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Showing posts from July 22, 2013


The Sage Who Waited For Sri Ram Without Going to Heaven - Story of Sarabhanga Rishi and Sri Ram in the Ramayana

Story of Sarabhanga Rishi is found in the Aranya Kanda of Ramayana. The meeting between Sri Ram and Sarabhanga Rishi takes place in the Dhanka forest. When approaching the ashram of Sarabhanga Rishi, Shri Ram, Mata Sita and Lakshman notices a glorious chariot standing in air and driven by green horses. Sri Ram understood that it was Indra, the king of Devas, who had arrived on the chariot. Indra had come to take Sarabhanga Rishi to the Brahmaloka but the Rishi had refused to leave the ashram. The pious soul was waiting for the arrival of Sri Ram. When Indra left Sri Ram entered the ashram of Sarabhanga Rishi. The sage then narrated about the arrival of Indra and how he refused to go with him. Sarabhanga Rishi had earned Brahmaloka through intense tapas and austerities for several years. The Rishi wanted to gift his Tapa Shakti to Sri Ram. But Bhagavan refused it stating that He should earn it for Himself. Sri Ram wanted a dwelling place in the area. Sarabhan

Tharamangalam Mariamman Temple near Salem in Tamil Nadu

Tharamangalam Mariamman Temple is located near Salem in Tamil Nadu and is dedicated to Goddess Mariamman. This is a unique temple as one can see Goddess Mariamman and Goddess Kali in the same sanctum sanctorum. Aadi festival and Navratri are the two important festivals observed in the month. The murtis worshipped in the temple are Swayambhu – appeared on its own. Subsidiary shrines in the temple are dedicated to Nagaraja and Ganesha. A unique ritual is followed in the temple in which childless couple tie a small cradle and fill it water from Sanjeevi Tirtham, sacred pond, in the temple. The cradle is then rocked by the couple. People who have trouble related to speech tie a bell in the temple and also light a lamp made of rice flour. The lamp is lit using ghee. Those who have there wish fulfilled walk through a fire pit in the Aadi month (July – August). Childless couple who had their wish fulfilled walk carrying the child through fire pit and feed the child t

Teaching on Oneness of Atman in Upanishads

In the beginning, my dear, this universe was the existent only, one alone, without a second. (Chandogya Upanishad VI, 2, 1) Where one sees nothing else, hears nothing else, understands nothing else – that is the Fullness. (Chandogya Upanishad VII, 24, 1) Atman, indeed, is this all. (Chandogya Upanishad VII, 25, 1) Verily, this all is Brahman. (Chandogya Upanishad III, 14, 1) Brahman, indeed, is this all’ Atman verily, was this universe, one alone, in the beginning. (Aitareya Upanishad I 1, 1)