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Showing posts from September 10, 2019


Abharana – Ornaments Of Hindu Deities

A Hindu deity is generally identified by ornaments, color of dress, weapons and instruments mostly musical. The same deity may have more than one form and in dhyana shloka (verses uttered in meditation before worship), various ornaments are referred to. Anklets, bangles, armlets, a gold chain or pearl necklace, rings and crowns are commonly found. The same deity can appear in different forms – Nataraja (the dancing Shiva), Ardhanarishwara (an image of Shiva representing both male and female principles), Bhikshatana (the form of Shiva carrying a begging bowl), and so on. Some deities have one or more identifying ornaments. For instance, Vishnu wears the famous jewel Kaustubha on his breast. This gem emerged from the milky ocean when it was being churned. Vaijayanti is Vishnu’s necklace, made of five gems set together. Shiva has snakes as his ornaments. Nala and Kubera, two celestial beings, are said to have taken the form of the two earrings of Shiva. Shiva is also

How One Attains Liberation? – Ashtavakra Answers King Janak

How One Attains Liberation? – Ashtavakra Answers To King Janak King Janaka asked, “Oh Lord, how does one attain liberation and how is non-attachment attained? Please tell me this. Ashtavakra replied, “Oh beloved, if you want liberation, then renounce the passions as poison and take forgiveness and innocence, compassion, contentment, and truth as nectar. You are neither earth nor air nor fire nor water nor ether. To attain liberation know yourself as the witnessing consciousness of all these. If you separate yourself from the physical body and rest in consciousness then this very moment you will be happy, at peace, and free of bondage. You are not a Brahmin or other caste. You are not in any of the four stages of life. You are not perceived by the eyes of other senses. Unattached and without form, you are the witness of the whole universe. Know this and be happy. Oh expansive one, religion and atheism, happiness and misery, order of the mind – they are not for

Forms Of Shiva — Bhoga, Yoga And Vega

What form does Lord Siva take? The answer is that He is formless, but He takes the form of a Linga, and also has a form such as we see in murtis. In addition, His forms are known by three names — bhoga, yoga and vega. In bhoga form, He is seen with His consort. An example would be the Somaskanda form where Lord Subrahmanya is also seen with the Divine Couple. So in this form, Lord Siva is a family ‘man.’ In the yoga form, He is seen in the pose of one engaged in penance. An example would be Dakshinamurthy. Vega is the form of the Lord where He is terrible. The interpretation of ‘terrible’ here means that He is in a mood of anger, and in a mood to destroy. The forms of Bhairava and Veerabhadra are examples of this. It is said that Lord Siva has 64 forms, and among these 25 are important. Chandesa Anugraha, Gajasamhara, Ardhanareeswara etc are some of these 25 important forms. All these 25 fit under one of the 3 categories of bhoga, yoga and vega. Source – Disc