February 2012
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Holi.
होली.
Holi is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus and is also known as festival of Colours. The most celebrated Holi is in the Braj region, in locations connected to the Lord Krishna: Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandagaon, and Barsana.
Originally, it was a festival that commemorated good harvests and the fertile land. In addition to celebrating the coming of spring, Holi has even...
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Hari Sharanam.
Vaishnavs believe that God (conceived as Vishnu) has form and is without form. Swami Tapasyananda, in his book, Bhakti Schools of Vedanta, reminds readers that Vishnu pervades everything and is not anthropomorphic. Vishnu has no particular material form but can manifest in any form, and is a center of all force, power, will, auspiciousness, goodness, beauty, grace, responsiveness, etc. As Swami...
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It's one of those nights...
where I lose myself in gujarati bhakti. Unchi medi te mara sant ni re, dhanya dhanya mara sorath ni bhumi.
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Kinu sang khelu holi.
Kinu sang khelu holi, piya tyaj gaye hai akeli, kinu sang khelu holi…
Manek moti, sab hum chode, galame peheni seli, bhojan bhavan bhalo nahi lagai, piya karan bhayi re akeli, mujhe doori kyon meeli…
Ab tum preet avarasu jodi, hamse kari kyun peheli, bahu din beete ajahun aye, lag rahi tala beli, kinu dilama ye heli…
Shyam bina jiyado murjhave, jese jal been beli, Meera ko...
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Asha bharya ne...
Mehta narsai no swami shyamaliyo, rakho charan ni pas re, avil asha bharya ne…
Narsinh Mehta prays, keep me forever at Your lotus feet Shyamaliyo…
* The youtube clip is from Manas Gopi Geet. Bapu sings Mari hundi swikaro, Hari na baan vagya, and Asha bharya.
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Shivaratri thoughts.
Swami Paramarthananda ji.
Our scriptures clearly point out that the primary goal of human life is spiritual fulfillment which is known as by different names: ‘moksha’, ‘Iswara prapthi’, etc. The other purusharths or goals that we pursue, i.e. material goals like procuring food for ourselves and our family are only subsidiary or secondary. Even animals strive to accomplish...
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Weed smoking God?
I would like to state I cannot begin to fathom the greatness of the personality that is Lord Shiva and his characteristics, but from what scriptures I have read there has, as of yet, been no reference to Lord Shiva taking ganja.
Again it has become common with some in the west, and among young Hindus to think that the Lord entertains such acts. Even within India many aspirants and Yogis smoke...
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Kalidas.
Despite keeping poison within His throat and wearing snakes as ornamentation fear does not touch Him. Despite the keeping the moon on his head, and it having the capacity to drip amrut, He has no use/taste for it. He wears a garland of skulls and associates with cremation grounds, ghosts, and spirits, yet He sees nothing impure. He keeps the purifier of worlds upon His head, (Ganga) and yet smears...
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On the Shiva Linga.
Since Mahashivratri is fast approaching where devotees will be keeping all night vigils offering milk, gangajal, panchamrut, and other such items over the Shiva Lingam, I think it appropriate I should write something on this form of the Lord.
There is much misconception surrounding the Shiva Linga, the stone form of the Lord; however, there are multitudes of meanings surrounding this form, each...
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Dwadash Jyotirling Stotram.
सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् उज्जयिन्यां महाकालं ओम्कारममलेश्वरम् ॥
sauraashtre somanaatham cha shrishaile mallikaarjunam
ujjayiniyaam mahaakalam omkaramamaleshwaram परल्यां वैद्यनाथं च डाकिन्यां भीमशङ्करं सेतुबन्धे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारुकावने ॥
paralyam vaidyanatham cha dakinyam bheemashankaram
setubandhe tu raamesham nagesham darukavane वारणस्यां तु विश्र्वेशं त्र्यम्बकं...
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Satya, Prem, Karuna.
Ram satya chhe, Krsna prem chhe, Shiv karuna chhe.
Ram is Satya, Krsna is Prem, and Shiv is Karuna. Not that within each divinity the other three qualities are not present; rather that Ram is the predominating deity of Truth, Krsna of Love, and Shiv of Compassion, karpur gauram, karunavataram. So within these three words are God’s names, Hari Kirtan. Mate bhav joye, Satya, Prem,...
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Om Jai Kailash Pati.
Shivji ni Arati.
Om jai Kailash Pati, shiva jai Kailash Pati, krupa karine arpo, daya karine ne arpo, savney shubh mati, Om Jai Kailash Pati.
Mast bani junglemaa kaayam vicharta, shiva kayam vicharta, manav danav devo, manav danav devo, tum charne tharta, Om Jai Kailash Pati.
Mugut jaatano sundar, shir Gangadhara, shiva shir Gangadhara, vyaaghambarna vastro, vyaaghambarno vastro, bhaave...
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Kailash ki nivasi.
It’s snowing again.
At least it’s reminding me of the snowy abode of Shivji. Getting in the mood for Shivaratri.
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Satya, Prem, Karuna.
Truth, Love, Compassion.