Aditya Hridaya Stotra is a hymn dedicated to Surya (Sun God) in Valmiki Ramayana. Aditya Hridaya consists of 31 verses and is found in the 107th chapter of Yuddha Kanda of Ramayan. This is a pdf version of the text  of Aditya Hridaya Stotra in Sanskrit. It was narrated to Lord Rama by Sage Agastya to energize him in the battle against Ravana. Link – Aditya Hridaya Stotra Related Aditya Hridaya Stotra English translation with meaning

Swami Ramananda Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Sant Ramananda, a Vaishnava Saint and reviver of the Ramanandi sect. Swami Ramananda Jayanti 2024 date is February 2. It is observed annually on the Magh Krishna Paksha Saptami day – seventh day during the waning phase of moon in Magh month in Hindu calendar followed in North India . Swami Ramananda (1400–1476) was the Guru of Sant Kabir and also of Guru Ravidas. Swamiji was also a social reformer and pioneer of Bhakti movement in North India . He spread the teaching of Sri Ram and taught people the futility of caste system by pointing out that Sri Ram did not differentiate between people and welcomed all people. 

Today we are afraid to discuss matters pertaining to sex. We think sexuality pertains to a part of our personality which is dirty and despicable, and that it is best to suppress or ignore it, and thereby it will disappear. But this is not the answer… you do not free yourself of this powerful drive simply by crushing and trampling it; rather its roots itself deeper and deeper in your consciousness. This attitude towards sex is responsible for innumerable inner conflicts. The pleasure of passion and lust, which man is unable to control, comprehend or express, has led to countless, severe cases of neuroses, mental instability, fear, anxiety, stress, psychosis, sexual disorders, lack of confidence and insecurity. The fault lies not in the individual, but in religious and moral beliefs, which have preached the infamy of sex. Man has been brainwashed for hundreds of years into believing that sex is certainly sinful, evil and also anti-spiritual. Swami Satyasangananda Related Anandmurti

Russian Hindus Won the Battle of Dharma when a Judge at the Tomsk court in Siberia  in Russia dismissed the plea to brand Holy Bhagavad Gita an extremist literature and ban it. The prosecutors had asked for a ban on the Russian translation of ‘Bhagavad Gita As It Is’ written by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).  "Yato Dharma Tato Jaya" – Where there is righteousness, there is victory. Times of India reports "The court has dismissed the state prosecutors' case during the hearing today," Sadhu Priya Das, a leader of the Russian unit of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon), told IANS on the phone from Moscow .  The case has been going on in the Tomsk city court since June. Bhagavad Gita is a book for all. It is a holy book that is universal. It is dedicated to the welfare of all living beings. ‘Bhagavad-Gita is a true scripture of the human r

Shukastala, also known as Shukratal, is a holy place located on the banks of Ganga River in Uttar Pradesh. It is believed that Shuka Muni narrated the Srimad Bhagavad Purana here to the Parikshit Maharaj. There is a very old Vata Vriksha here and it is believed that Shuka Maharishi sat under this tree and narrated the Bhagavad Purana. Legend has it that Parikshit Maharaj was cursed that he will be bitten by Takshak Snake and killed. To escape from it and to attain Moksha, Shuka Muni narrated the Srimad Bhagavad Purana. It is believed that reading or listening to Srimad Bhagavata Purana helps in redemption of sin and attaining Moksha. There is a temple dedicated to Shuka Muni here. Shakuntala is around 24 km from Muzaffarnagar. It is around 120 km from Haridwar and 100 km from New Delhi .

Aryaman is a Vedic God mentioned in the Vedas. He is rarely worshipped today in Hinduism. Today, He is only invoked during rare vedic yajna performed in Hindu religion and also during Shradh. He is one among the Adityas and is associated with chivalry, honor, nobility and rules of society. The name Aryaman means a ‘devoted friend’ or ‘Gentleman.’  There are several verses dedicated to Aryaman in the Rig Veda. He is the son of Aditi. Aryaman maintains the code of conduct in the society. He protects the honor of men and women in the society. He has the last word in marriages and in the maintenance of tradition, custom and religion in the Vedic society. All rituals, relationships created and maintained in society are governed by Aryaman. As all social relationships were governed by Aryaman, he was considered as the great ancestor. He was the king of ancestors. Offerings are made to him as part Shradh rituals. A part of offerings made to ancestors reach Aryaman.

Shadaram birth anniversary is annually held in Paush month (December – January) at the famous Shadani Darbar in Ghotki in Sindh in Pakistan . Shadaram is believed to be a manifestation of Hindu God Shiva. It is the 316th birth anniversary of Holy saint Shadaram in 2024. Legend has it that According to the legend, Ghulam Shah Kalhoro, the ruler of Sindh, intimidated Hindus in 1700. Perturbed by his actions, Hindus prayed to Shiva at Mathelo. One night the Sarpanch of the area saw Shiva in his dream. Shiva told him that he had taken birth in the form of Shadaram in Lahore and would come to Mathelo for their salvation. Shri Shadaram came to Mathelo in 1768 and called forth Dhuni Saheb there. When Kalhoro insulted a Hindu widow, Shri Shadaram cursed the ruler, saying that Kalhoro would lose the kingdom. Shri Shadaram’s words came true and Kalhoro lost his kingdom and died in misery. After that Shadaram shifted to Hayat Pitafi and laid the foundation of the Shadani Darbar.

Located in the Shivalik Mountains , origin Point of Saraswati River is near the Adi Badrinath Temple in Yamunanagar District in Haryana. There is a kund or pond here which is believed to be the starting point of Saraswati River . Shri Saraswati Udgam Sthal is located around 15 km from the famous Kapal Mochan Tirth in Bilaspur. The temple of Adi Badri is of great significance. It is believed that River Saraswati flowed from here during the Satya, Treta and Dwapar yuga. The River disappeared in the Kali Yuga. According to Mahabharata, Saraswati River dried up on account of a curse by the Sage Utathya. Apart from the  Adi   Badri   Temple  the place also has a temple dedicated to Shiva – a naturally formed Shivling believed to be Adi Kedarnath. There is also a  temple  of  Goddess Mantra Devi .

As long as you identify your self with this body, you will feel miserable. Atman is not the body, sense, or ego. It is due to ignorance that you are affected by these worldly sorrows. When you dream of something it seems real as long as the dream lasts. Similarly, to a man who always thinks of the senses and the pleasures derived there from, this world seems real. If good deeds are done with a sense of ego, they only bind you to this world. So to gain knowledge you should work without the least trace of pride. Pure knowledge is that which kills all desires and attachments. Any work with a particular motive behind it should be given up, it only binds you to the cycle of birth and death. It is harmful for your attaining real knowledge. Prompted by anger man kills his own mother, father, brother, friends and relations. He will often have occasion to repent of actions done under the impulse of anger. It is anger that binds him to Samsara. Anger it is that destroys one’s vir

The book tilted ‘Lagna Vidhi, Vishwas ane Virasat’ – Marriage ceremony, faith and tradition – is written by Ashok Patel, lecturer at SUG, a B Ed college in Ahmedabad. He has documented 72 rituals associated with Gujarati Marriage ceremony. The book explains the reason behind various customs and rituals held during the marriage. Times of India reports Patel studied four Vedas, vedic literature and Manusmruti to document this book on wedding titled Lagna Vidhi, Vishwas ane Virasat ( Marriage ceremony, faith and tradition). "This book explains the logic behind the rituals. And understanding the link between the two enables the youth to respect our customs, rituals and tradition," said Patel.  "I planned to write the book to explain the process of marriage to my future daughter-in-law and son who live in Australia ," he added. An NRG has ordered 1,500 copies of the book as it ably captures the Hindu wedding ceremony with its 72 rituals and many of the expatriat

Subramanya Sahasranamam is a prayer dedicated to Hindu God Subramanya – also known as Muruga or Kartik. This prayer contains the several names of Subramanya. The text is in pdf format and is in Hindi. The prayer is chanted daily by Muruga devotees and also during monthly Muruga Sashti Fasting. Link - Subramanya Sahasranamam

Shri Devnarayan believed to be an incarnation of Hindu God Vishnu is worshipped in Rajasthan and northwestern Madhya Pradesh. He is worshipped by the Gujjar community and He is appeared to protect the community. Legend has it that Vishnu appeared as Devnarayan to fulfill the promise that he gave Saadu Maata Gurjari. 

Located at Arnai in Kurukshetra, Arunay Temple is dedicated to Shiva. But the place is sacred and holy as it is the confluence of Saraswati River and Arunay River . The place is located around six kilometers from Pehowa. Arunay Temple attracts thousands of devotees on Shivratri night in Phalgun month. The temple festival and fair held during Shivratri is very famous.

The attempt to get Bhagavad Gita banned in Russia is nothing but an example of religious intolerance and insecurity among certain elements in societies around the world who are unable to digest individual freedom, free thinking and diverse thoughts. Gita extols the individual to think and act in a manner that befits his/her Dharma. Gita does not ask anyone to follow a particular pattern of life neither does it support any group formation or religion. It’s a dialogue between Supreme Truth (represented by Sri Krishna) and man (represented by Arjuna). This dialogue has been taking place from time immemorial and will continue for ever. No ban can stop it. The arguments put forwarded by Russian prosecutors to ban Gita are – it creates social discord; extremist in nature and hatred for other religious belief. One can only laugh at the above arguments. Some reason challenging to human intelligence would have at least given some food for thought. These arguments sound childish - sor

Kuchanur Saneeswaran Temple at Kuchanur in Theni in Tamilnadu is a famous Shani Temple . The Sani Peyarchi Festival at this famous Navagraha Shani Temple is held for Shani Dosha Parihara. To get information devotees can contact in this telephone number – 04546-321108. This transit is observed as Sani Peyarchi Festival at Shani Temples in Tamilnadu. Kuchanur, near Chinnamanur in Theni district is one of the famous temples in south Tamil Nadu, which has a shrine exclusively for Lord Saneeswaran.   The murti is seen in the form of a linga and the shrine is based on the banks of the river Surabhi.   Devotees can obtain information about the special poojas by contacting the following number- 04546-321108.

Change is a wave… surf it. The basis of life is absolute freedom. The purpose of life is absolute joy. The essence of wisdom is to be aware of love. To be in awe of love. The most important aspect of all in every Genius, is the complete alignment of their whole being with their life mission. A Genius focus exclusively on thoughts that strengthen that mission. They mentally cancel all other ideas immediately, and persistently. Nithya Shanti is an inspirational speaker, writer Related Teachings from Subhashitas

Located at Kurukshetra in Haryana, Kamal Nabhi Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu and Brahma. The sacred spot is associated with creation in Hindu tradition - Brahma atop lotus from navel of Vishnu. It is located near Thanesar town and is around 3 km from Kurukshetra Railway Station. As per Hindu tradition, after the great deluge, Srihari Vishnu alone floats atop a banyan leaf. Jagadamba (Goddess Shakti) appears before the Vatapatrasayi  Vishnu and reminds him that it is time for the next cycle of creation. Then from the navel of Vishnu appears a lotus with Brahma atop it . Kamal Nabhi Temple at Kurukshetra is based on this divine event. The temple has numerous images of Brahma and Vishnu. A sacred tank is located near the temple. 

Sannihit Sarovar is an important sacred pond in Kurukshetra in Haryana. The belief is that it is formed by the merging of all the rivers in the world and some legend has it that seven Saraswati rivers merge here. Bathing in the Sannihit Tirth on Amavasya, or no moon day, in Hindu lunar calendar is considered highly auspicious. Legend has it that all the rivers of the world complained to Vishnu that they were polluted due to humans washing their sins in them. Vishnu as a solution asked them to collect in the Sannihit Sarovar on Amavasya day and get all the sins removed. Thus Sannihit Sarovar became a holy spot for those looking for redemption of sins. There are numerous temples located near the Sarovar – the most famous among them is that of Laxminarayan Temple . Other temples are of Hanuman, Durga, Dhruv and Vishnu. There is also a Birla Mandir nearby. Sannihit Sarovar is located near the Kurukshetra Railway Station.

Narkatari Temple at Kurukshetra in Haryana is believed to the spot where Bhishma lied down on a bed of arrows after he was defeated by Arjuna in the battle of the Kurukshetra in the Mahabharata. There is a holy tank or Kund known as Bhishma kund and a small temple here. It is around 2 km from Thanesar on the Kurukshetra-Pehowa road. Bhishma Narkatari Temple and pond is of great significance as Arjuna brought Ganga as a spring from the ground here using his arrows to quench the thirst of Bhishma. It is at the same spot, Bhishma gave numerous advices to Yudhishtira and the other Pandavas regarding worldly conduct and how to rule to a kingdom. It is at the same spot, Bhishma finally died as he had got the boon that he will only die when he wished to die.  

The Anjani Mahadev Temple near Solang Ski Slopes in Manali Himachal Pradesh is witnessing huge number of devotees due to the formation of a holy ice Shivling. The Shiva Lingam starts forming in the first week of November and grows by four to six inches every day and would grow up to 30 feet during the winter season. The temple is around 13 km from Manali. Times of India reports The place was discovered by Baba Prakash Puri two decades ago. A temple has now been built and several hermits live here. Manali Anjani Mahadev The Anjani Mahadev temple at Kullu is also known as  Amarnath of Kullu or Chota Amarnath. The Shivling is here formed just like the Ice Shivling formed in the famous Amarnath Cave in Jammu and Kashmir . The temple is named after Anjana mother of Lord Hanuman. The belief is that Anjani meditated here and did penance to please Shiva. She performed penance here to get Hanuman as her son. The water that flows through the mountain here turns into

Most people don't know how to handle their life here. Why are they pursuing life after death? What is the point? Anything that is not in your experience, there is no way to understand and analyze. This needs to be extremely clear to every individual. People are always trying to understand life after death. You cannot understand anything which is in a different dimension than you are right now. The whole effort is to move to a different dimension. If that needs to happen, first you must stop understanding. You have to see that you cannot understand, and that there is no need to understand. It is the experience which takes you out of this dimension. You cannot understand the other dimension. See, people are always talking about how God is, how heaven is. This will not lead you anywhere except to hallucinations. The only thing that you need to understand is how you are bound to your limitations. If you understand this and free yourself from those bondages, where you have to go you w

God brings favourable circumstances in life to encourage us. He brings adversities to caution against becoming haughty; illness to teach us not to be unrestrained in diet; health to serve mankind and to know Him. Make efforts to please the Lord dwelling within you. You can never please all people having different opinions. When God within you is pleased, people will automatically be pleased with you. People, who become sad in unfavorable circumstances and happy in favorable ones, are comparable to iron. Those, who remain happy in adverse circumstances, are comparable to gold. Those, who remain in perfect equanimity in favorable or unfavorable circumstances, are like precious gems. But the rare ones, who are beyond the reach of happiness and sorrow, are the true emperors. Sant Asaram Bapuji

A sacred lake, Brahma Sarovar at Kurukshetra in Haryana is believed to be spot from where Brahma created living beings on earth. It is also and important bathing spot during Surya Grahan, or Solar Eclipse. Brahma Sarovar is around 1 km from Kurukshetra Railway Station. There are two islands in Brahma Sarovar. There are numerous temples on the islands and there is holy tirth known as Chitrakupam on one of the islands. Sarveshwar Mahadev Temple , Birla Gita Mandir and Baba Sharwannath’s Temple are located here. Thousands of people take holy dip in the sarovar on the Amavasya day – no moon day – in Hindu lunar calendar. It is believed that bathing on Amavasya day will help in redemption of sins. Brahma Sarovar also attracts thousands of devotees during Gita Jayanti day. Special aarti and satsangs are held during the period. Related Holy Bath in Brahma Sarover in Kurukshetra during Surya Grahan

Lakshminarayan Temple in Kurukshetra is located on the banks of the Sannihit Sarover. The temple is located near the Sri Krishna Museum . The Laxmi Narain is a small temple but it is noted for its elegant architecture. The Temple is surrounded by temples of Dhruv Narain, Vishnu, Hanuman and Goddess Durga. The temple attracts maximum visitors during the Amavasya day. Thousands of people arrive to take bath at the Sannihit pond and worship in the temples on the banks of it.

Dasamahavidya is the ten forms of Goddess Shakti worshipped in Hindu Tradition. The game of Ganjifa Cards was very popular in ancient India . The cards contain hand painted images of Dasamahavidyas and also image of Shiva. You can view and download Dasamahavidyas Pictures on GanjifaCards here at ignca website.

Jyotisaras is a holy place located near Kurukshetra in Haryana and it is believed that the Bhagavad Gita was narrated by Sri Krishna to Arjuna here. A Vat Vriksha, a banyan tree, believed to be more than 8000 years is worshipped here. Jyotisaras is located on the Pehowa – Kurukshetra Road and is around 5 km from Kurukshetra. It was at Jyotisaras, Krishna showed the Virat Roopa. The Banayan Tree standing here is witness to the Kurukshetra war in the Mahabharata. It was also lucky to listen to the Gita and also witness the Virat Roopa. Today one can see a marble chariot depicting Arjuna and Krishna . There is also a mango shaped pond. Another highlight is an old Shiva Temple .

Swami Chidananda Saraswati (1916 – 2008) was the president of the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh – associated with the Swami Sivananda Ashram. The Divine life society has created an official website of Swami Chidananda with his teachings in writing, audio and video formats. The website also includes some rare pictures of Swami Chidanandaji. If you are new to the teachings of Swami Chidananda Saraswati. This is it in nutshell… Divine consciousness is ever present, ever free, ever full and ever complete. This is what you are! Live in the light of his awareness with every breath and every step, with joy and with enthusiasm. No matter how thick is the covering of the clouds, the Sun shines brilliantly always. – Swami Chidananda Saraswati. You can visit the official website here – Chidananda

Kalbadevi Yatra and Festival is held annually to the Kalbadevi temple in Mumbai. It is annually held on Margashirsha Amavasya day as per traditional Hindu calendar followed in Maharashtra . Kalbadevi Yatra 2024 date is January 11. Goddess Kalbadevi is also known as Mumbadevi and is believed that she was the presiding deity of the Mumbai region and was worshipped by Kolis. The annual yatra and festival attracts thousands of people the Kalbadevi Temple . Kalbadevi Temple is the oldest Temple in Mumbai and was relocated twice to accommodate the needs of the growing Mumbai metropolis. Currently it is located at the Zaveri Bazaar in South Mumbai .

An ancient temple, Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple is located at Thaneshwar in Kurukshetra in Haryana. The temple is dedicated to Shiva. The temple is small but unique and it is believed that Pandavas before the Kurukshetra war in the Mahabharata took the blessings of Shiva here. Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple is around 2km from the Kurukshetra Railway Station. Shiva is worshipped here in the form of Shivling and the place is famous as Pandavas visited the shrine. A water tank is located near the temple and the water in it is believed to have medicinal properties. Legend has it that many people including King Bana had got cured from leprosy after sprinkling the water from the tank. Many believe that a visit to Kurukshetra is incomplete without having the darshan of Sthaneshwar Mahadev. You do the puja of Shivling directly – a Nandi sits facing the Shivling. 

Pehowa is a holy place located near Kurukshetra in Haryana. It is around 27 km from Kurukshetra. The small pond here is believed to be River Saraswati which has gone underground. Shradh for those people who were killed or died in accidents are performed here. The pond is surrounded by numerous temples. The Tirth is also known as Prithudhak Teerth. It is believed that taking a holy dip in this Tirth will help in attaining Moksha. Shradh, Tarpan and other rituals are performed here for those who met with unnatural death. It is believed that souls of such people get peace due to the rituals performed here. Legend has it that King Prithu performed the last rites of his father here on the banks of Saraswati River . Thus children come here to perform the Shradh of their father. This is also a rare place with a temple dedicated to River Saraswati.

Kurukshetra is the place where Sri Krishna advised Arjuna in the Mahabharata and this unparalleled conversation came to be known as Bhagavad Gita. Kurukshetra is also the place where the Mahabharata war took place.  Kurukshetra is a large place and there are numerous temples, tirths and sacred spots most of them associated with the Mahabharata. These sacred places are today found in Kurukshetra, Karnal and Kaithal District. Some of the important temples and sacred spots any visitor should visit are: Brahma Sarovar – The Lake – Brahma Sarovar – here is famous for taking holy dip during Surya Grahan, the solar eclipse. There are two islands in the lake with temples and sacred spots. Sannihit Sarovar – The pond here is formed by the merging of seven rivers. Worshipping and taking a holy dip on Amavasya is considered sacred. Lakshmi Narayana Temple – Located on the banks of the Sannihitha Pond. It is dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and Vishnu. Thaneswar – Popular

Chandra Kavacha is a popular prayer dedicated to Chandra, the moon god in Hinduism. This particular Chandra Kavach Stotra is in Hindi and is in pdf format. You can download it for free. The prayer is chanted for peace and to get relief from skin diseases. Those having Chandra Dasha period in their horoscope chant this Kavacham for protection Link  -  Chandra Kavach Stotra in Hindi in pdf

Iconic Art on Avatars of Vishnu is created by cartoonist Nina Paley. These icons of Vishnu incarnations are in black and white and absolutely gorgeous renditions of Avatar’s of Vishnu. The images are evocative, powerful and at the same time simple. You can take a look at these wonderful images here at the website of Nina Paley .

Nearly 2,000 rare manuscripts and books in Ahmedabad's Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Institute of Indology, dating back around 1,200 years, are available in a digitized format. Ancient books on religion including Hinduism, language, culture, history, maths, astrology and astronomy are part of the E-library. You can learn more about Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Institute of Indology here at the official website . Times of India reports "We are the first institute in the country to digitize such rare books and manuscripts on a large scale,'' said Jitendra Shah, director of the institute, adding that their aim was to reach out to the maximum number of scholars and researchers across the globe. Nearly 150 foreign scholars from countries such as the US , Japan , China and Germany visit every year.  The Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Institute of Indology is also a treasure trove of manuscripts relating to Jainism. In all, there are about 45,000 printed books along with 75,000 manuscripts, out of which

Trilochan Mahadev is one among the numerous names of Hindu God Shiva . Trilochan Mahadev is Shiva with three eyes – the third eye is believed to be the source of all energy. It is said that Shiva opens his third eye when Adharma overpowers the world. He burns all Adharma and prepares the fertile ground for Dharma to prosper. Legend has it that once Goddess Parvati in a playful mood covered the eyes of Shiva with her hands. Suddenly, there was darkness in the cosmos. The sun disappeared. All living beings were perplexed – they began to pray to Shiva. Shiva then opened his third eye and energy was released through the third eye. The sun appeared once again. People cried out the name – Trilochan Mahadev – the three-eyed God. There is belief that Shiva opens his third eye to destroy. This is a wrong statement as the words destroy, or destruction, is perceived negatively. What Shiva does is he removes Adharma which makes life of all living beings impossible. There i

Kapildhara Tirth Shradh is annually observed at Kapildhara in Varanasi . It is observed on the Amavasya or the no moon day in Paush month as per traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India . Kapildhara Tirth 2024 date is January 11. The ritual performed here on the day is dedicated to ancestors. The popular belief is that performing Shradh, Tarpan and Pind Daan at Kapildhara Tirth Shradh is highly meritorious for dead parents and relatives. Rituals performed here are dedicated to Shiva. 

Dedicated to Hindu God Shiva, Chitrakut Dham temple in Ajmer in Rajasthan is becoming a good example of water conservation. Water and milk poured on the Shivling in the temple is recycled and reused – giving the worship an eco-friendly touch. The whole mechanism of recycling water has been devised by Santashri Pathak who is a priest at the Chitrakut Dham Temple . The temple is located around 15 km from Ajmer . Santashri Pathak, the priest at the Chitrakut Dham temple, who also happens to be an engineer, has devised a mechanism under which water and milk poured over the Shivlinga are conserved and recycled resulting in the increase of the groundwater level of the area. "At the temple's surroundings, the water level has increased considerably compared to what was four years back when I began implementing water-recycling mechanism in the temple premises," says Pathak. Hailing from Gujarat with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Pathak believes that religion and scie

Gosht Ashtami is dedicated to the worship of cow (Go). It is observed on the eighth day during the waxing phase of moon in Margashirsh month as per traditional Hindu calendar followed in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Goshtashtami 2023 date is December 20. On the day cows are bathed and they are given fresh grass and other food items including sweets. Pujas on the day are performed in the cowshed. A similar ritual that is famous in North India is the Gopashtami performed on the Kartik Ashtami day.

Idol is a term that is constantly used to refer to the Murti worshipped in a Hindu Temple and many Hindus find it disturbing and uncomfortable. The definition for idol is a picture or statue that is worshipped as a god. But the definition of murti in Hindu concept is different - the formless and omnipotent God (Brahman) can easily assume form for the sake of devotees. It is this form that a Hindu worships at temple or at a sacred place. The problem is that there is no apt word in English to explain the concept of Murti. So even Hindus have to depend on the word idol to explain the concept of deities in Hindu temples to non-Hindus. For example if I write ‘murti’ most people (even Hindus) start to wonder what is it? So many times I have to write murti (idol).  Padma Kuppa Writes in the Patheos on this subject   One thing that I find similar is the use of the word "idol" in referring to the sacred: the deities installed in the temples, found in Hindu homes, and a

2,000 rare Sanskrit manuscripts which belong to Cambridge University Library’s South Asian manuscript collection will be studied individually and digitised and put on the library’s new online service. The Sanskrit manuscripts detailing momentous political and economic events across south Asia are written on fragile birch bark, palm leaf and paper. The Hindu writes The university said the collection included “the oldest dated and illustrated Sanskrit manuscript known worldwide”. Dr Vincenzo Vergiani of the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, who along with his colleague Dr Eivind Kahrs will study the manuscripts, described them as “an invaluable and untapped source for understanding the pre-colonial past of South Asia, and therefore its present”. More than half of the library’s collection of south Asian manuscripts was in Sanskrit which dominated the literary culture of pre-modern South Asia for almost three millennia. “The word Sanskrit means refined or perfected. Fro

Chatti Amavasya is the no moon day in Kartik month as per traditional Kannada Calendar followed in Karnataka. The day is also significance to certain Hindu communities in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Chatti Amavasya 2023 date is December 12. The day is of importance to the Vishwakarma Samaj in Karnataka. A festival dedicated to Hindu God Vishwakarma, the divine architect of the universe, is observed on the day by certain Hindu communities. Those working in the field of carpentry, masonry and making a living with tools and machines observe the day. Special rituals and puja are held at the famous Shri Kalika Devi Temple at Sirsangi near Belgaum in Karnataka. 

Shiva is the end, the one Primordial The two as man and woman The three as gunas (satva, rajas and tamas) The four as eternal Vedas The five as bhutas The six as the taste The seven as musical notes The eight as directions And also beyond all these. Related A poem – Teachings of Saint Appar

Njanappana is a popular prayer dedicated to Sri Krishna, to the Guruvayurappan form of Krishna worshipped in Sri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur. This particular Njanappana Lyrics in Malayalam is in pdf format. Njanappana was written by Poonthanam in the 16 th century and contains simple worldly wisdom in Malayalam. Link - Njanappana Lyrics in Malayalam in pdf

Rasanath Das, an ex-investment banker, is now a Hindu Saint and was helping Occupy Wall Street protesters in meditation. So what pushed the ex-banker to take up Hindu teachings? – greed, unethical competition and remorseless methods adopted to reach the top by people in his business. He now aims to build character in managers and help avoid disastrous decisions made for short-term goals.  Reuter’s reports   "Anger won't solve anything," he told Reuters. "We have to work from the heart ... there is so much distrust now."    A native of Mumbai, Das studied at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and moved to the United States in 2000 to work as a consultant with the accounting firm Deloitte.   After earning a masters of business administration (MBA) at Cornell, he started at Bank of America in 2006.    His specialty was the technology, media and telecoms sector and he dealt in so-called structured products, including mortgage-backed securities -- "the

All inhuman acts are performed in moments of anger. Anger is deadly enemy. Anger makes you lose your sense, power or reasoning, clouds vision and sense of justice. Anger can kill. Acts of hatred and revenge may give the fleeting feeling of winning a battle. But the war is lost, when you lose your self-esteem. Anger affects mind, body and soul, all in a negative way. Honesty does not stop at merely being truthful and half-truths are not honest enough. Develop courage of conviction, and strength of character. One has to be fearless to be honest, as, in today’s world, negative and corrupt forces are at work. Yes, they can hurt and harm us. But if you shy away from taking a stand, you are in a way supporting them. If you choose to overlook these forces, you are encouraging these disruptive forces to grow stronger. Sooryaji – Sooryayog Teacher

Kalpadi Navami is an auspicious day observed in Northern parts of  India  by certain Hindu communities. Navami is the ninth day in a fortnight in a traditional Hindu lunar calendar. Kalpadi Navami 2023 date is December 21. Kalpadi Navami is observed mainly on the ninth day (navami) during shukla paksha (waxing phase of moon) of in Margashirsh month. On the same day Mahananda Navami is also observed by certain communities in North India . The main observance includes holy dip in River Ganga.

Earlier Ayyappa devotees used to climb the Sabari Mountain and reach the abode of Swami Ayyappa after following the 41 day Mandala Vratam strictly. But nowadays most people do not observe the Vratam associated with the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple – they just simply buy an Ayyappa Mala and go the temple next day. The 41-day Vratam was meant to prepare the devotee mentally and physically to under take the arduous trek. Ayyappa Temple Darshan period is from Mid November to Mid January. Deccan Chronicle reports Dr B. Padmakumar, associate professor of the Alappuzha TD Medical College, who has been on official duty in the hill shrine for the past 15 years, said that the insistence on a 41-day vratha before the pilgrimage was to ensure that the pilgrims were healthy enough to undertake the trek. Unfortunately the number of devotees skipping this vratha was increasing year after year. “Many undertake the pilgrimage after wearing a chain made of beads the previous day and without observin

Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali is a prayer dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. It contains the 108 names of Goddess Saraswati. The particular text of Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali is in pdf format and is for free downloading. Chanting this prayer is highly meritorious for students and artists. Link - Saraswati Ashtottara Shatanamavali text

Siddhesvara Dham in Sikkim created atop Solophok hilltop, 5km from Namchi, has a 108 ft tall statue of Shiva, replicas of 12 Jyotirlingas, models of sacred Chardham – Hindu Temples of Jagannath, Badrinath, Dwaraka and Rameswaram and a 18-feet statue of Kirateshwar – a hunter incarnation of Shiva. Siddhesvara Dham was consecrated by Shri Jagadguru Sankaracharya Swami Swarupananda Saraswati on November 8, 2011 and is now open to public. The giant statue of Shiva in sitting posture and is located at the highest point of the Solophok hilltop. Namchi is 75km from Gangtok and is the administrative headquarters of South Sikkim

Dedicated to Sri Krishna, Shri Narsinhji's Temple at Narasinhji's Pole in Vadodara attracts thousands of devotees during the Kartik Purnima festival. The five-day festival at this nearly three century-old temple begins on the Kartik Shukla Paksha Ekadasi (November 23, 2023) and ends on Kartik Purnima day (November 27, 2023). The highlight of the five day festival is the Tulsi Vivah – marriage of Shri Narsinhji to Tulsi. Marriage procession festival of Bhagwan Narsinghji of Baroda attracts thousands of devotees. The main murti that is worshipped in Shri Narsinhji's Temple are Shaligrams. Salagrama, or Shaligrama, are black stones with stripes in the form of symbols associated with Lord Vishnu. Salagrama is considered to be an embodiment of Lord Vishnu. The significance of Salagrama is mentioned in the Puranas and the Mahabharata. It is believed that the Shaligrams at Shri Narsinhji's Temple at Narasinhji's Pole were given to the then head of the

Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy Temple at Kizhappavur near Tenkasi in Tamil Nadu is more than 1000 years old. It is believed that Vishnu appeared as Narasimha here. Legend has it that Saint Kashyapa, Sage Narada and Varuna, the sea god, wished to see the Narasimha avatar. Vishnu asked them to do penance on the banks of the Chitra River in the Podigai hills. He then appeared before them at Kizhappavur. A holy pond nearby the temple is known as Narasimha Tirtham. The Hindu writes about the temple The penance began and pleased with their dedication, Narasimha emerged in a ferocious form. The place is Kizhappavur where in the temple the deity is seen with 16 hands, Hiranyakasipu on his lap. He is called Ugranarasimhar and Prahladavaradar. At the deity’s feet in total surrender are Kadamba Maharishi, Prahlada, his mother Lilavati and the king of Kasi. To cool the angry Narasimha appeared a pond, aptly called Narasimha Tirtham. There is a shrine for Sri Prasanna Venkatachalapaty with h

A religious program organized by Gayatri Parivar as part of the birth centenary celebrations of Yugrishi Acharya Shriram Sharma attracted thousands of Hindus and it resulted in a stampede killing 16 dead. Haridwar had successfully conducted a Kumbh Mela, which attracted millions of people, in 2010. So what happened in 2011? Kumbh Mela attracts world media attention and Hindus around the world keep track of the Mela – so the officials were alert. Not a single life was lost in stampede. This time around it was not a major event but the five-day ritual attracted nearly 400,000 people. Chief Ministers, central ministers and other officials were participating in the ritual which promotes women chanting the Vedic Mantras. Official apathy is the reason for such stampedes. Before giving permission for such events, officials should first take care of the security and life of the people participating in the event. Temple stampedes during festivals and auspicious days are nothing new in Indi

Anvashtaka Shradh is observed on the ninth day during the waning phase of moon (Krishna Paksha Navami) in Magh month in calendars followed in North India . Anvashtaka Shradh 2024 date is February 4. The previous day of Anvashtaka is Ashtaka Shradh. Performing Shradh, Tarpan and Pind Daan on these days is considered highly meritorious. Shradh on these days is limited to certain Hindu communities. It must be noted that in South India Anvashtaka Shradh is observed in Bhadrapad month. In Tamil calendars too this is marked in other months mostly during Thai or Masi Masam. 

O’ God, Lead me from the unreal to the real Lead me from darkness (ignorance) to light Lead from death to immortality O’ God, Let all beings in this world be happy, be healthy, be full of bliss and no one should be in pain. Let our aim be common and our hearts of one accord. And all of us be of one mind so that we may live well together. O God, you are our mother and father. You are our brother and friend. You are knowledge and wealth. You are everything to us, O’ Supreme Lord. Related Quotes from Vedas on Good Speech

Vyas Mahotsav annually held in Varanasi is dedicated to Sage Vyasa, the author of the Mahabharata. In 2023, the four day Vyas Mahotsav will be held from December 23 coinciding with Gita Jayanti. The festival begins at Ved Vyas Temple at Chanditara in Sahupuri. Series of talks will be held on Ved, Puranas, Mahabharat, Geeta and development of Sanskrit language.  Times of India reports     While the Mahotsav will start with Vyasa puja at the Ved Vyas temple the actual programme will begin next day on Assi Ghat.    In the series of events talks will be held on Ved, Puranas, Mahabharat, Geeta and development of Sanskrit language. Theatre performances on Mahabharat and Vedvyas, Classical dance and music will be performed at Assi Ghat and all the educational workshops will be held in Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth.   A national book fair will be organised in the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University . A play 'Andha Yug' will one of the main features of the programme. 

The most illustrated Ramayana to date – Valmiki's Ramayana illustrated with over 660 miniature paintings from the 16th to the 19th century. The book consists of 1480 pages in seven volumes and one reference booklet in each box-set illustrated throughout, 270x290 mm. Published by Editions Diane de Selliers. The highlight of the book is the miniature paintings from museums and private collections around the world. Current Estimated Price: 1 200 Euro Current value: INR 78,000 / $1,600 The Book is currently under production and you can book it now. You can find more information about the Limited Edition Ramayan in English here at the official website .

108 Indian women from a cross section of Hindu society including Tribals and Dalit women will be chanting Vedic mantras and performing yajna in Haridwar on November 6, 2011. The women have been trained in the chanting of Vedic mantras and can now chant mantras in other Hindu religious ceremonies such as engagement, weddings and child-birth ceremonies. The program is organized by Gayatri Parivar as part of the birth centenary celebrations of Yugrishi Acharya Shriram Sharma. Why this program is important? – Hindu women were forbidden from chanting Vedic mantras but this has changed in many societies. But still there is section of Hindus who have difficulty in accepting women priests. Reuters India reports "It's a long overdue victory for women, especially in a country where women were not even allowed to hear the Vedic Mantras in ancient times," said Manju Agarwal, a psychology professor and women rights activist in Lucknow , northern India .  Known as "Brahmavaadini

Ganga Mahotsav and Dev Deepawali observed annually from Kartik Shukla Ekadasi to the Kartik Purnima day as per traditional Hindu calendar followed in North India . In 2023, Ganga Mahotsav and Dev Deepawali are from November 23 to November 26, 2023. The heritage and culture of Varanasi is highlighted during the festival. Many people believe that the festival is doing nothing to highlight the core issue in the region – pollution in Ganga . Times of India reports  "Definitely it is good to celebrate city's uniqueness, but not at the cost of the Ganga 's health. It has been experienced that the pollution level of the Ganga increases after every such festival when people turn up in large number on its banks. And it happens just due to lack of vision," said BD Tripathi, noted environmentalist of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and member of National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA). "What organisers want to showcase for tourists through this festival a poll

Nalambalam Yatra, or the darshan of four temples, is an important pilgrimage done in Kerala. The four temples are dedicated to Sri Ram, Bharatha, Lakshman and Shathrughnan – the four brothers in the Ramayana. The four temples are Sree   Rama   Temple  at Triprayar, Koodalmanickam   Bharatha   Temple  at Irinjalakuda, Lakshmana   Temple  at Moozhikkulam and Shathrughna   Temple  at Payammel. You can take a photo tour of the Nalambalam Temples in Kerala here at Mathrubhumi Newspaper. Related Nalambalam Darshan in Kerala

A historic 160-year-old temple at Gor Khatri in Peshawar in northwest Pakistan was reopened to Hindus after 60 years on court orders. Goraknath Temple is dedicated to Shiva. The temple belonged to a Hindu family but was taken over by authorities in 1960. The temple was opened to worship for Diwali. Continuous worship will not be possible as the provincial archaeology department will continue to control the temple. The Hindu reports Scores of Hindus, including women and children, visited the Goraknath temple at Gor Khatri, which was reopened after Phool Wati, the daughter of the shrine’s cleric, petitioned the Peshawar High Court.  Phool Wati and her son Kaka Ram have claimed that the temple, which has been controlled in past decades by the police, Evacuee Property Trust Board and the provincial archaeology department, belongs to their family.  Kaka Ram said his father, Pandit Kamoram, had refused to move to India at the time of Partition in 1947 and decided to settle in Pakist