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Showing posts from November 16, 2021


Chokka Panai in Kartika Month in Tamil Nadu

Chokka Panai is the lighting of the bonfire in temples, houses and streets during the Karthigai Deepam festival. Apart from lighting numerous lamps on Karthigai Deepam, people also create bonfire. The bonfire is created both by Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu devotees. Chokka Panai 2024 date is December 13. (for some communities it is on December 15). The festival is observed for three days. The popular belief by Lord Shiva devotees is that the Chokka Panai that is lit during Karthigai Deepam is a smaller version of the Tiruvannamalai Maha Deepam lit on Karthigai Purnima at the Anamalai hills near the Sri Arunachaleswarar temple. This Maha Deepam is believed to be the form in which Lord Shiva appeared before Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma. Chokka Panai is observed as Vishnu Deepam by Lord Vishnu devotees and the legend of it is associated with that of Sri Hari Vishnu sending King Bali to Patala or the netherworld. Another belief is that the fire is lit to remove all the unw

Karanyasa – Putting Power Of God Or Goddess Into A Part Of Body

The use of right hand in tantra for developing divine emotions or ‘devata bhava’ is known as Karanyasa. It is a kind of nyasa in which the bodily parts are touched by the right hand (kara) one by one and the names of the gods and goddesses are called, announcing that “I put the power of this particular deity into this particular part of the body.” In Fetkarini Tantra (III.30-32) three varieties of nyasa are mentioned and karanyasa is said to be the most important among them. It is said in Agamarahasya (x.2) that “one who does nyasa regularly makes his body an abode of the God or Goddess one is worshiping”. Thus it may be said that the essence of karanyasa is to infuse in the body the energy or super power of the divine entity. Nyasa is always performed after purifying the body by doing bhuta shuddhi – purification of the five elements, which together constitute the body, namely prithvi tattva, jala tattva, teja tattva, vayu tattva and akasha. The five bhootas are said to reside i

Karmavada – Moksha Through Selfless Work In Hinduism

Moksha or liberation through selfless work is known as Karmavada in Hinduism. The word karma is derived from the root kr in Sanskrit, which means “to do”. Whatever is done is karma. In other words, every action is karma. Man has to do something every moment of his life. Nature does not allow him to remain idle. Therefore, it seems logical to spend one’s life doing some karma that is beneficial to the self in this or an afterlife. Hindus believe in rebirth after death, the soul’s advance depending on the merits acquired in one’s previous life. The karma yoga of the Bhagavad Gita enjoins a man to do his duties without regard to the results thereof, rather than resorting to inaction. In order to attain liberation from the cycles of birth and death, it is essential to get rid of the bondage of karmaphala, or the fruits of action. According to the Bhagavad Gita, karma or merits or demerits accumulated through performance of works, cannot be destroyed, but the bondage to it can be destro

Every Teacher Should Be Helpful – Swami Vivekananda

Vedanta lays down that each man should be treated not as what he manifests, but as what he stands for. Each human being stands for the divine, and therefore, every teacher should be helpful, not by condemning man, but by helping him to call forth, the divinity that is within him. It also teaches that all the vast mass of energy that we see displayed in society and in every plane of action is really from inside out; and therefore what is called inspiration by other sects, the Vedantist begs the liberty to call the expiration of man. At the same time, it does not quarrel with other sects; the Vedanta has no quarrel with those who do not understand this divinity of man. Consciously or unconsciously, every man is trying to unfold that divinity. Man is like an infinite spring, coiled up in a small box, and that spring is trying to unfold itself; and all the social phenomena that we see are the result of this trying to unfold. – Swami Vivekananda

23 November 2021 Tithi – Panchang – Hindu Calendar – Good Time – Nakshatra – Rashi

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Tuesday, 23 November 2021 – It is Krishna Paksha Chaturthi tithi or the fourth day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Chaturthi tithi or the fourth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 9:29 PM on November 23. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Panchami tithi or the fifth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 11:01 PM on November 24. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on November 23, 2021 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Ardra or Thiruvathira or Arudra nakshatra till 11:41 AM on November 23. Then onward it is Punarvasu or Punartham nakshatra till 1:51 PM on November 24. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north