Brahmacharya - Hinduism

Brahmacharya is celibacy. Celibacy brings you strength, lots of strength. Brahmacharya has a higher meaning than just celibacy. Brahma means infinity, charya means moving in infinity.

In another context, brahmacharya is the virtue of celibacy when unmarried and fidelity when married. It represents a virtuous lifestyle that also includes simple living, meditation and other behaviors.

In ancient and medieval era Indian texts, the term brahmacharya is a concept with a more complex meaning indicating an overall lifestyle conducive to the pursuit of sacred knowledge and spiritual liberation. Brahmacharya is a means, not an end. It usually includes cleanliness, ahimsa, simple living, studies, meditation, and voluntary restraints on certain foods, intoxicants, and behaviors (including sexual behavior).

In Indian traditions, a Brahmachari is a male and Brahmacharini a female.

Brahma Kumaris :

Among Brahma Kumaris and Prajapita Brahma Kumaris, Brahmacarya is practised by married couples and householders too, as a way of formalizing sexual behavior into a conscious, co-creative practice rather than merely an unconscious habit.

International Society for Krishna Consciousness :

In ISKCON, a bhakti sect or devotional movement within Hinduism, a male devotee is called brahmachari and female devotee brahmacharini. The unmarried male brahmacharis wear saffron robes, while married male householders wear white robes. Brahmacharinis wear saris of any color. The terms brahmachari and brahmacharini are reserved for those practicing celibacy.

Quotes By Gautam Buddha That Will Help You Win At Life

Born as a prince of the kingdom of Kapilvastu in Nepal, Gautam Buddha, gave up the worldly pleasures in search for nirvana. On his path to spirituality, he taught his disciples some very important life lessons, the meaning of life itself and how can one achieve true happiness.

� When you like a flower you pluck it.But when you love a flower you water it daily.

� Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, Concentrate mind on the present moment.

� Three things cannot be hidden long: The Sun, The Moon and the Truth.

� Believe nothing no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if i have said it, Unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.

� All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.

� YOU, Yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve YOUR love & affection.

� Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through love. This is a Permanent law.

� There is no path to Happiness: Happiness is the path.

� However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act upon them?

� No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the Path.

The Smartest Mythological Teachers Who Taught Their Students About Bhramastra, War Weapons & Secrets of Vedas!

The ancient scholars procured knowledge through years of penance, meditation, learnings from nature and travel. They taught in gurukuls, where the relationship between the guru and shishya was one of respect and devotion earned naturally over the years. The day of 'Guru Poornima' commemorates this relationship.

Here are some of the most famous teachers of Hindu mythology.

Parshuram :

He is considered the sixth avatar of Vishnu in Hindu mythology. He served as mentor to Bhishm pitamah, Guru Dronacharya and Karna. Parashurama was so impressed by Karan that he taught him the art of launching and controlling the greatest weapon of that time -Brahmastra.

Vishwamitra :

He is one of the most respected teachers and sages of ancient times in India. He wrote the Gayatri Mantra and as a teacher of Lord Ram and Lakshman, taught  them Devastras - the knowledge and use of celestial weapons in war.

Vishwamitra also mentored them in killing of the several demonic characters mentioned in the Ramayana.

Legends speak highly of his teachings, including his concepts of heaven and hell, which is still beyond the reach of scientific discovery.

Ved Vyas

He is regarded as the Guru of Gurus, who taught Dattatreya, the Hindu deity encompassing the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, collectively known as Trimurti. He is most famous as the sage who wrote the epic Maharabharata, but do you know that he was the grandfather of both the Kauravas and Pandavas, (the warring factions in the Kurukshetra war), and appears as advisor at several junctures?

A section of the Mahabharata, called the Vyasa Jaya covers subjects like geography, history, warfare, religion and morality.

Dronacharya

He was the teacher of both the Kauravas and Pandavas. Known for his mastery in the military arts, his favourite student was Arjun.

Vashishta

Known as one of the great Saptrishis, he was the teacher of the four sons of Dashratha, including Lord Rama. The teachings in which he answered Lord Rama's questions and illusions about the universe is known as the Yoga Vashista.

He is supposed to have been born as the result of Brahma�s will-power and knew all the secrets of Vedas.

Valmiki 

Popularly known as the sage who authored Ramayana, he was the teacher of Lord Ram's sons Lav and Kush. Valmiki taught the twins about shastras and the art of using weapons. His life was the example of how the life of a common man gets transformed when he comes in the right company.

The Underlying Message Of Ganesh Visarjan.

The Sanskrit word 'Visarjan' has many meanings. In the context of worship and pooja, it refers to the act of respectfully laying the idol used for worship to rest. During Ganesh Chaturthi, the idol used for worship is seen as a temporary vessel that holds the spiritual form of Lord Ganesha. Once the period of worship is over, the idol submerged in a water body.

Visarjan is often done one and a half day after Ganesh Chaturthi. It can also be performed on the third day, fifth day, seventh day, tenth day and the eleventh day. 

The act of Visarjan too teaches the devotees many lessons. There are underlying messages and significances behind performing the Visarjan. 

Teaches Us To Respect :

Each Other The creation of an idol requires efforts from people from different walks of life. A fisherman may dig up the clay required for the idol from the river bed, a potter or an artist creates beautiful idols and a priest performs the worship. It teaches us teamwork and mutual respect.

Reminds Us That Life Is But Momentary :

Ganesha is created with a lot of love. The idol is only an inanimate object. It is the love and devotion of the masses that transforms mere clay into something that possesses spiritual powers. And then when the time comes, it is returned to the nature. Similarly, we are made up of only flesh and bones, animated by the power of our soul. This body too, will one day, return to the nature.

Tells Us That God Does Not Have A Physical Form :

During Ganesh Chaturthi, we invite the spiritual form of Lord Ganesha into the idol and when the period of worship is over, we respectfully ask him to vacate the idol and then submerge it in water. This shows us that God does not have a form and is 'Niraakar'. We give it a form or 'Aakar' only to be able to enjoy the various aspects of pooja such as- Darshan (sight of the Lord), Shravan (listening to the praise of the Lord), Sparsha (to touch the Lord), Gandha (to enjoy the smell emanating from the flowers and other fragrant substances) and Raasana (to taste the prashad).

The Cycle Of Life :

The ceremony of Visarjan is symbolic of the cycle of life and death we go through. The murtis of Ganesha is created, worshiped and then returned to the nature only to be reanimated next year. We too take birth, perform the duties of life and die only to be born again in a new form.

Teaches Us Detachment :

Visarjan teaches us to be detached from the world around us. Everything we love and cherish is only Maya of the Lord or an illusion. At one point or other, we will be separated from it and need to understand that all that never belonged to us. No matter how much we love Ganpati Bappa, when the time comes, we have to submerge the idol and let it go.

Teaches Us Not To Be Attached To Material Wealth :

The Visarjan teaches us that material wealth and worldly pleasures are only for the body and not for the soul.

Why Tulsi Is NEVER Offered To Lord Ganesha.

It is a belief that Tulsi is kept in the mouth of a dying person so that his/her soul reaches Vaikunth, the abode of Vishnu. But even though Tulsi is such a sacred plant in Hinduism, it is never offered to Lord Ganesha. Do you know why?

Lord Ganesha & Tulsi�s rivalry has a very interesting story behind it. Tulsi was a beautiful woman who fell in love with Lord Ganesha when he was meditating on the banks of Ganga. Tulsi, enchanted by his appearance, requested Lord Ganesha to marry her.

Lord Ganesha, however, was living a life of a celibacy or brahmcharya at that point of time and politely refused Tulsi's proposal. He thought marriage would hamper his concentration in his �tapp�. Tulsi did not take it well and in turn cursed him that he will get married forcefully and won�t be able to choose his spouse.

The rude behavior of Tulsi evoked anger in Ganesha who cursed her back saying she would marry a demon and suffer throughout her life. Tulsi immediately realized her mistake, and begged Ganesha for apology. 

Lord Ganesha, being generous, forgave her, but said that even though he cannot take his curse back. He, however, said that in the next life Tulsi would be born as a sacred plant without which no Vishnu pooja would be complete. He also blessed Tulsi with exceptional medicinal properties.

As a result of the curse, Tulsi got married to a demon named Shankachuda. Her husband was later killed by Lord Shankar, and she turned into the holy basil.

The sacred plant is worshipped by all the devotees of Vishnu and Krishna ever since.

Signals Of Death From 'Shiv Puraan' By Shiva That Are The Greatest Danger Signs!

Although there are many scriptures which talk about Lord Shiva, but 'Shiv puraan' is one scripture which is the most important of all.

It is believed that Lord Shiva has talked about some very unknown and rare symptoms of death which he narrated to Goddess Parvati in Shiv Puraan. Here are 12 signs of death which occur to a human being when his death is just around the corner and can be a alarming sign.

� If a person cannot see his or her reflection in oil,water or mirror that indicates a life span of six months.

� If Mouth,Eyes,Ears or Tongue stop working properly,then it indicates death within six months.

� If a suddenly a Body starts turning white or yellow or there are red spots on the body, Then there are chances of the person dying within six months.

� If Throat & Tongue start gets dry again & again,then the person can die soon.

� If someone�s left hand keep on flinching again & again with tongue getting dry, That indicates death within a month.

� If someone can see a black or red ring around the moon and sun then there are chances of death within a span of 15 days.

� If one cannot see stars and moon or can see them as dim as black, Then death is just round the corner.

� If one is suddenly surrounded by blue flies,Then it indicates death within a month.

� If a vulture, crow or pigeon sits on someone�s head then it is an indication of death.

� If a person sees his or her shadow without the head, that indicates death.

� When you lose your ability to see properly or when one cannot see the fire properly then it indicates incoming death.

� A person who cannot see the north star or the sun,and can see a rainbow in the night time is a clear indication death.

Things to do in Shravan(Sawan) Month

According to shivapuran, for every problem there is a solution. To make Lord shiva happy you can do these things:

1. If you offer rice to Lord Shiva, it will help you in monetary aspects.
2. Offering �Til�, can wash out your sins.
3. Offering �Jau� can make your life more sorted.
4. Offering wheat can make you potent and luckier in child matters.

According to shivpuran, these magical liquid potions will give the following benefits

1. If you are having high fever, offering ganga jal on Shivlinga will help you.
2. Lord Shiva can make your brain sharper, offer him shakkar & water mixed together.
3. Offering Sugarcane juice on a Shivlinga makes your life easier.
4. Offering Gangajal on Shivlinga takes you closer to moksha.
5. Offering Honey on Shivlinga cures and helps in Tuberculosis.
6. If you are physically weak, you should offer milk on a Shivlinga. 

According to shivpuran, these magical liquid potions will give the following benefits

1. If you are having high fever, offering ganga jal on Shivlinga will help you.
2. Lord Shiva can make your brain sharper, offer him shakkar & water mixed together.
3. Offering Sugarcane juice on a Shivlinga makes your life easier.
4. Offering Gangajal on Shivlinga takes you closer to moksha.
5. Offering Honey on Shivlinga cures and helps in Tuberculosis.
6. If you are physically weak, you should offer milk on a Shivlinga. 

Flowers according to Shivapuran, The most beneficial flowers to offer Lord Shiva

1. Offering Red & White colored flowers on a Shivling, takes you closer to the path of self.
2. Offering jasmine to Lord Shiva, blesses you with vehicular benefits.
3. Offering Shami�s leaves takes you closer to the path of self.
4. Offering Bel leaves on Shiva blesses you with an attractive spouse.
5. Offering Juhi flowers on Lord Shiva, always keeps your house full of money. 

Measures to do during Sawan:

1. Write �Aum Namah Shivay� on 21 Bel Leaves and offer it on a shivling, Lord Shiva will fulfill all your wishes.

2. If you have some issue at your home, spray Gaumootra (cow�s urine) in the morning and burn googal (incense).

3. If there are marriage issues in your life, offer kesar milk on a shivlinga.

4. During sawan, feed Nandi (bail), green fodder.

5. Feed poor and needy people during the month of sawan.

6. For peace of mind, go to Shiva�s temple after you have done all your morning chores and sit there for a while. Chanting �Aum Namah Shivay� inside your mind will help you calm yourself down.

7. Feed fishes living in a pond or river with flour balls (atte ki goliyan).

Measure to make Lord Shiva Happy and improve your financial situations:

1. Establish a parad Shivlinga in your house and chant ?? ????? ????? ?? ??: ?????: ????? ????? ?? for about 108 times.

2. With each mantra you chant, offer a bel patra on the Shivlinga. Write the mantra all over the three parts of the leaf. The last leaf you offer to lord shiva can be kept in your home�s temple and you can worship it as well.

Measure to gain a child:

After taking a bath on anyday during sawan, worship lord shiva, and make 11 Shivlingas out of wheat flour. Offer water on each for about 11 times. Do this for 21 days and consume the water as a prasadam. 

Measure to cure illness:

During sawan on a Monday, mix black til in milk and offer it on a Shivlinga. Do not use a copper utensil to offer this. Chant  ?? ??? ?:  while you are offering the milk. Pray to Lord shiva about your illness after this. In the night, after 9:15pm, offer about 250 gms of cow�s milk (raw) on a Shivlinga. 

INTERESTING AND AMAZING FACTS ABOUT JAGANNATH TEMPLE IN PURI

Puri Jagannath Temple was built in 12th century by King Chodaganga Deva. The temple is also famous for �Ratha Yatra� where lakhs of devotees gather annually to celebrate the event. Apart from holiness there are certain mysterious facts about this famous temple.

1. The flag atop the Jagannath temple always flaps in the opposite direction of wind.

2. From any place in Puri you will always find the Sudarshan Chakra (Chakra at top of the Temple) facing you.

3. Normally during day-time, air comes from sea to land & during evening, the vice-versa occurs. But in Puri it is totally opposite.

4. It is a surprise that nothing flies above the temple. No planes, not even birds. There is no scientific explanation for this yet.

5. The temple is constructed in such a way that the shadow of the main dome of the temple cannot be observed at any given time.

6. The quantity of cooked food inside the Temple remains same for the entire year. But that same quantity of prasadam can feed from 2000 to 20 lakh people, still it won�t get insufficient or wasted.

7. In the Jagannath Temple kitchen, 7 pots are kept one on top of another and cooked on firewood. In this process the contents in the top pot get cooked first & then the bottom one.

8. There is a ocean near the temple. When you�re entering the Singhadwara (The main door) of the temple you can clearly hear sound of the ocean, now once you passed the Singhadwara just take a turn and walk back in the same direction you came. You cannot hear the ocean until you come out of the temple.

9. It is said that every time Lord Jagannath refuses to visit his aunt�s place, and no matter how many thousands of devotees push the chariot, it doesn�t move a bit from its place during Rath Yatra.

10. A priest climbs the dome of the temple which stands as tall as a 45 story building and changes the flag everyday Since 1800 years as a part of a ritual. If it is not changed any day, the temple must be shut for the next 18 years.

Every Vishnu Follower Must Know These 10 Things About Badrinath

v Badrinath is both a part of Bada Chardham (which are at four corners of India) and also of Chota Chardham (which are within Uttarakhand). There is a local proverb regarding the greatness of Badrinath. The implication of the proverb is that one who viewed Lord Badrinath even once never comes back to the mother�s womb, meaning that the holy view of Lord Badrinath gives Liberation from the Cycle of life and Death. For this reason, the scriptures recommend visiting Badrinath at least once in a lifetime.

v Alakananda River flows by the side of Badrinath as if washing away the holy feet of the Lord. The scriptures mention that in Satyug every organism could have the holy view of Lord Badrinath�s own cosmic image, in Treta Yuga only pious hearts like saints and hermits, and in Dwaparyug when Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, took the mortal form he declared that in the next Yug only the idol could be viewed.

v  The scriptures mention Badrinath dham as the second �Vaikuntha� (the abode of Lord Vishnu). �Ksheer Sagar� (the Milky Ocean) is one Vaikuntha and the other is Badrinath. It is believed that Lord Shiva used to reside here but Lord Vishnu sought this land from him.

v   Chardham Yatra starts from Gangotri from where the turbulent Ganga River emerges and ends at Badrinath. Badrinath is situated in between two mountains � Nar and Narayana. It is believed two hermits named Nar and Narayana, both incarnation of Lord Vishnu in Satyug, meditated here who were born as Arjun and Krishna in Treta Yuga.

v  The second spot of the Chardham Yatra is Yamunotri. There is a temple of River Yamuna here. After that, it isKedarnath and then Badrinath. It is seen that when the door of the last two shrines open, there is a glowing lamp in each which burns for six months. It is believed that the gods light the lamp when no human can stay in the frigid weather.

v  It is believed that the Narasimha Temple in Joshimath has connection with the Badrinath Temple. One of the arms of Narasimha is thinning away slowly but gradually. The day it breaks, local believe that the Nar and Narayan mountains will merge and there will be no view of Lord Badrinath thereafter.

v  There is an interesting story behind the name �Badrinath�. Once, Devi Laxmi got angry with Vishnu and left for her father�s house. Later, pacified when she returned, she saw Lord Vishnu meditating in a forest of �Badri� (jujube berry) trees. Amused, she named him Lord Badrinath.

v This Saraswati Temple is situated at the origin of River Saraswati near Mana Gaon which is situated 3 km from Badrinath. This river flows for a while and then vanishes into Alaknanda River. It is a common belief that one day the present Badrinath will also vanish and reappear at Bhavishya Badri.

v It is a commonly held belief that Lord Shiva was released from the sin of �Brahma-Hatya� (killing of Brahman) at Badrinath. The place is known as �Brahma Kapal� which is actually a high rock pedestal where people pray for their ancestors with the belief that their ancestors will be liberated from the cycle of Life and Death.

v The high priest of Badrinath is from the clan of Adi Shankaracharya. He is called �Rawal�. During his span as a priest, the Rawal cannot marry and has to be celibate. For them, even the touch of women is considered sin.