Swagatam Suswagatam!

A very significant ritual of an Indian wedding is the ‘Griha Pravesh’. This is the first time when the bride enters her husband’s home ‘officially’. This is an auspicious moment wherein a kalash or jar of rice is kept at the threshold of the home. The bride pushes and topples this jar with her right foot while entering the home.  In some parts of India, she dips her feet in water containing ‘red kumkum’ or vermillion powder. It is believed that her footprints as she walks across the home brings success and prosperity to the groom which in other words means that the Goddess Laxmi has entered the home.

What is the thinking behind this practice?

Here are a few ‘fundas’ .

• The Kalasha is considered a symbol of abundance and “source of life” in the Vedas.


• The Kalasha is believed to contain amrita, the elixir of life, and thus is viewed as a symbol of abundance, wisdom, and immortality.


• It is also a symbol of auspiciousness embodying either Ganesha or Lakshmi. Therefore the Kalasha is worshiped in all Hindu festivities related to marriage and childbirth.

The legends and stories that have been passed on from generations play a very important role in our daily lives. It is reflected in various aspects of our lives – our names, traditions, customs, beliefs and ideologies.

“I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now?”

― John Lennon

This quote by Mr Lennon gives us very good perspective with respect to the understanding of the the concept of ‘mythology’. A lot of people like him believe in the ‘fairies, dragons, apsaras, asuras, devtas’ etc. etc. (let’s call this group ‘Believers’ for the time being). On the other hand quite a lot of people don’t believe in the ‘myths, dreams, nightmares’ (these can also be termed as ‘Believers’ as though they don’t ‘believe’ such things they have their own beliefs)

There is this third category which rejoices the tales of all the ‘fairies, dragons, apsaras, asuras, devtas’; have ‘dreams, nightmares’ but are still unsure about the existence of these ‘things’. On one hand they pray to all the deities, Gods and Goddesses, but on the other they are still not clear with all their doubts and confusions.

Let this group also be referred to as ‘Believers’ because somewhere at the bottom of their heart, brain and conscience all the stories and ‘kahaniyaans’ have made some impact and there is that latent desire to seek the ‘truth’.

Now this blog is for all the three groups we have covered above:

1)      Believers of Type 1 will enjoy this blog as we promise to provide lots and lots of unadulterated content to strengthen their beliefs

2)      Believers of Type 2 will also relish this blog as they will be quick to find out ‘faults’ in the characters, stories we will talk about here and this ‘healthy’ discussion will surely clear all our ‘bhrahms’(doubts)

3)      And for Believers of Type 3, this blog will provide them with an opportunity to clear their doubts, get rid of the ‘false impressions’ they have had all this while and replenish their ‘tank’ of ‘adbhut kahaniyaan’

Before we kick start this journey let’s bow down and seek the blessings of the ‘Vighnaharta’.

Vakrathunda Mahaakaaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvignam Gurumaydeva Sarvakaryeshu Sarvada

Meaning:
O Elephant headed large bodied Lord, radiant as a thousand Suns, I ask for your grace so that this task that I am starting may complete without any hindrances.

What exactly is meant by the term ‘mythology’? Find out in the next post.