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Showing posts from June 6, 2020


Jambunada – Kind of Gold Used By Devas to Make Gold Ornaments

Jambunada is a kind of Gold mentioned in Hindu scriptures. Devas and other celestial beings use it to make ornaments. Jambunada is created from the juice of Jambu fruit. Jambu Tree, which bears the fruit, is located on the southern side of Mount Meru. The tree bears fruits and flowers throughout the year irrespective of the seasons. Devi Bhagavata states that the juice of the Jambu fruit when mixed with soil and  acted upon by water, air and sun's rays, turns into the gold called Jambunada. This gold is superior to any other kind of gold in the world.

Three Different Types Of Japa In Hinduism

Japa in Hinduism is the meditative repetition of a mantra or a divine name. There are three different ways in which japa is performed. Vachika Japa Upamsu Japa Manasa Japa Vachika Japa In Vachika Japa, the mantra is pronounced audibly, by the activity of the glottis, throat, the tongue, lips, teeth, cheeks, and the palate. If a number of persons utter the mantra together by producing uniform sounds in a pleasant manner, then a serene atmosphere is produced, and every participant benefits from the calming, absorbing effect on everybody’s mind. Vachika Japa can be performed in a low voice, with a uniform, absorbing tone by a single individual. Upamsu Japa In Upamsu japa, there is no audible sound of the words of the mantra, but the words are actually uttered in a very low, whispering voice with minute movements of the apparatus of speech and without any movements of the vocal cords. Thus, in upamsu japa, the varnas are pronounced but there is no dhvani or sound produ

Janabai – Story Of Her Life – Abhangs

Janabai is one of the early women saints of Maharashtra during the period of the medieval Bhakti movement. She was one of the greatest women Sant in the Vitthal Sampradaya, the tradition of devotion to Vitthal of Panadarpur. The story of Janabai, the girl of Gangakhed turning into a mystic devotee of Vitthala has fascinated people of Maharashtra to this day. It has an element of miracle and is considered to be of divine design. Janabai was born in 1260 a poor family. Her father, Dama, had a dream in which he was asked to take his daughter to Damaseti, a tailor in Pandharpur, to serve in his household. Dameaseti was none other than the father of Sant Namadev, the celebrated saint who was closely associated with Sant Dnyaneshwar. In the household, Janabai gradually ceased to be a servant and grew into a devotee of Vitthal. It so happened that whenever she stopped working, her God completed the work for her. It was often the case that when she was grinding corn, and started

Self-Knowledge Is The Only Key To Bliss

This is article, written by Brahmacharini Sumati Chaitanya, was published in Chinmayam September 2008 issue. Just like the Upanishads, Gita study requires the help of a sympathetic teacher. Just as water flows in a natural and effortless way from an upper to a lower level, pure knowledge flows from the Guru to the dedicated disciple. The ultimate spiritual goal is to recognize one’s true self, not simply to go through life’s fleeting experiences. We know ‘we are,’ but do we know who we really are? Our shifting understanding of ourselves is always in association with things and beings around us that are constantly changing. With body-association, we define ourselves as young or old, fat or thin, fair or dark. With thought association, we see ourselves as angry, sad or happy, intelligent or dull, peaceful or agitated. Our identity is based on our identification with our nation, culture, religion, people and circumstances all of which are also constantly changing. But