This article is a researched article and borrows heavily from printed and electronic encyclopedias as well as material provided by our panel ofresearch scholars, astrologers, academics and pundits. Born in Ayodhya in 1974, Dr.Raghavacharya is a trained Kathavachak (narrator/reciter) of Ramkatha and Bhagvatkatha. After completing his M.A in Sanskrit, he followed it with a Ph.D in VedanticShastra in 2005. He manages an ashram, wShree Dham Mathn in Ayodhya. He travels extensively in the wHindi belr of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, preaching the epics through his massively attended katha sessions. The Vaastuyogam team met Dr. Raghavacharya at Dr. Ravi...

Read more

Ram Bhakt Hanuman Hanuman is possibly the greatest character of Ramayana, next only to Rama and Sita. According to the epic Ramayana, authored by the saint poet Valmiki in Vedic Sanskrit, the birth of Hanuman was pre-ordained along with the incarnation of god Vishnu as Ram. The Gods sent him to earth to serve Rama and help him in his ‘mission’ to destroy all the evil elements that were trying to destroy true ‘Dharma’. He is also known as Anjaneya, Maruti, Pavanputra, Kesharinandan, Anjaniputra, Bajrang Bali and Hanumant.

Read more

This series takes a close look at facets of Vedic India that are alive even today. The Scene: Several excited businessmen waiting for their turn with a young man from Hyderabad, India. The Place: The lobby of a 5 star hotel in Africa What the man from Hyderabad is doing is nothing short of a miracle. You are asked to write your name and birthdate on a slip of...

Read more

This article is a researched article and borrows heavily from printed and electronic encyclopedias as well as material provided by our panel of research scholars, astrologers, academics and pundits. Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwara,. Guru SakshathParambrahma, TasmaiShriGuraveNamaha. (Guru is the creator Brahma, Guru is the preserver Vishnu, Guru is the destroyer Shiva. Guru is directly the supreme spirit – I offer my salutations to this Guru.) - Adi Shankara at the beginning of his Gurustotram or Verses to the Guru Guru Purnima festival will be...

Read more

This article is a researched article and borrows heavily from printed and electronic encyclopedias as well as material provided by our panel of research scholars, astrologers, academics and pundits. On 17th May 2011, Buddha Purnima was celebrated across India, Nepal and many other countries. This article throws light on Lord Buddha and Buddhism. The festival of Buddha...

Read more

Sri Ram Navami is dedicated to remembering Rama, as the most Supreme with resolute Bhakti (devotion). It occurs on the ninth day, or navami beginning count from the “no moon day” or Amavasya, during the waxing moon duration called “ShuklaPaksha”. Sri Rama Navami generally occurs in the months of March and April. Celebrations and festivities begin with prayer to the Surya Deva early in the morning. At midday, when Rama incarnated on that day in Treta Yuga,...

Read more

This article is a researched article and borrows heavily from printed and electronic encyclopedias as well as material provided by our panel of research scholars, astrologers, academics and pundits. Introduction According to Hinduism, three Lords rule the world. Brahma: the creator; Vishnu: the preserver and Shiva: the destroyer. Lord Vishnu did his job of preserving the world by incarnating himself in different...

Read more

Note: This article is a researched article and borrows heavily from printed and electronic encyclopedias as well as material provided by our panel of research scholars, astrologers, academics and pundits. The majority of Indians know Rama as Ram, Ravana as Ravan, Laxmana as Laxman and Ramayana as Ramayan and not as the English rendering ending with an ‘a’ as in Rama, Ramayana etc. The final ‘a’ is added in the English translation for scholarly Sanskrit...

Read more

This article is a researched article and borrows heavily from printed and electronic encyclopedias as well as material provided by our panel of research scholars, astrologers, academics and pundits. This essay is in continuation to the previous month’s essay on Lord Ganesha. It consists of two parts. One part discusses Kartikeya, the elder brother of lord Ganesha and the other part discusses Lalbaugcha Raja – the most famous of the lord Ganesha...

Read more

This article is a researched article and borrows heavily from printed and electronic encyclopedias as well as material provided by our panel of research scholars, astrologers, academics and pundits. Lord Ganesh is one of the five prime Hindu deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga being the other four) whose worship is glorified as the panchayatana puja. The principal scriptures dedicated to Ganesh are the Ganesh Purana, the Mudgala Purana, and the Ganapati Atharvashirsa. The devotees of Ganesh are...

Read more

Lord Krishna , the Pandavas and Vaastu The worship of Krishna is part of Vaishnavism, which regards Vishnu as the supreme god and venerates his associated avatars, their consorts, and related saints and teachers. Krishna is especially looked upon as a full manifestation of Vishnu, and as one with Vishnu himself. Tradition gives the date of Krishna’s birth, known as Janmashtami, as either 18th or 21st July 3228 BC. Krishna belonged to the royal family of Mathura, and was the eighth son born to the princess Devaki, and her husband Vasudeva. Mathura was the...

Read more

This article discusses the concept of God as Goddess or Shakti. It is a researched article and borrows heavily from printed and electronic encyclopedias as well as material provided by our panel of research scholars, astrologers, academics and pundits. Introduction Due to widespread regional variations, disparities and antagonisms obtaining in ancient, medieval and even modern India , belief in monolithic tradition or a structure based on a single scripture has given way to a multiplicity of local gods...

Read more

This article is based on researched material both printed and electronic and also on inputs given by our panel of research associates. The Char Dham are often considered the most revered sites for Hindus that have to be visited in one’s lifetime. Char Dham (meaning: ‘the four abodes/seats’) are the four abodes of God in the four directions of India – Puri in the east, Rameshwaram in the south, Dwarka in the west, and Badrinath in the north. This all-India pilgrimage circuit to the four cardinal points of the subcontinent was grouped together...

Read more

Ratha Yatra, the festival of the chariots, is a procession of Lord Krishna in his form of Jagannatha, Lord of the Universe.  Jagannatha Puri, where the yatra is held annually, is one of the most important pilgrimage centers in India and one of its four holiest cities , the other three being  Badrinatha in the north, Dwaraka in the west, Ramesvaram in the south. Badrinarayan in Badrinatha was especially worshiped in Satya-yuga, Rama in Ramesvaram in Treta-yuga, Dwarakanatha in Dwaraka was especially worshiped in Dwapara-yuga, but Lord Jagannatha in Puri...

Read more

Vedic India This series takes a close look at facets of Vedic India that are alive even today. This essay outlines the background of the ongoing Kumbh Mela at Haridwar. Introduction Kumbha is a Sanskrit word for Pitcher (actually a roundish pot with no handles), sometimes referred to as the Kalasha, it is also a zodiac sign in Indian astrology for Aquarius, the sign under which the festival is celebrated, while Mela means ‘a gathering’ or ‘a meet’, or simply a fair. The mystical Kumbh Mela is a religious extravaganza of India – a mass Hindu...

Read more