The IMMORTALS of MELUHA

Currently reading through this - and almost a year and a half late to the game.
But North America seemed to have missed the hype of this book




But it finally surfed up enough
The main character is LORD SHIVA
But what appeals to me is how some of our traditions and cultures have been explained.
Some facts, some fiction, some theory, some imagination - all intertwined to make it a splendid read.

And I have part 2 of this Trilogy already.

Will get to it soon as I have part 1 done.

5Rhythms Dance / Meditation

The 5Rhythms are:

• FLOWING – the fluid, continuous, grounded glide of our own movements
• STACCATO – the percussive, pulsing beat that shapes us a thousand different ways
• CHAOS – the rhythm of letting go, releasing into the catalytic wildness of our dance that can never be planned or repeated
• LYRICAL – the rhythm of trance, where the weight of self-consciousness dissolves, where we lighten up and disappear into our own uniqueness
• STILLNESS – the quiet emptiness, where gentle movements rise and fall, start and end, in a field of silence

The dis-ease of our times is that we have stopped moving:

• Our bodies sit sedentary until they are stiff and rigid, and no longer a source of sensual pleasure;
• Our hearts tighten around old hurts, limiting the flow of love until we feel a chronic loneliness, no matter how many relationships we have;
• Our minds grow narrow and forget how to stretch, becoming attached to comfortable beliefs about right and wrong and the way things should be, until we are living life from the neck up.

Movement is the medicine for our malaise. Hundreds of thousands of people all over the world practice the 5Rhythms each day in studios and gyms, retreat centers and living rooms, schools and meditation halls. Why?

Because the 5Rhythms directly touch the essential human need to move and be moved, to connect gracefully and intimately with other human beings, to be part of a community of diverse yet like-minded souls.

As we practice the 5Rhythm moving meditation over time, the effects spiral through our bodies, hearts and minds:

• We feel radiantly alive and calm at the same time
• We move from thinking about life to intimately feeling life with our bones, our feet, our muscles, our blood
• We enjoy the miraculous bodies we have, rather than lamenting their limitations
• The tight spots in our hearts soften – so we can cry when we’re sad, jump when we’re joyful, reach out when we’re touched, love and be loved without hesitation
• Our minds settle, and the jagged world of thinking, planning and strategizing fades into a sense of peaceful silence

"To sweat is to pray, to make an offering of your innermost self.

Sweat is holy water, prayer beads, pearls of liquid that release your past.

Sweat is an ancient and universal form of self-healing, whether done in

the gym, the sauna, or the sweat lodge. I do it on the dance floor.

The more you dance, the more you sweat.

The more you sweat, the more you pray.

The more you pray, the closer you come to ecstasy."

Gabrielle Roth


Keep moving. As we move, we stir things up. You may hit patches of fatigue, frustration or discomfort. Even if you can only wiggle a finger or nod your head to the beat, stay in motion that until something changes. Movement opens the door to the alchemy of this practice.

Pace yourself. No matter other people are doing, honor your own body and physical energy. If you rest in the beat when you get tired, you’ll be ready to ride the next wave of energy when it comes. Respect your body’s needs and limitations; there’s no need or reason to push.

Practice respect. Is your ‘partner’ sending signals that he/she wants to be left alone? Do people have to dance around you while you stop for a chat on the dance floor? Are you so lost in your own excitement, swinging yourself or a partner through the air, that people have to come out of their own meditation to avoid being whacked by one of your limbs? Mindfulness in relation to others is a basic tenet of meditation, especially here.

Practice silence. We spend many waking hours, too often our whole lives, listening to the endless thoughts in our head, socializing and talking as we skim the surface of ourselves. This meditation is an invitation to drop the words, speak with your body, turn your being into a moving work of art, let your very self become a dance. If you can’t resist talking, please go outside so others may enjoy the silence.

Stay present. As with any meditative practice, you will deal continuously with distractions. You may have the sudden urge to admire the décor, find a partner right away to entertain you, seduce someone, get lost in judgment about the temperature or the teacher or the music, compare yourself to that amazing dancer (coming out on top or in the cellar) – in other words, to get away from yourself. Just notice when you get distracted, and gently bring your attention back to your feet, the beat, the breath, the dance.

Release your expectations. You might be ready to play today, but what if no one else is in the mood? What happens when you have a hankering for a certain kind of music and the teacher has different plans? We might prefer dancing to our favorite song, in our favorite outfit, with our favorite partner, but clinging to ideas of “how it should be” cuts you off from what is actually happening.

It’s not just about the music. The teacher uses music to catalyze and support what’s happening on the dance floor. While a certain piece of music may evoke strong emotions for you, how you respond is up to you. The music is a platform for your practice. You don’t have to love it - just respond. Sometimes not liking something is a great way to access creative movements.

Stretch yourself. If you always dance alone, you might try including someone else in your dance. If you are constantly on the prowl for a partner, maybe it’s time to ‘go solo’. Slow down - or speed up - and see what happens. Experiment with different ways of moving. Of being still.

Solah Somvaar

Just finished my 16 Mondays for Lord Shiva.
Completely blissed out - that Lord Shiva accepted my bhakti and I got to complete it.
Did not fast - but just reveling in the bhakti

Kirtans - the new rage

Kirtans are being rejuvenated>

Have you seen Jai Uttal? Krishna Das?

What is contributing to Kirtans becoming the new rage??
Is ecstatic singing the way of achieving contact with transcendental conscience?

Kirtans East and West

Teed Rockwell • Published on November 14, 2011

In yoga centers all over America, people gather with a few instruments, usually harmonium, guitar, and/or tablas, and sing kirtan: Musical chanting of the Hindu names of God. Once these places taught only the physical postures of hatha yoga, now they are expanding to teach Americans the sacred chanting of bhakti yoga. These same people will also go to medium-sized concert halls by the hundreds (or even thousands) to hear (and sing with) the big names of kirtan—Jai Uttal, Deva Premal, Krishna Das, David Stringer, Suzanne Sterling. Jai Uttal has even made an introductory album for young people called Kirtan Kids, which features his six-year-old son Ezra and a chorus of children.

The annual Bhakti Fest in Joshua Tree, CA, in September, attracts ten of thousands for four continuous days of kirtan and hatha yoga. For the people who sing kirtan, it is often one of the most important events in their lives. What motivates these people to have so much commitment to travel for miles to sing simple tunes in a dead foreign language with friends and strangers? Why is this any more compelling to these people than Campfire songs, or the old “Sing Along with Mitch” television show.

I actually don’t have to ask “these people,” because I’m one of them. I find this rather surprising. When I was a bar musician, one of my first stirrings of artistic conscience was when I turned down a gig because the owner wanted me to lead sing-alongs. But there is something that happens when you chant these mantras that I, at least, can’t get anywhere else. When I saw the Robert Duvall movie The Apostle, or went to my brother’s church during his brief fling as a “Jesus Freak,” I couldn’t help wishing that there was some way I could experience this religious intensity without voting Republican and opposing gay marriage.

Kirtan is basically gospel music for Hindus, and enables those of us who have left the Abrahamic tradition to use ecstatic singing as a way of achieving contact with what I would call the transcendental essence. That doesn’t mean that my relationship with kirtan is completely paradox-free. Because my own kirtan band is starting to get gigs and record demos, I’m now having to deal with the ambiguous distinction between kirtan audience and kirtan performers.

As an audience member, I sing my heart out, and don’t worry about the fact that I’m not primarily a singer. But as a performer, I can’t stop worrying about technique, even though I know that technique is definitely not what this music is all about. Does that mean that I should stop worrying about tempo and tuning? Kirtankar Karnamrita Dasi tells this story: A great Indian singer told the doorman at a Krishna temple to stop singing kirtan, because he was wounding the raga and singing out of tune. The next day the eyes of the Krishna statue had turned red because he couldn’t sleep without hearing the doorman’s clumsy but heartfelt singing. Nevertheless, Dasi has a beautiful voice, and her kirtan albums are skillfully produced.

Kirtan Nation, the Sounds True compilation CD, reveals that the best kirtan musicians are both accomplished and creative. Musicians naturally want their music to sound good, and to take their music in new directions. But how far can you travel in new directions before you’ve lost your way? When is kirtan no longer “kirtan?”

Deva Premal is perhaps the most popular kirtan artist, but she often sounds to me like smooth jazz with Sanskrit lyrics. Kirtan usually makes some sort of musical nod to its Indian roots. Harmonium and/or tabla is used in almost all live concerts, and guest solos by Nepalese bansuri player Manose are very popular on recordings. But is this enough to make sure that kirtan remains a manifestation of bhakti yoga, and not just a recent trend in Lite Rock music?

Kirtan takes many forms in India. The Sikhs have their own unique form of kirtan based on verses from their sacred text, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Each verse is associated with a specific Hindustani raga, and Sikh services traditionally include chanting those texts in those ragas accompanied by tablas and harmonium. This tradition has emerged in American popular kirtan through the mother and daughter duo of Snatam and Prabhu Nam Kaur.
The primary source for Hindu kirtan, however, is Vrindaban, which tradition names as the place where Vishnu took his earthly form of Krishna. “Vrindaban is a regular kirtan factory” says tabla player Gangadhar Gerhard, who traveled to India with Jai Uttal in pursuit of bhakti yoga. “Walking through the streets in the evening, the sound of kirtan spilled out from homes on every block. I was struck how this was not about music. There was always some out-of-tune old man croaking at the top of his lungs. It was all about devotion, expressing what’s in your heart, not about making beautiful sounds. It opened my ears and my heart in a way Western music had never done.” Many other Americans came to Vrindaban to study Bhakti Yoga with Neeb Karori Baba, including Richard Alpert (AKA Ram Dass), Jai Uttal, Krishna Das, and Bhagavan Das. It was also where A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada studied and wrote before founding the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), popularly known as “the Hare Krishnas.”

For many Americans, the Hare Krishnas are an annoyance or a joke. Hearing kirtan while trying to recover lost luggage at an airport is not likely to be a profound experience. This shows the wisdom behind the Transcendental Meditation strategy of keeping each personal mantra secret, and chanting it only during meditation. Nevertheless, ISKCON has produced a community of devotees with a flourishing second generation. Karnamrita Dasi was the second child born into the American ISCKON community, and today she not only sings kirtan beautifully, but also eloquently explains the principles of bhakti yoga to her audiences. The Mayapuris are a group of charming young people who grew up singing kirtan together in an ISKCON community in Florida, and today perform and teach all over the world. Unlike most contemporary kirtan groups, they rely primarily on traditional instruments, including the barrel-shaped mridangam that most Westerners associate with “the Hare Krishnas.” The Mayapuris told me, however, that they only play in airports if their flight to a workshop or concert has been delayed. I have no doubt that their youthful enthusiasm actually manages to convey the spirit of kirtan even under those conditions.
The Americans who studied in Vrindaban with Neeb Karori Baba are among the most prominent western teachers of bhakti yoga and performers of kirtan. The one who still remains in Vrindaban today is Shyam Das. “Shyam Das chants and studies for hours in a hut with cow dung walls on a mountain” says Karnamrita Dasi “Every evening at sunset, he walks around this mountain in the sandy soil with no shoes, through peacocks, monkeys, and sadhus who live permanently outside. Everybody walks by and says only “Radhe Radhe.” No other conversation occurs, because everyone knows that this walk is a spiritual pilgrimage.” When Shyam Das performs, he makes no concessions to Western audiences. Most Western kirtan performers sing each melodic phrase twice, and have back up singers to accompany the audience, so that everyone has a chance to learn the Sanskrit. Like most Indian kirtankars, Shyam Das simply sings the melody while accompanying himself on harmonium, and lets the audience join in whenever they can. He has written numerous books on the history and philosophy of bhakti yoga, which he sees as a unique spiritual path. “Unlike Buddhism, bhakti yoga does not combat detachment, but rather cultivates a lover-like attachment to a personal god. And unlike Christian prayer, bhakti yoga does not involve making requests from God. Bhakti yogis simply praise God and ask nothing in return but the right to love him.” Does his scholarship and love of tradition make Shyam Das critical of the new developments in American kirtan? Quite the contrary. Shyam Das is revered as a teacher by Western kirtan artists, and performs with them in his traditional style on the same stage at the annual Bhakti Fest.

“Kirtan is always changing. It changed when it traveled from Uttar Pradesh to Bengal, and now New York kirtan is different from Los Angeles kirtan. Deva Premal is a close friend and frequently studies with me in Vrindavan. I tell her and all my western students that changes in style don’t jeopardize kirtan, only changes of heart. The only thing that’s wrong is when someone sings without an understanding of what kirtan is supposed to do for you. Kirtan cultivates a longing for the Supreme, and if the singer sings while feeling that longing, it is authentic kirtan. Once at the Bhakti Fest, I even sang the old MoTown song ‘I’m working my way back to you’ because that expresses perfectly the essential message of bhakti yoga: the longing to return to the essential essence from which we came.”

Teed Rockwell has studied Indian classical music with Ali Akbar Khan and other great Indian musicians. He is the first person to play Hindustani music on the Touchstyle Fretboard.

Houston - we have a pluse !

Are you enlightened yet?
Come on, get on with the program

New Moon and FUll Moon

From ORACLES OF INDIA
FULL MOON
is good for all types of power raising in your life including:
Calling in protection
Working with Divination
Planning anything
Releasing something or someone
Working on anything in the past

THE BEST RESULTS CAN BE OBTAINED
3 days prior to the full moon, the night of the full moon, three days following the full moon.

THE NEW MOON
Is good for new beginnings like:
Wishing for your own personal growth
Healing yourself or others
Starting a new venture (results start showing by the full moon)

Shirdi Wale Sai Baba

Drive - just like old times

Shiva is for real

Well...we are all shiva bhaktas, joined by a common thread
He is for real.
We are onto something here...lets continue down this path.
He will take care of us.
He knows us and is watching us
Let us stay true.

Nadi Astrology by Anand

Glad to hear about your interest in Nadi Astrology. For Now, I can say
that, the Main Place is VAITHEESWARAN KOIL Village Near CHIDAMBARAM In
TAMILNADU. I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE DETAILS SOON, AS MANY MORE ARE
ENQUIRING. I WILL TRY TO ANSWER WITH ALL IN ONE LETTER SOON. .... PLEASE
BEAR WITH ME.... also I am not a new one, some people might have already
experienced me long time ago....... Dear Friends! I am getting Some
enquries regarding the Nadi jJyothish addresses and details of where I
got and Why I went to them so many times. First Point is I am myself an
Astrologer Researcher and I am myself Cameback from U.S.A. Left my IT
Job and went in Search of Spirituality All over India to Many Spiritual
Masters for learning and Seeking.......etc.... I am already well known
in yahoo groups...... Has anybody read Wing.Comdr. SHASHIKANT OAK's
Book on NAADI PREDICTIONS - A MIND BOGGLING EXPERIENCE (FUSION BOOKS)?
In that book he discusses his personal experiences in detail.......
Anyway, I have been to: 1)Koushika Nadi , at 22, Milladi Street -
Vaitheeshwaran Koil, (R-. SUNDARAMOORTHY IS THE READER, EXPENSIVE) -
3 TIMES, 6 KANDAMS, GNANA SHOOKSHMA KANDAM ALSO GOT DONE. ALL SHANTHI,
DEEKSHA DONE. 2 TIMES. 2)A. SHIVASWAMY (FAMOUS, BUT NOT READING NOW A
DAYS) - 18, Milladi Street, 1 TIME 3)AGASTHYA SHIVA NADI - 1 MILLADI
STREET - VAITHEESWARAN KOIL. - 2 TIMES 4) KAKABHUJANDER NADI -
KANCHIPURAM - TAMILNADU - BHASKARAN GURUJI - VERY EXPENSIVE NOW, Has Got
Website Also..... 5) VASHISHTAR NADI - IN SREE RANGAM - TAMAILNADU 6)
AGASTYA SHIVA NADI - HYDERABAD 7) AGASTYA NADI - HYDERABAD - rt'x'c
road, GNANA SHOOKSHAM KANDAM DONE IN DETAIL. I HAVE SPENT ALMOST 30000
Rupees On this, For My fAMILY AND mY RELATIVES ETC. ALL THESE READINGS
WERE DONE FROM 1999 - 2005. Now I am In Australia. Hence please
remember NADI can turn out to be an EXPENSIVE Thing. anyway it is UP TO
YOU. I Also heard Poosamutthu in Vaitheeswaran Koil is a Good, and
SapthaRishi Nadi also good, But most of the readers are Relatives
family.... So one has to do reasearch to get the good one. BUT THE
FAMOUS ARE R.SUNADRAMOORTHY AND POOSAMUTTHU. BUT IF YOU ARE SCEPTICAL,
THEN THEY WILL SEND YOU AWAY AND IT IS BETTER NOT TO GO.Sometimes they
read repetetively But I found Still They have got good information. One
in RTC 'X' ROADS - HYDERABAD also Reads Well....... Well anyways, It is
All my PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, I cannot say about others, I can only
Suggest to be ADVENTUROUS AND ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE. ANYWAY It is worth
it and You Will get Some Guidance about Your self and the Future
Events...........No doubt about it..... ABOUT THE NADIs Diffrerent
Types Depending on the Rishis, Like Agastya, Koushika, Vashishta,
Agastya Shiva Nadi, Saptha Rishi, KakaBhujander, Shiva Nadi etc etc, Etc
types Nadis are there in that Village. The Whole Village is a Nadi
Astrological, rare in the World. I will Explain you, In detail, what my
Experience has been and Who are Supposed to Be famous etc details, Next
time, that is in the Next Letter. It takes Lots of Time..... I live in
Melbourne..... All the Best, Anand www.fortunepredictions.com
<http://www.fortunepredictions.com>

Nadi Astrology

http://eradini.blogspot.com/search/label/free%20nadi%20astrology

Historically the Naadi Shastra was spoken by Lord Siva to his wife Parvati a few thousand years ago, and transcribed onto palm leaves by the sage Kaushilka Rishi. Each leaf contains a concise description of a soul’s present lifetime, their previous life and possibly future life depiction. It also contains their previous life transgressions which have lead to difficulties in the present, as well as “remedies” to counteract the effects of these previous life bad karmas. It is literally a blueprint of your destiny. An questions regarding this can be answered in a book entitled “The Hidden Oracles of India” by Andrew & Angela Donavon – 2 English filmmakers who had their minds blown by this experience a few years ago. The Naadi reading left us in awe of the map of destiny, and how every action of previous lives, especially those that caused pain to others, lead to difficulties/lessons that we must endure in the present life. “What goes around most def comes around”. We were also grateful for the compassion of these higher beings & bygone sages for aiding us in alleviating the malefic effects of our misdeeds, as well as guiding us to deeper spiritual insights and devotion. It also helped us gain clarity into the vision of our present life situation – what were were truly meant to do, in what time frame, as well as what negative tendencies & situations to avoid. A lot to swallow, believe me.

Kubera Mantra

Love - the way out

Spiritual progress is like technical progress. You may first ask yourself a few questions and obtain from yourself clear and precise answers. The goal in your life should be clear before you can achieve it. If you agree on a clearly outlined goal for your life, then start to ask yourself some of the additional questions below.

on the other side, if you still are focusing on your political, scientific, technical, sports or business - career or just wasting time for no particular reason, while at the same time attempting a spiritual progress, you may soon realize that these are different developments quite often going in opposite directions.

Let's go through a few points, it may help you to speed up your very own spiritual progress.

Make sure you can clearly answer each of the following questions with either YES or NO, anything else may hamper your spiritual progress and delay any further separation from God.

do I really want to become God-realized ?

If yes ..

do you really follow all the known steps to accomplish this goal within the shortest possible delay ?

if no ..

What is the reason you may want to continue suffering on this planet or beyond ?

What is the reason you may still refrain from loving all mankind and being loved by all ?

If you stay with a clear no, then be aware that there is never a justified reason to claim anyone else responsibility for any suffering or discomfort in YOUR life.

whatever you decide, is your free choice. It is your birthright to make your very own decisions and live accordingly.

Do I know what the word God-realization means ?

If unclear, learn more about God, about spiritual nature of a human soul. Read, study and become aware of the full meaning of this word. Become aware of the true origin of your soul and being, as well as your true destiny in eternal life.through continuous spiritual progress, your perception of the full meaning of this word may increase months after months, death, life without a physical body, loving all mankind in any situation whatever they do, may become normal for you, may become a permanent part of your growing spiritual being - made to the image of God.

Are you afraid of dying, if yes why ?

Life starts beyond physical existence. Life is becoming more and more intense beyond physical existence.

Become aware of your answers, think about and strive to realize the goal of your life.

If your goal is clearly of spiritual nature, if you can clearly and with the full power of mind and soul say

YES I want to return to God, I want to become a fully God - realized soul. A being of light and Love . Then you may ask

do I undertake all possible efforts to achieve this goal directly or is there still some hesitation in my spiritual efforts. The only reason for limited efforts on your spiritual progress may be lack of knowledge about God and Godrealization.

Become free of the distraction by others. Remember, it is the right of anyone, to live however he/she wants to live. Those souls without any conscious thought about God, may still need some of the physical lessons this planet hast to offer.

However they have no right to keep you from going your own spiritual way.

Some of your friends however may be afraid of losing you. The want to grab hold on you and keep you within the cycle of physical reincarnation. At least during the present incarnation.

This however is very selfish of such other persons. The only way you ever can help your friends, family-members, your society, even your home-country, if this is important to you,

is trough your spiritual progress.

The more you succeed on your spiritual path, the more Love and spiritual power you will develop, the more you may gently and lovingly help the entire Divine creation.

Life starts after achieving God-realization. Life starts when you have learned to truly Love at any time for eternity.

What in life are you still doing that may slow down or even prevent any spiritual progress. If there are still a number of different factors in your life, YOU and only YOU are in the position to change.

You may instantly change your attitude after becoming aware of any distracting factors in your life.

Just say YES to God, say YES to Love . And anything else will vanish in the fire of the almighty Divine Love .

Dissolve any current of future obstacle in Love, by constantly focusing on your spiritual goal, by constantly solving any situation in Love , nothing but Love .

some of the chapters of "on your wings of Love - on your way to God" may certainly help you on your way home. Learn and reread them until you have understood the full spiritual truth it contains. You may additionally read and study a few other spiritual books. Allowing you to get a different look at one and the same topic.

However remember, you may never become a saint by reading books, but only by living, by doing, by actively living and loving in your life.

You may at one point of your life wish to retire from mankind and spend some time in a peaceful and quiet retreat. This may be most helpful for most if not all serious God-seekers.

Spiritual progress may require a combination of retreat and involvement in daily life. Before you may achieve God-realization you certainly have learned to Love anyone anytime.

This is quiet simple. Just stop fighting, stop arguing by continuously loving. Love in all situations. And all goal may be achieved easier and more peacefully.

I love you

With Divine Love and Bliss

Hans

Overview Lessons for life

Everything is a miracle

Everything is a miracle and sacred.
Give everything the due respect and life will be beautiful the way it is supposed to be

Teflon - Video watch with caution

If your intentions are good, you can be teflon
Nothing really in this world has evil intentions.
Well...once we truly reside in the self, that is when we stop adding to our karmic sins

Arunachala Bhajan

Jesus is for real

The boy who met Jesus, and lived to talk about it. Read it here

Guru's guidance

Gurus are around us - just pause and think of one.
The spiritual self of the guru is within you then

Posting by HairaKhan
Mahamuni Babaji is a very mysterious, reclusive, and divine Being. At any given time He is guiding and teaching souls on many planets and planes simultaneously. Many prophets of old, and of course more recently, received their mission and guidance from Him.

It is popular today for so many to say that they have seen Him, or that they spent time with Him in the Himalayas. They are victims of an overactive imagination and fantasy life. Some even deliberately exploit others in order to profit from His name. They will have to suffer many lives in the dark without spiritual guidance for their deceit.

Babaji has indeed appeared to some highly advanced yogis. He continues to do so. But my advice is to be very careful not to believe most of what you read or hear. Remember that even Sri Yukteswar (Autobiography of a Yogi) had trouble seeing Him before he had developed his (spiritual) vision enough.

That said, He is ever with us. Whenver you think of Him, or any Divine Being, they are instantly aware of your thoughts and devotion. And when we are able to still our minds in meditation, He is the very Light of our own awareness. Pray to Him for guidance and direction.

"Why do you seek my flesh and blood form when I am ever within the range of your Kutashta?" (spiritual sight)

-- Sri Lahiri Mahasay

Daily Spiritual Practice

Why are we really spiritual aspirants?
Is it OK to call myself as one?
What is my end intent?
Am I really true to that?
Where is my mind and soul during this spiritual practice?
Will HE be happy and proud to have witnessed me at my spiritual practice?
How can I make that better?
Think....does following such a spiritual practice get me any benefits?

Mantras must be chanted or recited with unwavering devotion and motivation. Chanting them as a matter-of-course deprives them of power and is practically useless from the point of view of conscious growth, evolution and effect.

The following is a collection of practical, scripturally-

based, guidelines from the teachings of Sanatana Dharma that will help us to more fully develop our innate spiritual potential. Sadhana, or spiritual practice, must be performed regularly with sincerity, humility, openness, and determination. Just as we all perform our daily routines of eating, sleeping, and bathing without fail, similarly we should practice our daily spiritual sadhana without fail to refine ourselves and to advance in spiritual life. We should monitor our progress every day by asking ourselves if today we have improved ourselves and come closer to God.

By following a daily spiritual practice under the guidance of Sri Guru, we can continuously deepen our experience and realization of the Divine...."

VISIT HERE TO READ THE REST OF THIS INFORMATIVE ARTICLE:

http://www.dharmacentral.com/forum/content.php?36-Daily-Sadhana

Svyambu Lingam

Video of a Svayambhu Lingam @ San Francisco's Golden Gate park
October 26, 1993 - CNN archives

http://wn.com/Shiva_Lingam

8 Forms of Lord Shiva

There are 8 forms of Siva.

Siva Lingam, is arupa-rupa, a combination of form and formlessness. There is a form, a cylindrical structure, above the circular base,
extended to the right as we look. This cylindrical structure is a phallic symbol and the bottom, called Avadai, the female symbol.

Bhikshatana - the form of a beggar, with Brahma's skull, as begging bowl, and the garland of skulls. This is from the story
of Daruka forest. He wears the skin of elephant as an upper robe and skin of tiger as waist robe.

Nataraja, the dancing god of India. He is primarily in Thillai or Chidambaram, but his metal images are available in all Siva
temples, including Mother's Temple in the Asramam. He wears again a tiger's skin, fire and hand drum on his two hands, the third
hand showing the left leg and the fourth hand as abhaya mudra, the protection sign. Under his right leg is Muyalakan, the demon
symbolizing delusion, apasmaram.

Kalyana Sundara - a very pleasant pose with Sivakami, his consort

Kalabairva - the fierce Siva dissolving the worlds.

Lingothbava - the primordial Lingam, which shows its face, at the time of creation. This is usually seen on the back-wall of any Siva Lingam shrine.

Somaskanda - S + Uma + Skanda. Siva with Uma and Skanda in between. A family image.

Sri Dakshinamoorthy is a formless Space only - as per Ramana Maharishi - the ever present teacher in the hills of Arunachala.

This list varies from book to book. The Chidambara Mahatmyam and Kunchitanghristavam of Arul Nandi Sivam, mention this.

Ramana Darshan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvIlhN0frdY&feature=player_embedded#at=333

Simple life - and the connection with Ramana, Arunachala

KATRINE from NORWAY writes
When living in the cave in Spain for a month last winter I had a vision of India....
It came through as a cross going through a spiral of energy (the whole mountain vibrated as this spiral - and it was energetically connected to Arunachala - I recognized the vibration from the front cover of a book about "Arunachala - the mountain of light" ...a friend gave me the book a year before as a thank you for helping her translate Papaji's "This" into Norwegian. When she rang my doorbell...instead of her face ....she held up the book with Arunachala on the front cover.......and that day the book "Talks" by Ramana Maharshi was on my kitchen table.......so the mountain came to him and both lay on the table radiating presence for several weeks.....

During the vision in the cave......I saw that "india" is everywhere....and that the presence of Arunachala....once we connect to it, it too is everywhere. There are places in nature where energy vortexes cross......sort of like earth chakras. There must be many more of them....the vision explained the incredible silence in the barranco where the cave was situated....I used to sit on the ledge behind the fire..playing my low Irish whistle and meditating........when walking to and from the little town I could always feel where the start of the presence begun....right around a particular bend in the trail.......

Here is a video my Irish musician friend Aidan made when he stayed by himself in the same cave (we found the cave in December of 2009 and we both had separate retreats there later)

Golfing with the Gods

Golf with Jesus

One day, Jesus, Moses and an older gentleman were playing golf. The hole was a short Par-3, with a small pond right in the center. Moses walks up first, pulls out an 8-iron, and swings. The ball looks short, and is about to hit the water when Moses suddenly thrusts his arms out to both sides. The water in the pond parts, and the ball rolls along the bottom of the pond, up on the green, and eventually comes to rest about 6 inches from the pin.

Jesus takes the next shot, pulls out his 9-iron and swings. Again, the ball looks short, and looks like its going to hit the water as well. But instead, the ball bounces off the surface of the water, rolls along the top of the pond, on to the green, and stops about 3 inches from Moses's ball.

The older man is up next. He walks to the tee, pulls out his pitching wedge and takes half a swing. The ball slices sharply to the right, hits a tree and bounces left. It bounces off the second tree, and goes right in the pond with a resounding plop. In the pond, a fish swims by and picks up the ball as its sinking in the pond, and swims it to the surface. Just as the fish comes to the top of the pond, a bird flies by and plucks the fish out of the water. The bird flies around the green with the fish (still holding the ball) about 3 or 4 times, when he swoops down toward the green. And just before the bird hits the green, the fish drops the ball right in the hole. Jesus and Moses look astonished for a few moments, until Moses gets angry, and throws down his clubs. He gives Jesus a dirty look, and exclaims "That's it! I'm NEVER playing golf with your dad again!"

The Will of God is Everything. It can surpass infinite obstacles,make yea into nay and nay into yea.

Everything is in His will.

Everything

Om Arunachala Namaha

• Ramana Maharshi

  • Arunachala Ramana Blog
  • David Godman’s Blog
  • Ramanasramam Web Site
  • SAT Website
  • Arunachala Grace Blog
  • Arunachala Heart Blog
  • Carol’s Blog
  • Harsha Sangha Blog
  • https://richardarunachala.wordpress.com
  • Arunachala Grace Blog
  • Arunachala Heart Blog
  • Yogi Ramsurat Kumar’s Tiruvannamalai News

First I'd recommend Cezar Teruel (attended 10 satsangs with him and they were all a blast) but he's always on the move and not always present in Tiru:
http://www.gurusfeet.com/guru/cesar

Second, if you want to experience the grace of silence first hand without all the talking and mind games... Go and have the Darshan of Shiva Shakti Ammaiyar:
http://www.gurusfeet.com/guru/siva-sakthi-ammaiyar

IMHO she's the real deal, but only available for 15 minutes in the morning from 10 to 10:15 am.

Third, there's Ganesan:
http://richardarunachala.wordpress....uvannamalai/

Mantras - invaluable

The intellect may not understand but the subtle body understands the depth of Mantras. The vibrations that are produced do good to all the subtle layers of existence. This energy creates benevolence, benefits the whole mankind, washes away our bad karma, promotes harmony in the world and desires get fulfilled. These bring us close to self- realization and also to achieve success in the world.

Feedback?

Just wondering, how do people react to this blog?
Frank opinions?
Please share...
Is it worth your while when you accidentally bump into this blog?

Mother's milk

The wonders of breast milk.
How amazing is that?
How can a 'simple' human produce such an amazing life source?
Little do we know -

Here is the magic mantra for Friday - for overall wellness and prosperity
lalitham sridharam
lalitham baskaram
lalitham sudharshanam



Human breast milk has a long history in health care as the ancient Egyptians blended it with honey to make a medicine. It has been used medicinally for thousands of years. The antibacterial and healing properties of breast milk are often overlooked, even by the nursing mothers themselves. Breast milk, if properly expressed and stored, is a sterile solution and can be used in a variety of ways to promote healing and clean wounds. Breast milk contains strong antibodies and antitoxins that many people believe promote healing and better overall health.

yogi ramaiah

http://www.arunachala.org/newsletters/2008/?pg=jul-aug#article.1

From my boyhood I had great devotion (bhakti) towards Sri Rama Namam. Till I was nineteen years old I was generally of a rajasic temperament and was fearless. I used to listen attentively whenever elders recited stories of God or taught dharma; and I used to make friendship with such elders. Once I heard of the life of Kabir from an old gentleman and at once I became sorrowful that I had wasted my life till then. "How to get undistracted devotion (ananya bhakti)?" "How can I become fit for God's mercy (kripa)?" These were my desires. Though I was not a bhakta from childhood like Kabir, I got vairagyam and wanted to do penance (tapas) like Valmiki, until the body is covered with ant hills. I then knew that penance meant meditating on Rama Namam continuously like the constant flow of oil, and to be in samadhi, forgetting this body. Thus I acquired bhakti and vairagyam. Subsequently love for the body (dehabhimanam) disappeared.

Formerly I had many friends, but the feeling of friendship for them left me. I couldn't leave the continuous dhyanam (meditation) even for a minute. I used to feel sorry that the nights were being wasted in sleep. I used to feel that I was meditating even in my sleep. I used to be in meditation when I awoke. I used to get up at 3 o.clock in the morning, bathe and, sitting in a secluded place, would meditate till 8 o.clock. From 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. I would read Bhagavatam. After meals I would listen to Bhagavatam read by a Brahmin. In the evenings, I would go outside the town and meditate sitting alone. Even if such a place be the pathway used by men and cattle, I would neither know of or hear anything during meditation. I used to offer puja, imagining the form of Vishnu in my heart.

When Brahmanantha Thirtha Swami was at Nellore, I went and prayed to him to give me upadesa and teach me yoga so that I could meditate upon Rama and conquer the mind. He then gave me Rama Tarakam Mantram and asked me to meditate on it, observing pranayama, for a little while, at the time. He said that to practice pranayama vigorously, solitary living and food restrictions are necessary.

I was then meditating by focusing my attention towards the middle of the eyes. In a short time, Chitkalas (guiding spirits) began to appear in a variety of ways, but they disappeared after some time. Then a flame like the sun began to appear. This would appear even when meditating with eyes closed, but there would be nothing when opening my eyes. I thought that Surya Bhagavan was appearing. Knowing that the vision was from inside, I began to practice vigorously. After some time the vision assumed a clearer form like the moon. Later on in the place of this moon a jyoti began to appear. While in this condition, the drik (subject) and drisyam (object) would disappear and I would feel that the atma was Poornam, the Perfect survivor. At that time this condition would not last continuously, but would only recur from time to time. I then got extra vairagyam. It was at that time that I left my home.

Without telling anybody I wanted to go to Dandaka Forest and do penance like Valmiki and the rishis. Before traveling north, I got down from the train to meet my Guru at Bapatla, in the Guntur District. As soon as he saw me he asked whether I had left home after informing my people. I told him the truth, that is, that I did not inform anyone. He then told me, "You cannot stay there (Dandaka Forest) and do penance. There are many difficulties there. Have an asramam in your village and do penance there. I will come and see you occasionally. Go back home to your village." Before leaving to return to my home, he gave me upadesam.

When I first got vairagyam I started a water pandal for distribution of water on Narasimha Jayanti days. It is still going on. I started my own asramam and named it Rama Asramam. It has been useful for meditation and also other purposes. Within two years of my spiritual life there was a break in yoga. I felt very sorry for this break and with firm determination, giving up all things, I joined this Rama Asramam in 1922. By constant meditation, sitting on an asana, I used to become fatigued. To get over this fatigue I would immediately do pranyama. While doing this and learning from books, such as Jnana Vasishtam, Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavatam, that yoga should be practiced keeping the lakshyam at the tip of the nose, I began to do likewise. Practicing like this for some time and seeing nothing at the end of the nose I began to feel discouraged. Summoning confidence, however, from my firm belief that what is written in the sastras can never be untrue, I gave up interest in food and sleep and assumed a meditative posture. I was always doing dhyana, dharana and pranayama. Gradually I achieved breath retention. Now and then I used to feel the sushumna, subtle force, rise up. Since then a jyoti began to appear. For some months there was no body sense and the Self was all pervading. Ahamkara disappeared. It was realized that it was not I that was meditating, the I was the witness of the ahamkara, that I really am Atman and that this is my true form. The external vision decreased by constant concentration of the Self.

There was no desire to eat anything. In spite of bodily difficulties the mind was always happy. I was thinking of Rama in saguna aspect and offering puja to Hari in my heart.

As the external vision decreased, I wanted to go to experienced gurus with Brahma Nishta and tell them about my experiences and to find out what their experiences were. By enquiry I found out that there were many who had read books only, without experiencing the Self and I could not find any with Brahma Nishta. In my boyhood when I came on a pilgrimage to Arunagiri I saw Bhagavan. Since then, at times, I used to think of him. Learning that Bhagavan knows Telugu, I went to him, offered my respects, sat in his presence and was looking at him. I found that he was introverted, his eyes were not moving, breath appeared to have stopped . no movement was visible in him. Seeing that, I also turned my vision inside. As I had acquired dharana siddhi at the tip of the nose, I found it easy to turn my vision inside. When the vision is turned to the drik (subject) inside, the drisya (objects) are not seen. Self was all pervading and perfect (purna). In this state I was sitting for two hours. I came to the conclusion that when the mind was subdued and the objects are not seen, the subject and object are merged in the Self, and that Self is all pervading and perfect. Ganapathi Sastri had come there and I questioned him about this. The sastri replied that the subject and object are different. I couldn't agree with what he said. Bhagavan immediately said that when the mind is subdued there is only one thing, and that the subject and object are not different. I felt very happy on hearing this and concluded with certainty that he was the Guru and that he had realized the truth.

I then told Bhagavan about my eyes and he replied that they would get right after some time and that there was no danger. As it was Kartika Deepam time and, as there was a big crowd of people, Bhagavan said that if I went to see him in the night it would be more convenient. I agreed and went away. When I went there in the night, the doors were closed and all inside were asleep. Thinking it would not be proper to disturb them in their sleep I lied down on the pial outside. As it was the winter season the cold was severe, mosquitoes began to bite and I was unable to sleep. At about three in the morning Bhagavan came outside and saw me. I prostrated. Bhagavan who was all kindness said that I had been put to much trouble and asked me to come inside and sleep by his side. That night I asked him some questions:

Q. What is Nirvikalpa Samadhi?
A. That which has no sankalpam to Nirvikalpa.
Q. In Samadhi, will there not be even the Brahma Bhava?
A. If there is Bhava, it will not be Nirvikalpa.
Q. What is meant by Rama?
A. That in which everything takes its origin, exists and disappears, is Rama.

I then determined that all practices are only means to attain this final stage. I was giving up my former spiritual practices little by little. I felt immensely attracted to Bhagavan and felt quite at home in Ramanasrmam. Bhagavan was all love. After meeting Bhagavan I did not go to any other Guru.

I then read the life of Maharshi. By reading it one acquires vairagyam and dispassion. Just to see him is upadesam; to sit in his presence gives peace. This is my firm belief.

After some time, with Bhagavan's permission, I went back to my native place. I would come twice every year to see him. I heard blessed words from him regarding his experiences.The Swami himself would look after my food arrangements. Just as a father would nuture motherless children, he was always filled with limitless kindness. As I have no strength to walk any distance, I always stay in my cottage or with the Maharshi. And as speech may cause chitta chalanam (thought movement), I observed mounam (silence).

Some time later I came to see Bhagavan again and was in the Asramam for some days. One day I told him about my experience of that time. I told him that at the time of meditation only, the whole thing would appear to be one, and then at other times the subject and object appear to be different, and I asked him how this difference would disappear. He told me that there was still dehavasana, i.e., attachment to the body, and asked me to carry on with my meditation till it disappeared entirely.

I then asked him to tell me how to concentrate. He then said: "When a man dies the funeral pyre is prepared with fuel and the dead body is laid on the pyre. The pyre is lit. First the skin is burnt, then the flesh, and then the bones, until the whole body is converted into ashes. What remains thereafter? Only the spirit. But by Self inquiry the spirit also disappears."

"When this dehavasana goes, ahamkara also vanishes and the Self alone remains."

He had composed "Upadesa Saram" in Tamil. I prayed that he might translate it into Telugu. He rendered it in dwipada (couplets) form in Telugu. I then stayed in the Asramam for some days, went abroad for some time, and then returned to my Asramam. I then gave up everything. When I returned to Tiruvannamalai I would sometimes stay in the Mango Tree Cave near Mulaipal Thirtham.

After Bhagavan had composed "Ulladu Narpadu" in Tamil (.Reality in Forty Verses.), I prayed to him to teach it to me in Telegu. He rendered it into Telegu prose and taught it to me. Reflecting on what he taught me the mind was subdued and dissolved in the Self. Now nothing different from Self is seen.

12 Jyotirlingas - Om Namah Shivay

From bottom left - SOMNATH, MALLIKARJUNA, MAHAKALESHWAR, OMKARESHWAR, BAIDHNATHESWAR, BHIMASHANKAR, RAMANATH, NAGANATH, VISHWANATH, TRYAMBAKESHWAR, KEDARESHWAR, GUSMESWARA

Shiva Worship during Shiva Ratri

According to Hindu mythology, Shivaratri or 'Shiva's Great Night' symbolizes the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati. Many however, believe, Shivaratri is the night when Lord Shiva performed the Tandava Nritya - the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction. Celebrating the festival in a customary manner, devotees give a ritual bath to the Lingam with the panchagavya - milk, sour milk, butter and dung. Celebrations of Shivaratri Festival mainly take place at night. Devotees of Lord Shiva throng Shiva temples across the country and spend ‘the Night of Lord Shiva' by chanting verses and hymns in praise of the Lord. The festival holds special meaning for the ladies. They pray to Mata Parvati also called 'Gaura', the giver of 'suhag' for good husbands, marital bliss and a long and prosperous married life.

On a Shivratri day, Shiva temples are thronged by devotees, mainly women, who come to perform the traditional Shivalinga pooja and seek blessings from the God. At times there is so much rush in the temples that devotees have to wait for their turn to observe pooja. Devotees of Lord Shiva observe the Shivaratri Festival by following the prescribed rituals with sincerity and devotion. All through the day, devotees abstain from eating food and break their fast only the next morning, after the nightlong worship. Ritual baths of Shivalinga in the numerous Shiva temples by Shiva worshipper, mainly women, is another significant feature of Shivratri customs and traditions. Devotees strongly believe that ritual worship of Lord Shiva on the auspicious day of Shivaratri absolves them of past sins and they are blessed with Moksha.

Shivaratri Rituals:

Ritual Bath of Shivalinga:

Following the rituals prescribed in the Shiva Purana, every three hours, Shivalingam is given a special bath with milk, yoghurt, honey, sandalwood paste and rose water. Puja, meditation and chanting of ‘Om Namah Shivaya' accompany the ritual bath. Following the bath, vermilion paste is applied on the linga. Traditionally, leaves of a forest tree Aegle marmelos (bilwa, maredu, wood apple) are used for Shiva puja. Thereafter, Bilwa leaves, which have to be a stalk with three leaves, is kept on top of the Shivalinga. Ber or jujube fruit is a special offering to the god on this day. Beetle leaves are also offered by some. Some also offer bilwa leaves in the belief that the Goddess Lakshmi resides in them. Others believe it is offered for its cooling effects on the hot-tempered deity. Many devotees also decorate the linga with flowers and garlands and offer incense sticks and fruit.

Significance of Puja Items:

According to the Shiva Purana, there is a special significance of the six essential puja items used in the Shiva worship.

Bathing of Shivalinga with water, milk and honey and wood apple or bel leaves added to it, represents purification of the soul.

The vermilion paste applied on the linga after the ritual bath represents virtue. Offering of fruits symbolizes longevity and gratification of desires. Burning of incense sticks yields wealth.

The lighting of the lamp symbolizes attainment of knowledge. Offering of betel leaves marks satisfaction with worldly pleasures.

All-Night Shiva Worship:

Worship of Lord Shiva continues all through the night on Shivaratri Festival. Devotees stay awake all night and spend the night in Shiva temples in worship of Lord Shiva. Singing of hymns and verses in praise and devotion of Lord Shiva besides the intense chanting of Om Namah Shivay, the mantra that is said free people from all their sins, continue through the night on Shivaratri.

Special worship of Shiva by priests continues through the nightlong prayer vigil. During this ritual worship, Lord Shiva is offered special food made from the fruits of the season, root vegetables and coconuts. Those observing the Shivaratri Fast break their fast the next morning by consuming the prasad offered to Shiva.

Historical significance of Shivaratri:

Shivaratri Pooja has been given tremendous significance in Hindu mythology. It is said that ritual worship of Lord Shiva on a Shivaratri day pleases Lord Shiva the most. Devotees further believe that by pleasing Lord Shankara on the auspicious Shivaratri day, a person is absolved of past sins and is blessed with Moksha or salvation.

Benifits of Shivaratri Puja:

According to Shiva Purana, sincere worship of Lord Shiva yields merits including spiritual growth for the devotees. It also provides extensive details on the right way to perform Shivratri Puja.

Shiva Purana further says that performing abhisheka of Shiva Linga with six different dravyas including milk, yoghurt, honey, ghee, sugar and water while chanting Sri Rudram, Chamakam and Dasa Shanthi pleases Lord Shiva the most. According to the mythology, each of these dravya used in the abhisheka blesses a unique quality:
Milk is for the blessing of purity and piousness.
Yogurt is for prosperity and progeny.
Honey is for sweet speech.
Ghee is for victory.
Sugar is for happiness.
Water is for purity.

Besides, worship of Lord Shiva on Shivratri is also considered to be extremely beneficial for women. While, married women pray to Shiva for the well being of their husbands and sons, unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva, who is considered to be the ideal husband.

Tradition of Drinking Thandai:

Since Lord Shiva is regarded as an ascetic god, Maha Shivratri is very popular with ascetics. Thandai, a drink made with bhang (cannabis), almonds, and milk, is essentially drunk by the devout on the day as cannabis is said to have been very dear to Shiva.

Fast on the day of Shivratri:

Shivaratri Fast is considered to be the most important fast for the devotees of Lord Shiva. Shiva Purana goes on to say that if a devotee observes Shivaratri Vrata with sincerity, pure devotion and love he is blessed with the divine grace of Lord Shiva. Every year devotees observe Maha Shivaratri fast with devotion and sincerity. Though many go on a diet of fruits and milk, some do not consume even a drop of water all through the day and night of Shivaratri Festival.

Benefits of Mahashivratri Vrat:

According to Hindu mythology, observance of mahashivratri Vrat with discipline helps a devotee to control the two great natural forces that afflict a man, rajas guna (the quality of passionate activity) and tamas guna (the quality of inertia). When a devotee spends an entire day in the Feet of Lord and worships with sincerity, his motion is controlled and evils like lust, anger and jealousy, born of Rajas are ignored and subdued. Besides, when a devotee observes vigil throughout the night (jaagran) he manages to conquer the evils of Tamas Guna too. It has also been mentioned that when a devotee observes a round of worship every three hours, the Shivaratri Vrata becomes perfect.

Devotees of Lord Shiva believe consider Shivratri fast to be extremely auspicious and rate it equal or more than performing an Ashwamedha Yagna. Some believe that a devotee who observes a Shivaratri Fast with sincerity and utters the name of Lord Shiva with perfect devotion is absolved from all sins. Such a devotee reaches the abode of Lord Shiva and lives there happily. He is also liberated from the cycle of birth and death.

Shiv-Sati Vivaah:

In the absence of Sati, the condition of Shivji was becoming very peculiar. He used to remember SATI day and night and used to discuss about her only. While dying SATI had made a resolution that she would take birth at King of Mountain Himalaya's palace and would re-marry Shiva. Whether Jagdamba's resolution can go in vain. She took birth in same palace and she was called Paarvati. When she became young her parents started looking a match for her. One day "Naarad Muni" suddenly reached to the palace of King Himalaya and after seeing the girl, he told only Lord Shiva is the perfect match for her. Knowing there daughter is literally SATI and has taken birth in there home they became very happy.

One day suddenly the anxious SHIVA in absence of Sati went for Tapasya in the same state. Hearing this, King Himalaya along with his daughter went to Shiva and requested that he should take the service of her daughter. In starting Shiva hesitated but later on seeing the Bhakti (devotion) of Paarvati he agreed. There after Paarvati daily cleaned the space where Shiva sat for Tapasya and tried to keep in mind each and every wish of Lord Shiva. Despite of the fact that Paarvati was very young and beautiful, Lord Shiva was always devoted in his Tapasya.

On the other hand a devil name Taarak was disturbing Gods a lot. Knowing the fact that only Shiva-Paarvati's son only can kill him, they were making efforts so that they can marry. To make Shiva attract towards Paarvati they requested Kaamdev to help them, But Kaamdev also failed in this mission in fact he was finished (Bhasma) by Shiva and then Shiva returned to Kailash.

Paarvati was disappointed being refrained not able to do service of Shiva but she decided to do Tap. Her mother advised her not to do so but she didn't listen to her and that's why her name become UMA (means don't do Tapasya). She left her home and started doing Tapasya at the same peak where Shiva used to. From then onwards the place is called "Gauri Shikhar". Then she spent her 1st year by eating only fruit, that's why she was called Arpene. In this way she did Tapasya for 3000 years.

At last Lord Shiva became soft hearted. For taking the test of Paarvati HE first sent Seven Rishies (Saints) to her and followed them in Vatu vesh. After complete verification and satisfaction He saw that Paarvati was fully devoted and dedicated towards him and couldn't resist HIMSELF from coming in His original looking. HE suddenly came in HIS original form and granted wish (Vardaan) of Parigarahn to Paarvati and became invisible. Seeing her Tap (labour) becoming successful SHE returned home and told the whole thing to HER Parents. After hearing this, there was no limit to the parents happiness that her daughter's Tap (Labour) gave her the desired result (was fruitful). On the other hand Shiva sent Saptarishis to King Himalaya with marriage proposal and in this way marriage auspicious date was also fixed. Through Naaradji, Shiva invited all the Gods with honor and on the decided date Brahma, Vishnu, Indra and all Gods along with there group reached Kailash. Here Himalaya had made gala arrangements for the marriage and Shiva also reached with Baarat (marriage procession) to this auspicious marriage.

At first/in beginning seeing the VIKAT form of Shiva and his companions Bhut Pret (devils army) Maina (Paarvati's mother) became scared and started hesitation in her daughter marriage. But when she saw, Shiva's RUP of 16 yrs which attracts crores of Kaamdev she forgot everything and alongwith her daughter she gave her soul also to Shiva. The marriage was performed very joyously and king Himalaya made Kanyadaan. Lord Vishnu and other Gods presented different gifts to them. Brahmaji perform/monitered the marriage ritually. Then every body left home happily.

Jai Bhole Naath - Maha Shivaratri day

Shiva Stuthi

Namaa miisha mishaana-nirvaana rupam
vibhum vyaapakam brahma-veda-svaroopam
nijam nirgunam nirvikalpam niriham
chidaakaasha maakaasha-vaasam bhaje ham

(I bow to the Ruler of the Universe, whose very form is Liberation,
the omnipotent and all pervading Brahma, manifest as the Vedas.
I worship Shiva, shining in his own glory, without physical qualities,
Undifferentiated, desireless, all pervading sky of consciousness
and wearing the sky itself as His garment.)

niraakaara monkaara-moolam turiiyam
giraa gnaana gotiita miisham giriisham
karaalam mahaa-kaala-kaalam krpaalam
gunaagaara samsara paaram nato ham

(I bow to the supreme Lord who is the formless source of “OM’
The Self of All, transcending all conditions and states,
Beyond speech, understanding and sense perception,
Awe-full, but gracious, the ruler of Kailash,
Devourer of Death, the immortal abode of all virtues.)

tushaa raadri-sankaasha-gauram gabhiram
manobhuta-koti prabha sri sariram
sphuran mauli-kallolini-charu-ganga
lasad-bhaala-balendu kanthe bhujangaa

(I worship Shankara, whose form is white as the Himalyan snow,
Radiant with the beauty of countless Cupids,
Whose head sparkles with the Ganga
With crescent moon adorning his brow and snakes coiling his neck.)

chalatkundalam bhru sunetram visalam
prasannaa-nanam nila-kantham dayaalam
mrgadhisa charmaambaram mundamaalam
priyam sankaram sarvanaatham bhajaami

(The beloved Lord of All,
with shimmering pendants hanging from his ears,
Beautiful eyebrows and large eyes,
Full of Mercy with a cheerful countenance and a blue speck on his throat.)

pracandam prakrstam pragalbham paresham
akhandam ajam bhaanukoti-prakaasam
trayah-shula-nirmulanam shula-paanim
bhaje ham bhavaani-patim bhaava-gamyam

(I worship Shankara, Bhavani’s husband,
The fierce, exalted, luminous supreme Lord.
Indivisible, unborn and radiant with the glory of a million suns;
Who, holding a trident, tears out the root of the three-fold suffering,
And who is reached only through Love.)

kalaatitata-kalyaana-kalpanta-kaari
sadaa sajjanaa-nanda-daataa purarih
chidaananda-sandoha-mohaapahaari
prasida praslda prabho manmathaarih

(You who are without parts, ever blessed,
The cause of universal destruction at the end of each round of creation,
A source of perpetual delight to the pure of heart,
Slayer of the demon, Tripura, consciousness and bliss personified,
Dispeller of delusion…
Have mercy on me, foe of Lust.)

na yaavad umaanaatha-paadaaravindam
bhajantiha loke parevaa naraanam
na taavat-sukham shaanti-santaapa-naasham
praslda prabho sarva bhutaa-dhivaasam

(Oh Lord of Uma, so long as you are not worshipped
There is no happiness, peace or freedom from suffering
in this world or the next.
You who dwell in the hearts of all living beings,
and in whom all beings have their existence,
Have mercy on me, Lord.)

na janaami yogam japam naiva pujam
nato ham sadaa sarvadaa sambhu tubhyam
jaraa janma-duhkhaugha taatapya maanam
prabho paahi apan-namaamisha shambho

(I don’t know yoga, prayer or rituals,
But everywhere and at every moment, I bow to you, Shambhu!
Protect me my Lord, miserable and afflicted as I am
with the sufferings of birth, old-age and death.)

rudrastakam idam proktam viprena haratosaye
ye pathanti nara bhaktya tesam sambhuh prasidati

(This eightfold hymn of praise was sung by the Brahman to please Shankara.
Shambhu will be pleased with whomever heartfully recites it.)

Arunachala, Dakshinamurthy, Ramana Maharishi

Little do I know..
Dakshinamurthy = Ramana Maharishi
Enuf said.


The four Sanakadi Rishis, when their eyes first beheld the form of Lord Dakshinamurti sitting under the banyan tree, perceived that He was the real Sadguru. Hence they approached and circumambulated Him and after having paid their due respects started putting forth queries of great spiritual interest.

Lord Dakshinamurti, the incarnation of Lord Shiva pleased about the earnestness of their pursuit and the wisdom and maturity in the queries that they put forth stated answering them. Thus the question and answer section stretched on to a whole year. But as and when there was an answer from the Lord, more doubts in the form of questions arose. The Lord then merged Himself into the supreme silence the impact of which caused their minds to involuntarily surrender to the impending silence. Their minds merged with the self with the resultant silence sans inner chattering. The doubts were thus dispelled with the self, the ultimate clarity showing forth with all its splendour.

Silence is thus the true Upadesa or the teaching suited for the most advanced. The silence of an enlightened master is infectious to minds marching ahead to unswervingly to the ultimate realization. When Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi narrated the story to Muruganar, a disciple, the latter questioned of the relevance of Dakshinamurti's verbal response to the queries. Bhagavan curtly emphasised the verbal discourse that took place before the ultimate teaching of abiding in silence. The truth then dawned to Muruganar that the Maharshi was none other than Lord Dakshinamurti.

Dakshinamurthy stotram

Mouna Vyakhya prakatitha, para,
Brahma thathwam yuvanam,
Varshishtha anthevasad rishiganai,
Ravrutham brahma nishtai,
Acharyendram kara kalihtha chin,
Mudram ananda roopam,
Swathmaramam mudhitha vadanam,
Dakshinamurthim eede.


I praise and salute that Dakshinamrthy,
Who faces the south,
Who explains the true nature of the supreme Brahman,
Through his state of silence,
Who is young in looks,
Who is surrounded by disciples who are old Sages,
Whose minds are fixed on Brahman,
Who is the greatest of teachers,
Who shows the Chinmudhra[1] by his hand,
Who is personification of happiness,
Who is in the state of extreme joy within himself,
And who has a smiling face.

#1 Viswam darpana drusyamana nagari,
Thulyam nijantar-gatham,
Pasyannathmani mayaya bahirivoth,
Bhutham yatha nidraya,
Ya sakshath kuruthe prabodha samaye,
Swathmanameva dwayam,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree Dakshinamurthaye

The world is like a reflection (not real). We can discern the truth after self illumination. I pray to the guru Dakshinamurthi by whose grace the truth can be illuminated within me

The above stanza tells us that the world which is outside us is same as
our soul but we see them as different entities due to the veil of
ignorance. As soon as we wake up, we realize that the dream is false and
even while seeing our image in the mirror, we know that we are not
seeing us in the mirror but our image. When we get knowledge from the
guru we are in the wakeful state without the veil of ignorance.

#2 Beejasyanthari vankuro jagadhidham,
Prang nirvikalpam punaha
Mayakalpitha desa kala kalanaa,
Vaichithrya chithrikrutham,
Mayaveeva vijrumbhayathyapi maha,
Yogeeva yah swechaya,
Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,
Sree dakshinamurthaye

The world was projected like a tree from a seed, by the will of the supreme. I pray to that Guru Dakshinamurthi (who can take this projection and put it back into the seed form)

When the net of illusion is lifted and when we reach the stage of manifestation, we would find that what we think as different is but one and the same.

Yasyaiva sphuranam sadathmakamasath,

Kalparthagam bhasathe,

Sakshaath thathwamaseethi veda vachasa,

Yobodhyathyasrithhan,

Yath saksht karanath bhavenna punara,

Aavrithir bhavambhonidhow,

Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,

Sree dakshinamurthaye., 4

By His illumination the false world appears real. But He can teach me “I am God – I am part of the supreme truth” – I pray to that Guru Dakshinamurthi for that enlightenment.

He who exists as the real light of truth,
And shines in the false world of appearance,
And He who teaches disciples the great saying,
“Thou art that”^[2] after realizing its import,
Gets away from this cycle of life and death.
Salutation to the God facing the south,
Who is the greatest teacher.

Nanachidhra ghato dhara sthitha maha,

Deepa prabha bhaswaram,

Jnanam yasya thu chakshuradhi karana,

Dwara bahi spandathe,

Jaanameethi tham eva baandham anubathi,

Yethath samastham jagat,

Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,

Sree dakshinamurthaye., 5

The world appears real by manifesting through all my senses. I pray to Guru Dakshinamurthy to illuminate my mind with the truth

Our body prevents us from seeing the truth(the light from outside) that we are the Brahman and lets out
light though the sensory organs and makes us deceive ourselves by feeling that we are happy.
This simile of a pot with holes for the body occurs in many places in Indian philosophy.

Deham pranam api indryanyapi chalaam,

Budhim cha soonyam vidhu,

Stree balandha jadopamasthvaha mithi,

Brandha brusam vadhina,

Maya sakthi vilasa kalpitha maha,

Vyamoha samharine,

Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,

Sree dakshinamurthaye., 6

Some intellectuals claim the world is real. I pray to Guru Dakshinamurthy to destroy that delusion within me

This is a sample of the approach of negation in identifying the truth about the concept of self. Senses, the body etc cannot be the absolute truth as they are transient.

Rahu grastha divakarendu sadrusho,

Maya samachadanath,

Sanamthra karanopa samharanatho,

Yo abhoot sushuptha pumaan,

Pragaswapsaamithi prabodha samaye,

Yaa prathyabignayathe,

Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,

Sree dakshinamurthaye., 7

After a solar eclipse, we realize the sun is still there. My mind is dark now, let me realize the light behind, and realize that the state of ignorance was unreal, I pray to Guru Dakshinamurthy to help me with this.

Balyadishwapi jagaradhadishu thadha,

Sarva sva avasthasthaswapi,

Vyavrutha swanuvarthamanamaha,

Mithyanth sphurantham sada,

Svathmaanam pragatikarothi bajatham,

Yo mudraya bhadraya,

Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,

Sree dakshinamurthaye., 8

We seem to go through changes (states of mind, aging process). But we are the same, and I pray to Guru Dakshinamurthy to help me realize the ONE truth with the help of Gyana Mudra.
http://0.tqn.com/d/healing/1/0/S/p/mudra_gyan.jpg

The truth as represented by the concept of Brahman, exists always.

Viswam pasyathi karya karana thaya,

Swa swami sambandatha,

Sishyacharya thaya thadaiva pithru,

Puthradhyathmana bedatha,

Swapne Jagrathi va ya esha purusho,

Maya Paribramitha,

Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,

Sree dakshinamurthaye., 9

His maya imposes the relationships and states of minds – that amplifies the realism. I pray to that Guru Dakshinamurthy to help me through that.

.

Bhoorambaamsya anilo ambhara,

Maharnadho himamasu puman,

Ithyabhathi characharathmakamidham,

Yasyaiva murthyashtakam,

Nanyath kinchana vidhyathe vimrusathaam,

Yasmath parasmath vibho,

Thasmai sri guru murthaye nama idham,

Sree dakshinamurthaye., 10

He makes the universe manifest, by his grace alone the manifestation disappears. All that remains is Brahmin, so I pray to that Guru Dakshinamurthi to send me his grace

Sarvathmathvamithi sphutikruthamitham,

Yasmadamushamin sthave,

Thenasya sravanath thadartha mananath,

Dyanascha Sankeerthanath,

Sarvathmathva maha vibhuthi sahitham,

Syadheeswarasthvam svatha,

Siddhyeth thath punarashtadha parinatham,

Chaisvaryamvayhatham., 11

The concept of the Athma,
Which is explained in this poem of praise,
Hearing which, understanding which,
Meditating which and singing which,
One would attain the state of the godliness,
And the great state of self realization,
And also you would get the eight powers of occult,