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GAYATRI MANTRA

Gayatri Mantra

OM Bhur Bhuvas Suvaha
Tat Savitur VareNyaM
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi
Dhiyo Yo Nah prachodayat

We meditate on the glory of the Creator;
Who has created the Universe;
Who is worthy of Worship;
Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light;
Who is the remover of all Sin and Ignorance;
May He enlighten our Intellect.

Introduction:

The Gayatri Mantra is from the Rig Veda (iii, 62, 10), which has existed in written form for at least 2500 to 3500 years. (Some accounts date the original text to be over 6000 years old, but rather than being overly concerned about a precise date, let us focus our attention on the meaning of this glorious mantra and how it can enrich and illuminate our life here and Meaning of Gayatri is gaya: vital energies, trayate: preserves, and protects and grants liberation and deliverance. The word Mantra means instrument of thought, sacred text, or a prayer of praise. So, the two words “Gayatri Mantra” might be translated as: a prayer of praise that awakens vital energies and gives liberation. And indeed, this is such a prayer.

In his book Sadhana, Sri Swami Shivananda wrote: “Of all the mantras, the supreme and the most potent power of powers is the great, glorious Gayatri Mantra. It is the support of every seeker after Truth who believes in its efficacy, power and glory, regardless of caste, creed, clime or sect. It is only one’s faith and purity of heart that really count. Indeed, Gayatri is an impregnable spiritual armour, a veritable fortress that guards and protects its votary, which transforms him into the divine and blesses him with the brilliant light of the highest spiritual illumination. It is universally applicable, for it is nothing but an earnest prayer for light addressed to the Supreme Almighty. This single mantra, repeated sincerely and with a clear conscience, brings the supreme good.”

The Invocation

Chanting of the Gayatri Mantra is often prefaced with either a short invocation or a long invocation and is often followed with a closing.

Short Invocation

This invocation is acknowledging and joyously celebrating that Om is bhur, Om is bhuvas, and Om is suvaha, Om is everything.

The terms bhur, bhuvas, suvaha (maha vyahritis) are invocations to honor the planes of our existence and to call to our aid the presiding deities of the three planes in which we live our ordinary life: the physical, astral and mental planes.

The three lokas (bhur, bhuvas, suvaha) are the bija (seed) mantras of the devatas called Agni, Vayu and Aditya who are being invoked to assist in our transformation. (See Chandogya Upanishad (IV, xvii, 1-3) and (II, xxiii, 3)).

Then Prajapati reflected on the three lokas and from this reflection was born OM. As veins pervade all leaves, so Om pervades all sound. Verily all this is Om! Verily all this is Om!

The short preamble is simply these four words:

om
bhur
bhuvas
suvaha

Long Invocation

As with the shorter version, this invocation is a recognition that there are many worlds, all empowered by the nameless, formless, birthless, deathless which is symbolized by om…. om is everything.

These seven lines of the long invocation are the seven lokas, or planes, of existence, and are used not only to recognize and honor the planes of existence, but also to call the presiding deities of those planes to aid in our transformation and realization:

om bhuhu
om bhuvaha
om suvaha
om mahaha
om janaha
om tapaha
om satyaM

The seven lokas, may be briefly described as:

bhuhu – earth, the physical world
bhuvaha – astral/desire/breath, the world of becoming
suvaha – mental, the world of thinking
mahaha – causal, silent mind, the world of emotion
janaha – world of creative generation
tapaha – world of intuition
satyaM – world of Absolute Truth

This recital of the lokas begins with the gross, physical world filled with separation and differences, and then each, in sequence, becomes more refined, more transcendent, more unified, and all-encompassing.

The recitation of the lokas, done with intent and clarity, prepares one for the chanting of the Gayatri Mantra by harmonising and attuning one with all the worlds.

Body of the Gayatri Mantra

The body of the Gayatri Mantra is written as
The transliterated text is

om tat savitur vareNyaM
bhargo devasya dhimahi
dhiyo yo nah prachodayat

Swami Shivananda’s translation of the Gayatri Mantra is

We meditate on the glory of the Creator;
Who has created the Universe;
Who is worthy of Worship;
Who is the embodiment of knowledge and light;
Who is the remover of all sin and ignorance;
May He enlighten our intellect.

Here’s a simple word-by-word translation:

Om – Om (Brahman, the One, the Godhead, Supreme Deity)
tat – that (referring to Savitri, Paramatma, God)
savitur – (mw1190) – Savitri, the Spiritual Sun (that from which all is born), the One Light, the all-pervading Consciousness

O nourishing Sun, solitary traveller, controller, source of life for all creatures, spread your light and subdue your dazzling splendour so that I may see your blessed Self. Even that very Self am I!

Isa Upanishad (16)

vareNyaM – most excellent, adorable, fit to be worshipped, venerable, worthy of being sought
bhargo – (mw748) – radiance, effulgence, splendour (the light that bestows understanding)
devasya – divine, of the deity
dhimahi – we meditate upon… or may we meditate upon, reflect upon, be devoted to
dhiyo – prayer, noble thoughts, intuition, understanding of Reality (buddhis)
yo – he who, the one who
nah – our, of us
prachodayat – may he energise, direct, inspire, guide, unfold or he who energizes, directs, inspires, guides, unfolds

Short Closing

bhur bhuvas suvar om

Long Closing

Om apo jyoti rasamrita brahma
bhur bhuvas suvar om

This beautiful closing pays tribute to the myriad forms of the One. A simple translation is:

Om, the Water, the Light, the very Essence in which we exist, the Absolute, the physical world, the astral realm, the mental realm, all are Om.

Daily spiritual practice

The beautiful rhythmic patterns, soothing ancient sounds and powerful intent make the Gayatri Mantra a magnificent part of daily spiritual practice.

The Gayatri Mantra combines the effects of mantric sound with the effects of a deep and profound prayer, resulting in a combination which is exceedingly potent.

As with all spiritual practices, this is a vehicle for intent. The stronger and greater the intent, the stronger and greater the results.

All Gauri Shankar Rudraksha represent this powerful Gayatri mantra.

Download Gayatri mantra

LORD GANESHA

Lord Ganesha

Ganesha, commonly known as and easily recognized as the Elephant-God, is one of the most popular deities of the Hindu pantheon. The Son of Parvati was given the name Ganesha by Shiva. The word Ganesha is made up of gana (followers of Shiva) and isha (lord), as Shiva appointed him the lord of his ganas. Ganesha is known as one who removes all obstacles. He is considered to be the god of wisdom, prudence and prosperity. He is the personification of material‚ universe in all its various magnificent manifestations. His names are repeated first before any auspicious work is begun and before any kind of worship is begun. He is the God of power and wisdom. He is the eldest son of Shiva and the brother of Skanda or Kartikeya.

Ganesha has many names. The main ones are GANAPATI (lord of the tribe or attendants), VIGNESHWARA (controller of all obstacles), VINAYAKA, the prominent leader), GAJANANA, the elephant-faced, GAJADHIPATI,Lord of elephants, LAMBKARNA (long-eared), LAMBODARA (pendant-bellied) and EKADANTA, having one tusk, GAJAVADANA, the elephant-faced, SHOOPRA-KARNA (winnowing pan like ears), CHATURBHUJA (four hands) three of them carrying Pasha (a rope), ANKUSH (a spear-like weapon curved at one end) and modak, a pudding-like sweet dish.

Birth of Lord Ganesh

Birth of Lord Ganesh

Once while Parvati was going for her bath, she rubbed off the dust and oil from her body and out of it created the figure of a young boy. She infused life into the figure and told him he was her son and should guard the entrance when she went for a bath. Soon after, Shiva came to see Parvati, but the young boy blocked his way and would not let him in. Shiva, unaware that this lad was his son, became furious and in great anger fought with the boy whose head got severed from his body in the ensuing battle. Parvati, returning from her bath, saw her headless son and, in aggrieved anguish threatened to destroy the heavens and earth. The Gods and Shiva pacified her and the latter sent out his ganas, or hordes to bring the head of the first living being with his head towards the north (the auspicious direction associated with wisdom). The first living creature they found sleeping with his head to the north was an elephant. They brought the head of this animal and Shiva placed it on the trunk of Parvati’s son and breathed life into him. Parvati was overjoyed and embraced her son, the elephant-headed boy whom Shiva named Ganesh, the lord of his ganas “Ganpati”.

Story: Shiva and Parvati used to play with their two sons, Ganesh and Kartikeya. The gods had given them a marvelous fruit. Each boy wanted to get it for him alone. Their parents explained them that the nectar of the Supreme Knowledge and of Immortality was hidden in that fruit. To get the fruit, both had to compete. The winner should run three times around the world and come back first. Kartikeya left at once. Riding his peacock, he flew in the sky stopping at every sacred place on his way, praying and worshipping the gods. Ganesh was fully aware of his stout body; it slackened off him badly. The rat, his vehicle, was rather slow and would not be able to beat Kartikeya.

But his wisdom suggested him the right solution. He turned round his parents, Shiva and Parvati, showing a deep devotion. When they asked him why he did not start his journey around the world, he replied: “My parents Shiva and Shakti are the Whole Universe. In them is located the World. I do not need to go further”. Of course, he won the contest, and the fruit. This legend emphasizes the importance of cleverness which is always the best against force, speed or physical strength.

Ganesh Chaturthi, a festival celebrating the birth of Lord Ganesha, is a very popular festival celebrated by Hindus all over India. His grace, we receive the grace of all. He removes any potential obstacles and enables our endeavours to succeed.

Sri Ganesha Gayatri Mantra
Om Ekadanthaya vidmahe
Vakrathundaya dhimahi
Tanno danthih prachodayat.

Meaning of Mantra

We devote our thoughts to the One Tusked Lord
We meditate upon Him who has a Curved trunk
May the tusked one guide us on the right path.

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LORD NARASIMHA

Lord Narsimha

Narasimha, the fourth incarnation of the God Vishnu, is a half-lion half-human. This incarnation is to to alleviate the sufferings of devotees symbolizing fight against evil and tyranny. Lord Narayana is considered to be the origin of the other transcendental forms of God. From Narayana, Vasudeva is manifest, and from Vasudeva, Sankarsana is manifest (Agni-purana 48.13). And according to the scriptures, Lord Narasimha is an expansion (amsha) of Sankarsana.


Lord Narsimha Himself is recognized in the scriptures by a variety of forms, distinguished by the arrangements of weapons in the hands, His different postures, or other subtle distinctions. Of these more than seventy-four forms, Nine are very prominent (Nava-narasimha):

Ugra-narasimha – or Ahobila Narasimha in a fierce form:

Vira-narasimha
Kopa-narasimha
Kruddha-narasimha
Vilamba-narasimha
Yoga-narasimha – who blessed Lord Brahma
Aghora-narasimha
Sudarsana-narasimha
Lakshmi-narasimha – Malola-narasimha or Prahlada-varada Narasimha (with Lakshmi on His lap and blessing Prahlad)

The most popular form of Narasimha is Lakshmi Narasimha

Story of Lord Narasimha

Hiranyakashipu (the brother of Hiranyaksha who was killed by the Varaha Avtar) wanted to take revenge on the Devatas and in particular on Lord Vishnu. He wanted to become the master of all the three worlds – Heaven, Earth & Pathala. He went to Mount Mandarachala and began penance which continued for years. Due to the intensity of Penance, Lord Brahma appeared before Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyakashipu asked for immortality as a boon. Brahma, however, declined, saying, “All living beings must face death Hiranyakashipu. You can, however, choose your death wish.”

Hiranyakashipu then asked for three conditions, as his death wish, “‘O Brahma, let not death come to me either by man or beast, nor devil, nor god shall cause my death by day or by night with steel or stone or wood, indoors or outdoors, or earth or in sky. Grant me undisputed lordship over the world”. Brahma agreed, and Hiranyakashipu got his death wishes granted. Thus he became practically immortal.

After securing such a boon, Hiranyakashipu conquered the world and became a tyrant. He banned all poojas on Vishnu and declared himself as God. The Devtas approached Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu asked them to be patient and said, “Hiranyakashipu’s son Prahlad is a devotee of me. When Hiranyakashipu seeks to kill my devotee, I will slay him.”

Hiranyakashipu’s wife Kayadhu gave birth to Prahlad in the Ashrama of Narada who told Prahlad about the glory of Lord Vishnu. Prahlad grew up and became an ardent devotee of Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu, however, wanted his son to be the king of the Asuras, strong and ruthless. Realising that Prahlad always prayed to Lord Vishnu, Hiranyakashipu took his son to Shanku and Amarka, the sons of Shukracharya, for schooling. All their efforts to inflence Prahlad failed.

Hiranyakashipu ordered his servents to kill Prahlad if he refused to accept the supremacy of his father. They tried to kill him by throwing him down a mountain, drowning, poisoning, burning etc. and failed in all attempts since Lord Vishnu saved him from all the attempts. The king got angry on hearing the reports about Prahlad.

One day the king challenged his son in the open court: “Prahlad! Is my enemy, whom you worship, present anywhere here?”.

Prahlad replied, “Vishnu is omnipresent. There’s not a single place where he’s not found”

Hiranyakashipu’s fury was at its climax. He got an iron pillar heated and asked Prahlad, “Can you embrace this pillar if your Vishnu is in it also?”

Prahlad did not hesitate even for a moment but rushed towards the pillar and embraced it. The heated iron did not burn him. The king got up from his throne in fury and hit the pillar with his mace. And to his surprise! The pillar cracked with a thundering sound and Vishnu appeared there in the form of Narasimha.

One half of his body was of a lion and the other half of a man. He had matted hair on his head, large moustaches on the face and terrible teeth in the mouth. His paws had terrible nails on them.

Hiranyakashipu remembered his first death wish, “To be killed by some one who is neither human nor beast.” It was also the twilight hour, neither day nor night, the second death wish.

The demon king hit Narasimha with his mace but Narasimha brushed it aside swiftly. It was twilight and Narasimha caught hold of the demon Hiranyakashipu.

He sat on the threshold of the court room, placed the body of the demon on his thighs, and pierced his nails into the body of the demon and broke open his stomach. The demon was killed on the spot in a moment. The place was neither inside nor outside. This was Hiranyakashipu’s third death wish.

Lord Narasimha was furious and roared. However, he was pacified when Prahlad touched his feet and goddess Lakshmi also tried to cool him. Lord Narasimha then made Prahlad the King.

Sri Narasimha Gayatri Mantra

Om Narasimhaya Vidmahe
Vajra Nakhaya Dhimahi
Tanno Narasimhah Prachodayat.

Meaning of Mantra

Om, let us meditate the half-man and half-lion forms of Lord Narasimha. May this great God with his diamond nails piercethe veil of ignorance and his fierce sharp-tooth destroy the demon of darkness and illuminate our mind and understanding.

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GODDESS SARASWATI

Goddess Saraswati

Goddess Saraswati is the Goddess of wisdom and learning. Saraswati is the one who gives the essence (sara) of our own self (swa). She is considered as the personification of all knowledge – arts, sciences, crafts and other skills. She has a beautiful and elegant presence, is pure white, clad in a white sari, seated on a white lotus, representing purity and brilliance. She has four hands representing four aspects of human personality in learning; mind, intellect, alertness and ego. She has the sacred scriptures in one hand and a lotus (a symbol of true knowledge) in the second. With her other two hands she plays the music of love and life on the veena.

Goddess Saraswati is the consort of Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. Scripture says that when Brahma resolved to create this world, he went into deep thought. In the course of his contemplation, there appear a hollowed mark on his forehead. After a few moments there is a girl emerged from that celestial sign. Lord Brahma asked: “Who are you? “The girl replied: “My birth has been from your contemplation. Pease give me work.” Lord Brahma asked her to live on the tongue of people and regulate their speech as “Vageshwari”, the goddess of speech. While Brahma is the lord of creation, Saraswati is the goddess of creativity.She is the personification of wisdom, learning, intelligence, music and art. As the incarnation of speech, she presides over knowledge.

The Rigvedic hymns dedicated to Saraswati mention her as a mighty river with creative, purifying, and nourishing properties. Veda says that the path of knowledge has the power to dispel ignorance of what is permanent and what is passing. Celebrating Saraswati is a call to the higher mind, the beginning of a deep desire to understand the purpose and meaning of life.

Goddess Saraswati is often depicted as a beautiful, white -skinned goddess, dressed in pure white, often seated on a swan (carrier) or on a white lotus. She is mainly associated with the colour white, which signifies the purity of true knowledge. She is not adorned heavily with jewels and gold, dressed modestly – representing her preference for knowledge over worldly material things.

Saraswati depicted wearing white clothes. because the colour white is a symbol of the purity of true knowledge which she bestows on the seeker. Similarly, her association with the swan and the peacock stresses the wisdom aspect. The swan is said to have the ability to separate milk from water and drink milk only, which is a metaphor of the way a seeker has to continually discriminate between what is real and permanent and what is transient. The peacock’s vanity at its own beautiful plumage is a reminder of how a true seeker of knowledge has to learn to detach himself from the body by understanding the transitory nature of physical appearance.

Sri Saraswathi Gayatri Mantra
Om Vakdeviyai cha Vidmahe
Virinji Pathniyai cha Dhimahi
Tanno Vani Prachodayat.

Meaning of  the Mantra

Om, Let me meditate on the goddess of speech, Oh, wife of Lord Brahma, give me higher intellect, And let Goddess Vani bestows the devotee with the memory, Knowledge and the power of speech.

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LORD SHIVA

Lord Shiva

Shiva, the destroyer, is one of the three supreme gods in Hindu mythology. The other two are Brahma, the creator, and Vishnu, the preserver. Shiva’s destructive powers are awesome, but they also have a positive side in that destruction usually leads to new forms of existence. A glance from the third eye in the center of his forehead has the power to destroy anything in creation, including humans and gods. In the Vedas, a collection of ancient sacred texts, Shiva is identified with the storm God Rudra. According to one myth, Shiva first appeared when Brahma and Vishnu were arguing about which of them was more powerful. Their argument was interrupted by the sudden appearance of a great blazing pillar whose roots and branches extended beyond view into the earth and sky. Brahma became a goose and flew up to find the top of the pillar, while Vishnu turned into a boar and dug into the earth to look for its roots. Unsuccessful in their search, the two gods returned and saw Shiva emerge from an opening in the pillar. Recognizing Shiva’s great power, they accepted him as the third ruler of the universe.

Shiva is a complex god with many roles and powers. In his destroyer role, he often haunts cemeteries, wearing a headdress of snakes and a necklace of skulls. A band of terrifying demons, hungering for blood, accompanies him. Yet despite his destructiveness, Shiva can be helpful to humans and other gods. He acts as a divine judge who shows no mercy to the wicked. He gains spiritual strength from periods of meditation deep thought in the Himalayas. When he dances, he represents truth, and by dancing he banishes ignorance and helps relieve the suffering of his followers. According to one myth, Shiva saved the gods and the world from destruction by swallowing the poison of Vasuki, a serpent the gods used to produce the water of life. Drinking the poison made Shiva’s neck blue, and he is often shown that way in art.

One of Shiva’s greatest services to the world was to tame the sacred Ganges River, which flows from the Himalayas. At one time, the Ganges passed only through the heavens, leaving the earth dry. After a wise man changed the course of the river, it became a raging torrent and threatened to flood the earth. Shiva stood beneath the river and let its waters wind through his hair to calm its flow.

Shiva is believed to be at the core of the centrifugal force of the universe, because of his responsibility for death and destruction. Unlike the godhead Brahma, the Creator, or Vishnu, the Preserver, Shiva is the dissolving force in life. But Shiva dissolves in order to create, since death is the medium for rebirth into a new life. So the opposites of life and death and creation and destruction both reside in his character.

The extra eye represents the wisdom and insight that Shiva has. It is also believed to be the source of his untamed energy. On one occasion, when Shiva was distracted in the midst of worship by the love god, Kama, Shiva opened his third eye in anger. Kama was consumed by the fire that poured forth, and only returned to life when parvati intervened.

He is also often portrayed as the supreme ascetic with a passive and composed disposition. Sometimes he is depicted riding a bull called Nandi decked in garlands. Although a very complicated deity, Shiva is one of the most fascinating of Hindu gods.

Since Shiva is regarded as a mighty destructive power, to numb his negative potentials he is fed with opium and is also termed as ‘Bhole Shankar’, one who is oblivious of the world. Therefore, on Maha Shivratri, the night of Shiva worship, devotees, especially the menfolk, prepare an intoxicating drink called ‘Thandai’ (made from cannabis, almonds, and milk) sing songs in praise of the Lord and dance to the rhythm of the drums.

Lord Shiva Gayatri Mantra

Om Tat Purushaya Vidmahe
Mahadevaya Dhimahi
Tanno Rudra Prachodayat

Meaning of Mantra
“Om. Let me meditate on the great Purusha, Oh, greatest God, give me higher intellect, and let God Rudra illuminate my mind.”

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GODDESS LAKSHMI

Goddess Lakshmi

Lakshmi is the auspicious goddess of wealth and fortune, whether it is material or spiritual. The word ”Lakshmi” has been derived from the Sanskrit word Lakshay, meaning “aim” or ”goal”. Goddess Lakshmi suggests the aim of life, which includes all worldly and spiritual success. Lakshmi is the divine consort of Lord Vishnu and provides with wealth for the maintenance and preservation of the creation.

Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, luxury, fertility, fortune, purity, beauty, power, generosity and auspiciousness. She is claimed to fulfil the promises of material, wealth and contentment.

According to the Hindu mythology, the sacred name of Lakshmi is ”Shri”. Whether in written or verbal form, ”Shri” always suggests presence of goddess Lakshmi in it. ”Shri” is written at the top of most of the documents. It is usually spoken before addressing a god, or any revered individual. The usage of ”Shri” itself evokes grace, affluence, abundance, authority and auspiciousness. The word ”Shri” is spoken or written, an aura of holiness is established. Sri is associated with the material side of life, just like the word ”Om” is associated with the spiritual side of life

Generally, Lakshmi is portrayed as a beautiful lady with golden complexion, dressed in red color attire and adorned with precious jewels. Lakshmi has four hands representing the four ends of human life, Kama(desires), and death. She holds lotus bud in two of her hands, which stands for beauty, purity, spirituality and fertility. She sits on a fully blossomed lotus, a seat of divine truth.

Cascades of gold coins are seen flowing from her hands, illustrating that she blesses people with wealth. The constant effort of two elephants is often shown standing next to the goddess and spraying water. It denotes that, in accordance with one’s dharma when governed by wisdom and purity, leads to both material and spiritual prosperity. The personal charm of Lakshmi is considered par excellence. An aura of divine happiness, mental and spiritual satisfaction, and prosperity always exists around her.

Lakshmi resides in a place where virtue, righteous- ness, truth and compassion prevail. Goddess Lakshmi is considered to stay at a clean place. Wealth is required to meet the basic needs of life. People worship Lakshmi for the well being and prosperity of the family.

On the auspicious night of Diwali, Hindus worship Lakshmi ceremonially at home, pray for her blessings. It is believed that on this night the goddess herself visits the homes and replenishes the inhabitants with wealth.

Lakshmi is the goddess of beauty, wealth and good fortune in the Hindu Mythology. Goddess Lakshmi is one of the most popular goddesses among the Hindus. Maha Lakshmi is the divine consort of Lord Vishnu and assists him with wealth for the maintenance of the universe. Lakshmi fulfils all the wishes of her sincere devotees. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped to attain wealth, beauty and good luck.

Sri-Lakshmi’s nature two general meanings seem apparent. First, the lotus is a symbol of fertility and life which is rooted in and takes its strength from the primordial waters’ The lotus symbolizes vegetative growth that has distilled the life-giving power of the waters into embodied life. The lotus, and the goddess Sri-Lakshmi by association, represents the fully developed blossoming of organic life. At the macrocosmic level the lotus might be taken as a symbol of the entire created world. The lotus growing from the navel of Vishnu marks the beginning of a new cosmic creation. The frequent use of the lotus in Tantric mandalas also points to the lotus as a symbol of the entire created universe. The lotus suggests a growing, expanding world imbued with vigorous fertile power. It is this power that is revealed in Sri-Lakshmi. She is the nectar (the rasa) of creation which lends to creation its distinctive flavour and beauty. Organic life, impelled as it is by this mysterious power, flowers richly and beautifully in the creative processes of the world.

The second meaning of the lotus in relation to Srl-Lakshmi refers to purity and spiritual power. Rooted in the mud but blossoming above the water, completely uncontaminated by the mud, the lotus represents spiritual perfection and authority. A common motif in Hindu and Buddhist iconography is the lotus seat. The gods and goddesses, the Buddha’s and bodhisattvas, typically sit or stand upon a lotus, which suggests their spiritual authority. To be seated upon or to be otherwise associated with the lotus suggests that the being in question-god, Buddha, or human being-has transcended the limitations of the finite world (the mud of existence, as it was) and floats freely in a sphere of purity and spirituality. Sri-Lakshmi thus suggests more than the fertilizing powers of moist soil and the mysterious powers of growth. She suggests a perfection or state of refinement that transcends the material world. She is associated not only with royal authority but with spiritual authority as well and she combines royal and priestly powers in her presence.

Lakshmi Gayatri Mantra

Om Mahalaxmiyei Vidmahe
Vishnu Patniyai cha Dhimahi
Tanno Lakshmih Prachodayat.

Meaning of Mantra

Om, Let me meditate on the greatest goddess, Who is the wife of Lord Vishnu, Give me higher intellect, And let Goddess give the wealth and prosperity.

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GODDESS DURGA

Goddess Durga

Goddess Durga is the embodiment of the divine force of the Almighty. The word Durga, in Sanskrit means “the invincible”. Durga Devi represents power, strength, morality and protection. Maa Durga is the destroyer of sin and protector of morality. Goddess Durga is also known as Shakti (Power).

Durga is known as the Mother of the Cosmos with infinite power to protect her devotees from all kinds of destructive forces. Goddess Durga has many names like Sati, Parvati, Gauri, Ambika, Amba, Shakti, Bhavani, Bhadrakali and Kalika and symbolises Mahamaya, Maha meaning Great and Maya meaning illusion. The Cosmic manifestation is interpreted as Maya or illusion of the entire universe or all that is created and that is not easily understood by mortals. The combined creative energies of Consciousness (Lord Shiva) with the supreme truth praised as Shakti (Power) Devi Durga, in Sanatan Dharma, have been given a feminine attribute due to its creative aspect and is extended to it and hence the power or energy is worshipped in a female form, a Mother who is responsible for the entire Srishthi or Cosmic creation.

Mahishasura who was the king of Asuras for many years, were granted a boon by Lord Brahma that no man or god could kill him. This gave him the power to fight and rule the entire world. He started attacking heaven and urged his battalion of asuras to kill people and take away their wealth. Even gods have driven away from heaven and Mahishasura took the throne. The gods did not have any other way out of this terrorism and requested Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva for help. To solve this issue the three lords combined their divine energy into a feminine form that illuminated heaven. From this glow, Goddess Durga Devi emerged as a beautiful woman with ten arms riding a lion. Durga was born to kill the demons and so she was completely armed in each of her ten arms with divine weapons of each god and sent against Mahishasura for a fierce battle. When Mahishasura, disguised as a buffalo devi beheaded the buffalo and then Mahishasura emerged in his original form. Then Devi Durga pierced his chest and relieved the world from evil power.

She is always busy destroying evil and protecting mankind from all pain and suffering. She is also seen as demon fighting version of Lord Shiva’s wife, Parvati. She is depicted as having eight or ten hands which represent eight quadrants or ten directions of Hinduism. She appears with three eyes where the left eye represents desire, the right eye represents action, and the central eye represents knowledge hence the name ‘Triyambake’. Mother Durga rides over a lion which symbolises her mastery over the qualities of power, will and determination. She possesses different kinds of weapons in her arms like mace, sword, disc, arrow and trident, which conveys that one weapon cannot be used to destroy all kinds of enemies, but different kinds of weapons has to be used. She has the sacred conch, which emanates the sound of creation ‘AUM’.

Durga puja during the Navaratri festival is the main festival associated with the Goddess. Durga Pooja is the biggest Hindu festival celebrated throughout India. This falls in the month of September – October and the goddess is worshipped in nine forms these days. The goddess is dressed each day as a different devi like Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Parvati, and Goddess Lakshmi. On first day she is Shailputri, second day Brahmacharini, third day Chandraganta, fourth day Kushmanda, fifth day Skanda Mata, sixth day Katyayani, seventh day Kalratri, eighth day Mahagauri and ninth day Sidhidatri. The eight day of Navratri Festival is known as Durgashtami and weapons of Goddess Durga are worshipped on this day. The day of Durga’s victory is celebrated as Vijayadasami. There is also an elemental ritual of immersing the idol of Goddess Durga into the holy river of Ganga which points to cyclical regeneration.

Goddess Durga is believed to be the power behind the work of creation, preservation and destruction of the world. She is the divine mother who protects mankind from all evils and miseries and also destroys selfishness, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, anger and ego. Thus Goddess Durga represents a united front of all Divine forces against the negative forces of wickedness and evil.

Durga Gayatri Mantra

Om Giri-jayai cha vidmahe
Sivapriyayai cha dhimahi |
Tanno Durgih pracodayat ||

Meaning of Mantra

“Om. Let us meditate on Girija Devi, Daughter of the Mountain. May that beloved of Lord Shiva inspire and illumine our mind and understanding.”

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LORD KARTIKEYA

Lord Kartikeya

The story of Lord Kartikeya’s birth is given in Kumar Sambhavam. Sati, the consort of Shiva, immolated herself at the site of the Daksha Yagna, which was later destroyed by Shiva. Sati was reborn as Uma, or Parvati, the daughter of the mountain king Himavaan (the Himalayas). Shiva withdrew himself from the universe and engaged himself in yogic meditation in the Himalayas.

In the meanwhile, the demon Surapadma ravaged the earth and tormented its beings. It was realised by the gods that only the son born of Shiva, and Parvati could lead the gods to victory over Tarakaasuran, Surapadman and their demon companions. They plotted with Kaama, the lord of desire, to shoot a flower arrow at Shiva as he sat in meditation, to make him fall in love with Parvati. When Kaama aimed his arrow at Shiva, he opened his third eye and burned him to ashes instantly. Upon hearing the pleas of Kama’s wife Rati, he brought Kama back to life, in flesh and blood for her sake, and in a formless state for others.

His penance disturbed, Shiva fell in love with Parvathi. However, the sparks of the fiery seed of Shiva were unbearable; even the fire God Agni could not bear them; this fire was then transported by the river Ganga into the Sara Vana forest, where Sara Vana Bhava (Kartikeya) was born. He was raised by the six Kartika damsels. Parvati combined these six babies into one with six faces, ie. Shanmukha.

In south India Lord Kartikeya is very popularly known as Murugan. The other names of Kartikeya, as breast-fed by six KRITTIKA deities he is called ‘KARTIKEYA’. Since he has six faces, he is SHANMUKHA Because of his omniscience, he is ‘SUBRAMANYA’ as he gathered a huge army to kill the demons, he is also called ‘ MAHASENA . Since he captained the army of the gods in the fight with the Rakshasas, he was given the title of SENANI or ‘Commander’. Since he was born out of the life-source that slipped (Skanna) from Shiva, he is named SKANDA. With the peacock as his mode of transport, he is SHIKHIVAHANA. This term also means that he kills evil persons.

He represents a person of perfection. He is the war God, the Hindu equivalent of Mars and Aries. He was created by all the Gods to lead the heavenly hosts and destroy the demons. He is the most masculine and fierce of all the Gods. While Ganesh removes all obstacles, Skanda bestows all spiritual powers, particularly the power of knowledge.

He is worshiped for all problems related to Mars, especially Mangala dosha or Kuja dosha.

Subrahamanya Gayatri Mantra

“Om Tat Purushaya Vidmahe
Maha Senaya Dhimahi
Tanno Shanmugah Prachodayat.”


Meaning of Mantra

Om, let us meditate that Supreme lord who is the Supreme General of the great Deva Army, Lord Shanmukha or Muruga. May He enlighten us and lead us to be one with him

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Lord Brahma

Lord Brahma

Lord Brahma is part of the Hindu trinity, which includes Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Brahma was born from a (kamala) lotus springing from Vishnu’s navel and created the world through his daughter Saraswati. According to Manu Smriti, the self- existent Lord manifested to dispel the darkness enveloping universe. He created the waters and deposited a seed that became a golden egg from which he was born as Brahma. He divided the egg into two parts to construct the heaven and earth, and created the ten Prajapatis, mind-born sons, who completed the work of creation. The Lord separated himself into two parts, the male and the female after dividing the golden egg. From him sprang Viraja and from him Manu. Ramayana states that Brahma sprang from the ether and that sages Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Narada, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatkumara, Sanasujata and others are his manasa putras (mentally conceived sons). From Marichi sprang Kashyapa from whom sprang Vishwavata who created Manu, the procreator of all human beings. Thus, Manu is Brahma’s great grandson.

Brahma and his consort Saraswati, represent the vedas, their spirit and meaning. They form the subject of many tales in Hindu literature. All knowledge, religious and secular emanate from them. Brahma, created all knowledge, sciences, arts, music, dance and drama. He also officiated over the wedding of Shiva and Parvati.

Brahma’s icon has four heads (chatur mukha brahma) facing the four quartem. They represent the four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva), the four yugas (krita, treta, dwapara, kali) (epochs of time), the four varnas (brahmana, kshatriya, vaisya, sudra). The faces have beards with eyes closed in meditation. There are four arms holding up different objects, akshamala (rosary), kurcha (kusha grass), sruk (ladle), sruva (spoon), kamandala (water pot) and pustaka (book) and in different poses representing the four quartem. Their combination and arrangement vary with the image. Akshamala symbolizes time; Kamandala, the waters of all creation. The implements kusha, sruk and sruva, denote the system of sacrifices used by creatures to sustain each other. The book represents religious and secular knowledge. Hand postures (mudras) are abhaya (protector) and varada (giver of boons). The icon may be in standing posture on a lotus or in sitting posture on a hamsa (swan). Hamsa stands for wisdom and discrimination.

Brahma is also shown riding a chariot drawn by seven swans, representing the seven worlds. Temples dedicated to Brahma show his Viswakarma aspect with four heads, the four arms holding the rosary, the book, kusha and kamandala and riding his swan. Temples of Shiva or Vishnu have a niche in the northern wall for Brahma as a parivara devata and his image receives daily worship.

Brahma Gayatri Mantra

Om Chathur mukhaya Vidmahe
Hamasaroodaya Dhimahi
Tanno Brahmah Prachodayat.

Meaning of Mantra

Om, Let me meditate on The God who is the soul of Vedas, Oh God, who holds the entire world within you, give me higher intellect, And let the Lord Brahma illuminate my mind.

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LORD HANUMAN