Celebrating the Advent of the Bhagavad-Gītā What is Gita Jayanti? Gita Jayanti commemorates the day Lord Kṛṣṇa imparted the Bhagavad-Gītā’s eternal teachings to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra — the “Song of God” that remains the core scripture of bhakti, dharma and selfless action. The Bhagavad-Gītā appears in the Bhīṣma-parva of the Mahābhārata as …
Honouring Tulasī Devi, Śālagrāma & the Rāsa Pastimes of KrishnaThe Festival of Divine Union and Ecstatic Rasa Every year in the sacred month of Kartika (October – November) the Vaishnava world rejoices in a twin celebration: the ceremonial wedding of the holy basil plant (Tulasī Devī) with the Śālagrāma (Lord Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa) and the full-moon festival …
The Sacred Adjustment: Trisparśa and the Mahādvādaśī Types Mahādvādaśī is a special Vaishnava observance that preserves the sanctity of Ekādaśī fasting when the lunar tithis and sunrise times create overlaps or special cases. Referred from classical Vaiṣṇava sources (Hari-bhakti-vilāsa, Skanda Purāṇa, Brahmāṇda Purāṇa tradition) and ISKCON/Prabhupāda guidance . What is Mahādvādaśī? — the authenticated definition …
Honoring Grandfather Bhīṣma and Concluding the Holy Month of Kārtika Bhīṣma Pañcaka marks the final five days of the sacred month of Kārtika, a period cherished by devotees for intense bhakti, prayer, and purification. These five days—Ekādaśī to Paurṇimā (the full moon)—are dedicated to Śrī Bhīṣmadeva, one of the twelve Mahājanas (great authorities in devotional …
Celebrating Lord Krishna as Gopala, the Protector of Cows Gopashtami is one of the most cherished festivals in the Vaishnava calendar. Celebrated on the eighth day (Ashtami) of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) in the holy month of Kartik (October–November), this day glorifies Lord Krishna as Gopala, the divine protector of cows. On this day, …
🌿Gopashtami – The Sacred Festival of Cow Worship and Go-Seva Read More »
Introduction In the search for truth, one question arises again and again: “Are we one with God, or different from Him?” Some say we are absolutely one with God (Advaita).Others say we are eternally different (Dvaita).But the Vedas give statements that support both oneness and difference. How do we reconcile this?The answer lies in the …
🌿 Bhedābheda Tattva – Oneness and Difference in Harmony Read More »
Lingayats, Veerashaivas Origins, Philosophy, and the Vaiṣṇava Response Introduction India’s spiritual history is rich with movements that sought to express devotion (bhakti) in fresh ways. Among them, the Lingayats emerged in the 11th–12th centuries in Karnataka. Led by Basava (Basavanna) and the vachana saints, the movement emphasized devotion to a personal liṅga, social equality, and …
– Through the Pāurāṇic & Vaiṣṇava Lens India has always been a land of rich spiritual movements. Alongside the eternal Vedic tradition, other paths like Buddhism and Jainism arose more than 2,500 years ago. They offered their own philosophies of liberation and spread widely. Yet, from the point of view of the Purāṇas and Vaiṣṇava …
Hinduism: Philosophical Hierarchy and the Supreme Path 1. Introduction Hinduism is not a single religion in the Abrahamic sense, but a vast umbrella of spiritual traditions, philosophies, rituals, and sects. Within it, multiple schools of thought (darśanas) developed over millennia, each explaining reality in its own way. Vaishnavism – the worship of Lord Vishnu and …
Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism and ISKCON 🌍 Tradition, Distinctions, and Contemporary Divisions 1. Origins of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism is a bhakti tradition within the broader Vaiṣṇava fold, founded in the 16th century by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu (1486–1534) in Bengal. Its distinctive features include: 2. ISKCON’s Place in Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) …