Petals!

How do you light deepam at home? How to properly light a diya? Should diya face god or us? As a child, I loved watching the ritual of my grandmother lighting the deepam or the traditional lamp at home in the evenings. The lamp or the diya always faced the deity or Ishta Devata. A sense of serenity accompanied her frail figure as she would carefully straighten every wick, dip it into the tiny puddle of oil and light the lamp. [READ: How To Light Diya - Big Mistakes to Avoid!] [ Let's Connect on Facebook ] As my grandmother would read out the scriptures and chant the prayers, the fragrance of incense sticks and flowers added depth to the experience. In many Hindu homes nowadays, the lighting of the lamp (or the nilavilakku, as Malayalis refer to the traditional lamp in their homes) is not a regular practice. A lot of people have many questions around how to light deepam at home and which oil to use and so on. An important point to keep in mind - Maintain physical cleanliness and hyg...

In India, food is a love language. Haven't we Indians mastered the art of making guests overeat whenever we invite them for lunch or dinner? Do you enjoy travelling to cities where there is an amazing spread of food that spans different regions? [ Read about my Bombay trip here] On a recent trip to Bombay, my friend recommended that we check out this restaurant that is known for its delicious Mangalorean cuisine. Both of us enjoy southern coast flavours and it seemed like a good choice to start with. [READ: Significance of Food in Hinduism] The menu had lots of delicious options for vegetarians and non-vegeterians. We started with a pineapple drumstick rasam. The flavours were too watery and mixed up. We didn't particularly enjoy it. Perhaps the watery tamarind notes went over the top, diluting the sweetness of pineapples in the rasam. The showstopper was undoubtedly Ghee Roast (veg), which my friend strongly recommended. It was so delicious and melt-in-your-mouth with fluffy ...

Are you wondering why is Mahashivaratri so powerful? Since childhood, Mahashivaratri is a festival that I hold closest to my heart. My grandmother used to tell me so many stories about her Ishta Devata, Lord Shiva and describe the grandeur of his divine abode in 'Kailasham'. 'Om Namah Shivaya' used to be my grandmother's constant and continuous chant throughout her life. [READ: Adi Shankaracharya's teaching will change your life] Mahashivratri: Meaning and Significance At home, we used to have bhajans that begin from 6.30 pm to 6.30 am every year. People used to come and sing the glory of Lord Mahadeva and we used to stay wide awake. As a child, this festival excited me because I could listen to beautiful bhajans throughout the night and sing as well. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai says, ' It is said that Lord Shiva lives in Kailasham. Where is Kailasham? It is not somewhere near Mt. Abu. Kailasham refers to our own joy, our own bliss...if one has a mind ...

A beautiful start to the month of February with Thaipoosam celebrations at Malai Mandir in New Delhi! My teenager and I started our day early morning. When we reached Sree Swaminathan Temple, or Malai Mandir, as it is known, it was a feeling of excitement and anticipation. I had written about my first experience at Malai Mandir earlier in this blog post - do read it if you missed this earlier. We reached right on time as Lord Subramanya's beautiful image was being offered 'Panchamrutham'. This is believed to be the deity's most favourite temple offering. Watching this is an electrifying experience and more so when devotees start chanting 'Hara hara o hara!' with fervour and Bhakti. [READ: A Dad's Advice to the Daughter He loves] Every time I offer prayers at Malai Mandir in Delhi, the feeling of peace and joy fills my heart. There is truly a divine atmosphere at Malai Mandir and that's why I wanted to share it here on my blog. Wondering what is Thaipoosa...

Bhadrakali worship and its benefits: Having grown up in Kerala, Bhadra Kali worship has always been a part of my childhood. The ringing of temple bells and the scent of jasmine flowers are memories I hold close. As a third generation devotee of Goddess Bhadra Kali, the traditions related to the worship of the Divine Mother are an integral part of my daily sadhana. [READ: Sri Venkateswara Temple in Sydney] Why is Bhadrakali worshipped? In Kerala, Bhadrakali is worshipped as the daughter of Lord Shiva, with her origin being traced to the third eye of Lord Mahadev. Bhadrakali worship is mostly prevalent among Hindu famillies that follow the matriarchal system. My grandfather is known to have been such an ardent devotee of 'Azhakiyakavu Bhagawathy' that his Bhakti is believed to have paved the way for his final merging with his Ishta Devata's form. I grew up hearing so many stories about how Bhakti wins the instant grace of Bhadrakali. [READ: Gayatri Mantra - Why Chant It] Is...

  Happy 2023 greetings, dear ones! How are y'all enjoying 2023? Let me tell you that I had a fabulous start to the New Year. [Subscribe to my newsletter here] Here's a snapshot of the Sri Venkateswara temple in Sydney. Watch this video to view this magnificent temple. Interesting Facts about Sri Venkateswara temple This is the first Hindu temple in Australia. It is designated as a heritage site by the NSW Office of Environment Heritage. Hindus and non-Hindus are welcome to offer prayers at this temple. Financial support and encouragement of the famed Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam helped the construction of this temple. The Sri Venkateswara temple is one of the major tourist destinations in Sydney and it is a stunning model that showcases Hindu architecture. How to Reach Sri Venkateswara temple, Helensburgh Facilities available at Sri Venkateswara temple, Helensburgh Peaceful ambience to enjoy from entry to exit Free car parking inside and outside the temple A vegetarian cante...