Manasa Devi Puja, dedicated to Snake Goddess, also known as Nag Panchami, is observed mainly in Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam and parts of Odisha on various days in the Bengali months of Ashar, Shraban and Bhadrapad (June - September). Manasa Devi Puja 2023 date is August 21. Mansa Devi is the serpent goddess and is believed to be the daughter of Lord Shiva. The rituals are also known as Manasa Devi Ashtanag Puja. The rituals associated with the pujas are held on the fifth day or Panchami day of all fortnights in the month of Ashara and Shraban. In some regions the pujas and rituals continue for a month and numerous rituals are performed during the period to appease Manasa Devi. There are numerous rituals associated with Manasa Devi. From simple prayers to rituals which many might consider as grotesque. Manasa is the goddess of snakes and fertility. She fulfills the wishes and protects one against snakebite. Associated with the earth and higher knowledge, she is w

The story associated with the origin of earth in the Taittiriya Brahmana is associated with Lotus and Prajapati. Prajapati desired to evolve the universe, which in the beginning was only water. He saw pusharaka parna (blue lotus leaf) growing out of water. Thinking that it must be resting on something, he dived down in the form of a boar, found the earth below, broke off a segment, rose with it to the surface, and spread it on the leaf. The story has two key elements which we associate with Bhagavan Srihari Vishnu. As per Vishnu Purana and other puranas associated with Vaishnavism, Brahma appeared on a lotus that sprouted from the navel of Vishnu. Creation in universe began after this. Vishnu taking the form a boar and lifting the earth up from the ocean a symbolism associated with the Varaha incarnation of Vishnu. Taittiriya Brahmana is a notable shakha of the Krishna Yajurveda. The Vishnu Purana attributes it to a pupil of Yaska named Tittiri. It is most prevale

Bala Chaturdashi in  Nepal  is held at Pashupatinath temple and at the Gujeshwari temple near Pashupatinath temple. Here is the story of Bala Chaturdashi observed in Nepal. It is observed on the fourteenth day of the dark moon in November- December.  Long long ago there lived a trader named Bala Nanda. One day he came to Arya Ghat, a cremation ground, to attend the last rites of one of his relative. The people set the body on fire and sat to eat the ceremonial food. Suddenly, there was a small explosion in the pyre and a small piece of flesh fell into the plate of Bala Nanda. Nobody noticed it and Bala Nanda ate the small piece of flesh. Soon Bala Nanda turned into a demon with silver head and from that day started consuming human flesh. The demon was called Balasur and he roamed Arya Ghat searching for dead bodies. Soon people stopped taking dead bodies to the ghat and approached the King of the region. The King appointed, Brisha Singh, an old

Nag Panchami is the most important annual festival dedicated to Nagas – Snake Gods in Hinduism. The prayer below given in Hindi and English is chanted on the day. The most important Nag Panchami mantra invokes the nine important serpent gods which include Ananta, Vasuki, Taxak, Karkotaka and Pingala. The mantra is chanted for the welfare of family members. It also protects devotees from snake bites. Devotees who have fear of snakes chant this mantra to get rid of the fear. Those people see dreadful dreams of snakes in dream also chant the mantra. The mantra is highly helpful for people suffering from skin diseases and also for those people who are having Naga doshas. Nag Panchami Mantra अनंत वासुकि शेष पद्मनाभ च कंबलम। शंखपाल धृतराष्ट्र तक्षक कालिया यथा।। एतानि नव नामानि नागानां च महात्मनाम। सायंकाले पठेन्नित्य प्रात : काले विशेषम : ।। Anantam Vaukim Shesham Padmanabham cha Kambalam Shnkhapalam Dhritarashtram Takshakam Kaliya Tatha

Quotes and Thoughts on Hinduism is collected over a period of 12 years from various sources. The quotes on Hinduism include mainly of Gandhiji, Nancy Wilson Ross, S Radhakrishnan, A B Vajpayee,  Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, Sri Aurobindo and more.... Hinduism – not only in philosophy and literature but also in art – has the capacity for immense conceptions, profound and subtle apprehensions, that can entice the imagination and stun the mind with their depth, range and boldness. The many masks of the many gods, their various appearances and incarnations, have been employed to suggest the infinitely possible variations of one supreme essence. In seeking to give expression to that almost inexpressible idea of a unity which admits also of polarities, a “union beyond the opposites.” Hinduism created such arresting icons as the divine two-in-one embrace of Shiva and Shakti; or Shiva alone, half male, half female, or the two-sided figure of Hari-Hara, an expression of the seem