I have written articles on the Gotra, the Hindu System of tracing Lineage, with a List of Brahmin Gotras and Brahmin Surnames in India.
I have also published Vaisya and Kshatriya Surnames.
Shiva, Image credit.www. stephen Knapp.com
Often I receive mails and calls to verify whether a Gotra belongings to Brahmins and I have been replying.
I shall be writing a Post on How to identify Brahmin Gotra.
In the course of answering these questions I was struck by one fact.
That there is No Shiva Gotra is not found among Brahmins, despite Shiva being considered as a Brahmin because of Function and Vishnu as Kshatriya because of the same yard stick, that of protecting us.
And Subrahmanya is considered as the best among the best of Brahmins-Su+Brahmanya.
One does not find Rama and Krishna Gotras among Hindu community.
I have written on this, explaining the reason.
Then why Shiva is left out, even though He is described as a Brahmin?
1.Shiva is truly a Ayonija, never born of a womb.He appears from nowhere and disappears.
He does not have progeny ,like Rama or Krishna.
2.The term Brahmin denotes one who realizes Brahman by self efforts.
Shiva being Para Brahman Himself, He need not realize.
He is without attributes, Nirguna.
Hence to belong to a Brahmin Gora he should have realized Brahman which is not the case with Him.
Hence no Shiva Gotra among Brahmins.
In comparison between Rama and Krishna. while Rama was aware of Himself as Brahman occasionally, Krishna was all the time aware of it and He, like Shiva did not need to Realize Himself.
And Krishna’s Children were killed and He was left with no progeny, consequent to Gandhari’s Curse.
However Shiva Gotra is found among communities other than Brahmins for it had been a practice to denote Shiva as the Father when one is unable to trace the ancestry.
Anoter intersting point to note is that though Viswamitra was not a Brahmin by birth we find Viswamitra Gotra among Brahmins indicating that caste is by disposition and character and not by birth.
Apart from this Rama seems to have performed Chandi Homa to defeat Ravana.
This was performed after Indrajith performed a Secret Yaaga to defeat Rama.
After this Lakshmana was rendered unconscious by Inderjith.
‘Rama had performed “Chandi Homa” and invoked the blessings of Durga, who blessed Rama with secret knowledge of the way to kill Ravana. On the day of Ashvin Shukla Dashami, Rama defeated Ravana and rescued Sita. Thus it is termed as Vijaya Dashami. Based on the inferences from Valmiki’s Ramayana, Kalidas’s Raghuvamsa, Tulsidas’s Ram Charit Manas, and Keshavdas’s Ram Chandra Yas Chandrika as well as common perception in India, Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana returned to Ayodhya on the 30th day of Ashwin (19–20 days after Vijayadashmi). To mark the return of Lord Rama, in the evening, the residents of Ayodhya lit their city with millions of earthen lamps (called Deepak). Since then, this day is celebrated in India as Deepawali’
Benefits of Chandi Homa.
Chandi Homa can aid one in clearing off the obstacles and hurdles on the path to success.
Goddess Durga, the chief deity of this Homa will gift you with the power to balance one’s passion and dispassion, indulgence and denial.
With her blessing, one will be able to manifest your true divine Self that unites selfishness and selflessness.
By performing this Homa, one can invoke the energy of Goddess Durga, who will help you master your life!
Steps in Performing Chandi Homa.
A Chandi Homa is not an ordinary Homa and has to be performed by expert priests.
Duraga Sapthashati will be chanted.
Ganapathy pooja: Prayers are offered to the Lord Ganesha seeking his blessings. Worshipping Lord Ganesha clears all the obstacles and paves way for one’s success. So, before any auspicious beginning, Lord Ganesha is first addressed with pooja and prayers.
Kanya pooja: Kanya Pooja is one of the highlight of the Navaratri celebrations. Kanya pooja is a ritual of worshiping girls (aged 6 – 10) who haven’t attained puberty, symbolizing the Kanya Kumari (prepubescent) form of Goddess Chandi or Durga. This ritual is specially performed to recognize the divine feminine power vested in a girl child.
Anugna Sankalpam: Seeking the consent of the Goddess to perform the Yagna which is a sacred ritual. The ritual specifies for whom, where and when the yagna is performed.
Punyahavachanam: Purifying the mind, body and place before the yagna is performed. Water is sprinkled with mango leaves around the place with the chanting of Mantras.
Kalasa Sthaapana: Kalasa means a pot. It is made of metal and is filled with water and placed with Mango leaves immersed in the water. Pooja is made to this Kalasa invoking the blessings of the goddess.
Saptashati Parayanam: Chanting of Durga Saptashati Slokas (700 sanskrit poems) and worshipping the various forms of the Goddess. Bhairava Bhali (offering): After the chanting of Slokas, offering is made to Lord Bhairava (an incarnation of Lord Shiva) to signify the ritual.
Ganapathy pooja: Prayers are offered to Lord Ganesha before beginning the Yagna
Punyahavachanam: Pooja and mantras are chanted to purify the place and people who are performing the Yagna
Gho pooja: The Sanskrit word Gho means Cow. In Hinduism, Cow is considered to be a holy animal embodied with divine qualities. Pooja and prayers are offered to the cow before the yagna, seeking her blessings for prosperity.
Suhasini Pooja: Worshipping an elderly married woman (whose husband is alive) and performing Pada (traditional foot washing ceremony) pooja to invoke her blessings.
Dampathi pooja: Dampathi means couple. Prayers are offered to an elderly couple with Padha pooja.
Brahmachari pooja: A Brahmachari is an unmarried man. He is held in high esteem in Vedas and Puranas for several reasons. Padha pooja and prayers are offered to a Brahmachari seeking his blessings.
Chandi yagna: The fire ritual is performed with the chanting of Mantras and Slokas.
Sumangala Dravyaahuti: Auspicious materials such as Saree, turmeric, sandalwood powder, kumkum (vermillion) etc. are offered to the Goddess invoked in the Fire.
Purnaahuti: Any Yagna becomes complete only when this ritual is performed. Betel leaves, Betel nuts, Coconut, Kumkum (red colored auspicious powder), Turmeric, Flowers, Fruits, a coin, a small bag of herbs are put together in a silk cloth and tied. The bag is dropped into the fire seeking the blessings of the Almighty.
Maha Deeparadhana: A ritual to honor the Goddess. Lights are lit using camphor and are used to glorify the Goddess. It is also called Aarthi and is performed during the end of the pooja.
Sita, wife of Lord Rama, without whom the Greatness of Rama would not have been possible was born in Sitamarhi,India.
Rama Breaks the Bow , marries Sita.
However there are disputes regarding this issue.
Punaura Dham,Sita Marhi,Birth Place of Sita.
Punaura Dham, is about 5 Kms. west of Sitamarhi. Saint Pundrik’s Ashram was situated here. This place also claims the honour of being the birth place of Hindu Goddess, Sita.About 1.5 Kms. Off he railway station and the bus stand, this is the birth place of Sita. Janaki-Kund is adjacent south of the temple.
Though there are differnt versions about Sita’s birth, I shall be taking the version of Valmiki and Kamban in Tamil, where it is stated that Sita was born in a Field when King Janaka was ploughing the field.
As for as Ramayana is concerned Valmikis version is accepted as authentic as it is Original and more pertinently Valmiki lived during Rama’s Reign and helped Sita deliver Her Children Lava and Kusa in his Ashram.
Here is a Temple , dedicated to Shiva, constrcuted by Janaka, father of Sita,on the occasion of Putra Yeshti Yajna. His temple was named as Haleshwarnath temple.
This is Haleshwarnath temple.
This is 3 Kms. noth-west of Sitamarhi.
Sita Marhi is also the place where Draupadi was Born.
It is 8 Kms. north-east of Sitamarhi. It is said that after her marriage, sita was carried in a palanquin to Ayodhya by this route. An old Banyan tree is still standing here under which she is said to have rested for a while..
Bodhayan-Sar
This is the sacred place where Maharishi Bodhaya had written number of epics.
Bohodayana authored the sutras for the Vedas.
The great sanskrit Grammarian Panini was one of his disciples.
How To Reach Sitamarhi.
National Highway 77 connects the area to the Muzaffarpur district and Patna to the south. Sitamarhi has road connections to adjoining districts, of which the major examples are National Highway 77 and National Highway 104. State highways link it toMadhubani district in the east and Sheohar in the west.
Direct train services are available from Sitamarhi railway junction to places such as New Delhi, Kolkata, Varanasi, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Kanpur.
The nearest airport to Sitamarhi is the Jaiprakash Narayan International Airport which is about 120 kilometres (75 mi) distant.
Sitamarhi is connected to cities in and around Bihar by state-owned transport services. Some private buses operate between Patna to Sitamarhi and Paktola Village to Patna.
In Buxar , Chitravan Rama killed Tadaka and to get rid of the sin of killing a woman, though she was a Demon, Lord Rama took bath in Baskar Theertha, also called Rama Rekha Ghat, on the banks of the river Ganges.
He also worshiped Lord Shiva here and Rama’s foot prints are found here.
Rama visited this place after His coronation to perform a Yagna and drew the outlines for the Yaga Shala.
As He used the tip of His arrow to draw the Lines, this place is called Rama Rekha Ghat.
This place is 118 km from Patna.
Airport.Patna.
Railway Station.Buxar.
Well connected by train/Bus from Varanasi, Patna.
Vaisnava literature mentions Buxar by the names Siddhashram, Vedgarbhapuri, Karush, Tapovan, Chaitrath, and Vyaghra Sar.
The name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit vyaghra and sar (tiger and pond).
Some relate this to the tiger-like face of Rishi Vedshira, the outcome of a curse placed upon him by the sage Durvasha. His tiger-like countenance was restored after Vedshira bathed in a holy tank, which became known as Vyaghrasar.
Buxar finds reference in Ramayana, Brahma Purana, Varah Purana and other ancient literature. During the pre-historic period, Buxar was the abode of eminent saints and the battlefield of Gods and demons while in modern history it was a combat zone against foreign invasions. Buxar has many historical sites and is famous as a town of temples.
Archaeological findings at Buxar have established a link of Buxar with ancient civilizations of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.
The historic battle of Buxar was fought here in 1764. It heralded the establishment of the rule of the East India Company in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent.
Shiva Temple, Brahmeshwar, Buxar,
Brahmeshwarnath Temple: The temple is a revered place in the region, which is also referred to as Baba Brahmeshwarnath Dham. Positioned on BuxarPatna road, the shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees throng this temple in large numbers during the month of Shrawan.
Katkauli Ka Maidan : Situated on the outskirts of Buxar town on the main road to Patna, the historic Battle of Buxar was fought in Katkauli Ka Maidan in 1764. The battle broke out on 22 October 1764 and the site is considered as a signpost in the history of British colonial rule in India.
Sita Ram Upadhyaya Museum : Opened in 1979, this museum is one of the largest repositories in Buxar that house varieties of artifacts, rare stone sculptures, coins, articles of terracotta, etc.
Chausa : 10 km west of Buxar town, Chausa is associated with Chyavan Rishi. A historic battle was fought here in 1539 in which the Afghan King Sher Shah Suri vanquished Mughal Emperor Humayun.
Chausa hoard : At this site in Buxar, the first known bronze hoard was discovered in the Gangetic valley. The hoard was a set of 18 Jain bronze articles dating back to the period of Sungas and Guptas.
Buxar Fort : The magnificent Buxar Fort, built by King Rudra Deo in 1054, is situated on the bank of river Ganga in the town of Buxar. Also worth seeing are Rameshwarnath temple, Gauri Shankar temple, Nath Baba temple, Waman Ashram, Ramrekha Ghat, Navlakha temple, etc. Bihariji Temple : Bihariji Temple, one of the most revered places in the region, is located 15 km from Buxar town at Dumraon. Constructed in 1825 at the behest of the Maharaja of Dumraon estate, the temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, who is also known as Bihari. Shehnai maestro Bharat Ratna Ustad Bismillah Khan, a native of Dumraon, used to play Shehnai in this temple during his childhood.
Temples around Buxar.
1. Laxmi Narayan Mandir Ramanuj Kot , Temple
Buxar 0.81 K. M.
2. SHRI LANGDUBIR BABA KA MANDIR , Temple
Buxar 2.56 K.M.
3. SHRI DURGA MATA MANDIR Bharauli , Temple
Ahirauli,Buxar 3.53 K. M.
4. SARASWATI SHISHU MANDIR KOTWA NARAYANPUR , Temple
Buxar 4.40 K. M.
5.Jharkhande Baba ka Mandir , Temple
Kamarpur,Buxar 6.82 K. M.
6. RATNA DEV BABA MANDIR , Temple
Dalsagar,Buxar 7.87 K. M.
7. Lal bharti baba mandir , Temple
Sonbarsa,Buxar 8.66 K. M.
8. kali ma ka mandir , Temple
Buxar,Buxar,Buxar 8.74 K. M.
9. SHIV MANDIR HARDIAN RAI , Temple
Kamarpur,Buxar 9.16 K. M.
10. Kali maa ki Mandir , Temple
Kamarpur,Buxar 10.9 K. M.
11. Durga Ji Ka Mandir , Temple
Chausa,Buxar 12.2 K. M.
12. kali Mandir , Temple
Balihar,Simri,Buxar 14.5 K. M.
13. Shiv mandir of sikraul logical dhiru , Temple
Banarpur,Chausa,Buxar 14.8 K. M.
14. SIKRAUL MASJID LOGICAL DHIRU , Temple
Banarpur,Chausa,Buxar 15.0 K. M.
15. MAIN MANDIR OF SIKRAUL logical dhiru , Temple
Banarpur,Chausa,Buxar 15.0 K. M.
16. Shiv mandir , Temple
Simri,Simri,Buxar 16.0 K. M.
17. Shah Sb Masjid Takiya Muhalla , Temple
Dumraon,Dumraon,Buxar 17.7 K. M.
18. Bihari jee ka mandir , Temple
Dumraon,Dumraon,Buxar 18.2 K. M.
The Ramayana mentions about 196 places visited by Lord Rama.
These places are found even today in various parts of India.
Rama Fighting Tadaka.
Rama traveled by foot for about 2000 miles through the length and breadth of India.
This consists of his trek with Viswamitra towards Mithila, where he married Sita.
Enroute he, along with Lakshmana, his brother defended the Yagna of Sage Viswamitra.
Rama Kills Thadaka.
Earlier Viswamitra demanded of King Dasaratha to send Rama and Lakshmana with him to defend the Yagna that was being disturbed by Rakshaasas.
Sage Vasishta advised Dasaratha, who was nervous about sending young boys to fight against the Demons,that whatever Viswamitra is planning it would result only in the welfare of Lord Rama.
Viswamitra took th boys along and initiated them the Two Mantras,Phala and Athiphala, the former to ward of hunger, the latter to prevent sleep and grant vigour.)please read my Post on these Mantras)
Vishwamitra and the two princes came to Tataka’s forest and the sage ordered Rama to kill the demoness to free the area from her terror. Rama was hesitant to kill her as she was a woman and initially maimed her, chopping off her hands so that she could not attack him further. Using her demonic powers, she changed form, disappeared and continued to attack them whilst remaining unseen. Sage Vishwamitra advised Rama, that as a prince, he had to carry out his duty regardless of his own personal reservations about killing a woman. Rama swiftly pierced her heart with his arrows. This act gained the young princes the blessings of not just Vishwamitra but also the blessings of all of the assembled sages in the yagnashala.
Tadka Vadh – Buxar, Bihar: After crossing the holy Ganga, Shri Ram and Lakshman reached a dense forest where demoness Tadka lived. The dreadful forest was known as Tadkavan. Shri Ram ended Tadka’s reign over the forest by slaying her and freeing its inhabitants from terror. The forest stretched between Bharoli and Baksar in Bihar. Shri Ram performed the first task of his “avtaar” (incarnation) here by destroying the evil demoness.
The place where Rama killed Thadaka is in Buxar, Bihar and the spot where he killed Thadaka is called Charitra Vana.
Before reaching Charitra vana, Viswamitra along Rama and Lakshmana stayed in Hajipur,where a statute of Lord Rama is found along with his foooprints,
Haji Shamshuddin, king of Bengal erected a mosque in Hajipur .
He also established Hajipur as his capital.
Raja Thodarmal also lived here.
Siddhashram: Buxar, Bihar: Rishi Vishwamitra’s Siddhashram was located not too far from Baksar. Siddhashram, according to Adhytma Ramayan was a social ashram where religious instruction was imparted to people. Shri Ram and Lakshman sojourned in the ashram for three days after Shri Ram killed Mareech and Subahu, the demons who were tormenting Rishi Vishwamitra by dirtying his Yagna (fire sacrifice) with bones and blood. Lakshman destroyed an entire demon force brought by Subahu while Shri Ram took on the mightY Mareech, son of Tadka, the demoness he had done away with earlier. There are villages existing today on the banks of the River Ganga with the names Mareech and Subahu.
Ahilya Uddhar – Ahroli, Buxar, Bihar: Three kilometers from Buxar in the northern direction is the village Ahroli. Rishi Gautam had his ashram here.
According to Ram Charita Manas it was here that Shri Ram delivered Ahilya, the beautiful wife of Rishi Gautam, from a curse of her husband, which had turned her into stone. When Shri Ram and Lakshman left Siddhashram they crossed River Ganga and River Sonbhadra and set foot on the soil of Ahroli village, which still exists in Buxar district.
Every year, on the 18th day of Pausha month (Dec/Jan), a large number of people throng to Ram Rekha Ghat for Makar Sankranti fair. Popularly known as Khichari mela, the fair draws thousands of people who come to the ghat to take bath in the Ganges.
Mahabharats’ Nakula’s temple is in Charitra vana.
Buxar Thadaka Vana is 118 km from Buxar Railway Station and 1.5 km from Buxar Railway Station.
Shiva, Image credit.www. stephen Knapp.com
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