The Sacred Trinity: Understanding Dakini and Yogini as Manifestations of the Three Gunas in Kali Worship The Divine Companions of Mother Kali During Kali Puja, the fierce goddess Kali is accompanied by her attendant deities known as Dakini and Yogini. These companion forms appear terrifying to the uninitiated eye—wild-haired, blood-drinking, and seemingly consumed by desire and vengeance. However, beneath their fearsome exterior lies a profound philosophical truth that speaks to the very nature of existence and the spiritual journey of every devotee. The Three Gunas: Foundation of Existence The Bhagavad Gita illuminates the concept of the three Gunas that pervade all of creation. Lord Krishna explains: "Sattvam rajas tama iti gunah prakriti-sambhavah" (Bhagavad Gita 14.5), meaning the qualities of goodness (Sattva), passion (Rajas), and ignorance (Tamas) are born of material nature and bind the embodied soul. These three qualities are not merely philosophical abstraction...

For nearly a hundred years, the tradition of fanus — the sky lantern — has been a part of Kolkata’s Diwali and Kali Puja celebrations. Its origin story is as bright as fireworks themselves. History Of Fanus In Kolkata Once upon a time, in the Sutanuti area of Kolkata, almost every household would release fanus on Kali Puja night. There’s no written record of exactly when the first lantern was flown in the city. But according to popular belief, the first fanus in Kolkata was released in 1912 in the tailor’s neighborhood of Bidhan Street, North Kolkata. At that time, the “Babu culture” — a symbol of refined, upper-class sophistication — was at its peak. Amid that era, the first fanus was flown into the city’s sky by Gaurishankar Dey, a mathematics professor at Scottish Church College. In 1925, the family of Bholanath Dutta at Bholanath Dham on Bidhan Street began their own fanus tradition. Soon, the custom spread to other houses in North Kolkata as well. On Kali Puja evenings, ...

How the Sacred Sweet from the Putrakameshti Yajna Was Distributed Among Dasharatha’s Wives In Valmiki Ramayana, Bala Kanda, chapter 15, we read about an important moment in the life of King Dasharatha. The king of Ayodhya had no son, so he performed the Putrakameshti Yajna with the guidance of sage Rishyashringa. At the end of the yajna, a divine being rose from the sacrificial fire carrying a vessel of payasam. This payasam was sent for the king so that he could get sons. Dasharatha took it with great respect and joy. How the Payasam Was Distributed After receiving the payasam, Dasharatha went to the inner quarters of the palace. He first went to Koushalya, his eldest queen, and told her to accept the payasam for the sake of getting a son. He gave her half of the whole payasam. Then he took half of what was remaining and gave it to Sumitra. After that, he gave half of the remaining portion to Kaikeyee, again for the sake of getting a son. Now only a small part was left. Dasharat...

The Sacred Form of Shuddha Varahi: A Study in Tantric Iconography Within the vast tapestry of Devi worship, Varahi occupies a unique position as one of the Sapta Matrikas, the seven divine mothers who embody the shakti of the principal devas. Among her many forms, Shuddha Varahi stands apart as a rarely documented yet deeply significant manifestation, whose iconography is preserved primarily through tantric texts and ritual manuals rather than mainstream sculptural treatises. Her form, though seldom carved in public temple art, carries profound philosophical weight within the Shrividya tradition, where she is honoured as a protector and remover of obstacles for the sadhaka. Iconographic Description Shuddha Varahi is depicted seated in lalitasana, the posture of royal ease, with one leg folded and the other resting gracefully downward, signifying both approachability and sovereign authority. She possesses four arms, each holding a symbolically charged object: a trishula representing...

Matsya Nyaya and the Battle for Dharma: What the Human-Demon Wars Really Mean in Hinduism In Hindu scriptures, the recurring battles between humans and Rakshasas are often read at face value as tales of good fighting evil. But underneath the drama of Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas lies a far more layered idea. This is not simply a war between two species. It is a war between two ways of organising existence: the rule of civilisation, restraint and shared responsibility, versus the rule of raw power, appetite and domination. Understood this way, the human-Rakshasa conflict becomes a mirror for something every person still struggles with today. What is Matsya Nyaya Hindu texts describe a state of nature called Matsya Nyaya, the law of the fishes. In this state, the big fish devours the small fish simply because it can. There is no concept of mercy, fairness or protection for the weak. Rakshasas are frequently shown living by exactly this logic. They take what they want, be it ...

The Ego's Comedy Show: How Pride Blocks the Path to Bliss In the grand theater of human existence, there's one character that always manages to steal the spotlight, even when it shouldn't – the ego. Like an overenthusiastic actor who refuses to leave the stage, the ego constantly interferes with life's most profound performances. According to Hindu teachings, this persistent scene-stealer is the primary obstacle preventing us from experiencing true bliss and liberation right here on Earth. The Earthly Promise of Liberation Unlike many spiritual traditions that promise salvation in distant realms, Hinduism offers something revolutionary: the possibility of achieving moksha – complete liberation – while still breathing, walking, and perhaps even enjoying a good cup of chai. This concept, known as jivanmukti (liberation while living), suggests that we don't need to wait for death to experience the ultimate freedom. The divine comedy, however, is that most of us are ...

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Saturday, November 7 2026 – It is Krishna Paksha Trayodashi tithi or the thirteenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Trayodashi tithi or the thirteenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 11 :44 AM on November 7. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi tithi or the fourteenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 10 :51 AM on November 8. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.)  Good – Auspicious time on November 7, 2026 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Hasta or Atham or Hastham nakshatra till 5:43 AM on November 7. Then onward it is Chitra or Chithirai or Chithira nakshatra till 6:21 AM on November 8. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of Indi...

Kali Tandav: The Dance of Dissolution and Awakening - Dance of Transformation as the Doorway to Truth Some truths cannot be explained - they can only be pointed toward. Kali Tandav is one such truth. It is not an event that happened once, nor a story with a beginning and an end. It is the eternal movement of Mahamaya, the infinite power through which the universe is created, sustained, dissolved, and created again. Her dance is called Tandav, and this dance is not mere motion. It is the pulse behind existence itself, the rhythm through which Kala, or time, dissolves back into its source. To call this "destruction" in the ordinary sense would be a mistake. Kali does not destroy for the sake of ending things. She transforms. Since she is creation herself, her every movement can only lead to renewal, never to true annihilation. An Everyday Example Imagine a potter working at the wheel. Before a beautiful pot can be shaped, the shapeless lump of clay must first lose its old...

Power Without Patience Is Loss: The Lesson of Shamika and Shringi in Mahabharata - A Father's Counsel In the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata, in the Astika Parva, we find the story of Rishi Shamika and his young son Shringi. King Parikshit, the grandson of Arjuna, went for hunting and became very tired and thirsty. He came to the ashram of Shamika, who was sitting in deep silence and meditation. The king asked for water, but the rishi did not reply because he was observing a vow of silence. The king felt insulted and placed a dead snake on the shoulder of the rishi. When Shringi heard about this, he became very angry. Without thinking, he cursed the king that Takshaka, the king of snakes, would bite him and he would die in seven days. Rishi Shamika then gave his son the advice which is found in Chapter 38. This advice is the main subject of this article. The Words of Shamika First Shamika first accepted that his son was powerful and always truthful. He said that Shringi never sp...

The Mind Before the Battle: Lessons from Krishna and Arjuna on Letting Go of Wrong Thought The Bhagavad Gita opens not with an answer but with a breakdown. Arjuna, the skilled warrior, stands on the battlefield of Kurukshetra and simply stops. His bow slips from his hand. He is not confused about the enemy in front of him; he is confused about himself. This is the real starting point of the Gita's teaching: a mind overwhelmed by its own thoughts. Krishna, acting as his charioteer and guide, does not immediately hand Arjuna a set of beliefs to hold onto. Instead, over the course of the dialogue, he works to dismantle the thoughts that are misleading Arjuna in the first place. A Path That Shows How to Think, Not What to Believe A true spiritual teaching rarely functions like a rulebook. It does not simply tell a person what conclusions to reach. Instead, it trains the way a person observes their own mind. This is very close to the approach found in later day Zen practice, where t...