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Showing posts from August 11, 2019


Meeting of Parashurama and Sri Rama in the Ramayana

Meeting of Parashurama and Sri Rama in the Ramayana is awe inspiring - two avatars of Vishnu meeting on earth. One was calm and serene another angry like the thunder. The meeting happens when Sri Ram was returning to Ayodhya with Mata Sita after their marriage in Mithila. They meet in the middle of a forest. Sage Vasishta offers Arghya to Parashuram. Dasharatha pleads him to spare them. Parashuram goes straight to Sri Ram and says that he has been hearing lot of the prowess of him. You broke the bow of Mahadeva at Mithila. I want to see your prowess. He offers his bow and asks to life it, string it and shoot an arrow with it. This bow like the bow of Mahadeva was built by Vishwakarma and was used by Vishnu. Parashuram also states that if he cannot lift the bow then he should either fight him or accept defeat. Rama was standing silent during the entire episode. Sri Rama then took the bow and arrow from Parashurama with ease. He strung the bow and fixed an arr

Sitikantha – About Lord Shiva As Sitikanthan

Sitikantha is one among the numerous names of Shiva. Mahadev got this name when he destroyed the Daksha Yajna after the death of Goddess Sati. Unable to hear the insults hurled on Shiva by her father Daksha, Goddess Sati jumped into the fire and got self immolated. Goddess Sati's death aroused unimaginable fury in Shiva. He became Rudra and destroyed everything in Daksha Yajna. Shiva thrust his flaming trident continuously on Daksha and on all those who came in his path. He thus burnt everything in the yajna. An angry Shiva then threw the trident in fury and it fell near the Ashram of the Nara And Narayana at Badrinath with terrific force. The glow from the weapon was so powerful that the hair on the head of Narayana turned green, Narayana then threw the trident back and it returned to Shiva howling. Shiva who was still spitting fire in anger ran up to Narayana. To stop the fury of Shiva, Narayana seized him by his throat and hence the name Sitikantha.

Arka Vratam

Arka Vratam is dedicated to Surya, the sun god in Hindu tradition. The Vrat is observed on Sunday. The important rituals of the vratam include fasting, chanting of Gayatri Mantra or any other prayer dedicated to Surya. Devotee observing Arka Vrata will be blessed with peace and prosperity. The devotee observing the vrat should wake up before sunrise on Sunday. After taking bath, should view the rising sun and offer prayers and chant Gayatri mantra or any other prayer dedicated to Surya. Only a single meal is taken on the day – mostly during noon. The fasting is continued even after sunset. The single meal should be a simple pure vegetarian meal. No pujas are performed during the evening hours. It is believed that Arka Vratam helps in alleviating various diseases and it also helps the devotee to attain spiritual awareness.

Yoga Vasistha Lessons

A collection of valuable lessons from Yoga Vasistha. The world is transitory, having not a grain of happiness in it. I do not desire death nor do I covet life; I have no eagerness for kingdom, wealth, enjoyments and desires, for I have relinquished egoism which is the root of all these. Neither should you find fault with anyone. Control your mind, speech and body, and never be perturbed. Daily do service to your guru with devotion after purifying your body and mind. Do not be slack in doing good actions even for a single day. Do not be overjoyed if you get a fortune, neither should you be dejected if you lose it. Your mind should be well balanced. I, Rama, am the life of all souls. Your mind should be fixed on me alone. What I have advised you is the knowledge that can be obtained only by the study of Vedanta. He who studies this with great faith and devotion to me and my words, will surely attain union with me. In this effort, man will have to face many enemies like Kama