Latest news with #Shivalinga
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
The Shivalinga that Ravana couldn't take
Ravana started for Lanka in his aerial vehicle, Pushpak Vimana. Ravana's arch enemies, the Devas, decided to put obstacles in his path. While flying to Lanka, Ravana observed that the Sun was setting. He used to never miss his sandhya (evening prayers). He lowered his vimana at a place called Deoghar in modern-day Jharkhand. The Devas saw an opportunity. As Ravana looked around for somebody to hold the Shivalinga while he prayed, he saw a local cowherd boy, who, in reality, was Lord Ganesha. The cowherd agreed to hold the Shivalinga. As preparation for his prayers, Ravana performed achamana (the ritual of sipping water off one's palm). Varuna, the Lord of waters, entered his body through the droplets of water. Due to the influence of Varuna, Ravana felt an uncontrollable urge to urinate. He rushed into the nearby forest to relieve himself. As soon as he was gone, Ganesha coolly put the Shivalinga down and left for Mount Kailash. When Ravana returned, he saw the Shivalinga lying on the ground. He tried to pick it up, but no matter how hard he tried, it would not budge. In frustration, Ravana pressed the Shivalinga with his thumb. This left a mark, which is visible to this day, on the Shivalinga. Ravana had to leave empty-handed for Lanka.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ram & Sita will sail NDA boat through: BJP
Patna: Over 150 BJP 'vistaraks' (party expansion workers) from across India attended a party orientation programme in Rajgir to discuss election strategy and key focus areas ahead of the Bihar assembly elections. The event was chaired by BJP national general secretary B L Santhosh with senior leaders, including state party president Dilip Jaiswal, in attendance. Workers engaged in organisational duties in various districts were briefed on how to effectively communicate the achievements of the central and state govts to the public. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Jaiswal expressed confidence that the NDA would return to power in Bihar. "Lord Ram and Mata Sita will sail the NDA/BJP boat through the elections and we will form the govt with a two-thirds majority," he said, referring to the state govt's plan to construct a grand temple for Sita at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi. Jaiswal also criticised RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav for a recent social media post in which he was seen offering water to a Shivalinga at the start of Shravan month. "It is good that Tejashwi is taking refuge in Lord Shri Ram. He is a Sanatani. During elections, leaders try to influence voters in different ways, but the people of Bihar are standing with the NDA," he added.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Deputy CMs open Shrawani Mela as call grows for nat'l pilgrimage status
Bhagalpur: Deputy chief ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha on Friday said the state govt was committed to making the Shrawani Mela more seamless, safe and welcoming for the lakhs of pilgrims who arrive from across India and neighbouring countries. "We have made consistent efforts to improve infrastructure in Sultanganj and along the trek routes, but there is still more to be done," they acknowledged while inaugurating the monthlong religious fair at Namami Gange Ghat, Sirhighat. Accompanied by former minister and BJP state president Dilip Kumar Jaiswal, ministers Jayant Raj, Sanjay Saraogi, Santosh Kumar Singh and several JD(U) and BJP MLAs and MLCs, the deputy CMs addressed a crowd of Kanwariyas, who had gathered amidst chants of "Bolo Bam" to mark the start of the revered pilgrimage. The Mela will continue till Aug 9. Referring to the govt's efforts, the deputy CMs highlighted improvements in trekking routes, lighting, safety, drinking water, sanitation and health services as well as stable power supply in the Sultanganj area. They credited the Bhagalpur and Banka district administrations for their role in implementing these upgrades. Highlighting the sharp rise in footfall each year, they said, "Pilgrims now come not just from across India but also from Nepal and Bhutan, bringing with them a rich diversity of cultures. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like ¿Es posible ganar 3000€ al mes con el trading? Mainhubfb Más información Undo The govt is focused on ensuring that this religious experience remains smooth and spiritually fulfilling for everyone." Several MLAs and MLCs from Bhagalpur and Banka districts also used the occasion to urge the state govt to seek national status for the Shrawani Mela. "It is time that this event be declared a national fair, given its scale and international reach," one said. "With national recognition, we can ensure long-term infrastructure development that serves both pilgrims and religious tourism throughout the year," he added. Held annually in July, the Shrawani Mela draws 70 to 80 lakh pilgrims from across the country and beyond. Devotees collect holy water from the Ganges at Sirighat, Sultanganj, where the river famously becomes Uttarvahini, turning northwards. The pilgrims then undertake a 105-km barefoot journey, carrying kanwars on their shoulders and chanting "Bolo Bam" along the route. The journey culminates at Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar, Jharkhand, where the water is offered to Lord Shiva on the Shivalinga, completing what is considered one of the most sacred acts of devotion in the Hindu calendar.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Compensation cheque given to family of stampede victim in Yadgir
Expressing deep grief over the stampede at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru during the recent RCB celebrations, Minister for Small Scale Industries and also district in-charge Sharanabasappa Darshanapur has said that the deaths of the young people are irreparable loss to their families. He was addressing a gathering after distributing a compensation cheque for ₹25 lakh to the family of 18-year-old Shivalinga who died in the stampede. Shivalinga, a native of Yadgir district, had gone to the stadium to witness the celebrations but died in the stampede. Mr. Darshanapur said that the loss of a young boy cannot be compensated. However, it is the duty of the government to console the victim's family and also release compensation. 'I will put in more efforts to provide a job to the brother of the victim at a medical college on a contract basis,' he promised. MLAs Channareddy Patil Tunnur and Sharanagouda Kandkur, Deputy Commissioner B. Susheela, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sharanabasappa Koteppagol, Assistant Commissioner Hampanna Sajjan and others were present.
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Pyar, Parivar, and Politics
Published : May 30, 2025 16:26 IST - 5 MINS READ Dear readers, Politics is a game of hard-nosed calculations. On the other hand, love—pyar, preethi, premam, kaadhal, or whatever you want to call it—has never really bothered with practicalities. So what happens when the messy impulsiveness of love collides with the cold pragmatism of politics? We got a glimpse last week, thanks to Tej Pratap Yadav. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief's eldest son—better known to fans and journalists as Teju—has always been the more colourful character in Lalu Prasad's political theatre. A former Minister in the Mahagathbandhan government, Tej Pratap recently set off a storm after a Facebook post (now deleted) claimed that he had been in a 12-year relationship with one Anushka Yadav. The post included her photo and, predictably, went viral. Tej Pratap is still technically married to Aishwarya Rai, the granddaughter of former Bihar Chief Minister Daroga Prasad Rai and daughter of six-time MLA and ex-Minister Chandrika Rai. Teju married Aishwarya in May 2018 in a lavish ceremony in Patna, the kind that blends dynastic pride with political math. The union was less about romance, more about reinforcing old-school ties between Bihar's heavyweight families—a vintage Lalu move, merging parivar with politics. The marriage has reportedly been rocky, the matter is in court, and a divorce is pending. But the new revelation of an old relationship sent Bihar's political circles into a tizzy. Opposition parties questioned the Yadav family's 'moral standing' and accused them of treating women as pawns. Tej Pratap, trying to douse the fire, claimed that his social media accounts had been hacked and the images manipulated to 'defame' him and his family. But the fire was already burning. Then came the most dramatic twist: Lalu Prasad himself took to social media to announce his son's expulsion from the party—for six years, no less—on the grounds that his actions went against the family's values and traditions. 'Ignoring moral values in personal life weakens our collective struggle for social justice,' Lalu declared. 'From now on, he will have no role in the party or family.' But Aishwarya did not seem to buy it. In a sharply worded response, she asked: 'Where was this commitment to social justice when I was assaulted and driven out of the house? Why did no one intervene then, when this so-called 12-year-old affair was already known to the family?' It is not the first time Tej Pratap has threatened to derail the RJD's plans. In 2019, he floated the Lalu-Rabri Morcha party to mark his rebellion during a family leadership tussle. By 2020, he was back in the fold, singing paeans to younger brother Tejashwi with the campaign slogan 'Tej Raftar, Tejashwi Sarkar' (High Speed, Tejashwi Government)—borrowed from a local singer named Pramod Premi Yadav. Teju also earned media attention for his antics: pouring water on a Shivalinga, walking the streets as a blogger, and playing the flute in Krishna's garb. Now, it is another role: the prodigal son, exiled for love. Of course, Tej Pratap is far from the first politician whose love life has become political lightning. I am reminded of Chander Mohan, the son of Haryana veteran Bhajan Lal, who disappeared in 2008, only to reappear claiming he had married senior lawyer Anuradha Bali after both had converted to Islam. He became Chand Mohammed; she, Fiza. The scandal cost him his post as Deputy Chief Minister. The love story unravelled in about 40 days. Fiza was later found dead in her home in 2012. Not every love story has had such a grim ending. The Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi saga and Akhilesh Yadav's marriage to Dimple despite Mulayam's early disapproval are happily-ever-afters. The interfaith weddings of BJP leaders like Sushil Modi (who married Jessie George, a Christian from Mumbai) and Shahnawaz Hussain (who wed Renu Sharma) tell of love outlasting opposition. And love triumphing over party ideology. Sushil Modi famously met Jessie on a train. Top RSS leaders Nanaji Deshmukh and Bhaurao Deoras were in attendance. Even Atal Bihari Vajpayee dropped in and reportedly encouraged Sushil to move from the ABVP to the BJP. Then there is Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Seema—three ceremonies (court, nikah, and Hindu rites) followed their Allahabad University romance. Manish Tewari of the Congress married Nazneen Shifa, a Parsi. The party's student wing, the National Students' Union of India, was their matchmaker. Dinesh Gundu Rao, a Brahmin from Karnataka, married Tabassum, a Muslim woman he met in college. Some unions fray over time. Omar Abdullah and Payal Nath's marriage ended in a long legal battle, with the Delhi High Court in 2023 refusing to grant a divorce. Sachin Pilot and Sara Abdullah (Omar's sister) married in 2004; they reportedly separated nearly two decades later, according to Pilot's 2023 election affidavit. And who can forget the 2015 buzz around senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and TV anchor Amrita Rai? After intimate photos went viral, Singh publicly acknowledged the relationship. 'I have no hesitation in accepting it,' he said. Rai confirmed she had filed for divorce from her previous husband. There was trolling, but the couple stayed together, Rai even joining Singh on his 2017-18 Narmada Yatra. Romance in politics comes with its own manifesto: a mix of daring declarations, party discipline, courtroom drama, and some very public heartbreak. Which brings us back to Tej Pratap. Will love triumph? Will he return to the RJD fold? Or will the next twist in this pyar-parivar-politics triangle prove final? We'll keep watching. While you tell us what you think of our lovelorn legislators. Until the next one, Anand Mishra | Political Editor, Frontline We hope you've been enjoying our newsletters featuring a selection of articles that we believe will be of interest to a cross-section of our readers. Tell us if you like what you read. And also, what you don't like! Mail us at frontline@
