In Hinduism, puja (or pooja) is the traditional rite of passage, in which sacrifices are offered to God in order to receive his love and blessing. While on the outside it may seem like a machine habit, there is a hidden value. The act of puja is a symbolic offering of the whole human mind […]
Worship or Puja Hindu worship, or puja, involves the use of images (murtis), prayers (mantras) and universal paintings (yantras). An important feature of Hindu worship is the image, or idol, that can be worshiped at home or in the temple. Hindu worship is basically a personal act and not a public ceremony, as it involves […]
What is Dhyana? The Sanskrit word dhyana, derived from the verbal root dhyai (“to contemplate, meditate, think”), is the most common designation both for the meditative state of consciousness and the yogic techniques by which it is induced. The Vedanta tradition also employs the terms nididhyasana, which stems from the same verbal root, upasana (literally […]
In the Tantric cosmology, the whole universe is perceived as being created, penetrated and sustained by two fundamental forces, which are permanently in a perfect, indestructible union. These forces or universal aspects are called Shiva and Shakti. The tradition has associated to these principles a form, respectively that of a masculine deity and that of a feminine […]
In Yoga, Lord Shiva is considered the Ādi Yogi and the Adi Guru. He is the foremost among the yogis and the first teacher of the science of Yoga. He is an ideal ascetic and an ideal householder, all in one.He is depicted as sitting in lotus pose on mount Kailāså, unmoved by the events […]
Why Namaskar, not hand shake? There are several ways in which people pay obeisance (namaskar or salutation) to the divine. Various types of hand actions or postures accompany prayers or obeisance. Some people hold up their hands as in asking, while others bring their fists together, while yet others may pray with hands folded, as […]
In Sanskrit “Ashta + anga” is Ashtanga. “Ashta” means Eight and “Anga” is limbs so it means Eight Limb path. Ashtanga yoga is based on Yoga Philosophy of Patanjali. It is a specific yoga tradition, but at the same time Ashtanga Yoga can be seen as covering all aspects of yoga within any yoga tradition. […]
Bhakti or devotion holds a very unique and important place on the path to God. It’s very common that all the yoga traditions are described as spokes of a wheel that all lead to the same hub (spiritual enlightenment). The 4 Yoga Traditions Generally, four yoga traditions are described (with the remainder falling into […]
‘Yoga’ -the very word radiates peace and tranquility. This feeling probably stems from the etymology of the word. The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’ which essentially means to join or unite. The union referred to is that of the individual self-uniting with Cosmic Consciousness or the Universal Spirit. Yoga is a […]
“Yoga is not about self-improvement. It’s absolutely about self- acceptance. Real peace is always unshakable. Bliss is in the offing if you espouse Yoga with grace. Yoga brings wisdom. Lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back. Choose the path that eventually leads you to wisdom. Embrace […]
The small courtesies of meditation sweeten life, the greater ennoble it […]
Classical Advaita Tantra Yoga tradition was fathered by Lord Sadashiva, the original expounder of Tantra, the indigenous mystical tradition of Eastern India. He was a great saint in whom the Supreme Being was fully manifest; as such, he was the bridge between the phenomenal and spiritual worlds, and thus fully capable of developing and inventing […]
