Shakti - Why is Active Energy depicted as female?

Shiva represents consciousness, the divine consciousness or the Self and Shakthi represents vibrant energy, vitality, the creative power. Shiva and Shakti represent the masculine and feminine aspects on all levels of existence.The self-complementary Ardhanareeswara (half man, half woman) concept. When this androgynous, self-complementary energy  is divided into two, they turn into the latent or passive consciousness and the pure, vibrant energy without any consciousness. OR we can say that, Shiva is the passive or latent Shakthi and Shakthi is the active Shiva. Shakthi or the active Shiva can unleash untold miseries. We have heard the story of Kali (MahaKali) and her unbridled fury which was tamed by stepping on Shiva. This is a symbolic representation of how the divine consciousness neutralizes the violent, mindless, raging energy. 
Let us come back to the topic of discussion - Why is the active energy of the Universe depicted as female? So far nobody knows who did or when this division and naming occurred. The only guess one can make is that highly intelligent and developed creatures have walked this planet, at times beyond our imagination. So let us try to explain this from our level of understanding. 
Let us look at it from the cellular level. Our cells contain free floating organelles called mitochondria. They are known as the powerhouses of the cell. They function like a digestive system of the cell. They take nutrients, breaks it down and create energy rich molecules for the cell. This bio-chemical process is known as cellular respiration. Mitochondria contains their own genomes. The human zygote contains only the mitochondrial DNA from the egg cell, the sperm mitochondrial DNA do not contribute genetic information to the embryo.So the powerhouse of the cell or the mitochondria is inherited from Mothers. At a cellular level itself energy source is contributed by the females. This might be a reason why energy is considered female. 

In each person, the Shiva and the Shakthi are there, but are set apart. Shiva or the divine consciousness resides in the Sahasrara Chakra and Shakthi or the divine creative energy is coiled up in the Mooladhara Chakra. So each person is incomplete as such. So, to attain perfection or moksha, in each life, a little effort and time should be spend in bringing the Kundalini energy coiled up in the mooladhara to the Sahasrara. Otherwise one will be tied up in samsara endlessly.

Nirguna and Saguna

Nirguna and Saguna are the two aspects of experiencing God. 

Nirguna is the eternal, all pervading, omnipresent divine consciousness. Nirguna Brahman is pure energy, vibrant and conscious, that is at work in the Universe - The Supreme Parabrahman or the Supreme Self.

Saguna is the manifestation of Brahman in form, any form, which is limited. But the energy behind it is Nirguna. 
Why depend on the Saguna aspect? This is because, it is very difficult for the vast majority of people to comprehend the eternal, all pervading, omnipresent divine consciousness / energy. For them it is much easier to have a divine incarnation or figurehead to turn to. In the Saguna aspect the Brahman appears in the human form, as incarnations to lead the vast majority to the Nirguna Parabrahman. The source of this devotion to the Saguna aspect is the Nirguna aspect in the human beings. 

Our Self /Atma is Nirguna, about which we are not conscious, and our physical body is Saguna, about which we are too much conscious of. Our Atma is a tiny spark of light encased in the five *Koshas /Sheaths. 

Like the river whose ultimate goal is to reunite with the ocean, the ultimate goal of the individual selves is to reunite with the eternal, all pervading divine consciousness. But we all know only like objects /things can merge into one another seamlessly. So as
 long as our personal limitations and karmas are not overcome, we cannot reunite with the Divine. Until self realisation occurs we are bound by samsara (the cycles of birth and death). 

When each person realizes the Nirguna aspect in him, he attains liberation or Moksha. So for God-realization one has to have Self-realization - one has to become conscious of one's Nirguna aspect. 

Krama Mukthi - Gradual Liberation of the Soul

Knowledge and meditation aim at the realization of the Supreme Parabrahman / Moksha. Moksha is not the effect or product of knowledge, it is knowledge itself. Moksha is neither a mass of consciousness nor self-consciousness. Moksha is the very life and order of the Universe, ever present, unchanging. 

Meditation on the nirguna brahman is the greatest eye-opener. It casts away the veil of maya and the jiva (soul of the meditator) realizes its identity with the brahman. This state of realization is known as Sadyo Mukthi - Immediate Liberation. It happens to very few. The instant illumination is a unique experience. There is no gradual stages in Sadyo Mukthi. It is at once being Brahman.

Then there is Jivan Mukthi, which means liberation when one is still alive. When the gross body of the jivanmuktha dies, the jiva attains Videha Mukthi. The jiva then drops off the subtle body (mind) and leaves the cycle of samsara for good. 
The Jivan Muktha is in the highest state of knowledge (Jnana) - the state of self-absorption, non-related and self- identical (I am that I am). There isn't much difference between the jivan muktha and videha muktha, because a jivan muktha is unaware of his body. He still dons a body due to the lingering traces of Prarabda Karma. 

Upasana on the saguna brahman also leads to mukthi - but not directly or immediately. When the gross body dies, the jiva (soul) along with the subtle body is led to the brahma loka (the loka of brahma not Brahman), along the deva marga (the path of light). The sense of duality of the jiva continues. The jiva along with its subtle body enjoys the proximity with the saguna brahman, which is now called kaarya brahman/ hiranyagarbha/ prajaapati etc. The jiva that has been to brahma loka does not have to re-enter samsara. This is considered as a step towards final mukthi. So termed Krama Mukthi. 

Bonalu - Festival of Telengana

Bonalu is the annual festival of Telengana. It is celebrated in the month of Ashada, in July - August. The festival involves the worship of Mother Goddess in regional forms - Mysamma, Yellamma, Pochamma, Pedamma, Dokkalamma, Ankalamma, Poleramma, Maramma, Nookalamma. Special poojas are performed for the Goddess on the first and last days of the festival. It is also a festival of thanksgiving to the Goddess for the fulfillment of wishes. 

On the festival day, women dressed up in silk sarees and jewellery walk to the temple carrying a pot (Bonam) of specially prepared food, an offering to the goddess, balanced on their heads, accompanied by the rhythmic beating of the drums. 
Women carrying Bonalu are believed to be possesed by the spirit of Mother Goddess. On their walk towards the temple, people pour water on their feet to pacify the the aggressive spirit of the Goddess. A bare bodied man smeared with turmuric, wearing anklets and a lemon in his mouth, wearing  red dhoti and neem leaves accompanies the women carrying pots, who dances to the rhythm of the drum beats. He is called Potharaju. He is supposed to be the brother of Mother Goddess. He is the initiator of the festivities and the protector of the women who are in a trance. He lashes a whip and dances to the beat of drums. Every group of devotees also offer a Thottelu (a tower shaped structure made of colorful paper and sticks), as a mark of respect.

The festival Bonalu is celebrated as the homecoming of the Goddess. So the devotees prepare special meals and offer it to her amidst great festivities to show their love and affection, just as they would do when their own daughters visit them annually. 
There is another story associated with the origin of Bonalu, related to the army. In 1813, when the Hyderabad Military Battalion was deployed in Ujjain, a plague broke out in the Twin Cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, in which thousands perished. The soldiers prayed for the eradication of the plague in the Mahakaali Temple in Ujjain. They offered to install her idol in their city when they returned. The plague was eradicated and the soldiers installed the idol of the Goddess in the city and offered food (Bonalu), as thanksgiving. This tradition is followed to date. 

The festival kick starts on the first sunday of the month of Ashada, in the Mahankali Temple located inside Golconda Fort. Next sunday at Ujjaini Mahakali Temple (known as Lashker Bonalu), Balkampet Yellamma Temple. Then at Sri Simhavahini Mahankali Temple and Sri Akkanna and Madanna Mahankali Temple in the old city of Hyderabad. 

On the monday following the Bonalu festivities, an oracle foretells the future. The oracle is an unmarried lady.  This is known as Rangam, after which the procession starts with the Ghatam.

The home-coming of the goddess is in the form of Ghatam, which is a copper pot decorated in the form of the Goddess. After Rangam  is the procession, Bonalu Jatara, with the  Ghatam carried by the priest. A decorated picture of the Goddess is carried in the procession on an elephant through different lanes of Secunderabad. This is known as saganampu. Festivities end with the immersion of the Ghatam.

A feast follows the festival.

The enemy within - Arishadvarga

Arishadvarga, the six negative characteristics of human nature are the greatest hindrance to Salvation or Moksha. In Sanskrit Ari means enemy, shad means six and varga means group. So the word arishadvarga means a group of six enemies. These six enemies are within you. So only you can eliminate them. If you don't, they will corrode or eat away your innate spirituality and  gradually you will forget about your True being. 

These are the Arishadvarga(s): 

• Kama - Lust / Desire 
• Krodha - Anger 
• Lobh - Greed / Covetousness 
• Moha -  Temptation / Delusion 
• Mada / Ahamkara - Pride / Intoxication 
• Matsarya - Envy / Jealousy 

These six passions, which are the fundamental tenets of Kali yug,   are connected. One leads to the other.  When kama is obstructed krodha arises. But when kama is fulfilled, the person is filled with lobh (greed). 
When one is filled with anger or greed, one succumbs to delusion or temptation (moha). Such a person is unable to perceive the Truth.
When ones greed is fulfilled one becomes intoxicated or becomes overcome with pride (mada). Anger too gives rise to intoxication. A person overcome with anger can cause physical, mental and emotional harm to others. 
Pride makes one egocentric, such a person can't stand the good fortune of others. Thus envy (matsarya) sets in. 

Bhakti (Devotion to the Supreme Being) and renunciation are the only ways through which one can overcome the arishadvarga. In the Bhagvad Gita, this is what Krishna says : "When the feelings of I and Mine disappears, the mind at once becomes pure and is fit enough to lead you to me. The pleasures and pains of the world will not affect it any more. When it is equipped with Vairagya  (detachment or rather non-attachment), with Bhakti which is devotion to me and with Gyana (Jnana)  which is knowledge about the truth about me, the mind is able to perceive the Brahman." 

A person controlled by his passions is like a person lost in a dense forest. He is controlled by the forest. Here the forest represents the destiny. But when one begins to walk on the path of Self-realization, one is able to visualize one's goal - the Brahman. The grip of the destiny loosens and one is able to change one's own destiny. When a person identifies himself with the Self, he becomes a part of the Power of Destiny. His intentions, then, start materializing and he is able to change any situation - good or bad. 

The more each individual fights these negative passions, the more is the life of dying dharma in Kali yug. Practice of meditation and and other purification techniques can gradually eliminate these harmful characteristics. 

Religions play an important role in strengthening the self-control of their followers. They put up role models and encourage the public to follow them. It is found that self-control is contagious.  Thus the religions try their best to maintain  peaceful societies. 

   "prakritim yanti bhutani, 
     nigrahah kim karishyathi" 
(The living beings follow their own innate nature, what can repression do. - Bhagvad Gita) 

Lakshmi - The Goddess of Wealth

Lakshmi is the divine feminine that complements Lord Vishnu or the Supreme Being. Lakshmi is seen in two forms - Bhudevi and Sridevi. Bhudevi is mother Earth or aparam Prakriti, representing the material world or energy.  Sridevi represents the spiritual world or energy called Prakriti. So she is also known as Sri. Lakshmi is the embodiment of the creative energy of Vishnu and the primordial Prakriti who creates the Universe. 

We can find mentions of Lakshmi in Rig veda and Atharva veda. The epics Mahabharatha and Ramayana has her references. In Mahabharatha she personifies wealth, riches, beauty, happiness, grace, charm and splendor. In Ramayana and Vishnu Purana, Lakshmi springs out with other celestial objects from the Ocean of Milk, when it is churned by the Gods and Demons for Amrut - the elixir of immortality. She appeared with a lotus, so she is also called Padma. According to Garuda Purana, Linga Purana and Padma Purana, Lakshmi is the daughter of Sage Bhrigu and his wife Khyaati and was called Bhargavi. According to another legend, in Shatapatha Brahmana, she is said to have emerged during the creation of the Universe - floating in the water on a lotus. Sri is described as a beautiful, resplendent and trembling woman at her birth with immense energy and powers. The Gods were bewitched at first, later became jealous of her powers. They asked Prajapati's (the Creator) permission to kill her and snatch her powers, gifts and talents. Prajapati told them that males must not kill females and asked them to seek gifts without violence. So the Gods approached her and she distributed different gifts/ powers to different Gods.

Lakshmi, the name is derived from the Sanskrit root-words laks and laksa. Laks means to perceive, observe, know and understand. Laksa means goal, aim and objective. So Lakshmi stands for 'know and understand your goal'. 

Lakshmi is depicted as either standing or sitting on a lotus and holding lotus flowers in two of her hands. Lotus is a symbol of knowledge and self-realization. Money / gold coins flow out of one of her hands or from a pot of gold held in the hand. Wealth manifested through Lakshmi is both material and spiritual. One of her hands show abhaya mudra that signify compassion and charity. She has a total of four arms. The four arms are symbolic of four goals of humanity: 1. Dharma - pursuit of ethics - moral life. 2. Artha - pursuit of wealth - means of life. 3. Kaama - pursuit of love - emotional fulfillment. 4. Moksha - pursuit of self-knowledge - liberation. She is clad in gold embroidered red cloths, which symbolizes beauty and wealth. Sometimes one or two pairs of elephants holding lotus flowers or spewing water are seen in the background. They represent strength, activity, fertility, abundance and prosperity. Sometimes an owl is also present in the picture. Owl represents the patience to see through the darkness. Lakshmi is also known as Ulkavahini meaning one who rides an owl. 

The Goddess of wealth is often depicted along with her husband Lord Vishnu. This implies that wealth and prosperity is coupled with maintenance of life, justice and peace. Lakshmi acts as the mediator between Lord Vishnu and his devotees. Lakshmi is the personification of spiritual fulfillment. She embodies the spiritual world, Vaikunta - the abode of Lord Vishnu. 

In ancient India, women were considered as the embodiments of Lakshmi. The bride and groom in Indian marriages symbolized Lakshmi and Vishnu. 

Lakshmi is worshiped on Sharad Poornima (Kojagari Poornima), the full moon night following Dussehra or Durga Puja,in the month of October. It is believed that Lakshmi visits the home of her devotees and showers blessings of wealth on that day. Lakshmi is also worshiped on Diwali night. Red flowers are offered to Lakshmi.  

Representations of Lakshmi are found in Jain temples too. A diety called Vasudhara who resembles Lakshmi is worshiped by Buddhist sects. 

Ashta Lakshmi is a group of eight secondary manifestations of Lakshmi. They preside over eight sources of wealth. Thus represents the eight powers of Sri Lakshmi. 

• Adi Lakshmi - The first manifestation of Lakshmi. 
• Dhaanya Lakshmi - Granary Wealth. 
• Veera Lakshmi - Wealth of Courage. 
• Gaja Lakshmi - (Elephants spraying water) Wealth of fertility, rains and food. 
• Santana Lakshmi - Progeny, wealth of continuity. 
• Vijaya Lakshmi - Wealth of Victory. 
• Aishwarya Lakshmi - Wealth of Knowledge and Education. 
• Dhana Lakshmi - Monetary Wealth. 

Durga - The Invincible one

Shakti the divine feminine half of Shiva has two aspects: the benevolent and the fierce. She is worshiped in various forms of the above two aspects. The Benevolent forms are Uma, Gauri, Parvati, Jagatmatha. And the Fierce forms are Durga, Kali, Chandi, Bhairavi. We find mentions of Durga, the invincible one, in the Vedic literature, Mahabharatha and Ramayana.

According to Shiva Purana and Devi Mahatmiya, Durga first appeared, as a beautiful warrior seated on a tiger. This form of Shakti was created from the combined anger of the Gods and Lord Vishnu, for the annihilation of the demon Mahishasura ( buffalo demon ), who became invincible through great penance and unleashed terror on earth and defeated the Gods. Durga had eighteen arms and each hand held a different weapon, given by the Gods. She mounted a ferocious lion, fought with Mahishasura and vanquished him. So she is also known as Mahishasuramardhini. Symbolically Durga epitomises the victory of good over evil.

Another version of the story is that Shiva helped Parvathi to realise that she is Adishakti (the pure energy of the Universe). In times of great distress and helplessness, Adishakthi manifested in the Fierce forms to eliminate the evil: as Durga to kill Mahishasura and as Kali ( the Black one) to kill Raktabija. Thus Durga as the mother of Universe, provides humans with the opportunity for a peaceful life and Salvation.

Durga Puja is celebrated in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and all over the world. In India, generally it is celebrated from the sixth to the tenth day of the waning moon in the month of Ashvin (September - October). In Nepal the festival is known a Dashain and celebrated for ten days. Durga is worshiped in her ten forms, one form per day. The ten forms are Kushmanda, Chandraghanta, Brahmacharini, Shailaputri, Skandamatha, Katyayani, Kalarathri, Mahagauri, Mahakali and Durga. 

In North India the festival is known as Dussehra. Both Dussehra and Dashain mean 'victory on the tenth day'. In the North Dussehra is celebrated as the victory of Ram over Ravana. Gigantic straw effigies of Ravana are burnt on that day. Elsewhere,  Durga is worshiped on the preceding nine days (Navarathri) and her victory is celebrated on the tenth day ( Vijaya Dasami ). As in Dashain different forms are worshipped each day. In West Bengal, huge Durga Pandals are put up. 

In Telengana, Durga is celebrated as Bathukamma - a flower festival during Navarathri. Bathukamma is the cultural icon of Telengana. 

Durga Puja, also, commemorates the annual visit of the Goddess with her children ( Ganesh and Karthikeya) to her parents' home (Himalaya) and leaving on the tenth day to be reunited with Lord Shiva. The immersion of the Durga idols on the tenth day symbolizes this. 

Now, in the Northern States of India Durga is worshiped as a gentle bride epitomizing family unity and in the Southern states and elsewhere as a warrior. 

A part of the Durga Sloka / Devi Mantra : 

Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Matri rupena samsthita 
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Shakti rupena samsthita 
Ya Devi Sarvabhuteshu Shanti rupena samsthita 
Namastasyai Namastasyai Namastasyai Namoh Namah 
Meaning: 
The Goddess who is omnipresent as the personification of the Universal mother
The Goddess who is omnipresent as the embodiment of Power 
The Goddess who is omnipresent as the symbol of Peace 
I bow to her, I bow to her, I bow to her.

Goddess of Knowledge - Saraswathy

Saraswathy is worshiped as the Goddess of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom and learning from ancient Vedic times to this day. Like Shakti to Shiva , Lakshmi to Vishnu, Saraswathy is to Brahma. Thus she is one of the Tridevi. Tridevi  is the feminine part of the Trinity - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma creates, Vishnu maintains and Shiva Destroys (recycles and regenerates). 

In Mahabharatha, Saraswathy is called the mother of vedas. She is the celestial creative symphony who appeared when Brahma created the Universe. 

The name Saraswathy is a combination of two sanskrit words sara meaning essence and swa meaning oneself. So Saraswathy means 'essence of oneself'. Another explanation is Saraswathy is a composite sanskrit word Surasa-vati, meaning "one with plenty of water". This is in reference to a verse in Rigveda, where Saraswathy is referred as the 'best of mothers, of rivers, of goddesses'. In book 10 of Rigveda, she is celebrated as a feminine deity with healing, purifying powers and abundant flowing waters (River Saraswathy). In the Brahmanas which was written after Rigveda, Saraswathy's importance grew from the water that purifies to knowledge that purifies. She was celebrated as the goddess of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom, learning, speech, creativity and to anything that purifies and clarifies the essence and self of a person. 

Saraswathy is depicted as a beautiful woman with four arms, dressed in white and seated on a white lotus. The color white symbolise satva guna - represents purity, insight and wisdom.   White lotus is a symbol of enlightenment. Thefour arms symbolically represent the four heads of Brahma - manas, buddhi, chitha, ahamkara. Brahma is the abstract and Saraswathy, the experience of the highest reality. Saraswathy holds a book, a mala (rosary), a water pot and a veena ( a musical instrument) in her hands. The book represents Vedas and all forms of learning. The mala represents the power of meditation, inner reflection and spirituality. Pot of water represents purifying power or Soma - the drink that liberates and leads to knowledge. Veena represents all creative arts and sciences (the knowledge that creates harmony).

A hans or swan at her feet symbolises the ability to discriminate between good and bad. Swan is also a symbol of spiritual perfection, transcendence and moksha. Sometimes a peacock is also seen beside Saraswathy, which represents the colourful splendour and celebration of dance and also symbolises the transmutation of the poisonous self (peacock being a snake eater) into the radiant plumage of enlightenment. Saraswathy is always depicted as sitting near a river. 

In North India Vasanth Panchami is celebrated in her honour, the fifth day of spring in the month of Magha (February). Young children start their education on that day. In Kerala and TamilNadu, the last three days of Navarathri is celebrated as Saraswathy Puja.

Saraswathy is revered by the Jains and Buddhists as well. She is also worshiped in Nepal, Japan, Bali and Myanmar.

Onam - Festival of Kerala

Onam is the state festival of Kerala. It is a very ancient festival that has transcended the times. It is a harvest festival celebrated annually and lasts ten days. Onam festival is celebrated in the month of Chingam (meaning Leo /Lion ), which is the first month of the Malayalam Calendar. Onam is celebrated on the day of the ThiruOnam Nakshatra (Sravana), in the month of Chingam (August - September ). It is celebrated to commemorate the golden rule of King Mahabali, who is supposed to visit his former subjects from the nether world. So lots of pomp and splendor and cultural elements are added to the festivities to please the former King who always cared very much for the well being of his subjects. Onam could be an allegory of the ideal kingdom. The festival has a secular fabric, which is a great solace, in these times of great divides. 

Mahabali or Bali was the grandson of Prahlada, son of Asura King HiranyaKashipu who was killed by Lord Vishnu's Narasimha avatar. Like grandfather Prahlada, Bali was also a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. Bali, when he came to power, conquered all the realms with the help of his Guru Shukracharya. The Devas became envious and scared of Bali and wanted to get rid of him. They approached Lord Vishnu and he agreed to help them. He incarnated as Vamana (Dwarf ). Vamana was born to Aditi, the mother of Devas and wife of Kashyap. Kashyap had two wives, Diti and Aditi. Diti was the mother of Asuras.

At this time Bali, now Mahabali, was reigning high. With the aid of Shukracharya, he planned to perform Ashwameda Yagam, which would enable him to bring all the three worlds under him. The generous Mahabali declared that anyone was free to ask anything from him. At this juncture, Vamana visited Mahabali with a small demand. Vamana asked for land equivalent to three paces of his own feet. Hearing this Shukracharya became suspicious and warned Mahabali, but Mahabali was not the one to go back on his words. He agreed and then Vamana started growing in size, to such a size that with one step he covered the entire earth, with the second he covered the Heavens. There was no space to put down the third foot. Mahabali (means great sacrifice), as his name suggests, readily bowed before Vamana and asked him to put the third foot on his head. Vamana obliged, and thus Mahabali was pushed down to the nether world Sutala, the heaven like underworld. The place where Vamana set his foot is the present Thrikkakara (place of holy foot) near Kochi. Vamana was extremely pleased with Mahabali that he made him the ruler of the underworld, Sutala and on Mahabali's request allowed him to visit his former subjects once a year. And his former subjects started celebrating the visit as a month long festival, reliving the prosperity of the olden days. Nowadays Onam is celebrated for ten days. 

Now the festivities of onam start ten days before the supposed visit of Mahabali on the day of thiruonam nakshatra (Sravana ), which is also the birth star of Lord Vishnu. Onam celebration starts on the day of Atham nakshathra (Hastha ). So it is called Athachamayam. Pookalam or Floral designs akin to Rangoli, are made in front of the houses. Small obelisk shaped mounts made of clay, representing Lord Vamana and King Mahabali, called onathappan are also kept in the pookalam. On the day after thiruonam, on the day of avittom nakshathra (Dhanishta ) Mahabali returns to the underworld. On that day onathappan is immersed in water. 

Very elaborate and sumptuous meals, onasadya, are prepared and consumed on these days. 

Onam is a time of gaiety, music and dance. Thiruvathira dance, kummattikali, puli kali, thumbi thullal etc are some of the ancient and traditional dances showcased during the festival. A ritual worship dance known as theyyam is also showcased. In it the character of Mahabali is played by onathar. Oneswaran and onapottan are other characters. 

Onavillu is a bow-shaped musical instrument that accompanies kummattikali. Another kind of onavillu has dashavatharam painted on it and embellished with tassles and displayed. So that Mahabali can see Lord Vishnu and his avatars whenever he visits earth. 

Kazhchakkula samarpanam to the Guruvayoor Temple is a ritual associated with onam. The banana bunch of the changali kodan variety is given as offering.

Onam is a time of team games. The most famous are the Snake boat races, vallam kali, conducted during this time. 

People purchase new clothes, onakkodi, during onam. This is symbolic of shedding the old and embracing the new. 

Another legend about Onam is that it is the comemmoration of the formation of the land of Kerala. It is said that Parasurama, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, threw his axe into the sea and reclaimed the land from Gokarna in the north to Kanyakumari in the south. 

Malayalees celebrate this festival with great joy and fervor. 

Dashavatara - Theory of Evolution

Dashavatara refers to the ten avatars or incarnations of Lord Vishnu to restore the cosmic order, The  Avatars being Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Kalki and either Balarama or Buddha are included to complete the list. 

Some modern interpreters see Dashavatara as a great great grand father of Darwin's Theory of Evolution. The gradual evolution from the simplest to the most complex.

In 1877,Theosophist Helena Blavatsky in her opus Isis Unveiled proposed the following order of Avatars:

• Matsya or fish - the first class of vertebrates, evolved in the water. This indicates the origin of fish in the Silurian Period.
• Kurma or Tortoise - living in water and land. Indicates the origin of Amphibians in the Devonian Period. 
• Varaha or hog - wild land animal. Indicates the origin of mammals in Triassic Period. 
• Narasimha or a being that is half human and half animal. Indicates the emergence of human thoughts and intelligence in powerful wild nature, 
• Vamana or a short, predecessor of human beings. 
• Parasurama represents early human beings living in forests, who uses weapons. 
• Rama represents humans living in community - beginning of civil society. 
• Krishna represents a period when animal husbandry is practised and also a politically advanced society. 
• Buddha is a representation of humans attaining enlightenment. 
• Kalki represents advanced  humans with great powers of destruction. 

According to Keshub Chandra Sen, a prominent figure in Brahmo Samaj, "The Hindu Avatar rise from the lowest scale of life through the fish, the tortoise, and the hog up to the perfection of humanity. Indian Avtarism is,indeed, a crude representation of the ascending scale of Divine creation. Such precisely is the modern theory of evolution". 

* Since Krishna and Balarama belonged to the same period, and Balarama depicted as carrying a plough, i think. it was also a period when agriculture was practised. 
*Split the word Kalki into Kal , Ki. In hindi 'kal ki' means tomorrow's / of tomorrow. 

The Sons and Daughters of Shiva

The most famous sons of Shiva are Ganesha, Karthikeya and Ayyappa. He has other sons and daughters, who are lesser known. We will look at them one by one.

Ayyappa /Sastav, who is now enshrined in the famous temple of Sabarimala in Kerala is an offspring of Shiva and Vishnu, when he took the form of beautiful Mohini to lure the asuras away from Amrut, an elixir which was the output of the churning of the ocean of milk and also to kill Narakasura. Ayyappa was a great warrior trained by Parashurama.

Andhaka, as the name suggests was blind, was a son of Shiva. He was raised by a demon named Hiranyaksha who was childless. He was killed by Shiva himself when he tried to molest Parvathi. 

Bhauma was another son of Shiva. He was born when three drops of Shiva's sweat fell on earth /Bhumi. He was a beautiful red-skinned infant with four arms. Since Shiva was in deep meditation Bhumi raised the kid. When he grew up he did severe penance to please Shiva and Shiva granted him the Mangala Loka. He established himself in the Solar System as planet Mars/ Mangala.
Khuja is also Shiva's son, who is worshiped as the 'Lord of Iron'. Bhauma and Khuja appears to be one and the same. 

Nandi was also Shiva's son. In Shiva Purana, as a boon Shiva promised Shiladra that he will be born as his son. 

Veerabhadra was born of a lock of Shiva's hair. He destroyed Daksha's yagna. 

Ganesha, Shiva's most popular son. The elephant headed God.The most intelligent /illuminated one. The remover of sorrows and hurdles. Ganesha wrote down the epic Mahabharatha, while Vyasa dictated it. Padmapurana says Ganesha was married to sisters Riddhi and Siddhi ( Siddhi and Buddhi ). It is said that you should not keep more than one Ganesh idol in your Puja Room. 

Karthikeya was born to slay the demon called Tarak and his army. He is worshiped more in South India where he is  known as Murugan /Subhramanian /Senthil etc. His appearance is that of a teenager holding a spear, with a peacock and a snake on the ground -symbolizing the two extremes of spirituality- Shiva and Shakti. He was the incarnation of an already illuminated soul. He is also called Guru.

Ashoka Sundhari:- When  Lord Ganesh and Karthikeya were grown up, maa Parvathi started feeling lonely. She went to the famous Kalpavriksha tree and asked for a boon and wished for a daughter. Thus Ashoka Sundhari was born. Ashoka meaning, she removed the 'shok' or sadness from Parvathi's life and Sundhari because she was a beautiful young girl. Ashoka Sundhari was later married to Nahusha of the lunar dynasty. Ashoka Sundhari is considered to be the mother of Yayati and a hundred daughters. Devi Ashoka Sundhari is worshiped in Gujarat. She is associated with salt. 

Jyothi is the goddess of light.The deity can be found in a few temples in Tamil Nadu. She emerged from Shiva's halo and is a physical manifestation of His grace. 

Mansa /Manasa is a goddess who cures snake bites in Bengali folk lore. She is the sister of Vasuki, the king of snakes. She was born when Shiva's semen touched a statue carved by Kadru, the mother of snakes. She  was a very unhappy and bad tempered goddess. Parvathi /Chandi, her stepmother hated her. Chandi burnt one of her eyes, so she is also known as the 'one-eyed goddess'.She is also the goddess of fertility and marriage rites. She was the one who saved Shiva when he drank poison. She is depicted as a woman covered with snakes sitting on a lotus / standing on a snake under a canopy of seven cobras. Sometimes she is depicted with a child on her lap, believed to be her son.

Ganesha - The Story of His Birth

One day in Mount Kailash, the abode of Shiva. Parvathi, Shiva's consort was alone and she wanted to take bath. So she asked Nandi, the bull to guard the entrance. Nandi was the vehicle of Shiva. She instructed him not to allow anyone inside without her consent. When Shiva came home, Nandi allowed him to go inside, being more loyal to Shiva. Parvathi was so angry. Next time when she was alone, she created a boy out of her sweat,who would be a very loyal son to her and named him Ganesha. ( There is another version that says the boy was created out of the turmeric paste which Parvathi used to apply on her body before taking bath.) She asked the boy to guard the door. When Shiva came the boy did not allow Shiva to go inside. In the ensuing fight the boy defeated all of Shiva's army. Shiva was so enraged that he beheaded the boy.

When Parvathi came to know this, she became so angry that she promised to destroy all Creation. Many ferocious multi-armed forms emerged from her body. Lord Brahma, the Creator pleaded with her to maintain her calm. Finally she agreed on two conditions : First, the boy should be brought back to life. Second one was, she wanted him to be worshiped before all Gods, forever.

Shiva agreed to these conditions and asked Brahma to bring the head of the first creature he saw, who is lying with his head in the north direction. Lord Brahma brought the head of an elephant. Shiva placed the head on Ganesha's body and brought him back to life. Shiva also accepted him as his son. He declared that from henceforth Ganesha would be worshiped before all Gods and he was made the leader of all *Ganas, So Ganesha is also known as Ganapathi. This version of the story is from Shiva Purana. There are many other versions too.

There is a symbolic aspect to this story. Ganesha created by Parvathi represents the ordinary person.Shiva is the spiritual aspect and Parvathi is Shakti. Ganesha did not have the spiritual essence of Shiva. The fight between Shiva and Ganesha is the fight between the higher soul and lower nature and finally the higher soul prevails. The slaying of original Ganesha symbolizes the slaying of one's lower nature and accepting /becoming one with the higher soul, Shiva. Thus becoming the real son of Shiva.



*different classes of beings

Ashtanga Yoga

Patanjali, the ancient sage in his book Yoga Sutra explains the Ashtanga Yoga. Ashta is sanskrit for eight and anga means limbs, That is one has to follow the eight limb /eight fold path to attain yoga. The eight fold path to be followed are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyan and Samadhi. 

We will look at it one by one:

Yama (the principles of moral code) : There are five, Ahimsa (non-violance), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy) and Aparigah (non hoarding/possessiveness). 

Niyama (Personal discipline ): Also five: Shoucha (purity/ cleanliness ), Santhosha (Happiness/ Contentment ), Tapa (Endurance/ Stoicism ), Swadhyaya (self-study) and  Eshwar Pranidhan (dedication). 

Asana (Posture ) : A comfortable posture that keeps you stable, so that you can concentrate on your meditation. 

Pranayama (Yogic Breathing ) : Controlling you inhalations and exhalations. 

Pratyahara (Withdrawal of senses ) : By withdrawing ones senses one is able to increase the power of ones mind. 

Dharana (concentration ) : Concentrating ones mind on an object and things associated with it. 

Dhyan (Meditation) : Concentrating on one point and nothing else. 

Samadhi (Moksha / Salvation ) A state of supreme bliss, union of the individual consciousness with the Cosmic consciousness, the union of Shiva and Shakti. A state of realization of God, which is the ultimate achievement of human birth. 





Thanks to Yoga VidyaGurukul

Meet your Consciousness

The first meditation that was taught in the Basic Pranic Healing Class was The Meditation of Twin Hearts, a guided meditation in our Guru's own voice. This meditation is not only a technique for achieving illumination, but also a service to the world, as the earth is blessed with loving-kindness.

 Usually the teachers ask us to study / read about the topic before experimenting. This was one thing i never followed, i don't know why. Especially if its spirituality - spiritual practices, i just go for it. My point is this: through different life times i might have acquired some knowledge and i preferred to bank on it. So when i started meditating regularly, i was totally unaware of what was in store for me. 

In the beginning everything was erratic, especially the time of meditation. Gradually i settled into a pattern. I started enjoying the blissful stillness. Then i realised that i had been through similar experiences throughout my life, never recognising what it was. I thought the blue pearl was a vision defect. 

Very rarely i saw images in my meditation. Then, one day during meditation a very beautiful blue face emerged. I had never seen anything so divinely beautiful. 

A few weeks later, i was reading a book, one of Master's. In it, there was an explanation to the blue imagery. It is your individual consciousness. 

Different people see different images.

Universal Truth - Spiritual Symbolism in other Cultures and religions.

When we look deeper into different cultures and religions, we will find that the underlying concept is the same - to raise the consciousness. All different paths lead to the same destination. All disputes and rivalry in the name of culture and religion arise from superficial misinterpretations of the same.

In my previous blog Shiva and Shakti - A spiritual symbolism, the concept of Shiva and Shakti was explained. In Indian mythology Shiva represents the spiritual energy and Shakti represents the divine feminine or Kundalini . 

In Christianity, the Holy Spirit represents the spiritual energy and the Sacred fire represents the Kundalini. When these two powers unite, the results is enlightenment. 

In Buddhist, Taoist and Chinese tradition bai hui (crown chakra ) is opened to bring down the tian chi (spiritual energy). 

In Europe the "live happily ever after" fairy tales represents the same concept. Here the spiritual energy is the "Prince Charming" and the kundalini energy is the "Sleeping Beauty". 

From all the above, we can understand that the spiritual truths are not confined to a particular culture or religion. They are universal.


Indebted to Grand Master Choa Kok Sui.

Espoused - A Spiritual Journey

The word "growing" implies process. Growing implies mistakes.....we all make mistakes! Do not make a big fuss when you make a mistake. Just keep going. Do not be too hard on yourself.                  
- GMCKS


How important is a life partner? Is there any other relationship in this planet that is more important and total?  There might be exceptions depending on ones outlook and perception. Here i am talking not about the exceptions, but about the majority to which i belong. 

When i look back now, i could see that myself and my husband had more differences than similarities. The relationship was built on similarities and little things like the love of home-made food, a cozy home and listening intently when the other person talked, whether you liked /understood the subject or not. Meanwhile we tried sincerely to work out our differences, and over the course of time we reached amicable solutions. Rome was not built in a day!

This is one relationship where you get to do multiple roles: such as a lover and a loved one, ego and alter ego, parent and child, a teacher and student etc etc. Here is a relationship that brings forth many qualities, you thought you never had. This is a space where two souls grow up into more perfect souls in the company of each other. This relationship is the greatest investment of a life time, not only world-wise, but also spiritually. This relationship is nothing less than a sadhana - an ego transcending spiritual practice.

Many a time a life partner, whether husband or wife, is taken for granted or idolized, which is like being a spectator,rather. Please don't do that. You were not brought together for a passive existence. Delve deep into the life given to you. Experience it with an open mind, work on it with patience and love, improve your perception-live and let live. Look at your partner as your friend and equal. Overcome the hurdles together. Enjoy the togetherness and thank each other for everything. 

Inverted tree of life - Bhagvad Gita -Chapter 15

My blog 'Tree of Life - An Introduction' deals with the various symbols of the Tree of Life in various cultures and religions, in general. In Chapter - 15 of Bhagvad Gita Sri Krishna explains to Arjuna about the Inverted Tree of Life, which represents human existence. 

The Inverted Tree of Life is pictured as an eternal Banyan Tree with its roots above in the air, hitched to the all-pervading Almighty and branches growing downwards. The leaves of the tree are the Vedic Hymns. One who knows this tree knows the Vedas. 

The branches of this Banyan tree grow upwards and down wards as a result of the three *gunas (Rajas, tamas and sattva ). The ones who do good karmas are spiritually elevated to celestial abodes , which is represented by the upward growing branches, the downward growing branches represent those who commit sins. They are incarnated as lower species or are send to the nether worlds. The sprouting buds of the tree symbolises desires and the aerial roots feed those desires. Banyan trees has this quality of producing aerial roots and increasing the size of its trunk. Metaphorically speaking the aerial roots that feed the desires and grow in size entangle the soul in material consciousness. 

No one can perceive the form of this tree, nor understand the beginning, the end or the foundation of this tree. But if one wants to release oneself from this material world and attain Supreme Bliss one must, with great determination, cut down this tree with the weapon of Detachment. Thus elevating oneself spiritually and surrendering to the Supreme Godhead, who is the eternal source of everything. 

*Rajas - Passion, Tamas - Inertia, Sattva - Purity.

Vishu

Vishu is a festival of Kerala celebrated on the first day of the malayalam month Medam, Astronomical New year and Mesha Sankranthi. In the Gregorian calender, vishu falls on the second week of April. It is also a harvesting festival. Like Onam. vishu too is a festival of plenty celebrated with great joy. There are some rituals associated with Vishu which one can't do without.

Vishu Kani also known as kani kanal refers to the first thing you see in the morning. If the first thing you see in the morning of Vishu is auspicious, it is believed, the whole year will be auspicious. The preparations for the Kani are made on the previous night itself. The puja room is cleaned and an idol or photo of Sri Krishna is established.It is then garlanded. Two lamps are kept on either side. Then in an uruli some raw rice or paddy is placed; a new, white or off-white folded cloth and things like old palm-leaf (cadjan) book, gold ornaments, yellow cucumber, Konna poovu (cassia fistula flowers), jackfruit, coconut halved, ripe banana/plantains, raw mangoes and all seasonal fruits are placed in the uruli. On the top or behind the uruli a mirror is placed. If you have a metal mirror (aranmula kannadi) use that. Usual things used in puja such as water, incense sticks, arecanuts, betel leaves etc etc. are needed. 

In the morning the lady of the house lights the lamp and bring the members of the house blindfolded to the puja room. There they take off the blind-fold and see the auspicious kani. Then it is the time for Kai-neetom. The head of the family gives some money to each and every member of the house and also to the poor and needy. It is believed that this distribution of money will bring good luck and prosperity to the giver as well as the receivers. Nowadays many people visit the temple to see the kani. 

After bath they wear brand new dress (kodi ).Some people recite the Ramayana. Then there is a sumptuous feast (Sadya) made from seasonal vegetables. In the evening some crackers are burst. 

Vishu marks the beginning of new hopes and aspirations. 

Tree of Life - An Introduction

When we go through the history of religions, as well as ancient cultures, we will find one thing in common - the symbol of a tree. Most of the cultures referred to it as the Tree of Life. In most cultures the tree was a symbol of immortality. Currently, it is considered as a symbol of the Creator of the Universe - that divine energy that interconnects each and every being. 

The most popular tree symbol is the Tree of life in the Garden of Eden ( Hebrew legend ), guarded by a snake. Another popular one is the Cross of Christ, which is considered as a tree of life. Cross symbolizes the meeting of Heaven and Earth, the union of the holy spirit and the heart (Orthodox Church). Kabbalah's symbol of the Tree of life and knowledge, depicts the flow of creation from the Divine to Earth and back to the Divine. 

Mayan tree of life is a cross with it center being the point of 'absolute beginning', the source of all creation and its branches passing through each of the three layers of existence - Underworld, earth and the sky. Tin- tir-ki, the old name of Babylon, means 'the place of the tree of life. The magical fruits of the tree of life in Babylon could only be picked by the Gods. The early Sumerian art depicts a pole or tree intertwined by a pair of snakes. This tree is known as 'axis-mundi'. This tree connects all the three cosmic planes - heaven, earth and underworld. The Assyrians substituted the tree for the caduceus (winged staff) with coiled snakes circling around the wooden staff. The snake - a symbol of underworld consciousness, climbs up the staff - representing earth and transcends to winged reality - the heaven. 

The Egyptian tree of life is Acacia. The first couple Isis and Osiris emerged from it. According to them life and death are enclosed in the tree of life. In Nordic cultures too there is a tree of life - Yggdrasil. It is a huge Ash tree which provides the water of knowledge. There is an eagle (symbol of Thor) on the top of the tree and a snake coiled at the roots. Two dogs guard the tree. Gods daily meet on this tree. 

In pre-Islamic Persian mythology, there is a reference to a Haoma tree which bears all seeds. A drink made out of the plant provided immortality and essential qualities needed.

In Baha'i faith writings there is a reference to a tree of life which is planted in Paradise. The tree represents the spiritual realm. 

In Buddhism there is the Bodhi Tree (Ficus religiosa ) under which Buddha sat when he got enlightened. 

Chinese tree of life has a phoenix and dragon. The dragon at the bottom symbolises immortality. 

Taoists' tree of life produces a peach every 3000 years. The person who eats the peach achieves immortality. 

The Inverted Tree of Life in Bhagvad Gita*.  

* http://ashasnair.blogspot.com/2016/04/inverted-tree-of-life-bhagvad-gita.html

Spirituality

Spirituality leads to the union of the Individual consciousness with the divine consciousness, the state of oneness. This dissolution of the duality is Yoga. 

The yogi who pursues spirituality has to free himself from the clutches of illusion / Maya and should be able to see the reality. With total faith and patience he must follow the spiritual path. He should practice meditation daily. And, thus achieve his life purpose - Nirvana. 

Spirituality is reaching out to  the inner divine.

Spirituality is not something that you can buy over the counter. Spirituality is not something you can snatch from another person. Spirituality is not a paid or unpaid service. It is not a legacy. Each soul has to earn its own Moksha.


Spirituality is a conscious and difficult walk-back to the Source, which is the  Divine Consciousness/ Shiva.

Shiva and Shakti - The spiritual symbolism

Shiva and Shakti represents the masculine and feminine aspects on all levels of existence. The self-complementary Ardhanareeswara (half man, half woman) concept. 

In Yoga, Shakti is known as Kundalini. And in Tantra it is known as Shakti. Kundalini is the energy of the prana. It flows through the nadis ( channels ). The intersection of these channels where the energy concentrates are known as Chakras (energy centers).  Shakti or Kundalini lies dormant in every being, which can be unleashed through Yogic or Tantric practises.

Shiva represents consciousness - divine consciousness or the Self and Shakthi represents energy, vitality -feminine creative power. Or Shiva is Purusha (consciousness) and Shakti is Prakriti (nature). Or Shiva is the Unmanifest (formless) and Shakti is the Manifest (formed). Everything we see around us is Shakti, from a grain of sand to the Sun. Every sound, every thought, every feeling, every act is Shakti. She can enslave you as well as free you. She is the illusion (Maya ) and She is the reality. Shiva is latent, Shakti is active. Shiva represents the constitutive elements of the Universe and Shakti is the dynamic potency which makes these elements come to life. Shiva can experience himself only through Shakti. 

Each world, each being, in short, every aspect of the Universe has its Shiva and Shakti - a complementary duality of Being and its power of Becoming. Through Her He assumes the form of the Universe. Because Consciousness without energy is dormant and Energy without consciousness is blind or aimless. 

In this world the subtle energies condense to form the Panchabhootha; through the Panchabhootha we are able to experience the gross world. To get out of this Gross Existence, we have to awaken our Kundalini which is lying dormant in the Mooladhara chakra, at the tip of the spine. This can be done through Yogic or Tantric practises. This is the universal goal of spiritual life. Through constant practice the Kundalini/Shakti rises to the Sahasrara Chakra, the seat of the divine consciousness / Shiva. The union of Shiva and Shakti symbolises the coming together of the feminine and masculine energies within a person, as well as the creation of the world. The supreme bliss of the union of Shiva and Shakti is pregnant with the eternal truth - Love. The supreme state when Shiva merges with Shakti is known as Nirvana, Oneness, Enlightenment, Moksha etc. 

The union of Shiva and Shakti is also known as dance of Shiva and Shakthi. Both the genders have both the masculine and feminine aspects in them. The inner masculine and the inner feminine meet each other on equal terms. All the limiting belief systems and inequality of genders have to go . The dance of ecstasy cannot happen if one of these aspects is seen as better than the other.

How to Meditate - Bhagwad Gita Chapter 6

A yogi who is detached and who has control over his body and mind should remain in a secluded place and concentrate on the self. 

The yogi should remain in a clean place, on a seat that is neither too high  nor too low, that is covered with kusa grass, a deer skin and a cloth. His mind focused and all the activities of his senses controlled he should sit on this seat and engage in yoga for the sake of self-purification. 

The yogi should hold his head and neck erect and sit motionless, and concentrate on the tip of his nose. 

The yogi should observe a vow of chastity. 

Such a self-disciplined yogi, who, in all devotion, holds the Supreme Parabrahman as the highest object will attain Supreme peace which is beyond all material existence. 

Yoga is the state, where all sorrow arising due to material  contact dissolves, where the mind of the self controlled person comes to a halt. In such a state he sees the Self by the Self and is self satisfied and comes to know the immeasurable joy that is beyond the comprehension of the senses - which can be understood only by the pure intelligence of the soul - in which once established he never wavers from the truth, a state in which nothing can perturb him. 

To attain such a state, a person should practice yoga with determination, his mind always confident of the success of his endeavors. 

Super Brain Yoga

There are many things we do, but do not know the significance behind those. Thoppu karanam/ Super brain Yoga, as it is known today, is one of them. In schools it was a punishment and when done before Lord Ganesha it was an act of reverence. Now it is said that it is an exercise for the brain. So when teachers made you do it as a punishment, they were, inadvertently helping to enhance your brain power. Lord Ganesha being the god of wisdom and intelligence, it is a salutation to Him, which helped you to become smarter.

I came to know about the benefits of Super Brain Yoga when i joined my Pranic Healing class. To get the full benefit it should be done systematically. There is a certain procedure you have to follow. Grand Master Choa Kok Sui has explained it very clearly.  

1. Face East. People above 40 yrs, face North.
2. Connect your tongue to the palate. 
3. Invoke for divine blessing. (optional) 
4. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
5.*Squeeze the right ear lobe with your left thumb and left index finger.
6.*Then squeeze your left ear lobe with your right thumb and right index finger. 
7. *The left arm must be inside and right arm outside. This is the correct position.
* See the picture below:

8. When Squatting down, inhale simultaneously.
9. When standing up, exhale simultaneously.

10. Repeat steps 8 and 9, 14 times per session.
11. Release your fingers from your ear lobes. 
12. Say a short prayer of thanksgiving. (optional) 

When done exactly as explained above, the energy from the lower chakras rise to the upper chakras and energises them. This exercise benefits young and old alike.Many diseases associated with brain development and brain degeneration are cured. (ADD, ADHD, Alzheimer's, Down syndrome etc.) Super brain yoga synchronizes the left and right hemispheres of the brain. 

*Ladies must not do Super Brain Yoga during menstruation.
*Preferably vegetarian diet. Non-vegetarian's avoid pork, cat fish and other fish without scales.

Ugadi / Yugadi

Ugadi /Yugadi is the First Day of the New Year according to the Hindu / Saka / Lunar Calendar. The month of Chaitra being the first month and Ugadi being the first day of the month. The name Yugadi is coined from two Sanskrit words Yuga and Adi. Yuga means age /year and Adi means beginning. 

Yugadi is usually celebrated on the day after the New Moon in the month of Chaitra. So the date is not fixed. According to Gregorian Calendar it is celebrated in March or April. Yugadi Coincides with the Spring Equinox. Some Indians celebrate Yugadi on the day after the Spring Equinox. This year it falls on April 8, in India.

Ugadi / Yugadi is celebrated in the Deccan region in India, where Lunar Calendar is followed. The states of Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa celebrate Ugadi. In Maharashtra the festival is known as Gudi Padwa. Many other states too celebrate their New Year on the same day. 

In Andhra Pradesh and Telengana a ceremonial dish known as Ugadi Pachadi is prepared. It is a confluence of six different tastes - sweet, sour, spice, salt, tangy and bitter, symbolising happiness, disgust, anger, fear, surprise and sadness respectively.  The materials used in the preparation are fresh jaggery, fresh tamarind juice, chilly/pepper, salt, raw mango and neem flowers. The preparation of the pachadi vary from region to region. The ugadi pachadi symbolises human life.  

Many other special dishes are prepared. These too vary from place to place. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and merriment. Later people gather in temples to hear the New year forecast (Panjanga Sravanam ).

Who is a Yogi? - Bhagvad Gita Chapter 6

Yoga of Self -Control 

One who does his duties properly and renounces the fruit of his action is a renunciant and a yogi

When all attachments towards sense objects and actions cease, and when all material impulses stop, one attains yoga. A person who has disciplined his mind can attain the supreme form of peace, that is part of the Supreme Parabrahman. So whether one attains elevation or degradation is up to one's mind. A mind that is under control is a friend, otherwise it is a foe. 

A great yogi is impartial, he sees everything equally. It doesn't matter to him whether it is a friend or a foe, stone or precious metal, saint or sinner. He treats everyone equally.

The yogi who considers the pain and pleasure of others as his own is considered to be the best of all. That yogi who worships the Supreme Parabrahman in the oneness of understanding lives in Him, regardless of how his actions are. 

A yogi who abides in the Supreme Parabrahman with full faith and devotion is most intimately united with the Supreme Parabrahman and considered the best of all, 

A yogi with constant practice of meditation, free from any trace of evil, easily reaches Brahman and thus attains boundless happiness.

A sincere yogi, even if he falls from the path of yoga attains heaven. He stays there for eternity. Then he  is allowed to be born in a congenial environment, where he can complete his practice and attain perfection. Such a birth is rare.

For someone who has just begun yoga, accomplishment of yoga can be attained only by action and for the one who has already attained yoga, perfection is possible through the termination of all activity. 

Even one who merely enquires about yoga, transcends the ritualistic recitation of the Vedas.  

Jnana and Nishkama karma  are most important.

Oneness / Vasudeva Kudumbakam

What is the measure of spirituality???

Is it the knowledge and mastery of the Scriptures? OR is it measured by the number of pilgrimages undertaken? The Bhagvad Gita gives the answer. 

When the Divine Energy/Light enters the physical realm of this planet, it is refracted and scattered like the light ray which is passed through a prism. A human being sees this scattered light/ diversity and assumes it as the reality. He can observe only differences. Differences lead to comparisons and finally conflict. This makes life on earth Hell. 

On a physical level, if a person is able to raise himself above this chaos and confusion and see the oneness between him and his fellow beings, he will attain peace and tranquility. When he understands that and when he starts believing in Vasudeva Kudumbakam (World as a single family), peace will prevail. This feeling of oneness is the greatest measure of one's spirituality.

On a spiritual level meditation on the Supreme Parabrahman raises one's consciousness. And finally, one is able to become one with the Supreme Parabrahman and attain Moksha.