In India, people tie these knots at holy places to make wishes. I clicked this photograph last year during my visit to Mahakumbh in Allahabad, U.P.
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P is for Prayers on April 18
A to Z Challenge. |
P.S. During my Gangtok (Sikkim, India) Tour I learned a lot about Buddhism. People following Buddhism tie these prayer flags in different areas. It is believed that when winds pass though those multicolored flags, it spreads mantras written on them in the environment thus making it pious. See all photographs and read further information about Buddhist prayer flags and prayer wheels here: Gangtok in Photographs.
I found another interesting way of praying to God during my visit to Almora, Uttarakhand, India. Believers wrote their wishes on affidavits and hung them in the temple- you can read about it here- Golu Devta Temple
Have you ever tied these knots in any temple or mosque? Do you know any other way of praying to God? Please share your experiences or post your links of any related posts you have written!
though i believe in prayers a lot, i havent tied knots as such! but then again there is this holy thread we tie around neck or hands, which will be given in temples after worshipping
ReplyDeleteAh! Are you talking about Kalava? We too get Kalava tied on our hands during festivals or poojas. Thanks Swathi for sharing it! :)
DeleteAs a kid, I had lots of wishes. Those were defined clearly. Over time I felt that fulfilling those wishes need work. Your hard work and dedication. Thats my way of offering prayer.
ReplyDeleteNeeds work*
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DeleteThis is cool Shine. Its good that you believe in Karma!
DeleteMy mother tied some knots at the velankanni shrine, in tamilnadu for me to get married, there is also a saying that when you visit the church for the first time, you can pray for 3 wishes and it will be granted... I do believe inprayers, and it works for those who believe.. i may not tie knots, but do feel the need for prayers and to be prayed.
ReplyDeleteMam, I wish I had known it when I it was my first time in the Church! ***Greedy***
DeleteThough I had nothing to ask from God, even now I thank Him for everything. Prayers certainly tranquilize our minds. Thankyou for sharing your experience :)
People have gone to affidavit to convey their wishes to God !!! --probably to avoid any legal angle in case they are fulfilled :-). Yes, these kind of things are spread across many big and small shrines in all the states.
ReplyDeleteLOL Jayanta ji! It was amusing. I had shared some wishes written on those affidavits in that blog post! (I respect the sentiments of believers though). Its lovely to know the ways of offering prayers and making wishes!
DeleteIn Aranmula Shri Parthasarathy temple, people whisper into the ear of a sculpture in the temple and it is believed that those whispers would be heard by the God!
ReplyDeleteAnil, where is this temple? Thankyou for sharing it. Even in Shiva Temple people do wisper their wishes in the ear of Nandi bail (Ox), so it could convey their wishes to God.
DeleteIndia is full of such prayer-ful gestures - in all religions. This is what makes this culture so unique, I feel :) Creativity and religiosity go hand in hand. Faith and freedom to express the faith go in sync. Very nice post!
ReplyDeleteBeauty Interprets, Expresses, Manifests the Eternal
Absolutely, you are cent percent right. Its so amazing to visit different places and we discover a new set of belief system their....
DeleteThough I have not personally tied any Knots but have seen n number of people do it.. Its about beliefs...
ReplyDeletehttp://ashalifeishope.blogspot.in/2014/04/proud-be-proud-of-self.html
Absolutely Makro! Totally agree on this- its about beliefs!
DeleteI believe in prayers..if nothing atleast they help us fight and move one...I had once tied a dhaga in Salim Chisti Dargah...feeling is wonderful
ReplyDeleteP for Petrified-Random Thoughts Naba
Totally Naba, prayers and faiths somewhere make us strong! I had a photograph of Salim Chishti Dargah where people had tied threads. They looked beautiful. People's faiths in God that makes them look beautiful... :)
DeleteNope...never written it anywhere...:) for me prayer is chanting and asking god to grant my wishes :)
ReplyDeleteThankyou for sharing what prayers are for you Found in Folsom :) Chanting is a great way to remember our Diety!
DeleteLovely post and excellent pictures. Coincidentally I chose the same word for P.
ReplyDelete:) You have written beautifully. Thank you for appreciating my work :)
DeleteLovely pictures especially the sikkim flags.. I have tons of them too..
ReplyDeleteRicha
Thank you Richa... One of my cousin loves them alot and we call him Lama. Buddhism is a great religion....
DeleteThat's an interesting ritual to tie flags. It's beautiful. There's a place in Assam where people tie little bells for each prayer and wishe. Loved the photos too.
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