Sattwa, rajas and tamas, these gunas born of Prakriti firmly bind the imperishable soul to the body Arjuna. – 14:5
Krishna says that the qualities of Sattwa, rajas and tamas are the three gunas which come forth from Prakriti and bind the immortal spirit to this body, the realm of Prakriti. One must transcend the gunas in order to become free, to experience moksha, samadhi or nirvana and again experience the pure, natural spirit. Continue reading
Dear ones, what do I wish for all the wonderful women in the World. I beg the Goddess to protect us all with her Armor, which is called Devi Kavacham. It is a powerful 47 verse hymn from the Markandeya Puran that acts as a divine, protective shield invoking the various forms of Ma Parvati to guard every part of the devotee’s body. It protects against negative energy, evil spirits, and dangers while fostering spiritual strength. Continue reading
How can one become free of this cyclical process of existence? It is an eternal question and Gurus give different interpretations. Continue reading
A newborn baby boy was abandoned near a toilet in Nabadwip (Bengal). The baby was wrapped like an eskimo and left in a basket. There are wild dogs everywhere over there and a ring of neighborhood dogs circled the baby until it was dawn. A resident of this town picked up the baby and then the dogs left. Continue reading
The Peace that passeth all understanding has been the axis around which Indian culture has revolved in all its aspects.
Peace is a divine attribute. It is a quality of the soul. It fills the pure heart. Continue reading
Dear ones, one can never attain anything if the time is not right. I came across a series of CDs recording the Uma Sahasram in a book shop. I was also looking for books about the Sri Yantra. It was my sixtieth birthday, and I said to my husband that I wanted to buy various books on Philosophy and Spirituality. Continue reading
In Shaivism, the term Mala refers to the obstructions which prevent the revelation of one’s true nature and spiritual liberation. Shaivism talks about three Malas, contraction or impurities, that afflict all of us as human beings. Mala refers to dust, dirt and impurity. Malas are those restricting conditions, both personal and impersonal, which hamper the free expression of the spirit. Continue reading
Be kind, generous and compassionate. How does it feel when one is described as having all three qualities? One feels great and then does one pause to think? Continue reading
How do we define freedom? It is a word used by all of us.
Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. – Martin Luther King Jr.
Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better. – Albert Camus
He who is brave is free? – Seneca
Freedom is not the absence of commitments, but the ability to choose and commit myself to – what is best for me. – Paul Coelho
Ram is the seventh avatar of Vishnu, and he is born as a mortal. In our Hindu tradition, Ram is a divine human, a mortal god incorporating both into the exemplar who transcends both humans and gods. The story of his life is in the Ramayana and the Ramayana is an allegory for the duties, rights and social responsibilities of an individual. He is a superior being and does not render evil for evil. Continue reading
Elephants are friendly, they never forget and are clever. They can find water, because they have no sweat glands. Therefore, it is vital for them to locate the source. They know how to overcome an electric fence. They were used in wars in ancient times as they were like tanks. Continue reading
In any form of prayer, a concept if God is essential. The prayers can be tamasic, rajasic or sattvic. At the tamasic level one is using rituals and asking to be protected from the anger of the deities. However, a tamasic (inert) sadhana becomes rajasic and then the puja is more dynamic. The mind becomes more open and one’s awareness increases. Each one of us wants a healthy life free from harm. Then the rajasic puja becomes sattvic, when prayers are offered for forgiveness, forbearance, love and compassion. Continue reading
And the curbing of Greed
Kama is desire and it is a part of the fourth Purushartha and greed is an obstacle in the way of Bhakti.
Let us understand what Purushartha means. It means the objectives of mankind. These goals are Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Dharma is the “order and custom” that makes life and universe possible. They are also described as the four pillars of Hinduism. Purushartha also means that an individual should have a meaningful life (Artha) by earning earning an honest livelihood through lawful means (Dharma), fulfil his desires (Kama) and attain liberation (Moksha). Continue reading
Loneliness and solitude are two different things. When you are lonely, it is easy to delude yourself into believing that you are on the right path. Solitude is better for us as it means being alone without feeling lonely. But eventually it is best to find a person, the person who will be your mirror. Remember only in another person’s heart can you truly see yourself and the presence of God within you.
Extracted from the book, The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak. 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