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Showing posts from June 4, 2020


Lakshmana - Daughter of Duryodhana in Mahabharata

Lakshmana in Mahabharata was the daughter of Duryodhana by his wife Bhanumathi. Her marriage to Samba, son of Sri Krishna, is mentioned in the Bhagavad Purana. During the Swayamvara of Lakshmana, Samba went to Hastinapura and took her away. Duryodhana and his brothers captured him. This news reached Dwaraka through Narada. Balarama, elder brother of Sri Krishna, reached Hastinapura and decided to settle the matter peacefully. He requested Duryodhana to release Samba. Duryodhana was Balarama’s disciple and Balarama had firm belief that his student would listen to him. However, a hotheaded and arrogant Duryodhana insulted Balarama and the entire Yadava clan. Balarama said no word in reply but he was boiling with rage. Balarama then placed his weapon ploughshare beneath the ramparts and started uprooting the entire Hastinapura city. Duryodhana soon realized his folly and released Samba. Samba then married Lakshmana. They had ten sons. Lakshmana is also the

What Is One Rudra Unit? – What is Shata Rudra?

Shata Rudra is a hundred cyclic repetition of one rudra unit. What Is One Rudra Unit? One rudra unit passage is defined as – the repetition, as per the prescribed rules, of two units of Krishna Yajurveda – Taittiriya Samhita – fourth Vaisvadeva Kanda, the first unit, starting with ‘om namo bhagavate rudraya – om Namaste rudra manyava uitota – (total eleven sections, characteristically having the repetition of namo; hence called as namaka section – ending with ‘tam vo jambhe dadhami’; coupled with the second unit-passage starting with ‘om agnavishnu sajosa sema” (eleven sections in all, charactersically having the repetition of ‘ca me’; and hence called as camaka, section – ending with ‘bhuvanasca bhuvanasadhipatisca.” This is called one unit of rudra for the purpose of japa, homa and worship. The first unit passage (eleven sections of namaka) is recited first, and then the first section of the second passage (camaka) is recited. Then all the eleven sections of namaka are r

Exploring Karna With S. Aruna – Author Of – Sons of Gods – The Mahabharata Retold

S. Aruna is the author of the book titled – Sons of Gods – The Mahabharata Retold. One of her favorite characters in the epic is Karna. Below is an interview with her to understand the complexities of the character of Karna. Hindu Blog - Karna is often referred as the unsung hero of Mahabharata. Some call him antihero. There are many books glorifying his character, the main reason being his abandonment by his mother as a child. But am more concerned here is about a major character flaw in Karna. He is obsessed with Arjuna, the archer. How do you see this aspect of Karna? Is not Karna insecure throughout the Mahabharata that he might come second to Arjuna in the list of the greatest archers in the world? We see all around us people who are jealous of their colleagues, family members and neighbors. Don’t you think Karna is a representation of this jealousy and insecurity? S. Aruna - Indeed, you are right: insecurity and jealousy are the source of Karna’s obsession with Arj

Mind Is Just An Illusion - Understanding Mind Is Its Nemesis

Words that are free from the stain of desire are the most effective. Thoughts that do not see their end in the acquisition or enjoyment of things or persons but fulfill by their own momentum, by letting their energy take its course, are thoughts that are the most powerful. Just like a person free from any fetters can move fast, a thought free of desire can create a profound effect. To have a powerful speech, one has to be closer to the seed of speech, the thought and the mind. One has to be closer to the source of all speech, a covering on which reality produces speech. By understanding one’s true nature, a person can speak more effectively. Both on the secular and spiritual planes, one can be more effective in thought and word only when one has a correct understanding of one’s life and its goal. Cultivation of silence – not just by being silent outside, not by just refraining from speaking, but being silent at the mind and curbing the impressions of the mind from bubbling u