12 RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS

12 RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ SYMBOLS OF TWELVE MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

25.5.13

BUDDHA PURNIMA

MAY BUDDHA BLESS US WITH ENLIGHTENMENT. 

Buddha Purnima Decoration at Belur Math on 25th May, 2013

Purnima Moon seen at Belur Math on 25th May, 2013
Lumbini Gardens, Buddha's birth place
Pillar erected by Emperor Asoka
Today is Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanthi. Buddha means "enlightened one" - someone who is completely free from all faults and mental obstructions. The word Purnima means a full moon day. This day is a thrice blessed day as the day being Buddha’s Birth, Enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana. It was on this 2637 years ago Siddhartha Gautama was born in Lumbini gardens, 2602 years ago he attained Enlightenment to become the Buddha and 2557 years ago attained Mahaparinirvana but all these events took place on the full Moon day.

The Lord Buddha was born in 623 BC in the sacred area of Lumbini (see picture above) located in the Terai plains of southern Nepal, testified by the inscription on the pillar erected by the Mauryan Emperor Asoka in 249 BC. Lumbini is one of the holiest places of one of the world's great religions, and its remains contain important evidence about the nature of Buddhist pilgrimage centres from as early as the 3rd century BC.


15.5.13

SRI SANKARACHARYA JAYANTHI

Today is Sri Shankaracharya Jayanthi. He is the greatest philosopher in Hinduism. On this auspicious occasion a Sanskrit film from youtube is posted here.  


Sankara [also known as Śaṅkara Bhagavatpādācārya and Ādi Śaṅkarācārya (788 CE - 820 CE)] was born to the nambudiri brahmana couple, Sivaguru and Aryamba, in a little village called Kaladi in Kerala.
To read more on his life click here

13.5.13

AKSHAYA TRITIYA

HAPPY AKSHAYA TRITIYA

MAY MOTHER SRI SRI LAKSHMI BLESS YOU WITH WEALTH AND PROSPERITY

The word "Akshaya" means imperishable or eternal - that which never diminishes. Initiations made or valuables bought on this day are considered to bring success or good fortune. Buying gold is a popular activity on Akshaya Tritiya, as it is the ultimate symbol of wealth and prosperity. Gold and gold jewelry bought and worn on this day signify never diminishing good fortune. Indians celebrate weddings, begin new business ventures, and even plan long journeys on this day.
Akshaya Tritiya falls on the third day of the bright half of Vaishakh month (April-May), when the Sun and Moon are in exaltation; they are simultaneously at their peak of brightness, which happens only once every year.


COURTESY: induism.about.com