prabhusponder

ஆத்மார்ப்பண ஸ்துதி – ஸ்லோகம் 17

ஸ்லோகம் 17

ब्रह्मादीन् यः स्मरहर पशून्मोहपाशेन बद्ध्वा
सर्वानेकश्चिदचिदधिकः कारयित्वाऽऽत्मकृत्यम् ।
यश्चैतेषु स्वपदशरणान्विद्यया मोचयित्वा
सान्द्रानन्दं गमयति परं धाम तं त्वां प्रपद्ये ॥ १७॥

தமிழ் ஒலிபெயர்ப்பு

ப்ரஹ்மாதீந் ய: ஸ்மரஹர பஶூந்மோஹபாஶேந பத்த்வா
ஸர்வாநேகஶ்சிதசிததிக: காரயித்வாঽঽத்மக்ருத்யம் ।
யஶ்சைதேஷு ஸ்வபதஶரணாந்வித்யயா மோசயித்வா
ஸாந்த்ராநந்தம் கமயதி பரம் தாம தம் த்வாம் ப்ரபத்யே ॥ 17॥

தமிழாக்கம்

சீவனாய் ஜடமாய் அவைகளுக்கு வேறாய்
விதிமுதல் பசுவரை மோகவடம்கட்டி அவரவர்
விதியொப்ப பணியேற்றி, திருவடி பணிவோரை
விடுத்திட்டு மெய்யறிவு புகட்டி வீடுபேறு தரும்
முப்புரமெரி முதல்வோனே பணிந்தேன் உன் பாதம் !! 17

சொற்களின் பொருள்

ஸ்மரஹர - மன்மதனை எரித்தவனே, காமனை எரித்தவனே, ஆசையை அழித்தவனே
யஹ - எந்த பரமேஸ்வரன்
ஏக: - ஒருவராகவும்
சிதசிததிக: - சித் அசித அதிக: - ஜீவன் ஜடம் இவற்றிற்கு வேறானவராகவும்
ப்ரஹ்மாதீந் - பிரம்மன் முதலான
ஸர்வாந் பஸுந் - அனைத்து உயிரினங்களையும்
மோஹபாஶேந - மோஹம் எனும் கயிற்றால்
பத்த்வா - கட்டி
ஆத்மக்ருத்யம் - அவரவருடைய கடமைகளை
காரயித்வா - செய்யுமாறு செய்து
ய: ச - எந்த பரமேஸ்வரன்
ஏதேஷு - இவர்களுள்
ஸ்வபதஶரணாந்வித்யயா - தன் திருவடிகளை சரணடைந்தவர்களை
வித்யயா - மெய்யறிவினால்
மோசயித்வா - விடுவித்து
ஸாந்த்ராநந்தம் - ஒப்புயர்வற்ற பேரின்பத்தை
பரம் - பரமனின்
தாம - ஸ்வரூபத்தை (மேலான இருப்பிடத்தை, மோக்‌ஷத்தை)
கமயதி - அடையும்படி செய்கிறாரோ (உணரத்துகிறாரோ)
தம் த்வாம் ப்ரபத்யே - அந்த உம்மை முழுமையாக சரண்டைகிறேன்.

விளக்கம்

சிதசிததிக: என்பது இறையின் இலக்கணம். உயிர்களையும், உயிரற்றவைகளையும் தன் உடலாகக் கொண்டு, அந்த உடலுக்கு வேறாக இருப்பவரே இறைவன். அவருக்கு சமமாகவோ, உயர்வாகவோ யாரும் இல்லை.

அவரே குருவாக வந்து (வித்யையா மோசயித்வா) அறிவால் உணர்த்துகிறார். கோகழி ஆண்ட குருமணிதன் தாழ் வாழ்க என்கிறார் மாணிக்கவாசகர்.

பிரம்ம தேவன் உத்தமமான பசு. இந்த பசுவான படைக்கும் கடவுள் பரமனால் படைக்கப்பட்டார்.

பசு என்றால் உயிரினம் என்று பொருள். விலங்கினமான பசு, புல் உண்டு, விவேகமின்றி, தன்னை வேலை வாங்கும் மனிதர்களுக்கு அடிமையாகி பாரமிழுத்தல் முதலிய காரியங்களில் புரிந்து, க்லேசமும் துக்கமுமடையும்.

அவைகளைப்போல, அஜ்ஞானக் கயிற்றால் கட்டி, ஜீவர்களை இந்த வாழ்க்கைச் சக்கரத்தில் கட்டுண்டு , வினைகள் புரிந்து வினைப்பலன்களை அடைய வைக்கின்றான் ஆண்டவன். இந்த ஜீவன்களை கட்டுவதும் அவிழ்த்து விடுவதும் பரமேஸ்வரனே.

இந்த ஜீவன்களிடையே எவன் உன்னைச் சரண மடைகின்றானோ அவனுக்கு ஞானத்தை அளித்து அவனுடைய கட்டை அவிழ்த்து விட்டு நித்யானந்த பரிபூர்ணமான உன்னுடைய அப்ராக்ருதமான பதவிக்கு அவனை அழைத்துக் கொள்ளுகிறாய் நீ. அந்த முப்புரம் எரி முதல்வனாம் பரமேஸ்வரன் உன்னை நான் சரணடைகிறேன் என்று துதிக்கின்றார் அப்பைய தீக்‌ஷிதர்.

இறையருள் பெருக! வளமுடன் வாழ்க !

Hanoi – The old and new – Vietnam Travel Diary 8

Cyclo Tour of Old District

By sitting on a cyclo, slowly going through each street and alley to admire the cultural features and daily life activities of the people, international tourists have interesting experiences when visiting Hanoi. For Hanoians, the image of cyclos has long been an important part of the city’s typical cultural picture. The image of cyclo drivers leisurely pedaling on the old streets, with the characteristic curved glass bell, has become a symbol of peace and tranquility in urban life. It is a special highlight in the landscape of Hanoi, contributing to the diversity and richness of the capital’s culture.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

The President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a mausoleum which serves as the resting place of Vietnamese revolutionary leader and President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi, Vietnam, is one of Vietnam’s most revered landmarks and stands as a powerful symbol of the nation’s history and independence.

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is centrally located in Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi, an area of immense historical and political significance. It is surrounded by other key landmarks such as the Presidential Palace, One Pillar Pagoda, and the Ho Chi Minh Museum, making it a crucial stop in any Hanoi itinerary.

Water Puppet Show

Every year during the annual rice harvest, farmers in Vietnam’s Red River Delta region would gather for folk singing and dancing at village festivals. About one thousand years ago, water puppets were added to the list of performances at these festivals. The first shows were hosted in the harvested rice fields, which could be filled with water to create a watery stage.

Water puppetry as a folk art form evolved from serving everyday people to a show for royalty. Under the reign of the Lý Dynasty in the 12th century, the country’s best water puppet troupes were chosen to entertain the king and guests, marking a new high for the art’s social status. Many centuries later, water puppetry (múa rối nước) still fascinates audiences, and is a cherished intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam.

Múa rối nước is a physically demanding craft. Puppeteers stand in water throughout the show, and use the movement of the water to create drama, perfect the illusion, and tell a story. The puppeteers’ secret lies in the material of the puppets themselves, which are made of buoyant fig wood and painted with lacquer. The puppeteers skillfully maneuver the puppet’s arms using bamboo sticks and strings. It takes decades to become a master water puppeteer.

Today in Vietnam, water puppet shows are not presented in flooded rice paddies but in pools of water. These pools are decorated with red tiered roofs, flags, and parasols to resemble an altar inside Vietnamese communal houses. On both sides of the stage sit the musical ensemble who bring the stories to life using their voices and traditional instruments.

A traditional show always starts with an introduction to Tễu, the comedic host. Tễu is an iconic character, a whimsical storyteller who will lead you through different scenes and stories as they unfold on stage. The brightly coloured puppets recreate daily life in Vietnam’s northern villages, including duck herding, fishing, rice planting, boat rowing, and royal parades. Some shows include depictions of Vietnamese folktales, which always carry a moral.

The show we saw was at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre.

Here is the video of our Hanoi Tour

Temple of Literature – Vietnam Travel Diary – 7

Temple of Literature – Hanoi

Văn Miếu, literally translated as Temple of Literature, is a temple in Hanoi, northern Vietnam, dedicated to Confucius, the Chinese Scholar. The temple was founded and first built in 1070 at the time of Emperor Lý Thánh Tông.

Over the next 6 years, his son established a new complex called the Imperial Academy, which educated royal members, such as nobles, princes, and bureaucrats. They would learn the doctrines of Confucius, as well as other Confucianism-relating theories.

The core belief of Confucianism is to focus on rigorously educating the rules of political, social, and ethical conduct. It is believed to bring wonderful values, encouraging each individual’s development in society.

In 1253, the Hanoi Confucius Temple first opened its doors to excellent commoners coming to study for 3 – 7 years. At that time, the official curriculum was under the strong impact of Imperial China, including the study of Chinese penmanship, literature, and poetry. Despite that, the values of Confucianism have been preserved to this day.

The First Courtyard (Dai Trung Mon)

After coming across the Great Middle Gate, visitors will be impressed by the green and fresh ambiance of Dai Trung Mon. On the right and left side, you can see two special-designed gates called Talent Gate and Virtua Gate respectively. Both gates expressed the expectation of the Vietnamese royalty towards the best achievements in the national educational system.

On the top of the gates, there is a symbol of a fish, which relates to a Vietnamese tradition in the past. Legend has it that the King or God organized a competition to find the strongest fish, which was compared to the way to seek the talents of a nation. Once they overcome all of the challenges, brilliant individuals represented by the symbol Dragon at the academy .

The Second Courtyard (Khue Van Cac)

Khue Van Cac (Pavilion of Constellation) is known as a symbol of the Temple of Literature Hanoi, which is a familiar image to most travelers. It is simply because when you exchange currency for a Vietnam dong, you can easily catch sight of Khue Van Cac on the 100,000 VND banknote.

The Third Courtyard (Thien Quang Well)

Thien Quang Well was constructed in a square shape, representing the earth, together with the circle on the top of the pavilion – meaning the sky. All of these things mean a wish for harmony between the earth and sky, bringing prosperous development to one country.

In this Courtyard of Temple Hanoi, visitors will also see stone turtles with large stelae, as a strong respect for the beliefs of Confucianism and the national Doctors. Although there are only 83 remaining stelae today, this site is one of the impressive royal styles, which is great for visitors to discover more about Vietnamese culture.

The Forth Courtyard (Dai Thanh Mon)

“Dai Thanh Mon” means “the great success” in Vietnamese, boasting the sanctuary to Confucius and the magnificent House of Ceremonies. In the center of the sanctuary, tourists can see an altar – decorated in Vietnamese tradition, with 5 basic elements, including Fire, Metal, Water, Wood, and Earth. Additionally, the altar is always filled with offerings and incense, expressing strong honors to the ancestors of the Vietnamese people. This also makes Dai Thanh Mon one of the most sacred areas in Van Mieu Hanoi.

The Fifth Courtyard (The Grounds of Imperial Academy)

The last courtyard in the Temple of Literature Hanoi is the Grounds of the Imperial Academy. It is the sole place belonging to this temple to be designed on 2 floors. When visiting the ground floor, you will see a statue of the famous Vietnamese teacher Chu Van An. Besides that, visitors also have a chance to discover more about Confucian education of Vietnamese Feudal Dynasties through some pictures and artifacts.

The second floor is the area to worship the three Kings who played important roles in developing Van Mieu Hanoi, including Ly Thanh Tong, Ly Nhan Tong, and Le Thanh Tong. With their contributions, the Vietnamese educational system has been preserved and maintained for thousands of years.

Here is my video

Ha Long Bay Cruise – Day 2 – Vietnam Travel Diary – 6

The Karsts

Hạ Long Bay, in northeast Vietnam, is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests.

The limestone in this bay has gone through 500 million years of formation in different conditions and environments. The evolution of the karst in this bay has taken 20 million years under the impact of the tropical wet climate.

Karst is a type of landscape formed by the dissolution of soluble rocks like limestone, resulting in features such as sinkholes, caves, underground rivers, and springs. This process is caused by slightly acidic water, typically rainwater, seeping into cracks and dissolving the bedrock over millions of years. The term “karst” originates from the Karst Plateau in Slovenia and the surrounding region, and these landscapes are found globally, covering about 10-11% of the Earth’s surface.

Among the 1,969 sunken limestone towers submerged in the indigo waters of Ha Long Bay are a series of ancient caves and grottoes – many of which remained unexplored. To date, there are 59 caves listed on the official registry (this includes the most recent discovery of 23 ‘new’ caves), all of which have a special belonging in Ha Long Bay’s distinctive ecosystem. Undoubtedly the most famous of them all is Sung Sot Cave, which has rightfully earned its near-legendary status among visitors to the world-famous bay.

Day 2, commences with Tai Chi lessons at 0630 on the top deck of the cruise boat. Weather permitting, sun rise visuals are pleasing. After a sip of coffee/tea with cookies, we proceed on a smaller boat to Sung Sốt cave.

Sung Sốt cave

Sung Sốt cave is an old phreatic cave. It means “Grotte des Surprises”, or Surprising Cave, because of its ‘surprising’ beauty. It is on Bo Hon Island. From its truncated entrance chambers on a ledge high on the cliff, a passage of more than 10m high and wide descends to the south. It takes an hour to walk through the cave.

Sung Sot cave is the largest, perhaps the most renowned, and likely the most visited of all.

There’s a small dock at the bottom of Bo Hon Island, where you’ll dismount your boat and begin the climb up 100 or so steps to the mouth of Sung Sot Cave. The cave covers a staggering 10,000 square meters (that’s twice the size of the White House if that’s anything to go by).

The interior is separated into 2 caverns, the first of which is a small amphitheater type of space connected by a small passageway to the larger cavern next door, which is big enough to hold 1,000 people or more. The entire cave is bestrewn with stalactites and stalagmites, which serve as endless material for the legend and ‘lore of the area.

After the visit, it is time to pack up, checkout and loiter around the boat till it docks back.

Here is my video.

Ha Long Bay Cruise – Day 1 – Vietnam Travel Diary – 5

Ha Long Bay

Hạ Long Bay, in northeast Vietnam, is known for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests.

The name Hạ Long means “descending dragon”. Hạ Long Bay has an area of around 1,553 km2 (600 sq mi), including 1,969 islets, most of which are limestone. The core of the bay has an area of 334 km2 (129 sq mi) with a high density of 775 islets.

The Cruise along the Ha Long Bay starts on a sleek, modern vessel that fuses contemporary styling with Vietnamese design concepts. Paradise Elegance is a luxury cruising on Ha Long. Boasting a piano bar, day spa, butler service and the full range of dining options, cruise on the Elegance is an experience exquisite, the journey flawless.

The day (literally noon, after a long drive from Hanoi) starts with a briefing, a welcome song followed by Lunch. There were excellent Indian vegetarian options on board with an Indian Chef dishing out delicacies to our taste buds.

TiTop Island

After lunch and of course after a siesta in the comfortable cabin, we head to TiTop Island sits at the heart of Ha Long Bay. It is relatively small (a total area of 3.7 hectares); yet it’s regarded as one of the most picturesque islands in the bay and is a crowd favorite among Halong tourists.

Formerly called Cat Nang Island, it is now named after Russian cosmonaut Gherman Titov, who in 1961 boarded the spaceship Vostok 2 and became the second man to orbit the Earth (after fellow Russian Yuri Gagarin who beat him by just a few months).

A year later, he visited Halong Bay and toured the area with Vietnam’s revered leader – Ho Chi Minh. He consulted with the locals and, in a gesture of friendship between Vietnam and Russia, renamed the island ‘Titov’ in honor of the valiant cosmonaut.

Titop offers breathtaking landscapes that can be viewed from a vantage point high up in the center of the island. The climb up the hill is a test of the strength of your knees as the steps are steep, winding and very often without side supports with only ropes to hold on and people forming ant line for climbing up and coming down. This island has a crescent-shaped beach, Vang Trang beach – It is now known as TiTop Beach. The beach is known for its tranquility, powdery white sand, and azure blue waters.

Luon Cave

A trip to TiTop hills, ensures that the gourmet lunch you had is well digested. It is now time for a Cuppa at the Elegance. A lecture demonstration of making Spring Rolls is followed by Tea. After tea, we use a smaller boat to enter the Luon Cave. If you are an ardent kayaker, you can do that.

Luon Cave is a natural water tunnel in Vietnam’s Halong Bay that leads to an enclosed, scenic lagoon. Located on Bo Hon Island, it is only accessible by small boats or kayaks due to its low ceiling and is popular for kayaking and exploring its unique ecosystem, which includes monkeys and ancient fossils. The cave itself is about 60 meters long. After passing through the cave, you enter a peaceful, enclosed lagoon surrounded by towering limestone formations and filled with lush plant life like ferns and orchids. The area is home to playful monkeys that can often be seen on the cliffs. You can also see evidence of ancient marine life, like fossilized shells, on the cave’s walls.

The day’s activities come to an end with a retreat back to Elegance. Dinner is followed by Live Music from the Piano Bar.

Here is my video

ஆத்மார்ப்பண ஸ்துதி – ஸ்லோகம் 16

ஸ்லோகம் 16

यः स्रष्टारं निखिलजगतां निर्ममे पूर्वमीशः
तस्मै वेदानदित सकलान् यश्च साकं पुराणैः ।
तं त्वामाद्यं गुरुमहमसावात्मबुद्धिप्रकाशं
संसारार्तः शरणमधुना पार्वतीशं प्रपद्ये ॥ १६॥

தமிழ் ஒலிபெயர்ப்பு

ய: ஸ்ரஷ்டாரம் நிகிலஜகதாம் நிர்மமே பூர்வமீஶ:
தஸ்மை வேதாநதித ஸகலாந் யஶ்ச ஸாகம் புராணை: ।
தம் த்வாமாத்யம் குருமஹமஸாவாத்மபுத்திப்ரகாஶம்
ஸம்ஸாரார்த: ஶரணமதுநா பார்வதீஶம் ப்ரபத்யே ॥ 16॥

தமிழாக்கம்

ஆதியில் அண்டம் படை அயனைப் படைத்து
ஆகம வேதங்களை அவனுக்குப் புகட்டி
ஆத்ம புத்திதனை ஒளிர்விக்கும் ஈசனாம்
ஆதிகுரு உமையவனைப் பிறவிப்பிணி உழல்
அடியேன் அடைகின்றேன் சரணாகதி !! 16

சொற்களின் பொருள்

ய: ஈஶ – எந்த சிவபெருமான்

பூர்வம் – படைப்பின் துவக்கத்தில்

நிகிலஜகதாம் – அனைத்து உலகங்களின்

ஸ்ரஷ்டாரம் – படைத்தவரைப், படைப்பாளியைப்

நிர்மமே – படைத்தாரோ

யஹ – எவர்

தஸ்மை – அவருக்கு (அந்த பிரம்மனுக்கு)

புராணை: ஸாகம் – புராணங்களுடன்

ஸகலாந் – அனைத்து

வேதாந் – வேதங்களையும்

அதி3தஹ – உபதேசித்தாரோ

தம் – அந்த

அத்யம் – ஆதியான

குரும் – குருவை

பார்வதீஶம் – பார்வதி நாயகனை

ஆத்மபுத்திப்ரகாஶம் – என் மனதையும், புத்தியையும் ஒளிர்விக்கின்ற த்வாம் – உம்மை
ஸம்ஸாரார்த: – பிறவிப்பிணியில உழலும்

அஸோ – இந்த

அஹம் – நான்

அதுநா -இப்பொழுது

ஶரணம் ப்ரபத்யே – முழுமையாகச் சரணடைகிறேன்

விளக்கம்

யார் படைப்பின் தொடக்கத்தில் பிரம்ம தேவரைப் படைத்து (“யோ ப்ரஹ்மானாம் விததாதி ரூபம்”) அவரிடம் வேதங்களைக் கொடுத்து (“யோ வை வேதாஷ்ஷ்ச ப்ரஹிநோதி தஸ்மை”), இந்த படைப்பை படைக்கும்படி செய்தாரோ, என்னுடைய மனதையும் புத்தியையும் ஒளிர்விக்கும் அந்த இறைவனை (“தம் தேவ ஆத்மபுத்திப்ரகாஸம்”) மோக்‌ஷத்தை விரும்பும் நான் சரணடைகிறேன் (“முமுக்‌ஷுர்வை சரணமஹம் ப்ரபத்யே”)

என்கிறது ஷ்வேதாஷ்த்வரோப உபநிஷத் 6.28. அதே போல இங்கு தீக்‌ஷிதர் கூறுகிறார்.

சிருஷ்டி இருவகைப்படும். ஒன்று ப்ரகிருதி சிருஷ்டி. மற்றொன்று விக்ருதி சிருஷ்டி. ப்ரகிருதி சிருஷ்டியில் சிவனிடமிருந்து பிரமன் உண்டானது. ஷ்ருதியில் சொல்லப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. ஶ்ரீமத் பாகவதத்தின் தியான ஸ்லோகமும் இதனை கூறுகிறது. பகவத் கீதை அத்தியாயம் 15 இதைப் பற்றியே (15.1-15.4).

அப்படிப்பட்ட ஆண்டவன் ஆத்ம, புத்திப்ரகாஶம்; அதாவது இறைவன் உணர்வாக இருக்கிறார்; நான், உணர்த்த உணர்பவனாக இருக்கிறேன் என்ற கருத்தை வெளிப்படுத்துகிறார் அப்பைய தீக்‌ஷிதர்.

Hoi An – Vietnam Travel Diary – 4

Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site.

The town comprises a well-preserved complex of 1,107 timber frame buildings, with brick or wooden walls, which include architectural monuments, commercial and domestic vernacular structures, notably an open market and a ferry quay, and religious buildings such as pagodas and family cult houses. The houses are tiled and the wooden components are carved with traditional motifs. They are arranged side-by-side in tight, unbroken rows along narrow pedestrian streets.

Hội An is known for its architecture, a mix of eras and styles from wooden Chinese shophouses and temples to colorful French colonial buildings, ornate Vietnamese tube houses and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge with its pagoda.

In this one-time trading port, the Thu Bon River meanders past crumbling shop houses and weathered pagodas.

Hoi An has an inherent easygoing beauty. Handmade lanterns hang at almost every door; its lantern-lit nights are sparkling.

Hoi An is bursting with tailor shops. Very well known around the world for their tailoring, you won’t struggle to find somewhere to get some custom clothing made.

Technically there isn’t a lot of sightseeing in Hoi An and the surroundings. Hoi An is one of those towns where you will be fine because part of its charm is just slowing down, sitting back, and watching the world go by.

Make sure that you go on the Thu Bon River on a basket boat tour through coconut forests. Traveling by a traditional woven vessel, you’ll soak up the stunning scenery of mangroves and rice paddies, while enjoying the undivded attention of your guide.

Here is the video

Ba Na Hills – Vietnam Travel Diary – 3

Sun World Ba Na Hills − the European-themed recreational complex is in the Trường Sơn Mountains, about 30km from Da Nang.

The only way up to Ba Na Hills is via the cable-cars. This infrastructure is among the 10 most impressive cable-car systems in the world. There are various cable lines and stations, depending on where you want to reach. We started at the famous Golden Bridge by taking the Hoi An (05) ground station. We were rewarded with a picturesque ride boasting incredible, 360-degree views.

Golden Bridge, a 150-metre-long bridge, has two giant hands holding the walkway. This attracts huge crowds every day.

At the top, the French Village has everything one would expect from a medieval village – a town square, cute cafes, a cathedral and fountain. It looks realistic as you walk the cobbled streets.

At the Linh Ung Pagoda one of the biggest Buddha statues in the land, which sits serenely on a five-metre wide circular base, and is 27 metres tall can’t be missed. Unfortunately the day we were there it was nearly covered by dense mist.

Another attraction that we visited is a 4D theatre where we had to wear glasses. The story was fun and the animation was good.

Outside of Luna Castle is Lava Castle, which is bright pink. One end is ‘held’ up by an Atlas statue, so make sure you stop and see that!

Rather than walking back to the main area, in the depths of Luna Castle there is a 400 year old funicular railway that takes 2 minutes to reach a building back in the main plaza.

Here is our video

Da Nang – Vibrant Beach City – Vietnam Travel Diary – 1

Da Nang is the largest city in Vietnam by geographical area. It lies on the coast of the Western Pacific Ocean of Vietnam at the mouth of the Han River and is one of Vietnam’s most important port cities.

With broad beaches, fantastic street food, the fabled Hai Van Pass, and a growing collection of cafes, restaurants, and bars, it’s no wonder it is the vibrant beach city in the country. The warm sands of My Khe Beach sweep south from the mountainous Son Tra Peninsula. Da Nang’s much of the beach still belongs to the people who make it their playground, gym, and source of livelihood.

Here is a video that captures the spirit of Da Nang City

The Marble Mountains – Vietnam Travel Diary – 2

Marble Mountains is a group of five limestone peaks situated seven kilometres from downtown Da Nang. The five karsts (called Ngu Hanh Son in Vietnamese) are named after the five elements: Kim (metal), Thuỷ (water), Mộc (wood), Hoả (fire) and Thổ (earth). Over centuries, Marble Mountains has held special significance for the people of Central Vietnam. The ancient Cham revered the karsts as a spiritual site, and Vietnamese emperors from Hue and legendary generals passing through paid visits to the peaks, adding to their store of legends.

Marble Mountains is home to a network of caves, tunnels, towers, and pagodas built by Mahayana Buddhists and the Nguyen Dynasty Kings.

There are half a dozen large caves hidden away in the Marble Mountains, and many other small ones that are rarely visited. All the caves in Marble Mountains have unique features, and some have fascinating stories of being discovered and used as hideaways over the centuries.

On Water Mountain, Hoa Nghiem Cave is watched over by a beautiful 400-year-old stone statue of Lady Buddha’ and on Metal Mountain, Tang Chon Cave is worth a wander for the marble statues of chess players and mandarins placed inside the cave’s warrens.

This tour is about the Tang Chon Cave (Dong Tong Chon) which means “contains all truths of the universe”.

Cham people used to live and worship the gods here in the 12th century. During the reign of Le Canh Hung (1740-1786), they left and started living in Phan Rang which is 95 kms south of Nha Trang. Vietnamese rediscovered the caves, settled in the area and worshiped Buddha.

King Minh Mang (1791-1841) who was the second emperor of Nguyen dynasty of Vietnam named it Tang Chon cave meaning treasure or “the place where the treasure is stored”.

There are five caves inside Tang Chon are:

Thien Long Coc Cave: – The shrine has three compartments with image in each section. In the center is Lao Tu altar, the right compartment of which is to worship Linh Son Thanh Mau, and the left to worship Bat Bo Kim Cuong.
Ban Co Tien Cave: – On the left side of shrine is a semi-circular cave with two marble figures in white. They sit with a chess board between them. According to the legend, gods came down to play chess and talk.
On the right side of central shrine, stairs lead to a cave of Di Da Buddha or Amitabha cave.
Chiem Thanh cave also called the Cham Pa cave is next to the Di Da cave. The entrance to cave is very narrow.
Tam Thanh cave:

Outside these caves is the Xa Loi Tower. This 28-metre structure houses 200 statues of Buddha, and offers breathtaking views of the landscape below.