Janmashtami - The Eternal Bliss

Janmashtami festival is celebrated on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of the month of Bhadrapada (August–September). Hindus celebrate Janmashtami by fasting and staying up until midnight, the time when Lord Krishna is believed to have been born. Images of Lord Krishna's infancy are placed in swings and cradles in temples and homes. At midnight, devotees gather around for devotional songs, dance and exchange gifts. Some temples also conduct reading of the Hindu religious scripture Bhagavad Gita.

Sri Krishna is considered as the one of the most powerful human incarnations of the Lord Vishnu. He was born around 5,200 years ago in Mathura. The sole objective of Sri Krishna's birth was to free the Earth from the evilness of demons. He played an important role in Mahabharata and propagated the theory of bhakti and good karma which are narrated deeply in the Bhagwat Geeta.

Janmashtami's meaning is deep rooted and it conveys a message that all human beings spend their life engulfed with the darkness of their own vices. We are bound with so many shackles of anger, greed, temptations, attachments and pain. But as the Lord takes birth, every bit of the darkness fades away and we are released from all the chains of the worldly pleasures.

Om Namo Naraynay Namah!

Blessed Be!

Hinduism - The Eternal Religion

Hinduism is said to be the oldest religion of the world. It is at least 8000 to 9000 years old. It is said that Hinduism might have started as Dravidian civilization and later merged with Aryan civilization. Hinduism started as Shruti - that which is heard.  The great seers of ancient times called Rishis who had perfected themselves have heard in their hearts, eternal truths and they taught those truths to disciples by telepathy and later they wrote them in books. Vedas and Upanishads are known as Shruti literature. Rest is called Smriti - that which is remembered -  literature.
All Hindu scriptures were considered as revealed truths of God. In fact, Hindu scriptures say that all Hindu Scriptures were written by God. The very first sacred books of Hinduism are called Vedas. Vedas means knowledge. There are four Vedas and they claim to teach men the highest aspects of truths which can lead them to God. Vedas and Upanishads are Shruti scriptures. The word Veda came from the root word "vid" meaning "to know". Vedas are the very first scriptures of Hinduism. Vedas as per scriptures was written by God. Vedas state "Self Ralization" is one and the goal of human life. Vedas also discuss in detail rituals and ceremonies to attain self-realization. There are 4 Vedas. They are:
1. Rig Veda - Knowledge of Hymns - 10589 verses,
2. Yajur Veda - Knowledge of Liturgy - 3988 verses
3. Sama Veda - Knowledge of Music - 1549 verses
4. Atharva Veda - Knowledge given by Sage Athrvana - 6000 Verses

Ayurveda is considered to be a Upa Veda of Atharva Veda. It is the Hindu Medicine Scripture, which consists of more than 100,000 verses initially.
Hinduism is said to be not merely a religion, but a commonwealth of religions. It is more a way of life than a form of thought. The theist and the atheist, the skeptic and the agnostic may all be Hindus if they accept the Hindu system of culture and life.  Hinduism insists not on religious conformity but on a spiritual and ethical outlook of life. Hinduism is not a sect but a fellowship of all who accept the law of right and earnestly seek for the truth. Hinduism is not bound up with a creed or a book, a prophet or a founder, but is persistent search for truth on the basis of a continuously renewed experience. Hinduism is human thought about God in continuous evolution.
Hinduism represents an effort at comprehension and cooperation. It recognizes the diversity in man’s approach towards, and realization of, the one Supreme Reality. For it the essence of religion consists in man’s hold on what is eternal and immanent in all being.
Thus, it is said, Hinduism is not just a faith. It is the union of reason and intuition that cannot be defined but is only to be experienced. Evil and error are not ultimate. There is no Hell, for that means there is a place where God is not, and there are sins which exceed his love. In the history of the world, Hinduism is the only religion, that exhibits a complete independence and freedom of the human mind, its full confidence in its own powers. Hinduism is freedom, especially the freedom in thinking about God.


Om Namah Shivay!
Be Blessed!

Jai Maa Saraswati

या कुंदेंदु तुषारहार धवला, या शुभ्र वस्त्रावृता |

या वीणावर दण्डमंडितकरा, या श्वेतपद्मासना ||

या ब्रह्माच्युतशंकरप्रभ्रृतिभिर्देवै: सदा वन्दिता |

सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेष जाड्यापहा ||

शुक्लां ब्रह्मविचार सार परमां आद्यां जगद्व्यापिनीं

वीणा पुस्तक धारिणीं अभयदां जाड्यान्धाकारापाहां|

हस्ते स्फाटिक मालीकां विदधतीं पद्मासने संस्थितां

वन्दे तां परमेश्वरीं भगवतीं बुद्धि प्रदां शारदां||

Jai Maa Saraswati!
Blessed Be!

Deepawali - The Festival of Light

Deepawali , the Indian festival of light, falls on the day of 'Amavasyaa', when the moon does not rise and there is darkness all around. Light, which is symbol of hope and positive energy, indicates the victory of good over evil. By spreading light in every corner of our homes, we try to destroy the reign of darkness, on the night of Deepawali.
To Hindus, darkness represents ignorance, and light is a metaphor for knowledge. Therefore, lighting a lamp symbolizes the destruction, through knowledge, of all negative forces- wickedness, violence, lust, anger, envy, greed, bigotry, fear, injustice, oppression and suffering, etc.
While Deepawali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", the most significant spiritual meaning is "the awareness of the inner light". Central to Hindu philosophy is the assertion that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman. Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Deepawali is the celebration of this inner light, in particular the knowing of which outshines all darkness (removes all obstacles and dispels all ignorance), awakening the individual to one's true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality. With the realization of the Atman comes universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings Ananda (joy or peace). While the story behind Deepavali and the manner of celebration varies from region to region (festive fireworks, worship, lights, sharing of sweets), the essence is the same – to rejoice in the Inner Light (Atman) or the underlying reality of all things (Brahman).

Lakshmi Puja (30 Ashvin or 15 Krishna Paksha Ashvin): Lakshmi Puja marks the most important day of Diwali celebrations in North India. Hindu homes worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Ganesh, the God of auspicious beginnings, and then light lamps in the streets and homes to welcome prosperity and well-being.

Significant events associated with Diwali:

The return of Lord Shree Ram after 14 years of Vanvas (banishment), and the death of Ravana. To welcome his return, candles were lit in rows of 20.

The killing of Narakasura: Celebrated as Naraka Chaturdashi, one day before Deepavali, it commemorates the killing of the evil demon Narakasura, who wreaked havoc. Krishna's wife Satyabhama killed Narakasura during the Dwapara Yuga. In another version of the belief, the demon was killed by Krishna or Krishna provoked his wife Satyabhama to kill Narshna, defeating Indra.


Jai Maa Mahalakshmi !
Blessed Be !

Siddha-Kunjika-Stotram...

शृणु देवि प्रवक्ष्यामि कुंजिकास्तोत्रमुत्तमम्‌।

येन मन्त्रप्रभावेण चण्डीजापः शुभो भवेत्‌॥1॥

न कवचं नार्गलास्तोत्रं कीलकं न रहस्यकम्‌।

न सूक्तं नापि ध्यानं च न न्यासो न च वार्चनम्‌॥2॥

कुंजिकापाठमात्रेण दुर्गापाठफलं लभेत्‌।

अति गुह्यतरं देवि देवानामपि दुर्लभम्‌॥ 3॥

गोपनीयं प्रयत्नेन स्वयोनिरिव पार्वति।

मारणं मोहनं वश्यं स्तम्भनोच्चाटनादिकम्‌।

पाठमात्रेण संसिद्ध्‌येत्‌ कुंजिकास्तोत्रमुत्तमम्‌॥ 4॥

अथ मंत्र:

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे। ॐ ग्लौं हुं क्लीं जूं सः

ज्वालय ज्वालय ज्वल ज्वल प्रज्वल प्रज्वल

ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ज्वल हं सं लं क्षं फट् स्वाहा

॥ इति मंत्रः॥

नमस्ते रुद्ररूपिण्यै नमस्ते मधुमर्दिनि।

नमः कैटभहारिण्यै नमस्ते महिषार्दिनि॥ 1॥

नमस्ते शुम्भहन्त्र्यै च निशुम्भासुरघातिनि॥ 2॥

जाग्रतं हि महादेवि जपं सिद्धं कुरुष्व मे।

ऐंकारी सृष्टिरूपायै ह्रींकारी प्रतिपालिका ॥3॥

क्लींकारी कामरूपिण्यै बीजरूपे नमोऽस्तु ते।

चामुण्डा चण्डघाती च यैकारी वरदायिनी॥ 4॥

विच्चे चाभयदा नित्यं नमस्ते मंत्ररूपिणि॥ 5॥

धां धीं धूं धूर्जटेः पत्नी वां वीं वूं वागधीश्वरी।

क्रां क्रीं क्रूं कालिका देवि शां शीं शूं मे शुभं कुरु॥6॥

हुं हुं हुंकाररूपिण्यै जं जं जं जम्भनादिनी।

भ्रां भ्रीं भ्रूं भैरवी भद्रे भवान्यै ते नमो नमः॥7॥

अं कं चं टं तं पं यं शं वीं दुं ऐं वीं हं क्षं

धिजाग्रं धिजाग्रं त्रोटय त्रोटय दीप्तं कुरु कुरु स्वाहा॥

पां पीं पूं पार्वती पूर्णा खां खीं खूं खेचरी तथा॥8॥

सां सीं सूं सप्तशती देव्या मंत्रसिद्धिं कुरुष्व मे॥

इदं तु कुंजिकास्तोत्रं मंत्रजागर्तिहेतवे।

अभक्ते नैव दातव्यं गोपितं रक्ष पार्वति॥

यस्तु कुंजिकया देवि हीनां सप्तशतीं पठेत्‌।

न तस्य जायते सिद्धिररण्ये रोदनं यथा॥

Om Sri Durgayai Namah!

Blessed Be!

Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Ganeshotsav (festival of Ganesha) is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi (fourth day of the waxing moon period). It is believed that Lord Ganesh bestows His presence on earth for all His devotees during this festival. It is the day Shiva declared His son Ganesha as superior to all the gods, barring Vishnu, Lakshmi, Shiva and Parvati. Ganesha is widely worshipped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune and traditionally invoked at the beginning of any new venture or at the start of travel.

Ganesh Chaturthi starts with the installation of these Ganesh statues in colorfully decorated homes and specially erected temporary structures mandapas (pandals) in every locality. The pandals are decorated specially for the festival, either by using decorative items like flower garlands, lights, etc. The priest, usually clad in red or white dhoti and uttariyam (Shawl), then with the chanting of mantras invokes the presence of Ganesha using the statue as a channel, or body for his energy. This ritual is the Pranapratishhtha. After this the ritual called as Shhodashopachara (16 ways of paying tribute) follows. Coconut, jaggery, 21 modakas, 21 durva (trefoil) blades of grass and red flowers are offered. The statue is anointed with red unguent, typically made of kumkum and sandalwood paste. Throughout the ceremony, Vedic hymns from the Rig Veda, the Ganapati Atharva Shirsha Upanishad, and the Ganesha stotra from the Narada Purana are chanted.

Ganesha is worshipped for 10 days from Bhadrapada Shudha Chaturthi to the Ananta Chaturdashi, On the 11th day, the statue is taken through the streets in a procession accompanied with dancing, singing, and fanfare to be immersed in a river or the sea symbolizing a ritual see-off of the Lord in His journey towards His abode in Kailash while taking away with Him the misfortunes of His devotees.


Om Shree Ganeshay Namah!
Blessed Be!

Guru Purnima

The full moon day in the Hindu month of Ashadh (July-August) is observed as the auspicious day of Guru Purnima, a day sacred to the memory of the great sage Vyasa. All Hindus are indebted to this ancient saint who edited the four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. Vyasa even taught Dattatreya, who is regarded as the Guru of Gurus.

In Hinduism, Gurus are often equated with God and always regarded as a link between the individual and the Immortal. The word Guru is derived from two words, 'Gu' and 'Ru'. The Sanskrit root "Gu" means darkness or ignorance. "Ru" denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore one who removes darkness of our ignorance is a Guru. Gurus are believed by many to be the most necessary part of lives.

On this day, disciples offer puja (worship) or pay respect to their Guru (Spiritual Guide). This day is also the beginning of the Chaturmas -- a four-month period when wandering ascetics and their disciples would settle down to study and give discourses. Celebration of this festival is most prominent in the fields of classical Indian music and dance as well as yoga among others wherein students pay homage to their teachers, thanking them for sharing their knowledge; however it is also observed, often informally, in schools and colleges across the country. In several temples, Vyasa Puja is held and symbolic gifts are given away in this honour. While practices may differ from place to place, they include recitations of the Bhagwad Gita (one of the many books Vyasa authored) and singing of hymns and feasting.

Om Namo Naranay!

Blessed Be!