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Showing posts from August 29, 2019


Panchagni Tapasya – A Meditation on Five Fires in Hinduism

Panchagni tapasya is a type of meditation in Hinduism. The meditation is performed with five fires – four fires from wood fuel on all sides with the fire of the sun above being the fifth one. A devotee who attempts this kind of meditation has to tolerate an extreme degree of physical pain to attain deep and pure state of concentration. Devi Bhagavatam talks about this kind of tapasya. The person who performs this kind of tapasya tolerates high level of temperature. Such a person disconnects himself/herself with the body. Some saints perform such tapasya as part of Samadhi.

Why Balaram Did Not Participate in the Mahabharata War?

Balaram, the elder brother of Bhagvan Sri Krishna, did no participate in the Mahabharata war. But why did not Balarama participate in a war that saw the greatest warriors on earth assemble in the Kurukshetra. He did not side with Pandavas or Kauravas in the war. Duryodhana, the elder brother of the Kauravas, was sure that Balaram would side with him. As Balaram was his Guru. But Balarama did not side with the Kauravas as he did not want to fight against his brother Krishna who was on the side of the Pandavas. He also did not side with the Pandavas as he did not want to fight against Duryodhana, who was his student. So when the Mahabharat war was taking place, Balaram went on a pilgrimage. Related Why Rukmi Did Not Participate in the Mahabharata War?

Dashnami – The Ten orders of Shaivite Ascetics – Dashanami

Dasnami, or the Dashnami, is the ten orders of Shaivite ascetics, founded by Adi Shankaracharya. Dashanami Shiva sects exist even today and they are strict followers of the worship of Shiva. Each of the ten orders in Dasnami is attached to one of the four mutts founded by Adi Shankaracharya – the four mutts are Badrinath, Puri, Dwaraka and Sringeri. The ten orders are: Aranya, Ashrama, Bharati Giri Parvata Puri Saraswati Sagara Tirtha and Vana. Mutt heads, Gurus, Swamis or other saints of the orders incorporate the name of the order in their names. Thus we come across Swamijis like Paramanand Giri, Veda Narayana Tirtha etc. Dashnami Saints wear saffron colored dress and they wear three horizontal lines made with ash – tilak – on forehead and other parts of the body. They also wear rosary consisting of 108 rudraksha beads. Majority of the Dashanami saints grow their beards and wear their hair loose or tie in a topknot. Naga sadhus are also part of the Dash

Chakra Puja – A Tantric Ritual

Chakra puja is a tantric ritual performed by men and women together. In the puja, men are called Bhairava and the women are called Bhairavis. The group of individuals participating in the puja forms a circle or Chakra. While performing the Chakra puja, men and women sit in a circle with each man having a woman sitting on his left. The leader of the puja known as Chakreshwara sits with his Bhairavi in the center of the circle. The offerings include flowers, grains, fish, meat, wine and sexual union. The pujas and rituals were performed for obtaining wealth, luck, victory over enemies and for emancipation. Some of the different types of Chakras mentioned in the Rudrayamala are Rajachakra, Mahachakra, Devachakra, Virachakra and Chudachakra. 

Why Lord Shiva Is Known As Mallikarjuna Swamy?

Lord Shiva is worshipped as Mallikarjuna Swamy at the famous Srisailam Temple in Andhra Pradesh. But ever wondered why Lord Shiva is known as Mallikarjuna Swamy? The reason why Shiva got the name Mallikarjuna Swamy is associated with beautiful princess Chandravathi. Shiva never shy away from fulfilling the wishes of his ardent devotees. Legend has it that Chandravathi, beautiful princess, ran away to the distant Nallamala hill range, to escape from her father who was making her life hell through his amorous advances. Chandravathi worshipped Shiva here with jasmine or malle flowers. So powerful was her devotion that Shiva could not ignore her prayers. Shiva appeared before her and granted her wish that He adorn with jasmine flowers at all times. Shiva agreed to this innocent wish of his devotee. From that day onwards Shiva came to be known as Mallikarjuna Swamy. Did You Know? Hailed as Dakshina Kashi, Srisailam is the only temple complex that comprises of a Jyotir

Nine Forms Of Bhakti Explained By Prahlada - Nine Types Of Devotion As Told By Bhakta Prahlada

The nine forms of Bhakti or devotion as told by Bhakta Prahlada, the ardent devotee of Vishnu who made Narasimha Avatar possible are: Sravanam – Listening to Holy Scriptures and stories Kirtanam – Singing of Bhakti songs Smaranam – Remembering of the names of Gods Vandanam – Offer prayers Padasevanam – Do all the works dedicated to gods Archanam – offering of flowers Dasyam – servitude Sakhyam – friendship Atma Nivedhanam – merging of mind in the thought of god.