--> Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from July 24, 2020


Story Of Demon Dushana In Hindu Religion Stories

Dushana is the name of two demons in Hindu religions stories. One is mentioned in the epic Ramayana and the other is associated with the Ujjain Mahakaleshwar Temple. In the Ramayana, Dushana was one of the generals of Ravana. He was the companion of Khara, brother of Ravana. Dushana along with Khara attacked Rama in retaliation of cutting of the nose of Surpanakha, sister of Ravana. The demon was killed by Rama in the Dandaka forest. Dushana, another powerful demon, lived during the Satya Yuga in the Ratnamala hills near Avanti, the present day Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. He killed all the living beings that came across his way. He ate the flesh of human beings. The people in the region were terrified and took the help of a pious Shiva devotee meditating in a cave on the hills. To defeat cannibal Dushana, he performed intense austerities with Shiva in mind. Soon Shiva appeared on the Ratnamala hills and annihilated the demon. The pious Shiva devotee and the people of the regio

Yaksha Prashna in Mahabharata – The Full Questions Yaksha Asked Yudhisthira

Yaksha Prashna is the famous incident in the Mahabharata. It is found in the Aranya Parva. Failing to answer the question of yaksha, Nakula, Sahadeva, Arjuna and Bhima are killed, but are restored to life when Yudhisthira answers the questions correctly. The full questions yaksha asked Yudhisthira can be found below: Yaksha – What makes the sun rise and who are those near him? What makes him set and on what is he established? Yudhisthira – Brahma makes the sun rise and the gods remain near him. Dharma makes him set and he is established in Truth. Yaksha – How does one become learned? How does one attain greatness? How does one obtain a second? How does one become intelligent? Yudhisthira – One becomes learned through the sacred texts. One attains greatness through austerities. One obtains a second through perseverance. One becomes intelligent by serving the elders. Yaksha – What is the divine trait of Brahmanas? What dharma of theirs is like that of the virtuous

Ganga Panchami In Bhadrapad Month

Ganga Panchami is observed on the fifth day of Bhadrapad month as per traditional Hindu lunar calendar followed in North India. Although the festival is named after Ganga, it is dedicated to Nagas – snakes. Naga Devatas are propitiated on the occasion for the welfare of the family. Panchami or the fifth day in the month of Ashada, Shravan and Bhadrapad are dedicated to Nagas or serpents. In Hinduism, snakes are one of the most ancient symbols of fertility. Nagas are powerful gods, capable of both curses and blessings. Therefore they are worshipped and given a space (grooves) by Hindus. The snakes has ever been believed to be associated not only with sexual reproduction i.e. human fertility but also with the fertility of the soil.

Kshudra Devata In Hindu Religion – Helpful Semi Divine Beings

In Hindu religion, Kshudra Devata are a class of semi divine beings. In the wide band of the creation, ranging from gods in heaven to demons in the patala loka (netherworlds) with human in the middle world, the place of Kshudra Devatas is above the earth. As per Hindu scriptures, Kshudra Devatas are attendant deities of more powerful deities and divinities in heaven and netherworld. For example, the yakshas are one of the groups belonging to Kshudra Devata category. These yakshas are subordinate to Kubera. Kubera is subordinate to other powerful gods in Hindu pantheon like Ganesha and Shiva. The semi divine beings that are part of the classification are gandharvas, siddhas, kinnaras, vidyadharas, apsaras and similar divine beings. Many of these beings are temperamental, helpful to their devotees and interested in the pleasures of the fine arts. They are afraid of losing their pleasure possessions. They are attacked by the demons. They are cursed by demigods (devas) fo

We are often caught in the nets of our own passions and ego – Story

The young one of a bird was learning to fly. He often fell down and yet was trying his hard to fly. His mother would often help him out and give some practical tips to improve. And then one day, when he felt confident to fly alone, he decided to make a maiden trip to a nearby forest. As a caution and advice, the mother bird told the young one to be aware of the hunters who spread the grains and cast a net over it. To ensure that he remembers it, the mother told him, ‘Repeat, “I will be aware of hunters, I will be aware of hunters. . .”  The young one repeated and flew off. In the evening, when he did not return, the mother bird, worried and anxious, went in search of him. After much flying around, she finally heard her young one’s voice. He was repeating, ‘I will be aware of hunters, I will be aware of hunters’ and was lying caught in the net which the hunter had laid! That is our life, too. We repeat and reiterate our freedom but are often caught in the nets of our own p

Important Things to Remember on Varalakshmi Puja Day

Varalakshmi puja is a special observance by women and is dedicated to Varamahalakshmi or Goddess Lakshmi. It is believed that she will grant boons to those who observe the puja. I write this post to address some common doubts that many my sisters have asked me. I thought I will write a post about it in this blog. Special Prayers or Shlokas to be chanted on Varalakshmi Vratha day Lakshmi Ashtothram and Lakshmi Sahasranamam Food That Can Be Eaten On Puja day Any type of Sundal is eaten on Friday and Saturday evening. In some regions, Green Bananas are not cooked. Please do not fast (Upvaas), if you are pregnant or are having any disease or are under medications. Fasting on Varalakshmi Puja day Fasting is done from morning till Varalakshmi Puja is over. You can always be flexible – fasting might not be possible if you are working etc. What if I missed the Varalakshmi Puja? If you missed the Varalakshmi Nombu day or failed to o