"An International Vedic Conference will be held on 15th February 2007 to 17th February 2007 at Sitakunda Shrine (Tirtha) Estate in Sitakunda Chandranath Dham, a National Tirtha in
Chittagong District on the occasion of the great Shiba Chaturdarshi. Chandranath Dham at Sitakunda, Kanchannath at Fatikchori and Adinath at Maheshkhali have been honored from time immemorial, having wide Vedic roots spread over the whole of the subcontinent and the world at large among the Hindus and are profoundly regarded as Holy Places of Pilgrimage. "
http://nation. ittefaq.com/ artman/publish/ article_34085. shtmlSitakunda Shrine and Shiba Chaturdarshi Festival
By Prem Ranjan Dev
Fri, 16 Feb 2007, 11:07:00
Sitakunda Chandranath Dham is an ancient holy place of pilgrimage known all over sub-continent and has been in existence for centuries. It is mentioned in the Puranas of the Hindus that lord (Abatar) Ramchandra visited this place during his exile in the forest. Ramchandra visited this place in the Treta age. The great sage Vargaba, brought into existence by his super-natural powers a reservoir for Sita Debi (wife of Ramchanda) to bathe in, which was called 'Sitakunda' after her. Later, when people came to live round about it, the whole locality took the same name.
We know that there is no unbroken history of the holy places of the Hindus. None is available of Chandranath either, especially because of the long conflicts between Hindus and others in
Chittagong the destructive work of which has made the collection of evidence for a complete history impossible. In the Sanskrit Rajmala we find that in 610 of Bengali era, that is to say about 800 years ago, Raja Biswambhar Sur, a descendant of the famous Adisur of Gour, made an attempt to reach Chandranath by Sea. We find in the Nigamkalpataru, again that poet Joydeb Goswamy lived for a long time in Chandranath. We also find in the Rajmala that at the time of Dhanya Manikya, ruler of
Tripura and a Votary of Siva from which Chandranath has received almost all its endowments. Dhanya Manikya having heard of the image of Siva called Swambhu Linga, enshrined here, attempted to remove it to his own dominion but failed. Thereafter he was commanded in a dream to try the image of Kali which he
carried in one night as far as Udaypur where he installed it. The temple of Tripureswari was built in 1423 of the Saka Era. It was about the same time that the temple of Swambhunath was constructed.
In the 8th century, Sankaracharya advanced greatly the prosperity of Hindu place of pilgrimage by establishing the Sanyasi sect and setting up four principal monasteries in four corners of India. Of the ten different sects of the Sanyasis, 'Tirtha' and 'Ashram' were founded by Biswarupacharya, the first disciple of Sankaracharya. From his 2nd disciple Padmacharya came 'Ban' and 'Aranya', from his 3rd desciple Trotokacharya 'Giri, Parbat' and 'Sagor'; and from his forth desciple Sarupaacharya, 'Saraswati', "Bharati' and' Puri'.
Biswarupacharya was at the head of Sringery Math at Rameswar at the Southern India, Trotokacharya of Joshi Math in Badarikasram in the North, Sarupacharya of Sarda Math in Dwaraka in the West and Padmacharya of Gobordhon Math in the East. Chandranath is within the jurisdiction of Gobordhon Math.
Now, as ever, traditional rules regulate the work of this Shrine. And through the munificence of the pious rich of this country' as also the devotion of the late poet Nobin Chandra Sen for improvement of this beautiful and unique place of pilgrimage, famous all over sub-continent the work proceeds and progresses as days pass and the glory of the Shrine grows from more to more. The place is easily accessible today. The natural beauty of this place is excellent. Water from the spring is available night and day. Sitakunda Shrine Committee was vested with the responsibility for managing the said Sitakunda, Adinath and Kanchannath Shrines.
An International Vedic Conference will be held on 15th February 2007 to 17th February 2007 at Sitakunda Shrine (Tirtha) Estate in Sitakunda Chandranath Dham, a National Tirtha in
Chittagong District on the occasion of the great Shiba Chaturdarshi. Chandranath Dham at Sitakunda, Kanchannath at Fatikchori and Adinath at Maheshkhali have been honored from time immemorial, having wide Vedic roots spread over the whole of the subcontinent and the world at large among the Hindus and are profoundly regarded as Holy Places of Pilgrimage.
The Sitakunda Chandranath Dham is, of course, the most ancient holy place and ever-enduring memorable site of the traditions of the satya, Treta, Dwapar and Kolee, the four Vedic ages, mentioned in the scriptures and the puranas of the Hindus. Millions of Hindu pilgrims, visitors, devotees and representatives of shrines and temples of all over the world especially from
Bangladesh, India,
Nepal,
Sri lanka, Saiprass, Bally, U.S.A., U.K,
Australia and other countries will assemble as expected as tradition. In this International Vedic Conference of Hindus, a healthy and fruitful discussion regarding Hinduism, a religion of tolerance and service to the mankind in different countries, problems of Shrines, temples and place of pilgrims will be offered by the saints, leaders and other dignatories of Hindus at large.
Besides these, religious cultural function including Padabalee Kirtan, Bhajan, Mohanam Kirtan, religious Drama etc. will be arranged with the spirit of total surrender to the God to receive the divine blessings. We, therefore, appeal to all to attend kindly in the aforesaid International Vedic Conference to make the function grand success.
On the occasion of Shiba Chaturdarshi Festival take my Natural Greetings.
How the West Pakistan / present Pakistan would react to it?
Would Pakistan organize such "Vedic conference"?
Edited by K. V. Ramakrishna Rao - 17-Feb-2007 at 00:44