Michael Mcgarry and Michael Dwyer, company director and graphic designers respectively from Dublin (Ireland) and Ben Collins and Josh, IT professors from the US, dressed in white 'dhotis' performed the 'shradh' under the supervision of 11 priests led by Bechu Mishra at the Tulsi Ghat.
The westerners, aged between 40 and 55 years, performed the 'shradh' for the peace of their dead ancestors on the first day of 'Pitrapaksha' -- a fortnight of Hindi calender when it is believed that souls of dead ancestors troupe down to their successors dwellings.
The four-hour religious exercise was performed near the Hanuman temple, where Goswami Tulsidas is believed to have scripted the famous epic 'Ramcharitmanas.' ''This puja symbolises that materialistic west craving for spiritual peace can only be fulfilled at Hindu religious hotspots especially Kancheepuram and Kashi,'' said Ben Collins, who ten years back, launched a website www.pujanet.com to help westerners troupe down to India in search of spiritual peace.
''West is materially rich but spiritually empty and this is an effort to satiate the quest of west for spiritual peace,'' Collins added.
It was the seventh time that Collins had arranged a trip for spiritually thirsty westerners to India, but the very first time that such a visit was managed by him to Varanasi. ''Prior to this we only frequented Kancheepuram and this is the first time my group which strongly believes in rendering peace to our dead ancestors through Hindu rituals was in Varanasi,'' he added.
Concurring his viewpoint, compatriot Michael Dwyer maintained ''we have not performed the 'shradh' on advice of local priests, but purely out of a deep rooted belief that such ceremonies will render peace to the soul of our ancestors. Despite being Christians we believe in these ceremonies just as much as the Hindus believe.'' Prior to performing the 'shradh' on the banks of the sacred river, the western quartet had performed a five-day 'Rudra Shakti Yajna' at the Shool Tankeshwar Temple in Tarapur Tikri area of the city.
Semester Abroad in India
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Hotels
Taj Ganges Varanasi Nadesar Palace Grounds
VARANASI in 221002
VARANASI in 221002
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| Hotel Features. Guests escape to the Taj Ganges Benares for a relaxing haven from the bustling city. Large mural paintings of the rituals of the Ganges line the walls of the lobby. An outdoor pool, tennis court, jogging track and spa are all located on-site. Recreational activities include a palmist and bird watching. A complimentary continental and Indian buffet breakfast is offered each morning. Chowk Restaurant provides a coffee shop and multi-cuisine fare, while Varuna dishes up Indian cuisine and Princep Bar supplies icy cocktails. For those traveling on business, the hotel's business center, conference facilities, event catering, wireless Internet access for a fee, secretarial services and banquet space are available. Thoughtful amenities include 24-hour room service, tour assistance, complimentary valet parking, limo/town car service, dry cleaning, currency exchange and concierge services. Guestrooms. Each of the guestrooms is accessible via exterior corridors and features hardwood flooring. Amenities include bathrobes, coffeemaker, minibar, refrigerator and jetted tub. Wireless Internet access is available for a fee. Complimentary extras provided are bottled water, newspapers and designer toiletries. | ||||||
Ganga Grace
Ganga Grace is an accomplished classical Bharatnatyam dancer. A native of Croatia, Ganga has spent most of her life abroad, namely in Germany, India and USA. She has performed in India, Germany, Holland, Spain, Poland and Croatia. She has also conducted Bharatnatyam classes at the largest international dance workshop of Eastern Europe in Poland. In her performances she presents pieces which deal with relevant spiritual and philosophical concepts of mysticism. She has also done experimental work in collaboration with Joshna La Trobe (as part of the band Hummm) - choreographies in which she combines elements of indian classical dance, ballet and jazz. "Faultless in rhythm, well-etched in Adavus and subtle in abhinaya, this delineation clearly established in her mettle. The tightly woven jathis were matched by adroit footwork and it can be said without exaggeration that for a full half hour, the audience sat spellbound," reported The Statesman (an Indian daily), after a recent performance by Ganga in New Delhi.
Monday, September 17, 2007
GANGA
The Ganga, especially, is the river of India, beloved of her
people, round which are intertwined her memories, her hopes
and fears, her songs of triumph, her victories and her
defeats. She has been a symbol of India's age-long culture
and civilization, ever changing, ever flowing, and yet ever
the same Ganga.
- Jawaharlal Nehru, First Prime Minister of India, born
in Allahabad on the Ganges.
Ganga Ghats
From the snowpeaks of its source in Himalaya to its mouth in the Bay of Bengal, covering a course of about 2525 km, the Ganga river flows from south to north in a crescent form only in Varanasi. The 6.5 km (4 miles) long riverfront of river Ganga, the eastern edge of the city, possesses a unique history, specific vision of magnificent architectural row of lofty buildings and holy sites. Says Sherring (1868,p.9): "For picturesqueness and grandeur, no sight in all the world can well surpass that of Benares as from the river Ganges". There are 84 Ghats (stairways to the riverbank), forming a symbolic chain of holy sites.In archetypal terms each ghats represents 100,000 of the organic species(yonis) as described in Hindu mythologies.Thus by taking holy dips in the Ganga at all the ghats the individual soul can get purified in all the 8,400,000 species.
Among the 84 ghats the 5 described as more merit giver and sacred, called Panchatirthis, are - Asi,Dashashwamedh, Manikarnika, Panchaganga and Adi Keshava. Taking holy dip at these five ghats provides merit of bathing at all the ghats.These five ghats symbolise microcosmic body of Vishnu, respectively as head, chest, navel, thighs and the feet. Thus the area along the ghats is eulogised as Vishnu's body.
Assi Ghat :Assi Ghat, today known as Assi Ghat marks the Southern Ghat of the City Varanasi. The palatial buildings were under the patronage of Marathas during the 18th and 19th centuries. The great Saint Goswami Tulsidas composed the famous epic “Ramacharitmanas” at this ghat his soul departed for heavenly abode. The temple of Asi Sangameshwar marked with a marble plaque establishes the Puranic heritage of the site. Worship of Sanghmeshwar Mahadev after a holy dip in the sacred river Ganga is an integral part of Panchkoshi Yatra (Pilgrimage of Varanasi).
Dashashwamedh Ghat : Dashashwamedh Ghat is one of the Panchatirthis, five most sacred ghats of Varanasi. Located in the heart of the city, Dashashwamedh Ghat is divided into two parts in between exists Prayag ghat. Myth logically Lord Brahma performed ten horses Yagya here and named it Dashashwamedh i.e. Dus Ashva Medh – ten horse yagya. This ghat is presumed to be the first historically recorded site associated with the horse sacrifice performed by the Bhara Shiv Nagas King in around 3rd Century CE. Balaji Bajirao built the present form of this ghat in 1748 and later in Ca.1775 Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore. There are temples of Dashashwamedheshwar, Dashadheshwar and Mother Ganga.Since 1992, on this sacred ghat every morning and evening, with an objective to promote world peace, prosperity, social harmony, and an awareness for environmental protection Divine Ganga Aarti is organised by Ganga Seva Nidhi. Pilgrims, tourists and people partake in this mesmerizing religious and cultural event daily.
Manikarnika Ghat : Manikarnika the central points of the ghats – the very pivot of the religious life of Benaras. Manikarnika Ghat, famous for cremation has two parts – the Southern for cremation and the down stream for the other sacred activities. Start walking from the southern part, one sees the temple of Tarakeshvara , the form of Lord Shiva giving liberation (Taraka). There is the holy spot of Charanapaduka,a slab of marble representing the footprints of Lord Vishnu , and is assumed as the holiest spot in this sacred city.
Panchganga Ghat : One of the Panchatirthis, five most sacred Ghats of Varanasi. The name Panchganga is the symbol of the confluence of five rivers at this ghat, i.e. the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Saraswati and the two rivulets the Dhutpapa and the Kiran.
Panchganga Snan, a holy dip in Panchganga and lighting of Aakash-Deep (a ritual offering oil lamps to ancestors to enlighten their journey to heaven) during Karttika month and Dev-Dipavali Mahotsav on the day of Karttika Purnima are living examples of enriched cultural and religious tradition of India.
There are monastries of Ramanand the Guru of Sufi saint Kabir, Tailang Swami, Satyabhama and Vallabhacharya Ji. The Alamgir mosque in this area is a converted form of 11th century Lord Vishnu temple which was demolished and transformed into the mosque in 1673 by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The original temple of Lord Vishnu , a black marble idol is kept in nearby house of Laxman Bela, now known as Bindu Madhav temple. The idols of Lord Vishnu, Garun and Lord Hanuman are also there.
Adikeshav Ghat: Adikeshav ghat is at the confluence of river Varuna and Ganga. This ghat was the place where Lord Vishnu first placed his holy feet in the territory of Lord Shiva. The temple close to the Varuna confluence consists of the images of Lord Adikeshav, Sangameshvara, Brameshvara and Keshavaditya.
Divine Ganga
Maa, Goddess, Giver of Life, Cleanser of Sins, the Holy Ganga is no more venerated than here in Varanasi.The divine fountain that once flowed from Gomukh (the Holy Cave) in the Himalayas to Ganga Sagar (Bay of Bengal) down the centuries became an immortal witness to life and culture along its banks giving rise to the rich Indo-Gangetic Civilization.The city-Varanasi-that defies deluge (Mahapralaya), has to bear the brunt of modern civilization, growing urbanization, extreme materialism, deteriorating socio-ethical values, rising population and pollution. Today the Divine Ganga has been severely degraded and dangerously polluted. If serious and immediate steps are not taken the situation might worsen.The Ganga Seva Nidhi felt the need of the hour and emerged with the spirit of Renaissance to revive and preserve the purity, sanctity and divinity of Ganga and Kashi.
Ganga Seva Nidhi founded in 1992 by Shri Satyendra Mishra, is a philanthropic Non-Governmental Organization registered under the Amended Societies Registration Act 1860 with Registration No. 207. Ganga Seva Nidhi is committed to arouse public consciousness and create social awareness of environmental degradation and pollution with special emphasis on Ganga, Ghats and Kashi.
Ganga, originated from ‘Gomukh’, the holy cave of the Himalayas, and went on to become the heart-throb of whole northern India. Down the centuries it became an immortal witness to life and development. It gave rise to the rich Indo-Gangetic Civilization. From Rigvedic time to the present era, Ganga has been worshipped and venerated for the fulfillment of fourfold aims of life-Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. The Vedas, Puranas, Smritis and the Nibandha-Mahatmya are replete with accolades of the sacred Ganga, the purifier of all sins and remover of all ill effects of Papa, Tapa and Shapa.
To the theists or atheists, Ganga has always been a source of inspiration to Mankind. The divine river that conjure up the vision of a great civilization is an integral part of our legend, religion, culture, history, geography and environment. In its long journey, from Gomukh to Ganga Sagar (Bay of Bengal), the mighty river has been the source of sustenance for the teeming millions and weaves itself into the lives of men and the flora and fauna. The growth and development of this civilization took centuries. However, several factors, like improper planning, indiscriminate industrialization, destruction of the wetland ecosystems and lack of environmental conciousness, have been responsible over the last few decades for polluting Ganga, alarmingly. The belief that the sins can be washed away merely by taking dips in this holy water has also contributed to pollution of Ganga, Nearly six hundred kilometers of Ganga, which traverse an area of 2,525 kilometers, covering as much as a quarter of India’s landmass, is dangerously polluted. If serious and immediate steps are not taken the situation might worsen.The life-giving Ganga descended on the earth (according to a Puranic tale) for the salvation of the ancestors of King Bhagirath, who were suffering under a curse from Lord Vishnu. Her incarnation on earth was the result of an intense tapasya (prayer) of Bhagirath. If the river Ganga is to be restored to its pristine glory, of purity and divinity, and sublimity and serenity, vigorous efforts like that of Bhagirath need to be made.
Save Ganga to save Urself
Tens of thousands of Hindus come to India from many corners of the globe every year solely for Mother Ganga. Some come to submerge the ashes of their beloved in the holy river for salvation. In a few weeks, hundreds of NRIs will visit the river goddess to perform annual 'shraddhs', or prayers for the departed souls of their loves ones. Most devout Hindus visit the river to take a holy dip to wash away their sins.
But Mother Ganga has been silently dying for over 25 years. Today she is dying at the place she was born. At Gaumukh, the glacier is shrinking 20 metres every year due to global warming. At this rate, warn geologists, the Ganga would be dead in a thousand years. On a recent visit, I saw the Ganga waters clear, blue and white at Rishikesh. Just 20 km away, at Haridwar, this nectar from the gods is muddy and red as the river gets polluted and lacks oxygen.
Downstream from here onwards, the waters get really dirty and polluted. Millions bathe in it every year, cremate their dead on the riverbank, push in half-burnt corpses, bathe their animals, carcasses, and throw plastic bags with garlands and ash as offering to their 'mother'. Cities, towns and villages on its banks dump their garbage and empty their sewers. Across the plains, the industries on its banks deposit huge amounts of toxic residues and chemical wastage while pesticide residues come from riverside farms. Gradually, its water becomes severely polluted and contaminated with bacteria.
For almost 25 years, many attempts have been made by the government of India, the state governments and NGOs to clean the Ganga but with limited results. The box office success of Raj Kapoor's film 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili' in 1985, the sex appeal of its actress Mandakini and its popular songs could not rescue the river over the last two decades.
'In its 2,525-km flow, the Ganga passes through 29 cities and 70 towns,' said Vijay Bhatkar, a noted Indian scientist. 'It is alarming to see the Ganga getting polluted in its course, progressively more in every kilometre it surges through. Recognising the great importance of the Ganga, the Indian government launched the Ganga Action Plan in 1985. Although there have been some noteworthy successes in this project, it is highly alarming to see that even after 20 years of the Ganga Action Plan being in force, the Ganga still remains polluted.'
The Ganga Action Plan, funded by international donors, has achieved limited success with its 261 programmes across the entire length and breadth of the river. Under this plan, the upper regions of the Gangotri glacier are being reforested and the river is being cleaned. In February this year, a protest march was held to urge the president and the prime minister of India to form a high-powered committee to save the Ganga and the Himalayas. Nothing has been heard of this initiative since then.
Clearly a new global initiative is urgently needed in the new century to save this soul of India. The NRIs with their networking and teamwork could be the saviours. The expertise, knowledge and experience of eminent NRI scientists, environmentalists, engineers and experts in every field working all over the globe are sorely required to provide professional inputs for this mammoth task.
The powerful Hindu NRI organisations in the US, Britain, the Middle East, East Africa and the Far East can launch, coordinate and implement this project in this era of internet and instant response. If these NRI organisations can spend millions of dollars to construct beautiful temples across the globe, they can also pitch in their resources to save the most sacred river for all Hindus.
This integrated 'Save Ganga' project can embark on cleaning the Ganga from its source, Gaumukh, to Ganga Sagar where it flows into the Bay of Bengal. In this challenging task, the professional advice and guidance from NRIs is crucial as they have the latest and the appropriate knowledge and solutions on how to tackle this task.
At every NRI conference, NRI professionals offer their knowledge to serve India; here is an environment project that is also spiritually very precious. More than telling the mystical stories of the origins of this sacred river as part of their heritage to their children, it is better to contribute in some form to save the river that is in dire distress. Now Mother Ganga calls NRIs in desperation to save her urgently. Will NRIs respond?
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