I Wanna Know The Whole Lore Now. What's With The Rats And Hammer And Radish?

I feel like this is heavily plagiarised

Vasantapuja

This puja is mentioned in the Ishanashivagurudeva Paddhati, and is a festival celebrating the spring season along with Damanakotsava , the associated festival of love, dedicated to Kama. In this puja, the season of spring is treated and worshipped as a goddess.

In case anyone is not aware, Vasanta, the god of spring and flowers, is the best friend of Kama (and Rati). He was mentioned to have been born from the sigh of Brahma in the Kalika and Shiva Puranas.

Vasantaradhana is one of the favorites of Shiva. The important part of worship in this festival held during the spring season (Vasantartu) is the Damanaka Puja, wherein Damanaka is an aromatic plant, and special to Kama since it was this plant that turned out to be the object of his Sapamoksha. Siva also blessed Kama, saying that whoever worships him with the Damanaka plant along with Vishnu, Brahma and other Devas will have all their wishes fulfilled. The author further states that those who do not strictly adhere to the Saivite modes of worship as stated above are, in effect, rejecting the basic tenets of Saivagama (traditionally communicated wisdom).

How The Puja Is Carried Out

For the details related to Vasantapuja and Damanakotsava, the author of the Paddhati has relied on 'Svacchandatantra' (official book of Kashmiri Shaivism) and 'SomaSambhupaddhathi' (another manual for Shaivite rituals).

Rites and rituals:

The venue for Vasantapuja has to be a garden that abounds in Damanaka creepers and Asokavrkshas (Ashoka trees). Puja is begun with the invocation and Aradhana of Ganesh in Nirti angle and Guru in Isana.

It is under the shade of an Asokavrksha that Puja takes place. Two pots of sanctified water are placed at the foot of the Asokavrksha. The one on the right side is meant for Vasanta and that on the left for Kama. The presence of their consorts, Kusumavati and Padmavati respectively, have also to be kept in mind. In the middle of the Pujavedi, the Asokavrksha is conceived as Vasanta in the guise of a vibrant youth, golden in complexion, and is to be invoked and offered Gandha-puspa-nivedyantapuja. The nine powers of Vasantartu are Ahladini, Gandhavati, Surabhi, Malini, Madira, Madayanti, Rama, Pushpavati and Vasanti.

Next is the worship of the Damanaka plant, during which the Bhairava form of Siva has to be conceived in mind. Kama has also to be conceived as remaining seated along with his consort Rati on his right thigh and holding Puspasara in his right hand. He is served on all sides by a group of beautiful and shapely maidens. The Saktidevatas of Kama may also be conceived and offered Gandhadhupa-nivedyantapujas. The Gayatrimantra of Kama is also given.

The important feature of the festival on the second day is the collection of the Damanaka plant (the whole plant including the roots) from the garden in a pot, offering of Puja, followed by the ceremonial procession carrying the three pots (Damanaka, Kama and Vasanta) on an elephant in Nagarapradaksina, to the accompaniment of Nrtta-vadyasangita-ghosas. On conclusion of the procession, the pots are placed beside the idol of Shiva after which Homavidhis, Sampatasparsa, Bali, prayer and Archana are performed. The other customary acts like Dakshina and gifts to the priests are also recommended. The Patala concludes with the following observation by the author. 

ittham vasantavihitam savasantayagam proktam tadantamiha damanakam hi parva| yadvad vasantatilakam sumanobhiramam tadvanmaunobhisitan phalatiha kaman |

Though this festival is no longer celebrated in Kerala, another festival called Vasanta Panchami, also known as Sri Panchami, is observed religiously, mainly as Saraswati Puja and also as worship of Kama, Rati, Indra, Varuna and Brahma, on a grand scale, especially in Bengal, Punjab and most of North India. The legend also bears close resemblance to that of 'Vasantotsava' described in Isanasivagurudeva-paddhati. Legend has it that on this day Shiva turned Kama into ashes.

"Oh no hindu women wearing bindi, mehendi, churi payal, sindur?? No no no it's all a sign of patriarchy" "It's so misogynistic"

Because God forbid women want to look like the divine feminine.

And what do these people even mean by that? Do you think other cultures/religions don't have such traditions? Women in Asia have used jewellery and elegant garments and makeup as a way to enhance their beauty.

Hindu traditions and festivals just enslave women and reinforce patriarchal practices, karwa chauth for example, a festival where a married woman has to fast and stay famished for whole 24 hours, NO water and food and some of them don’t even swallow their own saliva and why? for the long life and well being of her husband. Husbands are placed on a pedestal in hinduism, he is more revered than god sometimes while reducing women to obedient and self sacrificing caretakers . It reinforces the idea that a woman’s purpose revolves around a man’s needs, his health, his happiness, his survival while her own identity and agency is considered as irrelevant. In this religion women’s existence will always be tied to men and are expected to embrace such misogynistic ideals or else she’ll be labelled as a “too westernised housewife” or other names they love calling when you go against the system

PAKISTAN IS A TERRORIST STATE. PERIOD.

I have been thinking about this and realised that we don't actually have a deva or devi for beauty. People think it is Mata Lakshmi but it's not true. None of her Ashtalakshmi forms also have her represent beauty. Mata

The sibling pairs have different skin colours — Vishnu-Parvati are dark skinned, Shiv-Saraswati are fair skinned, Brahma-Lakshmi are golden skinned — and all of them are called beautiful.

So where does this concept of beauty even come from? That fair is beautiful and dark skinned is not? Does it come from the west? From goddesses like Aphrodite, Venus or Freya? Or were they also made to represent beauty in the modern world to suit white people's beauty standards?

As a man, who's spent enough time in men's spaces to know how they think and why they act the way they act, I can say it's all because it is reinforced and backed by the men in that group. I think it's called peer influence.

One man alone will never act on his perverse thoughts, but once he comes across other men who think the same way, it becomes a daily conversation. They egg each other on. They encourage each other. Give each other that confidence.

( This applies to everything. Men interested in stock markets, men interested in global politics, men interested in sports. They bond over this shared/common interest. That's how a community works I mean )

We have so many examples of this, France's Gisele Pelicot case or the Bois locker room incident from Delhi or that group chat of some thousands of men.

No amount of shaming, no amount of education, no amount of legal action will change them, will fix them. Because there's always a bunch of men supporting them and blaming the victims. Because if you're not like them, you're not a man enough. You're weak, soft, omega, or simp, and what not.

everyone who supports a rapist or is a rapist himself is a threat to women. these ppl are sick in the head. you won't believe me when i say this but they don't even respect our goddesses and create their own communities on reddit where they masterbate to their images or abuse many girls....this is their way of showing how much they disrespect us...the way guys talk about women is traumatizing

this just makes me more sick. abhi bhi ghamand hai apne gender pe??? im asking all the men here who are still quiet

Why are our people trolling the Foreign Secretary and his family? Istg civic sense is in minus in this country.

I understand the people wanted justice and vengeance. Hell, I wanted vengeance! However, India is a whole country which has to look out for external, internal and financial factors. The global standing of our country, the alliances, the internal factors, the treaties and agreements, all are considered in every case. War is a huge step. Yes, I despise Pakistan will all of my heart. And no, the emotions of the people are not enough to fuel a war!

Bhai samjho. India has allies, Pak has sugar daddies. War hogi toh Pak and it's invisible sugar daddies will continue the chain of "supply weapons-pretend you didn't know-fake outrage-wait pak is a victim-oh fine let's forgive it- also let's give them money for stability- money is used to buy weapons." Vohi hota raha hai and vohi hoga. India is at a pedestal that it cannot risk falling from. Pakistan is practically on rock bottom, they've got nothing to lose and they're doing other's dirty work too.

Diplomacy is an intricate and delicate art. You cannot fucking troll officers for doing their jobs — which is, prioritising the NATION.

So I decided to go out today. I usually plan it all out but today was spontaneous.

Luckily Jehangir Art Gallery was a part of it. And I'm glad I went there. The paintings and the art on display were majorly Hinduism related. Hindu gods, stories like Shakuntala, and Shiv ji's wedding to Mata Parvati, birth of Ganesh ji.

Ofcourse, photography isn't allowed, so I don't have pictures. Plus I don't click pictures of art either way because a phone cannot capture the true beauty of those amazing amazing art

But I did get a pamphlet/catalogue thingy for one of the displays -

"Har Har Mahadev! ✨ Celebrating the Divine Energy of Maha Shivratri"

Shiva (Lord Shiva) + ratri (night), so Shivaratri means the night of Lord Shiva." Devotees of Lord Shiva generally observe a strict fast on this day, with some undertaking a nirjal fast, abstaining even from water. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (12.13.16) states vaiṣṇavānāṁ yathā śambhuḥ, indicating that Lord Shiva is the best of the Vaishnavas, the devotees of Lord Krishna. Gaudiya Vaishnavas worship Lord Shiva on this day to seek his blessings to become better devotees of Lord Krishna (Vishnu), rather than to attain residence in the abode of Shiva.

Origin and History of Maha Shivratri

The origins of Maha Shivratri are deeply rooted in Vedic scriptures and ancient traditions. There are multiple explanations for its significance:

1. Appearance of Lord Shiva – According to the Linga Purāṇa, Maha Shivratri marks the divine manifestation of Lord Shiva in the form of a Jyotirlinga, an infinite pillar of light, symbolizing his supreme, formless nature.

2. Marriage of Shiva and Parvati – The Skanda Purāṇa and Shiva Purāṇa mention that Maha Shivratri is the night when Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati, representing the union of Shakti (energy) and Shiva (consciousness).

3. Shiva’s Cosmic Dance – It is believed that on this night, Lord Shiva performed the Tāṇḍava, the divine dance of creation, preservation, and destruction, emphasizing the cosmic cycle.

4. Krishna’s Words in Mahabharata – In the Anushasana Parva (14.144), Lord Krishna advises Yudhishthira that observing Maha Shivratri with devotion bestows blessings and liberation.

5. Legend of the Hunter – The Shiva Purāṇa narrates the story of a hunter who unknowingly worshiped Shiva by dropping Bilva leaves on a Shiva Linga while hiding on a tree. This act freed him from past sins, signifying the power of sincere devotion.

Thus, Maha Shivratri has been celebrated for millennia, signifying Shiva’s role in the cosmic order and the power of devotion in attaining divine grace.

Ughhh I can't even with these sickos. But I love the way you all are responding to them.

"They named the operation "operation suhaag raat" because Pakistan made our women widows it's symbolic you guys it's very deep and profound why don't you guys get it"