Hindu Blog

When a King Repents: Lessons from the Story of Parikshit in MahabharataIn the Mahabharata, there is a very important incident about King Parikshit, the grandson of Arjuna and the ruler of the Kuru lineage.

From Stillness to Creation — Understanding Tapa and RasaIn Hindu thought, energy is never created or destroyed, only transformed from one state into another.

On the day before Kali Puja - Bhoot Chaturdashi - there is a tradition of eating fourteen different types of shaak.

The Divine Form of Sacred Speech - Iconography and Symbolism of Dhenu Vageshwari in Srividya TraditionWithin the vast and layered tradition of Devi worship, certain forms of the Goddess remain lesser known outside specialized textual and ritual circles.

The Ancient Path of Shakti Worship: Sacred Vessels and Mystical Diagrams in Hindu Tradition Long before the elaborate temples and beautifully crafted idols became the centerpiece of Hindu worship, devotees of the Divine Mother found profound ways to conne…

Why Atharva Veda Mantras Were Used for the Birth of Rama and His BrothersKing Dasharatha of Ayodhya had no son for many years.

Dattatreya as Hari-Hara-Pitamaha: Symbolism of the Trinity in One FormDattatreya occupies a unique place in Hindu iconographic tradition as the living embodiment of the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

Chandra and Shiva: What the Waxing and Waning Moon Teaches About Inner Mastery - Stillness as the Source of RenewalAnyone who has seen a picture or idol of Shiva notices the crescent moon resting on his matted hair.

The Liberation of Purposeless Living: A Hindu Perspective on Being Why do we seek a purpose for living?

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Wednesday, November 4 2026 – It is Krishna Paksha Dashami tithi or the tenth day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions.

Rasa-mukha: The Merciful Countenance of the Twelve-Armed Nitya Goddess - Panchamukhi Nitya: A Study in Srividya IconographyWithin the vast body of Devi worship in Hinduism, the concept of the Nitya Devis holds a special place.

Ulupi and Hidimbi: Two Women Who Loved Pandava WarriorsIn the Mahabharata, many women play an important role in the life of the Pandavas, but two of them are very special because they did not belong to the human world.

Bhujangam: Understanding the Divine Meaning of the Sacred Serpent in HinduismThe Sanskrit word Bhujangam refers to a serpent or snake and carries profound spiritual symbolism in Hinduism.

Two Lakshmi Pujas are observed within a fortnight in Bengal — Kojagari and Dipanwita: one on the Ashwin full moon, the other on the Kartik new moon.

Vageshwari: The Iconographic Form and Symbolism of the Goddess of SpeechAmong the many forms of the Divine Feminine venerated within Hindu tradition, Vageshvari holds a distinct and lesser known place.

Understanding Rasa: The Experience of Emotion in ArtThe reader of a poem or the spectator of a drama should have the basic receptivity to attune himself to the level of the poet so that it results in the ‘experience’ of rasa realization (experience of the…

A Man Who Knows the Price of Everything but the Value of NothingNowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Tomara: The Spear of Vigilance in Hindu Sculptural TraditionAmong the vast array of ayudhas, or sacred weapons, depicted in Hindu iconography, the tomara occupies a distinct place within the piercing and projectile class of arms.

You Alone Are Responsible: The Self-Reliance Wisdom of Sanatana DharmaSociety, for all it has given humanity, has also planted a quiet but crippling idea in the human mind: that someone else, somewhere, is responsible for fixing our pain.

In Tune with the Cosmic Rhythm: Embracing Nature’s Harmony Through Hindu Wisdom In an age when many seek fulfillment in incessant consumption, social media validation, or the relentless pursuit of external achievements, modern life has become a breeding g…

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Tuesday, November 3 2026 – It is Krishna Paksha Navami tithi or the ninth day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions.

The Daughter of the Himalayas – Decoding Devi Himavati - Her Symbolism and MeaningHimavati is one of the significant names of Devi Parvati, meaning "she who belongs to Himavan" or "the daughter of the Himalayas."

Do Not Curse the Protector: Shamika’s Words to His Son, Shringi, When He Cursed King ParikshitIn the Mahabharata, in the Astika Parva Chapter 37 of Adi Parva, there is the story of King Parikshit, the grandson of Arjuna.

The Serpent at Rest — Understanding the Coiled Naga in Hindu ThoughtFew images in Hindu iconography carry as much layered meaning as the coiled serpent.

Ramprasad Sen: The Poet-Saint Who Brought Kali to the Hearts of Bengal The Context: Shakta Revival in Medieval Bengal In the early 17th century, around 1600 CE, Krishnananda Agamavagisha emerged as a pivotal figure in reviving Shakta worship—the tradition…

The Conical Crown: Symbolism and Craft of the Karanda-MakutaAmong the many crown forms that adorn divine figures in Hindu sculpture, the karanda-makuta occupies a distinctive place.

Bhai Dooj is observed two days after Diwali, a day meant only for brothers and sisters.

When a King Becomes Only a Father: Dasharatha of Ayodhya and Priam of TroyEvery culture has stories about kings, and many of them also show the weak side of a king, which is his love for his children.

The Silent Sage of Srividya: Iconography and Symbolism of Samvid Tripura DeviWithin the vast and layered universe of Hindu iconography, certain forms of the Devi remain little documented, surviving mostly through regional scriptural references, oral tradi…

Why Humans Feel Guilt: A Hindu Perspective on Conscience and KarmaHumans feel guilt; otherwise, they would be capable of doing terrible things.

The Illusion of Personality: How Identifying with the Ego Binds the Soul in Hindu Philosophy Hindu scriptures consistently emphasize a profound truth that challenges our everyday experience: the personality we consider uniquely "ours" is actually a binding

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Monday, November 2 2026 – It is Krishna Paksha Ashtami tithi or the eighth day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions.

The Slithering Serpent: Symbol of Life, Pleasure and Renewal in Hindu ThoughtAcross Hindu temple walls, sculptures, and the hands of deities, the image of a serpent appears again and again — sometimes coiled in stillness, sometimes captured mid-slither, a…

Jaratkaru in the Mahabharata: Austerity, Duty and the Birth of AstikaJaratkaru was a great rishi in the Mahabharata.

See Me in All: Krishna's Vision for Arjuna and HumanityBhagavan Sri Krishna represents the realized soul, free of all conditioning, capable of seeing truth exactly as it is.

The Boon That Undid Ravana: Why Only a Human Can Slay the Demon Within - Symbolism and MeaningRavana received a boon that ensured he could not be killed by any supernatural being.

When Shiva Turned Against Society: The Death of Sati and the Fall of Daksha's YajnaMahadev Shiva, the primordial, has always stood apart from the structures that human civilisation builds around itself.

The Horse, the Queen and the Yajna: Understanding Dasharatha’s Great RitualKing Dasharatha of Ayodhya had no son, and this was a big sorrow for him.

Vajraprastarini Devi: The Rare Eight-Armed Form Seated Upon the WatersHindu iconographic tradition is vast, and within it exist countless forms of the Devi that are rarely sculpted, rarely painted, and consequently rarely known outside specialist textual…

Let It Flow: What Hindu Wisdom Teaches About Pain and ResistanceIn Hindu thought, pain is not an accident or a punishment.

In Times of Crisis: The Strength of Companionship in Hindu Thought There is no dearth of advisors and advice in the world when we are in a crisis.

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Sunday, November 1 2026 – It is Krishna Paksha Saptami tithi or the seventh day during the waning or dark phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions.

Beyond Blind Obedience: How Krishna Redefined Respect, Rebellion, and DharmaThe Arc of Dharma Across the Yugas Hindu thought does not treat dharma as a fixed, unchanging code.

Ashvasena: The Serpent Who Wanted Revenge on Arjuna - Ashwasena and Karna’s Arrow: Revenge That MissedAshvasena was a naga, a son of Takshaka, the king of serpents.

The Warrior and the Scholar: Kartikeya and Ganesha as Two Faces of DharmaShiva and Parvati are described in Hindu tradition as the parents of two sons who, together, represent the complete range of human and cosmic effort.

The Hidden Goddess of Wisdom: Iconography and Symbolism of ShuddhavidyaAmong the vast and layered pantheon of Devi worship in Hinduism, certain forms remain known only to a handful of practitioners, preserved in regional agamic and tantric literature rath…

Three Strands of Shakti — Reading the Hair of Parvati, Durga and KaliIn Hindu iconography, nothing on the body of the Devi is accidental.

Janaka of Mithila and the Sacrifice of DasharathaIn Chapter 12 of Bala Kanda of Ramayana, we read that King Janaka of Mithila was present at the Putrakameshti Yajna of King Dasharatha.

The Gesture of the Sacred Skull: Understanding Kapala HastaIn Hindu sculptural and dance traditions, hastas — the codified hand gestures — form a silent language through which divine attributes, moods, and powers are communicated.

Brahmavaivarta Purana Story Of Vishwakarma building palace for IndraIndra, the ruler of the Devas and the guardian of the skies, once summoned Vishwakarma, the celestial architect, and commanded him to build a palace worthy of his position.