Sri Aurobindo (15 August 1872 – 5 December 1950), also known as Yogi Arvind, was an Indian philosopher, yoga guru, maharishi, poet, and Indian nationalist. His birth anniversary is annually held on August 15. In 2022, it is the 150th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo Ghosh (Yogi Aravind). Brilliant scholar, revolutionary, spiritual visionary – the worldview of Sri Aurobindo gives each individual a meaningful place in a progressive cosmic unfolding and casts our understanding of human endeavor in a new and purposeful perspective.  The day is observed in centers around the world associated with Sri Aurobindo especially at Auroville in Pondicherry, India. Various programs on the day include scholarly meetings, speeches by eminent personalities, satsangs, reading from the collected works of Aurobindo, and food donation. Wholly educated in England along with his two brothers, he was given an entirely Western education by their Anglophile father. After infant schooling at a convent in Dar

Four kinds of virtuous men worship Me, O Arjuna: the distressed, the seeker of knowledge, the seeker of material prosperity and, O Prince of the Bharata race, the wise. (Bhagavad Gita Chapter VII verse 16) As a class quite distinct from those men of asuric or evil nature, mentioned in the previous verse, Sri Krishna now deals with men of virtuous tendencies. All men belonging to this class believe in God and a life eternal. But not all have the same strong and pure faith in God. Nor are they all impelled by the same pure and lofty motive in seeking God and taking refuge in Him. Sri Krishna, therefore, divides them into four classes, each class characterized by a predominant motive. First are mentioned the distressed. It is when we are in trouble or pain, in suffering or distress, that we look for help and comfort. We may feel quite strong and independent so long as all goes well. But let misfortune visit us; then we realize that after all it is not easy to stand firm on our feet. O

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Saturday, 20 August 2022 – It is Krishna Paksha Navami tithi or the ninth day during waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Ashtami tithi or the eighth day during waning or dark phase of moon till 1:05 AM on August 20. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Navami tithi or the ninth day during waning or dark phase of moon till 2:26 AM on August 21. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on August 20, 2022 as per Hindu Calendar – Good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Karthika or Krittika or Karthigai nakshatra till 4:58 AM on August 20 . Then onward it is Rohini nakshatra till 5:36 AM on August 21. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), it is Karthika or Krittika or

Chengannur Mahadeva temple is located in the heart of Chengannur town in Alappuzha district, Kerala. There is a popular belief that a divine snake resides in a hole in the western wall of the temple. The temple is also famous for the Goddess worshipped in the temple getting periods(menstruation) . An Azhwar, who was an ardent devotee of Vishnu, challenged a local boy, who was the son of a poison doctor, to prove the greatness of Goddess in the temple and the power of the family over serpents or nagas. The family was famous for curing poison related problems and was an ardent devotee of the Goddess. The family could predict the arrival of poison related incidents and could say which snake had bitten. That night the boy prayed to the Goddess to prove her presence in the shrine. Goddess appeared in the dream of the boy and told him that in a pipe in her granary a snake was living. The boy took out the pipe and challenged the Azhwar to make the snake come out of the pipe. Though the

Bhima, the second brother among the Pandavas in the Mahabharata, is worshipped in Nepal as a deity. In Nepal, Bhimsen or Bhimsena is the Hindu God of trade especially among the Newar community. The deity is depicted with legs astride and he holds a long club or gada (mace). He wears a headgear and wears long clothes. He is worshipped in the first floor of a temple and is sometimes depicted as annihilating demons, which are symbolically wises in human beings. The belief is that those who worship Bhimsen achieve profit in business and the deity also protects business interests of the worshipper throughout the world. For this reason, murti of Bhimsen are typically carried to by Newar business community wherever their business operates in the world. Lion is the vehicle of Bhima in Nepal and it can be seen in Bhimsen temples.

Alappuzha Chandanakkavu Saraswathi temple is located in Alappuzha town in Kerala. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Saraswathi, the Goddess of learning, arts and music in Hindu religion. The temple was earlier known as Annavi Veedu Saraswathi Kshetram. Alappuzha Chandanakkavu Saraswathi – History As per history the temple was built by Saiva Vellalars who arrived here from Tamil Nadu during ancient times. They arrived here from Sankarankovil. The murti of Goddess Saraswati belonged to Annavi family, who were famous for poojas, jyotish and Ayurveda. Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Bhadra were their family deity. The upa devatas worshipped in the temple are Ganapathi, Shiva, Valkannadi, Karnavar, Paradesi and Yakshi. A Muslim Sufi - Siddha who was a friend of the family head who built the shrine is worshipped here in the form of Kapiri, The temple is famous for Ezhuthiniruthu or Vidyarambham held on the Vijayadashami day after the nine-day Navratri festival. Ashtami, Pooja Vaippu a

Jara Marna literally means old age and death and it is an important teaching and concept in Hinduism. the Bhagavad Gita declares, “jatasya hi dhruvo mrityuh” – to one who is born death is certain (11.27). But the born does not die immediately. The born lives, grows, undergoes some vikaras (transformations) in life and then finally breathes his last. Six transformations are generally noted – Jayate (one is born) Asti (one exists) Vardhate (one grows) Viparinamate (one undergoes physical changes for the worse) Apakshiyate (one declines) Vinashyati (one dies). Once is born in this world again. Gradually one grows from infancy to childhood and then to boyhood. In youth, one works enthusiastically to earn in order to make one’s family and relatives happy and satisfied. But an advanced stage is destined to come. It arrives when one realizes that strength is waning. The various parts of the body – bones, their joints, flesh, blood, the respiratory and blood-circulations system

Who Is A True Religious Teacher – Hindu Religion Answers is an article sourced from the August 1903 Issue of the Prabuddha Bharata titled ‘A Religious Teacher’ by Advaitin. The position of a religious teacher is undoubtedly a great one: great in its responsibilities and great in its possibilities. The number of men fitted for it by character and attainment is comparatively small, for the glowing words of a man convinced of truth, whose heart is aflame with love, can alone penetrate and awaken the souls of others.  Yet no class of men is more welcome in our midst when coming thoroughly equipped in mind and body, seeing that in no country is the religious spirit stronger than in that which has been nurtured in the tradition of the ancient Rishis. No one can question the value of that weighty influence which an experienced and sagacious teacher knows how to exercise at the right moment; the influence which a teacher can, and should, exercise, especially in our great cities, inasmuch as

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Friday, 19 August 2022 – It is Krishna Paksha Ashtami tithi or the eighth day during waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Saptami tithi or the seventh day during waning or dark phase of moon till 12:14 AM on August 19. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Ashtami tithi or the eighth day during waning or dark phase of moon till 1:05 AM on August 20. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on August 19, 2022 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Bharani nakshatra till 3:24 AM on August 19 . Then onward it is Karthika or Krittika or Karthigai nakshatra till 4:58 AM on August 20. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), it is Karthik

Srivatsa Yog is considered a good and auspicious period in Hindu astrology. This yog is calculated based on nakshatra or birth star. The time period of the yog is till the end of nakshatra on the particular day. Srivatsa Yog benefits include better luck, victory and success. The time period is good for making all kinds of investments. It is good for participating in spiritual matters and all things associated with religion and temple. It is ideal for moving into new rented house and also for any kind of first meeting. It is also good for opening of shops and starting construction etc. Srivatsa Yog happens when Pushya or Poosam or Pooyam nakshatra falls on Sunday or Ravivar Uttara Phalguni or Uthiram nakshatra falls on Monday or Somvar Vishaka or Vishakam nakshatra falls on Tuesday or Mangalwar Purvashada or Pooradam nakshatra falls on Wednesday or Budhwar Dhanishta or Sravishta or Avittam nakshatra falls on Thursday or Guruvar Revati nakshatra falls on Friday or Shukrawar Rohini