my joy’’. The son was given the best of clothes to wear and a ring too.

When he elder son returned from the fields, he saw the celebrations going on in the house. He was angry when he was told that the celebrations were for his younger brother.

The father should i? I have always been faithful to you and yet you never let me have a party with my friends. Now, my foolish brother returns after wasting everything and you have a great feast’’.

The father understood why the elder son was bitter and jealous.

``My son’’, he said gently, 11ou are always with me and I have loved you. But try and understand my feelings. Do you not realize that I have been worried ever since he went away? I know, he was foolish and wanted all the wealth. However, he has realized his mistake and I have forgiven him. He is still my son and I shall always love him.’’

The elder son, felt ashamed of himself for having doubted his, father’s love. He understood that all children are equal for loving and forgiving father.

 

 

 

Many hindu temples are there in US as many indians are settled there. The temple there are very clean and neat but also to some extent built in our traditional way.

The temple are open for seven days of the week like in India. Also all the festivals and poojas for major events like Pradhosham, Krithigai, etc are celebrated in a

similar manner here.

I have listed here the top ten temples.

1. Shiva Vishnu Temple

 

This temple is located in South Florida and was built during 90's. As the name suggests the main deities in this temple are Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.

The other deities include

 

• Lord Ayyappa
• Goddess Saraswathi
• Lord Muruga
• Goddess Lakshmi
• Goddess Andal
• Goddess Kamakshi
• Lord Krishna
• Lord Rama
• Lord Ganapathi
• Lord Anjenya
• Navagrahas

 

2. Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple

This temple is located in Pittsburgh and was built during 70's and is one of the oldest temples in US. The main deity here is Lord Venkateshwara.

The other deities include

• Goddess Lakshmi
• Lord Ganesha
• Goddess Andal
• Lord Anjaneya

3. Sri Lakshmi Temple

This temple is located in Ashland and was built during 80's . The main deity here is Goddess Lakshmi.

The other deities include

• Lord Venkateshwara along with Sridevi and Bhoodevi
• Lord Ganesha
• Lord Muruga with Valli and Devasena
• Lord Nataraja

4. Sri Meenakshi Devasthanam

This temple is located in Texas and was built during 70's . The main deities are Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswara.

The other deities include

• Lord Venkateshwara along with Garuda
• Lord Siva along with Nandi
• Goddess Lakshmi
• Navagraha
• Lord Ayyappa
• Lord Anjenaya
• Goddess Durga
• Lord Subrmanya
• Lord Ganesha

5. Hindu Temple of Atlanta

This temple is located in Georgia and was built during 80's. Two temples (Balaji temple and Shiva temple) are here. The main deities are Lord Venkateshwara and

Lord Ramalingeshwara.

The other deities in Balaji temple are :

 

• Goddess Padmavathi
• Goddess Andal
• Lord Hanuman
• Goddess Durga
• Lord Ganesha
• Navagrahas

The other deities in Shiva temple are :

• Goddess Parvathavardhini
• Lord Ganesha
• Lord  Subramanya with Valli & Devasena
• Lord  Jnana Saraswathi
• Lord  Kanyaka Parmeswari
• Lord Nagendra
• Lord Kala Bhairava

 

 

6. Sri Venkateswara Temple

This temple is located in New Jersey . The main deity here is Lord Venkateshwara along with Sridevi and Bhoodevi.

The other deities include:

• Lord Maha Ganapati
  
  
• Lord Shiva and Parvati along with Nandi
  
• Lord Vishnu along with Garuda
  
• Lord Ayyappa
  
• Lord Subramanya
  
• Lord Anjaneya
  
• Lord Rama
  
• Lord Krishna along with Radha
  
• Navagrahas

7. Sri Siva Vishnu Temple

This temple is located in Washington DC and was built during 80's . The main deities  here are Lord Venkateshwara and Lord Shiva

The other deities include:

• Goddess Andal
  
• Lord Ayyappa
  
• Goddess Durga
  
• Lord  Ganesha
  
• Lord Karthikeya
  
• Lord Krishna
  
• Goddess Lakshmi
  
• Navagrahas
  
• Goddess Parvathi
  
• Lord Rama
  
• Goddess Sarasvathi
  
• Lord Sudarshana
  
• Lord Vishnu

8.Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple

 

This temple is located in Illinois and was built during 80's . The main deity here is Lord Venkateshwara.

The other deities include:

• Goddess Lakshmi
• Goddess Andal
• Goddess Kanyaka Parameshwari
• Lord Ayyappa
• Lord Anjenaya
• Lord Satyanarayana
• Lord Subramanya
• Lord Ganapati
• Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati

9. Shiva-Vishnu Temple

This temple is located in California and was built during 70's . The main deity here is Lord Venkateshwara.

The other deities include:

 

• Lord Ganesha
• Lord Shiva
• Lord Karthikeya
• Goddess Parvathi
• Goddess Lakshmi
• Goddess Boodevi
• Goddess Durga
• Lord Rama
• Lord Krishna
• Lord Narasimha
• Lord Anjaneya
• Lord Kalabairava
• Navagraha
• Lord Vishnu

10. Malibu Hindu Temple

 

 

This temple is also located in California and was built during 70's . The main deity here is Lord Venkateshwara.

The other deities include:

 

• Lord Rama along with  Lakshman, Sita and Hanuman
• Lord Ganesh
• Lord Padmavathi
• Lord Shiva
• Lord  Krishna along with Radha
• Goddess Andal
• Lord Subramanya
• Goddess Kaniha Parameshwari

 

 

 

 

 

India's largest and most popular state is Uttarakhand, the holiest region of the Himalayas. Garhwal and Kumaon, have been named after the names of two famous and former mountain kingdoms. Garhwal consists of  district of Pauri, Chamoli, Tehri, Dehradun and Uttar kashi and that of Kumaon, consists of Nainital, Almora, and Pithoragarh. Uttarakhand has some of the famous Indian hill stations like Mussorie and Nainital, but in India, it is most famous for the Dev Bhumi, land of Gods, in Garhwal.

The Dev Bhumi

Garhwal is believed to be the land where most ancient Hindu scriptures and the vedas. The vedas refer to the land of the 'SAPTSINDHU' - the seven rivers - as the home of vedic people, the Aryans. These seven rivers are the seven streams of Ganga or Ganges which flow through Garhwal. They are the Vishnu Ganga (Alaknanda), the Dhauli Ganga, the Nandakini, the Pinder, the Mandakini, the Bhagirathi and the Nayar.

Dev Bhumi

The Ganga begins its long journey at the Gangotri glacier in Garhwal. According to the belief, the goddess Ganga was brought to earth as a result of performance of the sage Bhagirath. Lord Shiva received the full force of the great river in his matted locks so that Ganga would not fall directly upon earth and destroy it. The sage purified the ashes of 60,000 of his kinsmen in Ganga's waters and they found eternal rest. The sanctity of Dev Bhumi is not only due to Ganga. It also possesses the four mountain pilgrimage sites,  the four dhams, visit to which are believed to ensure salvation. These are Vamunotri , the source of the river Yamuna or Jamuna; then Gangotri, the source of Ganga; then Kedarnath, the abode of Lord Shiva; and finally, Badrinath, the valley of Lord Vishnu.

Road to Dev Bhumi

Hrishikesh

Hrishikesh, 24 kilometer (15 miles) from Haridwar, is a town of ashrams and temples, overlooked by tree-covered hills. At Hrishikesh, you get a strong impression of the Ganga tumbling from the mountains. Here, Chandrabhaga river joins the river Ganga.

Temple of Hrishikesh

Getting There

Hrishikesh is among the last railheads for Garhwal. Most trains terminate at Haridwar, from where Hrishikesh is 24 kilometers away and Mussoorie is 77 kilometers away. Tours are available from here to Yamunotri, 288 kilometers away, Gangotri, which is 258 kilometers away, Kedarnath at 228 kilometers, and Badrinath at 301 kilometers away.

Sights to see

In the southern part of the town are the bus and railway stations, and the tourist office, on railway station road. The northern , known as Muni-ki-reti is more attractive.

Muni-ki-reti at night

The best view of town and the river can be had walking across either of the two suspension bridges - the Ram Jhula and the older Lakshman Jhula. Many ashrams cater to foreigners who want to learn yoga and more about Hinduism. Then Divine life society founded by Swami Sivananda. Then there is Maharshi Mahesh yogi's Transcen dental meditation centre, which drew beatles to Hrishikesh in the 1960s. On the same side of the river, this ashram is a path leading up to the temple of Neelkanth Mahadev which is ar 11 kilometers from the town. Among other temples to visit are the Lakshman Temple, 3 kilometers from the center of town and the Rishikund and Raghunath temple where Lord Ram is said to have bathed.

Raghunath Temple

To the four Dhams

North of Hrishikesh, the road rises steeply to Narendra Nagar at 1067 metres which is the raja of Tehri's own hill station and the site of his summer palace. His capital of Tehri is somewhat 83 kilometers long from Hrishikesh and guess what, only 770 metres above sea level. It is at the bottom of the valley which in summer is nearly as hot as the plains. The road then runs along the river valley to Dharsu which is atmost 120 kilometers away , from where another road branches off to Hanuman Chatti, which is at the distance of 13 kilometers from Yamunotri. for this, you need to do trekking to reach Hanuman Chatti. Then the main road continues to uttarkashi. It is a properous town in Bhagirathi. It too have many temples but that of Lord Vishwanath is the most propersous to visit.

Then the road from uttarkashi takes you right up to Gangotri temple. This temple is over 250 years old and was built by Gorkha commander, Aman singh thapa. The roads from Hrishikesh to Kedarnath and Badrinath runs past the picturesque Deoprayag. Here, Alkananda joins the Bhagirathi from Gangotri and the river from this point is known as Ganga. Then there also rises shikhara of Raghunath temple which was established by great Hindu philosopher, Shankaracharya. Some 35 odd kilometers further , leads to valley of Srinagar, the ancient capital of Garhwal which was rebuilt after the destruction of floods.

Nainital

Nainital is divided into two parts : Tallital, at the lower of the lake and has a crowded bazaar and a bus station : Mallital, at the upper end of the lake, is the main centre of the town. The two are connected by the north mall running along one side of the lake and the soutn mall, the bridle path, along the other. Rowing boats will help you to migrate from Tallital to Mallital. If you like enjoying small boat sailing or want to have a small drink, then you should give a definite visit to boat house club, originally known as Nainital Yacht Club which was established in year 1890. This club offers temporary membership which entitles visitors to use a spacious lounge bar with its leather arm chairs, also have billiards room.

Boats on Nainital Lake

Nainital is in the bowl of mountains and to see the surrounding countryside, you have to climb to the rim of the bowl. The Uttaranchal state Astronomical observatory stands on Manora peak at the height of 1950 metres above sea level on a bridle path some four and half kilometers from Tallital bus stand. The observatory can be visited by prior appointment on certain days. You cannot or you are not allowed to visit observatory on any day on any time.

Corbett National Park

Corbett National Park is one of the finest tiger reserves in India. Also with tiger, there are other animals like elephants, leopards, crocodiles. The park covers 520 square kilometers  of deciduous forest in the himalayan foot hills. It remains open from November to June each year. The main offices of the park are at Ramnagar and here, you have to confirm your reservation so that you can visit the park. for visitors travelling without the 'full bandobast' of car, cook, utensils of kitchen and food, the place to stay is the main settlement of Dhikala, 50 kilometers from Ramnagar.

Uttaranchal tourist offices in Nainital will help you out with reservation. You can also visit kaladhungi, a place where corbett spent much of his life, and see his house which has now been converted into a museum.