Do buffaloes have any significance in Hinduism?

 In general, in Hindu traditions buffaloes, especially female buffaloes, symbolize fertility (especially agricultural fertility and prosperity), fortune, the potential for gain, the harvest, and transformations. Buffaloes in general represent tamoguna, delusion, ignorance, lust, brute power, strength, divinity, support, ferocity, and kingship or queenship - a mix of positive and negative associations, but certainly regarded as powerful.

Rigveda 9.96.6 praises the Deva Soma Pavamana as “buffalo among wild beasts, falcon among birds of prey”.

The Kalika Purana says that a buffalo is an auspicious animal with an excellent form which gives life, wealth, and fame.

Yama, the God of Death, rides a black male water buffalo.

Chandika Devi famously slew Mahishasura, a great buffalo demon. This continues to hold great significance in modern Hindu traditions and is celebrated annually in a major festival.

Also the deity Ayyappa defeated Mahishi, a female buffalo demon.

There is a buffalo deity, Mhasoba Maharaj, venerated in some regional Hindu traditions especially in Maharashtra.

In the ancient Hindu alchemical traditions of Rasayana Shastra, buffalo bile and the urine of a female buffalo are used in specific formulae.

Some Hindu traditions practice the ceremonial slaying of male water buffaloes, mainly in offering to forms of Shakti during the Durga Puja/Navaratri/Dashain festival. This is practiced mainly in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Nepal. Rajputs used to practice this as well, and a few still do.

Do bees have any significance in Hinduism?

 Bees are mentioned quite frequently in Hindu literature, usually just as part of descriptions of various natural environments, or in various poetic/metaphorical references. In general, Hindus have historically liked bees and regarded them very positively. To mention that a natural area is full of bees is seen as a point of high praise. Bees and their buzzing and general behaviors are seen as charming and delightful, and the company of bees is considered pleasant and desirable. They represent the beauty, richness, and industriousness of nature, and are considered to contribute to a lively and harmonious atmosphere. They are also frequently used as symbols of love and the spring season. The humming of bees in the spring season is considered a romantic sound inciting love and romantic yearning. Indra’s paradise of Svargaloka is described as containing bees.

The Rishis of the Rigveda even compare themselves to bees, for example:

“Here are thy invokers together, waiting with offerings for thee, like bees sitting together on honey.” - Rigveda 7.32.2

Elsewhere bees are compared to Vedic mantras. It is also recommended to approach sources of knowledge (different texts, teachings, etc.) like a bee approaching flowers: drawing the sweet nectar from each one and moving on, to create rich and nourishing honey. In this way bees are cited as a Guru in nature, in the Uddhava Gita.

Kamadeva’s bowstring is made of bees. As a former beekeeper myself, I can confirm that bees really do frequently do form strands like this, holding onto each other’s feet:

There is also a form of Shakti called Brahmari, the Goddess of Bees. Her story is given in the Devi Bhagavata Purana, book 10, chapter 13. Her center of veneration is the Srisailam Shakti Pitha in Andhra Pradesh, one of the main 18 Shakti Pithas.

The Shastras mention that honeybees are spiritually high among insects, since their honey benefits so many other beings, earning them great good Karma. Here is some Madhubani Hindu folk art from Mithila, showing a honeybee drinking nectar:

What are the most interesting facts about Hinduism?

 

1. After Christianity and Islam Hinduism is the most practised religion, yet the oldest religion among these.
2. The biggest Religious Monument in the world is a Hindu temple, Angkor Wat, which is not in India but in Cambodia which was a part of Bharat at that time.

3. The Rig Veda is the oldest book in the world.

4. Hindu's believe only in one god but many forms.

5. Hinduism believes in circular rather than linear concept of time.

Time is divided into four stages - Satya Yuga, Tretha Yuga, Dwapara Yuga and Kali Yuga.

6. Om is actually believed to be the manifestation of consciousness in the form of sound.

7. Many people know that 108 is an auspicious number.. The actual reason behind the number to be auspicious is, it is the ratio of the sun and moons distance from the earth.

8. Hinduism does not have any founder or origin.

9. Only mainstream religion that promotes gender equality among “gods". Both male and female deities are worshiped equally.

10. Unlike other religions, Hindu religion does not consider the pursue of wealth as a sin.

What are the most interesting facts about Hinduism?

 

1. Unlike other major religions, Hinduism doesn't consider the pursuit of wealth as a sin. In fact, we celebrate wealth in the form of many gods such as Lakshmi, Kubera and Vishnu.
   

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2. Hinduism has a 4 level hierarchy – Dharma (pursuit of philosophy, religion and doing duties to society) , Artha (pursuit of livelihood , wealth and power), Kama (pursuit of pleasures including sexual/sensual)and Moksha (liberation) and we progress from the top to bottom.
3. Hinduism is the parent religion for two of the other major religions of South Asia – Buddhism and Sikhism. It is also closely associated with its sister religion – Jainism.
   
4. The holiest number for Hindus is 108. This is the ratio of Sun’s distance (from earth)/Sun’s diameter or Moon’s distance (from earth)/Moon’s diameter. Thus, most of our prayer beads have 108 beads.
   

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2. The largest religious structures in the world – Angkor Vat in Cambodia were built by the Hindu kings of South East Asia.
   

1. Hindu scriptures are organized into Vedas (poems that written in multiple levels from abstract rural level and going deeper into cosmic universe), Upanishads (scientific discourses and arguments about the world), Brahmanas (manuals for ritual performances), Aranyakas (experiments done on human mind and nature in the forests), Puranas (mythologies about Hindu gods) and Itihasas (notebooks on “historical” events”).
2. 
   Snakes and Ladders was originally created to teach children Hinduism,MOKSHAPAT.
   

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2. According to ancient Hindu scriptures, a woman can marry up-to 4 husbands at a time. Because of the same reason, during marriage rituals she is married to Agni, Vayu and Surya first and then to her husband. So that she cannot marry more.

Who are the 7 Chiranjivi in Hinduism, and what roles are they expected to play during the time of Kalki?

 Somewhat a long post ahead so if u want to save time, u can read bold words and i’ll suggest reading full in detail only for better understanding but only bold letters would work too. Radhe Radhe.

1- RAJA BALI-

The demon king in Hinduism, he is not the vaanar bali [commonly thought due to same names]. He was the king of rakshasas but very devotional. The gods feared that if he will be the demon king then he’ll make demons more powerful and devotional resultedly they’ll overpower the gods. So Bhagwan Vishnu took VAAMAN AVATAR in treta yug. He asked for the land that he can cover in 3 spans of leg. Bali granted it and then Vaaman Bhagwan increased and increased and increased his size. In one span he measured whole earth and in second he measured whole universe and nothing was left for third leg so Bali understood that he is god and said him to keep his leg on his head. Then Vaaman Ji transferred him to Paatal Lok making the dimensions of demons and others different. He is supposed to supply some special knowledge to the Kalki Avatar of Vishnu Ji.

2- BHAGWAN PARSHURAM-

The sixth avatar of Bhagwan Vishnu. He is considered to be powerful and angry sage and Brahman Warrior. He won 21 empires of cruel rulers and established new right kingdoms. In Kalki Puran, He is said to be the guru [teacher] of Kalki Ji. He will give him knowledge of weapons and will prepare him for the final battle against evil. He is also the guru of Bheeshma Pitamah and Karna.

3- HANUMAN JI-

The vaanara roop of Bhagwan Shiva. Ram Ji ordered him to live till the end of this kalpa. He also encountered Bhima [pandava] and also met Tulsidas ji [around 300–400 years ago] also he is the supporter of Kalki and will support him in the final battle against evil. He will have strongest devotion towards Shree Kalki Ji and will be his right hand for esatblishing dharma.

4- VIBHISHANA-

The younger brother of Raavan and the king of Lanka. He was granted to rule Lanka till the end of Kalpa. He may be spreading peace and dharma rule after the end of evil.

5- VEDA VYAS-

The author of Mahabharat and all puranas. He is the son of Satyavati and divine father of Pandu, Dhritarashtra and Vidur. He is expected to guide and inspire Kalki ji.

6- KRIPACHARYA-

He is the second guru of Pandavs and Kauravs. He will teach Kalki Ji warfare and other skills.

7- ASHWATHHAMA-

The son of Dronacharya ,who ki-lled all sons of pandavs wrongly and even fired Brahmastra at Uttara’s womb to end the whole lineage of Pandavs. He was cursed by Krishna ji to live till the end of time and in full pain. Kalki Puran says that He will be helping Kalki Ji in final war and resultedly, he would be freed from his curse by Kalki Ji.

So, these were 7 chiranjeevis but there are more who live forever in time. Like JAAMWANT JI [the bear and the minister of Sugreev and leader of Vaanaras].

No one can say what will happen and how. This is just assumption by me in the light of Kalki Puran.

Thankyou for reading this.

If u loved it and want to see more such things, then upvote. Thankyou.

Tridevi, the divine Devi Maa trio of Hinduism

 Tridevi, the divine Devi Maa trio of Hinduism, embodies the essence of creation, prosperity, and power: Saraswati with Brahma, Lakshmi with Vishnu, and Parvati with Shiva. 🚩🚩

Lakshmi, Devi of good fortune and wealth, is the divine strength of Vishnu. Depicted standing or sitting on a lotus, she embodies spirituality, self-understanding, and success.🙏🙏

Saraswati, Devi of learning, arts, and music, embodies the power of knowledge and pure thought. She holds a veena, prayer beads, a book, and a pot of water, symbolizing music, meditation, wisdom, and purification. Clad in white, she signifies purity and elegance.🌺🙏

What are the most interesting facts about Hinduism?

 1.CHAR DAMS

The Char Dham ("four abodes") are four places which the Hindus believed could cleanse people of their sins. Char Dham are the names of four pilgrimage sites in India that are widely revered by people of SANATANA DHARMAM.

Badrinath,Uttarakhand in north

Dwarka,Gujarat in west

Puri,Orissa in east

Rameswaram,Tamil Nadu in South

It is considered highly sacred by Hindus to visit Char Dham during one's lifetime.

These char dams were defined by Adi Sankaracharya.

RAMESHWARAM,Tamil Nadu

2.SEVEN PLACES OF MUKTHI

In hinduism it is told that if a person is born or a person who has seen all these places in his lifetime will attain Nirvana or Mukthi.

Ayodhya,Uttar Prdesh

Mathura,Uttar Pradesh

Ujjain,Madhya Pradesh

Kanchipuram,Tamil Nadu

Kashi,Uttar pradesh

Haridwar,Uttarakhand

Dwaraka,Gujarat

KASHI,Uttar Pradesh

3.12 Jyothirlingam temple

Of the 64 jyothirlingam temple(representhout these 12 are very important and famous.Jyotirlinga refers to radiance sign of lord Shiva.

1. Somnath Temple in Gujarat
2. Mallikarjuna Temple in Andhra Pradesh
3. Mahakaleshwar Temple in Madhya Pradesh
4. Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh
5. Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand
6. Bhimashankar in Maharashtra
7. Vaidyanath Temple in Jharkand
8. Rameshwar Temple in Tamilnadu
9. Nageshwar Temple in Gujarat
10. Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Uttar Pradesh
11. Grushneshwar Temple in Maharashtra
12. Trimbakeshwar Temple in Maharashtra

4.18 SHAKTHI PEETAS

Of the 108 Shakthi peetas 18 are considered as very important .These are the places where shakthi’s body parts had fell on this earth .

"Shakti Peetha" - Wikipedia

5.108 DIVYA DESAMS

In India Divya desams are spread over states of Tamil Nadu(84), Kerala(14), Andhra Pradesh(2), Gujarat(1), Uttar Pradesh(4), Uttarakhand(3). The last two are Thirupalkadal and Paramapadam. Tirupalkaddal is the ocean of milk and paramapadam is the Vaikuntha where lord Vishnu presides. The Divya Desams are revered by the 12 Alvars in the Divya Prabandha, a collection of 4,000 Tamil verses. Divya Desams follow Thenkalai or Vadakalai modes of worship.

"Divya Desam" - Wikipedia

SRI RANGANATHASWAMY TEMPLE,TN (156 ACRES-Largest temple in India)First and the foremost divya desam.

6.7 Holy rivers.

In India there are many holy rivers of which 7 are very holy and has many temples on its banks.

Ganga

Yamuna

Saraswati

Kshipra(some say its Sindhu river also)

Narmada

Godavari

Kaveri

Kaveri river

7.7 Holy mountains

Mountains and hills are considered holy in Hinduism .There are many hills and mountains in India but these are considered very sacred having many temples on them.

Mahendra(eastern ghats)

Malaya mountains(Podhigai malai in Tamil nadu)

Vindhya mountains

Sahya(western ghats)

Sukthimat

Riksha(Aravalis)

Paripata

Aravalli mountains.

What are the most interesting facts about Hinduism?

 This is Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs:

I learnt about this concept about a year ago and honestly it was a mind blown moment for me. I really liked this representation which described that how our needs vary according to our circumstances and explained the behaviors general and extreme.

This new way of seeing at things kept me busy and I was in awe for Maslow’s thinking to come up with this.

Later I got to know about the concept of Chakras:

In all praise for Maslow little did I know that similar concept existed in my own country for centuries before Maslow labeled it. It really made me consider to start reading ancient texts because till now I considered most of it to be meaningless ritualistic approach to handle the ignorant masses and the idolatry part of me made me go further away from whatever religion had to offer.