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Unveiling the Mystery of the Saraswati River

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Since childhood, we all have heard about sacred rivers of Indian civilisation from our parents and grandparents. Among all the rivers, the Saraswati River is one of the most crucial and holds high importance. Unfortunately, many scholars and historians consider the Saraswati River as a myth; they claim that the river never existed. Even Wikipedia refer to the river as a deified mythological river.   Today, several beliefs prevail on the Saraswati River. Let us uncover those beliefs and try to understand the river’s existence in modern India.  Vedic References: The mention of the Saraswati river is found in Vedic scriptures. The name has been mentioned in the Vedas, especially the Rig Veda. The Saraswati River was among the few rivers that Hindus used to worship in ancient times. Ancient Hindu Scriptures mention that the Saraswati River was situated between the Yamuna and the Sutlej river. Identification with the Ghaggar River: Many claim that the present-day Ghaggar River is the anci

Sacred journey in the lap of Himalaya: The Kedarnath Temple

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Imagine yourself setting foot at the entrance of the temple that carries the spiritual aura within your heart. The sound of distant bells, the sight of ancient stones weathered by centuries of devotion, and the scent of incense fill your mind and heart with devotion.  It is a story of a temple that remained covered with snow for around 400 years and survived devastating floods and landslides in 2013. The temple has never failed to astonish scientists, geologists, and its devotees.  Here I am taking you to one of the oldest dharmic sthalas, Kedarnath Temple, located in the midst of an awe-inspiring view of a city named Rudraprayag.  The Kedarnath Temple is a celestial abode dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the paramount dhams nestled in the heart of the Garhwal Himalayas at the height of 3,584 meters and near the source of the Mandakini River. The temple is one of the significant temples among the 12 Jyotir Lingams, the Panch Kedars and the sacred Chota Char Dham Yatra in Uttrakhan

The Kalighat Temple: The Story of Divine Dance

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Are you looking for a pilgrimage site in Kolkata? Kalighat is one of them, a popular destination for both locals and tourists seeking spiritual solace and cultural exploration. Amidst the bustling streets and vibrant culture lies a sacred haven - the Kalighat Temple. Let's dive into the history and mythology this temple stands for.  History The origins of the Kalighat Temple can be traced back to the 15th century. According to the legend, the temple was built at the spot where the toes of the right foot of Goddess Sati fell during Lord Shiva's dance of destruction, the Tandava, making the temple one of the 51 Shaktipeethas. The Shakti here is known as Dakshina Kalika. Therefore, this temple is considered one of the holiest places, and each day thousands of devotees come here to worship Goddess Kali.   Rituals and Festivals Devotees consider Tuesdays and Saturdays as auspicious days to worship Kali. Other than these two days, she is worshipped during the Vipad Tarini Vrat, and w

Exploring India's Ancient Glory: Nalanda University

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Dear readers, which university comes to mind when you hear the world's oldest and greatest university? Oxford or Cambridge or any other Western universities? Here I will talk about India's ancient and greatest universities that produce the world's most renowned mathematicians, and astronomers of all time. Let's explore history and destruction and captivating stories and facts about Nalanda University, also known as Nalanda Mahavihara. Founded By The story of Nalanda University dates back to the 3rd century when Kumaragupta I established the Nalanda Mahavihara. Nalanda is the combination of three Sanskrit words Na-Alam-Da, meaning the 'Unstoppable flow of knowledge' . This prestigious university was located in the Indian state of Bihar.    Construction When it comes to construction, Nalanda University was one of the masterpieces of the Gupta period. As people from across the world visit there, the university has residents and student dorms. It has high walls wi

Everything You Need to Know about Mandarmani

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In December 2021, for the first time, I went to Mandarmani. As we know, one's first experience matters the most. There's a saying: 'The first impression is the last impression'. Even though I don't believe in this saying, in this case, I believe it's true. After that, I visited the place numerous times. In this blog, I'm going to enlighten you with beneficial information based on my experience.  Background Mandarmani is located on the coast of East Midnapur, West Bengal, India. It was in the 1950s the West Bengal government started promoting sea resorts like Digha, but it was only in the 1990s that Mandarmani was noticed and within the past two decades, the place has become a well-known tourist place. Numerous hotels were built, and sea resorts were developed, and with the help of the WB government means of transport and communications were also improved drastically. It is interesting to note that the southernmost part of the West Bengal holds Mandarmani on

The Tale of the Vaishno Devi

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Vaishno Devi Temple Overview The Vaishno Devi temple is considered the holiest pilgrimage for Hindus, nestled in the Trikuta mountains. The temple is one of the 108 pithas of Goddess Gurga. Annually, the temple receives thousands of devotees who come to seek blessings from Goddess Durga. In essence, devotees behold three sacred ‘pindis’ representing Maha Kali on the extreme right, Lakshmi in the middle, and Saraswati on the extreme left.  The Tale Multiple stories are associated with the Vaishno Devi temple. One, steeped in mythology and entwined with the epic Ramayana, is quite popular among the devotees.  According to legend, Lady Vaishnavi was born in Ratnakar Sagar in the southern realms of India. She devoted her life to celibacy. But it was a fateful encounter that would set her on a remarkable journey. One day her fate led her to cross paths with Rama who was in search of his beloved Sita. Vaishnavi pleased Rama to

Panchaali's Mahabharat

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              Born from the fire, Dark and hasty girl and the unexpected one.  Became an unwanted daughter but a beloved sister,  I had no mother and was deprived of my father's love,  I was born to change the course of history,  But became the cause of the Great War –  Mahabharata . They call me the cause of the war,  But is that what I wanted? Is that what I aimed for? Did I ever want thousands of women to become widows?  Did I ever want my sons to die? Did I ever wish for my beloved brother's death?  No, I never intended to destroy the clan,  I never wished to curse my family.  They wreak the root of the war years ago, They performed yajna for a son.  They asked me not to marry the man I loved the most,  They compelled me to tie a knot with the five men to save their mother's honour? They got me Indra Prastha, the magical palace,  They took me to Hastinapur, the kingdom of evils,  It was they who lost me in the game of dice,  They treated their queen as a maid,  It was t