The Power Within

In the Ramayana – Sita was abducted by Ravana, the king of Lanka. Rama created an army of monkeys and bears to launch an attack to Lanka in order to bring   his kidnapped wife Sita back. But, to reach to Lanka, Rama`s army need to cross a sea. There was no bridge or any way for his army to cross that sea.   Then, they planned to construct a bridge over that sea. The construction of the bridge (Ram Setu) started. Giants monkeys and bears were carrying heavy boulders and putting in the sea. Among them a little squirrel was also carrying small-small pebbles in his tiny mouth and putting in the sea. That little squirrel was looking very committed and confident in his appearance and putting his entire strength and capacity in his effort in carrying the stones and dropping into the sea. Suddenly, one monkey saw that squirrel and started laughing and mocking his effort. Other monkeys also joined him in mocking. What a small squirrel and his carried pebbles can do again...

Rishis, Sages or intellectual people of the past are depicted with simple clothes without any crown or jewelry or makeup. Some carry just one piece of clothe on their body. They carry very less luggage with them. They do not believe in possessing the material stuffs. However, even in this material world, they are highly revered. Why so…??? They are revered, not because of their material wealth, but because of their wealth of wisdom they have. Their knowledge and wisdom is their real crown. The aura in their image is the sign of their enlightenment. Their illuminating face is as radiant as jewelry. They do not need to carry any luggage, their knowledge and wisdom are their luggage, wherever, they go they carry their knowledge and wisdom. Unnecessary, they don't burden themselves with unnecessary decaying worldly stuffs which exhaust the journey of life. The wealth of knowledge and wisdom never decay and exhaust. The light of their knowledge and wisdom illumina...

Hey, you are looking happier, younger and healthier than the last time we had met one year ago. I could see an astonishing change in your personality, attitude and behavior. What happened…? What did you do…? - Mankesh asked his friend Sarvana. I remember very well, we were working together, you were always looking stressed and tensed, your mind was always cluttered with so many things and thoughts. You were appearing anxious and upset. Your life was surrounded by negativity only. Always complaining, criticizing and carping. And now, I do not not see any sign of tension and stress on your face.   That is amazing. I am happy for you, but I am curious to know about it. Sarvana replied with a genuine smile on his face – I will tell you everything in detail. That is not a big deal to be happy and healthy. Just a simple thing I did and that changed my entire life altogether. First, let us go for a cup of coffee. They both went for Coffee. Sarvana led him to the coffe...

Our Hindu society is based on the concept – Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niraamayaah meaning may all be happy, may all be free from illness. Our motive is to have a happy, peaceful and harmonious society. This Mantra is a very old mantra. Since the ancient time, people in our society have wished for the well-beings of all people irrespective of their origin. It shows that – in the ancient time also, people had the same kind of unhappiness and restlessness what we have today. Our wish for the welfare is not confined to the human beings only, but to the entire universe. We know very well - without the welfare of the entire humanity and creatures, the peace and happiness cannot dwell in the human kingdom. However, our human kingdom has not reached that stage where everybody in the society can live without fear and suffer.   Merely by wishing for the peace and happiness, our society is not going to reach that stage.For that, we need to find out the exact re...

The South is the direction of black and North is the direction is of white. The South is the direction of Kali. The color of Kali is black. Black color and instability are associated with the direction South. The north is the direction of lord Shiva. The color of lord Shiva is white. He is Karpur Gauram (as white as camphor). He looks dark because his body is smeared with ash. White color and stability is associated with the direction North. Yama, the god of death, comes from the south is black, Kama, the god of desire, is associated with the south is dark (deep green), the ocean appears dark is found in the south direction, the crematorium is situated in the south direction of the village is associated with black (mourning and sadness). Lord Shiva dwells on the mount Kailash clad with white snow. The Rivers emerge from the mountains in the North clad with snow and flow to the south and merge in the ocean in the south are white in color. Black color is the color of bo...

No, I am not going to repeat the same mythological story you might have read or heard or watched that – Lord Shiva is called Neelkanth, because his neck is of blue color. His throat became blue because - during the churning of the milky ocean for the Amrut, the elixir of immortality, the first thing emerged from the ocean was the Halahal, the deadly poison, which had the potential to destroy the entire world. Nobody but lord Shiva had that capacity to consume that Halahal. Lord Shiva was invoked. He consumed the Halahal and saved the world. Noteworthy – he did not swallow the Halahal rather hold that in the middle of his throat. The effect of the poison was so intense that his neck turned into Blue, and hence he is called Neelkanth. That is justifiable from the story, but still … why only lord Shiva was invoked for this cause…?   Why not, other gods or goddesses…? Why lord Shiva did not consume and digest that poison…? Why he held that in the middle of his throat…? Let...

The world is in the cave of darkness, and Buddha sitting on the top of the cave talking about the light where there is no illusion, delusion and assumption, only reality and clarity. In the shade of darkness – we cannot see the things at it is – in the dearth of clarity, we talk about our illusion, delusion and assumptions only, not the reality. Buddha knows – without light, the things cannot be seen and perceived as it is. That is why – he does not talk about what he sees rather he tries to make the world understand and perceive the presence of light. When they come to the light, everything will clear to them automatically. No further explanation is required.  But to experience the presence of light, we need to come out of the cave of the darkness. Here, Buddha talks about the light of knowledge. Only with the torch of knowledge, the darkness of illusion, delusion, assumption and ignorance can be dispelled. We people the cave dwellers have not perceived the li...

We work hard for earning money and luxury. We want to feel powerful. We want to have everything what Indra has. Many people in the past did severe penance to win Indrasan, the throne of Indra. There is a constant fight between Devas and Asuras for the Amravati where Indra resides. His abode`s name is Amravati, because Amrut, the elixir of immortality, is found there. This is Indra`s paradise. Everybody wants to have that paradise where every kind of luxury is available what we can imagine, wish or think of. Kalpvruksha, a tree who fulfills everything what we can imagine, Kaamdhenu cow which can fulfill everything what we can wish, Chintamani stone which can fulfill everything want we can think of. These all are found in the Indra`s abode. No need to slog for anything, just wish and that will appear. It is amazing ! Isn`t it ? Gandharva, the unraveled musician and Apsaras, the most beautiful and gracious dancers are available there. Sura, the exotic wine is available to drink. A...

Vibhuti (Sacred ash) is associated with lord Shiva. His body is smeared with ashes. There are three horizontal lines of ashes across his forehead. We can see Naga Sadhus (Naked sages) smear their body with ashes or any other sages or cult who follows Saivism apply Vibhuti across their forehead or on their body to honor lord Shiva. That is considered auspicious. At some holy places, people not only apply the Vibhuti across their forehead or on their body, but also eat that as Prasadam. It is said that – it purifies the soul and elevates the devotees of lord Shiva. Once Kamadeva tried to instill a desire in Shiva to get married with Parvati. On this, lord Shiva opened his third eye and burnt Kamadeva into ashes. Once three Asura brothers created three cities made of three metals (Gold, Silver and Iron) in the Sky, the earth and the heaven which created an imbalance and havoc in the universe. No one but lord Shiva was invoked for the help. Lord Shiva burnt three cities al...