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Showing posts from March 18, 2017


Raj Lakshmi – Goddess Rajalakshmi

Raj Lakshmi, or Rajalakshmi, is believed to be the bestower of power or royalty. This form of Goddess Lakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of wealth and fortune, was propitiated mainly by Kings in ancient times. Raj Lakshmi is included among the Ashtalakshmis in some regions by some communities. But largely she remains a form of Goddess Lakshmi and is the provider of royal authority to kings. A peep into the history of other religions and cultures suggest that ancient rulers always worshipped a goddess, who helped them in battle and in running their empire smoothly. Raj Lakshmi is depicted with crown, throne, scepter of kingship, flag and bow. She was given importance by all rulers in their kingdom and they strongly believed that their fortune depended on her. Today, for many people she is one among the numerous names of Goddess Mahalakshmi. Incidentally, Rajalakshmi is a popular Hindu name for a girl child in South India .

Significance of Salagram

Salagramam or Salagram are sacred stones found in the Kali and Gandaki River , Himalayan streams. It is worshipped by Hindu devotees as a form of Lord Vishnu. Legend has it that Lord Krishna was cursed by a chaste woman that he would become a stone and Lord Krishna to fulfill curse appeared as Salagramam. There are numerous stories regarding the origin of Salagrama. ( you can read a story here .) The importance of Salagram is mentioned in several Hindu scriptures. It is believed that the worship of Salagram is equal to worshipping Lord Krishna. Certain scriptures state that Lord Krishna resides in the Salagram. सलाग्रमं शिलायाँतु साक्षात् श्री कृष्ण सेवानाम नित्यम संनिहितास तत्र वसुदेवो जगाद गुरू Salagrama consists of two words ‘saalayah’ and ‘graamam.’ ‘Saalyah’ means lord and ‘gramam’ means a congregation. Thus Salagram represents a group of gods in one place. The Salagram bears the emblems of Vishnu, especially the chakra. The Salagram is black in col

Origin of the Word Hindu

The historical and etymological genesis of the word `Hindu' is an ongoing controversy. Indologists differ in their opinion regarding the origin of the word ‘Hindu.’ The term ‘hindu’ is not a Sanskrit word and scholars have not acknowledged the use of the word in Vedic literature. But there is a generally accepted scholarly view regarding the origin. The word ‘Hindu’ is derived from the River Sindhu otherwise known as Indus . According to Monier Williams, ‘that part of the great Aryan race which immigrated from Central Asia, through the mountain passes into India, settled first in the districts near the River Sindhu (now called the Indus). The Persian pronounced this word Hindu and named their Aryan brother Hindus. The Greeks, who probably gained their first ideas of India Persians, dropped the hard aspirate, and called the Hindus `Indoi'. Dr Radhakrishnan also echoes similar views. He writes in the ‘The Hindu Way of Life’ ‘the Hindu civilization is so called, s