🌿🌸Shubh Mahashivratri🌸🌿

This auspicious event falls on the 14th day of the dark half of Phalgun [Feb-Mar]. The name means "the night of Shiva". The ceremonies take place chiefly at night. This is a festival observed in honour of Lord Shiva. Shiva was married to Parvati on this day.

People observe a strict fast on this day. Some devotees do not even take a drop of water. They keep vigil all night. The Shiva Lingam is worshipped throughout the night by washing it every three hours with milk, curd, honey, rose water, etc., whilst the chanting of the Shiva's Mantras continues. Offerings of bael leaves are made to the Lingam. Bael leaves are very sacred as, it is said, Lakshmi resides in them. Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, such as the Shiva Mahimna Stotra of Pushpadanta or Ravana's Shiva Tandava Stotra are sung with great fervour and devotion. People repeat the Panchakshara Mantra.

He who utters the Names of Shiva during Mahashivaratri, with perfect devotion and concentration, is freed from all sins. He reaches the abode of Shiva and lives there happily. He is liberated from the wheel of births and deaths.

⭐️Lord Shiva's Assurance⭐️

When creation had been completed, Shiva and Parvati went out to live on the top of Mount Kailash.

Parvati asked, "O venerable Lord! which of the many rituals observed in Thy honour doth please Thee most?"

The Lord replied, "The 14th night of the new moon, in the dark fortnight during the month of Phalgun, is my most favourite day. It is known as Shivaratri. My devotees give me greater happiness by mere fasting than by ceremonial baths and offerings of flowers, sweets and incense. The devotee observes strict spiritual discipline in the day and worships Me in four different forms during each of the four successive three-hour periods of the night. The offering of a few bael leaves is more precious to Me than the precious jewels and flowers. My devotee should bathe Me in milk at the first period, in curd at the second, in clarified butter at the third, and in honey at the fourth and last. Next morning, he should feed the Brahmins first and, after performing the prescribed ceremonies, he can break his fast. O Parvati! there is no ritual which can compare with this simple routine in sanctity."

Parvati was deeply impressed by the speech of Lord Shiva. She repeated it to Her friends who in their turn passed it on to the ruling princes on earth. Thus was the sanctity of this occasion broadcast all over the world.

☀️Spiritual Significance🌙

The two great natural forces that afflict man are Rajas [the quality of passionate activity] and Tamas [that of dullness and inertia].

The Shivaratri Vrata aims at the perfect control of these two. The entire day is spent at the Feet of the Lord. Continuous worship of the Lord necessitates the devotee's constant presence in the place of worship. Motion is controlled. Evils like lust, anger, and jealousy, born of Rajas are ignored and subdued. The devotee observes vigil throughout the night and thus conquers Tamas also. Constant vigilance is imposed on the mind. Shivaratri is a perfect Vrata.

The formal worship consists of bathing the Lord. Lord Shiva is considered to be the Form of Light [which the Shiva Lingam represents]. He is burning with the fire of austerity. He is therefore best propitiated with cool bathing.

While bathing the Lingam the devotee prays: "O Lord! I will bathe Thee with water, milk, etc. Do Thou kindly bathe me with the milk of wisdom. Do Thou kindly wash me of all my sins, so that the fire of worldliness which is scorching me may be put out once for all, so that I may be one with Thee-the One alone without a second."

~Swami Sivananda

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

🌿May this gracious and auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri bestow upon you the highest good, wisdom andhmm realisation of the truth. May Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati shower upon you all, good health, prosperity and happiness.🌿

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​​🌿आसं प्रथममेवाहं वर्तामि च सुरेश्वराः .
भविष्यामि च लोकेऽस्मिन्मत्तो नान्यस्ति कश्चन 11

🌿व्यतिरिक्तं च मत्तोऽस्ति नान्यत्किञ्चित्सुरेश्वराः .
नित्योऽनित्योऽहमनघो ब्रह्मणां ब्रह्मणस्पतिः 12

🌿दक्षिणाञ्च उदञ्चोऽहं प्राञ्चः प्रत्यञ्च एव च .
अधश्चोर्ध्वं च विदिशो दिशश्चाहं सुरेश्वराः 13

🌿सावित्री चापि गायत्री स्त्री पुमानपुमानपि .
त्रिष्टुब्जगत्यनुष्टुप च पंक्तिश्छन्दस्त्रयीमयः 14

🌿सत्योऽहं सर्वगः शान्तस्त्रेताग्निर्गौर्यहं गुरुः .
गौर्यहं गह्वरं चाहं द्यौरहं जगतां विभुः 15

🌿ज्येष्ठः सर्वसुरश्रेष्ठो वरिष्ठोऽहमपांपतिः .
आर्योऽहं भगवानीशस्तेजोऽहं चादिरप्यहम 16

🌿ऋग्वेदोऽहं यजुर्वेदः सामवेदोऽहमात्मभूः .
अथर्वणश्च मन्त्रोऽहं तथा चाङ्गिरसो वरः 17

🌿इतिहासपुराणानि कल्पोऽहं कल्पवानहम .
नाराशंसी च गाथाहं विद्योपनिषदोऽस्म्यहम 18

🌿श्लोकाः सूत्राणि चैवाहमनुव्याख्यानमेव च .
व्याख्यानानि परा विद्या इष्टं हुतमथाहुतिः 19

🌿दत्तादत्तमयं लोकः परलोकऽहमक्षरः .
क्षरः सर्वाणि भूतानि दान्तिः शान्तिरहं खगः 20

🌿गुह्योऽहं सर्ववेदेषु आरण्योहमजोऽप्यहम .
पुष्करं च पवित्रं च मध्यं चाहमतः परम 21

🌿बहिश्चाहं तथा चान्तः पुरस्तादहमव्ययः .
ज्योतिश्चाहं तमश्चाहं तन्मात्राणीन्द्रियाण्यहम 22

🌿बुद्धिश्चाहमहंकारो विषयाण्यहमेव हि .
ब्रह्मा विष्णुर्महेशोहमुमा स्कन्दो विनायकः 23

🌿इन्द्रोऽग्निश्च यमश्चाहं निरृतिर्वरुणोऽनिलः .
कुबेरोऽहं तथेशानो भूर्भुवः स्वर्महर्जनः 24

🌿तपः सत्यं च पृथिवी चापस्तेजोऽनिलोऽप्यहम .
आकाशोऽहं रविः सोमो नक्षत्राणि ग्रहास्तथा 25

🌿प्राणः कालस्तथा मृत्युरमृतं भूतमप्यहम .
भव्यं भविष्यत्कृत्स्नं च विश्वं सर्वात्मकोऽप्यहम 26

✨O Devas! Know that in this entire universe, there is none other than me. I'm the non-dual one. I'm the ancient one. I'm the one who is eternal and I'm the non-eternal too, I'm the one who is blemishless [sinless]. I'm the one called as Brahmanaspati. I'm all the directions. I'm Savitri, I'm Gayatri. All these male, female and eunuchs also are me. I'm the Thrishtup, Jagati, Anushthup, Pankti chandas. I'm the one known through Vedas, I'm the truth, I'm peace, and I'm respect. I'm the lord of the universe, I'm the oldest, I'm the lord of all, I'm the Bhagawan [supreme personality of godhead], I'm the Lord, I'm the divine light. I'm the Itihasa, and Purana. I'm the Kalpa [eon], I'm the Upa-Kalpa [minor-eon], I'm the one who create these Kalpas, I'm the knowledge, I'm in the hymns of Upanishads, I'm the mantra, and I'm the Vyakhyana [commentary] also. I'm the sacrificial offerings, I'm the donor, I'm the donation, I'm Ihaloka [this material world where jiva takes birth], I'm Paraloka [world where Jiva goes after departure], I'm Akshara [imperishable] and I'm kshara [perishable] too, I'm all these creatures. Self-control, serenity, and secrecy are also me. I'm the one having faces everywhere. I'm the end, and middle, I'm the door, I'm outside, I'm inside, I'm the front and back as well. I'm the imperishable one. I'm light and also I'm darkness, I'm the Indriyas [senses organs] and the Tanmatras as well. I'm the mind, intellect and ego. I'm the Vishayas [subjects] also. I'm Brahma, I'm Vishnu, I'm Maheshwara, I'm Uma, I'm Skanda, I'm Vinayaka. I'm Indra, Agni and Yama also. I'm Nairuti, Varuna and Vayo [anil]. I'm Kubera, I'm the fourteen worlds [lokas]. I'm the Sun, I'm the moon, I'm stars and planets as well, I'm all these creatures, I'm the Prana [life energy], I'm the time, death, and eternity. I'm the past, present and future. I'm everything indeed!

~Lord Shiva to Devas 🕉
•Shiva Gita, Chapter 6, Verses 11-26

✨Let's all worship Paramatma Shiva Shankar on this auspicious occasion of Mahashivaratri, with full fervour, love, dedication, intensity and surrender. May Bhagavan's Grace be with each and everyone of us. Har Har Mahadev!✨

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🌿What is the right age for starting Spirituality?🌿

⭐️ Is spirituality just for old people? Can we enjoy our early life and then begin spirituality at later age? What's the perfect age to begin our spiritual practices? ⭐️

✨Explained By: Swami Brahmananda✨

•Duration - 8:21 minutes

👉Video Link - https://youtu.be/LYi7bugJWTU?si=rtKmYfQAsiY7IW6F

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🌿Mahavatar Babaji reveals the ancient practice of Self-Enquiry🌿

Mahavatar Babaji, an immortal Himalayan Yogi, who revived the science of Kriya Yoga, reveals another intense and potent spiritual practice of Self-Enquiry. Babaji emphasizes on the significance of keeping attention to the sense of "I" within us. This practice of Self-Enquiry is often called as the direct path to Self-Realization.

✨Explained By: Mahavatar Babaji✨

•Duration - 4:44 minutes

👉Video Link - https://youtu.be/9FuRmOSibm0?si=X49EXKBy3789B-Sw

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​​🍂🌸SHUBH RAMA NAVAMI🌸🍂

Ramnavami or the birthday of Lord Rama falls on the 9th day of the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra (March-April). Rama was the Lord Hari Himself, incarnate on earth for the destruction of Ravana.

He was well accomplished, beautiful and endowed with royal marks. His glory and prowess were unlimited. He was peerless on earth. He was free from malice. He was gentle. He was the protector of all His people. He always addressed them in gentle words. He never used any harsh words even when somebody provoked Him. He held sway over the whole world.

Salutations to Lord Rama, who is measureless, who is of the nature of pure Consciousness and bliss, who is the consort of Sita, Master of Sri Hanuman, and the Lord of the three worlds, who took His birth at His own will in order to establish righteousness, destroy the wicked and protect His devotees.

Let Sri Rama be your ideal. Ideals are remembered and adored for the purpose of adopting them in your own life. The Ramnavami celebration or the Vasanta Navaratri every year is an opportune period for us to saturate ourselves with the spirit of Lord Rama. We love and adore our ideals because we express thereby our yearning to unite with them.

In our worship of God it is implied that we should be virtuous, good and perfect even as God is. Hence the wise instruction: "One should become divine in order to be able to worship God". One cannot be a real worshipper of Lord Rama unless one makes an honest attempt to grow in the virtues that the Lord represents. On the other hand, worship of Lord Rama is itself the surest means to develop such virtues.

One who approaches Sri Rama with love and worshipfulness becomes large-hearted, pure in spirit, good-natured and dispassionate in thought, word and deed. A true devotee of Lord Rama is His representative, with His power and His knowledge.

Righteousness is the spiritual spark of life. Cultivation of righteousness is the process of unfoldment of the latent divinity in man. The glorious incarnation of the Supreme Being in the form of Lord Rama has exemplified the path of righteousness. Let mankind follow His footsteps and practise the ideals cherished by Him, for it is only thus that there can be everlasting peace, prosperity and welfare in this world.

None but the righteous can be truly happy. None but he who has the correct sense of duty and the will for its implementation can be said to live worthily. One must be imbued with a definite conviction about the supremacy of moral principles, ethical values and spiritual ideals. That is the purpose of life. That is the way to Self-realisation. That is the message and the mission of Lord Rama's Life on earth.

To a devotee, Sri Rama is not simply a good and a great person, but God Himself. Rama was the son of King Dasaratha of Ayodhya, but He is also the divine omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient God. The destruction of the ten-headed Ravana signifies the annihilation of the mind or the ten senses.

The Name of Lord Rama is the greatest purifier of the heart. Not only this, but it wipes away the sinful tendencies as well. It is the purifier of all purifying agencies. It quenches the consuming fire of worldly desires. It awakens the knowledge of God. It bathes the aspirant in the, ocean of divine bliss.

Blessed is the pious soul who uninterruptedly drinks the nectar of Sri Rama's Name which has been churned out of the ocean of the Vedas, which removes the impurities of the Kali Yuga, which is a sovereign remedy or unfailing specific to cure the disease of worldly existence. Sri Rama is the Brahman who takes one across the ocean of worldly existence. Rama is one in across whom the Yogis sport, that is, the Self within.

On the auspicious Ramnavmi day take a firm resolve that you will repeat Ram-Nam with every breath and that you will endeavour to lead a righteous life. May Sri Rama's blessings and grace guide you all to your highest good and well-being. 🙏🏻😇

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Namaste everyone! 🙏

Hope you're all doing well. Really appreciate your support for this Telegram channel. I'd like to inform you that our presence "Hinduism As It Is" is available on other social media platforms as well. 😇

Would be really great if you can click on each link to join and connect with us on these platforms as well. The links are shared below for each platform:-

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✨A devotee asked, “How does the repetition of the name of God help Realisation?”

Sri Ramana Maharshi replied, “The original name is always going on spontaneously without any effort on the part of the individual. That name is aham – ‘I’. But when it becomes manifest, it manifests as ahamkara – the ego. The oral repetition of the name leads one to mental repetition which finally resolves itself into the eternal vibration. The mind or the mouth cannot act without the Self [Atman].” Thereupon Sri Ramana told the following story :-

Sri Tukaram, a great Maharashtra Saint, used to remain in samadhi in the day and sing and dance at night with large crowds of people. He always used to utter the name of Sri Rama. Once he was answering the call of nature and also saying “Ram, Ram”. An orthodox priest was shocked at the uttering of the holy name by the saint when his body was not clean. Hence he reprimanded him and ordered him to be silent. Tukaram said, “All right!” and remained mute. But at once there arose the name of Rama from every pore of Tukaram and the priest was horrified by the din. He then prayed to Tukaram and said, “Restrictions are only for the common people and not for saints like you.”

~From: Spiritual Stories as told by Ramana Maharshi

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🌿☀️ ​​​​BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF ADI SHANKARACHARYA ☀️🌿

Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti is observed as birth anniversary of Indian Guru and philosopher Adi Shankara. Adi Shankara was born in Kalady which is situated in Kerala during 788 C.E. and he left his physical body at young age of 32 in year 820 C.E. Although, many scholars and acharyas also claim that He was born around 480-500 BC.

Adi Shankaracharya Jayanti is observed on Panchami Tithi during Shukla Paksha of Vaishakha month and currently falls between April and May. Shankaracharya consolidated the doctrine of Advaita Vedanata (अद्वैत वेदान्त) and revived it at a time when Hindu culture was on decline.

As we know that Shankaracharya is best remembered for his remarkable reinterpretations of Hindu scriptures and his sayings on the Vedic canon whether Brahma Sutras, principal Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita. His philosophical teachings have deeply influenced various sects of Hinduism and also contributed to the development of the thought of modern India.

From very young age, he was inclined towards spirituality and religion. With the help of his Guru, He mastered all the Vedas and the six Vedangas before the age of 12. Also, while travelling he did spread spiritual knowledge and the tenets of Advaita Vedanta. He travelled all four corners of India, did debate [shastrarth] with hundreds of philosophers all across the nation and successfully defeated them all, established 4 spiritual institutes [mutts] in each geographic direction, wrote numerous hymns and stotras in praise of Gods and Goddesses, plus many many beautiful works and books. He left his body at a very young age of 32, despite of it he left an indelible mark on the people, methods of teaching of Vedas and development of modern thought.

             •┈•❈••✦✾✦••❈•┈•

🌿🌸 BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF SRI RAMANUJACHARYA 🌸🌿

Sri Ramanuja Acharya was a great Hindu philosopher and thinker. He is the most venerated Acharya in the philosophy of Vishisht-advaita Vedanta. He was born in 11th century in the village of Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu in 1017 CE. Sri Ramanuja's birth name was Lakshmana and also referred as Ilaya Perumal which means 'the radiant one'. He left his body at the age of 120 in Srirangam, Tamil Nadu in 1137 CE. Ramanuja is also known as Ramanujacharya.

Sri Ramanuja Jayanthi is celebrated each year and Jayanthi day is decided based on Tamil Solar Calendar. Ramanuja Jayanthi is celebrated during Chithirai month on Thiruvathirai Nakshatra day.

At the age of 16, he had mastered all the Vedas and Shastras. He accepted that on three main points any Vedanta system is based namely the Upanishads, the Brahma-Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita. He didn't write any commentary on Upanishad but explained in detail all the methods of understanding Upanishads in his first major work known as Vedartha-Samgraha that is the summary of the meaning of the Veda.

His views are also seen through his commentary on the Brahma-Sutras known as the Shri-Bhashya. He also wrote commentary on the Bhagavad Gita known as the Bhagavadagita-Bhashya.
He gave bhakti an intellectual basis with the pursuits of his philosophy. No doubt his contribution to Vedanta was highly significant.

             •┈•❈••✦✾✦••❈•┈•

Role of Jagadguru Adi Shankara, along with Sri Ramanuja, was instrumental in the revival of Hinduism. These two teachers formed the doctrines that are followed by their respective sects even today. They have been the most important figures in the recent history of Hindu philosophy.

Today, on the auspicious occasion of both of their Jayanti, we pay immense respect and salutations to both these great Gurus, who played enormous and essential role in the growth of our culture and showed path and guidance to thousands and thousands of aspirants and seekers. 🙏 🕉 ✨

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A very important lesson to keep in mind, while interacting with "others" in our life!

✨Explained By: Swami Vivekananda✨

•Duration - 0:52 minute

👉Video Link - https://youtube.com/shorts/tDcooz8Xf4Q?feature=share

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