K O S H U R K I D N E W S L E T T E R | I S S U E 2 | M A R C H 2 0 2 1 Let's Kindle Childhood the Koshur Way ! The King of Kashmiri Festivals is Here! e Aay aye e A Aay In this issue we talk about Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati Kashmiri Herath Spotlight- Shankracharya Temple You Ask We Answer I Am a Koshur Kid Koshur Bee Learn with me Fun this month Meet Lord Shiva ! 3rd Eye Trinity of Hindu gods (Tridev) Neel Kanth Brahma (the creator) There is a mythological Third Eye is a source of Vishnu (the preserver) incidence that at the divine wisdom, often shut Shiva (the destroyer) time of ‘samudra to look inward it allows manthan’, Shiva held the for a greater scope of poison churned out from vision and clarity in the ocean in his throat, discerning matters. We all due to which his throat posses a ‘third eye’ or turned blue. The ‘Neel wisdom; it just needs to Kanth’ teaches us to not be ‘awakened’ at the let bad or negative right time. energies overpower us. Ashes (Bhasam) Moon on Forehead Scientifically ‘bhasm’ is known to seal the body Moon signifies peace. It pores, hence the body does means that whatever the not get affected by cold or situation, one’s mind heat. This way Shiva teaches should always be kept us to not get affected by calm. With a calm mind, outer circumstances and to Nandi Bull the individual can face not lose our inner peace, any kind of problem Nandi’ is his 'vahan’ or whatever may be the without getting jittery. vehicle. Bulls by nature situation. are very diligent and Animal Skin tirelessly perform all their Cobra Necklace Shiva dressed in animal duties while being calm Snake periodically sheds its skin, and had virtually and stable. This teaches skin so that it can grow a nothing to his name. Yet, us to keep doing our new one, symbolizing the he reined the universe. ‘karma’ without expecting death and rebirth that Shiva Teaching us that just anything, and that Lord gives. It also shows Shiva’s because you have little Shiva will be always there power over even the most doesn’t mean you can’t to bestow his grace upon dangerous creatures on the live a powerful and us. earth. productive life. Meet Goddess Parvati ! Trinity of Hindu goddesses (Tridevi) Saraswati Lakshmi The name Parvati Shiv-Shakti In Shaivism, worshipping Parvati in Sanskrit means Shiva without goddess "daughter of the mountain". Parvati is viewed as She was the daughter of pointless. Parvati is the King Himavat, king of the divine energy of Shiva Himalaya. She has 1000 and vice versa. Without different names recorded in Shiva, there is no Shakti Lalita Sahasranam. and without Shakti, there is no Shiva. Smile The first thing that attracts anyone when you see an idol Different Avtaars or statue of Goddess Parvati Mother She transforms herself is her enchanting smile. That in many different smile shows that no matter Parvati is the mother of avtaars depending on how powerful or difficult a Hindu Gods Ganesha, the situation thus situation is you should always Kartikeya, and teaching us that one keep yourself calm and Ashokasundari. She should be oneself but focused. created Lord Ganesha with clay and earth. She be ready to adapt new style, manner or stance Multi-tasking is the goddess mother, whose energy is liable as per the situations. Her different arms symbolize for the creation, her capability to juggle more safeguarding, and Dawon than one thing at a time. decimation of the While being a protector of ‘Dawon’ also known as universe. human kind and deities alike, Ghatokbahini Singha (a she is also a compasionate hybrid of lion and tiger) figure. It teaches us that one is her vaahan which is capable of being both represents taming fear fierce and compasionate at and coursing them to the same time. become your power. Kashmiri Herath In Kashmiri Shivratri is known as Har- ratri or Herath meaning ‘Shiva’s night’. It marks the night of Lord Shiva’s wedding to Goddess Parvati. Preparations for the special occasion get underway 23 days before the actual day. It includes: dusting the house, washing and cleaning the kitchen, bringing out ‘herath- special’ utensils, purchasing puja items, giving gifts to married daughters and also buying new clothes. Vatuk puja When Kashmiri Pandits were driven out of the valley in the first half of the 15th century, a few families in the remote villages stayed back. It is speculated that these families must have started worshiping the Vatuka for their protection. The custom having been continued by others when they returned to the valley in the later part of that century. Kashmiri Pandits worship Bhairwa Vtknath and hence the worship is called Vtk puja. Bhairwa as per Kashmir Shaivism is a being who through his saddhna has risen to a status just next to Lord Shiva As per Kashmir Shaivism philosophy the highest state a being can achieve through his saddhna is that of a Bhirwa. Eight Bhirwas have achieved that status so far, for whom we have eight dedicated temples in Kashmir mostly around Srinagar city. Vtknath Bhairwa is one of them who receives extensive worship on Shivratri eve . Before the start of the puja, two large vessels representing Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are embellished with flower garlands and filled with walnuts to the top. Then a definite number of small earthen pots are filled with water and nut symbolizing the Ghanas and other deities. These pitchers and pots, collectively are called Vatuk. A red thread is tied around the mouths of these utensils and a symbol of ‘Om’ is drawn on them. The ritual worship continues till late into the night and concludes with the singing of devotional hymns in praise of Lord Shiva and finally aarti. Herath Feast After a day of fasting dinner is definitely the highlight on this particular day. Everyone enjoys delectable Kashmiri dishes. In most households, multiple vegetarian and non- vegetarian dishes are prepared as part of a grand dinner spread. Some of the dishes cooked are Haak, Nadur, Mong Dal, Rogan Josh, Match, Gaad etc Salaam! The day after Maha Shivaratri Puja is called salaam, a Persian word for greeting. It is a day of fun and feasting, a sort of Thanksgiving Day when relations, friends and colleagues would exchange greetings. The singing bards and the poor would visit Hindu homes and take their share of Shivaratri presents in cash or kind. Herath Kharach It is another much-awaited and fun-loving custom of Herath. Just a day after the puja, the head of the family offers money to children, younger ones in the family. The excitement around this traditional practice is immense, where children sometimes wake up early to wish everyone ‘Herath Poshte’, and ask them for their ‘Shivaratri earning’. Dunya Mavas In the good old days, this money was used to On this day all the flower-decked buy new clothes and candies from the market. vessels are taken to a stream or river for immersion just as the images of Durga and Ganesha are immersed at the close of Durga Puja and Ganapati festivals. Thu k Thuk (kno knock) Before immersion, the vessels are K emptied of the soaked walnuts and us Chu ?(Who is it) Ra brought back home. m Broar (Ram Cat) K On reaching home, the ladies would ya hyath ? (What do shut the main entrance of the house you have with you) A and not allow the head of the family to nna hyath, Dhaana hy enter till he promised certain blessings ath, Samridhi hyat h and boons for all members of the (I got food, weal th, family. The soaked walnuts and tumul riches) chut (rice-cakes) are distributed as the main prasad (naveed) among the family members, friends and close relatives. Haaran Gindun All family members would also indulge in a game played with sea shells (cowries). It is called as "Haaran Gindun" Shankracharya Temple e th . s le a p n em T w T he no a he n te k ar t o 20 m o w of ill 0 pl ls h p H in co BC e m A es to a e s ns a a ht n ry ng tru tru s a y d es o ha a ct ct B at y is c R to ur io ud e t J It ra an th e p n b dh o ka w ar e ro ut ist n ar g 9th ba Hi ha b na c bl nd S Za ri en y d u e S tur at th y A es D. Sikandar, the iconoclast did not, for some reason, destroy it. It was visited by Adi The Maharaja of Shankara and has Mysore came to ever since been Kashmir in 1925 associated with him; and he made the this is how the electrical temple got the name installations at the Shankaracharya temple. The temple is used for regular worship and pilgrims visit Illustration: Niyanta Muku Shah the temple during the Amarnath e Th t . ee Yatra. iva f le h 00 p d S ,0 or em li to rd f 1 flo e t so s Lo o y h a ot p to ht le f T on fo te e d ig al o s 0- l s th te he v ity st 2 a 43 b a a he c re .