Archive for October 21st, 2008
Posted by kathavarta on October 21, 2008
The Festival of Lights is for All
Why do we celebrate Diwali? It’s not just the festive mood in the air that makes you happy, or just that it’s a good time to enjoy before the advent of winter. There are 10 mythical and historical reasons why Diwali is a great time to celebrate. And there are good reasons not just for Hindus but also for all others to celebrate this great Festival of Lights.
1. Goddess Lakshmi’s Birthday: The Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi incarnated on the new moon day (amaavasyaa) of the Kartik month during the churning of the ocean (samudra-manthan), hence the association of Diwali with Lakshmi.
2. Vishnu Rescued Lakshmi: On this very day (Diwali day), Lord Vishnu in his fifth incarnation as Vaman-avtaara rescued Lakshmi from the prison of King Bali and this is another reason of worshipping Ma Larkshmi on Diwali.
3. Krishna Killed Narakaasur: On the day preceding Diwali, Lord Krishna killed the demon king Narakaasur and rescued 16,000 women from his captivity. The celebration of this freedom went on for two days including the Diwali day as a victory festival.
4. The Return of the Pandavas: According to the great epic ‘Mahabharata’, it was ‘Kartik Amavashya’ when the Pandavas appeared from their 12 years of banishment as a result of their defeat in the hands of the Kauravas at the game of dice (gambling). The subjects who loved the Pandavas celebrated the day by lighting the earthen lamps.
5. The Victory of Rama: According to the epic ‘Ramayana’, it was the new moon day of Kartik when Lord Ram, Ma Sita and Lakshman returned to Ayodhya after vanquishing Ravana and conquering Lanka. The citizens of Ayodhya decorated the entire city with the earthen lamps and illuminated it like never before.
6. Coronation of Vikramaditya: One of the greatest Hindu King Vikramaditya was coroneted on the Diwali day, hence Diwali became a historical event as well.
7. Special Day for the Arya Samaj: It was the new moon day of Kartik (Diwali day) when Maharshi Dayananda, one of the greatest reformers of Hinduism and the founder of Arya Samaj attained his nirvana.
8. Special Day for the Jains: Mahavir Tirthankar, considered to be the founder of modern Jainism also attained his nirvana on Diwali day.
9. Special Day for the Sikhs: The third Sikh Guru Amar Das institutionalized Diwali as a Red-Letter Day when all Sikhs would gather to receive the Gurus blessings. In 1577, the foundation stone of the Golden Temple at Amritsar was laid on Diwali. In 1619, the sixth Sikh Guru Hargobind, who was held by the Mughal Emperor Jahengir, was released from the Gwalior fort along with 52 kings.
10. The Pope’s Diwali Speech: In 1999, Pope John Paul II performed a special Eucharist in an Indian church where the altar was decorated with Diwali lamps, the Pope had a ‘tilak’ marked on his forehead and his speech was bristled with references to the festival of light.
By: Subhamoy Das, for About.com
Posted in Children story, Hindu story, Jainism, Katha, Religious, Sikhism, Story for Adult, Varta | Tagged: Ancient peoples, Care, Celebration, Deepavali, Diwali, Enlightenment, Faith, Festival, God, Health, Help, Hindu, Indian, Jain, King Bali, Krishna, Krishna Avatar, Light, Mahavira, Narayan, Pope John Paul, Prosperity, Rama, Reason, Sikh, Sita, Vamana Avatar, Vishnu, Wealth, Wisdom | 1 Comment »
Posted by kathavarta on October 21, 2008
Bill Clinton calls Rush Limbaugh’s producer and asks to speak with Rush. The
producer replies, “I’m sorry Mr. President, but Rush has suddenly died.”
Clinton says, “OK.”, and hangs up.
About 15 minutes later Clinton calls again and receives a slightly more irritated “Rush has died.”
Again acknowledges and hangs up.
After about 20 minutes he calls again and asks to speak to Rush.
The producer replies in a loud voice, “I told you Rush is dead. Why can’t you understand that?”
Clinton replies, “Oh, I understand that, I just love to hear you say it.”
Posted in Funny Story, Story for Adult, Varta | Tagged: Act, Affection, Alert, Avaricious, Bill Clinton, Confession, Counsel, Death, Enjoy, Envy, Horror, Humour, Pleasure, Politician, President, Pretend, Revenge, Rush Limbaugh, Story for Adult, USA, Varta, Wit | Leave a Comment »
Posted by kathavarta on October 21, 2008
George W. Bush, in an airport lobby, noticed a man in a long flowing white robe with a long flowing white beard and flowing white hair. The man had a staff in one hand and some stone tablets under the other arm.
George W. approached the man and inquired, “Aren’t you Moses?” The man ignored George W. and stared at the ceiling. George W. positioned himself more directly in the man’s view and asked again, “Aren’t you Moses?”
The man continued to peruse the ceiling. George W. tugged at the man’s sleeve and asked once again, “Aren’t you Moses?” The man finally responded in an irritated voice, “Yes I am”.
George W. asked him why he was so unfriendly and Moses replied, “The last time I spoke to a Bush I had to spend forty years in the desert.
Posted in Funny Story, Story for Adult, Varta | Tagged: Act, Adult, Advice, Alert, Blame, Careful, Desert, Enlightenment, Experience, George W. Bush, Humour, Moses, Past, President, Reward, Story for Adult, Think, USA, Varta, Wisdom | Leave a Comment »
Posted by kathavarta on October 21, 2008
The President Clinton and Mrs. Clinton were in the front row at a Yankees game. The row behind them was taken up with Secret Service agents. One of them leaned over and whispered in the President’s ear. Mr. Clinton paused, then grabbed Hillary by the scruff of the neck and heaved her over the railing. She fell 10 feet to the top of the dugout, screaming obscenities.
The President shook the hands of those near him and got high fives all around.
The Secret Service agent leaned over again and whispered, “Mr. President, I said it’s time to throw out the first pitch.”
By: Spyderman, for www.19.5degs.com
Posted in Funny Story, Story for Adult, Varta | Tagged: Accuracy, Act, Advice, Alert, Blame, Choice, CIA, Common sense, Decision, Emptiness, Foolish, Humour, Idiot, Mistake, President, Story for Adult, Think, Truth, USA, Varta, Wise | Leave a Comment »
Posted by kathavarta on October 21, 2008
An Ant, going to a river to drink water, fell in, and was carried along in the stream.
A Dove pitied her condition, and threw into the river a small bough, by means of which the Ant gained the shore.
The Ant afterward, seeing a man with a fowling-piece aiming at the Dove, stung him in the foot sharply, and made him miss his aim, and so saved the Dove’s life.
Moral:
Little friends may prove great friends.
Posted in Aesop Fable, Children story, Fables, Moral story, Varta | Tagged: Accuracy, Act, Advice, Aesop Fables, Ant, Care, Children, Dove, Enlightenment, Experience, Fables, Friend, Help, Reward, Short Story, Thankful, Varta, Wise | Leave a Comment »
Posted by kathavarta on October 21, 2008
The Dolphins and Whales waged a fierce war with each other.
When the battle was at its height, a Sprat lifted its head out of the waves and said that he would reconcile their differences, if they would accept him as an umpire.
One of the Dolphins replied, “We would far rather be destroyed in our battle with each other than admit any interference from you in our affairs.”
Posted in Aesop Fable, Children story, Fables, Varta | Tagged: Accuracy, Advice, Aesop Fables, Alert, Battle, Children, Choice, Clever, Dolphins, Education, Experience, Fables, Sea, Short Story, Sprat, Umpire, Varta, War, Whales, Wisdom | Leave a Comment »
