Bhagavan Nrisimha from a Salt Range temple, a faint reminder of the flowering of Pancharatrika tradition in ancient Punjab, but now completely destroyed, the influence of which however can still be seen clearly on Shri Guru Granth Sahib, the most sacred book of Sikhism. Of special interest is the headgear of the deity. प्राचीन पंजाब में पंचरात्र वैष्णव आगमों के प्रभाव का प्रमाण है भगवान् नृसिंह का यह श्रीविग्रह। यह श्रीविग्रह सिलसिला कोहे-नमक नामक पर्वत शृंखलाओं के एक प्राचीन मन्दिर से प्राप्त हुआ है, जो अब आधुनिक पाकिस्तान के पंजाब प्रान्त में विद्यमान है। प्राचीन काल में विद्यमान वैष्णव आगमों का यह गहरा प्रभाव अब पंजाब में पूरी तरह से विनष्ट हो गया है, केवल उसके कुछ भग्नावशेष श्री गुरु ग्रन्थ साहिब के इन शबदों में देखे जा सकते हैं - १. धरणीधर ईस नरसिंघ नाराईण। दाड़ा अग्रे पृथिमि धराईण (पृ० १०८२); २. भगत हेति मारिओ हरनाखसु नरसिंघ रूप होइ देह धरियो (पृ० ११०५); ३. ओइ परम पुरुष देवाधिदेव। भगति हेति नरसिंघ भेव (पृ० ११९४) इत्यादि। या किसी समय पंजाब प्रान्त का हिस्सा रह चुके कुल्लू रियासत के प्राचीन मन्दिरों में देखा जा सकता है।
The story of a famous Film actress who became a Hindu priestess in Indonesia: The moving account of Eva Pilz, a famous German film actress from Saltzburg, who dedicated her entire life to serving Hinduism and ended up becoming a Hindu Priestess ("Ibu Pandita" or Mother Priestess in Indonesian) in Solo (Sanskrit name: Surakarta), a city in Indonesia, a country which was a Hindu/Buddhist country just 500 year ago but has become today home to world's largest Muslim population. I have been informed that thanks to her persistent efforts, Pura Mandira Seta, an ancient Hindu temple located in the Royal Palaces of Solo, was revived and saved from closing down in 2009 (I have not been able to confirm the news independently). She has been living completely alone in Solo and has been serving the local Hindu temple now for over 23 years without any other German being around. All this should inspire us to do more to selflessly serve Hinduism and our brethren living in other nations. The complete documentary on her life and work can be seen here (German language).
Attached picture: Pura Mandira Seta, ancient royal temple located at the Royal Palaces of Solo (Surakarta), Indonesia.
Temple built on the place where Mother Sita was held captive by Ravana in Sri Lanka. श्री लंका में उस स्थान पर निर्मित मन्दिर जहां पर लंकापति रावण ने सीता मैया को बन्दी बना कर रखा था।
India was the motherland of our race, and Sanskrit the mother of Europe's languages... she was the mother of our philosophy; mother, through the Arabs, of much of our mathematics... mother, through the village community of self-government and democracy. Mother India is in many ways the mother of us all." - Will Durant (an American writer, historian and philosopher)
The temple of Devi Dadhimati, the sister of Rishi Dhadhyan Atharvana (seer of Ishavasya Upanishad; also known as Dadhichi), who is worshiped here as a manifestation of the Divine Mother, located in Goth Manglod, Nagaur region of Rajasthan (India). Built in 4th century AD, this is one of the oldest surviving temples in North India. It is one of the 52 Shakti-
Bali (Indonesia) where Ramayana and Mahabharata dominate the skyline... The Vanara army can be seen constructing the Setu-bandha Rameshvara bridge with the blessings of Lord Rama
Ida Resi Alit, the youngest Hindu High Priestess of Bali (Indonesia). The life and teachings of Guru Gorakshanatha (गुरु गोरक्षनाथ/गोरखनाथ) presented in Balinese Dance and Theater, Indonesia. Guru Gorakshanatha is the first master in the Hatha Yoga Tradition of Yoga Worship offerings in Bali, the island famous throughout the world for its exquisite cultural beauty.
The last Shloka (verse) of the Bhagavad Gita mentions "Yogeshvara Krishna", i.e. Krishna the Lord of Yoga. This is an amazing ancient statue of Yogeshvara Krishna seated in a meditative posture. यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः। तत्र श्रीर्विजयो भूतिर्ध्रुवा नीतिर्मतिर्मम॥
Bhagavan Nrisimha from a Salt Range temple, a faint reminder of the flowering of Pancharatrika tradition in ancient Punjab, but now completely destroyed, the influence of which however can still be seen clearly on Shri Guru Granth Sahib, the most sacred book of Sikhism. Of special interest is the headgear of the deity.
