761 – What we learnt as children in a Hindu home

It was unspoken. We knew that God would bless us. Since most of us asked for help to get us out of trouble. It depended on whom one asked. Favorites were Ganesha, Hanuman, Durga, and Saraswati. There were certain simple rituals practiced at home. They were not in your face but they were there. The lamp, and the incense made one aware of the light and the fragrance. And if on the way to school one passed a shrine, one closed one’s eyes for a moment. Continue reading

750 – Shiv Tandava Strotram

By Ravana

Salutations to Lord Shiva, whose hair is like a dense forest, whose throat is wet by the pure flowing water of the Ganga. The snakes resting around the neck of Shiva are like long garlands. They are iridescent in the sunlight. The sound of the drums is echoing the passionate dance of Shiva. Continue reading

747 – Be regular with your Sadhana

We celebrate the awakening of Vishnu after four months of sleep today. Hindus worship Lord Vishnu and seek his blessings and love. Tulsi leaves and flowers are offered to Vishnu and Lakshmi. Dev Uthani Ekadashi (Ekadashi means eleven as in the eleventh day of two fortnights of the waxing and waning of the moon, in the lunar month) marks the awakening of Lord Vishnu after a four-month period of sleep. On this day, it is possible to get rid of our karmas and seek salvation. We also request Vishnu to grant us a place in his abode—Vaikunth Dham. The mantra chanted is Om Namo Bhagvata Vasudevaya, and the other mantra is the Maha mantra. Continue reading

742 – Visualization

Lately I had to go for a PET scan to another hospital. While I was waiting for my turn, it was freezing in the space I was in.

I managed to grab a blanket and my teeth stopped chattering. I was wearing my hospital attire as I am still in hospital. I think dear ones, you all know that the clothes one is made to wear, are meant for the convenience of the doctors and nurses. The arms are bare, and it is cold in them. I settled down to wait my turn. I closed my eyes and meditated on Shiva. After shutting my eyes, what did I see? Continue reading

640 – A saint is an influencer

Who is a saint? He/She is an influencer. This word influencer has been coined by the internet and we allow the influencers to manipulate us. However, a saint is an individual, who does no such thing. He/She is not a crowd puller, only the actions and deeds speak for themselves. If we are guided by even one virtue and we can emulate even one quality of the Saint Influencer, we connect with the divinity within us. A saint is not an individual who is judged by his/her followers. Continue reading

634 – I wish I knew this when I was 30

My dear ones, understanding comes only when one is ready for it. One can do everything and still find that one is unaware. It is remarkable to observe how one is totally unobservant about oneself and one goes on treading the path, thinking that one is so special, one knows it all.

Yesterday someone said to me that one found pure and innocent people only in India. I was aghast as I have come across such good people everywhere in my travels and they are totally unaware of their humaneness. Continue reading

610 – Colors and thoughts

Swami Sivananda defines color and thoughts brilliantly. He also speaks about the color of our thoughts. According to him, a spiritual thought is yellow in color, an angry thought is red in color, a thought focusing on hatred is of a blood red color and a selfish thought is brown in color. Continue reading

596 – 5 sacrifices to offer

There are five sacrifices which we must offer daily and these are spoken about by all Gurus. There are five Gods also associated with the sacrifices.

  • The Sacrifice to Rishi or Vedas, Rrushi Yajnya (sacrifice for the source of knowledge). Siva is source of knowledge and universal teacher.
  • The Sacrifice to Devas or Deva Yajnya (protection for the environmental powers as Gods). Durga is an integration of all godly powers.
  • The Sacrifice to Pitris or Pitru Yajnya (responsibility for the parents, ancestors and self-genetic system). Surya is a token of respect and remembrance to the ancestors and forefathers.
  • The Sacrifice to Men or Nrru Yajyna (positive interaction with fellow human beings of the society). Ganesha is the God for this sacrifice and is associated with community activity.
  • The Sacrifice to Bhutas or Bhoota Yajnya (care for the protection of biodiversity). Vishnu is the God for preserving the universe.

Each one of these has an outer and external meaning. Continue reading

594 – Hinduism explained

by Dr Radhakrishnan and Swami Sivananda

Dr Radhakrishnan is considered one of the most learned of Hindu Scholars. He was a philosopher, author, statesman and educationalist. His birthday on 5th September is celebrated as Teachers’ Day in India. He was a former President of India and a professor of Eastern Religions at Oxford university. He was also named “Knight of the Golden Army of Angels,” the Vatican’s highest honor for a Head of State. Continue reading

587 – Trust

Trust is a word used by us frequently and its meaning is very powerful. The first and foremost is ‘Trust in God’.

Noun: Trust means the belief that someone is good, honest and sincere. One would not be cheated or tricked by him/her. Trust also means that there is a legal arrangement by which a person looks after the wealth for somebody until they are of age.

Verb: to believe that someone is honest and will not cheat or harm one.
Trust is having faith, belief or confidence in someone. Continue reading

583 – Accept and respect your body and soul

Guna means virtue and each one of us is blessed with three gunas. They emerge from Prakriti creating the essential aspects of all nature—matter, energy and consciousness. These are tamas (darkness and chaos), rajas (activity and passion) and sattva (beingness and harmony). These gunas are constantly in flux and they are responsible for creating maya (illusion). As human beings we can consciously alter our levels of gunas in our body and mind. Continue reading