​We know that Lord Rama (also written as Ram) had a very tough life-path. Even though he was God incarnate, his life on earth was full of strife and challenges. He finds a very loving, beautiful wife only to first have her abducted and then when he is frees her and bring her home, he has to again send her away to follow his duty as a righteous king!

At an apparent level, it does not seem like the life of a ‘hero’. But when we really study his life, he is a true hero, because thru all the challenges that come his way, he shows us how to face them with faith, righteous behavior, and true dignity. That is the reason why Lord Rama is considered as an example of an ‘ideal man’. Even though he faces myriads of challenges, he continues to walk his life-path, his reason for incarnating on this earth.

Something to think about... in general and particularly, as we approach his day of incarnation (Rama Navami) … what are some of the challenges that you are facing in your life that is making you question your life-path and purpose?

If you are sure that, that is what you are here on earth for, then pray to Lord Rama and ask for his blessings, strength, and support so you too can face your fears and challenges and continue to walk on your life-path. And ofcourse, if you doubt or wonder about your life-path then still you can pray to him and ask for his guidance and insight, so that you will obtain the needed clarity of life-purpose.

Lord Rama who signifies the Sun, helps to light our life and our path. He can bring us clarity of vision and purpose. He can also help us to face our fears and muster up the needed courage to face our challenges and do the tough tasks while walking our life-path and fulfilling the purpose why we were born on this earth.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Rama Navami… Jai Shree Ram…

Categories:
Festival Celebrations,   Gods And Deities,   and   Vedic Bytes  
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Keywords and Tags:
#RamNavami #RamaNavami #JaiShreeRam #JaiShreeRama #BirthofRam #RamJanmaBhoomi #RamaTheIdealMan #ChaitraNavaratri #RamandSita​ #HinduFestival #LordRam #LordRama 

Gudi Padva (also written as Padwa) signifies the start of the new luni-solar year and is celebrated as a new year in many parts of India. It also signifies the start of Chaitra Navaratri, the nine nights special celebration of our dear mother Goddess- Shakti (more known in her forms of Durga and Kali). 
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It comes after the last new moon of the luni-solar calendar which occurs with both Sun and Moon in Pisces. Then on the following day of pratipada (i.e., first day of shukla paksha, or waxing moon), Sun enters the sign of Aries and marks the beginning of first month, Chaitra of the new Hindu calendar year.

As Sun enters the sidereal zodiac of Aries, it gains much strength in its sign of exaltation. Such a powerful transition of Sun brings an influx of energy and vitality to earth and all its inhabitants. It brings such cosmic delights into our lives!

The day of Gudi Padva is typically celebrated with lot of fun and fanfare… Oil bath and eating neem leaves are believed to be some of the must-do rituals on this day. This day is also celebrated as Samvatsara Padvo as well as Ugadi (or Yugadi) in different parts of India.

It is important to note that Gudi Padva is one of the three and half days of auspicious (shubh) muhurtas as per the Vedic considerations. Because of this, if one wants to do any auspicious work on this day then it is not as imperative to consider special muhurta (time of action) considerations. Ofcourse one can choose to do their work during the Abhijeet muhurta of the day, to make it an even more auspicious time to commence their endeavors!

Read More:

• What is the Abhijeet Nakshatra? Understanding the power of the Abhijeet Nakshatra- to become the Final and Supremely Victorious One!! (Utilizing the Power of Nakshatras for Success and Wellbeing- series)
  
• Timing is everything!! How you can better time your work and events to ensure most success in your endeavors
• How can we benefit from utilizing Muhurta (auspicious time) when doing important activities?

​Categories:
Festival Celebrations  
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Keywords and Tags:
#GudiPadva #Ugadi #Yugadi #SamvatsaraPadvo #GudiPadwa #newenergy #lunisolarcalendar #siderealzodiac #suninaries #Vedicnewyear #newvitality #newbeginning #newlife #HinduFestivals #VedicWisdom #Hindu #Vedic

Traditionally Makar Sankranti has been celebrated on Jan 14th of each year- but   starting last year, it is also being celebrated on Jan 15th. This has created some confusion in people's mind. Here is a quick short video explaining the correct date for the Hindu festival of Makar Sankranti.

Categories:
Festival Celebrations  
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Keywords and Tags:
#MakarSankranti   #Uttarayana   #SolarIngressinCapricorn   #HinduFestivals   #VedicWisdom  #Uttarayana  #HinduFestival   #Capricorn #Hindu #Vedic  #Makar #Festivals #uttarayan

A little bit ago, I wrote about how visiting the crystal caves in Slovenia, gave me some deep insights and understanding into life’s creative processes. If you have not read that article, then you can read it here. 

Kali- the fierce Goddess is usually associated with primal female energy. Though the word Kali indicates time, which Ma Kali represents as the very first of the ten wisdom goddesses (Dasha Mahavidyas), what needs to be understood is that Kali also means “that which is carefully measured out”. 

Any work of creation is accomplished by the conglomeration of carefully measured out smaller bits (of work, of efforts, of actions and so on) and this is what Ma Kali represents. 

It can be our inner self or our outer self. If we want to create a successful life, we need to work with and harness the power of this very first, very powerful and the primal female energy of space and time- Ma Kali. She can help us on our soul journey…

As the Festival of Nine Nights- Navratri begins, let us make a firm resolve (Sankalp) and renew our commitment to walking this path of conscious and aware living.

To learn more about Ma Kali:

• Kali Energy (who is Kali?)
• ​Mantras of Kali: How and Why to pray to Ma Kali
• Significance of Ma Kali's Arms
• ​Why is Kali Dancing?
• Kali Bija Mantra

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Also, mull over Ma Kali’s qualities and blessings and see how you can bring her presence, grace and blessings into your life.

Categories:
Festival Celebrations  and   Gods And Deities
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Keywords and Tags:
#mothergoddessfestival #hindufestival #navaratri #Shakti #WisdomofShakti #Navratri #KaliSadhana #PrayingtoKali #festivalofninenights #Kali #DurgaPuja #Durga  

Happy Hartalika and a wonderful joyous Ganesh Chaturthi everyone!  :-)
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As we walk our path on this spiritual journey, it is even more important to understand the lessons and wisdom of Ganesh. He is supposed to be honored before venturing on any new endeavor and probably the most important endeavor we ever take in our life, is our decision to find the Divine-  to find our  "real self".

​You may want to watch Who is Ganesh? to learn more about this wonderful and kind deity who is always willing to hear our woes and help in removing our sorrows and obstructions! 

Ganesh Symbolism and Meaning is a nice short video explaining the Vedic symbolism in why Ganesh has been attributed the form that he has- which is with an elephant face and a human body.

Categories:
Festival Celebrations,   Gods And Deities

​Keywords and Tags:
​#GaneshChaturthi2020  #GaneshChaturthi  #HappyGaneshChaturthi  #GaneshFestival #HinduFestivalsofGanesh #MaitreyiParadigm  #WisdomofGanesh

Guru- is the Vedic Divine Archetype of the Divine Teacher- giver of knowledge and wisdom. 

Even though we typically think of Gurus as our spiritual teachers and other ‘official’ teachers in our life- like from school and colleges; the truth is that Guru is anyone who ‘teaches’ us- allows the experience and the understanding of deeper insights!

When we consider the deeper meaning of this role- Guru, then we know that Guru can be any person, any situation that has allowed us to learn and grow in life. And ultimately it can be life itself!!

And ofcourse the ultimate Guru is the Divine presence itself!!

Ashadha full moon, i.e. the full moon- which happens in the lunar month of Ashadha (as per the Vedic Hindu calendar) is called as the Guru Purnima. This is the day to pay special reverence to our Guru. 

Remember: Guru is someone who guides us and gives us knowledge and information. But more importantly, he/she gives us the deeper wisdom and insights that help us to walk our life-path. They help and support us when we feel confused or weak on our spiritual path to ascension and higher energy states.

When we feel dejected or depressed, they help us to revive our enthusiasm so we can tackle our challenges and ultimately continue onward our journey!!

A Guru guides us, supports us, helps us, and ultimately nurtures us- at our deeper soul level, so we can fearlessly walk our spiritual path and reach higher dimensions.

This does not have to be the same person- as we progress on our journey, our Gurus can vary- but one thing is for sure that ultimately, it is the guru who shows us the path and provides us the confidence to walk it!!

And ofcourse there is the ultimate Guru of all- Lord Dakshinamurthy. 

On this auspicious day of Guru Purnima, remember to revere, honor, and cherish not just all your teachers and gurus, but also your parents (your first Gurus), life and the Divine Guru.

This July 4-5, 2020 happens to be the day of Guru Purnima.

Happy Guru Purnima everyone and if you have not already checked out the special energy message for this Guru Purnima then be sure to check it out below…

​#gurupurnima #divineguru #spiritualguru #jupiter #vedicdivineteacherarchetype #vedicarchetype #teacher #guidance #spiritualguide #guide #guru #dakshinamurthy #lordshiva #shiva #adiyogi #firstteacher #firstguru 

As we complete an intense and powerful Annular Solar Eclipse, we begin a very auspicious time of Ashada Gupt Navratri.

If you have not already read the special energy message for the annular solar eclipse, then be sure to check out that post on our main blog-page. 

Ashada Gupt Navratri is observed from the Pratipada (1st day) till the Navami (9th day) of the Shukla Paksha (the waxing phase of moon) in the Ashada, month of the traditional Hindu calendar.

Ashada Navratri is also known as Gupt Navratri. It is a nine-day period dedicated to the nine forms of Shakti or the Mother Goddess. It is important to note that Gupt Navaratri is also known as Gayatri Navratri. Ma Gayatri, the great goddess of Vedic Knowledge and Wisdom.
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The fact that the powerful Annular Solar Eclipse is follow by Ashada Gupt Navratri, makes for powerful new beginnings in our life (at an individual level) and also in the great world-stage at large!!

All new moons herald new beginnings and Navratri times allow us to obtain special guidance from the Mother Goddess energy. Given the solar eclipse, these new beginnings are expected to be very turbulent and intense for each one of us- at a physical, emotional, psychological, and even spiritual level.

So, having Mother Goddess’s energy to bless and guide us is a great help and truly divine providence to help us tarry over such turbulent times.

Ofcourse Mother Goddess has various forms that help and guide us in various ways- expressing the myriad ways in which creation unfolds. 
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As Ma Kali, she is the primal force of energy that brings everything into manifestation. As Ma Tara, she benevolently helps us to tarry over the turbulent ‘waters of life’. As Ma Durga, she protects us from all the negative forces, including our own shadow side- she helps us to win over our shadow tendencies and emerge victorious!

As Ma Gayatri, she  helps us by giving us knowledge as well as the wisdom of all that there is ever to know in this cosmos. She gives us the wisdom to understand our challenges and what has been blocking our progress. She gives us the understanding that then helps us to accordingly deal and remove any and all hurdles to our spiritual progress and overall wellbeing!!

​We can pray to whichever form that most appeals to us- the loving mother’s energy and presence is the same never-the-less.

Till we approach her with love and true devotion, she always hears our prayers and blesses us with her presence and guidance.

Wishing everyone a very happy and blessed Ashada Navratri!!​

​#AshadaNavratri #GuptNavratri #GayatriNavratri #Ashada #FestivalsinAshada #HinduFestivals #Shakti #MotherGoddess #Navaratri #Ashadha #Durga #Kali #festivalofninenights #DurgaPooja #DurgaPuja