One became the symbol of the primordial One, the divine without a second, the non-polarized existence – Sukadeva, son of Sage Vyasa, was one who had merged in Supreme Truth while living on earth. There is a famous story of Sukadeva meeting nude celestial maidens. Sukadeva wandered the forests of the Himalayas, imparting his knowledge to those who sought his wisdom. He was completely nude to the ignorant. One day he met nymphs in a merry mood, playing in a beautiful blue lake studded with water-lilies. Happy at the sight of him, they came out and greeted the young Sage. Purity was the robe he wore to cover his naked form. The nymphs too, though unclad, were not in the least abashed in his presence.A while later Sage Vyasa came by, and though he was fully dressed, the damsels who were singing and dancing below a shady tree ran in all directions to cover their shame. Surprised beyond words, the old man asked: 'How can it be that you showed no shame in the presence of my son, whose bod…

Udgitha forms the second part of Sama Veda and relates to the chanting of the songs. Meditations are helpful for the non-dualistic realization of the Supreme Brahman. They purify the mind of the seeker, present a glimpse of Brahman and can be practiced easily. Hence these are included at the beginning of Upanishads. For a normal individual, practice of Vedic rites is deep rooted and it will be very difficult to practice meditation entirely giving up the rites. Hence meditations associated with the rites are presented. Meditation on omkara through Udgitha is one such meditation given. As one starts singing Udgitha by uttering om, om is itself called Udgitha.Himkara, Udgitha, Prastava, Pratihara and Nidhana are the divisions of the Sama Veda. Udgitha is a way of singing samans. Sama is sung over the base Rik mantra. Different portions of Rik mantras are sung in different bhaktis and Udgitha is considered to be an important bhakti. It is the essence of all essences and regarded as eighth…

As the tiger devours other animals, so does the tiger of intense love and zeal for the Lord eat up lust, anger and other passions. The devotion of the gopis is the devotion of love, constant, unmixed and unflinching. – Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

Krishna, who gives delight to all and who is blissful in his own being, divided himself into as many Krishnas as there were gopis and danced and played with them. Each girl felt the divine presence and divine love of Sri Krishna. Each felt herself the most blessed. Each one’s love for Krishna was so absorbing that she felt herself one with Krishna, nay knew herself to be Krishna. And wherever their eyes fell they saw only Krishna.  – Swami Prabhavananda
The divine play of the gopis is the acme of the religion of love, in which individuality vanishes and there is communion. It is in this lila that Sri Krishna shows what he teaches, ‘Give up everything for me.’ Take shelter under Vrindavan lila to understand Bhakti. – Swami Vivekananda
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Things essential in a relationship - Advice from Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

It is because you love someone, that you give yourself… and then you start making demands on that relationship. Now, when you start demanding, love diminishes.

Three things are essential in any relationship – right perception, right observation and right expression.

Right perception can happen, when you see yourself, in the shoes of the other person – when you stand in his/her shoes and look at the situation.

Observing your own mind is essential. This observation within you – the observation of sensations, the observation of tendencies, the observation of the patterns we have – is essential.
Perception of the other, and observation of one’s self…and then comes – the right expression, or expressing one’s self in the right manner.

....................... Will Power – Sri Ramana MaharshiYour idea of will-power is success insured. Will-power should be understood to be the strength of mind which makes it capable for meetin…

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Tuesday, 18 August 2020 – Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi Tithi or the fourteenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon inHindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi Tithi or the fourteenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 9:27 AM on August 18. Then onward it is Amavasya Tithi or the no moon day till 8:03 AM on August 19. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India.All time based on India Standard Time.
Good – Auspicious time on August 18, 2020 as per Hindu Calendar –There is no good and auspicious time on the day.
Nakshatra – Pushya or Poosam or Pooyam nakshatra till 5:29 AM on August 18. Then onward it is Ashlesha or Ayilyam nakshatra till 4:52 AM on August 19. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India.)
In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Pushya or Poosam or Pooyam nakshatra till 5:44 AM on August 18. T…

Shuka Deva, son of Sage Vyasa, was light and wisdom and he was pure being. But the fatherly love of Sage Vyasa used to bring Shuka Deva out of his blissful state into the transient world. On one such occasion, Shuka Deva asked his father what he had to offer him in the way of knowledge. Vyasa at once realized that he was in the presence of a great sage. Recognizing his inability to offer his son anything, he spoke of King Janaka, great in learning and wisdom. Janaka became aware of Shuka Deva's intention to visit him and at once made plans to test the boy. The palace guards rudely refused him admission, but Shuka Deva bore the humiliation and waited for three days and nights outside the palace walls.At last King Janaka himself came with his courtiers to receive the young saint. The face of Shuka Deva was as calm as before. He was the same whether he was scorned or praised.A banquet was prepared in his honor with heavenly delights around him. There was music, there was dancing and t…

How can one act at all without ego? Will life bloom in all its fullness only when one's life is egoless? These are some of the doubts and fears which arise and from time immemorial the great seers of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) have answered these doubts and quelled the fears. Egoless life is outside the sphere of our experience. Action without the actor, a mind without sloth, and outward movement, are unknown to us and therefore we fear the logical consequence of the pursuit of self-enquiry resulting in the 'loss' of the mind in the Self. Sri Ramana Maharshi assures that in this death of the mind or ego is the birth of true life.In an egoless state one is born anew in a totally different dimension in which the fountain of joy endlessly overflows. One is, as it were, inundated by it. There is constant renewal, a totality of perception, and perfection in action.What does egoless living really mean? What is the birth and death of the ego? The rising of the I-thought of waking…

Vishaya loosely means object and in Hindu philosophy it is the term used to define all creations of this universe. Vishya is associated with both living and nonliving things.
As per Hinduism, Panchamahabutas or the five elements (sky, air, fire, water and earth) create all the things available in this world. Out of these five elements, Mayashakti or the imaginary effect of the supreme power, has created the sky (akasha). From the sky, vayu (air) was born. From the air, tejas (fire) was born. Fire energy gave birth to water, and from water earth was formed.
The eternal substances in which visheshas inhere are the atoms of the first four substances, namely earth, water, light and air.
Each of these five elements individually is called tanmatra. All the five should be mixed in a proper way to give an achit rupa. With the entry of ‘chit’ into this, life is introduced. Only then do these mixed bhutas become visible to our sense organs. This mixture is called sthula bhutas meaning visible…

The numerous demons defeated by Ganesha are in reality imperfections human beings or defects in character of humans. Human beings fail in life when are unable to control the senses and eventually they fail to defeat the various vices. Here is a list of demons (personification of human vices) defeated by Ganesha.
Uncontrolled Lust was subdued by Ganesha in his Vikata form.Anger – demon Krodha – subdued by Lambodara form of GaneshaAvarice or greed – demon Lobha – subdued by Gajanana form of GaneshaInfatuation and delusion – demon Moha – defeated by Mahodara form of GaneshaVanity – demon Mada – defeated by Ekadanta GaneshaEnvy and jealousy – demon Mata – Vakratunda form of Ganesha riding a lion defeated the demonAttachment of desire – demon Mama – annihilated by Vighnaraja form of Ganesha riding a serpent.Ego and pride – Abhimana – subdued by Dhumravarna.All these flaw in character pushes an individual back into the cycle of birth and death. Ganesha defeat these demons and helps an indivi…

Chanting a single name or 108 names or 1008 names of Lord Vishnu is of great importance in Hinduism. One who praises Lord Vishnu with his names will overcome all sorrow. The name of Vishnu is equal to the gift of ten million cows (Mahabharata 12.135.6; Stotranava, Vishnu Purana 15.5).
The repetition of any or all of the names, both with or without rosary, constitutes an important part of daily worship and is considered to be highly meritorious. These names are based on guanas or attributes (Mahabharata 12.135.13a)
The devotees of Shiva eulogize the one thousand and eight epithets of Shiva (Mahabharata 13.17). The devotees of Vishnu eulogize the one thousand epithets (Mahabharata 12.135), which are popularly known as Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra. Adi Shankaracharya’s commentary is available on this.
This is a dialogue between Bhishma and Yudhisthira in the Anusasana Parva. It consists of 142 shlokas excluding thirteen shlokas at the beginning and 22 at the end, the remaining 107 shlokas …