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Pitrupaksha

Articles, Rituals, SadhanaSeptember 16, 20244KViews 27Likes 0Comments

It is considered auspicious to chant this Pitru Stotram during the fourteen days of Pitrupaksha, which is going on now, while lighting a diya for the departed ancestors. Apart from this, for pinda daan or tarpana with til, it should be done by the eldest member of the family or through a Brahmin who performs…

Kaushiki Amavasya

Articles, Shakti, Tantra, TaraSeptember 2, 2024924Views 7Likes 0Comments

Every Amavasya night is a great time to do upasana of Kali and related forms. Tonight is the great Kaushiki Amavasya, where a Mela is held in Tarapith, and all Tantra sadhakas and Shakti upasakas gather in the holy precincts of this ancient temple town, named after the great saviouress Ugratara. Most people do not…

The Spiritual Aspiration

Articles, SadhanaAugust 15, 20241KViews 14Likes 2Comments

There is a story of Lahiri Mahasaya in which there was once a famous Pandit of Kashi who came to him. He was learned in the Shastras and highly orthodox, with strict dress codes, food, rules of engagement, etc. The gentleman was very well known and highly regarded. So he came to Lahiri Mahasaya after…

Sacrifice of the Divine Mother

Articles, KaliJune 22, 20242KViews 7Likes 1Comment

SACRIFICE OF THE DIVINE MOTHER by Sri Aurobindo "In the Veda it is said that creation results from the sacrifice of Purusa. Really, it is the great sacrifice of the Primordial Mother that has resulted in creation. So the Upanisād says, balidevata mātā. The Mother not only governs all from above but she descends into this…

Rahu

Articles, Rahu, TantraJune 18, 20243KViews 9Likes 6Comments

Of all the grahas in jyotisha, Rahu is the most shady, literally and psychologically. No physical body but only a point in space, the Northern node of the Moon's elliptical. The pouranik story says he was a demon who wanted to steal amrita. When the Moon and Sun found out, they informed Visnu who cut…

Bali and Tantra

Articles, Philosophy, TantraJune 14, 20242KViews 8Likes 1Comment

Someone sent me a quote that balipriya as per Bhaskararaya means '(She) who loves the strong'. Where does this come from? Lalita Sahasranama (LS). The term balipriya is widely used for most Mahavidya-s in their stotras, stutis and sahasranamas etc. Does bali mean strong? One interpretation is that. The more standard meaning is very simply offerings to…

Intuition and patience

ArticlesMay 10, 20242KViews 22Likes 3Comments

Intuition. All intuitions are only partially correct, or occasionally correct, until one reaches a landmark state in sadhana. This is absolute reality. I have met people with good to excellent intuitive powers, and yet none is perfect. Not even the most advanced intuitive people - who might tell you what breakfast you ate days ago or…

Common mistakes when doing sadhana

ArticlesMay 10, 20244KViews 13Likes 10Comments

Few things that do not work in sadhana. 1. Imitation. Trying to imitate someone is known via actions and not explanations. Conscious or unconscious imitation of a guru or someone higher up won't work, ever. Shows a lack of authentic grounding. 2. Running to diverse paths because of a vital attraction. Mostly it has got nothing to…

RUMINATIONS ON KALABHAIRAVA AND BRAHMAHATYA

Articles, BhairavaApril 30, 20241KViews 5Likes 1Comment

Kalabhairava's decapitation of Brahma's head is the most fascinating cosmic event. He does it with his left hand little finger indicating the effortlessness of his act. He does the first Brahmahatya - killing the greatest Brahmin's fifth head, because Brahma lied egoistically claiming itself to be equal to Siva, it was not so much as a…

DEBUNKING RHETORIC OF ONLY-HOMA : PART 2

Articles, SadhanaFebruary 18, 2021584Views 1Like 1Comment

We received emails stating objections against our post on homa from homa propagandists. Debunking the counterpoints and for greater visibility here is another post.. 1. 1/10th homa of japa count means one need not do japa just doing 1/10th count homa is equally powerful. It is just a creative way of writing in shastras. A: No. This…

ANALYSING VALIDITY OF ONLY-HOMA AS A METHOD OF SADHANA – 1

Articles, Mantra, Philosophy, Sadhana, TantraJanuary 20, 2021743Views 3Likes 2Comments

Myth Busting About Fire Rituals on the Holy Occasion of Kartika Poornima and Deva Deepavali It is a modern-day trend a new-agey idea that by doing fire rituals alone – homa/havan - one can make great spiritual progress or faster progress. Not only is it a myth but a dangerous one propagated by self-serving individuals…

THE ILLUSION OF EXPERIENCES

Articles, Philosophy, Sadhana, ShivaAugust 11, 2019824Views 5Likes 1Comment

To be alive is to have experiences. But the only test of the authenticity or otherwise of an experience is the impact it leaves. Very often in spirituality experiences are nothing more than a projection of ones own deepest desires. There are often people who claim to have visions of deities or saints or other holy characters…