Bali Tharpanam – Uru Punyakaavu

Uru Punya kaavu

Hindus believe in afterlife and rebirth, it is believed that our karmas in this life define our rebirth. The Karmas good and bad are both addressed in your afterlife, the sum total of a soul’s moral actions through its life decide its passage into afterlife, the smooth crossing of your soul through the river Vaitirini to the Pitru loka is decided based on your Karma. The movement into higher realms are decided after your meeting with Yama the God of death. It is believed that apart from your Karmas the prayers and offerings of your relatives during their lifetime aid the passage of the soul to higher realms.

The Soul or Atma is considered imperishable therefore it becomes the dharma of the descendants of the departed souls to remember them on a daily basis and on specific days poojas are conducted for them like on New moon day – Amavasya, Eclipse Days – Grihanam, Uttarayana – Dakshinayana, on their specific day of their passing –Thithi or while visiting any Theertha Sthalas. There are specific temples for Bali Tharpanam, one such temple is Uru Punya Kaavu. It is believed to be one of 108 temples built by Parasurama for the Brahmanas he relocated to the land reclaimed from the sea(Kerala).

Goddess Jaladurga is the main deity and Ayyappa and Ganapathi are other deities worshipped here. Similar to Tiruneli, this temple is also one of the places for Bali Tharpanam.

Hindus have high regard for their ancestors, the Pitras. It is believed that we are obligated to our ancestors to continue their legacy by imparting it to our children, this is our debt to the ancestors Pitra-rin. By begetting children we are enabling the Pitras to be reborn. The immortal soul is enclosed in three shells, the first is the flesh or the body that we can touch and feel, the second is the energy that the body encloses and the third is the Soul or the Atma that which is the true self or the spirit. The atma accumulates the karmic debts and assets acquired through many lives. The soul or atma is obligated to return to earth until it is free of the debts attained from Karma in past lives. Moksha is attained only then. Belief in rebirth puts the responsibility of our Karma squarely on our shoulders, our previous Karma has got us where we are today. We may not remember our past Karmas from past lives but are nevertheless responsible for it. The Bali actually means sacrifice, or daanam. The Daanam done in the name of the ancestors people in the form of food, clothes, money, land is the punya karmam. The poojas conducted are a token to the Gods to accept the daana karmam in the name of the relative concerned, and consider it for their progression into higher realms.

Fear of the unknown is perhaps the reason for religion and rituals. Fear of Death, fear of afterlife, fear of loosing your loved ones, fear of being unsuccessful, fear of performance. The endless fears of the Human mind are addressed in religion. Sense of protection is imparted by believing in the higher power and acknowledging it. Many of the Hindu rituals and poojas address our fears. Different religions address these fears differently some explain heaven and hell, Jannat and Jahannum, The Karmic cycle of life and death and the ultimate Moksha or Nirvana. Eventually the learning should be that as YOU this is the only life you have, you live in a fraction of time, time is eternal with no beginning and no end. Life goes on with or without you, so in the little time you have Live to have no regrets, Forgive, do not forget for learning come from mistakes. Life is What you make of it!

Murud Janjira - A Tale of the Invincible

Murud Janjira

No obvious entry point is visible

Murud-Janjira Fort is situated on an oval-shaped rock off the Arabian Sea coast near the port town of Murud, 165 km south of Mumbai in Raigad district of Maharastra. Janjira is considered one of the strongest marine forts in India. It remained impregnable, unconquered,  by the rulers of that time Portugese, British and the Marathas remained unsuccessful in their attempts to conquer this fort. This fort was originally a wooden structure build on the rock by local fisherman of Rajpuri, It was captured by Pir Khan, a general of Nizamshah of Ahmednagar. Later, the fort was strengthened by Malik Ambar, the Abyssinian-origin Siddi regent of Ahmednagar kings. From then onward, Siddis became independent, owing allegiance to Adilshah and the Mughals.

Only approach through water

The fort is approached by sailboats from Rajapuri jetty. The main gate of the fort faces Rajapuri on the shore and can be seen only when one is quite close to it. It has a small postern gate towards the open sea for escape. The Arabian Sea crashes relentlessly all around the fort, which lies 2 km into the ocean at Murud. The Walls of the the Murud Janjira fort stand tall at 40ft even in high tide. Remains of a once affluent city inside the fort, are a mute witness to the grandeur and the eminent ruin. Access and watch towers are an integral part of any fort and this one is no less, however because it is surrounded by water, the approach of any enemy was clearly visible and this was the added advantage.

Cannon

 The Huge cannons installed atop the fort walls are aimed at intruders. This fort also houses one of the three biggest cannons in the history of India all these put together added to the reason why they were secure from the enemies. Considered to be the only impregnable fort, the entrance and exits to this fort were always well guarded and camouflaged, restricting any enemy advances. The Fort is said to be well equipped in case of a hold up, it is also believed that there was a tunnel under water to the village, which could be used if the sea route could not be accessed. Since the fort is surrounded by the sea, fresh water was arranged for in two separate ponds. The remains of this structure speak of the bygone era beauty of the fort is unparalleled in spite of it being in a state of ruin now.

View from the Watch towers

The Ruined fresh water pools

The ruined city inside

Access to the watch towers

The ruins lie a silent witness to a glorious past, time brings to dust the glory of the fort. All that is created must be destroyed. What remains as memories of a glorious time and ruins that remind us of a time that was. However affluent, however secure, and however self sufficient with time everything changes, so did the inhabitants of this fort, who were believed to be of Abyssinian origin. 

Symbol of the power of Siddis

 With the advent of the 19^th century and the declaration of independence the Siddis are believed to have used parts of the fort until 1972 and then as the fort began to crumble moved to another fort in Murud. The Murud Janjira Fort today is in ruins, expressing the silent testimony of a grandeur lost to time. 

The unsung Heroes of Mahabharata - Hadimba Ghatotkach and Barbarika

India is a land where Mythology meets fantasy and folklore and interweaves to form the most fascinating tales that blend  myth, belief and magic into curious tales that generate a sense of awe. One such place is Kullu-Manali. Woven into the beautiful surroundings are the tales of the Mahabharata  where the characters that played an important role are said to have walked the land. Hadimba, a Rakshasa Princess, who finds only mention in passing was the First Queen of clan, married to Bhima . Although Pandavas and Draupadi are central characters of the plot and the epic is based on their story. Draupadi the Chief wife of the Pandavas is known universally, however the Pandavas each had many other wifes, who were daughters of powerful kings who would make strong allies.  The Strongest Pandava Bhima had a Rakshasa Princess Hadimba, who had a cruel brother who ruled over the Kulllu region and was a terror to his people.

Hadimba Temple

The Pandavas having escaped the House of Wax were passing through this region When Bhima fell in love with this Rakshasa Princess and on request from the people of this region did away with Hidambaswar. He married Hadimba with approval from his mother Kunti, Kunti was a far sighted stateswoman, by approving of the marriage Kunti in fugitive status attained safety and comfort from the Rakshasa clan. In addition to this the fruit of this Union was Ghatotkacha, within a year of his birth, the Pandavas left there in pursuit of their Kingdom. Hadimba, single handed brings up Ghatotkacha. very much in modern style Single Parenthood. It is much later during the war at Kurukshetra that Bhima’s powerful Rakshasa son is sought for battle with the Kauravas he proved to be very useful in the Mahabharata war, Ghatotkacha gave up his life to save Arjuna from Karna’s infallible weapon.

Entrance to temple

Ghatotkacha’s son was Barbarika,  Barbarika was a powerful and brave warrior, he was given three infallible arrows by the Gods and he came to be known as the “Bearer of Three Arrows” Barbarika Baliyadev. He expressed his desire to watch the Mahabharata war to his mother, his mother was apprehensive so Barbari evaluates the situation : The Kauravas have the invincible Bhishma, The Acharya Dronacharya, Suryaputra Karna who is an able archer and poses many an Infallible arrows, the Narayani – the Army of Narayana (Krishna) and seems to be the powerful side. On Pandava side is the Pancha pandavas, Krishna himself and the Army of Drupada and seems the weaker side. Therefore Barbari promises his mother that he will side with the losing side only in the war.Krishna disguised as a Brahmin, stopped Barbarika to examine his strength. When asked how many days he would take to finish the war alone, Barbarika answered that he could finish it in one minute, with just three arrows.

He demonstrates the power of his arrows to Krishna, they decide to use the leaves of a peepal tree under which they are having the conversation, Krishna quietly plucks a leaf and hides it under his foot, with his first arrow he marks all the leaves of the Peepal tree, with his second arrow he destroys all that is marked and with his third arrow he can destroy all that is not marked but is a part of the tree, the last arrow pierces Krishna’s foot. When Krishna is injured he tells Barbarika that the promise to his mother will be difficult for him to keep because the battle could not end without destroying everything as with each day the winning sides would change and Barbarika would be forced to side with the losing side and thus bring about total destruction. The Only way to avert this situation and keep his word is for him to give away his head. Krishna reveals his Vishwaroopam to Barbarika  and gives him a boon that he can watch the head can watch the battle of Mahabharata from atop a hill. Thus Barbarika sacrifices his head and the grandson of Rakshasa Princess Hidamba also sacrifices himself for the cause of the Pandava war for Dharma. Barbarika is worshipped as Khatu Shyamji. His other name is God Kamrunaag and is treated as the Biggest and main god in District Mandi, in Himachal Pradesh. A pond and a temple are situated in Kamru hill in Sundernagar, District Mandi.  He witnessed the entire battle of Kurukshetra from the hill which is now known as Khatu Shyamji, located in Khatu village in Sikar District, Rajasthan.

War, love and Peace - Kurukshetra II

Peaceful Village at Kurukshetra

As Leo Tolstoy writes in “War and peace”  The strongest of all warriors are these two — Time and Patience. All violent reforms deserve censure, because they can never do away with evil as long as men are what they are; and therefore, it is a part of wisdom not to employ violence.  It's not given to people to judge what's right or wrong. People have eternally been mistaken and will be mistaken, and in nothing more than in what they consider right and wrong.

Monument near Jyothisar

Mythology is filled with examples of the results of war be it the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Whether it is personal war or war for dharma, War for land or riches the violent results of war are never good for the winning side as well. Cause and effect of the war is always unfavourable. Be it God or ordinary mortals. In the Mahabharata the Victors of the war of kurukshetra, the Pandavas lost their immediate descendants the sons of Draupadi  - Prativindhya, Shatanika, Sutasoma, Shrutasena and Shrutakarma who were killed by Ashwathama at the end of the war. In the War Ambhimanyu and Ghatothkach  were killed. Even Krishna cursed by Gandhari met his end by the arrow of an ordinary hunter. Finally after 36 years of ruling their kingdom, when the Pandavas opted for Exile and decided to walk their way to heaven, one by one they fell down exhausted and died, the first to fall among them was Draupadi and Yudishitira since he had renounced all decides not to look back or wait and advices all to continue. Draupadi preferred Arjuna among the Pandavas, (Desire was her sin).The next to fall was Sehadeva, he was proud of his knowledge (Pride is his sin). Then came the turn of  Nakula, he was really proud of his beauty (Vanity is his sin) Then came the turn of Arjuna, he was envious of all archers (Envy is his sin) then to fall was the strongest of them all  Bhima, he used to eat like crazy without serving others (Strength and Gluttony is his sin). 

Geetha updesh

Finally the one left to reach the doors of heaven was Yudhistira and a Dog that accompanied the pandavas right from the palace of Indraprastha. When the two of them reach the are stopped at the door and Yudhistira is told that only he may enter, but Yudhistira refuses to enter without the Dog. Yudhistira says that the dog was his faithful companion and he cannot abandon it, It sought his help and gave him unconditional love. The pleasures of heaven will mean nothing to him in comparison to its grief. It has done nothing to deserve abandonment and had none of the weaknesses of his wife and brothers. If it does not deserve to go to heaven, then neither do he. Indra and Gods in heaven welcome Yudhistira to heaven with his dog. The dog in mythology is a companion of Rudra, Shiva himself! Once in heaven Yudhistira sees all the Kauravas in heaven is amazed about their presence there, while his wife and brothers for their little sins are not in heaven. He questions how it is possible and is told that whoever commits sins and virtues will attain both hell and heaven. If the Sins outweigh the virtues he enjoys heaven for a brief period and lives in hell for the a longer period. If the Virtues outweigh the sins then he spends a brief period in hell and is elevated to the heavens for a larger period. So the cycle of Karma will eventually catch up. There fore the deeds of love and violence of war will not go unaccounted. We must be responsible for the pain we cause while being applauded for the love we share.

When we argue about Rama and Krishna, about righteousness and wrongness, What we forget is that what our scriptures teach us is that – there is good and evil in the world, one is not independent of the other, and they are but two sides of the same coin. Every person has a mix of both good and evil in us. Our persona is exhibited based on the part of us predominates the other. This makes us the Hero or the Villian. To be elevated to the status of God does not absolve us of our persona. The Avatars are human beings who are elevated to a Godly status to make us understand the rules of nature. Ultimately to win one must loose and to have lost is not the end. Time knows no beginning and time knows no end.