The very mention of Sri Vidya puja implies the puja of Sri Chakra (also referred as Sri Yantra). Sri Vidya puja is the worship of mother Goddess Shakti. Every deity has a Yantra exclusively associated with it. But those who do Shiva Puja, Ganesha Puja, Hanuman Puja or Vishnu Puja do not usually keep the corresponding yantras in the puja. In temples under the various altars of the deities the corresponding Yantras would have been formally installed. But in homes where Shiva or Vishnu puja is done only the Bana lingam or the Salagrama is kept, but not the Yantra. In case of Krishna or Ganesha or Hanuman or Ayyappa Puja, it usual vigraha or murti or picture is used. In the panchayatana puja which includes worship of Mother Goddess Shakti, one keeps the stone called ‘swarna-rekha-shila’. But when you worship Mother Goddess Shakti alone, you don’t keep any shila or vigraha. Only Sri Chakra is kept. In some places along with the Sri Chakra, an image with hands and feet may

The Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala is famous for its richness and eeriness. But a Hindu devotee needs to go beyond all the unwanted noise. The murti of Padmanabhaswamy is unique in numerous ways. It is very rare to have darshan of many unique aspects of Hindu tradition in a single temple sanctum. Here are 12 reasons why a Hindu should have darshan of Padmanabhaswamy Murti once in lifetime. Padmanabhaswamy Murti lies on the Ananta Sesha (Serpent Adi Sesha) who has three coils and five heads. The three coils represent the three gunas – sattva, rajas and tamas. The five heads represent panchendriya or the five senses. The concept of Gunas and five senses is unique to Hindu religion and is mentioned in all Hindu scriptures. They play a very important role in the path of self realization. The total length of the Padmanabhaswamy murti is 18 feet and is viewed through three doors. The murti is immovable. The left hand of Padmanabhaswamy murti rests on a Shiv

 A collection of quotes and teachings on ego by Sri Ramakrishna. The ego, is like an intruder in a house who has been accommodated and accepted as one of the inmates of the house. But when we begin to look into its antecedents—from where it came, its status, its very existence—then it seems to disappear. Maya is nothing but the egotism of the embodied soul. This egotism has covered everything like a veil. All troubles come to an end when the ego dies. If by the grace of God a man but once realizes that he is not the doer, then he at once becomes a Jivanmukta. Though living in the body, he is liberated. He has nothing else to fear. This maya, that is to say, the ego, is like a cloud. The sun cannot be seen on account of a thin patch of cloud; when that disappears one sees the sun. Ripe and Unripe Ego - Sri Ramakrishna Explains Sri Ramakrishna teaches: ‘I said to Keshab, “You must renounce your ego.” Keshab replied, “If I do, how can I keep my organization tog