#Storytime

How big the MAHABHARATA War was?

"Akshauhini" was the unit by which the size of the Army was used to measure. Akshauhini Sena was also called Chaturangini Sena. We all have heard that in Mahabharata Pandavas had 7 Akshauhini Sena and Kauravas had 11 Akshauhini Sena. Let’s understand this.

Akshauhini Sena is a combination of 4 parts:

Elephants
Chariots
Horses
Foot Soldiers

#Storytime
Krishna and Narakasura — A Diwali story
This happened in the Krita Yuga (Golden Age). Hiranyaksha, an asura, dived into the ocean. To rescue earth, Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a wild boar, Varaaha, and went after the asura. Varaaha overpowered Hiranyaksha in the duel that he fought under the water, and restored earth to its original position in the universe. Varaaha achieved this magnificent feat with apparent ease, and the only sign of his exertion was a drop of sweat, which fell on the ground.

#storytime

Gajendra Mokhsa - A Story to learn from the BHAGWAD PURAANA. Bhagwad Puraana, tells about a beautiful Mountain called TRIKUTA. It had three peaks of Iron, Silver and Gold. It was massive at base and majestic at height.

On the foothills of TRIKUTA, lived a herd of Elephants under the strong leadership of Elephant King GAJENDRA.

#Storytime

I was at a theatre watching a film. Loved the film and we (me and elder bro) left in an auto. Aged Auto driver took us in and a ride of 11 kms and lots of learning began. He started to ask us about the film. We told him about it. He told many things about Bengaluru and the Kannada Film craze here. However, conversation took a interesting turn, when I asked him his age.

#StoryTime

Today lets learn something about "Baherji Naik" (Head of Intelligence Department of Chattapati Shivaji Maharajs Army). In Marathi his department was called as "Guptaher Khaata", which loosely translates to Intelligence Department. Bahirji Naik was a PILLAR of a strong intelligence network (possibly the best of that time) working for Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Around 3000 Soldiers (Mavlas) worked in this Intelligence unit and Bahirji Naik was head of all.

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THREE GUNAS.

Once long ago there were three friends. They were very poor and lived and a very small village. The land in the village was infertile and there was no work to do. One day these friends decided to go to a big city and find some work there. So, one early morning they packed their bags and left for the city. They had no money, so they decided to walk to the city. It was the month of May when the summer is at its peak in India.

#StoryTime

Once in a formal meeting in heaven organized by Lord Indra; Rishi Durwasa was participating. Whilst everyone was engrossed and immersed in an intense brainstorming; Punjiksthali; a celestial nymph was unconsciously moving to-and-fro between the meeting. Rishi Durvasa, renowned for his anger, warned her by asking her not to do so, however, Punjiksthali, simply ignored his request and continued with her movement, enraging the saint.

#storytime

Lachit Borphukan, Forgotten HERO of ASSAM.

#ASSAM, with its roots in the word Asama or invincible, denotes how this land held its own, through Indian history. Ruled by the powerful Ahoms for 600 years from the mid 13th century, the Mughals couldn’t touch Assam. The year was 1671 and the decisive #BattleofSaraighat was fought on the raging waters of the Brahmaputra.
On one side was Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s army headed by Ram Singh of Amer (Jaipur) and on the other was the Ahom General Lachit Borphukan

#Storytime

One day Krishna and Arjuna were taking their usual walk, when they came across an old Brahmin begging, taking pity on his condition, Arjuna gave him a bag of gold coins. The man was overjoyed and went home. On his way he was robbed by a thief in the forest. He cursed his fate and the next day set off to beg again. Arjuna and Krishna saw again & when Arjuna got to know of his story, once again took pity and gave him a large diamond. The man took it home & kept it in an old pot that had been unused for many years in order to keep...

#storytime

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

The Rowlatt Act (Black Act) was passed on March 10, 1919, authorizing the govt to imprison or confine, without a trial, any person associated with seditious activities. This led to nationwide unrest. Gandhi initiated Satyagraha to protest against the Rowlatt Act.

On April 7, 1919, Gandhi published an article called Satyagrahi, describing ways to oppose the Rowlatt Act.

#storytime

Recently E Sreedharan Sir @TheMetromanS shared a piece of Nostalgia. In the year 1964, a huge cyclone rampaged Pampan Bridge. It was E Sreedharan Sir & his team, who rebuild that Bridge. A Project that explains the simple brilliance of the Padma Shri E Sreedharan. On the night of 23rd Dec 1964, there was a huge cyclone - waves rose to the heights of 30-40 metres. One of such huge waves swept away the century-old Pampan Bridge.

Incidentally, Pampan-Dhanushkodi Passenger train No.653 was running on that bridge on that day.

#StoryTime

There was once a demon king by the name of Hiranyakashyap who won over the kingdom of earth. He was so egoistic that he commanded everybody in his kingdom to worship only him.

But to his great disappointment, his son, Prahlad was a ardent devotee of Lord Naarayana. Hiranyakashyap tried several ways to kill his son Prahlad but Lord Vishnu saved him every time.

Finally, he asked his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap. For, Hiranyakashyap knew that Holika had a boon, whereby, she could enter the fire unscathed.

#storytime

The #BattleOfUmberKhind.

First the Prayer,

आई भवानी आणि वीरमाता जिजाऊ यांचा स्मरण करून,
हिंदवी स्वराज्य साठी जगलेल्या सर्व ज्ञात अज्ञात मावळ्यांना मानाचा मुजरा करतोय !
आणि उंबरखिंडीच्या अमर गाथे ला प्रारंभ करतोय ! Meaning, Remembering Lord Bhavani and Mother Jijau along with thousands of known and known Maavle (Maratha Soldiers) who Lived & Died to protect the honour of Hindavi Swarajya.

I bow in respect to all of them and begin to narrate the Epic the Tale of Umberkhind.

#storytime

A Tale from #Ramayana.

"When Raama met Parshuraama"

Mithila had witnessed the Divine wedding ceremony of Rama and Sita. It was a blessing to watch Rama and Sita together.

King Dasharatha was returning to Ayodhya, accompanied by his retinue. On the way, there were some bad omens, a worried Dashratha asked Vashishta about it. Vashishta pacified him by asking him not to worry.

As Dashratha and Vashishta were conversing, there broke out a great storm.

#StoryTime

Roughly somewhere in the 17th Century, there lived a Tribal woman named OBAVVA in the town of Chitradurga, Karnataka.

This is the story of her life and valour. During those times, Hyder Ali was the most aggressive conqueror of that geography. One town after the other, he marched ahead.

However, Chitradurga was a difficult town to Capture. Like Sahyadri, it is hilly and does not have too many entrances.

#StoryTime

There was a time, Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was in Pratapgarh and Afzal Khan had bought 2 lakh of his men to capture him. The men had encircled the Fort.

Aai Jijau saw the crowd of men, but she wasn't worried. She was confident in her son's abilities. Afzal Khan, to be doubly sure appointed two of his men as SPIES and asked them to snoop on Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and get back with information on Total Maratha Men, their Weapons, their Strategic Location etc.

#storytime

Battle of Pawankhind. A war that changed the course of history.

Possibly my longest thread. Please read through till the END. Request the Reader to picture himself/herself in Ghodkind (which became Pawankhind later).

To the West of Ghodkind is VISHALGAD. It could be 7 km from the valley and 14 kms by Road.

4 kms to the East of it is Ghodmaal. Ghodmaal is a place where "Horse Market" was there.

#StoryTime

A Little tale from #Mahabharata.

Arjuna elopes with Subadhra in elder-brother Krishnas Ratha. Pitamaha Bheeshma is very angry with Arjuna as this was against the Tradition. Subhadra’s other brother Balrama had already promised Subhadra’s marriage to Duryodhana. Krishna tried to convince Bhishma about how Arjuna was the right man for Subhadra and his action was right too, but Bhishma was adamant. The conversation that then happened between Krishna and Bhishma is as follows:

#StoryTime

(Source: dnaofhinduism.com/ancient-wisdom…)

Reproducing a Story (Verbatim), I read from the link mentioned above.

Title : Story of Nachiketa & Yama – The Soul & Brahman Nachiketa was the son of the sage Vājashravas. He was performing a sacrifice named Viswajet Yajna. In this Yajna, the performer had to give away all his wealth. In ancient times, Cows were designated as valuable.

#StoryTime

While this is not a STORY. This is my attempt at stitching together a thread on #BhagwadGita for everyone to read.

Today, lets learn about the Premise. The Gita is a dialogue between the warrior-prince ARJUNA and the Bhagwaan KRISHNA who is serving as his charioteer at the Battle of Kurukshetra fought between Arjuna's family & allies (the Pandavas) and those of the prince DURYODHANA & his family (the Kauravas) and their allies.

#storytime

For 10 years Raama, Lakshmana and Sita lived quietly amongst the rishis in the Dandakaranya (Dandaka Forest). In Dandakaranya there were many Aashramas, knowing the Trio, all RISHIS welcomed Raama, Lakshmana, Sita. They would stay in one Ashrama after another. After the passage of 10 years, Raama wished to have Darshan of AGASTYA RISHI.

Words fall short, in praise of AGASTYA RISHI. He was famous in Three Worlds.