A Wisdom Archive on Sacred Fire

Sacred Fire of the Zoroastrian Faith
Fire has been revered and worshipped in ancient cultures worldwide. In Greek mythology, the Titan Prometheus, out of his great love for mankind, disobeys Zeus and steals fire from heaven and brings it down to earth for human use. As punishment, Zeus chains Prometheus to the Caucasus mountain since mankind was not yet considered to be ready for this great gift of the gods.
 

Read more here: » Zoroastrian Religion: Sacred Fire of the Zoroastrian Faith

Relation between Hinduism and Zoroastrianism
Like the Rigvedic Aryans, the ancient Iranians worshipped gods like Mitra, Vayu, Verutraghna. They also wore the sacred thread and worshipped fire. They had a social organization that was in some ways similar to the Vedic occupation based social system. 
 

Read more here: » Hinduism and Zoroastrianism:Relation between Hinduism and Zoroastrianism

January 31 - February Eve - Imbolc
Actually, this holiday is most usually celebrated beginning at sundown on February 1, continuing through the day of February 2. 'Imbolc' means 'in the belly (of the Mother)' because that is where seeds are beginning to stir. It is Spring. Another name for the holiday is 'Oimelc', meaning 'milk of ewes', since it is lambing season. It was especially sacred to the Celtic Fire Goddess, Brigit, patron of smithcraft, healing (midwifery), and poetry. A Coven's High Priestess may wear a crown of lights (candles) to symbolize the return of the Goddess to her Maiden aspect, just as the Sun God has reached puberty. Weather lore associated with this sabbat is retained by the folk holiday of 'Groundhog's Day'. The Christian religion adopted a number of these themes, as follows. February 1 became 'St. Brigit's Day', and February 2 became 'Candlemas', the day to make and bless candles for the liturgical year. The 'Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary' adapts the Maiden Goddess theme. The alternative date of February 14 ( 'Old Candlemas', Christianized as 'Valentine's Day') is employed by some Covens.
 

Read more here: » Wiccan Holidays: January 31 - February Eve - Imbolc

Soma and Ananda
The Vedic ritual reaches its climax in the Soma offering, in which specially prepared plant juices are offered into the sacred fire (Agni) as the drink of the Gods. But this ancient ritual reflects a deeper internal ritual or alchemy of awareness that is its real import. In exploring this process, we will discover many secrets of the practice of Yoga, including the path of Self-inquiry or Jnana Yoga.
 

Read more here: » Soma and Ananda: The Flow of Soma

Vaastu vs. Feng Shui: An indian explanation of the difference between Vaastu Shastra and Feng Shui.

Read more here: » Vastu and Feng Shui: The difference between Vastu and Feng Shui

In our chaotic world hurtling towards an uncertain future, three kinds of responses have emerged. The fundamentalists are clinging to or going back to values of a distant past. The neo-fundamentalists, represented by global corporatism, are trying to substitute the reality of chaos and change by an artificial form of reality. Then there are Cultural Creatives, whose saner and evolutionary response is to forge a new, higher and integral synthesis.

Read more here: » Cultural Creatives: The Cultural Creatives

Yajnas
These are the outer forms of worship in Hinduism, reminders of its direct connection with the Vedic religion of the ancient past. During the performance of the yajnas, offerings are made to different deities in a prescribed and systematic manner by qualified priests to supplicate them, so that they would assist the worshipper in achieving certain results in life.
 

Read more here: » Yajnas: Hinduism Rituals - Yajnas

Gyana Yoga is the spiritual path of 'knowledge'. It aims at realising the Supreme Spirit through deep enquiry and constant contemplation upon the eternal truths. In Gyana Yoga, you will endeavour to achieve enlightenment through the study of sacred books of wisdom and truth.
 
Normally, people who are very well versed in religious and other scriptures (Scriptural scholars) are considered 'gyaan yogis'. But it is important to note that if knowledge is not balanced with devotion to God, then it will carry the danger of developing arrogance and one-sidedness.
 
Love sweetens our understanding just as knowledge sharpens and directs our love. Love that is uncontrolled by knowledge can be much like a hose that is turned on and then left without a guiding hand; it neighs and just gushes forth making it impossible to use it effectively.

 
(See also: Yoga Systems, Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions )

Read more here: » Yoga Systems: Gyana Yoga - Path of Knowledge

Hinduism and Marriage
According to Hinduism, a marriage between two persons is a sacred relationship that is not limited to this life alone. It extends across seven or more lives, during which the couple help each other progress spiritually. The adage that marriages are made in heaven is very much true in case of Hinduism. Two souls come together and marry because their karmas are intertwined and they have to resolve many things together upon earth in order to ensure their mutual salvation. 
 

Read more here: » Hinduism and Marriage: Marriages in Hinduism

In India we find the oldest continually operating pilgrimage tradition in the entire world. The practice of pilgrimage in India is so deeply embedded in the cultural psyche and the number of pilgrimage sites is so large that the entire subcontinent may actually be regarded as one grand and continuous sacred space. Martin Gray spent the last 20 years visiting more than thousand sacred sites around the world and he guides us to some of the sacred sites of India.

Read more here: » Sacred Places: Sacred Sites, places and temples in India

It is very important to understand the feng shui of your house as it influences the lives of the occupants in many ways. This was experienced by Anil who was earlier a non-believer of feng shui . Anil an eligible bachelor in his thirties was having difficulties in finding a life partner.

 
(See also: Feng Shui, Vaastu Shastra, Sacred Geometry, Sacred Space )

Read more here: » Feng Shui: Feng Shui - A Case Study