Nevertheless, in the Holy Cave of Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji, one does find stone remains of a human hand, popularly known as Varad Hast (the hand that grants boons and blessings). Mythology and Legends There are several other legends connected with the Vaishnav Devi. A popular one amongst them is the legend of Shridhar's vision. According to the legend, Sridhar was a poor Brahmin who lived in village Hansali near Katra about seven hundred years ago. Sridhar was had no child and therefore, he ardently worshipped the goddess hoping to get a child of his own.
It is believed that peoples coming here with pure devotion will get their wishes come true very soon after visiting this temple. Here she is called as Ammathiruvadi, which is the other name in Malayalam language to call for Durga, Devi or Maa. The Ammathiruvadi Ammai is the wording used to praise here in prayers by her devotees. This goddess is worshiped by all sects of Hinduism. It is a women hood temple since
Padma Lakshmi is among 60-odd people living here—some of them aged couples – silently waiting for their last breath. The practice is known as 'Kashivas' in local parlance. Mumukhshu Bhawan is Padma Lakshmi's second home for the last four years. Her sister is residing here for ten years. The expectation of death lingers on most faces visible at Lohia Chowk.
Most people call the first day Dhantheras, but some people also call it Danvantari or Dhawantari Triodasi. This is a full moon night, and it is a belief that on this day one of the gods came to give the people Ayurvedic or herbal medicines. The second day is of the five Diwali days is Choti Diwali, and on this day people bathe and rest because they the next day will be the main day. Choti Diwali can also be thought of something like Diwali Eve because it is the day before the main Diwali day. The third and main day of the Diwali week is the actual Diwali day.
The festival date varies every year, per the Hindu calendar, and typically comes in March, sometimes February in the Gregorian Calendar. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair ruptured relationships. In rural parts of Solapur it was identified as a festival that celebrated agriculture, commemorated good spring harvests and the fertile land.Hindus believe it is a time of enjoying spring's abundant colours and saying farewell to winter. Holi festivities mark the beginning of new year to many Hindus, as well as a justification to reset and renew relationships, end conflicts and accumulated emotional impurities from past. It also has a religious purpose, symbolically signified by the legend of Holika.
Nigambodh ghat, the realization of knowledge. According to the tradition, even before the time of the Mahabharata, in the epoch known as the Dvaparayuga, Brahma, the creator was cursed and lost his memory and the scripts of Veda. He meditated and performed several austerities for getting his memory back and plunged into the Yamuna. The river was in spate and she threw back the vedas, thus restoring Brahma’s memory. The other legend from the Epic Mahabharat recounts that Dharma Yudishtira, after the battle of Kurukshetra, returned to his capital Indraprastha, and performed the Das Ashwamedha Yajna, or the Ten Horse Sacrifice at the spot not far from here.
"Vinayaka" is another name of Lord Ganesh, the God loved and worshiped by every Hindu. Lord Ganesh is the protector of his devotees. Eight effigies found among the nature, sculptured by nature have been housed in the temples created ages ago at the places where the effigies were first identified. These ‘Swayambhu’ effigies, now the sacred idols, are the famous "Ashta Vinayak." Ashtavinayaka literally means “eight Ganeshas” in Sanskrit.
Because of those five marriages, the Kauravas have to allow the Pandavas back into Hastinapur and Dhritarashtra is shamed into giving Yudhisthir his half of the kingdom. After many years of a happy reign in their own kingdom, Yudhisthir plays a rigged gambling game with Duryodhan and as a result the five chauhan2 Pandavas and Panchaali are banished into the forest for twelve years and they must spend their thirteenth year in exile undercover. However, before they leave for exile, Duryodhan takes full benefit of the situation and orders Panchaali to be disrobed in the middle of the court; however, due to an intervention by a God, Panchaali’s sari never ends, but it is Duryodhan who gets tired of pulling the never-ending sari. The twelve years of exile in the forest pass. During their thirteenth year, Yudhisthir disguises himself as an advisor in King Virat of Matsys’s court.
As they churned, several objects came out, Kamadhenu (the wish fulfilling cow), Uchchaisrava (the white horse), Airavata (the white elephant), Kaustubhamani (a rare diamond), Kalpavriksha (the wish fulfilling tree), Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth), and Sura or Varuni (the goddess of wine). The Devas and Asuras divided the objects among themselves. Lakshmi was gifted to Vishnu who was supporting them all along as the tortoise. Finally, Dhanvantari (the divine physician)appeared with the vessel of Amrita in his skilful hands. The Devas had a plan from the beginning to deny the Asuras their share of Amrita because they did not want the evil ones become immortal and become an eternal pain to all.
Devas or the good ones were born to Aditi and asuras or the evil ones were born to Diti. Hiranyakashipu was a mighty demon born to Diti. He grew up to be a great and mighty king but he was very cruel. He wanted to defeat Lord Vishnu who had killed his brother Hiranyaksh as the varah avatar. So he went to the forest so that he could do intense meditation and please Lord Brahma.