--> Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from February 21, 2014


Goddess Uma – About Goddess Uma

Uma is Mother Goddess Shakti. She appeared as the daughter of Himavan, King of Himalayas, and his wife, Mena. Uma means ‘one who measures Shiva.’ ‘U’ means ‘Shiva’ and ‘ma’ means one who measures. She is Shakti. Goddess Uma appeared before Indra, the king of Devas, to impart the knowledge of Brahman (Supreme Reality) – this is mentioned in the Kena Upanishad. As per Matsya Purana, Uma appeared after the death of Sati to bring back Shiva into householder’s life. But Shiva was not ready to accept Uma and then she performed severe austerities to please Shiva. Popular stories of Goddess Uma are found in the Kumarasambhava of Kalidasa. Goddess Shakti performed severe tapas without taking food. As per Kumarasambhava, Uma means ‘do not daughter.’ Here ‘Ma’ means ‘do not’ and ‘U’ means ‘my daughter.’ Legend has it that Mena, mother of Goddess Uma, was worried about her daughter undertaking severe penance and therefore constantly uttered ‘Uma’ and Goddess got the name. Goddess

Hindu Scriptures on Learning – Quotes on Learning in Hindu Books

A collection of teachings from Hindu Scriptures on the importance of learning – Quotes on learning in Hindu Books. When children, O Brihaspati, giving names to objects, sent out Vak’s first and earliest utterances, all (knowledge) that was excellent and spotless, treasured within their hearts, was disclosed through (Vak’s) grace. (Rig Veda, 10.71.1) The student learns a fourth from this teacher and parents, a fourth through his own intelligence, a four from his fellow pupils, and the remaining fourth in course of time (by experience). Wonderful indeed is this treasure of yours, O Bharati (goddess of learning)! It increases with expenditure and dwindles on hoarding! He that has not cultivated his intelligence but has merely heard of many things can scarcely understand the real import of the scriptures, like the spoon that has no perception to the taste of the soup it touches. (Mahabharata, Sabha Parva, 54.1)