Mahisasura Mardini Stotram

many temples chant the Mahisasura Mardini Stotram for Durga Devi on fridays. it's a prayer to the Goddess who killed the demon Mahisasura. Mahisasura symbolizes our negative energies.

the posting has been revised and now contains the complete version - in two parts. this version contains the meaning in english, and the text in both roman and devanagari script.

Deity Stories: Ganesha: The Lord of Beginnings

Ganesha is the supreme expression of super consciousness. He is the lord of beginnings. His very form itself is very powerful. If we understand his form, we will understand the truth presented in his form. His is the most worshipped form. Ganesha is the only God who is worshipped by all 6 Vedic traditions.

A much loved God, he is always remembered as simple, innocent and easily approachable. Of his four hands, he holds ankusha (elephant prods typically used to direct or steer elephants) in one hand, pasa (noose) in the other, his own broken tusk in the third hand, and a sweet in the last.

If we understand the ayudhas (symbolic tools) he carries, we will understand the truth. The ankusha(small steel rod that is used to control an elephant) is the technique of unclutching. Just like an elephant can be controlled with a small steel rod, a simple unclutching technique can help one control the mind which is like an elephant. Pasa - means all his emotions are under his control, he is emotionally balanced. If you know how to Unclutch and keep your emotions under your control, life will be very sweet, like the one he is holding in one of his hands! The tusk that he carries in one of his hands represents spontaneity and dedication. When you have spontaneity and dedication, whatever you start will be successful. That is why we worship Ganesha first, before we start anything new.

Always carry ankusha and live like Ganesha. Technique of unclutching, being emotionally balanced, spontaneous and dedicated will make your life sweet and you will always be dancing, even while you are walking! His big belly represents joy and prosperity. He shows his innocence and simple life through his huge body. He is the lord of the Muladhara chakra or the root center. He represents the pure energy of Visualization. When visualization is disturbed it becomes imagination. Ganesha represents undisturbed visualization.

Before we begin anything new if you pray to Ganesha, there will be no obstacles. He's the planning commission. He is the energy who constantly and spontaneously expresses visualization. His vahana (vehicle), the mouse, means constantly being alive. Mooshika (mouse) expresses intense activeness. Meditate on Ganesha the supreme energy of super consciousness. Sarva mangala (all auspicious), sarva kalyana (all beautiful), sarva uttama (all superior qualities) are expressed in the form of Ganesha.

This article was taken from YOGAM4YOU.ORG, Swamiji's USA Tour 2009.

Bilva Leaves - Bael Tree

Ever wonder what a bilva leaf looks like, the one that is used in Shiva worship?

According to Wikepedia, the Bael (Aegle marmelos) is a fruit-bearing tree found in dry forests on hills and plains of central and southern India, and many other places in the East. It is also popularly known as Bilva, Bilwa, Bel, Kuvalam, Koovalam, Madtoum, or Beli fruit, Bengal quince, stone apple, and wood apple. The tree grows up to 18 meters tall and bears thorns, fragrant flowers and fruit.

In India, the tree is often found in temple gardens and its leaves are used in religious celebrations.

Check out the full article at Wikipedia.

Value of Temples: Preserving Our Rich Vedic Heritage

By Paramahamsa Nithyananda

Our ancient Vedic masters have created so many methods, techniques to hold the Existential energy. Existential energy manifests itself in the form of the five elemental energies: earth, water, fire, air and ether. Earth is the grossest form of Existential energy, expressed physically as matter. Ether is the subtlest form of energy and is intangible.

These masters created different techniques to access and absorb these different forms of energy. Temples are the techniques that they created to experience the energy in the earth or matter form. Meditation is the technique that is needed to reach the energy of Ether. In between they developed other techniques such as fire rituals, mantras and so on to access other forms of energy.

The ancient Vedic system of worshipping deities is not 'idol worship'; it is not worshipping some inanimate object; it is worship through the idol. We do not worship the idol itself; we worship the ultimate cosmic Energy through the idol. Our prayer is not towards the stone idol itself, but to Existence which is personified by the idol.

Temples provide an easy and convenient way for the common man to relate with the divine; to constantly remind him of his deep connection with the divine.

Temples also provide a common platform for people to share and bond with each other as a family. They enable to see the all-pervading divine not only through the idol but in each other.

In the energy space of temples, two things happen. First, you will have the shakti (power) to make your dreams into reality. Next, you will have the buddhi (intelligence) to realize what you think as reality itself is a dream!

The energized idol is not an idol; it becomes a living energy, a deity. The cosmic Energy radiates itself, makes itself available to us through these deities.

Temples are like satellite relay centers where high intense spiritual energy is created; where the high intense spiritual vibrations are created and send all over the world to help heal people physically, mentally, emotionally and above all spiritually.