Ganga Saptami is believed to be the day when Ganga River descended onto Earth. In 2023, the date of Ganga Saptami is April 27. Some scholars call it as the birthday or birth anniversary of Goddess Ganga. The day is also known as Jahnu Saptami. It is mentioned in numerous Hindu scriptures that Ganga descended on earth on the seventh day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) in Vaisakha month. This is an important festival for many spiritual organizations. Special pujas and rituals are offered to Goddess Ganga on the day. Importance of Ganga Saptami - Ganga River Festival  Details of Goddess Ganga descending on to the earth on the seventh during the Shukla Paksha of Vaisakh month is mentioned in the Padma Purana and Narada Purana. Ganga was brought down on to earth by King Bhagiratha. He did this for the salvation of his ancestors who were turned into ashes by Sage Kapila. All the 60,000 ancestors of King Bhagiratha attained moksha. From that day onwards Ganga al

Chhatra Yog is considered a good and auspicious period in Hindu astrology. This yog is calculated based on nakshatra or birth star. The Chhathra Yog time period is till the end of nakshatra on the particular day. Chhathra Yog benefits include better luck, victory and success. The time period is good for making all kinds of investments. It is good for participating in spiritual matters and all things associated with religion and temple. It is ideal for moving into new rented house and also for any kind of first meeting. It is also good for opening of shops and starting construction etc. Chhatra Yog happens when Purva Phalguni or Pooram nakshatra falls on Sunday or Ravivar Swathi or Chothi nakshatra falls on Monday or Somvar Mool or Moolam nakshatra falls on Tuesday or Mangalwar Shravan or Sravana or Thiruvonam nakshatra falls on Wednesday or Budhwar Uttara Bhadrapada or Uthrattathi nakshatra falls on Thursday or Guruvar Krittika or Karthigai or Karthika nakshatra falls o

Karuna Rasa is one of the nine sentiments in Hindu tradition. Karuna is defined as the sentiment of pathos or compassion. It is one of the nine rasas (rasa is the emotive experiences of actors and dancers transmitted to spectators witnessing their performance). Karuna grows from the sthayi bhava (permanent psychological state) of sorrow. The vibhavas (determinants) of this emotion could be the occurrence of various misfortunes in life. Causes such as separation from dear ones, loss of wealth, or accidents give rise to this feeling. The emotion is physically represented on stage by the dancers and actors through anubhava (consequents) such as shedding tears, being out of breath or drooping limbs and the like. These are external manifestations of the emotion. Other psychological states connected with karuna are anxiety, yearning, excitement, and sadness – these are sattvika bhavas, involuntary in nature and felt internally by the character while enacting a certain role. The transit

Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti is observed on the 5th day during waxing of moon in the month of Vaisakha (April – May). It is the birth anniversary day of  Adi Shankara. In 2023, the date of Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti is April 25. Scholars differ regarding the period in which Adi Shankara lived but his birthday is celebrated annually on the same day – on the 5th day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon) of Vaisakha. Adi Shankaracharya, who brought out Sanatana Dharma, from the clutches of rituals, is also considered as an incarnation of Lord Shiva by many people. It was Shankaracharya who had revived the teachings of Upanishads. One of India ’s greatest philosopher and saint, Shankaracharya arrived on the scene when there was complete destruction of truth, culture and morality. There was utter chaos and confusion and Shankaracharya set the house in order with his peaceful message of Vedanta. He established the four Mathas in four corners of India to propagate Vedanta

The article is an Excerpt from the editorial of Prabuddha Bharata magazine July 2021 issue. The Hindu concept of Dharma can be an effective tool in the rejuvenation of religion in the future. The ideas of religion prevalent in the Western world are sectarian and related to secular structures of group of believers, while Dharma is entirely a spiritual ideal. The central idea of Dharma is not the sacralisation of human institutions as happened in Medieval Europe, but the spiritualization of all fields of human activity. Being the universal Law or Order, the Dharma does not depend upon the professing institutions for its survival, but rather the latter depends upon the Dharma for their sustenance. The only way for all religions to regain their past glory is to reclaim their spiritual credential and shape human life in the light of spiritual and ethical values. Dharma stands for these spiritual and ethical values, which are eternal and unchanging even during the vicissitudes of time. T

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Friday, 6 May 2022 – It is Shukla Paksha Panchami tithi or the fifth day during the waxing or light phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Shukla Paksha Panchami tithi or the fifth day during the waxing or light phase of moon till 9:21 AM on May 6. Then onward it is Shukla Paksha Sashti tithi or the sixth day during the waxing or light phase of moon till 11:18 AM on May 7. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on May 6, 2022 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Ardra or Arudhara or Thiruvathira nakshatra till 5:28 AM on May 6. Then onward it is Punarvasu or Punartham nakshatra till 9:18 AM on May 7. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Ardra or A