Hinduism - Where Is Begram?

 

Begrum in contemporary Afghanistan, west of Kabul, is the place of a Hindu architectural site. 

• Artifacts from the Kushana civilization, mainly relief sculptures on ivory plaques, have been discovered during excavations.

~Kiran Atma

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Hinduism - Where Is Benares?

 

On the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, there is a city and a holy center (tirtha). 

Benares is an anglicized version of the name Varanasi, which is one of the city's original Hindu names, along with Kashi and Avimukta. 

• The titles Avimukta, Varanasi, and Kashi are all used to refer to the whole city, but in this case, they refer to concentric holy zones around the Vishvanath temple; Avimukta being the smallest, followed by Varanasi, and lastly Kashi. 

• Benares, like all other pilgrimage sites along the Ganges, is revered for its closeness to the river, especially since the Ganges flows in a northerly direction at Benares, which is considered fortunate. 

• The Ganges is an important element of Benares' identity, and it is the focus of most of the city's religious activity. 

The deity Shiva, however, is the most significant holy presence in the city. 

• Benares is Shiva's home on Earth and the location where he never departs, thus the term Avimukta ("never forsaken"). 

• The most significant Shiva temple is the Vishvanath (“Lord of the Universe”) temple, which is spread across the city—some ancient, some modern, and some almost forgotten. 

• Vishvanath is one of Shiva's twelve jyotirlingas, a collection of holy Shiva locations. 

The Moghul emperor Aurangzeb demolished the old Vishvanath temple and replaced it with a mosque; the current Vishvanath temple was constructed close to the original spot. 

• Benares is one of the seven holy towns where death gives soul freedom because of Shiva's everlasting presence (moksha). 

• Shiva is said to appear to the dying individual at the time of death and give his salvific knowledge. 

• Shiva's presence may also be felt at the holy location Manikarnika Ghat, which is located in the center of the city rather than on the outskirts like most other sites. 

• Shiva gives humans a lesson here as well; particularly, Shiva warns them of their impending demise. 

• This is not to make people sad or depressed, but to encourage them to pursue a genuine religious life. 

Benares is an excellent location to die or immerse oneself in spiritual life due to the presence of the Ganges and Shiva; yet, it is also an exceptionally lively place to live. 

• It has a long history as a trade hub and market town, and it still is today, despite the fact that the creaking wooden boats that formerly traversed the Ganges have been replaced by other modes of transportation. 

• Weavers and metalworkers, many of whom are Muslim, are well-known in Benares. 

For at least a few millenia, it has also been known as a cultural hub. 

• From grammar to astrology to medicine, Benares is still one of India's most significant hubs for ancient Sanskritic study. 

• It is also a hub for music, dancing, and the arts, and it has been home to a slew of Indian religious luminaries, including poet-saints Tulsidas, Ravidas, and Kabir, among others. 

Diana Eck, Banaras, 1999, provides a comprehensive account of the city and its inhabitants.

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Hinduism - What Is Belur Math?

The Ramakrishna Mission, a contemporary religious organization, has its world headquarters here. 

Swami Vivekananda, the most renowned disciple of nineteenth-century Bengali saint Ramakrishna, established the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897. 

• Based on Vivekananda's conviction that India needs both tangible development and religious instruction, the Mission is equally devoted to both social service and spiritual elevation. 

• The Ramakrishna Mission was established in 1899, and Belur Math was built two years later. 

• It is situated on the west bank of the Hugli River, just north of Calcutta, and is near to the Dakshineshwar temple, where Ramakrishna spent the most of his adult life.

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Hinduism - Where Is Belur?

 

The town of Belur is located in the state of Karnataka, approximately sixty miles northwest of Mysore. 

Belur, like its sister site, Halebid, is renowned for a beautiful collection of temples constructed by the Hoysala dynasty, who governed western Karnataka from the 11th to 13th century C.E. 

• The temples at both locations were made of a specific kind of stone known as chlorite schist, steatite, or soapstone, which was soft when first mined but hardened with exposure to the air. 

• The stone's early malleability made carving easier and allowed for the rich detail seen in Hoysala temples. 

• These temples include a central hall that connects three star-shaped sanctuaries, as well as temple towers (shikharas) that are constructed of clearly-defined horizontal tiers rather than the continuous upward sweep typical of northern Indian Nagara architectural style.

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Hinduism - Where Is Balligavi Or Belagave?

Balligavi is a village in the Karnataka state's Shimoga district. 

• The Kalamukhas, an austere sect of followers (bhakta) of the deity Shiva, had their most significant headquarters at Balligavi. 

• Between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries, the Kalamukhas played a significant historical role in southern India, but they vanished after that. 

The temple of Kedareshvara, which was Shiva in his guise as the Lord of Kedara, was their ceremonial center in Balligavi. 

• Although the Kalamukhas have vanished, inscriptions at this and other temples attest to their existence and importance in the area.

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Hinduism - What Is Bel?

 

The bilva tree is also known by another name Bel.

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Hinduism - What Is The Significance Of Begging In A Hindu Society?

 

In traditional Hindu culture, one of the approved sources of subsistence that, depending on the circumstances, is a symbol of either extremely low or very high rank. 

Some beggars are just impoverished, handicapped, or unable to care for themselves and their family, and must rely on gifts (dana) to live. 

• Such beggars have a low social standing, but they may earn a good livelihood if they dwell in a conducive setting, such as a pilgrimage site (tirtha), where offering gifts is a frequent religious act. 

• Apart from the obvious drawbacks of low social standing, unpredictable income, and having to endure ridicule and verbal abuse, these beggars also face the shame of living on charity rather than earning money. 

• This is karmically unfavorable since giving presents is one of the ways individuals get rid of bad luck, which is passed on to the recipient with the gift. 

In many instances, a beggar is seen as nothing more than a tool to be exploited, and the most frequent term for them is patra (“vessel”). 

• Some ascetics earn a livelihood through begging as well, although they fall into a distinct group. 

• These are individuals who, in the ideal scenario, have given up all apparent means of support in order to abandon the world; this distinguishes them from the impoverished, who are still members of society, although at the lowest level. 

Supporting ascetics, at least those who are considered true spiritual searchers, has widespread societal acceptance, and it is generally seen as a source of religious virtue. 

• Although it may be difficult to tell the difference between poorer ascetics and regular beggars, the contrast between the most renowned ascetics is quite apparent. 

• By taking gifts, such revered ascetics bestow prestige on those who provide them, and as a result, they tend to scrutinize donors and their motivations extremely carefully in order to preserve their reputations. 

Related to - Karma.

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Hinduism - Who Was Begampura?

 

Ravidas, the poet-saint, named a fictional city(?) after one of his poems (ca. 1500). 

The term begam may be translated as "queen" or "painless." 

• The city is depicted in the poem as an idealistic realm free of the hardships of everyday life, such as pain, grief, taxation, wrongdoing, and, to a lesser degree, social differences. 

• Despite the fact that Ravidas was born a tanner (chamar), a despised profession, this is one of his few poems that addresses societal problems, although indirectly.

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