tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46338251242958426152013-05-21T18:24:01.030+05:30Entries on Indian spirituality, Vedic culture, and musicM. Shrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12894931275191748342noreply@blogger.comBlogger14415tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4633825124295842615.post-57881525273960545032013-05-20T12:36:00.001+05:302013-05-20T12:36:51.340+05:302013-05-20T12:36:51.340+05:30

Though the beliefs presented below are popular, I would not like to impose them on all Hindus. So I’ll say that I am sharing some of the Hindu beliefs that I find significant. Existence of Truth Hindus believe in the existence of a supreme reality. For most, this refers to the Divine – Rama, Shiva, or Durga. For the atheistic, this could refer to supporting the notion that goodness is a

M. Shrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12894931275191748342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4633825124295842615.post-83544944860541191112013-04-18T00:42:00.000+05:302013-04-18T00:42:13.276+05:302013-04-18T00:42:13.276+05:30

Beings who like Rama are free to use the term Bhagavan as a prefix to his name if they wish to. In fact, they can alternatively choose any other word from a big list of similar words, including Paramatma, Para Brahman, Parameshwara, Para Shakti, and Purushottama. Yet the truth is that Sita-Rama, unlike many other forms of the Divine, does not need any of these titles. Such terms can not be

M. Shrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12894931275191748342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4633825124295842615.post-40122462369437083692013-03-07T20:02:00.000+05:302013-03-07T20:02:15.431+05:302013-03-07T20:02:15.431+05:30

Though Bhagavan Shiva is extremely benevolent towards all, it was not easy for Devi Parvati to please him and have him accept her marriage proposal. After obtaining the panchakshara mantra [1] from Devarishi Narada, the Mother Goddess started her tapasya for Shiva in a forest of the Gangotri region. Meditating full time, she ate only fruits from the surrounding trees in the first year and

M. Shrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12894931275191748342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4633825124295842615.post-68279636824790480472013-02-13T18:16:00.000+05:302013-02-13T18:16:31.861+05:302013-02-13T18:16:31.861+05:30

What we have below is a popular composition of Raga Asavari, written in the contemporary notation system used by learners of classical music. The full bandish can be found in many books, including the Kramik Pustak Malika; only the sthayi has been retyped in English with a slightly modified presentation.The musical notes appear in the top row and the lyrics are below the notes. Just by looking

M. Shrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12894931275191748342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4633825124295842615.post-20194936117462829672013-01-24T17:28:00.000+05:302013-01-25T15:49:05.229+05:302013-01-25T15:49:05.229+05:30

Whatever we read forms a karmic impression in our mind. If we are devotionally a beginner, say someone with partially-developed faith in Sita-Rama, and start reading the wrong Ramayana, just because its author has been gifted with literary talent, his or her persuasive writing and inappropriate content can spiritually disconnect us, at least temporarily. How does the Ramayana become genuine? If

M. Shrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12894931275191748342noreply@blogger.com0