MAHASAPTAMI – The 7th day of Navaratri

Aparna

MAHASAPTAMI – The 7th day of Navaratri It is the day when the Verses from “Devi Atharva Sheersha” from “Durga Saptashati” is to be recited. Here the Mahadevi….. the Great Goddess answers the question put to Her by the Devas as to who She is. “I am the form of Brahma” “I am joy and beyond the joy” “I am knowledge and beyond the knowledge” “I am the Brahma that everyone should know and also the illusion” “I am the Vedas and beyond the Vedas” “I am the pure knowledge and…

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MahaAshtami – The 8th Day of Navaratri

Aparna

MahaAshtami…the 8th Day of Navaratri! After the demon Shumbha was killed by the Devi, all Gods led by Indra & Agni praised thus the Devi…. 🌷You are the One who removes the grief of all those who surrender to You 🌷You look after the Universe and are the Goddess of moving and non-moving things 🌷You are the Mother Earth and You alone are the support of the world 🌷You are the Shakti Vaishnavi (power of Shri Vishnu) of unending strength 🌷You are the primordial seed of the universe, the supreme…

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The Ideal Durga Puja

Aparna

The Ideal Durga Puja I am really amazed at the expensive affair that Bengalis make out of Durga Puja! If they can raise so much money locality wise, then why not make good use of it! Where is the point of making an idol worth over lakhs only to immerse it after 6 days!? It really does not suit a state that is poverty stricken – where people literally live hand to mouth! If so much funds get raised then why not invest it in something that is more lasting…

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Lack of discretion is the root of all troubles!

Aparna

DISCRETION …. Need of our times Today, all the problems of human beings … be they physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, psychological, social , religious, environmental, are due to one common factor…. Lack of discretion…. which makes them vulnerable to accept all that is easy and not demanding, allowing themselves to be hypnotised by ideas and teachings of those who want to sway them to their own line of thinking, which comes either out of their malignant vested interests or out of their sheer ignorance. So long as human beings will…

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THE ENEMIES WITHIN

Aparna

THE ENEMIES WITHIN All the scriptures of the World Religions have talked of “enemies within”. Unless and until they are faced, acknowledged and annihilated, human beings cannot ascend in their consciousness. They remain hidden within us like snakes in a hole and can erupt anytime without a warning. Those with a desire to transform themselves have to make a conscious effort to overcome them through strict vigilance and inner honesty. Only when one is able to conquer these evil tendencies within us, that our true ascent starts. Till then it…

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How to identify a GENUINE GURU?

Aparna

WHO IS A GENUINE GURU ? HOW TO IDENTIFY ONE FROM A PLETHORA OF FAKE & FALSE ONES ABOUNDING EVERYWHERE. At the rate the false gurus, the so called “yoga experts”, the Godmen with large followings are getting exposed nowadays, it is becoming increasingly difficult to convince those who don’t show much discretion, that you cannot put everything in one common basket. They should understand that just as there are real flowers, you can get also thousands of plastic ones with different hues and sizes trying to pass off as…

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Why is Mahalaya Celebrated?

Aparna

Why is Mahalaya Celebrated? This year, September 19 is being celebrated as Mahalaya. The day marks the beginning of the ‘Devi-paksha’ and the end of the ‘pitri-paksh’ (Shraddh or the mourning period). Celebrated for seven days, legend is that on the first day of Mahalaya, Goddess Durga starts her journey to earth (her paternal home). Mahalaya is also known as Akaalbodhan (ultimately invoking the goddess). The six-day countdown to Mahasaptami, Mahalaya is celebrated with much gusto in Bengal. The day is an invitation to Goddess Durga and is celebrated by…

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What purpose do Rituals serve and why they are so important for many people.

Aparna

What purpose do Rituals serve and why they are so important for many people An article by Sahaja Yogini Saumya Rai It is easy to worship an idol carved out of stone and follow a custom sometimes the origin of which is not known.  Trust me, it is easy.  Rituals were invented for people who did not have the courage to introspect and reflect. They would run away from sitting still at every single excuse. They will twitch and scratch and move and yawn. Their eyeballs will move constantly to…

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WORLD TRANSFORMATION THROUGH INNER AWAKENING

Aparna

WORLD TRANSFORMATION THROUGH INNER AWAKENING – Sahaja Yoga & Me! An article by Sahaja Yogini Armaity Bhabha Having always been a seeker in life, I was unaware of what I was seeking. An idealist to the core, I was often hurt by the behaviour of others and often wondered how they could behave in a way they often did. Not that I was perfect…. no way thinking that….but atleast I was aware about my shortcomings and always strived to overcome them. Introspection has always been a part of my life…

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HUMANITY AT WAR ~ HOW TO BECOME ONE

Aparna

HUMANITY AT WAR ~ HOW TO BECOME ONE History shows us that religious differences have always divided humanity often leading to struggle and wars. Till today, we have not been able to solve this rigmarole and confusion and we are yet ruing the consequences. The reason for this is that so far there have only been very few on this earth who have been able to see a common thread running through our differences. “Unity in diversity” has merely remained a concept. Just as each one of us plays roles…

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