Thursday 25 August 2016

Todays Presence And Avatars Of Lord Vishnu






The first four avatars of Vishnu appeared in Satya or Krita Yuga, the first of the four Yugas, also called 'The Golden Age', the next three in the second Yuga, the Treta Yuga, the two avatars after that appeared in the third Yuga, the Dwapara Yuga and tenth and last avatar will appear in the last Yuga, Kali Yuga. The time till completion for Kali Yuga is in 427,000 years. In the Vishnu Purana and the Bhagavata Purana, the Kali-yuga is described as ending with the appearance of Kalki, who will defeat the wicked, liberate the virtuous, and initiate a new Satya or Kalki Yuga.

Dahi Handi breaks into Guinness Records







The dahi handi celebrations in Thane reached new heights this year as the Jai Jawan Govinda Mandal from Jogeshwari made a nine-level human pyramid of 43.79 feet. The mandal’s name entered the Guinness Book of World Records. It broke the record after 21 years. The first record of highest human pyramid was completed by Josep-Joan Martinez Lozano of the Colla Vella dels Xiquets at Valls in Spain who made the human pyramid of nine levels measuring 39.12 meters. 






Mysterious Truth 

Dwarka Mythical City Found Under Water







Marine archaeological explorations off Dwarka have brought to light a large number of stone structures, which are semicircular, rectangular and square in shape in water depth ranging from inter tidal zone to 36 metres (120 feet). They are randomly scattered over a vast area. Besides these structures, a large number of varieties of stone anchors have been noticed along the structures as well as beyond 36 m water depth.



A secretive place in Vrindavan where Radha-Krishna indulge in Raas-Leela every night even today






Yes, it is true that Radha, Krishna and Gopinis appear every night in Madhuban. They dance together as they did in Dwapar Yuga.Nidhiban is surrounded by Bhusal {Tulsi} trees. In the middle of the forest there is a temple of Radha and Krishna. There is a one room Kunj also in a separate spot where Radha and Krishna take rest after dancing. The priest keeps brushes and waters every night before closing the temple. In the morning they seem to be used.

The Avatars of Vishnu


Matsya






Half fish-half man avatar. He saves the world from a cosmic flood, with the help of a boat made of the Vedas (knowledge), on which he also rescues Manu (progenitor of man) and all living beings. A demon steals and tries to destroy the Vedas, but Matsya finds the demon, kills him, and returns the Vedas.


Kurma






Tortoise avatar. He supports the cosmos, while the gods and demons churn the cosmic ocean with the help of serpent Vasuki to produce the nectar of immortality (just like churning milk to produce butter). The churning produces both the good and the bad, including poison and immortality nectar. Nobody wants the poison, everyone wants the immortality nectar. The demons attempt to steal the nectar, wherein Vishnu appears as enchantress Mohini avatar, for whom they all fall, and give her the nectar.


Varaha






Boar avatar. He rescues goddess earth when the demon Hiranyaksha kidnaps her and hides her into the depths of cosmic ocean. The boar finds her and kills the demon, and the goddess holds onto the tusk of the boar as he lifts her back to the surface.



Narasimha







Half lion-half man avatar. Demon king Hiranyakashipu becomes enormously powerful, gains special powers by which no man or animal could kill him, then bullies and persecutes people who disagree with him, including his own son. The Man-Lion avatar creatively defeats those special powers, kills Hiranyakashipu, and rescues demon's son Prahlada who opposes his own father. The legend is a part of the Hindu festival Holi folklore.



Vamana






Dwarf avatar. Demon king Bali gains disproportionately enormous powers, ruling the entire universe and abusing it. The dwarf avatar approaches Bali in the form of a monk, when Bali is trying to show off by giving alms at a sacrifice. Bali offers the dwarf any riches he wants, the monk refuses and asks for three steps of land. Bali grants it to him. The dwarf grows, in his first step takes the earth, the second all of the heavens, and for the third the netherworld where Bali returns to.



Parashurama






Sage with an axe avatar. The warrior class gets too powerful, and seizes other people's property for their own pleasure. The avatar appears as a sage with an axe, kills the king and all his warrior companions.



Rama







The prince and king of Ayodhya, from the Treta Yuga. He is a commonly worshiped avatar in Hinduism, and is thought of as the ideal heroic man. His story is recounted in one of the most widely read scriptures of Hinduism, the Ramayana. While in exile from his own kingdom with his brother Lakshman and the God Hanuman, his wife Sita was abducted by the demon king of Lanka, Ravana. He travelled to Ashoka Vatika in Lanka, killed the demon king and saved Sita.



Krishna







Krishna was the eighth son of Devaki and Vasudev, from the Dwapara Yuga. He is also a frequently worshiped deity in Hinduism and an avatar in Vaishnava belief. He appeared alongside his elder brother Balarama. Balarama is regarded generally as an avatar of Shesha. However, Balarama is included as the eighth avatar of Vishnu in the Sri Vaishnava lists, where Buddha is omitted and Krishna appears as the ninth avatar in this list. He particularly included in the lists, where Krishna is removed and becomes the source of all avatars.



Buddha







 Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, from the Kali Yuga, is generally included as an avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism. Buddha may be depicted in Hindu scriptures as a preacher who deludes and leads demons and heretics away from the path of the Vedic scriptures. Another view praises him as a compassionate teacher who preached the path of ahimsa (non-violence).



Kalki






("Eternity", or "White Horse", or "Destroyer of Filth"), will be the final incarnation of Vishnu, foretold to appear at the end of Kali Yuga, our present epoch. He will be atop a white horse and his sword will be drawn, blazing like a comet. He is the harbinger of end time in Hindu eschatology, and will destroy all unrighteousness and evil at the end of Kali Yuga.


Monday 22 August 2016

46 Places To Visit in GOA Including Parties








Goa is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture.


Basilica de Bom Jesus





This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a church, which is situated in Old Goa, and is an excellent example of Baroque architecture. Basilica of Bom Jesus was constructed in the year 1605


Fort Aguada





This majestic fort perched over the Sinquerim beach is an architectural marvel of the 17th century, which was constructed by the Portuguese in order to defend their land from the Marathas and the British.

Church of St. Francis of Assisi





The Church of St. Francis of Assisi is a heritage construction, which was built in the year 1660 by the Portuguese as a chapel, and was later given the status of a church.

Chapora Fort






Chapora Fort first got noticed in the movie Dil Chahta Hai. This ancient fort in North Goa offers splendid views of the adjoining Vagator beach and overlooks the Arabian Sea from all angles.

Dudhsagar Waterfalls





One of India’s most splendid waterfalls, Dudhsagar Falls are located approximately 60 kilometres away from Panjim.


Sernabatim Beach






The Sernabatim Beach is essentially a continuation of the Colva Beach. This beach is a much cleaner and quieter beach, as compared to other beaches in Goa


Galgibaga Beach






One of the most remote and prettiest beaches in Goa and Dabolim, Galgibag beach is 16 kilometres from Chaudi. Surrounded by fir trees, this beach is also popular because it is one of the few breeding grounds for Olive Ridley turtles (also known as Pacific turtle).


Naval Aviation Museum










A military museum, the Naval Aviation Museum houses exhibits which portray the evolution of the Indian Navy over the years.


Feast of St.Francis Xavier





The Feast of St.Francis Xavier is celebrated annually on December 3rd in Goa to honour the memory of St.Francis Xavier.


Hollant Beach





Located south of Bogmalo beach, this is the only beach in Goa where one can witness a beautiful sunrise (considering Goa is on the West Coast of India).


Sunburn Festival





One of Goa’s most popular festivals, The Sunburn Festival is essentially an electronic dance music festival held in Candolim Beach every year in December. Now Government are planing to schedule the event before December or after January.


Chapora Beach





One of the most serene and reclusive beaches in Goa, the Chapora beach is a sight to behold. Golden sands washed by blue waters and a coastline flanked by green hills, Chapora is perfect for some fun and relaxation.


Goa Carnival





The Goa Carnival is held every year in Goa before the beginning of the Christian sacred observance of Lent.During the Goa Carnival you’ll witness beautiful parades, dancing and music and delicious food- lots of it in fact. Since the dates of Lent are decided by the Liturgical Calendar, the season varies each year, causing a variance in the dates of the Goa Carnival as well.


Christmas and New Year





This is one of the best times to be in Goa, since almost the whole world arrives in Goa to party like the Goans do. With singing, dancing, eating and partying in full swing, Christmas and New Year is when Goa is at its festive best .

Tvoy Goa Day Tours





Tvoy Goa Day Tours arranges day excursions to areas near Candolim. The day tours give you the opportunity to once again get up close with the myriad beauties of nature and have fun while doing so.


Viceroy's Arch






Established in 1599 by Viceroy Francisco da Gama, the Viceroy’s Arch is made up of laterite and green granite. The archway was once the main street for entering Old Goa. The arch was built to commemorate the memory of the famous explorer – Vasco da Gama.


Kegdole Beach






A serene and comparatively less commercialized beach, the Kegdole Beach is one of the less frequented beaches of Goa. The beach is located at the base of a hillock in the village of Verem. The Indian Navy has a Naval Academy on the top of the hillock.

Keri Beach (Querim Beach)





Located at a distance of 30 kilometres from Mapusa and boasting of natural beauty, Keri Beach, also known as Querim Beach is popularly known as a sea shore marvel.


Baga Beach





One of the liveliest and most popular beaches in North Goa, Baga Beach is an extension of the Calangute Beach, dotted with sun decks and set amidst the picturesque Baga-Anjuna Hill.

Arambol Beach





Arambol Beach witnesses many tourists, especially foreigners, during winters (November and March). The beach is divided into two beaches – Armabol and Harmal. Besides a peaceful walk and dolphin watching at the beach, the more adventurous visitors can also go in for paragliding and other water sports.


St Cajetan’s Church







This is the most beautiful of all churches of Old Goa. The church is built in Corinthian style.


Paloem Beach






Also known as Kalacha beach or Sweet Lake beach, Paliem beach is nestled between the Keri and Arambol beaches.


Paliem Lake





Paliem is popularly known amongst tourists for its fresh water lake. Interestingly, there is mud around the lake that tourists believe is “cleansing mud.” Hence, they go for a mud bath at the lake. The lake is believed to have some magic that charms visitors into taking the mud bath.


Shantadurga Temple





As the name suggests the Shantadurga Temple is dedicated to Shantadurga, the Goddess of peace.


Reis Magos Fort





Opposite the city of Panjim, lies the village of Reis Magos located on the northern bank of the Mandovi River. The village is famous for two monuments- The Reis Magos Fort and The Reis Magos Church-the first church in Bardez.


Church and Monastery of St. Augustine






The Church and Monastery of St Augustine was built in 1572 by 12 Augustines when they arrived in the city of Goa.


Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount






The Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount is situated on the top of the hill behind St. Cajetan Church. It was built in 1510 by Alfonso de Albuquerque after his victory over the Muslim ruler Yusuf Shah.


Church Square







Also known as Municipal Garden, Church Square is a green rectangular park in the heart of the city of Panjim.


Church of Reis Magos






The church of Reis Magos was constructed in 1555 shortly after the construction of the Ries Magos Fort. It is dedicated to St. Jerome. Historians have evidence that the church was built on the ruins of an old Hindu temple.


Maruti Temple






The Maruti temple is situated on the top of Altinho hillock. It is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, the Hindu God. It is beautifully lit up at night and is visible from a distance.


Cabo Chapel






Cabo Chapel is located near the end of the Cabo Palace Fortress, where the Governor of Goa lives. Opposite the Chapel across the Mandovi River is the Fort Aguada. The Chapel has been used for centuries to overlook any ship entering the port. The view of the ocean from the Chapel is mesmerizing and a delight to the eyes.


Chapel of St. Lawrence







The reason to build the church was so that the enemies could not get a close by outpost near the fort. The festival of St. Lawrence is celebrated every year at the end of the monsoon season by sand bar clearing hence making the ships navigable for next season.


Panaji Kala Academy






The Kala Academy is a vibrant representation of the culture and art of the people of Goa who excelled in the field of art, music and drama. Several artists like Dinanath Mangeshkar, Dattaram Volvoikar, Kesarbai Kerkar, Jitendra Abhisheki, Lata Mangeshkar, Khaprumam Parwatkar, Trindade and many others have made a mark and won the hearts of millions of people.


Old Goa







Old Goa or Velha Goa (Velha means old in Portuguese) is a historic city in north Goa.The city was constructed by the Bijapur Sultanate in the 15th century and served as the capital of Portuguese India from the 16th to the 18th century. It is a heritage locality and is maintained by Archaeological Survey of India, and is a UNESCO listed World Heritage site.



Gallery Gitanjali






Gallery Gitanjali is a treat for art lovers.


Se Cathedral






The Se Cathedral de Santa Catarina is also known as Se Cathedral and is one of the most ancient and celebrated religious buildings of Goa. It is the largest Catholic Church in Asia.


Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception






Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church is one of the oldest churches of Panaji, Goa which exists from 1540. It is a very beautiful building from the Portuguese era. It has also been featured in the Bollywood picture ‘Josh’.


Patnem Colomb Beach






Situated close to the Palolem beach are the twin beaches of Patnem and Colomb. The twin beaches form a horseshoe shape. It is especially for the people who do not like crowded areas.

Goa Science Centre





Science centre is a perfect place for entertainment for the entire family.

Odxel Beach






Not very well known to the tourists, Odxel beach is the favourite picnic spot for the locals. It is a small beach but a very pleasant and quiet one.


Bambolim Beach






If you wish to taste the local Goan cuisines, you must visit the Bambolim Beach.

Caranzalem Beach





If you are a water sport enthusiast, Caranzalem is the place for you. It is the coast line of Goa.


Arossim Beach






Just to the south of Velsao Beach is the beautiful stretch of Arossim Beach. It is the home of the pioneer of Goa’s freedom struggler Tristao Braganza Cunha. The place is heaven for adventure lovers and party seekers.


Ashvem Beach






Ashvem beach is one of the laid back beaches of Goa and is never very crowded. There is plenty of accommodation around the Ashvem Beach and the most famous restaurant is the French restaurant ‘La Plage’ which is highly recommended.


Butterfly Beach






As the name suggests, the Butterfly Beach is the beach of butterflies. It is one of the most picturesque beach among all the beaches of Goa. The beach is mesmerizing. Not known to many, the place is a perfect relaxing holiday destination.


Rajbagh Beach






Beach is undoubtedly one of the best and the tidiest beaches in Goa. The sand here is clean, perfect for evening walk and the water is safe for swimming.