The Symbolism of Lord Shiva’s Adornments

Lord Shiva is often depicted with a crescent moon on his head, river Ganga held in his locks, a snake around his neck, a trident held in one hand and a damaru in the other, half-open eyes and a third eye. Some of his common symbols include the rudraksha, kundalas, tripunda, shivalinga and a nandi, among others. Here is a look at the 19 symbols of Lord Shiva and their meaning and significance.

1. Ash-smeared Body

Ashes smeared on Lord Shiva’s body represent the ultimate truth, stand for thinking beyond the materialistic world, and serve as a reminder to stay humble. According to Sadhguru, Shiva’s body smeared with ashes depicts him as one who constantly lives death as he lives life. He is the one who is always aware that the flesh and blood is mortal and will ultimately turn into ashes. As per Sadhguru, Shiva does not smear ashes on his body, rather ashes ooze out from each of his pores, representing the ultimate dispassion that he embodies.

2. Shiva’s Blue Throat

As per legend, during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthana), a deadly poison came out. It was called halahal. The Gods were afraid that so much poison could destroy life. Lord Shiva drank up all the poison. Goddess Parvati held Shiva’s throat to stop the poison from entering the Lord’s body, which is how Lord Shiva’s throat turned blue.

According to Hindu tradition, Lord Shiva’s throat is blue (which has given him the name Neelkanth), and not his entire body. However, Shiva’s whole body is depicted as blue very often, which is actually to represent the infinite, all-pervading sky. It is also said that Lord Shiva, as also some other Gods like Krishna and Rama are depicted with blue skin and referred to as blue Gods since they had a blue aura.

3. Crescent Moon

Shiva uses the moon as a decoration because he is a great yogi who is intoxicated all the time, but he sits in great alertness. That is how yogis are – totally drunk, but fully alert. – Sadhguru

So, when Shiva is called ‘Somasundara,’ it recognizes the moon’s symbolism and suggests a state of blissful intoxication, indicating heightened consciousness.

Lord Shiva’s crescent moon also symbolizes the cyclic nature of the universe. The waxing and waning of the moon represents the cycle of creation and destruction.

4. Damaru or Drum

The depiction of Lord Shiva with the Damaru symbolizes the cosmic sound energy. It’s believed that the rhythmic resonance of the Damaru governs the creation and destruction of the universe.

The Damaru signifies the expanding and collapsing of the universe, the pattern of the heartbeats going up and down, and the rising and collapsing of the energy. This symbolism can be derived from the unique shape of the damaru; it expands, collapses and expands again. Devotees of Lord Shiva believe that when Shiva played the damaru and started dancing to its beats, the universe was created.

5. His Half Open Eyes

The half open eyes of Shiva mean that the cycle of the universe is in progress. Completely open eyes would mean the beginning of creation while closed eyes would mean destruction. The half-open, half-closed eyes of Lord Shiva also depict that he is looking at the outside world with inner wisdom.

Fully open eyes would mean an extrovert nature, or looking outside, while completely closed eyes would mean introversion or looking inward. However, Shiva’s half-open eyes mean that he is fully aware of the outer world as well as his inner self.

6. Mount Kailash

Kailash is held as the abode of Shiva, not because he is sitting on top of Kailash, but everything that he knew he stored in this mountain. – Sadhguru

Sadhguru explains, that abode does not mean you will find Shiva in his physical form over there, but it means that all the knowledge Lord Shiva possessed, is present in Mount Kailash, in energy form. This also means that the knowledge and ability carried by Shiva is accessible at Kailash.

7. Kamandalu or Water Pitcher

It is a water pot with a handle, and is commonly used by ascetics. The kamandalu in Shiva’s hand depicts him as an ascetic and the water in the kamandalu is symbolic of amrita (or the elixir of life). The kamandalu is also a representation of a self-contained, minimalistic lifestyle, and the giving up of materialistic joys. Lord Shiva carrying a kamandalu quite aptly depicts him as the supreme yogi.

8. Kundalas (Two Ear Rings)

Lord Shiva is depicted as wearing two kundalas in his ears; one named as Alakshya and the other called Niranjan. Alakshya means ‘that which cannot be shown using any sign’ and Niranjan means ‘that which cannot be seen with mortal eyes’. The kundalas worn by Shiva depict his complex nature, or that he is difficult to be understood by an ordinary soul.

It is also said that Lord Shiva wears the makara kundala on his right ear and the tarakanka on his left ear, where the makara kundala denote the male principle of Shiva while the tarakanka signifies his female principle.

9. Matted Hair

Lord Shiva’s matted hair represent his renunciation of worldly pleasures, his ascetism, and his purity (as the hair are never cut or combed). The flow of Shiva’s matted hair is believed to represent wind (or Vayu). Each of his hair strands is also said to represent desires, and his matted locks symbolize that he has knotted all desires thus keeping them in control, which is also his message to his devotees; to keep one’s desires in control and renounce the materialistic pleasures.

10. Nandi – The Sacred Bull

Nandi is Shiva’s closest accomplice because he is the essence of receptivity. Nandi is a symbolism of eternal waiting, because waiting is considered the greatest virtue in Indian culture. One who knows how to simply sit and wait is naturally meditative. Meditation is about listening to God and existence without the need to speak. Nandi exemplifies this by sitting alert and attentive, which is a vital aspect of meditation.

11. River Ganga

In the Himalayas, each peak is thought to embody Shiva, with river streams resembling his dreadlocks, ultimately forming the sacred river Ganga. Thus, the image of Ganga flowing from Shiva’s hair symbolizes the river’s divine purity and mystical origin.

Ganga is also symbolic of the knowledge that purifies the soul. Knowledge leads to freedom, it purifies the mind, it also means movement and fluidity; which is why river Ganga coming out of Shiva’s head can mean the flow of knowledge.

12. Rudraksha

Lord Shiva is seen wearing Rudraksha beads on his head, arms and hands. Rudraksha is believed to contain the secrets of the evolution of cosmos. It is also believed that Rudraksha beads are the tears of Lord Shiva, as Rudra means Shiva and Aksha means tears.

One legend says that during meditation, Shiva had shed tears of joy, while another legend says that after years of meditation when Lord Shiva opened his eyes, on seeing the humanity in suffering, he got tears in his eyes. These tears fell on the Earth and turned into seeds of Rudraksha.

13. Shiva Linga

The Linga symbolizes Lord Shiva. It’s believed that during the process of creation, the first form taken was an ellipsoid, which is also the shape of a lingam. Interestingly, it is also the final form. It is said that when one goes into a deep state of meditation, just before the point of absolute dissolution, the energy takes the form of an ellipsoid.

14. Snake

Lord Shiva wearing a snake around his neck depicts him as fearless and powerful. Legend says that the snake that coiled around the Lord’s neck is Vasuki, the child of Kashyap and Kadru. He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and the most powerful snake. Vasuki is depicted with three coils around Lord Shiva’s neck, where the three coils represent the three parts of time; past, present and future.

Vasuki’s head is seen resting on the Lord’s right shoulder, which symbolizes Lord’s justice and laws to preserve nature and order of the universe. There’s another legend which says, that once when the snake species was in danger, they approached Lord Shiva for shelter, who allowed them to stay on Mount Kailash. The snakes, unable to bear the cold temperatures there, sought protection from Shiva, who let them rest on his body for warmth.

Spiritually speaking, the snake around Lord Shiva’s neck, is symbolic of the dormant energy within us. It is said that when one inclines towards spirituality, the Kundalini, symbolized by the snake, is awakened, and it starts rising upwards. The snake is also believed to be a symbol of our passions and desires.

15. Tandava

It is the cosmic dance of creation and is believed to have been performed by Lord Shiva on various occasions. The various forms of this dance include Ananda Tandav and Rudra Tandava, among others. Lord Shiva is believed to perform the Ananda Tandava when he is happy and Rudra Tandava when he is angry.

16. The Third Eye

The third eye refers to an eye that can see something that is not physical, meaning that which cannot be seen by the two sensory eyes. While the two eyes can see what is outside you, the third eye can be used to see what is inside you. So, opening the third eye can mean, turning inward to see and understand your real nature or gaining awareness of your true self.

Legend says that Kamadeva, the God of lust, once shot an arrow towards Shiva’s heart. Shiva who was working towards yoga, or working towards being limitless, got perturbed by this act of Kamadeva. Shiva opened his third eye and burned down Kamadeva. Symbolically, this sequence of events can mean that while Shiva was practicing yoga, he was disturbed by his own desires (or lust), so he opened his third eye and destroyed his lust. As per Sadhguru, the opening of Shiva’s third eye refers to him perceiving a dimension of himself that is beyond the physical world.

17. Tiger Skin

Lord Shiva is depicted as sitting on the tiger skin. Ascetics used animal skin as a seat to prevent the flow of their energy towards the ground. Lord Shiva is commonly depicted as also wearing tiger skin. It symbolizes power. It is also symbolic of the triumph of divine forces over animal instincts.

18. Tripundra or Tilak or Three Stripes

It is a tilaka worn by Shaivas and the Smarta Hindus, and consists of three horizontal lines and sometimes a dot. It symbolizes the Prana or life force and the three horizontal lines represent the three responsibilities of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, which are creation, sustenance and destruction, respectively. Thus, the tripundra is symbolic of the Holy trinity of Hindu Gods.

The three lines also represent the three Vedic fires (fire in the kitchen, fire lighted for ancestors, and the fire used for Homa), three syllables of AUM, three gunas, three worlds and the three aspects of Lord Shiva.

19. Trident/Trishul

Trident (or Trishul) depicts the three states of consciousness; waking, dreaming and sleeping. Lord Shiva holding the trident represents him as the upholder of these states. The Trishul also represents the three gunas (satva, rajas and tamas). The trident held by Shiva is believed to destroy illusion in the physical world, ego in the mental world and take us towards spiritualism. According to Sadhguru, Shiva’s trident signifies the three aspects of life, or the three dimensions of life; Ida, Pingala and Sushumna.

The varied and interesting symbols of Lord Shiva are indeed a unique representation of this deity as someone who is powerful, dispassionate, and incomprehensible to the ordinary. He is a true yogi, the destroyer of evil, and the liberator.

He is accessible as a God, unattainable as a form. He is like the all-pervading darkness that is the reality of everyone’s existence, and that which can be perceived without senses but can never be fully understood. Easy to see, difficult to fathom, and impossible to embody – that’s Shiva!!

The post 19 Symbols of Lord Shiva: Meaning and Significance appeared first on Stillchemy.

10 Intriguing Facts about Lord Ganesha

Know about Lord Ganesha’s Family

Lord Ganesha’s father is Lord Shiva and his mother is Goddess Paravati. Kartikeya is Lord Ganesha’s brother. Is Lord Ganesha married? In some traditions, he is regarded as unmarried while some traditions depict him as married to Buddhi (intelligence) and Siddhi (success) and in some other traditions, Riddhi (prosperity) is also regarded as his wife. As per Shiva Purana, Ganesha has two sons, Ksema (safety) and Labha (profit). In the northern Indian variants of this story, Subha (auspiciousness) and Labha are said to be Lord Ganesha’s sons. Santoshi (Goddess of satisfaction) is believed to be Ganesha’s daughter.

Lord Ganesha Symbolism

• His big head is symbolic of thinking big.
• His large ears represent the ability to listen more and his small mouth is symbolic of talking less.
• The small eyes of Lord Ganesha are symbolic of focus and concentration.
• He has one tusk which represents that one should retain the good and throw away the bad.
• His trunk symbolizes high efficiency and adaptability.
• He holds an axe in one hand which represents the cutting off of bonds of attachment. A rope held in the other hand represents pulling you towards the highest goal. His raised hand depicts that he is blessing and protecting his devotees. The other hand is symbolic of giving or generosity.
• The big stomach of Lord Ganesha is symbolic of his ability to digest or accept good as well as bad.
• He is depicted sitting with one leg folded and one leg on the floor. This represents that while enjoying worldly pleasures, one must remain detached and seek one’s inner self.

The Elephant-headed God

Puranic myths state different reasons why Lord Ganesha has the head of an elephant. Some say he was born with an elephant’s head while most texts say that he got the head later. A popular legend goes that devi Parvati had created a boy from clay to protect her, and Lord Shiva beheaded Ganesha when he came between him and Parvati, after which Lord Shiva put an elephant’s head in place of Ganesha’s original head and that’s how Ganesha came to be the elephant-headed God. There’s another relatively lesser-known story according to which Ganesha was created from Lord Shiva’s laughter, and since Shiva found him very attractive, he gave him an elephant’s head and a huge belly.

Why Lord Ganesha has a Big Belly

Due to his big belly, Lord Ganesha is called Lambodara (literally meaning hanging belly) or Mahodara (meaning one with a great belly). Brahmanda Purana states that Lord Ganesha had a large belly because all the universes are present in him. The big belly represents his ability to digest the good and bad. It is also taken to mean a full stomach, which is symbolic of prosperity or abundance.

Significance of the Broken Tusk

It is believed that Vyasa dictated verses of the epic Mahabharata to Lord Ganesha and he wrote them down. A legend says that while deciphering the meaning of a certain verse, engrossed in thought, Lord Ganesh broke his own tusk to use as a tool for writing. There’s another story as per which, one day when Parshurama was visiting Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha blocked his way reacting to which, Parshurama flung his axe at Ganesha. Lord Ganesha recognized it as a weapon given to Parshurama by his father Shiva. So, out of respect and humility, he allowed it to strike him and got his tusk broken.

Why is a mouse the vehicle of Lord Ganesha?

The mouse represents ego, and Lord Ganesha riding the mouse is symbolic of controlling one’s ego. The mouse is also said to represent desires and the mouse as Lord Ganesha’s vehicle means that one should ride on one’s desires but keep them under control. A large Indian bandicoot rat is depicted as Lord Ganesha’s vehicle, which symbolizes Lord’s ability to overcome any difficulty to get anywhere, and it is also believed that Lord Ganesha can go anywhere to remove obstacles, with the help of the rat as his vehicle.

According to the Ganesha Purana, gandharva Kraunch was cursed by a sage and turned into a rat. He later served as Ganesha’s vehicle. A story goes that mushak (mouse), the vaahana of Lord Ganesha could not bear Lord’s heavy weight and so he requested the Lord to reduce in size. Lord Ganesha obliged, after which the mushaka asked Lord to assign him as his vehicle.

Which is Lord Ganesha’s Favourite Food?

Modaks are believed to be the most favourite food of Lord Ganesha and is the most popular prasad on Ganesh Chaturthi. Often, 21 to 101 modaks are prepared as prasad during the puja of Lord Ganesha. The most authentic modak is the steamed modak which is a sweet dumpling of rice flour and filled with a mixture of jaggery and coconut. Most Ganesh idols are seen holding a modak. Some of Ganesha’s other favourite foods include motichoor laddus and bananas.

Hibiscus and Durva Grass for Lord Ganesha

Devotees believe that offering the hibiscus flower to Lord Ganesha can help them get his blessings for prosperity and success. Lord Ganesha is said to have a liking for red flowers as the color is linked with mars and the moon. It is also believed that the petals of the hibiscus flower emit divine consciousness. This flower is said to signify strength of the subconscious, and hence used during the worship of Lord Ganesha.

Durva grass is a three-bladed plant that attracts the energy of Lord Ganesha. According to a legend, once while fighting with a demon, Ganesha swallowed him, which led to a burning sensation in his stomach. Nothing could provide relief to Lord Ganesha. Some sages then offered him 21 blades of durva grass, which gave him relief, and thus started the tradition of offering durva grass to Ganapati.

Festivities of Lord Ganesha

Ganesh Jayanti: It falls on the Magha Shukla Chaturthi and is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesha.

Sankashti Chaturthi: It is a holy day that falls in every lunar month of the Hindu calendar. If it comes on a Tuesday, it is known as Angaraki Chaturthi and is considered as very sacred. Devotees observe a fast on Sankashti Chaturthi, pray and worship Lord Ganesha, and it is a common practice to take darshan of the moon following prayers to Ganapati before breaking the fast.

Ganeshotsav: It is a highly popular festival that spans 10 days from Ganesh Chaturthi to Anant Chaturdashi. During this festival, Ganesh idols are worshipped in households and public celebrations are also held. People come together for puja and arati, sweets are distributed as prasad and various cultural programs are organized. Ganapati bappa (as Lord Ganesha is fondly called) is greeted on Ganesh Chaturthi and it is believed he comes to the earthly realm on this day. He is believed to be returning to his heavenly abode on Anant Chaturdashi, with which the Ganesh festival concludes. For greeting as well as while bidding farewell to Lord Ganesha, big processions are held in some parts of India.

Forms and Avatars of Ganesha

Lord Ganesha has various names and forms. His names like Ganapati and Ganesha denote his position as the leader or Lord of people, while his names like Gajanan (one with the head of an elephant), or Vakratunda (one with a twisted trunk) represent his physical appearance. According to the Mudgala Purana, there are 8 avatars of Ganesha, namely, Vakratunda, Ekadanta, Mahodara, Gajanan, Lambodara, Vikata, Vighnaraja and Dhumravarna.

Mudgala Purana as well as other devotional literary sources mention 32 avatars of Ganesha, which are Bala Ganapati, Taruna Ganapati, Bhakti Ganapati, Vira Ganapati, Sakti Ganapati, Dwija Ganapati, Siddhi Ganapati, Ucchishta Ganapati, Vighna Ganapati, Kshipra Ganapati, Heramba Ganapati, Lakshmi Ganapati, Maha Ganapati, Vijaya Ganapati, Nrtya Ganapati, Urdhva Ganapati, Ekakshara Ganapati, Vara Ganapati, Tryakshara Ganapati, Kshipra Prasada Ganapati, Haridra Ganapti, Ekadanta Ganapati, Srishti Ganapati, Uddanda Ganapati, Rinamochana Ganapati, Dhundi Ganapati, Dvimukha Ganapti, Trimukha Ganapati, Sinha Ganapati, Yoga Ganapati, Durga Ganapati and Sankatahara Ganapati. Out of these the first 16 are worshipped more and Mahaganapati is particularly more popularly worshipped.

Lord Ganesha, is depicted in various forms; he may be seen standing or seated. Since he is a patron of arts, he is portrayed playing a musical instrument or dancing. He may be seen riding a mouse or seated on a chavarang, a chair, or on a lotus. Sculptors take the creative liberty to depict him in varied forms, and being a highly versatile God that he is, his portrayal in idols is highly varied.

These were 10 fascinating facts about Lord Ganesha, which give you a detailed description of this popular deity. Unlike other Gods who are considered as strict and may be respected out of fear, Lord Ganesha is different; he is loved and revered. Kids and adults alike, love this fondly God and worship him in their own ways, with great devotion. He fiercely protects against obstacles, he lovingly blesses with abundance and peace. This Lord of wisdom and prosperity is also the God of good beginnings, and is worshipped foremost on almost all religious rituals and auspicious occasions. Unlike many other deities, Lord Ganesha comes across as a highly accessible God who is approachable and friendly. He infuses everyone with enthusiasm and positive energy, and his devotees span all age groups and communities. Just the chant of his name fills the air with joy and positivity – Ganapati bappa moraya!

The post Symbolism and Interesting Facts about Lord Ganesha appeared first on Stillchemy.

10 Important Teachings of Bhagavad Gita

#1 One of the main moral lessons of Gita is that the past is behind us, learn from it; the future is ahead of us, prepare for it; the present is here, live it. Thus, the Gita teaches us the importance of living in the present.

#2 The Gita says that all of us face challenges and have to go through difficult times. It is natural to feel afraid and confused during such times. However, we should let go of the fears, focus on the karma and trust the process.

#3 An important teaching of Gita is that we should adhere to the good, and continue with our good deeds without worrying about the rewards. This means, we should focus on our work and not the results. Lord Krishna teaches us to abandon the fruits of our actions.

#4 In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says that the body is mortal, but the soul is immortal. It is reborn into another body, and for those who have understood the ultimate truth, the soul is freed from the cycle of births, and achieves moksha.

#5 Bhagavad Gita teaches us that change is unavoidable and that we must learn to adapt to changes in life. Difficult phases will come and go. We should learn to tolerate them and accept them without getting affected by them. Lord Krishna emphasizes that nothing in the world is permanent.

#6 What Gita says about love? The Gita teaches is to forego our prejudices and extend love and compassion to all living beings. We should not carry hatred for any creature and that we should be friendly and forgiving to all. We should be able to achieve a state where we can treat our friends and foes equally.

#7 The importance of meditation has been discussed in the Bhagavad Gita. Lord Krishna explains that meditation is extremely necessary in order to find inner peace and for sadhana. A mind which is engrossed in materialistic things cannot meditate.

#8 One more key teaching of the Bhagavad Gita is that desires come and go but we should be dispassionate towards them. If we get affected by our desires, we may take to certain wrong deeds, so it is important to prevent ourselves from getting shackled by our desires and be able to experience them objectively. Lord Krishna says that we should be free from attachment and egoism, and balanced in pain and pleasure.

#9 Whatever happens, happens for the good, is an extremely important teaching of the Bhagavad Gita. Repenting over past actions or stressing over the present circumstances is futile, as everything is designed by God, and whatever is happening with us, is for the good. It is important to have faith in God and trust in his design instead of mulling over the past or blaming ourselves or our circumstances for the present situation. We should believe that whatever happens, happens because it was meant to be, and God will never let anything bad happen to us. So, everything is happening for the good.

#10 The Gita teaches us to trust the Almighty and devote ourselves to him. We should dedicate all our actions to God. We should know that He is supreme, the creator as well as the destroyer and it is he who is governing all our experiences in life. If we surrender to the almighty, and devote ourselves to him, we will gain strength from him and know that He is always there to help us during difficult times. We should know that God is omnipresent and all-knowing, and that if we have faith in him, we shall be able to sail through life with ease.

Applying the principals of Gita in our daily life, can lead to a huge positive change in the way we think, behave and act. The application of lessons learned from the Gita can be life-changing, as this sacred text carries the ultimate knowledge of life.

It teaches us to have faith in the almighty, trust the process, know that everything is transient and live with objectivity. The Bhagavad Gita also teaches us to have compassion for all living beings, to never forsake the good, to imbibe purity in our thoughts and actions, and to live in the present with a strong belief that everything happens for our greater good. The Gita teaches us to turn our pain into purpose and live a disciplined and fulfilling life.

The post 10 Key Teachings from Bhagavad Gita appeared first on Stillchemy.

Reading the Gita can help you achieve better mind control, strike a balance in life, find your purpose of living, and enhance your awareness of the self. If you intend to start reading the Bhagavad Gita, this writeup is for you, as it enlists the rules for reading the Gita and practical tips for mastering the art of Gita reading.

Rules for Reading Bhagavad Gita

• Read the Bhagavad Gita with devotion.
• Read the Gita in the morning hours, and after having a bath.
• Do not talk to anyone while reading the Gita.
• It is said that you should not consume any food or drink before reading the Gita.
• The place where you read Gita should be clean and tidy. To read the Gita, it is advisable to sit on a clean mat or carpet and it should not be changed daily.
• Preferably, the Bhagavad Gita should be read at a certain fixed time of the day and for a specific duration.
• Before reading any chapter of Gita, read the Gita Mahatmya of that chapter.
• Remember or chant any mantra of Lord Ganesha or Lord Krishna before you begin to read the Gita.
• After reading each chapter, you should bow down and touch your forehead to the feet of Lord Krishna and the Bhagavad Gita.
• It is said that you should say the Bhagavad Gita Arati with devotion.
• Read the Gita with faith in mind. Understand the significance and meaning of the shlokas and resolve to put the teachings and principles of Gita into practice in your real life.
• Read the Bhagavad Gita when you are in a balanced mood. Read with complete focus and without bias, so that you can understand the deep meaning of all the shlokas.

Tips to Master the Art of Gita Reading

• When reading the Gita for the first time, you may not be able to comprehend it, and you may not enjoy the reading experience. Be patient; after reading for a few more times, you will gain interest in the scripture and its meaning.
• While reading the Gita, also read the meaning of each verse/chapter. That way, you will find it easier to understand this sacred text.
• Read with a feeling of complete surrender to Lord Krishna. In the Bhagavad Gita, his words of wisdom eloquently explain the philosophy of life. Read with faith and respect for the Lord, so that your senses are more receptive to understanding the scripture’s true meaning.
• It is best to read the book rather than reading the Gita online.
• Understand that the Gita is not a novel that you would read with the intent to complete it fast or to read it casually. Read the Bhagavad Gita slowly and steadily, taking time to understand the text. Do not hurry to complete it, but read consistently.
• Some people prefer to read only certain chapters or parts of the Gita, to achieve certain supposed benefits out of the same. However, it is not advisable to read the Bhagavad Gita in parts or with an intended outcome. Read this scripture wholly and thoroughly to fulfil the true purpose of reading, which is to gain true knowledge about life.
• Do not read to challenge the principles given in the Gita. With this sort of a mindset, you will not be able to absorb the real meaning of the text.
• Read a few shlokas daily, and once in a month, revise the chapters you have covered till that time. This way, you may be able to understand and also memorize parts of this text. Gradually and over some time of reading and revising, you may memorize most or even all parts of this holy text and also comprehend it in entirety.
• It is best to read the Gita under the guidance of an expert so that you can get your doubts cleared from him/her and gain a thorough understanding of this scripture.

Reading the Bhagavad Gita and practicing the principles therein, can be a life-changing experience. However, it should be read with sincerity, concentration and purity of mind. Eventually, you will not only read the Gita but also start living it. Best wishes to embark on your journey of mastering the art of Gita reading.

The post Mastering the Art of Reading Bhagavad Gita: Practical Tips and Rules appeared first on Stillchemy.

Each of Vishnu’s avatars had a specific purpose. In each of his incarnations, Lord Vishnu saved the world from a particular challenge, and played a crucial role in destroying the evil while ensuring that only the good prevailed. Here is a look at the 10 forms of God Vishnu (or Dashavatara), in the order of their appearance.

10 Avataras of Lord Vishnu

1. Matsya

It is described as the first avatar of Lord Vishnu, in which he is believed to have saved the first man named Manu, from a huge flood. This incarnation is depicted as a giant fish and is also believed to have saved the sacred scriptures (Vedas) from getting stolen by a demon.

2. Kurma

It is regarded as a large turtle that appeared during the Samudra Manthana and supported the Earth. In some texts, Kurma is believed to have helped the gods and demons churn the ocean by pulling the rope used for churning. As per other texts, Kurma was Lord Vishnu in the form of a giant tortoise which saved mount Mandara from drowning. Mount Mandara was supposedly used as the churning rod during the Samudra Manthana.

3. Varaha

In the Varaha avatar, Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of a wild boar and lifted the Earth out of the cosmic ocean. Legend has it that a demon named Hiranyakasha stole the Earth which is when God Vishnu took the form of a boar and rescued the Earth by lifting it with its tusks.

4. Narasimha

In this incarnation, Lord Vishnu appeared as a half-lion, half-human, with the claws and face of a lion and torso and lower body of a man. He is believed to have taken this form to kill demon Hiranyakashyapu who was creating havoc on Earth and had to be destroyed. He had been granted a boon from Lord Brahma according to which he could not be killed during the day or night, inside or outside the house, neither in the sky nor on land, neither in the heaven nor in patala, and by no weapon, human, God, demon or animal. So, Lord Vishnu took the form which was neither of these and killed the asura Hiranyakashyapu between day and night, on the threshold of his palace, on his lap, and with his claws.

5. Vamana

Legend has it that when the king of devas Indra, was defeated by the king of asuras Bali, the devas came to Lord Vishnu asking for help. Bali was conducting ritual sacrifices, when Lord Vishnu appeared before him as Vamana (who was a boy of a small stature). He asked Bali for 3 feet of land to which Bali readily agreed. Bali then appeared in his real grander form, stepping into the heavens, the patala, and then on Bali’s head, thus banishing him and restoring the three worlds back to king Indra.

6. Parashurama

It is believed that when the Kshatriyas were abusing their power and harassing innocent people, Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of Parashurama, and destroyed the Kshatriyas 21 times. He is among the chiranjivis (immortals) and it is believed that he will appear again during the Kala yuga as the guru of Vishnu’s 10th avatar Kalki.

7. Rama

He is the main character in the epic of Ramayana and is worshipped by a large population. He is known for his righteousness and nobility and for following the path of dharma, all his life. His wife Sita was kidnapped by Ravana. Rama, with the help of Hanuman and his vanarasena, reached Lanka, the kingdom of Ravana, and rescued his wife Sita. He brought her back to Ayodhya, but when the subjects questioned her purity, Lord Rama, on the request of his subjects, asked her to give the agnipariksha to prove her sanctity. Lord Rama thus stands as an example of someone who lived for others, sacrificing his happiness, for his family thus proving him to be an ideal son, and later for his subjects, thus proving to be an ideal king. Lord Rama is hence regarded as a Purushottama. Lord Vishnu appeared as Rama in the Treta yuga.

8. Krishna

The most important character in the Indian epic of Mahabharata, and most famed as the creator and narrator of Bhagvat Gita, Lord Krishna is a highly respected deity of the Hindus. He was the 8th avatar of Lord Vishnu. As a child, he was a prankster who won the hearts of everyone around. During youth, he was a protector of his people, and a destroyer of evil, when he killed the tyrannical king Kansa. He played the role of the best diplomat and an ideal mentor during Mahabharata, where he was crucial in restoring justice by destroying the Kaurava’s rule. Lord Vishnu appeared as Krishna in the Dvapara yuga.

9. Buddha

The Buddha (the enlightened one) is regarded as the 9th avatar of Lord Vishnu as per the Vaishnava tradition. Agni Purana says that Lord Vishnu took the form of Buddha to rescue the devas who were being defeated by the demons in their battles. Most Buddhists and some Hindus do not accept Buddha as Vishnu’s avatar. Thus, he is arguably an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, however, his life and teachings continue to guide many.

10. Kalki

He is the tenth and final incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that he will appear at the culmination of Kaliyuga, and mark the new beginning of Satya yuga. He is prophesied to arrive on a white horse carrying a sword and it is believed that he will destroy the adharma, following which there will be a huge pralaya (dissolution of the universe) and Satya yuga will begin again.

These 10 forms of Hindu God Vishnu are an example of how good triumphs over evil, and how a certain superpower appears to destroy all the wrong and restore righteousness. In all these incarnations, Lord Vishnu can be seen to have appeared in human or animal form with the sole purpose of establishing justice in an unjust world so that only the good wins.

The post Dashavatara List: Know About The 10 Avatars of Lord Vishnu appeared first on Stillchemy.