The Crescent and the Drop: Shiva's Moon and Bindu Visarga as the Seat of Calm Intelligence - Where the Moon Rests and the Nectar Drips: The Sacred Science of Shiva's Wisdom In the vast landscape of Shaiva thought, Shiva is not merely a deity to be worshipped but a cosmic reality to be understood. Every aspect of his form — from the matted locks to the serpent coiled at his neck — is a precise, layered symbol encoding truths about consciousness, creation, and liberation. Among the most profound of these symbols are the crescent moon adorning his head and the Bindu Visarga, the sacred point located at the back crown of the skull. Together, they speak directly to the nature of the awakened, calm intellect — an intellect that neither fluctuates with emotion nor freezes in indifference, but rests in luminous, steady awareness. The Crescent Moon: Soma and the Cooling of the Mind Shiva bears the crescent moon, known as Soma or Chandrakala, on his matted hair. In Shaiva scripture a...

Bondage Through the Senses: A Spiritual Perspective from Hinduism In Hinduism, the concept of bondage is deeply tied to our attachments—particularly to the senses and the fleeting pleasures they provide. Far from being imposed from outside, bondage is seen as self-created, arising from the mind’s unceasing chase after sensory gratification. This spiritual insight offers not only an explanation for human suffering but also a path to liberation, or moksha , through self-awareness and disciplined living. The Root of Bondage: Attachment to the Senses In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna explains the chain of desire and attachment: “While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them, and from such attachment desire develops, and from desire anger arises.” (Bhagavad Gita 2.62) This verse is more than philosophical—it is psychological. The mind, when repeatedly exposed to pleasurable sensory experiences, begins to crave them. That craving forms attachme...

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Thursday, October 8 2026 – It is Krishna Paksha Trayodashi tithi or the thirteenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Krishna Paksha Trayodashi tithi or the thirteenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 9 :52 PM on October 8. Then onward it is Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi tithi or the fourteenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon till 8 :58 PM on October 9. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.)  Good – Auspicious time on October 8, 2026 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Purva Phalguni or Pooram nakshatra till 10:02 PM on October 8. Then onward it is Uttara Phalguni or Uthram nakshatra till 9:48 PM on October 9. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra...

From the Forest to the Festival: The Sacred Story of Majipa Lakhey in Nepal Who Is Lakhey? In the heart of Kathmandu Valley, amid the beating drums and swirling incense of Indra Jatra, one figure commands both awe and affection — Majipa Lakhey. With wild red hair, a terrifying mask, and a fierce stomping dance, Lakhey appears every year during the grand Yanyaa Punhi festival to fulfill his ancient vow: to protect the children of Kathmandu from evil forces. The name itself reveals his nature. In the Newar language, "La" means meat and "Khe" means egg — a being fond of raw, primal nourishment. He is not a polished deity born in celestial palaces. He is something older, wilder, and in many ways, more human. The Story Behind the Mask According to Newar tradition, Lakhey was a fearsome being who dwelled in the forests surrounding the ancient city of Kathmandu. He was fierce, untamed, and feared by all who heard his name. Yet even a creature of the wild is not b...

When a Mother Curses Her Sons: Brahma and the Balance of Creation in Mahabharata - the Warning for Humanity Kadru and Vinata were sisters, and both were wives of Sage Kashyapa. They made a bet about the colour of the tail of the horse Ucchaihshrava, which came out during the churning of the ocean. Vinata said the tail is white. Kadru said it is black. The one who loses will become the servant of the winner. Kadru knew that the tail was white, so she made a plan to cheat. She asked her thousand serpent sons to hang on the tail so that it looks black. The serpents refused. They said this is cheating and adharma, and they did not want to be part of it. Kadru became very angry and cursed her own sons that they will be burnt in the snake sacrifice of King Janamejaya of the Pandava lineage. Why Brahma and the Gods Approved This is the part which makes us think. A mother cursing her own children is a cruel act, and normally the gods would not support it. But according to the Astika Parva ...

When Pride Meets Wisdom — The Sacred Story Behind the Ganapathi Head-Tap Walk into any Ganapathi temple in South India — or indeed across much of the Hindu world — and you will witness a gesture that seems almost involuntary. Devotees standing before Shri Ganapathi gently rap their knuckles against their own foreheads, often with eyes closed, lips moving in quiet prayer. To the casual observer it may appear to be a nervous habit or cultural reflex. But this simple physical act carries within it an entire philosophy of humility, repentance, and the surrendering of ego before divine wisdom. Its origin is preserved in the Ganesha Purana, one of the Upapuranas dedicated to Shri Ganapathi, where a remarkable episode involving Ravana explains not just the gesture, but the entire spiritual architecture behind it. The Boon That Could Have Undone the World To understand the story, one must first understand the ambitions of Ravana. He was not a simple villain. He was a scholar of the Vedas, ...

Parvana Shraddha: Honouring the Ancestors Through Annual Remembrance In Hindu dharma, a person is never seen as a single individual standing alone. He is a link in a long chain that begins with his forefathers and continues through his children. Because of this belief, remembering and serving the departed ancestors is considered a sacred duty. Parvana Shraddha is one of the most important rites through which this duty is fulfilled. It is also called Mritaha-anna-shraddha, since it is performed on the death anniversary (tithi) of the departed person and food is central to the rite. Origin in Vedic Times During the Vedic period, every Ahitagni, that is, a householder who maintained the sacred fires, was required to perform the Pindapitriyajna on every Amavasya day. The annual Shraddha that is still followed in many Hindu families today is a smaller version of this ancient yajna. So the practice is not a recent custom. It has come down through a very long line of tradition and has bee...

Narasimhi Matrika – Fierce Grace Incarnate: Iconography, Scripture, and Living Tradition Narasimhi is one of the most formidable and philosophically profound forms among the Matrikas, the divine mother goddesses who serve as the feminine powers or Shaktis of the principal deities. She is the Shakti of Bhagavan Narasimha, the Man-Lion incarnation of Bhagavan Vishnu, and embodies the terrifying protective energy inherent in that supreme form. While the seven celebrated Matrikas — Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Maheshvari, Indrani, Kaumari, Varahi, and Chamunda — are most commonly enumerated in sacred texts and temple traditions, Narasimhi is counted among the sixteen major Matrikas, known as the Shodasha Matrika, which constitute a fuller enumeration found in texts such as the Matsya Purana. She is occasionally listed as the eighth in the Matrika sequence, completing and extending the celebrated group of seven. Her very existence within this grouping affirms a foundational principle of Shakta an...

The unique style and commentary of Pujyashree Bhupendrabhai Pandya’s Bhagavata Katha and religious discourses has grown in popularity over the twenty-five years. During this time Pujyashree Bhupendrabhai Pandya has given over 450 discourses worldwide on the Bhagavata, the Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads. Pujyashree Bhupendrabhai Pandya was born on 21st November 1963 in Mumbai to Purushottam Bhai and Gomatiben. According to the Indian calendar, it was Margashirsha Shukla Panchami, the holy day on which Bhagavan Sri Rama married Sita. His kathas uniquely focus on applying ancient spiritual wisdom to modern problems by applying rational thought and scientific understanding to demonstrate and interpret religious principles. This contemporary approach to ancient wisdom has helped popularize Hinduism amongst youth and religious intellectuals alike. Pujyashree Bhupendrabhai Pandya has adopted many innovative approaches to bring spiritual understanding to the masses. These include h...

Vedanta which literally means self-realization or fulfilment is not merely an abstract philosophy belonging to the realm of speculation and divorced from the actual mode of life. It has an intensely practical side also. As one of its greatest exponents Swami Vivekananda said, the ideal of Vedanta lived by the recluse outside the pale of society can be practised even from hearth and home and applied to all our daily schemes of life. Whatever may be the avocation of man, he can follow its fundamental principle which means service of man, knowing him to be the manifestation of God. It also teaches men to have faith in themselves and imbibe the virtues of courage and optimism as opposed to cowardice and pessimism. Finally, Vedanta as a religion does not tolerate bigotries, narrow prejudices and religious conflicts. It preaches religious tolerance, catholicity and the universal acceptance of all religions. I cannot do better than quote the words of Swami Vivekananda who illustrates this...