Srirangam

2014-06-21T20:27:00.000-07:00

Vedic Chanting - UNESCO

2010-12-27T22:23:00.000-08:00

The Tradition of Vedic Chanting
Inscribed in 2008 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (originally proclaimed in 2003)

The Vedas comprise a vast corpus of Sanskrit poetry, philosophical dialogue, myth, and ritual incantations developed and composed by Aryans over 3,500 years ago. Regarded by Hindus as the primary source of
knowledge and the sacred foundation of their religion, the Vedas embody one of the world’s oldest surviving cultural traditions.

The Vedic heritage embraces a multitude of texts and interpretations collected in four Vedas, commonly referred to as “books of knowledge” even though they have been transmitted orally. The Rig Veda is an
anthology of sacred hymns; the Sama Veda features musical arrangements of hymns from the Rig Veda and other sources; the Yajur Veda abounds in prayers and sacrificial formulae used by priests; and the Atharna Veda includes incantations and spells. The Vedas also offer insight into the history of Hinduism and the early development of several artistic, scientific and philosophical concepts, such as the concept of zero.

Expressed in the Vedic language, which is derived from classical Sanskrit, the verses of the Vedas were traditionally chanted during sacred rituals and recited daily in Vedic communities. The value of this tradition lies not only in the rich content of its oral literature but also in the ingenious techniques employed by the Brahmin priests in preserving the texts intact over thousands of years. To ensure that the sound of each word remains unaltered, practitioners are taught from childhood complex recitation techniques that are based on tonal accents, a unique manner of pronouncing each letter and specific speech combinations.

Although the Vedas continue to play an important role in contemporary Indian life, only thirteen of the over one thousand Vedic recitation branches have survived. Moreover, four noted schools – in Maharashtra (central India), Kerala and Karnataka (southern India) and Orissa (eastern India) – are considered under imminent threat. (UNESCO Report).

51 Shakti Peetas

2010-12-22T05:53:00.000-08:00

There are Fifty-One Shakti Peetas in the country. Know more ..

Shakti Peeth-# 1 – Kirit

Shakti Peeth-# 2 - Vrindavan

Shakti Peeth-# 3 - Kolhapur . 5

Shakti Peeth-# 4 - Shriparvata

Shakti Peeth-# 5 - Varanasi

Shakti Peeth-# 6 –Godavari Tir

Shakti Peeth-# 7 – Suchindram

Shakti Peeth-# 8 – Panchasaagar

Shakti Peeth-# 9 – Jvalamukhi

Shakti Peeth-# 10 – Bhairava Parvat

Shakti Peeth-# 11 – Attahas

Shakti Peeth-# 12 – Janasthan

Shakti Peeth-# 13 – Amarnath

Shakti Peeth-# 14 – Nandipur

Shakti Peeth-# 15 – Sri Sailam

Shakti Peeth-# 16 – Nalhatti

Shakti Peeth-# 17 – Mithila

Shakti Peeth-# 18 – Ratnavali

Shakti Peeth-# 19 – Prabhas

Shakti Peeth-# 20 – Jallandhar

Shakti Peeth-# 21 – Chitrakoot

Shakti Peeth-# 22 – Deoghar

Shakti Peeth-# 23 – Vakreshwar

Shakti Peeth-# 24 – Kanyakumari

Shakti Peeth-# 25 – Bahula

Shakti Peeth-# 26 – Ujjain

Shakti Peeth-# 27 – Manivedika

Shakti Peeth-# 28 – Prayag

Shakti Peeth-# 29 – Puri

Shakti Peeth-# 30 – Kanchipuram

Shakti Peeth-# 31 – AmarKantak

Shakti Peeth-# 32 – Sona

Shakti Peeth-# 33 – Kamakhya

Shakti Peeth-# 34 – Jayantia

Shakti Peeth-# 35 – Patna

Shakti Peeth-# 36 – Tristrota

Shakti Peeth-# 37 – Tripura

Shakti Peeth-# 38 – Vibasha

Shakti Peeth-# 39 – Kurukshetra

Shakti Peeth-# 40 – Yogadaya

Shakti Peeth-# 41 – Virat

Shakti Peeth-# 42 – Kalipitha

Shakti Peeth-# 43 – Manasa

Shakti Peeth-# 44 – Nellore

Shakti Peeth-# 45 – Gandaki

Shakti Peeth-# 46 – Pasupathinath

Shakti Peeth-# 47 – Hingula

Shakti Peeth-# 48 – Sugandha

Shakti Peeth-# 49 – Karota

Shakti Peeth-# 50 – Chattal

Shakti Peeth-# 51 – Yashor

sivatandav stotram

2010-12-06T07:28:00.000-08:00