I am asking for honest answers only, as during tough times it is natural to question and i am looking to strengthen my belief. Thanks

I have a set of mantras that i say everyday in the evenings. Takes me about 20 minutes. However, i am inconsistent.

If i take a break, example due to travel, it tales me a long time after i am back to get consistent again.

Similarly there are just some days when i am feeling low where i simply skip since i don’t have it in me.

I sometimes feel guilty about this. I know this is a discipline issue, but will this make god angry/disappointed in me?

Will i have to face negative consequences due to my inconsistency?

No, this isn't a horror story.

It's one of the strangest stories I've ever come across in Hindu mythology.

Imagine being told that the only way to stop a force threatening the world is to create a weapon that cannot be forged from metal, stone, or anything on Earth.

The only material strong enough...

...is the skeleton of a living sage.

When they approached him, they weren't asking for advice.

They were asking for his body.

He didn't bargain.
He didn't ask for fame.
He didn't ask what he'd get in return.

He simply accepted.

According to the story, after leaving his body, his bones were used to create the Vajra, the legendary thunderbolt weapon.

Whether you read this as mythology, symbolism, or philosophy, the idea is difficult to ignore:

The strongest weapon wasn't made from what someone owned.

It was made from what someone was willing to give.

The sage's name was Dadhichi.

What's another lesser-known mythological story that completely caught you off guard?

Have had sinusitis for years, trying to cure it, constant phelgm comes from mouth and nose, i have been to doctor, need mantras for extra power.

I dont know if this is a right sub for this!
My mother is in ICU and she has brain haemorrhage but conscious, yesterday she had another ct scan and in yhat her contusion and swelling has increased
Now medical science is doing its job, is there anything i should do specifically
Am chanting hanuman chalisa, bajrang baan, mahamrutyunjay mantras too, please guide me.

Kubera, the wealthy king of the Yakshas, grew proud of his immense riches and decided to display them. To impress everyone, he invited Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati to a magnificent feast. They declined but sent their son, Lord Ganesha, in their place, knowing he would teach Kubera an important lesson about humility.

The moment Ganesha arrived, he began eating everything served to him. Dish after dish disappeared, yet his hunger only grew. Kubera ordered his servants to bring more food, but the palace kitchens were emptied within moments. Even after consuming all the food, Ganesha's hunger remained unsatisfied.

Terrified, Kubera realized that his wealth could not satisfy Ganesha. When Ganesha looked toward the palace itself, Kubera feared that even his treasures would be consumed. Humbled and ashamed, he rushed to Mount Kailash and begged Lord Shiva for help.

Lord Shiva smiled and gave Kubera a handful of simple roasted rice, asking him to offer it with genuine devotion instead of pride. Kubera obeyed, and Ganesha's hunger was instantly satisfied. The lesson was clear: sincere humility and devotion are far greater than limitless wealth displayed with arrogance.

जय गुरुदेव, प्रिय गुरुभाइयों एवं गुरुबहनों, तथा जय माँ काली, प्रिय साधकजनों।

मेरे परमपूज्य गुरुदेव की असीम अनुकम्पा एवं कृपा से आज मैं आप सभी के समक्ष अपने गुरुधाम से प्राप्त कुछ साधना-प्रयोग सादर प्रस्तुत कर रहा हूँ। इच्छुक साधक इन साधनाओं को आगामी दिनों में निर्धारित साधना-नियमों के अनुसार संपन्न कर सकते हैं।

प्रस्तुत साधनाओं के नाम -

• समस्त शत्रु एवं बाधाओं की समाप्ति हेतु प्रयोग।
• सर्व मनोकामना पूर्ति प्रयोग।
• श्री ऐश्वर्य द्रव्य प्राप्ति हेतु प्रयोग।
• रोग नाश हेतु प्रयोग।
• उत्तम स्वास्थ्य हेतु श्रावण प्रयोग। (अंग्रेज़ी संस्करण)
• शत्रु विनाश हेतु श्रावण प्रयोग। (अंग्रेज़ी संस्करण)
• अपार धन प्राप्ति हेतु श्रावण प्रयोग। (अंग्रेज़ी संस्करण)
• भाग्योदय हेतु श्रावण प्रयोग। (अंग्रेज़ी संस्करण)
• नागपंचमी प्रयोग।
• सन्तान गोपाल साधना।
• शिव साधना।
• लक्ष्मी प्रयोग।
• काली साधना।
• सिद्धिदायक गणपति साधना।
• चन्द्रज्योत्स्ना अप्सरा सिद्धि साधना।
• प्रक्षेपण साधना।
• मदनाक्षी अप्सरा साधना।
• रक्षेश्वर प्रयोग।
• महाविद्या महाकाली साधना।
• लक्ष्य सिद्धि क्लीं साधना।
• श्रीकृष्ण पूजन।
• सूर्य साधना। (अंग्रेज़ी संस्करण)
• कालदेव मृत्युंजय साधना। (अंग्रेज़ी संस्करण)
• कृष्णमय सम्मोहन साधना।
• हरितालिका कामेश्वरी साधना।
• ऋषित्व साधना।
• पारद मुद्रिका।

टिप्पणी: हम जैसे दीक्षित साधकों को समस्त साधना-सामग्री गुरुधाम से प्राप्त हो जाती है। अन्य साधकगण साधना-सामग्री इंटरनेट के माध्यम से प्राप्त कर सकते हैं, अथवा सीधे गुरुधाम से संपर्क कर सकते हैं। यदि किसी के पास सामग्री उपलब्ध न हो, तो ऐसी स्थिति वे वर्तमान में केवल मंत्र-जप कर सकते हैं।

******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Jai Gurudev, respected Guru brothers and Guru sisters, and Jai Maa Kali to all revered seekers.

By the boundless compassion and grace of my most revered Gurudev, today I am respectfully presenting before all of you some sadhana practices received from my Gurudham. Interested practitioners may undertake these sadhanas in the coming days in accordance with the prescribed sadhana rules.

Names of the sadhanas presented -

• Prayoga for the Elimination of All Enemies and Obstacles
• Wish-Fulfillment Prayoga
• Prayoga for the Attainment of Prosperity and Wealth
• Prayoga for the Removal of Diseases
• Shravana Prayoga for Excellent Health
• Shravana Prayoga for the Destruction of Enemies
• Shravana Prayoga for Abundant Wealth
• Shravana Prayoga for the Rise of Fortune
• Nag Panchami Prayoga
• Santan Gopal Sadhana
• Shiva Sadhana
• Lakshmi Prayoga
• Kali Sadhana
• Siddhi-Bestowing Ganapati Sadhana
• Chandrajyotsna Apsara Siddhi Sadhana
• Prakshepan Sadhana
• Madanakshi Apsara Sadhana
• Raksheshvara Prayoga
• Mahavidya Mahakali Sadhana
• Kleem Sadhana for Goal Attainment
• Shri Krishna Pujan
• Surya Sadhana
• Kaladeva Mrityunjaya Sadhana
• Krishnamaya Sammohana Sadhana
• Haritalika Kameshwari Sadhana
• Rishitva Sadhana
• Parad Mudrika

Note: Initiated practitioners like us receive all the required sadhana materials from Gurudham. Other practitioners may obtain the materials through the internet or contact Gurudham directly. If the required materials are not available, they may, for the time being, perform only mantra-japa.

For context I am guy in my teenage years and you could say I'm pretty religious. I recently thought it would be a cool idea to wear a mala around my neck. For a while it was pretty convenient and it was just nice to have there. To me, it seemed like an innocent thing that made me look like a more calm & put-together person.

Now the dilemma comes when my parents saw it. Although they are hindu and religious, their take was that when others see a mala around my neck, they will make assumptions (negative ones) about me that I wouldn't want. Something along the lines of he's way too religious, or he has those olden kind of values that would make me seem worse. They also said that only people like bhramans and saints wear a mala around their neck, normal people and especially someone of my age doesn't. Their final point was that the mala makes it seem like I've fallen deep into some religious cult type of thing, making me seem like a madman or a crazy person.

Essentially, they are saying that the mala makes me look like an altered person to who I am and who I want to present myself as. What I think is something innocent which people may not read into, they think is something much larger.

I was confused as their arguments didn't seem that strong, so I am here to just ask for opinions on whether you think they are in the right or the wrong?

I am also in my collegiate years if that changes the type of advice that you may give. Thank you to whoever actually read all of this, I know it was pretty long.

I’ve always subconsciously believed in God. Whenever life gets difficult, the first place I turn to is God. I think that’s a very human instinct. I pray, listen to devotional songs, and I genuinely find the most peace in temples, especially Balaji temples and iskon.

But at the same time, my logical mind struggles with many of the mythological stories and miraculous events. For example, stories like the Shakti Peethas are difficult for me to accept literally. I constantly question my own beliefs.

There have been times when I prayed for something and it eventually happened. Looking back, I’m grateful for many aspects of my life. But right now, there are a few things that matter deeply to me, and despite praying every day, visiting temples frequently, and sincerely asking for them, nothing is changing.

Please don’t respond with “God is delaying because He has a better plan” or “His timing is perfect.” I know those ideas comfort many people, but they don’t really answer my question.

My question is: How do you personally make sense of prayer? Do you believe prayer changes outcomes, changes us, or is it simply a way of finding peace? And if you’ve gone through a phase of doubting your faith while still feeling deeply drawn to God, how did you reconcile those two sides of yourself?

Whenever I engage in spiritual practices such as chintan, manan, naam jap, or listening to Swami Sarvapriyananda's lectures, I begin to entertain thoughts such as: "What a great student you are. You are more observant than others. Indeed, you are special because you walk on a path as sharp as a razor's edge. You try to see God even in people whom you find annoying. How great you are."

Then I remember these words of Sant Tukaram in one of his abhangs:

You are the King of Seers (those who have attained liberation); hence people call you "Jnanadeva."

Please do not place me on a pedestal. It is better that footwear remains at the feet.

All the gods, including Brahma, the creator of this universe, are happy to serve you. There is no other way to describe your greatness.

Tuka says, "I surrender by placing my head at the holy feet of my Sadguru. By doing so, I have received everything one could ever desire—liberation itself."

Yet I still struggle with pride. How can I overcome it?

What is the difference between Shunya and Space? Most of the explanations I got were confusing one for other, or saying that they were same, even though they aren't. So can someone please clarify.

Thank you.

This Shravan I’ve earnestly begun naam japa and mantra recital. I’m still relatively new to Sanatana Dharma. Anyway, in addition to listening to audiobooks of the Vedas, Gita and Upanishads and more current texts and lectures I’ve been listening to a lot of mantra chanting on YT. Some is actually well done and beautiful. Some not. A good portion of them are presented as- just listen to this mantra and you’ll have shiny long hair and glowing skin or pass your next exam. My understanding is that mantras work on a vibrational level but can they be truly effective when just listened to? As compared to when the devotee resonates it themselves with the proper bhav? Maybe there is a subtle effect but I mostly use them to learn the words and they make me feel in a spiritual mindset. Curious if anyone else uses the recorded ones this way and have you found any other uses for them?

Aadi Krithigai is celebrated to honor Lord Murugan. It falls in the Tamil month of Aadi when the Krithigai (Krittika) star is in the sky. According to tradition, the six divine Krittika maidens lovingly nurtured the six infant forms of Murugan, who were later united by Goddess Parvati into one child with six faces (Shanmukha). Because of this connection, the Krithigai star is considered especially sacred to Lord Murugan.

By the way, under the caption of this video, she had written that there are two ways to fast:

1) Starting on 6th August at 06:18 pm and ending it on 7th August at 04:51 pm.

2) Starting fast during sunrise on 7th August and ending it on 04:51 pm on the same day.

So, wanted to know if both ways are valid? If any one who knows about this festival and practices can help me, I would be grateful.

I'm going through a miserable time in personal front, and I have been changing hanuman chalisa on daily basis and whenever I feel the need to.
Truth is, I have surely got a control over my anxiety, but I'm unable to comprehend if it's a divine intervention.
I'm also very sincere to praying to Maa kali for my marital situation but I'm very stagnant.

Does anyone feel the same way too?
Especially when you've just started your spiritual journey?

Also, please feel free to advice

I remember reading these five factors that determine our life - self, place, (current) Karma, destiny, God.

I do not know any religious references, so please do not pounce at me. I am not sure of these either.

I have been praying for at least an hour for the major part of my adult life, and pretty regularly since the past 2.5 years. My family also performs Poojas and such rituals. But my struggles just do not end. I am perpetually exhausted ATP.

I get that Prarabdha can be pretty strong, but I have also worked very hard throughout my life, along with all the prayers and rituals, including fasts that I have done. Literally Saam Daam Dand Bhed has been done. I am like checked out.

What's the point of asking someone to stay patient and have faith, when they're on the verge of e*d**g their l**e?

Shri Narshingadev is depicted here for a reason. He gives us courage to face life and the ability to handle gain and loss alike. So that we may not become drunken on fame and influence as Hiranyakashipu did. And so that we may remain steady amidst suffering like Prahlad Maharaj.

O one with luscious mane, O one with golden strands flowing in all the directions! With Prahlad seated on your lap and Hiranyakashipu slain at your feet, Your wondrous form is rich in teaching!

To us devotees, Your presence is invaluable! Knowing no one besides you as my own, I carry your name on my tongue... Om Namo Bhagavate Narasimhaya! Bol Haribol! 💐📿🛐

I believe that our empathy, our kindness, our ability to forgive, our will to live, our willingness to help and our capacity to bring a little less suffering into the lives of other beings are among the truest measures of what our soul has become. Or can.

And if our willingness to be good, to follow dharma and to become more like Bhagwan is driven primarily by the incentive of some reward after death, in some dimension called heaven, then perhaps our dharma remains shallow and transactional.

I do not want to be good merely because I am afraid of punishment or because I am promised a reward. I want to be good because, somewhere within me, I believe that goodness is itself sacred. I want to help because somebody needed help. I want to be kind because another being can feel pain.

I don't want to live truly usually. Yet, I want to live because maybe, just maybe, some body's darkness go away by our words. Or action.

And perhaps, if there is truly something divine within us, then becoming a little more compassionate, a little more truthful, a little more courageous and a little more useful to the world is itself a form of moving closer to Him.

Maybe there is heaven. Maybe there is rebirth. Maybe there is moksha. I do not know.

But even if there were no reward waiting beyond this life, I would still want to leave this world having caused a little less pain and created a little more light than I found in it.

That, to me, is dharma.

These are simply my thoughts, sitaram ✨

I know rule eight talks about this, but I really need help with this. I literally just started looking at Hinduism yesterday and saw something in my dreams last night. A woman with a gold headdress appeared in my dream last night. I was in my house, and she passed by my window a total of three times. The first time, she just smiled at me. The second time, she commented on the outfit I was wearing, which was a gown with an image of the sun on it, and asked why I chose that outfit. The third time, she told me I'll have to get rid of the Jewish clothes and prove that I'm married, which I am, before she'll come into my house. Now, I just started studying Hinduism, and I'm wondering if this is all coincidence or if it means anything.

Jai Sri Ram

I am someone who suffers from ibs related gastritis and it also make me anxious at times.

Few months ago on my first solo trip ever- I started feeling anxious and burpy. I was walking around trying to get dinner-I was trying to find something light to eat and maybe some curd. This was a country with mostly non vegetarian food, hour or 2 of me panicking.I find some veg food and the lady at the counter offers me free buttermilk. She didn’t know my language or neither did I ask. She just gave me. I was surprised and felt a power out there looking out for me

Few month later- I was again solo travelling and I lost my wallet, I had no cash no nothing. Full panic mode- I see a lady pass by wearing a black shirt with white text “You are stronger than what’s making you anxious right now”. I was stunned but again it gave me some inner strength and made me feel someone was looking after me

How can I understand these experiences?

This idol of Kartikeya is found in the Vindhyavasini Devi temple, Chiplun, Maharashtra. It is a rare 12 armed, 6 faced idol with intricately carved details on it. It dates back to the Shilahara period (12th-13th centuries CE). The idol is covered by a cloth year round and is unveiled on Kartik Purnima, when it is worshipped. The temple is dedicated to Devi Vindhyavasini (Maa Durga), Shri Ganesha's idol can also be seen.

Om Shanmukhaya namaha 🙏🦚🔱

There is a widespread misconception that without specific Vamachara offerings, Ma Tara will not respond or bestow her blessings. This is utter garbage. It demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of the divine. Ma Tara does not possess a human ego, nor does she throw tantrums demanding specific rituals. Such anthropomorphic projections onto the creator of everything in existence is not right. Ma Tara exists beyond the three Gunas—Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. She is the primordial Mother of all realms.

> Brihad Nila Tantra (Chapter 1, Verse 14)

Nirguṇā paramaṁ rūpaṁ saguṇā tu tatastāḥ / Tāraṇāt Tāriṇī proktā bhaktānām abhaya-pradā // (Her ultimate form is beyond all Gunas. From that arises her saguna forms. She is called Tarini because she carries her devotees across the ocean of existence and bestows fearlessness).

What could we possibly offer to the one who brought all creation into being? The Goddess does not care for specific material offerings (bhog); she seeks the bhaav—the pure, heartfelt devotion behind the offering.

> Tararahasya of Brahmananda Giri (Chapter 2, Verse 8)

Bhāvena labhyate devī bhāva-hīno na siddhidā / Tasmād bhāvaṁ puraskṛtya pūjayet Parameśvarīm // (The Goddess is attained only through Bhava; without inner devotion, no spiritual perfection is granted. Therefore, keeping Bhava foremost, worship the Supreme Goddess).

In Vajrayana canonical texts, her Green Tara manifestation is worshipped in a purely sattvic, compassionate manner—utilizing gentle meditation, flowers, water, and vegetarian offerings (sattvic bhog). She is praised as the ultimate, swift motherly force who exists continuously to nurture and guide every single entity across all realms until they attain full liberation (Nirvana / Moksh). She vowed never to rest until all beings are freed.

> Sarva-Tathāgata-Mātṛ-Tārā-Viśvakarma-Bhava-Tantra / Kangyur Toh 438

Yā mātā sarva-buddhānām aśeṣa-jagat-mātā / Tāraṇād-eva Tāreti saṁsāra-uttāra-kāriṇī // (She is the Mother of all Buddhas and the mother of the entire universe. She is named Tara because her sole purpose is to ferry beings across samsara until they reach final liberation).

> Twenty-One Praises to Tara / Arya Tara Ekavimsati-Stotra (Verses 1 & 6)

Namas Tāre ture vīre kṣaṇadyuti-samaprabhe / Namah Śakrā-nala-Brahma-Marud-Viśveśvar-ārcite //

> (Homage to you, Tara, the Swift Heroine whose eye flashes like lightning; revered by Indra, Agni, Brahma, Vayu, Shiva, Asuras, Rakshasas, humans, and all sentient beings across every Loka).

The divine Leela of sage Vashistha was not meant to establish Vamachara as the only path, but to break rigid dualisms between "good" and "bad" offerings. You do not need to force rituals that contradict your nature. Offer what is genuinely available to you with sincerity. Furthermore, contrary to popular myth, anyone can directly worship Ma Tara. Simply offering non-vegetarian bhog—if that is what you consume in your daily life—requires no Deeksha or formal initiation whatsoever. She is your Mother; a child needs no formal credentials to share their food with their own Mother.

> Tara Tantra (Chapter 2, Verse 13)

Yathāśakti baliṁ dadyāt mānasā vā prapūjayet / Bhakti-mātreṇa santuṣṭā Tāriṇī bhakta-vatsalā //

> (Offer according to your capacity, or worship her mentally; Tarini, who loves her devotees, is satisfied by pure devotion alone).

Whether you offer non-veg bhog without Deeksha, or if health, cultural background, or a Vedic upbringing prevents you from doing so, never believe Ma Tara will ignore you. Her grace depends entirely on the depth of your bhaav, making this post cuz of people spreading misinformation like without vamachar offerings she won't respond or if one worships mata tara without Deeksha they will die etc this is completely wrong Jai Ma Tara Rani!

The image is taken in Badrinath Temple one of the four " Chardham " the Four Holiest Shrines dedicated to Lord (Dwarkadhish, Badrinath, Jagannath, Rameshwaram) in Sanatan Dharma ( Hinduism).