Mahakumbh : Story, History and Mystery
Dr Dinesh Soni
As per the data made public by Maha Kumbh organisers, over 65 crore people took sacred bath in the holy confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati river. That is more…
Festival & Rituals
The Jyotirlingas : An introduction to the legends and history of the 12 sacred Shaivite Temples
Introduction In Shaivism in India, the term Jyotirlinga holds a very specific religious value. The Word Jyotirlinga is a Sanskrit compound of jyotis (‘radiance’) and linga (‘symbol’). Thus, a Jyotirlinga…
Naga Worship Culture of Karnataka
Guest Author
Last month, on 17th October, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev’s ashram (formally called the Sadhguru Sannidhi) near Bangalore saw the 2nd consecration anniversary of Naga, its kshetrapal deity. It was the Sharad…
Baras festival: Connecting with our Roots, Nature and Sustainability
Naveli is a simple yet culturally rich village in the Bicholim taluka of Goa, where every festival and tradition symbolizes a deep connection with nature. The most beautiful example of…
Roots of Faith: The Symbolism of Trees in Hinduism
Introduction Once upon a time, inside the Hiranyagarbha, Brahma awakened from deep sleep. He looked around and he saw nothing. He felt lonely. And he decided to create life forms…
Walking the Sacred Path: The Tradition of Pilgrimage on Foot
As Shravan month starts; and the earth becomes covered by the carpet of green grass; we see thousands of Shiva devotees carrying water pots on their shoulder. The water pots…
Hanuman : The embodiment of Power and Humility
Hanumana, the all powerful Hindu deity, is one of the most revered characters in Ramayana. Even though Ramayana is a story of Ram and Sita, the side character of Hanuman…
The Divine Prescription: How Hindu Deities Teach Hygiene Practices
We have seen many natural forces being worshipped as deities in Hinduism. We have Varun (personification of ocean and flowing water), Indra (God of rain and thunder), Vayu or Pavana…
Guardians of the Locals: A look into Hindu Folk Deities
The phrase folk religion or folk deity is very commonly heard in terms of culture. Every state and region in India have a set of folk deities. After the release…
Beyond the Legends: The story and significance of Narakasura’s killing by Krishna
The festival of Narak Chatudashi is part of Diwali and is celebrated in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Telangana and parts of Andhra Pradesh on the day before Lakshmi Poojan. Sometimes the…