When I shared pictures for Gokulashtami this year, I met with a strange, yet familiar reaction. “You don’t seem like the kind to invest time in idol worship!” My response was the same as it always is: I don’t need to wear my beliefs and culture on my sleeves. I’d much rather live by the…
Tag: Gods and Goddesses
Mahalaksmi Ashtakam
Namasthesthu MahamayeSree Peede, Sura PoojitheSanka Chakra Gadha HastheMaha Lakshmi NamosthutheReverential Salutations to You, the Primordial Cause of Creation; Who Abides in Her Transcendental Abode and is Worshipped by the Suras,Who is adorned with a Conch, Discus and Mace in Her Hands; Reverential Salutations to You, O Devi Mahalakshmi. Namasthe GarudarudeKolasura BhayamkariSarva Papa Hare DeviMaha Lakshmi…
Goddessness
I am yet to hear of Kings or Queens who are atheists. While the levels of religiousness may wary, it seems that anyone who earned unprecedented power, did attribute a fare share of their success to luck and the powers from above (or in some case below). Most palaces and forts that I have visited…
Navratri Fanfare
I LOVE stories.. it is the butter, jam, jelly, caramel and pickle to my bread. As a story teller, Navarati is most certainly my most favorite festival of the year (well, second to Diwali, which is usually birthday time!). For the past few years, especially since I moved to Bangalore, I look forward to setting…
Divine Ride
Rath Yatras are a very common sight in several Indian Hindu pilgrim spots. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I found a set up similar in Sri Lanka. Just before our visit, the locals told us that we missed the local deity’s annual ride around the city. These ornately decked up vehicles, or rathas are…
Guardians of the Sky
This lovely ceiling adorns both the Shatrugneshwara and Lakshmaneshwara temples in Avani, Karnataka. In the center is a sculpture of Uma-Mahesvara (Shiva-Parvati) flanked by ashtadikpalakas (guardians of the eight directions).
Vishnu-Sahasranāma Stotram
603. om anivartine namaḥ Salutations to him who does not reject those who are inclined to return to the material world. 604. om nivrttātmane namaḥ Salutations to the self of the spiritual practitioners who are attached to the path of Liberation. 605. om saṃkṣeptre namaḥ Salutations to the limiter of the field of light for…
Hare Hare
Fill your mind with me, Love me, Serve me, Worship me always. Seeking me in your heart, you will at last be united with me. Blessed is human birth, even the dwellers in heaven desire this birth, for true knowledge and pure Love may be attained only by a human being. But of all I…
|| Om Ganeshaya Namaha ||
Let us ring in the New Year with some divine blessings. Lord Ganesha is said to be vignaharta, remover of obstacles. A five headed Ganesha idol is very rare to find, and I thought I’d share it with you too. Hope you have a blessed year ahead!
And The King Goes Back Home…
After 10 days of festivities on Anantha Chaturdashi the King, or Lord Ganesha undertakes his journey back home, through the sea, as devotees take part in the immersion festivities with a lot of pomp and fanfare. While we thank god for his kindness, generosity and his blessing, and urge him to come back soon the following year….
Snapshots of my World 