Beyond Lights and Festivities: Understanding the Sacred Days of Diwali
Dr Dinesh Soni
Diwali, often called the festival of lights, is one of the most vibrant and widely celebrated festivals in India. Marking the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil,…
Festival & Rituals
The Evolution of the Bhakti Movement Across India
The Bhakti movement was a devotional revolution that swept through India during the medieval period. It emphasized intense personal love for God over ritualistic practices, making spirituality accessible to all…
Sacred Spaces: The Architectural Harmony of Jagannath Temples Across India
Guest Author
Each Jagannath temple reflects the culture of its region while keeping the essence of the deity alive. The architecture carries both spiritual and local stories carved in stone. Across India,…
Mahakumbh : Story, History and Mystery
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…
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
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…