Navratri, the festival of ‘nine nights’, lasts for 9 days with three days each devoted to the worship of Ma Durga – the Goddess of Valor, Ma Lakshmi – the Goddess of Wealth and Ma Saraswati – the Goddess of Knowledge. During the nine days of Navratri feasting and fasting take precedence over all normal…
Category: Gods and Goddesses
Lord Ganesha: the Path and the Goal – Swami Chinmayananda
The Supreme Reality is unknown; the human equipment cannot directly come in contact with It. Hence various idols are provided in the Hindu mythological literature, to serve as a means to reach the unknown ideal. Idols by themselves are not the Reality, but only pointers, indicating It. Lord Ganesha is one such idol having a…
108 Names of Lord Ganesha with Meaning
108 Names of Ganesha Lord Ganesha is the most revered Hindu god. He is worshiped before performing any puja, and is known as the remover of obstacles. He is also known as the bestower of wisdom, which is why his devotees are encouraged to chant His mantras and 108 names to appease him. Akhurath –…
The Hanuman Chalisa – Part 3
(contd. from The Hanuman Chalisa – Part 2) Chowpais 21 – 22 : The Lord’s Gatekeeper Raama duaare tuma rakhavaare, Hota na aajnaa binu paisaare; Saba sukha lahai tumhaaree saranaa, Tuma rakshaka kaahoo ko dara naa. You guard the entrance to Lord Rama’s palace where none dare to enter (or go out) without your permission. All…
The Hanuman Chalisa – Part 2
(contd. from The Hanuman Chalisa – Part 1) Chowpais 07 – 08 : An Ideal Karma Yogi Vidyaavaan gunee ati chaatura, Raama kaaja karibe ko aatura; Prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiyaa, Raama lakhan seetaa man basiyaa. You are full of knowledge and virtues, and are highly intelligent. You are ever ready to carry out the…
The Hanuman Chalisa – Part 1
There are many fantastic stories that we hear of the power of singing the Hanuman Chalisa with faith and devotion. All the ‘Beeja Mantras’ are included within the Chalisa. This further enhances the potency of this most renowned devotional poem. Every time we chant the Hanuman Chalisa, we have the opportunity of remembering the amazing…
Life Lessons by Lord Rama
On this auspicious occasion of Rama Navami, let’s look at some Life Lessons we can all learn from Lord Rama’s life. If we live and abide by the values taught in the Ramayana or Ramacharitmanas, we can try to achieve perfection and success in every aspect of life. So let’s start… 1. Lord Ram showed…
Mother Saraswati: Goddess of Learning and Knowledge
It is a Vedic tradition that in India , from the very dawn of history, we have been respecting women to such an extent that our greatest scriptures are today called “Mother” Shruti. Thus, the Goddess of Learning is represented in Hinduism as a feminine deity and She is called Shri Saraswati—She who gives the…
Navratri Trishakti – Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati
Navratri Every Hindu festival has a spiritual message for the sadhaks. This nine-day festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil. In fact the theme of the entire Vedas is reflected in the Navratri festival: first remove all negativities; then purify the mind and cultivate positive virtues; finally, gain spiritual knowledge and transcend all limitations….
Significance of Lord Ganesha
Lord Ganesha – the elephant God is loved and adored by one and all. From his favorite modaks to His mouse, each and everything has a peculiar significance. Are you aware of what Lord Ganesha symbolizes? If not, read along to know more about your beloved God. Click here to buy a beautiful Lord Ganesha…