In the world of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger’s favourite subject is Arithmancy – A subject that involves the magical properties of numbers. In ancient India Anka Shastra had a close relation with Astrology & Mathematics. Anka Shastra talked about how numbers and their associated planets influenced human behaviour. To a layman, Anka Shastra & Arithmancy …

Introduction to Rudram  Among the various Vedic Hymns Sri Rudram occupies a prime place. Lord Rudra, to whom these prayers are addressed is not a sectarian deity, but the Supreme Being who is omnipresent and manifests Himself in myriad forms. Hence this prayer is also called Satarudriyam – Rudra in hundreds of forms. Rudram reveals …

Who are the Nath Yogis ? The Yogis who belong to the Nath Sampradaya, and perform special yogic practices are called the Nath Yogis. Nath or Natha is a Sanskrit word which means “Lord, Master or Protector”. Nath Sampradaya was supposed to have been founded by Adi Nath, who is none other than Lord Shiva …

What is Aadheenam Aadheenam’s are Shaivite monastic institutions. They are the custodians and repository of Shaiva Siddhanta knowledge and help nurture & propagate them. Most of them were set up during 1600’s. The Madurai Adheenam claims its origin to Goddess Meenakshi Herself and believes that the 7th century child saint Thirujnanasambandar revived the Adheenam during …

Nutrition, Gym, Walking, Multi Vitamins, Yoga Asanas, running – the world is full of advise on how to be healthy and fit. It is rare to find a specialist who can teach you how to live healthy by breathing right. This Blog helps you get started. We are born with our 1st breath – and …

The Samaveda Parayana organised by Pandit Mishra of the Shankara Mutt at Bangalore was an eye opener. The rare knowledge of the ancient Vedas are now incubated in a few centres and a handful of priests have the knowledge to chant them from memory accurately. A few among them know the meaning. This Blog shares some …

Thanks to direct flights from Bangalore most destinations across India are now an easy 2 – 3 day trip. The 2 Jyotirlinga’s of MP were on my list for some time and when I got started it was easy to plan and execute. MP is beautiful and waiting to be explored – with direct 90 …

It is a rare privilege for devotees to be able to host Baba’s holy Paduka & Kafni  at their residence. Such is the divine power of Sainath – that to a sincere devotee this is like Baba himself coming home. It is a festive occasion full of divine joy. This document provides inputs on Sri …

This is an easy to execute trip planner to cover the 3 Jyotirlinga temples in Maharashtra with Shirdi as the base. My trip started from Bangalore. I was travelling in 1st week of Aug – midst of monsoon during the auspicious month of Shravan and was very lucky to get excellent Darshan with no rains …

Tucked away amidst lush green paddy fields and surrounded by hillocks in what looks like no mans land is this beautiful place called Sacred Grove. Managed by The Satsang Foundation, it is powered by the vision of Sri M. What is Sacred Grove  It is neither an Ashram nor a Resort. It is a centre for …

 Shrimad Bhagavad Gita  The Scripture of Mankind (By Swami Tapasyananda)  A Detailed Summary  Why this Summary  – Introduction and Context A dipstick with college batchmates, friends & relatives, revealed that almost no one had read the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita – The Divine Song of the Lord. This exercise is to provide a simplified but correct explanation of The …

The Purusha Suktam The Vedic Hymn on the Supreme Being The Purusha Suktam is an ancient Rig Vedic hymn. The central theme of the Purusha Suktam The Purusha in the title of the Purusha Suktam refers to the Parama Purusha or Brahman. He pervades everything conscious and unconscious. He is the source of all creation. …

Popular as Kailash of the South among the 12 Jyotirlingas in India; Srisailam Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple is located atop Shri Saila Mountain, on the banks of River Krishna. The temple of Mallikarjuna consists of deities of Shiva and Bhramaramba or Parvati and is listed as one among the 52 shakti peeths of Sati. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga …

Not everyone can embark on the job of writing a book on the great Adi Shankara. Pavan Varma a former IFS officer and politician has attempted to do that. The ability to cover a vast array of subjects in about 200 pages reflects his power of articulation. This book is not just about Adi Shankara and …

I am happy to share this compilation. Kindly chant by learning the meaning. Word by word meaning has been provided in English _____________________________ Dakshinamurthy Stotram The Dakshinamurti Stotram by Adi Shankaracharya contains some of the most profound teachings of Advaita Vedanta. This transformative knowledge is capable of destroying the Mula Avidya (fundamental ignorance) that is …

This is an attempt to awaken curiosity to read the holy Gita. I am sharing a few nuggets verbatim from the chapters of the book, with the hope that this gets you started at your own pace. There are many commentaries on The Gita. This version is based on “The Scripture of Mankind” Translation by …

Shiva Tandava Stotram Shiva Tandava Stotram is the most popular Shiva Stotram composed by Ravana, a Sanskrit scholar par excellence and a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Shiva Tandava Stotram is one of his many works.It is believed that Ravana composed the hymn in praise for Shiva, and pleading for moksha. The stotra has 16 syllables …

The Nirvana Shatakam is a beautiful chant from Adi Shankara. Its an essence of all that the Upanishad’s try to explain. Following the Neti Neti approach ( I am not this or that .. ) the great Shankara explains that in reality we are pure consciousness. A detailed explanation of the Nirvana Shatakam by Sri …

“Mahishasura Mardhini” means one who killed the Asura Mahishasura and refers to  Goddess Durga. The demon was in the form of a buffalo and hence the name “Mahish Asura”. She was created by the Gods to eradicate evil and many Asuras and Dhanavas were killed by her. The beautiful Stotra is very captivating and describes …

Japa Vs Stotra  Chanting of the Divine name can take two forms – Japa or Stotra. While Japa is the silent repetition generally of a single name or of a Mantra which may be a few lines, the Stotra is chanted aloud. It comprises of many verses and highlights the glory and attributes of the …

This BLOG compiles the Essence of Yoga as explained by Sri M. Its a refresher on the rules of being a good human being and embarking on the journey to happiness and peace. For a detailed explanation get hold of the newly launched book by Sri M “Yoga also for the Godless”, A sutra by …

Since the time of the Sapta Rishis India has been a blessed land. A land of ancient Rishis in search of the ultimate Truth. While Patanjali, Buddha, Mahavira, Shankara, Nanak… may be known to the world there are many more. Some are well known – but every village and town has a story to tell. …

Meditation is a simple no cost solution to Peace and Happiness. It needs no paraphernalia. It is not associated with any religion or cult. However most people wanting to start (Including me) have reservations. Its not for me – I am not a Yogi. I cant sit quiet and control my mind, too many thoughts …

I have always wondered about the significance of Snakes and Nagas. They seem to hold a special place not just in Hinduism but across many communities and religions. As snakes grow, many of them shed their skin at various times, revealing a shiny new skin underneath. For this reason snakes have become symbols of rebirth, transformation, …

Most Hindus would have heard of the Vedas and the Bhagavad Gita, but few would have read or deciphered them. Hinduism has a long list of scriptures evolved over thousands of years. A few Enlightened souls or Vedic students may know the entire list of our Scriptures. The vast majority of Hindus would not. This …

Every story has two sides to it. The version of the winner that projects him to be the greatest and everything else as evil. From Alexander to Churchill history has always been written by the victor. Nehru  went on to add “History is always written by the victors and conquerors, or at any rate the victors …

21st June – International Yoga day is less than a week away. On that day Malls, parks, schools, play grounds, office meeting rooms –  will be packed with enthusiastic people twisting their bodies and stretching themselves to do 108 Surya Namaskars. To the layman Yoga is primarily associated with “Asanas” and to a lesser extent …

Om Sri Gurubhyo Namah An interesting book is one that you can’t let off your hand once you start reading. All of Sri M’s books (Referred to as Sir later in the blog) fall in this category. That includes “Shunya” – his latest book. This is his first novel – but it reads like a …

To visit Shirdi you need HIS grace. When the time comes the trip happens. I have been to Pune numerous times over the last 15 years but never realised that Shirdi was so close by. Since March this year I was getting repeated signals that the calling was coming and as per the Masters Grace …

A short 3 hr drive (120 Km from Bangalore) is the town of Madanapalle.Head to old Madras Road and after the 1st toll near Hoskote take a left and get off the highway.  Madanapalle is  famous for its mangoes, fruits  and vegetables and is  the biggest tomato market in Asia. Horsley Hills the highest point …

Its 4.30 AM on a cold winter day in January and I am  sitting in a pitch dark small 10 sft cell in the confines of a beautiful Pagoda. And its pin drop silence – but wait you can hear something , after a few minutes of meditation as your mind calms down  you can …

This blog is based on “Chapter 5 – My Darshan of Guruvayurappan” – by Sri M in his book “The Journey Continues”. All the information is directly quoted from there. Guruvayur is a small coastal town in Kerala famous for the Guruvayurappan temple where the prankish heart stealer Lord Krishna is worshipped as a boy …

Most people are scared of death – some are inquisitive of life after death. I belong to the latter group. From our childhood we have heard so much about heaven and hell – its as if there were two big mansions up there in the sky – one which was full of gardens and fairies …

It was an intense and powerful program and by the 10th day I could clearly see the benefits. And this they say is just the beginning. A program conducted with deep commitment and compassion that touches you. A program conducted purely by volunteers for which there is no charge. A unique program that all should …

If you believe in this – You must read ” The Celestine Prophecy” – By James Redfield.  Its an adventure story – but ignore the story and focus on the Insights that unravel. I have always felt that there are some dots that need to be connected between People,Intuition, Transaction Analysis, Spirituality, Energy , Emotions …

The sight of a Full Moon in the night sky strikes you with awe. Its mesmerising. Its romantic. It has inspired poets and writers over thousands of years. Most of us see it by chance – but its a calming and soothing effect to connect with the moon on a Full Moon Night in tranquility …

Walk Alone…… “Jodi Tor Dak Shune Keu Na Ase Tobe Ekla Cholo Re” – If no one responds to your call, then go your own way alone”, commonly known as Ekla Chalo Re, is a Bengali  song written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905 dedicated to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. This is one of the finest memories …

The Gayatri Mantra is a powerful and easy to chant mantra that has been associated with our land for thousands of years. When chanted regularly and accurately by understanding the meaning it brings clarity to your thought and helps accelerate your spiritual journey. ____________________________ Brahmarshi Vishvamitra is credited as the author of most of Mandala …

You can understand when the village Khap Panchayat invokes the concept of Gotra during marriage. But when highly educated, modern, urban relatives start talking of how they will not have their children married to prospective grooms or brides from the same Gotra it gets me angry and worried.  This Blog is dedicated to all these …

I have wanted to attend a Vipassana program for ages. There are friends who have attended multiple sessions who vouch by its benefits and others who say they had no/limited impact.  I decided to experience it. There are over 40 centres in India (and many more globally) and most get booked months in advance. A little research …

Quantum Physics and Einstein explain the relation between Matter & Energy. The ancient seers & rishis claimed that the universe is nothing but energy in different forms. WE have ourselves experienced how the energy in our body transforms at different times. The topic is attracting  a lot of attention. There is an interesting forum called …

Adj : god-fearing – deeply religious; “a god-fearing and law-abiding people” Its interesting to see the meaning of the word  “God – fearing” . A simple word – we have used so many times. But lets spend time analyzing this word. I start with the premise – Why not “God – Loving” ? After all God is infinite …

What makes you a Hindu ?  Praying to God , visiting a temple , performing rites & poojas, chanting mantras , maybe wearing a  Sacred Thread if you are a Brahmin, celebrating festivals , eating sweets & savories, knowing your mythologies & maybe an attempt at reading the Bhagwad Gita ! Is that it or …

During WW II London was bombed , almost all of Europe was demolished, Japan was nuked – yet in  a short span they rebuilt their cities and went to on to become great countries. All this thanks to the leadership of some great people and the hard work of  the common man. Europe has a …

This is a quick & simple FAQ in layman terms on “Rudram” – a special prayer that is chanted to Lord Rudra (Shiva) – a Vedic God.  1. What is Rudram ?     Śrī Rudram, also known as Śrī Rudrapraśnaḥ, is a hymn offered to the all pervading Brahman, designated as Rudra-Śiva, present in auspicious, benign forms as …

It all started a few months back. As we were studying History my daughter wanted to know who was the founder of Hinduism? My initial response was the common answer – Hinduism is a way of life.  But I realized there is more to it. I consider myself quite religious – What is the concept …