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Showing posts from September 22, 2008


Navratri Fasting – How to do Navratri Upvas?

There are many Hindus who observe Navratri Vrat or fasting during the nine days of Navratri. Most people observe a partial fast during Navratri and abstain from non-vegetarian food, alcohol etc.  In 2024, Navratri begins on October 3 and ends on October 12. The fasting is generally dedicated to Goddess Durga. In South India , especially in Kerala, Navratri Vrat is dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi. Puranas indicated that the importance of Navratri fast was narrated by Goddess Durga to one of her devotees. There are no strict rules for any fasting in Hindu religion and usually, the devotees decide how they want to do the fasting during the period. Navratri Fasting in South India In South India , the nine days of Navratri is divided into three parts – three days each for Goddess Durga, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati. In North India , there is no division but is dedicated to Mother Goddess or Shakti. People take bath in the morning and evening during Navratri pe

Dr B L Atreya on Philosophy in India

In India , philosophy has never been only an intellectual pursuit of knowledge of the Ultimate Reality. The task of a philosopher here is not over with his having constructed a metaphysical system, which satisfies the intellect. The intellect is not the whole man. He has other aspects, equally or probably more alive in him, which seek for satisfaction. Man aspires to seek for Power and Joy as much as for knowledge. It is really doubtful whether man would have philosophized at all, if he were absolutely happy and if all his wants were satisfied. The chief concern of man therefore is not to know what God is but to know how he can become God. If the self-satisfied and perfect absolute God is ever free from want and is Blissful in itself, what is that to us? It will be like an enormous treasure of wealth existing somewhere, which we cannot use. That everything is dear to us for own sake is an eternal truth discovered by Yajnavalkya long, long ago. An important part of the t