Smart City- ways ahead and needs

Recently, I had to go to Chennai in search of a hospital for treatment of my wife. There was a thought back in mind that since it is a metro city, it will be difficult for me to search for anything either a doctor, person or a place to stay. Thus i had to ask help from a friend. He was my classmate at Kanpur some 25 years back. It is his “kripa” help that i got a place to stay, a doctor and other facility for blood test, scan, X-Ray etc. Thanx to my friend Vinod, i am indebted to him for forever.

Once I had to appear in an exam at Ajmer-Rajasthan. I had to search for a place to stay. I stayed at Tanaji Nagar in the house of one “didi”. That didi was living in my colony and had got married in Ajmer. Thus searching their address in Ajmer reached their house.

In 1992 I appeared in an interview at a school in Shillong-Meghalaya. One teacher in campus school IITK came to rescue. Her sister lived near BaraBazar, Gaari khana means the vehicle or taxi/bus stand. I reached Shillong via Guwahati-Assam. At Guwahati i had recommendation of Dr Shukla. His sister &brother-in-law lived there. As per their instructions on reaching Guwahati i searched for the Army truck at Railway station. That took me to their location. I stayed there for few days and from there i went to Shillong by bus. I think that time there was no train link between Guwahati and Shillong.

Return journey was full of difficulties. When I reached the Guwahati railway station a announcement informed the train is cancelled. Now imagine for a person who do not have any place to stay and not much money, Will manage in this type of situation? Whole station was crowded. With three bags how could I have gone to ticket counter for checking? Fortunately uncle with whom I was staying had sent assistance to unload by luggage. Thus I was able to seek information from counter. I asked them pl book any ticket so that I can board any train and move out from this station. There was one train, I tried to board it. Somehow train moved out and with it I also moved out. Train then reached Katihar station in Bihar. There I heard that I have to get out of the train. Immediately I landed at station platform. After few hours one train came they(means few people who were boarding train) told that this train will go towards Delhi. I put my luggage in that train. Later I found those seats were reserved for Army people. When they arrived they saved me from TT. Later I found to my horror that train was going to Kanpur but I had ticket upto Varanasi?

Once I went for an interview at NIV-National Institute of virology at Pune-Maharashtra. Since i could not get any acquaintance in Pune, I had to search for a hotel. With some difficulty i got a small place to stay as per my budget. Since budget was small the place was also small. I had to stay for one night thus i managed. From Pune I went to Bombay(that time there was no Mumbai). Bus took me to Mumbai through Lonawala. The place once my father was posted when he was in Navy.

Once I went to Jabalpur for an interview at Tribal Medicine Research Centre under ICMR. There i got help from one aunt (whom we called buaji) sister of Saxena chacha. She was principal at Kendriya Vidyalaya. From her residence the road lead me to the place of interview. On the way i got to see lots of Army trucks (Shaktiman), different type of tempo, small busses and statues of Rani Durgawati. Dr Tripathi was principal director of that institute.

In 1995 I got call for interview at Goa Public Service Commission. I went to New Delhi railway Reservation counter near Connaught place. Ticket had name of station as Vasco-di-gama. I tried to ask, whether this will be the correct station. Since I had to go to Panjim, but I could not get much information. Thus i got my ticket cancelled after few days. Today, after so many years I think that I should have taken the risk. Therefore lack of correct information and lack of confidence as to where & how i will stay at unknown place lead me to cancel the trip. Somewhere at some point confidence fails.

Most difficult journey that i took was to Port Blair- Andaman Nicobar Islands in January 1996. At first, to reach Madras in 36 hours or almost three days by train was most tiring. From there a three day journey in Sea by ship to reach Andaman Nicobar Islands. There also i had to seek some help for people, on whom i shall depend for my stay. By the grace of God I found one uncle staying in Andaman Nicobar, who was in Navy with my father. In Madras I had two names with me to contact. One was Sudhi Raj Verma, whom i knew since my school days. Thus staying with him was no problem for me. Other was Mr S K Mishra working in Air force and staying at Tambaram, whom i had never met. I searched for mode of transport to go to Tambaram. There was a train, I boarded. On reaching Tambaram station on left side was the road to go to some Air force academy. Walking and walking I reached at gate and inquired about My Mishra. People asked me various questions, I had no reply. I had never seen Mr Mishra. But when I told all descriptions they managed to locate one Mr Mishra and he came immediately I touched his feet. He took me to his home. I stayed there for few days.

I took the journey of Sea(read as -the risk). On the way in the ship i got to know one Mr Shukla of Navy, posted at Port Blair. I stayed with him. He took me around the city to locate my uncle. To my surprise they stayed near the place where I was staying with Mr Shukla. Thus I could attend the interview conducted by UPSC. I was selected and joined the post at Port Blair on 7 November 1996.

The idea of smart city is a nice concept. I had to travel a lot for various reasons. First after school i travelled to appear in competitive exams at Aligarh(AMU), Benaras(BHU), New Delhi(AIIMS, DPMT), Lucknow(CPMT), then for interviews & exams for jobs etc. to Rae barely, Allahabad, Pune, Jabalpur, Shillong, Madras, Patiala, Ajmer & Port Blair. I got to see many modes of travel such as Train, Bus, Seaship but now Air also. First and foremost requirement in traveling is a place to stay. That includes daily requirement of food, accessories of basic necessity. A smart city should have adequate place of stay for visitors. As an unemployed person i needed a safe place to stay wherever i had to go for exams or interview.  Most vulnerable situation was when i did not know what to do in event of cancellation of train. We use reservation just to have a security for travel. Otherwise, if there are facilities, why we rush for reserving a ticket. Often whole one day is lost just to get a train ticket reservation. That too, if i join the queue at railway booking counter sharp at 7 in morning. By the time my number arrives tickets become RAC or waitlisted. Meanwhile the lady at the counter books many tickets for those who had given her the slips earlier (by agents or people known to those counter clerks). If I asked any query she always pointed to the assistance counter and thrown my slip on me. Claiming she don’t have time and this is not assistance counter. Go to that counter. But she is so expert that all through this she managed to book many tickets in front of my eyes. I had experience of New Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow. Since i was regularly visiting regularly thus those faces at counter became familiar to a great extent. Their habits were also known to me. I had lost lot of time under that building where hordes of people come to get their tickets booked.

Now another problem i face since past many years. The flight to Port Blair is scheduled at 5 in morning. Thus we have to reach Chennai or Kolkata a day in advance so as to catch flight next morning.

Often to save time of holiday i try to reach these stations in the evenings. If i travel by train then i face difficulty of staying at these places. If travelling by train then i have to reach one day in advance since we know the condition of trains, their speed and weather also. Coming from Kanpur or lucknow we have to keep enough time as safety time with us. On Many occasions we missed our trains. Coming from Port Blair to Chennai by sea, i have to keep one or two days in hands for safety. Three days kept for the actually journey and one or two days extra for unforeseen things. Thus starting from Port Blair if i had booked ticket for early morning of fourth day i could not catch the Madras Lucknow train. The ship reached on fourth day morning. Train left madras i think at morning 4 or 5 am.

New Delhi-Kolkatta Rajdhani reaches around 10.10 am at Sealdah or Howrah. From there i try to reach airport as soon as i step out of train. The rumours of traffic jams in Kolkata jam my brain. The fear is so much that as soon as possible I try to reach in vicinity of airport. After that i search for hotel/room to stay so that I can fly next day morning. The hotel people charge whatever they like. Then we have to lookout for safe water and food. But when i land from flight at Netaji Subhas International Airport in evening or in morning i don’t rush outside. The rooms at Airport are always found booked so i don’t get rooms at airport. I then try dormitory. Earlier i had stayed at dormitory with my family. The lady at the manager room gave me dormitory pitying on us. Often we stay whole night sitting at airport itself.  I saw huge walls of glass at Kolkatta, Delhi & Chennai Airport. I have an idea why they cannot be utilized as dormitory. I mean spaces between two layers of glass panes are enough for a small room. That space is enough for me to stay whole night. Thus they can make several small rooms in those walls of glass and lent us those rooms to stay at night at Airport. At Airports there must be some facility for passengers to stay. Not like that is available at present. I am sure there is need to have more rooms at cheaper cost. Waiting lounge at T3 is always full of people. At T3 New Delhi IGI, i stayed at Centaur Hotel. But as an afterthought i found the stay was not good. At Madras i could not muster the courage to go to one km far from airport to stay, obviously, for security concerns.

I don’t know as to how many visitors are there who want to stay in vicinity of airport. Actually i am afraid of staying at hotel. Either I am prejudiced against it Or i don’t have courage. I had stayed at Yatri Niwas and rooms at Howrah Railway station. The rooms were at high above on the station and the stairways were such that i was scared to go up and down. But that time i was newly married and i had to stay in room thus i took that risk. The main door was so dangerous that i many times checked whether the latch is working or not And Checked Whether the door is closed properly or not.

Recently in few years there was talk of establishing the Rural Hub or rural marketing hubs. Once i read a news item that now people can travel from Andaman to Kanpur by water ways. Both the things attracted me very much. In the rural hub the participation of private sector was talked about in the media. Reliance group was touted to be in forefront in developing infrastructure. With the idea of SEZ and retail businesses booming up, property prices have soured high in sky.

I imagine the Rural Hubs as a multi-dimensional thing, Being, it, as a futuristic infrastructure.  High risen building complex having various facilities of storing, processing, selling(Retailing), collecting, Transporting, connecting facilities. Goods(raw & pressed) either by producers(farmer) retailers are brought in these hubs and from there these commodities will be processed, stored and transported to the required destinations. Therefore, these Hubs need to be well connected via surface(Road-Rail), Air, Water transport. There will be several Rural Hubs. The idea of quadrangle of roads will become a reality. Kolkatta, Patna, Kanpur, Delhi, Ludhiana(Chandigarh), Jaipur, Ahmedabad-surat, Mumbai, Nagpur(from Delhi), Jabalpur, Bhopal, Raipur, Hyderabad, Chennai, Puduchery, Kanyakumari, Cochin, upto Goa, Bangalore-Manglore-Mysore, Mumbai and in East through Puri-Cuttack-Bhuvneshwar, from Kolkata to Guwahati. Then at these places big Hubs can be developed with four lanes multilevel road-rail ways. These Hubs will also be having air transport to cater to the nearby areas as well as big ariports. Thus air transport will also be of multilevel from small to big carriers. There was some rumour that rivers will be connected with each other and inland waterways will be developed, Therefore some of these Rural Hubs or simply any of the Hub can be connected with inland water ways as well as Seaways?

Surat, Mumbai, Goa, Kochi, KanyaKumari, Chennai(or nearby) Tuticorin, Vizag, Bhuvneshwar, Kolkata(haldia) can be a part of sea ways routes. Cities which are well connected with rivers can be developed as inland water ways.

Most often a question is asked “what is a smart city?” Is there any answer?

INS Vikrant a dream

An old photograph of Vikrant my father bought in MALTA, when the ship was sailing through Malta on its journey to India

The Hindu dt Aug 12,2013

On reading this article we were filled with mixed reactions. Years back we went on-board to see INS Vikrant- a mighty ship, a legend.

My father was posted in INS Vikrant and all through our childhood we have been hearing many stories about INS Vikrant. We felt INS Vikrant as one our family member. PN Mishra, SN Mishra, Kaushal Viswakarma, R N Singh and many more were part of INS Vikrant- i think this ship as their part of being.

My father was in a team of soldiers who were sent to UK to get trained and sail it back to India. When it was commissioned into Indian Navy 1961? Most respected Smt Vijayalaksmi Pandit visited this ship in UK. my father got his stamp collection album autographed by her. it was very nice signature in green ink?

lots of stories as to how it was brought back to India after rechristened as INS Vikrant from Hercules?

we felt sad when we heard that it was decommissioned.

Back in 1977 when i entered the ship it was huge in size, almost beyond my imagination. when my father lead us to its main deck, i saw he felt very energetic at that moment. He was telling about each and everything to us, so as to tell us everything about this ship and not one thing remains out of our knowledge?? each corner of that ship seemed to be his own. Since he spent large portion of his service on board this magnificent Ship- Aircraft carrier. there were large lifts which take airplane- fighter planes on the top deck. I saw many tractors there, that sight was amazing to me as a child.

I hope we get more larges ships to our Indian Navy. I think we need more than ten ships immediately. Navy should also think to use #solarenergy or Hydro-energy or energy from hydrogen extracted/separated from sea water? 

Meena Kumari - A phenomena

Long live Meena Kumari ji, even though her real name was Mahjabeen, but that doesn't matter for viewers. For us she was Meena Kumari ji. Nothing else matter earlier i had posted few picture of her 

          

Only the word Meena Kumari was enough to remind of what she was. She got first award for Best Actress of Indian cinema. While acting in any film, She was not meena kumari but the character she played. 
Bahu Begum, Parineeta, Sahibjaan, Choti Bahu, etc. All those characters came to life in those films, the actress and characters became synonymous to each other. Unlike few actors who are remembered for their style and not the characters they played. Few actors of past are known for their particular style/ mannerism. 

I don’t remember when for the first time I saw her film. We did not own a TV till 1982. That time I was in class XI. We used to travel for one kilometre just to watch Doordarshan, from Type one to Type two situated near IIT Kanpur gate. In those days, I was lucky enough to watch many of her films on black & white TV. 
One family at Type  I owned a black & white TV. That was out of bound for me most of the time. still I was fortunate enough to watch films while hanging to their window. Most often it was like watching an audio film since a group of boys will be hanging from window all together, thus i had to push in between. 
I became fan of her films. When she used to cry I used to cry with her. When she used to rush in happiness I felt the same. When she felt pain on hearing the cries of that little boy who was being beaten by Lalita Pawar, I also felt pain for that boy. When she felt shy in front of a man –the hero- I felt the same. That was the embodiment of her in me.

But foremost important thing was that I danced with her in all films. The “Thade Rahio Baanke yaar re”  ठाढ़े रहियो ओ बाँके यार रे was my favorite. Initially I used to dance on इन्ही लोगों ने “Inhin logon ne” of Pakeezah, I was considered OUTCASTE in my school (by everybody-classmates /schoolmates /neighbours). To them I was just a toy, a mean of amusement. Even girls also felt the same towards me. As soon as I started learning the first steps of Kathak, I started liking the "Thade Rahio" song. I tried to match each and every beat of the song. I took this as challenge and after few months I started dancing on the song matching each beat. 
As I grew older, the pause-gaps, the nuisances, the moods of those gaps of sound and different stress on beats of tabla, strings of sarangi-all open up more challenges to me. I tried to portray them and grasp each beat with different meanings. 
As Pt Birju Maharaj ji says that this is pure Bhakti, सम is भगवान the SAM is the Lord Krishna and these beats and sur(swaras) are RAHDA/gopis, these all try to search for the Lord-the SAM. 
This Thumri song of film Pakeezah has various meanings and moods which are to be enacted, called as Bhaav Batana. I heard from elders that in past there were ladies who were invited only for singing. They only sang but never danced. Those songs, as my grandmother referred to as TUMAIN. The word in the local slang means the song sung while seated. I heard names of Gunni, or ginni and Nooran often from my grandmother. She categorically told me that they never danced. The dancing girls were different class.

So Thumri is song sung while seated. But through singing the mood is portrayed to audience. Often, while singing those girls enacted few moods of like Radha or Krishna, or bewitching lovelorn mate etc. various moods of Nayika!

I try to follow what Birju Maharaj ji said (he is a like a God to me). I try to match the beats and follow the SAM(first beat of every cycle of taal or music). 
In song Gopika says that lord wait let me have the “proper shringar” (decoration) first so that when you come, I greet in a well attired appearance full with Kaajal in eyes, flowers in VENI and well knotted, and with all of SIXTEEN decorations. 16 Shringaras?

Another aspect is that since Lord Krishna is Naughty & play full. She says Lord please wait don’t come near. (she wish to protect her pot which is full of Butter or curd. fearing that lord will throw stone and pot of milk, butter or curd will be broken.

Despite of being a super star of her times Respected Meena Kumari ji remained loner in the end and I have always been so in the path of my life.

Meena Kumari JI- a phenomena

मीनाकुमारी जी की जन्म तिथि पर and On BirthDay of most respected Meena Kumari ji. the most awarded actor. Most talented actor of Hindi films.
To understand this phenomena- a Super Star of Hindi Films one has to feel in heart.

i had collected 3 you tube videos on her click here
https://swayamkath.blogspot.in/2017/01/virasat-meena-kumari-part-12-new-edition.html

The day i saw Pakeezah, i started to dance. The Music, the editing, the dialogues, the settings, rushes of frames, Picturization all were superb and un-matched. As if, each frame was painted by a Painter with great care. The Character played by Meena Kumari ji came to life with her inborn talent to show emotion on SCREEN. When She cried i cried, When she smiled i smiled that was the connection with her& Her screen presence.   When she lowers her eyelids and looks at hero through the corner of eyes i felt as if i am doing the same....

All my classmates addressed me "Thare Rahio". All through my schooldays and even in college days i was laughed at by all my classmates. WHY? Because I danced on all songs of Meana Kumari ji and other songs also. But i was subjected to unnecessary taunts, comments. Even one uncle said that "your father will have problem for marrying you??"   This was the Most unexpected comment from most respected uncle who was my neighbour. We used to give keys of my house daily when all of us leave for school and my parents for office. When i danced at a dance competeition held at AND college, Harsh Nagar in Kanpur, as soon as i came out of the college gate, i heard a voice "Thare Rahiyo" it was voice of girl, who were coming out of gate. AND is the girls college. So it is not that boys always pass comments at girls. But Girls also pass comments??? is it true? But i think Girls got confidence due to the prevalanet thinking in society that dancing is a bad thing and that too a boy was dancing on stage, thus it was a collective endevour of a group of girl students of AND Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Kanpur.  I am higlghting the perception of society towards the art of Dancing !!! 

All my school mates knew and recognize me by the song "Thare Rahio" and नज़र लागी  राजा तोरे बंगले पर  "Nazar Laagi raja tore bangle par" also few remember me for "Inhi logo ne" इन्ही लोगों ने छीना दुपट्टा मेरा

But then this Saheb Bibi Gulam Happened. And we all were star struck by her acting skills. in the role of छोटी बहु  Choti Bahu. Her acting was superb. The greatest histrionics played ever by any actor on screen of Hindi Films. my respect goes to Shri GURU DUTT saheb also. He casted her in this role? But all her frames in films were unparalleled till today.

To this great soul of India- A bharat Ratna. i offer my pranam

worship of Nature-essence of Indian tradition

Why is it that whenever any festival or religious ceremony or any special day is celebrated in India, the Nature worship Prakriti pooja, always has prominence? More over these religious “thiti”-dates  or special days are being celebrated in India since centuries; many are Pre-Vedic or Vedic era? We all know how old our Veda are? 
,lk D;ksa gS fd Hkkjr esa tc Hkh dksb frfFk iwtk ;k vU; dksb /kkfeZd vk;kstu gksrk gS mlesa izd`fr iwtk izeq[k ,oa vfuok;Z gksrh gS\ ,sls lHkh ioZ “kfn;ksa ls Hkkjr esa euk, tk  jgs gSaA irk ugha dc ls\ dqN iwoZ oSfnd vkSj dqN oSfnd dky ls euk, tkrs gSA     

o`{kiwtk Hkwfeiwtk i`Foh vUu i“kq if{k Qy vkdk“k ty ok;q o’kkZ ufn leqnz ioZr rkykc iks[kj ouLifr lw;Z pUnzek xzg vkfn lc iwts tkrs gSaA D;ksafd budk ekuo thou esa egRo gSA bl egRo dks /;ku es j[krs gq;s gh gekjs iwoZtksa us izd`fr dh iwtk dk fo/kku j[kk Fkk\ 
Tree, Earth, Mother Nature, Animals, Birds, fruits, even Sky, water, Air, River, Sea, Mountain, Pond, Lake, Vegetation all are worhisped. Sun, Moon, Planets are also worshiped. Does it not sounds strange? Yes but it has been there for centuries, it has been done since centuries.  All are revered. 


In Savitri Vat सावित्री वट पूजा pooja main deity is this Banyan Tree वट वृक्ष . This tree as it seems live forever. It never seems to Die. Thus due to this magical power it is regarded as a immortal deity who can give boon 'to live long life". Therefore on this day which often falls in months of May or June every year Married women pray for long life of their husbands & Sons. Themselves they observe Fast, they do not drink even water without performing pooja (worship) of the Banyan Tree . In disguise I understand that they seek blessings from this tree to bless them so that they can die being a married women? they must die being a Suhagan lnklqgkxu? it is may be, due to gender discrimination or inequality? i had written a blog in this Burgad Pooja (click to read).

The shoot head buds are swallowed by women so that they can have a SON? who in turn will carry forward the family and provide support to their mothers?  Later in time a story of Savitri is added to this day. She was a brave lady. Once satyavan, her husband was dying. The god of death came to take him away to Yam lok. Savitri moved behind the god of death, wherever he took her husband she kept following them. in many attempts God of death tried to dissuade her from following, but he failed in all his attempts. He then told her to ask for 3 boons in return. But in all her three boons she outwitted the god of death. She asked him to bless her with brave child. Yam, or the god of death sanctioned her the boon to have children, then she told to Yam to keep his promised boon. How come she can bear child without her husband, who is being taken away by death? realizing her wit, he surrendered to her and returned life of her husband. Since then Savitri is revered for her loyalty towards her husband, thus she became to the stature of a goddess. (Gender issue??)
Then there is this plant called Tulsi, तुलसी the Holy Basil. It is considered as the most sacred of all plants. It is considered so pure that if leaves are kept in any food items that item becomes pure. During the time of Eclipse Sun or moon, leaves of Tulsi are kept on the food items. 

But Besides medicinal properties why it is considered a symbol of purity, loyalty? 

There was a pious lady named as Vrinda वृंदा many centuries ago. She was educated learned lady and worshiper of lord Vishnu. 


She was married to a demon king Jallandhar जालंधर. He fought wars with Gods devatas. His strength was said to be due to the piousness of his wife Vrinda. during the course of war it was dawned on gods that they cannot fight and win over with this demon king. Thus Vishnu was asked to do help them out. Vishnu in disguise entered the living quarters of queen Vrinda. She some how could not see through the strategy. Her piousness was disturbed/torn by Vishnu who was with her disguised as her husband. She noticed that the garland given by her to her husband and asked him to keep always around his neck was not on this man who is in front of her. She became cautious but it was too late. By the time she was outraged, during that moment the demon, her husband was killed in war. She came to know about this heinous plan of devtas or Vishnu. 

She cursed Vishnu to become a stone- Shaligram शालिग्राम। Later he was married to Vrinda who is in form of Tulsi. Thus since then this Tulsi marriage with Vishnu is celebrated on Ekadasi, एकादशी the eleventh date of lunar cycle during Kartik कार्तिक month. But why she only was given punishment? Why she had to give sacrifice? This is a gender issue. But since then she had been given a high status recognized by society. Sos much so that now every house must have a pot with Tulsi. Mostly in central part or in courtyard of house anywhere. All the women of house have to worship her-the Tulsi who is now considered a Mother goddess.

It so happens that most of the plants we have been told to worship have many medicinal properties. But since due to influence of western ideas we tend ot forget all our rich heritage.



Peepal, Burgad, Tulsi, Durva grass, Turmeric and all other such herbs have special place in our method/ritual of worship. all have some or the other benefits.

worship  of Mountain
https://swayamkatha.wordpress.com/2015/11/12/govardhan-pooja-or-govansh-vardhan-pooja/

Trees, earth, foodgrains, animals, birds, fruits, sky, water, air, rain, river, Mountain, SEA, ponds, vegetation, Sun, Moon, Planets, Universe all are worshiped in our religious ceremonies. 
Without this no religious ceremony is considered complete. All these have significant importance in Human life. Considering this importance our ancestors kept worship of nature essential in every ceremony. It is another story as to how and why most of us have forgotten teachings of our ancestors and blindly following the Western ideology?? Is it strategy of few vested interests and those who never wanted our people to flourish and live in total harmony with Mother Nature?

Savitri-Vat pooja, also known as Burgad(Banyan tree) pooja, Tulsi-Vivah(Marriage), Peepal, Neem, Banana plant, coconut, beetal leaves, arecanut, mango leaves,

worship of Nature-essence of Indian tradition

Why is it that whenever any festival or religious ceremony or any special day is celebrated in India, the Nature worship Prakriti pooja, always has prominence? More over these religious dates are being celebrated in India since centuries; many are Pre-Vedic or Vedic era? We all know how old our Veda are? 
,lk D;ksa gS fd Hkkjr esa tc Hkh dksb frfFk iwtk ;k vU; dksb /kkfeZd vk;kstu gksrk gS mlesa izd`fr iwtk izeq[k ,oa vfuok;Z gksrh gS\ ,sls lHkh ioZ “kfn;ksa ls Hkkjr esa euk, tk  jgs gSaA irk ugha dc ls\ dqN iwoZ oSfnd vkSj dqN oSfnd dky ls euk, tkrs gSA     

o`{kiwtk Hkwfeiwtk i`Foh vUu i“kq if{k Qy vkdk“k ty ok;q o’kkZ ufn leqnz ioZr rkykc iks[kj ouLifr lw;Z pUnzek xzg vkfn lc iwts tkrs gSaA D;ksafd budk ekuo thou esa egRo gSA bl egRo dks /;ku es j[krs gq;s gh gekjs iwoZtksa us izd`fr dh iwtk dk fo/kku j[kk Fkk\ 
Tree, Earth, Mother Nature, Animals, Birds, fruits, even Sky, water, Air, River, Sea, Mountain, Pond, Lake, Vegetation all are worhisped. Sun, Moon, Planets are also worshiped. Does it not sounds strange? Yes but it has been there for centuries, it has been done since centuries.  All are revered. 


In Savitri Vat सावित्री वट पूजा pooja main deity is this Banyan Tree वट वृक्ष . This tree as it seems live forever. It never seems to Die. Thus due to this magical power it is regarded as a immortal deity who can give boon 'to live long life". Therefore on this day which often falls in months of May or June every year Married women pray for long life of their husbands & Sons. Themselves they observe Fast, they do not drink even water without performing pooja (worship) of the Banyan Tree . In disguise I understand that they seek blessings from this tree to bless them so that they can die being a married women? they must die being a Suhagan lnklqgkxu? it is may be, due to gender discrimination or inequality? i had written a blog in this Burgad Pooja (click to read).

The shoot head buds are swallowed by women so that they can have a SON? who in turn will carry forward the family and provide support to their mothers?  Later in time a story of Savitri is added to this day. She was a brave lady. Once satyavan, her husband was dying. The god of death came to take him away to Yam lok. Savitri moved behind the god of death, wherever he took her husband she kept following them. in many attempts God of death tried to dissuade her from following, but he failed in all his attempts. He then told her to ask for 3 boons in return. But in all her three boons she outwitted the god of death. She asked him to bless her with brave child. Yam, or the god of death sanctioned her the boon to have children, then she told to Yam to keep his promised boon. How come she can bear child without her husband, who is being taken away by death? realizing her wit, he surrendered to her and returned life of her husband. Since then Savitri is revered for her loyalty towards her husband, thus she became to the stature of a goddess. (Gender issue??)
Then there is this plant called Tulsi, तुलसी the Holy Basil. It is considered as the most sacred of all plants. It is considered so pure that if leaves are kept in any food items that item becomes pure. During the time of Eclipse Sun or moon, leaves of Tulsi are kept on the food items. 

But Besides medicinal properties why it is considered a symbol of purity, loyalty? 

There was a pious lady named as Vrinda वृंदा many centuries ago. She was educated learned lady and worshiper of lord Vishnu. 


She was married to a demon king Jallandhar जालंधर. He fought wars with Gods devatas. His strength was said to be due to the piousness of his wife Vrinda. during the course of war it was dawned on gods that they cannot fight and win over with this demon king. Thus Vishnu was asked to do help them out. Vishnu in disguise entered the living quarters of queen Vrinda. She some how could not see through the strategy. Her piousness was disturbed/torn by Vishnu who was with her disguised as her husband. She noticed that the garland given by her to her husband and asked him to keep always around his neck was not on this man who is in front of her. She became cautious but it was too late. By the time she was outraged, during that moment the demon, her husband was killed in war. She came to know about this heinous plan of devtas or Vishnu. 

She cursed Vishnu to become a stone- Shaligram शालिग्राम। Later he was married to Vrinda who is in form of Tulsi. Thus since then this Tulsi marriage with Vishnu is celebrated on Ekadasi, एकादशी the eleventh date of lunar cycle during Kartik कार्तिक month. 


But why she only was given punishment? Why she had to give sacrifice? This is a gender issue. But since then she had been given a high status recognized by society. So much so that now every house must have a pot with Tulsi. Mostly in central part or in courtyard of house anywhere. All women of house worship her-the Tulsi, who is now considered a Mother goddess.
It so happens that most of the plants we have been told to worship have many medicinal properties. But since due to influence of western ideas we tend to forget all our rich heritage.





Peepal, Burgad, Tulsi, Durva grass, Turmeric and all other such herbs have special place in our method/ritual of worship. all have some or the other benefits.

We have even a day where a mountain is worshiped or remembered. Govardhan was a mountain. It is worshiped on the second day of Diwali.

Diwali is impure form of word Deepawali. Deepak or Deep means the earthen pot lit with the light. I don't know what is the correct word of Deepak in English? what they (British) used for lightning their houses before electricity was invented? was it lantern? 

As we have numerous societies communities cultures in India, we tend to share many legends, often borrowed within our society. Govardhan is remembered with Krishna. In ancient times people worshiped, Indra as the god of rains, rivers, flood, storms. however Indra was the lord of gods (devta).

It was he who is considered to bring rains. We know, How much importance Rains have in life of Farming community? Rains are essential to Agriculture. Ganga Jamuna plains are the most fertile lands. As per the legend Krishna in his childhood told villagers not to worship Indra. He adviced them to worship Mountain Govardhan instead of Indra. It is the mountain that brings rains and not the Indra. How true he was? people often laugh at our Indian civilization, but see how then Krishna himself teaching people not to follow blindly everything. He initiates reasoning, Logical thinking & debate on the practices taking place blindly in society. Thus villagers agreed with Krishna and performed worship ritual of mountain. Angered and hurt Lord Indra broke all bounds and ordered his fellow powers- Wind, Water to storm the village, so as to teach them lesson. meanwhile Krishna is said to lift whole mountain on his little finger and saved life of villagers alongside their livestock. Later Indra accepted his mistake and asked forgiveness from Krishna, since then for agriculture community Govardhan mountain is the most respected thing for them. Moral of story is that Nature must be respected. Read my blog worship  of Mountain    https://swayamkatha.wordpress.com/2015/11/12/govardhan-pooja-or-govansh-vardhan-pooja/

Mountain represents Nature and Cow represents the earth, community economy based on the Cow and Animal husbandry.

Trees, earth, foodgrains, animals, birds, fruits, sky, water, air, rain, river, Mountain, SEA, ponds, vegetation, Sun, Moon, Planets, Universe all are worshiped in our religious ceremonies. 
Without this no religious ceremony is considered complete. All these have significant importance in Human life. 
Considering this importance our ancestors kept worship of nature essential in every ceremony. 
It is another story as to how and why most of us have forgotten teachings of our ancestors and blindly following the Western ideology?? Is it strategy of few vested interests and those who never wanted our people to flourish and live in total harmony with Mother Nature?