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Purnima & Amavasya: Fasts and Rituals Since time immemorial, Hindus have believed that the fortnightly cycle of the moon exerts a great influence on the human anatomy just as it affects the water bodies on earth resulting in tides and ebbs. A person may tends to become restless, irritable and ill-tempered showing signs of 'lunacy.' Curiously enough, this word stems from the word 'luna' or 'moon' in Latin. Hence there are specific rituals for the new moon and full moon days. Fasting On Purnima / Full Moon Purnima, the full moon day, is considered auspicious in the Hindus Calendar and most devotees observe fast throughout the day and pray to the presiding deity Lord Vishnu. Only after a whole day of fasting, prayers and a dip in the river do they take light food at dusk. It is ideal to fast or take light food on full moon and new moon days as it is said to reduce the acidic content in our system, slows down the metabolic rates, increases endurance. Thi...

Rath Yatra Colours: Yellow, Black and White In the Puri Shree Jagannath Temple, the presiding deities are three siblings: Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra. On Rath Yatra day, the three siblings come out of the Shreemandir, to embark on a journey to visit their parents at the Gundicha temple, about three kilometers away. The rationale behind this is yet unclear. The temple of the  two brothers and the sister is named after the consort of Lord Jagannatha, Lakshmi, who is also referred to as Shree. One often sees a picture of Vishnu, sleeping on the Shesha Naga and served by Lakshmi in the mythical Vaikuntha Dham. Jagannath represents Vishnu and Balabhadra the Shesha Naga. In the Ramayana, the three went to the forest together as Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. In the mythical Dwapara yuga, however, there is no such account of the three embarking on a journey together. In that age, Krishna represented Vishnu, except that the former married several women and loved ...

Hindu Wedding Rituals 13 Steps of a Vedic Marriage Ceremony While various regional steps are followed by different sects of Hindus across India, the following 13 steps form the core of a Vedic wedding ceremony: Vara Satkaarah Reception of the bridegroom and his kinsmen at the entrance gate of the wedding hall where the officiating priest chants a few mantras and the bride's mother blesses the groom with rice and trefoil and applies tilak of vermilion and turmeric powder. Madhuparka Ceremony Reception of the bridegroom at the altar and bestowing of presents by the bride's father. Kanya Dan The bride's father gives away his daughter to the groom amidst the chanting of sacred mantras. Vivah-Homa The sacred fire ceremony ascertaining that all auspicious undertakings are begun in an atmosphere of purity and spirituality. Pani-Grahan The groom takes the right hand of the bride in his left hand and accepts her as his lawfully wedded wife. Pratigna-Karan The couple walk r...

Rath Yatra - The Chariot Festival of India Every year in mid-summer (this year it is July 10, 2013), Lord Jagannath, with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, goes on vacation, travelling on grand chariots, from his temple in Puri, to his garden palace in the countryside. This belief of the Hindus has given rise to one of the biggest religious festivals in India — the Rath Yatra or t he Chariot Festival. This is also the etymological origin of the English word 'Juggernaut'. Jagannath, believed to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu, is the Lord of Puri — the coastal town of Orissa in eastern India. Rath Yatra is of great significance to the Hindus, and especially to the people of Orissa. It is during this time that the three deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are taken out in a grand procession in specially made gigantic temple-like chariots called raths, which are pulled by thousands of devotees. Historical Origin Many believe that the custom of placin...

Why do we fast, or keep Upvasa/Vrat? Fasting in Hinduism indicates the denial of the physical needs of the body for the sake of spiritual gains. According to the scriptures, fasting helps create an attunement with the Absolute by establishing a harmonious relationship between the body and the soul. This is thought to be imperative for the well being of a human being as it nourishes both his/her p hysical and spiritual demands. Hindus believe it is not easy to unceasingly pursue the path of spirituality in one's daily life. We are harangued by a lot of considerations, and worldly indulgences do not allow us to concentrate on spiritual attainment. Therefore a worshiper must strive to impose restrains on himself/herself to get his mind focused. And one form of restraint is fasting. Self-Discipline However, fasting is not only a part of worship, but a great instrument for self-discipline too. It is a training of the mind and the body to endure and harden up against all hardship...

Sonia Gandhi lobbied for India-US Nuclear Deal : WikiLeaks US embassy cable says: “Sonia Gandhi appeared to be comfortable and conversant on the topic of the civil nuclear agreement” “Sonia and her advisors listened attentively and took on board the  Congressmen’s advice that the GOI put more effort into mobilising Indian Americans behind the Civil nuclear Agreement” . Rahul Gandhi, Murli Deora and Karan Singh were also present. The cable  further says that Sonia Gandhi’s meeting with the Speaker and Rahul Gandhi’s presence are unprecedented in their experience. Source : Niti Central

India’s national emblem - Symbol of Dharma, Power, Courage and Truth... Please Read, Like and Share...  The lion capital of the Ashoka pillar at Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh is probably the most ubiquitous symbol in India. Being India’s national emblem, it adorns the nation’s currency notes and coins, government documents and even the cover of the Indian passport. But do you know what it means? Read on to know more about the history and symbolic meaning of the lion capital. Ki ng Ashoka, the renowned conqueror-king of India who later became a Buddhist, erected several pillars during his reign (3rd century BC) to propagate the teachings of the Buddha. The most famous of these pillars is the fifty-foot tall Sarnath pillar that marks the site of the Buddha’s first sermon. The national emblem of India is an adaptation of the lion capital that once sat atop this pillar. The original lion capital has four lions (the fourth is hidden from view) perched on a circular platform engraved ...