Ganges

For the most Indian religions the Ganges is sacred. The bath in it is cleaning of sin and promises absolution. Many Hindus want die to in the Ganges, preferably in Varanasi. If they can’t day in the river they like to know that their ash will be put into the river. The people worship this river so much, because of similar reason to the cow. The river always gave the people water and a legend says that Ganges is a goddess and was sent to the earth, because a human king prayed and asked Brahman for it.

dead body in the Ganges

Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita (Hindi: भगवद्गीता) is one of the central texts of Hinduism. It has the form of a poem. The probably between the fifth and second century BC created text is a combination of different schools of thought of the then India based on the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Brahmanism, yoga, etc., but it is closest to the Upanishads.

The Bhagavad Gita takes place in the Mahabharata. It is two chapters long (700 lines).

The third son of Pandu, Arjuna, has problems with continuing fighting as he starts to have feelings for his opponents (relevants), but Krishna convinces him to continue his fight.

Main meanings of the Bhagavad Gita: -Meaning of life? 

                                                         -why do we suffer?

Parts of the Bhagavad Gita:

"Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me." (2.8)
"Arjuna said: 'My dear Krishna, 0 infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy. I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions.'" (18.72)

The Mahabharata

 

short episode of the Mahabharata

 

The Mahabharata (Hindi: महाभारत) is the most famous Indian epic. It is believed that it was first written between 400 BC to 400 AC, but based on older traditions. It covers about 100,000 lines. The Mahabharata is stories about heros and also an important religious and philosophical work. The legend says that Vyasa, who played a role in the story, composed it and have dictated the elephant-headed god Ganesh. Over the centuries, there were a number of changes and developments of the work, since the Mahabharata was passed on orally. The Focus of the Mahabharata is the political problems between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Furthermore the book includes other historical tales.

Main story: A prince from the Indian dynasty of Bharata had three sons, Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Vidura. The oldest, the blind Dhritarashtra, couldn’t take the place of the king because of his blindness. The king Pandu transferred after a time the throne to his blind brother, and moved with his two wives Kunti and Madri in the woods. Before he died, five sons were born; the Pandavas: Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna and the twins and Nakula Sahadava. The reigning king blind Dhritarashtra had one hundred sons, the Kauravas. The main part of the story of the Mahabharata deals with the conflict between these two related families. The Kauravas tried to secure their own claim to the throne.

Ganesh

Ganesh Chaturi: The Birthday of Lord Ganesh. The Ganesh Chaturthi is an important Hindu festival. Almost all Hindu worship Ganesha, the god with the elephant head. No activity and no service can begin without his assistance. He is considered the personification of wisdom, luck and success.
Ganesha's special day, his birthday, is Ganesh Chaturthi, which falls on the fourth day of the Hindu month Bhadrapad (most of the time in September). The holiday is the start of a row of a series of major autumn festivals, which follow in October and November. Many believers invite the priest to their house. During the festival the Hindus built statues of Ganesh and set them up at their houses or in the city.

Janamashtami

Janmashtami or Krishna Jayanti is an important festival in Hinduism, where the Hindus celebrate the birth of the god Krishna. According to the Hindu lunar calendar, it falls on the eighth day of the month of Shravan, in accordance with modern calendar the festival is usually celebrated August. Other names are Krishnashtami (Ashtami is called the eighth day after full moon) or Gokulashtami, as the divine child growing up in Gokul. Krishna’s actual existence is historically not proven. He is one of the most popular forms of the divine and is an avatar of Vishnu. During the two days of the festival, the Hindus read stories, sing, and perform plays of Krishna’s youth. Some people decided to fast until midnight of the first day.