Uparichara Vasu was a scion of the Puru dynasty. He was also the maternal grandfather of Sage Vyasa in the Mahabharata. He is Uparichara because Garuda made him travel in the sky by the grace of God. He was devotee of Vishnu. He accepted the kingdom of Cedi on the advice of Indra, the king of Devas. He was also blessed with the “all knowing” faculty. As a king, Uparichara Vasu took delight in hunting. Later, he turned to asceticism, which impressed gods and sages so much that Indra gifted him with a celestial chariot, a bamboo stick, and a garland of vaijayanti flowers. King Uparichara in gratitude started the tradition of worship of Indra by anointing the bamboo stick. Pleased by this ritual, Indra accepted it and explained its enormous merit. Uparichara Vasu married Girika, daughter of Shuktimati. The subjects of Cedi found in Uparichara Vasu a righteous king who made his subjects happy. The king had five children – Brihadratha, Pratyagraha, Kusambu, Mavella and Yaduna...

At the end of their rule, Pandavas decided to retire. It was time for them to bid good bye to civilization. Yudhisthira died during the final journey of Pandavas and it is mentioned in the Mahaprasthanika Parva. Yudhisthira followed his wife, Draupadi, and brothers to the great snow-clad mountains in the Himalayas. Draupadi slipped and fell as they started climbing the Himalayas. Sahadeva fell next and died. Third to fall was Nakula. Arjuna fell next. And it was Bhima who fell next. Yudhisthira who had decided to give up all the ties climbed the mountain leaving Bhima behind. Yudhisthira and the dog that followed him reached the peak of the mountain. Indra appeared before him and told him that he was blessed with immortality and happiness of heaven. He can abandon the dog and enter heaven. But Yudhisthira was not ready to abandon the dog. He wanted the dog to be taken along with him to heaven. Thus Yudhisthira abandoned heaven for the dog. Indra was pleas...

Upasana in Hinduism is intense meditation and it is meant for obtaining freedom from ignorance and delusion, and is regarded as one of the means of purging oneself of the sinful acts which might have been committed independently or otherwise. In a way, it represents a mental attitude (bhava) which takes the aspirant towards self realization. Upasana is formed of the word ‘asana’ (sit) with the preposition ‘upa’ (near). The word, as a whole, signifies a spiritual act performed in prayerful proximity to God. It serves as a vehicle for an aspirant to climb up the spiritual ladder. The more one thinks of God, the more God-like one can hope to become. Very similarly, the more one thinks of worldly objects, the worldlier one would become. Upasana is the union of the spiritual aspirant (upasaka) with the one meditated upon. Upasana is either divine, courageous, or of lower nature. Three Types Of Upasana The three types of Upasana are sattvika (pious), rajasika (active) and ta...

Mostamanu is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located around 8 km from Pithorgarh in Uttarakhand. The shrine nestles on a hillock and it is believed that Mostamanu Temple was a shakti shrine earlier. It was converted into a Shiva temple later. The fair and festival in the temple is famous for its unique rituals. The temple is also witness to the annual ritual in the Dhunga Bhool area. The shrine is a conical structure and the inside of temple has be renovated and tiles are pasted around.  Hindu Temple Architecture in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand: A Comparative Study Introduction: Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, two states nestled in the Indian Himalayas, are renowned for their distinct Hindu temple architecture. Both regions have been influenced by their geography, climate, and cultural history, resulting in unique styles that, while sharing some similarities, exhibit significant differences as well. Historical Context: Himachal Pradesh: The architectural st...

Sala tree is held sacred by Hindus and the reason for it is found in the Ramayana. Sri Rama and Lakshmana were in search of Mata Sita who had been abducted by Ravana, the asura king of Lanka. During their search, the met vanquished and exiled King Sugriva through Hanuman. Sugriva had been defeated and exiled from his kingdom by his brother Vali and lived in mortal fear of him. Sugriva saw no way of defeating Vali who was strong and brave like Indra and from whom he had received a divine necklace of great potency which made him vulnerable. Sugriva promised entire army of vanaras in his command to find and rescue Mata Sita on the condition that Rama should first help him regain his kingdom and his wife. Sri Rama agreed to the condition but Sugriva aware of the strength of Vali was apprehensive whether Rama would be able to defeat his brother. Sugriva one day approached Sri Rama and Lakshmana and mentioned about the power and strength of Vali. Lakshmana understood t...

If you want a healthy, peaceful and happy life then we need to shed suppression and overindulgence. Suppression and overindulgence are closely related. Eventually suppression will lead to overindulgence. Overindulgence leads to bad health, exhaustion, dissipation, irritability, remorse… Suppression is hard and overindulgence is easy. In suppression, we are storing energy in the wrong place and it will eventually explode and cause destruction. Even the storage is a burden. In overindulgence, we do not have any energy because we lavishly spend it and become sick. A suppression of all sensitive pleasure may be as harmful as overindulgence. So be it sex, food, games, or whatever be our likes do not go to the extremes. Take the middle path. We will enjoy more and have a better experience. There should always be balance in life.  Further Explanation: Balance Between Suppression and Overindulgence: A Timeless Teaching in Hindu Wisdom Hindu philosophy often e...

Varalakshmi Vratham is a popular Hindu ritual observed by married women in South India and Maharashtra . Varalakshmi Vratham 2025 date is August 8. Below is all important rules and puja vidhanam of Varamahalakshmi fasting. Goddess Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth and prosperity – is worshipped on this day. It is observed by married women in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and by some communities in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and  Maharashtra . Varalakshmi literally means the boon granting goddess. Worshipping Goddess Lakshmi on this day is equivalent to worshipping Ashtalakshmi – the eight goddesses of Wealth, Earth, Learning, Love, Fame, Peace, Pleasure, and Strength. The equivalent form of Ashta lakshmi is Vara Lakshmi. Vara means boon. Hence she is called as 'Boon Giver' Lakshmi. She grants wealth, strength, progeny, food grains, knowledge, courage and victory to those who worship her during Varalakshmi Vratham in Sravana Masam. The importance or significance of Varalaks...

Yamala is a part of tantric literature. There are eight important yamalas – Rudra Yamala, Kanda Yamala or Skanda Yamala, Brahma Yamala, Vishnu Yamala, Yama Yamala, Vayu Yamala, Kubera Yamala and Indra Yamala. These eight were supposed to have been communicated by eight Bhairavas, viz., Svacchanda, Krodha, Unmatta, Ugra, Kapalin, Thankara, Sekhara, and Vijaya. Brahma yamala text is known to be preserved in manuscript form in Nepal. There is also a supplement to Brahma Yamala which is called Jayadratha Yamala. This information is mentioned in another yamala (Pingala Yamala). The period of yamala ranges from 6 th to 9 th century AD. The old text of many of them are currently not available. Yamalas mainly deal with tantric traditions. Many sadhanas described are diversified in nature. It is believed that Ishwara communicated this knowledge to Srikantha, who incarnated himself in a village (Kanavira) near Prayaga. He in turn passed it on to Bhairavas; then on to Deva...

There are numerous stories regarding the birth of Sage Dattatreya. The story of birth of Dattatreya as the son of Sage Atri is found in the Srimad Bhagavad Purana. Legend has it that Sage Atri performed intense austerities for taking forward his lineage. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva appeared before Sage Atri and told him that all of them would be born as his sons. In due course of time, Anasuya wife of Sage Atri gave birth to Soma who was the essence of Brahma, Dattatreya who was the essence of Vishnu and Sage Durvasa who was the essence of Shiva. As per Srimad Bhagavad Purana, sage Atri was blessed by Vishnu saying that I have given (data) myself unto you. Thus as the son of Sage Atri, Vishnu was known as Dattatreya. The popular belief is that Dattatreya is a combined incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Related Brahma Vishnu Shiva born as Sons of Anasuya

There are two sorts of truth we find in our Shastras, one that is based upon the eternal nature of man — the one that deals with the eternal relation of God, soul, and nature; the other, with local circumstances, environments of the time, social institutions of the period, and so forth. The first class of truths is chiefly embodied in our Vedas, our scriptures; the second in the Smritis, the Puranas, etc. We must remember that for all periods the Vedas are the final goal and authority, and if the Puranas differ in any respect from the Vedas, that part of the Puranas is to be rejected without mercy. We find, then, that in all these Smritis the teachings are different. One Smriti says, this is the custom, and this should be the practice of this age. Another one says, this is the practice of this age, and so forth. This is the Achara which should be the custom of the Satya Yuga, and this is the Achara which should be the custom of the Kali Yuga, and so forth.  Now this i...

Unmani is the transformation and purification process of mind in Hinduism. The term is described by Adi Shankaracharya in the yoga taravali (27) as the process wherein avidya (ignorance) is completely overcome and purity, undisturbed calm, and enlightenment is attained. This state is called jivanmukti, sahaja or turiya. It has been the goal of all spiritual and religious endeavors, praised by all schools of philosophy in India, whether orthodox or otherwise. Various features of unmani and the behavior of the person in that state have been described in traditional texts. In Ishavasya Upanishad (7), it is described as a state of freedom from moha (infatuation) and shoka (sorrow). In Chandogya Upanishad (VII.1.43), a person in such a state is called atmavi (man of self knowledge) and is said to be forever free from sorrow. In the Avadhuta Upanishad (6) it is said, “just as the sun evaporates and swallows all fluids and fire consumes all objects yet both of them remain unta...

Many Hindus might have come across trees studded with iron nails in sacred places or temples. Offering iron pieces is a very ancient form of worship in Hindu religion. In western Himalayas, especially in the Kumaon Hills and the Kullu valley, Hindus hold the Devadaru tree sacred and offer iron pieces as offerings to the gods dwelling on the trees. Nails are driven into huge trees as a form of worship mainly to ward off illness, death and destruction of cattle, sheep and crops. There is a popular belief throughout India that tree spirits and gods and goddesses dwell in huge trees. Why iron nails are offered can be explained from a common Hindu belief that iron keeps the evil away. The trees chosen are neem, banyan, devadaru, tamarind and other huge trees. In modern times, people associate nails in trees with ghosts. This is because most Tantrics in serials and movies capture the ghost in an iron nail and then drive it into a tree. Instead of worshipping tree with nai...

Mankha, also known as Mankhaka, was a 12 th century poet from Kashmir. He lived during the period of Jayasimha(1127-1149 AD). Jayasimha was a great patron of poets and Mankha presented his poems to court poets seated in a circle. Among the poets of the court were Nandana, the philosopher, Sri Ruyyaka, and the rhetoricians Ramyadeva, Prabhakara, Srigarbha, Mandana, Garga, Devdhara, Naga, Tutatia, Kumarlila, Trailokya Damodara and Jinduka. Mankha not only list the names of the poets but also recounts the way they approached the court, their tastes, and their abilities. This presentation of a kavya to an appreciative audience in a court gives an idea to how kavyas were released in those days. Srikanthacharita of Mankha was first recited in the court of Jayasimha. Shiva buring the three flying cities of demons forms the theme of Srikanthacharita. The first canto is invocatory, the second defines good and bad people and the third canto gives family details of the author. Ma...

A collection of teachings from chapter 14 of Dnyaneshwari. The knowledge of Self is over everything else, because it is like fire, whereas all other branches of learning are like straw. Knowledge of Self secures liberation and puts an end to all complications of the world. When the mind is controlled by the mind and the Soul rests in Brahman, even existence in the physical body does not bind the Soul. Having attained Me, they become eternal in My eternity and perfect in My perfection. When there is no difference between them and Me, they share the truth and the joy, that is in Me. Just as space contained in a vessel joins up with space generally, they become all-pervading, as I am. It is like light joining light, when many lamps lighted from one lamp are joined to another. The travail of duality is over and the distinction of "I and thou" goes away. When creation starts again, there is no rebirth for them. When creation comes to an end, there is no de...

The minor incarnation of Lord Vishnu as Dharma is found in the Brihad Dharma Purana. As per the Brihaddharma purana, when the universe was created, Brahma wanted someone to protect it. Immediately thereafter, from the right side of Brahma, sprang a being with four legs resembling a bull, wearing kundalas in his ears, a garland of white flowers and white sandal paste smeared on this body. Brahma called him Dharma and asked him to be his son and protect the universe. Dharma posses four legs in the Krita Yuga, three legs in Treta Yuga, two legs in Dwapara yuga and one in the kali yuga. His limbs are considered symbolically to be truthfulness, mercy, peacefulness and kindness. His image has four faces, four arms and four legs. He is dressed in white garments, adorned with all ornaments and carrying in his hand the akshamala, a pustaka, lotus and one hand resting on a bull.

Bhaskara (996 – 1061 AD) held the view of difference with non-difference (bheda – abheda) as the Ultimate truth, both being real. Brahman is the ultimate reality. It is both the material and efficient cause of the world. As the material cause, it enters into the world as an effect in its own modification, just as gold is modified as many ornaments. Thus Brahman is both cause and the effect, these being but its real forms. Bhaskara, however, says that the causal form of Brahman is its own nature while the world-effect is just adventitious and impermanent. All the same, both these forms are real. Impermanence is not the criterion for unreality. The world is real, different from the cause in form and yet non-different from it in substance. This is the rule in any and every cause-effect relationship. Brahman for all the world-creation, is yet the same and unchanged. For what changes are its powers, not itself. It is like the sun which radiates its rays and collects them back. T...

Mangalya is a term used for the auspicious objects used in religious ceremonies. Yaska gives the etymology of in Nirukta (IX.4), tracing it from the root gr, “to praise, to swallow”, or from mam gacchatu, i.e., “let it come to me.” Different religious schools differ on the number of mangalya, but most Sanskrit texts support eight auspicious objects – Darpanam puranakumbhascha ursabham yagamacamaram srivatsam svastikam sankham dipam capyastamangalam (Raurava Agama kp XVII cd-79ab). The married women put on certain marks and ornaments like mangalasutra, kumkuma, nose ring, etc., as an auspicious token of their good fortune and this is also known as mangalya. Evening lamp is also mangalya dravya as it dispels darkness. Before journey, seeing or touching the mangalya like durva grass, curd, ghee, water-vase etc is accepted as a common feature of auspiciousness in Hindu tradition. (Vayu Purana XIV.36-37). Goddess Durga is praised as sarvamangalamangalya (Durga Saptas...

Ashwin Mahina is the seventh month in a traditional Hindi calendar followed in North India . Ashwin Month 2025 begins on September 8 and ends on October 7. This calendar is followed mainly in Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Haryana,  Bihar  and Chhattisgarh and other North Indian states. A month in these regions is calculated from the day after Purnima or full moon to the next Purnima. The current year in the Hindi Calendar is Saka 2082. Importance Of Ashwin Month In Hinduism Ashwin Month is dedicated to the worship of Ganesha in Hinduism.  Mantra Chanted in the month - ॐ श्रीं गं सौभाग्य गणपतये,वर्वर्द सर्वजन्म में वषमान्य नम:॥ Navratri and Durga Puja are observed in the month. Pitru Paksha Shradh fortnight -Tarpan and Shraddha for dead parents and relatives during the Mahalaya Krishna Paksha period of Ashwin month (September 8 to September 21). Chaturthi Vrat or Sankashti Ganesh Chaturthi  in Ashwin Month...

We all are capable of great things. But we must never forget the Supreme Truth that guides. Pains and sorrows are part of life and we must bear them. Such struggles help us in becoming a better and more courageous person. We should be ever ready to own our mistakes and correct them. This helps in making our journey in the world smooth. Do not fall for external appearance, always bother about what is happening internally. Everything we do in life will leave a mark. Be conscious of all our actions. If you wish for anything other than Supreme Truth (God or Brahman), it will ultimately end in disappoint and misery. If it is meant to happen, then it will just happen – many of us have this attitude. An even better attitude is to take charge and attempt to make it happen without worrying about the end result. Devotion does not mean being trapped in false beliefs and superstitions. True devotion is inward journey. Realizing that am part of the Supreme Truth and all tha...

The death of only son or daughter is the worst kind of loss on earth. It is inconsolable. The father and mother will not be satisfied with any kind of reasoning. But how to overcome grief of death of child in a real way, not by blaming on fate or cursing God. Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi once consoled a man whose three year old son had just died. A very devoted and simple devotee had lost his only son, a child of three. The next day he arrived at the Ashram with his family. Referring to them, Bhagavan said: Training of mind helps one to bear sorrows and bereavements with courage; but the loss of one's children is said to be the worst of all grief. Grief only exists as long as one considers oneself to have a definite form; if the form is transcended one knows the One Self to be eternal. There is neither death nor birth. What is born is only the body, and this is the creation of the ego. But the ego is not ordinarily perceived without the body and so is identifie...

The meaning of Vibhava in Hinduism is wealth, property, might, power, force, greatness, exalted position, rank, dignity, final beatitude and absolution. It is associated with Vaishnavism. According to Vaishnava Bhakti Darshana (philosophy of devotion) swarupas (forms) of God are five types, and one of them is vibhava. Vibhavas of Vishnu are infinite but may be put in two categories – main and subsidiary. The direct incarnations of Vishnu are called swarupavesha, or main vaibhava, while manifestations of God’s powers or qualities are called Shaktyavesha or vibhuti, and are treated as subsidiary vibhava. Lord Vishnu has taken many avataras out which ten are outstanding and are recognized as vibhavavatara. His vibhava is applauded in the Mahabharata, the Ramayana and Puranas. Shri and Bhu, consorts of Vishnu, along with His divine weapons, viz., disc, mace, sword, bow and arrows, would add vibhava to his divine personality. Wherever there is goodness and spec...

Ardent devotees of Lord Shiva, wear a string of beads known as the Rudraksha Mala, which they use for counting when saying their mantra. Here is a look at the importance of Rudraksha Mala in Hinduism and its religious significance. The name rudraksha is a compound of the two Sanskrit words ‘Rudra’ meaning Shiva and ‘aksha’ meaning eye, so the rudraksha is the eye of Siva. This is the mythological third eye implying spiritual sight or Realization. The number of beads on the string varies according to the way it is worn. Even today one can see sadhus wearing these beads in their earlobes, round their wrists, on the crown of the head, tight round the neck or falling like a garland on the chest. Three beads are worn in each ear, Twelve round each wrist, Thirty-six over the crown of the head, Thirty-two or twenty-seven tightly round the neck, and Hundred and eight when worn as a garland. It is this last form of mala which is generally used for counting the repetiti...

A parable explains how rituals or acharas are corrupted in Hinduism. Once a man was performing the shraddha ceremony of his father. He was assisted by his two young sons. When they sat for worship with eyes closed, their pet cat ate the naivedya before it could be offered. The man arranged for new naivedya and also put the cat in a corner and covered it with a wicker basket. The cat was let out after the worship. The next year, before the worship began, the cat was confined to the same corner with the basket over it. This practice continued for many years. One day the man himself passed away. Now his two grown-up sons got ready to perform his shraddha ceremony. Just when the worship was about to begin, the elder brother exclaimed, ‘My God! We have forgotten an important ritual of our sacred tradition!’ ‘What is it?’ asked the younger brother anxiously. ‘Don’t you remember, how at every shraddha ceremony our father would keep a cat in that corner covered with a...

All these distinctions made between the ‘I’ and ‘you', master and disciple, are merely a sign of one's ignorance. The 'I' Supreme alone is. To think otherwise is to delude oneself. A puranic story of Sage Ribhu and his disciple Nidagha, is particularly instructive in this context. Although Ribhu taught his disciple the supreme truth of the One Brahman without a second, Nidagha, in spite of his erudition and understanding, did not get sufficient conviction to adopt and follow the path of jnana, but settled down in his native town to lead a life devoted to the observance of ceremonial religion. But the sage loved his disciple as deeply as the latter venerated his master. In spite of his age, Ribhu would himself go to his disciple in the town, just to see how far the latter had outgrown his ritualism. At times the sage went in disguise, so that he might observe how Nidagha would act when he did not know that he was being observed by his master. On one such occasi...