Maa Saraswati – the Goddess of Learning

Devi Sarasvati is the goddess of knowledge, music and Arts. The name Sarasvati comes from “saras” means Flow, and wati “a women”. So sarasvati is the symbol of Knowledge. Goddess Saraswati is the consort of Brahma the Creator and is worshipped as the goddess of learning, wisdom, speech, and music. Hindus offer prayer to Saraswati before beginning any intellectual pursuit, and in Hinduism  students are encouraged to offer prayers to her during the school/college.

Lord Indra – Indian god of rain

Lord Indra, the Indian god of rain, is believed to be the leader of all the Devas. He is the son of Aditi and sage Kashayapa. His capital city is Amravati, in the heavens. He possesses an elephant known as Iyravata and a divine cow named Kamadhenu. This cow is capable of yielding anything desired by the seekers and hence Indra is very rich.

Indra is the principal deity of the Rig Veda. Most of the hymns in this primary text of Hinduism are addressed to him. Indra, is all powerful and supreme among gods. He is the lord of the skies, of thunder and rain.
Story goes that his mother Aditi knew he would never perish and so when she sensed some danger to herself, she decided to abandon the child, knowing full well that he would survive wherever he went. But Indra refused to go and followed his mother. He chanced to drink some the juice of the soma plant (intoxicant) and so gained even greater strength. Then when the demon Vrtra advanced towards his house, Aditi tried to hide Indra, but Indra plunged into a full fledge battle. Vrtra blocked rivers and so caused great sorrow to the followers of Indra. This battle is recorded as one of the most famous ones in Hindu mythology. Though Indra is said to have sought the blessings and support of Lord Vishnu, his victory over Vrtra made him a legend even in his times.

The Ambubachi Mela – A fertility festival in the Hindu religion

The Ambubachi Mela in Guwahati is celebrated every year during the monsoon season, the month of June. The Ambubachi Mela is celebrated in Guwahati, Assam, India. The Ambubachi Mela is the most important festival of the Kamakhya Temple of Guwahati. The Ambubachi is a ritual of accesses observed with “Tantrik means”.



The Ambubachi Puja marks the yearly menstruation course of mother Kamakhya. It is believed that during the monsoon rains the creative and nurturing power of the ‘menses’ of Mother Earth becomes accessible to devotees at this site during the mela. The four day period is very auspicious for tantrik cults, who observe tough penance to gain Siddhis at this time. During the Ambubachi Mela in Guwahati, the doors of the Kamakhya Temple remain closed for three days. It is believed that the Mother Earth becomes unclean for three days. During this time any kind of farming work is not taken on. Daily worships and other religious performances are also stopped during the Ambubachi Mela of Guwahati in Assam.

People in large numbers wait outside the temple on the fourth day, when the temple will be opened. Sanyasins and Pandas from around the country assemble at the Kamakhya temple during this period. Large number of devotees make a mad rush when the temple reopens to receive the unique ‘prasad’ which is small bits of cloth, which is supposedly moist with the menstrual fluid of Goddess Kamakhya. It is considered highly auspicious and powerful.

In 2015, the beginning date of Ambubachi Mela is June 22 and the festival ends on June 26.

“Om Hrim Sum Suryaya Namah”

“Om Hrim Sum Suryaya Namah”

The mantras are chanted on japa beads of 108 beads per string.

In Vedic astrology, the Sun is the principal of light, life and love

The Aarti – A Hindu religious ritual of worship

The Sanskrit word aratrika with the same meaning aarti is a Hindu religious ritual of worship, a part of puja, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) or camphor is offered to one or more deities.  It is a prayerful ceremony performed in extolled greeting and thanksgiving of the Deities where devotees are reminded of God’s glorious presence and providence. Often it is  performed in temples six or seven times per day.

Shiva Tandava – A vigorous dance

Shiva’s Tandava is described as a vigorous dance that is the source of the cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution.Shiva Tandava Stotram is a stotra, hymn of praise in the Hindu tradition that describes Shiva’s power and beauty.It is believed that Lord Shiva is the king of all dancers. He was an expert in the thandava style of dancing.

“Shiva Tandava”

Jatatavee gala jjala pravaha pavitha sthale,
Gale avalabhya lambithaam bhujanga thunga malikaam,
Dama ddama dama ddama ninnadava damarvayam,
Chakara chanda thandavam thanothu na shiva shivam.

Jata kataha sambhramabrama nillimpa nirjari,
Vilola veechi vallari viraja mana moordhani,
Dhaga dhaga daga jjwala lalata patta pavake,
Kishora Chandra shekare rathi prathi kshanam mama.

Dara darendra nandini vilasa bhandhu bhandura,
Sphuradigantha santhathi pramodha mana manase,
Krupa kadaksha dhorani niruddha durdharapadi,
Kwachi digambare mano vinodhamethu vasthuni.

Jada bhujanga pingala sphurath phana mani prabha,
Kadamba kumkuma drava praliptha digwadhu mukhe,
Madhandha sindhura sphurathwagu utthariya medhure,
Mano vinodhamadhbutham bibarthu bhootha bharthari.

Sahasra lochana prabhoothyasesha lekha shekhara,
Prasoona dhooli dhorani vidhu sarangri peedabhu,
Bhujangaraja Malaya nibhadha jada jhootaka,
Sriyai chiraya jayatham chakora bandhu shekhara.

Lalata chathwara jwaladhanam jaya sphulingabha,
Nipeetha pancha sayagam saman nilimpanayakam,
Sudha mayookha lekhaya virajamana shekharam,
Maha kapali sampade, siro jadalamasthu na.

Karala bhala pattika dhagadhaga jjwala,
Ddhanam jayahuthi krutha prachanda pancha sayage ,
Dharadharendra nandhini kuchagra chithrapathraka,
Prakalpanaika shilpini, trilochane rather mama.

Naveena megha mandali nirudha durdharath sphurath,
Kahoo niseedhi neethama prabhandha bandha kandhara,
Nilimpa nirjari darsthanothu kruthi sindhura,
Kala nidhana bandhura sriyam jagat durandhara.

Prafulla neela pankaja prapancha kalima prabha,
Valambhi kanda kanthali ruchi prabandha kandharam,
Smarschidham puraschidham bhavaschidham makhachidham,
Gajachidandakachidham tham anthakachidham bhaje.

Agarva sarva mangalaa kalaa kadamba manjari,
Rasa pravaha madhuri vijrumbha mana madhu vrtham,
Suranthakam, paranthakam, bhavanthakam, makhandakam,
Gajandhakandhakandakam thamanthakanthakam bhaje.

Jayathwadhabra vibramadbujaamga maswasath,
Vinirgamath, kramasphurath, karala bhala havya vat,
Dhimi dhimi dhimi dhwanan mrudanga thunga mangala,
Dhwani karma pravarthitha prachanda thandawa shiva.

Drusha dwichi thra thalpayor bhujanga moukthika srajo,
Garishta rathna loshtayo suhrudhwi paksha pakshayo,
Trunara vinda chakshusho praja mahee mahendrayo,
Samapravarthika kadha sadashivam bhajamyaham.

Kada nilampa nirjaree nikunja kotare vasan,
Vimuktha durmathee sada sirasthanjaleem vahan,
Vilola lola lochano lalama bhala lagnaka,
Shivethi manthamucharan kada sukhee bhavamyaham.

Imam hi nithya meva muktha muthamothamam sthavam,
Padan, smaran broovan naro vishudhimethi santhatham,
Hare Gurou subhakthimasu yathi nanyadha gatheem,
Vimohinam hi dehinaam sushakarasya chithanam.

Poojavasana samaye dasa vakhra geetham,
Ya shambhu poojana param padthi pradhoshe,
Thasya sthiraam radha gajendra thuranga yuktham,
Lakshmeem sadaiva sumukheem pradadathi shambu.

Ithi Ravana krutham,
Shiva thandava stotram,
Sampoornam

The Holy Saint Baba Parkashpuri Ji

A divine soul took birth In the latter half of nineteenth century on an auspicious Thursday. The day of the birth of this divine consciousness fell on Guru Purnima (a full moon day falling on the day dedicated to the Guru). In childhood Satya Parkash was having an extra ordinary dream regularly and repeatedly. he was wearing the saffron clothes. He, now, started enjoying the company of holy men and saints. It seemed that he was gradually moving towards the illumined world of school and moving towards the illumined world of spirituality. He would humbly present to the sadhus whatever he possessed. Slowly, but certainly, his mind now was moving towards the world of renunciation and detachment. Giving up the school education, Satya Prakash become eager to sit at the feet of a Sadguru so that he could realize his spiritual self. After renouncing home and family, the young Satya Prakash went to Sri shail Mountain to have a darshan (holy glimpse) of Sri mallika-arjin Jyotirlingam (Luminous phallic symbol, an emblem of Lord Shiva). Satya Prakash believed that there was no religious practice better than service to the Guru, Baba Guptpuri made him an adept in all the techniques of Yoga and meditation. Not only this, he showered his affection by regressing his disciple with his spiritual powers and boons. Baba Prakashpuri was a man of detachment.. However, for his attendants and disciples he was very kind-hearted and generous. Baba Prakashpuri was a simple, and inostentatious saint . He was at peace with his own inner self. Babaji was a Sadguru (worthy preceptor), a siddh (manifested with magical power) saint. He was a man of few words, and those words are always positive.

The Kundalini – serpent power

Kundalini is a Sanskrit word that literally means “snake.” Kundalini is also called “serpent power” because this sleeping spiritual force in every human being lies coiled at the base of the spine. Once awakened, it rises through a series of centers, also called chakras, and finds expression in the form of spiritual knowledge and mystical visions. According to the Tantric tradition, the human body contains seven centers of subtle energy (chakras), referred to as “lotuses,” through whose channels the kundalini rises. The concept of kundalini can also be examined from a strictly psychological perspective. From this perspective kundalini can be thought of as a rich source of psychic or libidinous energy in our unconscious. The kundalini is coiled up like a very tight spring, and when released there is sometimes an explosion of power. Properly directed, the kundalini will travel up a tube in the energy body that lies close to the spine. Without proper direction, the release of kundalini can be very uncomfortable and possibly damaging.

A mermaid – JalPari

JalPari is a Hindi word formed by two Hindi words ‘jal’ means water and ‘pari’ means fairy. Jalpari is also known as Mermaid in English. A mermaid (Jalpari) is a legendary aquatic creature with the upper body of a female human and the tail of a fish. The word mermaid-Jalpari is a compound of the Old English sea, and a girl or young woman.

Sanjeevani Booti – The only magical Plant (Booti) curing any woe

Sanjeevi is the name of the mountain with auspicious and medicinal plants on it. In Hinduism this mountain is said to be very sacred. Lord Hanuman brought this mountain with the medicinal plants from Dronagiri to cure Lakshman who had fainted in the war. It is mentioned in Ramayana that during the war between Rama and Ravana, Inderjit sent a powerful weapon towards Lakshmana. He was badly wounded and fell unconscious. Ayurvedic Physicians found that the wound had done deep enough to kill him. Hanuman was called to fetch Sanjeevani Booti from the Mount Sumeru in the Himalayas. Upon reaching the mountain, Hanuman failed to identify the magical herb and carried the entire mountain to the battlefield. Within a few minutes of smelling this life saving medicinal herb , Lakshmana gained consciousness and vigor to fight in the war. According to Hindu mythology, the herb called Sanjeevani Booti is capable of curing any woe irrespective of its type and origin.

Makar Sankranti – A harvest festival

On January 14 every year, we celebrate Makar Sankranti. It is the only Indian festival celebrated on a fixed calendric day of the solar calendar. All other Indian festivals are celebrated as per the lunar calendar, which make their days of celebration on the solar calendar vary every year. Makara Sankrantiis a Hindu festival celebrated in almost all parts of India and Nepal in a myriad of cultural forms. It is a harvest festival.

Makar Sankranti has an astrological significance, as the sun enters the Capricorn (Sanskrit: Makara) zodiac constellation on that day. This date remains almost constant with respect to the Gregorian calendar. However, precession of the Earth’s axis causes Makara Sankranti to move over the ages. A thousand years ago, Makara Sankranti was on 31 December and is now on 14 January. According to calculations, from 2050 Makar Sankranti will fall on 15 January.