Articles — mythology

In very ancient days, eight great Female Goddesses Shaktis emerged from the cosmic soul of the Principle Dieties and formed Kali Durga, the Universal Shakti Power, These were the grand Mothers (Ashta Matrikas) of all subsequent Yoginis. According to Kaula Tantra, these eight manifested each in turn into eight Divine Shaktis, thus resulting in the 64 Tantric Yoginis. These 64 powerful Goddesses have unique personas and powers to fulfill your desires, drive away negativity and fear, prevent misfortunes, and give you knowledge, peace, all-around prosperity, good progeny, and auspiciousness of all kinds. An examination of the ancient Tantric tradition reveals a...

Lord Hayagriva is an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Lord Hayagriva is depicted with human body, horse face wearing white garments and seated on white lotus. Hayagriva is praised as the lord of wisdom and deep knowledge. Haya implies “Horse” and Greeva means neck. He is believed to be the one who won ignorance and foolishness with his pure knowledge. People worship this Lord to be blessed with pure wisdom, intelligence and knowledge. His consort is Lakshmi. Legend Brahma is said to be the master of vedic knowledge and he had the Vedas with him. Once, when he was feeling sleepy, a...

Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple is one of the most famous temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. This famous holy temple of Lord Shiva is situated on the bank of seasonal Asan river near Dehradun, Uttrakhand. Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple is known to have one of the oldest Shivling in the cave. Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple is located at a distance of 6.5 km from Dehradun city. As water droplets continuously drops on the shivling, hence it was named as Tapkeshwar. Water drops from the ceiling of the cave trickle down over the Shivlinga in a continuous downpour, making for an interesting spectacle. Legend has it that Ashwathama, son...

In Hindu Mythology, at the time of creation, the Brahman [Force which runs through all of us and the Great energy which created everything in the universe] manifested itself into the form of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma.   Lord Brahma was the Creator and Lord Vishnu was the Preserver. They worked together and everything was fine with the universe. However once Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma had a fight with each other.   Lord Vishnu said, ‘Brahma, I am the Preserver. I am more powerful than you…’   Lord Brahma snorted, ‘If I had not created anything,...

The story of Tulsi, the medicinal plant, begins with Indra, the Lord of the Heavens.   Lord Indra, was the king of the Devas. But he realized that people no longer looked up to him at the main God. This worried him a lot. He knew that people now looked up at Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva to guide them. Indra knew that he could not hope to confront Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu. They were after all the Gods of Creation and of Preservation. But Indra could not understand, why people liked Lord Shiva. He was after...

The story of Dattatreya is told in many Puranas. The story from Markandeya purana, chapter 15, is as follows:A brahmin named Kaushika was enchanted by a courtesan and lost his wealth, health etc. However, his wife, Shandili was faithful to him. She even carried him on her shoulders to the courtesans place. Once, by mistake, she stepped on Sage Mandavya and the sage cursed both of them to die by sunrise. Shandili prayed and appealed that the sun may never rise so that her husband would live. Her prayer was answered and the devas were in an uproar seeing the...

Legend: Analasur was a demon who terrified the three worlds. He emitted fire from his eyes and troubled everyone. At the request of the Devas, Lord Ganesha fought with Analasur and swallowed him. The heat from Analsur caused agony to Lord Ganesha. Lord Indra gave Sri Ganesha the moon to wear on his forehead so that he could be cooled off (this is why Ganesha is also known as Balachandra). Lord Vishnu gave his lotus therefore Ganesha is also known as “Padmapani”. Lord Shankara removed a cobra from his neck and tied it to Ganesha’s hip. Lord Varuna, Rain God...

The source of Ganga is at Gaumukh (the shape of the ice formation is like a cow's mouth), where the mighty river emerges from the depths of Gangotri glacier. The Gangotri glacier is situated at the height of 4255 m above sea level and is approx 24 km in length and 7-8 km in width. Here the river is known as Bhagirathi after  King -Bhagirath. Rising in the icy caves of Gangotri glacier, the gushing , tossing and gurgling Bhagirathi starts its long journey downwards where later it joins river 'Alaknanda' and becomes Ganga.There are many legends associated with river Ganga, some of which...

  It was the utmost desire of Sage Viswamitra to defeat his rival Sage Vashishtha. Though he never succeeded ,but he never become dejected. He keep on adding divine powers acquired by him after tapasya. At one time he become so powerful that he started creating many species. This was a threat to Lord Brahma. While Sage Vishwamitra was involved in creation of human species, Lord Brahma rushed towards him to stop. But he already created the head of human. So, the question arises what to do with the created portion. Lord Brahma named that head as “Sriphal” or coconut...

  During the war between demons and gods for the divine nectar, one of the demon manage to steal the pot of nectar (amrit). At this crunch time when gods were on the verge of defeat, Lord Vishnu appeared and killed that demon with his divine weapon "Sudrashan Chakra" which cuts his head . But that demon had drank nector and by the time he was killed the nectar had reached till his throat. As the blood drops from his body fell on his ground , at the same place a strange plant grew up, which was a garlic plant....

Parvati once asked Shiva, Lord, tell me, why do you wear a crescent moon on your forehead?  What is the story behind this? Shiva told her the story. Earlier, Parvati had been born as Sati, the daughter of Daksha.  As Sati, she had been married to Shiva.  Since Daksha insulted her husband Shiva, Sati gave up her life.  When Sati died, Shiva no longer found pleasure in anything.  He began to live in the forest and started to perform tapasya.  Such was the power of the tapasya that any trees or mountains that were near the place where Shiva was...

  In the Hindu religion, Peepal tree has a lot of reverence and significance for people. People worship the tree and perform a puja. But, nobody really knows anything about its history & origin. Well, there are also some interesting legends associated with the Peepal tree. The tree is known for its heart shaped leaves that have long narrowing tips. The origin of peepal tree can be traced back to the times of Indus Valley Civilization (3000 BC - 1700 BC) in the Mohenjodaro city. Excavations are suggestive of the fact that even in those times; the Peepal tree was...

महाभारत विश्व का सबसे बड़ा महाकाव्य है। इसमें एक लाख से ज्यादा श्लोक हैं। महर्षि वेद व्यास के मुताबिक यह केवल राजा-रानियों की कहानी नहीं बल्कि धर्म, अर्थ, काम और मोक्ष की कथा है। इस ग्रंथ को लिखने के पीछे भी रोचक कथा है। कहा जाता है व लोकमान्यता है कि ब्रह्मा जी ने स्वप्न में ऋषि पराशार व सत्यवती के पुत्र महर्षि वेद्व्व्यास को महाभारत लिखने की प्रेरणा दी थी। महाभारत के रचनाकार आलोकिक शक्ति से सम्पन्न महर्षि वेद्व्व्यास त्रिकाल द्रष्टा थे । महर्षि व्यास ने यह काम स्वीकार कर लिया, लेकिन महर्षि वेद्व्व्यास के मस्तिष्क में जिस तीव्रता...

धार्मिक मान्यता है कि शनिदेव परम शिव भक्त हैं और शिव के आदेश के अनुसार ही शनि जगत के हर प्राणी को कर्मों के आधार पर दण्ड देते हैं। इसीलिए शनि या राहु आदि ग्रह पीड़ा शांति के लिए शिव की पूजा विशेषतया पर शनिवार,सोमवार को बहुत ही कारगर होती है। ज्योतिष शास्त्रों के मुताबिक क्रूर और तामसी स्वभाव के ग्रहों शनि और राहु के कुण्डली में बुरे योग गंभीर और मृत्यु के समान शारीरिक और मानसिक पीड़ाओं को देने वाले भी साबित हो सकते हैं। इन ग्रहों के योग से ही किसी व्यक्ति की कुण्डली में कालसर्प, पितृदोष बनते...

Garuda is one of principal animal deities in the Hindu Mythology. Kashyap, Garuda's father, had two wives: Kadru, the elder, and Vinata, Garuda's mother ..the younger. There was great rivalry between the two wives.. Once, they had an argument over the color of the horse Uchchaisravas, produced during the churning of the Milk Ocean just after the time of creation. Each chose a color and laid a wager on her own choice. The one who lost would become the other's slave. Kadru proved to be right and, as part of the agreement, imprisoned Vinata in the nether regions, Patala, where...

The lotus is India’s national flower and rightly so. Not long ago, the lakes and ponds of India were full of many hued lotuses. The lotus is the symbol of truth, auspiciousness and beauty (satyam, shivam, sundaram). The Lord is also that nature and therefore, His various aspects are compared to a lotus (i.e. lotus-eyes, lotus feet, lotus hands, the lotus of the heart etc.). Our scriptures and ancient literature extol the beauty of the lotus. Art and architecture also portray the lotus in various decorative motifs and paintings. Many people have names of or related to the lotus :...

Worshipped by devotees for the grant of divine protection, good health, wealth and prosperity, righteous living and spiritual liberationAKYAS CA IVA DESE CA SALAGRAMA SHALAM MAHATSANAM TAD BHAVAM YA TAT SALAGRAMA ITI SMRTAM What Are Shaligrams?Shaligrams are sacred 'shilas' or stones representing the abstract form of Lord Vishnu. His followers, the Hindu Vaishnavas, place these stones in their puja altars for daily worship. Just as the abstract form of Shiva is the stone ‘lingam’ which the Shaivites worship in their temples and homes, so is the ‘shila’ of Lord Vishnu.According to Hindu tradition, the Shaligram stone is the shelter for a...

A conch is a sea-dwelling mollusc. In Hindu religion, it is popularly called as "Shankha" and considered to be one of the most auspicious objects that emerged from the sea during the Ksheera Sagara Samudra Manthan. Religious Significance In Indian mythology, the Shankha is regarded sacred and very auspicious. To initiate religious ceremonies, a shankha (conch shell) is blown. It is a major Hindu article of prayer. God Vishnu, the God of Preservation, is shown with a shankha in one hand and a disc or a chakra in the other.Each hindu shankha has a specific name. Vishnu's shankha is called...

The Srimad Bhagavad Gita is a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, narrated in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. It comprises eighteen discourses of a total of 700 Sanskrit verses. A considerable volume of material has been compressed within these verses. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Sri Krishna, during the course of His most instructive and interesting talk with Arjuna, revealed profound, sublime and soul-stirring spiritual truths, and expounded the rare secrets of Yoga, Vedanta, Bhakti and Karma. Bhagavad Gita was Composed between 500 BCE and 100 CE, the Mahabharata is an account of the wars of the house...

  In some images Goddess Pratyangira is shown with a dark complexion, ferocious in aspect, having a lion's face with reddened eyes and riding a lion, entirely nude or wearing black garments, she wears a garland of human skulls; her hair strands on end, and she holds a trident, a serpent in the form of a noose, a hand-drum and a skull in her four hands. She is also associated with Bhairava, and she has a variant form, namely Atharvana-Bhadra-Kali. She is also known by the name Narasimhi. Narasimha is an ugra or ferocious form of Narayana, or Vishnu. By drinking...

Gayatri Mantra is one of the most known and beneficial of the ancient Sanskrit mantras. Gayatri is a mantra of physical, emotional, and mental healing, purifying the subtle karmas, protection from the onslaught of obstacles, and of spiritual awakening or Self-realization. Aum Bhur Bhuva Svah Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi Dhiyo Yo Naha Prachodayat On the absolute reality and its planes,On that finest spiritual light,We meditate, as remover of obstaclesThat it may inspire and enlighten us. The Gayatri Mantra is first recorded in the Rig Veda (iii, 62, 10) which was written in Sanskrit about 2500 to 3500 years ago, and by...

Diwali, or Deepavali, is one of the biggest Indian festivals and also a major occassion in Nepal. The festival has great religious significance for Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and the Nepalese. In India, Diwali is now considered to be more of a national festival, and is enjoyed by most Indians regardless of faith. It is commonly celebrated by decorating homes with lamps and candles, bursting of firecrackers and sparklers, eating sweets and other mouthwatering dishes, praying to Gods and Goddesses, observing religious rituals, wearing new dresses and sending wishes and gifts to one another.  The word "Divali/Diwali" is a variation of...

Kamakhya is an important Tantric goddess that evolved in the Himalayan hills. She is closely identified with Kali and Maha Tripura Sundari. According to the Tantric texts (Kalikapurana Stotra, Yoginitantram) that are the basis for her worship at the Kamakhya temple, a 16th century temple in the Kamrup district of Assam. The temple remains one of the most important Shakta temples and Hindu pilgrimage sites in the world. Kamakhya is a powerful and unique Divine Mother. Kamakhya, the Great Mother, Goddess whose origins go back to the ancient matrifocal tribes of Northeast India.She is associated strongly with the Dasha Mahavidyas,...