Vaibhav joys and sorrows

2012-02-05T23:05:00.000-08:00

Shiva Sutra

JAGRATSWAPUASUSHUPTBHEDE TURYABHOG SAMVITA
GYANAM JAGRAT
SWAPNOVIKALPAHA
AVIVEKO MAYASOWSHUPTAM.
TRITIYA BHOKTA VIRESHAHA.

Concise:
KNOWING WAKEFULNESS, DREAMING AND DEEP SLEEP-EACH SEPARATELY – THE FOURTH STATE IS ATTAINED.
CONSTANCY OF KNOWLEDGE IS THE WAKING STATE.
CHOOSING IS THE DREAMING STATE.
UNCONSCIOUSNESS AND LACK OF SELF-AWARENESS CREATE THE ILLUSION OF DEEP SLEEP.
HE WHO IS AWARE OF ALL THREE IS THE SUPREME HERO.
KNOWING WAKEFULNESS, DREAMING AND DEEP SLEEP – EACH SEPARATELY – -TURIYA,
THE FOURTH STATE, IS ATTAINED.

Turiya, the fourth state, means supreme knowledge. The fourth state means that there is no
darkness of any sort within. All the inner landscape is illuminated; no area of darkness remains.
Nothing of ourselves, neither within nor without, is unknown to us. The light of wakefulness makes
every thing visible.

As we are now, we are either awake or dreaming or in deep sleep. We have no idea of the fourth
state. When we are awake we see the outside world, but we ourselves are in darkness. Objects
become visible, but we have no knowledge of our inner self. The world lights up but not the soul.
This is the state of semi-wakefulness, half-wakefulness.
What we call waking up in the morning, is just this half-wakeful state. This is not really worthwhile
because it is the useless which is visible; the useful remains hidden. We see the rubbish, but the
diamonds remain in obscurity. We cannot see our own selves though the whole world is made visible
to us.

The second state is the state of dreaming. In dreaming we lose not only ourselves, but also the
outside world. All we see are images floating in the mind, reflections of the external world. We see
these reflections as we would see the moon or the stars mirrored in a lake. On waking we see things
distinctly; in dreams we see them as reflections.

The third state that we are acquainted with is deep sleep. In this state, first the external world, the
world of objects is lost to us; then the reflections fade, dreams disappear and we are left in total
darkness. This is known as deep sleep. In this state we have no knowledge either of the outer world
or of the inner world.

In the waking state we have knowledge of the external world. In the dream state, which is between
wakefulness and deep sleep, we have knowledge only of the reflections formed in the wakeful state,
but no knowledge of the objects without.

The fourth state is turiya. This state is the goal we are striving to reach. All meditations, all yoga, are
endeavors to reach the fourth state. The fourth state means knowledge of both, what is within and
what is without - complete wakefulness; there is no darkness within or without. This is what is known
as buddhahood. Mahavir called this enlightened state, jinatva. The light spreads everywhere, inside
and out; and in this light we know objects and also know our self. These sutras show how the fourth
state is attained.

The first sutra says:
KNOWING WAKEFULNESS, DREAMING AND DEEP SLEEP – EACH SEPARATELY – TURIYA, THE FOURTH STATE IS ATTAINED.

Importance of Namaskar

2012-01-31T19:46:00.000-08:00

There are several ways in which people pay obeisance (namaskār or salutation) to the Divine. Various types gestures or postures accompany prayers or obeisance. Some people hold their hands up as if in asking, while others bring their fists together, while yet others may pray with hands folded, as seen above. For the simple reason that it is the most scientific way to attract the divine consciousness (Chaitanya) from God towards oneself.

Origin and the meaning of the word 'Namaskar'

The word 'Namaskār' is derived from the root 'Namaha,' which means paying obeisance or salutation. In the Hindu Science of Justice (Nyaayashaastra), 'namaha' is a physical action, expressing that 'you are superior to me in all qualities and in every way.' The main objective of doing Namaskār to someone is to derive spiritual as well as worldly benefits.

Worldly benefits

By doing Namaskār to a Deity or a Saint, unknowingly their virtues and capabilities are impressed upon our mind. Consequently, we start emulating them, thus changing ourselves for the better.

Spiritual benefits

- Increase in humility and the reduction of ego

While doing Namaskār, if one thinks, 'You are superior to me; I am subordinate; I do not know anything; You are Omniscient,' it helps to reduce ego and increasing humility.

- Enhancement in surrender and gratitude

While doing Namaskār, when thoughts like 'I do not know anything; You alone get everything done; Grant me a place at Your Holy Feet' come to mind, this helps in increasing ones surrender and gratitude.

- Gaining the sattva component and making faster spiritual progress

Among the various postures used for paying obeisance, we receive the highest amount of sattva component from the posture (mudrā) of Namaskār, recommended by The Hindu Dharma.
By doing Namaskār to Deities or Saints we receive the subtle frequencies They emit, for example, the frequencies of sattva or Bliss.
By doing Namaskār to Deities or Saints we also receive Their blessings in a subtle form. This helps in expediting our spiritual progress.

The Life of Swami Vivekananda

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Click to read about the life of Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda

The Law of Karma

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The law of karma, in the first place, is not a law. That word gives it an aroma as if it is something scientific, like the law of gravitation. It is merely a hope, not a law at all. It has been hoped for centuries that if you do good you will attain to good results. It is a human hope in existence which is absolutely neutral.

If you look at nature, there are laws -- the whole of science is nothing but discovery of those laws -- but science has not come even close to detecting anything like the law of karma. Yes, it is certain that any action is going to bring certain reactions, but the law of karma is hoping for much more. If you simply say any action is bound to produce some reactions, it is possible to have scientific support for it. But man is hoping for much more. He is asking that a good action inevitably brings a good consequence with it, and the same with a bad action.

Now, there are many things implied in this. First, What is good? Each society defines good according to itself. What is good to a Jew is not good to a Jaina; what is good to a Christian is not good to a Confucian. Not only that, what is good in one culture is bad in another culture. A law has to be universal. For example, if you heat water to one hundred degrees centigrade, it will evaporate -- in Tibet, in Russia, in America, even in Oregon. In Oregon it will be a little puzzled, but all the same at one hundred degrees water will evaporate. Certainly the law of karma is neither a scientific law nor part of any legal system.

Then what kind of law is it? It is a hope. A man wandering in immense darkness, groping his way, clings to anything that gives a little hope, a little light -- because what you observe in life itself is something totally different from the law of karma. A man who is a well-known criminal may succeed and become the president, the prime minister; or vice versa: he was not a criminal before, but when he becomes the president or prime minister of a country he becomes a criminal... So in life this strange situation happens: bad people reach good positions, become respectable or honored, not only in their time but throughout history. It is full of their names. In history, Gautam Buddha, Mahavira, Kanad, Gautam, Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, Lieh Tzu -- people like these you will not find even in the footnotes. And Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Tamerlane, Nadirshah, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler -- they make up the major portion of history. In fact, we have to write the whole of history again because all these people have to be completely erased. Even the memory of them should not be carried on, because even their memory may have evil effects on people.

A better humanity will not give these names even a place in the footnotes; there is no need. They were nightmares; it is better they are completely forgotten so they don't follow you like shadows. And we have to discover people who have lived on this earth and made it in every way beautiful; shared their joy, their dance, their music, shared their ecstasies -- but lived anonymously. People have completely forgotten even their names. To me, certainly each action has its result, but not somewhere far away in a future life. The action and the result are continuous, they are part of one process. Do you think sowing the seed and reaping the crop are separate? It is one process. What begins in sowing the seed, grows, and one day the one seed has become thousands of seeds. That's what you call your crop. It is the same seed which has exploded into thousands of seeds. No death is intervening, no afterlife is needed; it is a continuum.

So the one thing to be remembered is: in my vision of life, yes, every action is bound to have some consequences, but they will not be somewhere else, you will have them here and now. Most probably you will get them almost simultaneously. When you are kind to someone, don't you feel a certain joy? A certain peace? A certain meaningfulness? Don't you feel that you are contented with what you have done? There is a kind of deep satisfaction. Have you ever felt that contentment when you are angry, when you are boiling with anger, when you hurt somebody, when you are mad with rage? Have you ever felt a peace, a silence descending in you? No, it is impossible. You will certainly feel something, but it will be a sadness that you again acted like a fool, that again you have done the same stupid thing that you decided again and again not to do. You will feel a tremendous unworthiness in yourself. You will feel that you are not a man but a machine, because you don't respond, you react. A man may have done something, and you reacted. That man had the key in his hands, and you just danced according to his desire; he had power over you. When somebody abuses you and you start fighting, what does it mean? It means that you don't have any capacity not to react.

अंधविश्वास के बदलते फैशन: ओशो

2012-01-26T22:39:00.000-08:00

हर युग के अपने अंधविश्वास होते हैं। अंधविश्वास का भी फैशन होता है। ध्यान रहे, अंधविश्वास का फैशन होता है। हर युग में अंधविश्वास नए तरह के होते हैं। पुराने अंधविश्वास से आदमी छूटता है और नए पकड़ लेता है। लेकिन अंधविश्वास से कभी नहीं छूट पाता। बदलाहट कर लेता है, लेकिन हमें खयाल में नहीं आता।

समझ लें कि अगर एक जमाने में अंधविश्वास था कि सिर पर टीका लगाने वाला आदमी धार्मिक है। हालाँकि सिर पर टीका लगाने से धार्मिक होने का क्या संबंध? लेकिन यह खयाल था, तो आदमी टीका लगाता था और समझता था कि धार्मिक है। और जो नहीं लगाता था, उसे समझता था था कि वह अधार्मिक है। यह पुराना अंधविश्वास है, यह चला गया। अब नए तरह के अंधविश्वास है। उनमें कोई फर्क नहीं है। अगर एक आदमी टाई बाँधता है, तो समझते हैं कि प्रतिष्ठित आदमी है। और नहीं बाँधता है तो समझते हैं अप्रतिष्ठित है।

ठीक वही का वही मामला है, इसमें कोई फर्क नहीं है। क्या फर्क है? टाई तिलक से बेहतर तो नहीं है, बदतर हो भी सकती है। तिलक का कोई अर्थ भी हो सकता था, टाई का बिलकुल ही अर्थ नहीं है। इस मुल्क (भारत) में तो बिलकुल ही नहीं है, किसी मुल्क में हो भी सकता है। किसी ठंडे मुल्क में टाई का कोई अर्थ हो सकता है कि सब गले को बाँध लो।

निश्चित ही उस मुल्क में जो आदमी अपने गले को नहीं बाँध पाता है, वह गरीब आदमी है। निश्चित ही जो आदमी इतनी सुरक्षा नहीं जुटा पाता कि अपने गले को बाँधकर सर्दी जाने से रोक ले, वह आदमी गरीब है। जो सुविधा-संपन्न है, वह अपने गले को बाँधकर सर्दी से बच जाता है। लेकिन गर्म मुल्क में आदमी टाई बाँधे बैठा हुआ है, तब जरा खतरनाक मालूम पड़ता है कि यह आदमी या तो पागल है- सुविधा-संपन्न है या पागल है?

सुविधा संपन्न होने का मतलब तो यह नहीं है कि गर्मी सहो, गले में बाँध लो, फाँसी लगा लो। वैसे टाई का मतलब फाँसी ही होता है, टाई का मतलब होता है गाँठ। ठंडे मुल्क में तो कुछ मतलब भी हो सकता है, गर्म मुल्क में बिल्कुल फाँसी है।

लेकिन प्रतिष्ठा का खयाल वाला आदमी फाँसी लगाए हुए खड़ा है। नेता है, फाँसी लगाए हुए खड़ा है। और उससे पूछो तो वह कहेगा, ये सब टीका-तिलक लगाने वाले सब अंधविश्वासी हैं। उससे पूछो, यह टाई तुम कैसे बाँधे हुए हो? यह अंधविश्वास नहीं है? यह तुमने कौन-सी वैज्ञानिक व्यवस्था से यह टाई बाँध ली है?

लेकिन टाई इस युग का अंधविश्वास है, इसलिए चलेगा। टीका पुराने युग का अंधविश्वास है, इसलिए नहीं चलेगा। जैसा मैंने कहा कि ठंडे मुल्क में अर्थ भी हो सकता है टाई का, और कुछ लोगों को टीका लगाने का भी अर्थ हो सकता है। इसको बिना खोजे अगर हमने एकदम से अंधविश्वास कह दिया, तो खतरनाक है, गलत बात है।

अब आपने कभी सोचा भी नहीं होगा कि टीका लगाने का क्या मतलब है। अधिक लोग तो अंधविश्वास की तरह ही लगाते रहे हैं। लेकिन जिन्होंने पहली दफे लगाया होगा, उसमें कुछ साइंस ही थी। कुछ विज्ञान ही था। असल में जहाँ टीका लगाया जाता है, वहाँ आज्ञा चक्र है। और जो लोग भी थोड़ा ध्यान करते हैं, वह स्थल गर्म हो जाता है। और उस पर अगर चंदन लगा दिया जाए, तो वह ठंडा हो जाता है। और चंदन उस पर लगाता बहुत वैज्ञानिक प्रक्रिया है।

लेकिन वह बात गई, उसके विज्ञान से कोई मतलब नहीं है। कोई भी चंदन लगाए हुए चला आ रहा है। जिसे आज्ञा-चक्र का न कोई पता है, न जिसने कभी ध्यान किया है। वह टाई बाँधे हुए है गर्म मुल्क में। टाई वैज्ञानिक हो सकती है ठंडे मुल्क में। आज्ञा चक्र पर काम करने वाले आदमी को चंदन का टीका भी वैज्ञानिक हो सकता है, क्योंकि चंदन उसे ठंडक देता है। और जब कोई ध्यान की प्रक्रिया करता है। उसको ठंडा करना जरूरी है, अन्यथा मस्तिष्क को नुकसान पहुँचेगा।

लेकिन अब अगर हम पक्का कर लें कि नहीं, टीका मिटा डालना है। तो जो व्यर्थ लगाए हुए हैं उनका तो मिटाएँगे ही हम, लेकिन बेचारा अपने किसी काम से लगाए हुए है, उसका भी पोंछ डालेंगे। और नहीं पोंछेगा, तो कहेंगे अंधविश्वासी है।

साभार : मैं मृत्यु सिखाता हूँ
सौजन्य : ओशो इंटरनेशनल फाउंडेशन

Interesting facts about India.

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History

India is the world's largest, oldest, continuous civilization

Although modern images of India often show poverty and lack of development, India was the richest country on earth until the time of British invasion in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus was attracted by India's wealth.

India never invaded any country in her last 10000 years of history.

India is the world's largest democracy.

The four religions born in India, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, are followed by 25% of the world's population

Chess (Shataranja or AshtaPada) was invented in India.

Varanasi, also known as Benares, was called "the ancient city" when Lord Buddha visited it in 500 B.C.E, and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today.

The art of Navigation was born in the river Sindh 6000 years ago. The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. The word navy is also derived from Sanskrit 'Nou'.

Medicine

Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted complicated surgeries like cesareans, cataract, artificial limbs, fractures, urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain surgery. Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India. Over 125 surgical equipment were used. Deep knowledge of anatomy, physiology, etiology, embryology, digestion, metabolism, genetics and immunity is also found in many texts.

Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans. Charaka, the father of medicine consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago. Today Ayurveda is fast regaining its rightful place in our civilization.

Math

The value of "pi" was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century long before the European mathematician.

India invented the Number System. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.

Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. Time taken by earth to orbit the sun: (5th century) 365.258756484 days.

Academic

The World's first university was established in Takshashila in 700 BCE. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BCE was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.

Grammar constitutes one of India's greatest contributions to Western philology. Panini, the Sanskrit grammarian, who lived between 750 and 500 BCE, was the first to compose formal grammar through his Astadhyai.

Lord Shiva High Resolution pictures

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Karmanye Vadhikaraste

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In Devnagari: कर्मण्ये वाधिकारस्ते म फलेषु कदाचना कर्मफलेह्तुर भुरमा ते संगोस्त्वकर्मानी॥ च २, ४७

In English transliteration: Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachna Karmaphalehtur bhurma te sangostvakarmani. Ch. 2, 47

In English translation: You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action।

Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.

OM

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OM – The cosmic sound Aum, or its condensed form OM, is the origin of all other sounds and is itself a mantra. It is called a pranava or sacred syllable and symbolises Brahman or the spiritual reality. The mantra Aum gives birth to rays of light, bringing illuminations to the mind. Aum is a one letter mantra, has no word meaning but its significance is definite; it is the smallest and most effective mantra. It is made of 3.5 strokes. These strokes are linked to the 3 and a half coils of kunalini (the coiled power that lies within us). Aum is so powerful that it is called king of mantras; some mantras give earthly happiness, some give emancipation, some give spiritual happiness, paramarthic shakti – this mantra of aum links both earthly life and spiritual life.

Swami Vivekananda's Teachings

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Selected Teachings of Swami Vivekananda:

My ideal, indeed, can be put into a few words, and that is: to preach unto mankind their divinity, and how to make it manifest in every movement of life.

Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man.

We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand on one's own feet.

So long as the millions live in hunger and ignorance, I hold every man a traitor who, having been educated at their expense, pays not the least heed to them.

Whatever you think, that you will be. If you think yourselves weak, weak you will be; if you think yourselves strong, strong you will be.

If you have faith in all the three hundred and thirty millions of your mythological gods, … and still have no faith in yourselves, there is no salvation for you. Have faith in yourselves, and stand up on that faith and be strong; that is what we need.

Strength, strength it is that we want so much in this life, for what we call sin and sorrow have all one cause, and that is our weakness. With weakness comes ignorance, and with ignorance comes misery.

The older I grow, the more everything seems to me to lie in manliness. This is my new Gospel.

Purity, patience, and perseverance are the three essentials to success, and above all, love.

Religion is realization; not talk, not doctrine, nor theories, however beautiful they may be. It is being and becoming, not hearing or acknowledging; it is the whole soul becoming changed into what it believes.

Religion is the manifestation of the Divinity already in man.

Teach yourselves, teach everyone his real nature, call uon the sleeping soul and see how it awakes. Power will come, glory will come, goodness will come, purity will come, and everything that is excellent will come when this sleeping soul is roused to self-conscious activity.

They alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive.

This is the gist of all worship – to be pure and to do good to others.

It is love and love alone that I preach, and I base my teaching on the great Vedantic truth of the sameness and omnipresence of the Soul of the Universe.

LORD SHIVA'S APPEARANCE

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Shri Ram 108 naam...

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.. shrii raama ashhTottaranaamaavali (108 names of Shri Ram) ..

OM shriiraamaaya namaH .
OM raamabhadraaya namaH .
OM raamachandraaya namaH .
OM shaashvataaya namaH .
OM raajiivalochanaaya namaH .
OM shriimate namaH .
OM raajendraaya namaH .
OM raghupu.ngavaaya namaH .
OM jaanakiivallabhaaya namaH .

OM jaitraaya namaH .
OM jitaamitraaya namaH .
OM janaardanaaya namaH .
OM vishvaamitrapriyaaya namaH .
OM daantaaya namaH .
OM sharaNatraaNa tatparaaya namaH .
OM vaalipramathanaaya namaH .
OM vaagmine namaH .
OM satyavaache namaH .
OM satyavikramaaya namaH .
OM satyavrataaya namaH .
OM vratadharaaya namaH .

OM sadaahanumadaashritaaya namaH .
OM kausaleyaaya namaH .
OM kharadhva.nsine namaH .
OM viraadhavadhapaNDitaaya namaH .
OM vibhiishhaNa paritraatre namaH .
OM harakodaNDa kha.nDanaaya namaH .
OM saptataala prabhettre namaH .
OM dashagriiva shiroharaaya namaH .
OM jaamadgnya mahaadarpadalanaaya namaH .
OM taaTakaantakaaya namaH .
OM vedaantasaaraaya namaH .

OM vedaatmane namaH .
OM bhavarogasya bheshhajaaya namaH .
OM duushhaNa trishiro hantre namaH .
OM trimuurtaye namaH .
OM triguNaatmakaaya namaH .
OM trivikramaaya namaH .
OM trilokaatmane namaH .
OM puNyachaaritrakiirtanaaya namaH .
OM trilokaraxakaaya namaH .
OM dhanvine namaH .
OM danDakaaraNya puNyakR^ite namaH .

OM ahalyaa shaapa shamanaaya namaH .
OM pitR^i bhaktaaya namaH .
OM varapradaaya namaH .
OM jitendriyaaya namaH .
OM jitakrodhaaya namaH .
OM jitaamitraaya namaH .
OM jagadgurave namaH .
OM R^ixa vaanara sa.nghaatine namaH .
OM chitrakuuTa samaashrayaaya namaH .
OM jayanta traaNa varadaaya namaH .
OM sumitraaputra sevitaaya namaH .
OM sarvadevaadi devaaya namaH .

OM mR^itavaanar jiivitaaya namaH .
OM maayaamaariichahantre namaH .
OM mahaadevaaya namaH .
OM mahaabhujaaya namaH .
OM sarvadevastutaaya namaH .
OM saumyaaya namaH .
OM brahmaNyaaya namaH .
OM munisaMstutaaya namaH .
OM mahaa yogine namaH .
OM mahodaraaya namaH .
OM sugriivepsita raajyadaaya namaH .
OM sarvapuNyaadhika phalaaya namaH .

OM smR^ita sarvaagha naashanaaya namaH .
OM aadipurushhaaya namaH .
OM paramapurushhaaya namaH .
OM mahaapurushhaaya namaH .
OM puNyodayaaya namaH .
OM dayaasaaraaya namaH .
OM puraaNapurushhottamaaya namaH .
OM smitavaktraaya namaH .
OM mitabhaashhiNe namaH .
OM puurvabhaashhiNe namaH .
OM raaghavaaya namaH .
OM anantaguNa gaMbhiiraaya namaH .
OM dhiiroddaattaguNottamaaya namaH .

OM maayaamaanushha charitraaya namaH .
OM mahaadevaadipuujitaaya namaH .
OM setukR^ite namaH .
OM jitavaaraashaye namaH .
OM sarvatiirthamayaaya namaH .
OM haraye namaH .
OM shyaamaa.ngaaya namaH .
OM sundaraaya namaH .
OM shuuraaya namaH .

OM piitavaasase namaH .
OM dhanurdharaaya namaH .
OM sarvayaGYaadhipaaya namaH .
OM yajvane namaH .
OM jaraamaraNavarjitaaya namaH .
OM vibhiishhaNa pratishhThaatre namaH .
OM sarvaavaguNavarjitaaya namaH .
OM paramaatmane namaH .
OM parasmai brahmaNe namaH .

OM sachchidaananda vigrihaaya namaH .
OM parasmai jyotishhe namaH .
OM parasmai dhaamne namaH .
OM paraakaashaaya namaH .
OM paraatparaaya namaH .
OM pareshaaya namaH .
OM paaragaaya namaH .
OM paaraaya namaH .
OM sarvadevaatmakaaya parasmai namaH .
.. iti raamaashhTottarashata naamaavaliH ..

beautiful lines....

2010-05-27T22:46:00.000-07:00

आज मैने सूर्य से बस जरा-सा यों कहा-
आपके साम्राज्य मे इतना अँधेरा क्यों रहा?
तमतमाकर वह दहाडा--मै अकेला क्या करूँ?
तुम निकम्मों के लिये मै ही भला कब तक मरूँ?
आकाश की आराधना के चक्करों मे मत पडो
संग्राम यह घनघोर है, कुछ मै लड़ूँ, कुछ तुम लड़ो !!

Nice lines

2010-05-27T22:43:00.000-07:00

तुम इस तरह से जो सुनोगे मुझे
यकीनन शब्द कुछ निखर जायेंगे
सुबह से निकलेंगे साथ तेरे
शाम ढले ही घर जायेंगे
भरकर हथली मैं रख लेना उन्हें
तेरा साथ पाकर संवर जायेंगे
यकीन मान मेरे दिल की गहराइयो में
सिवा एक चाहत के कुछ भी नहीं है
वो मौसम पुराना ,वो तेरा चिड़ाना
सामान यादों का साथ लेकर यूं ही मर जायेंगे.........

The Gayatri Mantra

2010-03-30T00:22:00.000-07:00

The vedic form of the famous Gayatri mantra:

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्यः धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्

Aum bhur-bhuvah-swah tat savitur varenyam
bhargo devasya dheemahi dhiyo yo nah Prachodayat.

Summary of the Mantra:

May we meditate on the Glory of the Lord, the Remover of pains and sorrows, the Bestower of happiness, Who has created the universe, and Who is the embodiment of knowledge and light. May the Lord, enlighten our intellect in the right direction by destroying all our sins and ignorance.

Meaning of each letter in mantra:

---------------------------------
OM = Almighty God
BHOOR = Embodiment of vital or spiritual energy
BHUVAHA = Destroyer of suffering
SWAHA = Embodiment of happiness
TAT = That (indicating God)
SAVITUR = Bright, luminous, like and sun
VARENIYAM = Supreme, best
BARGO = Destroyer of sins
DEVASYA = Divine
DHEEMAHI = May receive
DHIYO = Intellect
YO = Who
NAHA = Our
PRACHODAYAT = May inspire

AUM	GRANTHI�POWER	MEANING
TAT	TAPINI	SUCCESS
SA	SUCCESS	BRAVERY (PARAKRAM)
VI	VISHWA	MAINTENANCE� (PALAN)
TUR	TUSHTI	WELFARE (KALYAN)
VA	VARDA	MARYADA
RE	YOG	SELF RESTRAINT��(SANYAM)
NI	REVATI	SFUTA
YAM	LOVE (PREM)	TAP
BHAR	SOOKSHMA	MEDHA
GO	MONEY	FOR SIGHT
DE	GYANA	YOGMAYA
VA	BRILLIANCE (TEJ)	JAGRITI (AWAKENING)
SYA	BHARGA	YOGINI
DHEE	DEFENCE (RAKSHA)	CREATION (PRODUCTION)
MA	GOMATI	DHARINI
HI	INTELLECT (BUDDHI)	SARASTA��(SWEETNESS)
DHI	DEVIKA	PRABHAVA
YO	SUPPRESSION (DAMAN)	IDEAL
YO	VARAHI	OOSHMA
NAHA	DEVOTION (NISTHA)	COURAGE
PRA	SINHANI	DRASHYA
CHO	DHARNA�(POWER OF RETENTION)	WISDOM (VIVEK)
DA	DHYAN	NIRANJAN
YAT	PRAN	SEWA (SERVICE)

गायत्री मंत्र का वर्णं

ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्यः धीमहि धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्

गायत्री मंत्र संक्षेप में

गायत्री मंत्र (वेद ग्रंथ की माता) को हिन्दू धर्म में सबसे उत्तम मंत्र माना जाता है. यह मंत्र हमें ज्ञान प्रदान करता है. इस मंत्र का मतलब है - हे प्रभु, क्रिपा करके हमारी बुद्धि को उजाला प्रदान कीजिये और हमें धर्म का सही रास्ता दिखाईये. यह मंत्र सूर्य देवता (सवितुर) के लिये प्रार्थना रूप से भी माना जाता है.

हे प्रभु! आप हमारे जीवन के दाता हैं
आप हमारे दुख़ और दर्द का निवारण करने वाले हैं
आप हमें सुख़ और शांति प्रदान करने वाले हैं
हे संसार के विधाता
हमें शक्ति दो कि हम आपकी उज्जवल शक्ति प्राप्त कर सकें
क्रिपा करके हमारी बुद्धि को सही रास्ता दिखायें
मंत्र के प्रत्येक शब्द की व्याख्यागायत्री मंत्र के पहले नौं शब्द प्रभु के गुणों की व्याख्या करते हैं
ॐ = प्रणव भूर = मनुष्य को प्राण प्रदाण करने वाला
भुवः = दुख़ों का नाश करने वाला
 स्वः = सुख़ प्रदाण करने वाला
 तत = वह, 
सवितुर = सूर्य की भांति उज्जवल
 वरेण्यं = सबसे उत्तम
 भर्गो = कर्मों का उद्धार करने वाला
 देवस्य = प्रभु
 धीमहि = आत्म चिंतन के योग्य (ध्यान)
 धियो = बुद्धि, 
यो = जो,
 नः = हमारी, 
प्रचोदयात् = हमें शक्ति दें (प्रार्थना)

Easy Steps For Meditation At Work

2010-03-30T00:15:00.001-07:00

If a harassed office worker keeps on piling on work without taking the time for a break, he will find himself burnt out. Five to ten minutes of meditation a day can actually help an office worker create a space of peace and quiet even if he doesn’t leave his desk.

An Ancient Practice In A Modern World

Meditation has been around for centuries. Most major religions around the world, including Christianity, include meditation as part of their practice. Meditation has often been equated with praying. However, even non-believers can actually practice meditation.

The staying power of meditation through the ages just shows how much it has stayed relevant to human beings even in this digital era. In fact, now more than ever, meditation is a balm to our information laden and time starved lifestyles.

Seven Easy Steps To Meditate In The Workplace

It doesn’t matter if the office worker has a room or is situated in a cubicle. It’s possible for anyone to enjoy the state of meditation even with their eyes open.

The office worker just needs to set his alarm for at least ten minutes during the day. This should be scheduled in his calendar to make it a daily habit.
He should clear his mind of any concerns or thoughts. Thoughts must be treated as external barriers that need to be acknowledged and then set aside.
He should be aware that he is producing deep breaths that come from the diaphragm.
He can choose an object to focus on. It might be the corner of a room or a picture frame. He can also choose a peaceful looking screensaver or web page on his computer. It doesn’t matter what he is looking at as long as he is just focused on one point.
He needs to keep his gaze steady without thinking of anything in particular.
Once he has established that his mind is clear, he should then focus on one thought. For some, this can be called a mantra. It doesn’t have to be said out loud. It is a powerful thought that the office worker would like to bring into being such as: “I am a fully empowered individual” or “I will be peaceful and focused today.”
After focusing on the thought, the office worker can visualize the thought becoming part of his actions for the day. This can lead to the end of his meditation exercise.

How To Make Meditation A Habit

It’s definitely not easy to make meditation a habit. Many people actually fall back into old habits and don't follow through on resolutions. One way for an office worker to ensure that this is part of his daily routine is to actually schedule it in his calendar as if he is going to a ten-minute meeting. This exercise needs to be treated as if it is an ongoing part of an office worker’s operations. Instead of taking a cigarette break or a snack break, he can, instead, focus on his inner well-being and take time to calm his busy mind.

आरती कैसे करनी चाहिये

2010-03-29T23:52:00.001-07:00

आरती कैसे करनी चाहिये

आरती पूजन के अन्त में इष्टदेवता की प्रसन्नता के हेतु की जाती है।
इसमें इष्टदेव को दीपक दिखाने के साथ उनका स्तवन तथा गुणगान
किया जाता है।

आरती में पहले मूलमंत्र (जिस देवता का जिस मन्त्र से पूजन किया
गया हो,

उस मन्त्र)- के द्वारा तीन बार पुष्पांजलि देनी चाहिये और

ढोल, नगारे, शंख, घड़ियाल

आदि महावाद्यों तथा जय-जयकार के शब्द

के साथ शुभ पात्र में घृत से या कपूर से

विषम संख्या की बत्तियाँ

जलाकर आरती करनी चाहिये।

साधारणत: पाँच बत्तियों से आरती की जाती है, इसे ‘पंचप्रदीप’ भी कहते
हैं। एक, सात या उससे भी अधिक बत्तियों से आरती की जाती है। कपूर
से भी आरती होती है।

पद्मपुराण में आया है।

‘कुंकुम, अगर, कपूर, घृत और चन्दन की सात या

पाँच बत्तियाँ बनाकर अथवा रुई और घी की बत्तियाँ बनाकर शंख, घण्टा

आदि बाजे बजाते हुए आरती करनी चाहिए।’

आरती के पाँच अंग होते हैं-
प्रथम दीप माला के द्वारा, दूसरे जल युक्त शंख से, तीसरे धुले हुए वस्त्र से,
चौथे आम और पीपल आदि के पत्तों से और पाँचवें साष्टांग दण्डवत् से
आरती करें।

आरती उतारते समय सर्वप्रथम भगवान् की प्रतिमा के चरणों

में चार बार, नाभि देश में दो बार, मुखमण्डल पर एक बार और समस्त अंगों

पर सात बार घुमाये।

आरती के दो भाव है जो क्रमश: ‘नीराजन’ और ‘आरती’ शब्द से व्यक्त हुए
हैं। नीराजन (नि:शेषेण राजनं प्रकाशनम्)- का अर्थ है- विशेषरूप से, नि:शेष
रूप से प्रकाशित करना। अनेक दीप बत्तियाँ जलाकर विग्रह के चारों ओर घुमाने
का अभिप्राय यही है कि पूरा-का-पूरा विग्रह एड़ी से चोटी तक प्रकाशित हो
उठे- चमक उठे, अंग-प्रत्यंग स्पष्ट रूप से उद्भासित हो जाय, जिसमें दर्शक या
उपासक भलीभाँति देवता की रूप-छटा को निहार सके, हृदयंग्म कर सके।

दूसरा ‘आरती’ शब्द (जो संस्कृत) के आर्तिका प्राकृत रूप है और जिसका
अर्थ है- अरिष्ट) विशेषत: माधुर्य उपासना से संबंधित है।

भगवान् के पूजन के अन्त में आरती की जाती है। पूजन में जो त्रुटि रह
जाती है, आरती से उसकी पूर्ति हो जाती है। शास्त्रों में आरती का विशेष
महत्त्व बताया गया है। पूजन में यदि मन्त्र और क्रिया में किसी प्रकार की
कमी रह जाती है तो भी आरती कर लेने पर उसकी पूर्ति हो जाती है।

आरती करने का ही नहीं, आरती देखने का भी बहुत बड़ा पुण्य है। जो
नित्य भगवान् की आरती देखता है और दोनों हाथों से आरती लेता है,
वह अपनी करोड़ पीढ़ियों का उद्धार करता है तथा अन्त में भगवान् के
परम पद को प्राप्त हो जाता है। अत: अत्यन्त ही श्रद्धा-भक्ति से अपने
इष्टदेव की नित्य आरती करनी चाहिये।

Why do we apply Vibhuti or Holy Ash over our body?

2010-03-29T23:48:00.000-07:00

Vibhuti (meaning glory) or Bhasma (that by which our sins are destroyed and the Lord is remembered) is the holy ash that Hindus apply over their forehead and body. This holy ash is created by burning cow dung along with milk, ghee, honey, etc. It is a principle sacrament in the worship of Lord Siva, representing His burning away of our ignorance to ashes.

The cow dung is obtained from a cows that are fed sixteen varieties of medicinal leaves. The dung of these cows are collected after allowing sufficient time for digestion. The collected dung would then be formed into flat cakes and dried in the sun. 108 types of herbs, and twigs ['Samithi'] of high medicinal value are used in the homa in which the dried dung cakes are added. Six types of medicinal leaves are burnt along with these. The significance of using ash from the homa is that the impurities - physical and mental (ego, desires) are burnt off in the fire, and what remains is now pure - and the application of this ash serves as a reminder of this. The vibhuti we apply indicates that we should burn false identification with body and become free of the limitations of birth and death.
Applying vibhuti is a much more common practice amognst Shivites.

Vibhuti or Bhasma has medicinal properties and is used in many ayurvedic medicines. It absorbs excess moisture from the body and prevents colds and headches.

Shivling Puja – How to Worship Shivling at Home?

2010-03-29T23:26:00.000-07:00

Shivling or Shiva lingam connects a devotee with the Supreme Being – Lord Shiva. The lingam is the symbol of Lord Shiva and the lingam puja helps the devotee in understanding Lord Shiva. The Lord cannot be described but still we say he is without a beginning and an end and is without a form. It is difficult for a devotee to understand this formless nature. Therefore Lord Shiva appeared in the form of Jyotirlinga before Brahma and Vishnu. The Lingam thus is a symbol of Lord Shiva. Each Lingam puja, step by step, takes the devotee to the eternal truth – that he/she is part of the Supreme Being.

Worshipping Shivling at Home

Before starting the Puja, the devotee takes a bath and wear freshly washed clothes. Hymns praising Lord Shiva or the mantra ‘om namaha shivayaa’ are repeated to create a mood for worship. Then, the devotee sits in front of the lingam and blows conch or ring bells. This indicates the beginning of the Puja.

First it is the panchamrit abhishek - the libation of five holy liquids over the lingam. The libation can consist of any five of the following – water from river Ganga, honey, sugarcane juice, milk, yogurt, ghee, seawater, coconut water or milk, fragrant oils, rose water or other precious liquids. Usually, only milk of cow is used. While pouring the liquid, om namah shivaya is uttered. Some devotees utter the Lord’s name 108 times and some 1008 times. There is no fixed rule.

After the panchamrit abhishek, the lingam is cleaned with water from Ganga. (This is might not be possible always so just normal water.) After this the lingam is smeared with sandalwood paste and is decked with flowers. Water and sandalwood paste is used to keep the lingam cool, as Lord Shiva is always in a highly inflammable state. In some Shiva temples, cooling liquid constantly drops from pot hung above the Lingam.

Next, sweets, coconut and fruits are offered to the Lord. Camphor and incense are lit and ‘arati’ is conducted. Some devotees fan the lingam and sing praises of the lord.

Finally, ringing of bells or blowing of conch indicates the end of Puja. White ash (vibhuti) is rubbed on the forehead and it is also distributed. Fruits, sweets and coconut are distributed as ‘prasad.’

karma & reincarnation

2010-03-29T23:03:00.000-07:00

Reincarnation

As per Hinduism, the life on earth is not a discrete one time event. It is just one episode in the play. There would be multiple appearances (births) before the soul finally takes leave from the cycle. The birth is not just limited to being born as human, it includes the births as the animals, plants, even as the divines who rule the parts of nature ! After-all, all these things have a life. The appearance of the soul in any of such forms is called reincarnation. After so many births when the soul is freed of any more reincarnation, it is in the state of mukti or liberation. This is the ultimate state.

karma

As the soul moves from one body to another, it carries forward something along with it, which is nothing but what it has accumulated performing various deeds. This can be thought of as a global account that each soul is associated with, irrespective of the place it is in currently. This account would have both the logs of good and bad deeds it performed similar to the credit and liabilities. This account is what is called karma.

This karma is further categorized. In the example let us assume the person on moving to the new place gets a new local account into which initially some of the credits and liabilities from the global account get transferred to start with. Subsequently till the person is in that location the day to day transactions occur onto that local account. Similarly from the global account of karma, which is known as prArabdham, some portion is transferred to the new local account when the soul reincarnates into a new body and this portion of karma is called sanchitham. In the day to day affairs the soul enjoys the fruits of the good deeds from the karma bank and suffers the fruits of bad deeds. In the process due to the deeds it performs the soul accumulates new good and bad karma to add to its account. This newly earned karma is called AkAmiyam. When the soul leaves that body the balance gets transferred back into the global account. The journey goes on.

Why is it so ?

In the life we see in this world, we work to get the results. The work is the action and the result is fruit of it. This is exactly what is karma. The fruit may come in a minute in a day, in a week, in a year or much much later that the delay may even make one forget the action that triggered the fruit got ! If there is no correlation between the action and the fruit, won't the world be in a mess ?! This theory would also explain why unexpected things happen - either good or bad. (As the situation undergoing due to the function of various past deeds.)

The reincarnation (in conjunction with karma) explains why some people never gets to see the fruits of their action in their life time and why some children die when they have committed no sin. When the karma exist one would have to undergo the fruits of it for which one may have to go through multiple births in multiple forms - plants, animals... The bank doesn't let you go unless the account is settled !

Hinduism

2010-02-16T21:34:00.000-08:00

It is not easy to define Hinduism, for it is much more than a religion in the Western sense. According to some scholars, Hinduism is not exactly a religion. Also known to practitioners as Sanatana Dharma, which means everlasting or eternal religion / truth / rule, Hinduism can best be defined as a way of life based on the teachings of ancient sages and scriptures like the Vedas and Upanishads. The word 'dharma' connotes "that which supports the universe" and effectively means any path of spiritual discipline which leads to God.

Hindu Dharma, as one scholar analogizes, can be compared to a fruit tree, with its roots

(1) Representing the Vedas and Vedantas, the thick trunk

(2) Symbolizing the spiritual experiences of numerous sages, gurus and saints, its branches

(3) Representing various theological traditions, and the fruit itself, in different shapes and sizes

(4) Symbolizing various sects and subsects. However, the concept of Hinduism defies a definite definition because of its uniqueness.

2010-02-10T22:20:00.001-08:00

Different Shakti Mantra's

श्री गणेशाय नम:
ॐ गं गणपतये नम:

ॐ सर्व मंगल मांगल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थ साधिके ।
शरण्ये त्र्यंबके गौरी नारायणी नमोस्तुते ॥
***
नमो देव्यै महादेव्यै शिवायै सततं नमः ।
नमः प्रकृत्यै भद्रायै नियताः प्रणताः स्म ताम् ॥
***
शरणागतदीनार्तपरित्राणपरायणे ।
सर्वस्यार्तिहरे देवि नारायणि नमोऽस्तु ते ॥
***
अन्नपूर्णे सदापूर्णे शंकरः प्राणवल्लभे ।
ज्ञान वैराग्य सिद्ध्यर्थं भिक्षां देहि च पार्वती ॥
***
Durga Gayatri Mantra
ॐ कात्यायन्यै च विद्महे, कन्यकुमार्यै धीमहि ।
तन्नो दुर्गा प्रचोदयत् ॥
***
Durgashtakshar Mantra
ॐ ह्रीं दुं दुर्गायै नमः ॥
***
Navarn Mantra नवार्ण मन्त्र
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे ।
***
Ma Saraswati Stuti
जय जय देवि चराचरसारे कुचयुगशोभित मुक्ताहारे ।
वीणापुस्तकरंजितहस्ते भगवति भारति देवि नमस्ते ॥
***
MahaLaxmi Stuti
नमस्तेस्तु महामाये श्रीपीठे सुरपूजिते ।
शङ्खचक्रगदाहस्ते महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥
***
सर्वज्ञे सर्ववरदे सर्वदुष्ट भयंकरि ।
सर्वदुःख हरे देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥
***
सिद्धिबुद्धिप्रदे देवि भुक्तिमुक्ति प्रदायिनि ।
मन्त्रमूर्ते सदा देवि महालक्ष्मि नमोऽस्तुते ॥
***
ॐ महालक्ष्मी च विद्महे, विष्णुपत्नी च धीमहि ।
तन्नो लक्ष्ह्मीः प्रचोदयात् ॥

***
Devi Stuti
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मातृरुपेण संस्थितः ।
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरुपेण संस्थितः ।
या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शान्तिरुपेण संस्थितः ।
नमस्तस्यैः नमस्तस्यैः नमस्तस्यैः नमो नमः ।
ॐ अम्बायै नमः ॥

***
सर्वे भवंतु सुखिनः सर्वे संतु निरामयाः ।
सर्वे भद्राणि पश्यंतु मा कश्चिद् दुःखभाग्भवेत् ॥

संकटमोचन हनुमानाष्टकं

2010-02-10T21:23:00.000-08:00

संकटमोचन हनुमानाष्टकं

Sankatamochan Hanuman Ashtakam

मत्तगयन्द छन्द
बाल समय रबि भक्षि लियो तब तीनहुँ लोक भयो अँधियारो।
ताहि सों त्रास भयो जग को यह संकट काहु सों जात न टारो।
देवन आनि करी बिनती तब छाँड़ि दियो रबि कष्ट निवारो।
को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥१॥

बालि की त्रास कपीस बसै गिरि जात महाप्रभु पंथ निहारो।
चौंकि महा मुनि साप दियो तब चाहिय कौन बिचार बिचारो।
कै द्विज रूप लिवाय महाप्रभु सो तुम दास के सोक निवारो।
को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥२॥

अंगद के सँग लेन गये सिय खोज कपीस यह बैन उचारो।
जीवत ना बचिहौ हम सो जु बिना सुधि लाए इहाँ पगु धारो।
हेरि थके तट सिंधु सबै तब लाय सिया-सुधि प्रान उबारो।
को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥३॥

रावन त्रास दई सिय को सब राक्षसि सों कहि सोक निवारो।
ताहि समय हनुमान महाप्रभु जाय महा रजनीचर मारो।
चाहत सीय असोक सों आगि सु दै प्रभु मुद्रिका सोक निवारो।
को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥४॥

बान लग्यो उर लछिमन के तब प्रान तजे सुत रावन मारो।
लै गृह बैद्य सुषेन समेत तबै गिरि द्रोन सु बीर उपारो।
आनि सजीवन हाथ दई तब लछिमन के तुम प्रान उबारो।
को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥५॥

रावन जुद्ध अजान कियो तब नाग कि फाँस सबै सिर डारो।
श्रीरघुनाथ समेत सबै दल मोह भयो यह संकट भारो।
आनि खगेस तबै हनुमान जु बंधन काटि सुत्रास निवारो।
को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥६॥

बंधु समेत जबै अहिरावन लै रघुनाथ पताल सिधारो।
देबिहिं पूजि भली बिधि सों बलि देउ सबै मिलि मंत्र बिचारो।
जाय सहाय भयो तब ही अहिरावन सैन्य समेत सँहारो।
को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥७॥

काज कियो बड़ देवन के तुम बीर महाप्रभु देखि बिचारो।
कौन सो संकट मोर गरीब को जो तुमसों नहिं जात है टारो।
बेगि हरो हनुमान महाप्रभु जो कुछ संकट होय हमारो।
को नहिं जानत है जग में कपि संकटमोचन नाम तिहारो॥८॥
दोहा
लाल देह लाली लसे अरू धरि लाल लँगूर।
बज्र देह दानव दलन जय जय जय कपि सूर॥

नबग्रह स्तोत्रम

2009-07-07T02:13:00.000-07:00

ब्रह्मा मुरारी त्रिपुरान्तकारी भानु शशि भूमि सुतो बुधश्च

गुरुश्च शुक्रः शनि राहु केतवः सर्वे ग्रहाः शान्तिकराः भवन्तु ....

प्रतिदिन पूजन के समय इस स्तोत्र के पाठ से नव ग्रहों की अनुकुलता प्राप्त होती है...

Ardhanarishwar

2009-07-03T22:38:00.000-07:00

Ardhanarishwar

Life is all about fall and rise. Fall symbolises tears while rise a cheer (ecstasy). Elation, laughter does not long last than a flash. So what’s the panacea to break your shackles of materialistic surroundings (world)? What can protect your euphoria from festering? Five lettered word is a magic potion! And it does work. The more you fall, the more you rise, the more you give up the more you seep in the universal appeal. Becoming one with your self brings bliss that lasts with you like your breath and goes with you like your overall good and bad deeds. And it protects (your spirit) from your ill deeds even when you leave this world. You become one with the universe, no longer remaining a hapless worldly creature born to experience momentary rises and inevitable falls. And the five lettered word is nothing but your inner FAITH! With the possession of worldly materials do you own a FAITH too!

Here is a supreme source of Faith and they call it Lord Ardhanarishwar.

Ardhnarishwar, the name would sound ringing bells in your spirits. Ardhnarishwar (man and woman together in eternal divinity) is a manifestation of Lord Shiva and Shakti, creator of the whole universe.

The eternal Lord and His muse donned the form of Shiva and Shakti for thousands of years to end the transience and create a balance on earth to salvage the earthlings.

The tradition of Yoga

2009-07-03T22:00:00.000-07:00

Yoga

The roots of Yoga can be traced back roughly 5,000 years to the Indus Valley civilization, where seals depicting people performing asanas (yoga postures) were used in trade along the river.

The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" meaning to yoke, join or unite. It is the union of all aspects of an individual: body, mind and soul. Hence, Yoga reunites all opposites - mind and body, stillness and movement, masculine and feminine, sun and moon - in order to bring reconciliation between them.

Yoga is one of the six branches in Indian philosophy and is referred to throughout the Vedas � the ancient scriptures of India. There is a legend that says that the knowledge of Yoga was first offered by Lord Shiva to his wife Parvati and from there passed on to the world.
According to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the ultimate aim of Yoga is to reach "Kaivalya" (freedom). This is the experience of one's innermost being or "soul" (the Purusa). When this level of awareness is achieved, one becomes free of the chains of cause and effect (Karma) which bound us to continual reincarnation. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is a 2200 year old classical piece of Yoga Philosophy. Hear, Patanjali describe 8 disciplines of yoga which must be practiced and refined in order to perceive the true self- the ultimate goal of Yoga:

Yama - Universal ethics: Non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing.p>

Niyama - Principles of self conduct: purity, contentment, study of self, surrender.

Asana - practice of the postures.

Pranayama - Breath control.

Pratyahara - withdrawal and control of the senses.

Dharana - concentration.

Dhyana - meditation.

Samadhi - higher consciousness.

Yoga And Soul

Physical reality is only a fraction of all that is! In your search for happiness, you have been running away from the `Self', which is the real source of joy. Many a time, you find yourself stressed and ailing because you don't know your inner being, the Self.

This inner being , the Self, is our awareness. It is energy. It is the energy of Divine love.

All evolution and the manifestation of material energy are guided by the supreme energy of Divine Love. Normally, you do not know how powerful and thoughtful this unknown energy is. The silent working of awareness is so automatic, minute, dynamic, and precious that we take it for granted. After Self-realisation, this energy appears to us as silent throbbing vibrations flowing through our being, and you automatically come to know all there is to know and thus be �Self Aware�!

But we have been unable to achieve Self-realisation because we cannot fix our attention on something that lacks form (abstract being). Instead, our attention wanders outside on forms.

Spiritual yogic practices and systems deal with regulations and exercises, which help you (i.e. the sleeping soul) to wake up, discriminate between the real and the unreal, gradually leading your mind to firmly stabilise and merge in the soul�thus "internalising the soul�s attention"�on itself�in lieu of expending energy on outer forms. Once fully awakened, the Energy (soul) realises Itself, and is freed automatically from the pangs of birth and death.

Yoga: The Beginning Stage of Yoga

When you first begin to practice yoga, the mind, like a child runs in different directions. For a while you may be able to stabilise your mind but the thoughts invariably get scattered.

It is at this stage that you have to exercise conscious control and practice the art of'pratyahaar'. There are some practitioners who can control and bring the mind quickly to focus without much effort due to an inner state of calmness.

Once the mind is stabilised, it helps to fix one's attention and brings much peace. Even if the attention span is short, it at least helps control the mind and arrest its restlessness and constant thought-flux.

Yoga: The Advanced Stage of Yoga

"True happiness can be achieved only through a state of nothingness."

The supreme aim of all yogic exercises is to elevate the soul to higher levels of consciousness by strengthening the mental faculties.

Once the mind is strengthened and concentrated, it is easy to make it delve on itself and dissociate from ephemeral and perishable objects of the world and the senses.

At this stage, external objects and sensory inputs do not make any impressions or leave any residues in the lake of the mind. The waters of this lake become calm and placid.

The mind, thus, is totally focused on itself, one-pointed and impervious to external sensations.

This stage can be easily understood by imagining the case of salt water in a tumbler. The salt is fully dissolved in water and there are no undissolved particles left. But the solution is not uniform in its composition. Still, there is no proper mixing as one homogenous solution, as the water has not been stirred.

Yoga: Special Spiritual Benefits from Yoga

Practising yoga regularly imparts great benefits:

Basic spiritual benefits
Improved Concentration
Regulated Breath
Clarity in Mind

Advanced spiritual benefits
Thought Control (Clear and one-pointed thought)
Mind Control (Firm Will power)
Psychic control (like telepathy, clairvoyance etc.)

Ultimate spiritual benefit - The realisation that you and every other being in the universe are one! So you = me and me = you .

Healing of the body, psyche and soul is one of the basic directions in the yogic activity and serves the whole psychobiological and spiritual restoration. Purifying, healing and rejuvenating yogic exercises can restore health, life force, joy and also lengthen the life span. Laya Yogapractices serve liberation, salvation of the soul and its reconciliation with God.

Discover your breath - A major and important benefit you may notice with yoga practice is that you are more in touch with your breathing.

Yoga poses are practiced in harmony with the breath. One of the residues of this constant concentration on breath is that students tend to pay more attention to their breath outside of class. Most students' report they are surprised to learn that they find themselves holding their breath frequently during the day in response to stress. By learning to notice their breath holding they can begin to break the habit. When one breathes easily throughout the day, less tension will accumulate in the body.

Free your thoughts - One of the most important things you can learn from a yoga class is that your thoughts have the ability to affect your overall contentment and health. During the deep relaxation pose ( savasana ), one systematically relaxes every part of the body, even suggesting that the brain itself is 'relaxed'. During conscious relaxation, thoughts are experienced more as energy, which is associated with the brain than as the sum total of who we are.
We have thoughts, but those thoughts no longer take over our bodies and minds at large - triggering tension, anxiety or other responses. Yoga teaches us that consciousness and thoughts are not the same thing.

During relaxation we are able to let the thoughts flow through us without dancing away with them to the past or the future. We remain conscious, allowing the thoughts to come through us, but we learn not to interact with them. We can say to ourselves, "Oh, there's another thought of dinner, or of person 'X' or of fear about tomorrow's meeting." Then we can let go of that thought and return to the relaxation at hand. This is a meditative practice, which gradually over time allows us to 'dis-identify' with our thoughts.

When thoughts are experienced just as thoughts, not as reality itself, then the path to freedom which yoga promises begins to unfold naturally. And that path is as sweet as a perfectly ripe mango.

Yoga: Therapeutic Yoga

The word "therapy" comes from the Greek word therapeuein , meaning to heal, to take care of. Yoga can be understood as a comprehensive approach to healing, for it goes to the root of all disease, which is our false relationship to life itself. We fall ill when our body-mind is out of balance, when the life force false or circulate freely in us. Ultimately, there can be no complete healing until we have restored our primal trust in life, which alone removes all those obstructions within us that tend to manifest as ill health.

Most of our diseases are symptoms of an underlying disease: our sense of being cut off from the sustaining power of life. We feel separate, isolated, alienated and also ill at ease. As we become aware of this feeling, which we share with billions of others, we experience the need for wholeness. We begin to understand that we are not really sealed off from life but are in fact interconnected with everything and everyone else. At times, this intellectual understanding may be confirmed and enriched by an actual experience of unity and wholeness.

The word 'Yoga' comes from the Sanskrit root 'Yuk' - meaning 'to join, to unite'. Yoga seeks to restore the condition of wholeness in which, even if we should experience a spell of misfortune and illness, we nevertheless feel restored to life and healed in our relationship to the larger Reality Yoga is radical spiritual therapy.

For millennia, yoga has had a close connection with Ayurveda , which is India's traditional medical and healing system. According to Ayurveda , which literally means "science of life", body and mind form an interactive system. This is also the viewpoint of yoga. Both schools of thought also insist that a healthy, wholesome life must be happy and morally sound. Moreover, the authorities of Ayurveda and yoga both recommend the cultivation of self-knowledge and serenity, which ensure our well-being.

Yoga: Major Types of Asanas

There are many different asana s (postures) in yoga, which you can practise at any time of the day with excellent benefits. However, best results can be obtained only by doing yoga under expert guidance. Here's a listing of the commonly practised asanas:

Name in Sanskrit	English Equivalent
Ardha Chandrasana	Half Moon Pose
Garudasana	Eagle Pose
Tadasana	Mountain Pose
Utkatasana	Powerful Pose
Uttanasana	Standing Forward Bend
Utthita Parsvakonasana	Extended Lateral Angle Pose
Utthita Trikonasana	Extended Triangle Pose
Virabhadrasana I	Warrior I Pose
Virabhadrasana II	Warrior II Pose
Vrksasana	Tree Pose
Adho Mukha Svanasana	Downward Facing Dog Pose
Adho Mukha Vrksasana	Arm Balance
Ardha Sirsasana	Half Headstand Pose
Cat-Cow	Cat-Cow
Viparita Karani	Supported Inverted Pose
Bhujangasana	Cobra Pose
Lunge	Lunge
Setu Bandasana	Bridge Pose
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana	Upward Facing Dog Pose
Baddha Konasana	Bound Angle Pose
Bharadvajasana	Seated Side Twist
Dandasana	Staff Pose
Paripurna Navasana	Complete Boat Pose
Vajrasana	Thunder Bolt Pose
Anantasana	Lord Vishnu's Couch
Chaturanga Dandasana	Four-Limbed Staff Pose
Jathara Parivartanasana	Revolved Abdominal Pose
Plank	Plank
Shavasana	Corpse Pose
Supta Padangusthasana	Supine Big Toe Pose

The Vedas

2009-07-03T21:50:00.000-07:00

The Vedas are the Divine scriptures of ancient India and in modern times can be traced as least as far back as 12,OOO B.C. a lthough it is generally accepted tat the Vedas appear at different times of the cosmic creation forte benefit of human society. They are considered to be the revelations of the Divine nature, and its relationship within and without us. "Mantra" is the term used to mean Divine sound vibration or the word of God. There are teachings of mantras (hymns), teachings of ritual, theology, and philosophy at the root of all the vedic sciences. The point of all is the knowledge of the soul called "atma vidya", being our real "self" and separate and distinct from the material body , and the material world which surrounds us.

The "Rig Veda" is the oldest and is the source of mantra, as well as the earliest mentions of astronomy , astrology , and ayurveda. The other vedas evolved from the Rig Veda. The "Sama Veda" takes the hymns of the Rig Veda and places them in arrange ments of notes and music. It allows us to understand the essence or meaning of the Rig Veda. The "Yajur Veda "brings into play the ritual. It is for the purification and elevation of consciousness teaching rituals meant to uncover the "higher self" thus rising above the dictates of false ego and mundane mind. The "Atharva Veda" is the youngest of the Vedas and has the hymns and essence of the other vedas, but includes much more practical science for the elevation of humans who are not all able to grasp the essence of divinity on the highest levels. It allows much insight into the astronomical and medical sciences, as well as yoga and spiritual meditation on levels which can be practised by all people

Then came the "Upanishads", which give the inner meaning or essence of the spiritual import of Veda. They teach through stories, but very directly, the sciences of yoga, meditation, transmigration of the soul (reincarnation), and the culmination of self-realisation which is the understanding of the oneness with God, as well as the individuality of the spirit soul. There are also the"ranas" which through their stories teach ancient history, cosmology, and how people may live properly according to moral codes of conduct to attain material and spiritual prosperity. All these scriptures were meant to allow humans to advance toward spiritual self-realisation while performing their necessary duties according to tie, circumstance, and station of life.

Yoga means the link with God, which is the ultimate divine knowledge. All systems of yoga are meant to bring one to the ultimate goal of self-realisation and detachment from the objects of the material senses which bind us to repeated birth and death within the material stratosphere. The goal is to find the way out of this cycle, curtailing constant transmigration of our souls through a possible 8,400,000 species of life.

As the mystic yoga process of subduing the senses through physical postures (asanas) and meditation culminating in raising the "kundalini" (life force) through the 7 chakras toward the "antimaterial world" takes virtually thousands of years to perfect, it is not practice al for attaining the ultimate goal of life in this age. Therefore, although we teach hatha and ashtanga yoga for bringing the body and senses under control and improving mental and physical health on all levels, we follow the path of "Bhakti-Yoga", the yoga of love and devotion to the Supreme. This yoga is recommended for everyone in the present age, and through the chanting of the names of God the success of true self-realisation can be realistically attained, even in our short lifetimes.

Preface of Garuda Puran

2009-07-03T03:50:00.000-07:00

Garuda Puran - A Glimpse

Scientists are always searching methods to know about "life after death". There is no information available about life after death. Only Garud Puran explains what happens to Bio-Atman after death. What is the difference between Jeev-Atman ( Bio-Soul) and Atman ( Soul ). What is the meaning of Soul and Atma? Why does Soul or Bio Atma take rebirth? What is the importance of Chitra Gupt or Bio- Chip ? What is the relationship between Bio-Atma and Bio- Chip? How the information of one life is carried to the next life? How can Bio Chip carry information? Who can read this information? How can this information in Bio Chip help to Atma? How can level of energy be increased? What is the importance of Mantra and it's repetition? Can Bio Chip carry information about chanting of Mantra by Atma? One can prove this by scientific analysis of Garud Puran. I am of the opinion to govern society of past or present, fear psychosis is created by narrating fearful stories. New names like heaven or hell are propagated.

Preface

Garud is a name of a bird. I have seen this bird in India only. Ancestors in India wrote Vedas. There are four Vedas. Vedas consists of scientific development of ancient times. Every one can not read Vedas. Some Sages developed Puran from Vedas. Puranas explains not only scientific development, but also explains this development in the form of stories. These stories are easier to understand. These are known as or Purans. One, out of so many Purans, is known as Garuda Puran. It contains experiences of Atman after death. Atman is known in English language soul. Soul does not carry information to the next life or universe. Atman carries information of the past actions in a chip ( Program written on Carbon molecule), known as Chitra Gupt. This chip can be transported by air. It is engraved with Bio Atman till 11th day or 13th day . This Bio Atma ( Atma with Bio Chip) is invisible with naked eyes. I shall like to explain Garuda Puran in English for the others , who can not read Hindi or Sanskrit. It may contain some pages from Garud Puran and may also contain my analysis on the basis of scientific facts available. It is not a experience after death or life after death. It is experience of Bio Atman after leaving one body and before entering other body. I shall not explain details of hell or heaven. I shall like to inform importance of raw material and detail of production procedure of human body.

Scientific Analysis

He, who takes birth, shall have to die. He, Who dies, shall have to take birth. This is law of Nature. Hindus know this theory and read this theory of life from Vedas from childhood onwards. Mahabharta, Ramayana , Srimad Bhagwat Geeta are examples of this literature. It is a more a scientific book of facts then a book of religious preachings. One can not compare scientific book with religious book or fiction book.The end of life is due to death. This is ultimate truth of life. Due to this reason different theories or practices are advocated to delay death. For examples medicines, Yoga, control on desires , hard work, exercise, donation of Cow, Gold, Silver, etc. In some books it is also written that love of parents, brothers, husband or wife etc may delay death but one can not avoid death. Bio-Atman is so minute or nano that it can not be seen by naked eyes. It is said that it's size is thumb size. It's thickness can not be seen with naked eyes. It contains Atman and Chitra Gupt ( Nano Bio Chip). Information can be stored on Carbon Molecule or Air Molecule or Hydrogen molecule. This Nano bio Chip may be peptide or amino acids or carbon atom. Bio carbon atom is so designed that it can store what is seen by eyes, what is heard by ears , what is spoken by tongue and what is thought by mind. These details are informed by this chip to God of death. This Bio chip is known as Chitra Gupt.

This chip carries information of all action taken by human beings. This is attached with Atmic Amino Acids. Information is stored in carbon molecule of amino acids. This Bio Atman along with Bio-Chip is taken to Nano-Bio-Chip-Master. This Chip Master is known as God of Death or Yama Raj. Chip Master decides about this chip and allows this chip to sell or destroy. On the basis of one's past actions one purchases or gets this Bio Chip as per one's destiny written by Brahma. Brahma imbibes this chip to the new life ready to take birth as per destiny of individuals as per one's past actions. Desire to create new life is produced by certain amino acids as per cycle of life. These amino acids develop with the gravitational forces of stars and planets in the universe. It is written in Garud Puran that this quality to carry information from one birth to the other birth, is of human beings only. Birds, reptiles, Plants etc do not have Bio Chip. (It needs verification by Bio Technologists or Bio Engineers). After this chip is removed then this Bio Atman is known as Atman. On the basis of it's past actions this Atman enjoys or suffers, once this Bio Chip is taken out from this Bio Atman. After suffering or enjoying this Atman takes birth again or get Moksha i.e become free of amino acid as carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and bonds are broken.

Bio Chip carries information from one life or body to the other life and body. We all know that one can not carry gold, silver, food or clothes or cars or money to the next birth. We can carry to the next life after death any information stored on bio chip. This information can be stored by power of repetition or Mantras on Bio Chip or Chitra Gupt. This is what explained in Garuda Puran by sages. Scientific explanation may be not understood by others. So help of heaven or hell is taken. It is advocated to worship and do good actions. Sins are those acts which disturb the peace of society. Gayatri Mantra is considered to be the best in Mantras. One can also remember Mritrunjay Mantra or any other mantra as per Vedas. One can carry power of Mantra to the next life and help others.

Some persons believe that Garuda Puran should not be kept at home. One should read or listen to perform last rites as per Hindu Shashtra after death and throw this book to Ganges, a holy river of Hindus. But it is not correct. On the contrary one should read and understand Garuda Puran. Any one who reads and teaches others about Garuda Puran gets freedom of taking birth and rebirth or death and achieves salvation or Moksha.

Durga saptshati

2009-07-03T00:13:00.000-07:00

http://www.gitapress.org/books/paath/118/Durga_Saptashati.pdf

download Durga Saptshati

Sai with Ganesha

2009-07-02T21:42:00.000-07:00

Aghori Sadhus

2009-07-02T04:43:00.000-07:00

Aghori Sadhus

What kind of feelings does the word cannibalism arouses? Well most of us would get disgusted, but there are people who follow cannibalism in India even now.

India land of oldest society, oldest civilization, but all this time in the Indian history there was a sect dedicated to Shiva was involved in cannibalism and other very crude animal behavior. The aghori oraghouri sect has its origin in ancient Vedic system, even though these people don’t follow the main stream Vedic system but the root is the same. The word aghori in Sanskrit means non terrifying, ‘a’-‘ghori’ most of the Hindi speaking people would have heard the phrase ghor kaliyug, ghor paap, etc.. it is the same ghor, theoretically these people don’t attach themselves to anything mortal. They do things which a common man finds to be terrifying, so they overcome this terror by going through it, since they do it regularly it is a common thing for them.

In Hinduism, “there is no evil, everything is emanated from‘Brahman’, so how could anything in this universe be impure”? this is the kind of philosophy the aghori babas follow. According to them anything in this universe is the manifestation of god itself, so everything is as pure as god and is god like, so abandoning anything is like abandoning god itself.

The aghori mainly worship lord Shiva, according to the sect every human is a ‘shava’(dead body) with emotions and they should try to become ‘Shiva’ by denying the human pleasures and involving in the aghori rituals.

The root of aghoris are as old as Hinduism itself, but the sect in its present form has its origin in Kinaram, he was an aghori ascetic and lived for about 150yrs. He was believed to be the incarnation of lord Shiva. He attained many siddhis through tapas and rituals and then helped the people with his siddhis. There is a temple in Varanasi for this baba and is the most sacred for the aghoris. Some also trace the root to Dattatreya.

The aghori is a human symbol of lord Shiva himself. The aghori lives in cemetery (shmashana), the living place for lord Shiva, this is the representation that the final abode for everyone is the cemetery. And many of the aghoris roam around naked, representing the true humans and their detachment from this world of mortals who live in the world of illusion. By this they transcend beyond human feelings of love, hatred, jealousy, pride etc..

Om : Symbol of the Absolute

2009-07-02T02:40:00.000-07:00

\: Symbol of the Absolute

"The goal which all the Vedas declare, which all austerities aim at, and which men desire when they lead the life of continence … is Om. This syllable Om is indeed Brahman. Whosoever knows this syllable obtains all that he desires. This is the best support; this is the highest support. Whosoever knows this support is adored in the world of Brahma."
~ Katha Upanishad I

Om or Aum is of paramount importance in Hinduism. This symbol (as seen in the image on the right) is a sacred syllable representing Brahman, the impersonal Absolute of Hinduism — omnipotent, omnipresent, and the source of all manifest existence. Brahman, in itself, is incomprehensible; so a symbol becomes mandatory to help us realize the Unknowable. Om, therefore, represents both the unmanifest (nirguna) and manifest (saguna) aspects of God. That is why it is called pranava, to mean that it pervades life and runs through our prana or breath.

Om in Daily Life

Although Om symbolizes the most profound concepts of Hindu belief, it is in use daily. The Hindus begin their day or any work or a journey by uttering Om. The sacred symbol is often found at the head of letters, at the beginning of examination papers and so on. Many Hindus, as an expression of spiritual perfection, wear the sign of Om as a pendant. This symbol is enshrined in every Hindu temple premise or in some form or another on family shrines.

It is interesting to note that a newly born child is ushered into the world with this holy sign. After birth, the child is ritually cleansed and the sacred syllable Om is written on its tongue with honey. Thus right at the time of birth the syllable Om is initiated into the life of a Hindu and ever remains with him as the symbol of piety. Om is also a popular symbol used in contemporary body art and tattoos.

The Eternal Syllable

According to the Mandukya Upanishad, "Om is the one eternal syllable of which all that exists is but the development. The past, the present, and the future are all included in this one sound, and all that exists beyond the three forms of time is also implied in it".

The Music of Om

Om is not a word but rather an intonation, which, like music, transcends the barriers of age, race, culture and even species. It is made up of three Sanskrit letters, aa, au and ma which, when combined together, make the sound Aum or Om. It is believed to be the basic sound of the world and to contain all other sounds. It is a mantra or prayer in itself. If repeated with the correct intonation, it can resonate throughout the body so that the sound penetrates to the centre of one's being, the atman or soul.

There is harmony, peace and bliss in this simple but deeply philosophical sound. By vibrating the sacred syllable Om, the supreme combination of letters, if one thinks of the Ultimate Personality of Godhead and quits his body, he will certainly reach the highest state of "stateless" eternity, states the Bhagavad Gita.

The Vision of Om

Om provides a dualistic viewpoint. On one hand, it projects the mind beyond the immediate to what is abstract and inexpressible. On the other hand, it makes the absolute more tangible and comprehensive. It encompasses all potentialities and possibilities; it is everything that was, is, or can yet be. It is omnipotent and likewise remains undefined.

The Power of Om

During meditation, when we chant Om, we create within ourselves a vibration that attunes sympathy with the cosmic vibration and we start thinking universally. The momentary silence between each chant becomes palpable. Mind moves between the opposites of sound and silence until, at last, it ceases the sound. In the silence, the single thought—Om—is quenched; there is no thought. This is the state of trance, where the mind and the intellect are transcended as the individual self merges with the Infinite Self in the pious moment of realization. It is a moment when the petty worldly affairs are lost in the desire for the universal. Such is the immeasurable power of Om.

How to Type it on your Computer

Try this! To get the Om symbol on your computer screen, open MS Word and key in backslash ( \ ) in Wingdings font. You will type in Om!

Ganesha Arti Hindi

2009-07-02T02:29:00.000-07:00

II Ganesh Aarti - Hindi II

II Ganesh Aarti - English II

JAI GANESH JAI GANESH JAI GANESH DEVA
MATA JAKII PARVATII, PITAA MAHAADEVA
EKA DANTA DAYAVANTA, CAAR BHUJA DHAARII
MATHE SINDUURA SOHAI, MUUSE KII SAVARI
JAI GANESH...

ANDHANA KO AANKHA DETA
KORHINA KO KAAYAA
BANJHANA KO PUTRA DETA
NIRDHANA KO MAAYA
JAI GANESH...

PAANA CARHE, PHUULA CARHE
AURA CARHE MEVA
LADDUAN KO BHOGA LAGE
SANT KAREN SEVA
JAI GANESHA...

Ganesha Arti in Gujarati

2009-07-02T02:27:00.001-07:00

Ganapati Arti in Marathi

2009-07-02T02:23:00.000-07:00

Sukhkarta dukhharta varta vighnachi I

Nurvi purvi prem kripa jayachi I

Sarvangi sundar uti shendurachi I

Kanthi zalke mal mukta- phalachi II 1 II

Jaya dev jaya dev jaya mangal murti I

Darshanmatre mankamana purti I

Ratnakhachit fara tuj gaurikumra I

Chandanachi uti kumkumkeshara I

Hirejadit mugut Shobhato bara I

Runzunati nupure charni ghagaria II 2 II

Lambodar Pitambar phadi varvandana I

Saral sond vakratunda trinayan I

Das ramacha vat pahe sadana I

Sankti pavave Nirvani Rakshave survarvandana II 3 II

Jaya dev jaya dev jaya mangal murti I

Darshanmatre mankamana purti II Darshan.II

Astrology

2009-07-02T02:21:00.000-07:00

Differnce Between Vedic Astrology and Western Astrology :

There are many differences between Vedic astrology and Western astrology, but the main difference is that the Vedic astrologers use the Sidereal system or fixed zodiac while Western astrologer use the Tropical system or moving zodiac. Another important difference is that Western astrology mostly deals with one's psychological patterns and personality while Vedic astrology deals with more of practical matters and one's karmic patterns.The Nine Grahas (Planets) and Rashis (Zodiacs) of Vedic Astrology

The Nine Grahas or Planets used in Vedic astrology are:

Common Name	Sanskrit Name
Sun	Ravi or Surya
Moon`	Candra
Mars	Mangala
Mercury	Budha
Jupiter	Guru
Venus	Shukra
Saturn	Shani
Rahu	Rahu
Ketu	Ketu

The Zodiac is made up of 12 different sun signs. Your date of birth determines which one you are.

Sign Name	Sanskrit Name	Symbol	Planet	Number	Element
Aries	Mesha	The Ram	Mars	1	Fire
Taurus	Vrishabha		Venus	2	Earth
Gemini	Mithuna	The Twins	Mercury	3	Air
Cancer	Kataka	The Crab	Moon<	4	Water
Leo	Singha	The Lion	Sun	5	Fire
Virgo	Kany	The Virgin	Mercury	6	Earth
Libra	Tula	The Scales	Venus	7	Air
Scorpio	Vrishchika	The Scorpion	Pluto	8	Water
Sagittarius	Dhanus	The Archer	Jupiter	9	Fire
Capricorn	Makara	The Goat	Saturn	10	Earth
Aquarius	Kumbha	The water Carrier	Uranus	11	Air
Pisces	Meena	The Fishes	Neptune	12	Water

Navgraha Mantra's

2009-07-02T02:13:00.000-07:00

Surya : Om hram hreem hroum sah suryaya namah

Chandra : Om shram sreem shraum sah chandraya namah

Mangala : Om kram kreem kroum sah bhaumaya namah
Budha : Om bram breem broum sah budhaya namah
Guru : Om jhram jhreem jroum sah gurave namah
Shukra : Om dram dreem droum sah shukraya namah
Shani : Om pram preem proum sah shanaischaraya namah
Rahu : Om bhram bhreem bhroum sah rahave namah
Ketu : Om shram shreem shroum sah ketave namah

Wearing Rudraksha Rosary (Mala)

2009-07-02T02:06:00.000-07:00

Wearing Rudraksha Rosary

This rosary is worn after proper sanctification with Mantras preferably at a Shiva Temple. It is best to wear the rosary for the first time on a Monday immediately after the sanctification process. One other thing to be noted is that the same Mala is not used for wearing as well as Japa purpose. Also the rosary worn cannot be exchanged or swapped even between family members. However, a rudraksha mala can be willed and passed on to the next generation. Wearing the rudraksha beads rosary helps to raise Kundalini and open the Heart Chakra. This Beads have healing and curative properties and helps to lower blood pressure, stress, anger etc and creates stability within the entire system.

It is advisable to remove the mala when going to sleep and worn in the morning after bath and chanting Shiva panchakshri mantra (Om Namah Shivay) 108 times except when on travel. When not worn the mala should be stored in a clean and sacred space, preferably on a personal alter or near the statue of a deity. These beads not worn to toilets, during periods of menstrual bleeding or while attending funerals. Proper care should be taken while cleaning the beads. More on Rudraksha and the individual power of beads can be found on my Blog

Using Rudraksha Rosary for Mantra Chanting

2009-07-02T02:01:00.000-07:00

Using Rudraksha Rosary for Mantra Chanting

Sit in a comfortable position with eyes closed and mind focused on the mantra. The rosary can rest on the right hand ring finger and middle finger can be used for Japa. One can also hang the string between the thumb and the ring finger and use middle to rotate the beads. Another method of using the rosary is hanging the rosary on the middle finger and the thumb is used for rotating the beads. The beads are rotated by one bead towards oneself, with each breath and repetition of the mantra. The index and small fingers are considered inauspicious for japa and the rosary should never touch the ground while japa. The Sumeru is never crossed while chanting and once Sumeru is reached the counting is done in the reverse direction.While chanting the hand can be placed on in front of the heart at the center of the chest or on the right knee. Mostly 108 + 1 bead rosary is used for this purpose but if one is using 27 +1 or 54 + 1 rosary make sure that your mantra chants should be 108 times or in multiples of 108. To energize the rosary one should do the mantra chanting with the rosary for 40 continuous days.

Rudraksha

2009-07-02T01:57:00.000-07:00

Rudraksha Rosary (mala)

Rudraksha Beads Rosary is considered most auspicious and is considered the best options to be adopted for alternative medicine methodologies like meditation, tai chi, yoga, biofeedback etc. This rosary have been worn by Saints and Sages from ages for attaining spiritual attributes. The power of these beads has greatly influenced Buddhism and other religions as well. This beads are also worn by those desiring good health, peace, happiness, spiritual enlightment, prosperity, family harmony, attraction, fearless life and several other spiritual gains.

This holy beads rosary is also referred to as ‘Japa Mala' as it is used for japa(chanting). The rosary is normally made out of 5 mukhi beads in auspicious numbers like 108+1, 54+1 or 27+1. The +1 bead is called Sumeru and it is not crossed while chanting. Sumeru is considered as boundary for the one to reverse the direction for further counting while chanting.

According to Puranas that Rudraksha are to be worn in different numbers on the different parts of the body like head, neck, wrists, both fore arms, waist, abdomen etc to acquire Special Siddhis. The number of beads is very important when wearing on different parts of the body like 27 or 54 or 108 for neck, 32 for throat, six, eleven or fifteen for arms, 5 for the waist etc.

What is Meditation

2009-07-02T01:29:00.000-07:00

Meditation: What it is !!!

An ordinary person may consider meditation as a worship or prayer. But it is not so. Meditation means awareness. Whatever you do with awareness is meditation. "Watching your breath" is meditation; listening to the birds is meditation. As long as these activities are free from any other distraction to the mind, it is effective meditation.

Meditation is not a technique but a way of life. Meditation means 'a cessation of the thought process' . It describes a state of consciousness, when the mind is free of scattered thoughts and various patterns . The observer (one who is doing meditation) realizes that all the activity of the mind is reduced to one.

A Tibetan Lama was being monitored on a brain scan machine by a scientist wishing to test physiological functions during deep meditation. The scientist said - "Very good Sir. The machine shows that you are able to go very deep in brain relaxation, and that validates your meditation". "No", said the Lama, "This (pointing to his brain) validates the machine!".

These days it is commonly understood to mean some form of spiritual practice where one sits down with eyes closed and empties the mind to attain inner peace, relaxation or even an experience of God. Some people use the term as "my gardening is my meditation" or for jogging or art or music, hence creating confusion or misunderstanding.

The word meditation, is derived from two Latin words : meditari(to think, to dwell upon, to exercise the mind) and mederi (to heal). Its Sanskrit derivation 'medha' means wisdom.

Many years ago meditation was considered something just not meant for modern people, but now it has become very popular with all types of people. Published scientific and medical evidence has proved its benefits, but it still needs to be much understood.

Traditionally, the classical yoga texts, describe that to attain true states of meditation one must go through several stages. After the necessary preparation of personal and social code, physical position, breath control, and relaxation come the more advanced stages of concentration, contemplation, and then ultimately absorption. But that does not mean that one must perfect any one stage before moving onto the next. The Integral yoga approach is simultaneous application of a little of all stages together.

Commonly today, people can mean any one of these stages when they refer to the term meditation. Some schools only teach concentration techniques, some relaxation, and others teach free form contemplative activities like just sitting and awaiting absorption. Some call it meditation without giving credence to yoga for fear of being branded 'eastern'. But yoga is not something eastern or western as it is universal in its approach and application.

With regular practice of a balanced series of techniques, the energy of the body and mind can be liberated and the quality of consciousness can be expanded. This is not a subjective claim but is now being investigated by the scientists and being shown by an empirical fact.

Shukra Strotam

2009-07-01T21:54:00.000-07:00

Sai Baba2

2009-06-25T04:42:00.000-07:00

sai baba1

2009-06-25T04:40:00.001-07:00

Sai Baba seen in yagya flames

sai baba1

2009-06-25T04:40:00.000-07:00

Sai Baba seen in yagya flames

15 rules by swami Vivekananda

2009-06-20T05:30:00.000-07:00

15 rules by swami Vivekananda

1. Love Is The Law Of Life: All love is expansion, all selfishness is contraction. Love is therefore the only law of life. He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore, love for love's sake, because it is law of life, just as you breathe to live.

2. It's Your Outlook That Matters: It is our own mental attitude, which makes the world what it is for us. Our thoughts make things beautiful, our thoughts make things ugly. The whole world is in our own minds. Learn to see things in the proper light.

3. Life is Beautiful: First, believe in this world - that there is meaning behind everything. Everything in the world is good, is holy and beautiful. If you see something evil, think that you do not understand it in the right light. Throw the burden on yourselves!

4. It's The Way You Feel: Feel like Christ and you will be a Christ; feel like Buddha and you will be a Buddha. It is feeling that is the life, the strength, and the vitality, without which no amount of intellectual activity can reach God.

5. Set Yourself Free: The moment I have realized God sitting in the temple of every human body, the moment I stand in reverence before every human being and see God in him - that moment I am free from bondage, everything that binds vanishes, and I am free.

6. Don't Play The Blame Game: Condemn none: if you can stretch out a helping hand, do so. If you cannot, fold your hands, bless your brothers, and let them go their own way.

7. Help Others: If money helps a man to do good to others, it is of some value; but if not, it is simply a mass of evil, and the sooner it is got rid of, the better.

8. Uphold Your Ideals: Our duty is to encourage every one in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea, and strive at the same time to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth.

9. Listen To Your Soul: You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.

10. Be Yourself: The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourselves!

11. Nothing Is Impossible: Never think there is anything impossible for the soul. It is the greatest heresy to think so. If there is sin, this is the only sin - to say that you are weak, or others are weak.

12. You Have The Power: All the powers in the universe are already ours. It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark.

13. Learn Everyday: The goal of mankind is knowledge... now this knowledge is inherent in man. No knowledge comes from outside: it is all inside. What we say a man 'knows', should, in strict psychological language, be what he 'discovers' or 'unveils'; what man 'learns' is really what he discovers by taking the cover off his own soul, which is a mine of infinite knowledge.

14. Be Truthful: Everything can be sacrificed for truth, but truth cannot be sacrificed for anything.

15. Think Different: All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.

दो कदम

2009-06-20T05:27:00.000-07:00

मैं दो कदम चलता और एक पल को रुकता मगर...........
इस एक पल जिन्दगी मुझसे चार कदम आगे बढ जाती ।
मैं फिर दो कदम चलता और एक पल को रुकता और....
जिन्दगी फिर मुझसे चार कदम आगे बढ जाती ।
युँ ही जिन्दगी को जीतता देख मैं मुस्कुराता और....
जिन्दगी मेरी मुस्कुराहट पर हैंरान होती ।
ये सिलसिला यहीं चलता रहता.....
फिर एक दिन मुझे हंसता देख एक सितारे ने पुछा..........
" तुम हार कर भी मुस्कुराते हो ! क्या तुम्हें दुख नहीं होता हार का ? "
तब मैंनें कहा................
मुझे पता हैं एक ऐसी सरहद आयेगी जहाँ से आगे
जिन्दगी चार कदम तो क्या एक कदम भी आगे ना बढ पायेगी,
तब जिन्दगी मेरा इन्तज़ार करेगी और मैं......
तब भी युँ ही चलता रुकता अपनी रफ्तार से अपनी धुन मैं वहाँ पहुँगा.......
एक पल रुक कर, जिन्दगी को देख कर मुस्कुराउगा..........
बीते सफर को एक नज़र देख अपने कदम फिर बढाँउगा।
ठीक उसी पल मैं जिन्दगी से जीत जाउगा.........
मैं अपनी हार पर भी मुस्कुराता था और अपनी जीत पर भी......
मगर जिन्दगी अपनी जीत पर भी ना मुस्कुरा पाई थी और अपनी हार पर भी ना रो पायेगी ।

पीड़

2009-06-20T05:17:00.000-07:00

हो गई है पीड़ पर्वत-सी पिघलनी चाहिए,
इस हिमालय से कोई गंगा निकलनी चाहिए।

आज यह दीवार, परदों की तरह हिलने लगी,
शर्त लेकिन थी कि ये बुनियाद हिलनी चाहिए।

हर सड़क पर, हर गली में, हर नगर, हर गाँव में,
हाथ लहराते हुए हर लाश चलनी चाहिए।

सिर्फ हंगामा खड़ा करना मेरा मकसद नहीं,
मेरी कोशिश है कि ये सूरत बदलनी चाहिए।

मेरे सीने में नहीं तो तेरे सीने में सही,
हो कहीं भी आग, लेकिन आग जलनी चाहिए।