Vijaya Dashami Festival in Mauritius
What is the significance of Navarathri and Vijaya Dashami? Explore the answers to those questions in this post in relation to how these holidays and rituals are celebrated on the island nation of...
View ArticleVijaya Dashami in Mauritius (Part 2 of 2)
Why is Vijaya Dashami and Navarathri celebrated? This article shares three stories and how these stories are translated into traditional celebrations.
View ArticleSimple Truth Of Complex Process
Have you ever wondered why Hindu culture, religious practice and ritual are multifaceted? What is the purpose of the rituals and how can they help a person evolve spiritually? How can anyone realize...
View ArticleVedic Tamil Hindi and Malayalam Calendar
What's your sign in Tamil? What Western month cooresponds with the Malayalam Kanni? How do you say Thursday in Hindi? Find out some of the answers here! Reprinted from my old tripod site.
View ArticleBhakti Yoga
Bhakti yoga is the yoga of devotion. This short article talks about bhakti yoga and it's meaning in daily life. Submitted by A. Nagarajan
View ArticleMakara Jyothi - The Light That Signals Longer Days
Makara Jyothi, falling on January 14 every year, culminates the 41 day penance and pilgrimage to Sabarimala in Kerala, India. Video included.
View ArticleWilderness Wisdom Wednesdays: Hippo
With hippos, things are not what they seem. That can teach us a lot! Read on!
View ArticleThaipusam in Singapore: Exploring Reasons and Meanings behind the rituals of...
Thaipusam is a festival dedicated to Lord Murugan celebrated on the full moon day of the Tamil month, Thai. This year, this festival was held a few days ago, on January 23, 2008. Reprinted from my old...
View ArticleThe Story of Diwali - What is Diwali?
Diwali is the 'festival of lights' in India. Depending on where one lives it goes on from a few days up to a week! The highlights include the three Fs- Food, Firecrackers, Family (OK, Fun, too!).
View ArticleTirupathi Venkataswara Temple Pilgrimage 1998 (Part 2 of 2 India Travel Diary...
Recount the memories of my trip to Venkataswara Tirupathi Temple in India in 1998. New photos downloaded and linked at the end! Enjoy!!
View ArticleCelebrating the Feminine Divine: Attukal Pongala in Kerala
Bringing together up to 3 million people for a festival in celebration of the goddess and feminine divine holds a lot of mystery and intrigue. In this post I share some of my thoughts on women's...
View ArticleWilderness Wisdom Wednesdays: Cow
Cows are important to all cultures and people - they provide us so much - milk, butter, ghee, yogurt, cheese, and for others, meat and leather. I wanted to explore the meaning of cows in different...
View ArticleMemorable Stops between Kanyakumari and Trivandrum
Our visit to Suchindram temple in Tamil Nadu, and Padmanabhapuram Palace, an example of eco-architecture in south India. Read on..
View ArticleHoli - The Colorful Festival
A narrative piece on what is Holi, how and why it is celebrated. Video from celebrations from different parts of India included.
View ArticleSpirituality not Divorced from Everyday Life? Reflections on Kerala Trip
Westerners may go to India to escape their normal life to experience spirituality, but I ask is escaping daily life to experience spirituality necsary? How can we experience spirituality in daily life?
View ArticleDhivya Darsanam - A Website Dedicated to Hindu Temples
Since childhood, Sarvanan has been intrigued by the rich history and cultural significance of Hindu temples. This passion has encouraged him to collect historical, socio-cultural, and scientific based...
View ArticleChakras – Circles of Mystery, Circles of Life (Part 1 of 2)
One of the great circles of life reside within our own body- the chakra. Chakras are energy vortexes in our body that help move energy and help us grow and individuals and as a collective whole.After...
View ArticleChakras – Circles of Mystery, Circles of Life (Part 2 of 2)
Ever wonder what are the seven chakras- muladhara, swadhistana, manipura, anahata, visuhuddha, ajna and sahasrara. Ever wonder how you can physically experience these chakras? The workshop I attended...
View ArticleVaralakshmi Vratham - Summer's Tribute to Eight Forms of the Goddess
Every Friday of Adi Masaum (Adi Month in Tamil Calendar) is dedicated to praying to the Goddess. The last Friday is Varalakshmi Vratham, which is today. Click inside to read more on this fascinating...
View ArticleKrishna Jayanthi - Birthday of Lord Krishna
Every year, eight days after Rakhi in August or September is the birthday of Lord Krishna, known as Krishna Jayanthi in South India and Janamasthami in North India.
View ArticleA Promise to Lord Ganesh: One American’s Journey to Celebrating Ganesh...
In celebration of Lord Ganesh's birthday in less than two days time, I am sharing with you a very special article that I have written, submitted to a friend in Mumbai and after translating it into...
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Happy Ganesh Chathurthi!
May Lord Ganesh Bless you and your family on this day, his Birthday, and everyday!! Happy Ganesh Chathurthi!More Photos here
View ArticleNothing Like Navarathri: What Is Celebrated During Navarathri
Navarathri holds different meanings for different people in different parts of India. Navarathri holds a special meaning for me as well. I enjoy placing dolls on the golu, I enjoy observing Saraswathi...
View ArticleSaptashrungi Devi - Submitted by Ajoy
Saptashrungi Devi is Durga Devi, she is located at Vani a place near the city of Nashik in the state of Maharashtra. This place is one of the 51 shakti peeth of India and Pakistan.Read more about Devi,...
View ArticleHindu way of Life: 20 Keys to Physical and Spiritual Development
Rendition of Swami Sivananda's guidelines of living a good life. Though many of these guidelines have details supporting Hindu lifestyles, any spiritual tradition can benefit from this by modifiying...
View ArticleSpiritual Sightseeing: Hindu Temples and other Spiritual Abodes Visited...
Across the U.S.A., India, Canada, Oman, in their cities, remote villages, tourist locations and unexpected side stops has introduced me to a wide repertoire of spiritual havens. Share in my spiritual...
View ArticleOnam and Diwali: A Mysterious Connection
Onam is a grand festival occuring in August - September in the state of Kerala. Diwali is the festival of lights occuring in October - November. I was always curious why Onam won out in grandeur to...
View ArticleKarthikgai Deepam: Festival of Lights
Karthigai Deepam, the Tamil festival of lights is a sight to be seen, especially in Thiruvanmalai where a ghee fire is lit that is seen for kilometers on end!
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Story of Lord Ganesha (aka How did Ganesh Get the Head of an Elephant?)
Who is Lord Ganesha? He is the most adored and loved god. Son of Siva and Parvathy, and brother to Murugan, Lord Ganesha is worshipped before all endeavors. He removes all obstacles. But many wonder,...
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Thaipusam: Ode to Lord Murugan
Happy Thaipusam. It is today that people will undertake rituals to rid of sins, burdens and hurts inflicted on others during the past year.Read about ThaipusamPart 1: Exploring Reasons and Meanings...
View ArticleThaipusam in Singapore
Thaipusam is a south Indian festival celebrated to attone from sins of the previous years through rituals and self-sacrifice. Arun shares with us his celebrations of this holiday in Singapore.
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Varusha Pirappu - Tamizh New Year’s Day
Today marks the new year in the South Indian calendars for Tamils and Keralites. Happy New Year!!This article discusses Tamil New Year. Submitted by Padmini Natarajan. To the left, close and cover your...
View ArticleRamayana
Ramanavami is the celebration of the birth of Lord Rama, the epitome of a virtuious man on earth. The festival of Rama's birth is celebrated on the day of the star Punar Poosam in the bright fortnight...
View ArticleFrom Darkness to Light
Padmini shares with us a timeless spiritual parable and life lesson that all can relate to. Read, enjoy and be enlightened!
View ArticleThe Puranas
Short introduction to the holy Puranas. The Puranas (of ancient times) are narratives of the history of the Universe. They are perhaps the most important or commonly used scriptural texts of the Hindus...
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Palm Sunday- An India and American Comparison
Binu shares his thoughts and experiences about Palm Sunday, the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a goat, heralded in by the local villagers with the fanning of palm leaves, days before Easter.The...
View ArticleIntroduction to The Kerala & Malayalee Traditional Calendar
Many Malayalee families continue to consult the family priest or astrologer to calculate special days. Many holy-days are now transcribed into a Western calendar format for easier reference, though...
View ArticleAadi Masam 2009 – Aadi Month in 2009 in Tamil Calendar
A busy month for many women in south India, the fourth month of the Tamil Calendar, known as Adi is jam-packed of auspicious prayer activites to the Goddess. It is also during Adi Masam that the yearly...
View ArticleVaralakshmi Vratham Prayer Celebrations Video, Tutorial and Tips
Attending celebrations is exciting. But what if it's a new festival for you and you have never attended Varalakshmi Vratham at someone's home or a temple?In this series of two posts, I attempt to...
View ArticleVirtual Golu - Videos of Dolls Display for Navarathri
Golu is one of my favorite Tamil Navarathri traditions that I have been doing in my home since 2002. Something fascinates me about Golu and compells me to do it every year.I like to see images of...
View ArticleVidhyarmbam: Conclusion of Navarathri in Kerala
After a day of resting eduational and utility items, Vidyarmbam initiates these items back into proper use. The ritual of Ezhuthiniruthu on this day intiates the youngest into the world of letters,...
View ArticleNavaratri: Then and Now
Padmini shares sweet memories of her navarathri and kolu celebrations over the years. She has summed up nicely all parts of the celebration from brining out hidden treasures from the attic, how the...
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Inspirational Ganapathi Idols by Roopashri and her Friends
Lord Ganesh inspires the creative artist within us during Ganesh Chathurthi. This year, I wanted to make a different kind of handmade murthi (idol) and while doing some internet research, found a...
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Video Diary - 2009 Ganesh Chathurthi Celebrations span 2,300 Miles
Often God only knows (GOK) what will happen: when, where and how. The beauty of life is in the journey, destinations sometimes are determined only by the journey alone. This is indeed the case with...
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Tulasi Puja – Utthaana Dvaadashi
Tulasi is a holy plant in many parts of India. In this annual ritual, the Tulasi plant is worshipped for the goddess among the many communities in India, including the Kannadigas - or those who lives...
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Kartikai Deepam Reason – Why do we observe Karthigai Deepam?
Tomorrow, December 1, 2009 is Karthigai Deepam, 'the festival of lights'. These lights, one can say, are burning as thousands of 'birthday candles' to celebrate the birthday of Lord Murugan, the...
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Vegetarianism: Non-violence as Daily Practice
Indian and Hindu social and spiritual guides such as the Thirukkural, Manusmriti, Mahabharata as well as respected spiritual leaders such as Swami Dayananda Saraswathi (Arsha Vidya Gurukulam), are...
View ArticleHoli in a Different Hue: Exploring Connections to Holi in Kerala
Waching Kerala news on Kairali TV in America a few years ago during Holi season, I saw a news piece that attracted my attention. The celebrations looked kind of like a Holi celebration, but it couldn't...
View ArticleAuspicious Dates to Bless Your House Under Hindu Traditions for Calendar Year...
Are you buying and moving into a new house in 2011? Are you thinking of arranging a Hindu Housewarming or Griha Pravesh Puja for your home? This post will share some general dates for house blessings...
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