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Showing posts from January 20, 2019


Bobbili Veena – About Saraswati Veena - Lion-Headed Veena - Difference With Other Veenas

Bobbili Veena, also known as Saraswati Veena, is a musical instrument that once enjoyed the status of a royal music instrument. Kings of Bobbili were responsible for the invention of the Veena. There are numerous difference between Bobbili Veena and other veenas the most striking is the lion-head. Bobbili Veena is made using jackfruit tree wood and a full size Bobbili Veena is known as Saraswati Veena. With the lion’s head carved at one end, the frets of Bobbili Veenas are made of bell metal. Difference Between Bobbili Veenas and Other Veenas Bobbili veenas are made from jackfruit wood, and a full-size veena stands out from the ones made at Thanjavur, Mysore, Kerala or Nuzvid because of the lion's head carved at one end. The frets of Bobbili veenas are made of bell metal, while other veenas use brass. Earlier, the Bobbili veenas were known as “ekanda veena”, as they were made or carved out of one single piece of wood. But due to the paucity of good jackfruit

Rudraksha Cleaning Method - How to clean Rudraksha Malas?

Rudraksha beads or malas made of original Rudraksh are very strong and have a life of thousands of years. It is usually passed on from one generation to another. Due to such prolong use Rudraksha beads and malas might get dirty or accumulate fungus. Those beads that are regularly worn also might require periodical cleaning. How to clean Rudraksha Malas? To clean the Rudraksha beads, first dip them in warm soapy water overnight. Do not use hard detergents or soap or chemicals. A natural or organic cleaning agent will be the right choice. The ideal choice is a soapy foam made using the natural seed of soap nut tree. After overnight dipping, take the Rudraksha out and scrub thoroughly with a soft toothbrush - extra soft toothbrush.  Please note that if there is any discoloration in the Rudraksha then it is a fake. After scrubbing, wash with normal water and allow the Rudraksha to dry. Once thoroughly dried, you can wear it again.  If you need to gi

Thaipusam Puja Procedure – How to observe Thaipusam?

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival observed more in Muruga Temples and less at homes. After doing the usual pujas and prayers, people visit Temples dedicated to Murugan on Thaipusam to make offerings which mainly includes offering of milk and carrying of Kavadi. Here is a brief idea on how to observe Thaipusam. Offer milk - carry palkudam or milk container to Murugan temple Offer yellow or orange color flowers. Carry Kavadi to the temple. Piercing of body parts as an offering with vel. Some people carry pots of milk on their head. This offering is believed to please Muruga. The highlight of the festival today is the piercing of different body parts with small vels (lances) as a sort of thanksgiving or as an offering to get their wishes fulfilled. On the Thaipusam day, large number of devotees head towards Murugan temples in procession carrying Kavadi. The drumming and chanting of vel vel shakti vel electrifies the procession and some start to dance. Some devotees p

Canada Hindu Calendar 2019 in pdf – Based on Time in Canada – Toronto – Vancouver – Canada Hindu Panchang 2019

Canada Hindu Calendar 2019 in pdf is presented by mypanchang. It contains all the important festivals, auspicious time etc as per Hindu Panchang 2019. The calendar is based on time in Canadian cities like  Toronto  – Vancouver etc. It must be noted that the vrat, festival dates in  India  and  Canada  might be different many times. So if you are residing in  Canada  and are keen to follow the local time then the calendar will be of great help. Please note that the calendar is purnima – that is a Hindu month in this calendar starts after Purnima. This calendar is followed in  North India . But the festival and vrat dates are applicable in all regions. Link  –  Canada Hindu Calendar 2019 in pdf

Aswada in Hindu Religion – Taste - Action of Relishing And The Object Relished

Aswada is the term used in Hindu religion to refer to the action of relishing and the object relished. The object relished may be either physical or intellectual or mental. Physical objects have specific qualities referred to as rasa (taste) and they are six in number. Sweet Sour Salty Hot Pungent Bitter Since all the tastes are needed for health, one should cultivate the habit of enjoying them equally. For example, in winter season a person should take foods that are heavy and should counter vayu and thereby the digestive fire induced by it. Thought foodstuffs with all the six tastes are to be consumed, foodstuffs with particular tastes suited for a particular season should be used frequently. The taste suited for the seasons, as given in Ayurveda are sweet, sour and salt in winter and rainy seasons bitter, hot and pungent in spring season sweet in summer pungent and bitter in autumn Sentiments are known as Asvada in Sanskrit aesthetic literature. T

Thoughts On Silence - Jiddu Krishnamurti

Jiddu Krishnamurti shares his thoughts and knowledge on Silence. Jiddu Krishnamurti ( 11 May 1895 - 17 February 1986)  was a philosopher, speaker and writer. The only silence we know is the silence when noise stops, the silence when thought stops – but that is not silence. Silence is something entirely different, like beauty, like love. And this silence is not the product of a quiet mind, it is not the product of the brain cells which have understood the whole structure and say, ‘For God’s sake be quiet’; then the brain cells themselves produce the silence and that is not silence. Nor is silence the outcome of attention in which the observer is the observed, then there is no friction, but that is not silence. You are waiting for me to describe what this silence is so that you can compare it, interpret it, carry it away and bury it. It cannot be described. What can be described is the known, and the freedom from the known can come into being only when there is a dying everyday