Proof is piling up on the spread of Sanatana Dharma spread throughout the world.
I am of the view that a group of people from the South of India left because of a Tsunami.
One,led by Satyavrat Manu , ancestor of Manu, left for Ayodhya to founded the Ikshvaku Dynasty.
The other led by Shiva and Ganesha left through the middle east before settling down in the Arctic, where the Rig Veda was composed.
Then a part of the group left and came back to settle down in the Sarasvati valley through the Khyber Pass.
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Ancient Inscriptions reveal that the Babylonians celebrated an annual Rathayatra Cart Festival over 2,500 years ago. In fact this festival is regarded as one of the earliest recorded such celebrations known to history.
During this 11 day festival “the statues were cleaned and received new dresses. On the next day, the festival reached its climax when all statues were brought out from their rooms and shown to the Babylonian populace. The gods started a tour through the city to the river. Here, they boarded a small fleet, that brought them to the house of the New year. The king himself guided the Supreme God Marduk, (who rests upon a winged serpent Garuda-Ananta). On the last part of the route, the ships were placed on chariots, so that the gods were driven to the house of the New year. This festival was called Akitu by the ancient Babylonians and continued for centuries not only in Babylon but in Palmyra and the temple of Baal was inaugurated on the same date as Akitu. At the beginning of the third century AD , it was still celebRated in Emessa in Syria, to honor the god Elagabal; the Roman emperor Heliogabalus (218-222) even introduced the festival in Italy.”
Research shows that today a very similar festival is celebrated annually in Jagannath Puri, Odisha in Eastern India. It is the annual Jagannath Rathayatra Festival in which hundreds of thousands of people gather to celebrate and honor Lord Jagannath, Subhadra and Baladeva.
This evidence is yet another reminder that it is Hindu India’s living ancient culture and traditions that allow us an accurate window into the past. To Know Vedic India is to Know the Ancient World in all its mystery and wonder.
It is also interesting to note that Krishna’s city of Dwaraka and Babylon both have the same meaning. Dwarka means “gateway to the Supreme” or “city of gates,” and Babylon was called Babilli in early 2nd millennium BC, meaning “Gate of God” or “Gateway of the God.”
Marduk.
Marduk (Sumerian spelling in Akkadian: AMAR.UTU 𒀫𒌓 “solar calf”; perhaps from MERI.DUG; Biblical Hebrew מְרֹדַךְMerodach; GreekΜαρδοχαῖος,[1]Mardochaios) was the Babylonian name of a late-generation god from ancient Mesopotamia and patron deity of the city of Babylon, who, when Babylon became the political center of the Euphrates valley in the time of Hammurabi (18th century BCE), started to slowly rise to the position of the head of the Babylonian pantheon, a position he fully acquired by the second half of the second millennium BCE. In the city of Babylon, he resided in the temple Esagila.
According to The Encyclopedia of Religion, the name Marduk was probably pronounced Marutuk. The etymology of the nameMarduk is conjectured as derived from amar-Utu (“bull calf of the sun god Utu”). The origin of Marduk’s name may reflect an earlier genealogy, or have had cultural ties to the ancient city of Sippar (whose god was Utu, the sun god), dating back to the third millennium BCE.
We know most of the temples have Brahmotsavam being performed.
Tirupati Balaji Temple Brahmotsavam is quite popular.
It is the time that Lord Brahma performs the worship to His Father, Vishnu from whose Navel He sprung.
In ancient temples which are reported to have been built and worshiped by the Devas, the Brahmotsavam is very powerful.
There are Temples where the devas are reorted to perform Puja or Worship to the Deity Daily in the dead of the night after Arthajama pooja(after 10 30 pm when the doors of the Sanctum sanctorum is closed.
One such temple is in Suchindram where the Devas , led by their Chief perform the worship daily.
The presiding Deity is all the Three Forms of Hindu trinity combined, Sthanu(Brahma), Mal(Vishnu) and Ayan (Shiva)
There is some interesting information from the Purans about the presiding Deity in Puri, Lord Jagannath, an Avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Jagannath means ‘One who is the Lord of The universe.
Lord Jaganath.
Apart from us,human Beings, Devas and others perform Pooja.
Devathas guard Him and His Chariot.
“On Ratha Yatra day every year, not only do people come from all over the world, but also beings from all Lokas and planets. Lord Jagannath’s chariot, known as Nandighosha, is guarded by the following devas:
1. the Flag by Hanuman from Mahatala Loka.
2. the Chariot itself by a being from Bitala Loka.
In the daily rituals of the temple this sloka is recited at the time when Lord Jagannath retires to bed. The meaning is this:
“Oh Lord Jagannath
You are king of kings
You are master of many universes
You are the controller of all creations”
The khuntia worshipper who recites this sloka then scatters flower petals up into the air to welcome all the divine beings who have come that evening to observe this ritual.
2) Kadachit Kalindi sloka by Saint Adishankar in his Sanskrit verses, “JagannathAstaka“:
Even Gods like Rama, Shambhu (Siva), Brahma the creator, Surapati, the king of Gods, Ganesh, the god of wisdom, who all belong to Devaloka, worship Lord Jagannath at Puri.
3) “Jatta Chhaya Lokamatra
Tribhubana Janata Badhate
Na Tritap”
This means that the inhabitants of all Lokas, or spheres are under the protection of Lord Jagannath. This sloka is taken from Brahma Geeta (writer not known).
The glory of Lord Jagannath is described here. He can take on any shape. He is as limitless as the sky itself. He is even beyond that.
Different Beings worship at different times.
According to the Loka they come from, they appear in different ways.
1. Patala Loka:
This is a sphere of the underworld which supports life on earth.
Vasuki, the snake who holds the world in proper balance, lives in Patala Loka.
He comes to Jagannath Temple only during special darshan times.
If he is present, there will be a loud rustle in the crowd.
2. Talatala Loka:
When inhabitants of this Loka come, there will be rays of light of various colours which can be seen by the naked eye.
These beings come in disguise of blind, lame, one-eyed, or other deformed persons.
They carry flowers in their palms to offer to the Deities, and in the crowd this can be seen easily.
3. Rasatala Loka:
If a strong wind passes through the crowd and a hot place becomes cool suddenly, beings from this Loka have come.
They often come also as children and sing loudly during Kirtan, even though they know nothing about all these things.
They smile in the crowd after seeing the Deities.
4. Bitala Loka:
Beings from Bitala Loka come as birds although not as vultures, who signify bad days ahead when they are seen.
5. Mahatala Loka:
Beings from this sphere come as animals such as cats, monkeys and dogs
. As dogs can not enter the temple, if one is spotted inside, it is said to have come from this Loka.
If this happens, it is felt that the food that day was cooked in an impure way.
All offerings must be stopped and the food to be prepared again. This dog is calledKutama Chandi.
He always disappears mysteriously.
6. Atala Loka:
Sages and saints with long beards who are deep in meditation often come from this sphere. They even walk into the temple with half-closed eyes.
Only when looking at Lord Jagannath Himself do their eyes open fully.
7. Bhutala Loka:
Those who sweep the temple floors, make garlands for the deities, prepare the wicks and lamps, make the earthen pots for the kitchen, and fetch the water are often from this region. Their duties are not hereditary, but are done purely for spiritual pleasure.
8. Loka, this Earth:
Ordinary people from all parts of this visible world come to Jagannath Temple with a vast variety of wishes, both worldly and spiritual.
The word Loka means people. Before birth all came from other Lokas, according to previous habits and activities.
They wish to go to higher Lokas, by dint of their human birth. Inside the temple they come under the influence of beings from these other spheres, who are also present there, whether they are aware of them or not.
Actually, the very purpose of human birth is to pass through all the Lokas by degree.
It is also told in ancient scriptures of India that the gift of human birth is the greatest boon God gives.
In no other Loka can a being progress spiritually.
That is why devas and demonic spirits both long to return to earth.
9. Pitru Loka:
These beings are the ancestors from the father’s side of one’s family.
They come to the temple of Lord Jagannath at dawn when there is less rush.
If one finds a man having a similar face to one’s father, he is from Pitruloka.
If one feels attracted to some unknown person, he is certainly related and has come down from this Loka.
Inhabitants of Pitruloka come to the earth as human beings.
10. Matru Loka:
These beings give the same signs of their presence here, but they are from the mother’s side of one’s family.
11. Preta Loka:
Those who commit suicide come to this Loka after death.
This is the region of bad spirits and beings of evil demonic nature.
They come inside the temple, but only to the outer portions, not into the inner altar of the Deities.
They criticise, joke, and make noise or other disturbances in spiritual gatherings there.
Their coming is signaled by a bad smell, like that of a dead body.
12. Bhuta Loka:
This Loka is similar to Pretaloka, only having the confused inhabitants who have taken their lives by consuming poison.
13. Jaksha Loka:
People in a crowd wearing gorgeous dresses are often Yakshas in disguise.
They have come to this earth for worldly comforts and bad motives, such as how to collect money from those present in the crowd.
They wear gold ornaments and precious gems to impress others.
14. Swarga Loka:
Swarga means Heaven. Beings from this sphere have this sign: In darkness, suddenly there will be light.
Many people present may experience a divine feeling without any visible reason at all.
Not flowers but petals only will be found scattered on the floor afterwards
15. Divya Loka:
When divine beings of this Loka come, auras of different colours will fill the atmosphere.
Even in darkness, these can be seen slightly. Some of the temple lamps (Dipas) may be mysteriously extinguished at that time.
Beings from Divya Loka do not come in form, but only as light and auras.
There are other signs, but mortal man cannot have concrete experiences of them.
16. Kinnara Loka:
When Kinnaras come to the temple, they come as dancing-girls.
They may be seen visibly if one’s third eye is open.
They are eight in number, the Asta Sakhis: Rambha, Urbasi, Menaka, Tilottama, Manjujosi, Rochika, Mochika and Sundaree.
They come as Devadasis also, only to dance before Lord Jagannath before He goes to bed. They are decorated in flowers only, no ornaments.
17. Gandharva Loka:
During devotional singing these beings are always present, both inside and outside the temple.
They sing in chorus spiritual songs known as Bhajans, meant only for the Deities.
If an ordinary person’s singing is especially sweet one night, or soft sweet music is heard in the midst of silence, a Gandharva is present.
According to Nada Shastra, there are ten types of divine sounds that may be heard inwardly, the two highest being the sound of the flute and OM.
18. Deva Loka:
Many gods come to Jagannath Temple to pray every night, such as Indra, God of Rain, Baruna, God of the Ocean, Vayu, God of Wind, Laxmi, Goddess of Wealth, AND Saraswati, Goddess of Wisdom.
The sign of their presence is complete tranquility and peace in the midst of a huge crowd
. It would appear as if nobody at all was there.
After they go, flowers of different varieties are usually found scattered on the floor of the temple.
19. Sura Loka:
Sura means strength, especially the divine strength of mother. Beings from this Loka come to the temple during darshan time, known as Sahana Mela.
They come in a big rush so that the crowd is forcibly pushed aside for them to proceed to the Deities without any difficulty.
20. Vishwa Loka:
Those who come from Vishwa Loka think that Lord Jagannath is just like a human being.
The worshippers of the temple who are in charge of decorating the Deities with flowers, sandal and beautiful dresses and take great pleasure in doing such spiritual things are often from Vishwa Loka.
They seem to be worldly, with homes and family life-like ordinary people but they are born to serve Brahma, the Supreme.
21. Goloka:
From Goloka come Sri Krishna Himself and the gopis.
Even though there might be a big rush inside the temple, everybody will love the gathering.
All present will feel attracted towards something unseen and smell soothing fragrances all around. In the crowd there will be more ladies than men.
Most significant of all, all will hear a mysterious sweet laughter in the air.
There are other spheres of Lokas also, such as:
1. Shiva Loka – the abode of Shiva
2. Vishnu Loka – the abode of Vishnu
3. Brahma Loka – the abode of Brahma
4. Asura Loka – the abode of demons
5. Yama Loka – the abode of Yama, the king of death
6. Naga Loka – the abode of snakes
7. Graha Loka – the abode of planets
A. From Shiva Loka: Shiva comes on Snana Purnima day to see the Bathing Ceremony of Lord Jagannath. He comes in disguise of a sage with trisula.
B. Lord Vishnu comes to see Dola Festival, or Colour Day held in the temple during Holi celebrations in the beginning of Spring.
He comes as any other devotee but he would have with him big garlands, to be offered to Lord Jagannath.
C. Brahma comes during Chandan Yatra, or Spring Festival.
He stays for twenty-one days.
He can be identified with one who recites Vedas in front of the Deities.
D. From Asura Loka: Asuras, or beings of demonic physical instincts come at the time of rice offering, especially at the time of mid-day Bhoga.
E. Yama, the King of Death: Someone from his Loka comes when a dead body is found in the premises of the temple.
As such every temple has a set of festivals and rituals.
Generally the Birth day of the God,the day when He /She conquered Evil, the important mile stone during God’s Avatar on the earth.
There are also interesting Customs and festivals associated with the Temples.
Every major consecrated Temple has a Temple Cart( Chariot) , the God is taken around in procession around the major streets of the City, there are practices in some temples in the South the daily Accounts are read out to God at the Night!
These Temple Chariot processions are famous in India..
While there are many Chariot Festivals being conducted every year,The Thirvarur and Srivilliputhur Chariot Festivals are very grand as the Puri Rath Jagannath Rath Yatra( The Journey of Lord Jagannath onthe Chariot, Puri, Orissa)
This Festival is conducted every year, every-year on Ashad Shukla Dwitiya that generally falls between the months of June-July. The festival is celebrated to commemorate the annual visit of the presiding deities of the Jagannath Puri temple to their Aunt’s house. It is believed that during this festival, Lord Jagannath comes out of their holy abode and gives Darshana (holy view) to the people…
Rath Yatra 2013 date falls on the 10th July (Wednesday) and Return Car Festival or Bahuda Jatra falls on 19th July this year. Also known as Chariot Festival or Car festival, this is one of the most awaited Hindu festivals of the state as well as the country.
The festival is also known as Gundicha Jatra, Ghosa Jatra, Navadina Jatra, Dasavatara Jatra and by a variety of other names. For the devoted and believers, it is considered the most auspicious occasion.
The festival begins with the Ratha Prathistha or invoking ceremony in the morning, but the Ratha Tana or chariot pulling is the most exciting part of the festival, which begins in the late afternoon when the chariots of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhdra start rolling. Each of these carriages have different specifications: The chariot of Lord Jagannath is called Nandighosa, has 18 wheels and is 23 cubits high; the chariot of Balabhadra, called Taladhvaja has 16 wheels and is 22 cubits high; Devadalana, the chariot of Subhadra has 14 wheels and is 21 cubits high’.
The chariots on which the deities are taken to the temple are massive pieces of art that are adorned with numerous designs & patterns. The construction of the chariots starts with the Chandana Yatra and is undertaken by carpenters known as “Maharana”, who hold hereditary rights for the same.
Further, these chariots are distinguished from each other by a set colored pattern of cloth robes such as Lord Jagannath’s chariot (Nandighosa)is covered with red & yellow robes, Lord Baladhabra’s chariot (Taladhwaja) has red & blue robes of cloth and Devi Subhadra’s chariot (Dwarpadalana) is covered with red & black cloth.
However Hinduism encourages worship Gods in Idol for, and attribution of Human properties are allowed as they are a tool to Realize God or Self.
For details please read my post ‘Gods have name and Form, Yes and No’
Birthdays of God , like Janmastami for Lord Krishna, Arudra Darisanam of Lord Siva, Pooram Nakshatra For Andal, Marriages Uthiram Nakshatra for Lord Siva and Parvati are all celebrated with grandeur.
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