Gaudapada was on the foremost teachers of the Advaita Philosophy. He was the spiritual guide and teacher of Govinda, who was the Guru of Adi Shankaracharya. Gaudapada is believed to have lived during the 5th century AD. The philosophy of Gau d apada may be characterized as absolute non-dualism and establishes this doctrine both by the method of affirmation and negation. He commented on the Upanishads. The scattered knowledge of Advaita philosophy were gathered and its principles were explained in a systematic way first by Gaudapada. His main ideas can be found in the ‘karika’ of Brahma Sutras, which is divided into four parts. Adi Shankaracharya further elaborated his teachings and ideas. Some important teachings of Gaudapada Gaudapada states that both waking and dreaming states are similar, as the objects seen in both are unreal. Only the subject, the constant witness that is the Self, can be real. That which is complete in itself, inborn and never ceases to be i...

Sadh Panth is a spiritual sect propagated by Jogi Das, Vira Bhana and Udaya during the 17th century AD. This sect is more popular in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Punjab. The teachings and philosophy of Sant Kabir Das had a great influence on Sadh Panth. The most important text of Sadh Panth is ‘Nirvana Jnana’ which is also known as ‘Pothi’. Other important texts include Bani by Vira Bahana and Adi Upadesha by Jogi Das. There are twelve basic tenets of Sadh Panth. Some of the tenets are: Firm belief in one God who is omnipotent, endless, omnipresent, pure, creator of the cosmos; Total humility and non-attachment to luxuries; Truthfulness; Abstinence from vulgar speech and watching obscenities; Wearing only simple and white clothes; Showing mercy to all creatures of the earth; Total non-violence. The sect believe that Adi Guru Udaya was a manifestation of Sant Kabir. The followers of Sant Panth gather at Farrukkabad, Agra and Delhi on Purnima or full moon d...

Chiluku Dwadasi is dedicated to worship of the Tulsi plant and is observed by certain communities in South India . Chiluku Dwadasi 2025 date is November 2. The rituals on the day are dedicated to Hindu God Vishnu – Tulsi plant and Sri Krishna. Chilku Dwadashi is observed on the 12 th day during the Shukla Paksha or waxing phase of moon in Kartik month. Shaligram Puja and worship of Amla or gooseberry are also observed on the day. The main ritual on the day is the Tulasi Kalyanam. The popular belief is that Srihari Vishnu visits earth on the day after his sleep during the Chaturmasya period.

Prabuddha is one of the nine yogisvaras and King Nimi used to take his spiritual advice. He gives several valuable advices. Here are fifteen ways to find everlasting happiness. Teachings Of Prabuddha In this world, people want to lead a comfortable life. They do not want to experience any difficulty. And so they begin to acquire wealth, so that they will not lack any comforts. But the very wealth which they seek so ardently, leads to sorrow. You have to work hard to get wealth. And this wealth eventually becomes the cause for the loss of a person’s peace of mind. His possessions and his relatives are all impermanent. While these do give him joy, the joy does not last. Being mindful of the results of his actions, a man may do a lot of deeds that will earn him punyas. But punyas only enable him to go to svarga, which is not a peaceful place, as we imagine. It is a place where he will witness quarrels between the devas. So, there is no true joy in svarga either. The ...

Azhakodi Devi temple is located a kilometer north of private bus stand in Kozhikode in Kerala. The 8-day annual festival is observed in such a way that the festival ends with Arattu on the Punartham Nakshatra in Medam month. The temple is dedicated to Bhadrakali. An important subsidiary deities in the temple is Sasthavu. Other subsidiary deities are Anthimahakalan, Unnitripuranthakan, Venugopalan, Ganapathya and Dakshinamurthy. The main deity faces east. There is small grove on the east side of the shrine and Goddess Bhuvaneshwari is worshipped here. After the noon pooja (uccha puja) in the main temple, the priest should visit the Bhuvaneshwari temple and then again perform the uccha puja in the main temple. Then only the puja will be complete. It is believed that Bhuvaneshwari here was the kalari devata of Tiruthiyadaruvar. The Sastha in the temple is believed to have been the main deity before. Kanalattam using 41 pieces of jackfruit tree wood was performed earlier before S...

 After completing one vrat for how many days should one wait before starting the same vrat. The best option is to wait for 7 or 21 or 41 days. Some people never stop doing a vrat for example like Ekadashi, Pradosh or Sankashti Chaturthi Vrat. The reason for Vrat in Hinduism is to give the mind and body an opportunity to cleanse both internally and externally. The body uses the vrat day to throw out toxins. The mind uses it to throw out negative energy and fill it with positivity. Even science has now started understanding the health benefits of fasting once in a fortnight. So you can decide how many days you want to take break before starting the same vrat or a different vrat. Always remember more than the vrat process what matters is unwavering devotion and single-minded focus.

This question was from a reader – How to congratulate on completion of Vrat? You don’t congratulate a person on completion of vrat but you bless them. The best way to do it by giving them the ashwirad or blessing that let their desire be fulfilled. Or you can simply say that all prayers on the completion of vrat and let there be peace and prosperity. Whatever you wished to achieve through the vrat let it be fulfilled with the help of your personal deity or bhagvan. I will always remember when I pray.

The puja is to be performed in the morning along with sunrise or in the evening during the Pradosh period (1.5 hours before sunset). On day wake up at sunrise take bath and offer prayers to Ganesha. Sit facing the northeast corner of the office or business establishment. Keep an image of Goddess Lakshmi and the account book or tablet or whatever you use to keep the account.  Light lamp using pure cow ghee. Offer yellow flowers. Offer sandalwood paste. Light natural agarbatti of yellow flowers or sandalwood. Offer yellow color fruit. You can also make yellow color sweet and distribute it. Draw swastik or tilak on the chandan book. Write om in the book or whatever you write regularly first in the book. Keep a yellow color flower in the book.  Chant this mantra 108 times ॐ   श्रीं   हीं   क्लीं   महालक्षम्यौ   नम : Om shreem hreem kleem Mahalakshmayo Namaha In a yellow color cloth keep a coin, yellow color chandan, yellow flower, mustard seeds...

Cooked rice is offered to crows during rituals dedicated to the departed souls known as pind daan or shradh in Hindu religion. The belief is that pitrs or dead ancestors and relatives in the form of crows come and eat the rice offered. The story as to why crows have the right to eat the rice offerings offered to dead ancestors and parents is found in the Uttara Ramayana. Legend has it that once a king named Marutta performed a huge ritual named Maheshwara Sattara. Indra and all other demigods attended the ritual. Yama, the god of death, was also present at the function. Ravana, the demon king, who heard about the assembly of the gods, visited the ritual with the intention of attacking the unarmed Devas. Devas who came to know about the arrival of Ravana and his army fled the ritual arena assuming the forms of different birds. Yama took the form of a crow and escaped from the area. Yama was pleased with the crow form. He then gave crows the boon that when humans wor...

There are so many doubts regarding Rudraksha, on such doubt is Rudraksha soaked in milk. Some people want to know if Rudraksha soaked in milk overnight lose power or changes shape. No, if the Rudraksha is real nothing will happen to it. But if the Rudraksha is fake then you can expect some color change or slight change of shape. Some might even turn the milk to brown or red or black. Original Rudraksha never loses its power in water, milk or other similar liquids. It is better to purchase Rudraksha from famous and original source.