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
Who is this hero? What are the qualities such a hero should have? Dear ones, I will list them.
Heroic deeds.
Marvelous feats of strength and bravery.
Sense of duty.
Great skill in military tactics.
Crossing the sea in one leap.
Lifting a mountain peak in the palm of his hand.
Carrying his brothers on his shoulders from the nether world.
An ideal Nishkama-Karma Yogi or Selfless Worker.
Bhakta
Brahmachari.
Hanuman has many titles. Each one speaks about his different virtues and how they reflect his divine powers. Continue reading
For return of peace and harmony.
We celebrate Ram Navami after Spring Navratri. Chaitra (Spring) Navratri Pooja grants satisfaction and a joyous life. All the Shakti’s are honored and prayed to. By such prayers one recognizes the Shakti within oneself. One prays for forgiveness for all of one’s sins. Continue reading
Chaitra Navaratri – 9th April till 17th April – is considered an auspicious time for spiritual renewal, cleansing and seeking the blessings of the divine. It symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. It is devoted to goddess Durga, whose nine forms are worshipped on nine days. The nine-day celebration observes Goddess Durga’s universe birth and all living things inside it. It is believed that Durga Ma visits her devotees during this period. 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
It is a long and very sad story which has a happy ending. As you all know Ram is an incarnation of Vishnu and he came to the earth as a mortal to destroy an evil King by the name of Ravana. Ravana had been granted a boon that no God could kill him. Continue reading
The infant Rama.
Today is a very special day. It is the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ayodhya, the birthplace of Rama. The deity is called Ram Lalla, which means the infant Rama. Pran Pratishtha means the establishment of life force. The ceremony permeates energy into the murti (statue) of Rama Lalla, transforming it into a deity. This bridges the gap between devotees and the object of their adoration and unites the divine with the material. The deity is now invited as a resident guest by invocations of hymns and mantras. And the deity’s eyes are opened for the first time. The deity is blindfolded until the ceremony and then the deity is all seeing. Continue reading
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
The Oracle of Rama is consulted by all devotees of Rama. The custom is to ask a question after one has ended one’s morning prayers. There are three pages, with chapter, section and verse at the back of the book. It is a very powerful reading and it answers one’s query. Sometimes the answer is terrifying if one asks an inappropriate question. Continue reading
Goodness and Righteousness go hand in hand. Goodness means being honest and morally right. Righteousness means pure, spiritual and upright.
My dear ones let us look into the mirror and what do we see? I will not tell you, because each of us knows exactly who we are. Continue reading
Hindu festivals have no sadness, and our festivals celebrate triumph of good over evil, the expression of devotion to the deities and thanks for the harvests. Each festival centers around the rituals of prayer and seeking of blessings. This also entails new clothes, cleaning and decorating the homes and making sweets and savories for offerings. Feasting and dancing are present in many of the festivities. Continue reading
How do we celebrate the birthday of Rama? We do so by dedicating ourselves to the worship of Rama. Chanting the name of Rama, grants us deliverance. Repeating Sri Rama is enough to award us positive energy and awakening of our soul. Our Ida-Pingala nadis are balanced and the Sushumna nadi starts flowing, with saying the name of Rama. Continue reading
Chaitra Navratri signifies the creation of the universe and the beginning of the universe and beings. Durga Ma was engaged in the procreation of the world and therefore this festival is considered to be the beginning of the Hindu year. It also demonstrates the synergy between Devi and Rama. What is our role and how can we celebrate Chaitra Navratri with our hearts and souls. Continue reading
