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decodingmyroots.com - नित्यकर्म सर्वोपरि

@MonaADhar

Nov 1

Up until two decades ago, when I was still in Jammu, Diwali for me was a simple, one-day celebration.

It involved a bit of cracker bursting, a Puja, and some sweets. I wasn't aware of the diverse ways this festival is celebrated across Bharat.

https://x.com/aaraynsh/status/1851845090345390168

1. Uttar Pradesh - Ganga Aarti & "Deepotsav," illuminating the entire city with millions of diyas and reenacting scenes from the Ramayana.

https://x.com/aaraynsh/status/1851845090345390168

https://x.com/SG_HJS/status/1851294311683658063

2. Maharashtra - Vasu Baras, Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi, Lakshmi Puja, and Padwa.

People decorate their homes with rangoli and prepare sweets like Anarsa and Shankarpali.
Families also worship Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi.

https://x.com/SG_HJS/status/1851294311683658063

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decodingmyroots.com - नित्यकर्म सर्वोपरि

@MonaADhar

Oct 11

#100templesofindia

79. Kamakhya Devi Temple (Guwahati - Assam).

It is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for followers of the Tantric tradition and one of the 51 Shakti Peethas.

Built in Nilachal style (Nangra + Local Assamese).
The main sanctum houses a rock fissure instead of an idol, from which a natural spring flows, representing the yoni of the goddess

The temple is known for its unique worship of the goddess’s yoni (female generative organ), symbolizing fertility and power

The temple celebrates the goddess's menstruation period, symbolizing fertility.

The current structure of the temple was rebuilt by King Naranarayan of the Koch dynasty in the 16th century after it was destroyed by Kalapahad, a Muslim general under the Bengal Sultanate.

However, it is believed that a temple had existed on the site much earlier, with its roots in pre-Vedic times.

Kamakhya is part of the ten Mahavidyas (wisdom goddesses) and the temple holds a central place in Tantric worship.

Pilgrims and Tantric practitioners come here to seek blessings, as the temple is said to grant material prosperity, spiritual liberation, and fertility.

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decodingmyroots.com - नित्यकर्म सर्वोपरि

@MonaADhar

Sep 21

#100templesofindia

78. NeelKanth Temple (Kalinjar - Bundhelkhand -UP).

Part 3- Main Neelkanth Temple.

Once a multi story Mandapa
Carvings on the door
Neelkantheshwar
Shiv Kartikaye Parvati

Garbha Grah

Carvings inside the temple
A Sadhu in Snana path in his loincloth
Dwarpal

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decodingmyroots.com - नित्यकर्म सर्वोपरि

@MonaADhar

Sep 21

#100templesofindia

78. NeelKanth Temple (Kalinjar - Bundhelkhand -UP).

Neelakantha Temple, a millennia-old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, is renowned for its unique 'Ekmukhi Shivalinga' and ancient rock carvings.

Built over 1000 years ago, it stands as one of India's oldest temples.

Primary object of worship for over a millennium was bluestone Shivalingam with silver eyes.

As per the mythology Lord Shiva came to Kalinjar to quench his thirst after consuming poison after the Samudra Manthan. Even today throat of the shiva lingam is always moist with water source inside the temple.

Hence the name Kaal + Jara destroyer of time

Built by the Chandela ruler Parmardi Dev in the 10th century.
The main temple, once a multi floor structure is now reduced to only one floor.

As you descend towards the main temple, sculptures and deities line the walls on either side. These intricate statues often symbolize different cosmic elements or represent various deities connected to the primary temple deity.

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decodingmyroots.com - नित्यकर्म सर्वोपरि

@MonaADhar

May 10

Kashmir under Afghan (Pathan) rulers
(1752AD - 1819 AD)

The Pathan rule is the darkest period in the history of Kashmir

The people of Kashmir could no longer tolerate the misrule of Moghul satraps, and accordingly, when Ahmad Shah Abdali of Kabul was at Lahore in 1752,

Two Kashmir noblemen Mir Muquim Kant and Khwaj'a Zahir Didmari, waited upon him at Lahore and requested him to bring Kashmir under his control.

Little did they know what was in store for Kashmir post that

This was the time when Afghans ruled Kashmir and unleashed a reign of terror on the Kashmiri people, especially the Kashmiri Pandits.
Under persecution, most of the KPs migrated to places outside Kashmir.
Those who stayed back were either forcibly converted to Islam or ruthlessly killed. Killing & Conversions continued till a time when

It is said that only 11 KP families survived death.

Pursidam az kharabiye gulshan zi baghban, Afghan kashid guft ki Afghan kharab kard (I enquired of the gardener the cause of the destruction of the garden

Drawing a deep sigh he replied, “It is the Afghans who did it”)

The Afghan behaviour was beautifully summarised in a Persian couplet which read as "Sar buridan pesh in sangin dilan qul chidan ast" (These stone-hearted people thought no more of cutting of heads than of plucking a flower)

More on this in the coming days.........

Abdullah Khan Isk Aquasi 1753-1754 - first Afghan chief

1. He lined up all the well-to-do noblemen of Kashmir and asked them to surrender their wealth or face the worst possible death.

2. He extracted one crore rupees from local merchants, and some traders committed suicide.

3. Houses of the poor and rich were plundered.

4. All the prosperity of the valley was gone, and the people could not even move on the streets, for fear of being robbed of even their scanty clothing.

5. Mass migration of people particularly Kashmiri Pandits also took place in this era.

6. Huge fines were imposed on people even living in poverty.

7. Any displeasure resulted in brutal death.

8. Pandits started a custom of "pot maharaz" during this period, an additional boy would join the groom, in case anything happened to groom "pot maharaz" would take place, In this period it became a mandatory custom because the invariable groom was killed by Pathans.

9. They showed the worst possible inhumane behaviour to the Pandits, Shias & Bombas of Jhelum Valley.

10. Pandits & Shias were tied up in grass \ leather bags and then sunk in Dal Lake for mere pleasure.

11. There is even a location which is still called "Bata Mazar " - Graveyard of Pandits

12. Red hot iron bars were applied to the body of a rich Muslim nobleman, Jalil by name.

13. Another, Qazi Khan had to pay an enormous fine of a lakh of rupees, but suspecting that he had not surrendered his all, his son was put to such physical torture that he ended his life by drowning himself in the river.

14. Pandit parents shaved the heads of their daughters & cut the noses of their daughters to destroy their beauty to avoid the wrath of Afghans as much as possible.

15. The Jazia poll tax on Pandits was revived.

16. Kashmiris wear pheran ( long cloak). Afghans made it mandatory to have two pockets on either side. It was for Afghan soldiers to mount on their shoulders and keep their feet in these pockets for ease, particularly during crossing rivers.

17. Faqir Ullah Kanth wanted to avenge his father's death, For a week, the furious Bombas, the traditional enemies of Kashmiris, satiated their thirst for murder and arson on the poor citizens.

18. Shrieks of orphaned children and the wailing of old and infirm women rent the sky.

19. For weeks, the streets of Srinagar emitted nauseating odour from putrefied bodies

20. Faqir Ullah Khan who ruled the Valley for one year (1767), slew a large number of leading Hindus and forcibly converted 2000 Hindus to Islam.

21. To escape Khan's fury, many left Kashmir leading to a fresh mass exodus of Pandits to the plains of India

Haji Karim Dad Khan 1776-1784 AD

1. He also imposed a heavy tax on Kashmiri shawl trade, innovating the system of Dag Shawl or excise tax on shawls, which later on became such a heavy burden on the poor shawl weavers that they preferred death to the weaver's profession.'

2. He levied numerous taxes and reduced the populace to utter poverty.

4. For the sake of sheer pleasure, he got the numberless Kashmiris drowned in the Dal Lake.

5. Nobles had to pay a tax called Nazrana, which amounted to four and even six times their income.

6. The traders and shopkeepers had to pay Zari Ashkhas, a sort of levy on goods imported into or exported from the Valley.

7. The farmers had to pay an enormous tax on their produce

8. The peasants cut down all the fruit-growing trees in the villages, selling them as firewood.
Within a month, the whole Valley was denuded of its fruit wealth.

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