A Delightful Day

Dear readers,

I celebrated Diwali with my loved ones today.

Just wanted to share a few memorable flicks with you.

Happy Diwali to one and all


~ Souvik

Ajaya - Shubho Vijaya!

Adbhut Karma

Anusandhan

Dear readers,

Happy Ganga Dashami to all!

Love,

Souvik

Astrology in the age of Renaissance

Dear readers,

This article is a tribute to my some of my friends who have selflessly devoted their life to the practice of various ancient Indian traditions.

Many might already know this, but few may also be unaware about the change happening around the world in the mindset of astrology and its practice.

In Chicago, IL my friend Jim (James Kulackoski), a multifaceted personality is starting a center of Vedic sciences. Some of the courses like Sanskrit learning, Jyotish etc. can be taken online. Here is the link for that. It is indeed a great opportunity for people in and around Chicago.

Saptarishis Astrology has completely changed the face of astrological research in the present era. Be it detailed research platform, be revealing ancient and obscure texts or be it a platform to showcase your genuine astrological talent, Saptarishis has created a brand name. They are detailed, hard-working and motivated individuals and there is not a name in modern astrological practice that would not want to associate with them. If something can be called as the future of astrology, then this it. Please visit their website and see it for yourself. Please don't forget to check their bookstore, you will never get those prices anywhere else!

Times are changing and so is the face of astrology!

~ Souvik

An Aries Sun

Dear readers,
Call it Vishu, Baishak or Aries Sun month, it all means the same, it all gives us a reason to celebrate. Sun has entered Aries. Actually as per CST (Central Time, US) it entered on April 13, 2009. Sun will be in deep exaltation on April 23 2009 (CST). Till the time Sun is in Aries and more so in the Ashwini nakshatra, healing activities would surely cure patients suffering from a long time.
Till Sun is in Ashwini, readers can consider self-cleansing exercises like meditation and yoga.

Happy Cleansing!
Shubho Nobo Borsho!
Happy Vishu!

Love and Peace,

~ Souvik

Are you ready to face the truth - II ?

Dear readers,

I have been thinking of writing the Part II of my article "Are you ready to face the Truth" for quite sometime now.

Today seemed just fine to do it.

In the part I for this series in March, 2007 I had mentioned about some dates. I will carry on from where I had left.

All views expressed in this article are just mine and need not be believed by you. I hold no authority in any matter of spiritual or religious origin and in fact have minuscule understanding of religious, spiritual, astrological and metaphysical matters compared to many knowledgeable souls around.

Again, as I had stated earlier in part I of this series, there is no copyright on this material and you are free to reproduce this article anywhere and copy any part of this article. You absolutely don't need to cite this blog reference or my name as the author for this article when you produce it.


Rudra
Rudra is responsible for cleaning up the stage for any new beginning. Here it is important to see Rudra as an aspect and not as a deity. Rudra as an aspect can be studied in us with the help of a tool called as astrology. In astrology, Rudra aspect is depicted by Mars. Hence for any major calamity Mars becomes an important factor. Lets hold on to this truth and I will come back to this when I try to tie all the strings together.

New Moon (Lunar Cycles)
Every time a mass destruction has taken place on Earth, it was more or less near a New Moon cycle. Recently they showed a program in the History channel where statistical study had shown that crime rates rise during Full Moon and New Moon nights.

Astronomy
We all know about the galactic alignment in 2012. However, what we might have to look out for in the night sky is the appearance of any new star (or spot) in the any constellation. We may also have to keep a close watch at NEOs. According to the most accepted theory dinosaurs were wiped out by a comet collision. Is something heading our way too?

Astrology
What does various astrology methods tell us about 2012? What exactly was the long count Mayan Calender based on? Is there any astrological significance to it? These questions if answered can take us closer to the truth.

Religion and Religious texts
Almost every religion has an open promise of the return of a Godly being. Why does religion give this hope to humanity? Is there a reason for this hope?

Common Sense
If the new age or the Golden Age or the end of Time as we know it is to begin on Dec 21, 2012 then how can it happen. How can bad people suddenly change to good people? After all it is the people who make up the society and hence the era. What event can change the most notorious person you know into a good man? Death? or fear of death?
There was this wonderful film I saw called "The Day the Earth stood still" in which it was said that any civilization evolves to the next stage when it is at the "brink of extinction". It is indeed a very thought provoking line. How will the stock market react to extinction of human race or would it have to time to react?

Science and physics
Solar flare activity will be at its maximum in 2012. This is already a known thing to many. What makes it even worse is that NASA has detected a breach in Earth's magnetic field which was detected by NASA and announced to the public on Dec 16, 2008.
Here is the news from the NASA website - It took NASA scientists by surprise!

Now, why am I just throwing questions at you when you are actually expecting answers. Well, even if I know the answers, nothing is going to change the fate of humanity if really something bad is going to happen on Dec 12, 2012 (some even say it is a 2 year date range of Dec 12, 2012 to July 27, 2014).

I think even if we are at the brink of extinction, some of us are still going to think that we should have really taken that home loan! :)

To be Continued in Part III...

~Souvik

A good man

Dear reader,

Today is Good Friday.

The message is simple - Let us think of the selfless love of Christ.

Let us think today of our actions in the past when we have blamed an innocent person for something he/she has not done. The time we have cursed someone we later realized was innocent.

The reasons for doing such an act could have been anything anger, greed, lust, ego but the reason can never justify the wrong action.

Everytime we have thrown a stone at someone else, abused a life, taken advantage of a mute humble innocent man- we have crucified the Christ in us.

We are all humans and yes we all do err. Today is the day we should think about such an action we did and say two simple words to the Christ in us who we crucified that day - "Forgive me"!

I have sinned too and if I have hurt you my reader in any way, please do forgive me today!

Let us remember today of all sins we have done!

Let us pray for "the good man", "The Christ" who is no where other than in us!

Let us promise ourselves today that we will try never to crucify the "good" in us, the "selflessness" is us, the Christ in us!

Love and Peace

~ Souvik

"The Kingdom of God is within you" ~ Luke, Chapter XVI I, verses 20-21

Abhay daan

Jai Hanuman!

Anjaneya

Dear readers,

Hanuman Jayanti starts on
Date: April 8, 2009
Time: 10:45:00 hrs CST

Wish all a happy Hanuman Jayanti!

Ages fall short in describing the tales of Maruti, so to keep it short and sweet, we can say that as long as there is even one soul on Earth that has "bhakti" in his heart, Bajrangbali will protect us.
Devotion pleases Anjaneya a lot, so one way to get his blessings is to show utmost devotion to someone you care about. Determination of purpose is another thing Pawanputra has taught us.

Jai Bajrangbali!

~Souvik

Aum Shri Ram Jay Siya Ram!

Dear readers,

April 2, 2009 19:45 hrs CST Ram Navami begins.

Wish all readers a wonderful Ram Navami!

Even if you don't get time to listen to Ramayana, please do atleast say out loud "Jay Shri Ram"!

If you are a married man then something simple can please Lord Rama very much - do express your love for your spouse in words. What many of us fail to realize is that how much Shri Ram suffered in His life due to His separation from His beloved wife - Shri Sita mata.

Being Purushottam was not an easy task and the biggest sacrifice the Lord had to make was His love of life. Let us all bow down to His sacrifice and ask Him and Sita Mata to bless us with a prosperous and happy life.

Also, we should learn from examples of Lakshman, the great Bharat and ofcourse Ramdut Hanuman!

Jai Shri Ram!

Love,

Souvik

Anandam Paramam Shukham

Dear readers,

Wish you all a Happy Holi!

Let us join together to celebrate the advent of Spring,
Let us burn our past baggage of guilt and misdeeds,
Let us dance to the tunes of Krishna,
Let the innocence in us re-live the day,
Let us be children again,
Let the colors we play with teach us that our diversity is our strength,
Let the water we mix the colors in teach us that only mutual tolerance is the road to communal survival,
Let us dance, be merry and throw a "gulal" on a loved one!

Be with your loved ones, love your loved ones, play with your loved ones today!

Love,

~ Souvik

Aacharan-Tulsi Ramayan

Discover Mukesh!

Avishwas

Moko Kahan Dhundhere Bande Mein To Tere Paas Mein

Na Teerath Mein, Na Moorat Mein Na Ekant Niwas Mein

Na Mandir Mein, Na Masjid Mein Na Kabe Kailas Mein

Mein To Tere Paas Mein Bande

Mein To Tere Paas Mein

Na Mein Jap Mein, Na Mein Tap Mein

Na Mein Barat Upaas Mein

Na Mein Kiriya Karm Mein Rehta

Nahin Jog Sanyas Mein

Nahin Pran Mein Nahin Pind Mein

Na Brahmand Akas Mein

Na Mein Prakuti Prawar Gufa Mein

Nahin Swasan Ki Swans Mein

Khoji Hoye Turat Mil Jaoon Ik Pal Ki Talas Mein

Kahet Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho Mein To Hun Viswas Mein

Translation

Where do you search me?I am with you

Not in pilgrimage, nor in icons

Neither in solitudesNot in temples, nor in mosques

Neither in Kaba nor in KailashI am with you o man

I am with you

Not in prayers, nor in meditation

Neither in fasting

Not in yogic exercises

Neither in renunciation

Neither in the vital force nor in the body Not even in the ethereal space

Neither in the womb of Nature

Not in the breath of the breath

Seek earnestly and discoverIn but a moment of search

Says Kabir, Listen with care

Where your faith is, I am there.

This is one of best poems I ever read. This one poem describes God in the best possible way, this poem makes God a very personal God, a God who is in the belief of the devotee.

Enjoy this poem and feel Sant Kabir's depth of realization.

~Souvik

Aadar Satkar

Dear readers,
2009 is a Mars predominant year and thus Rudra (Shiva) needs to be pleased to end our misery this year.

People often misunderstand Shiva as only a mythological character. I have always said that Shiva is so much more than that. How else can one explain the lines of Atmashtakam?

I am absolutely no authority on religion or Shiva. I am just a simple learner who wishes to keep the soul of Shiva burning in him forever. Neither am I a Guru nor a learned man. I pray each day that I always remain a student for He alone can be the Guru, the shower of light.

With my very minuscule understanding of religion and Shiva, I would recommend the following for my readers on Feb 22, 2009 night (USA time). For India time, it would Feb 23, 2009 night.

For readers who believe in rituals and religion: Fasting till the Tithi ends if possible is the best possible thing. However, if this cannot be done then pouring water on a Shiv Linga on Feb 23 morning before going for work is strongly advised. Even if that is not possible, in the whole time of the Tithi, even if once recites the Panchaksari mantra "Aum Namah Shivay", that itself can do wonders.

For readers who are atheists or don't believe in religion: Calling up old teachers (Gurus), parents and grandparents and showing them respect and love can do wonders on this Tithi. If possible, donations done on Old Age homes or little things done for an elderly person can result in utmost blessings from Shiva. Shiva is all about Love, so please try to be with your family, spouse and children on this Tithi - this pleases Him the most. If you have been planning on watching a film or dining out then Feb 22 evening is the best time to do so with your loved ones.

Happy Maha Shiv Ratri in advance!

~Souvik

Aradhana-Maha Shiv Ratri

Dear readers,

Maha Shiv Ratri is celebrated on the night of Krishna Chaturdasi in Phalgun.

As per the Hindu Calender 2009, Krishna Chaturdasi starts Feb 22, 2009 around 1700 hrs CST and ends Feb 23, 2009 around 1800 hrs CST.

To technically the night of Maha Shiv Ratri for devotees in USA is the night of Feb 22, 2009.

Wish all a happy Maha Shiv Ratri!

Regards,

Souvik