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Showing posts from September 19, 2018


The Story of Rishyasringa in Ramayana

King Dasaratha decides to perform an Ashwamedha Yagna to have a son in the Ramayana. The decision is welcomed by the sages and they all proceeded to make the necessary arrangements of the yagna. Sumantra, the charioteer, then reminds King Dasaratha of something he has heard from elders and narrates the story of Rishyasringa. Sage Sanat Kumara while discussing about future events had predicted about the birth of a great son to King Dasaratha. Sage Kashyapa had a son named Vibhandaka. Sanat Kumara predicted that Vibhandaka will be the father of Rishyashringa. The birth and life of Rishyashringa will be mysterious. Rishyashringa will live in the forest cut off from other human beings. His only contact will be his father. When he reaches teenage, Anga, a nearby kingdom, will be ruled by Romapada. Kingdom of Anga is in terrible famine due to a curse and only way to get rid of the curse is to bring Rishyashringa and get him married to Romapada’s daughter Shanta.

Plant Bilva Tree For Peace and Prosperity in Life - Offerings Made to Bilva Tree

Planting bilva tree and taking care of it earns merit equal to visiting 1001 teerths or performing the famous Ashwamedha yajna. If you are suffering from property and wealth related problem, then there is an easy solution to overcome the problem. It is to make a donation near Bilva tree. The tree is associated with Shiva and the offering should be made on Monday. Bilva Tree is known as Aegle marmelos. In Hindi, it is known as Bael or Bel. In Tamil is it is known as Vilvam. In Malayalam, it is known as Koovalam. You need to make an offering of ghee to a Shiva devotee near a Bilva Tree. Another option is to offer food to poor people near Bilva tree – the food should include rice and ghee. Offering kheer to a Shiva devotee under a Bilva tree is another option. The offering should be performed for 7 Mondays. If the offering is made in Shravan month it is double auspicious. Planting Bilva Tree and protecting it helps in achieving peace and prosperity in life. Water bilv

Gosani Yatra in Puri – Naga Yatra Around Puri Jagannath Temple

The period of Navratri, Durga Puja and Dussera in Hindu calendar is observed as Gosani Yatra in Puri Jagannath temple in Odisha. Gosani means Mother Goddess in the Puri local dialect. Naga Yatra is also held during the same period. The Naga Yatra is dedicated to the valiant young men who gave their lives protecting the region, the deity and the Puri Jagannath Temple from foreign attacks. These young men were from the Jaga Akhadas of Puri. Gosani yatra is as old as the Jagannath temple. It is observed to pay obeisance to the goddesses who protect the city and the Jagannath temple. It is celebrated throughout the various localities in Puri town. The festival is closely associated with the jaga akhadas or traditional gymnasiums in the region. During the festival temporary pandals are erected and images of Mother Goddess in various forms are displayed. Various cultural and secular themes are also part of the pandal display. The images displayed on various pandals in Pur

Mithuna Rashi – The Third Zodiac Sign in Hindu Astrology – All About Mithuna Rashi

Mithuna Rashi is the third Zodiac sign in Hindu astrology. It is known as Gemini in English. The longitude of Mithuna Rashi is 30 degrees and it extends from 60 degrees from the vernal equinox to 90 degrees. It is called a common sign as it possesses the qualities of movable as well as fixed signs. The first 15 degrees of Kanya Rashi show characteristics of fixed sign and the rest 15 degrees of a movable sign. The part of the body of Kalapurusha (supreme eternal time) represented by Gemini is supposed to be the neck. The birth stars or nakshatras that constitutes this sign are: The last two quarters of Mrigashirsha or Makayiram nakshatra All four quarters of Ardra or Thiruvathirai or Arudra nakshatra The first half or three quarters of Punarvasu or Punartham nakshatra Kanya is a northern sign of the zodiac but its influential direction is west. Symbol of Mithuna Rashi is a human couple, of which the man holds a staff and the woman a veena (stringed instrument); they

Kapila Sashti – Bhadrapad Kapila Shashti

Kapila Sashti is an auspicious day observed in the Krishna Paksha of Ashwin month. Kapila Sashti 2024 date is September 23. In South India , it is observed in the Kanni Month and Puratasi Masam and is dedicated to Subrahmanya or Skanda. In North India , it falls during the waning phase of moon in Ashwin month. It is considered highly auspicious to take bath in the sacred rivers. Legend has it that Sage Narada attained divine status on the day. Special pujas and rituals are held on the day in Murugan Temples in South India . Special pujas are also held on the day at the Bhadrachalam Sri Rama Temple . People also perform special Go Puja or worship of cows on the banks of Godavari . 

Adi Shankaracharya Quotes - 108 Quotes of Jagadguru Adi Shankara Quotes and Sayings

Adi Shankaracharya Quotes are collected mainly from books, newspapers and talks. This 108 quotes have been collected over a period of 10 years. Jagadguru Adi Shankara quotes  kindles thoughts and and provides new insights to a student of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism). Forgive me Oh, Shiva my three great sins! I came on a pilgrimage to Kashi forgetting that you are omnipresent. In thinking about you I forgot that You are beyond thought. In praying to You I forgot that You are beyond words. Realizing everything to be Brahman itself, the wise man should then dwell in eternal bliss with his mind full of the essence of pure consciousness. Just as it is water alone that appears as waves and tides, so does the self alone appear as many universes. The self always shines as unconditioned for the wise and always as conditioned for the ignorant. The distinction between the self and the not-self (body) is unnecessary for the wise. Samadhi, whose ot

Nabha Das – Author of Bhaktamal – An Authentic Account of Hindu Saints in Four Yugas

Nabha Das is a saint poet who wrote about other saints of Vallabha sect and Vaishnava saint poets. He composed poems on seers, saints and sages. The selected compositions of Nabha Das are available in this Bhaktamal (garland of devotees). It is believed the he lived during the 17 th century AD. He belonged to the Ramananda Sampradaya – the sect following the teachings of Ramananda. There is a confusion regarding the birthplace of Nabha Das, first it was believed he belonged to a learned family from South India. Now, some scholars are of the opinion that he lived in Gwalior. Nabha Das was initiated into sannyasa by Mahanta Sri Agra Das, Jaipur’s Galata Gaddi, who himself belonged to the Ramananda Sampradaya. Since a holy garland in Hinduism contains 108 beads, Nabha Das also wrote 108 poems, each of six lines, on the lives of famous bhaktas of the Vallabha sect and other Vaishnava poets. Bhakta Mala, the most important work of Nabha Das, has many commentaries. Th