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Showing posts from October 22, 2018


Hindu Temple Bell Rules – Number of Times a Bell Should Be Rung in Hindu Temple

Ringing of bells is an important practice in a Hindu Temple . Currently majority of Hindus do not follow any rule regarding number of times a bell should be rung in the temple. But there are rules for the strokes of the bell. One stroke of the bell indicates moksha or salvation. It is performed by devotees whose sole prayer is self realization. Two strokes is enjoyment. Thanksgiving for desires fulfilled etc. Three strokes are for achievement of materialistic desires. A devotee strikes the bell three times when he prayers for fulfillment of various desires. During puja when lamp alone is lit one needs to stroke the bell only a single time. When incense is waved, lamp is lit and food is offered the bell should be stroked two times. It must be noted that today most devotees ring bells in temple as an invitation to gods or to garner attention of the deity or announce the presence of the devotee. Therefore, no rules are followed regarding stroking the temple be

Panchagni Vidya – Meditation on Five Fires in Hinduism

The aim of Panchagni Vidya, meditation on five fires in Hinduism, is to develop intense detachment to worldly life and turn ones’ attention towards moksha or liberation. Panchagni Vidya is mentioned in the Chandogya Upanishad chapter V. It was taught by King Pravahana, son of Jiwala, to his student Svetaketu. Symbolically, Panchagni Vidya tells an individual the difficulties in the journey of life. So when a seeker gets a human form, the seeker should use it to escape from the cycle of birth and death. The five fires (Agni) in the Panchagni Vidya are: Heaven Rain god Earth Male Female As per Hindu religious teachings, detachment is one of the effective means to liberation – freedom from suffering and misery. To achieve bliss on earth one needs to constantly think of the pains and perils of birth in a body in the world. Panchagni Vidya teaches in depth the misery that is caused during the time of birth and death. The meditation of the five fires induces in a

Karva Chauth Goddess – Which is the Goddess Worshipped on Karwa Chauth Vrat and Puja?

The main goddess that is worshipped on Karva Chauth vrat is Goddess Parvati. But there is also a temple dedicated to Chauth Mata  in Rajasthan. This manifestation of Mother Goddess is also worshipped during the Karwa Chauth puja. Majority of the people offer prayers to Goddess Parvati on the day as it is believed that She observed the vrat on advice of Shiva for a happy and peaceful married life. Chauth Mata is also a manifestation of Mother Goddess Shakti. Worshipping this form is equal to worshipping Goddess Parvati. You may also like to read How to observe Karva Chauth Vrat? Karva Chauth Vrat Katha – Story of Karva Chauth

Story of the Origin of the Four Heads of Brahma

In Hindu iconography, Brahma is depicted as having four heads. There is an interesting story how the Hindu God of creation came to have four heads. The legend of the origin of the four heads of Brahma is associated with Goddess Saraswati . Before he started the cycle of creation, Brahma wanted to perform a yajna or sacrifice. But for the success of a sacrifice it is necessary to have a female counterpart. Therefore, Brahma summoned Goddess Saraswati from his mind for the successful completion of the very important yajna he was performing prior to the creation of the universe. After completing the yajna, Goddess Saraswati started residing in the heavenly abode of Brahmaloka , or Satyaloka, with her husband Brahma. It is said that Brahma was so much enamoured by the heavenly beauty of Goddess Saraswati that he grew four heads in four directions so that he could keep looking on her from all directions. As per another legend, Brahma was so proud of his creation that he

Sri Ramakrishna Teachings - A Collection of Teachings and Wisdom of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

This is a collection of teachings and wisdom of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa ( (18 February 1836 – 16 August 1886).  The Sri Ramakrishna teachings have been collected from various sources including books, newspapers, magazines, Prabuddha Bharata and Vedanta Kesari.  If one analyses oneself, one doesn’t find any such thing as ‘I.’ Take an onion, for instance. First of all you peel off the red outer skin; then you find thick white skins. Peel these off one after the other, and you won’t find anything inside. When will I be free, when I cease to be. Everyone thinks his watch alone gives right time. The darkness of the mind disappears when God is realized. In the Purana it is said that it was as if a hundred suns were shining when Rama entered the court. Why, then, weren’t the courtiers burnt up? It was because the brilliance of Rama was not like that of a material object. As the lotus blooms when the sun rises, so the lotus of the heart of the people assembled in the court