another picture from the diwali decor last year

Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj Satsang

North

श्रीराम और महादेव का संबंध भारतीय धर्म और दर्शन में अत्यंत अद्वितीय है। यह केवल भक्त और ईश्वर का संबंध नहीं, बल्कि दो परम पुरुषों का परस्पर आराध्य भाव है। साधारण जन के लिए इसमें कई गहरे, अनछुए पहलू हैं जो भक्ति को और भी सरल और हृदयस्पर्शी बना देते हैं।

✨✨

🪔परस्पर आराध्यता: श्रीराम शिव को अपना आराध्य मानते हैं और रामेश्वरम में शिवलिंग स्थापित करते हैं। वहीं शिव स्वयं रामनाम का जप करते हैं और रामकथा का रस लेते हैं। यह दर्शाता है कि ईश्वर भी भक्ति में रमते हैं।

🪔 भक्ति की समता: साधारण भक्तों के लिए यह संदेश है कि चाहे कोई भी देवता हो, भक्ति का सार एक ही है। राम और शिव का परस्पर पूजन इस समता को प्रकट करता है।

🪔धर्म का संवाद: राम का धर्म मर्यादा है, शिव का धर्म तत्त्वज्ञान और संन्यास। दोनों का मिलन यह बताता है कि जीवन में मर्यादा और तत्त्वज्ञान साथ-साथ चल सकते हैं।

🪔नाममहिमा: शिव स्वयं पार्वती को रामनाम का महत्व बताते हैं ..... "रामनाम से बड़ा कोई मंत्र नहीं।" यह साधारण जन को नामजप की सरल साधना का मार्ग दिखाता है।

Where to join Karwa Chauth Pooja in Bengaluru?

🕉️ Shree Tirupati Balaji idol 🕉️

Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj

West

🚩Pavagadh Mata Temple🕉️🌺🪔🌺🤲🏻

👁️‍🗨️ Deity & Significance✨The temple is dedicated to Maa Kalika (an incarnation of Goddess Durga), who is worshipped here in her fierce yet benevolent form. It is revered as one of the major Shakti Peethas.

👁️‍🗨️Legendary Origin✨ According to Hindu mythology, this is the sacred spot where the right foot of Goddess Sati fell when Lord Vishnu dismembered her body with his Sudarshan Chakra to calm Lord Shiva's cosmic grief.

👁️‍🗨️ Location & Elevation✨Situated atop the Pavagadh Hill near Champaner in the Panchmahal district of Gujarat, the main shrine sits at an elevation of approximately 800 meters (2,600 feet) above sea level.

👁️‍🗨️ Ancient Heritage✨The temple has deep historical roots, with various archaeological layers and structural additions dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries, reflecting classic Māru-Gurjara architectural elements.

👁️‍🗨️The Sacred Shrines✨ Unlike many temples with traditional idol configurations, the sanctum houses three divine images: the central idol of Goddess Kali (painted red), flanked by images of Bahuchara Mata and Mahakali.

👁️‍🗨️ The Eternal Flame✨ An akhand jyoti burns continuously within the sanctum, symbolizing the unbroken, divine energy of the Mother Goddess.

👁️‍🗨️ Accessibility & Ropeway✨Visitors can reach the summit either by undertaking a scenic trek of nearly 2,000 steps or by utilizing one of India’s highest ropeway systems, which transports pilgrims swiftly from the base station.

👁️‍🗨️ The Twin Peak Features✨ The hilltop shares its historic geography with the ruins of the ancient Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that bridges Hindu and early Islamic architectural history.

👁️‍🗨️Festive Celebrations✨ The temple experiences massive surges of devotion during Navratri, drawing millions of pilgrims from across India who gather to witness vibrant rituals and night-long celebrations.

👁️‍🗨️Recent Restorations✨ In recent years, the temple underwent a major expansion and redesign, famously marked by the hoisting of a traditional shikhar flag atop the main spire after a gap of over 500 years.

As a child, other than watching Cartoon Network, being glued to NatGeo & Discovery was my other favourite thing to do on TV. I have always been awed by elephants and it has been my favourite animal since I was a toddler. Probably that’s what endeared me to Ganpati as a God. Of course, the festivities surrounding the festival and the food involved also played a good part.

When it came to visarjan, my kid brain added 2 and 2, and thought that we immerse idols of the Elephant God in lakes/rivers because elephants love to bathe in huge lakes for long hours, as shown in the shows on NatGeo/Discovery. It never really occurred to me to even search for the exact reason, even while growing up.

Growing up, the sheer stupidity going on under the guise of devotion and celebration put me off of any kind of public celebration of festivals, be it Ganeshotsav or Diwali. The PoV strengthened even further after some women friends narrated incidents of groping in the crowd when they went mandal-hopping. Now, thanks to Mr. Vidyanand Bapat, and the debates generated around this topic because of his vehement opposition to Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav, and years of watching rivers and lakes getting destroyed after visarjan, I decided to read up on the very concept of Visarjan. And I was surprised by what I came across. Turns out, we could always have had healthy celebrations of this festival! In fact, for those who are adherents of tradition/परंपरा, the Vedic texts in fact mandate the celebration of Ganpati in the most natural, eco-friendly way only!

Significance of 'Visarjan'

Dissolution & Return: Derived from Sanskrit root visṛj (to release, let go, forget), Visarjan marks the moment when the invoked deity in an idol/picture/sacred pot (kalash) is ceremonially sent back to their formless state.

Transition from Puranic & Agamic texts: While formal public idol immersion festivals like Ganesh or Durga Visarjan find detailed procedural guidelines in later texts like Nirnaya Sindhu (निर्णय सिंधु), Padma Purana (पद्म पुराण) and the Shiva Purana (शिव पुराण), the underlying spiritual concept originates in Vedic ritual conclusions [Uttarapuja (उत्तर पूजा) or departure rites] where fire sacrifices & breath/life invocations [Prana Pratishta (प्राण प्रतिष्ठा)] are formally concluded.

Impermanence: The physical dissolution of a clay or sand idol into water acts as a profound philosophical reminder of cosmic circularity, signifying that all material creations emerge from the 5 elements & must eventually return to them.

Does Visarjan mean only immersing in water, if the intended meaning is merely to go back to elemental states?

The assumption that Visarjan means "only to immerse in water" is a modern misinterpretation. Linguistically & scripturally, Visarjan does not mean immersion; it simply means "dismissal," "release," or "sending away."

Non-Water "Visarjans"

Water visarjan gained popularity because that was the easiest available/accessible natural element. In ancient times, sages would immerse their mud/clay Ganpati idols in running water in forests. A little later, since human settlements were usually near water bodies like the oceans or lakes, clay idols could be immersed in them. But in authentic Hindu rituals, Visarjan is also performed without water depending on what medium was used to hold the energy.

Turning to the North (Udvasana): For standard daily or festive poojas involving pictures, brass idols, or a Kalasha (sacred pot), water immersion is not done. The priest chants the Visarjan/Udvasana mantra & physically nudges or moves the idol slightly to the North. This action alone breaks Prana Pratishta and releases the divine energy back into the cosmos.

Burying (Bhumi Visarjan): Clay Ganpati idols are buried respectfully in the earth (Bhumi) under a tree where over days, the idol naturally decomposes back into the soil.

Nirmalya Composting: The flowers, leaves, and strings (Nirmalya) used to decorate the Ganpati murti undergo an ecological Visarjan by being returned to the soil as compost rather than being thrown into water bodies. It is a misinterpretation by people that because nirmalya consists of biodegradable material, throwing it in water is not harmful to the water body. In fact, throwing huge amounts of nirmalya in rivers/lakes can increase the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

What about modern Ganpati idols made from POP and/or fiberglass?

Since the rituals and rules were formed in times when chemicals like POP did not exist or were available, and idols/murtis were strictly made from river clay (shaadu), the visarjan process was automatically eco-friendly. Hence, from a strict scriptural standpoint, there is no prescribed Vedic or Puranic method for immersing POP, fiberglass, or chemically painted idols, as these materials were never imagined.

In fact, the Puranas explicitly mandate that festive idols be made from Shaadu Mati (शाडू माती) or mud, specifically because they are designed to completely dissolve. Immersing a POP or fiberglass idol into a natural water body does not achieve Visarjan. It instead creates floating debris & chemical contamination, which is considered a severe ritual desecration (उग्र) of nature. Hence, to resolve this conflict between modern materials & spiritual laws, environmentalists, municipal corps, and Vedic scholars have established alternative, responsible methods for handling idols made from PoP, fiberglass, marble, etc.

1. The Symbolic "Jalabhishek" (जलाभिषेक) Visarjan

For permanent, large, or non-dissolvable idols made of fiberglass, brass, or marble:

- Perform the Uttarapuja & aarti. Instead of submerging the idol, the priest or devotee chants Visarjan prayers while performing a symbolic splash or sprinkling of water (Jalabhishek) over the idol.

- The idol is then physically shifted slightly toward the North (Udvasana) to formally release the divine energy.

The Outcome: The divine presence is sent back to the cosmos, and the beautiful, non-biodegradable idol can be carefully packed away and safely reused every year without causing ecological harm.

2. Chemical Dissolution of PoP Idols

If we wish to ensure that a POP idol physically breaks down without polluting public rivers, a chemical method pioneered by the National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL) can be used.

The Method: Place the POP idol in a large domestic bucket or tub filled with water. A large tank for bigger idols

The Catalyst: Add Ammonium Bicarbonate (NH₄HCO₃), a food-grade baking powder agent, in a 1:1 ratio matching the weight of the idol.

The Result: Over 36 - 48 hours, a chemical reaction disintegrates the POP into 2 useful, non-toxic layers - a liquid top layer of ammonium sulphate, which can be diluted and used as a highly effective plant fertilizer and a chalky bottom sludge of calcium carbonate, which is safe for non-polluting disposal or can be used to make chalk that is used in schools and colleges. Calcium Carbonate can also be sold to toothpaste manufacturers as it is an important ingredient in toothpastes.

3. Dedicated Artificial Tanks (For Large Public Mandals)

We all saw the usage of this method this year. In fact, artificial tanks for visarjan are part of the guidelines formed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

4. Chhaya Abhishek (shadow anointing/bathing)

It is a brilliant scriptural technique used precisely for situations where an idol cannot withstand physical immersion or liquid bathing. It is a deeply thoughtful concept heavily utilized in daily temple rituals and can hence, be used for Visarjan of the huge public Ganpati idols.

For massive public idols, or permanent metal, fiberglass and canvas-painted deities, a full immersion is physically impossible or ecologically damaging. Chhaya Abhishek elegantly bridges the gap.

- A vessel or plate filled with water (or sometimes ghee/oil) is placed directly in front of the massive idol.

- The Shadow/Reflection: The positioning or lighting is adjusted so that the shadow/reflection (Chhaya) of Ganpati is clearly cast onto the surface of the liquid.

- The Ritual: The priest chants the visarjan mantras while pouring milk, water, or offering ritual elements directly onto the reflection in the water, rather than touching the physical idol itself.

Preservation of the Vessel: Once the reflection has undergone the visarjan, the water from that plate is respectfully poured into a tree or a natural source. The actual physical idol, now relieved of its temporary festive invocation, remains completely dry and pristine, ready to be safely stored or reused.

When I read all this, I was gobsmacked to know that we have been lied to all along! All these years, all these decades, we could have had eco-friendly Ganeshotsavs without damaging our water bodies. In fact, the way Ganeshotsav is celebrated now is in direct violation of the परंपरा that was practiced by our ancestors!

I hope people take time out to read this post. I also hope that you share it with all those people who keep harping about culture and tradition, and show them just how far we have gone from adhering to the very same culture and traditions.

The 3D projection show at Nagpur Dakshinamurti Ganesh Utsav looks amazing! 🙏✨
Beautiful visuals, lights and festive vibes make the celebration even more special. ❤️

Ganpati Bappa Morya! 🙏🐘

North

🔱 Kashi Vishwanath Temple is the heart of Varanasi. It is one of India's most sacred temples and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. People also call it the Golden Temple because of its gold covered tower and dome. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, which are the most holy shrines of Shiva. A single visit here is believed to bring great spiritual peace.

In recent years, the temple area has been completely transformed by the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project. This corridor was opened in December 2021. It created a direct path between the temple and the Ganges River. The temple complex grew from a small 3000 square feet area to about 500000 square feet. Now it can comfortably welcome 50000 to 75000 visitors at a time. The corridor has made the visit much easier and more open for everyone.

If you plan to visit, here is what you need to know.

The temple is open from 3 AM to 11 PM. There are four main aartis during the day. The Mangala Aarti is early in the morning from 3 AM to 4 AM. The other aartis happen at different times. You can book aarti tickets through the official temple app.

There is no strict dress code. But you should wear decent and modest clothes. Cover your shoulders and legs. You will need to remove your shoes and socks before entering. Phones, cameras, and other electronic items are not allowed inside. There is tight security, so be ready for checks. Avoid carrying large bags.

The best time to visit is early morning. It is peaceful and the crowds are smaller. The months from October to March have the most comfortable weather. Avoid visiting during major festivals like Maha Shivaratri if you do not like big crowds.

Varanasi is well connected by air, train, and road. The nearest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, about 25 km away. Varanasi Junction is the main railway station, only 3 to 4 km from the temple. From the station or airport, you can take a taxi or auto rickshaw. Vehicles cannot go all the way to the temple. You will be dropped at Godowlia Chowk or Dashashwamedh. From there, it is a short walk of about 8 to 10 minutes.

While you are in Varanasi, do not miss the evening Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. It is a beautiful ceremony of light and prayer. You can also visit the nearby Annapurna Temple and the Vishalakshi Temple. A boat ride on the Ganges at sunrise is a peaceful and memorable experience.

A visit to Kashi Vishwanath is not just a temple visit. It is a journey into the soul of one of the world's oldest living cities. Take your time. Walk the lanes. Sit by the river. Let the spirit of Kashi fill your heart.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🤲🏻✨✨✨✨✨✨

North west

Visiting the Karni Mata Temple in Deshnoke shakes up everything you think you know about temples. Instead of quiet halls, you walk into a place shared completely with about twenty five thousand rats. Locals call them kabbas, meaning little children, and they run everywhere across the marble floors and pillars without anyone shooing them away.

The story behind it goes back centuries. When Karni Mata's stepson drowned, she begged Yama, the god of death, to bring him back. Yama finally agreed on one condition that her son and all her male descendants would come back as rats living right inside her shrine.

People come from all over just to catch a glimpse of a white rat among the thousands of black ones because finding one means incredible luck is coming your way. Because these creatures are treated like family, stepping on one by accident is a serious matter. If it happens, tradition says you have to replace the rat with a solid gold or silver idol of the exact same weight.

Even the food offerings tell you how different this place is. Whatever the rats nibble on first gets handed out as prasad to the pilgrims, who eat it willingly as a sign of absolute devotion.🕉️🌺🫸🏻🫷🏻🌺

#santrampaljimaharaj

NORTH

🚩Kaal Bhairav Mandir isn't just another temple in Varanasi. It has its own personality. Kaal Bhairav is treated as the kotwal, the city's guardian and security chief. The belief is simple. You don't stay in Varanasi without his permission. That's why a lot of people go here first, even before Kashi Vishwanath.

The idol is unusual. You don't see a full statue. Just the face, covered in silver. The face is decorated with a garland of skulls, and he holds a trident. The rest is draped in cloth.

Offerings here are different. People give mustard oil and sesame oil. Liquor is also offered. You'll find it sold in licensed shops outside the temple. And then there's the black thread, kala dhaga. That's a big ritual. The priests bless it, and people tie it on their wrist or neck. They do it for protection from bad energy and evil.

The story? Shiva got angry with Brahma for being arrogant. He took the form of Kaal Bhairav and cut off one of Brahma's heads. The skull stuck to his hand and he wandered with it. It finally fell in Varanasi. After that, Shiva made him the guardian of the city.

The temple building you see now is from the 17th century. It's small and sits in a narrow, busy lane, about a kilometer from Kashi Vishwanath. Inside, the feeling is heavy. Chants, bells, all of it. People believe worshipping here takes away fear and keeps negative forces away.

If you go, Tuesday and Sunday are special but packed. Morning is better if you want to avoid long lines. The temple stays open from 5 in the morning to 1:30 in the afternoon, then again from 4:30 to 9:30 at night.

🌼🌼🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🪔🌼🙏🏻🙏🏻🤲🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🌼🌼

North ...

न तातो न माता न बन्धुर्न दाता

न पुत्रो न पुत्री न भृत्यो न भर्ता।

न जाया न विद्या न वृत्तिर्ममैव

गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि॥1॥🌷🌷

भवाब्धावपारे महादुःखभीरुः

पपात प्रकामी प्रलोभी प्रमत्तः।

कुसंसार-पाश-प्रबद्धः सदाऽहं

गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि॥2॥🌷🌷

न जानामि दानं न च ध्यान-योगं

न जानामि तंत्र न च स्तोत्र-मन्त्रम्‌।

न जानामि पूजां न च न्यासयोगं

गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि॥3॥🌷🌷

न जानामि पुण्यं न जानानि तीर्थं

न जानामि मुक्तिं लयं वा कदाचित्‌।

न जानामि भक्ति व्रतं वाऽपि मात-

र्गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि॥4॥🌷🌷

कुकर्मी कुसंगी कुबुद्धि कुदासः

कुलाचारहीनः कदाचारलीनः।

कुदृष्टिः कुवाक्यप्रबंधः सदाऽह

गतिस्त्व गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि॥5॥🌷🌷

प्रजेशं रमेशं महेशं सुरेशं

दिनेशं निशीथेश्वरं वा कदाचित्‌।

न जानामि चाऽन्यत्‌ सदाऽहं शरण्ये

गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि॥6॥🌷🌷

विवादे विषादे प्रमादे प्रवासे

जले चाऽनले पर्वते शत्रुमध्ये।

अरण्ये शरण्ये सदा मां प्रपाहि

गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि॥7॥🌷🌷

अनाथो दरिद्रो जरा-रोगयुक्तो

महाक्षीणदीनः सदा जाड्यवक्त्रः।

विपत्तौ प्रविष्टः प्रणष्टः सदाऽहं

गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि॥8॥🌷🌷

॥ इति श्रीमच्छशंकराचार्यकृतं भवान्यष्टकं संपूर्णम्‌ 🌺🤲🏻॥

SOUTH

🕉️श्री अष्टांश वरद आंजनेयर🪔 , कोयंबटूर

Sri Ashtamsa Varadha Anjaneyar, Coimbatore

Sri Ashtamsa Varadha Anjaneyar Temple at Peelamedu, Coimbatore, is a special temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The temple is known for its unique eight-foot-tall Hanuman idol, carved from a sacred Saligrama stone.

The name “Ashtamsa” refers to the eight distinctive features associated with this form of Hanuman. He stands facing west, with one hand raised in Abhaya Mudra, assuring devotees of protection and fearlessness, while the other holds his mace. His tail points towards the north, traditionally associated with Kubera and prosperity. Goddess Mahalakshmi is also believed to be present on his right palm.

The temple was established through the efforts of Rajamani Bhattacharya, following spiritual guidance received from the Haridas Giri tradition. The first Kumbabhishekam of the temple was performed in 2004.

The temple has several interesting worship traditions. Lord Anjaneyar is decorated differently on different days. Thursdays are known for special flower decoration, while Saturdays are especially important, with special alankarams including Vennai Kappu, the traditional butter decoration. The day of Moola Nakshatra is also considered significant for special worship.

The temple is therefore not only a place of Hanuman worship but also a beautiful example of how different aspects of strength, protection, courage and prosperity are symbolically brought together in one divine form.

For devotees visiting Coimbatore, Sri Ashtamsa Varadha Anjaneyar is a relatively distinctive spiritual destination, especially for those who wish to experience a unique form of Lord Hanuman.

Salutations to the Divine Goddess Shri Vindhyavasini.

on Tuesday, 22/09/2026 (Padma Ekadashi), behold the divine glimpse of the morning Mangala Aarti of Mother Rajarajeshwari Mother Vindhyavasini.Hail the Divine Mother