Gandhari in the Mahabharata was the wife of blind king Dhritarashtra. She gave birth to 101 children. Gandhari was an ardent devotee of Shiva and she had the blessing that she will become a mother of 101 children.

When Gandhari came to know that her chosen husband Dhritarashtra was blind, she took the wow that she will remain blindfolded for her entire life. Why she took the vow still remains a mystery? Was it out of protest of getting her married off to a blind man? Or was it out of self sacrifice denying herself the eyesight which her husband was denied from birth?

Dhritarashtra wanted to have a child before his younger Pandu had one, as he wanted his child to become the next king of Hastinapura.

Gandhari did not give birth even after 9 months of pregnancy.

Meanwhile, Kunti, wife of Pandu, gave birth to Yudhishtira.

Gandhari grew jealous and fearful. She pushed her stomach so hard that from her uterus appeared a large lump of flesh.

Sage Vyasa appeared at Hastinapur and told Gandh…

Shiva as Ardhanarishvara is half-woman half-man. Story of Sage Bhringi and Ardhnarishwar form of Shiva is found in Tamil culture. Legend has it that Sage Bhringi once went to Kailash to pay darshan to Shiva. He wanted to circumambulate Shiva.
But Goddess Parvati was always with Shiva and the sage was not ready to circumambulate Goddess Parvati.
Now Goddess Parvati was not ready to make way for the sage and She sat on the lap of Shiva. This made it impossible for the sage to circumambulate only Shiva.
Sage Bhringi then took the form of a bee to fly around the head of Shiva.
But Goddess Parvati merged with Shiva and the divine couple became Ardhanarishwar. This is believed to be the origin of Ardhanarishwar.
The legend continues… and it is said that the sage took the form a worm and entered the body of Ardhanarishwar and created hole and circumambulated only Shiva.
Goddess Parvati became furious and cursed Bhringi to lose his flesh and blood. The sage was reduced to a skeleton and co…

Here is a collection of Janmashtami Mantra. As usual some of them are very rare mantras and rarely used. When it comes to Janmashtami Mantra, the most popular and most powerful mantra is the simple ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.’
A collection of 10 mantras for Sri Krishna Janmashtamiऊंनमोभगवतेवासुदेवायनम:  Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya
ॐ नमो देवकी यशोदा नन्दनाय नमः  Om Namo Devaki Yashoda Nandanaya Namah
ॐश्रींह्रींक्लींग्लौंदेवकीसुतगोविन्दवासुदेवजगत्पतेदेहिमेतनयंकृष्णत्वामहंशरणंगतः Om shreem hreem kleem gleem devakisuta govinda vasueva jagatpate dehi mein Tanya Krishna twaham sharanam gat.

योगेश्वराययोगसम्भवाययोगपतायेगोविन्दायनमोनमः Yogeshwaraya yogsambhavaya yogapataye Govindaya namo namah
ॐ गोविन्दाय नमः  Om Govindaya Namah
यज्ञेश्वराययज्ञसम्भवाययज्ञपतयेगोविन्दायनमोनमः Yajneshwaraya yajnasambhavaya yajnapataye Govindaya namo namah
ॐ दामोदराय नमः  Om Namo Damodaraya Namah
वीश्वायविश्वेश्वरायविश्वसम्भवायविश्वपतयेगोविन्दायनमोनमः Vishwaya Vishwesharaya Vishwathambavaya Vishwapataye Govinda…

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Tuesday, 27 August 2019 – 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 Ekadashi Tithi or the eleventh day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 12:34 AM on August 27. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Dwadashi Tithi or the twelfth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 10:52 PM on August 27. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Trayodashi Tithi or the thirteenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 8:51 PM on August 28. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India.)All time based on India Standard Time.
Good – Auspicious time on August 27, 2019, as per Hindu Calendar –There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.
Nakshatra –Punarvasu or Punartham Nakshatra till 10:46 PM on August 27. Then onward it is Pushya or Poosam or Pooyam Nakshsatra till 9:31 PM on August 28. (Time applicable in n…

TungnathTemple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva and is located in Uttarakhand and is around a 3-hour trek from Chopta, which is on the road between Badrinath and Kedarnath. Tungnath shrine is the second temple in the Panch Kedar Pilgrimage and is located at an altitude of 12,000 ft the highest among the Panch Kedar temples but is the easiest to trek. It is believed that the legs of the bull form of Shiva appeared at Tungnath. The naturally formed ‘arm’ or Swayambhu Bhuja of Shiva is worshipped here.
The glory of the Tungnath temple is mentioned in the Skanda Purana. Shiva tells Parvati that whoever has darshan and seeks the blessings at Tungnath attains spiritual salva­tion irrespective of where he dies. Another legend states that Vishnu got his Sudarshan Chakra after meditating here. Like the other Panch Kedar temples, Tungnath was also built by the Pandavas.

In a calendar year, the Tungnath temple is only open from April to October. The temple remains closed during the winter period …

Maa Bhuvaneshwari is the fourth among the Dasa Mahavidyas – the 10 Mother Goddess concept in Hinduism and Tantrism. Goddess Bhuvaneshwari is the cause of all existence and the entire cosmos is her body. Bhuvaneshwari Beej Mantra is chanted for getting the blessings of Mother Goddess to overcome life difficulties. Bhuvaneshwari Beej Mantra Text in Hindi and English Om Hreem Bhuvaneshwaraye Hreem Namah ॐ ह्रीं भुवनेश्वरीये ह्रीं नमः  Benefits of Chanting Bhuvaneshwari Beej Mantra The mantra helps a spiritual devotee know the vast unknown in the outside and the unknown within. The mantra helps a devotee see the subtle link that connects the entire cosmos. The mantra helps in sharpening the intellect. It helps in developing better IQ and memory power.

This article deals with a short history of the famous Sun Temple at Modhera.

The History of the Sun Temple at Modhera in Gujarat begins in 1025 AD. The temple was built during 1025 – 1026 AD by ‎King Bhimdev of the Solanki Dynasty. The area where the sun temple is located is mentioned in the Puranas and the place was then known as Dharmaranya. It is believed that Bhagavan Sri Ram performed penance here on the advice of Sage Vasishta to get rid of the sin of killing Ravana.

Mahmud of Ghazni, the barbarian, plundered and destroyed Somnath Shiv Mandir and numerous other Hindu temples in the region in 1025 AD. The attack weakened the Solanki Dynasty. It lost its power and glory. The Solankis, the merchants and the Hindus of the region decided to win back their glory and self respect by raising beautiful Hindu temples.

Solanki’s belong to the Sun Dynasty and therefore they decided to build a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Surya, their family deity.

The intricately carved temple, the …

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Monday, 26 August 2019 – 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 Dashami Tithi or the tenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 1:55 AM on August 26. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Ekadashi Tithi or the eleventh day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 12:34 AM on August 27. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India.)All time based on India Standard Time.
Good – Auspicious time on August 26, 2019, as per Hindu Calendar –There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.
Nakshatra – Mrigasira or Makayiram or Mrigasheersham Nakshatra till 12:18 AM on August 26. Then onward it is Ardra or Arudhara or Thiruvathira Nakshatra till 11:42 PM on August 26. Then onward it is Punarvasu or Punartham Nakshatra till 10:46 PM on August 27. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India…

Swargita Sambalkara Yogam is associated with astrology and personal horoscope. Person having this yoga in his/her horoscope is destined to become rich. It is believed that even if a person is born in a poor family, but if the person has Swargita Sambalkara Yogam in horoscope he will become rich.

Swargita Sambalkara Yoga is there when a person is born when Chandra is in Mesha Rashi or Medam Rashi; Shani in Kumbha Rashi; Aditya or Sun in Dhanu Rashi and Shukra in Makar Rashi.
A person born when Brihaspati and Chandra is in Karka Rashi and Shani is in 2nd house will become rich through business.
Similarly if Shukra is located at the Birth Rashi or Birth nakshatra such a person will only also make lot of money.

A collection of quotes from Uttara Ramayana

Just as, carried by the air, the fragrance of the flowers enters the nostrils, even so, the heart engaged in the practice of the devotion to Me (Bhagvan Sri Ram) becomes one with Me. Failing to recognize this, the fools remain extrovert.
Dry rituals fail to please Me.
Good for nothing is the worship unto My Murti by the people who insult, hurt, harm or injure other living beings.
My Murti need to be worshipped till the realization of My presence in all living beings including oneself.
He who finds no difference between his soul and the Supreme Soul is never afraid of death.
A wise devotee should respect all animate and inanimate, as the same soul is embodied in all.
Wise devotee should not find distinction between individual soul and supreme soul.