Temples and Idols in this age of reasoning
The Indian terms for temple are mandir, ambalam, koil or kovil, deool, devasthaanam, devaalaya etc depending on the regional language. The commonly used word ‘Mandir’
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The Indian terms for temple are mandir, ambalam, koil or kovil, deool, devasthaanam, devaalaya etc depending on the regional language. The commonly used word ‘Mandir’
I am a 28-year-old, self-described devout Hindu whose parents moved to the United States 30 years ago. I think I might be one of the
Literally speaking, Rudra means the howler or the one who is red in color. The Rudras are often identified with Maruts, the Vedic gods of
Prana is a subtle aspect of the body. Its has a visible aspect which is the air we breath and an invisible aspect, which is
In Sanskrit a religion is also known as matam. Thus Hinduism is also called Hindu Matam in Sanskrit and several native Indian languages, such as
In our tradition, Isvara aradhana or Isvara-puja (worship of God) is considered a nityakarma, meaning a compulsory duty. It is one of the five daily compulsory duties prescribed by sastra or the scriptures. Isvara-puja is compulsory
As nine quiet nights of worship draw to a close, Gupt Navratri leaves behind a
On Friday, July 10, 2026, the rare Krishna Paksha Ekadashi of Nija Ashadha arrives. The Padma Purana tells the story of Hemamali — the Yaksha gardener of Bhagavan Kubera in Alaka, whose single morning of distraction with his wife Vishalakshi cost him his form, his wife, and his celestial city. Cursed to wander the earth of Bharata as a leper for a long time, he was at last shown the way back by Sage Markandeya — a single sincere keeping of Yogini Ekadashi.
On Saturday, June 20, 2026, Bengali households across Bharata will welcome their married daughters and sons-in-law home for the legendary jamai-aador feast and perform the Shashthi Vrata. But behind the warmth lies a story most Bengalis know by heart and most non-Bengalis have never heard — the wife who stole the hilsa, blamed the cat, lost six sons to Maa Shashthi’s wrath, and was finally forgiven. The Vrat Katha, the vidhi, the mantras, and the deeper teaching.
On Monday, June 29, 2026, women across Maharashtra, Gujarat, and southern Bharata will tie red thread around banyan trees and hear the story of Savitri — the wife who walked behind Yamaraja Himself when He came for her husband, and out-argued the Lord of Dharma into returning Satyavan’s life. The Mahabharata’s Pativrata Mahatmya Parva, the vrat vidhi, and why the banyan witnessed everything.
With Adhik Maas now closed on the Somvati Amavasya of June 15, the long-postponed festivals of Jyeshtha return — Vat Purnima (June 29, the Savitri-Yamaraja katha), Jamai Shashthi (June 20, the Bengali festival of Maa Shashthi), Sankashti Chaturthi (June 28), Yogini Ekadashi (July 10), and Devshayani Ekadashi (July 16, opening the four-month Chaturmas of Bhagavan Vishnu’s yoga-nidra). A guide to what the next four weeks hold and what the household that kept Purushottam Maas now carries forward.
Sanskriti comes from the Sanskrit root “kr” which means to do or to make prefix “sam” is applied before it to convey a sense of embellishment. It means actions done for the holistic refinement and perfection all the potentialities within a human being.
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