Festive bonhomie apart, many myths, legends and spiritual insights are woven around the customs and rituals associated with Diwali.

Celebrations commence a day before amavas on Naraka Chaturdasi , which marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and Satyabhama. According to the puranas , demon king Naraka had acquired immense power through penance and had imprisoned the gods. He had also held captive 16,000 celestial princesses.

(See also: Diwali , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Diwali: It's Time to Light Lamps of Wisdom - about Diwali  

On Dhanteras , Hindus worship Lord Dhanwantari, the deity of health and healing. Dhan is wealth or Lakshmi - so the goddess of wealth and prosperity is also prayed to.

Every household buys something new. But we tend to forget the real meaning of wealth which is sound health. Lord Dhanwantari also symbolises the spirit of knowledge and nature, including all about herbs and medicinal plants.

(See also: Dhanteras , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

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Dussehra marks the day when goddess Durga killed the buffalo-demon Mahishasura, who had a boon from Brahma that he would not be slain by gods, men, spirits or any aspect of nature. So he vanquished the gods and tyrannised the world.

Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva combined the energies of their consorts, Saraswati, Lakshmi and Shakti and created a beautiful woman - the ten-armed Durga - to kill the demon, as Mahishasura had forgotten to mention women while asking for his boon. Durga fought Mahishasura for nine days, finally beheading him on the tenth day.

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The Markandaya Purana and the Vamana Purana chronicle how Mahishasura, the wicked buffalo-king, a demon possessing monstrous power and deadly weapons of destruction, waged a war against the gods and defeated them.

Mahishasura dislodged Indra and occupied the throne. Indra fled to save himself. This shook the celestial world and so enraged Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva that they began to emit fire from their eyes. From the fusion of these beams of fire, carrying the radiant divine energy, a female figure, Goddess Durga, was born.

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In Karnataka, on the morning of Ugadi, New Year, it is a tradition to eat bevu-bella crushed tender neem leaves and jaggery powder mixed and made into little balls.

The story of Rama and the trials and tribulations he and Sita had to undergo is well-known. Valmiki explains why even Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, had to suffer thus. Since Rama was a human incarnation, the life of the prince had to follow the pattern of an ordinary human being's. His life, too, had to have patches of triumph and happiness, sorrow and suffering.

(See also: Ugadi , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Ugadi: Bitter-sweet Pill For Equanimity  

In her autobiography, Kagazhi hai Pairahan , Ismat Chugtai recalls her experience one Janmashtmi , when as a child, she had visited her friend Sushi's house. Sushi, who otherwise was a friendly soul, wouldn't let her enter the puja room where little Krishna lay in his palna , surrounded by sweets and incense. Young Ismat couldn't resist the lure of Bal Gopal's tantalising smile and stole into the room when no one was looking. She lifted the silver idol and hugged it to her bosom, only to find it rudely snatched from her. Sushi's hysterical mother dragged her out of the house and told her parents of their errant daughter's misdeeds. Ismat had to suffer the blows of her parents too.

(See also: Diwali , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

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We tend to pray to God only for our worldly needs, which are much more than our requirements. Krishna says in the Gita, "Four types of devotees worship me: the distressed ones, those seeking knowledge, those seeking wealth and others seeking wisdom. Of all such devotees, the one who seeks wisdom is dearest to me".

Shrishti or creation means projection and expansion coming out of One. That is the evolution of the world. Krishna also says that at the end of a Kalpa, the whole universe - all the souls, whether in the state of birth and death or in moksha, including Brahma - will dissolve within Me.

(See also: Amarnath , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Amarnath: Amarnath Journey Prompts Reflection  

The year 2005 comes under the banner of 'Spirituality' and is ruled by the strongest God Force represented by number 7.

In Western Astrology, this number is associated with the watery planet Neptune and in Hindu Astrology it swings to the moods of the half-planet Ketu.

It is said that during our time, which is in 'kaliyug' (the era of darkness), Rahu, Ketu and Saturn have become more powerful and active than other planets and exert maximum influence on mankind and the earth as a whole.

(See also: Spiritual Awakening , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Spiritual Awakening: 2005 - The Year Of Spiritual Awakening  

In the Jagannath Puri festival the king works as a sweeper, cleaning the pathway ahead of the chariot, denoting that no labour is insignificant if done for a higher cause. People from all communities get together to draw the chariots with great enthusiasm, upholding the spirit of celebration and exalting the concept of dignity of labour.

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Read more here: » Puri festival: Lord of the Universe - Puri Jagannath - about Puri festival  

In the stampede at the Nashik Kumbh Mela, many pilgrims were injured and several died. Some others drowned in the Godavari while taking the holy dip and a few were victims of the bomb blasts in Mumbai where they had made a brief stopover.

Pilgrims are aware of the various hardships they have to endure, of the risks involved - landslides, stampedes, floods, terrorist attacks, fires - but they carry on, undeterred, motivated by the desire to acquire punya or spiritual merit.

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This day, over 5,000 years ago, Krishna appeared on Earth as the son of Vasudeva and Devaki. Because of his human form and behaviour, not many knew He was God incarnate.

But while rendering advice to Arjuna at Kurukshetra, Krishna unabashedly reveals - in the Bhagavad Gita - that he is infinite, his vibhutis or divine manifestations and opulences being unlimited. No one, not even the gods, can know him completely. Krishna then proceeds to impart what he calls the most sovereign knowledge and profound mystery, contemplating on which alone one can attain moksha or liberation.

(See also: Gopala , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

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The festival of Lohri marks the beginning of the end of winter and the coming of spring and the new year. The fires lit at night, the hand-warming, the song and dance and the coming together of an otherwise atomised community, are only some of the features of this festival. The Lohri of north India coincides with Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Samkranti in Bengal, Magha Bihu in Assam, Tai Pongal in Kerala, all celebrated on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti .

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Purushottama, the holy month, occurs once every three years. Devotional practice during the month is said to bring to offenders the chance to be forgiven.

According to the Indian Almanac, every three years, an extra month, Purushottama, is included in the year in order to harmonise the lunar month with the solar month. It is technically called an 'intercalary month'.

According to the Smarta school of thought this month is unholy, as they refer to it as being 'tarnished'. Prescribing various holy functions for all months of the year, they left this additional 'unholy' month out of their plans.

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TS Eliot wrote in Four Quartets : "The only wisdom one can hope to acquire is the wisdom of humility...humility is endless..." I mulled over these words as I strolled through the bazaars of Hyderabad; its unique multicultural and multilingual tehzeeb an eloquent testimony of the richness of life itself, a flavour one couldn't possibly acquire from books alone.

Spiritually, Hyderabad stands out as a wonderful link-bridge between the north and south, imbibing the best of both in its culture, cuisine and character. The Deccan festival, conducted every year in March, celebrates the city's composite and secular character.

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Holi is an abundant celebration of joy, goodness and the season of spring. The day of Holi on Phalgun Purnima (full moon day) is observed as the birthday of Manu, the start of Sambat (first day in the Hindu calendar). Spiritually, it signifies light prevailing over darkness, fear and ignorance.

Holi is associated with mal utsav (smearing of colours) and the Holika bonfire in which dry sticks and cow dung are put to fire and corn seeds burnt to the point of losing their power to germinate. The fire represents the burning away of what is old and worn out. The festivities of Holi have a central message - let bygones be bygones, bury old hatchets and start anew in the spirit of spring.

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Read more here: » Holi: Colourful Triumph of Good over Evil - about Holi  

Maryada Purusha , Rama Navami , Rama nama, Rama nama mantra, Rama nama contains the power of all mantras. Just uttering the syllable 'Ra' can purge us of all sin. The following syllable 'Ma' ensures that expunged sins do not return to plague us.

The Rama nama mantra stands for Supreme Reality. Chanting Rama's name produces a rhythmic sound that soothes and relaxes the mental and physical system. Mental recitations are equally, if not more, effective. 'Ra' is taken from the Astakshari Mantra Om Namo Narayanaya and 'Ma', from Panchakshari Mantra, Namah Shivaya . The word Rama stands for one who is always present in the hearts of yogis and makes them feel happy. Rama nama liberates from ego and desires. If you are depressed, the mantra will lift your spirits.

(See also: Rama Navami , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Rama Navami: In Praise of Rama, Maryada Purusha  

Traditionally, going on a tirtha or pilgrimage is believed to present an ideal occasion for soul-searching. The more arduous the journey, the greater the opportunity to reflect. A yatra is a good time - when the temporal and the timeless meet - to try and expand our understanding of our own selves and the Absolute. This is the spirit of the annual pilgrimage to the hallowed cave-shrine of Amarnath.

(See also: Amarnath , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Amarnath: Beyond the Last Blue Mountain  

Shivaratri is a festival of fasting, worship and prayer. Fasting is undertaken to get rid of one's ego. Once the ego is destroyed, the Shiva hidden within gets revealed.

Sri Ramana Maharshi often said that Shiva signifies the Great Dissolution. Where things dissolve, there they must originate. Hence Shiva is the source of the entire creation, including Brahma and Vishnu.

(See also: Shivaratri , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Shivaratri: Lord of Destruction Also Protects Life - about Shivaratri  

The lakhs of Shiva temples all over India include the famous temples at Amarnath in Kashmir, Somnath in Gujarat, Vishwanath in Varanasi and Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain.

The names of these Shiva temples define Shiva's various divine functions, exalting Him as the Supreme Soul. The linga is worshipped as the very image of Shiva. The linga indicates that Shiva has neither male nor female human form like do the other deities; the Lord is an incorporeal point of Light. This is why, the 12 well-known Shiva temples in India are also known as Jyotirlinga Mat h signifying his form of Light.

(See also: Shivaratri , Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Shivaratri: A Column of Light On Shivaratri  

Sacred Sites: Temples as Places Of Deep Insight

Temples and other places of worship play a significant role in cultural reformation. The innate vibrations, cultural complexion, and spiritual qualities resonate all around the devotee. So they are more than places of worship; they are cultural rendezvous centres for traditional community activities. They are also meeting places for families and friends.

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Knowledge of Ancient Indian History and Culture: The Mahabharata contains also the immortal discourse of Bhishma on Dharma, which he gave to Yudhishthira, when he was lying on the bed of arrows. The whole Mahabharata forms an encyclopaedia of history, morals and religion unsurpassed by any other epic in the world.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Ancient Indian History and Culture: Knowledge of Ancient Indian History and Culture in the Hindu Scriptures