Soundarya Lahiri means waves of beauty. It consists of two parts. Ananda Lahiri means waves of happiness (41 stanzas) and Soundarya Lahari (the next 59 stanzas). It is believed that Ganesha himself wrote the Ananda Lahiri on Mount Meru. The first 100 stanzas are considered the most spiritual verses ever written. It is said that all those who read this are awash with joyous happiness. Continue reading
I salute constantly Mother Minakshi (the Goddess with beautiful eyes that resemble fish) who is an ocean of mercy. She is radiant like a million rising suns and shines with beautiful armlets and necklaces. Having large, charming lips that resemble the Bimba fruit (red ivy gourd), she has beautiful teeth and sports a lovely smile. She is adorned with yellow clothes. Vishnu, Brahma and Indra serve her feet; she is the beloved of Shiva and is of the nature of absolute reality.
I salute constantly Mother Minakshi, who is an ocean of mercy. She stays on the left side of Shiva, is the embodiment of the knowledge of Sri Cakra, and is invoked by the lustrous mantra of Hrim. She resides in the dot in the center of the Sri Cakra and is the leader of the assembly held by (herself) the Goddess. Deluding the universe with her beauty, she is at the same time the mother of Kartikeya and Ganesha.
Eight forms has Shiva lord of all and king;
And these waters, first created thing;
And fire, which speeds the sacrifice begun;
The priest; and the time’s dividers, moon and sun;
The all-embracing ether, path of sound;
The earth, wherein all seeds of life are found;
And air, the breath of life: may he draw near,
Revealed in these, and bless those gathered here.
My question has been answered and I will share the answer with you dear ones. In our scriptures, the Gods always pray to the Cosmic Mother, who is Maha Devi. I have always believed and venerated the Cosmic Mother as the creator. Continue reading
Sarva-dvarani sanyamya mano hridi nirudhya cha
Murdhnyadhayatmanah pranam asthito yoga-dharanam.
All the gates of the body restrained, the mind confined within the heart, one’s life force fixed in the head, established in concentration by Yoga. Continue reading
We believe that in the creation of the universe, God revealed two aspects of himself, Male and Female. The male was considered Purush, wisdom and space. Female was Prakriti, nature. Neither could survive without the other. Space is everywhere and wisdom is hidden in it. However, there is no creation. The creation occurs with Father Purush and Mother Prakriti or Shakti. Both Purush and Prakriti unite within us and in the cosmos for the wonderful universes. Continue reading
I am sharing a mantra with you, dedicated to Shiva, seeking atonement and blessings.
Om namaste astu bhagvana visrvesrvaraya mahadevaya
Trayambakaya tripurantakaya trikalagnikalaya
Kalagirudraya nilakanthaya mrityumjayaya
Sarvesrvaraya sadashivaya sriman mahadevaya Namah.
Chanted at dawn and dusk.
Karcharana Krtam Va Mantra is known as the Shiva Forgiveness Mantra and Shiva Meditation Mantra. It is also a prayer.
Karacharana Kritam Vaa Kaya Jam Karmajam Vaa
Shravannayanjam Vaa Maansam Vaa Paradham
Vihitam Vihitam Vaa Sarv Metat Kshamasva
Jay Jay Karunaabdhe Shri Mahadev Shambho
In the previous blog article, I wrote about a prayer and a promise. We had gone to a forest sanctuary for a holiday. In India, where ever there are mountains, there are temples perched on a peak. We visited two temples and in both places the guide told us that one’s wishes were always granted but one had to fulfill one’s promise. I thought that was ridiculous as my understanding was that one went to offer prayers with a genuine and sincere heart. The divinity always understood what the supplicant was asking. Yesterday when I read Swamiji’s lecture, I appreciated what our guide was saying. Continue reading
Swami Satyananda asked God to help him only twice.
In 1963 and in 1989, he asked for help from the Divine. He had been told by Swami Sivananda to spread the message of Yoga and to present it in a logical and effective way. From 1956 to 1963 he travelled all over Asia as a wandering sannyasin. On his travels he found that it was almost impossible to become a Seer. Continue reading
Overeating, exertion, talkativeness, adhering to rules, being in the company of common people and unsteadiness (wavering mind) are the six (causes) which destroy yoga. Hatha Yoga Pradipika 1:15
I am quoting from Hatha Yoga Pradipika and my Guru, Sri Swamiji. Wednesday is Ganesha’s day. Ganesha is the remover of obstacles. All the habits which are described above are obstacles in our lives. We pray to Ganesha to guide us. However, our habits can be very tenacious and clingy.
Let us examine them one by one. Continue reading
Sivaparadha Kshamapana Strotram means seeking forgiveness. It was composed by Adi Shankaracharya. It is recited for forgiveness in the worship of Shiva. Devotees beg for forgiveness for the sins that they committed with their senses. Continue reading
Guru is a combination of two ideas: gu means darkness and ru means dispeller. A guru dispels the darkness within one and then one develops awareness and consciousness. Continue reading
For which we seek the answers.
Why are temples built facing the east? Temples are built facing the east so that the first rays of the rising sun can fall on the image of the deity. The deity faces east, and the devotees face west, so that the sun’s rays fall on the god and are reflected on the devotee. Temples are compared to a woman’s body, sitting with her knees bent. The place where the deity is installed is known as the Garbha Griha, womb. Continue reading
Who does not love the sun and moon? There is a charming story about the sun and moon. A very fragrant flower called ‘Raat ki Rani’ (Queen of the Night), or Night Jasmine, fell in love with the sun, but he ignored her. She was heartbroken and decided that she would only flower at night. Then there is the sunflower is called Suraj Mukhi, which opens and gazes at the sun in the day and closes in the evening. Continue reading