Dear ones, close your eyes. Place a Yantra or a Mandala of your choice at eye level if possible or on the table or altar. A yantra is a spiritual, geometrical design. And a mandala is a spiritual artwork, typically in a circular, radial form that incorporates the image or symbol of the divinity. Continue reading
How can we take care of our three bodies, five koshas and five elements? The three bodies are the physical, subtle (astral) and causal (karmic). The five koshas or sheaths are annamaya, pranamaya, manomaya, vijnanamaya and anandamaya. The elements are earth, water, fire, air and ether. Continue reading
In Kashmir Shaivism, in the Shiva Sutras, Upaya refers to the different levels of spiritual sadhanas to approach the ultimate reality.
Upaya is a spiritual or yogic method or path by which the individual soul returns to pure consciousness. Upayas are methods of wholeness that depend on an individual’s perspective. Does he identify with the body, the mind, or the individuality? What illusion of himself does he hold? The specific Upaya is not important; it is the intentionality and the earnestness which is important. What is crucial, is the Sadhana must be performed in a passionate and sincere way. All the Upayas lead to the same goal, and finally methods of Samavesha (absorption in the Divine) in the Lord. Continue reading
Extracted from the Uddhava Gita.
The Uddhava Gita is also known as the Hamsa Gita. It is a discourse delivered by Sri Krishna to his devotee, Uddhava. It is considered a sequel to the Bhagwad Gita. It offers a detailed explanation on detachment and devotion. It takes place before Krishna departs from the material world. Uddhava was a scholar, disciple and a cousin of Krishna. He wanted to follow Krishna as he could not contemplate his existence without him. Continue reading
Tummy upsets can happen any time. A meeting, a lecture, an engagement or some other important event missed because of it. Oh dear, a perfect holiday spoilt because of it. No one is immune of it. What if one had many plans, maybe a seminar to attend, enjoying ice cream, swimming or sightseeing.
The Mandala of Taste is not considered a method of transcendence. However, khechari mudra, in which one folds one’s tongue against the upper palate. The actual mudra is complex, therefore for the rest of us, the concentration should be on the tip of one’s tongue and becoming aware of the lalan chakra, which is a tiny gland at the back of the throat. Continue reading
We are influenced by our senses. They are affected by what is happening on social media. New phrases are being used on social media, and they can change our life. Continue reading
Soham with Shanmukhi Mudra.
This last stage is the most difficult and requires intense imagination, patience and control over the breathing process. First practice Shanmukhi mudra. Close your ears with the thumbs. Close your eyes with the index fingers, and lips with the ring and little fingers. Take a deep breath in and then close your nostrils with your middle fingers. Continue reading
1. Anuloma Viloma
Become aware of the breath and visualize the prana flowing in and out of the left nostril to the count of 27. Repeat with the right nostril. Now practice with the breath and visualize the prana flowing in and out of both nostrils, to the count of 54. You have unblocked both nostrils and restored the balance between Ida (mental activities) and Pingala (vital activities) nadis. Continue reading
It is a sweeping statement. However, it is possible. Our body is made up of five basic elements – the panch tattva. The five fingers of our hands are regarded as representative symbols of the panch tattvas. Continue reading
Parmahamsa Satyananda said,
Man is born with his breath and with his subtle prana, which is the essence of breath, he departs. Breath is man’s soul companion.
Daily practice of Prana Vayu Mudra pranayama will keep you well in the winter season. Prana Vayu mudra pranayama concentrates on the flow of prana in the area above the diaphragm and the throat. In prana Vayu mudra, the mantra used is Om Pranaya Swaha. Continue reading
How do I unblock my prana and enable it to flow and gift myself a life of wellbeing? There are five keys, I am going to give you a key in each blog. The magical part is that one key can open all the blocks. There is an impediment and I will come to it. Continue reading
We use the word Shakti, very freely in our daily life. Shakti is the presiding deity of Tantra Shastra. She is the feminine principal to whom all mantras, mudras and other elements of worship are devotionally dedicated. Continue reading
It is a question which is dominant in our mind and sometimes we never find the answer? It leads to dissatisfaction and frustration. The answer is within us. We have to know how to find it. It is not easy and the key to this lock is Yoga. Yoga means balance between the body and mind. Continue reading
A simple act like joining our hands in prayer can enable us to restore harmony in the universe. Why are our hands so important? We join our hands in prayer. We gesticulate with our hands. We express ourselves with our hands. We use our hands for eating and wiping our tears. We use our hands all the time. Our hands are centers of prana and the yogic mudras enable us to channelize the prana within ourselves. We use our hands for work and last but not least to express our love and tenderness for others and the earth. Continue reading