Argala Stotram means to open the argala, which is the impediment or bolt to seek the blessings of the Divine Mother by chanting the Stotram.
Roopam Dehi Jayam Dehi, Yasho Dehi, Dvisho Jahi. This verse is chanted at the end of each sloka.
Give the form, give the victory, give the glory, kill the enemies. Continue reading
Ram Navami marks the birth of Lord Rama and is celebrated on the ninth day of Chaitra Navratri. It is a spring festival dedicated to Goddess Durga. Continue reading
I set out to find the wicked but found none. When I searched my own heart, I found no one worse than me.
This couplet emphasizes the importance of introspection and self-reflection. Continue reading
Words strung together affect us and therefore when we speak or commit an act or deed, we must remain aware. I have taken a few words to discuss their impact.
Atonement means to seek forgiveness. Words which are used to describe it are expiation, amends, grace, pardon, condonation, salvation and rebirth. Continue reading
This magical, marvelous food on our plate, this sustenance we absorb has a story to tell. It has a journey. It leaves a footprint It leaves a legacy. To eat with reckless abandon, without conscience, without knowledge; folks, this aint normal. – Joel Salatin, a farmer who lectures on food.
What is our takeaway from this? Food must be partaken with awareness. We must respect it and must not indulge in waste. I have a story for you, dear ones. It is the custom in India in some of the villages to seek the help of the local villagers. Continue reading
High on Waves
What do we expect from life?
Excellence in everything that we do.
Positivity in everything that we express.
Love in every moment that we live,
And happiness which connects us with everyone
In this manner, we can live a truly best life. – Swami Niranjanananda
Parvati longed for a person, who would be her guard like Nandi, who was always at Shiva’s side. One day when she was preparing for her bath on Mount Kailash’s, she told Nandi to sit outside. Nandi took his post, intending to carry out Parvati’s wishes. Shiva arrived suddenly as was his habit and he wished to enter. Continue reading
Guru is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘gu’ meaning darkness or dispeller and ‘run’ meaning light or dispeller. So, a guru is an individual, who dispels darkness and illuminates the path to knowledge. The Guru is seen as a guide on the path to spiritual realization, helping the disciple to understand the meaning and significance of the scriptures and attain higher wisdom. Continue reading
Where the Mind is without Fear.
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arm towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is lead forward by thee
Into that heaven of freedom.
My father, let my country awake. – Rabindra Nath Tagore, Nobel prize Winner.
Words like tolerance, compassion and benevolence are used in our daily language. Do we really understand the meaning of these words? How can we inculcate their usage and application in our ongoing life? Continue reading
Dear ones, I am writing today about Ardhanareshwara and the understanding of Transgenders. Ardhareshwara is a Hindu form of Shiva combined with his consort Parvati. Ardhanareshwara is depicted as half male and half female. Ardhanareshwara represents the synthesis of masculine and feminine energies of the universe—Purush and Prakriti. Another name for Prakriti is Shakti and they are inseparable. The right half is usually Shiva, and the left half is Parvati. However, the timeline is pre-Vedic. The earliest depiction of Ardhanareshwara (Shiva and Parvati as a single androgynous form) are found in the Kushan period art of Gandhara, dating back to 1st Century CE. Continue reading
Swami Satyananda Saraswati, my Guru and founder of the Bihar School of Yoga, spent twelve years in Swami Sivananda’s ashram. In that period, he found that many persons wrote to Swami Sivananda, asking for help and treatment for their health problems. He would suggest that they practice Yoga. Continue reading
What is the connection and context of a net? Net often symbolizes interconnectedness, judgement or entrapment.
Today when we speak about the net, we think of the internet. It means interconnected network, a global system of interconnected computer network that allows users to share information, communicate and access a wide range of online resources. Continue reading
How can we describe sounds? They can be loud or soft. Their frequency can be high pitched or low pitched. They can be continuous, intermittent or impulsive. Continue reading
Shaivism is an ancient form Hinduism that focuses on the worship of Shiva. The term has been derived from the Sanskrit word Shiva, which refers to the Lord of destruction and transformation. Shaivites are devotees, who venerate Shiva and accept him as the Supreme God. They believe that he is responsible for creation, protection and destruction. He is portrayed as representing a fierce destroyer, an innocent, a granter of boons and a loving and compassionate husband. Shaivites strive to achieve liberation from the cycle of birth and death by living a life focused on Shiva and chanting mantras and hymns dedicated to him. Continue reading