The one, who always worships Lakshmi, Sri Kamala, the one who dwells in the lotus, Padma, the pleasing one holding tender lotus bloom in her hands, the daughter of the ocean, the one who carries the pot of nectar in her two hands, the goddess Ira and the beloved of Vishnu will ward off all miseries. – Mahalakshmi Stuti, Skanda Puran, verse 8
Rivers are considered sacred in Hinduism and are core of the faith. It is believed that one’s sins are washed away in the river as it is always flowing. The spiritual and practical significances are many. Many rivers are personified as Goddesses. Therefore, bathing in them is considered to be cleansed of one’s sins. The water of the rivers is used in rituals, and it represents the concept of purity and cleanliness.
There are seven rivers considered sacred, and they are called the Saptanadi. They are Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu/Indus, and Kaveri. Continue reading
Who are they?
Adi Shesh is the thousand headed being, and Vishnu rests under his hoods.
Vasuki swallowed part of the toxic poison, which emerged when he was used for churning of the ocean. Shiva wears him round his neck. He is associated with eternal life.
Kaliya represents our five vices and Krishna killed him. Continue reading
Grass is an essential part of our life, and do we take it for granted? Dear ones are you aware that in the process of creation a blade of grass and a Neem tree take the same time.
Every blade of grass has its spot on earth whence it draws its life, its strength; and so is man rooted to the land from which he draws his faith together with his life. – Joseph Conrad
Grass is what saves and holds the water that keeps life good and going… It keeps the falling rain from flushing away. Blades of grass take water from the air and transpired it into the ground. That works the other way around too. Because grass blades help put water back into the air so that rain can fall again. – Theodore Roosevelt
To people in Kali Yuga.
What is the meaning of Kali Yuga? In one word it is deterioration. It is the ultimate decline at all levels. It is said that Kali Yuga started 5,123 years ago, on the day Krishna left his physical body. In these years one has seen the development and destruction of human society. There have been major wars genocides, and adjustments. Struggle has existed throughout. Continue reading
The scriptures describe two kinds of avatars, Nimitta and Nitya. The Nimitta and Nitya are manifestations of avatars of God. Nimitta avatars refer to the ten appearances of Vishnu (Buddha, Kalki yet to come). Krishna, is a Nimitta avatar, who was born to rid society of evildoers. Nitya avatars are the brahmanishtha (one who has realised Brahman, the Supreme personality of Godhead) sages. Continue reading
The birth of Krishna occurred to restore cosmic order in the universe. Janmashtami means celebrating the birth (janma) of Krishna on the eight (Ashtami) day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada (August – September) Janmashtami represents the triumph of good over evil and the restoration of Dharma. The evil king Kansa and his allies were defeated. Krishna is seen as symbol of love, righteousness and divinity. Continue reading
We have many greetings and each one is very sacred in its meaning. These salutations can be used by us in our daily interactions. When we utter them, we are being blessed and our addressee is also blessed. Continue reading
Avatar is a word used very freely. Many of us describe ourselves as saying in my last Avatar, I was so and so. This is very frivolous and none of us can call ourselves an avatar.
So then how should we explain the meaning of Avatar. It is an incarnation in human form of a Deity. According to Swami Sivananda, the aim of every avatar is to save the world from evil, protect the innocent and destroy the wicked. Continue reading
Holi is a festival which technically welcomes summer. After Holi is celebrated, cold water baths happen and one wears cool, cotton clothes. The message of Holi is to spread love, peace and unity. It is celebrated on the full moon in the month of March, or in the Phalguna month which is the twelfth month of the Hindu calendar. It corresponds with February – March in the Gregorian calendar. Continue reading
O Krishna! May the royal swan of my mind enter today itself into the nest (safe place) of Your lotus feet. How can one otherwise be sure of remembering You later when one’s pranas are leaving the body (one is in the throes of death) with phlegm, wind, and bile blocking one’s throat (making breathing itself difficult)?
On Hari alone I meditate constantly, on Him who has a soft smile on his lotus face, who is the son of a cowherd Nanda, who is higher than the highest and who is adored by sages like Narada.
Tired of roaming in the desert of worldly existence, I find now this beautiful lake named Hari. Taking a refreshing bath in it, drinking its water which is his radiant compassion, I give up all my sorrow today! This lake Hari has his lovely hands and feet as the lotuses, His charming eyes as the fish in it, His attractive arms as the rising waves in it, and relieving us of all our exhaustion, it has indeed great depth.
Extracted from Mukundmala. Continue reading
(i carry it in)
i carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart) i am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling) i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you
here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than a soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart
i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart) – By E. E. Cummings
Growing up as children in India as a Hindu, one learns a great deal from our numerous festivals. It is not taught but one’s awareness becomes heightened watching family members. All the festivals are based on triumph of good over evil. I am sharing with you the history and background and how this becomes a part of one. Continue reading
Govardhan Puja is celebrated a day after Diwali. What is special about it? A Govardhan Parvat is made from Cow dung and people worship cows. The story behind it is that great festivities were going on in Braj. Braj is a region on both sides of the Yamuna with its center at Mathura. Continue reading
In the Bhagavad Gita.
Lord Krishna said that there are three types of happiness and spontaneous bliss through the gunas. The gunas comprise the reason of our existence. Continue reading