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Showing posts from February 6, 2019


The Concept of Death in Hinduism

The concept of death in Sanatana Dharma (Hindu religion) is dealt comprehensively in the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that He is death in the form of Time. Time consumes everything, from the tiniest atom to all those mighty universes in the material world. Death in the Vedas – The Vedic concept of death is that it is an integral part of the life of every living being on earth. The Vedic concept of death is elaborately explained in the Katha Upanishad by Yama, the god of death, to the young Nachiketa. The teaching of Vedas is reiterated by Krishna in Bhagavad Gita.  Krishna tells that there is no death for the jiva or soul, ‘Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor these rulers of men. Nor shall all of us cease to be hereafter.’ Death pertains only to the physical body and ‘...the soul merely changes bodies just as the body changes clothes.’ Krishna says: ‘What-ever object a person thinks of at the time of death, he

Jwalamalini Devi in Hinduism – About Hindu Goddess Jwalamalini Devi

Goddess Jwalamalini, or Jwalamalini Devi, is one among the numerous incarnations of Goddess Shakti. She appeared to help Goddess Lalitha Devi in her fight against Bhandasura. Jwala means fire and thus Jwalamalini Devi is associated with purification. Greatness about this Devi is mentioned in the Brahmanda Purana. Legend has it when the battle between Bhandasura and Goddess Lalitha Devi was going on, the army of Bhandasura once attacked the army of Goddess at night. Fighting after sunset is Adharma and is against the rules of battle. Goddess Lalitha Devi rescued her army. To stop such tactics by Bhandasura in future, Goddess Lalitha Devi asked Jwalamalini Devi to create a wall of fire around Her army. The firewall helped in protecting the army of Goddess Lalitha Devi. Jwalamalini Devi controls the never-ending creation and destruction that is carried out in nature. She is the spark that creates and transforms one form to another. 

Story Of Sage Vishwamitra And Apsara Menaka

The story of Sage Vishwamitra and Apsara Menaka is found in Mahabharata and the Puranas. Menaka is a celestial woman or apsara and she is one of the most beautiful dancers in the palace of Indra, the king of Devas. Sage Vishwamitra was a king who abdicated the throne when he realized that the powers of a sage are far more superior to that of a king. Indra, the king of Devas, who is constantly scared of being disposed by more pious living being, takes the help of Menaka to keep his throne intact. When saints perform intense penance to achieve greater spiritual powers, Indra deputes Menaka to distract the saints. As per Mahabharata, Shakuntala is the daughter of Menaka and Sage Vishwamitra. Sage Vishwamitra was performing intense austerities on the banks of Godavari River to achieve greater spiritual powers. Indra felt his position as king of celestial beings would be threatened if the Sage acquired great spiritual powers by virtue of the penance. So he deputed Menaka to di

Story Of The Birth Of Shakuntala In The Mahabharata

The story of the birth of Shakuntala is found in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata. She was the daughter of Sage Kaushika and Apsara Menaka. Kaushika belonged to the Suryavamshi dynasty and he desired to become the most powerful living being. He renounced his kingdom and worldly ties. He started performing intense austerities to become the powerful one in the universe. The news of the austerity started by Kaushika shook the heaven. Indra, the king of Devas, feared that he would be dethroned by Kaushika. Indra appointed Apsara Menaka to break the celibacy vow of Kaushika. The highly desirable and voluptuous Menaka succeeded in netting the Sage in her charms. From the passionate union of Sage Kaushika and Apsara Menaka was born a baby girl. Her parents abandoned her in the forest as to Sage Kaushika she was a proof of his failure to curb his desire. The child was protected by a flock of Shakunta (birds). Sage Kanava later discovered her and named her Shakuntala. 

When To Go On Vanaprastha As Per Hinduism?

Vanaprastha, forest dwelling stage, is the penultimate ashrama of life prescribed by sacred texts in Hindu religion. So when is the ideal time to go on Vanaprastha as per Hinduism? Vanaprastha Ashrama stage of life comes after grihastha ashrama (householder) stage and before sannyasa (recluse) in Ashrama Dharma of Sanatana Dharma. One can enter Vanaprastha Ashrama either directly from Brahmacharya Ashrama or after grihastha ashrama. According to Hindu Shastras, it is said that the suitable time is when one has wrinkles, grey hair or when one has seen one’s first grandchild. The daily duties of Vanaprastha person are describe in the sutras. Women are allowed to enter Vanaprastha on their own or along with husband or other family members. A man may or may not take his wife with him for Vanaprastha. There is no rule which states that a woman should follow her husband to the forest. In the Vanaprastha stage of life, a person should live a life similar to that of a

Vishuddhi Chakra In Hindu Religion

Vishuddhi Chakra is at the base of the throat and is situated above the heart chakra. Vishuddhi means pure. The name is derived from the fact that by meditating on the self in the form of Hamsa, the mind attains purity. This Chakra has a sixteen petaled lotus of a purple hue with the sixteen vowels of the Sanskrit alphabet from ‘a’ to ‘ah’ on them. In the pericap of the lotus, there is a vyoma mandala (ethereal region) having a white luster like the full moon. Its bija called hum is seated on a white elephant. The bija has four arms. Two of them hold the pasha (noose) and ankusha (goad), while the other two hands make the gestures of granting boons and dispelling fear. In the lap of the bija is seated Shiva with three eyes, five faces, and ten arms, seated on tiger skin spread on the back of the Bull. He is in the form of Ardhanarishwara (half-male, half-female). He is of golden hue on the left (female), and snow white on the right (male). Shiva carries the shula