--> Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from April 21, 2020


Sprinkling Water Around Before Eating In Hinduism – The Mantras And Symbolism

The rite of sprinkling water drops of sanctified water over and around before eating is Parisecana. The sprinkling of water around before eating in Hinduism combines and symbolically invokes the three powers of water, fire and Surya, the sun god. By being honored through this invocation, the three powers contribute towards the well-being and prosperity of the performer. The mantra for the evening meal is rtam tva satyena parisincami “Order, you are sprinkled around with truth”) and for the daytime is satyam tva rtena parisincami “Truth, you are sprinkled around with order”). (The word ‘Order’ – rta – stands for the eternal order that governs the Universe. These mantras are originally mentioned in Taittiriya Brahmana (11.11.1) in the context of performing the Agnihotra rites which begin in the evening and conclude the following morning. Drops of water received in the palm of the hand are sanctified by the recitation of these mantras and then sprinkled around the food in

Foot Prints Of Lord Venkateswara – Religious Significance And Importance Of Padala Mandapam At Alipiri In Tirupati

The root of the foot path leading to the top of the Tirumala Tirupati hills, Alipiri, is the pedestal of the seven hills in Tirumala. A pilgrim takes the first step of the journey to the holy abode of Balaji from here. It is believed that Lord Venkateswara, in order to climb His holy hills took His first step here and left the imprints of His sacred feet at Alipiri. This spot is immortalized as 'Padala mandapam'. The spot is of great religious significance and importance to all Venkateswara devotees. In 1628 AD. Matla Kumara Anantharaja of Devachoda family built a mandapam at Alipiri renowned as padala mandapam. It is under the tamarind tree here that Tirumala Nambi taught the secrets of Ramayana to his disciple the divine Ramanuja. It is believed that the holy footprints of Lord Venkateswara appeared at this spot as narrated in Sri Venkatachala Itihasa Mala. Pilgrims coming by foot to Tirumala first worship these sacred foot prints of Lord Venkateswara. Tho

Seeing Puja – Temples – Prayer In Dream – Meaning

Seeing puja, temples or prayer etc in dream is considered highly auspicious as per Hindu religion beliefs. It is also an indication that with attitude and behavior change you can win the favor of the gods. In Hindu religion there is an ancient scripture known as Swapna Shastra which gives interpretation and meaning of various dreams. Seeing pujas and prayers are highly meritorious. Seeing visiting temples and sacred places in dream is good. Dreaming of temples means you will see peace. There will be change of luck and there will be gains in property and financial matters. But seeing pujas and rituals involving blood and gore are considered bad. After seeing such dream it is good to visit temples and perform annadanam.

Drishadvati Nadi - Holy River In Vedas

Drishadvati is a tributary of holy Saraswati River. It is mentioned in the Rig Veda, the most ancient text. The Nadistuti in Rig Veda makes a specific mention of this river along with Sindhu with its five tributaries in the east, and Saraswati, Ganga, Yamuna and Sarayu. Several scholars identify Saraswati as the present day Surasti in Punjab, which is a small river. Sursati falls into the present day Ghaggar, another small river which is also said to be the lost Saraswati River. Likewise, Drishadvati is identified as the present day Chitang or Rakshin Punjab, anther rivulet. It appears that in ancient times the present day Sursati-Ghaggar-Haka-Nara must have formed a considerable stream as Saraswati. The present day Chitang is a tributary of Ghaggar. Drishadvati was a big river in those days. Saraswati was also a substantially large river. Even Puranas include these in the list of major rivers. Later accounts, however, say that Saraswati had vanished in the desert at Vinasana

A Simple But Profound Truth – We Are The Atman

The truth that we are the Atman is very simple. Swami Vivekananda says that the greatest truths are the simplest things in the world. But to realise this simple fact, we have to practise hard. What comes in the way of our understanding is ego, or the principle which separates us from one another. The ego is like the scum on the surface of water, to give the simile of Sri Ramakrishna. You see the clear water beneath, but very soon the scum covers it again. The sum and substance of Vedanta is to get rid of the ego that I am the body and mind and identify ourselves with the Atman which is beyond both. Identifying ourselves with our bodies brings in its train endless miseries. Recently, a son died prematurely in a family. The mother, who could not bear his loss, also died within two months. That is because of the tremendous attachment to their egos. Contrast this with Dr. Sri Shivakumara Swamiji (1 April 1907 – 21 January 2019) who was the head of Sree Siddaganga Mutt in Tumkur d