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Showing posts from September 13, 2019


Ashtavarana – Eight Purification Rites In Virashaivism

Ashtavarana is the collective term given to the eight religious observances for the purification of the spiritual life of an individual in Virashaivism. The observances are known as eightfold shield that protects a spiritual seeker. Ashtavarana Are: Guru Linga Jangama Padodaka Prasada Vibhuti Rudraksha Mantra Guru, the preceptor is alone capable of initiating a spiritual seeker into Virashaivism by installing linga, the symbol of Parashiva, on his body. This act of initiation is called deeksha and with this the devotee gains competence to worship, his ishtalinga as guided by his preceptor. This linga, which is the symbol of Shiva, will remain as his spiritual companion and he should develop faith in the supremacy of Parashiva in all walks of life with the presence of linga with him. A Virashaiva is not supposed to worship any image in the temple nor should he depend on a priest as a middleman in matters of religious devotion. Jangama is a spiritual guide of t

Sweet Paan Offering To Hanuman To Solve Life Problems

Sweet paan is offered in many regions to Hanuman to solve problems in life – including financial, job, career, business and property. It is also offered to defeat the activities of enemies. Mantra Chanted While Offering Sweet Paan संकट ते हनुमान छुड़ावै , मन क्रम वचन ध्यान जो लावै Sankat Te Hanuman Choodaave, Mann Kram Vachan Dyan Jo Lavai The offering should be made if possible on all day morning while offering prayers to Hanuman. If not possible then it should be offered on Tuesday and Saturday. While offering the mantra should be chanted. The paan is to be offered without applying lime (choona). How to Make Sweet Paan Offering to Hanuman? The sweet paan offering should be made after taking bath in the morning. The person making the offering should wear red or saffron color clothes. First prayers should be offered to Ganesha in the mind. Then prayers should be offered to Bhagavan Sri Ram and Mata Sita in the mind. Next, keep a photo of Hanum

Swami Brahmanand Saraswati on the Signs of an Ideal Guru

The signs of an ideal guru thoughts by Swami Brahmanand Saraswati  The words ‘guru’ and ‘goru’ sound only a little different. The guru sees to the happiness of the shishya (disciple) and the goru (cattle) are only connected with nourishment and comfort. If the guru sets a relationship to collect food, clothing and financial gifts from disciples, not making effort to dispel their defects and cannot offer any prospect of their salvation, they are not students of a guru, they are really goru (cattle). Certainly students should make arrangements for the fodder and water of one's own gurus, then certainly you will have to act, it is not bad to make arrangement for food and clothing: but one should receive one's own happiness from the way of a guru with all signs of knowledge. You should investigate the signs of an accomplished guru. In the Shastra it is written that there are two marks of a guru: stotriyata (one who has thoroughly studied the Vedas) and brahmanish

Shri Krishna on Sthitaprajna - Ideal Human Being in Bhagavad Gita

Shri Krishna’s ideal human being is Sthitaprajna. Prajna is mind, intellect, wisdom. Sthita means stable. Sthitaprajna is a person whose mind has stabilized. Whether he has faith in the divine is immaterial, as long as he is in a state of equilibrium while facing the ups and downs of life. Shri Krishna’s Sthitaprajna is not a religious person engaged in rituals. In this state you do experience life but remain unmoved by it because your mental faculties are always in a state of equilibrium. You can even be an atheist. The Gita describes such a person as shruti-vipratipanna (Bhagavad Gita chapter 2:53 ).  According to one translation it means a person ‘bewildered by a variety of revealed truths.’ It may mean false opinions you form through the shrutis, even the Vedas. Krishna moves away from rites prescribed by the Vedas. Krishna says ‘Throw away religious cultism’ (Gita 18:66). What he means is that one should refrain from religious bigotry that leads to blind zeal, cl

Hindu Understanding Of Elements From Taittiriya Upanishad

The Taittiriya Upanishad provides a concise and clear statement regarding elements: ‘From the Atman came space, akasha. From space came air, vayu. From air came fire, agni. From fire came water, ap. From water came the earth, prithvi.’ When these five elements first emerge one after the other, they are extremely subtle and are called tanmatra. They combine with each other to form gross, or more tangible, versions called mahabhuta. It is these gross elements that come together in various permutations and combinations, and the result is the material world. Amidst all the diversity we come across in life, we will see — if we look deeply enough — unity at different levels. Waves are diverse, the ocean is one. Where we look and what we notice is our choice. It is possible to see the diverse objects in the material world as waves, and it is also possible to see the world collectively as one huge ocean of matter. Where does this ocean/wave insight lead us? It tells each one