Sunday, 28 December 2014

Clicked in 11th Elephants festivals

चितवन, पौष १२ । चितवनको पर्यटकीय नगरी सौराहामा यतिबेला छुट्टै माहोल छ ।

मानिसहरुबीच हुने गरेको वनभोज हात्तीहरुबीच गराइएपछि सौरहाको रौनक बढेको हो । एक रिपोर्ट (pic हेर्नुहोस्) । 

















Thursday, 25 September 2014

Dashain दशैं


Durga Mahisasuramardini.JPG
Goddess of Victory of Good over Evil
Observed byHindus and Buddhists, in Nepal
ObservancesPrayers, Religious rituals, animal sacrifices
BeginsAashwin Shukla Pratipada
EndsKojagrat Purnima
DateSeptember–October
2013 dateOct 5 to 19
2014 dateSep 25 to Oct 7

Dashain (Nepaliदशैं) or Badadashain(Nepaliबडादशैं) or Bijaya Dashami orVijaya Dashami (Nepaliबिजया दशमी) is the 15 day long national (religious) festival of Nepal.[1]

It is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese people throughout the globe. It is not only the longest festival of the country but is also the one which is most anticipated. The festival falls around September–October, starting from the bright lunar fortnight and ending on the day of full moon.

  1. It is celebrated for 15 days; the most important days are the 1st, 7th, 8th, 9th and the 10th. The fifteen days of celebration occur during the bright lunar fortnight ending on the day of the full moon. [2] Dashain is also popularly referred to as BadadashainDashera,Bijaya Dashami or Vijaya Dashami.[3]

Throughout the country the goddess mother is worshiped in all her manifestations. This festival is also known for its emphasis on the family gatherings, as well as on a renewal of community ties.[1] People return from all parts of the world, as well as different parts of the country, to celebrate together.[1] All government offices, educational institutions and other offices remain closed during the festival period.


Tuesday, 6 May 2014

Buddha Jayanti

Buddha Jayanti is the birth day of Lord Gautam Budhha.  Budhha’s original name was Sidhartha Gautam. Siddhartha Gautam was born about 543 BC in Kapilvastu of Nepal (नेपाल). 

Birth and birth place of Lord Buddha

Siddhartha was son of King Suddhodhan Gautam and queen Maya Devi. Buddha was born in garden of Sal trees (Shorea robusta), situated in the beautiful and peaceful Lumbini zone in Rupandehi district of Nepal. 

UNESCO has listed Lumbini, Nepal as a world heritage site and birthplace of Gautama Buddha.

Buddha was born on full moon day, he achieved nirvana in the same day and left this world on the same day of Baishakh Sukla Purnima. This day is celebrated as Budhha Purnima all over the world.

Buddha means “Awakened One”.  Gautam Buddha is also known as Shakyamuni
बुद्ध पुर्णिमा

When is Buddha Purnima

Gautam Buddha
This year Buddha Purnima is on Baishak 31, 2071, which is May 14, 2014 in English calendar.  This year Lord Buddha becomes 2556 years old. 

Buddha left his physical body at the age of 80. There he attained “Pari Nirvana”. Nirvana is beyond life and death. 

Life of Buddha


It is believed that immediately after his birth, Siddartha took seven steps towards the north and raising a finger in the air, indicating ‘he was the supreme of the world and that was his final birth’. 

Siddhartha then was born near a pond in Lumbini Garden way to his grandfather’s house. He was given a bath at the pond in the Lumbini garden. The pond is known as Siddhartha Kunda. Kunda means a small pond in Sanskrit.  Mayadevi’s idol was built at the very spot where Siddhartha was born. Maya Devi died seven days after giving birth to Siddartha Gautam.

Siddartha grew up to be a very good prince. He loved all living beings. He was married to Yasodhara at 16 and had a son Rahul. Until age of 29 Siddartha lived luxurious life of a Prince. He had all pleasures and comforts, a prince could have. 

Quest of remedy to suffering 


However, it did not take a while to change his life drastically. While passing through his city he started observing different types of sufferings mankind were going through. He felt those sufferings in him. Buddha saw sickness, old age and death. He also saw a monk who donated all he had and searching for welfare of mankind all his life. Buddha chose to become like the monk.

He wanted to find the end to those sufferings. One day he quietly walked out of the palace in search of remedies of those illnesses. He started to meditate under a tree. It took him a very long time to understand the facts of life. He attained nirvana at the age of 80.  

He found sorrow and desire are the main cause of all the evil and suffering of every living being. 

In 1950 at the first conference of the world Fellowship of Buddhists was held in Sri Lanka. In the conference a resolution was passed to celebrate Buddha’s Birthday on the full moon day of Baishakh i.e. May. It was requested to all the heads of the states to celebrate the full moon day of Baishakh i.e. May and declare a public holiday in honor of Buddha.

Buddhist scriptures


Dharmapada

The Dhammapada (धर्मपद) is a versified Buddhist scripture traditionally ascribed to the Buddha himself. The title, Dhammapada, is a compound term composed of dhamma and pada, each word having a number of denotations and connotations. Generally, dhamma can refer to the Buddha's "doctrine" or an "eternal truth" or "righteousness" or all "phenomena" and, at its root, pada means "foot" and thus by extension, especially in this context, means either "path" or "verse" or both. In simple words Dharma is spiritual living and pada means foot or way, so Dharma Pad is way of living a spiritual life.

Tripitaka

Tripitaka is a traditional term used to describe their various types of standard scriptures. Tripitak traditionally contains three baskets of teachings: a Sutra Pitika , a Vinaya Pitika and an Abhidharma Pitika. As it has three Pitika it is called Tripitaka.

Cause of suffering


Buddha's Four Noble Truths


Buddha understood these Four Noble Truths

1. Life means suffering 

There is Suffering, and it is common to all, no one can escape it. 

2. The origin of suffering is attachment.

Cause of Suffering is we ourselves. Apart from those suffering which are natural, Buddha explains the main cause of suffering is the greed and lust. The physical attachment is very dangerous. One creates suffering from his/her own greed. One wants more that what s/he deserves and grow grief of losing them.  

3. The cessation of suffering is attainable.

To end the suffering, one has to stop doing what causes suffering

4. The path to the cessation of suffering.

Narvana is the end the suffering: enlightenment is the way: Buddha suggested The Noble Eightfold Path to end suffering and live fulfilled life. 

End of suffering

The only way to get rid of suffering is to live satisfied with what one has. Don't collect unnecessary materials. Collecting unnecessary things are collecting grieves and sorrow for future. The state of end of suffering is called Nirvana. Nirvana is to reach beyond life and death.

The Noble Eightfold Path


Gautam Buddha described 'The Noble Eightfold Path’: the way to the end of suffering.

It is a practical guideline to ethical and mental development with the goal of freeing the individual from attachments and delusions. Finally it leads to understanding the truth about life and reality. The eight aspects of the path are highly interdependent principles and are closely interrelated with each other.

1. Right View
2. Right Intention
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration

All these things are explained by the mantra:

Buddha Mantra


बुद्धं शरणं गच्छामि।   :  Buddham saranam gachhami.
धर्मं शरणं गच्छामि। : Dharmam saranam gachhami.
संघं शरणं गच्छामि। : Sangham saranam gachhami.

Meaning of Buddha Mantras

बुद्धं शरणं गच्छामि।

I go to under shelter of Buddha. 

(I go to Buddha, because Buddha is the guide.)

धर्मं शरणं गच्छामि।

I go to shelter of Dharma. 

(The Dharma is the path I follow.)

संघं शरणं गच्छामि।

I go to shelter of Shangha.

(The Sangha are the teachers or companions along the way, without teacher it is hard to learn)

Therefore with all three: Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, we can follow the way of Buddha.

Buddha's basic teachings 


Buddha basically teaches us the following;

Do not harm or Kill any living creatures.
Do not steal things or do not take anything which not yours.
Do not do any sexual misconduct.
Do lie speak truth always.
Do not drink or eat anything which intoxicates your brain.
 

बिना भिसा ३४ देशमा नेपाली नागरिक जान पाइन्छ : थाहा पाई राखौं


Written By Hawa Sansar on Monday, May 5, 2014 | 2:02 AM

Bollywood Movie Reviews, Latest Movies Review
हामी धेरैलाई कुन कुन देशमा जाँदा भिसा अन अराइभल अर्थात यी देशमा गए पछी मात्र भिसा लिन मिल्छ भन्ने थाहा होला ? देशको वर्तमान स्थिति जे जस्तो भए पनि उल्लेखित तालिका-का देशहरु जान सकिन्छ।
नेपाली नागरिक बिना भिसा ३४ देशमा  जान पाइन्छ : थाहा पाई राखौं


Friday, 25 April 2014

Mata Tirtha Aushi


Mother's Day in Nepal

Mother’s Day in Nepal is also known as Mata Tirtha Ausi. People pay homage to their mothers presenting her favorite food, clothing and various gifts on this day.  

Mukh Herne means "to allow someone as our relative or give respect or to recognize the achievement of or love to someone". This is the day when we recognize and pay respect to our mother for her care and unconditional love to us, so we call this day the "Mother’s day" – “Aama ko Mukh Herne Din” (the literal meaning is “to see Mother’s face”)

Mother's day is not attached to a certain religion or a particular community. This occasion is observed by many communities across the nation.

Mother's day in Nepal is a tradition rather than a festival of a particular group or community. 

When is Mother’s day celebrated in Nepal


Mother's day is observed on Baishak Krishna Ausi. In 2014, it is on Baishak 16, 2071 which coincide with Apr 29, 2014 on English calendar.
 
This day is regarded as very auspicious. Those who have already lost his/her mother remember her giving Sida Daan to pandit (Sida is holy mixture of rice grains and other pure food materials with clothes). 

Generally people around Kathmandu visit Mata Tirtha (a holy place 9 Kilometers North West of Kathmandu) to perform “Sraddha” or “Pinda Daan” to their deceased mother. People in different part of the country do the ritual at home or at a river or any other holy place nearby.
 

Story behind celebrating Mata Tirtha


Also according to a story a boy used to take his cows to graze nearby the pond. Whenever he started eating the food during the lunch time a bit of the food fell in the pond. This kept happening for a long time. One day the boy peeped into the pond to find what was going on in the pond. Surprisingly, he saw his dead mother in the pond. 

The boy wanted her mother to go home with him. He insisted and started crying asking her to come home with him. But she said she was already dead and it is not possible to go back home once someone died. However, she said she would appear in the pond every year on Baishak Krishna Aushi (No-moon day of Baishak). He agreed and went back. He started visiting the pond and see his mother on same day every year. Many people started to visit the pond to see their mother on the same day.

It is said once, a lady visiting the pond wished to see her dead mom’s image but she could not see after long wait, with frustration she jumped into the pond and died. Since the lady committed suicide in the pond, the dead people stopped being seen in the pond. 

How do we celebrate mother's day


Nepal has more than 60 ethnic groups with almost all have their own tradition, custom and languages. The people of different community and tribe have their own way of celebrating mother’s day. Some celebrate it early in the morning, pay homage to mother and start the day. 

Some celebrate it in the evening. They prepare foods and tasty feast in the morning and serve it to their mother in the evening. The celebration and fun of the festival depends upon the place, climate and ethnicity. However, the ultimate essence of the festival is to give love and respect to our mother.

Mother's day Sanskrit mantra
   
स्नात्वा करोतिम य्: श्राद्धं माघो: कृष्णकुहौ दिने ।  
वियोग न भवेन्मातु: वार्धक्येऽपी सुनिश्चितंम ।। 
तृप्ता भवति तन्माता स्नानमात्रेण चात्र वै । 
ऋण: प्रमुच्यते सद्धो  मातृगर्भस्थितोभ्दवै ।।          

Meaning of the mantra

One who take a holy bath in Mata Tirtha River every Biskhak Krishna Aushi, does not need again to come in mother’s womb for next life. The person gets salvation from human life, and achieve moksha.