Seated Upon the Waters: The Iconography and Philosophy of Varuni Devi Varuni Devi's presence in Hindu tradition is closely tied to the account of Samudra Manthan, the churning of the cosmic ocean by the Devas and Asuras. She is commonly described as the daughter of Varuna, the god of water, and his consort Jyeshtha, emerging during the churning along with the nectar of immortality and other divine treasures, and choosing companionship with either the Devas or the Asuras depending on the telling. Other traditional sources describe her differently: the Mahabharata refers to Varuni, also known as Gauri, as one of Varuna's queens, alongside Vriddhi and Jeshta. This variation itself reflects a broader pattern in Hindu sacred literature, where a single devi is honoured through multiple, sometimes overlapping, identities depending on the school of thought, the region, and the ritual context in which she is invoked. Because Varuna presides over the cosmic waters, order, and the unsee...

The Curse of Rishi Katyayan Story: The Divine Justice that Foretold Mahishasur’s End According to the Kalika Puran , Mahishasur, the fierce demon born of Rambha and a she-buffalo, possessed immense strength and magical powers. Proud and arrogant, he sought to disturb the penance of sages and devotees engaged in austerities. Among those he wronged was Rodrashava , a devoted disciple of the great Rishi Katyayan . Disguising himself as a woman, Mahishasur approached Rodrashava’s hermitage and distracted him from his deep meditation. When Rishi Katyayan learned of this deceit, his wrath knew no bounds. He cursed Mahishasur, declaring: “As you have taken the form of a woman to disturb one devoted to divine tapasya, you shall meet your end at the hands of a woman.” Thus, the curse became a divine decree—an inevitable destiny awaiting the demon. The Fulfillment of the Curse Time passed, and Mahishasur grew even more powerful. Empowered by boons from Lord Brahma, he conquered the three...

Samba, the Son of Krishna: Why a Good Upbringing Does Not Always Make a Good Child Many people believe that if the parents are good and religious, the children will also become good automatically. Hindu scriptures do not say this. The story of Samba, the son of Bhagavan Krishna and Jambavati, shows us that every soul has its own karma and its own journey. Parents can give love, values and protection, but the child must walk the path by himself. Birth of Samba Samba was born to Krishna and Jambavati by the blessings of Mahadev Shiva. Krishna did tapasya to get this son. Because the child was a boon from Sambashiva, Krishna gave him the name Samba. So the birth was very auspicious, and everyone expected a great future for the boy. The Problem Begins Even from the young age, Samba became a headache for Krishna. He looked very much like his father. Because of this, he started to misuse his appearance. He dressed like Krishna and went to meet the 16,000 women whom Krishna had rescue...

Kati Hasta: The Language of Repose in Hindu Sculpture - Kati Avalambita Hasta: Poise, Power and Stillness in Divine Form In the vast vocabulary of Hindu sculptural art, every gesture of the hand carries meaning far beyond decoration. Among these gestures, kati hasta, also called kati avalambita hasta, stands out as one of the most quietly powerful. The term comes from kati, meaning waist or hip, and avalambita, meaning resting or hanging upon. Together they describe a hand placed gently at the hip, an image so simple that it is easy to overlook, yet so deliberate that it defines the entire emotional register of a standing figure. The Posture and Its Execution In classical iconometric treatises followed by sculptors and craftsmen, the standing image, particularly in tribhanga or samabhanga postures, was never composed arbitrarily. The kati hasta typically employs the left hand, bent at the elbow, coming to rest on or just above the hip. The fingers are neither clenched nor stiff...

Puranas as Living Parables: How Ancient Stories Encode the Mahavakyas To a casual reader, the Puranas can appear as a colourful gallery of celestial beings, cosmic wars, serpents with a thousand hoods, and gods who cross unimaginable spans of time. It is tempting to treat them the way one treats a modern comic universe – entertaining, fantastic, and disconnected from serious philosophy. This is a narrow and mistaken reading. The Puranas are not fantasy; they are a teaching method. Sanatana Dharma has always held that the highest truth is too subtle to be grasped directly by an ordinary mind, so the Rishis wrapped that truth in narrative, symbol, and imagery that the heart could hold even when the intellect could not. The Foundation: The Mahavakyas and Om The entire edifice of Vedic knowledge rests on a handful of the Mahavakyas, the "Great Sayings" of the Upanishads: Tat Tvam Asi – "That Thou Art" (Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7) Aham Brahmasmi – ...

The Divine Paradox: Why God Needs Nothing Yet We Need Everything - Prayer as Self-Discovery In Hinduism The fundamental truth of Hindu philosophy challenges our conventional understanding of prayer and worship. The Supreme Reality, known as Brahman, is complete, infinite, and entirely self-sufficient. The Bhagavad Gita (9.22) declares, "To those who are constantly devoted and who worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me." This verse reveals a profound truth: God does not require our devotion for His sustenance, but rather offers guidance to those who seek Him. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad states, "Purnamadah purnamidam purnat purnamudachyate, purnasya purnamadaya purnamevavashishyate" (5.1.1) – "That is complete, this is complete, from the complete comes the complete. When the complete is taken from the complete, what remains is still complete." This ancient wisdom establishes that the Divine is absolute perfection, lac...

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Monday, October 26 2026 – 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 9 :57 AM on October 26. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Pratipada tithi or the first day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 8 :27 AM on October 27. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.)  Good – Auspicious time on October 26, 2026 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Ashwini or Aswathy nakshatra till 7:16 PM on October 26. Then onward it is Bharani nakshatra till 6:18 PM on October 27. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan), Ashwini or Aswathy nakshatra till 5:41 PM on October 26. Then onward it is Bharani nakshatra...

Dakini and Varnini: The Sacred Energy Channels in Kali Puja In the profound tradition of Kali Puja, the worship of Goddess Kali extends beyond her primary form to include her divine attendants, Dakini and Varnini. These two goddesses are not merely peripheral figures but represent fundamental aspects of the subtle energy system that governs spiritual awakening. Their presence in Kali worship reflects the deep understanding of yogic physiology within Hindu tantric traditions, where external ritual worship (bahya puja) corresponds to internal spiritual transformation (antara puja). Dakini and Varnini are revered as the personifications of the two primary energy channels that flow through the human subtle body. Their worship during Kali Puja signifies the acknowledgment of these vital forces that must be harmonized and transcended for spiritual liberation. The Symbolism of Ida and Pingala Dakini represents the Ida nadi, the lunar channel that flows along the left side of the spine. Th...

Ananta Shesha Holds the Earth: Boon, Duty and Dharma - Mahabharata In the Mahabharata, the story of Shesha is told in the Adi Parva, in the section known as the Astika Parva Chapter 32. Shesha was one of the sons of Kadru and the brother of the many Nagas. But his mother and brothers were wicked, and they were always doing deceit and harming others. Shesha did not like this way of living. So he left his mother and his brothers and went away to do hard tapasya. His tapasya was very severe. He controlled his senses, lived on little food, and kept his mind fixed on one thing only. After a long time, Brahma became pleased with him and appeared before him. Brahma asked him to take any boon he wanted. The Boon Shesha Asked For Here we can see the real character of Shesha. Brahma was ready to give him anything, like power, a kingdom, long life or victory over his enemies. But Shesha did not ask for any of these. He only asked that his mind should always find joy in dharma, in peace of mind, a...

 Eyes on the Fish: The Marriage of Krishna and Lakshmana Among the eight chief queens of Krishna, known as the Ashtabharya, Lakshmana holds a distinctive place for the sheer difficulty of the trial that won her hand. Her father, King Brihatsena of Madra (named specifically in the Padma Purana, while the Bhagavata Purana refers to him simply as the ruler of Madra), announced a swayamvara, a self-choice marriage ceremony in which suitors compete for a princess's hand. The task set before the assembled kings and warriors was formidable: they had to pierce the eye of a fish mounted on a revolving wheel suspended from the ceiling, aiming not by looking at the fish directly but only at its reflection in a vessel of oil placed on the ground, all while balancing on the pans of a weighing scale. Krishna's Feat Where celebrated archers, including Duryodhana and Jarasandha, failed to strike the target, Krishna alone succeeded. Standing steady upon the scale, he lifted his bow, bowed h...