Sangita Raja is a voluminous work in Sanskrit on Indian music and dance. This work is ascribed to Maha Rana Kumbha Karna of Mewar. It is also an epithet of Shiva. Rana Kumbha reigned for 35 years from 1433 CE. Sangeeta Raja was completed in 1456 CE. This work is also entitled Sangita Mimamsa. In Sangita Raja, the topics and subjects are arranged systematically and treated with definition, description and justification. Sangita Raja has 16,000 verses and five large chapters named Ratna Kosha, which literally means “a treasure chest of gems”. The five chapters are entitled Pathya Ratna Kosha, Gita Ratna Kosha, Nritya Ratna Kosha and Rasa Ratna Kosha, respectively. Each kosha has four ullasas (name of further divisions), comprising four pariksanas (name of subdivisions of ullas) each. Thus the five koshas in total consist of 80 parikshanas. Pathya Ratna Kosha is the first chapter. Pathya means “syllabic sound related to speech”. In the first chapter, the author introduces himself an

Sangeet Paddhati is the order of presentation of songs in a Carnatic music concert. Paddhati means “a road or path”. In musical parlance, paddhati is the order in which musical compositions are presented. The presentation is in a particular sequence, which is based on well-recognized aesthetic principles. The first principle is that only worthy compositions are to be selected and sung or played in the given sequence. The main guiding principle has been the observance of the ghana-naya-desya pattern. In former times, musicians began with ghana ragas, followed them up with compositions, rendered a pallavi in a naya or rakti raga, and concluded with lighter compositions in desya ragas. Musicians of the past used to sing tana in ghana ragas before taking up compositions but this practice has now been relegated to the veena instrument. However, tana varnams, which are based on the tana structure, are now rendered at the commencement of concerts to enable the performers to get into form.

Sankarananda is a non-dualist medieval philosopher who lived sometime during the 14 th century, except that he was one of the teachers of Vidyaranya, who is generally identified by some with Madhava (1350 CE). In his magnum opus, Atma Purana or Upanishad Ratna, Shankarananda summarizes Upanishads in verse form. His other known works include a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, a gloss on Brahma Sutra and some explanatory texts. Analyzing the concepts of space, time and matter, he states that Brahman, being homogeneous, eternal, and all-pervading, is not conditioned by these categories. Since words denote objects in relation to genus, quality or action, they cannot primarily convey Brahman, which transcends these relational terms. However, by adhyaropa, i.e., superimposing the world on Brahman, and subsequently negating it (apavada), one can comprehend and teach about Brahman. Sankarananda explains that avidya (ignorance) veils Brahman and appears as the world. Brahman is the substra

Sankarpa Nirakaranam is one among the 14 philosophical works of Saiva Siddhanta. The term literally means the refutation of rival schools. Sankarpa Nirakaranam is known as Meykanda Shastra (philosophical treatise in the footsteps of Meykandar, or the seer of truth), authored by Umapati Sivacharya. Conventionally, Saiva Siddhanta scholars make two divisions in their philosophical expositions, viz., purva paksha (the prima facie view) and supaksha (theory under discussion; the truth). One such famous work dealing with a different school of thought (parapakkam) is Sankarpa Nirakaranam. Pasanavada, Bhedavada, Sivasamavada, Sivasankranthavada, Ishwara Avikaravada and Shivadvaitavada are discussed and discarded. The text consists of a type of Tamil poetry called Airiappa. Any religious system with philosophical analysis is studied from the following three perspectives, viz., founder, knowledge texts and doctrines. Shaivism has no founder or founders except the contributions made by promi

Avirati in Hinduism is a state of mind drawn towards the objects of sense. Avirati is a hindrance to the path of Yoga. Rati means affection, fondness or a deep interest in pleasure. It is the disposition of being given to the experience of worldly pleasure. Human beings have it as a natural tendency. Virati is the opposite of it, i.e. indifference to worldly attachments. It is the cessation of attraction towards pleasure. It is a quality of the mind essential for Yoga. But a student may often find that this quality is lacking in him, and his mind gets attracted to the objects of sense, and in spite of his best efforts it does not retire or turn away from them. That state of worldliness is called avirati. It makes the mind unsteady and uneasy, and the progress on the spiritual path is stopped. Sage Patanjali has mentioned nine hindrances which distract the mind from the path of Yoga (Yogasutra I.300. They are: Ill health,  Sluggishness, Doubt,  Heedlessness,  Laziness,  Worldlin

Musal Yog, or Musala Yoga, is considered a bad and inauspicious period in Hindu astrology. This yog is calculated based on nakshatra or birth star. The time period of Musal Yog is till the nakshatra on the particular day. Musal Yog time period is to be avoided for travels, exams and financial dealings. The time is also not good for the first meeting with a person or family. All kinds of investments, openings etc should be avoided during the time period. Musal Yog As Per Nakshatra are on: Abhijit nakshatra falls on Sunday or Ravivar Purva Bhadrapada or Pooruruttathi nakshatra falls on Monday or Somvar Bharani nakshatra falls on Tuesday or Mangalvar Ardra or Arudhara or Thiruvathira nakshatra falls on Wednesday or Budhwar Magha or Makam nakshatra falls on Thursday or Guruvar Chithra or Chithirai or Chithira nakshatra falls on Friday or Shukravar Jyeshta or Kettai or Triketta nakshatra falls on Saturday or Shanivar. Musal Yog is present only when the corresponding naksha

Haripad Muttom Kannampallil Kakkathi Devi temple is located at Muttom on Haripad – Mavelikkara road in Alappuzha district, Kerala. The shrine is dedicated to Mother Goddess Bhuvaneshwari Devi. The temple is popular in the name of Kakkothi Amma – subsidiary deity who is in pregnant form. The main feature of the temple is that Kakkathy Amma is worshipped in a separate shrine outside the main temple. The murti is in the form of a pregnant woman carrying a basket on her head. The devotees themselves can offer their worship. This is a family temple or kudumba kshethram with a history for more than 900 years. Kakkathy Amma was enshrined by Vazhappally Valiachan one of the ancestors of Vazhappally family to which this temple belongs. The temple has a traditional Kerala style architecture. The shrine has a chuttambalam, namaskara mandapam, and shrines of upa devatas. The main deity is worshipped in a chathura sreekovil. The temple is famous for its Jeevitha Ezhunnallathu and Ashwathy utsa

Vavu Bali, or Karkidaka Vavu Bali, is a ritual, or rites, dedicated to dead ancestors performed by Hindus in Kerala in the Malayalam month of Karkidakam. Karkidaka Vavu Bali 2022 date is July 17. Dead parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, relatives and ancestors are remembered on the no moon day (Karutha Vavu) in Karkidaka Masam and ‘Shraddham’ for them is performed on the seashore and on riverbanks. The ritual performed for the souls of the dead is referred as ‘ Bali ’ in Kerala and Vavu is Amavasya or no moon day. Importance of Vavu Bali in Kerala The ‘bali’ – a form of ritualistic homage – is offered on the first Amavasi of Dakshinayanam. This is the no moon day in the month of Karkidakam. On this day, thousands of people gather on the riverbanks and beaches to offer ‘bali.’ Temples and religious organizations make elaborate arrangements for the ritual. It is believed that the souls of dead ancestors attain ‘moksha’ when ‘Vavu Bali’ is offered. In Kerala,

Shiva temple of Omkareshwar is located on a rocky island named Mandhata, in the Narmada River. As per legend, Adi Shankaracharya first met his guru, Govinda Bhagavatpada, in a small cave on this island. The cave exists, and can be accessed by steps from below the temple. Below is theextract of the original article published in Swarajyamag. The Narmada is a relatively narrow river which runs from east to west, for the most part like an arrow, through a valley formed over a billion years ago. In geology, this is called the Narmada-Son alignment – a gigantic suture which separates the Malwa and Deccan plateaus. Traditionally, Omkareshwar was one of the narrowest, and safest, crossings on the Narmada before the river was tamed by dams, and bridged. So, one might presume that Mandhata island’s sanctity arose from the security of transit it offered. Perhaps, but there is another curious reason why this is a unique spot. A surface geology map below shows that once we leave the alluvia

Dreaming of Himalayas is a positive omen as per dream meaning and interpretation. The dream means new opportunity, studies and travel. It also means you will get a job or travel to the mountains. Dreams of Himalayas also mean spiritual travel and interest in religion. Dream of Himalayas and you appear in it means you will get to hear happy news. You will also hear good things about others. Dreaming of Himalayas and you see other people in it means journey in a group or pilgrimage. It also means work and appointment in a new place. Dream of Himalayas and you wake up scared or sad or crying means you will be unhappy with the behavior of others. You will not get what you were looking for. It also means missing an important appointment or travel opportunity. Dreaming of Himalayas and you see it upside down or shaking then means confusion. It also means you will be forced to choose between anyone when both options are your favorite.

Dreaming of head injury is a bad omen as per dream meaning and interpretation. The dream means you will soon face health issues and money related problems. It also means you will only realize the value of something after it has been taken away from you. Dreams of head injury are a warning sign and it should be taken seriously – avoid unwanted travels and be careful while on the road. Dream of head injury and you see other family member’s means you or a family member will get injured due to the activity of a member of the family. Dreaming of head injury and you see strangers in the dream means you will face sudden problems. It can be due to negligence of others. Dreams of head injury and you wake up terrified means you will not be prepared to face and upcoming problem. It will be so severe that you will give up easily. Dream of head injury also symbolically suggest that you will not understand the value of people and those around you. An incident in future will teach you the val

The chapter 2 of Dnyaneshwari (the Marathi interpretation of Bhagavad Gita by Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj) explains how controlling sense organs can lead us to a better life. Seekers practice restraint and give up sense-pleasures; but they too can get entangled in various types of sense-pleasures if while restraining the ears, eyes etc., they fail to restrain the tongue. (2:303-304). One can restrain himself from all sense pleasures except that of the tongue. One cannot forcibly restrain the pleasure of the tongue because our life depends on food. But when a seeker attains Self-realisation, the tongue naturally gets controlled and since the "I am the body" feeling has left him he forgets all sense-pleasures. (2:307-309). These organs cannot be brought under control by any other means. (NB: It is implied that external means like rituals, fasts etc. are not useful. Internal means like meditation, introspection and experience only are useful for the purpose). Because even tho

Dreaming of head lice is a bad omen as per dream interpretation and meaning. The dream means serious problems in life and many of these are piled up problems or you were nurturing them. Dream about head lice also means natural calamity or sudden problems in your house which will require renovation. Dreams of lice and you know from where you got it means strain in relationships. Dreaming of head lice on someone else means you will hear about something bad to friends or relatives who are in a distant place. The dream also means there will be sudden natural calamities or pest infestation in your place. Dream of head lice also means you should not allow problems to pile up and you need to settle all of them at the earliest.  

Dreaming of heights is good omen as per dreaming interpretation and meaning. The dream means sudden travel opportunities or change of place. The dream also means moving upwards in life. Dreams of heights also means you should be know your roots and not to get carried away by success. Dream of heights and you are happy after seeing the dream then it can be mean vacation, back to home town or new career opportunities. Dreaming climbing towards heights is associated with desire fulfillment and better opportunities. Dream of heights and you wake up terrified or sad or crying it means trouble to someone in a distant place. It also means an unwanted transfer. The dream also means you might be forced to stay away from your current location. It also means great fall due to illegal activities or not taking your work seriously. You should avoid all kinds of confrontation after seeing the dream.

Dreaming of hen is good sign as per dream meaning and interpretation. The dream means success after some messy and hard work. It means you will see birth and doubling of income or property. Dream of cock or rooster also means you will get to hear positive news from friends or relatives. Dreams of dead hen or scattered all around or blood in them or forcibly taking them away means accident or trouble during journeys. Dream of hen and you see yourself in the dream means you will get invitation from a distant place. It also means profit or happiness due to birds. Dreams of colorful rooster or cock mean new relationship and success in romance matters. Dreaming of hen and you see other people in it means you will make profit through business. It also means new opportunity to make money. Dream of white hen means you will achieve mental peace and satisfaction. Dream of black hen means spiritual interest and focus on answering philosophical questions. Dreams of hen fighting are a s

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Wednesday, 3 August 2022 – It is Shukla Paksha Sashti tithi or the sixth 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 2:25 AM on August 3. Then onward it is Shukla Paksha Sashti tithi or the sixth day during the waxing or light phase of moon till 1:47 AM on August 4. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.  Good – Auspicious time on August 3, 2022 as per Hindu Calendar – Good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Hasta or Atham or Hastam nakshatra till 4:04 PM on August 3 . Then onward it is Chitra or Chithirai or Chithira nakshatra till 3:53 PM on August 4. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Hasta