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Showing posts from June 7, 2022


Nirjala Ekadashi Fasting Story – Pandav Bhim Ekadashi Vrat Katha

Pandava Bhima Ekadashi, also known as Nirjala Ekadasi, falls on the 11th day of the Shukla Paksha in the Jyeshta month (May – June). The story of Pandav Bhim Ekadasi is associated with Bhima, the second Pandava brother. The importance of Pandav Bhim Ekadasi is mentioned in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana. The four Pandava brothers – Yudhisthira, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva – Kunti, mother of the Pandavas, and Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas, used to observe Ekadasi fasting without fail. Bhima, the second of the Pandavas, used to never fast as he could not control his hunger. He always had a guilt feeling of not observing the Ekadasi Vrat. Once Bhima asked Veda Vyasa, who is also the grandfather of the Pandavas, to help in observing the Ekadasi Vrata. He said that Yudhisthira, his eldest brother, always asks him to observe fasting. He is ready to pray and give charity and observe all the rules but not fasting. And if there is no other way out he is ready to fast on one Ekad

Karta Bhokta – Doer – Enjoyer In Hindu Philosophy

Karta (doer) becomes the bhokta (enjoyer), since one reaps as one sows as per Hindu philosophy. In other words, one’s good as well as bad deeds yield corresponding fruits, which one has to experience necessarily. Thus bound to the transmigratory cycle, one undergoes a series of births and deaths. To escape this, one has to separate action from effect by performing what the Bhagavad Gita describes as “dispassionate, disinterested action.” When one is tired of this repetitive cycle of birth and death, one realizes oneself in essence as the eternal and changeless soul; the ‘doing’ as well as ‘enjoying’ are superimposed due to avidya (ignorance). One then begins the momentous journey towards moksha (liberation). Bhokta literally means the one who eats or consumes or enjoys. Hence it broadly refers to the bhoktrtva (state of enjoying) of the jiva. Mundaka Upanishad describes the jiva vividly as a bird that eats the delicious papal fruit. Here papal fruit denotes the result, good or bad,

Mahishi – Elder Wife Of A King In Ancient Hindu Kingdoms

 Mahishi is the elder wife of a king in ancient Hindu kingdoms. In ancient and medieval periods, a king had many wives, who were not treated as equals. The knowledge texts recognize them with different titles. The senior most of the wives was called mahishi, and she was also known as pattarajni. The recognition as Mahishi had religious as well as practical significance. As a symbol of the appointment, she would undergo the abhisheka ceremony, usually along with the king’s coronation; she had the right to accompany the king when he performed the rituals. This was especially so at yajnas. Especially in the Ashwamedha Yajna, she had several duties to perform. Of course she would be the recipient of all the merits accruing from those rites. Many myths describe how the mahishi was bestowed with gifts by the yajna deva as a result of the successful performance of a yajna. On the practical level, she was the second in command in all matters related to politics; it was mostly her son who w

Cosmology In The Vedas – Symbolism

The worldview of the Rig Veda has two aspects: Theological view and Philosophical view. According to Vedic belief, the whole universe is constituted by three elements: earth, air, and space. Vedas generally describe the universe in terms of the relationship between heaven and earth as dyava-prithivi. Aditi indicates feminine principle and Daksha the male principle of the creation. Purusha Sukta, a Rig Vedic hymn describes a cosmic sacrifice to be the cause of whole creation. It also says that it is Purusha or God who has become the whole cosmos. However, God is not a finite being limited to the universe, but transcends even that. In other words, the world is only a partial manifestation of God, who is infinite in nature. In this way, the hymn extolls God as immanent and at the same time, transcendent also. The Vedas also designate God as Vishwakarma, the creator of the universe and prajapati, the father of all beings. The origin of the world is also traced to Hiranyagarbha, the cosmic

14 June 2022 Tithi – Panchang – Hindu Calendar – Good Time – Nakshatra – Rashi

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Tuesday, 14 June 2022 – It is Purnima tithi or the full moon day in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Purnima tithi or the full moon day till 5:19 PM on June 14. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Pratipada tithi or the first day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 2:51 PM on June 15. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on June 14, 2022 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the full day.  Nakshatra  – Jyeshta or Kettai or Triketta nakshatra till 7:06 PM on June 14. Then onward it is Mool or Moolam nakshatra till 5:28 PM on June 15. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Jyeshta or Kettai or Triketta nakshatra till 6:32 PM on June 14. Then onward it is Mool or Moolam nakshatra