I was reading Surya Puranam, when this interesting story same my way.
Samba, the handsome son of Krishna, was cursed by none other than Krishna Himself, for being the object of wrongful desire for Krishna's wives. Subsequently Samba was afflicted with Leprosy so that his gory figure could serve as a grim reminder for all thinking about such wrong relationships.
What is most intersting is how Samba cured himself of the Leprosy disease.
Legend has it that, it was Samba, the son of Krishna,...built the great
sun temple at Sambapura (modern Multan in Pakistan)....
The same Samba legend is associated with the Sun temple at Konark in Orissa
as well. As in the case of Multan, another Chandrabhaga river is found
in the vicinity of Konark Sun temple with the same sanctity and
significance attached to it.
For the record, the word Konark is made of two words in Sanskrit - Kona कोण meaning Angle and Arka अर्क, which is another name for Surya. This is in deference to the dedication of the temple that was built in Konark, in the name of Surya.
sun temple at Sambapura (modern Multan in Pakistan)....
The same Samba legend is associated with the Sun temple at Konark in Orissa
as well. As in the case of Multan, another Chandrabhaga river is found
in the vicinity of Konark Sun temple with the same sanctity and
significance attached to it.
For the record, the word Konark is made of two words in Sanskrit - Kona कोण meaning Angle and Arka अर्क, which is another name for Surya. This is in deference to the dedication of the temple that was built in Konark, in the name of Surya.
The Sun temples in Egypt are also located on the banks of river Nile. In
fact, there appears to be a strong correlation between Sun worship and
the cure for skin diseases in general and leprosy in particular.
Legends connect the very establishment of sun temples in various
places with the cure of leprosy, according to elderly locals present in
the Mela in Konark.
fact, there appears to be a strong correlation between Sun worship and
the cure for skin diseases in general and leprosy in particular.
Legends connect the very establishment of sun temples in various
places with the cure of leprosy, according to elderly locals present in
the Mela in Konark.
Legend has it that, it was Samba, the son of Krishna, who built the
great sun temple at Sambapura (modern Multan in Pakistan), on being
cured of leprosy after he had propitiated the sun god for 12 years in
Mitravan on the bank of river Chandrabhaga. The same Samba legend is
associated with the sun temple at Konark as well. As in the case of
Multan, another Chandrabhaga river is found in the vicinity of Konark sun
temple.
great sun temple at Sambapura (modern Multan in Pakistan), on being
cured of leprosy after he had propitiated the sun god for 12 years in
Mitravan on the bank of river Chandrabhaga. The same Samba legend is
associated with the sun temple at Konark as well. As in the case of
Multan, another Chandrabhaga river is found in the vicinity of Konark sun
temple.
Konark Sun temple's association with leprosy cure is not merely legend-
based, but functional as well. There is an institution called Abdhut Mutt
at Konark. The Mutt, it is learnt, was famous for leprosy cure and related
rituals. Even now, on Magha Saptami day, when gods are taken in a
procession to river Chandrabhaga, a person in the guise of a leprosy
patient walks along in the company of others.
based, but functional as well. There is an institution called Abdhut Mutt
at Konark. The Mutt, it is learnt, was famous for leprosy cure and related
rituals. Even now, on Magha Saptami day, when gods are taken in a
procession to river Chandrabhaga, a person in the guise of a leprosy
patient walks along in the company of others.
Today's modern science has discovered that sulight is one of the key cures for Leprosy!!!
I wonder how much more our forefathers knew, that we are just "discovering" now....!!!
3 comments:
Good post... looking forward to more from you mama..
Tanks Rajiv..
The British enumerators were under instructions to collect data on four diseases---blindness, insanity, deaf-mutism and leprosy---that too by caste. The findings at least in Bengal was eye opening. See a few of the data on leprosy in Bengal in 1891:---
Proportion per 100,000 of the caste population---177 male and 70 female of Bengali Brahman; 159 male and 39 female Kayasthas; 185 female and 31 female of Chabdals; 93 male and 55 females of Chamars; 93 males and 55 females---in West Bengal were afflicted by leprosy.
In East Bengal Kayastha male 55 and female 17 females; Chandal 56 males and 15 females had leprosy.
Chandals in Bengal were renamed as Namasudra in 1911. They were untouchables like Chamars though they were less afflcted by the dreaded disease.
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