Wednesday, April 21, 2010

WHETHER SON IN LAW CAN PERFORM THE LAST RITES?

There is no restraint in the SAstras that Son-in-Law's father should not be alive in case he has to perform the last rites of the father-in-law. The kartrutvam by Son-in-Law comes later in the order of preference of the eligible KartAs. Amongst the list of eligible KartAs, dauhitra ( son of daughter) ranks next to Putra (Son) followed by brother, brother's son and so on. The SAstras compassionately allow sagotra (One belonging to the same Gotra) or sakhA (one's friend) or a BrAhmaNa ( by giving some money) also to perform the last rites if there are no relatives available. The moot point is that samskAra of the dead should be performed .

It is not correct to state that those who have father never enter crematorium nor should they perform any funeral rites with the exception of their mother. For example, the dauhitran ( daughter's son) can perform the last rites of his grandfather, even though his own father is alive.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

WHAT ARE THE GOTRAS WITH FIVE RISHIS?


The following are the Gotras having pancArsheya (five Rishis):

anUpa Gotra
apnavana Gotra
avata Gotra
Apastambi Gotra
ArshtisheNa Gotra
AtmabhU Gotra
ucatya Gotra
Aurva Gotra
karNa Gotra
kapila Gotra
KAtyAyana Gotra
garga Gotra
gartabhya Gotra
kAlava Gotra
gautama Gotra
kaumAnda Gotra (3 Variants)
cyavana Gotra
mAmantareshaNa Gotra
MArkaNdeya Gotra
mAsUrAksha Gotra (3 Variants)
maudgalya Gotra
yAskAyana Gotra
Rksha Gotra
raukshAyaNa Gotra
vatsa Gotra
vatsapurotas Gotra
vAtSAyana Gotra
vAtsya Gotra
VAtsyAyana Gotra
vAlmIkI Gotra
vIhatahavya Gotra
caicira (2 Variants)
caila bhArgava Gotra
sAnkrtya Gotra
sakIni Gotra
sAmbarAyaNa Gotra
sAvarNi Gotra

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

WHAT ARE THE 18 PURANAS?

The 18 Puráńas are as follows:

1. Brahmá Puráńa
2. Padma Puráńa
3. Vishńu Puráńa
4. Váyavíya Puráńa
5. Bhágavata Puráńa
6. Naradíya Puráńa
7. Márkańdeya Puráńa
8. Agni Puráńa
9. Bhavishya Puráńa
10. Brahma-vaivartta Puráńa
11. Linga Puráńa
12. Varáha Puráńa
13. Skanda Puráńa
14. Vámana Puráńa
15. Kúrma Puráńa
16. Matsya Puráńa
17. Gáruda Puráńa
18. Brahmáńda Puráńa

Friday, April 9, 2010

MANTRA FOR ASVATTHA PRADAKSHINAM

The following Mantra to be recited while doing pradakshiNam of aSvattha tree.

mUlato brahmarUpAya madhyato vishNu rUpiNe !
agratah Siva rUpAya vrksha rAjAya te namah !!


Thus the aSvattha tree is of the form of trimUrti comprising of Brahma, VishNu and Siva.
aSvattha is considered as the king of trees.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

BASIC CONCEPTS OF AYURVEDA

The following are the basic concepts of Ayurveda:

1.panca mahAbhUtas -- Five great elements

AkASa --- Space
vAyu --- Air
teja --- Fire
jala --- Water
prithivI --- Earth

2. tridoshas --- Three biological imbalances

vAta --- Combination of Air and Space
pitta --- Fire
kapha --- Water and Earth

3. sapta dhAtus --- Seven Constituents

rasa --- Chyle
rakta --- Blood
MAmsa --- Muscle
majjA ---- Marrow
asthi ---- Bone
medhA ---- Brain and nervous system
Sukra ---- Sperm and ovum

4 malas --- Excretal products

5.triguNas --- Three qualities

satva --- Peace
rajas --- Passion
tamas --- Ignorance

Friday, March 5, 2010

WHAT ARE THE MAIN BRANCHES OF AYURVEDA?

There are eight main Branches of Ayurveda. These are as follows:

(1) KAyacikitsa (General Medicine)
(2) BAlacikitsa (Pediatrics)
(3) Grahacikitsa (Psychiatry)
(4) UrdhvAngacikitsa (Treatment of ENT and Cephalic diseases)
(5) Salyacikitsa (Surgery)
(6) Damshtracikitsa (Toxicology)
(7) Jaracikitsa (Geriatrics, Rejuvenation)
(8) Vrshacikitsa (Aphrodisiac Therapy)

Monday, March 1, 2010

MANTRA FOR WEARING KARADAIYAN NONBU SARADU BY MARRIED WOMEN

The following Mantra to be recited by married women while wearing the kAradaiyAn nonbu saradu (yellow thread) :

doram grihNAmi subhage mahAridram dharAmyaham !
Bhartuh Ayushya sidhyartham suprItA bhava sarvadA !!