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Showing posts from June 24, 2021


Ethics In Jainism – Moral Principles Governing Life Of Jains

As per Jainism, ethics is essential to root out karma and to gain liberation of the soul. Here is a short essay on the ethical path and moral principles governing life of Jains. Jainism places great emphasis on the Tri Ratna Shradha as common to all the three principles of samyak drishti (right vision), samyaka jnana (right knowledge) and samyak charitra (right conduct). Shradha ensures that one has a firm conviction with regard to the doctrine of Jainism. Perfect faith can result only from perfect knowledge. Starting with partial faith, the disciple learns further about the Jaina teachings and his faith is strengthened. Samyaka Jnana has reference to the epistemological aspects and the kinds of knowledge – mediate and immediate – that can be gained. The soul in its intrinsic nature possesses infinite faith, knowledge and power. However, these characteristics are obscured in bound souls due to the presence of karma, which is the effect of the deeds of the soul. Right conduct sets

Parisahas – Hardships Undertaken By Jain Monks

Parisahas or Parikshas are hardships undertaken by Jain monks to reach the highest goal. These include endurance of hardships consequent on hunger, thirst, cold, heat, insect bite, minimal clothing, unfavorable environmental conditions, the presence of the opposite sex, moving from place to place, disadvantages concerning habitats, uncomfortable beddings, taunts and reproaches, personal injury, alms taking, disappointment in the taking of alms, disease, thorn pricks, physical impurities, being indifferent to praise, avoidance of pride of learning, avoidance of pain, realization of one’s ignorance and the avoidance of being cast down for not being able to acquire the right vision into the metaphysics of the ideal.  With such endurances, one is able to achieve progress on the spiritual path.

Asuri Teacher In Hinduism – A Great Interpreter of Samkhya System

Asuri was a great interpreter of the Samkhya System of sage Kapila. The sacred knowledge of Samkhya was first passed by Sage Kapila to Asuri as per the Bhagavad Purana (1.3. 10-11). He later passed it onto Panchasikha who made the teachings popular. It is believed that Asuri renounced his wife, children and family to become a disciple of Sage Kapila. Some scholars are of the view that Asuri is not an historical figure as no exact date regarding him is found. In Samkhya Karika of Ishwarakrishna (karika 70) it is mentioned that Sage Kapila, the founder of Samkhya School, gave the sacred knowledge to Asuri, who passed it onto Panchasikha, who, later, spread it extensively. Mathara, in the beginning of his commentary on Samkhya Karika, has mentioned that Asuri had renounced his home, wife, son and became the best disciple of Kapila Muni. In the Mahabharata (Shanti Parva, Chap 218) Panchasikha is said to be the student of Asuri. Haribhadra Suri, who lived in the 8th century CE, has

Thalakkulathur Bhattathiri – Story – Great Kerala Astrologer

Thalakkulathur Bhattathiri was a famous astrologer (Jyotisha panditan) who lived during the 13th century CE in Kerala. He lived at Alathiyoor village near Thirunavaya. As per some scholars, he was born in 1537 CE and died in 1632 CE. Thalakkulathur Bhattathiri is famous for this commentary on the first 10 chapters of the Brihat Jataka of Varahamihira. The text is famous as Dasadhyayi. He also wrote Muhurtaratnam and some other astrological texts. This is mentioned by Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer in his Kerala Sahitya Charitram.  He did higher studies in astrology from Thanjavur Alwar. It is said that Thalakkulathur Bhattathiri could predict even the death time of a person after writing the horoscope of the person. It is said that Thalakkulathur Bhattathiri had a child in a Ganika woman and as result of this relationship he became an outcaste. Pazhoor Kanniyanmar in Kerala claim that they are from the lineage of Thalakkulathur Bhattathiri. It is said that Thalakkulathur Bhattathiri

Hindu Folk Art – Sculpture - Painting In Himachal Pradesh

A short easy on sculpture, art and folk painting in Himachal Pradesh. In Malana (the oldest parliament in the world), situated in the Kullu Valley, Himachal Pradesh, Jamlu devata a form of Rishi Jamadagni is worshipped in the form of Khanda. He was supposed to have been carrying 18 images of gods – symbolic representations of the world gods – with him, while searching for an idyllic spot to meditate. A gush of whirlwind scattered the images all over the Beas Valley, each image becoming the God of that area. Jamlu devata is the main god of the assembly of the gods, communicating through gura (his disciple) in trances. The whole community contributes a share of their income to the treasury. Among Girjjars, Lahaulis and other tribes in the Himalayan peaks, who worship sculpted deities (wood, terracotta, stone) and believe in the presence of benevolent   and malevolent fairies, demons, witches, spirits, etc, a natural instinct for music, dance and color manifests during the varied ritu

Hindu Folk Painting In Mithila Bihar

A short essay on Hindu folk painting in Mithila – Bihar in India Extending from the foothills of the Himalayas in the north to the Ganga River in the south is the land of Madhubani, the heartland of Mithila, with vine-covered mud homes almost invisible, the trees forming an evergreen canopy dotted with colorful birds of every kind. Being the birthplace of Nyaya Sutras, Vaisesika systems, Mimamsa, Buddhist and Jain philosophers, the janmabhumi of Mata Sita of Ramayan, the seat of tantric cult and associated with religious practices, an abundance of literary works in Maithili language had reached a crescendo with Vidyapati’s scholastic works and to their elevated mythological system. The most interesting example can be traced to the story of Sama Chakeva (preserved in Skanda Purana), a folk festival. Sculptures in bronze, stone, and ivory have been unearthed from ruins of temples with an amazing variety and complexity ranging from carved wooden articles to delicate miniatures in si

Anandapuram Mahavishnu Temple Near Thrissur – 12 Forms Bhagavan Vishnu Worshipped Here

Anandapuram Mahavishnu temple is located at Muriyad village near Thrissur in Kerala. The temple is around 10 km from Arattupuzha and 5 km from Nellayi. This is a rare temple as 12 forms of Bhagavan Vishnu are worshipped here. The main deity worshipped in the temple is Mahavishnu and the deity faces east. The 12 forms of Vishnu worshipped in Anandapuram Mahavishnu temple are Keshavan, Narayanan, Madhavan, Govindan, Vishnu, Madhusoodanan, Trivikraman, Vamanan, Sreedharan, Hrishikesan, Padmanabhan and Damodharan. There is also a separate sreekovil (sanctum) of Rasakrida Sri Krishna. Here is Ganpati, Shiva, Durga, Ayyappan, Parashakti, Muniswaran, Rakshas and Kshetrapalan are worshipped. Anandapuram Mahavishnu Temple History A Valluvanad king had arrived here for hunting. He fell in love with a virgin woman in the region. The temple was built as per desire by the king. It is believed that the virgin woman later merged in the main Vigraham worshipped in the temple. In remembrance

Only One Self - There Are No Words To Explain It

There is only one Self. What you feel toward somebody else, you are feeling toward yourself. What you do to anybody else you are doing to yourself. If you help somebody else, you are helping yourself, and if you hurt somebody else, you are hurting yourself. What your body does is karmic. It has nothing to do with you. When you realise, "I am not the body, I am not the mind, and I am not the doer," then you are safe. But as long as you think you are doing something kind for somebody, then you want a reward, you want recognition. But when you know there is only one Self, you are automatically kind to everybody. Virtue is its own reward. Q: So Self Realisation Is The Erasing Of Me As A Separate Entity? Ramana Maharshi: Yes, exactly. It's also the erasing of the idea, "I'm self-realized." There is only Silence. It's beyond explanation. It's a mystery. The finite can never comprehend the infinite. There are no words to explain it. All is well. Consc

1 July 2021 Tithi - Panchang - Hindu Calendar - Good Time - Nakshatra – Rashi

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Thursday, 1 July 2021 – It is Krishna Paksha Saptami Tithi or the seventh day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Saptami Tithi or the seventh day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 4:54 PM on July 1. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Ashtami Tithi or the eighth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 5:45 PM on July 2. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on July 1, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – Good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Purva Bhadrapada or Pooruruttathi Nakshatra till 5:45 AM on July 1. Then onward it is Uttara Bhadrapada or Uthrattathi Nakshatra till 7:06 AM on July 2. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan),