A trip to Omkareshwar.

True,I have a consuming passion for travelling and when the destination is a holy place I never miss it.I am someone who usually soak in the culture and scenic beauty of a new destination.
      After Mahakaleshwar temple my next destination was Omkareshwar Jyotirling in Khandwah district ,some 138 Kilometres from the temple city Ujjain. This holy site is a great choice for Hindu pilgrims. Every Hindu want to visit this holy shrine atleast once-in-a-lifetime.Omkareshwar is also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
    Early the next fine morning my rental car arrived on time and I head out to Omkareshwar. It was a special ride.The driver ,also my tour guide was very friendly and funny. Outside the road was not crowded .Except a few no more traffic was on the road.So,I easily left the Ujjain city and moved towards my destination.
  Every few kilometres of my drive introduced me to a inspiring and motivating beauty.The view was spectacular. The never ending mountains and green scenery was very attracting.After an hour drive I reached 'Sani' temple where devotees were found offering mustard oil to the Almighty. Then, a two -hour hassle free drive took me to the picturesque spot 'Omkareshwar'.
      The temple 'Omkareshwar' is located on the river Narmada. This temple belongs to Hindu religion and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.Omkareshwar looks like a part of island with water surrounding it on all sides and is connected to the main land by a bridge. Devotees also cross the river by boat .Since the island shape is like 'OM' the Hindu sacred symbol so, it is also known by name 'Omkareshwar' .To reach the temple certain number of steps has to be climbed .Here,it is also believed that the stones present in the Narmada river are also' Shiva Linga' and could be worshiped.
    On the other side of the river Mamleshwar temple is present which is also  dedicated to Lord Shiva. Hordes of tourists flock to Omkareshwar and Mamleshwar temple every year.No doubt, some moments that I have experienced while travelling would stay with me forever.

Republic Day, 2018

       26 January is celebrated as Republic Day in our country, India. On the same day in the year 1950 India celebrated its first Republic Day as the constitution came into effect.But why 26 January ?
 Because on the same day, in the year 1930 Indian National Congress proclaimed the declaration of Indian independence or purna swaraj.
       Every year foreign head of state is invited by the government of India as the chief guest to grace the occasion. The main aim that remains is to display the Indian culture ,military power and technological developments that is also the strength and backbone of any country.Different regiments of the Indian soldiers also do march-past on this occasion.
 This year Republic Day celebration is different from the previous years .Generally every year one guest is invited on Republic Day but this year Indian government is inviting two guests .At the same time ten heads of ASEAN countries have also been invited. One more important event that is taking place this year is that for the first time women power is given much significance. Women from BSF will display their stunts and acrobatics.

How 'Vasant Panchami' and the Goddess              'Saraswati'  related ?

                                          

It might surprise some but the fact remains that Indian festivals and festive seasons have their own colour, flavour and taste.Lots of changes could be seen around and excitement also attains its peak.Indeed, these festivals have got people hooked despite their busy schedule.

No doubt' Vasant Panchami ' or 'Sri Panchami' has a significant place in the long list of Hindu festivals. In Hindu mythology 'Vasant' is said to be the son of 'Kamadeva' the god of love.The word 'Vasant' marks the beginning of spring season when the climate is lovely neither hot nor cold and very touchy to body and soul.'Vasant' is also the king of seasons. Its arrival rejuvenates each and every cell and fill them with positive energy.

During this period the beauty is very captivating and captures the attention of all living creatures. On the very same day,the Hindu deity ,the goddess 'Saraswati' is worshipped all over India as well as in some countries like Nepal,Indonesia etc.The preparations for Holi also begin the same day.

 The Goddess 'Saraswati' is believed to be the goddess of learning, intelligence and knowledge. The idol of 'Saraswati' is seen seating on swan holding Veena, a musical instrument. She holds books in one hand and Veena in another.That signifies that like music we should make the reading also interesting.

 There is a belief that at the time of formation of universe there was no sound, everywhere silence persisted .Even all creatures were soundless .On 'Vasant  Panchami' the birth of sound took place by the Veena of goddess Saraswati.

It is believed that higher aspirations or wishes relating to  learning ,intelligence, art,music could not be fulfilled without the blessings of goddess' Saraswati'.
       

Martin Luther King Jr., Day (15 January)

In the world of uncertainities,no one knows who would create a history and one such example is Martin Luther King Jr.,a civil rights activist.

Born on Jan 15,1929 in Atlanta, Georgia was the second of the three children .At the early years, his parents used to call him by name Michael. Inspired by the leader Martin Luther his father named him Martin Luther king Jr.On his 89th anniversary people all over the world remembered him for his extraordinary work.
  In the United States Jan 15, is also observed as Martin Luther Day or MLK Day or King Day and is also a federal holiday .In America federal holiday means all the non-essential federal government offices are closed and at the same time federal employee also enjoy as paid holiday.
 In the real sense ,on this auspicious day people celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther king Jr.,
Many educational institutions arrange different types of programmes on this day.His struggle against racism proves that he was brave enough.Many a time he had mentioned about racial equality in his speeches.He had a strong desire to bring the blacks and the whites under one roof.He was also a civil rights activist who bagged a Nobel peace prize in young age in the year 1964.But this great and brave leader was assassinated at the age of just 39 years in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.

Lord Shiva and Jyotirlingas

 A while ago, all at once a question did arise in my brainbox who has created this universe? Are the theories, laws of science working? Or the magical powers of centuries-old saints .True, the confusion persisted for a couple of minutes and then I came out in favor of compromise. In other words ,the result was a compromise .

Think God and almost instantly you think of Lord Shiva.In the Hindu regilion there are some sixty four thousand gods and goddesses and Bramha is the creator,Vishnu is the preserver and Shiva is the destroyer. Of them the Lord Shiva is given the supreme significance.

        The Lord Shiva is the God who gets easily impressed ,even by offering Him  only water.He is also known by name 'Mahadev'.But to please this deity the devotees offer milk, water ,belu patra
(Aegle marmelos) and Datura( Datura
Stramonium) .Belu patra is very favorite to the Lord Shiva.

The Hindu mythological books  describe that on the earth the divine power of Lord Shiva lies in the Jytoirlingas.Jytoirlinga is basically a symbol or sign or structure that has the divine power or energy of the Almighty.

There is a belief that one who pays obeisance here gets the blessings of the Almighty and also get all his wishes fulfilled. Another belief is that one who simply recites the name of Lord Shiva and twelve Jyotirlingas is relieved of all sins and becomes free from the vicious cycle of life and death.

   For Hindus these Jyotirlingas are holy sites of pilgrimage. Every Hindu keep a desire to visit these sites once in their life.These sacred places attract tourists from all walks of life.Every year thousands of pilgrims from all over the world make the pilgrimage to these Jyotirlingas .There are twelve Jyotirlingas spread all over India.They are

(1)Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga--  Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.

(2) Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga---   Madhya Pradesh

(3) Vaidyanath  Jyotirlinga --  Deograh, Jharkhand

(4) Bhimshankar Jyotirlinga --Pune, Maharashtra

(5)Rameshwar Jyotirlinga---Tamil Nadu

(6) Nageshwar Jyotirlinga--- Gujarat

(7) Vishwanath Jyotirlinga--Varanasi,Uttar Pradesh

(8) Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga--- Nasik,Maharashtra

(9) Kedarnath Jyotirlinga--- Himalayan Range,Uttarakhand

(10) Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga-- Aurangabad,Maharashtra

(11) Somnath Jyotirlinga---Kathiwad district, Gujarat

(12)Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga --- Andhra pradesh also known as 'Kailash of the south'