Shree Badri Nath Darshan

Badarinath Dham is considered as one of the most sacred centres of pilgrimage situated in the lofty Himalayan heights in the Garhwal hill tracks (Uttarakhand). Situated at the height of 3133 m (10248 feet) above sea level. The route to Badarinath is one of the most fascinating one due to the lofty hilly terrain, curves and cliffs amidst the most scenically beautiful place on the earth.Throughout the route to Badarinath there are numerous pilgrimage sites at Deo Prayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Nandaprayag and Vishnuprayag; as well as Pandukeswar where king Pandu observed Tapasya with his queen Madri and where his sons Pandavas, stayed during their pilgrimage to heaven, and the site where Bhima and Hanuman (sons of Vayu) met.At Badarinath Lord MahaVishnu is believed to have done his penance. Seeing the Lord doing his penance in the open, Goddess Mahalaxmi is believed to have assumed the form of Badari tree to provide him shelter to face the onslaught of the adverse weather conditions, therefore the name Badari Narayan. It is believed that Lord Vishnu revealed to Narad rishi that Nar & Naryans forms were his own. It is also believed that Narad rishi, who also did his penance here, is even now worshipping the supreme God with Ashtakshara mantras.The image of Badarinarayan here is fashioned out of Saligramam. Badarinarayan is seen under the Badari tree, flanked by Kuber and Garuda, Narad, Narayan and Nar. Mahalakshmi has a sanctum outside in the parikrama. There is also a shrine to Adi Sankara at Badarinath.Behind the temple of Lord Badarinarayan is the Lakshmi Narsimh mandir, with shrines to Desikacharya and Ramanujachary.At Badarinath one can witness one of the greatest wonders of Nature in the Hot water springs of Taptkund on the banks of ice chilled river Alaknanda. The temperature of the water in the Kund is 55 degree centigrade whereas the normal temperature in this region for most part of the year remains at 9-10 degree centigrade to sub-zero levels. Before visiting the temple the pilgrims take a holy bath in the Taptkund.The Temple's present structure was built by the Kings of Garhwal. The Temple has three sections - Garbhagriha (Sanctum), the Darshan Mandap, and Sabha Mandap. The Garbhagriha (Sanctum) houses Lord Badari Narayan, Kuber (God of wealth), Narad rishi, Udhava, Nar & Narayan.Lord Badari Narayan (also called as Badari Vishal) is armed with Shankh (Conch) and Chakra in two arms in a lifted posture and two arms rested on the lap in Yogamudra.The principal image is of black stone and it represents Vishnu seated in meditative pose. The temple also houses Garuda (Vehicle of Lord Narayan). Also here are the idols of Adi Shankar, Swami Desikan and Shri Ramanujam. Guru-Shisya parampara is supposed to have its roots here.
Kapat Opening:- The kapat of Shri Badarinath Temple will open on 19th May 2010 at 8:05 AM.
Best Time to visit:- The ideal time or peak season to go for a Char Dham Yatra is from May to October, except monsoons. This is because; all the four sacred sites are perched in Garhwal Himalayas, which is prone to heavy snowfall. As a result, all the passage leading to the shrines are blocked. Moreover, during the monsoon season, there is undue threat of having landslides, which can further disrupt the journey. For safety reasons, the gates of the temples are also closed for this period of time and the idols are shifted to nearby pilgrim points.

HOLY KUMBH MELA HARIDWAR 2010

According to astrologers, the 'Kumbh Fair' takes place when the planet Jupiter enters Aquarius and the Sun enters Aries. Kumbha (Kumbha means pot) Mela (means fair) is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage. It takes place at the following four locations of India:

Prayag,Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) , Haridwar(Uttarakhand) , Ujjain(Madhya Pradesh) , Nasik (Maharashtra

The main & common reason for one to attend the holy festival of Kumbh Mela is to take dip in Holy river. It is said that a holy dip in sacred rivers during Maha Kumbh or Ardh Kumbh takes human out of the circle of life & death ( stage known as Moksha ). Pilgrims & Sadhus in great number from around the world visit here to liberate themselves. Holy rivers like Ganges , Yamuna & celestial Sarawati at Parayag ( Sangam at Allahbad ) is age old symbol of Indian Culture & Civilization. These river offers purity, wealth, fertility and wash away the sins of those who bath in it.


TIMING OF KUMBH MELA
The Kumbh Mela ("festival of the pot of nectar of immortality") is held every three years in each of four different locations, returning to each of four places every twelve years. An Ardh (half) Mela (festival) takes place six years after the Purna (full) Kumbh in each location.
Kumbh Mela is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage and bathing festival that takes place at the following 4 locations of India:
-Prayag (near the city of Allahabad, in the state of Uttar Pradesh) at the confluence of three rivers Ganga (Ganges), Yamuna and mythical Saraswati.-Haridwar (in the state of Uttaranchal Pradesh) where the river Ganga enters the plains from Himalayas.-Ujjain (in Madhya Pradesh), on the banks of Ksipra river.-Nasik (in Maharashtra) on the banks of Godavari river.
Dates for the Kumbh Festival(every 12 years in 4 locations)
-In 2010, March-April, Kumbh Mela will be held at Haridwar in the foothills of the Himalayas. The main bathing date for Kumbh Mela, Haridwar, is April 14, 2010.-In 2013, Maha Kumbh Mela will be held in Allahabad (Prayag), Jan. 27 to Feb. 25. Main bathing date: Feb. 10.-In 2015, Kumbh Mela will be held Aug. 15 to Sept. 13. Main bathing date: Sept. 13.-In 2016, Kumbh Mela will be held April 22 to May 21. Main bathing date: May 21.

Mythological legends say that at the beginning of creation, all the Gods were under a curse that made them weak and cowardly. Brahma, the creator God, advised them to retrieve the Kumbh (pot) containing the nectar of immortality (amrit). The gods sought help from the demons, and together they churned the primordial ocean to bring up the nectar.
As Dhanvantari, the divine healer, appeared with the "Kumbh" containing nectar in his palms, a great fight ensued between the Gods and demons to wrest the pitcher. During the fierce battle in the sky, a few drops of nectar fell in four different places: Allahabad (Prayag), Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain.
Since then, when the planets align in the same position, pilgrims and devotees converge to commemorate this divine event. Purna (Full) Kumbh Mela takes place every three years in rotation in the four sacred places. Therefore Kumbh Mela in each location takes place every twelfth year. The Ardh Kumbh Mela takes place in the sixth year between Kumbh Melas.
In the four holy places Purna Kumbh Mela takes place at an interval of twelve years coinciding with one round of Jupiter through the zodiac.

Bhagavad geeta Teachings of lord krishna

Saptha Sloki Gita

[These seven slokas in this order from Bhagawad Gita has been published by Gita press, Gorakpur, in their collection of stotras called Stotra Ratnavali. It is supposed to represent in a nutshell the teachings contained in the 700 slokas of Bhagawad Gita. I understand that this Saptha Sloki Gita is being recited as a daily prayer by the Kashmiri Pundits for hundrerds of years.]

Bhagawan Uvacha:Om ithyaksharam Brahma,Vyaharan maam anusmaran,Ya prayathi thyajan deham,Sa Yathi Pramamam gathim.

1 (8-13)The God said:He who, meditates on me,As Om, which in Brahman,While leaving this ephemeral body,Will surely attain the most supreme state.Arjuna Uvacha:Sthane Hrisikesa, Thava prakeerthya,Jagath prahrushthya anurajyathe cha,Rakshamsi bheethani diso dravanthi,Sarve namasyanthi cha sidha sangha.

2 (11-36)Arjuna said:In this state, Oh Lord, Singing about you.The world is happy and is rejoicing,To see the evil ones flying away with fear,And all those devoted ones saluting you.[This is told after seeing the Viswa Roopa of the Lord.]Bhagawan Uvacha:Sarvatha pani padam thath,Sarvatho akshi siro mukham,Sarvatha sruthimalloke,Sarvamavithya thishtahi.

3 (13-14)The God said:It has hands and legs everywhere,It has eyes head and mouth everywhere,It has ears everywhere in this world,And it exists as every thing in this world.Kavim purana anusasithara-Manoramaneeyaam samanusmaredhya,Sarvasya dhataram machinthya roopa-Madithya varnam thamasa parasthath.

4 (8-9)Think of Him, as ancient, spread everywhere,Ruler of all, much subtler part of an atom, Protector of all with his form which is beyond thought,With the colour of Sun and transcendental beyond dark thoughts.Oordhwamoolamadha sakham,Aswatham prahooravyayam,Chandamsi yasya parnani,Yastham Veda sa Vedavith.

5 (15-1)With roots above and branches Growing down,This Banyan tree with Vedas as its leaves,Is everlasting and immortal, And whosoever knows it, really knows the Vedas.Sarvasya chaham, hrudhi sannivishto,Matha smrithir jnana mapohanam cha,Vedaischa sarvaii, rahameva Vedhyo,Vedanthakruth veda vidheva chaham.

6 (15-15)I live in everybody’s heart,And from me one gets,Memory, wisdom and forgetfulness,And for all the Vedas, I am the one that is to be known,For I created them and I am the one who knows them.Manmana bhava Mad bhaktho,Madhyajee maam Namakuru,Mamevaishyasi sathyam they,Prathijane priyo asi may.

7 (18-65)Concentrate your mind on me,Always show devotion to me,Sacrifice for me, salute me,And I swear to you because you are dear to me,That definitely you will reach me.

Lord Krishna stotram

Vande nava Ghana syamam, peetha kouseya vasasam,Sanandam sundaram shudham, Sri Krishnam prakruthe param। I bow before that Sri Krishna,Who is as black as the new cloud,Who wears cloths made of yellow silk,Who is pretty, happy and clean,And who is beyond nature.Radhesam Radhika prana vallabham, vallavee sutham,Radha sevitha padabjam, Radha vaksha sthala sthiham. Radhanugam Radhikesam Radhanuka manasam,Radhadharam 

bhavadharam sarvadharam namami tham. ३ I salute him who is the basis of everything,Who is the Lord of Radha,Who is the king of the soul of Radha,Who is the son of Yasodha,Whose feet is served by Radha,Who resides in the breast of Radha,Who accompanies Radha,Who is the God of Radha,Whose mind is attracted by Radha,Who takes care of Radha,And who takes care of the burden of our life।Radha hruth padma madhye cha vasantham santhatham shubham,Radha saha charam saswadradagna paripalakam, 4 Dhyayanthe yogino yogath sidha, sidheswarascha yam,Tham dhyayeth santhatham shudham bhagawantham sanathanam. 5 I always meditate on that pure God,Who always lives in the lotus of heart of Radha,Who is ever pretty and always does good,Who is the companion of Radha,Who always obeys the wishes of Radha,Who is remembered by yogis through yoga,Who is remembered by experts in occult by their powers,And who is without any death or destruction.Sevantha sathatham santho brahmesa sesha samgnaka,Sevanthe nirgunam brahma bhagawantham sanathanam, 6 Nirliptham cha nireham cha paramanandameeswaram,Nithyam sathyamcha paramam bhagawantham sanathanam, 7 Yam sreshteradhi bhoothancha sarva bheejam parath param,Yoginastham prapadhyanthe bhagawantham sanathanam, 8 Bheejam nanavatharanam sarva karana karanam,Vedha vedhyam veda bheejam Veda karana karanam. 9 The great saints attain the perennial God,Who is served always by Gods like Brahma and Shiva,Who is of the form of truth without properties,Who is perennial and not related to anything,Who does not have desires but is the form of pure bliss,Who always exists, who is the truth and who is beyond the mind,Who existed before creation and created everything,Who is the ultimate root of all incarnations,Who is the cause of all causes,Who cannot be adequately described by Vedas,And who is the root and cause of all Vedas.