Living in the Present: Hanuman's Teaching on Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva The Meeting of Divine Messenger and Grieving Sage In the vast tapestry of the Ramayana, countless episodes illuminate profound spiritual truths. During his heroic search for Sita, Hanuman encountered Sage Kandu, a learned soul whose grief had transformed him. The untimely death of his sixteen-year-old son had filled the sage's heart with such anguish and anger toward the divine order that his emotions manifested as a vast desert around his dwelling—a powerful metaphor for how sorrow can create barrenness in our lives. This encounter became the setting for one of the most enlightening discourses on the nature of the Supreme Consciousness and its manifestation as the Trimurti—the three primary aspects of the divine. Understanding the Question of Form and Formlessness Sage Kandu posed a question that has echoed through millennia of Hindu philosophical inquiry: If the Supreme Consciousness is truly formless,...

Expanded Story of Kalmasapada Kalmasapada’s Origin and the Curse King Saudasa, a ruler of the Ikshvaku dynasty, was known for his wisdom and strength. One day, he encountered a demon (rakshasa) disguised as a human. The demon manipulated Saudasa into serving his guru, Sage Vasishtha, a meal tainted with human flesh. Sage Vasishtha, upon realizing this grave act, became furious and cursed Saudasa to become a cannibalistic demon (rakshasa) himself. To emphasize his transformation, Saudasa’s feet turned black, earning him the name Kalmasapada, which means "one with black feet." As a rakshasa, Kalmasapada gave in to his demonic urges and even consumed all of Vasishtha’s sons, further deepening the rift between the sage and the king. Resolution and Redemption The curse of cannibalism lasted for 12 years, during which Kalmasapada wreaked havoc. However, after this period, Sage Vasishtha, demonstrating his magnanimity and spiritual wisdom, forgave the king and blessed him. Vasi...

The Manthanabhairavatantra: Sacred Chronicle of Goddess Kubjika and the Western Kaula Tradition The Manthana Bhairava Tantra stands as one of the most profound and extensive tantric scriptures in Hindu spiritual literature, comprising approximately 24,000 verses dedicated to the worship and understanding of Goddess Kubjika. This monumental text represents a cornerstone of the Western Kaula tradition and serves as a vital bridge connecting the ancient Kaula systems with the evolved forms of tantric practice that influenced later traditions, including the lineage leading to Goddess Tripura. The Manthanabhairavatantra is about 24,000 verses long and is divided into three sections (khanda), with the Kumarikakhanda being the most extensively edited and translated portion. The very name "Manthanabhairava" translates to "the churning Bhairava," symbolizing the cosmic process of spiritual transformation where consciousness (Bhairava) churns the ocean of existence to extr...

Life Depends Upon How One Views Things – Krishna – Duryodhana and Yudhisthira Story In one of the most profound yet simple teachings from Hindu scripture, Lord Krishna orchestrated a remarkable test that would reveal the fundamental nature of human perception. He assigned two cousins—Duryodhana, the Kaurava prince known for his jealousy and ambition, and Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava renowned for his righteousness—identical yet opposite tasks. Krishna instructed Duryodhana to scour their village and return with a few genuinely good people. Meanwhile, he asked Yudhishthira to find some truly bad individuals from the same community. After an entire day of searching, both princes returned empty-handed, but for entirely different reasons. Duryodhana complained that he couldn't locate a single good person anywhere, while Yudhishthira insisted that not one bad soul could be found in the entire village. Krishna smiled knowingly and delivered his timeless wisdom: "Everything dep...

Upanishads: Proclaiming Spiritual Unity and Solidarity of All Existence The Upanishads , a collection of ancient Hindu philosophical texts, stand as a profound testament to the idea that all existence is interconnected and unified at the deepest level. This core teaching is encapsulated in their repeated proclamations of the spiritual unity and solidarity of all life and existence . It is a timeless philosophy that holds deep significance for personal growth, societal harmony, and the sustainability of the planet. Meaning and Deep Symbolism The Upanishads teach that the ultimate reality, or Brahman , is the singular, infinite essence that permeates all of existence. All beings, objects, and forces in the universe are expressions of this singular reality. Key concepts include: Tat Tvam Asi (Thou Art That): This famous aphorism from the Chandogya Upanishad conveys that the self (Atman) is not separate from the ultimate reality (Brahman). Advaita (Non-Duality): The unity of existe...

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Monday, December 29 2025 – It is Shukla Paksha Dashami tithi or the tenth day during the waxing or light phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Shukla Paksha Navami tithi or the ninth day during the waxing or light phase of moon till 5 :33 AM on December 29. Then onward it is Shukla Paksha Dashami tithi or the tenth day during the waxing or light phase of moon till 3 :27 AM on December 30. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.)  Good – Auspicious time on December 29, 2025 as per Hindu Calendar – Good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Revathi nakshatra till 3:44 AM on December 29. Then onward it is Ashwini or Aswathy nakshatra till 2:20 AM on December 30. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), ...

Patanjali: The Divine Sage Born of Adi Shesha A Celestial Birth: Gonika's Prayer to the Sun God In the ancient spiritual traditions of Sanatana Dharma, the story of Sage Patanjali is revered not merely as a tale of birth, but as a divine unfolding—an incarnation of cosmic significance. One of the widely accepted accounts of his origin begins with Gonika, a pious yogini and the daughter of a great sage. A master of yoga and devotion herself, Gonika had grown old and wished to transmit her spiritual wisdom to a worthy disciple. Finding no suitable candidate, she turned her heart and mind toward Surya, the Sun God, and offered a heartfelt arghya —a ritual offering of water held in cupped hands. Her prayer was simple but profound: she desired a son who would be virtuous, wise, and a torchbearer of divine knowledge. As she raised her hands to the heavens, a miraculous event occurred. A small serpent-like figure descended from the skies and landed in her palms, transforming into a rad...

The Path to True Joy: Defining Your Own Happiness Happiness is not a one‑size‑fits‑all garment handed down by society. Too often, we chase approval by mimicking definitions set by parents, peers, institutions, and traditions—only to find ourselves hollow and unfulfilled. True contentment arises when each of us claims the sovereign right to define our own joy. "One reason the world is an unhappy place for many is that we've been trying to fit ourselves into others' definitions of happiness – first our parents', then school's, then friends', then society's, then colleagues', then our spouse's, then our children's... but friend, where's your happiness?" The Perils of Borrowed Happiness From childhood onward, external voices tell us what should bring delight: top grades, prestigious careers, social status, material wealth, or even the approval of a spouse or children. But when we subordinate our inner longings to these borrowed ideals,...

Padmanabha: Symbolism and Significance of Vishnu’s Sacred Navel Among the countless divine names and manifestations of Lord Vishnu, the name Padmanabha holds a profound spiritual and cosmological significance. The name is a Sanskrit compound: Padma meaning "lotus" and Nabha meaning "navel." Thus, Padmanabha translates to "He whose navel is the source of the lotus." This name is not merely symbolic but is deeply rooted in the sacred narratives of Hindu dharma and cosmology. According to Hindu scriptures, the universe as we know it emerges from a divine act of creation through the navel of Lord Vishnu , from which springs a lotus . From this lotus, Lord Brahma , the Creator, is born—thus establishing Vishnu not only as the preserver of the universe but also as the cosmic source of creation itself. Scriptural Reference and Theological Foundation The Bhagavata Purana (Srimad Bhagavatam) describes this divine event in Canto 3, Chapter 8, Verse 10 : ...

The Human Body as Sri Chakra: Unity of Shakti and Shiva Five Elements and the Power of Shakti In Hindu thought, the entire manifested universe is woven from the pancha bhutas—the five basic elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether. These elements are none other than the dynamic form of the Divine Mother, or Shakti. From her subtle play emerge the physical constituents of our bodies: skin (earth), blood (water), body heat and metabolism (fire), breath and nervous impulses (air), and the space within cells and cavities (ether). Every cell in our being pulses with her creative energy, reminding us that life itself is an expression of the Mother’s infinite power. Shiva’s Inner Gifts: Essence and Consciousness Complementing Shakti’s material manifestations, Lord Shiva represents the unchanging consciousness and subtle essences that animate the body. Semen and reproductive energy flow from him as the seed of life. Bone marrow and the nourishing fluids arise from his stabilizing pres...