Trip to Belur Math :

Trip to Belur Math :

Belur Maṭh is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda, a chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. It is located on the west bank of Hooghly River, Belur, West Bengal, India and is one of the significant institutions in Calcutta. The temple is notable for its architecture that fuses Hindu, Christian and Islamic motifs as a symbol of unity of all religions.

In 1897 two monasteries were founded by Swami Vivekananda, one at Belur, which became the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission and the other at Mayavati on the Himalayas, near Almora called the Advaita Ashrama. These monasteries were meant to receive and train young men who would eventually become sannyasis of the Ramakrishna Mission, and to give them a training for their work.

The 40-acre (160,000 m2) campus of the Belur Math on the banks of Ganga includes temples dedicated to Ramakrishna, Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda, in which their relics are enshrined, and the main monastery of the Ramakrishna Order. The campus also houses a Museum containing articles connected with the history of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Several educational institutions affiliated with the Ramakrishna Mission are situated in the vast campus adjacent to Belur Math. The Belur Math is considered as one of the prime tourist spots near Kolkota and place of pilgrimage by devotees. The ex-president Abdul Kalam regarded Belur Math as a "place of heritage and national importance."

          The main temple of Belur Math is Sri Ramkrishna Temple.

Sri Ramkrishna Temple

We had very beautiful meditation. We (me and my friends with whom I went) set for meditation and I felt very calm, a thoughtless moment. Awesome meditation. Nice vibrations of that place.

The Ramakrishna temple at the Belur Math is designed to "celebrate the diversity of Indian Religions" and resembles a temple, a mosque, a church if seen from different positions. The architectural style and symbolism from a number of religions have been incorporated into the design of the temple at Belur Math, to convey the "universal faith" in which the movement believes. The temple is considered as a prime example of the importance of "material dimension" of religion.

                          Swami Vivekananda Temple :

                        The Swami Vivekananda Temple stands on the spot where Swami Vivekananda’s mortal remains were cremated in 1902. Consecrated on 28 January 1924, the temple has in its upper storey an alabaster OM (in Bengali characters). Beside the temple stands a bel (bilva) tree in the place of the original bel tree under which Swami Vivekananda used to sit and near which, according to his wish, his body was cremated. On July 4, 1902 at Belur Math, he taught Vedanta philosophy to some pupils in the morning. He had a walk with Swami Premananda, a brother-disciple, and gave him instructions concerning the future of the Ramakrishna Math. He died in the evening after a session of prayer at Belur Math. He was 39. Vivekananda had fulfilled his own prophecy of not living to be forty-years old.

                                                                                               Holy Mother's temple :

The Holy Mother's temple is dedicated to Sarada Devi, the spiritual consort of Ramakrishna. The temple of the Holy Mother was consecrated on 21 December, 1921.
                                                                                                Swami Brahmananda's temple :

Another temple dedicated to Swami Brahmananda—a direct disciple of Ramakrishna—is situated near Holy Mother's temple.

A beautiful garden in Belur Math. There are many such but I could able to click one.









Few pics of Belur Math…

                                                        Beautiful view of Belur Math

Below pics from on the way to Belur Math :

Trip to Dakshineswar Kali Temple

The Dakshineswar Kali Temple is a Hindu temple located in Dakshineswar near Kolkata. Situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, the presiding deity of the temple is Bhavatarini, an aspect of Kali, literally meaning, ‘She who takes Her devotees across the ocean of existence’. The temple was built by Rani Rashmoni, a philanthropist and a devotee of Kali in 1855.


There are twelve shrines dedicated to the aspects of Shiva, Kali’s companion, along the riverfront, a temple to Radha-Krishna, a bathing ghat on the river, a bookshop, a srine to Rani Rashmoni. The chamber in the northwestern corner jus beyond the last of the Shiva temple, is where Sri Ramskrishna Paramhamsa spent a considerable part of his life.

Beside picture is the presiding temple deity, Bhavatarini, with a foot over Shiva.


In 1847 Rani Rashmoni prepared to go to Kashi (the sacred Hindu city) to express her devotion to Mother Divine.The night before the pilgrimage began, Rashmoni had a vision of the Divine Mother, in the form of the goddess Kali in a dream and reportedly said, “There is no need to go to Varanasi. Install my statue in a beautiful temple on the banks of the Ganges river and arrange for my worship there. Then I shall manifest in the image and accept worship at that place."

Sri RamKrishna Paramhamsa came to the temple in 1855, as an assistant to his elder brother, Ramkumar, the head priest, a job he took over the next year, after Ramkumar’s death.

Front view of Dakshineshwar Kali Temple

                                                          

Above you can see the picture of main temple of Dakshineshwar. There is Kali Maa’s idol in the temple which you can see in below picture.

There are twelve shrines of Shiva where there are 12 Shiv Lings in each shrine…

Santa commenting on Napoleon....

Napoleon : There is no such word as 'Impossible' in my dictionary.
Santa : Toh dictionary dekh ke kharidni chaiye thi....
lol...

Sardar in a Party...

Sardaro ki party thi.
DJ wala bola kab tak DJ bajaun?
Party owner replied : 12 bane tak
baja de uske baad to ye genretor ki
awaz per bhi naach lenge...
hehehe

Indian Coffee House

The Indian Coffee House...

               first ever coffee house of India...

The most famous Coffee House branch in Kolkata is the one at the College Street, also known as the "Coffee House at College Street". It is situated opposite the Presidency College, Kolkata and has been for a long time a regular hang out for students (and ex-students) of the Presidency College, University of Calcutta, and other institutions in College Street.

The history of the Coffee House at College Street can be traced to Albert Hall, which was founded in April 1876.Later, the Coffee Board decided to start a coffee joint from the Albert Hall in 1942. Notable citizens, including Rabindranath Tagore and Subhas Chandra Bose, were frequent visitors to the place.In 1947, the Central Government changed the name of the place to "Coffee House".The place became a meeting place for the poets, artistes, literati and people from the world of art and culture. In 1958, the management decided to shut down the Coffee House, but it was re-opened the same year, after professors of Presidency College and Calcutta University rushed off a special petition to the government, to save the heritage place.

The prestige of the Coffee House increased with regular visitors such as Satyajit Ray, Manna Dey, Amartya Sen, Mrinal Sen and Aparna Sen. The Coffee House is of historical significance for being the rendezvous of innumerable versatile people, from its inception to date. Scholars, editors, artists and writers like Ritwik Ghatak, Narayan Gangopadhyay, Sunil Gangopadhyay, Sanjeev Chattopadhyay, Samaresh Majumdar, Subhas Mukhopadhyay and Shakti Chattopadhyay) have been just a few among the patrons of the restaurant. In early sixties of 20th century the coffee house became the intellectual battleground of the famous Hungry generation literary and cultural movement; the iconic poets Malay Roy Choudhury, Samir Roychoudhury brother duo who pioneered the movement were arrested and prosecuted. Several literary magazines owe their origin to the inspiration from the adda sessions at this coffee house.
Though popularly known as College Street Coffee house, this branch is actually on Bankim Chatterjee Street. The coffee house is famous for its adda sessions, and as the breeding place of several political and cultural personalities and movements. Many people come here just for the sake of adda and just being a part of the long talking sessions. Several talented and illustrious persons from different streams have been thronging this renowned adda for a long time.

                              

Top view from first floor

In Indian coffee house you will get good quality food at very cheap cost.

                                            

In this beside picture you can see galleries on each side. In each gallery you will see one table with 2 to 3 chairs. Ground floor is little crowded place compared to first floor. On the first floor gallery you will find beautiful paintings on each wall.

                                                                                                                First Floor Gallery

In beside picture you can see beautiful paintings on wall and also Vishal – the PJ king of YES!+ Kolkata Team.









                                                                                                          
                                                                                                         

There is Original photo of Rabindranath Tagor in Indian Coffee house.

One day I got an opportunity to visit this place for lunch. I spent good time over there. There are only few waiters and they are doing wonderful job. They have good memory, there are many tables and they take order from each table and they don’t write the order they remember each order and they serve what we have ordered. The funny thing which happen was our actual bill was 99 rs but waiter told its 105 then we (me and my friend vishal) got confused and started thinking how come its crossed 100rs. But then we realized that 99rs actual bill + 6 rs tip =105 rs. Waiter asked tip with actual bill without our willingness to give tip or not.

There is also a song on Indian Coffee House…

Song for coffee house - Coffee house er addata monepore sei dodosi duranto ringta… – to drink a coffee together with friends or unknown friends and enjoying classical songs. (will update soon with proper song and meaning)

A drive on Unique Riksha...

A drive on Unique Riksha....

Beside picture was taken on our way back from Heritage College to Ruby Hospital, Kolkata.

We had Introductory talk for YES!+ foundation workshop in Heritage College, near Ruby Hospital, Kolkata. On way back from Heritage College we didn't find any conveyance other than this Riksha. And I tell you we had lot of fun. Each one of us was experiencing this drive for the first time. The moment we set on Riksha we started laughing and had good fun.This is one of the unique drive you may not find this other than Kolkata. I tell you whenever you may get a chance to come to Kolkata, you must have a ride on this kind of Riksha.

                                                                                    

YES Mind works...

YES Mind works…

If you have YES in your mind so you will hear YES from opposite person. Nobody can say to NO to you and if a tall somebody say No to u but still he/she will do whatever u want them to do….

One fact of Kolkata – If you don’t change then it is very difficult to get change. You have to buy something from some shop otherwise nobody will give you change and if it’s the morning forget it …

One beautiful morning I wanted to go to Rabindra Sarobar from Masterda Suryasen Matro Station (These are the Matro Stations in Kolkata). It was 9 in the morning and was standing in a queue to buy ticket. it costs 4 rs for one drive so I supposed to give 4 rs and I had 500 rs note in my wallet. No change. I was prepared to hear NO and the same thing happened. It was my turn and I asked for one ticket to Rabindra Sarovar and gave 500 rs note. Person sitting at ticket counter looked at me and said give me change and I smiled and said plz give me the ticket I don’t have change and arguments begun… every time he used to say I don’t have change, I used to say YES I know but u give me the ticket and I was so sure that he will give me the ticket. After one minute He started giving me ticket with change but still he was telling he doesn’t have change and I replied yes I know but give me the ticket. Finally he gave me the ticket.

I remember one incident of Gurudev in which Guruji wanted to go some country and He didn’t have Visa for that country. Everybody was telling we will not get visa but HE was very sure that HE will get the visa and so HE went to the airport and finally HE got the Visa. Airport authority was denying to give visa but Guruji was telling YES I know but give me the visa. After few minutes something miraculous happen, airport authority kept denying and put stamp on Guruji’s passport. This is how Guruji got the visa. Finally Guruji visited that country and blessed many devotees.

I learnt something from this event. If you have YES in your mind others have to say YES or to do whatever you want them to do.

JAI GURUDEV!!!