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Articles Collection

A varied collection of articles on topics of Indian religions, culture, art, literature and much more. You will find writings on Hindu mythological tales and characters, art and religious iconography, dances and festivals of India and costumes that people of India wear.
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Pandavas and The Inescapable Clutches of Karma

Pandavas and The Inescapable Clutches of Karma

The Mahabharata is actually not just a series of stories - it is actually a beautiful lesson on the cause-and-effect theory, a lesson on Karma itself... Mahaprasthana is a sort of yagna undertaken by the Pandavas and their wife, Draupadi, wherein they renounced their kingdom and all the luxuries of royal life and set off for their spiritual journey to the Himalayas... It is an accepted fact that no human is ever perfect. In fact, even God is not perfect. When we look at our mythology, we see several discrepancies and wrongs committed even by the Devas. Lord Indra, the King of the Devas, was probably in the forefront of it all, as he was always insecure that someone would overthrow him and take his throne away...
Valorous Warrior Queens of India

Valorous Warrior Queens of India

These valiant women warriors fearlessly fought for the country, in spite of being involved in family life and having their own children and kingdom to take care of... Rani Lakshmibai...was one of the pivotal figures of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and became a symbol of resistance to the British Raj... Ahilyabai Holkar was the Commander of the Maratha Empire... she was also a great pioneer and builder of Hindu temples. She built hundreds of temples and Dharmashalas all over India... Razia Sultana...is known for being the first female Muslim ruler of India...
The Tale of Three Couples Who Verily Influenced Hindu Culture

The Tale of Three Couples Who Verily Influenced Hindu Culture

Damayanti shines as a brilliant example of womanhood. Her purity, courage and steadiness of purpose helped her save her husband from the malefic influence of Kali Purush himself... Though Devyani and Kacha were never involved romantically, she ended up being the catalyst among the two, as her curse changed the whole picture for the Devas... Savitri is undoubtedly the very embodiment of purity, chastity and character. So spiritually strong was she, that she managed to bring back her husband from the clutches of Yama; from the valley of death...
Surpanakha - Dreadful Demoness or Wronged Damsel?

Surpanakha - Dreadful Demoness or Wronged Damsel?

A demoness by birth, Surpanakha's was a persona which could strike terror in the minds of the layman. Yet, there was another side to her, that was far softer and more mellow than one could ever imagine... The Ramayana portrays Rama and Lakshmana as the personification of divinity and dharma. However, the story of Surpanakha makes one think again about it. No man that insults and disfigures a woman like they did to her can be termed as being good or dharmic. In that sense, Surpanakha was the victim of injustice and never deserved the punishment she got, merely for showing interest in a member of the opposite sex...
Ancient Rishis of India - Part 2 - Kanva | Kapila | Kashyapa | Lopamudra | Markandeya | Parashara | Parashurama | Pulastya | Valmiki | Vasishtha | Vishvamitra | Vyasa

Ancient Rishis of India - Part 2 - Kanva | Kapila | Kashyapa | Lopamudra | Markandeya | Parashara | Parashurama | Pulastya | Valmiki | Vasishtha | Vishvamitra | Vyasa

Kashyapa is considered to be one of the Saptarishis in the Rig Veda, several scriptures and legends... This sage is accredited as the author of several hymns and verses in the Rig Veda... Lopamudra, also known as Kaushitaki and Varaprada, was an ancient female philosopher. The wife of Rishi Agastya...Several hymns in the Rig Veda have been accredited to her authorship... Parashurama is the sixth avatara of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu... The Parashurama avatara is known for violence, revenge and retaliation. The main purpose of the avatara seems to be to educate people on the futility of krodha (anger), himsa (violence) and the need for repentance... Valmiki is venerated as the harbinger-poet in Sanskrit literature. The Ramayana is attributed to him. In fact, he has penned the original version of the Ramayana, called the Valmiki Ramayana...
Ancient Rishis of India - Agastya | Arundhati | Ansuya | Atri | Ashtavakra | Bharadwaj | Bhrigu | Dadhichi | Durvasa | Gautama | Jamadagni | Jaratkaru

Ancient Rishis of India - Agastya | Arundhati | Ansuya | Atri | Ashtavakra | Bharadwaj | Bhrigu | Dadhichi | Durvasa | Gautama | Jamadagni | Jaratkaru

Agastya was a much-revered Vedic sage, who was famous for his reclusive nature. He was a great scholar and was knowledgeable in multiple languages... Arundhati...Though a Rishi patni (wife of a Rishi), she is also given the status of a sage and a yogini of high caliber... Anasuya... another influential figure in Indian mythology and philosophy, she attained the status of one of the most holy sages of the land... Bharadwaj...was one of the greatest ancient Rishis of Hinduism. One of the Saptarishis, he was a renowned scholar, economist and physician as well... One of the Saptarishis, Gautama Maharishi was an ancient Rigvedic sage, who also finds mention in Buddhism and Jainism... Jamadagni...The father of Parashurama...was the descendant of Sage Bhrigu... The sage was very highly knowledgeable and was well-versed in the scriptures and the art of weaponry, with no formal training...
Kubera - The Asura-King Who Went on to Become the God of Wealth

Kubera - The Asura-King Who Went on to Become the God of Wealth

Kubera...is the Lord of Wealth according to Hindu mythology. He is a semi-divine being, called a Yaksha and is also a god-king. Considered to be a Dik-pala or the regent of the North, he is also a Lokapala or a protector of the world... He is often revered as the overlord of several semi-divine beings and is the owner of all the treasures of the world, including minerals and jewels that can be found underground, plus all the riches that earthlings own as a whole... Kubera is popular outside India and Hinduism as well. He features prominently in both Buddhism and Jainism... Generally speaking, one can find images of Kubera etched in any Mahalakshmi temple pillar, as he is commonly associated with the Goddess. Some Mahalakshmi temples have small vigrahas or idols of Kubera, placed below the main idol of the Goddess...
Deified Asuras and Antagonists in Hindu Mythology

Deified Asuras and Antagonists in Hindu Mythology

...while most...Gods and Goddesses have shrines and temples dedicated to their worship, one can also find places of worship dedicated to some of the most negative characters in Hindu mythology... From a higher spiritual perspective though, these negative characters and extreme wrongdoers too manifested on earth only to fulfill their karmic goals by taking birth on earth. It is part of their own mission to meet their end at the hands of a God or Goddess... there is a temple of Kamsa in a place of Hardoi... Here, one can find a massive idol of the demon king. He is highly venerated as a blessed soul who attained liberation at the Lotus Feet of the Lord and is worshipped by his followers
Holy Lakes of India - Nanital | Gurudongmar | Hemkund | Manimahesh

Holy Lakes of India - Nanital | Gurudongmar | Hemkund | Manimahesh

Nainital is considered to be one of the most brilliant diamonds of the Himalayan Belt... Goddess Sati is worshipped here at that Naina Devi Temple... Gurudongmar Lake is one of the highest lakes in India and in the world...located at an altitude of 17,800 feet... in the 15th century, Sikh Guru Nanak Dev Ji passed through this lake on his return from Tibet... Dedicated to the worship of Guru Gobind Singh Ji...Hemkund Sahib...is a stunning locale, featuring a glacial lake surrounded by seven imposing mountain peaks... Manimahesh Lake...is revered by Hindus as one of the holiest places of pilgrimage... Lord Shiva created Manimahesh after he wedded Goddess Parvati in her form of Goddess Girija. Shiva performed severe penance on the banks of Manimahesh Lake...
Holy Lakes of India - Narayan Sarovar | Nakki Lake | Prashar Lake | Pushkar Lake | Suraj Tal

Holy Lakes of India - Narayan Sarovar | Nakki Lake | Prashar Lake | Pushkar Lake | Suraj Tal

Narayan Sarovar is one of the 5 holy lakes of Hinduism, collectively referred to as the Panch-Sarovar... Some accounts suggest that it was discovered by Alexander the Great and lasted till the change of the course of the Indus River... Nakki Lake is a lake nestled in the hill station of Mount Abu in the Aravalli Range of the Sirohi District of Rajasthan... According to one story, the lake was dug by Gods to live in, to protect themselves against the evil demon Bashkali... Prashar Lake...lies 49 kilometers north of Mandi in Himachal Pradesh... Bhima, the strongest of the brothers, rammed his elbow into one of the mountains and thus, created a big dent in the land. He fractured his elbow in the process, but the dent eventually became the Prashar Lake...
Apsaras - The Dancing Damsels of Indra's Court

Apsaras - The Dancing Damsels of Indra's Court

Apsaras are celestial nymphs, who dance in the court of Indra, the King of the Devas. Quite a few in number; they are considered to be extremely beautiful, charming, seductive and greatly talented in both music and dance... The most famous Apsaras in Indian mythology are Rambha, Menaka, Urvashi, Tilottama and Ghritachi... Besides entertaining Indra in his court, these celestial charmers are often sent by Indra himself to disrupt the penance of sages, Kings and Princes... these nymphs are believed to be eternal virgins and no matter whom they seduced or lived with on earth, they would always retain their purity, beauty and youth...
Arjuna and His Sons - Two Generations of Courage

Arjuna and His Sons - Two Generations of Courage

Arjuna... was feted as the best archer in the world, during his time... Arjuna was the most famous of the five Pandava brothers... Arjuna had a total of six children from his four wives... with Draupadi he had twin daughters, named Pragati and Pragya... Srutakarma was born to Arjuna and Draupadi... Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, was believed to be the reincarnation of the son of Chandra Deva, the Moon God... Iravan, also known as Iravat and Iravant, is the son of Arjuna and the Naga princess, Ulupi (or Uloopi)... Babhruvahana... is the son of Arjuna and Chitrangada, the daughter of King Chitravahana of Manipura.
Vibhishana - Loyalty Versus Righteousness

Vibhishana - Loyalty Versus Righteousness

Vibhishana...was the younger brother of Ravana, the Demon King of Lanka, in the great epic Ramayana... He was...a noble character and great devotee of Lord Rama, the seventh avatara of Sri Maha Vishnu and also the central character of the Ramayana. Vibhishana was all for peace and tried to advise Ravana against abducting Rama's wife, Sita. He wanted his brother to return Sita to her husband. When the former refused to heed his words, Vibhishana deserted him and joined Rama's army; eventually helping the latter defeat Ravana...
Pradyumna - The Son of Sri Krishna

Pradyumna - The Son of Sri Krishna

The handsome and valiant Pradyumna is the most beloved and famous son of Krishna... Believed to be one among the four vyuha avataras, he is also one of the 24 Keshava namas (names in praise) of Vishnu... He was born to Krishna and Rukmini in Dwaraka. He is commonly considered to be the reincarnation of Kama Deva, the God of Love, who was burnt to ashes by Shiva, in a fit of rage... The valiant Pradyumna led and won many a battle during his rule. However, he was killed in a way that was least befitting the mighty warrior that he was. He lost his life in a drunken brawl in Krishna's court at Dwaraka...
Vrata Kathas and Vrata Vidhis in Hinduism - Prayers for Every Day of the Week

Vrata Kathas and Vrata Vidhis in Hinduism - Prayers for Every Day of the Week

In Hinduism, every day of the week is sacred, as each one is dedicated to at least one God. Hindus perform special rituals and prayers and undertake vratas and fasts in order to appease these deities... Fasting is an important aspect of Hindu culture... Ancient rishis (sages) used these ritualistic fasts in order to inculcate a discipline in their followers and help them channel their minds more sharply towards their ishta-devata (favourite God)... Vrata is a Sanskrit word, which means, "vow", "devotion" and "resolve"... It commonly refers to the ritualistic observances that devotees undertake... each of these vratas also features a story, explaining how and why the vrata came to be...
Adi Shankaracharya, Madhvacharya and Ramanuja - Pioneers of Vedantic Thought in Hinduism

Adi Shankaracharya, Madhvacharya and Ramanuja - Pioneers of Vedantic Thought in Hinduism

Hinduism discusses all aspects of life and living, giving followers practical and workable tips on living a peaceful, joyful and prosperous life... self-realization is the key to understanding the secrets of life... the understanding of reality and decoding the "I" factor, gave rise to three main streams of philosophy, which now make up the entire fabric of Hindu thought as a whole... These three sub-schools of Vedanta or Vedantic thought constitute Advaita, Dvaita and Visishtadvaita... Three great Hindu saints and seers were primarily responsible for propagating these schools of Vedanta. They were as follows: Adi Shankaracharya for Advaita... Madhvacharya for Dvaita... Ramanujacharya for Visishtadvaita...
Twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva

Twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva

While one can find innumerable temples dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva, the most important places of worshipping him are the 12 Jyotirlingas... Devotees believe that those who undertake the pilgrimage of the 12 temples and take the darshan of the Lord will be granted mukti (liberation) from their karma and the unending cycle of birth and death... The Jyotirlingas' appearance is the same as a Shivalinga. However, it is filled with a divine light, radiance or Jyoti... In all these temples, the primary idol is the Shivalinga, which represents the Stambha or pillar, embodying the infinite nature of the Lord...
Tulsi and Bilva - The Most Sacred Plants in Hinduism

Tulsi and Bilva - The Most Sacred Plants in Hinduism

In Hinduism, certain trees, plants and leaves enjoy an exalted, sacred status. These trees, plants and leaves form part and parcel of many rituals and poojas and hence, are vital to the daily life of a Hindu... Two such plants, which are considered most sacred by the Hindu pantheon, include Bilva (or Bel leaves) and Tulsi (or Basil)... Hindus believe that the presence of a Tulsi plant in the house is capable of warding off negativity and evil spirits... The Shiva Purana states that the Bilva tree is the manifest form of Lord Shiva himself...
Ashtavinayaka - the Eight Holy Abodes of Ganesha

Ashtavinayaka - the Eight Holy Abodes of Ganesha

There are eight forms of Vinayaka, collectively referred to as Ashtavinayaka ('Ashta' in Sanskrit means 'eight'). The Ashtavinayaka Yatra implies a pilgrimage to the eight Vinayaka temples, which can be found in the Indian State of Maharashtra, situated in and around the city of Pune... Interestingly, all the eight murtis of the Lord are believed to be Swayambhu, or self-existent (that which came to be on their own). This means that they were not sculpted or created by human effort - they were formed by Mother Nature herself...
Bhishma - The Warrior Who Defied Death

Bhishma - The Warrior Who Defied Death

One of the most central characters of... Mahabharata... (Bhishma's)... legend tells us about his immense wisdom and teaches us how we should follow the path of the Dharma in our own lives... Devavrata was called Bhishma ever since he took his terrible oath of lifelong celibacy. His pratigya (vow) also included the promise to selflessly and loyally serve whoever succeeded the throne of his father (the throne of Hastinapura)... So blessed was he that he instantly attained moksha or salvation. He was granted entry into the Maatru Loka, which is believed to be even higher than Vaikuntha, the residence of Lord Vishnu himself...
Ananta Shesha - The Infinite One

Ananta Shesha - The Infinite One

In the Puranas, Shesha or Sheshanaga is believed to hold all the planets of the Universe on his vast hoods... It is said that when Adishesha uncoils, time begins to move forward and creation starts to take place. When he comes back to his coiled position, time stands still and the Universe ceases to exist... The serpent, in Indian philosophy, is often associated with the Kundalini energy, which usually lies dormant within the seven chakras of the sukshma sharira (subtle body) of every person...
Vishwamitra and Durvasa - the Raging Rishis

Vishwamitra and Durvasa - the Raging Rishis

Rishis are supposed to be calm and peaceful at all times, due to their deep involvement in prayer and penance... In spite of all this, celebrated and venerated rishis such as Vishwamitra and Durvasa were rather infamous for their short temper... Vishwamitra is one of the most respected rishis of India... The name "Vishwamitra" literally means "friend of the world"... Rishi Durvasa... is another powerful, yet headstrong, sage in Hinduism... His sharp tongue and tendency to hurl curses on people made everyone scared of him. Hence, he was received with great respect and reverence everywhere he went; whether it was the Earth or the Devaloka...
Sandhya and Kama: Enduring Embodiments of Purity and Love

Sandhya and Kama: Enduring Embodiments of Purity and Love

Such is the tale of Sandhya and Kama, siblings, who took birth from the mind of the Prajapati, Lord Brahma himself. Displaying extraordinary qualities, their lives have come to become enduring embodiments of love, purity, integrity and chastity... Kamadeva... is the Hindu God of love or desire... Kama is depicted as a youthful, handsome man with green skin. He rides a parrot and wields a bow, made of sugarcane, with a string of honeybees... Lord Brahma... was once holding his court, with all the Devas. All of a sudden, a beautiful female sprung out of his heart... the beauteous female was called Sandhya, the One who was born out of the deep concentration of Lord Brahma...
Five Hindu Temples Shrouded in Mystery

Five Hindu Temples Shrouded in Mystery

India is a land of myriad temples... Most of the major Hindu temples are truly amazing, jaw-dropping creations... Legend has it that the statue of the Sun God inside the (Konark) temple is actually floating in mid-air... (Brihadeeshwara Temple) Being one of the tallest temples, it is so designed that the vimana does not cast any shadow at noon, at any time of the year... One of the biggest mysteries of the Veerabhadra temple...is the "hanging pillar"... One corner pillar, which is known as the hanging pillar, does not touch the temple floor... The Kailasha temple is carved out of a single rock. It remains a mystery as to how workers during that time managed to achieve that feat and construct a structure of that size...
Kanyakumari - a Spiritual Experience

Kanyakumari - a Spiritual Experience

Kanyakumari district is located in the southernmost tip of Tamil Nadu... Devi Kanyakumari is the Goddess Shree Bhagavathi, in the form of an adolescent girl... The worship of Devi Kanyakumari dates back to the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas... The Vivekananda Rock Memorial... was built... in honor of Swami Vivekananda... It is believed that the Swami attained enlightenment on this very rock... The Thiruvalluvar Statue, also referred to as the Valluvar Statue, is a stone sculpture of the Tamil poet and philosopher; also the author of the Thirukkural... The sculpture itself is 95 feet high and weighs 7000 tons...
Hanuman, Vibhishana, Kripacharya, Parashurama - Chiranjivis - the Immortals of Hindu Mythology - Part 2

Hanuman, Vibhishana, Kripacharya, Parashurama - Chiranjivis - the Immortals of Hindu Mythology - Part 2

Hanuman or Anjaneya is an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, an avatara of Sri Maha Vishnu... Hanuman is a popular deity, viewed as the best example of strength, devotion, heroism and everlasting love and loyalty towards his personal God, Rama. He is seen as an embodiment of faith, self-control, shakti (strength) and bhakti (devotion)... The younger brother of the Demon King Ravana, Vibhishana was a noble soul (in spite of being a demon himself)... Just before leaving for Ayodhya, Rama appeared in his original form of Shri Maha Vishnu and advised Vibhishana to stay on Earth and serve his subjects; adhering to the highest morals and values... Lord Parashurama is the sixth avatara of Sri Maha Vishnu... Parashurama is infamous for his extreme anger, violent deeds and then repentance for having committed those deeds in rage...
Chiranjivis - the Immortals of Hindu Mythology - Part 1 - Ashwathama, King Bali, Veda Vyasa

Chiranjivis - the Immortals of Hindu Mythology - Part 1 - Ashwathama, King Bali, Veda Vyasa

Aswatthama, King Mahabali, Veda Vyasa, Hanuman, Vibhishana, Kripacharya and Lord Parashuram are the Seven Immortals of Hindu mythology... In Hinduism, immortal implies the entities that live until the destruction of the Universes. This includes physical bodies that continue to live till the end of time... It is believed that, by chanting the Chiranjivi Stotra, and by remembering these immortals, one can be free of all problems and can live a happy life well over 100 years...
The Ancient Wisdom of the Vedas

The Ancient Wisdom of the Vedas

The Vedas are ancient Hindu texts, constituting the oldest written material of Sanskrit literature and scriptures ever available to Hinduism... The Vedic manuscripts were penned on natural materials including palm leaves and birch bark... The Rigveda is considered to be the most ancient text, probably from about 1900 to 1100 BC. Incidentally, this period marked the Vedic era itself... India's Vedic culture has made immense contribution to several fields of activity and has verily influenced the thinking process of the entire world...
Amrapali - A Journey from Concubine to Celibate

Amrapali - A Journey from Concubine to Celibate

Amrapali... was the famous royal courtesan or nagarvadhu of Vaishali... Amrapali grew up to be a woman of extraordinary grace and charm... Amrapali was made the nagarvadhu and Vaishali Janpath Kalyani (the most beautiful and talented girl in the kingdom)... Amrapali was so taken in by the Buddha's presence and his innate peace that she decided to renounce her position as courtesan and chose, instead, to follow in his footsteps, as a Bhikkhuni (female monk or nun)...
Indra - King of the Gods

Indra - King of the Gods

Lord Indra is an ancient Vedic deity. He is the King of Swarga (Heaven) and the Ruler of the Devas (Gods) in Hinduism... The God of Thunder and Lightning, he is known to have the power to invoke storms, rain and strong river currents... he has often been associated with Thor of Nordic and Germanic mythologies. Both carry weapons and have control over lightning and thunder; both their weapons return to their respective owners after their use; both are associated with bulls at an earlier time in their lives; and both are heroes and protectors of mankind...
Chanakya - Scholar and Administrator Par Excellence

Chanakya - Scholar and Administrator Par Excellence

Chanakya... was a great Indian teacher, philosopher, statesman, royal adviser, economist and jurist... he was also a professor of political science and economics at the University of Takshashila... Chanakya was as shrewd as he was wise. He helped the first Mauryan Emperor, Chandragupta, to establish the Mauryan Empire... Several Indian nationalists consider Chanakya as one of the greatest ever thinkers. His Arthashastra is still regarded as one of the best resources to learn about developing and implementing strategic national and administrative policies... Chanakya was a patriot in the truest sense of the term... he was utterly devoted to his king, was incorruptible and worked tirelessly towards strengthening and unifying India...
Ravana the Great - The Legendary Emperor of Lanka

Ravana the Great - The Legendary Emperor of Lanka

The life story of Ravana is truly inspiring. A devout follower of Lord Shiva, he was one of the most powerful beings and rulers of all time... He is believed to have ruled over the city of Lanka for several hundred years... He was, after all, a great scholar and a wise and pious person. Though he had committed certain sins, it was only because it was his Asura guna that showed up at that time. Also, he had died fighting valiantly on the battlefield. Hence, Ravana was given a befitting funeral, receiving all the respect a true warrior should...
The Grip of Karma - Last Days of Krishna and the Pandavas

The Grip of Karma - Last Days of Krishna and the Pandavas

Gandhari...could not contain the grief of losing her eldest and favorite son, Duryodhana... Seeing Krishna further incensed her, as she was well aware that he was the main person who drove the Pandavas to victory... She cursed Krishna that, in 36 years, Dwaraka would get submerged under the sea and that the entire Yadava clan would perish the same way her sons had died... Jara, the hunter, was roaming in the forest... Seeing Krishna's foot sticking out from the bushes, he mistook it for a deer and shot it down with his poison-tipped arrow... Krishna then blessed Jara, took Vishnu's form and returned to his abode, Vaikuntha...
Kaala Bhairava - The Dark, Terrible Aspect of Shiva

Kaala Bhairava - The Dark, Terrible Aspect of Shiva

Bhairava, the rather fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva, is commonly associated with this aspect of annihilation... Bhairava is a wandering form of Shiva... he is the Lord who protects his devotees from external enemies; as also from internal enemies such as greed, lust, anger and all other negative emotions... Bhairava is generally depicted in a standing position, with four hands. He holds a drum, a paasa (noose), trident and skull. Some forms of Bhairava depict more than four hands... All Shiva temples have a Bhairava idol. The keys to the temple are placed before this deity, as it is believed that he will protect the premises even when the temple is closed for the day...
Char Dham - The Four Most Sacred Pilgrimages of Hindus

Char Dham - The Four Most Sacred Pilgrimages of Hindus

Char Dham, literally meaning, four pilgrimage sites, are the temples that are among the most highly venerated Hindu Vaishnavite temples in India. These four places of pilgrimage...include Puri, Rameswaram, Dwarka and Badrinath... The main deity in the Jagannatha Temple of Puri is Lord Sri Krishna, who is venerated as Lord Jagannatha, or the Lord of the Universe... The Ramanathaswamy temple is also one of the twelve Jyotirlinga temples, where Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam or a pillar of light... The Dwarkadhish (or Dwarkadheesh) Temple, also referred to as the Jagat Mandir, is one of the major temples dedicated to the worship of Lord Krishna... The Badrinath Temple, which is...dedicated to the worship of Vishnu... is considered to be one of the eight swayam vyakta or swayambhu kshetras (one that manifested by itself) of Sri Maha Vishnu...
Ancient Musical Instruments of India - Part 2

Ancient Musical Instruments of India - Part 2

Flutes are ancient musical instruments, dating to over 40,000 years ago. These have been an integral part of Indian classical music, both Hindustani and Carnatic. Lord Sri Krishna is always closely associated with the flute... The Shehnai...is a quadruple-reed woodwind instrument... The sound it produces puts it in the category of an auspicious instrument, which can sanctify the atmosphere... The Sarangi is an ancient Indian bowed, short-necked, fretless instrument... According to folk etymology, the sarangi derived its name from the term, 'sol rang', which literally means, 'a hundred colors'...
Veena and Other Ancient Musical Instruments of India

Veena and Other Ancient Musical Instruments of India

The deeply spiritual nature of India reflects in the dance and music of this country... What sets apart Indian dance and music from that of the rest of world, is that they actually mirror the land's religious and spiritual heritage - most of them even have close links to Indian mythology... The Saraswati Veena is a stringed instrument, named after Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge and the Arts... The bass resonance of the Veena helps it come closest to the human voice - it can be used to play any music at all, ranging from traditional to contemporary to folk to film music... It verily symbolizes all knowledge, spirituality and divinity. When an expert vainika plays the instrument, one can feel the notes echoing around, radiating around all directions...
Sri Dharmashastha - The Divine Son of Hari and Hara

Sri Dharmashastha - The Divine Son of Hari and Hara

There is one deity... who manifested from the united energies of Shiva and Vishnu. He is... named as Harihara - the son of Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva)... This God, also referred to as Manikanthan, Dharmashastha, Shasthavu or Shastha, is a powerful yogic deity, who is most popularly venerated by devotees coming from the South of India... Some experts believe that the legend of Shastha was actually an attempt to unite both the cults, by bringing them together in worship. Incidentally, according to both history and mythology, Lord Harihara is the last and only deity belonging to the present-day Kaliyuga...
Samba -  Son of Krishna, Builder of Konarak

Samba - Son of Krishna, Builder of Konarak

Samba was one of the sons of Krishna, born to Jambavati. He was the half-brother of Pradyumna, who was much better known... Samba grew to become a very handsome prince. However, he was constantly causing some trouble or the other and was always harassing people, thereby earning a very bad name for himself... Both the Konark Sun Temple and the Multan Sun Temple have been attributed to Samba... An entire Purana, called the Samba Purana, is named after him. This is proof enough of his great power...
Harishchandra - the Epitome of Truth

Harishchandra - the Epitome of Truth

Harishchandra was renowned for two rare qualities - firstly, for never uttering a single lie in his life and secondly, for never going back on a promise he made to someone... (The story) is believed to have helped Yudhishthira, the eldest Pandava prince, to go beyond his adversities and tread the path of righteousness. This story also inspired Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, to follow the path of truth... he stayed true to his resolution and lived a life of truth and righteousness. This gave him the name, 'Satyavrata', or the observer of truth...
Ashoka the Great - A Journey from Monarch to Monk

Ashoka the Great - A Journey from Monarch to Monk

Ashoka Maurya ruled almost the entire Indian subcontinent from c. 268 to 232 BCE... His realm spanned the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan, to present-day Bangladesh in the East... According to some experts, Emperor Ashoka was always particular about respecting all religions and Gurus; and maintaining harmonious relationships... He later dedicated his entire life for the propagation of Buddhism, eventually coming to be known as one of the greatest ever philanthropists that the motherland gave birth to...
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj - The Invincible Emperor of the Marathas

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj - The Invincible Emperor of the Marathas

Shivaji Bhonsle was a descendant of the Bhonsle Maratha clan... He was crowned as the Chhatrapati or Emperor of Raigad in 1674... Shivaji is considered national hero in India. This legend is especially in the State of Maharashtra, where he is venerated as one of the greatest figures of India's history. He is adored as an invincible Warrior King; an Emperor second to none and his story is an integral part and parcel of Marathi people's lives... great leaders and thinkers such as Swami Vivekananda, Lokmanya Tilak, Rabindranath Tagore...held the great warrior in very high esteem...
The Life and Loves of the Pandava Prince, Arjuna

The Life and Loves of the Pandava Prince, Arjuna

Arjuna was the 3rd of the Pandava princes. He was one of the central characters of the Mahabharata and was the reason why with Krishna gave us the Bhagavad Gita... Famed as a great archer, Arjuna also had an eye for fine women. Very handsome and brave, he quite naturally and effortlessly attracted women wherever he went... Around the onset of the Kali Yuga, Krishna departed from this earth. Arjuna and the other Pandavas too retired from their positions, leaving the throne to the only surviving heir and Arjuna's grandson, Parikshit. Giving up all their material ties, the Pandavas, accompanied by a dog, proceeded to take their final pilgrimage to the Himalayas...
The Tale of Jaya and Vijaya - Gatekeepers of Vishnu

The Tale of Jaya and Vijaya - Gatekeepers of Vishnu

The common aspect between these three terrible demons was that they were actually the three reincarnations of Jaya and Vijaya, who were the Dwarapalas (gatekeepers) of Lord Vishnu... the Kumaras...cursed Jaya and Vijaya that they would have to forfeit their divine status and be born on Earth, in order to wipe off their sins... Through their journey of three human lives, they had also learnt to give up their arrogance and ego and completely surrender themselves to their Lord... statues of Jaya-Vijaya stand prominently in the temple of Lord Venkateshwara in Tirumala, the temple of Lord Ranganatha in Srirangam and the temple of Lord Jagannatha in Puri...
Devi Sati - A Tale of Passion and Honour

Devi Sati - A Tale of Passion and Honour

Sati, also known as Dakshayani, is a Hindu Goddess of longevity and marital felicity. An aspect of Parvati or Goddess Adi Shakti, Dakshayani is the first consort of Lord Shiva. Sati is known to be extremely fiery, with a frightening temper. However, she is also loving and extremely benevolent by nature... Daksha... could not reconcile to the fact that Shiva was his son-in-law. Hence, he decided to excommunicate his daughter from the rest of the family... She (Sati) had warned Daksha and Prasuti in the past, before she was born to them, that she would desert them if she was insulted in any way... She further cursed Daksha that he would be destroyed by her husband, Shiva. Thus saying, she entered the sacred fire and ended her own human life...
Terracotta Art - From the Earth to the Soul

Terracotta Art - From the Earth to the Soul

Terracotta is an ancient art form, perhaps one of the first expressions of creativity of human mind... Terracotta figurines of mother goddess, male gods, and terracotta cart frames and wheels dating back to around 7000 BC have been excavated from various sites of Indus Valley Civilization... Terracotta art is an integral part of Indian culture and heritage... India exports exquisite terracotta items like statues, vases, decorative hangings and bells, murals, Diwali oil lamps, etc. making the art form a rewarding one for the artisans... Though there are many temples in West Bengal along the alluvial delta of the river Ganges, terracotta temples of Bishnupura in Bankura district are the most popular due to their exceptional terracotta carving and sculptures...
Shani - the Elusive God

Shani - the Elusive God

Shani is the lord of the planet Saturn... and is worshipped on Saturday... Shani is dark complexioned and is depicted with dark clothes (mostly blue), wearing a blue sapphire and holding a sword, a trident and a bow and arrow. His countenance is polite, yet gleaming and the eyes are half-opened... Astrologers believe that...our thoughts, both good and bad, and our plans reach the lord of the planet and he influences them... Shani has been given the task of judging and giving commensurate rewards or punishments to all depending on their karma or deeds... Shani's influence on a person's life is really brought upon by the person himself. A person who is prepared to undergo the trying times with perseverance and righteousness is sure to be rewarded by him...
Greatest Love Stories - Part 2

Greatest Love Stories - Part 2

The royal romance of Salim and Anarkali is one of the most popular love stories of the Mughal era in India... Anarkali was a dancer in the court of Emperor Akbar. Akbar's eldest son and heir to the throne, Salim, fell head over heels in love with her... Angered by the youngsters' disrespect for his orders, Akbar sentenced Anarkali to death... Dhola Maru is one of the most popular love stories of Rajasthan... Many women still address their beloved as Dhola. Women in Rajasthan continue with the tradition of singing songs in praise of Dhola and Maru...
Greatest Love Stories - Part 1

Greatest Love Stories - Part 1

India - the land of the Kamasutra - one of the most comprehensive treatises on love and passion - abounds with several hundreds and thousands of true love stories. While some of these legends of love were successful and lived happily ever after, many were tragic and resulted in these passionate lovers taking their lives, in order to keep the flame of their love alive! Many of these love stories are famous throughout the world and have been immortalized through films and the written word...
Shakuni - A Villian or a Victim of Circumstance?

Shakuni - A Villian or a Victim of Circumstance?

Shakuni... is famed for being one of the pivotal negative characters of the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata... Shakuni was extremely intelligent and equally devious as well... he practically masterminded the great war of Kurukshetra. His entire mission was to take revenge for several unjust events that took place in his life or the life of his near and dear ones... Shakuni's only saving grace was his true and undying love for his sister, Gandhari... Shakuni has a temple dedicated to his worship, in the state of Kerala. Although he was a negative character, there were some undeniably good traits in him, which were acknowledged by the Kuravar community in the Kollam District of Kerala...
Rama Vanavas - A Sacrifice Unparalleled

Rama Vanavas - A Sacrifice Unparalleled

Manthara (a scheming hunch-backed maid) reminded her (Kaikeyi) of the two boons that Dasharatha had given her long back for saving his life and asked her to use them to force her husband to send Rama to the forest for fourteen years and declare Bharata as the crown prince of Ayodhya... However, both Lakshmana who was a devoted younger brother and Sita, Rama's faithful consort, were determined to accompany him to the forest... Rama agreed to spend his youth wandering in forests to honor his father's words, his love for his brothers inspired unquestioning devotion in them and his love for his wife Sita made him cry in anguish at her abduction and wish for death...
Bhishma - A Heart Full of Truth and a Mind Full of Courage

Bhishma - A Heart Full of Truth and a Mind Full of Courage

Bhishma, originally named Devavrata, is one of the central pillars in the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata, who influenced the turn of events in the epic by his various acts... Devavrata made the ultimate sacrifice for his father by taking a lifelong vow of celibacy. This terrible oath...made the Gods appear and...Devavrata came to be known as Bhishma... Bhishma was a man who lived his life by the book. He was orthodox in his thinking and took every written word in the Vedas at their face value... Bhishma was cursed and born to live a painful life and he did so without any complaints. A warrior sans peers, he ensured Hastinapur was protected from any and all external threats and died in the process, finally satisfied in his heart that the throne now belonged to a righteous king...
Kunti And Gandhari - The Two Matriarchs Of Mahabharata

Kunti And Gandhari - The Two Matriarchs Of Mahabharata

Both Kunti and Gandhari, in their own way, were women of substance. They were willing to undergo pain, sacrifice comfort and happiness, and stand up for what they felt was right... Kunti's biggest blunder was her immaculate conception of Karna out of wedlock and her subsequent decision to disown him and set him afloat... As for Gandhari, blindfolding herself was a total lack of farsightedness, pun intended. If she had been able to see what was happening around her and how her brother was poisoning the minds of her sons, she could have put a stop to it and instilled better values in them... The two women were constantly aware of the right from wrong and always endeavored to follow the path of dharma, however; they were trapped in their life situations and had no choice but to live their destinies...
West Bengal - the Crucible of Art and Culture

West Bengal - the Crucible of Art and Culture

Bengal has a rich history and has seen many changes in its political scene through the ages... The long association with the British left an indelible impression on the state's culture and education system and brought about enormous social change... It is also a state that has produced the fiercest freedom fighters, the best academicians, the most celebrated poets and writers, well-known social reformers, and extremely talented singers and dancers... A state blessed with diverse topography, fertile soil, huge diversity of flora and fauna...West Bengal's geographical location naturally lends itself to a largely agrarian economy... Rural Bengal takes the lead in keeping the old customs and the associated song and dance forms alive in Modern West Bengal...
Krishna and Sudama - The Eternal Bond of True Friendship

Krishna and Sudama - The Eternal Bond of True Friendship

Sudama... was a childhood friend of Lord Sri Krishna... Sudama was born in a poor Brahmin family... Krishna... hailed from the royal family and hence, enjoyed the highest possible social status. However, this difference did not in any way hinder their friendship... The story of Krishna and Sudama contains several hidden lessons that we could learn from... God always rewards good deeds; however, He is also bound by the Laws of Karma. He knows when to bestow His grace on us. It may take a while for us to reverse negative karma and start enjoying the fruit of our good deeds, but it is bound to come to us in time... devotion toward God is the only thing that will lead us to His grace...
Jewelry - The Essence of Indian Shringar

Jewelry - The Essence of Indian Shringar

Jewelry has been an integral part of Indian culture since time immemorial... On festival and special occasions, Indian girls and women of all ages, castes, classes and creeds adorn themselves with heavy jewelry... Even today, jewelry is considered not only as a means of ornamentation, but also as a sign of power, wealth and status... Indian jewelry design is as varied and diverse as the nation itself. Each piece of jewelry veritably has a story to tell about the state where it originates from and the patterns, the materials used, the artwork featuring in the items and the price range differs vastly from state to state....
Adi Shankacharya - The Saviour of Hinduism

Adi Shankacharya - The Saviour of Hinduism

Adi Sankaracharya, the incarnation of Lord Shiva, descended on the mortal plane some 2500 years ago to rescue the pristine glory of Sanatana Dharma from the abyss of spiritual corruption it had been forced to... Adi Shankaracharya meticulously reinterpreted the scriptures of Hinduism, particularly the Vedanta and Upanishads. This profoundly influenced Hinduism which had been going through an abysmally low phase at that time... Sankara learnt about the cryptic teachings of the Vedas from Sri Govinda. Advaita, meaning oneness, was the theme of learning. Everything, sentient and insentient, is the manifestation of the Lord and the soul is an inseparable element of the super-soul...
Saint and Soldier - The First and Last Gurus of Sikhism

Saint and Soldier - The First and Last Gurus of Sikhism

Each of the ten Gurus of Sikhism, in their own way, made a great contribution to the growth of the religion. While some focused on Bhakti or devotion, others' philosophy centered on Shakti or might, both physical and spiritual... Guru Nanak is the very first of the ten Gurus of Sikhism and is also founder of the religion... Preaching equality, love, goodness and virtue, he created a platform which was spiritually, socially and politically viable... Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhism... was a philosopher, poet and warrior. He contributed much to Sikhism, in the sense that he worked to further formalize the philosophy propounded by Guru Nanak...
Jesus Christ - the Son of God

Jesus Christ - the Son of God

Jesus, who to Christians is the Son of God, is also considered to be the much-awaited Messiah of the Old Testament... Christians believe that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and was born to Mary, the holy virgin and performed several miracles during his lifetime. He also founded the Church; accepted crucifixion to atone for others' sins; died on the cross; then arose from the dead, ascending to heaven, from where he will return one day...
Surya  - The Sun God in Hindu Mythology

Surya - The Sun God in Hindu Mythology

Surya, the Sun God in Hindu mythology...is the main solar deity in Hinduism... Surya is often portrayed as riding a chariot driven by 7 horses or alternatively, by 1 horse with 7 heads. These 7 horses represent the colors of the rainbow... Surya is worshipped by people, saints and even asuras or demons... Surya Deva’s sons, Shani and Yama, are the judges of human life and karma... Surya Deva is known to be strong, powerful and invincible... One can find several temples in India, dedicated to the worship of Surya... Makar Sankranti is the most popular, also the most widely celebrated festival, dedicated to Surya Deva...
Divine Sikkim - A Journey Through Photographs

Divine Sikkim - A Journey Through Photographs

Sikkim is nature's masterpiece painting - a sensory explosion created by the sky hugging snow capped mountain peaks, lush green meadows, numerous gurgling waterfalls, dense mystical forests and raging rivers defiantly cutting their course through mountains and valleys... Mt. Kanchenjunga is the third tallest mountain in the world... The Teesta river is the lifeline of Sikkim... Yumthang is a valley with rolling meadows, surrounded by the Himalaya mountains...
Onam - The Colorful Cultural Carnival of Kerala

Onam - The Colorful Cultural Carnival of Kerala

Onam or Thiruvonam, is the most popular festival in Kerala... This secular festival brings all Keralites together, rising over the boundaries of caste, creed, religion, culture and financial status... It is celebrated to commemorate Kerala's rich and affluent past and is also the harvest festival of the state... Onam is celebrated to welcome this annual visit from Mahabali. Mahabali, as his very name suggests, is venerated for having become a martyr for the sake of Truth. In fact, his name literally means "Great Sacrifice"... Onam festivities go on for a period of 10 days, ending with the day of the Thiruvonam...
Shrinathji - the Living God Child of Nathdwara

Shrinathji - the Living God Child of Nathdwara

Shrinathji is a Hindu deity and a form of Lord Sri Krishna, manifest as a 7 year-old Balak or child... the Lord lifts the Govardhana hill with the little finger of his left hand, in order to protect the residents of Vrindavan from the arrogant wrath of Indra... The main temple of Shrinathji is located in the temple town of Nathdwara, which lies about 48 kilometers from Udaipur in Rajasthan... Shrinathji gives his darshan to all his devotees and constantly bestows good upon them. While the Lord goes about uncomplainingly with his unending routine, it becomes the duty of the bhakta (devotee) to approach him with purity of heart and bhava...
Dattatreya - The Essence of the Divine Trinity in Hinduism

Dattatreya - The Essence of the Divine Trinity in Hinduism

Dattatreya... is a Hindu deity who is also regarded as an aspect of the Divine Trinity or Trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara... Dattatreya is considered to be an avatar or reincarnation of Lord Shiva and is revered as the Adi-Guru or the First Teacher... The Dattatreya Upanishad, which is part of the Atharva Veda, describes him as variously taking the form of a child, a madman and even a demon, in order to help his followers attain moksha (liberation) from the material world... this deity is worshiped by a multitude of Hindus from all walks of life, spanning the entire globe...
The Hindu New Year - Flavours of Celebration

The Hindu New Year - Flavours of Celebration

The Hindu New Year is celebrated in accordance with the Almanac or the Panchanga, that is, the Hindu Lunar Calendar... This day also marks the end of one agricultural harvest and the beginning of a new one. Hence, this event is concerned with the sowing and reaping of crops... Each state in India celebrates the New Year in its own unique way, following customs and traditions that are exclusive to that particular region...
Holi - The Vibrant Indian Festival of Colors

Holi - The Vibrant Indian Festival of Colors

Holi is a major Indian festival, celebrated during spring. A Hindu festival by origin, this is one of the most popular events celebrated by all Indians, worldwide... Holi, though, is the most popular and widely celebrated in the Braj region, which connects closely to the life and times of Lord Krishna... This is also when devotees pray to the Divine Couple, Radha and Krishna. The festivities officially usher in spring, which is regarded as the season for love...
The Saree - The Very Essence of Indian Womanhood

The Saree - The Very Essence of Indian Womanhood

A saree or sari is a long strip of unstitched cloth, which is draped by Indian women... The origins of the sari can be traced right back to the Indus Valley Civilization, which existed during 2800-1800 BC... There are at least a hundred ways a single saree can be draped... The saree is very highly versatile, since it can be worn to expose to the minimum, while also reveal to the maximum, if the wearer wants it that way. Either way, it looks graceful and elegant, showing off the woman's curves in the right places...
Om - The Embodiment of the Absolute Brahman

Om - The Embodiment of the Absolute Brahman

Om, also written and pronounced as Aum, is considered by Hindus to be the mystical, primordial sound, which gave rise to the entire Universe... The incantation of this sacred syllable is considered auspicious for undertaking any new venture... it is referred to as the Pranava mantra; the one which encompasses Hindus' every prana or life breath... The three-syllable mantra, "A-U-M" represents the three aspects of Creation, Preservation and Destruction, embodies by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva respectively... The symbol of Om has...become a vehicle for spiritual seekers to attain a state of complete silence during meditation, so as to go within oneself and contemplate the inner self...
Garuda - the Divine Vahana of Vishnu

Garuda - the Divine Vahana of Vishnu

Garuda is a large, mythical Eagle, which appears prominently in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology... In Hinduism, Garuda is... a divine entity, and is depicted as the vahana or mount of Sri Maha Vishnu... This very ancient deity is believed to have a gigantic form, large enough to block out the...Sun God... The Garudas enjoy an important status in Buddhism as well. These powerful beings were appointed by Sakra to protect Mount Sumeru and the Trayastrimsa heaven from the attacks of asuras... In India, Indonesia and much of Southeast Asia, the Garuda is a veritable national and cultural symbol...
Vaishno Devi - The Legend of the Powerful Mother Goddess

Vaishno Devi - The Legend of the Powerful Mother Goddess

The temple of Goddess Vaishno Devi is one of the major and sacred Hindu temples dedicated to Parvati or Goddess Shakti, the Divine Consort of Lord Shiva... Irrespective of caste, creed and social status, it is said that a journey to the sacred shrine of Vaishno Devi can materialize if and only if she wills it and blesses the devotee with her darshan... Vaishno Devi is believed to bestow strength to the weak, sight to the blind, wealth to the poor and bless childless couples with children. This very powerful deity, it is said, is also benevolent enough to fulfill one and all of her devotees' wishes...
Swami Vivekananda - the Revolutionary Monk of Modern Hinduism

Swami Vivekananda - the Revolutionary Monk of Modern Hinduism

Swami Vivekananda, born Narendranath Dutta, was essentially a Hindu Brahmachari and monk, who was the pioneer to introduce the authentically Indian philosophies of Yoga and Vedanta to the rest of the world... Swami Vivekananda is regarded as a very influential figure in modern Hinduism. Many leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Balgangadhar Tilak, Subhas Chandra Bose and Bipin Chandra Pal, had been vastly influenced by the Swami's fiery speeches. He used clear and simple language and all his works had a touch of humour, which never failed to entertain the reader. Vivekananda was also a singer and poet and composed several songs, including those on his favourite deity, Goddess Kali... Propagating Indian philosophy, Vedanta and Yoga both in India and abroad, he won accolades from many scholars of religion and philosophy throughout the globe...
Deities of Buddhism

Deities of Buddhism

Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism does not place too much importance on specific Gods or godly figures... it believes that both humans and deities are subject to Karma and the ensuing cycle of birth and death... The Buddha category of deities is the highest in Buddhism... Both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism believe that Buddhas are those that have attained complete enlightenment... Bodhisattvas are those who have reached a spiritual state, just one rung below Buddhahood... Bodhisattvas are generally portrayed wearing princely clothes and elaborate jewelry... Buddhism also features some wrathful, angry deities of destruction. They can be categorized as the Herukas, who adopt fierce manifestations in order to exhibit their detachment from materialism...
Kamadhenu - The Sacred Wish Fulfilling Cow

Kamadhenu - The Sacred Wish Fulfilling Cow

Hinduism considers the "Gomata" or the cow as an utmost sacred symbol... The name Kamadhenu came from the Sanskrit root, "Kamaduha", which literally means, "the cow of plenty" and "the one through whom all desires are fulfilled"... Kamadhenu is believed to be dwelling in Goloka (the realm of cows) and also Patala (the Netherworld)... To Hindus, the cow also represents purity, fertility, the ability to sustain human life and a selfless, sacrificing nature... cows are worshipped and are often fed outside temples, especially on Fridays and on all special occasions as well. All cows are generally considered incarnations of Kamadhenu by pious Hindus the world over...
The Four Yugas - Epochs of Hinduism

The Four Yugas - Epochs of Hinduism

According to Hindu philosophy, the world is made up of four main "Yugas" - ages, epochs or cycles of time - each made up of tens of thousands of human years... Each of these four Yugas involves stages of change; of evolution; one in which not only the physical universe undergoes change, but the whole thought process and consciousness of mankind metamorphoses either for better or for worse, depending upon that particular Yuga... Kalachakra puts us through repeated cycles of joy and suffering, depending upon our individual levels of karma... when one cycle of creation ends, God withdraws all of his energies into himself and rests for a period of time, when he is utterly inactive. After this period of rest, God resumes his activity and begins to recreate a whole new world, manifesting himself in an infinite number of new living beings and life forms...
The Sai Baba of Shirdi - A Saint-Seer Beyond Compare

The Sai Baba of Shirdi - A Saint-Seer Beyond Compare

The Sai Baba of Shirdi, also commonly referred to as Shirdi Sai Baba, was an Indian spiritual Guru, Yogi and Fakir...who was regarded by both Hindus and Muslims as a saint-seer... Sai Baba preached a moral code of love and forgiveness; contentment and inner peace... One of Sai Baba's most famous epithets was, "Sabka Malik Ek" (everyone is ruled by One God)... Shirdi Sai Baba was against all persecution based on caste or religion. He openly defied the religious orthodoxy that was most prevalent then... Sai Baba would often interpret Hindu and Muslim religious texts, explaining the meaning of the important portions from each text...
Draupadi and Sita - the Very Essence of Nari Shakti

Draupadi and Sita - the Very Essence of Nari Shakti

Naari shakti or woman power has been given great important in Indian culture... both Indian mythology and Indian history chronicle the existence of powerful women, who have been responsible both for great victory as well as the great downfall of mighty rulers and their legions... Sita was the central female character in the Ramayana, while Draupadi was her counterpart in the Mahabharata.... Both brought on terrible battles and were the very cause of the epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Both of them also became the reasons for the ultimate fall of great dynasties... Through their life stories, they set an example as to how a woman should live and carry herself in society. Though these powerful women come from bygone epochs, their lives are the living examples, leading the way for the future of modern Indian women...
Hinduism vs Buddhism - Complementary or Contrary?

Hinduism vs Buddhism - Complementary or Contrary?

Hinduism and Buddhism are very ancient religions, both originating from the Indian subcontinent... Buddhism in India blossomed as a result of people seeking freedom from an extremely oppressive, caste-ridden society, which stipulated strict norms of ritualistic worship... Yet, despite the apparent differences between Hinduism and Buddhism, they also ended up influencing each other in several ways...
Sri Jagannath - The Supreme Godhead of Puri

Sri Jagannath - The Supreme Godhead of Puri

Much of Eastern India considers Jagannath, the presiding Lord of Puri, as the Supreme Divinity... Jagannath, an aspect of Lord Vishu or Krishna, to be more precise, is worshipped as a part of a triad, that is, along with his brother, Balabhadradeva and sister, Devi Subhadra... The Jagannath Temple at Puri...is regarded as one of the Char Dham or sacred Hindu pilgrimage places in India... Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu...was a notable proponent for the Vaishnava school of Bhakti yoga... Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is believed by many to have been merged into the idol of Jagannath in the Puri temple, thus uniting his soul with his deity...
Sri Swaminarayan - a Veritable Avatar from Gujarat

Sri Swaminarayan - a Veritable Avatar from Gujarat

Swaminarayan is considered as being equal to the Purushottama or the Supreme Being... Swaminarayan had exhibited his scholastic prowess from a very young age. He is believed to have mastered all the major Hindu scriptures...by the tender age of seven... Swaminarayan believed in a practical approach to religion and spirituality... After taking over the leadership of the Sampraday, Sri Swaminarayan involved himself in a lot of social work... Sri Swaminarayan was indeed an Avatar Purush of his time, one that richly deserves all the respect, devotion and adoration showered on him...
The Trimurti Couples in Hinduism

The Trimurti Couples in Hinduism

Lord Brahma is considered the Creator of the entire world and hence, he is also referred to as the Prajapati... Saraswati...is regarded as the Goddess of Music, Arts, Science and Technology as well.... Vishnu is considered to be...who supports and sustains the Universe and is a force of preservation.... Lakshmi is the Hindu Goddess of wealth, prosperity, wisdom, fertility and courage... Shiva, the "Auspicious One", is also known to be the destroyer or transformer God among the Trimurti... Parvati is considered as complete incarnation of Adi Parashakti, with all other Goddesses being her own incarnations or manifestations...
Durga Puja in Bengal - an Ode to the Sacred Feminine

Durga Puja in Bengal - an Ode to the Sacred Feminine

In Sanskrit, Durga means "inaccessible" or "invincible". In Bengali, her name implies the "one who can redeem from utmost distress"... Durga was created in order to fight an asura or demon, called Mahishasura... Durga symbolizes unity even in the psyche of man. Her fight against Mahisha symbolizes the fight against the darkness of evil and the ultimate victory of good over evil... Durga is worshipped all over India... This ten-day worship is undertaken with great fervour by Hindus all over the world...
Shakuntala - the Epitome of Beauty, Patience and Virtue

Shakuntala - the Epitome of Beauty, Patience and Virtue

This tale revolves round the love of Shakuntala and the mighty king, Dushyanta... Shakuntala was born to sage Vishwamitra and the heavenly Apsara Menaka... Brahmarishi Vishwamitra is one of the most revered rishis of ancient India... Menaka was a stunningly beautiful Apsara who captured the hearts of the Devas, Suras and Asuras alike... Shakuntala...gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. Bharata, as she named him, was one day destined to become one of the most powerful icons of Indian history...
An Introduction to Buddhism - The Path to True Awakening

An Introduction to Buddhism - The Path to True Awakening

Buddhism, more than a religion, is a philosophy and an actual way of life, embracing several beliefs, ritual practices and traditions.... Buddhism, as a philosophy, bases itself on the foundation of the Three Jewels, that is, the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings) and the Sangha (the Community).... At the age of 35, Gautama sat in meditation under a Bodhi...tree...and decided he would not rise before he achieved enlightenment. Many days later, he arose from the cycle of suffering and emerged as a completely enlightened Master.... Though Buddhism has been flexible enough and adopted itself to the culture of each land it has entered, it still manages to retain its original flavour and fervour, to emerge as an actual, practical, way of life...
Puranas - Ancient Indian Texts of Knowledge and Wisdom

Puranas - Ancient Indian Texts of Knowledge and Wisdom

The Puranas are ancient and very important religious texts belonging to the Hindu, Jain and Buddhist pantheons... Generally speaking, the Puranas deal with the complete description of a particular deity and are usually written story form, related by one person to another... Rishi Vyasa, the narrator of the Mahabharata, is believed to have originally compiled the Puranas... they remain a valuable repertoire of Hindu mythology and reflect the growth and shaping of the Hindu society...
Ardhanarishvara - the Symbolic Unity of Nature and Knowledge

Ardhanarishvara - the Symbolic Unity of Nature and Knowledge

Ardhanarishvara is a composite androgynous form of Shiva and his consort Parvati. This form is shown as a fusion of half-male and half-female forms, split down in the center... The very name Ardhanarishvara implies "the Lord who is half-woman"... The deity symbolizes the optimal balance of the male and female energies in this world and also indicates that they are essentially inseparable forces, which are complimentary to each other and must work together to maintain equilibrium...
Symbolism in Religions Around the World

Symbolism in Religions Around the World

Religious symbolism implies the use of unique symbols by a particular religion, that describe anything pertaining to its culture and psyche... All religions of the world, irrespective of how ancient or modern they are, use symbols to help create a resonant ethos... adhering to this religious symbolism also helps foster solidarity among the followers, keeping them secure as a unit...
Rabindranath Tagore - A Beacon of Light

Rabindranath Tagore - A Beacon of Light

Tagore was and will remain one of the greatest poets and philosophers the world has ever seen... Through his innumerable songs, peoms and stories, he presented a priceless vessel of creative genius to the nation... His young years were highly influenced by his sister-in-law, Kadambari - wife of his brother, Jyotirindranath Tagore... On November 14, 1913, Rabindranath Tagore got to know of his being awarded the Nobel prize in literature - making him the first Asian Nobel Laureate... Rabindranath Tagore remained an enigma to many... Tagore...used to preach the importance of knowledge over all else and of love rather than rivalry in various communities... the world will remember him as the medium of Devi Saraswati...
The Role of Tantra in Hinduism and Buddhism

The Role of Tantra in Hinduism and Buddhism

Tantra is a esoteric principle that holds an important place in both Hinduism as well as Buddhism... According to Hindu tantrism, the entire universe is considered to be the divine stage where Shiva and Shakti carry on the drama of life... The secret aspect of Tantric rituals...is totally removed from conventional norms of Hindu worship... this kind of worship would include themes such as feasting,... intercourse... and urination, defecation and vomiting... Hence, Tantra involves the devotee working along with Nature and not against it...
The Ten Gurus of Sikhism

The Ten Gurus of Sikhism

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion, which was founded during the fifteenth century in Punjab. This philosophy is based on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the ten successive Sikh Gurus... The Guru sums it up thus: "Realisation of Truth is higher than all else. Higher still is truthful living."... the ten Sikh Gurus within a 239-year period...preached by example of living a holy and worthy life through meditation and recitation of the Shabads... Each of the Gurus added to his predecessor's teachings, thus resulting in the creation of the religion called Sikhism...
Karna and Arjuna - Valiant Brothers at War

Karna and Arjuna - Valiant Brothers at War

Karna and Arjuna are two valiant warriors, both important characters in the great Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. In fact, they are probably two of the greatest warriors ever... Though these striking personalities were always at loggerheads with each other, it is the concluding war between them that is the most cataclysmic and gripping in the entire tale of the Mahabharata... Karna or Radheya, as he is also referred to, is a pivotal character in the Mahabharata. Karna, the King of Anga, is the son of Kunti (the mother of the Pandavas) and Surya (the Sun God)... Arjuna, the third of the Pandava brothers, was a central hero in the Mahabharata. He is often referred to as Jishnu - the undefeatable one. He is also considered to be a reincarnation of sage Nara, the eternal companion of Narayana or Vishnu...
Dus Mahavidyas - the Ten Forms of the Devi

Dus Mahavidyas - the Ten Forms of the Devi

The name, "Mahavidyas", comes from the Sanskrit roots of Maha, which means great and Vidya, meaning, Wisdom, Knowledge, Manifestation or Revelation... The Mahvidyas, as a group, represents a vital turning point in the history of Shaktism, as it marks the rise of Bhakti in Shaktism. This movement reached its peak in 1700 C.E. Commencing during the post-Puranic era, in about the 6th century C.E., this new theistic movement envisioned the supreme being as a female... In Shaktism, the Divine Mother is jointly worshipped as a combination of ten different cosmic personalities...
Sita and Draupadi - the Two Great Icons for Womanhood

Sita and Draupadi - the Two Great Icons for Womanhood

Both Sita and Draupadi were equally powerful women, who have captured the very essence of the true Indian woman. Extraordinarily beautiful and highly virtuous, they were also strong - so strong, in fact, that no calamity could diminish their spiritual aura. It is no wonder that Indian Hindu women still hold them in the highest of regard and worship them for their own salvation... the Indian woman depicts many shades of character. She is capable of expressing the deep love and tenderness of Sita, while also turning into an aggressive, revenge-seeking entity like Draupadi...
Upadevatas or Minor Deities of the Hindu Pantheon - Part 2

Upadevatas or Minor Deities of the Hindu Pantheon - Part 2

Yama...is the lord of death... Yama is also known as Dharma...the Lord of Justice... Narada is depicted as a wandering mendicant, who has the unique ability to easily visit distant worlds or planets... The word, "Naara" means "knowledge" and "da" means "giver"... Vishwakarma...is the presiding deity of all craftsmen and architects in Hindu culture... The Rig Veda venerated Vishwakarma as the only one beyond the Seven Rishis... Vayu is...the Lord of the winds... Vayu is described as an exceptionally beautiful deity, moving noisily in his ratha (carriage), driven by forty-nine or thousand white and purple horses. His main attribute is a white banner...
Upadevatas or Minor Deities of the Hindu Pantheon - Part 1

Upadevatas or Minor Deities of the Hindu Pantheon - Part 1

Hindu mythology talks about a plethora of Gods, assigning each one a certain level of divinity and duties for that particular level. There are supposedly about three hundred and thirty crore Gods in Hinduism... Indra is the King of the Devas or Gods. He is also referred to as the Lord of Swargaloka or Heaven... Devi Gayatri is the personification of the Gayatri mantra and is revered by all Hindus worldwide. Gayatri is considered the Veda Mata or the mother of all Vedas... In Hinduism, the river Ganga is considered most sacred. It is personified as a goddess in Hinduism... Kamadeva is the God of Love in Hindu mythology.... Kama...means a wish, desire or longing, especially in the sensual or sexual context...
Sita - The Silent Pillar of Strength in Ramayana

Sita - The Silent Pillar of Strength in Ramayana

Sita Devi is one of the main characters in the Ramayana, a major Hindu epic... Sita is...respected as the epitome of all womanly virtues for Hindu women... The values that She adhered to and represented at every point in the course her arduous life have now translated into becoming the values of womanly virtue, held sacred by all generations of Indians, past, present and future... Sita had to undergo a lot of trials and tribulations in her marital life and it was her courage, chastity and adherence to Dharma (righteousness) that finally made her emerge the ultimate winner... Probably, the whole mission of Sita's birth on Earth in human form was to destroy the arrogant Ravana, the demon King of Lanka...
Tied to the Past - Traditional Professions of India - Part 2

Tied to the Past - Traditional Professions of India - Part 2

...farming is not only an important profession in this country, but it is also a way of life... The Indian farmers or the Kisans, as they were called, underwent a huge struggle during the rule of the Zamindars and Jagirdars... Fisheries provide employment opportunities to millions of Indians and also contribute to food security of the country... The ancient Hindu scriptures describe hunting as an acceptable sport of the royalty. Even the godly entities are described to have engaged in hunting... In India, masked characters are usually treated as aspects of divinity, form the core of several Indian dramatic forms...
Tied to the Past - Traditional Professions of India

Tied to the Past - Traditional Professions of India

... we take you on a rare journey into the depths of rural India... India is filled with a plethora of arts, crafts and small-scale cottage industries... Cobblers are generally found everywhere... They set up tiny roadside shops and work untiringly all day long... The concept of carpentry...features extensively in Indian mythology. Vishwakarma, the Divine Draftsman, is considered the presiding deity of all craftsmen and architects... The tradition of pottery making in India is very ancient... The potter occupies pride of place in the Indian art milieu. Indian pottery is rich, colourful and diverse, just like the country herself...
Folk Art Paintings - a Reflection of the True Ethos of India

Folk Art Paintings - a Reflection of the True Ethos of India

The subject of Indian folk paintings is as diverse as the Indian cultural milieu itself. Indian folk art painting includes a brilliant battery of calendar and wall paintings, oil, canvas and cloth paintings, cave paintings... Indian folk art paintings usually deal with pictorial depictions of popular Hindu deities... paintings of the sun, the moon and even some plants and flowers... Folk paintings are very fetching and a visual treat, as they employ vibrant and natural colours and papers, clothes, leaves, earthen pots, mud walls and so on, as their canvas to paint on... each region presented its own unique folk art in its own unique way, thereby creating a brilliant kaleidoscope of colours and designs in its paintings...
Ayyapan, Ganesha, Murugan - the Three Sons of Shiva

Ayyapan, Ganesha, Murugan - the Three Sons of Shiva

Vishnu decided to assume the form of Mohini...so as to procreate with Shiva... Shiva is overcome with passion on seeing "her" form and unites with her. Lord Ayyappan is born from this union of Hari and Hara... Ayyappan combines the strength of both Vishnu and Shiva and hence, is invincible... Parvati...collected all the sandalwood paste on her body and made a figure of a little boy out of it. She then gave it life and asked this son of hers to guard the gate when she went to bathe... Shiva beheaded him when Ganesha came between Shiva and Parvati. Shiva then replaced Ganesha's original head with that of an elephant... Ganesha...is one of the most popular deities in the Hindu pantheon... Murugan...is another son of Shiva and an equally popular Hindu deity... Lord Kartikeya is portrayed as a very beautiful deity, with six heads and twelve arms...
Destroyer of Evil and Epitome of Love - Tales From the Life of Young Krishna

Destroyer of Evil and Epitome of Love - Tales From the Life of Young Krishna

Krishna is also considered to be a supreme entity even all by Himself, without necessarily associating with Vishnu. This gave birth to the concept of Krishnaism, which describes sects of Krishna devotees who consider him to be a transcended being... Different Hindu theological traditions portray Krishna in various ways - a divine child; a mischievous prankster with butter smeared all over his little mouth; a gentle lover and the Supreme Godhead... The Krishna avatar lasted for 125 years, at the end of which Krishna, Radha and everyone else in Vrindavan mounted the celestial chariot and headed toward Goloka...
Diwali - the Festival that Binds India Together

Diwali - the Festival that Binds India Together

Diwali... is probably the biggest festival ever in Hinduism and is even celebrated by other religions such as Jainism and Sikhism.... Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil... In the spiritual sense, this festival urges the seeker to become aware of and develop the inner light.... People celebrate Diwali through lighting diyas, fireworks, flowers, sharing sweets and offering Puja (prayers).... The whole idea behind lighting the diyas is to find that inner effulgence which lies inside every living being...
Navaratri - An Ode to Our Goddesses

Navaratri - An Ode to Our Goddesses

Navratri is a unique festival which includes ritual worship, dance and music. The word "Navratri" comes from the terms "Nava", meaning, "Nine" and "Ratri", meaning "Nights"... Hindus worship nine forms of Shakti during the Navratri festival.... Navratri is celebrated in different ways all over the country... The festival celebrates Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, the Goddesses of Power, Wealth and Knowledge respectively... Navratri is closely associated with fertility... (and is) symbolic of the victory of good over evil...
The Puja - A Quintessential Part Of Hindu Worship

The Puja - A Quintessential Part Of Hindu Worship

The most important aspect of Hindu worship is the Puja...which consists of a variety of ritual offerings and prayers to be performed.... The special significance of Hinduism is that it includes the worship of all the five Panchamahabhutas or the five elements of fire, water, earth, air and ether.... Generally, Hindus see the puja as a simple way for ordinary mortals to relate to the divine, so it can even be performed even on something that symbolizes the divine, like a cow or a tree.... The entire aim of performing the puja is to create a protective layer of spiritual forces around us, warding off all evils and negative forces, thereby creating a conducive environment to lead a happy and peaceful life...
Krishna - Politician and Lover Beyond Compare

Krishna - Politician and Lover Beyond Compare

Krishna manifested himself in order to reinstate Dharma (righteousness) and re-establish justice. In his avatar, Krishna took on the mantle of a king, an ace diplomat and a politician par excellence, who thoroughly knew the ins and outs of the field... The Mahabharata was akin to what we know today as a World War... Though Lord Krishna's side attained victory, he was never pleased by the terrible outcome of it all... The cycle of Karma had demanded for this to happen and so, the war finally took place, in spite of Krishna's best efforts to stop it. Krishna, veritably the Prema Avatar (the avatar of love), is vastly known for his dalliances with the Gopis and the Brajbalas... The Radha-Krishna romance epitomizes real love, their lovemaking going beyond barriers of all kinds... Though Radha and Krishna never married, they are revered as a divine couple and stand for pure Love in all its glory...
Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati - The Three Devis of the Hindu Pantheon

Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati - The Three Devis of the Hindu Pantheon

Lakshmi...is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth, auspiciousness, purity, prosperity and generosity... some legends of Sri Lakshmi state that the different goddesses in the Hindu pantheon are but manifestations of Sri Mahalakshmi... Parvati devi, in Hindu mythology, is a representation of the ultimate female divinity, the Shakti... Parvati is referred to as Trigunatmika, that is, having all the three gunas, Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas... Saraswati is the Hindu goddess of learning, knowledge, music and the Arts. Saraswati has also been identified with and likened to the Vedic Saraswati River... She is not only worshipped for secular knowledge, but also for the true divine knowledge essential to achieve moksha or liberation...
Indian Paintings - The Colorful Language of Culture and Religion in India

Indian Paintings - The Colorful Language of Culture and Religion in India

Indian folk paintings are as vast and diverse as Indian culture itself... (They)... are veritably India’s pride. They truly reflect her ancient tradition and heritage... What makes these paintings special is that each of these types of paintings uniquely reflects the cultural and socio-economic milieu in that particular territory of India... The treatment of each type of painting vastly differed in the different states of India. So did the colors and combinations used and even the general approach to the art itself...
Hanuman - Finding Strength in Devotion

Hanuman - Finding Strength in Devotion

Hanuman is the very epitome of all the qualities necessary for a spiritual life - physical and mental strength, power, courage, humility, shraddha (dedication to purpose), bhakti (devotion) and abject surrender to his Lord, Rama... In order to counter karma brought forth by our own selfish acts, we must learn to be humble, just like Hanuman... Hanuman is considered to be an aspect of Lord Shiva. He is also said to be the son and an aspect of Vayu... It is said that Hanuman is one of the three people to have heard the Bhagavad Gita emanating from the mouth of Lord Sri Krishna... Hanuman still enjoys an exalted place in India's religious, traditional and cultural milieu... Hanuman is...depicted in Indian classical and folk arts...You can find sculptures of Hanuman at various temples...
Ardhanarishvara - the Dual Nature of the Cosmos

Ardhanarishvara - the Dual Nature of the Cosmos

The concept of Prakriti and Purusha is one of the most important aspects of Hindu philosophy.... The Prakriti is...the root of all that is ever created or ever occurs in the universe.... Prakriti is itself detached from and independent of everything, all is dependent on it for support... Purusha is...a...witness...of events in this universe. It merely plays the role of a spectator and does not create anything.... It is omnipresent and goes beyond the boundaries of maya (illusion), buddhi (intellect) and the indriyas (senses).... The concept of Ardhanareeshwara best explains the aspects of Prakriti and Purusha. Ardhanareeshwara, the Androgynous One, is an aspect of Lord Shiva, whose form is half man and half woman....
Vahanas - the Divine Animal Mounts of Hindu Gods

Vahanas - the Divine Animal Mounts of Hindu Gods

Many of the main Indian Gods and Goddesses... have their own vehicles, mounts or vahanas that comprise various types of animals and birds.... Though the vahana appears to be independent, it is part and parcel of the deity’s presence.... The Garuda, the vahana of... Vishnu... is a large mythical eagle-like entity that is part of both Hindu and Buddhist culture.... Nandi, the Bull, is Lord... Shiva's... gatekeeper and mount.... Sometimes, the deity is shown mounted on... (the) vehicle, while at other times, the vahana is shown by the deity’s side.... Sometimes, the deity’s vehicle may also symbolize the evil force, which the deity embodies....
The Great Sages of India - Part 2

The Great Sages of India - Part 2

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa... propagated non-idol worship, harmony of all religions and the realization of Godhead as the ultimate mission of life itself... He had immense love for that Supreme Energy called God and he saw the Oneness in all existence... Swami Vivekananda...(was) one of the most influential Indian spiritual leaders propagating the philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga... he also brought about several reform movements in Hinduism... Guru Nanak Dev...was the founder of the religion called Sikhism and was the very first among the eleven Sikh Gurus... (He) laid a stress on keeping true faith in God and pursuing the path of good, which would lead one to God... Mahavira was the 24th and the final Tirthankara...of the religion, Jainism... Mahavira's philosophy, the aim of which was to elevate a human being spiritually, was made up of eight cardinal principles... In order to get out of this vicious circle, Mahavira said that it would be necessary to follow (these principles)...
The Great Sages of India - Part 1

The Great Sages of India - Part 1

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu...was actually considered to be an avatar of Krishna... Chaitanya propogated Bhakti Yoga... and based his entire philosophy on the Bhagavata Purana and the Bhagavad Gita... Mirabai...whose tremendous love and devotion to Krishna surpassed all human boundaries and limitations...is regarded by many as an incarnation of Radha... her wonderful songs instill faith and courage in the meek and the submissive... Shirdi Sai Baba...was an Indian yogi, guru and fakir, who both Hindus and Muslims as a saint of high spiritual standing... Baba encouraged acts of charity and advised all his devotees to be generous while helping people in need... he would guide one and all who took refuge in him...
Samudra Manthan - the Churning of Our Inner Consciousness

Samudra Manthan - the Churning of Our Inner Consciousness

...Sri Mahavishnu descended Himself as a gigantic Kurma (tortoise), bearing the mountain, Mandara, on His back, so as to help the Devas acquire the divine Amrita or the Nectar of Immortality... The Samudra or the Ocean of Milk actually represents the human Consciousness or the Jeevatma. The Churning of the Ocean embodies the journey of life undertaken by this Jeevatma during its tenure on earth... The Mandara mountain represents the virtues of steadiness and concentration... the tortoise symbolizes the spiritual withdrawal of a person into his own Consciousness... Samudra Manthan teaches us how to maintain harmony between our material and spiritual lives, by placing complete and unshakable faith in our Creator and accepting both the good and the bad in our lives...
The Bhagavad Gita - Its Relevance Then And Now

The Bhagavad Gita - Its Relevance Then And Now

The Bhagavad Gita, literally translated as the 'Song Of God', is a part of the immense Indian epic, the Mahabharata...enjoys an exalted position in India's culture and philosophical milieu... the Gita completely accepts the philosophy that God is the Universe and everything that we see in it...plus something more that we normally do not perceive... The whole essence of the Bhagavad Gita lies in the various types and theories of Dharma it expounds... Krishna talks of universal harmony and strict, unflinching adherence towards duty... Krishna, in his exposition of the Gita, explains to Arjun the yogic aspects of Bhakti (devotion), Karma (action), Gyana (knowledge) and Dhyana (meditation)... the Bhagavad Gita...purifies the mind, completely destresses the individual and helps him realize the ultimate Godhead...
Shri Rama and Shri Krishna - A Contemporary Kalyug Perspective

Shri Rama and Shri Krishna - A Contemporary Kalyug Perspective

Mahavishnu took ten avatars or incarnations in order to protect the world through the different yugas or eons. Out of these ten avatars, the Shri Rama avatar and Shri Krishna avatar have gained the most importance... The main purpose of the Rama avatar was to destroy Ravana, the Asura (Demon) King, while the principal aim of Krishna's avatar was to convey the supreme message of the Bhagavad Gita, to vanquish evil and bring back justice and righteousness to humankind... there are also some controversies and questions arising out of the stories herein, which sometimes makes one wonder why Rama and Krishna were so glorified...
The Raga Ragini System of Indian Classical Music

The Raga Ragini System of Indian Classical Music

India’s rich cultural system is made up of the silken fabric of dance and music. The rAga is the very soul of Indian music... That which pleases the ear is referred to as a rAga... The rAga is a compilation of a series of notes in an octave, which bear a definite relationship to one another and occur in varied phrases of permutation and combination, thereby giving a shape and a unique personality to it... The rAga...is capable of emoting and expressing feelings and thoughts... The rAga-rAgini system tries to draw a parallel between the dynamic and the static – the Prakruti and the Purusha. Further, the rAga-rAgini system also illustrates the fluctuation in human behavior and responses to situations...
Shiva - the Ascetic God

Shiva - the Ascetic God

The third aspect of the Supreme Being is the process of dissolution of all creation, a precursor to the fresh beginning of the process of creation...(and) is represented by Lord Shiva - the third of the Hindu Trinity... Shiva controls death in the physical world and since birth and death are complementary to each other, Shiva is revered as the master of all birth and death... Shiva brings about the unification of the transient with the transcendental and of all that illusory with the ultimate truth... In himself he assimilates the characteristics of the male and the female, creator and the destroyer, celibacy and eroticism…
Vishnu: the Cosmic Protector

Vishnu: the Cosmic Protector

While the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva represents the Supreme Being's diversified manifestations...Vishnu represents the spiritual concept of all creation being nothing more than diverse manifestations of a single essence... Vishnu is the lord of preservation... He represents the cosmic cause of existence and the symbolization of eternal life which keeps the universe as one... The all-pervasive nature of Vishnu is symbolized by all that's blue in various representations of his. The sky in the background of his representation depicts the fact that he pervades the entire universe…
Brahma: the Creator Amongst the Hindu Trinity

Brahma: the Creator Amongst the Hindu Trinity

The trinity is interpreted in various forms in Hindu philosophy... it represents earth, water, and fire... the Trimurti (Trinity) originated from Adi Shakti – or the Supreme cosmic Energy – as symbolized by a female form – the universal Mother... According to the Puranas, Brahma is said to be the son of the Supreme Being and his female energy, Maya – the cosmic illusion which keeps all life under a veil of separation from the Supreme One... In addition to being the creator of the universe, Brahma...decides the incarnations to be bestowed on each creature…
Masks: Reflections of Culture and Religion

Masks: Reflections of Culture and Religion

...nations all over the world have a cultural past, which is inseparably linked to masks making them a universal phenomenon... The Mask forms a silent language which is universally understood and which defines the essence of human expressions and emotions at various levels - spiritual, religious and material... When not trapped in the stereotypes of being "hypocritical guises" or "camouflaged farces", masks reflect the innocence of the primitive people of the world... Masks can be thought of as having been created by our ancestors to form a bridge between the outer phenomenal world and the inner person…
Goddess Durga: the Female Form as the Supreme Being

Goddess Durga: the Female Form as the Supreme Being

Durga, through all her forms, encompasses the essence of salvation and sacrifice... Goddess Durga represents the power of the Supreme Being that preserves moral order and righteousness in the universe... The Divine Mother is beyond all material attributes, eternal and ever omniscient... She is...also, the guardian of dharma or cosmic order... Devi Durga is the ultimate representation of infinite power, purity and strength of purpose, which resides within the divine essence of every being…
Ganesha: the Affable Elephant-Headed God

Ganesha: the Affable Elephant-Headed God

Ganesha, the Hindu deity in a human form but with the head of an elephant - represents the power of the Supreme Being that removes obstacles and ensures success in human endeavors... Ganesha represents the majesty of the animal kingdom with his head and his vehicle, the mouse, shows subjugation of pestilent rats... Ganesha is the beginning of our world...the symbol of the personality, which surpasses the human ego and superego... Lord Ganesha's form is shaped like and represents Om, which is the primeval, creative energy...
Draupadi, the Woman: Epitome of Feminity and Feminism

Draupadi, the Woman: Epitome of Feminity and Feminism

The Proud and angry heroine of the epic Mahabharata, Draupadi has remained an enigmatic woman of substance... Draupadi is presented as having a very impressive brilliant and strong personality and is projected as the primary cause of the battle of Kurukshetra... Draupadi is the most complex and controversial female character in Hindu literature. On one hand, she could be womanly, compassionate and generous and on the other, she could wreak havoc on those who did her wrong…
Ganga: River and Goddess

Ganga: River and Goddess

According to the Puranas the Ganges is the holiest of all the shrines on this earth. Not only man, but even the tiniest of insects get liberated and achieve salvation. And thus river Ganges is given the apt title of Patita Pavani - the liberator of the greatest of sinners... Ganga...(the) eternal life-stream of Indian culture...integrates into herself the history, the beliefs and sometimes even the hopes of India and its people…
Tribal Dances of India

Tribal Dances of India

The colorful fairs and festivals of India owe their allegiance to religious or historical events or to the change of seasons. Every celebration centers around the rituals of prayers... In the traditional culture of India, dance and music envelops the entire life of man in a shell of melodic sound. Dance and songs celebrate the seasonal rhythms in nature and the songs of the plough man and boatman, shepherd and camel driver, add harmony to the pulse of work. This folk tradition has been one great source of India's culture, which is rich in spontaneity...
Classical Dances of India

Classical Dances of India

Dance is the primeval expression of joy and wonder in any part of the world. In India all forms of art have a sacred origin and the inner experience of the soul finds its highest expression in music and dance... Indian classical dance...draws inspiration from stories depicting the life, ethics and beliefs of the Indian people... The Natya Shastra is the earliest Indian text in the history of performing arts. It was created by Lord Brahma...as a form of entertainment…
Doll Making in India

Doll Making in India

From ancient times, dolls of various types fascinated men, women and children all over the world... dolls are paragons of beauty...the representative of a nation...the confluence of its different ages, time and culture. The rich cultural heritage through the ages can be vividly depicted through these dolls... dolls not only provide a diversion but also a colorful canvas for depicting Indian life in its plethora of cultural beauties…
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