Lord Ganesha Beckons Me

Lord Ganesha Beckons Me, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

139,326 items / 1,078,114 views



"Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Suryakotee Sama Prabha
Nirvighnam kuru mey Deva, Sarva kaaryeshu Sarvadaa"


This is my new set at my Flickr phtostream I dedicate it to eminent photographer and curator of Piramal Art Galley Mr Mukesh Parpiani.

. Mukesh Parpiani. Head – Piramal Gallery. (Centre for Photography as an Art Form) ...

I was too meet him yesterday but somehow I forgot it was a public holiday and landed up at NCPA to be told he is not there.

I did not mind the trip it was nostalgic as this area of Nariman Point has a many memories I worked here for some time at the Oberois for Sheraton Treasures a branch of Burlingtons of Bombay group.

Those were the days of Mr Dieter Jannsen Rita Pallitana and Joan Paez.. Lancers Bar Cellar all woven into my head and Kenn Lynn Society photographer,
Mr Leybourne Callaghan also known as Callaghan of Bombay was a regular visitor where I worked .

Anyway after I walked down memory lane I took a bus for Lalbaugh and got off at Ganesh Galli where I spent several hours shoting Mr Rawles Ganesha sculpting workshops and those close to him and finally at Mr Khatus workshop that I have shot for many years now.

This was the first stop at Mr Rawles workshop at Ganesh Gully.


And I dedicated this series to Mr Mukesh Parpiani I have always been an ardent fan of his photo journalism, and had met him several years back at a function to celebrate World Photography Day and who can forget Mr Parpianis capture of Mr Chaggan Bhujbal and the Police officers hat an optical illusory picture that we got to see along with some of his other works at this function where he was being felicitated by other photo journalists.

Last I met Mr Mukesh Parpiani was at Luxculious an exhibition of Shari Students of Mr Girish Mistry.

Shooting Lord Ganesha and I am fasting is not merely shooting pictures it is shooting the ethos of Mumbai it is shooting Hope and Hindutva as a message of Peace Brotherhood Humanity during Ramzan.


I also visited Lal Bagh Cha Raja Hanuman Mandir and spent time with Raju Langewal who invites me to the Lal Bagh Cha Pandal every year a very dear friend and with the Lord I walk barefeet on Ganesh Visarjan till the enD of his journey breaking my fast at Byculla ,...along with the crowds and the volunteers

So if you Google search for Lord Ganesha on cyberspace you will certainly find him at Flickr on my photo stream as a set and as a collection.

This new series will include some street pictures of the ambiance of Lal Bagh area home of the King Of Kings of Mumbai..

Hey Shan Konachi Lalbagh Cha Raja Chi..is the chant and mantra of everyone that awaits for the Lord to arrive on his Golden Throne.

The fragrance of red chillies the turmeric flowers modaks and the statues of Gauri are all lined up in the lanes that you traverse and the best place for street photography..

Hope

Hope, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

Happy World Photography Day 2010

Happy World Photography Day 2010, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

138,359 items / 1,071,245 views

This is attitude and no photographer could shoot a photographer like this and sometimes it requires love passion dedication not just to photography but to the photographer in this case me and so the person who shot me baring my soul is a woman who always considered photography my mistress and than came the internet and the blogs my two illegitimate children and this woman who shot me bore it all in sheer womanly silence ..

The woman is none other than my wife Afshan Shakir grand mother of Marziya Shakir two and a half year old with the world in her pockets.

My wife has patiently seen my blow my fortune away and it hits her badly , cameras rolls lenses filters and whatnot ..and than came Marziya and Photography got an extension and a new lease on life.

And this World Photography day I dedicate to my wife you need a compatible accommodating wife to let you unleash your street pathos .. on the soul of Humanity.

Her only grouse was I am yet to make a Rupee through my photography.. but as I became a cosmic poet through photography she excuses my aberration under a few curses that are part of hate love syndrome called Marriage.

So I wish all of you a very Happy World Photography Day.

Har Har Mahadev

Har Har Mahadev, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

lord the master
time his slave
whatever he
had to his
beloved gave
through
the birth
of lord ganesha
god of the brave
the world
he forgave
har har mahdev
on the soul
of hope and hindutva
he engraved

The Touch of Lord Shiva

The Touch of Lord Shiva, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shiva (pronounced /ˈʃiːvə/; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, IPA: [ˈɕiʋə] meaning "auspicious one"; Telugu: శివుడు Sivudu ; Bengali: শিব shib; Burmese: သိဝ, pronounced [θḭwa̰] or မဟေသရ, pronounced [mahèi θara̰]; Malay: Siwa, Tamil: சிவன் Civan) is a major Hindu deity, and the Destroyer or transformer of the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine.[2] In the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, Shiva is seen as the Supreme Being. In the Smarta tradition, he is regarded as one of the five primary forms of God.[3]

Followers of Hinduism who focus their worship upon Shiva are called Shaivites or Shaivas (Sanskrit Śaiva).[4] Shaivism, along with Vaiṣṇava traditions that focus on Vishnu and Śākta traditions that focus on the goddess Shakti are three of the most influential denominations in Hinduism.[3]

Shiva is usually worshipped in the abstract form of Shiva linga. In images, he is generally represented as immersed in deep meditation or dancing the Tandava upon Apasmara Purusha, the demon of ignorance in his manifestation of Nataraja, the lord of the dance.


The Sanskrit word Shiva (Devanagari: शिव, śiva) is an adjective meaning "auspicious, kind, gracious".[5][6] As a proper name it means "The Auspicious One", used as a name for Rudra.[6] In simple English transliteration it is written either as Shiva or Siva. The adjective śiva, meaning "auspicious", is used as an attributive epithet not particularly of Rudra, but of several other Vedic deities.[7]


The Sanskrit word śaiva means "relating to the god Shiva", and this term is the Sanskrit name both for one of the principal sects of Hinduism and for a member of that sect.[8] It is used as an adjective to characterize certain beliefs and practices, such as Shaivism.[9]

Adi Sankara, in his interpretation of the name Shiva, the 27th and 600th name of Vishnu sahasranama, the thousand names of Vishnu interprets Shiva to have multiple meanings: "The Pure One", or "the One who is not affected by three Gunas of Prakrti (Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas)" or "the One who purifies everyone by the very utterance of His name."[10] Swami Chinmayananda, in his translation of Vishnu sahasranama, further elaborates on that verse: Shiva means "the One who is eternally pure" or "the One who can never have any contamination of the imperfection of Rajas and Tamas".[11]

Shiva's role as the primary deity of Shaivism is reflected in his epithets Mahādeva ("Great God"; mahā = Great + deva = God),[12][13] Maheśhvara ("Great Lord"; mahā = Great + īśhvara = Lord),[14][15] and Parameśhvara ("Supreme Lord").[16]

There are at least eight different versions of the Shiva Sahasranama, devotional hymns (stotras) listing many names of Shiva.[17] The version appearing in Book 13 (Anuśāsanaparvan) of the Mahabharata is considered the kernel of this tradition.[18] Shiva also has Dasha-Sahasranamas (10,000 names) that are found in the Mahanyasa. The Shri Rudram Chamakam, also known as the Śatarudriya, is a devotional hymn to Shiva hailing him by many names.[19][20]



For the early history, see Rudra.

The worship of Shiva is a pan-Hindu tradition, practiced widely across all of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.[21][22] Some historians believe that the figure of Shiva as we know him today was built up over time, with the ideas of many regional sects being amalgamated into a single figure.[23] How the persona of Shiva converged as a composite deity is not well documented.[24] Axel Michaels explains the composite nature of Shaivism as follows:

Like Vişņu, Śiva is also a high god, who gives his name to a collection of theistic trends and sects: Śaivism. Like Vaişņavism, the term also implies a unity which cannot be clearly found either in religious practice or in philosophical and esoteric doctrine. Furthermore, practice and doctrine must be kept separate.[25]

An example of assimilation took place in Maharashtra, where a regional deity named Khandoba is a patron deity of farming and herding castes.[26] The foremost center of worship of Khandoba in Maharashtra is in Jejuri.[27] Khandoba has been assimilated as a form of Shiva himself,[28] in which case he is worshipped in the form of a lingam.[26][29] Khandoba's varied associations also include an identification with Surya [26] and Karttikeya.[30]
[edit] The Pashupati seal
Seal discovered at Mohenjodaro shows a seated figure surrounded by animals.

A seal discovered during the excavation of Mohenjo-daro has drawn attention as a possible representation of a "proto-Shiva" figure.[31] This Pashupati (Lord of animal-like beings)[32] seal shows a seated figure, possibly ithyphallic, surrounded by animals.[33] Sir John Marshall and others have claimed that this figure is a prototype of Shiva and have described the figure as having three faces seated in a "yoga posture" with the knees out and feet joined. However, this claim is not without its share of critics, with some academics like Gavin Flood[31][34] and John Keay characterizing them as unfounded.[35]
[edit] Rudra
Main article: Rudra
Three-headed Shiva, Gandhara, 2nd century CE

Shiva as we know him today shares many features with the Vedic god Rudra,[36] and both Shiva and Rudra are viewed as the same personality in a number of Hindu traditions. Rudra, the god of the roaring storm, is usually portrayed in accordance with the element he represents as a fierce, destructive deity.

The oldest surviving text of Hinduism is the Rig Veda, which is dated to between 1700 and 1100 BCE based on linguistic and philological evidence.[37] A god named Rudra is mentioned in the Rig Veda. The name Rudra is still used as a name for Shiva. In RV 2.33, he is described as the "Father of the Maruts", a group of storm gods.[38] Furthermore, the Rudram, one of the most sacred hymns of Hinduism found both in the Rig and the Yajur Vedas and addressed to Rudra, invokes him as Shiva in several instances, but the term Shiva is used as a epithet for Indra, Mitra and Agni many times.

The identification of Shiva with the older god Rudra is not universally accepted, as Axel Michaels explains:

To what extent Śiva's origins are in fact to be sought in Rudra is extremely unclear. The tendency to consider Śiva an ancient god is based on this identification, even though the facts that justify such a far-reaching assumption are meager.[39]

Rudra is called "The Archer" (Sanskrit: Śarva),[40] and the arrow is an essential attribute of Rudra.[41] This name appears in the Shiva Sahasranama, and R. K. Sharma notes that it is used as a name of Shiva often in later languages.[42] The word is derived from the Sanskrit root śarv-, which means "to injure" or "to kill",[43] and Sharma uses that general sense in his interpretive translation of the name Śarva as "One who can kill the forces of darkness".[42] The names Dhanvin ("Bowman")[44] and Bāṇahasta ("Archer", literally "Armed with arrows in his hands")[44][45] also refer to archery.
[edit] Identification with Vedic deities

Shiva's rise to a major position in the pantheon was facilitated by his identification with a host of Vedic deities, including Agni, Indra, Prajāpati, Vāyu, and others.[46]
[edit] Agni

Rudra and Agni have a close relationship.[47][48] The identification between Agni and Rudra in the Vedic literature was an important factor in the process of Rudra's gradual development into the later character as Rudra-Shiva.[49] The identification of Agni with Rudra is explicitly noted in the Nirukta, an important early text on etymology, which says, "Agni is called Rudra also."[50] The interconnections between the two deities are complex, and according to Stella Kramrisch:

The fire myth of Rudra-Śiva plays on the whole gamut of fire, valuing all its potentialities and phases, from conflagration to illumination.[51]

In the Śatarudrīa, some epithets of Rudra, such as Sasipañjara ("Of golden red hue as of flame") and Tivaṣīmati ("Flaming bright"), suggest a fusing of the two deities.[52] Agni is said to be a bull,[53] and Lord Shiva possesses a bull as his vehicle, Nandi. The horns of Agni, who is sometimes characterized as a bull, are mentioned.[54][55] In medieval sculpture, both Agni and the form of Shiva known as Bhairava have flaming hair as a special feature.[56]
[edit] Indra

According to a theory, the Puranic Shiva is a continuation of the Vedic Indra.[57] He gives several reasons for his hypothesis. Both Shiva and Indra are known for having a thirst for Soma. Both are associated with mountains, rivers, male fertility, fierceness, fearlessness, warfare, transgression of established mores, the Aum sound, the Supreme Self. In the Rig Veda the term śiva is used to refer to Indra. (2.20.3,[58] 6.45.17,[59][60] and 8.93.3.[61]) Indra, like Shiva, is likened to a bull.[62][63] In the Rig Veda, Rudra is the father of the Maruts, but he is never associated with their warlike exploits as is Indra.[64]
[edit] Attributes
Shiva with Parvati. Shiva is depicted three-eyed, with a crescent moon on his head, the Ganga flowing through his matted hair, wearing ornaments of serpents and a skull necklace, and covered in ashes, and Trisula and Damaru are seen in the background.

* Shiva's Form:

Lord Siva wears a deer in the left upper hand. He has Trident in the right lower arm. He has fire and Damaru and Malu or a kind of weapon. He wears five serpents as ornaments. He wears a garland of skulls. He is pressing with His feet the demon Muyalaka, a dwarf holding a cobra. He faces south. Panchakshara itself is His body.

* Third eye: Shiva is often depicted with a third eye, with which he burned Desire (Kāma) to ashes.[65] There has been controversy regarding the original meaning of Shiva's name Tryambakam (Sanskrit: त्र्यम्बकम्), which occurs in many scriptural sources.[66] In classical Sanskrit, the word ambaka denotes "an eye", and in the Mahabharata, Shiva is depicted as three-eyed, so this name is sometimes translated as "having three eyes".[67] However, in Vedic Sanskrit, the word ambā or ambikā means "mother", and this early meaning of the word is the basis for the translation "having three mothers" that was used by Max Müller and Arthur Macdonell.[68][69] Since no story is known in which Shiva had three mothers, E. Washburn Hopkins suggested that the name refers not to three mothers, but to three mother-goddesses who are collectively called the Ambikās.[70] Other related translations have been "having three wives or sisters" or were based on the idea that the name actually refers to the oblations given to Rudra, which according to some traditions were shared with the goddess Ambikā.[71]

* Crescent moon: Shiva bears on his head the crescent moon.[72] The epithet Chandraśekhara (Sanskrit: चन्द्रशेखर "Having the moon as his crest" - chandra = "moon", śekhara = "crest, crown")[73][74][75] refers to this feature. The placement of the moon on his head as a standard iconographic feature dates to the period when Rudra rose to prominence and became the major deity Rudra-Shiva.[76] The origin of this linkage may be due to the identification of the moon with Soma, and there is a hymn in the Rig Veda where Soma and Rudra are jointly emplored, and in later literature, Soma and Rudra came to be identified with one another, as were Soma and the moon.[77]

The crescent moon is shown on the side of the Lord's head as an ornament. The waxing and waning phenomenon of the moon symbolizes the time cycle through which creation evolves from the beginning to the end. Since the Lord is the Eternal Reality, He is beyond time. Thus, the crescent moon is only one of His ornaments.The wearing of the crescent moon in His head indicates that He has controlled the mind perfectly.

* Ashes: Shiva smears his body with ashes (bhasma).[78] Some forms of Shiva, such as Bhairava, are associated with a very old Indian tradition of cremation-ground asceticism that was practiced by some groups who were outside the fold of brahmanic orthodoxy.[79] These practices associated with cremation grounds are also mentioned in the Pali canon of Theravada Buddhism.[80] One epithet for Shiva is "inhabitant of the cremation ground" (Sanskrit: śmaśānavāsin, also spelled Shmashanavasin), referring to this connection.[81]

* Matted hair: Shiva's distinctive hair style is noted in the epithets Jaṭin, "the one with matted hair",[82] and Kapardin, "endowed with matted hair"[83] or "wearing his hair wound in a braid in a shell-like (kaparda) fashion".[84] A kaparda is a cowrie shell, or a braid of hair in the form of a shell, or, more generally, hair that is shaggy or curly.[85]

* Blue throat: The epithet Nīlakaṇtha (Sanskrit नीलकण्ठ; nīla = "blue", kaṇtha = "throat")[86][87] refers to a story in which Shiva drank the poison churned up from the world ocean.[88][89] (See Halāhala.) The Hari Vanśa Purana, on the other hand, attributes the colour of Shiva's throat to an episode in which Vishnu compels Shiva to fly after taking him by the throat and nearly strangling him.[90]

Shiva bearing the descent of the Ganges River as Parvati and Bhagiratha and the bull Nandi look, folio from a Hindi manuscript by the saint Narayan, circa 1740

* Sacred Ganga: The Ganga river flows from the matted hair of Shiva. The epithet Gaṅgādhara ("bearer of the river Gaṅgā") refers to this feature.[91][92] The Ganga (Ganges), one of the major rivers of the country, is said to have made her abode in Shiva's hair.[93]The flow of the Ganga also represents the nectar of immortality.

* Tiger skin: He is often shown seated upon a tiger skin,[78] an honour reserved for the most accomplished of Hindu ascetics, the Brahmarishis.[94]Tiger represents lust. His sitting on the tiger’s skin indicates that He has conquered lust.

* Serpents: Shiva is often shown garlanded with a snake.[95]His wearing of serpents on the neck denotes wisdom and eternity.

* Deer:His holding deer on one hand indicates that He has removed the Chanchalata (tossing) of the mind. Deer jumps from one place to another swiftly. The mind also jumps from one object to another.

* Trident: (Sanskrit: Trishula): Shiva's particular weapon is the trident.[78]His Trisul that is held in His right hand represents the three Gunas—Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. That is the emblem of sovereignty. He rules the world through these three Gunas. The Damaru in His left hand represents the Sabda Brahman. It represents OM from which all languages are formed. It is He who formed the Sanskrit language out of the Damaru sound.

* Drum: A small drum shaped like an hourglass is known as a damaru (Sanskrit: ḍamaru).[96][97] This is one of the attributes of Shiva in his famous dancing representation[98] known as Nataraja. A specific hand gesture (mudra) called ḍamaru-hasta (Sanskrit for "ḍamaru-hand") is used to hold the drum.[99] This drum is particularly used as an emblem by members of the Kāpālika sect.[100]

* Nandī: Nandī, also known as Nandin, is the name of the bull that serves as Shiva's mount (Sanskrit: vāhana).[101][102] Shiva's association with cattle is reflected in his name Paśupati, or Pashupati (Sanskrit: पशुपति), translated by Sharma as "lord of cattle"[103] and by Kramrisch as "lord of animals", who notes that it is particularly used as an epithet of Rudra.[104]Rishabha or the bull represents Dharma Devata. Lord Siva rides on the bull. Bull is His vehicle. This denotes that Lord Siva is the protector of Dharma, is an embodiment of Dharma or righteousness.

* Gaṇa: The Gaṇas (Devanagari: गण) are attendants of Shiva and live in Kailash. They are often referred to as the Boothaganas, or ghostly hosts, on account of their nature. Generally benign, except when their lord is transgressed against, they are often invoked to intercede with the lord on behalf of the devotee. Ganesha was chosen as their leader by Shiva, hence Ganesha's title gaṇa-īśa or gaṇa-pati, "lord of the gaṇas".[105]

* Mount Kailāsa: Mount Kailash in the Himalayas is his traditional abode.[78] In Hindu mythology, Mount Kailāsa is conceived as resembling a Linga, representing the center of the universe.[106]

* Varanasi: Varanasi (Benares) is considered as the city specially loved by Shiva, and is one of the holiest places of pilgrimage in India. It is referred to, in religious contexts, as Kashi.[107]

[edit] Forms and depictions

According to Gavin Flood, "Śiva is a god of ambiguity and paradox," whose attributes include opposing themes.[108] The ambivalent nature of this deity is apparent in some of his names and the stories told about him.
[edit] Destroyer versus benefactor
Shiva carrying the corpse of his first consort Dakshayani (Sati)

In the Yajurveda, two contrary sets of attributes for both malignant or terrific (Sanskrit: rudra) and benign or auspicious (Sanskrit: śiva) forms can be found, leading Chakravarti to conclude that "all the basic elements which created the complex Rudra-Śiva sect of later ages are to be found here."[109] In the Mahabharata, Shiva is depicted as "the standard of invincibility, might, and terror", as well as a figure of honor, delight, and brilliance.[110] The duality of Shiva's fearful and auspicious attributes appears in contrasted names.

The name Rudra (Sanskrit: रुद्र) reflects his fearsome aspects. According to traditional etymologies, the Sanskrit name Rudra is derived from the root rud-, which means "to cry, howl".[111] Stella Kramrisch notes a different etymology connected with the adjectival form raudra, which means "wild, of rudra nature", and translates the name Rudra as "the wild one" or "the fierce god".[112] R. K. Sharma follows this alternate etymology and translates the name as "terrible".[113] Hara (Sanskrit: हर) is an important name that occurs three times in the Anushasanaparvan version of the Shiva sahasranama, where it is translated in different ways each time it occurs, following a commentorial tradition of not repeating an interpretation. Sharma translates the three as "one who captivates", "one who consolidates", and "one who destroys."[114] Kramrisch translates it as "the ravisher".[89] Another of Shiva's fearsome forms is as Kāla (Sanskrit: काल), "time", and as Mahākāla (Sanskrit: महाकाल), "great time", which ultimately destroys all things.[115][116][117] Bhairava (Sanskrit: भैरव), "terrible" or "frightful",[118] is a fierce form associated with annihilation.[119]

In contrast, the name Śaṇkara (Sanskrit: शङ्कर), "beneficent"[42] or "conferring happiness"[120] reflects his benign form. This name was adopted by the great Vedanta philosopher Śaṇkara (c. 788-820 CE), who is also known as Shankaracharya.[121][122] The name Śambhu (Sanskrit: शम्भु), "causing happiness", also reflects this benign aspect.[123][124]
[edit] Ascetic versus householder
An illustration of the family of Shiva, consisting of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and Skanda (Kartikeya)

He is depicted as both an ascetic yogin and as a householder, roles which have been traditionally mutually exclusive in Hindu society.[125] When depicted as a yogin, he may be shown sitting and meditating.[126] His epithet Mahāyogin ("the great Yogi: Mahā = "great", Yogin = "one who practices Yoga") refers to his association with yoga.[127] While Vedic religion was conceived mainly in terms of sacrifice, it was during the Epic period that the concepts of tapas, yoga, and asceticism became more important, and the depiction of Shiva as an ascetic sitting in philosophical isolation reflects these later concepts.[128]

As a family man and householder, he has a wife, Parvati (also known as Umā), and two sons, Ganesha and Skanda (also known as Karthikeya and Murugan). His epithet Umāpati ("The husband of Umā") refers to this idea, and Sharma notes that two other variants of this name that mean the same thing, Umākānta and Umādhava, also appear in the sahasranama.[129] Umā in epic literature is known by many names, including the benign Pārvatī.[130][131] She is identified with Devi, the Divine Mother, and with Shakti (divine energy). As a householder, he is known for the great love and respect he has for his consort. Ganesha is worshipped throughout India and Nepal as the Remover of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles. Karthikeya is worshipped in Southern India (especially in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka) by the names Subrahmanya, Subrahmanyan, Shanmughan, Swaminathan and Murugan, and in Northern India by the names Skanda, Kumara, or Karttikeya.[132] The consorts of Lord Shiva are the source of his creative energy. They represent the dynamic extension of Shiva onto this universe.[133]
[edit] Nataraja
Bronze Chola statue depicting Shiva dancing as Nataraja. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
Main article: Nataraja

The depiction of Shiva as Nataraja (Telugu: నటరాజు, Tamil: நடராஜா, Sanskrit: naṭarāja, "Lord of Dance") is popular.[134][135] The names Nartaka ("dancer") and Nityanarta ("eternal dancer") appear in the Shiva Sahasranama.[136] His association with dance and also with music is prominent in the Puranic period.[137] In addition to the specific iconographic form known as Nataraja, various other types of dancing forms (Sanskrit: nṛtyamūrti) are found in all parts of India, with many well-defined varieties in Tamil Nadu in particular.[138] The two most common forms of the dance are the Tandava, which later came to denote the powerful and masculine dance as Kala-Mahakala associated with the destruction of the world,[139][140] and Lasya, which is graceful and delicate and expresses emotions on a gentle level and is considered the feminine dance attributed to the goddess Parvati.[141][142] Lasya is regarded as the female counterpart of Tandava.[142] The Tandava-Lasya dances are associated with the destruction-creation of the world.[143][144]
[edit] Dakshinamurthy
Main article: Dakshinamurthy

Dakshinamurthy, or Dakṣiṇāmūrti (Telugu : దక్షిణామూర్తి , Sanskrit: दक्षिणामूर्ति),[145] literally describes a form (mūrti) of Shiva facing south (dakṣiṇa). This form represents Shiva in his aspect as a teacher of yoga, music, and wisdom and giving exposition on the shastras.[146] This iconographic form for depicting Shiva in Indian art is mostly from Tamil Nadu.[147] Elements of this motif can include Shiva seated upon a deer-throne and surrounded by sages who are receiving his instruction

Maha Mrityunjay Mantra

Maha Mrityunjay Mantra, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

http://www.mahashivratri.org/maha-mrityunjay-mantra.html


Maha Mrityunjay Mantra
Maha Mrityunjay MantraThe Maha Mrityunjay Mantra or Lord Shiva Mantra is considered extremely powerful and significant by the Hindus. Also known as the Moksha Mantra of Lord Shiva, chanting of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is said to create divine vibrations that heals. Devotees of Lord Shiva further believe that Maha Mrityunjay evokes the Shiva within human beings and removes the fear of death, liberating one from the cycle of death and rebirth.

Significance of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
Devotees strongly believe that proper recitation of the Maha Mrityunjaya rejuvenates, bestows health, wealth, long life, peace, prosperity and contentment. It is said that chanting of Shiva Mantra generates divine vibrations that ward off all the negative and evil forces and creates a powerful protective shield. Besides, it is said to protect the one who chants against accidents and misfortunes of every kind. Recitation of the mantra creates vibration that pulsates through every cell, every molecule of human body and tears away the veil of ignorance. Hindus believe that recitation of the mantra ignites a fire within that consumes all negativity and purifies entire system. It is also said to have a strong healing power and can cure diseases declared incurable even by the doctors. Many believe Maha Mrityunjay Mantra to be a mantra that can conquer death and connect human beings to their own inner divinity.

The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
The following Maha Mrityunjay Mantra has been taken from the Sukla Yajurveda Samhita III. 60. The Mantra is addressed to Lord Shiva and is a centuries old technique of connecting one to pure consciousness and bliss.

Om Tryambhakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam |
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan
Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat ||

Meaning:
Om. We worship The Three-Eyed Lord Shiva who is fragrant and who increasingly nourishes the devotees. Worshipping him may we be liberated from death for the sake of immortality just as the ripe cucumber easily separates itself from the binding stalk.

Explanation:
The mantra is a prayer to Lord Shiva who is addressed as Sankara and Trayambaka. Sankara is sana (blessings) and Kara (the Giver). Trayambaka is the three eyed one (where the third eye signifies the giver of knowledge, which destroys ignorance and releases us from the cycle of death and rebirth).

Best Time to Chant
Chanting the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra with sincerity, faith and devotion in Bramha Muhurata is very beneficial. But one can also do Maha Mrityunjaya japa anytime in a pure environment with great benefit and discover the happiness that's already within.

Nag Panchami 2010 At Jari Mari Temple Bandra

Nag Panchami 2010 At Jari Mari Temple Bandra, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

137,334 items / 1,063,824 views

Nag Panchami was celebrated at Jari MariTemple at SV Road Bandra , the Nag Panchami puja at this temple was performed at 7 am yesterday, I came in late in the afternoon and shot a few frames I share with all of you part of my Hope and Hindutva series a set on Flickr.


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Nāga Panchamī (Devanagari: नाग पंचमी) is a festival during which religious Hindus in some parts of India worship either images of or live Nāgas (cobras) on the fifth day (Panchami) of the month of Shravan. Traditionally, married young women visit their premarital households to celebrate the festival. Especially in villages in India, a traditional aspect of the celebration involves joyous swinging by young women on swings temporarily hung on tree branches.


According to Puranic mythology, Brahma’s son Kashyapa had four wives. The “first” wife gave birth to Devas; the second, to Garudas; the third --named Kadroo--, to Nāgas; and the fourth, to Daityas. Nāgas were the rulers of Pātāl-Loka.

The following Sanskrit names nine important Nāgas, namely, Ananta, Vāsuki, Shesha, Padmanābha, Kambala, Shankhapāla, Dhārtarāshtra, Takshaka, and Kāliya:

अनन्तं वासुकिं शेषं पद्मनाभं च कम्बलम् | शंखपालं धार्तराष्ट्रं तक्षकं कालियं तथा ||

Transliteration: Anantam Vāsukim Shesham Padmanābham cha Kambalam; Shankhapālam Dhārtarāshtram Takshakam Kāliyam tathā


According to mythology, Lord Krishna had killed evil Naga Kālia on Nāga Panchamī.


Hindus in Nepal have their own myths and legends surrounding Nagas, which lead them to celebrate Nāga Panchamī on a large scale.

According to one mythology, the Kathmandu valley used to be a vast lake. When human beings started to drain the lake to make space for settlements, Nagas became enraged. To protect themselves against the wrath of Nagas, people gave the latter certain areas as pilgrimage destinations, restoring thus harmony in nature.

According to another mythology, a king used his Tantric powers to force Nagas to return to the land rains which they had taken away. The Nagas gave in to the king’s Tantric power, but in recognition of their power to control rains, the king established Naga Panchami festival.

During the festival, Nepalese traditionally post pictures of Nagas above the doors of their homes to ward off evil spirits, offer prayers to Nagas, and place food items such as milk and honey in their fields for Nagas. A few men wearing demon masks dance in the streets as a part of a ritual.

Yeh Dosti Nahi Chodenge

Yeh Dosti Nahi Chodenge, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

Hindu and Muslim We Are But In Name

Hindu and Muslim We Are But In Name, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

the blood
flowing
through his body
my body is the same
his faith my cultural
inheritance
my faith
a message
of peace
brotherhood
interlocked
in the same frame
it is bigots
in both our
communities
our ethos shame
our country defame
the land of peace
prosperity
where the ganges flow
is Hindustan
self same
call it India Bharat
a rose by any
other name
tolerance
mutual coexistence
our collective aim
from neigbors
a family
we became

Maharaj and I are very good frends and he comes from Varnasi to this sleepy back lane of Bandra Bazar Road , Daya Sagar Hanuman Mandir ,a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman , a stone form in the shape of the monkey god discovered while unerathing the ground is the diety of this temple.

सन्तोषः परमो लाभः सत्सङ्गः परमा गतिः ।


विचारः परमं ज्ञानं शमो हि परमं सुखम् ॥

English Translation of Sanskrit Quote:

Contentment is the highest gain,
Good Company the highest course,
Enquiry the highest wisdom,
and Peace the highest enjoyment.

http://sanskrit-quote.blogspot.com/

I Cannot Make It To The Hardwar Kumbh

I Cannot Make It To The Hardwar Kumbh, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

Sometimes you have the inclination you have the gutsy spirit too but your destiny wont allow you to move out from the cage of your spiritual desires.

Yes I am grounded in Mumbai and the Hardwar Kumbh is a distant dream that will remain unfulfilled on my soul.

My Naga Sadhu Guru Shri Vijay Giri Maharaj from Juna Akhada told me to come but its not possible my feet are frozen and I cant move a step forward or backward.

Hinduism is my birthright as much as it is yours I was born in India and proud of my cultural inheritance God was extremely kind over generous allowing my birth to take place in Hindustan.

I am a Shia Muslim but that is a spiritual pact a solemn pledge between the Maker and Me. It has nothing to do with you ,or your religiosity its my call my prerogative.

I have never racially profiled any religion, I have accepted the existence of all religion as a way of Life a Path to Oneness and Truth..

I am everything but yes I am not a Wahabbi that would be an insult to my mothers womb..it would be the greatest insult to me as a Muslim and a man who loves Humanity as much as he loves Hussain.


Being called a kafir would be a million times acceptable tome than a member of any Islamic sect that promotes hatredness or incites to kill and wage war against our country our people and our ethos.

Yes I am an Indian and this word encompasses everything I stand for as a human being.
I shoot all religion , I shoot all faiths I promote one faith , it is India ..a India that allows all religion to live in Peace.

I have been a victim of the 93 riots in Mumbai but I have moved on , my heart is very big but has no place to accommodate hate or vengeance.

We all make mistakes we learn , we re-educate ourselves with the experience we gain.

I want to visit a lot of places but it does not happen I have a camera and I cant travel.. people earn though what they shoot or write I dont , neither do I begrudge others who live and earn by making this their career.

I dont sell my pictures , nobody buys pain even if you give it to them gift packed and free.
I dont sell my words I am unpublished on paper ..my destiny is not yet paper back , but yes I am read pictures I shoot are seen and appreciated too.. pictures I shot in humility and as ordinarily as I saw them on the viewfinder of my soul.

I have no pretensions of being a writer so I cloaked myself in the garb of a blogger , bloggers are hardly taken seriously but I think with 121,787 items / 820,233 views at Flickr I might have broken the myth sometimes promoted by media and the photo journalist fraternity..that bloggers love masturbating their lonely thoughts online..

I have no editorial constrains but I know my limit , I dont have to go under an editors desk to get my picture published and I know media will never publish my pictures unless I cut my wrist to prove that I am as human as my pain is..cutting my head with a sword suffices to express the mantra of my existence Ghame Hussain.

I shot what media does not shoot will not shoot yes I shoot ordinary pictures you make them extra ordinary as you read them a poetry and a dimension by your praise , and I did no want to get carried away or be blown by too much praise or even some peoples r hate for me as an Indian a black man fragmented genius or as a Shia I locked up my Flickr comment box for good.

I will open them once Flickr grows up and introduces Comment Moderation.

I have locked up my comment boxes at Blogspot Word Press too though they have comment moderation too.

The only place I allow comments is among my friends at Facebook..and Facebook is the only place that there is some Humanity online ..and if a friend you added turns out a turn coat you just remove or block him.

But because Facebook allows its members to download my hard earned pictures, pictures I climbed mountains barefeet to get them , I have locked up all my albums for good.

So these are some stray thoughts there are some pictures in my camera but I am too lazy to download them.. I am blogging this on a old picture shot at the Nasik Kumbh..

And I have a site Photographerno1.com , that was the source of my beginnings as blogger , I dont post my stuff here at all its more like an archive of my mouse written naivete ..

The blog stats here confound me completely.

8280 files in 59 albums and 1 categories with 0 comments viewed 1216256 times..

http://www.photographerno1.com/

The Barefeet Blogger of Mumbai Flickr Archives

The Barefeet Blogger of Mumbai Flickr Archives, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

121,064 items / 791,202 views

I joined Flickr in June 2007 my son Asif Shakir presented me a Pro membership for two years and once it completed its term the next two years Pro membership was presented to me by my American friend and mentor Dr Glenn Losack MD..

I have slogged my multi colored ass to get these pictures 121064 in less than 3 years ..
121,064 items / 791,202 views


My Archives at Flickr I share with all of you

2007

* June (1340)
* July (5354)
* August (2926)
* September (1778)
* October (998)
* November (760)
* December (1051)

2008


* January (2577)
* February (2412)
* March (3645)
* April (2805)
* May (2427)
* June (1228)
* July (1214)
* August (5994)
* September (5217)
* October (4763)
* November (2690)
* December (6413)

2009


* January (7965)
* February (6187)
* March (2557)
* April (1940)
* May (5258)
* June (1768)
* July (3507)
* August (7368)
* September (5928)
* October (2217)
* November (1095)
* December (6481)

2010


* January (6251)
* February (6044)
* March (474)

Happy Maha Shivratri

Happy Maha Shivratri, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

image sourced from net

To my friends well wishers ..


Shivratri 2010 Shiva Mantra
Lord Shiva or Siva is considered as the destroyer of the world. Shiv is one of the most popular Gods of the Hindu religion. Shiva is one of the complex gods who is rudra as well as kind-hearted, simultaneously. Mantra of Hindu God Shiva forms the part of prayers offered to the lord. Shiv or Shiva Mantras are as follows:

Shiva Mantra
"Vande Deva Umaa Pathim Suragurum
Vande Jagat Kaaranam
Vande Pannaga Bhooshanam Mruga Dharam
Vande Pashoonam Pathim
Vande Soorya Shashanka Vahni Nayanam
Vande Mukunda Priyam
Vande Bhakta Jana Ashrayam Cha Varadam
Vande Shiva Shankaram"

Meaning: Lord Shiva is the consort of Uma (Parvati). Shiva is the divine Guru, the source of the universe. Lord Shiva is decked with snake and wears tiger skin. He is the Lord of all creatures. The three eyes of the lord represent the Sun, Moon and Fire. Shiva is near to Lord Vishnu. Lord Shiva protects all of his devotees. He is the benefactor of boons. We surrender ourselves again and again to Lord Shiva.

"Mrutyunjayaaya Rudraaya
Neelakantaaya Shambhave
Amriteshaaya Sarvaaya
Mahadevaaya Te Namaha"

Meaning: Lord Mahadeva (Shiva) has conquered death. He is the destructive force of the universe. He has a blue neck and he gives happiness to all. We pray to the kind-hearted lord, Shiv-Shambhu.

"Gauri Vallabha Kaamaarey
Kaala Koota Vishaasana
Maam Uddhhare Padambhoje
Tripura Agnyata Kaantaka"

Meaning: Lord Kaamaarey (another name for Lord Shiva) protects us from the evil. He is the consort of Gauri, the mother goddess. He drank the "Kaala Koota" poison (which was the outcome of the ocean churning). He isthe destroyer of the three cities. We seek protection at the feet of Lord Shiva.


II Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra II
Om Tryambakam yajamahe
Sugandhim pushti-vardhanam
Urvarukamiva bandhanan
Mrityor mukshiya mamritat

This is a very powerful chant dedicated to Lord Shiva. This mantra is believed to be the death conquering mantra and is found in the Rig Veda. The mantra is sometimes also referred to as the Mrita-Sanjivini mantra as it has the power to restore life in a dying person. In this potent mantrathe lord is referred to as the three eyed god. It is a plea to him to restore life in the dying body. Worshipping the lord will liberate one from death just like the ripe cucumber is separated from the binding stalk.

II Shiva Mantra II
"Mrutyunjayaaya Rudraaya
Neelakantaya Shambhave
Amriteshaaya Sarvaaya
Mahadevaaya Te Namaha"

O Lord Shiva you are the one who has conquered death and are responsible for destruction of the Universe to let life again prevail on earth. O lord you are Neelkantha as you have a blue throat. We pay obeisance to you O lord with are hands folded in namaskar.


Mahashivratri 2010 Slokas
"Kailaasarana Shiva Chandramouli
Phaneendra Maathaa Mukutee Zalaalee
Kaarunya Sindhu Bhava Dukha Haaree
Thujaveena Shambho Maja Kona Taaree"


Meaning: Lord Shiva is seated on Mount Kailash; his forehead is decked with the moon and the king of serpents as a crown. The lord is full of compassion and the remover of illusion. Shiva is the only protector. I surrender myself to such great Lord Shiv-Shankar.

Shiva Sloka
Thathpurushyaaya Vidhmahe
Mahadevaaya Dheemahi
Thanno Rudra(h) Prachodayaath

Aum Trayambakam Yajaamahey
Sugandhim Pusti Vardhanam
Urvaarukamiva Bandhanaath
Mrutyor Muksheeya Maamritaat


ratevin.com/story.php?title=mahashivratri-2010-slokas-shi...

Happy Diwali Happy New Year To All Of You

Happy Diwali Happy New Year To All Of You, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

100,274 items / 609,005 views

To all my friends , readers well wishers , fellow bloggers , photographers , poets
at Flickr, Facebook, Twitter , Wordpress , Blogspot, Orkut, Live Journal, Vox,Tumbler, Fotothing, Webshots, Scribd, Posterous.

A VERY HAPPY DIWALI A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR..

Pitru Paksh Religious Tonsure

Pitru Paksh Religious Tonsure, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

The road from Walkeshwar moving towards the narrow path of Banganga Tank becomes an open air barbers haunt , a winding line of saloons on the roadside.

The guy who used to sell peanut and gram at Dadar Chowpatty today wields a razor , he has become a barber to fill in a demand here on Pitru Paksh day, when on a day before Navratra the Bhaiyya population of Mumbai, or North Indians as they are politically called, or UP migrant comes here to appease the soul of his ancestors and pay tribute to their memories with religious tonsure.

I have a set on Flickr Barber Shots , and another one called Religious tonsure , my tryst with tonsure began at Haji Malang.

The guys who have their head , and face shaved including their armpits , sit on the rad for this ritual, the barbers charge over Rs 101 or more depending on the Bakra..or sacrificial lamb.

On the way ahead there is a salon that does brisk business with two chairs , he charges a bit more for the hygienic conditions, but honestly where spirituality is concerned there is no fear of hygiene .. God takes care of it all.

God is the greatest healer of anything done in his name , I cut my head with a sword during Ashura Moharam, I am a insulin dependent diabetic , I bleed profusely but my head heals in a day or two.The same thing with piercing 18 feet roads through the cheeks at the Maryamma Tamil feast or walking on fire.. This happens only in India.

Most of the barbers kept shouting at me Bam Bam Bhole Nath because of my Tiger print , turban and saffron attire ..I was barefeet too that added to the charisma of my persona .

I missed this event for about a few years and I shot a 3 GB card , I could have gone on , but I was tired , dehydrated and it was my 27 fast of Ramzan.

There were a few photographers around , but that is because I was here to catch the early morning light, I left the place by 9 am..

My Guru Shreekanth Malushte came in later I missed him..

There were roadside vendors selling pickles , sweets , religious beads etc..

There were several known faces of the Pujaris and thread sellers , most of them remembered me from my earlier trip.

I also told you in the Introduction about a Muslim bearded man who had come to give company to his Hindu friend performing the Puja on the banks.The Muslim man was fasting like me and had kept awake for the Badi Rat the night before , but he was happy for his friend , both were from Andheri Millat Nagar.

So this is the canvas of secularism, fraternity that one finds in a mixed cauldron of Amchi Mumbai.. promoting tolerance and mutual existence..devoid of hate for the other mans ritual or culture..

Ramzan Navratra Mount Marys feast all going hand in hand and law and order brilliantly taken care by the officers and cadres of the Mumbai Police..Indias No1.

Maha Mrityunjay Mantra

Maha Mrityunjay Mantra, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

www.mahashivratri.org/maha-mrityunjay-mantra.html

The Maha Mrityunjay Mantra or Lord Shiva Mantra is considered extremely powerful and significant by the Hindus. Also known as the Moksha Mantra of Lord Shiva, chanting of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is said to create divine vibrations that heals. Devotees of Lord Shiva further believe that Maha Mrityunjay evokes the Shiva within human beings and removes the fear of death, liberating one from the cycle of death and rebirth.

Significance of Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
Devotees strongly believe that proper recitation of the Maha Mrityunjaya rejuvenates, bestows health, wealth, long life, peace, prosperity and contentment. It is said that chanting of Shiva Mantra generates divine vibrations that ward off all the negative and evil forces and creates a powerful protective shield. Besides, it is said to protect the one who chants against accidents and misfortunes of every kind. Recitation of the mantra creates vibration that pulsates through every cell, every molecule of human body and tears away the veil of ignorance. Hindus believe that recitation of the mantra ignites a fire within that consumes all negativity and purifies entire system. It is also said to have a strong healing power and can cure diseases declared incurable even by the doctors. Many believe Maha Mrityunjay Mantra to be a mantra that can conquer death and connect human beings to their own inner divinity.

The Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra
The following Maha Mrityunjay Mantra has been taken from the Sukla Yajurveda Samhita III. 60. The Mantra is addressed to Lord Shiva and is a centuries old technique of connecting one to pure consciousness and bliss.

Om Tryambhakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam |
Urvarukamiva Bandhanan
Mrityor Mukshiya Maamritat ||

Meaning:
Om. We worship The Three-Eyed Lord Shiva who is fragrant and who increasingly nourishes the devotees. Worshipping him may we be liberated from death for the sake of immortality just as the ripe cucumber easily separates itself from the binding stalk.

Explanation:
The mantra is a prayer to Lord Shiva who is addressed as Sankara and Trayambaka. Sankara is sana (blessings) and Kara (the Giver). Trayambaka is the three eyed one (where the third eye signifies the giver of knowledge, which destroys ignorance and releases us from the cycle of death and rebirth).

Best Time to Chant
Chanting the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra with sincerity, faith and devotion in Bramha Muhurata is very beneficial. But one can also do Maha Mrityunjaya japa anytime in a pure environment with great benefit and discover the happiness that's already within