Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Jan 23, 2012, 6:19 am
For Hindus who prefer to remember Devi Saraswati only once a year, Basant Panchami, her birthday, is the best day for her remembrance. On her last birthday, we learned that the Devi holds a book and uses a swan as her vehicle. This year, we can go on to understand what these symbolize.
Wh... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Dec 11, 2011, 9:27 pm
Hanuman Chalisa has been updated (lines 33 through 40) and can be read here. Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Oct 26, 2011, 5:44 am
The auspicious occasion of Diwali, Lord Hanuman’s preferred festival, has arrived again. Beginning today, we’ll be going through the Hanuman chalisa on this blog (in a series of weekly posts). Goswami Tulasidasa’s shlokas are in italics; they are followed by a simple translation and my notes.&... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Sep 28, 2011, 1:56 pm
According to a tale in the Shiva Purana, preparations for the incarnation of the three major forms of Shakti, Parvati, Sita, and Radha, started a long time before they actually appeared on Earth. Interestingly, the preparations for these three incarnations had begun at around the same time.
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Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Aug 21, 2011, 7:39 pm
Rishi Markandeya is known to maintain his identity even after the world’s dissolution; he gets to meditate on the Supreme Soul when there is no one else around. According to the Mahabharata, once Yudhisthira asked the rishi, “There is nothing in the universe that you do not know. Could you pleas... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Jul 15, 2011, 5:39 am
Besides chanting God’s name with faith and satsang, the classical nine kinds of devotion listed in the Ramacharitmanasa include adoration of God’s legends; ego less devotion to the Guru; singing praise for God with an honest heart; leading a spiritual life characterized by the control of senses,... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Jun 10, 2011, 11:20 am
Hinduism, with its eternal focus on righteousness, the rich guidance it has continuously received from the self-realized, and the disciplined lifestyle that it supports, is the most equipped among world religions for combating corruption. For individuals who wish to change, the scriptures that Hindu... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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May 6, 2011, 11:30 am
Devotional saints have sung the glories of Rama-nama (“the name of Rama”) in intriguing ways. Tulasidasa considers Rama-nama superior than Nirguna Brahman as well as Bhagavan Rama himself because Rama, during his visit to Earth, liberated only a limited number of devotees, but chanting his divin... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Apr 7, 2011, 11:57 pm
What do Hindus pray for during the Navaratri? The table below lists some of the blessings that they request. Note that the superior blessings (middle column) from the Mother Goddess can not be misused by humans, for goodness (sattva guna) inherently accompanies them. And her highest blessings can he... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Mar 1, 2011, 10:07 pm
The Shiva Purana explains that though Shakti-Shiva are inseparable, they can appear to be separated in divine plays that perplex even saints. One such drama was designed by Bhagavan Shiva and his spouse, Devi Sati, to set the environment for Sati’s rebirth as Parvati. The divine plan started unfol... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Feb 5, 2011, 7:49 pm
Devi Saraswati, who personifies universal intelligence, is believed to be born on Basant Panchami, the fifth day (waxing fortnight) of the lunar month Magha. The occasion is considered most appropriate for remembering this form of the Mother Goddess, who wears a white dress and celestial ornaments, ... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Jan 14, 2011, 2:19 pm
Satsang, meaning “companionship of the righteous,” is emphasized for spiritual aspirants of all levels....What is so important about worshipping together or interacting with other people who share the same interest in spirituality? First of all, it teaches us to connect to each other and to God ... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Dec 11, 2010, 4:00 am
Before you answer this question, let us look at a logically related but devotionally incorrect question: Why do Hindus worship Sri Rama and Sri Krishna? Try to select an answer from the following options:
because they were extremely righteous in behavior
because they protected their follow... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Nov 2, 2010, 11:45 pm
Possessors of wealth generally feel empowered. While wealth as a power can be used to nurture ourselves and others or to fulfill our personal desires, it can also hurt others. A popular Sanskrit proverb paropkaraye punyaye, paapaye parpidnam, which distinguishes good karma (punya) from bad karma (pa... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Oct 17, 2010, 9:31 am
The first Dussehra was celebrated on Earth when the nectar in Ravana’s body was dried up by a weapon from Sri Rama’s quiver and Ravana, the symbol of unrighteousness, died after being hit by another divine weapon. As soon as the evil king fell on the ground, an extremely bright divine light soon... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Oct 8, 2010, 8:45 am
Everyone who has heard the story of the Ramayana remembers Devi Sita’s agni pariksha (the test of fire) and her return to Prithvi (goddess Earth) in the final pages of the great epic. On both occasions, Sita proved her chastity and devotion for Rama before mortals, her own creation. But these test... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Sep 9, 2010, 11:55 pm
Shani faced a major crisis when Lord Ganesha was born. As the Brahmavaivarta Purana tells us, all gods visited Bhagavan Shiva’s abode to bless baby Ganesha, who was sitting on Devi Parvati’s lap. Shani stood at a distance with his eyes facing the ground. Suddenly, Parvati instructed him to take ... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Sep 1, 2010, 12:02 am
Millenniums ago, a lot happened in Mathura and Gokul at midnight on Janmashtami. A child who was radiating divine light, wearing celestial jewelry and a pitambar, and holding a conch, chakra, mace, and lotus was born to Devaki and Vasudev in a prison in Mathura. After offering praise to Bhagavan Kri... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Aug 17, 2010, 3:04 pm
I met an acquaintance last week who discussed when selected Bhakti Saints were born in North India. At one point, he informed me that some academics have a hard time believing that Sant Ravidas was the guru of Mirabai or that Sri Ramananda was the guru of Ravidas. Such a disagreement with popular no... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Aug 1, 2010, 12:36 pm
In a story written by Munshi Premchand, an Indian peasant has to sell his cow, his sole possession, for money. In spite of financial hardship, he sells it to a Hindu at a lower price, not to a butcher. It appears true that if God gave cows a choice, they would choose to be brought up in a Hindu hous... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Jul 17, 2010, 10:32 am
It is believed that during the Samudra Manthan, a mythological tale where the great ocean was churned by the shared labor of the divine and evil forces to gain divine riches from nature, Dhanvantari, the physician of the gods, appeared from the ocean holding a pot containing ambrosia, which could co... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Jun 27, 2010, 4:05 pm
Because Kalki has not visited us yet, we can not say much about him. Like the other nine incarnations of Lord Vishnu, he is expected to incarnate when our ethical condition becomes deplorable — too low to be improved by saints. Scriptures say that in the last phase of kaliyuga, which may be a few ... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Jun 15, 2010, 9:09 am
In Hinduism, Asteya, often translated as “non-stealing,” is a yam — a tenet for yogis. It refers to not accepting what does not belong to you. While stealing can downgrade anyone’s karma, spiritual aspirants and students may be more seriously wounded by it. Why? Because it may nullify the so... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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May 27, 2010, 2:09 pm
In the Mahabharata, Bhishma lectures Yudhisthira about the types of friends a ruler has. Basically, he talks about (1) “natural” friends, who share a similar temperament with you or belong to your family, (2) friends whose ancestors have been loyal to your family, (3) friends with whom you sha... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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May 13, 2010, 8:02 am
We can categorize ourselves into the four classes of ancient Indian society — brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya, and shudra — by birth, function, or inner aspiration. When we use birth as the basis, it creates the caste system, a result that is not even worth talking about. By function (responsibiliti... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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May 1, 2010, 6:47 pm
Why does Lord Rama wait for a few years before recognizing his sons, Lava and Kusha? Is Rama's acceptance of his sons similar to Shiva's acceptance of Ganesha? Read this article to find out. Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Apr 16, 2010, 2:29 pm
The Mahabharata tells us that Sage Veda Vyasa had meditated on Bhagwan Shiva for a hundred years to obtain a great child. Pleased by Vyasa’s devotion, Shiva blessed him with a son who was as pious as agni (fire), vayu (air), bhumi (earth), jala (water), and akaash (space) and who was fully immerse... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Apr 4, 2010, 12:32 pm
Sri Ramanujacharya has had a permanent and arguably the strongest impact on the Hindu mind when it comes to contemporary Bhakti Yoga. Though the differences in the philosophical models of Advaita and Vishistadvaita may not be so obvious and relevant in everyday worship of our favorite form of God, t... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Mar 26, 2010, 4:30 pm
Dear Readers,
The URL for Hindu Expressions has changed to www.hinduexpressions.com
Please update your bookmarks. The previous URL and comments will hopefully continue to work. Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Hindu Expressions
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Mar 24, 2010, 7:45 am
Even though Lord Hanuman is a partial incarnation of Lord Shiva, the all-knower, he received education from a mentor to underline the importance of schooling. The Valmiki Ramayana tells us that Hanuman met his teacher quite early in life. At some point after his birth, when baby Hanuman felt hungry,... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Vedic Echoes: Indian Classical Music
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Dec 31, 1969, 7:00 pm
Because musical notes were supposedly created by Lord Brahma as siblings of spiritual knowledge (Vedas), Indian music can be considered as old as the universe. For some believers, musical sound is Nada-Brahman (the Divine) and therefore originless. The creation of Ragas is commonly attributed to Lor... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Vedic Echoes: Indian Classical Music
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Dec 31, 1969, 7:00 pm
The rela is a tabla composition that involves the playing of bols at a high speed (high tempo or more syllables per beat) and is usually presented towards the end of a recital. In popular relas, the bols TirkitTak and DhiraDhira are frequently heard. Given below is a rela whose format is similar to ... Comment - Like
Mukul G. posted an article on
Vedic Echoes: Indian Classical Music
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Dec 31, 1969, 7:00 pm
Jhaptaal is a rhythmic cycle of 10 beats. Like Ektaal, it is well-known in Indian classical music and has become somewhat exclusive for khayal, Hindustani intrumental music, and solo tabla. * The theka can be read here. The taal has four internal divisions: 2+3+2+3. The minor pulse at the sixth beat... Comment - Like
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