Spiritual GYAN

Shani has always been one of the most feared planets in Hindu astrology. Shani sade-sati is considered highly ill-fated and all other planets fail to give any positive results if Shani is in a bad position. There are numerous myths, legends related to Shani Dev, let’s have a look at some of them. Who is Lord Shani? Surya Dev  or Sun God had two sons, Yama and Shani. His mother was Chhaya and hence is also known as  Chhayaputra.  Shani Dev represents the planet Saturn and is the lord of Saturdays. His elder brother Yama is also known as God of death. While Yama, gives the results of one’s deeds after death, Shani is known to give one the fruits of his deeds in his present life itself. He is also referred to as   Saura, Pangu, Mandu, Kruradris, Asita and Saptarchi. Why is Shani Dev feared? At the time of birth of a Hindu child, the position of his astrological planets is determined, to have an account of his future. Hindus give high impor...

Shani  has always been one of the most popular and the most dreaded Gods in  Hindu mythology.  He is also referred to as  Saura, Pangu, Mandu, Kruradris, Asita and Saptarchi. Everybody fears him, but what is the reason for this fear? There have been several mythologies associated with Shani Dev. Let’s have a look at some of them: Birth of Shan It is said that  Surya Dev  was initially married to  Saranyu,  but because of his unbearable heat and brightness, she left him and went away for penance leaving her shadow  Chhaya  behind. Shani Dev is the son of Surya Dev and Chhaya, while his mother was going through severe penance. Lord Shiva has therefore, blessed Shani Dev with darkness symbolizing the power of extreme penance that he possesses. Surya Dev  or Sun God had two sons, Yama and Shani. His mother was  Chhaya  and hence is also known as  Chhayaputra.  Shani Dev represents the planet Sat...

Sri Ramakrishna used to explain beautifully the theory of reincarnation (rebirth) using a parable.  The theory of Karma is deeply linked to this idea. There was a man who was practicing Sava Sadhana (Tantrik practice using Sava or corpse as a seat for meditation).  He was worshipping the Divine Mother in a deep forest.  He had struggled hard and with great difficulty procured the items necessary for the worship.  Soon after he sat for meditation, he saw several terrible visions and finally, a tiger attacked and killed him.  Another man passing by happened to see the tiger and had climbed a tree to protect himself.  After the tiger went away, he got down from the tree and seeing the arrangements for worship at hand seated himself on the corpse and began the worship. In no time he had the vision of the Divine Mother who being pleased with his worship wanted to grant him a boon.  The man bowed with deep devotion and told the Divine Mot...

You must be wondering, why this title! Well, if you analyze, Reception is done to introduce the bride to all the relatives and the friends of the Groom’s family. Generally, this post wedding ceremony is celebrated immediately after the marriage or after a few days of the marriage. Nowadays, it so happens that receptions are a big deal and is observed with the same pomp and show as the marriage. The difference lies in the fact that, mostly  Hindu marriage  is arranged by the bride’s family and the reception is arranged by the Groom’s family. India, being a land of diversity, is rich in culture and heritage. So, ceremonies differ from religion to religion and place to place, as each is guided by their own customs and norms. Usually, the reception party is held after the wedding day and is attended by the friends and relatives from both the families, who essentially gather to celebrate with the newly wedded couple. Rituals? No, this does not fall under the rituals of Sana...

Different cultures have different ways of celebrating this spotlight-occasion. The Indian way of marriage is well-known throughout the world as one of the most extravagant and lavish ceremonies. Its charm and brilliance draw people even from other parts of the world to celebrate their one and only best occasion in the Indian way. Varmala is not just a fancy ceremony, instead, is considered to be an integral part of any  Hindu wedding . This ritual has also been mentioned in Vedic literature books of ancient times. It can be otherwise named as Jaimala. Varmala means exchanging of garlands by the bride and the groom. It is made of fresh and pious flowers. In ancient times it was believed to be the acceptance ritual by the bride and the groom for the marriage.  Even in Gandharva Vivahs, the marriage of celestial beings, the marriage was sealed by the exchange of garlands. Significance of Varmala Ceremony                   ...

Buddha Purnima is a Buddhist festival which celebrates the birth anniversary of  Gautam Buddha . It is celebrated majorly in India and the South East Asian countries like Nepal.Buddha Purnima is celebrated every year on the full moon day of Hindu month Vaishakha. This year the festival will fall on May 10. This day is said to be Purnima as Buddha was born on the night of full moon. It is also known as the Vesak day. Gautama Buddha has always been an inspiration for many. His journey of life is unique and is also difficult to attain. There was a boy named Siddhartha Gautama who was born in Nepal during 6th to 4th century BC. From the beginning, he was predicted to be either a great King or a great Spiritual leader. Being born into a royal family, his father wanted him to lead the kingdom and hence kept him away from all the sorrows and miseries of the world. One fine day he happened to visit a city and saw different kinds of people and situations which made him curious abo...

Tilak ceremony, in other words, can be called as the Groom acceptance ceremony.  It is essentially a process of acceptance of the groom as a competent person to marry the girl. This ritual holds a very significant position in Indian Marriages and has many reasons associated with it. The Tilak ceremony is also known as Teep in the Eastern parts of India and Pottu or Chenkai in South India. It is quite different in different parts of the Country. In some places, the bride and her mother are not allowed to attend the ceremony. In general, Tilak is normally held at the grooms’ residence. However, it is sometimes conducted at the temples as well. On the whole, you can say that it is the start of the ice-breaking ceremony between the Bride and the Groom’s family. Rituals Of Tilak Ceremony The thali used in the Tilak ceremony has different components depending on the region or culture of the respective families. But, in general, these are the products used: tilak, sand...

Among all the pre wedding ceremonies among  Hindus, Mehendi  is the most exciting one. It is all about art and creativity and brings in a sense of upcoming beauty in the Bride’s life. Out of all the solha shringars, Mehendi forms a significant one. According to the ritual, the bride does not step out of the house after this ceremony. Mehendi ceremony is essentially organized by the family of the bride and is usually a private affair which takes place in the presence of friends, relatives and family members. Origin Of Mehendi Mehendi  is extracted from a plant named Heena which is a small shrub and is found in tropical climates. The leaves and flowers of the plant are turned into a thick paste and used to draw these beautiful body arts. Reference to uses of henna can be traced back to the Bronze ages. In the bible, henna is referred to a Camphire. In and around the Indian subcontinent, henna has been used as a cosmetic even before Vedic ages. References of he...

Indian weddings may be ridiculed for being excessively big and fat but, the entertainment factor associated is incomparable. There are certain rituals which will pull out all the artistic qualities in you and make you forget all your stress. Indian marriages are more about bonding between all the members of two families instead of just tying the knot between the couples. The most important ritual responsible for the outburst of emotions is Sangeet. Even if it seems like just a fun-filled ceremony, the reality is far deeper. Check out what all Sangeet brings along with it for us! Origin Of Sangeet Sangeet was initially started to unwind from the stress of marriage preparations. Traditionally arranged for the bride by her family, who invite a number of female guests, the “sangeet” is celebrated in the spirit of light-heartedness, replete with sweet foods, the telling of jokes and the relating of fond memories pertaining to the bride. It may, therefore, be compared to th...

Goddess Sita – is the most adorable, influential and powerful female character of the entire Indian Mythology. Her tales and stories of being a dedicated and loving wife, mother, and daughter is awe inspiring. She can be said as the perfect idol for all the women. Sita Navami or Jayanti is the day which celebrates the birth of this extraordinary personality. Goddess Sita was born on this day and hence it is also known as Janki Navami. It is celebrated during Shukla Paksha of Vaishakha month. Even Lord Ram was born on Navami Tithi during Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month. Hence according to the Hindu calendar, Sita Jayanti falls after one month of Rama Navami. Sita Navami Puja Muhurta = 10:56 to 13:29 Duration = 2 Hours 32 Mins Sita Navami Madhyahna Moment = 12:13 A walk through the Life of Goddess Sita The king of Mithila –‘ Janaka’ was once plowing the land to conduct a Yajna and he found a baby girl in the Golden casket. This girl was none other than Goddes...

The Haldi ceremony is a very important part of  Hindu weddings  and marks the beginning of the wedding rituals. The bride and the groom are smeared with this natural yellow paste before they tie the knot. Now you must be wondering that how will this  Haldi  be helpful! We will know that in this article. Origin Of Haldi During the Vedic period in India, turmeric was known as the ‘’golden spice’’ or the ‘‘spice of life’’ as it was associated with the sun. It got this identity due to the bright yellow color it possessed which depicted the Sun. Rituals Of Haldi Ceremony The Haldi ceremony or the Ubtan ceremony prepares the bride and the groom for the wedding day. It is said to be the at home beautification process in a natural way before the marriage. Usually, the arrangements are made outdoors, in a spacious venue. For the Ubtan, a paste of turmeric, gram flour, curd, sandalwood, rose water is made. For the Tel Baan, all ingredients...