Month: February 2000

  • Dadhichi saves the Gods in Ahmadabad

    Sthala Puranas of Bharat In Ahmadabad1, on the banks of the Sabarmati River is a place called Dudheshwara. This is said to have been the ashram of a great rishi [sage] by the name of Dadhichi [also Dadhyancha2]. Different versions of Dadhichi’s story are mentioned in a number of sacred texts, among them Rg Veda,…

  • The nose of Brahma’s pot

    Legends of Kumbhakonam Sthala Puranas of Bharat Kumbhakonam and the surrounding villages are linked together through via a wondrous story regarding this particular cycle of creation. During the cosmic deluge of pralaya, Brahma prepared himself for the next cycle of creation. He put all the seeds from which creation would sprout in amrita [the elixir…

  • Why did you leave us?

    February 2000, Mumbai On the last day of Amma’s programs in Mumbai, during the Indian Tour 2000, thousands of people flocked to see Amma in Devi bhava. Regal and resplendent, Amma was overflowing with bliss throughout the bhava darshan. At the end of the Devi bhava at about 5 a.m., when Amma was showering flowers…

  • Legends of Kanya Kumari

    Sthala Puranas of Bharat The southern tip of India marks the confluence of three sacred bodies of water: the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. Here one can watch the sun rise in the east, traverse the heavens and then finally set in the west—all over the water. For thousands of…

  • The Reclining God of Tiruvanantapuram

    Sthala Puranas of Bharat The word “Trivandrum” is meaningless. It is one of the many nonsensical names to befall Indian cities during the British colonization. The Kerala capital’s real name is Tiruvanantapuram: The Revered Endless City1. The city is referred to as “endless” not because it is without geographical borders, but in reference to Ananta…

  • Mysore: the city of the buffalo demon

    Sthala Puranas of Bharat Mysore is really named after a demon—Mahisha Asura. Originally, the city was known as “Mahishuru,” which means “Mahisha’s City.” Gradually, it came to be called Mysuru, which was later Anglicized to Mysore. Mahisha is Sanskrit for “buffalo” and an asura is a type of demon. Mahisha Asura was a demon who…

  • Rama’s children raised in Wayanad

    Brahma Mystified by Vishnu Sthala Puranas of Bharat The Tirunelli Maha-Vishnu Temple Once upon a time, Lord Brahma was flying through his creation on his swan. At one point he was drawn by the beauty of a hill in what is today known as the Wayanad District of Kerala and decided to land there. (Thus…

  • Never Mind the Rain in Cherukolpuzha

    6 February 2000, Cherukolpuzha, Pathanamtitta Cherukolpuzha Hindumatha Maha Sammelan Usually when Amma is about to arrive at one of these big outdoor programs, all faces are turned towards the far end of the center aisle of whatever huge space or pandal has been arranged. Music is playing, and a long carpet has been rolled out…

  • Shivaratri – meaning and significance

    Shivaratri – meaning and significance

    Shiva is the Supreme Consciousness that illuminates the three states of waking, dreaming and deep sleep.