User talk:SYAMAL

In modern terminology, the area of a plane figure is proportional to the square of any of its linear dimensions, A \propto L^2, and the volume of a solid to the cube, V \propto L^3. Euclid proved these results in various special cases such as the area of a circle and the volume of a parallelepipedal solid[15]. Euclid determined some, but not all, of the relevant constants of proportionality. E.g., it was his successor Archimedes who proved that a sphere has 2/3 the volume of the circumscribing cylinder

Kali Puja

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Categories: Hindu festivals | October observances | Bengali culture | Culture of West Bengal | Festivals in India | Shaktism Kali Puja Kali Puja Observed by 	Religiously by Bengalis Hindus Type 	Bengali Hindus Date 	Decided by the lunar calendar 2009 date 	17 October 2010 date 	5 November Celebrations 	Fireworks Observances 	Prayers, Religious rituals (see puja, prashad)

Kali Puja or Shyama Puja is a festival dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali, celebrated on the new day of the Hindu month Ashwin in Bengal.[1] It coincides with the pan-Indian Lakshmi Puja day of Diwali. While rest of India worships goddess Lakshmi, Bengalis, Oriyas and Assamese adore Kali.[1] Contents [hide]

* 1 History * 2 Worship * 3 Notes * 4 References

[edit] History

The festival of Kali Puja is not an ancient one. Kali Puja was practically unknown before the 18th century, however a late 17th century devotional text Kalikamangalkavya –by Balram mentions an annual festival dedicated to Kali[2] It was introduced in the 18th century Bengal by king (Raja) Krishnachandra of Navadvipa.[1] Kali Puja gained popularity in the 19th century, with Krishanachandra’s grandson Ishvarchandra and the Bengali elite, landowners patronizing the festival on a grand scale.[3] Along with Durga Puja, now - Kali Puja is the biggest goddess festival in Bengal.[4] [edit] Worship

On Kali puja, like Durga Puja goddess Kali is worshipped in form of clay images at house and also in pandals (temporary shrines or open pavilions). She is worshipped at night with Tantric rites and mantras. She is prescribed offerings of red hibiscus flowers, animal blood in a skull, sweets, rice and lentils, fish and meat. It is prescribed that a worshipper should mediate throughout the night and should continue the worship til dawn.[5] Homes may also rites in the Brahmanical (mainstream Hindu-style, non-Tantric) tradition with ritual dressing of Kali in her form Adya Shakti Kali.[6] Animals are ritually sacrificed on Kali Puja day and offered to the goddess.[1] A celebration of Kali Puja in Kolkata is also held in a large cremation ground.[7] Kali is believed to dwell in ceremation grounds. A pandal in Kolkata dedicates a Kalighat Kali icon's replica

The pandals also house images of god Shiva - the consort of Kali, Ramakrishna and Bamakhepa- two famous Bengali Kali devotees along with scenes from mythology of Kali and her various forms along with Mahavidyas, sometimes considered as the "ten Kalis". The Mahavidyas is a group of ten Tantric goddesses headed by Kali.[8] People visit these pandals throughout the night. Kali Puja is also the time for magic shows and theatre, fireworks.[6]Recent custom involves drinking wine on Kali Puja.[9]

In the Kalighat temple in Kolkata, Kali is worshipped as Lakshmi on this day, reflecting an essence of Vaishnava Haldars on Kali worship. The temple is visited by thousands of devotees on this day - who also offer animal sacrifice to the goddess.[1][7] Another famous temple dedicated to Kali is Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Kolkata. The famous Kali devotee Ramakrishna was a priest at this temple and the celebrations have changed little from his times.[10]

[edit] Notes