Over the last two years, the Sun has run numerous articles about the plight of the widows in Vrindavan Dhama. In August 2005, the issue gathered steam with the release of a film entitled Shwet - White Rainbow, which was nationally released in India. The movie exposed the horrible treatment dealt to widows in India.

The River Ganga has a long history of reverence in India and is worshipped by Hindus as an embodiment of the transcendental personality, Ganga Ma. The total length of the river is about 2,510 km (1,557 miles). Along with the Yamuna River, it forms a large and fertile basin known as the Gangetic plains, stretching across north India and Bangladesh, supporting one of the highest densities of human population in the world.

About five hundred years ago, Sri Chaitanya on his pilgrimage to Puri from Nadia Navadweep visited Gopinath Temple at Remuna, situated in the Balasore district of Orissa. During the aforesaid pilgrimage, the Lord stayed for some time in the tiny Gadjat kingdom of Mangalpur, about 30 km away from Remuna. The king of the said tiny kingdom was initiated by Sri Mahaprabhu into the Vaishnava cult. The successors of the king later on took the pioneership in spreading the Vaisnava cult in the region by constructing several temples.

Bishnupur, formerly known as MallaBhum, is famously known as the temple town of West Bengal for its architecturally exclusive temples, built by the Malla Rulers from AD 695 onwards. The town remained as the capital of MallaBhum, ranging as a territory containing the entire of the Bankura District and extending up to a quantitative part of today’s districts of Bardhamman and Midnapore. Any and every visitor to Bishnupur is sure to be stunned by the exquisite workmanship and architectural elegance of these historic creations.

Pushpaka Brahmins are a class of Brahmins in Kerala who show attributes of both the Brahmins and Kshatriyas. Hence this caste is generally considered as an intermediate caste between Brahmins and Kshatriyas. They are commonly known as Arddhabrahmanar, i.e. Semi-Brahmins. They carry on the various activities of the temple, though not the actual ceremonies. Pushpakas lived on the income of the temple and were under its care. They are generally clubbed under the Ambalavasi community in Kerala.

The Sanskrit word Vihana means 'vehicle' or 'carrier', denoting an animal or creature that serves as a vehicle or mount for a deity. The vahana accompanies, pulls the chariot of, or serves as the seat or mount of the transcendental personality he serves. A vahana is sometimes depicted on banners and emblems to identify the cult or affiliation of the devotee.

The costumes or Vesas of Lord Jagannath symbolize various cultural and religious practices and events that are synthesized in the 12th century Jagannatha shrine. Every day from early morning to night, the Deities on the Ratnavedi wear different dresses made of cotton and silk fabrics, gold ornaments studded with precious stones, flowers of different varieties, tulsi leaves, and other opulent paraphernalia. Sandal paste, camphor and sometimes musks are used in the daily and periodic rituals. The sevaks of temple who dress the Deities with clothing and flowers each day are known as Puspalaks or Singharis.

Om. O Supreme Personality of Godhead, may we hear auspiciousness with our ears. May we see auspiciousness with our eyes. May we perform yajnas with steady limbs. May we offer prayers. May we spend our lives employing these bodies in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Om. May the glorious Supreme Personality of Godhead, the supreme monarch, grant auspiciousness to us.

Hari Om. O Lord Hari, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, I pray that by Your mercy my limbs, words, life-breath, eyes, ears, bodily strength, and all my senses may become strengthened and enlivened. I pray that I may never abandon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is described in the Upanishads, and who is the source of everything that exists. I pray that the Supreme Personality of Godhead may never abandon me.

sri-pradvipaka uvaca kauravendra ekada gargacaryah kalinda-nandinim snatum gargacalad vraja-mandalam cajagama. tatraikante marul-lilaijal-lalita-lata-taru-pallava-pushpa-gandha-matta-milinda-punje kalindi-kula-kalita-nikunje sri-rama-krishna-dhyana-tat-param gargacaryam pranamya nagendra-kanyah sma iti jati-smara gopa-kanyah srimad-balabhadra-prapty-artham sevanam papracchus tasam paramam bhaktim vikshya paddhati-patala-stotra-kavaca-sahasra-namani gopi-yuthaya sa pradadau. kim bhuyas tvam tad-grahanam kartum icchasi vadatat.

The Banglapedia is an online version of the National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh. In it, we find an interesting summary of literature written about the pastimes of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. While Gaudiya Vaisnavas will certainly take exception to some aspects of the summary, and particularly the absence of certain key facts and authors, we present it for the consideration of the devotees. Like today's popular Wikipedias, readers can encourage the Banglapedia editors to revise the content, advocating for a more accurate representation of Lord Caitanya's literary legacy.

In past issues of the Sun, we have enjoyed a number of Feature stories about terracotta artworks found in the temples of West Bengal. These amazing sculptural works memorialize Sri Krsna's pastimes in an extensive array of beautifully detailed panels. Links to some of these previous Features are included at the end of today's article.

At an altitude of 2,150 ft, Kapilash Temple is known fondly by the devotees as the 'Kailash of Orissa'. The temple is located atop a lush green hill at Dhenkanal district, a region that was once part of the ancient capital of Keshari kingdom, known as Chowduar Surrounded on all sides by the Eastern Ghats, Kapilash is stunningly picturesque. The people of the region believe that Kapilash is the abode of Lord Shiva Chandrasekhar.

Rta, the great order of the cosmos, is born afresh in each Rta, season. In traditional societies, humans do not merely observe the cycle of seasons, equinoxes, solstices; they participate in, and recreate the pulse of rhythm in their daily life. Each season is welcomed with celebrations and festivities, songs, dances and myriad creative expressions.

Very little is known about Bidyapati. Native tradition represents him as the son of one Bhabananda Rai, a Brahman of Barnator in Jessore. His real name was Basanta Rai, and he is mentioned by this name in one of the poems of the Pada-kalpataru (no. 1317). The date of his birth is said to be A.D. 1433, and of his death 1481. These dates are probably correct, as his language exhibits a stage of development corresponding to the beginning and middle of the fifteenth century.

The most important and fundamental principle of Tulasi care is regular and perpetual care. She is a pure devotee, and Her requirements are few and simple. She simply requires Her own quarters with direct sunlight, where She can grow without disturbances and interruptions. She should be watered at approximately the same time and Her leaves should also be collected at a regular time. Mornings between 7:30 and 9:00 are the best for both purposes. The most essential ingredient is one individual devotee to take the responsibility of tending Her.

Today we begin an eight-part series of the second section of Garuda Purana, translated by S.V. Subrahmanyam and E. Wood in 1911. Garuda Purana is one of the Vishnu Puranas, being comprised of a dialog between Lord Vishnu and Garuda, the King of Birds and Visnu's vahana (transcendental carrier).

In India, the ‘Art of Painting’ has deep historical roots traced back to the Mesolithic time, about 10, 000 years ago. Some of the richest treasures of early Indian paintings are found on the walls of the Ajanta caves in Western India. From Ajanta, ideas in paintings were spread across the length and breadth of the country over centuries, bringing several new elements and a synthesis of various ideas (miniature, realism, etc.) to the arts.

Located in the western Godavari district, the village Antarvedi is located 15 km. from Sakhinetipalli mandal and 10 km. from Narsapur. The village is placed at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and the Vasishta Godavari, one of the seven branches of the Godavari River. It is said that the sage Vasistha brought the River Godavari to its place, and this is one of the most sacred bathing spots in the entire Godavari delta. The place of confluence is known as the Sapta Sagara Sangam Pradesam.

In the East Godavari region, Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh, is the village of Korukonda, an ancient and historical temple and Vaisnava divya kshetra that is home to Sri Laksmi Harasimha Swami. Korukonda is approximately 20 km. from Rajhmundry and 60 km from Kakinada.