There is neither creation nor destruction, neither destiny nor free will, neither path or achievement. This is the final truth.

Be as you are.

Reality must be always real. It is not with forms and names. That which underlies these is the reality. It underlies limitations, being itself limitless. It is not bound. It underlies unrealities, itself being real. Reality is that which is. It is as it is. It transcends speech. It is beyond expressions ‘existence, non-existence’ etc.

You are awareness. Awareness is another name for you. Since you are awareness there is no need to attain or cultivate it. All that you have to do is to give up being aware of other things, that is of the not-Self. If one gives up being aware of them then pure awareness alone remains, and that is the Self.
Your own realisation is the best help you can give to others, but there are no others to be helped.
Work performed with attachment is a shackle, whereas work performed with detachment does not affect, the doer. He …

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Sunday, 16 August 2020 – Krishna Paksha Dwadashi Tithi or the twelfth day during the waning or dark phase of moon inHindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Dwadashi Tithi or the twelfth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 10:57 AM on August 16. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Trayodashi Tithi or the thirteenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 10:27 AM on August 17. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India.All time based on India Standard Time.

Good – Auspicious time on August 16, 2020 as per Hindu Calendar –There is no good and auspicious time on the day.
Nakshatra – Ardra or Arudara or Thiruvathira nakshatra till 5:21 AM on August 16. Then onward it is Punarvasu or Punartham nakshatra till 5:41 AM on August 17. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India.)
In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Ardra o…

Ceylon ebony is famous for its black hardwood. The tree is found throughout South India and Sri Lanka. There is a story in Hinduism that connects the reason for the black hardwood of ebony with Hanuman of Ramayana.Ceylon Ebony is also known as East Indian ebony tree.According to a tribal story in Odisha, the reason for the wood of Ceylon ebony being black, goes back to the Ramayana. Before the final battle of Ramayana took place, Hanuman arrived in Lanka to find about whereabouts of Mata Sita. He was also on a mission to survey the formidable city of Lanka.After meeting Mata Sita, Hanuman allowed himself to be captured by the soldiers of Ravana. The king of Lanka ordered that piece of cloth soaked in oil should be tied to the tail of Hanuman and lit. Ravana thought that this would burn Hanuman alive.Contrary to Ravana’s hopes, Hanuman burned the city of Lanka. After he had jumped back to safety, he removed the ash on his tail. He the wiped his blackened hands on the Ceylon ebony tree …

Rishi Manakanaka, son of Vayu and Sukanya, through his asceticism and penances came to be known in the three worlds. This rishi was also the progenitor of the 49 maruts. It is said that on one occasion of kusha grass turned the blood of Rishi Manakanaka into vegetable juice.One day, when Rishi Manakanaka was returning after his morning prayers from the Saraswati River, his hand got pierced with the blade of Kusha grass and instead of blood, vegetable juice flowed from the wound.Sage Manakanaka was happy at this miracle and danced with joy. Watching him dance, all the creatures, mobile and immobile started dancing non-stop.The dancing of all the living beings caused imbalance on earth. Brahma requested Shiva to stop the dancing of Rishi Manakanaka.Shiva in disguise visited Rishi Manakanaka and asked him the reason for his non-stop dancing.Rishi informed him about the vegetable juice from wound incident.Shiva smiled and took a kusha grass and created a wound on his thumb and ashes white…

Dispassion and renunciation comprise the key to inner peace. This peace alone makes happiness possible. Without peace there is no happiness. Thus it is clear, that anyone who wants peace and happiness must cultivate vairagya and tyaga. Attachment and selfishness constitute terrible bondage. Vairagya eradicates attachment. Tyaga cuts at the root of selfishness. They make you free and bring you peace and joy.
Life is a great and sublime yajna. Yajna means self-offering, a noble giving of oneself for the good and the benefit of others. Paropakara is the overall governing principle of man’s life. You can engage yourself in doing good to others, in bringing happiness into the lives of others, only when you shed your selfishness. This is real renunciation. The secret of renunciation is the renunciation of selfishness, egoism and personal desires. Renounce personal selfishness and live in the world, enjoying what providence brings to you as your due.
Swami Chidananda Saraswati (1916 – 2008) …

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Saturday, 15 August 2020 – Krishna Paksha Ekadashi Tithi or the eleventh day during the waning or dark phase of moon inHindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Ekadashi Tithi or the eleventh day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 10:57 AM on August 15. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Dwadashi Tithi or the twelfth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 10:57 AM on August 16. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India.All time based on India Standard Time.

Good – Auspicious time on August 15, 2020 as per Hindu Calendar –There is no good and auspicious time on the day.
Nakshatra – Mrigasira or Makayiram or Mrigashirsha nakshatra till 4:34 AM on August 15. Then onward it is Ardra or Arudara or Thiruvathira nakshatra till 5:21 AM on August 16. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India.)
In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Raja…

Chandi Charitra is a poem on Goddess Chandi in Sikh literature. It is part of Dasam Granth in Sikhism. Dasam Granth, also known as Dasven Padshah Ka Granth (Book of the Tenth Emperor) or Bachitar Natak Granth, contains texts composed by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

There are two Chandi Charitra in Dasam Granth. The first one is titled Chandi Charitra Ukati BilasThe second one is titled Chandi Charitra. Chandi Charitara Ukati Bilas Chandi Charitar Ukati Bilas begins with the supplication of the poet for the Goddess with the words: Illumine me with good intellect, so that I may compose Thy wonderful deeds. There are 233 stanzas in this poem, composed mostly in dohas and savayyas. The narration is distributed in eight cantos.
Chandi Charitra Ukati Bilas ends with words hailing the victory of the Goddess and Indra, this clearly suggests that this poem is the adaptation of Durga Saptasati of Markandeya Purana.
The Charitra ends with the noteworthy stanza: “O Goddess! Grant me th…

The story of Sage Narada twisting Raginis (the personalized forms of the various Ragas) with pride is found in the Linga Purana. Narada, the spotless Nada-Yogin, once began to develop the pride about his knowledge and proficiency in music. The all-knowing Lord Narayana wanted to prick the bubble of pride at the earliest. Assuming mischievous innocence He asked Narada to accompany Him in His daily journey through the universe. Sage Narada did without any hesitation.On their way Narada was horrified by what he saw at one place. There he saw a host of celestial damsels. But the pity of it! Each and every one of them was lying maimed and mutilated.Narada asked the Lord who the damsels were and how their limbs came to be so terribly twisted, contorted and injured. The All-knowing Lord sported ignorance. Seemingly guileless He told Narada: "Yes, I too am puzzled to see these damsels in this ghastly plight. But I don't know anything about them. So you please go to them and get first…

Yayati, son of Nahusha, was an eminent king of the lunar dynasty. He was so wise, just and righteous that his realm was free from passion and decay.
Once, while he was returning from the hunt, he heard a wail from a well. He went to help and rescued a girl who, however became enamored of him and disclosed herself as Devayani, daughter of Shukracharya, the teacher of demons. She explained that she had been pushed into the well by Sharmistha, daughter of the king of demons. Devayani prevailed upon her father to give her in marriage to Yayati. In order to appease Shukracharya for the insult perpetuated on Devayani, the demon king had to surrender his daughter Sharmistha to work as a servant of Devayani. Both the maidens went with Yadu to his palace.
Two sons, Yadu and Turvasu, were born to Devayani and Yayati, of whom Yadu became the founder of the Yadava dynasty.
Later, however, Yayati, succumbed to the charms of the maid Sharmishta, who bore him three sons, Druhya, Anudruhya and Puru.
…

The more you try to forget something, the more you remember it. You cannot forget anything. Any conscious attempt to forget strengthens the thought; you remember it all the more.
To forget any thought, do not think about it, think about something else. That is, put your mind somewhere else, then the mind goes away from the unwanted thought. If certain memories are not pleasant, get away from them by putting the mind on something more sublime. That is why in spiritual life you are asked to think of God, repeat God’s name even when you are disturbed by some memory.
To blot out a memory, think of something which is closer to your heart and soul. . . . Simply telling the mind not to entertain a thought does not stop it, give it something better, something more divine, something more precious, and the mind holds on to that.
Keeping the mind on some divine thought, divine name, is of great spiritual significance; psychologically it helps us a lot; you can avoid many problems, many difficu…