Author: kajmani

  • Navaratri – Celebrating the Goddesses

    The spirit of Navaratri – a festival of nine (-nava) nights (-ratri) is a vibrant reminder to us of the power of the feminine in our lives. One aspect of the feminine is shakti – often described as power, or energy. The significance of shakti is perhaps explained best by the two words Shiva-Shakti. Shiva…

  • Durga Navaratri – Celebrating the Goddess

    Durga Navratri, or the nine (nava-) nights (-ratri) of Durga, are celebrated in the first 9 days of the bright half of the month (starting from the day after Amavasya) of Aswayuja/Asvina in the Indian lunar calendar (usually in end of September or early October). This period of nine days is the beginning of the…

  • Durga Ashtami – Eighth Day of Navaratri

    The eighth day of the nine night Navratri festival is celebrated across India as Durga Ashtami, and is also part of the ten-day Durga-Puja festival celebrated primarily in the state of West Bengal. Ashtami simply means eighth day of the fortnight. It is often also ascribed significance with respect to the eight-armed Durga holding weapons…

  • Narada Bhakti Sutra-01

    Narada Bhakti Sutra-01 अथातो भक्तिं व्याख्यास्यामः ।Now, therefore, we will explain devotion. The first verse of the Narada Bhakti Sutra sets the stage for the entire text, introducing the central theme of bhakti as the path to spiritual realization. The word “atha” signifies a new beginning, and “atah” indicates a connection to what has come…

  • Celebration of Holi – A Unique and Vibrant Festival of Colors

    Holi or Holika, is a spring festival celebrated at the onset of the spring season, on the full moon day (Purnima) in the month of Phalguna. It is also the first day of the Hindu calendar (samvat) and a day of great joy and gaiety in the cities of Vrindavan and Mathura. Holi means the…

  • Best Gita Explanation of the Hinduism Caste System

    Lord Krishna speaks to Arjuna as he clarifies the origin and purpose of the caste system in sanaatana dharma (Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Shloka 13). cāturvarṇyaṃ mayā sṛṣṭaṃ guṇakarmavibhāgaśaḥ . tasya kartāramapi māṃ viddhyakartāramavyayam .. BG 4\-13.. चातुर्वर्णयं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः ।  तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यर्कतारमव्ययम् ।। ४\-१३ Hindu society’s four-fold order The four-fold order was created by Me according…