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Showing posts from March 15, 2019


Gana Stambhas – Musical Stone Pillars In Hindu Temples

Gana stambhas are musical stone pillars found in Hindu temples in South India especially in Tamil Nadu. There are also rare temple with musical stone pillars in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Musical pillars in Hindu temples show how architecture could be combined with requirements of music. Musical Stone Pillars In Hindu Temples - Size - Stone - Musical Notes - Raga Musical stone pillars are made of ferrous granite stone and they support the roof like ordinary pillars. But their unique feature is that they are capable of producing musical notes (swaras) when tapped. The cluster of pillars chiseled out of a huge block of resonant stone is played upon with two sticks, with a hard striking knob at the both ends. The performers stand on opposite sides and play on the pillars. The tonic notes emanating from the pillars resemble the notes of the jalatharangam (sound produced from cups containing water). The pillars are of various artistic shapes: cylin

Ravana Of Ramayana Belongs To The Lineage Of Lord Brahma

Many people might not be aware that Ravana, the demon king in the Ramayana, belongs to the lineage of Brahma, the God of creation as per Hinduism. Brahma had six mind born sons. They are Marichi Angiras Atri Pulahan Pulastya Kritu Pulastya had a son named Vishravas. Vishrawas married Kaikasi and they had three sons and a daughter. The sons were Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana. The daughter was named Shoorpanakha. Thus it is stated in many Puranas that demons belong to the lineage of Brahma. Thus the variation of Gunas - Sattva, Rajas and Tamas - results in one being good or bad. Both good and bad arises from the same source. It is ignorance that results in demonic qualities. 

Mahunag – Karna Of Mahabharat Worshipped In Honeybee Form In Himachal Pradesh

Mahunag is a deity worshipped in Himachal Pradesh. It is widely believed that Mahunag is an incarnation of Karna of the Mahabharat. It is said that Karna takes honeybee form and rescues his devotees when they are in distress. Popular temples dedicated to the deity are located in Shimla, Karsog and Manali. Legend has it that the deity once appeared in the form of a honeybee (mahu) to help a king (Raja Shyam Sen) of the region who was imprisoned by a Mughal ruler. The king was kept in a large drum as a prisoner. The honeybee who entered the drum asked the king for a place to stay in the drum. The king told the honeybee that he is ready to give him a place and if he could secure his release, he would give him half his kingdom. Mahuna then took the form of a chess player and challenged the Mughal ruler in chess. The ruler promised anything he wanted if could defeat him. After winning the game, Mahuna asked for the large drum in which the king was imprisoned. Thus Mahuna secured

Poonjaji Teachings

H.W.L. Poonja (1910 to 1997) -  Poonjaji is affectionately referred as ‘papaji’ and was a disciple of Sri Ramana Maharshi. Here is a collection of Poonjaji Teachings. Freedom is to know your own fundamental nature, your own self. Nothing else. Everything happens through that consciousness in which even emptiness is housed. That supreme power which is beyond the beyond – your own self – to that you have to surrender. Consciousness is beyond the concepts of birth and death, beyond even any concept of eternity or emptiness or space. That which accommodates the space or emptiness or eternity is called consciousness, within which everything is existing. Existences and destructions happen ceaselessly. All these manifestation are like bubbles and waves in the ocean; let them happen. The ocean does not find that they are separate. The bubbles, the eddies, the waves – they may appear to themselves as separate, but the ocean itself has no trouble with them. Let them move on, let