A few months ago I wrote and published a small booklet with the title: Naini Mata - Goddess of Nainital. The booklet was merely a small expression of my love for the mother goddess. However, a few days ago when I entered “Naini Mata” in the google search engine and clicked I was surprised that this modest effort has lead to the spread of the fame and loving message of the goddess across the world through numerous websites. I am delighted that I have been an instrument of the mother in this task. It is the very least I could do in return for the immense love and blessings I have received from the mother goddess since the time I was an infant.
S ome of the earliest mentions of divine Nanda and Sunanda are found in ancient Sanskrit texts. It cannot be confirmed if these references have any connection with more recent worship of these goddesses in Kumaon region but they deserve mention for the probable origin of these glorious goddesses. The Bhāgavata Purāna also known as Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, is one of the Puranic texts of Sanskrit literature. It includes many stories well known in Vedic tradition. The text credits Veda Vyasa, the revered ancient sage, with its authorship. Here is a verse from this text, “ Also, Srutadeva, Uddhava and others, Nanda, Sunanda and other leaders of liberated souls who are constant companions of the Lord ” Canto 1 Chapter 14 According to this verse, Nanda and Sunanda are close to the eternal lord with the same position as the highest of Angels of the Lord and amongst the leaders of liberated souls that are constantly engaged in serving God. A story in chapter 12 of the s...
Comments