The Dvaita or dualist school of Vedanta philosophy in Hindu religion originated in the 13th-century in South India with Sri Madhvacharya (Madhva). How can unreal appear? – This question is answered by the following probe in Madhwa School of philosophy. Do they, who refute the appearance of the unreal, have the cognition of the unreal or do they not? If they have refutation is not possible. If they do not have, even then the refutation is not possible. Those who say that silver which appears on a conch shell is asat cannot do so without congnizing asat. Madhvacharya has made a unique observation on the occurrence of error. Two real objects are necessary for the occurrence of any error: one in the form of substratum or base of superimposition and the other as a real of the superimposed. Therefore the illusoriness of the world is a sheer impossibility. Source - Notes taken from Encyclopedia of Hinduism Volume III - page 560 - IHRF - Rupa - 2011 Related Theory Of Error As Per Madhvacharya

Siriya Thirumadal is a composition of Thirumangai Alwar. It is the fourth of the author’s six compositions sung during festivals in Vaishnava temples. In Siriya Thirumadal, Alwar assumes the form of a lovelorn maiden in order to experience union with Bhagavan. The poet participates, in his imagination, in the group dances led by Bhagavan Sri Krishna, placing himself in the position of a gopika, and complains as a neglected maiden, kept waiting by him: “My Bhagavan is not protecting me; he has no pity or mercy.” So saying, the Alwar assumes an independence, which is not expected of an obedient wife. She takes the liberty of admonishing Bhagavan and complaining about the delay in union with him. In Siriya Thirumadal, Thirumangai Alwar states that the Purusottama (Best of Men) is the Bhagavan Sri Krishna himself. Other beings are all like his damsels. The poet sings of the pangs of separation. Rebuking Bhagavan Sri Krishna, the poet even says that the great deeds attributed to his inc

Cinaara refers to esoteric mystical Chinese practices prevalent in the tantric tradition of India. The evidence of these practices can also be found in the mystical traditions of various other lands such as Kirata, Bhoata, Cina, Parasika, Kamboja, Huna, Yavaja, etc. Some of these practices are said to have been borrowed from these traditions. On such is cinacara. Tara Tantra, adopted both by Hindu and Buddhist tantrics, states that the origin of Cinacara was in Mahacina (greater China). Mahachinaarakrama is regarded as an important manual of this school of esoteric practices, as the name suggests, it formulates the practices prevailing in Mahacina. Cinacara tantra appears to entertain the view that true asceticism or spirit of self sacrifice means that all objects of enjoyment can be present before a person but he shall not, in any way, be attracted to them. As per an oral tradition, a certain Brahmin, Vasishta was praying to a Goddess to obtain Her vision. He received an instr

June 5 is World Environment Day. Nature and Hinduism are so entwined that it is quite impossible to think about one without the other. The need for an ecological balance is stressed in the Vedas and Upanishads and this message is repeated in the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Gita, Puranas and in the messages of Hindu saints. Mother Nature is worshiped in Hindu religion. But for the majority of Hindus, worship is confined to temples and homes and thus they are equal contributors to global warming, pollution, and emissions. Here are a few thoughts which ancient seers of Sanatana Dharma had shared more than 5000 years ago regarding the importance of nature and majority of them are highly relevant today. One should not destroy the trees. (Rig Veda Samhita vi-48-17) Plants are mothers and Goddesses. (Rig Veda Samhita x-97-4) Trees are homes and mansions. (Rig Veda Samhita x-97-5) Sacred grass has to be protected from man's exploitation (Rig Veda Samhita vii-75-8) Plants and

Sade Sati mantra helps in alleviating the bad happenings in life because of the bad positioning of Shani Bhagavan (Saturn) in an individual’s horoscope or janam kundli. It is followed by those who believe in astrology. Below is the brief idea on how to chant Sade Sati Nivaran Mantra. There is also a list of things you can do to overcome Sade Sati. Sade Sati Mantra हृीं ओम् नम : शिवाय हृीं ! Hreem om namah shivaya hreem How to Chant Sade Sati Nivaran Mantra? Ideal time – Saturday early morning along with sunrise or just before sunset Cloth color – White or red Direction to face – north First offer prayer to Ganesha. Light lamp using sesame oil or til ka tel. Creating a mental picture of Shiva in mind. Chant the mantra 108 times using a Rudraksha Mala. Sit in meditation. Offer water to peepal tree on the day. How to Overcome Sade Sati? Donating Milk and Sweets on Saturday to poor people or orphans is highly helpful in overcoming the effects of Sade Sati.

Chidambara Swamigal is a saint poet from Tamil Nadu devoted Muruga. He was the last of the four saints who propagated Virashaivism in Tamil Nadu, the other three being Shivaprakasha Swamigal, Santhalinga Swamigal and Kumara Devar. Chidambara Swamigal, also known as Chidambara Kavirayar before he became an ascetic, was born in Madurai in the later part of the 17 th century CE. He learnt the philosophy of Virashaivism from Kumara Devar. He completed the commentaries on the five works on Virashaivism by Santhalinga Swamigal, namely Kolai Mauttal, Vairagya Shatakam, Vairagya Deepam, Avirodha Undiyar and Oli Vilodukkam. He composed Meenakshi Amman Kalivenba in praise of the deity of Madurai. Goddess Meenakshi appeared in his dream and directed him to proceed towards north to a village, Porur, where a temple of Muruga was in ruins, and had to be rebuilt. Chidambara Swamigal reached Porur found Bhagavan Muruga in the form of a swayambhu icon under a palmyra tree. He was able to visuali

Chittamur, located 20 kilometers northwest of Tindivanam and ten kilometers east of Gingee, is a reputed Jaina center of the Digambara sect in Tamil Nadu. Chittamur has been the headquarters of the Digambara Jaina community with a matha (mutt) presided over by a succession of pontiffs, catering to the spiritual aspirations of the people, from the time of its inception down to modern times. The matha at this place, commonly known as the Jina Kanchi Matha, is one of the four important pontifical seats in India. It was established by Virasenacarya of Uppuvelur in the 16 th Century CE. There are two Jaina temples in Chittamur. The first temple, the Malainatha temple, enshrines an oblong panel representing Neminatha, Adinatha, Parshvanatha and Bahubali carved on a single boulder. It was built in the 9th century CE. An ancient stone inscription indicating an endowment made by Mathiyan Arndigai who lived in Puttampur in Cholamandalam at this temple, belongs to the seventeenth year of t

Midhya devi is the wife of Adharma (nearest English meaning is evil) in Hinduism. She is worshipped by spendthrifts and squanderers. In the Satya Yuga or Krita Yuga, she was not visible on earth because Dharma ruled. She could not be seen by people.  In Treta yuga, she was visible very little. In Dwapara Yuga, she was visible in many places but not completely. In Kali Yuga, Midhya Devi is completely visible and she is worshipped by many people. Adharma flourishes when Midhya Devi is visible completely. People who are governed by ignorance, desire, lust, anger, jealousy, hoarding, and hatred are under the control of Midhya Devi. Those who are scampering for money, never satisfied with wealth etc and are always dissatisfied are knowingly or unknowingly controlled by this Goddess. The brother of Midhya Devi is fraud. It is said that she dances and makes merry when people practices extortion, graft, hoax, hypocrisy, scam, treachery etc. Symbolically, Midhya Devi resides in all peop

The Survival of Hindu Cremation Myths and Rituals in 21st Century Practice – On the difference in Hindu death rituals in Dallas, Maldives and Bali is the title of a thesis by Aditi Samarth, the professor of Humanities at a community college in Dallas (USA). Mitali Parekh writes in DNA India about the findings of Aditi Samarth Aditi Samarth wanted to study how diaspora communities retain their traditions through rituals and ceremonies in the final rites of passage. Also, she was curious to know how the dead are memorialised in cultures lacking of physical memorials, such as tombs or graves. Samarth found the Balinese funeral processions rambunctious with music and dance. The cremations in Mauritius closely follow the Vedic model. In Dallas, USA, funerals are governed by city and state laws and held in funeral homes with distilled rituals. Most family go for a casket for the viewing of the body, which is finally cremated in a sort of sturdy cardboard box. Hindu final rite

 Shadow Play is known as Chaya Nataka in Hinduism. As per history, there are references to shadow play as early as the 12 th century CE in ancient India. Nilakantha (17 th century CE), while commenting of ‘rupopajivanam’ in the Mahabharata (XII.CCXCV.5) remarks that ‘rupopajivanam’ is called jalamandapika among the people of South India, where, these plays portrayed the action of kings, ministers etc. with the help of shadows of leathern figures on a piece of cloth. Therefore, this type of picture-show seems to have existed in South India. Dharmabhyudaya of Meghaprabhaharya (date unknown), calls itself a chayanatya prabanda in the prologue. Also, there is a definite state direction in this play, “to place” a puppet in the garb of an ascetic, “inside the curtain.” ‘Dutangada’ of Subhata, styled Chayanataka, is the oldest which can be dated assuredly. The play was enacted in the reign of the Chalukya king Tribhuvanapaladeva (1243 CE) during a festival held in commemoration of the

Dreaming of exams is a positive dream and it suggests happiness, hope and better future as per dream meaning and interpretation. Dream of exams suggests acceptance and honor. Dream of you attending exam with fear or running away is a sign of frustration and unhappiness in near future. There will not be desire fulfillment.  Dreaming of you simply watching exam and not participating is an indication of a new relationship or progress in career. Dreaming of you happy with exams is an indication of happy occasion in life or get together. It is very common to see exams in dreams. Quite often they have no meaning as it is merely an extension of the day time activity like studying or talking about exam. But naturally dreaming of exams has meaning and is of great significance.

Vedanta philosophy describes at great length the distinction between the ‘Seer’ and the ‘seen’, the Subject and the object, the ‘Ego’ and the ‘non-Ego’. The ‘Seer’ is the perceiver, identical with the Subject and the Ego, and is of the nature of Consciousness and Intelligence. The ‘seen’ is the thing perceived, identical with the object and the non-Ego, and is insentient by nature. The ‘Seer’ is all sentiency; therefore the ‘seer’ and the ‘seen’ the Subject and the object, the ‘Ego’ and the ‘non-Ego,’ are mutually opposed and must never be identified with each other. If one associates the attributes of the Subject with the object, or, vice versa, those of the object with the Subject, one is a victim of an illusory superimposition, the result of one’s own ignorance. Yet it is a matter of common experience that in daily practical life people do not distinguishes between the Subject and the object, but superimposes the attributes of the one upon the other. Through ignorance

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Friday, 11 June 2021 – It is Shukla Paksha Pratipada tithi or the first day during the waxing or light phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Shukla Paksha Pratipada tithi or the first day during the waxing or light phase of moon till 4:56 PM on June 11. Then onward it is Shukla Paksha Dwitiya tithi or the second day during the waxing or light phase of moon till 6:14 PM on June 12. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on June 11, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Mrigasira or Makayiram or Mrigasheersham Nakshatra till 1:48 PM on June 11. Then onward it is Ardra or Arudhara or Thiruvathira Nakshatra till 3:47 PM on June 12. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnat