Revered Hinduism

Personal Article 2: A day with the Guru (and my Parents) Since recent past days, I have had many questions wandering in my mind with no definite answers. I was longing to meet such person who could remove all my delusion. Finally, today I got a chance to meet my Guru and spend few hours with him, along with my parents. Here, I have tried to reproduce the valuable conversations we had in that short period. I have added my own understandings as well, and tried to beautify them (in the form of story/article), but without affecting the principal lessons. Conversation 1 I asked the Guru my first question. Right after listening to my words, he smiled a little and started telling me a story. The story goes like this: Once there was a wise sage. He was very religious. He used to live in a countryside. He had a small hut, and was single. One day, unfortunately his hut caught the fire, and everything he had was gone. So there arose a need for him to migrate to the...

Personal Article 1: Fate & Karma Our life is influenced by two factors. They are Fate and Karma. Both Fate and Karma are pre-written by God at the time of our birth. Fate is called "Bhagya" in Sanskrit. The word Baghya is derived from the word "Bhag" which means accumulated fruit (good results). And the term "Karma" means "Kriya", i.e. action. There are two Karmas: Past Karma and Present Karma. Past Karma are actions done in past lives whereas Present Karma means actions that have been done, or yet to be done, in this current life. Fate determines what fruits are to be enjoyed (suffered) in this current life according to the actions done in the past lives. Our current Fate is the result of our past Karma. And our present Karma will determine our future Fate. Virtuous Karma produces good Fate and sinful Karma produces bad Fate. Actions done in current life, after enjoying some of its portion, will be reserved as Fate for next life, in wh...

Gayatri Mantra, The Mother of the Vedas ॐ भूर्भुव: स्व: | तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं | भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि | धियो यो न: प्रचोदयात् || Om, The Material World (mortal world, or Prithvi Loka), The Nether World (hellish world, or Patala Loka), The Celestial World (heavenly world, or Swarga Loka), The Supreme Being, The Source To Be Worshiped, The Divine Light, Its Sacred Truth, We Deeply Meditate, The Intellect, Which To Us, May Light Be Endowed. The Gayatri Mantra, also known as the Savitri mantra, is the Universal Prayer enshrined in the Vedas, the most ancient Scriptures of Man. This Mantra is considered to be the Essence of the teachings of the Vedas. In general term, it translates "Om. Let us meditate upon the glory of Lord, Who has created this Universe (the three worlds), Who is fit to be worshiped, and Who is the remover of all si...

Sri Hari Stotram: Mantra with Meaning Sri Hari Stotram is a hymn in the praise of Lord Hari (Vishnu), composed by Swami Brahmananda, one of the great ascetics. Regular recitation of this octet ends the miseries of birth and old age, and the devotee would reach the abode of Hari, which is free from pain and sufferings. Composed By: Swami Brahmananda Lord Vishnu Play the music, and sing the stotra along with it ॥ श्री—हरी—स्तोत्रम् ॥ जगज्जाल-पालं कचत्कण्ठ-मालं शरच्चन्द्र-भालं महा-दैत्य-कालम् । नभो-नीलकायं दुरावारमायं सुपद्मा-सहायं भजेऽहं भजेऽहम् ।।१।। I adore Lord Hari, Who is the protector of the world, Who is adorned with shining garland on His neck, Who has a forehead radiant like the autumn-moon, Who is the destroyer of dreadful demons, Who is blue hued like the sky, Whose Maya (illusions) are invincible, and Who is with His consort Padma (Lakshmi), I adore Him. सदाम्भोधि-वासं गलत्पुष्प-हासं जगत्सन्निवासं शता-दित्य-भासम् । गदा-चक्र...

Suvarnamala Stuti: Mantra with Meaning Suvarnamala Stuti is a hymn of praise for Lord Shiva consisting of 50 verses, composed by Adi Shankaracharya. The first half of each verse sings the glory of Lord Shiva, whereas the last half is about surrendering to His divine feet. Adi Shankara has praised Lord Shiva as the eternally auspicious God, Who is the consort of Parvati (the Divine Mother), and Who is always peaceful and the source of all happiness. Recitation of this stotra on a regular basis fulfils one's needs, purifies the mind and helps to cross the miseries of this worldly existence. Composed By: Adi Shankaracharya Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha Play the music, and sing the stotra along with it. The verses with blue background is the short version of the Stotra (as per the audio). ॥ सुवर्णमालास्तुतिः ॥ अथ कथमपि मद्रसनां त्वद्गुणलेशैर्विशोधयामि विभो । साम्ब सदाशिव शम्भो शङ्कर शरणं मे तव चरणयुगम् ॥१॥ O Lord, I shall, even though with di...

Shiva Panchakshara Stotram: Mantra with Meaning Shiva Panchakshara Stotra is a five-letters stotra, referring to the five holy letters 'Na', 'Ma', 'Si', 'Va', 'Ya' ('न', 'म', 'शि', 'वा', 'य' in Sanskrit), composed by Shri Adi Shankaracharya (who is also considered as an incarnation of Shiva Himself). This is a prayer to Lord Shiva, and is associated with Shiva's Mantra Om Namah Shivaya, which itself is also called Panchakshari Mantra. According to Hindu tradition, the whole universe is made up of five elements or Tattwas, so as the Human Body, and these holy letters represent each of these elements. The letter 'Na' consecrates Prithvi (Earth) Tattwa, 'Ma' consecrates Jal (Water) Tattwa, 'Shi' energizes Agni (Fire) Tattwa, 'Va' energizes Vayu (Air) Tattwa, and finally 'Ya' energizes Akash (Sky/Space) Tattwa. Each of the holy letters in this Stotra is con...

Vishnu Shatpadi Stotram: Mantra with Meaning Shatpadi Stotram is a glorious composition of Shri Adi Shankaracharya that is soaked in the devotion of the Lord Vishnu and prayer to His lotus feet for getting liberation from this worldly existence. While Shri Shankara’s poetic genius is expressed in the style, his benevolence is evident in each word that is a precise instruction to us for the purification of the mind. Composed By: Adi Shankaracharya Shri Vishnu Play the music, and sing the stotra along with it ॥ श्री विष्णुषट्पदी स्तोत्रम् ॥ अविनय-मपनय विष्णो दमय मनः शमय विषय-मृग-तृष्णाम् । भूतदयां विस्तारय तारय संसार-सागरतः ।। १ ।। O Vishnu! Leading away from egoism, fill my mind with peace and destroy the enduring greed for desires. Expand my mind with compassion for all beings, and help me cross the ocean of worldly existence (rebirth). दिव्यधुनी-मकरन्दे परिमल-परिभोग-सच्चिदानन्दे । श्रीपति-पदारविन्दे भव-भय-खेदच्छिदे वन्दे ।। २ ।। I s...