Monday, October 24, 2011

Saurashtra State's Stamps

Indian Princely State Radhanpur Fiscal Court fees and Revenue Stamps Indian Princely State Radhanpur, Formerly Western India States (Palanpur ) Agency, merged into Saurashtra, now in Gujarat state. Area of state 2,979 km2 , Population was 70,530 in 1931, Privy purse was 129,000 Rs. on the time of accession (10 Th June1948 ).
Indian Princely State Rupal Fiscal Court fee and Revenue Stamps Rupal state was formerly Western India States ( Sabar Kanta ) Agency :merged inti Saurashtra now in Gujarat State , area of state was 16 Sq miles (11 Villages ), Population of state was 4,515 in 1931.

Court fee stamp.
Indian Princely State Bhavnagar Fiscal Court fee and Revenue Stamps Bhavnagar state formerly Western (Kathiawar) India States Agency, merged into Saurashtra ; now in Gujarat state. area of state was 7669 square miles ,and population of state was 11,048 in 1931. Privy purse of state on the time of accession (15Th Feb.1948 ) was Rs.10,00,000.

VERY RARE STAMP SAURASHTRA OF STATE(FINE USED)ONE ANNA
Indian Princely State Wadhwan Fiscal Court fee and Revenue Stamps Indian Princely State Wadhwan Fiscal Court fee and Revenue Stamps :--


Wdhwan state is formerly Western India States Agency ( Kathiawar ) merged in Saurashtra, now in Gujrat State , area of state was 627 KM2 ,and population of state was 42,602 in 1931, Privy purse of state on the time of accession (15Th February.1948 ) was Rs.1,42,000.
Indian Princely State Palitana Fiscal Court fee and Revenue Stamps Indian Princely State Palitana Fiscal Court fee and Revenue Stamps :--


Palitana state is formerly Western India States Agency (kathiawar), merged in Saurashtra. now in Gujarat State, area of state was 777 KM2 ,and population of state was 58,000 in 1921, Privy purse of state on the time of accession (15Th Feb.1948 ) was Rs.1,80,000
Indian Princely State Wankaner Fiscal Court fee and Revenue Stamps Indian Princely State Wankaner Fiscal Court fee and Revenue Stamps :--


Wankaner state is formerly Western India States Agency (Kathiawar), merged in Saurashtra, now in Gujarat States, area of state was 1,080 KM2 ,and population of state was 44,259 in 1931, Privy purse of state on the time of accession (15Th Feb.1948 ) was Rs.1,80,000.
 
Cheque leaf of STATE BANK OF SAURASHTRA
Indian Princely State Morvee / Morvi Fiscal stamps Morvee state is formerly Western India States (Sabar Kanta) Agency, now in Gujarat State , area of state was 2,129 KM2 ,and population of state was 1,13,023 in 1931, Privy purse of state on the time of accession (15Th Feb.1948 ) was Rs.5,20,000.
Indian Princely State Bajana Fiscal Court fee and Revenue Stamps Bajana state is formerly Western India States Agency ( Eastern Kathiawar ): merged in Saurashtra, now in Gujarat State , area of state was 183 sq miles ,and population of state was 13,481 in 1931.  Court fee Stamp.
Indian Princely State Gadhka Fiscal Court fee and Revenue Stamps India Gadhka state was estate of formely Western India States Agency (Kathiawar ),merged in Saurashtra, now in Gujarat State , area of state was 60 square KM ( 5 villages ) ,and population of state was 2,392 in 1931.

Revenue stamp.
Postal Stamp of Saurashtra State.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Dayananda Saraswathi - Founder of Arya Samaj


The founder of the Arya Samaj. The great sage who sought to restore to Hinduism its natural radiance and wisdom. A fearless reformer. He saved the man who poisoned him - so boundless was his goodness.


This happened about 150 years ago. Saurashtra of the present Gujarat State consisted of several small states. Among them was Morvi. Tankara was a town in this state. There lived a wealthy Brahmin, Karshanji Lalji Tiwari by name; he was also the tahsildar of Tankara. The ruler of Morvi had granted him a small troop of horses (cavalry) both for protection and as a mark of honour.


Karshanji was a good and just man. He was generous in his dealings. He had faith in religious practices that had come down from times immemorial. His wife,Amrithbai, was a beautiful and Virtuous woman. She was like a mother his go to all the villagers. In 1824, a son was born to the couple. They named' him Moolashankar.According to the custom of the place, he was also called Dayaram. This child was to become famous as Maharshi Dayananda.

When he attained the age of five, Moolashankar's education started. At the age of eight, his Upanayana Samskara (being invested with the holy thread) was performed. The boy used to perform religious rites like 'Sandhyavandana’ with devotion. He had a very good memory. By the time he was fourteen he had learnt by heart the Yajurveda, the scriptures and the upanishads.

Karshanji wished that his son should follow in his footsteps by becoming a devotee of Shiva. He, therefore, used to describe the greatness of Shiva every now and then. He would advise the boy to worship Lord Shiva and only then eat something on days of festivals.

Moolashankar had an uncle whom he loved very much. His uncle himself was a simple man of great learning with a religious bent of mind. He influenced the boy deeply. Moolashankar had a sharp intellect and an extraordinary memory and so his uncle thought some day his nephew would become a great man.

After many spiricual experience and many incidents of his life happened.  He wrote " Sattyartha Prakash" book of his experiece essence.

Shri Krishna Pranami Dharma


Dev chandraji - 1581-1655 AD
Saurashtra is a territory of India where saints, warriors and women of distiction, during middle ages gave special importance to Shri Krishna Pranami Dharma. This branch with Pranami emphasis originating from Jamnagar spread all over Gujarat and entire India, and to Nepal and other countries, still preserving its initial essence, inspite of intermingling with several other religious streams.


Pranami Dharma has over 5 million adherents who are known to respect each other as friends with Pranam - salutations irrespective of difference of age or youth.

The most important leader of Pranami Dharma who carried the word and practice to places far and near is Shri Prannath, whose monumental efforts and dedication historically have made a distinct mark on the Indian religion and civilization. The main scriptures are: Tartam Sagar and Vitak.

The founder Shri Devchandra Maharaj was born in 1581 A. D., in Marwad province in Umarkot village in a Kayasth family. From early childhood he showed saintly tendencies. At 16 years of age he renounced the world and left in search of Brahma Gyana (divine knowledge) from Kutch to Jamnagar.

Jamnagar was a very important center of Indian civilization. With the contributions of outstanding leaders of thought and religion, it was considered a miniature Kashi, the holy of the holiest of religious centers for pilgrimage and learning. It is here that Shri Devchandraji learned from the famous savant Kanji Bhatt Bhagwat Katha for 14 years with single pointedness and realized the meaning of Bhagwat and attained Bhrahma Vidya (divine knowledge and realization).

After this experience from Tartam Mantra, Shri Devchandraji undertook the work of giving concrete shape and form and called this stream Nijanand Sampradaya, when he made Jamnagar his major center of operation where he explained Vedas, Vedantic knowledge and Bhagwatam in simple language intelligible to lay persons irrespective of social class and religious differences, and taught them Tartam Mantra. This group of persons/followers are now known as Sunder Sath/Pranami.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

எம்.வி.வெங்கட்ராம் படைப்புகள்





( சௌராஷ்டிர சமூகத்தை சார்ந்த தமிழ் எழுத்தாளர் திரு. எம். வி. வெங்கட்ராம் அவர்கள்.  )

(இக் கட்டுரையின் ஆசிரியர் திரு. மு. சிவகுருநாதன் அவர்கள்)

(சாகித்திய அகாதெமி 22 ஜனவரி 2011 சனியன்று கும்பகோணம் ஜனரஞ்சனி சபாவில் எம்.வி.வெங்கட்ராம் படைப்புகள் குறித்த ஒரு நாள் கருத்தரங்கை நடத்தியது. அது குறித்த சிறிய பதிவு. 

எம்.வி. வெங்கட்ராமுடனான தனது சந்திப்பு, நட்பு பற்றியும் சொல்லி அவரது எழுத்துக்களை சிலாகித்து பேசியவர்களாக வே.மு. பொதியவெற்பன், தேனுகா, தஞ்சை ப்ரகாஷ் ஆகியோர்களை பட்டியலிட்டு எம்.வி.வி. பற்றி இன்னமும் அதிக தகவல்களைக் கொண்டு வந்திருக்கிறேன். நேரம் கிடைக்கும்போது இடைஇடையே அச்செய்திகளை உங்களுடன் பகிர்ந்து கொள்கிறேன் என்று சொல்லி ஒரு நீண்ட அறிமுக உரையை இராம. குருநாதன் நிகழ்த்தினார்.


பின்னர் பேச வந்த சாகித்திய அகாதெமி தமிழ் ஆலோசனைக் குழு ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளர் சிற்பி பாலசுப்பிரமணியம் எம்.வி.வி.யின் நாவலைப் படிக்காமல் சிலப்பதிகாரத்தைப் பற்றி எழுதப்பட்ட நாவல் என்று விமர்சனம் எழுதியதை குறிப்பிட்டு பேசினார். அ. மார்க்ஸ் போன்றவர்கள் தமிழிலக்கியத்தை தலித் இலக்கியம், செட்டியார் இலக்கியம், முதலியார் இலக்கியம் என்றெல்லாம் சாதி ரீதியாக வகைப்படுத்தி வைத்துள்ளனர் என்று வருத்தப்பட்டுக் கொண்டார். தமிழில் இப்படியெல்லாம் அணுகும் போக்கு உள்ளது என்பதை ‘கண்டுபிடித்து’ வெளிப்படுத்தினார்.

மேலும் இந்திய இலக்கிய சிற்பிகள் நூல் வரிசையில் எம்.வி.வி.யைப் பற்றிய நூல் ஒன்றை தேனுகாவை எழுதித் தருமாறும் அதை சாகித்திய அகாதெமி கண்டிப்பாக வெளியிடும் என்றும் அறிவித்தார். எம்.வி.வி.யின் நாவல்கள் மற்றும் படைப்புகள் பற்றி வந்துள்ள விமர்சனங்களை குறிப்பிட்டு சிற்பி பேசி முடித்தார்.

மைய உரையாற்றிய சாகித்திய அகாதெமி பொதுக்குழு மற்றும் தமிழ் ஆலோசனைக் குழு உறுப்பினர் இரா. மோகன், பி.எஸ். ராமையா எப்படி எம்.வி.வி.க்கு வழிகாட்டினார் என்பதைத் தெரிவித்தார். தி.ஜா., கு.ப.ரா., க.நா.சு. போன்ற சமகால எழுத்தாளர்களோடு எம்.வி.வி.யைத் தொடர்புப்படுத்தி தனது பேச்சை நிறைவு செய்தார்.


சிறப்பு விருந்தினர்களின் உரைக்குப் பிறகு நன்றியுரை சொல்ல வந்த ரவி சுப்பிரமணியன் எம்.வி. வெங்கட்ராமுடன் உள்ள தனது நினைவுகளைப் பகிர்ந்து கொண்டார். அவரைப் பற்றிய ஆவணப் படம் எடுப்பதற்கு நிறைய செலவு பிடிக்கும். எனவே சாகித்திய அகாதெமி உதவிட வேண்டும் என்று கேட்டுக் கொண்டார்.


முதல் அமர்வில் தலைமையேற்ற அ. மார்க்ஸ், கும்பகோணத்தில் நாங்கள் நெருங்கி உறவாடிய எழுத்தாளர் கரிச்சான் குஞ்சு என்றும் அவர் அளவிற்கு இல்லையென்றாலும் எம்.வி.வி.யுடனும் தொடர்பு இருந்ததைக் குறிப்பிட்டுப் பேசினார். இவரது படைப்புகளில் ‘காதுகள்’ தம்மை ஈர்க்கவில்லையயன்றும் ‘நித்ய கன்னி’, ‘வேள்வித் தீ’ போன்றவற்றை சிறந்த படைப்புகளாக பார்ப்பதாகவும் கூறினார்.


எம்.வி.வி. பாரதத்தின் மேல் அதிக ஈடுபாடு கொண்டவர். தமிழ்ச் சூழலில் கம்பராமாயணம் பேசப்பட்டதைப் போல வியாசபாரதமோ, நல்லாபிள்ளை பாரதமோ பேசப்பட்டதில்லை. பாரதத்தின் மீது அதீத பற்றுடைய எம்.வி.வி. முயன்றிருந்தால் தமிழுக்கு ஒரு அருமையான பாரதம் கிடைத்திருக்கும் என்றார்.

1992-ல் பாபர் மசூதி இடிக்கப்பட்ட சூழலில் சாகித்திய அகாதெமி விருது பெற்ற எம்.வி.வி., அத்வானியை சந்தித்ததையும் குறிப்பிட்டு இந்துத்துவத்துடன் இணக்கமாக இருந்த எழுத்தாளர் என்று சொல்லி அதற்கான காரணத்தையும் சொன்னார்.

தமிழ்நாட்டில் சிறுபான்மை சமூகமான செளராஷ்டிரா சமூகத்தைச் சேர்ந்த எம்.வி.வி.க்கு உரிய அங்கீகாரம் கிடைக்கவில்லை. இன்றும் கூட செளராஷ்டிரா மொழிக்கு வரி வடிவம் இல்லை. அவர்களது மொழி கூட பலரால் கிண்டல் செய்யப்படுகிறது. இவர் தனது இறுதிக் காலத்தில் செளராஷ்டிரா மொழிக்கு வரி வடிவம் கொடுக்கும் முயற்சியில் ஈடுபட்டிருந்தார். இந்தப் பின்னணியில் அவரது அடையாள அரசியலையும் இந்துத்துவத்தின்பால் அவர் சாய நேர்ந்ததையும் நாம் விளங்கிக் கொள்ள வேண்டும் என்றார்.

(அவரின் வரி வடிவம் காணும் முயற்சிக்கு சௌராஷ்டிர மத்ய சபை வெற்றி கண்டு விட்டது. 2008 இல் பாளையங்கோட்டையில்  மத்திய அரசின் உதவியோடு எழுத்துக்கள் பெறப்பட்டு முன்னாள் தமிழக சபாநாயகர் திரு. ஆவுடையப்பன் கரங்களால் வெளியிடப்பட்டன. )

 நன்றி : சிவகுருநாதன் அவர்களுக்கு. அவரின் தொடர்பு முகவரி :

 http://musivagurunathan.blogspot.com/2011/01/blog-post_26.html

Lakulisa - Founder of Pasupata Siddanta of Saurashtra



Lakulisa With Vishnu and Brahma
 At the foothills of the great Kalikadevi temple at Pavagadh Gujarat, situated in Saurashtra; there is a sprawling peaceful lake dotted with temples displaying the splendor of Saurashtra.

The Name Lakulisa probably derived from Sourashtra language word :
Lakuda + Esha
ie.  Lord Esha (Siva) Having a stick in hand.

Driving down during the monsoon time can indeed change the mood of the land such that it almost feels like divinity descended on earth in a chariot of mist. And here among rocky hillsides strewn with huge boulders lie one of India's most ancient temples now in ruins - Lakulisa temple. This temple dates back to the 10th century though the cult of Lakulisa existed well into the 1 cen.A.D and has been mentioned the Mahabharata.

This delapidated temple holds the iconography of Lord Shiva thought it houses Lakulisa within its walls. Among its very rare and fine sculptures one can see Dakshinamurthy Shiva, Ganesha and Gajantaka Shiva. Most of the upper half of the temple has fallen off and merged with the surrounding boulders leaving standing walls with intricate sculptures to show the original spendor of this great cult icon.

Lakulisa was the founder of Pashupata Shaivism which was one of the oldest and prominent Shaivite schools that existed in the early 1 cen A.D, though dating it is still uncertain. Lakulisa's school of Pashupata Shaivism originated at Kayavarohan in Saurashtra and extended to Payar in Kashmir and Orissa in the east. It later spread far and wide and penetrated into Tamil Nadu in the 7th to 14th cen A.D.


Lakulisa was born in Gujarat, and when a little boy, was struck by illness and given up as dead. He was taken to the ghats to be cremated, when he is supposed to have "come back to life". He asked the people to leave him, and grew up in the ghats, with special mystical and spiritual powers.

Lakulisa's images are found all over India indicating that his cult was very well established. The Pashupatas were ascetics and were followers of the Bhakti movement. Lakulisa was almost considered an incarnate of Lord Shiva during his time.  His teachings are codified in the Lakulisa Siddhanta, while in his images he is represented in Dharmachakrapravartana mudra with a Lakuta / Laguda (விறகு) (stick) in one arm. His main desciples were Kausika, Gargya, Mitraka and Rusta.

What was this cult all about? Kaundinya in one of his commentaries on the Pashupata Sutras says that Lord Shiva taking the form of a Brahman as an incarnate at Kayavatarana, went on foot to ujjain and taught his doctrine to Bhagavat Kushika. The Pashupata doctrine was revealed by Lakulisa, the last of the 28 incarnations of Shiva. The worship of Shiva included strange practices which involved bathing in sand and holy ash thrice a day and living in isolation.   What ever their practices and whether it conformed to the society at large, this once popular cult lost its dynamic presence and ceased to exist till today in its original known form.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Paramahansa Yoganand Maharaj's Guru BABAJI of Saurashtra


Yogender Vigani was also known as Yoganand Maharaj. The details about his birth related date and place in unknown and not sure. But it is said that he was born on Vasant Panchami, in the small village near to Veraval in Saurashtra, Gujarat-India, in the end of the 19th century.

Yoganand maharaj was considered as one of the great famous exponents of ‘Hathyoga’ and mighty spiritual leader of “Shaktipat parampara” and his yogic artistries were simply remarkable. Through Swami Narayan Teerth Dev Maharaj also known as Madariwala, he got the Shaktipat diksha.

Yogiraj’s details of biographical were very less as he scanty discussed and rarely said about his own life. As he had long quest for Yoga and kundalini awakening, he left is house in the year 1909, and decided to start wondering for it. He spent his most time in several ashrams and well-read about yogic Kriyas as he has curiosity for that. Though he became master and skilled “Hath-Yogi” but enabled to get a true experience.

Source : http://hindu-guru-saints-swami.blogspot.com/2010/08/paramahansa-yoganand-maharaj.html

Gujarat Saurashtra Parampara. Pakhwaj


Pakhawaj is essentially a north Indian version of the mridangam and is the most common north Indian representative of the class of barrel shaped drums known as mridang. It was once common throughout north India, but in the last few generations tabla has usurped its position of importance. It has a right head which is identical to tabla except somewhat larger. The left head is similar to the tabla bayan except that there is a temporary application of flour and water instead of the black permanent spot. It is laced with rawhide and has tuning blocks placed between the straps and shell.


There are several styles of pakhawaj playing. The most well known and important is for the accompaniment of dhrupad and dhammar singers; this however, is falling out of fashion. Pakhawaj is also very much used for Orissi dancers and occasionally for kathak. It is also found in a classical form from Rajasthan known as Haveli Sangeet.

 Gujarat Saurashtra Parampara Pakhwaj also among the many parampara pakhwaj. 

Swami Vivekananda was Guru Bhai of Mridangacharya Dulli Babu.  He was from Bengal Parampara phakwaj style.