Here is a comparison between the teachings of Bhagavan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri and Sri Ramana Maharshi. Both are revered saints in the Indian spiritual tradition, and their teachings have profoundly influenced numerous seekers. Despite their different backgrounds and styles, there are notable similarities and distinctions in their spiritual philosophies and methods. Backgrounds Bhagavan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri (1897-1961) : Nityananda was a South Indian guru who spent much of his life in silent meditation and teaching through his presence and direct actions rather than extensive verbal instruction. He is associated with the Siddha tradition, which emphasizes the attainment of supernatural powers and direct realization of the divine. Sri Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950) : Ramana Maharshi is one of the most renowned Indian sages, known for his experience of self-realization at the age of 16, which led him to spend his life at the holy hill of Arunachala. His teachings are rooted in Advaita ...

Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala remains open continuously for 41 days only during the Mandala Makaravilakku pilgrimage season from Mid-November to December end. The temple then remains open from December end to Mid-January for the Makaravilakku pilgrimage. The puja timings remain almost the same on all days except when there is a special puja. Here are the puja timings at Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in November, December and January Temple opens at 0400 hrs (4:00 AM) Nirmalya Darshan is at 0405 hrs Mahaganapati homam is at 0415 hrs Neyabhishekam is from 04:20 hrs to 11:30 hrs Usha Puja (Morning puja) is at 07:30 hrs Uccha Puja (Afternoon Puja) is at 12:30 hrs The Temple closes afternoon at 13:00 hrs (01:00 PM) In the evening Temple opens at 16:00 hrs (4: 00 PM) Deeparadhana (Evening puja) is at 18:30 hrs Pushpabhishekam - 19:00 hrs (On some days it is Padi Puja – puja of the eighteen holy steps.) Athazha Puja is at 22:30 hrs Harivarasanam – at 22:50 hrs The Temp...

Budhvar Vrat, or Wednesday fasting, in Hindu religion is dedicated to Budha or Mercury. In some regions, Lord Vishnu, Lord Ganesh and Lord Krishna are also worshipped on the day. Those observing the Budhvar Vrat read or listen to the story associated with Wednesday fasting. There are several versions of the Budhvar Vrat Katha and this is one of them. Once a newly married couple was on their first visit to the bride’s home after marriage. The couple was welcomed happily by the in-law’s. The brothers and sisters of the bride took care of the newlywed couple. Two days passed in joy and then the husband realized that it was time to return. But it was a Wednesday and the in-law’s were not ready to send the girl as Mercury, or Budha, is not in favour of sending married girls to their husband’s house on Wednesdays. The young husband said that he was not worried about Mercury and he did not believe in such things and want to return today itself. He was a businessman and he is of the view t...

The proverb "Man Stumbles And Then Gets Sense" is a succinct encapsulation of a profound truth about human nature and the process of gaining wisdom. Originating from ancient Hindu philosophy, this proverb reflects the journey of learning and growth that is central to many Eastern teachings. Detailed Explanation Human Fallibility : The proverb acknowledges that humans are inherently fallible. Stumbling, whether literal or metaphorical, is a part of the human experience. It represents mistakes, failures, and moments of weakness that everyone encounters. Learning from Mistakes : The core message is that wisdom and understanding often come from experiencing difficulties and errors. When a person stumbles, they are given the opportunity to reflect on what went wrong and to learn from the experience. This is in line with the concept of 'learning the hard way.' Growth through Adversity : Adversity and challenges are seen as catalysts for personal growth. In many Hindu teachi...

A look into the meaning and implications of the ancient Hindu proverb "A man’s worth is understood after his death." Expanded Interpretation 1. Legacy and Memory Posthumous Recognition : Often, the full impact of an individual’s actions, character, and contributions to society is only fully recognized after their death. Their legacy becomes clearer, as their life's work can be seen in totality. Cultural Heroes : Historical figures like Mahatma Gandhi, who played pivotal roles during their lifetimes, are often more revered after their death when the magnitude of their contributions becomes more apparent. 2. Perspective and Reflection Time and Distance : The passage of time provides a broader perspective on a person’s life. Immediate reactions to their actions might be mixed, but with distance, their true value can be assessed more objectively. Reflection : After someone passes away, people tend to reflect on their memories and the moments shared, often appreciating qualiti...

Ear lobe piercing, known as Karnvedh Sanskar, is considered an important ceremony in many Hindu traditions. There is no unanimity regarding the year to perform ear piercing on a Hindu girl child. It is usually performed during the sixth month or seventh month or third year or fifth year or 7th year after birth. An auspicious day and auspicious time is chosen for performing the ear piercing ceremony. Special pujas and prayer is done and the ceremony is done under sunlight. Earrings are then offered to the child. According Hindu scriptures like Dharma Sindhu, Karna Vedha Sanksar must be performed on the 10th, 12th or 16th day after birth of the child. But most people avoid this calculation. They perform it during the 6th or 7th month after birth. After this, the ritual is performed on odd years after the birth of the child – 3rd or 5th year. The ritual is not performed during even years after the birth of the child. The ear piecing ceremony is a ritual performed by al...

Randamoozham is a classic novel in Malayalam by Jnanpith award winner and the popular Malayalam writer M T Vasudevan Nair. Randamoozham means the ‘second turn’ and the story of the Mahabharat is seen through the eyes of Bhima – the second of the Pandavas. Prem Panicker, senior journalist, had serialized the novel in English in his blog for over a year. Now he has published the entire novel in pdf format for free. Randamoozham is basically the re-imagining of the epic from the point of view of Bhima. It is a work of fiction and not a religious one. In the novel there are no supernatural heroes, even Lord Krishna is stripped of his divine powers and is presented as a normal human being. Bhima, who always gets the second turn in all the main incidents in the Mahabharata, talks about the favoritism, betrayal, helplessness and silent sufferings of many characters in the Mahabharata including himself. The focus is on the relationships between the main characters. A classic, Randamo...

There are hundreds of Lord Ayyappa Photos and Pictures of Lord Ayyappa on the internet. We thought that it would be nice to provide our readers with Sabarimala Ayyappa wallpapers as the holy Mandala Makaravilakku period is starting at the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple . The Sabarimala Ayyappa wallpapers for this post were selected from several websites and the images are copyrighted to respective owners we are only providing a link to respective websites. Some of the images were modified and created by us to give the look of a wallpaper. Latest - Online Virtual Tour of Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple and other holy places Please click on the link for a larger view of the image. Right click and use the save image option.

Somvar Vrat, or fasting on Monday, is dedicated to Lord Shiva. On the day, devotees the fast listen to Somavar Vrat Katha. The story associated with Monday fasting narrates the experience of a devotee who observed the Somvar Vrat. There are a couple of stories associated with Fasting on Monday and this is one of them. Once there was a wealthy merchant. He was an ardent Lord Shiva devotee. But after several years of marriage he had no children. He observed Monday fast to get a child. Soon Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati appeared in his dream and blessed him with a son but Lord Shiva said that the child will only live for 12 years. After a year, the merchant’s wife gave birth to a child and everyone was happy. But the merchant was still sad as he knew that the child only had 12 years of life. Even after the birth of the child, the merchant continued to perform the Somvar Vrat. He distributed cloths and fed the poor and needy. When the son reached the age of e...

The ancient Hindu proverb, "Know a man by his company and gold by a touchstone," encapsulates timeless wisdom about discernment and judgment. This saying is rich with meaning, highlighting the importance of association and testing in evaluating true worth and character. Know a Man by His Company Influence of Companions : The proverb suggests that the character and values of a person can often be inferred from the company they keep. Friends and associates exert a significant influence on one's behavior, attitudes, and decisions. Reflection of Values : By observing the people someone chooses to surround themselves with, one can gain insights into their priorities, ethics, and overall character. Positive, honest, and industrious companions usually indicate similar qualities in an individual. Social Mirror : In many cultures, there is a belief that people tend to associate with others who reflect their own values and aspirations. Therefore, evaluating someone's social cir...