Category Archives: Mythology
~ Significance of Nataraja Pose (Dance of Shiva) in Today’s Life
Beautiful short clips (four) on Significance of Cosmic & Divine Dance of Lord Shiva (called Tandava) carved in the form of famous Nataraja (also means King of dance) Statue pose, which also depicts source of the cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution of the Universe (life).
Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik is a famous Indian Mythologist and Author of many books on Mythology & Spiritual Philosophy. His wisdom has helped many to understand the ancient mythological stories and their scientific/practical significance today!
Watch Significance of Nataraja pose by Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik
Dance of Shiva – The Birth of Nataraja
Dance of Shiva – The Two Aspects of Shiva
Dance of Shiva – Impermanence & Dance
More about Dr. Devdutt Pattnaik, Visit : devdutt.com and @youtube
My other Related posts about Mythology and Business management:
- Globalization: Understanding India’s pattern
- Indian Approach To Business Management by Dr. Devdutt Pattnaik
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‘Nataraja’ Statue – Dance of Lord Shiva
Image credit: “en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nataraja”
Sources: YouTube, CineMatixFilm Youtube clip, Google search, Dr Devdutta Pattnaik talks and his website, TED talks, Wikipedia and all other hyper-link mentioned in the post.
~ World Heritage: Ancient Temples Outside India
This is a collection of some famous and ancient temples at outside India locations (e.g Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal,etc.). Full list of Hindu Temples listed in UNESCO World heritage Sites with photos can be found here . Find list of all famous temples in India & Abroad at – Link-1 and Link-2. For beautiful photos of various temples visit this.
CAMBODIA
- Angkor Wat Vishnu Temple , Cambodia
Angkor Wat- Lord Vishnu temple dedicated to Hindu God , Lord Vishnu, by mighty Khmer Empire Hindu King Suryavarman II in 12th century at Combodia. Angkor Wat is the largest Hindu Temple and largest religious monuments in the world! UNESCO description about this temple is given here Angkor wat is also considered as one of the Wonders of the world and also finalised in list of New 7 Wonders of The wrold.
Another Clip . More detail and good documentaries , inside temple views here : Angkor Wat 3D documentary and The face of Cambodia-Documentory
INDONESIA:
Hinduism in Indonesia is also called as Agama Hindu Dharma or Javanese Hinduism in Indonesia. A role of Hinduism in modern Indonesia is described in the article . Main religion practiced in Bali is Agama Hindu Dharma or Hinduism. Bali region has Balinese culture ome Indonesian native language sites on Hinduism. More on this can be found in local language here . Find more information see List of hindu temples in Indonesia . Below is some of the popular temples in Indonesia.
- Prambanan Temple , Indonesia
Prambanan Hindu Temple , is also one of the largest Hindu Temple outside India. Temple is dedicated to three basic Hindu Gods ( Trimurti) Lord Brahma (The Creator), Lord Vishnu (The Preserver) and Lord Shiva ( The Transformer). There are about 237 small temples in same campus apart from main big temple. This old historical temple is included in World heritage site by UNESCO. See UNESCO description and other details about Prambanan HinDu Temple here . More details in news about temple here See this nice documentary on Prambanan from world guide sites below:
Another clip of Prambanan Temple here
- New 1000 years Old Hindu Temple Found in Jakarta-Indonesia
- Mother Temple of Besakih, Bali, Indonesia
This is believed to be 14th century temple and important / holiest religious place for Bali Island people. There are series of Balinese temples at Bali. More details and history about Mother Temple of Basakih is here
Watch Clip. Another clip for Besakih temple here
- Tahan Lot Temple – Bali, Indonesia
Tanah Lot Temple is one of 7 Balinese sea temples in Bali which were founded during 15th – 16th century by Hindu religious figure and traveller Danghyang Nirartha
Watch Clip . Another beautiful clip and mythological play (Ramayana, i guess) from devotees for visitors see here and Tahan Lot Festival event here
- Tampak Siring -Holy Water Temple Indonesia
Tirta Empul – Tampak Siring Temple has history way back in year 882. Pilgrims take holy dip at water resources inside temple, see clip
- Bali lost hindu temple in Rainforest
See clip for this neglected temple in rainforest here
- Sukuh Hindu Temple – Indonesia
Details about Sukuh Hindu Temple in Indonesia here
MALAYSIA
- Batu Caves Lord Murugan Temple , Gombak, Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia
Batu Caves are situated in lime stone hills and temple is dedicated to Hindu God Lord Murugan. Famous festival called Thaipusam is celebrated there in Malaysia.
Another clip to batu cave temple : Clip-1 , Clip-2
NEPAL
- Kathmandu Valle ( Hindu Temples) Nepal
Nepal has very ole history and rich heritage. Kathmandu Valley has various Hindu and Buddhist temples. UNESCO description about Kathmandu Valley can be found here
Other famous Temple in former India region:
Katasraj Shiva Temple built somewhere around 600 AD is dedicated to Hindu God Lord Shiva It is believed that Pandavas (5 brothers) from Hindu epic Mahabharata have spent 4 years here.List of other Hindu Temples in former India region can be found here
Good clips and documentaries of Katasraj temples : Clip-1 Clip-2 Clip3 Clip-4 Clip-5 Clip-6
Photo links : Link-1 , Link-2 , Link-3
Brief Introduction to Hinduism
For detail introduction to Hinduism see : Part 1/ 5 , Part 2/5, Part 3/ 5. Part 4/5, Part 5/5
Other related news coverage:
- Country wise list of Hindu Temples Outside India
- Photos & Information: Hindu Temples Listed As World heritage by UNESCO
- 6 Hindu Temples Nominated for World heritage List
- Hindu-Buddhist Era in Indonesia by UNESCO data: Trowulan – Former Capital City of Majapahit Kingdon
- Hindu Temple Architecture
- How To Visit Temple : What you will see and what it means
- UNESCO World heritage list as per the country is given here
Image Credit: “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Angkor_Wat.jpg”
Sources: YouTube, Wikipedia, google search and other hyperlinks mentioned in the post.
~ Universe Creation: Similarity Between Indian Mythological Story of “Samudra Manthan” and “Big Bang Theory”
As a science student, when our teacher was teaching concept of Big Bang Theory in middle school, I got a feeling that I was not learning this concept first time and actually heard similar things earlier! That strange feeling of “I heard this before” forced me to give stress to my brain. After lots of introspection, I was surprised to recollect my memories regarding Indian (Hindu) mythological stories my mother used to tell me when I was a kid!
Yes, the Samudra Manthan and Vishnu Avatar stories from vedas and Puranas…..how Lord Brahma created the world and how Samudra Manthan formed some important universal things like The Moon, Wealth , The Poison , Plants, Medicines, animals, etc ….and how Lord Vishnu along with Lord Shiva helped in this process.
Since long I was thinking to relate or compare both ancient mythology and modern scientific concepts. Here I have tried to relate some of the things that Samudra Manthan (roughly means “Turbulence/Churing activity”) mentioned in vedas and Puranas to modern days knowledge of Universal creation. This is my limited understanding of Hindu mythology and scientific theories. I believe, since ancient time scholars/rishis were trying to tell you all complex scientific things in life as Mythological stories or Sanskrit philosophical texts – Upanishadas. Probalby , it is a simple way of telling common people about such hi-fi scientific concepts!
Samudra/Sagar Manthan (Ocean Churning for Universe creation) Activity as mentioned in Hindu Mythology,where you can see Moon/Water/Life/Plants/Animal/Metals/Laxmi/Fire, etc were created
This is just an attempt to relate mythology with scientific proofs available now. My interpretation may be true, partially true or may be completely wrong. But, I am here just trying to see mythological concepts from Science student’s perspective! See chart below:
Indian Mythological story of “Samudra Manthan” Vs Big Bang Theory of universe formation
| Substance formed as per “Samudra Manthan “ | Scientific proofs from Big Bang Theory /Universe formation | |
| Things formed | What it represents/Meaning | Things formed |
| Chandra | The Moon (Stars and planets) | The Moon (Stars and planets) |
| Airavat /Uchchaihshravas | Elephant / Horse (Animals) | Animals/ Life on the earth |
| Halahala/ Vish / Jahar | The poison taken by Lord Shiva to protect universe | Poisonous gases and particles in universe |
| Wealth | Gold | Gold (Au) |
| Silver | Silver (Ag) | |
| Diamonds | Carbon/Graphite (C) | |
| Gems | Silica (Si), Carbon, etc | |
| Other precious metals | Brass,Ferrous,Nickel, etc.See complete periodic table | |
| Kalpavriksha (Wish fulfilling tree) | Useful Tree / Plants | Trees/Plant life on the earth |
| Kamadhenu ( Wish fulfilling cow) | Cow/Animals | Animals on the earth |
| Sura ( Wine) | Alcohol/Chemicals | Chemicals/Biochemical formation |
| Parijat (The divine tree) | Tree / Plants | Trees/Plant i.e life on the earth |
Samudra Manthan sculpture at Thailand’s Airport (posted by a user on Youtube)
Samudra Manthan : See Hindu mythological story in which Gods or Positivity (Devas) and Demons or Negativity (Asuras) were churning the ocean of milk to get various important things to distribute among them later. Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva helped them.
Big Bang Theory: See National Geographic clip on youTube regarding Solar System Structure and Formation. They described how the earth /planet/ metal was formed from protons ,electrons , hydrogen and helium followed by all gases, metals and the earth.
Also see, Prof Stephen Hawking’s explanation on how solar system and earth is formed
Professor Stephen Hawking demonstrating how stars and chemicals formed due to big bang theory and then created our human body/ life on the earth.
I wonder whether we are just “Rediscovering” what was already known to mankind in ancient Vedic age! Hindus/Indians might have lost this knowledge due to lack of transmission to next generation somewhere in the past or may be due to natural calamity/deaths/tsunamis, migrations, wars, foreign invasion, bad kings/rulers, etc.
Good part , now we can read Vedas and Puranas easily from free English translated version here ( see also link 2, link 3 ,and link 4) or in any other language. Also, we have scientific knowledge and instruments to find proofs.
Image credit: “en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samudra_manthan”
Sources: YouTube, Wikipedia, Saudra Manthan ,Google search, and Other links mentioned in writing.
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