525 – Atmabhava makes us dear to God

Posted on 6. March 2023 by Dr. Nalini

Quotes from the Bhagwada Gita,

One is dearest to God who has no enemies among the living beings, who is nonviolent to all creatures. I look upon all creatures equally; none are less dear to me and none more dear. But those who worship me with love live in me, and I come to life in them.

He alone who truly sees the Lord the same in every creature… seeing the same Lord everywhere, he does not harm himself or others.

Be fearless and pure; never waver in your determination or your dedication to the spiritual life. Give freely. Be self-controlled, sincere, truthful, loving and full of desire to serve… Learn to be detached and to take joy in renunciation. Do not get angry or harm any living creature, but be compassionate and gentle; show good will to all. Cultivate vigour, patience, will, purity; avoid malice and pride. Then you will achieve your destiny.

Continue reading →

379 – Nine forms of the Goddess worshipped during Navratri

Posted on 1. October 2022 by Dr. Nalini

Shailputri is the daughter of the Himalayas. She is also worshipped as Parvati. Day one is dedicated to her. The offering is pure ghee offered on her foot. The prasad blesses the devotee with a life free of disease.
Brahmacharini is a lover of simple food. Day two is dedicated to her. Devotees offers her a bhog (pudding) of sugar and fruits. She increases the longevity of the family members.
Chandraghanta rides a lion and is believed to destroy all evil and wickedity. Day three is dedicated to her. She wears the half-moon on her head. She is pleased with an offering of milk (e.g., plant based), sweets and kheer.
Kushmanda produced the cosmic egg with her smile, when the universe was plunged in darkness. Day four is dedicated to her. She is offered sweet fried bread (malpua) in syrup, and one fasts before the evening prayer.
Skandamata is seated on a lotus, and she also has a lion as her ride. Day five is dedicated to her. She is offered bananas and she keeps her devotees in good health.
Katyani is the daughter of the sage Katyana. Day six is dedicated to her. She is offered honey. Her blessings make the devotees free of bitterness.
Kaalratri protects her disciples from evil powers and spirits. Day seven is dedicated to her. She is offered sweets made from jaggery.
Mahagauri is offered coconut as prasad. Day eight is dedicated to her. It is also believed that if one offers coconuts to the Brahmins, then one will be blessed with a child.
Siddhayatri protects the devotee’s family from any mishaps. Day nine is dedicated to her. She is offered sesame seeds and one fasts before the prayers.

The purification process

When we worship the goddess in her different avatars for nine days, we ourselves are going through a purification process. Also observe that none of the offerings are extravagant, they are simple foods, which most people can offer. The Goddess takes care of us as long we remain sincere in our devotion.

Aim Hrim Klim

Credits: hinduismnow.org

378 – Colors and their importance at Navratri

Posted on 30. September 2022 by Dr. Nalini

Navratri means nine nights of worship. Nine colors are worn on nine different days.

White is the first color and it stands for peace and serenity. The Goddess Brahmacharini represents peace and serenity. She is depicted with a rosary in her right hand and a water pot in her left hand. Jasmine and white lotus are offered to her. Continue reading →

376 – Navaratri – 9 nights of worship of the Goddess

Posted on 28. September 2022 by Dr. Nalini

What is worship? Puja begins with external things. One gathers flowers, makes sandal paste, prepares prasad (offering of food to the Goddess) and collects the necessary items for the external puja. However while one is performing this activity, one is conscious that one is attempting to please the mother. All these external activities take one’s mind inwards and focus on the deity. Continue reading →

372 – Real Worship

Posted on 24. September 2022 by Dr. Nalini

What is real worship? Reverence and adoration for a deity.

According to the Bible, worship is the giving of our entire self, our thoughts and our emotions to God’s use. All of life is an act of submission, an act of worship. Continue reading →

324 – Vaishnava Tantra

Posted on 4. August 2022 by Dr. Nalini

Vishnu is worshipped in Vaishnava Tantra. He is the preserver of the world. He is said to manifest in human form in every era (Yuga), to relieve the world from suffering by evil persons, who being destroyed by him also attain their moksha. In Sattva, his Narayana form, in Rajas, his Narsimhan form, and in Tamas, his Varaha form is worshipped. Continue reading →

312 – Empty your heart

Posted on 21. July 2022 by Dr. Nalini

Let it fill with divine energy and boundless love. How do we do this? By helping others is the quickest method. Love is the healer and true love is if we can love someone even if they are critical of us. Continue reading →

277 – Statue of a Deity

Posted on 10. June 2022 by Dr. Nalini

Why are statues of the deity important for us in our sadhana? The statue is a symbol, a medium for establishing communion with God. Images are not frivolous visions of the artist, but they are emanating from his heart. When the murtis (deity’s statues) are made for worship, the craftsman follows the design rules of the Shilpa Shastras. Continue reading →

215 – Shiva and Shakti

Posted on 4. April 2022 by Dr. Nalini

Shiva is considered the Absolute Lord and his power is represented by Shakti, Durga, Kali and Mother. Durga is identified as the energy aspect of Shiva. Without Durga, Shiva has no expression and without Shiva, Durga has no existence. Shiva is the soul of Durga. Durga and Shiva are identical. Continue reading →

182 – The twin sisters

Posted on 1. March 2022 by Dr. Nalini

We make such a fuss about twins. A good twin and an evil twin. Then there were all those novels and films written and made about lost twins, identical twins and twins hurting each other unknowingly. I was a twin and I have twin sons. What is interesting is that they buy similar things though they live in different continents and sometimes identical events happen to them. They are fraternal twins. Continue reading →

154 – A story narrated by Swami Sivananada

Posted on 2. February 2022 by Dr. Nalini

Two friends were walking on a pilgrimage. The path was full of thorns and it was very rocky. They were wearing cloth shoes. They had to tread carefully as there were roots, and wet leaves everywhere. It was slippery and the trail was very narrow. Suddenly one of the friends let out a yell of pain. A thorn had gotten into his foot through the thin sole of his slippers. The other friend said that it did not matter as it was only a thorn. The friend asked him to stop and take the thorn out. Continue reading →

128 – Sacred space and our practice

Posted on 5. January 2022 by Dr. Nalini

How do we create a sacred space? We go to the temple, church, mosque, pagoda, to pray, to communicate with God, meditate and to be at peace. When we enter a place of veneration, it is the space in our hearts and mind which has to be pristine. Please pause and think. Continue reading →

069 – How do we purify our mind

Posted on 3. November 2021 by Dr. Nalini

Swami Sivanananda said that by helping others we are cleansing our mind. When we give money to charity, it is used for medicines, food, clothes, education and whatever else is necessary. If we give something to someone, we are purifying our mind. Continue reading →

James Swartz – Great souls and devotion – Talk 15

Posted on 26. May 2021 by nadarupa

One achieves devotion through Satsang. Satsang builds a devotion habit. Make the worship of god a habit.

Verse 38: However, the primary method by which one develops devotion is association with great souls, that means a free person of the vedic tradition. Teacher who was taught properly. The teaching sets you free not the teacher.

Verse 39: Contact with great souls is rare, difficult to understand and infallible. The reason is that qualified students are rare. Great souls: you see the self in a person pretending to be a person. Great souls transform your life. The effects of meeting great souls are infallible. The spirit of renunciation is the essence.

Verse 40: The association of great souls can be obtained, but only by the grace of the Lord. Don’t seek them. Isvara will supply a great soul when you are ready. Many schools are knowledge averse.

Verse 41: There is no difference between the Lord’s grace and the great souls that manifest it.

Verses 42-43: Strive only for God’s grace. By all means, renounce all relationships with ignorant, negative, selfcentered individuals.

More: Vedanta Seminars.

Swami Vishnu Devananda celebrates a Puja to Master, Masters Birthday – London Centre 1983.

Posted on 20. August 2019 by nadarupa

Swami Vishnu Devananda celebrates a Puja to Master, Masters Birthday – London Centre 1983. Enjoy his original voice and his energy!

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Tag Archives: worship