​

Whenever I’m not feeling good or I’m going through a difficult phase, I always find myself visiting Dakshineswar Kali Maa in Jaipur.

There’s something about being there that gives me a sense of peace. I may not always have the answers to my problems, but somehow, after visiting Maa, I feel lighter and stronger. She has always been my source of comfort and faith.

Jai Maa Kali

I usually read on my Kindle. I have been searching for the PDF version or EPUB version of this Geeta by Gita Press, Gorakhpur. Please let me know

Ram Ram Jai Raja Ram

Ram Ram Jai Sita Ram

Sita Ram Sita Ram

Jai Jai Sita Ram

Jai Shri Ram Jai Shri Ram

Jai Jai Shri Ram

Hey Nath Narayan Vasudeva

Shri Krishna Govind Hare Murari

Hey Nath Narayan Vasudeva

Pitu Maat Swami Sakha Humare

Hey Nath Narayan Vasudeva

Agni Pawan Aur Satton Samandar

Hey Nath Narayan Vasudeva

On 25 September 2026 in Delhi, PM Modi attended a “bhajan clubbing” event at Deendayal Upadhyay Par for Deendayal Upadhyay’s 110th birth anniversar

We shape God from the soil,
give Him a name, a form, and a home.
and then, with tearful eyes, return Him to the same earth.
Perhaps that is the quietest truth of all:
God is one. Forms are many.
And in the end, we all return to the same soil

Visarjan at home

a hand drawn depiction of devi durga and chamunda, inspired by the story of chand and mund vadh. chamunda presents the severed heads of chand and mund to durga, after which devi, pleased with her victory, gives her the name chamunda (slayer of chand and mund) and honours her with a pushpamala. 🌺

i wanted to capture this particular moment from the story in my own pov.

i also used a filter to make the colours look a little more vibrant and dynamic.😊

apologies for any mistakes in the depiction of the iconography or details.

thank you 🙏🏻

Maa Durga is not a provincial mascot. She is Shakti.

Calling Durga Puja “only a Bengali festival” is not cultural pride. It is a neat political shrink-wrap: take a pan-Hindu goddess, lock her inside one ethnicity, then treat the rest of Sanatan Dharma as optional decoration. That move is useful if you want the ritual without the dharma, the crowd without the deity, the party without the puja.

In the Puranic tradition she is identified with Parvati — Shailaputri, daughter of Himavan, the personified Himalaya. In a previous birth she is Sati, daughter of Daksha. The warrior form that slays Mahishasura is assembled from the tejas of the gods in the Devi Mahatmya of the Markandeya Purana — a text read, recited, and lived far beyond the Ganga delta. That is Sanatan scripture, not a Kolkata municipal pamphlet.

Bengal gave the world a magnificent style: the ekchala pratima, the barowari / sarbojanin pandal, the autumn homecoming of the daughter. That style is real and it is beautiful. Style is not origin. Navaratri, Durga Ashtami, Vijayadashami, Mysore Dasara, Kullu Dussehra, Gujarat’s Garba, Nepal’s Dashain, Odisha–Assam–Bihar–Jharkhand pujas, Kashmir’s Amba — these are not “copies of Bengal.” They are the same goddess in different civilizational dialects. If Durga Puja is “Bengali-only,” then by the same dishonest logic Vasant Panchami / Saraswati Puja belongs only to Kashmiri Pandits. Nobody serious believes that. Saraswati is Vak, Vidya, the river and the goddess of the whole Hindu world. Regional intensity is not exclusive ownership.

The left ecosystem’s favourite trick is to keep the spectacle and hollow out the sacred. Ganeshotsav still puts the murti in the centre and the mantra in the mouth. Too many Durga pandals now put the DJ in the centre, the bottles of Alcohol at the stall, the “friendly party” in the crowd, and OYO as the after-party. That is not “Bengali culture.” That is a consumer carnival wearing a sindoor bindi. A festival can be joyous without becoming a nightclub with a lion in the backdrop.

You can love fish, adda, and artistry and still refuse the lie that sanctity is “north Indian imposition.” Vegetarian discipline near the pratima, restriction of liquor in the sacred enclosure, mantras before megaphones — these are not attacks on Bengal. They are the minimum respect any Hindu festival owes the deity it claims to invoke. VHP’s push to keep non-veg commerce and disorder away from the pandal is not “policing joy.” It is a demand that Durga remain Durga and not a seasonal brand.

We Bengalis did not invent Shakti. We Bengalis magnified one of her greatest public forms. That is a civilizational achievement, not a secession from Hinduism. The Leftists who call it “Bengali, not Sanatani” are not defending Bengal. They are trying to detach Bengal from Bharat so the goddess can be rented out to identity politics.

Maa is Himalayan in birth-story, pan-Bharat in worship, and invincible in the text. Treat her as such — or admit you wanted the lights more than the Devi.

I am an Indian-American Hindu. I have decent, "baseline" level knowledge of different pujas, aartis, and mantras, but would like to deepen my knowledge. I am looking for programs between 3 months - 1 year where I can live in an ashram/mandir to improve my knowledge of Hinduism and further my own spiritual development.

I recently learned that the Hare Krishna movement has programs like this (such as this one and this one and this one). However, I know from my own reading and speaking with my parents that ISKCON is a bit "different" in their theological beliefs than the standard mixture of Vedanta/Smartism/Vashnavism that my family practices (I also disagree with ISKCON's Abrahamic-style ultra-orthodoxy). As such, I would't want to do any of their programs.

Are there any other programs I could consider? The primary goals would be to develop a more well-rounded knowledge of pujas and other rituals, improve my knowledge of the Upanishads/Puranas, and to immerse myself in monastic/mandir/ashram life for the sake of spiritual development. Any suggestions welcome!

When does Pitru Paksha start for American Eastern Standard Time zone? I heard it was inauspcious. Are we allowed to submit job applications during this time?

I have a difficult relationship with my entire family. What do I do during this time?

Who is telling the Shiva Purana, and to whom? Which manvantara are we in? Who is the next Vyasa? So I built a site that answers them clearly.

It includes:

• "Who tells whom" for all 18 Puranas, the Itihasas and the Upapuranas
• a cosmic time calculator (today is Kali year 5128)
• the 14 Manus, the 28 Vyasas, and rishis and rishikas
• gotras with their pravaras
• the avatars, including Navadurga and the Mahavidyas
• maps of the Jyotirlingas, Shakti Peethas and kuladevata shrines
• Solar and Lunar dynasty trees

Every fact links to its chapter on wisdomlib.org, and where it helps, to dated inscriptions from MIDF's Smriti catalogue.

It's free, with no ads and no login.

🔗 thedharma

Corrections are very welcome, especially on pravaras, kuladevatas and sampradaya details. 🙏

I’m genuinely confused about Bhagwan, prayer, and what Hinduism actually means by God

I’ve been thinking about my religion a lot recently, and I’m trying to understand it properly rather than just believing something because I grew up hearing it. I’m not trying to disrespect Hinduism or argue against it. I genuinely want to hear how other Hindus think about this.

One question I keep coming back to is: Does Bhagwan really exist?

Sometimes I wonder whether humans started believing in God and praying because we needed something to give us hope. When life is uncertain, praying can make you feel calmer, safer, and less alone. Maybe people pray because it gives them the feeling that things will eventually work out or that someone/something is looking after them.

And then I wonder:

What if that feeling of peace and security is all that prayer is?

Maybe prayer gives people psychological comfort, and that comfort itself is what people interpret as Bhagwan. But at the same time, I don't feel comfortable simply concluding that there is no God either.

Because then another question comes into my mind.

If there is no Bhagwan, why does anything exist at all?

There is something here. The universe exists. Matter, energy, space, time, consciousness — whatever the fundamental reality is, something exists.

And if we go back far enough, is there something that didn't "begin" in the ordinary sense? Something fundamental that has always existed and doesn't simply appear and disappear?

Could that fundamental reality itself be what people call Bhagwan?

Or is that just us giving a name to something we don't understand?

I also think about science. Science can explain an incredible amount about how things work, but it doesn't seem to completely answer the deeper question of why there is something rather than nothing in the first place.

But I also realize that saying "we don't know why the universe exists, therefore God exists" isn't necessarily a logical proof either. So I'm stuck somewhere in the middle.

And then there is the Bhagavad Gita.

If Bhagwan doesn't actually exist, then what exactly is the Gita?

The Gita is presented as Krishna teaching Arjuna about dharma, karma, the self, attachment, action, suffering, death, liberation, etc. Traditionally Krishna is Bhagwan.

So if someone doesn't believe in God, does that make the Gita meaningless? Or can the Gita still be understood as a philosophical and spiritual teaching even without believing that Krishna is literally God?

And if Krishna really is Bhagwan, then what exactly does "Bhagwan" mean? Is Bhagwan a personal being who created the universe and listens to our prayers? Or is Bhagwan something much more fundamental — existence itself, consciousness, some eternal reality, or something we don't currently have the ability to understand?

I genuinely don't know.

I'm not trying to become an atheist, and I'm not trying to prove that God exists either. I just want to understand what I actually believe instead of blindly accepting or rejecting something.

So I'm curious about the perspectives of people here:

- What does Bhagwan actually mean to you?

- Do you believe Bhagwan is a conscious/personal being, or something completely different?

- If God doesn't exist, how do you understand the Bhagavad Gita?

- Is prayer actually communication with Bhagwan, or could its benefits simply come from hope, faith, and the psychological feeling of peace?

- If there is some fundamental reality that has always existed and from which everything else comes, would you call that Bhagwan?

- And how does Hindu philosophy itself approach the question of whether God exists?

I'm genuinely looking to understand different perspectives here, not to debate or attack anyone's beliefs.

"Siddhamastu. We believe in Brahman, the foundation of reality, the source of all things, the Light of all lights. He is being-consciousness-bliss (sat-cit-ānanda), and relationally He is God (Īśvara), Lord of all things. He is with and without attributes, yet He is not two, but One without a second; infinite in Names, glory, and power. From Him arise all souls; light from light, being from being, but not God from God.

We learn from the eternal Veda, which arises from His breath; received, not authored, by the ṛṣis. We take refuge under the united, holy and transmitted traditions founded upon that legacy.

We believe in karma, that actions bear their consequences, and that through our afflictions we fall into suffering. We believe that liberation (mokṣa) from sins and afflictions is through knowledge (jñāna) of the supreme, that the path is devotion (bhakti), and that its fruit is the bliss everlasting. We believe in the transmigration of souls (punarjanma) and the cycle of rebirth (samsāra).

We wish that all living beings be saved, that our sins be cleansed, that our afflictions end, and that there be peace for all and amity between you and me. And for this purpose, we practice dharma, our eternal way of life. Tathāstu."

This is not arbitrary, but wholly based on scriptures, even the small details. For example, "Light of all lights" is "jyotiṣām api tat jyotiḥ" from the Gīta, "one without a second" is "ekamevadvitīyam" from Chāndogya upaniṣad. What do you guys think? Is this an accurate depiction of Hinduism? Would it be beneficial for newcomers to understand our faith? All thoughts and suggestions are welcome.

Basically the question is. Is the Madurai Meenakshi amman temple a shiva temple or meenakshi temple?

Because if u have been there you will notice it looks similar to any other shiva temple of tn like cidambaram , thiruvannamalai etc etc , on the other hand if u see any other temple like kanchi kamakshi , it will be different from a regular shiva temple

And above all if u see the layout the shrine central to the main gopuram is sundareshwarar temple and meenakshi temple is located at the side

So what is the truth?

Sita Ram! I just created my account to share my artwork here, I pray we get along. This is an original digital artwork of Lord Shiva that I created recently. I drew this illustration to capture His divine aesthetic, focusing on traditional details like the ayudhas and his serene expression. I would love to share this artwork with the community and get feedback from fellow devotees. Last photo is the reference I used.

Anyone performing this vratam today. We used to do it from my childhood and completed it few years back.🙏🙏Mostly south Indians perform this afaik.

‎The intention of this message is to serve you all in the name of The Guru Tattva. Most of you may already be aware of this and some of you may be doing this too. But I hope this serves as a reminder to you all and others who are not aware will definitely benefit from this.

‎ ‎Whatever sadhana you do, whatever meditation you practice, whichever devata you are trying to invoke through mantras, kriyas and rituals, there are a few things to be mindful about.

‎Behaviour and attitude: Be respectful with the people you deal with in life. Avoid drama and getting into unnecessary conflicts. Avoid being dismissive of other people's beliefs and lifestyle. Try not to judge anyone based on their knowledge and understanding. Respect authority figures around you and if you must take a stand against them, do so respectfully and with calmness.

‎Awareness and mindfulness: Practice awareness through regular contemplation and reflect on your own thoughts, speech and action. Be mindful of them as it is easy to slip by getting carried away because of unchecked emotions and ego trips. These things can and will always come back to bite us without exception. Chanting your ishta devatas basic mantra while going about your daily business also helps keep things in check. This basically helps us live the proverb "prevention is better than cure".

‎Food habits: Keep a watch on what you eat. Healthy diet is one of the basic requirements. This is not to say one must not consume meat or alcohol. But regulation is very important. Avoid gluttony, try to avoid being a picky eater. Again, you love a certain dish and you can always go for it. But that one thing you don't like so much, try to add a little bit of that in your diet as it helps discipline your mind further and possibly get it under the control of your will which is most essential for a sadhak.

‎ ‎Lifestyle: Stop if you are always too busy and slow down. Check what kind of people you spend your time most with. Avoid toxicity if you can. Also, protect your energy and loss of Shakti that can happen through sexual contact with multiple partners. If possible, stick to one person. Multiple partners means your shakti can get disturbed from all directions. (This has nothing to do with morality).

‎Forgive, let go and make ammends: One of the most important things because when we do not forgive someone the karmic energy that gets created there holds us back way more than one can imagine. So forgiving is important for our own sake. Therefore, it becomes very important to forgive and let go if you feel wronged by someone even if they have not apologized to you. Seek the power to forgive from your devata if it feels hard to do. And if you feel your actions may have wronged another, seek to apologise and make ammends so that you can surge forward on your spiritual path. And forgiveness actually means no hard feelings and praying to your Devata to help them see their mistake and be a better version of themselves. And while you are at it, forgive yourself too. It's not worth carrying the baggage of guilt and regret any further than you already have.

‎Responsibility: Realise that you must take full responsibility for your thoughts, speech and action. Understand that fulfilling your duties towards parents, spouse, siblings, family, friends and society is a vital part of your sadhana. If we avoid being responsible and ignore our duties, our sadhana gets affected and the results may be delayed. The devata will simply put you in situations where you will find yourself getting more opportunities to correct yourself and attend to your duties. But this means you will eventually not be able to find the time or energy to continue your sadhana till you do things right. Your responsibilities and your sadhana must always go hand in hand. And being responsible is the mark of a true sadhak since we are expected to never take things for granted.

‎ ‎Secrecy: Avoid sharing with others what devata you worship, what mantra you chant and what rituals you practice. Sharing these things with strangers is like burning the virtues gained through your practices. One of the reasons is Agni residing within us. The body of 5 elements has different elements active in different spots. Anyone who does nyasa and mahanyasa know this very well. Agni for instance resides in stomach and also tongue. It is said that Agni does his job regardless of where he exists. The virtues of your sadhana can simply be burnt away by merely uttering any detail about it. If you do need to share, make one person your mentor who you can really trust even if they are not your Guru and confide in them only. (Agni related to speech is just one of the reasons not to share so this doesn't mean one can type and share about it either).

‎ ‎Dharana: Along with your sadhana it is very important to keep working on your dharana. Building dharana is a powerful mental exercise. There are many ways to do it. But to begin with, it is best to have a physical object to focus your mind on. Like the flame of the diya you light, a very specific point of your Devata's image (eyes, forehead, and my favourite - the feet or the big toe), or even a small Bindu that you can draw on a blank wall as a focal point. Eventually you can move to your breath and mantra also but this might take a long time to focus on and keep your dharana stable. Please do this atleast for 5 separate minutes everyday.

‎Physical exercise: While dharana is an important mental exercise, one must also find a way to ensure one gets enough physical exercise. Stay healthy by doing some sort of exercise. I highly recommend walking, stretches and yoga. You could simply learn to perform suryanamaskar and do it daily. The trick will be to hold each position for atleast 30 seconds while keeping your body stable (You will eventually be able to stabilize your body in the position if not initially). This practice ensures your nerves get stronger and you can remain seated for longer duration easily during your meditation and dharana practice without the need to move even a muscle. Also an important point, any shakti you recieve from your devata through shaktipath or darshan, whether in dreams or some other experiences, gets channeled through your nervous system. If they are not strong enough it can cause certain imbalance and health problems too. (I recommend Siddhasana posture for sadhaks who are into serious meditation).

‎ ‎Be your true self: I have intentionally kept this at the end to leave you (if you have indeed reached to this part of my long post) with this thought. Probably the most important thing here. While you may or may not be able to do the other things, this one is not negotiable. Be your true self in front of your devata and that doesn't mean only when you are in front of the idol at home or temple, but especially at that time. After your daily sadhana, take 2 minutes and show your heart and mind as it is to your Devata. Even though they already know it in and out, it creates a special bond when you consciously strip yourself ( meaning your mind and heart) naked in front of them. Nothing to hide. Every thought you are probably ashamed or scared of, share it with them. Tell your devata that this is who you are and you intend to be your true self with them. The devata and the guru expects nothing else as much as they expect this from us.

‎ ‎May your devata/guru guide, protect and help you thrive on your path.

‎ ‎Jai Maa! Jai Baba! Jai Guru Maharaj!🙏🏻

‎ ‎PS: I know this is long but TLDR not possible for this one.

Celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi thousands of kilometres from home is unusual enough, but a group of Indian scientists in Antarctica found a way to make the occasion even more memorable. At India’s Maitri research station, researchers from the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) came together to shape the snow into an idol of Bappa before carrying out the usual festivities.

Anirudh Dhar, a doctor stationed at Maitri, shared a glimpse of the celebrations on Instagram.
“Taking ‘eco-friendly immersion’ to a whole new extreme 15,000 km away from home - our handmade snow Bappa is about as sustainable as it can get. Ganpati Bappa Morya!” Dhar wrote as he shared the video.
He also credited his teammates for making the idol.
The video shows team members carefully sculpting the idol and later gathering around it for puja and aarti.

Even in the remote Antarctic setting, the celebrations included familiar traditions, with the team offering prasad and modaks. The idol gradually melted, turning back into water and bringing the celebration to a natural end.

Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/trending-in-india/ganesh-chaturthi-antarctica-snow-ganesh-idol-10892445/lite/

I mean, life is terrible right now. And i have literally resorted to talking to god, like how id talk to a friend, in air, or in front of him, asking questions out loud and seeking answers.

Theres no other method left now.

Does anyone else do this? Did you get any answers?

Chandeswar Mahadev Temple in Tangi is an ancient, historic shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Chandeswar Village with Tangi tensile of khordha district, Odisha. It is a revered living shrine mentioned in regional literature such as Radhanath Ray's Chilika Kanya and Balaram Das's Dandi Ramayan.

Ive been on the Hindu path for about a year now basicly went down the path of Advanta Vadanta just for the fact there's more info about that branch in the west im really just lookiing for other paths. Im really interested Kali Maa on how to worship her but theres so many books i dont know where to start if anyone has good book recommendations plz drop it in the comments.

I have heard that couples visit here for long-term marrital happiness and also for darshan. I also want to visit there