Today is Vishwakarma Puja

Vishwakarma is considered as the Lord of Engineering or craftsman god. He is also known as the Divine Engineer or Divine Architect. He is considered to exist before the advent of time, because it's believed he is the original creator of this World, so he must have existed before he created this World.So on this day, industries, factories, mechanics, factory workers celebrate this puja. Anyone who deals with tools primarily do this puja. They believe the tools they use need to be blessed by the God, so that, it will bring productivity in them and will prevent any accidents. Some people here also do the vehicle puja on this day. Especially the big commercial vehicles ( like bus, truck and big carriers) owners do the puja on this day. Some private car owners do puja today and some on the occasion of Dussehra ( this year it will be on 15th October). I do my vehicles puja on that day.

There is a very interesting legend about Lord Vishwakarma building the deities of Lord Jagannath (lord of the universe) of the famous Jagannath Temple, Puri from my place. King Indradyumna built this temple in Dvapara Yuga, and he was directed in his dreams to find a floating log in the Puri seashore and build the deities out of that. When he found the log, he was not sure, who can build the deities and then Lord Vishwakarma appeared as an old artisan or carpenter and promised to build them, but on one condition, he will work behind closed doors for twenty one days and he must not be disturbed until he finishes his work. The king agreed to his condition and he was left inside closed doors. Every day the king and queen used to go and heard sounds of craftsmanship and they were happy to feel that work is in progress. But after two weeks, no sounds came. The queen got anxious and requested the king to instruct the soldiers to open the door, thinking that the artisan must be dead, because he was not eating or taking anything. When the soldiers opened the door, Lord Vishwakarma disappeared, because his condition was broken. The idols were in a unfinished state and did not have any hands. The king realized his mistake and gave up food until he heard a divine voice directing him to install them in this form in the temple and do puja. When the temple was completed, Lord Brahma, came all the way to visit the temple and was very pleased and asked the king to fulfill his desire. The king was so great that he asked saying he should not have any children, so that no one takes pride as the owner of the temple.

There is a lot to tell about Lord Jagannath, considered to be the only living GOD ( he changes his body every 14 years), but I would keep that for later.

Don't look at me, there is a death in family and we are going through a hell lot of traditions....