Stress Relief 101: A Beginner’s Guide to 5 Breathwork Techniques
Breathwork can be defined as a breathing practice in which you exercise conscious control over your breathing, and it is said to have a positive effect on your physical and mental well-being. The concept of breathwork means removing stress and toxins from the body when breathing out and nourishing...
25+ Fascinating Mount Kailash Mysteries & Facts
Standing at an elevation of 6,638 m, Mount Kailash lies in the Kailash range of Transhimalaya in the western region of the Tibetan plateau. Popularly known as the abode of Lord Shiva, carrying great spiritual importance and considered as the world’s most sacred mountain, Kailash is shrouded in mystery....
Are Cold Showers Good for You? 9 Health Benefits You Didn’t Know About
Take a cold shower in the morning and you will start feeling more energetic. Bathe with cold water after a workout and your muscles will feel more relaxed. So, are cold showers good for you? What are the health benefits of bathing with cold water? Let’s find out. 9...
My Inner Engineering Story – A Tale of Joy and Fulfillment By Kush Sareen
“Namaste, My name is Kush Sareen and I’m the founder of Isha Stories. My spiritual journey started in my teenage years when I started pondering the deeper questions of life. Who am I? What is my purpose? What is the nature of my existence? Deep inside me, these questions...
How to Set Up a Relaxing Meditation Space at Home
Meditation helps reduce your stress and helps you attain a sense of calm. To be able to practice mindful meditation, you are required to remove distractions and be in a soothing environment, where focusing the mind is easier, and for this, you require a designated space that is conducive...
113 Quotes on Yoga, Meditation & Spirituality by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Gurudev consistently talks about the importance of human values and understanding that we’re all connected globally. He supports harmony among different faiths and believes that educating about different cultures can prevent fanaticism. These efforts are vital for his goal of creating lasting peace. Going beyond differences in race, nationality,...
140 Best Quotes by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Love, Happiness and Life
Founder of The Art of Living, a non-profit organization, Gurudev offers programs globally, empowering individuals to eliminate stress and enhance well-being. In 1982, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar embarked on a 10-day silence, emerging as an enlightened master. From that moment, his life’s purpose crystallized — to guide others in...
15 Remarkable Benefits of Reading Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita is an important Hindu scripture that consists of 700 verses. It comprises chapters 23 to 40 of book 6 of Mahabharata known as Bhishma Parva. According to Hindu mythology, Bhagavad Gita was written by Lord Ganesha as dictated to him by sage Veda Vyasa. It dwells on...
Thaipusam Festival: History, Significance and Celebrations Around the World
What is Thaipusam celebrated for? What is the story of Thaipusam? Let’s find out in this article on the history and significance of this festival and take a sneak peek at the Thaipusam celebrations around the world. What is Thaipusam? Thaipusam (where Thai is the name of a Tamil...
14 Fascinating Facts About Ayodhya Ram Mandir You Probably Don’t Know Yet
Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is an architectural spectacle with great religious and cultural importance. It has been created with the intent to take Lord Rama’s life and mission to the masses, and is sure to boost the tourism industry and economy of India. The temple successfully attempts to narrate...
11+ Little-Known Miraculous Health Benefits of Betel Leaf
Betel (botanical name: piper betle) is a flowering plant species that belongs to the family Piperaceae which is native to South East Asia. It is an evergreen vine with shiny, heart-shaped leaves. Since thousands of years, betel leaves have been used as a wrapper for areca nut and in...
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Quotes for a Positive Mind
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is a globally respected spiritual and humanitarian leader, known for promoting a stress-free and violence-free society. He has developed impactful programs empowering individuals to address challenges at various levels – global, national, community and individual. Through his initiatives and messages, Gurudev has touched the...
13 Sadhguru Quotes on Lord Rama’s Exemplary Life
Rama is admired by people from diverse backgrounds because he symbolizes inner strength and balance. Regardless of external challenges, Rama remains peaceful and blissful, making him an ideal hero for everyone. His universal appeal lies in the timeless lesson that true strength and happiness come from managing one’s own...
Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Temple’s Architecture and Cultural Significance
Once the site of Babri Masjid, then a disputed land, and today the prestigious location of Ram Mandir, Hindus have had to wait for hundreds of years before a temple of their beloved deity Lord Rama could be constructed at his birthplace (janmabhoomi), Ayodhya. Based on a report by...
A Step-by-Step Guide to Conditioning Rudraksha Beads and Malas
Rudraksha are dried seeds of the tree Elaeocarpus Ganitrus, which grow in some regions of South East Asia. It is also known as ‘tears of Shiva’, where Rudra means Shiva and Aksha means tears. Rudraksha beads are believed to help maintain your physical and mental well-being. They are said...
My Life-changing Encounter with Inner Engineering: A Journey of Self-Transformation – Abhishek Patel
I am Abhishek Patel, and this is my transformation journey. I had everything I wanted, and life was great, but I would wonder, is there something more to life, or is this it? Would achieving social success make me a successful piece of life? I noticed, while on a...
Embracing Freedom from Compulsions and Addictions Through Inner Engineering: Shashank Shekhar
In late 2019, around November, my spiritual journey led me to explore Sadhguru and the Isha Foundation. At that time, grappling with personal and professional crises, I sought solace in various spiritual organizations, ranging from Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism to ISKCON, until I finally found my way to the Isha...
What’s the Best Direction to Sleep? Your Guide to A Restful Night’s Sleep
A restful sleep is an important component of wellness. Apart from a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle, a good amount and quality of sleep are critical for good health, as a peaceful sleep helps in maintaining your immunity, reducing your stress levels, and aids in the proper functioning of...
Why Do We Offer Bilva Leaves to Lord Shiva?
Bilva leaves are known to be Lord Shiva’s favourite, and are commonly used while worshipping him. The trifoliate or three-leaf structure of Bilva leaves has a unique symbolism, which is one of the reasons why Bel patra is offered to Lord Shiva. Generations have been following what ancient texts...
Spiritual Significance and Benefits of Bilva Leaves
Bilva (scientific name: Aegel mermelos) is from the Rutaceae family. This tree (also called Bel tree) is native to India and also found in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Thailand. In Sanskrit, this tree is called Shivadruma (tree of Shiva), in Hindi, it is known as Bel or Bael,...
12 Intriguing Benefits of Chanting the Mahamantra – Aum Namah Shivaya (ॐ नमः शिवाय)
Chanting of a mantra helps you focus and come to a meditative state, silencing the noise within and letting you experience a sense of calm. Devotees of Lord Shiva would prefer chanting the Aum Namah Shivaya mantra while devotees of other Gods might like to chant a mantra of...
Dashavatara List: Know About The 10 Avatars of Lord Vishnu
Vishnu is one of the three principal Hindu Gods (or part of the trinity of Hindu Gods or Trimurti), with Brahma and Vishnu being the other two in this trio. While Brahma is regarded as the Creator and Shiva as the Destroyer, Vishnu is regarded as the Protector or...
Brahma Muhurta Significance: Embracing the Sacred Essence of the Morning Hour
Picturize this. The sun is yet to rise. A soft light fills the skies. There is a mystic silence in the air. A gentle breeze rustles the leaves. What your senses experience at this time of the day, is simply rejuvenating. We are referring to that part of the...
Why Is Eating Forbidden During Solar and Lunar Eclipses?
Why shouldn’t we eat during eclipses?Is consuming food on the day of an eclipse harmful to the body? There are many age-old beliefs about why eating should be forbidden during eclipses. One common belief is that food eaten on an eclipse day takes longer to digest and the other...
Significance of Lighting the Traditional Oil or Ghee Lamp
Light is symbolic of knowledge, happiness, prosperity, abundance and overall well-being. It serves as a powerful metaphor for removal of darkness, which is synonymous with ignorance, sorrow and negativity. Light is the absence of darkness, which means light signifies the absence of vices, the absence of negative energies, and...
Cultural Etiquette: The When, Why and How of Touching Elders’ Feet in Indian Tradition
When and why do we touch elders’ feet in Indian culture? What does touching someone’s feet mean? Here is an insight into the Indian tradition of touching elders’ feet as a part of the cultural etiquette. Bowing down and touching the feet in a certain way is an enormous...
Secret Benefits of Om (Aum) Mantra Chanting
Aum is believed to be the sound (original vibration) of the universe, it is composed of three syllables ‘a’, ‘u’, and ‘m’ representing the various states of awareness and symbolizes the trinity of ‘Creation’, ‘Preservation’, and ‘Destruction’. Most Sanskrit mantras start with ‘Om (Aum)’. What happens if we chant...
16 Spectacular Harvest Festivals in India – A Symphony of Cultural Diversity
Festivals across cultures can be seen as outlets to express joy and gratitude. Harvest festivals are about cherishing a good yield and thanking nature for a generous harvest. Isn’t it a nature’s miracle how tiny seeds sown in soil grow into plants and trees that flower and bear fruit?...
108 Names of Lord Shiva With Meanings – Shiva Ashtothram
Gods have several names because devotees prefer to call the Almighty by different names based on their perception of him, and the varied names of a certain God also serve to describe his nature, capabilities, qualities and role. Many times, these names are used during the ‘japa’ of that...
12 Powerful Dhyanalinga Quotes By Sadhguru That Will Nourish Your Spiritual Yearning!
Dhyanalinga, a profound embodiment of boundless energy, manifested on June 24, 1999, was consecrated by Sadhguru through 3 years of intense Prana Pratishtha. Serving as a sacred gateway to ultimate liberation, it symbolizes the fulfillment of the dreams cherished by enlightened beings across generations. Unlike traditional places of worship,...
30+ Mahashivaratri Wishes, Messages and Quotes to Connect with Shiva’s Timeless Grace
Mahashivaratri, the Great Night of Shiva is a sacred celebration dedicated to honoring Lord Shiva and embracing the values he represents. This auspicious occasion encourages devotees to worship the shivalinga, engage in prayers for harmony, observe fasting and meditate with the aim of attaining inner peace. Know more about...
Mahashivaratri 2024: Science, Significance and Rituals – Everything You Need to Know!
Mahashivaratri is a sacred celebration devoted to embracing the divine presence of Lord Shiva. While most other Indian festivals are celebrated during the day and include the getting together of families and friends, Mahashivaratri is observed at night and focuses on self-introspection and meditation. What’s truly special about Mahashivaratri...
Mahashivaratri Unveiled: 10 Interesting Facts and Essential Celebration Insights
Mahashivaratri (also known as the Great Night of Shiva) is observed on the 14th day of the dark half of the month of Magha or Phalgun. As per the Gregorian calendar, this festival falls in the month of February or March every year. It is an auspicious occasion to...