Prithvi--the earth

An extract from Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide

Prithvi/Prithivi A deity, the goddess of the earth.


She is first described in the Rig Veda, and later in the
Atharva Veda, in a hymn of sixty-three verses. A few
verses of this hymn are given below:
Truth, high and potent Law, the consecrating
Rite,
Fervour, Brahma and Sacrifice uphold the Earth,
May she, the queen of all that is and to be, may
Prithivi make ample space and room for us. [1]
O Prithivi, auspicious be thy woodlands, auspicious
be thy hills and snow-clad mountains.
Unslain, unwounded, unsubdued, I have set foot
upon the Earth,
On Earth, brown, black, ruddy and every-coloured,
on the firm earth that Indra guards from danger.
[11]
Supporting both the foolish and the weighty, she
bears the death both of the good and the evil.
In friendly accord with the boar, Earth opens
herself for the wild swine that roams the forest. [48]
(trans. T.H.Griffith).
Prithivi is the kindly earth mother, who bears the
weight of the mountains, supports the trees of the
forest, and scatters the rain. She is often paired with
dyaus (heaven), and Dyaus-Prithvi is thus the deity of
heaven and earth. In later texts, Prithvi is an alternate
name for Bhudevi.
In the Puranas, there are several stories about Prithvi
as the earth. When the king of the earth, Prithu,
wanted to level the land, she turned into a cow and
ran away. Later, she allowed Prithu to milk her, and
seeds, vegetables and various crops came into being.
Once Prithvi, oppressed by Hiranyaksha was
submerged in the ocean. Vishnu took the form of
Varaha and brought her up on his tusks. Narakasura
was the son of Prithvi from Hiranyaksha, or, according
to some accounts, from Varaha.
Prithvi sometimes makes philosophical comments.
In the Vishnu Purana (IV.24) she laughs at the delusions
of kings. She comments that kings think they possess
her, yet they all die and are soon forgotten. She says:
‘When I hear a king sending word to another by his
ambassador, saying: “This earth is mine, immediately
give up your claim to it”, I am at first moved to
violent laughter, but it soon subsides to pity for the
infatuated fool.’ The commentator goes on to say,
that understanding the transient nature of life, the
wise person will never consider children, lands or
property, to be his own.
The region of the earth and that immediately above
it is known as Bhurloka or Bhuloka.

Shah Jahan--3 day urs

Shah Jahan, Mughal emperor from 1628-1658, is known for building the Taj Mahal. His three-day urs, that takes place every year began on 5 June.
The graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are washed, sandalwood and flowers offered and prayers recited. Entry to the Taj is free during these special days.
Urs is a term in Islam for a death anniversary, though it literally means 'wedding'. Usually urs are celebrated for Sufi saints, whose death can be considered union with god.
Thousands of people attend Shah Jahan's urs. This year a 450 metre chadar [cloth] has been offered, woven by people of different communities, a symbol of peace.

Polish Children in India---1942

During the Second World War, 5000 Polish children came as refugees to India. A documentary on this, Little Poland in India,will soon be released. The children were orphans, evacuated from Poland to Siberia during the war. They reached India in 1942 and lived in special camps, returning to Poland later.One such camp was set up by K S Digvijaysinhji, the maharaja of Jamnagar in Gujarat. He looked after the children as a father would. There were other camps in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Most of the children were said to be Roman Catholics.
The film is based on records and on the memories of the now grown-up children.

Zoroastrianism: List of topics

Zoroastrianism: List of entries in Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths.
Aderbad bin Mahrespand
Agiary
Ahriman
Ahum Bis
Ahuna Vairya
Ahura
Ahura Mazda
Amardad
Ameretat
Amesha Spentas
Anagra Raochao
Angels
Angra Mainyu
Arda Viraf, Dastur
Ardashir Babagan
Ardi Behesht
Armaiti
Arya
Aryaman
Asha
Ashavan
Ashi Vanghui
Atar/ Adar/ Atash
Atash Adaran
Atash Behram
Atash Dadgah
Avesta
Avesta language
Azar Kaivan, Dastur
Baga
Bahman
Behram
Boi ceremony
Bundahishn
Chinvat Bridge
Cow, sanctity of
Dabistan-i Mazahib
Dadestan-i Denig
Daevas
Dakhma/ Dokhma
Dar-e Meher
Dasatir
Dastur
Dinkard
Dinyar, Dastur
Dog, in religion
Druj
Dughdova
Faridun
Farishta
Firdausi
Fire
Frashokereti
Fravashi
Gahambars
Gahs
Garo Demana
Gathas
Gaush Urva
Gayodad
Gayomard
Getig
Hamkar
Haurvatat
Homa/ Haoma
Hormazd
Humata
Hvare Kshaeta
Ilm-e-Khshnoom
Jadi Rana
Jakhs
Jamshed
Jashan
Kadimi/ Kadmi
Kava-Ushan
Khordad
Khordeh Avesta
Khorshed
Khratu
Khshathra
Kissah-i-Sanjan
Kukadaru, Dastur
Kusti
Magi
Manthras
Mazdayasnan/ Mazdayasni
Meharji Rana, Dastur
Meher Baba
Menog
Mithra
Muktad
Mulla Feroze
Mumbai
Naoroji, Dadabhai
Nasks
Navjote
Navroze
Navsari
Neryosang, Dastur
Nirang
Nyaesh
Ohrmazd
Pahlavi
Parsis
Rivayats
Sacred thread
Sanjan
Saoshyants
Shah Namah
Shahenshahi
Shroff, Behramshah Navroz
Spendarmad
Spenta Mainyu
Sraosha
Sudreh
Thraetona
Trita Aptya
Udvada
Vendidad
Verethraghna
Vishtaspa, Kava
Vohu Mana
Yasht
Yasna
Yazata
Yima
Zadspram
Zarathushtra
Zoroaster
Zoroastrain texts
Zoroastrian Calendar
Zoroastrian festivals and ceremonies
Zoroastrian temples
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrians
Zurvan

Soumyadip Choudhury's Blog : Audio recording of Swami Vivekananda's 1893 Chicago address is fake

Soumyadip Choudhury's Blog : Audio recording of Swami Vivekananda's 1893 Chicago address is fake