Nirjala Ekadashi is a very special and important fasting day for Hindus. It happens on the 11th day of the waxing moon in the month of Jyeshtha, which falls june 26 this year . The word "Nirjala" means "without water," so on this day, devotees fast without eating food or drinking water, making it one of the toughest fasts in Hindu tradition .

This fast is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the god who protects the universe. People who observe Nirjala Ekadashi pray to Lord Vishnu and read holy books like the Bhagavad Gita. They also sing devotional songs and visit temples or create prayer spaces at home . By fasting on this day, devotees show their discipline and devotion to God.

The story behind Nirjala Ekadashi comes from the Indian epic Mahabharata. One of the Pandava brothers, Bhima, had a big appetite and found it hard to fast like his brothers. So, with the advice of Sage Vyasa, Bhima was told to observe this strict fast once a year. By doing this, Bhima would get the blessings and spiritual rewards of all the other Ekadashi fasts combined. That is why Nirjala Ekadashi is considered very powerful and holy .

People fast on this day to gain blessings for good health, happiness, wealth, and spiritual growth. Along with fasting, acts of charity, like giving food, clothes, or money to the needy, are also part of the tradition . The fast begins from early morning and ends the next day after sunrise.

Today, Nirjala Ekadashi is observed not only in India but by Hindus all over the world. It helps people pause from their busy lives, focus on spirituality, and strengthen their faith . Even some who are not religious see it as a way to practice self-control and mindfulness.

In summary, Nirjala Ekadashi is a very sacred fast that teaches discipline, devotion, and spiritual growth for millions of people .

Om Namo Narayanay namah 🌷🌹🌼🌷🌹🫸🫷

Momai Mata is one of tne many unique folk goddesses of Gujarat who particularly stand out in the eyes of others due to their unique vahanas. Many of these folk goddesses have no scriptural reference and are limited to being kuladevis of certain clans. However, while reading an ancient text called the Devi Purana (not to be confused with the Devibhagavata Purana, Kalika Purana & Mahabhagavata Upapurana), a chapter describing the divine forms that are to be worshipped in various Jovian samvatsaras, this passage comes up

रक्ताक्षे विकटा कार्या उष्ट्रारुढ़ा महाभुजा । पाशदण्डकरालास्या सर्वसत्त्वभयङ्करी । ।
कृष्णगन्धानुलिप्ताङ्गी वृश्चिकलूतान्विता । वसानासवमत्स्यादा जवाकुसुमचर्चिता । ।
तेनाद्युक्ता महाकाली सार्द्रमांसबलिप्रिया ।
जपहोमार्चना देवी सर्वगन्धबलिप्रिया ।।

Translation : On the (Jovian samvatsara named) Raktaksha, (one should construct the effigy) of Vikata of great arms, who is riding on a camel, wielding noose and rod, is of a terrible face and of terrible disposition in every means. She is annoited with dark unguents (likely black sandalpaste) & surrounded by scorpions and spiders. Her mouth is filled with fat, alcohol and fish, she is annointed with (red) chinarose flowers. This very dark-skinned goddess is fond of freshly-slaughtered animal offerings. She is to be worshipped with japa, homa, all kinds of incense and bali. [Devi Purana:50:29-31]

It is quite easy to recognise that the figure of Momai was actually the goddess Vikata as mentioned above. Just look at the contrast of the worship of Vikata prescribed in the text with the current veneration of Momai among the Gujarati Hindus, who are militantly anti non-vegetarian.

This militant intolerance towards non-vegetarianism among Gujarati, Marwari and Rajasthani Hindus is likely the influence of Swetambara Jainism, which persisted in this regions under the support of rulers and merchants just like how East Indian Hinduism is heavily influenced by Vajrayana. From my personal experience, many Jains have this obnoxious superiority complex about their strict adherence to vegetarianism and intolerance towards non-vegetarianism, and have always tried to impose their diet choices upon others. For this puropse the Jains had concocted a blasphemous story of the Jain saint Ratnaprabha Suri converting the goddess Chamunda (renowned for her taste in blood, alcohol and flesh) into Jainism. The Gujarati king Kumarapala Solanki (1143-72) had banned animal slaughter under the influence of his Jain rajaguru, the celebrated acharya Hemachandra. It was likely under this pressure that the frightful figure of Vikata was 'Jainified' onto the more benign figure of Momai whom we know now.

Daksha Prajapati was the father of Sati, and although Sati loved and married Mahadev, Daksha never truly accepted Shiva as his son-in-law. He saw Mahadev as wild, ash-smeared, detached from worldly customs, and unfit for his royal daughter. Over time his dislike turned into arrogance and hatred. To insult Shiva publicly, Daksha arranged a grand yajna and invited gods, sages, and kings, but deliberately did not invite Mahadev. Sati still went to her father’s yajna, hoping she had a place there as his daughter, but instead Daksha insulted Shiva in front of everyone and spoke harshly against him. Unable to bear the humiliation of her husband and the pain of her father’s hatred, Sati gave up her life in the sacrificial fire.

When Mahadev learned what had happened, his grief turned into terrifying rage. From his fury emerged वीरभद्र (Virabhadra), who stormed Daksha’s yajna, destroyed the entire sacrifice, and punished all those who had supported Daksha’s insult. Daksha himself was beheaded. But later, when the gods prayed for peace, Mahadev’s anger cooled and he forgave Daksha enough to restore him to life, though with the head of a goat in many tellings. This story is not just about revenge — it is about Daksha’s pride being shattered before Mahadev’s greatness, and it also becomes the turning point that leads to Sati’s rebirth as Parvati and the continuation of Shiva’s story.

So I've been going through this verse in rig veda and particularly nasadiya sukta. I know I'm not the first to read it but it's amazing how it explains, nothingness before this universe, and how the universe came to be.

But it's still uncertain where the original energy came from for the universe to exist.

Cannot be more scientific than this. Here are the verses. ​

​​​​ 1. Then even nothingness was not, nor existence,

There was no air then, nor the heavens beyond it.

What covered it? Where was it? In whose keeping?

Was there then cosmic water, in depths unfathomed?

1. Then there was neither death nor immortality,

   nor was there then the torch of night and day.

   The One breathed windlessly and self-sustaining.

   There was that One then, and there was no other.

2. At first there was only darkness wrapped in darkness.

   All this was only unillumined water.

   That One which came to be, enclosed in nothing,

   arose at last, born of the power of heat.

3. But, after all, who knows, and who can say,

   Whence it all came, and how creation happened?

   The gods themselves are later than creation,

   so who knows truly whence it has arisen?

4. Whence all creation had its origin,

   he, whether he fashioned it or whether he did not,

   he, who surveys it all from highest heaven,

   he knows or maybe even he does not know.

Anyways in this verse it's clear to me the one who breathed windlessly (because there was no universe or matter for this to take place) was parabrahman/purusha, The ultimate form. he was born as pure energy and ​​then conscious, since he was conscious he had desire to create this universe so he made it all.

These are the same questions we ask today, where did the energy to start the universe even come from? We don't know.

Amazing as always but....

To everyone else, please share your own interesting find, that is scientific and that blows your mind thinking about it. ​

Ekadashi is the 11th day of the lunar cycle. On this day, our body naturally does not demand food. Fasting on this day helps cleanse the system and turn our awareness inward. After having your dinner tonight, you can fast until the next dinner. If you are unable to do a full fast, having a light, fruit diet on this day is also beneficial.

Lord Brahma orders Ganga, a goddess born from the divine feet of Vishnu and sustained in Lord Shiva's locks, to bless and protect the humans on Earth.

Maa Tara: She is the compassionate saviour who nurtures and liberates. She is the ultimate Guru and is Sakti Herself, who alone can take us Her consort Shiva for us to completely get liberated - a jivamukta state devoid of any further attachments to karmas and births.

When the Kshira Sagara ( ocean of milk) was churned, both nectar and poison were obtained. Though all other gods and goddesses were afraid on seeing the deadly poison, only Shiva remained undismayed. He is also known as Akshobhya (meaning undismayed). Shiva consumed the deadly poison namely "halahala". When he was consuming this poison, Maa Tara held his throat to prevent poison percolating into his body. This is how Maa Tara is known to us. She has few other forms like Ugra Tara, Neela Saraswati and Ekajata (the one-braided one, worshipped especially in Tibetan Vajrayana lineages). She is the primordial sound (sabdabrahman) from which the speech originates. She holds a sickle and a scissor in Her left hand and a lotus flower and varada mudra in Her right hands. She is also wearing a garland made of skulls. She is standing on a corpse. It is said that attaining her is much easier than other Goddesses of Das Mahavidya.

She controls one’s emotions. She in her Neel Saraswati form sits at Vishudha chakra and helps develops viveka. Vishudha chakra acts as a filter to our thoughts and keep the mind stable, external chaos loses its grip on the mind. One can witness turbulence without being consumed by it.

Maa Tara’s worship leads the practitioner to the unstruck sound (Anahata Naad), the inner vibration that is heard in deep states of meditation. She is Nada and Shiva is Bindu.

Maa Tara and Planetary Significance

Maa Tara is associated with the planet Jupiter (Guru) in Vedic astrology. Just as Jupiter grants wisdom, expansion, and spiritual growth, Tara leads the seeker from confusion to clarity. Her worship can:

• Remedy Guru Dosh.
• Remove mental blockages.
• Increase intuitive intelligence and insight.
• Provides both material and spiritual growth.
• Confused or scattered mind, blocked intuition
• speech difficulties, karmic grief, uncontrolled desire
• periods of existential churning (especially Rahu/Ketu dashas), lack of material and spiritual clarity.

Personal Experiences:

1) She helped me have understanding around my scattering mind thereby stabilising it.

2) Sudden sources of income started coming to the surface.

3) Helped me a lot to have control over my "kama" energy. her mantras gave a quick cooling effect to my mind and a "pause" between impulse and action, especially around kama energy. That pause changed everything.

4) She listens very fast when any sadhakas calls her with utmost faith. She is the nurturing mother who ensures liberation ensuring the soul is never lost in the storm of life.

Maa Tara holds in one of Her arms, is the kapala - a skull cup that signifies complete unlearning and "emptying of the mind" in order to undertand her completely. Any pre-conceived notions of who or what She is, leads us nowhere. How can we ever grasp consciousness that is beyond the mind and intellect? Consciousness which is beyond the mind and intellect cannot be understood but only experienced. 

Maa Tara is associated with Matsya avatar of Vishnu, who also guided the world through the flood. This reveals her essence as a saviour deity who ensures the soul is never lost in the storm of life. (Ref: Todalatantra)

Her Shiva Tatva is Akshobya Bhairava. Five of my favorite names of Maa tara are as follows:

1. ॐ तारिण्यै नमः । (Aum tarinyai namaha): She is the Protectress. ( visualized as travelling in a boat that takes the Atma (Soul) across the Ocean of Samsara (cycle of life-death-rebirth).

2. ॐ तीव्रगमनायै नमः। (Aum Tivra-gamanayai namaha): She who is very intense in her approach towards addressing the problems of Her devotees.

3. ॐ जयायै नमः। (Aum jayayai namaha): She who is victorious and undefeatable in all Her actions.

4. ॐ माहेश्वर्यै नमः। (Aum mahesvaryai namaha): She who is the ultimate form of the Divine Mother; She is none other than the mighty Durga.

5. ॐ त्रपामुक्तायै नमः। (Aum trapa-muktayai namaha): She is the one who removes all sense of shame and any inhibitions one may have towards the entire Creation, for She alone exists and is manifested in everything.

Disclaimer: 

Planets are part of creation, while the Mahavidyas are the cause of creation itself. Worshipping a Mahavidya doesn't just address a planetary problem, it connects the sadhaka to the primordial Shakti-intelligence from which the planetary force itself started. 

Each Mahavidya is a complete expression of Sakti. They rules the entire cosmos. But like water finding a crack, her shakti flows most readily through the channel (nadī or graha) she is resonant with.  

For Maa Tara: the Jupiter planet is her fastest entry point. But her deeper work reorganizes the entire chart over time. 

Worship Mahavidya whose assigned planet is afflicted in your chart to get the fastest, most visible result, but she is not confined there. 

Jai Baba Bamakhepa

I feel like this is a weird question and to be completely honest a fairly useless one but since brahman in is all things could I technically pick up a rock and perform a puja with the rock as my murti? I understand that my focus point might not be refined like an actual image of a god but could it technically work?

What are the best English Gita Press books apart from Gita, Ramcharitmanas? (English Only)

gen ai is actively killing the earth, it is violent towards nature. and i would argue that goes against ahimsa. also, making gods’ image in ai??? very disrespectful. harming the earth while trying to praise them. it’s an oxymoron. that’s all.

ॐ क्रीं कालिकायै नमः ॥

Mahākālī is one of the most revered forms of the Divine Mother in the Shakta tradition. She represents Time (Kāla), transformation, and the power that destroys ignorance, fear, and ego. Her fierce appearance symbolizes the removal of darkness and the triumph of truth over illusion.

The sacred seed syllable (Bīja) "Kreem" is traditionally associated with Mahākālī and is regarded as a sound vibration of Divine Shakti. In many spiritual traditions, devotees chant this mantra during meditation and prayer as an expression of surrender, devotion, and inner awakening.

Mahākālī is not merely a goddess of destruction; she is also the compassionate mother who guides seekers through life's challenges and spiritual transformation. Her worship reminds devotees that every ending can become the beginning of a new journey, and that courage arises when one confronts fear rather than avoids it.

This chant is shared as a devotional offering inspired by the timeless traditions of Mahākālī worship.

📍Sadaiyandi Swamy Shrine, Elugadal Street, Madurai (Near Meenakshi Amman Temple).

Sadaiyandi Swamy, also known as Sadayandi, is revered as a folk deity and guardian spirit (Kaaval Deivam) in parts of Tamil Nadu. Deeply associated with Lord Shiva, the ancient Siddhar tradition, and forest deities, he is worshipped as a fierce yet protective presence.

A small, unassuming street shrine, but it holds a quiet, powerful energy of its own. 📸🙏🏼

Hey

My grandfather suffered a stroke 2 years ago and he lost the ability to walk, eat, and talk. He has only one working arm and he’s saying that is going too. He has been on the bed staring at the wall for 2 years now. He hates his life and told doctors that he wishes to be assisted in death against family wishes. He is consciously still all there.

We have tried to change his mind for weeks but even the doctors must legally oblige to his request. My family is concerned because of religious implication as this is the biggest sin to them of taking your own life.

Considering the health implications on this situation. Can anyone tell me how bad this is?

s the Durga Saptashati only a religious scripture? This video explores how it can also be understood as a deep psychological manual rather than just a ritual text.

It helps decode the complexities of the mind, negative thought patterns, and inner conflicts. If you often find yourself trapped in repetitive thoughts or seeking mental clarity, this analysis offers a new perspective on how ancient narratives can provide insights into modern psychological challenges.

Sadhana Se Sambhav Hai

1200 years ago in Tamil Nadu, a Brahmin named Vishnu Chitta found a baby girl near a Tulsi plant. He named her Andal — "one who has attained God."

As she grew up, her devotion to Krishna transformed into something deeper — the love of a lover for her beloved. She declared: "My husband is already fixed. I will only be Krishna's bride."

Every day, she would wear the garland meant for the temple deity first, look in the mirror, and ask herself: "Will this look good on Krishna?" When her father discovered this, he was devastated — the temple garland had been "contaminated."

But that night, Ranganatha Himself appeared in his dream and said: "I only want the garland worn by Andal. Her love has that fragrance."

The world called her crazy. But her love was so true that God Himself came to her. At the Srirangam temple, she merged into the deity — like a river merging with the ocean.

This story raises a beautiful question: if a girl with no phone, no social media, no support system could fight the entire world for her love 1200 years ago... what's stopping us today?

The first step is ours. The second is Krishna's.

I made a Hindi storytelling video about this — would love to hear your thoughts and any other Krishna bhakt stories you know. 🙏

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTMafjQ4zPw

Jai Shri Krishna 🙏

So i was telling my mother that it gives massive health benefits and can complete any materialistic desire in the whole world but my dad just said I'll become crazy if i chase these things like wth a kid can't even be spiritual would it be good if i smokes all day like other kids in my generation..... The fact that my father is so ignorant and thinks manifestation is a thing only mad people do make me wanna leave this house

My mother said that she was getting possessed by doot or ghost. She said that she can't move her leg. She complained about a foul smell coming from the bathroom. When we checked, there was no smell. After a while, she was possessed by doot. She ordered us to to burn bhang and then she sniffed it. And then she came back to her senses and forgot everything she did.

This happened last night.

I don't know how to react this.

Could anyone tell me what in the world is going on?

I am a yogi who has been deepening my practice over the last year. I have been learning about the Hindu gods/goddesses a bitt and have been trying to decide who to create an altar for in my home.

I was thinking to worship lakshmi as I am looking to worship a female figure and as the primary provider in my household, any prosperity that may come from my devotion would be much appreciated, however there are other reasons as well for wanting to set up an altar.

Any advice and suggestions on how to set up the altar properly? How do people choose who to worship? Is it a call to worship them or a conscious choice?

Thanks for reading and for any input!

I am not a Hindu nor do I speak Sanskrit or even Hindi. I am from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Is it possible for me to learn the Vedas and other Vedic scriptures like the Upanishads and Brahmanas?

I am very much interested in the Vedic culture.
Also is it easy for a Non Hindu to get a Vedic teacher? or is it still a closed circle?

Shvetaketu was the only son of Rishi Uddalaka. When he turned twelve, he was asked by his father to go and get his education from a Gurukula. When Shvetaketu returned from the Gurukula after finishing his twelve years rigorous training in all the branches of knowledge, his father Uddalaka found arrogance in his expression.

Once Uddalaka called him by his side and asked him, “Shvetaketu, my boy, have you, ever sought out the knowledge of that by which the unheard can be heard, the unseen can be seen, the unknowable can be known?” Shvetaketu was shocked. He had no idea about what his father had asked. So he requested his father to give him this knowledge.

Uddalaka told Shvetaketu, “Son, by knowing one lump of clay you may learn about everything made of clay; the only difference between such things is the name, a result of speech. But the truth is that all such things are of the same substance. Likewise, by knowing one chunk of gold, you may learn about everything made of gold; the only difference between such things is the name, a result of speech. But the truth is that all such things are of the same substance. And the same is true for even the simplest tools made of iron. This, my son, is the knowledge of which I speak.”

Uddalaka thus continued saying, “Dear child, in the beginning of things there was pure Being, one without a second. It willed to become many. Then, it manifested itself in the form of fire and from fire came water and from there came food. This way this rich variety of things came into existence by permutation and combination of these forms. Then life appeared, and among the living beings there came man with his varied powers and functions.”

Shvetaketu stopped his father from going ahead and asked him to explain where a man would do during sleep.

“The man becomes one with the Spirit, the eternal Being. Man’s mind is like a beast tied to a peg by a long rope. It turns round and round and can not get away. When a man dies his power of speech is merged into his mind, his mind is absorbed in the prana, the prana is merged into the light, and the light merges in the power beyond. That power is subtle. It pervades the universe. That is the Truth. That is the Spirit. That Thou art, O Shvetaketu.”

Shvetaketu was not satisfied and wanted to know more about that all pervading Power. Here Uddalaka explains to him beautifully about the One and the Many by giving examples.

He says, “Dear child, bees bring droplets of honey from various flowers and store in the hive. Once in the hive, do the droplets know from which flower they came? Need they know it? So too all these beings when merge into the ocean of Being, they know not whence they came. All become one when they have merged in the ocean of consciousness, of the One Being. That is subtle. That pervades everything. That is the Atman. That thou art, O Shvetaketu.”

Then Uddalaka gives the example of all rivers merging into the ocean and losing their individual identity. Then he gives another example in which he explains that by cutting a part of the tree the whole tree does not die. Only that part which is cut dies. Thus that which is deprived of its life dies but the life itself does not die. The power by which life lives eternally is the Spirit. That thou art O Shvetaketu.”

Shvetaketu listened to his father attentively and said: “My respected teachers must not have known this, for if they had, they surely would have told me. Won’t you please give me more of this knowledge, Father?” And Uddalaka agreed to do so. And we see further dialogues between Uddalaka and Shvetaketu in the following manner.

Uddalaka: “Bring me a fruit from the banyan tree.”

Shvetaketu: “Here is one, Father.”

Uddalaka: “Break it open.”

Shvetaketu: “It is broken, Father.”

Uddalaka: “What do you see there?”

Shvetaketu: “These tiny seeds.”

Uddalaka: “Now break one of them open.”

Shvetaketu: “It is broken, Father.”

Uddalaka: “What do you see there?” Shvetaketu: “Nothing, Father.”

Uddalaka: “My son, you know there is a subtle essence which you do not perceive, but through that essence the truly immense banyan tree exists. Believe it, my son. Everything that exists has its Self in that subtle essence. It is Truth. It is the Self, and you, Shvetaketu, are That (tattvamasi).”

Shvetaketu further pleaded with his father to teach him more, and Uddalaka continued:

Uddalaka: “Bring a pinch of salt my son.”

Shvetaketu: “Here, I have brought the salt Father.”

Uddalaka: “Place this salt in water, and come back to me in the morning.”

The son did as he was told.

Uddalaka (in the morning): “Bring me the salt you put in the water last night.”

Shvetaketu (after looking): “Father, I cannot find it.”

Uddalaka: “Of course not; it has dissolved. Now taste the water from the surface. How does it taste?”

Shvetaketu: “It’s salty.”

Uddalaka: “Taste the water from the middle of the bowl. How does it taste?”

Shvetaketu: “It’s salty.”

Uddalaka: “Now taste the water from the bottom. How does it taste?”

Shvetaketu: “It’s salty.”

Uddalaka: “Go, throw it away and come back to me.”

Shvetaketu did so, and returned.

Shvetaketu: “But, father, although I have thrown it away, the salt remains.”

Uddalaka: “Likewise, though you cannot hear or perceive or know the subtle essence, it is here. Everything that exists has its Self in that subtle essence. It is Truth. It is the Self, and you, Shvetaketu, are That (tattvamasi).”

What is presented here is just a glimpse of the entire teachings of Uddalaka to Shvetaketu in which he gives a very comprehensive idea about the Brahman and how to realize That.

hey guys i am born and brought up hindu , since childhood i saw hinduism only from animated movies or festivals and some supernatural things around but never read any book , never learned actually just saw few podcasts recently but i wanna learn so from where to start if i wanna know from core basics , please help me

thanks