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Showing posts from February 26, 2019


Space in Hindu Rituals

Space, as a first created principle, is the bases of all creation. Space has a symbolic concept in the ritualistic tradition in Hindu religion. It is the essential prerequisite for the manifestation of name and form. Space is a key concept in ritual performances in Hindu religion, as the offerings are made to all directions for the achievement of wholesome fulfillment. Space could be found in almost all the ritual functions in Hinduism. It is found in the construction of fire altars, the three fires, ahavaniya of square shape, garhapatya of round shape, and dakshinagni of half circle, in the concrete structure of the sala, in the seats/places of sacrificial priests, sacrifice and his wife, in the place of dustbin for sacrificial garbage (utkara), in important pillars like yupa, etc, in the construction of syenaciti and other cities. For the construction of mahavedi and various altars, bricks of different shapes – rectangular (adhyardha), triangular (adhyardhardha) or square

The Story - How Sanskrit Came To Be Known To Humans?

No one created Sanskrit as it is Vedavani (language of Veda) and the language of nature. There is also no origin to Sanskrit as it is eternal. But how Sanskrit came to be known to humans is narrated to child Aitareya by his father and is found in the Aitareya Upanishad. Shiva in his Nataraja form performed a great dance in the center of the universe. Shiva was the dancer, the dance and the audience. With bells ringing and flames encircling him, he danced, his braided hair whirling as he spun round and round. In his left hand he held the flame of destruction and in his right hand he held the drum of creation – damaru. He swung the drum from side to side, measuring the rhythm of the dance. From the pulse of that small drum came forth the Sanskrit alphabet and from those sounds came forth all forms. The alphabet was heard by the sage Panini. He recorded the cognition in fourteen short verses, called the Shiva Sutras. Sage Panini placed these sutras in the beginning of his

Thechi or Flame of the Woods Flower in Hindu Pujas

Thechi, Flame of the woods, also known as Chethi, Thetti, Jungle Geranium and Jungle Flame is a flower widely used in Hindu pujas and rituals in South India especially in temples in Kerala. The flower is known as Rugmini in Hindi, Vedchi in Tamil, Thechi in Malayalam and Rangan in Bengali. The scientific name of the flower is Ixora coccinea. Red Thechi flowers are widely used in Hindu Temples. White and light yellow and yellow varieties are also used for pujas. Offering Thechi Garland at the world famous Sri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur is considered highly meritorious. Flame of the Woods is widely used through out the temples in South India . It is also used as offering in daily pujas in homes. The Poomoodal ritual in Kadampuzha Bhagavthy Temple in Kerala is performed only with Chethi flowers.

Sonarai – Worship of Tiger in Bengal

Sonarai, also written as Sonaraya or Shonarai, is the worship of the tigers in north Bengal. It is mainly performed by cowherd boys in eastern India on Pausha Sankranti day (December – January). This is a declining ritual, since tigers have ceased to be much of a threat. Earlier, when tigers were a great threat to life of both humans and live stocks, it was considered wise to propitiate the tiger. A couple of days before the Sonarai ritual, cowherds go from door to door, begging for contributions. They also carry drums and sing songs while going around. There are numerous Sonarai songs set to particular rural folk tunes. The householders contribute rice, lentils or money for use in the ritual. A particular spot is chosen for the worship. The cowherds set up sticks adorned with garlands representing   the tiger god. The food is cooked with the alms given by the people and offered to the tiger god. The worship and rituals are usually conducted by teenagers or

Amritabindu Upanishad Quotes And Teachings

A collection and quotes and teachings of Amritabindu Upanishad especially on mind. Mind is considered as two-fold: pure and impure. It is impure with the resolve of personal desire. It is pure when devoid of all selfish desires. The mind alone is the cause of man’s bondage and liberation; the mind attached to the objects of senses creates bondage and when it is free from such attachment, man is free. A seeker of liberation should constantly make his mind free of sense objects since liberation is predicted of a mind that does not cling to sense objects. That is then the Supreme state when the mind is held firmly in the inner psyche, having given up all its attachments to sense objects and it (the mind) attains its own true state (the Self). Restrain the mind until it dissolves in the Consciousness. This is wisdom, this is meditation. The rest is all logic and verbal extensions. The sage should study the scriptures in his search for knowledge; but then he sho