Instead,the central prayer chamber is a simple pillared hall with a small sanctum at one end where just a portrait of Goddess Kali, bedecked with
flowers is kept.
On the other side of the temple is a sacred tree decked with marigold wreaths and small stones tied to it using thread – a Bengali tradition to pray for
pregnancy and safe childbirth.
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The temple complex is large.
However in the center there are no permanent structures except the main temple and the water tank – the associated Shiva temple is a couple of hundred meters away, close to the entrance to the temple complex.
The Shivalingam is made of hard black stone & worshipped by the name of Shambhu aka Ruru Bhairav.
The Lingam appears to be buried – it is situated in a pit with the chamber’s marble interiors surrounding it on all sides
The lingam was once complete & protruding from the ground like normal Shivalingams.
It was broken base upwards by a Muslim soldier named Kalapathar (literally “Black stone”, perhaps referring to his physical strength or his stone-
heartedness) when Bengal was ruled by the Pathan warlord Sulaiman Khan Karrani.
(That such a thick monolith was broken to pieces speaks of the animosity Kalapathar felt for Hindus & their traditions, though it is said that he himself was a convert from Hinduism who later specialized in destroying temples & religious sites.)
Not far from the mandir’s front gate, a narrow dirt road leads away from the temple and toward Kankalitala’s cremation ground.
Walking along this footpath, one will see numerous samadhis on its opposite sides. These are the grave markers of tantriks and sadhus.
Entering the main area of the cremation ground brings you to the place where human bodies are burned.
The system for performing this activity here is different from what I have observed previously at such burning grounds as Tarapith and Manikarnika.
Instead of the typical temporary construction of a wood pyre which is then set alight, at Kankalitala there are two semi-permanent structures which are utilized.
Each is essentially a raised, open platform made from several pieces of metal girder spanning across and secured in place by two short walls. These walls are made of bricks that have been covered over with mud which, now dry, feels solid like fired clay.
Festival.
The holy month of Sawan is dedicated to Kali’s consort Shiva.
Thousands including women and children throng to the river Ganga under the collective title of “Kanwariya” to fill water in the small pots that are tied
to the slender ornamentative poles they carry on their shoulders.
The poles are decorated with miniature plastic tridents, idols of Shiva, snakes & other symbols that have been associated with Shiva according to Hindu mythology;
the Kanwariyas traditionally wear saffron for easy identification & company for walking over long distances – the whole journey, from one’s native
place to river Ganga & then to a holy spot (such as a Shaktipeetha) is performed on foot – even children as young as 8-10 walk several hundred
I am providing some Mantras for relief from mental disturbances, including Schizophrenia,Alzheimer’s,Deep depression,Melancholia, Cancer,Life threatening diseases and Possession from evil spirits.
Some might wonder why I have included possession by Evil Spirits in this category.
The answer is I have experienced this personally.
While none could cure it, including famous psychiatrists, these Mantras have cured.
I have discussed this issue with many psychiatrists and Neuro Physicians.
Their answer is’ I do not know’
Recite any of these Mantras for 45 Days, 18 times a day, begin on the sixth day of the waxing Moon, Sukla Paksha, early in the morning, Naivedya, Sakkarai Pongal.
On the day of completion feed a poor man or woman and if you can afford give them Clothes.
Cash offering is to be avoided.
Make sure you give out to those who are in need of these.
Do not inform people that you are reciting this Mantra.
Relatives of those who are afflicted may perform this.
Jagat soote creates the world
dhaataa Lord Brahma, the creator [Generator]God
harihi Lord Vishnu, the Organisor God
avati maintains
rudraha Lord Rudra, the Destructor God
Kshapayate destroys
G O D – generation – organization – destruction
The whole world [of actions] or even the fourteen worlds consists of only these three functions.
Meaning: 25.1: (Salutations to Sri Subramanya) Apasmara (Epilepsy), Kussttha (Leprosy), Kssaya (Consumption), Arsha (Piles),Prameha (Urinary diseases like Diabetes), … 25.2: … Jwara (Fever), Unmada (Madness, Insanity), Gulma (Enlargement of Spleen or other glands in the abdomen) and other formidable Diseases, … 25.3: … as also all types of Pisachas (Evil Spirits), … (when) in Your Bibhuti (Sacred Ash) contained in a Leaf, … 25.4: … sees You, Who is the Enemy of the formidable Taraka (i.e demon Tarakasura), they hasten to Run awayImmediately.
The term Brahmana means one who has realized the Ultimate Reality.
Brahmins are one of the groups of India who pray for the welfare of the people in general , are ordained to be a role model for the Society and are expected to lead the society.
In exercise of this, Brahmins have been priests,Advisers to kings(which continues even today) and in some cases have also been Kings, though this is not the function of the Brahmins.
Brahmins are called ‘Vipra’ the ‘Inspired ones’ ‘Dwija ‘ Twice , first being born physically, the second,when a Brahmin is anointed with the ceremony and practice of the Upanayana, the opening of the third Eye.
The authority for the Brahmins are the Sruthi( which is heard), the Vedas, and the Smritis(The remembered).
The Vedas are four in number, Rig, Yajur(Krishna and Shukla), Sama and Atharva.
There are many Smritis.Vasishta,Vishnu, Manu and many more.
To be a Brahmin is no Birthright.
It is be nature and character one becomes a Brahmin.
Such is the expectations from the Brahmins, the Manu Dharma Shastra sanctions 1000 times more severe punishment for Brahmin for similar offence committed by the other groups like Kshatriya, Vaisya and Sudras.
There are references to Brahmins from time of the Vedas, about 5000 years old, and in the Purans.
Pippalatha, Katyayani.Angiras,Bharadwaja,Maitri, Gargi are some of the Brahmins who composed the Veda sutras.
Maitri, Gargi and Katyayani were women.
The Brahmins were spread through out the world as were the Vedas.
Later after Sage Viswamitra consigned his sons beyond the Vindhyas to the Dakshina Desa, or Dravida, there appeared a distinction between the Brahmins of the North and those from the South.
The Brahmins from the South of the Vindhyas generally follow the Apasthamba Sutra, Apasthamba being a descendant of Viswamitra.
This sutra contains some material culled out from another great Culture the Tamils.
However there is commonality between the Brahmins from North and South.
For both of them the primary Deity is Agni, the God of Fire.
Both follow the Vedas.
Both have Upnayana, Jathakarma,marriage ceremonies up to Samskara (Death Rites)
There are minor variations in the mantras and both follow the basic 40 Samskaras.
Kalhana , in His Rajatharangini describes and assigns the geographical locations for Brahmins.
Karnataka (Kannada), Telugu (Andhra), Dravida (Tamil and Kerala), Maharashtra and Gujarat are Five Southern (Panch Dravida). Saraswata, Kanyakubja, Gauda, Utkala (Orissa), Maithili are Five Northern (Pancha Gauda).
This classification occurs in Rajatarangini of Kalhana, mentioned by Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya in “Hindu Castes and Sects.”
(1) Saraswat, (2) Kanyakubja, (3) Maithil Brahmins, (4) Gauda brahmins (including Sanadhyas), and (5)Utkala Brahmins .
In addition, for the purpose of giving an account of Northern Brahmins each of the provinces must be considered separately, such as, Kashmir, Nepal, Uttarakhand, Himachal, Kurukshetra, Rajputana, Uttar Pradesh,Ayodhya (Oudh), Gandhar, Punjab, North Western Provinces and Pakistan, Sindh, Central India, Trihoot, Bihar, Orissa, Bengal, Assam, etc. The originate from south of the (now-extinct) Saraswati River.
In Bihar, majority of Brahmins are Kanyakubja Brahmins, Bhumihar Brahmins and Maithil Brahmins with a significant population of Sakaldiwiya or Shakdwipi Brahmins.
With the decline of Mughal Empire, in the area of south of Avadh, in the fertile rive-rain rice growing areas of Benares, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Ghazipur, Ballia and Bihar and on the fringes of Bengal, it was the ‘military’ or Bhumihar Brahmins who strengthened their sway.
The distinctive ‘caste’ identity of Bhumihar Brahman emerged largely through military service, and then confirmed by the forms of continuous ‘social spending’ which defined a man and his kin as superior and lordly.
In 19th century, many of the Bhumihar Brahmins were zamindars.
Of the 67000 Hindus in the Bengal Army in 1842, 28000 were identified as Rajputs and 25000 as Brahmins, a category that included Bhumihar Brahmins.[19]
The Brahmin presence in the Bengal Army was reduced in the late nineteenth century because of their perceived primary role as mutineers in the Mutiny of 1857[20], led by Mangal Pandey.
The Kingdom of Kashi belonged to Bhumihar Brahmins and big zamindari like Bettiah and Tekari belonged to them.
In Gujarat,the Brahmin are classified in mainly Nagar Brahmin, Unewal Brahmin, [[Khedaval Brahmin]], Aavdhich Brahmin and Shrimali Brahmin.
In Haryana, the Brahmin are classified in mainly Dadhich_Brahmin, Gaud Brahmin, Khandelwal Brahmin. But large proportion of Brahmin in Haryana are Gaud (about 90%). Approximately all Brahmin in west U P are adi gaur.
In Madhya Pradesh, the Brahmins are classified in mainly Shri Gaud,
Sanadhya brahmin, Gujar-Gaud Brahmins. Majority of Shri Gaud Brahmins are found in the Malwa region (Indore, Ujjain, Dewas).
Eastern MP has dense population of Sarayuparain Brahmins. Hoshangabad and Harda Distt. of MP have a considerable population of Jujhotia (a clan of Bhumihar Brahmins, e.g. Swami Sahajanand Saraswati) and Naremdev Brahmins.
In Nepal, the hill or Khas Brahmins are classified in mainly Upadhaya Brahmin, Jaisi Brahmin and Kumain Brahmins.
Upadhaya Brahmins are supposed to have settled in Nepal long before the other two groups. Majority of hill Brahmins are supposed to be of Khasa origin.
In Punjab, they are classified as Saraswat Brahmins.
In Karnataka, Brahmins are mainly classified into Havyaka speaking Havigannada, Hoysala Karnataka speaking kannada, Shivalli and Kota speaking Tulu, Karahada speaking Marathi and have their own tradition and culture.
In Rajasthan, the Brahmins are classified in mainly Dadhich_Brahmin, Gaur Brahmin,Sanadhya brahmins, Rajpurohit / Purohit Brahmins, Sri Gaur Brahmin, Khandelwal Brahmin, Gujar-Gaur Brahmins. Rajpurohit / Purohit Brahmins are mainly found in Marwar & Godwad region of Rajasthan.Shakdwipiya Brahmins are also found at many places in rajasthan they are the major pujari in many temples of western rajasthan.
In Sindh, the saraswat Brahmins from Nasarpur of Sindh province are called Nasarpuri Sindh Saraswat Brahmin. During the India and Pakistan partition migrated to India from sindh province.
In Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, the Bhardwaj, the Dogra from Himalayan region of Indian subcontinent.
In Uttar Pradesh from west to east: Sanadhya, Gauda & Tyagi (western UP), Kanyakubja (Central UP), Sarayuparin (Central Uttar Pradesh, Eastern, NE,& SE UP) and Maithil (Varanasi), the South western UP, i.e. Bundelkhand has thick population of Jujhotia brahmins (branch of Kanyakubja brahmins: ref. Between History & Legend:Power & Status in Bundelkhand by Ravindra K Jain).
On the Jijhoutia clan of Bhumihar Brahmins, William Crooke writes, “A branch of the Kanaujia Brahmins (Kanyakubja Brahmins) who take their name from the country of Jajakshuku, which is mentioned in the Madanpur inscription.”[21] Mathure or mathuria Brahmins ‘choubeys’ are limited to Mathura area.
In West Bengal the Brahmins are classified in Barendra & Rarhi corresponding to the ancient Barendrabhumi (North Bengal) and Rarhdesh (South Bengal) making present day Bangladesh & West Bengal.
It is also said that Barendras are traditional Brahmins who practiced the art of medicinal science and surgery rather than the traditional function of being the teacher or the priest, and so many a times they are not considered true brahmins by the Rarhis, although they are their own offshoots.
The traditional accounts of the origin of Bengali Brahmins are given in texts termed Kulagranthas (e.g., Kuladīpīkā), composed around the 17th century.
They mention a ruler named Ādiśūra who invited five Brahmins from Kanyakubja [7], so that he could conduct a yajña, because he could not find Vedic experts locally.
Traditional texts mention that Ādiśūra was ancestor of Ballāl Sena from maternal side and five Brahmins had been invited in AD 1077.
Historians have located a ruler named Ādiśūra ruling in north Bihar, but not in Bengal. But Ballāl Sena and his predecessors ruled over both Bengal and Mithila (i.e., North Bihar).
It is unlikely that the Brahmins from Kānyakubja may have been invited to Mithila for performing a yajña, because Mithila was a strong base of Brahmins since Vedic age.
Another account mentions a king Shyamal Varma who invited five Brahmins from Kānyakubja who became the progenitors of the Vaidika Brahmins.
A third account refers to five Brahmins being the ancestors of Vārendra Brahmins as well.
From similarity of titles (e.g., upādhyāya), the first account is most probable.
Besides these two major communities there are also Utkal Brahmins, having migrated from present Orissa and Vaidik Brahmins, having migrated from Western and Northern India.
Pancha Dravida Brahmins.
Panch Dravida (the five classes of Southern India):
1) Andhra, 2) Dravida (Tamil and Kerala), 3) Karnataka, 4) Maharashtra and Konkon, and 5) Gujarat. They originate from north of the (now-extinct) Saraswati River.[15]
In Andhra Pradesh, Brahmins are broadly classified into 2 groups: Vaidika (meaning educated in vedas and performing religious vocations) and Niyogi (performing only secular vocation).
They are further divided into several sub-castes. However, majority of the Brahmins, both Vaidika and Niyogi, perform only secular professions.[22]
In Karnataka, Brahmins are broadly classified into 2 groups: Madhwa (followers of Shri Madhwacharya) and Smartha (followers of Shri Adi Sankaracharya).
They are further divided into several sub-castes.
The Tamil Brahmins (both Iyers and Iyengars) are also part of Karnataka Brahmin Community for ages.
Other than these groups, there are other brahmin communities viz, Havyaka, Kota, Shivalli, Saraswata etc.
Distribution of Brahmins in India
In Kerala, Brahmins are classified into three groups: Namboothiris, Pottis and Pushpakas. (Pushpakas are commonly clubbed with Ampalavasi community).
The major priestly activities are performed by Namboothiris while the other temple related activities known as Kazhakam are performed by Pushpaka Brahmins and other Ampalavasis. Sri Adi Shankara was born in Kalady, a village in Kerala, to a Namboothiri Brahmin couple, Shivaguru and Aryamba, and lived for thirty-two years.
The Namboothiri Brahmins, Potti Brahmins and Pushpaka Brahmins in Kerala follow the Philosophies of Sri Adi Sankaracharya.
The Brahmins who migrated to Kerala from Tamil Nadu are known as Pattar in Kerala.
They possess almost same status of Potti Brahmins in Kerala.
In Tamil Nadu, Brahmins belong to 2 major groups: Iyer and Iyengar.
Iyers comprise of Smartha and Saivite Brahmins and are broadly classified into Vadama, Vathima, Brhatcharnam, Ashtasahasram, Sholiyar and Gurukkal.
There are mostly followers of Adi Shankaracharya and form about three-fourths of Tamil Nadu’s Brahmin population.
Iyengars comprise of Vaishnavite Brahmins and are divided into two sects: Vadakalai and Thenkalai.
They are mostly followers of Ramanuja and make up the remaining one-fourth of the Tamil Brahmin population.
In Maharashtra, Brahmins are classified into five groups: Chitpavan Konkanastha Brahmins, Gaud Saraswat Brahmin, Deshastha Brahmin, Karhade Brahmin, and Devrukhe.
As the name indicates, Kokanastha Brahmin are from Konkan area. Gaud Saraswat Brahmins are from Konkan region or they may come from Goa or Karnataka, Deshastha Brahmin are from plains of Maharashtra, Karhade Brahmins are perhaps from Karhatak (an ancient region in India that included present day south Maharashtra and northern Karnataka) and Devrukhe Brahmins are from Devrukh near Ratnagiri.
In Madhya Pradesh the descendents of Somnath temple priests, Naramdev Brahmin, Who migrated from Gujrat to Madhyapradesh after the Mohd. Ghazni notorious forays in Saurashtra and desecration of Somnath, and sedenterized along the coast of Narmada river hence derived their name i.e. Narmdiya brahmin or Naramdevs. Guru of Adi guru Shankaracharya, shri Govindacharyaclaimed to belongs to this community who initiated him in the Omkareshwar in the bank of river Narmada. Naramdevs are in high concentration in Nimar (Khandwa and Khargone)and Bhuvana region (Harda) of Madhyapradesh.
In Gujarat, Brahmins are classified into eight groups: Anavil Brahmin, Audichya Brahmins, Bardai Brahmins, Girinarayan Brahmins, Khedaval, Nagar Brahmins, Shrimali Brahmins, Sidhra-Rudhra Brahmins and Modh Brahmins. The Modh Brahmins worship Matangi Modheshwari mata (Modhera) and are mostly found in North Gujarat and in the Baroda region.
Please read posts under Hinduism for More on Brahmins and Vedas.
I think readers might be interested in understanding this concept in simple terms.
Physics explains that we see things through our eyes in a series of images.
Eyes see these individual images as one when these images are presented to our Retina ,
“The human eye and its brain interface, the human visual system, can process 10 to 12 separate images per second, perceiving them individually.[1] The threshold of human visual perception varies depending on what is being measured.
When looking at a lighted display, people begin to notice a brief interruption of darkness if it is about 16 milliseconds or longer.[2]
Observers can recall one specific image in an unbroken series of different images, each of which lasts as little as 13 milliseconds.[3]
When given very short single-millisecond visual stimulus people report a duration of between 100 ms and 400 ms due to persistence of vision in the visual cortex.
This may cause images perceived in this duration to appear as one stimulus, such as a 10 ms green flash of light immediately followed by a 10 ms red flash of light perceived as a single yellow flash of light.[4]Persistence of vision may also create an illusion of continuity, allowing a sequence of still images to give the impression of motion”
In simple English this means that our eyes see separate images individually and connect them as one whole.
Which means that any simple single image contains the larger picture which we see as a Whole(but the whole comes later in terms of Space and Time concept, but this is overcome by our eyes!)
Based on this restriction imposed on our eyes Hologram evolves.
A hologram is a photographic picture that is composed of a great number of small parts, all of which contain the picture as a whole.
When we break up the hologram in many pieces, we end up with as many small but complete pictures of the whole.
Precisely what the Mahavakyas of the Vedas declare,
“Aham Brahmaasmi”, Iam That
“Tattvam Asi’. You Are That
“Soham Asmi’,He/It id That,
Pragyanam Brahma’Consciousness is Brahman.
The whole is in the part and the part contains the whole.
Waves form Ocean, Ocean contains the waves.
Without waves there is no Ocean,
In the absence of Ocean there is No wave.
The whole universe is in You and You are in the Universe.
To fine tune this,
Universe is(in) You and You are(in) The Universe.
I shall post more on this from Vedas on the organisation of the Mantras, Chandas, Riks,Suktas.
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