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Showing posts from November 20, 2020


Akilanam Shiva Temple - Information - Festival

 Akilanam Shiva Temple located at Thirumittacode village near Karukaputhur in Palakkad District in Kerala.   The annual festival in the temple is observed on Rohini Nakshatra day in Kumbham Month. Another important festival is observed on the Mahashivratri day. The main deity in the temple is swayambhu Shiva facing east. The subsidiary deities in the temple are Ganpati, Sastavu and Naga Rajavu. The main offering in the temple is tender coconut water abhishekam (Elaneer abhishekam).

Puraka in Yoga – Controlled Inhalation In Pranayama

Puraka is the controlled inhalation during Pranayama and is an important breathing exercise in Yoga. A respiratory act in Pranayama consists of puraka (inhalation), recaka (exhalation) and kumbhaka (a pause or suspending the breath). All these three stages form part of a round of pranayama in Yoga. The duration of these three acts is increased in a controlled manner. A controlled inhalation in pranayama is called puraka. The word purana means the act of filling. For instance, filling a pot with water is called purana. Similarly, filling of the lungs with air is also called purana. Puraka is derived from purana. Three Important Characteristics Of Puraka It is always done in a uniform manner. The inward flow of air is kept constant throughout without ups and downs. The movement of air is not made slow or fast in the middle, and the force with which air enters the lungs is kept constant. The act is continued to its completion, filling the lungs completely and not pa

Will Of God In Hinduism

Will of God in Hinduism is known as Ishwara Sankalpa. Upanishads states that the fire burns and the wind blows because of the will of Brahman. Chandogya Upanishad (III.14.4) states that the Supreme Being creates all, wills all, smells all, tastes all, pervades all, yet is silent and unaffected. The Brahman in Hinduism is regarded as the cause antecedent in time and the universe is regarded as the effect proceeding from it. Mundaka Upanishad (I.1.7) states that the entire universe proceeds from that imperishable one in the same way as a spider weaves its web or as plants shoot up from the earth. The sun and the moon are held together and the sky and earth remain as they are, ordained by Brahman (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad – III.8.9). This perception of Brahman, as the controller of all the forces of nature and of mankind and all the effects of the universe as the effects of his command, led to the theistic thought that holds Brahman as God and as controlling the world.

How Is Indian Culture Spiritual? Swami Ranganathananda Answers

Writers and speakers generally say that Indian culture is spiritual. What does it mean? Does it mean that all the people of India are spiritual? India has its own share of wicked people, non-spiritual people, evil people. But if this statement has any meaning, it means this: that the direction of Indian culture is towards the high spiritual Truth hidden in every human being and that the honour the nation gives to any person depends upon the spiritual quality of that person. You can study a culture by asking the question: What is the highest human excellence that is appreciated in that culture? In one culture it is military power, in another culture it is intellectual strength, in another it may be money. In India, all these are respected, but the highest respect goes to a person of God, one who has realized oneness with all through spiritual development. Throughout history, India has maintained this quality; the highest person in India is a person of God, a person of spiritual reali