The story is narrated in Devi Mahatyma of Skanda Purana. Durga was created with the combined energies of Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and other Gods. After she was created, the Gods gave her a variety of weapons and other ornaments. And she was gifted a lion. Continue reading
Rama recalls the events starting from exile–describes Sita’s beauty, virtues and gentleness–drifts back to sorrow–Lakshman tells Ram to think of a way of finding Sita. – Aranyakand 3.63.1
Dear ones, can you sense the sorrow of Rama, when he finds out that Sita has been abducted. He is sunk in sorrow when he describes her qualities. Continue reading
–the mortal avatar of Vishnu and become free of pride.
Abandon pride, which is the same as tamas guna (darkness) rooted as it is in ignorance and is a source of considerable pain; adore Sri Ram, chief of the Raghus and an ocean of compassion. – Tulsidas
Ram is a source of inner peace, inspiration and bravery. Ram was born as a mortal, and he is considered the perfect being. He followed the Hindu Code of Conduct and did not let any trial or tribulation affect it. He is considered the Akal Purukh and is the inner soul of every being. Akal Purukh means the one who is beyond the sphere of birth and death; the supreme positive power as opposed to negative power. He is a timeless and eternal being.
Aim Hrim Klim
Ram Navami marks the birth of Lord Rama and is celebrated on the ninth day of Chaitra Navratri. It is a spring festival dedicated to Goddess Durga. Continue reading
I am aware dear ones that today is International Women’s Day. All kinds of attributes are given to womankind. Sages are writing that we must create a world where women are celebrated not just as their roles as mothers, wives or daughters but also as creators, leaders and spiritual beings who shape the essence of life. Continue reading
I had gone in a tuktuk on a coastal tour in Siquijor which is a verdant and beautiful island. A tuktuk is a three-wheel scooter, which has powerful shock absorbers and so it is not bouncy. They are in bright colors, and one sees them everywhere. Siquijor is considered a magical island as there are many healing plants growing there. It is renowned for its traditional healing practices. Continue reading
In the first of his ten incarnations, Vishnu took the form of Matsya (a fish) to save primeval man from the deluge that consumed the world. He is depicted as half fish and half God. When I saw the whale sharks I thought of Vishnu in his Matsya Avatar. Continue reading
Dear ones, we are in the Philippines. Three times our vacation was cancelled. First time, I had to have an emergency surgery. Second time there was a hurricane and so much rain that the places we wanted to visit were flooded with water and mud and Mount Mayon erupted. Third time the dates were too close to my application for a Schengen visa. Continue reading
Yellow is the brightest color in the visual spectrum. It is a favored color and what are the reasons for it. The sun is yellow and sunlight loved by all is golden yellow. It is the easiest color to imagine, it represents happiness and hope. Continue reading
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
How do we view Brahma? There are stories about him and the most popular one is about the loss of his fifth head. Brahma was referred to as Pachanan (having five faces) but after losing his fifth head he became Chaturan. (having four faces). There are several stories given in the Shiva Purana. Continue reading
Dear Ones, we have a tribe in India called the Bishnois. They are a Hindu community of desert dwellers, who see no separation between themselves and nature. For them the tree is like a child, and they treat it with parental love. They live in mainly the Thar desert of western Rajasthan and the northern states of India. Continue reading
Different forms of Gods are symbols of their virtues and powers. Vishnu is said to be in a slumber on the coils of Shesha Nag. He is in this state for four months. It is written in the Gita, that God does not rest, even for a blink of the eye. When we see Vishnu reclining in Yoga Nidra in this depiction, it means that God is fully aware, and nothing can go wrong. Continue reading
Vishnu is revered as the Preserver and the element; water plays a very important role in his life. He is depicted as the cosmic ocean Nara, meaning water. Water was the only thing in existence before the creation of the universe. On account of this, he is known as Narayana, or one who moves on the waters. Vishnu’s Shakti is the sustaining energy because it refers to Vishnu, God of preservation. Continue reading
In all faiths numbers play a role. 108, 13, 3, 613, 786, 5, 888, 666 are spiritual numbers.
In my seminars, my students always ask, why is 108 important? In Hinduism 108 is a holy number. An individual breathes 21,600 times in 24 hours. When divided by two, it becomes 10,800 resembling 2 horizons – the north and south poles, emphasizing 108 as basic. The sky is divided into 27 nakshatras, each having four sectors of 30, i.e. 27×4=108. The moon crosses one nakshatra in 54 hours, which if divided into day and night gives 54×2=108. Continue reading