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STO-205-sec Once upon a time, there was a couple who yearned for a child and prayed to God to send them a son. Since they were both very pious, God listened to them and soon they were blessed with a baby boy. They were full of joy and named him Shravan Kumar. The boy grew […]
STO-205 Once upon a time, there was a couple who yearned for a child and prayed to God to send them a son. Since they were both very pious, God listened to them and soon they were blessed with a baby boy. They were full of joy and named him Shravan Kumar. The boy grew […]
STO-504-sec To know the history of the Vaishno Devi temple we must go back to Treta Yuga when virtuous people were tormented by the Asuras (demons) Ravana, Kumbakarna, Khardushan and others. The demigods decided to create a divine personality, in the form of a girl, for their protection. To do this, they pooled the spiritual […]
STO-307-sec Millions of years ago in the land of India there lived a king called Dasharath. His capital was Ayodhya and from there he ruled his kingdom with his three queens. At around the same time, all of these queens became pregnant. Two of them each delivered a male child, and the third gave birth […]
STO-703 A long, long time ago there lived in India a prince called Rama. His kingdom was Koshala and the capital city was called Ayodhya. Rama had three brothers. His favourite was called Lakshman. When he grew up, Rama married the most beautiful princess, named Sita. By trickery, Rama was sent into the forest. Sita […]
STO-307 Millions of years ago in the land of India there lived a king called Dasharath. His capital was Ayodhya and from there he ruled his kingdom with his three queens. At around the same time, all of these queens became pregnant. Two of them each delivered a male child, and the third gave birth […]
STO-216 Rama, Sita and Lakshman were living happily in the forest. The three companions didn’t miss palace life, for they were happy to live close to nature and to have the company of the saints who lived there. However, a wicked king had already heard of Sita’s beauty. His name was Ravana and he was […]
Selected Songs/Bhajans Download word document: Songs There are four songs listed here, as follows: The Arti Song (“Jay Jagadish Hare”) A Popular Hindi Bhajan – “Krishna Jinka Nama Hai” A Bengali bhajan – “Bhaja Hure Mana” A song in praise of Krishn2, the Butter Thief Numbers 1 and 3 feature of the Audio-CD, the tracks […]
Download PDF: PCT-307 Hanuman is often worshipped with Rama and Sita, but also alone. He is the patron deity of wrestlers, other sportsmen and soldiers. Hanuman embodies courage and physical strength, and simultaneously humility and devotion to duty. He can assume any form at will and can leap great distances. Hanuman is one of the […]
Download PDF: PCT-306 Rama appeared as the seventh of the ten incarnations of Vishnu, and one of the two most important (the other is Krishna) Rama represents the monarchical aspect of the Supreme. He is renowned for his devotion to dharma (duty) even in the face of great adversity. He is considered the perfect son, […]
Download PDF: PCT-010 Rama, Sita & Hanuman King Rama lived a long, long time ago; so long ago its hard to count! Rama lived in India. His kingdom was called Koshala. The capital city was called Ayodhya. Rama had three step-brothers. His favourite was called Lakshman. Rama married the most beautiful princess. She was named […]
Download PDF: PCT-002 Diwali Diwali is an Indian word. It means ‘a row of lights’. Diva is the word for light, or lamp. Diwali is the biggest Hindu festival. For most Hindus, it is the New Year. Diwali celebrates the story of Rama and Sita. Rama is one of the forms of God (Vishnu) when […]
Word document download: ART-0526 Somnath is particularly important for Shaivas, but related sites are closely connected to Krishna. For a picture of a linga, see the Teachers’ Book, page 135. Somnath near Veraval in Gujarat was once the most revered shrine in the country, for it had one of the twelve pre-eminent Jyotirlingas (the glowing […]
Word document download: ART-0525 Shri Rangam is closely connected with the Shri Vaishnava tradition and Ramanuja. See Teachers’ Books pages 134 (picture of Shri Rangam) and 138. Shri Rangam is on an island on the Kaveri River. This was the capital of Tipu Sultan, the famous ruler of Mysore from 1782 to 1799 C.E. There […]
Word document download: ART-0524 Rishikesh is largely connected with meditation and related groups. Refer to the Teachers’ Book, pages 44, 59 and 145. Rishikesh is a very peaceful town, and it is famous as a place to study yoga and meditation. The town got its name when Raibhya Rishi performed tapasya (austerities) there. Lord Hrishikesh, […]
Word document download: ART-0523 Rameshwaram is one of the four holy dhamas (Teachers’ Book, page 72). It is sacred to worshippers of both Shiva and Rama. Rameshwaram is one of the four dhamas or kingdoms of God. This holy place is known for one of the most venerated temples – Shri Ramanathaswamy Temple. This temple […]
Word document download: ART-0518 Nasik is one of the four main Kumbha Mela sites (see Teacher’s Book page 72). Lord Rama stayed here with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshman for some time during his fourteen year exile in the forest. Lakshman cut off the nose of Surpanaka, the younger sister of Ravana – […]
Word document download: FCT-1201 What is the Hare Krishna Movement? The Hare Krishna movement is the popular name for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Who started ISKCON? In 1965, an elderly monk, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977), travelled alone from India to establish the culture of Krishna consciousness in the […]
Word document download: FCT-0405 Raksha Bandhan falls on the purnima (full-moon day) of the month of Shravana. It is sometimes called Rakhi Purnima (in Western India) and Saloni (in the north). By the western calendar, Raksha Bandhan usually falls sometime in August. The central theme of the festival is brotherly protection. ‘Raksha’ means ‘protection’, and […]
Word document download: FCT-0404 Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. ‘Janma’ means ‘birth’ and ‘ashatami’ means ‘the eighth day’. Krishna was born on the eighth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Shravana. By the western calendar, Janmashtami falls in August or at the very beginning of September. Krishna was born at […]
Word document download: FCT-0403 Diwali is the most widely celebrated festival in India and continues over a five-day period at the conjunction of the months of Ashwin and Kartik. In the Gregorian (Western) calendar this falls in October/November. As the pleasant, mild winter climate sets in, it is generally a time for feasting, visiting relatives, […]
Word document download: FCT-0401 Hinduism almost certainly has a longer list of festivals than any other religion. Everyday of the year, someone somewhere is celebrating a Hindu festival. For this reason, we cannot list them all here, but will concentrate on a few major ones. Pongal (January 14th or one day on either side) In […]
Download article ‘ART-0501 Ayodhya’ as word document Ayodhya: The Place of Lord Ramachandra This site is especially sacred to devotees of Rama, but has been more recently the focus of political unrest. For more information, see the Teachers’ Book, pages 50-52, 129, 142. According to tradition, Lord Ramachandra appeared in Ayodhya many thousands – some […]
Incarnation 7 Rama – The Monarch Millions of years ago in the land of India there lived a king called Dasharath. His capital was Ayodhya and from there he ruled his kingdom with his three queens. At around the same time, all of these queens became pregnant. Two of them each delivered a male child, […]
6. THE TEN AVATARS The ten incarnations of Vishnu are a recurrent theme in Vedic history. Vishnu exists outside the material realm as the creator, and he exists within every being as the Supersoul. He also enters this world as avatar, ‘one who descends’, to restore balance whenever his presence is needed. His descent is […]
Download article ‘ART-1211. Pushti Marg’ as word document About the Pushti Marg Sampradaya “Pushtimarg” translates as ‘the path of nourishment, and refers to a five hundred year old tradition founded by Vallabha (or Vallabhacharya). This tradition is well represented in the UK, although it is somewhat inconspicuous as there are few (if any) temples solely […]
Glossary Many proper names are listed under this glossary with the link reference. These include names of places, people, festivals, organisations, and sacred texts. A Adi Shankara – well-known theologian and founder of the advaita school. Also called Adi Shankaracharya. Advaita – non-dualism, the name of the theology equating the soul with God. Advaitin – […]