Mythology has always fascinated me. As a child I love listening to stories of Lord Krishna. I grew up in a middle class family who believed in God and raised instilling the same beliefs in us. I've heard the term Bhagavath Gita many a times along with Mahabharata and Ramayana. We all learnt in school that these are the most prominent of Hindu scriptures. But until recently I learnt that there is the most exhaustive scripture of Hinduism called Srimad Bhagavatham. The Lord's praises, his stories written by Vyasa which took its form when Vyasa's son Shuka narrated the story to King Parikshit (the successor of Yudhishtir, the eldest of the Pandavas from Mahabharata, ruler to Hastinapur)who was counting his last few days on earth.
Srimad Bhagavatham narrates the story of Lord Vishnu and his avatars. Major part of this Purana is dedicated to Vishnu's avatar as himself, our favorite God, Lord Krishna.
So how did I get drawn to this suddenly? Thanks to my Mother-In-Law. Once while we were having our dinner, my husband raised a question as to what is the difference between Bhagavath Gita and Bhagavatham. I promptly answered that they are both the same. My MIL was perplexed and wondered how her son and Daughter-In-Law didn't know the difference to two very different Hindu Mythological Scriptures. So that night she explained the difference and decided to teach me Sriman Narayaneeyam.
Narayaneeyam which is condensed Bhagavatham written by Lord Vishnu's ardent devotee, Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri. It is said that Bhattathiri who was suffering from Rheumatism, decided to present the various incarnations of Lord Vishnu by way of 100 Dasakam (group of 10 shlokas). He started composing the famous Narayaneeyam sitting outside the Guruvayoor Temple. It is noteworthy that every last line of his Dasakam ends the same way, asking Lord Guruvayoorappa to cure him of his ailments. On the day he composed the 100th Dasakam, he was completely cured of his ailments. In his 100th dasakam he explains the full vision of the Lord himself, from head to toe a complete discription of Lord Guruvayoorappan as if the almighty presented himself in front of him. One of the many wonders of the Lord is'nt it?
I never managed to get around to completing it until I conceived my son Darsh. So this is how it started. My MIL decided to teach Narayaneeyam to some ladies from our apartment complex and suggested that I learn it too. So i began my lessons and in a month's time I was pregnant. And throughout my pregnancy I learnt and chanted this beautiful verses that sings praise of Lord Vishnu. I may sound very silly here but deep in my heart I knew that I am going to have a son, my own little Krishna. The day I had him I was not surprised, My son just like Prahalaad (I will present his story later in this blog) heard the praises of Lord when he was in my womb, a reason why I think I find my son drawn to God so much. He loves listening to stories of Lord Krishna, he can recite sholkas without any mistakes after just hearing it a couple of times. My son is definitely blessed and so I am I to have him in my life. Its after him that I got drawn into this Bhakti Sagara even more. And thus began my search. I am currently reading the stories of Srimad Bhagavatam from a book given to me by my Mother-In-Law. This book explains in simple words the entire Bhagavatam. So simple that even a 6 year old can read and follow it. The book is called Srimad Bhagavatam by Kamala Subramaniam published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
Enchanting Hindu Mythology is my humble attempt to bring these beautiful stories to my friends and folks. A major input to these will be from my MIL ofcourse who is teaching this to all the ladies in our apartment complex. Sitting on the other side of the globe I know this is going to be quite a task but thanks to the endless Skype conversations and my MIL's never-say-no-to-Bhagavatham enthusiasm, I intend to keep this blog alive for as long as I am sane and strong enough to sit in front of the laptop and key away to glory.
Watch this space for some interesting facts about Hinduism.
PS : This blog is composed with help of various resources such as books, my MIL and the enormous resources available on the net. So you must be wondering, when there are so many blogs available online about Mythology, why another one? This is because I know that as my friend you will read my blog and may get fascinated by this subject and then you may search the web more to further your knowledge. So I am only a door that will lead you to the wonderland called Hindu Mythology.
Srimad Bhagavatham narrates the story of Lord Vishnu and his avatars. Major part of this Purana is dedicated to Vishnu's avatar as himself, our favorite God, Lord Krishna.
So how did I get drawn to this suddenly? Thanks to my Mother-In-Law. Once while we were having our dinner, my husband raised a question as to what is the difference between Bhagavath Gita and Bhagavatham. I promptly answered that they are both the same. My MIL was perplexed and wondered how her son and Daughter-In-Law didn't know the difference to two very different Hindu Mythological Scriptures. So that night she explained the difference and decided to teach me Sriman Narayaneeyam.
Narayaneeyam which is condensed Bhagavatham written by Lord Vishnu's ardent devotee, Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri. It is said that Bhattathiri who was suffering from Rheumatism, decided to present the various incarnations of Lord Vishnu by way of 100 Dasakam (group of 10 shlokas). He started composing the famous Narayaneeyam sitting outside the Guruvayoor Temple. It is noteworthy that every last line of his Dasakam ends the same way, asking Lord Guruvayoorappa to cure him of his ailments. On the day he composed the 100th Dasakam, he was completely cured of his ailments. In his 100th dasakam he explains the full vision of the Lord himself, from head to toe a complete discription of Lord Guruvayoorappan as if the almighty presented himself in front of him. One of the many wonders of the Lord is'nt it?
I never managed to get around to completing it until I conceived my son Darsh. So this is how it started. My MIL decided to teach Narayaneeyam to some ladies from our apartment complex and suggested that I learn it too. So i began my lessons and in a month's time I was pregnant. And throughout my pregnancy I learnt and chanted this beautiful verses that sings praise of Lord Vishnu. I may sound very silly here but deep in my heart I knew that I am going to have a son, my own little Krishna. The day I had him I was not surprised, My son just like Prahalaad (I will present his story later in this blog) heard the praises of Lord when he was in my womb, a reason why I think I find my son drawn to God so much. He loves listening to stories of Lord Krishna, he can recite sholkas without any mistakes after just hearing it a couple of times. My son is definitely blessed and so I am I to have him in my life. Its after him that I got drawn into this Bhakti Sagara even more. And thus began my search. I am currently reading the stories of Srimad Bhagavatam from a book given to me by my Mother-In-Law. This book explains in simple words the entire Bhagavatam. So simple that even a 6 year old can read and follow it. The book is called Srimad Bhagavatam by Kamala Subramaniam published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
Enchanting Hindu Mythology is my humble attempt to bring these beautiful stories to my friends and folks. A major input to these will be from my MIL ofcourse who is teaching this to all the ladies in our apartment complex. Sitting on the other side of the globe I know this is going to be quite a task but thanks to the endless Skype conversations and my MIL's never-say-no-to-Bhagavatham enthusiasm, I intend to keep this blog alive for as long as I am sane and strong enough to sit in front of the laptop and key away to glory.
Watch this space for some interesting facts about Hinduism.
PS : This blog is composed with help of various resources such as books, my MIL and the enormous resources available on the net. So you must be wondering, when there are so many blogs available online about Mythology, why another one? This is because I know that as my friend you will read my blog and may get fascinated by this subject and then you may search the web more to further your knowledge. So I am only a door that will lead you to the wonderland called Hindu Mythology.
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