--> Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from December 4, 2018


Arjuna in the Mahabharata – 18 Important Incidents of Arjun in the Mahabharata

Arjuna is the third among the Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata. He was born to Kunti and Indra, the king of demigods (Devas). Here are 18 important incidents in the life of Arjun in the Mahabharata. Arjuna was the third son of Kunti. Using divine mantra, Kunti called upon Indra and begot Arjuna. His teacher was Drona and he excelled in archery. He is the greatest archer in the world when we do not count the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Arjuna was highly competitive but at the same time insecure. This led to the infamous Ekalavya incident in the Mahabharata. At the graduation ceremony, Arjuna excelled and emerged as the best among the Pandavas and Kauravas. However, his joy was short lived when Karna burst upon the scene and got the better of him. From here began a rivalry that would last for life. He married Draupadi after winning the archery contest in the Swayamvara ceremony in Panchala. But she became the common wife of Pandavas. He later married Subhadra, Ulupi and

Snakes and Treasures - Snakes as Protectors of Wealth in Hinduism

Serpents, Nagas, are considered as protectors of wealth in Hinduism. It is also believed that snakes know where wealth and treasures are hidden and they protect it. Thus, snakes who are protectors of wealth and prosperity are honored and worshiped during Nag Panchami. A person who worships Nagas also gets the blessings of Dhanalakshmi. As per Ravan Samhita, ancestors born in Dev Yoni take rebirth as Nagas and protect the wealth of his/her descendents. Thus there is always a Nag protecting your wealth. This is the reason why many people perform pujas and feed snakes on Nag Panchami. As per Varaha Samhita, white-colored snakes are protectors of hidden treasures and wealth. Many cultures in Hinduism have many stories associated with snakes guarding wealth beneath the earth. It is also believed that people used to hide treasures from invaders and conquerors by burying it in underground chambers and used to release snakes along with the treasures to keep away thieves and p

Story of King Bharata and His Next Birth as Deer

Story of the birth of King Bharata as deer in his next birth is one which symbolically explains about attachment. King Bharata, after whom our land came to be called Bharatavarsha, discharged his duties as a king and father and then retired into the forests as a wandering ascetic. Abandoning all desires, alone, peaceful and blissful at heart he was immersed in worshipping Srihari Vishnu. One day, overcome with pity, he saved a motherless fawn from being drowned in the river and then brought it to his ashrama. He fed it, fondled it, protected it and tried to please it in every way. Obsessed with the deer and distressed by vague and baseless fears about its safety, he neglected his devotional practices. The deer became his anchor. Even at the moment of death his mind was firmly fixed on the deer and in the next life he was born as a deer. The deer repented that despite shaking off all attachments of the kingdom, sons, wealth, and so on, and retiring to the forest to m

Qualities Needed For Success In Life – Lord Rama Advices Vibhishana

This is a famous passage from the Ramcharitmanas of Sant Tulsidas. Bhagavan Sri Ram here advices Vibhishana regarding the qualities needed for success in life. The advice is explained in the form of a chariot which is needed for victory. The chariot symbol of Sant Tulsidas is very famous with the readers of Ramayana – Ramcharitmanas. The scene is when Vibhishana asks Lord Ram to fight Ravana by riding on a chariot: Bhagavan Sri Ram says: Bring a chariot if it is obligatory for victory. That chariot should have wheels of valor and patience ;  Strong flag and buntings of truth and good conduct ;  Horses of strength, wisdom, self-control and goodness . Link rope of pardon, kindness and equality ;  A wise charioteer of God’s recitation ;  A field of renunciation , Sword of satisfaction ,  An axe of charity,   Deadly power of intelligence . A hardened bow of the best knowledge; A quiver like a pure and decisive mind ; Several arrows of self-control and mor