Swami Brahmavihari Das is associated with the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a socio-spiritual Hindu organization with its roots in the Vedas and revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781-1830). In a world full of manipulation, selfishness, distrust and unrest, relationship between human beings and nations seems to be held by a very thin cord. Immature and restless behavior could snap it easily. Any relationship can be built and strengthened on the four principles of 'Give, Forgive, Believe and Live'. Selflessness is the key to eternal relationships, which could be termed as a spiritual realization of sublime peak. A single act of selflessness can turn hell into heaven. The habit of giving rather than asking is the tool for an enduring relationship. Look at Dr Abdul Kalam's relationship with the whole nation. Look at the relationship between Lord Krishna and Arjuna – the supreme definition of relationship. When you don...

Sankha Madhava form of Lord Vishnu is associated with Maya or illusion that keeps a human being perpetually in the cycle of birth and death. Sankha Madhava is the king of Maya and his worship helps a devotee in attaining moksha or liberation. As per Hindu belief, the aim of all living beings is to escape from the cycle of birth and death. Sankha Madhava Mantra Om Shankha Choodaya Madhavaya Hari Namah It is believed that at the time of dissolution of the universe, Shankh Madhava encircles the entire area of the confluence of Ganga, Saraswati and Yamuna with waters of a conch shell. It is said that when Sankha Madhava blows on his conch, the devotees become free from maya (the power of delusion). Other Relevant Information: Sankha Madhava is one of the many revered forms of Lord Vishnu in Hinduism, associated deeply with the concept of Maya or illusion. This form of Vishnu symbolizes the cosmic power that creates, maintains, and dissolves the universe, highlighting ...

Shivaratri, or Mahashivratri, is the night of Shiva and one of the most auspicious days dedicated to Lord Shiva. The day and night is for devotion and prayer to Siva. Maha Shivratri is the day when prayers and worship are given more importance. There is no fun or merrymaking as in other Hindu festivals. Here is a simple method to perform Shivratri Puja. Always remember that the origin of Shivratri is traced to a hunter who was an ardent Shiva Bhakta and in a critical situation he unknowingly washed a Shivalingam with his tears and unknowingly offered Bilva leaves . So what is important is devotion and not complicated rituals. Requirements for Shivratri Puja An image, picture or idol of Shiva. Or a Shivalingam. Bilva Leaves Water Other normal puja items like lamp etc Prayers for Shivratri You can chant any one or more of the prayers dedicated to Lord Shiva or simply chant ‘Om Namah Shivaya.’ Fasting on Shivratri Most people fast for the ent...

Madhuparka is a ceremony in Hinduism in which curd mixed with honey is offered to a guest. Offering of madhuparka to a guest or receiving the guest with madhuparka is considered the highest form of reception in Hindu religion. Madhuparka finds reference in early Hindu literature like Nirukta of Yaska and Jaiminiya Arseya Brahmana, besides Kalpasutra. There are differences of opinion among authorities as to the ingredients mixed in madhuparka. According to Apastamba, curd and honey are mixed in a bronze or other vessel. According to commentators, honey can be mixed with milk, too. But it must necessarily be covered by a bronze lid bigger than the container. Apastamba is also of the opinion that some people add ghee (clarified butter) to these two and there are others who had grains and saktu (a flour preparation) to it (Apastamba Grihya Sutra (13.10-12). Officiating priests in Soma rituals, one’s acharya, a king, a person who completes Vedic studies and returns from t...

God has so many beautiful qualities: peace, joy, love, purity, strength, truth… I have always wanted to have the same attributes in my own life; however, despite my devotion to God for all those years, those qualities were difficult to cultivate, and instead I harbored a lot of fear, attachment, and worry. Yet, as soon as I had that moment of recognition, as soon as I said, “God, I belong to you,” it was as if those godly qualities started to emerge within me and my negative tendencies began to leave – I simply no longer claimed ownership of them. When I talk about seeing the Light of God, I do not mean seeing a flash of light. When the third eye of wisdom opens, it is also called light – the light of knowledge and the light of understanding. That light allowed me to remember – that is, to recognize – my own true self and my own true parent. Experiencing the light of God means having a sense of recognition – something inside you shifts. An understanding from deep within ...

Badrinath is one among the several names of Lord Vishnu and it is associated with the Badari Tree (Ber, Jujube, Indian plum). The story as to how Vishnu got the name Badrinath is associated with Goddess Lakshmi. At Badrinath Temple in Uttarakhand, Bhagvan Srihari Vishnu is doing penance. It is said that once Sage Narada rebuked Vishnu for indulging in world pleasures. The Lord then decided to do penance at Badrinath. Thus at Badrinath Temple, Bhagvan Vishnu is worshiped in the meditation posture. On seeing Vishnu doing penance in open harsh conditions in the Himalayas, Goddess Lakshmi took the form of a Badari Tree and gave protection from the adverse weather. After this divine incident, the place got the name Badrinath and Vishnu the name Badari Narayan. The murti of Vishnu worshipped is carved out of Shaligram stone. Badari Narayan is seen under the Badari tree, flanked by Kuber and Garuda, Sage Narada, Narayan and Nar.

Chakra Yoga is a position indicated by the combination of certain planets in a horoscope in Hindu astrology. A person having Chakra Yoga will be rich, powerful and famous. In a horoscope, if all the seven planets are positioned in the six houses with difference of one rashi such a combination constitutes Chakra Yoga. Rahu and Ketu are avoided in calculating Chakra Yoga. Chakra Yoga becomes even more powerful if two auspicious and powerful planets are placed in the lagna (first house). Chakra Yoga is a significant and unique yoga (planetary combination) in Hindu astrology, reflecting the interplay of celestial bodies that bestows the individual with immense wealth, power, and fame. The presence of this yoga in a horoscope is considered highly auspicious and is believed to bring success, prominence, and a strong influence in various areas of life. Formation of Chakra Yoga Chakra Yoga is formed under the following conditions: Position of Planets: All seven planets—Sun, Moon, Mars...

The Vedantin in Hinduism likes to give the illustration of the snake and the rope. There is something on the ground and a person out of ignorance and perhaps also due to poor lighting, mistakes it to be a snake. He yells, shrieks, his heart palpitates, he looks for a stick, and cries out for help until he is assured that it is just a mere harmless rope. The frightening and intimidating world is only Brahman devoid of action. There is also the other Vedantin view that what lies ahead is really a snake and one, in all his foolishness, thinks that it is merely a rope. He goes to handle it, despite being cautioned that it is a snake, gets bitten and there is no end to his plight. That is the harm in seeing Atman in Anatman (real in unreal); it brings about grief, affliction, misery, fear, calamity, and every other negative result. There is a snake lying ahead and one looks at it only to find that it does not manifest any of the ‘snake features’. By snake features, which will be r...

Vedas mention Sesame seeds as the seed of immortality (sorry secularists it is not myth). Along with desi cow ghee and coconut oil, Sesame oil is most widely used in Ayurveda. Modern science has calculated the various components in Sesame oil. The great Hindus of the Vedic age (even before that) knew the greatness of Sesame oil. Sesame is known as til or ellu in various local languages in India. The popular belief in Hinduism is that the sweat that fell from the Kurma Avatar of Lord Vishnu got converted into Sesame seeds. Sesame is an essential part of all dead related rituals in Hindu religion. Hindu Puranas connect a particular food item with a deity in Hindu pantheon when its nutritional and health values are indispensable. It is another way of saying that Sesame is divine food. This method is thousand times better than sitting and explaining each and every goodness of a particular food. Sesame seeds have been used by Hindus from time immemorial. Sesame was culti...

Vyasana in Hinduism are habits not in conformity with right action or dharma. Vyasanas include gambling, antisocial actions and addiction to drugs, tobacco and other harmful things. According to Manusmriti, vyasana are produced by passion and anger. There are then vyanas produced by passion: hunting, gambling, sleeping in day time, blaming others, sexual indulgence , intoxication, singing without restraint, dancing, unrestrained playing for music and roaming aimlessly. The vyasanas produced by anger are back biting, violence, plotting to hurt, envy, jealousy, extravagance, and abusive language. Greed is considered a root cause of the vayasanas. Shuka Acharya declared that the three main vyasanas of a king are gambling, mixing with women and excessive tax.

Nanda, or Nandagopa, was the foster father of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. There is an incident mentioned in the Puranas in which Nanda Gopa is rescued by Sri Krishna from the mouth of a snake. One day the Gopas headed by their chief Nanda performed Maheswara Puja in a nearby forest. They then decided to spend the night on the banks of Kalindi River. They were singing bhajans and keeping vigil. Suddenly a python emerged from the forest and began swallowing Nandagopa. The python started swallowing Nanda by the foot. The Gopas tried hard to loosen the grip of python on Nandagopa. However, they could not. Bhagavan Sri Krishna reached the spot and gave the python a kick. It suddenly transformed into a deva, celestial being. The Deva was known as Sudarshana. He was converted into a python due to a curse by Sage Angiras. The Deva (demigod) had disturbed the Tapas of Sage Angiras and therefore he was cursed. The sage had told the deva that he will be relieved of the curse the day ...

Worshiping Goddess Maramma, a form of Mother Goddess worshipped in parts of South India, especially in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, is seen as a way to seek her blessings for protection, prosperity, and family welfare. She is considered a fierce yet nurturing goddess who helps protect from negative influences, illnesses, and dangers. Here’s a comprehensive guide to performing a traditional yet eco-friendly puja to honor Goddess Maramma. 1. Significance and Benefits of Worshiping Goddess Maramma Protection and Well-being : Goddess Maramma is believed to offer protection from illness, evil influences, and dangers. Prosperity and Abundance : Her blessings are thought to bring prosperity, good health, and success in life. Family Unity and Harmony : Worshipping Maramma is believed to bring peace, unity, and harmony within the family. 2. Cleanliness and Preparations Personal Hygiene : Take a bath before starting the puja as a sign of respect and purity. Clean Puja Area : Clean the puja area wit...

Story of Indra and the bird who refused to leave the tree on which it had made its abode is found in the Anusasana Parva, Chapter 5, of Mahabharata. A hunter once went hunting with poisoned arrows. One of his arrows hit a big tree and the powerful poison dried up the whole tree. In the hollow of the trunk of the tree, there lived a bird with mystic powers. It did not leave the tree, which had been its home since birth. One day Indra approached the bird in the guise of saint. However, the bird easily identified Indra by its mystic power. Indra advised the bird to leave the tree and find a suitable residence as the tree could fall anytime. The bird did not accept his advice. Indra was pleased at the bird’s loyalty and gratitude towards the tree. Therefore, he took the bird along with him to heaven.

Mahashivaratri is on the most popular festivals of Hindus in Kashmir , especially that of Kashmiri Pandits. Herath 2026 date is February 15. In Jammu and Kashmir , Shivratri is known as Hayrath or Herath. And the most important day of the festival is the 13th day of the dark half of Phalgun month. A day ahead of the normal Shivratri day in other parts of India . To Kashmiris, Maha Shivratri signifies Lord Shiva's wedding with Parvathi. Herath 2026 Important Dates Herath festival 2026 begins on the first day of Phalgun Krishna Paksha (February 2, 2026) and ends on the Amavasya day in Phalgun (February 17, 2026).  In between there are numerous auspicious days like Hur Ashtami (February 10, 2026).  The main rituals of Herath festival begins in February 10, 2026.  Wager Bah (February 11, 2026).  The important pujas are  held on the Shivratri day (Shiv Chaturdashi) (February 15, 2026).  The pujas culminate on the Amavasya day which is known as D...

Vrishni is a martial clan in ancient India to which Lord Krishna belonged. The clan is mentioned variously as Vrishni, Varsna, Varsnya and Varsneya in later Vedic texts as well as in Panini’s Astadhyayi and Kautilya’s Arthashastra. The Mahabharata refers to Vrishni, a kshatriya of the Yadu race, whose descendants came to be known as the Vrishnis. Krishna belonged to the Vrishni clan and was the sangha mukhya (chief) of the Andhaka Vrishni state. Krishna testifies in Harivamsa Purana to the martial qualities of not only men but also the women of the Vrishni clan. The Mahabharata and Puranas refer to the invasion by Jarasandha and the exile of the Yadavas from Mathura and their settlement by Vasudeva Krishna at Kusasthali (Dwarka). About 36 years after the battle of the Mahabharata, the decline of the Yadava clan due to inner-clan enmity was followed by the death of Krishna. The city of Dwarka was also immersed in the sea after seven days. The Mahabharata, Bhagavata and Vishnu ...

Rest or stillness is of great importance in Hinduism. Shiva and Vishnu, the two important Hindu Gods, indulge in fun, relaxation, and stillness. Modern Hindus need to learn from the gods the importance of resting and relaxing. Stillness allows us to detoxify the mind, clear our minds, focus and find solutions to problems of life. Today, rest and relaxation are considered sin by many. People cannot see a person taking rest or relaxing, they think the person is wasting life or is wasting the wealth of parents or ancestors. Just like hard work, resting and relaxing is equally important. It is not physical rest alone that is required; we need to put our mind too to rest. We need to stop the mind from constantly filling it with rubbish. Today, the funniest part is that a person can only rest after his/her death. That is why we have ‘rest in peace.’ Actually, we should take frequent rest while we are alive so that we do not suffer on earth and we are able to come up w...

Memorizing ancient mantras in Vedas in Hindu religion increases the size of brain regions associated with cognitive function. India's Vedic Sanskrit pandits train for years to orally memorize and exactly recite 3,000-year old oral texts ranging from 40,000 to over 100,000 words. ….the structural MRI scanning was remarkable. Numerous regions in the brains of the pandits were dramatically larger than those of controls, with over 10 percent more grey matter across both cerebral hemispheres, and substantial increases in cortical thickness. Most interestingly for verbal memory was that the pandits' right hippocampus—a region of the brain that plays a vital role in both short and long-term memory—had more gray matter than controls across nearly 75 percent of this subcortical structure. The pandits also showed substantially thickening of right temporal cortex regions that are associated with speech prosody and voice identity. Does the pandits’ substantial i...

Ganesha Kubera story teaches us that pride is a negative force and it should be shunned and not carried like an ornament. Kubera, the treasure of Gods, once built a palace made of Gold. He was overcome with pride. Kuber once invited Shiva with the intention to show off his newly built palace made of gold. Shiva, who realized the arrogance of Kubera, offered to send his son, Ganesha, for the occasion. Ganesh used the event to teach Kuber a lesson by eating all his food and wealth. When Ganesha reached the palace, Kubera tried to show his precious things – wall, furniture and all utensils in the palace was made of gold. But Ganesha showed no interest in them. He was only interested in the food. Kubera boasted that he had prepared tasty dishes to serve thousands of guests. Soon Ganesh started relishing the food served. Soon all the cooked food was finished. But his hunger could not be satisfied. Kuber was shocked. Ganesha then started eating the raw vegetables and other...

Dates of important upcoming festivals and fasting associated with Hinduism in March 2020 – based on major Hindu calendars and Panchang used in India. The festivals, Vrats and ritual days are based on Indian Standard Time (IST). March 1 – Muruga Sashti Fasting marked in Kerala March 2 – Holashtak Begins March 3 – Monthly Durga Ashtami fasting March 4/5 – Lathmar Holi March 5 – Smarta Ekadashi March 6 – Bhagwat Ekadashi fasting March 7 – Shani Pradosh March 8 - Masi Magam March 9 – Holika Dahan, Holashtak ends, Purnima Vrat March 9 – Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Jayanti March 9 – Attukal Pongala March 10 – Holi play with colors – Purnima – full moon day March 10 – Chaitra month begins in North India. March 11 – Tukaram Beej March 11 – Chitragupta Puja – Bhai Dooj in Madhya Pradesh March 12 – Sankashti Chaturthi Vrat – Moonrise time 9:36 PM March 14 – Sant Eknath Shashti March 14 – Karadaiyan Nombu in Tamil Nadu (Savitri Vrat) March 14 – Panguni Masam ...

Understanding prayer in Hinduism. Many people see prayer as means to get their desires fulfilled by the intervention of God. But in reality is not for desire fulfillment. Srimat Swami Tapasyananda (1904 to 1991), Vice-President of the Ramakrishna Order, tries to explain the true meaning of prayer. If every petition we make to God were answered by Him, all would have been devotees, only praising and never working for the achievement of all things, as it is the best short cut for attaining one’s ends. It is said that when wars take place, both the belligerents would make earnest prayers to God for victory for themselves. People have too naive an idea of God—an idea of Him as a mighty potentate sitting on a throne on high, granting favours and rejecting petitions according to His whims. God is as much justice as He is love and, in regard to persons who approach Him for favours, He is mainly a judge. He functions through the law of Karma, according to which man’s merits and demer...

Story of Jajali is found in the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata and it said that birds used to build nests on his matted hair. Sage Jajali practiced penance from his childhood by staying in a dense forest. He was not deterred by rain, sun, wind etc. Once he stood like a pillar in the forest, immersed in meditation. Two birds made their nests on his matted hair. He did not move, as that would become himsa or violence. The birds came to their nests every evening and stayed for the night. After a few days, the female bird laid eggs in the nest. The eggs hatched and still the sage did not move. The young ones got wings. They grew up and began to go out with the parent birds. They went out in the morning and returned in the evening. The hermit stood like a pillar. One morning they went out and did not return in the evening. The hermit stood there for six days waiting for the return of the birds. On the sixth day evening, they returned. Next time the hermit waited for a month for ...

Khatu Shyam, also known as Teen Ban Dari, was the son of Ghatotkacha and Kamkantakata in the Mahabharata. Ghototkachch, was the son of Bhima, the second of Pandava brothers. Khatu Shyam willingly gave his head in charity to Lord Krishna before the Mahabharata war. It is said that the head of Khatu Shyam was placed atop a hill near the Kurukshetra and it watched the entire Mahabharata war from there. Legend has it that when the Kurukshetra war was about to begin, Khatu Shyam approached Lord Krishna and told him that he can finish the entire war in teen ban (three arrows). But Khatu Shyam put the condition that he will only join the army which will be losing the battle. Therefore Lord Krishna was forced to ask for his head in charity. As Khatu Shyam was a fierce warrior he is also known as Teen Ban Dari. Khatu Shyam is a very popular deity in Rajasthan and nearby regions. Related Hindu God Khatu Shyam or Barbareek – The Grandson of Pandava Bhima

Be it any relationship, if we do not give each other space then it is not a good relationship but a burden. Invasion of privacy and desire to control dampens the true spirit of a relationship. It is like suffocating a flower from blooming. Eventually such a relationship will die. This problem arises either due to insecurity or due to hostility. Such a problem in a relationship should be nipped in the bud before it becomes a huge issue in our lives. We should never let people walk all over us. Just because we are in a relationship does not mean we have surrendered our privacy. It is our right and we should stand up for it. Others invade our privacy when we are weak or insecure. Therefore, it is we who are providing them with an opportunity to control us. So instead of blaming it on someone else we should become stronger. We need to fortify. We need to know where to draw the line in a relationship. Sometimes in the beginning of a relationship, we give too much...

Seeing money, especially money flying or showering on the person, in dream is very common. Dreaming of money notes - coins is positive as per dream interpretation and meaning. Dreaming of paper money means you will have luck in games and lottery. Seeing wealth is also mentioned in Hindu texts that analyses and study dreams and pronounces its interpretation. Seeing money in dream means you will get costly gifts and there will be lot of activities in financial matters in near future. As per interpretation, such dreams suggest that the person will be getting a large chunk of money. It is an indication of new job or decision regarding ancestral wealth. Money floating in water is considered negative as it means wealth will be stolen or lost. Seeing coins thrown at you in dream is an indication of enemies using wealth to cause physical damage to you. Frantically searching for money in dream is an indication of unexpected expenditure in near future. Energy Exchange: Some ...

We are aware of the curse on Ahalya and how Bhagavan Sri Ram gave her moksha. The events that led to the curse began with the marriage of Ahalya. Ahalya was created by Lord Brahma. She was extremely beautiful and without any blemish. Brahma wondered to whom Ahalya should be given away as a bride. The story of Sage Gautama and Indra competing to marry Ahalya begins at this juncture. Both Indra and Sage Gautama wanted to marry the heavenly beauty. Both were not ready to sacrifice. Brahma then declared that he who went around the earth first would be the winner. Indra started on his Airavata (white elephant). But the wise and intelligent Gautama circumambulated a cow that was giving birth to a calf. According to scriptures, he had accomplished the task of going around the world in less than minute. Indra soon completed the task but realized that Sage Gautama had won the hand of Ahalya in marriage by beating him in the race. Indra kept the grouse and later he cheat...

Lakshmi Dwadasha Stotra is the 108 names of Goddess Lakshmi. The prayer is chanted for peace and prosperity and for overcoming all kinds of financial problems. The most important benefit of chanting the Lakshmi Dwadasha Stotra is that it helps solving money related matters quickly. The stotram in Kannada in pdf format is given below. The text or lyrics of Lakshmi Dwadasha Stotra in Tamil language is provided by Sunder Kidambi of prapatti. Link – Lakshmi Dwadasha Stotra Lyrics In Kannada

There is an interesting story in Telugu folklore which attempts to give reason to Karna getting killed in the Kurukshetra battlefield. The story symbolically suggests that our each of our actions have wide ranging consequences. The story is based on a little girl dropping milk on earth and Karna squeezing it out of earth. This angers earth who takes revenge on Karna. One day Karna was traveling on his chariot through a village. A little girl who was drinking milk from pot was startled by the noise of the chariot and she dropped the pot of milk. The pot broke and the milk was immediately soaked up by earth. Karna witnessed this whole event and decided to help the crying girl. He took the moist earth in his hand and squeezed out the milk to a fresh pot. The girl was happy and the people who saw the incident praised the great warrior Karna. Karna too was happy that he helped the child and basked in the praised showered by the people. He was proud that people realized he wa...

A story which explains what is true beauty. Long ago, there lived a king who was a slave of his senses. He became infamous as a womanizer. One day during his routine expedition through his kingdom, he happened to see a beautiful girl. The king was attracted to the girl and wanted to possess her. The king sent a word to the father of the girl asking her to be brought to the palace immediately. An agonized father informed his daughter about the order of the king. The girl was very clever, she told her father to tell the King that she needs one week’s time. He should give her two golden pots immediately. And after one week the king should send palanquins to pick her up. The king agreed to the condition. From that day, the girl only drank castor oil and salt water. Soon she started having loose motions and vomiting. She filled her motion and vomit in the golden pots. After one week, she became weak and was like a skeleton. The palanquins arrived after a week...