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Showing posts from December 6, 2017


Story of Sunita, Daughter of Yamraj

Sunita was the daughter of Yamraj. Her story is found in the Padma Purana. From a young age, she found joy in tormenting and hurting other living beings. She found sadistic pleasure in hurting people. Once she whipped a Gandharva who was sitting in meditation. The Gandharva got angry and cursed her that her son would suffer for her actions. Years went by and it was time for Sunita to get married. But no one was ready to marry her due to the curse.  Kings and Saints rejected her saying they did not want to become the father of a son who would only bring trouble. Apsara Rambha came to her help and she taught her the tricks to enamor a male. One day Rambha took Sunita with her and they roamed on earth. They happened to see Anga son of Sage Atri. Anga was a king and he was performing meditation on the banks of a river in a forest. Sunita was attracted to him and she used the tricks taught by Rambha to entice Anga.  She succeeded and when Rambha found them to be attracted to each

How To Perform Sankashti Chaturthi Vrat And Puja? – Ganesh Sankashti Chaturthi Puja Procedure

Sankashti Vrat and Puja is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and is observed on the fourth day after Purnima or full moon. Here is how to do or perform Sankashti Chaturthi Puja and Vrat. Sankashti fasting is from morning to the sighting of the moon. Sankashti Puja is performed in the evening. Observing Sankashti Chaturthi is believed to help in removing all difficulties and obstacles in life. For most people, Sankashti Chaturthi is a complete fast which is broken after sighting the moon and performing puja. There are also people who observe partial fast. Sankashti Chaturthi Morning Puja After early morning bath, prayers are offered to Lord Ganesha in the usual way by lighting a lamp or Aarti. Start the puja with the mantra  गं   गणपतये   नम : Always do a simple puja avoid complicated rituals. Anyone of the prayers dedicated to Lord Ganesh is chanted. The fasting begins after puja. Food that can be eaten by those observing Partial Fasting Those people observi

Two Important Divisions of Scriptures in Hinduism

The two important divisions of scriptures in Hinduism are Shruti and Smriti. Shruti Shruti comprises of those scriptures that are divine revelations.  They are the most authoritative texts. They are composed in Sanskrit. Transmitted orally from one generation to another. No additions, deletions or amendments are made to the text. Shruti includes: Vedas  (Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda) Brahmanas (treaties on ritual) Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Smriti texts explain and expand on the ideas in the Shruti texts. The texts are attributed to different authors. Transmitted orally and through writing. They are composed in Sanskrit and regional languages. Open to interpretation, addition, expansion and deletion. Smriti includes Vedangas Mahabharata Ramayana Puranas Dharma Shastras Sutras and Bhashyas