AvantiUjjain: 2020

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Mother Narmada's statue in Makar Vahini Temple in Jabalpur from 11th Century.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Makravahini+Temple

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Sudama

Narayan Gaon---Ujjain --Ancient name “ Avanti” , “Avantika” This village is located on the outskirts of Ujjain. Formerly a forest this was the place where Krishna and Sudama spend their time on a stormy night. A small temple of Krishna Sudama is built here. Two trees of sudama and Krishna nearby are said to be of the same wood they were each carrying for their gurus service.

http://onlybrahmin.blogspot.com/search/label/Storm

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Bhoja

https://www.google.com/search?q=Bhojeshwar

King Bhoj was a worshipper of the Goddess Saraswati. He believed in scholarship, not of the kind that stays buried in books, but the kind that strives1 relentlessly to extend the limits of human knowledge. In his court, the greatest honour was accorded to learning and the people who pursued it. He himself was well-versed in language and grammar, poetry, sculpture , architecture, science and engineering, astrology4 , music, theatre and the highest questions of ethics and philosophy.

Once, Bhoj went walking out in the countryside with a very learned scholar from a neighbouring kingdom. As they walked both were deeply immersed in literary and philosophical discussion. This caused them to lose their way. Arriving at a village where an old woman was tending her field, stopped and asked,

“Respected Mother, where does this road go?” “The road does not go anywhere. It stays here. Only the people who walk on it will go somewhere.
So tell me, who are you?” said the women in response. “We are travellers,” they replied. The old woman smiled. “ Travellers there are only two. The sun and the moon.
Tell me truly, who are you?” “Sister, we are guests,” said the scholar. “Guests there are only two. One is wealth and the other is youth.
Now tell me which are you?” said the old woman. “We are kings,” said King Bhoj. “There are only two Kings. One is Indra (king of the gods) the other is Yama (god of death). Tell me now, which one are you?” enquired the old woman. King Bhoj and his companion were by now truly astonished.
“We... we are two of great ability,” they said. “There are only two of great ability,” said the woman. “One is the earth, the other is woman. But you look neither of them.
Say now, who are you?” “Sister.... we are sadhus (holy men),” said King Bhoj, getting desperate. “You do not look like Sadhus to me,” said the woman nodding her head in disagreement. “Anyway, sadhus there are only two,” she went on, “one is modesty , the other contentment,”
Now the scholar plucked courage and spoke up. “Sister, we are pardesi (not the local people, migrants) But the woman would have none of it. “Pardesi you are not,” she said. “Only the soul and the leaf of a tree can be pardesi. Now, who are you?” The King and the scholar were becoming increasingly lost for words in the face of the woman’s astonishing replies. But how could they admit defeat in a duel of words with a mere old woman?
It was the scholar’s turn to say something. “Sister...we are clever,” he said. “There are only two clever things in this world-endues and water. Which one are you?” Countered the old woman
At this, both King Bhoj and the visiting scholar groaned” and said “We are defeated.” “There are only two defeated people in the world”, said the woman” One is a man burdened with debt, the other is the father of a girl without good qualities. Why do you not tell me truthfully, who are you?”
Throwing up their hands in despair, King Bhoj and the scholar said, “What can we say, sister? The truth is, we seem to know nothing. It is you who know it all.”

At these words the face of the old woman broke into a smile then she turned serious In a kind and soothing voice she said Both of you had become too proud of your wealth and learning. I knew right from the beginning that you are King Bhoj and he is your scholarly guest. This was my way of bringing you back to earth. Go on this path,” she gestured, “That is the way back to Dhar”. The King and the scholar bowed deeply to the poor old woman who had helped open their eyes to their own faults. They had much to think about on their way home.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Bhoja
http://mptbc.nic.in/books/class11/enggt11/ch2.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=+Raja+Bhoja
https://www.slideshare.net/search/slideshow?searchfrom=header&q=Bhoja

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Siddhasena

Siddhasena Divakara came upon a Linga temple in Ujjain. He slept at the temple with his feet towards the Linga, which is a symbol of Shiva. King Vikramaditya had him beaten for the sin on request of the devotees. However, with miraculous powers, Siddhasena Divakara made that the King's wife received the beating instead of him. He was then set free. He broke the Linga by raising his hand and an idol of Parshvanatha emerged from there.

https://www.google.com/search?q=siddhasena

Saturday, April 4, 2020

Bhatti

https://www.google.com/search?q=Bhatti+Vikramarka

chandravarna

a Brahmin should not marry a woman belonging to other community. In case a situation arises where in he is compelled to do so he should, at the same time marry four women each belonging respectively to

Brahmin,
Kshatriya,
Vaisya and
Sudra communities.

https://www.google.com/search?q=chandravarna

Bhartruhari

Bhartruhari was so much immersed in romance and sex, that he wrote 100 stanzas on 'the art of romance and sex', now famously called 'Shrungara Shataka'. All the stanzas are on sensuality and sexual pleasure.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Shrungara+Shataka

Author
https://www.google.com/search?q=Bhartruhari

Bhartruhari realized the fleeting nature of the pleasure from worldly objects, he wrote a poem about the incident which changed him in his Niti Shataka. (100 stanzas on Moral conduct)

"(She) whom on I contemplate, is not passionate for me, she loves another;
that whom she loves, loves another;
One whom he loves, loves another.
Refuse (disdain to) that woman, that man, Cupid, me."

Deep Vairagya (dispassion) arose in him, he gave up the desire for his wife, realizing his mistake he brought his brother back and crowned him, renouncing the world he lived rest of his life as an ascetic. Bhartruhari wrote Niti-Shataka and Vairagya Shataka during his later years.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Niti-Shataka
https://www.google.com/search?q=Vairagya+Satakam