“No mud, no lotus“ is said by Thich Nhat Hanh. It sums up the Lotus flower and its explanation for us.
The Lotus represents the entire process of creation, divine perfection and the art of living without worldly attachment. In Hinduism the lotus explains the core ideas of life. Continue reading
Description of the Goddess by Vishnu for the Gods. Continue reading
Hate and violence are such terrible words. I am so sad because there is so much abhorrence and brutality around us.
We had a terrorist car bomb blast in old Delhi outside the Red Fort. This area is in the most crowded part of Delhi and opposite it the market is called Chandini Chowk. Chandini means Moonlight and chowk means Square. The name Chandini Chowk was given because a canal ran through it in the 17th Century. Continue reading
The Fragrance remains on the hand that gives the flower. – Mahatma Gandhi.
We offer flowers during our puja. The flowers are plucked early in the morning or bought from a shop selling flowers, which is usually near the temple. The flowers that are offered are yellow marigolds, fragrance lotus buds, red roses, and jasmine. One is not supposed to smell the flowers. However, their fragrance is all around, combined with the burning incense. Continue reading
The story is narrated in Devi Mahatyma of Skanda Purana. Durga was created with the combined energies of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and other Gods. After she was created, the Gods gave her a variety of weapons and other ornaments. And she was gifted a lion. Continue reading
Yellow is the brightest color in the visual spectrum. It is a favored color and what are the reasons for it. The sun is yellow and sunlight loved by all is golden yellow. It is the easiest color to imagine, it represents happiness and hope. Continue reading
Different forms of Gods are symbols of their virtues and powers. Vishnu is said to be in a slumber on the coils of Shesha Nag. He is in this state for four months. It is written in the Gita, that God does not rest, even for a blink of the eye. When we see Vishnu reclining in Yoga Nidra in this depiction, it means that God is fully aware, and nothing can go wrong. Continue reading
Bhuvaneshwari means Queen of the universe or realm of being (Bhuvana). All the universe is her body and all beings are ornaments on her infinite being. She carries all the worlds as a flowering of her own Self–nature. Continue reading
These are two very fragrant flowers. Queen of the Night (Raat ki Rani) or night blooming Jasmine only flowers at night and King of the Day (Din ka Raja), or day blooming Jasmine only flowers in the day. The Raat ki Rani is a fragrant white flower with an orange stem. It flowers at night and the next morning; one sees a bed of orange stemmed flowers around its base. This happens every night and if one did not know about this tree, one would be surprised that there are no buds on the tree. Continue reading
Why does one have to explain?
Now there are varieties of gifts, the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord: and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common God.
1 Corinthians 12. 4-7 Continue reading
Ramanna Maharishi was a gentle soul. He never reprimanded anyone and he did not preach about the Gods and religion. People felt his powerful spiritual presence when they had his darshan. The experience was like being born again. Continue reading
Can we change ourselves?
Who are they? Asuras are the demons and the fight between good and evil is when the gods are at war with them. Daityas and danavas are also demons. They represent the chaos and adharma (betrayal, discord, wrongness, and vice, immorality) that threatens our cosmic stability. Continue reading
There are five yagnas and they all represent our gratitude towards the Gods and creatures of the cosmos. Bhuta, Manushya, Pitr, Deva and Brahma Yagna. Continue reading