Maa Durga Shakti - Brahamcharini

The second Durga Shakti is Brahamcharini. Brahma that is who observes penance(tapa) and good conduct. Here "Brahma" means "Tapa".

The idol of this Goddess is very gorgeous. There is rosary in her right hand and Kamandal in left hand. She is full with merriment.

One story is famous about her. In previous birth she was Parvati Hemavati the daughter of Himvan. Once when she was busy in games with her friends.

Naradaji came to her and predicted seeing her Palm-lines that, "You will get married with a naked-terrible 'Bhole baba' who was with you in the form of Sati, the daughter of Daksh in previous birth. But now you have to perform penance for him."

There upon Parvati told her mother Menaka that she would marry none except Shambhu, otherwise she would remain unmarried. Saying this she went to observe penance.

That is why her name is famous as tapacharini - Brahmacharini. From that time her name Uma became familiar.

Goddess in the making

An artist gives finishing touches to an idol of goddess Durga ahead of the ten-day long Durga Puja festival in Ranchi.

Hul - Umang - A call to save culture

Love

Once had a friend who grew to be very close to me. Once when we were sitting at the edge of a swimming pool, she filled the palm of her hand with some water and held it before me, and said this: "You see this water carefully contained on my hand? It symbolizes Love." This was how I saw it: As long as you keep your hand caringly open and allow it to remain there, it will always be there . However, if you attempt to close your fingers round it and try to posses it, it will spill through the first cracks it finds .This is the greatest mistake that people do when they meet love ... they try to posses it, they demand, they expect ... and just like the water spilling out of your hand, love will retrieve from you. For love is meant to be free,you can not change its nature. If there are people you love, allow them to be free beings.Give and don't expect. Advise, but don't order. Ask, but never demand.It might sound simple, but it is a lesson that may take a lifetime to truly practice.It is the secret to true love.To truly practice it, you must sincerely feel no expectations from those who you love, and yet an unconditional caring." Passing thought .... Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take; but by the moments that take our breath away. It might sound simple, but it is a lesson that may take a lifetime .

by Swami Vivekananda

Clouds

Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibte Razi and his wife Chand Faharana paying tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary, at Governor house in Ranchi.