Podcasts about ujjain

What's stirring in the spiritual world this week? From millionaires meditating in complete darkness to cosmic alignments urging us to live our purpose, this first episode of Spirit Pulse brings you the latest in spiritual awakenings, global consciousness trends, and metaphysical news.IN THIS EPISODE: Dark Retreats & Tech Mogul Mysticism Why are Silicon Valley elites sitting in pitch-black isolation for days at a time? We explore the growing popularity of darkness retreats, the spiritual highs—and psychological risks—that come with them.Read more from WIREDJune 7, 2025: Energy Portal Activation? Today's date—6/7/2025—carries powerful numerological energy (4, 7, 8, and Master Number 22). Could it be a portal to your soul's highest path?Full breakdown via Times of IndiaCosmic Shifts: Neptune in Aries & North Node in Pisces Two major astrological movements are rewriting your destiny. We unpack what Neptune's 150-year return to Aries and the North Node's shift into Pisces mean for your spiritual evolution. What Neptune in Aries means – People Magazine Karmic tides via NY Post Global Awakenings: Maha Kumbh Mela & Ujjain's Wellness Pivot India's sacred Maha Kumbh Mela drew over 660 million people, while Ujjain aims to become the new global hub for spiritual wellness. Ancient rituals meet modern transformation.Kumbh Mela overview – Wikipedia Ujjain Wellness Summit – Economic Times Celebrity Awakenings: From “Friends” to Frequency Healing Actress Jane Sibbett is now a healer in Hawaii, and Hina Khan shares a deeply vulnerable breathwork-based soul awakening during her battle with cancer. Jane Sibbett's new path – The Sun Hina Khan's ashram journey – Times of India Science Meets Spirit: The Consciousness Code Can neuroscience finally explain the soul? The new “Resonance Complexity Theory” proposes that consciousness might emerge from intricate interference patterns in the brain.Read the full paper on arXiv Subscribe & Follow Love what you heard? Don't forget to leave a review to help others find us and share this episode with fellow seekersGot a tip or story? Send it to Will@SkepticMetaphysician.com or DM on IG or FB @SkepticMetaphysicians_podcast

Specifying the different regions of the Southern quarter and fixing a limit of one month for their return, Sugriva dispatches Hanuman, Nila, Angada and others to that quarter for finding out the whereabouts of Sita.Note: [River Varda = now known as WardhaAvanti = the modern Ujjain in Madhya PradeshVidarbha = now in MaharashtraVanga = the modern BengalKalinga = UtkalaThe city of the Pandyas = the modern MaduraiThe sea = the Bay of Bengal ]Recitation: 00:00 - 08:15Translation: 08:18 - 20:41

20250128 Addressing Ujjain Congregation Śrī Māyāpur, India © JPS Archives

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In this inspiring journey, join Purva Akka as she shares her incredible transformation through the practice of Hatha Yoga and Sadhanapada under the guidance of Sadhguru. From battling severe back issues to achieving mental balance and stability, Purva Akka's story is a testament to the healing power of dedicated yoga practice and spiritual sadhana. Dive into her experiences, challenges, and the profound impact of Sadhguru's teachings. Witness how she recovered physically, mentally, and spiritually, and how she now helps others through Classical Hatha Yoga in Ujjain. 0:00 Intro 1:15 Childhood - Introverted Kid 7:00 Quitting CA Midway Without Writing the Exams 10:00 Becoming a Dance Therapist and Visiting Slums, Hospitals, Red Light Districts 13:00 Helping a Lady with Parkinson's Through Dance Therapy 19:00 Questioning Psychologists and Doctors on Why People Are Suffering 21:30 Mom Suggests Watching Sadhguru's Video 23:40 Initial Resistance to Being Initiated by a Guru 26:30 Losing 11kg with Shambhavi During Lockdown 27:30 Becoming More Open to Other People's Sufferings 28:40 Sadhanapada Experience During COVID 33:40 Aggravated Lower Back Issues During Sadhanapada 36:30 Bhavaspandana: The Turning Point for Physical and Mental Recovery 39:00 Dropping Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Due to Health Issues 42:00 Completing the Teacher Training After Recovery 43:56 Impact of Sadhguru's Classical Hatha Yoga 46:20 Creating a Space for Hatha Yoga in Ujjain 50:20 Are Sadhguru's Hatha Yoga Classes Costly or Very Cheap? 51:40 Purva Akka's Vision for Hatha Yoga and Inner Engineering 53:40 Message for Fellow Hatha Yoga Teachers 56:30 Guru Pooja Yantra in Ujjain Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/ananta_hymtstudio/

Send us a Text Message.Unlock the keys to personal transformation and leadership success with Rahul Sharma, a mindset coach, entrepreneur, and author of "Habits for Miracles." Discover how Rahul's journey from Ujjain, India, to the dynamic environment of Washington DC shaped his professional path, guided by invaluable advice from his father. Rahul's candid reflections on his early challenges, from being rejected by PhD programs to finding his calling in Organization Development, offer a deeply inspiring narrative of resilience and growth. This episode promises to leave you motivated and equipped with actionable insights for your career and personal development.Rahul demystifies the concept of Miracles through his unique acronym: Mind Talk, Ideation, Reading, Analyzation, Calmness, Listening, Exercise, and Silence. Each habit is a stepping stone to a healthier, more positive life, and Rahul shares how you can tailor these habits to fit your individual needs. His experiences, enriched by mentorship from leaders in India and the US, provide a valuable blueprint for personal growth and becoming an effective leader. Learn how these habits and principles can transform the way you approach challenges and opportunities in your life.This episode also explores practical strategies for mid-managers stepping into leadership roles. Rahul's advice on communication, empathy, and accountability is essential for building trust and inspiring teams. He shares three key strategies for career development: recognizing your peak productivity hours, maintaining a curious mindset, and seeking mentorship. Rahul emphasizes the importance of gratitude and positivity, encouraging listeners to integrate these powerful principles into their daily routines. This conversation with Rahul Sharma is a treasure trove of wisdom, aimed at empowering you to achieve greater success and fulfillment in your professional and personal life. Available on all podcast platforms, including, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to author and writer and illustrator, Seema Misra as she takes us to the land of the rising sun, Arunachal Pradesh! Today's destination: Arunachal Pradesh! Nearest Airport: Dibrugarh Airport (DIB) Nearest Railway Station: Naharlagun railway station, NHLN Requirements: Inner-line permit Packing: Pack depending on the weather, winters are cold and monsoons are wet! Time of the year: Dec-Feb, or during shoulder seasons after the monsoon! Length of the itinerary: 11 days Itinerary Highlights:  Start from Dibrugarh Namdapha jungle camp in Miao Roing with stops at Tibetan settlements at Choephelling Golden Pagoda at Namsai Archaeological remains at BhismakNagar Lake Sally Aalo or Aalong (home of the Kalo tribe) Mechuka Pasighat Links: Link to Seema's blog: https://seemamisraart.blogspot.com/ Link to Seema's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seemamisra/ https://www.instagram.com/lonelycanopy/ Link to Seema's portfolio: https://sites.google.com/view/seemamisraart Link to episode on Mechuka: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5xnYrM4dIVeOHXKh2sqngv?si=87Jk5QZ9SPiOpZLTHjduJw Link to episode on Tawang: ​​https://open.spotify.com/episode/5VmROjDO0oJZCkpMtGjLy2?si=-hriIlseTLa6FbQ55VcnZA Link to episode on 7 Lakes trek: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7gEeyeSuykvK25ihBw6tFj?si=QuVE285TS2qbg5Jw7x7k2Q Link to episode on Glaw Lake: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3VlES9609CvpupgwcFSR3n?si=Zq2x35mZQ66tQchLuo9Acg Link to episode on Indore and Ujjain: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0BwEHojSBcJi5RoMjFhWjb?si=xtfnJph4Q5m0PVlph6XPiA Photo by Seema Misra Follow the Musafir stories on: Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I went to Varanasi a few weeks back, and spent time wandering the lanes, in temples, on the ghats, sitting beside the river.   I was a non-sequitur: a non-believer in a holy city, amidst people who had the name of god continuously on their lips. And I saw holiness and ordinariness mesh in seamless ways. Almost like a message that a spiritual search did not entail you to be anything other than what you are - messy, complex, confused. Because that is where every journey begins.   Varanasi is special because unlike other holy cities - Vrindavan, Assisi, Ujjain, Vatican - it is not a mere destination - it is the beginning of a journey. That's why it's co-existence as a city of chaos and one of silences, gives it a sense of transcendence.   Because that is what, if you really think about it, true religion is all about. It starts with belief, not cynicism; it has intimations of doubt, bouts of questions, dollops of scientific inquiries. And the only reason a person persists is because she knows there are too many questions which the normal human experience cannot answer. And in the space of the unexplainable, we find what seems like the miraculous. We can accept it as grace, and move in our lives with a sense of utmost gratefulness. Or we can give it a name. God. The Unexplained. Mystery. Maybe - mother.   In whatever way we find the Unknown, Varanasi is an immersion. With or without the holy dip.  It will never leave you unaffected, unmoved or unscathed. Varanasi will hurt you - even as it holds you, heals you, makes you its own.   If you liked this poem, consider listening to these other poems which talk of the holy -  Windblown Om Capturing the Feeling When the Goddesses Depart Follow me on Instagram at @sunilgivesup. Get in touch with me on uncutpoetrynow@gmail.com   The details of the music used in this episode are as follows - Lockdown by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7658-lockdown License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Strange New Worlds by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10369-strange-new-worlds License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Welcome to our podcast featuring Rahul Karan Sharma, an accomplished author, organizational development expert, Certified Public Speaker, Facilitator, and Coach. With over two decades of experience in the business realm, Rahul is dedicated to empowering individuals to become successful leaders. He believes in the transformative potential of a mindset shift, which fuels his passion for helping others unlock their full capabilities.Rahul's academic journey includes an MBA in Human Resources from Pune University and a Master's degree in Organization Development from Bowling Green State University. Growing up in Ujjain, India, Rahul's culturally diverse background has cultivated a profound appreciation for people. His early years at The Daly College in Indore, India, shaped his values of independence, discipline, and sportsmanship through participation in the National Cadet Corp and Cricket Academy.For more information about Rahul and his work, please visit his website at https://www.mindtalksmatters.com. Tune in to our podcast for an insightful conversation with this remarkable individual! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rahul Karan Sharma, an inspiring leader, dedicated his life to empowering individuals for positive change.  As an author, transformational speaker, and mindset coach, he motivates audiences worldwide with his passion for personal growth.  Rahul holds an MBA in Human Resources and a Master's in Organization Development.  Raised in Ujjain, India, he values independence, discipline, and sportsmanship.  His literary works, including "Habits4Miracles" and the bestselling "Be Action Oriented," offer invaluable career insights.  With a commitment to servant leadership, Rahul excels in building high-performing teams and developing leaders.In this episode, we discussed the positive mindset needed to be effective in your search, resume ideas, and interviewing techniques.  Some key  points covered include:·        Personal brand, effective communication, and relationships are all essential skills for your transition.·        Make sure you make the hiring experience for the hiring manager an easy one – you need to help connect the dots for them.·        What does reverse engineering mean in making your resume, and how can you use this to your advantage?·        What are some skills/techniques to help your personality come through a telephone or video interview?·        Every obstacle is an opportunity – you will decide how you use it.·        The power of journaling and tips on using it in your job search.·        Why having a mentor can help you find your next job.And so many other job search/recruiting ideas.  Rahul is smart, has so much experience in the recruiting world, and wants to share it with each of you.  So, sit back, relax, and embark on a journey of self-discovery and career advancement with Rahul's wealth of experience and wisdom as your guide.  Enjoy the episode, and remember to rate this show where you listened to it  – it's invaluable to us.

Get ready to be inspired and transformed by mindset coach, author, and speaker Rahul Karan Sharma. In this captivating episode of The Digital Executive, host Brian Thomas delves into Rahul's remarkable journey from Ujjain, India to Washington, D.C., highlighting the values of independence, discipline, and sportsmanship that have shaped his life.Rahul's boarding school upbringing taught him the virtues of self-reliance and embracing both victories and defeats with grace. These early lessons now fuel his work as a mindset coach, empowering clients to tap into their inner strengths and take charge of their personal and professional growth.As the author of influential books like "Habits for Miracles" and "Be Action Oriented," Rahul shares the inspiration behind his literary contributions. Drawing from his own experiences, he emphasizes the transformative power of consistent habits and the crucial role of action in achieving one's goals. Through his books, Rahul aims to embolden readers to step out of their comfort zones and pursue their dreams with unwavering confidence.Facing common obstacles such as fear, self-doubt, and procrastination on the path to personal growth? Don't worry – Rahul has practical advice for overcoming these challenges. He encourages viewing failure as an opportunity for learning, building confidence through celebrating achievements big or small, and taking consistent action towards your aspirations.For those aspiring to lead or coach others, Rahul underscores the importance of integrity, empathy, and empowerment. He encourages leaders to forge genuine connections with their teams beyond just work-related matters. By cultivating empathy and emotional intelligence in leadership roles, transformative change can be achieved.Rahul Karan Sharma's insights serve as a beacon of inspiration for anyone seeking meaningful impact in their own lives and in the lives of others. His story is a powerful reminder that personal values hold immense power – we all have the potential within us to catalyze positive change.Remember: "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson.Ready to transform your life? Share this article and take the first steps towards adopting Rahul's eight empowering habits with the acronym MIRACLES: Mindtalk, Ideation, Reading, Analyzation, Calmness, Listening, Exercise, and Silence. The time for change is now – let's make miracles happen together!

    How many times have you heard about the thoughts that rumble inside your head every day? On one level we all know this, but even so we can't help but focus on the negative ideas that always seem to rise to the surface. These images or words end up making us feel upset, anxious, stupid or not ready to face the world showing our best side.   Is there anything we can do about this? Of course there is! We can control what we think and decide where we want to spend our time. It's called mindset and for advice on how to cultivate a positive mindset, I've called on Organizational Development Expert Rahul Sharma. Rahul has helped many feel better about themselves through mindset training and he shares his insights with us, including:·     the simple activity that can change your subconscious thinking·     the right way and the wrong way to speak to yourself·     the people who can guide you on your journey to positivity·     how to use this knowledge in your workplace in a way that benefits you and everyone around you·     the best way to live a life of intention     If you want to take charge of your life and take it on a positive journey of transformation, check out this eye-opening episode of Dream Power Radio.     Rahul Karan Sharma is a talented author, organizational development expert, Certified Public Speaker, Facilitator, and Coach. With over two decades of experience in the business world, Rahul has dedicated his life to empowering individuals to excel and become successful leaders. His belief in the transformative power of a single shift in mindset has driven his passion for helping others reach their full potential. A lifelong learner, Rahul holds an MBA in Human Resources from Pune University and a Master's degree in Organization Development from Bowling Green State University. Born in Ujjain, India, his culturally rich upbringing has fostered his deep love for people. Rahul's formative years at The Daly College in Indore, India, instilled values of independence, discipline, and sportsmanship through his involvement in the National Cadet Corp and Cricket Academy. As an engaging writer and storyteller, Rahul uses his expertise in organizational structure and mindset to inspire individuals and teams to unlock their true potential. Eager to shape the next generation of leaders, he shares invaluable insights that drive career excellence. His notable literary works include "Habits 4 Miracles - Design Your Life Your Way," "Be Action Oriented - Discover the Five Keys to Taking Consistent Action and Achieving Your Goals," and co-authored "Jumpstart Your..."      As a Certified Public Speaker, Facilitator, and Coach, Rahul knows that achieving excellence and fostering high-performance growth demand grit, determination, and perseverance. His expertise in cultivating leaders and building high-performing teams has been refined through years of hands-on experience. Rahul firmly believes leaders can be born and developed with proper coaching. His servant leadership approach has impacted countless individuals in his professional and personal life, and their continued support fuels his drive to exceed expectations.      Outside of his work as an author and coach, Rahul cherishes time spent with family, enjoys playing Sudoku, and swimming, and embraces every opportunity to learn and grow. Website: https://www.habits4miracles.com/ Want more ways to find joy in your life? Check out my website thedreamcoach.net for information about my courses, blogs, books and ways to create a life you love.

This week, host Shivnarayan Rajpurohit is joined by Newslaundry's Basant Kumar and Avdhesh Kumar along with independent journalists Shweta Desai and Kashif Kakvi.Shweta was in Ayodhya to report on locals' fear and excitement over the Ram Mandir project. She says they're happy it's being built but are worried about the city's ‘redevelopment' wrecking their homes and livelihoods. She also explains why there's tension between Ramanandi akharas and the temple trust.Basant spoke to youths in the temple town for their views on the BJP and Ram Mandir, and also visited the site of the proposed mosque – to find nothing there.Away from the Ayodhya mayhem, Kashif reported on the release of a Muslim teenager in Ujjain, five months after he was jailed for purportedly ‘spitting' on a Hindu procession. He says there was no evidence and hostile witnesses, but the administration had bulldozed the accused's home anyway.Finally, Avdhesh talks about why students were protesting at Jantar Mantar and why they're upset with the government's Agnipath scheme.Tune in!Timecodes00:00:00 - Introduction00:01:34 - Ayodhya's redevelopment00:11:06 - Battle to control the temple00:19:53 - Land acquisition in Ayodhya00:34:31 - False cases in Madhya Pradesh00:49:57 - Negative impact of Agnipath Yojna00:53:53 - RecommendationsRecommendationsAvdhesh'मैला ढोने, गटर में जाने वाले दलित...', Bezwada Wilson सरकारों पर बरस पड़े! Manual Scavenging |GITNShwetaAyodhya: The Dark NightBasantDhimi Wali Fast PassengerKashifCity Of My HeartShivnarayanExclusive: AAP govt procured drugs from 2 blacklisted pharma firms with many failed quality testsProduced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, and recorded by Naresh Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to our favorite listener and traveler, Tushar Shukla!  Today's destination: Indore & Ujjain, MP! Nearest Airport: Devi Ahilya Bai airport, IDR Nearest Railway Station: Ujjain Junction, UJJN Packing: Pack according to the weather conditions Time of the year: October - Mar Length of the itinerary: 3 days Itinerary Highlights:  Tushar starts the conversation outlining the objective of the solo trip along with the points/themes of interest in both the places Points of interest covered - Indore: Khajrana Ganeshji temple  Chappan Dukaan  Gandhi Hall Lalbagh palace  Rajwada palace Kaanch Mahal Points of interest covered - Ujjain Mahakaal Harsiddhi Mata temple Chawkhamba Kaal Bhairav temple  Shipra river  Evening Aarti at Ram ghat  Other places in the vicinity Omkareshwar Bada Talaav Indira Gandhi tribal art museum Links: Link to the Thushar's  blog: https://medium.com/@humanprojector83 Link to Tushar's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paneldaze/ Link to Tushar's twitter: https://twitter.com/humanprojector Link to the blogpost: https://medium.com/@humanprojector83/the-case-of-the-missing-newspaper-a-3-day-trip-to-indore-ujjain-e6b627c9da0d Photo by Meet Gada on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on: Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com Do follow IVM Podcasts on social media. We are @‌IVMPodcasts on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram. Follow the show across platforms: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, JioSaavn, Gaana, Amazon Music Do share the word with your folks!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On November 21, Pranshu who is a 16-year old queer child, died of suicide in Ujjain. The school going child was a self taught makeup artist, with nearly 17,000 followers on Instagram. Pranshu posted a reel dressed in a sari, which went viral during Diwali, getting more than 4000 comments, most of which were homophobic in nature. Last year, another class 10 student, Aarvey Malhotra died of suicide. His mother, Aarti Malhotra has alleged that Aarvey was bullied mercilessly in school on account of his sexuality, and that his school authorities were not responsive to their complaints and failed to protect him. In the recent past, there have been many conversations about protection of children in the social media space. Whistleblowers of Meta have alleged that Meta knew its products were harming children, particularly young girls but did not do enough to protect them. In October, many US states filed a lawsuit arguing that Meta has contributed to a youth mental health crisis. What is missing in these discussions are the experiences of queer children.  Suno India's Menaka Rao spoke to Rohin Bhatt, a queer rights lawyer and activist and a bioethicist to understand what kind of legal and policy framework can help protect queer children, but also help create a safe space online.  References 'My Child Did Nothing Wrong,' Mother of Queer Artist Who Died By Suicide in MP “The school has killed me”: Arvey Malhotra's mother recalls his suicide note and elaborates on the bullying that led to her son's death; awaits justice even after 4 months - Times of India Congress Is Pushing An Online Safety Bill Supported By Anti-LGBTQ Groups https://twitter.com/BhattRohin/status/1729734070261658026/photo/1 Yes, We Exist (@yesweexistindia) • Instagram photos and videos Filmmaker Onir says his movie script on gay soldier has been rejected by defence ministry: 'I won't demean anybody'. National and Delhi Commissions for Protection of Child Rights on opposing sides on adoption by same-sex couples – The Leaflet Kerala HC asks government to take appropriate action against ‘NGO' that calls queerness “wokeism” and “rainbow mafia” – The LeafletSee sunoindia.in/privacy-policy for privacy information.

Source :https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/m.timesofindia.com/city/indore/raped-and-bleeding-12-year-old-begs-for-help-in-ujjain-turned-away/amp_articleshow/104001540.cmsSupport the show ************************************

Ujjain horror: Two autorickshaw drivers arrested for minor's rape, India-Canada news: Blinken meets Indian foreign minister, Student Killing: Mob tries to attack Manipur CM's ancestral house and other top news bulletin here

Kumbh mela is one of the most fascinating Hindu festivals and the largest peaceful gathering of human beings on Earth! The Purna kumbh is celebrated in 4 cities in rotation all of which are on the banks of a river - Allahabad or Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain. Legend has it that when the Gods and Demons were fighting over a Kumbh or a pot of Amrit (nectar of immortality), the nectar fell on these 4 cities. It is said that 200 million people from all over the world attended the 2019 Kumbh Mela! Listen to this episode to learn about a lot more interesting stories. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/poorvi-daxini/message

First, Indian Express' Sujit Bisoyi talks about the Odisha train crash — what led up to it, how it happened, and what transpired on the ground.Next, Indian Express' Anand Mohan tells us about the political slugfest in Madhya Pradesh that happened after six statues, part of the multi crore Mahakal Lok Corridor project, fell and got damaged (13:02).And in the end, we will give you a quick update about a major bridge collapsing in Bihar (21:08). Hosted by Shashank BhargavaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Utsa SarminEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

We narrate the story of King Bharthari and Queen Pingla of Ujjain in this episode. Tune in for more. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/haryanvipodcast/message

We delve into the divine realm of Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga. Located in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India, this ancient temple holds immense significance for devotees of Lord Shiva. Join me as we uncover the legends, rituals, and mystical aura surrounding this sacred abode. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nilnia/support

When Someone TRULY Cares About Your Success#author #motivationalspeaker #executivecoaching #business #success Rahul Sharma is a dynamic leader from Ujjain, India, currently residing in Ashburn, VA. With an MBA in Human Resources from Pune University and a Master's Degree in Organization Development from Bowling Green State University, Rahul has dedicated his life to building mindsets that achieve excellence. In his corporate role, he is entrusted with training and equipping leadership teams, while on the personal development front, he inspires others to adopt positive mind-talk conversations. His audience is captivated by his powerful storytelling skills and his unwavering passion for serving others. Rahul firmly believes that anything is possible with grit, determination, and perseverance, and with over 20 years of experience in Corporate America, he has proven that his transformational abilities are unparalleled. As a published author, he eagerly anticipates the release of his next book, Habits4Miracles, in May 2023.Website: https://www.habits4miracles.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preparewithrahul/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PreparewithrahulsharmaLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulphr/Twitter: https://twitter.com/rahulphrThanks for tuning in, please be sure to click that subscribe button and give this a thumbs up!!Email: thevibesbroadcast@gmail.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/listen_to_the_vibes_/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevibesbroadcastnetworkLinktree: https://linktr.ee/the_vibes_broadcastTikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeuTVRv2/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheVibesBrdcstTruth: https://truthsocial.com/@KoyoteThe Leadership EnigmaThe UK's No.1 ranked Leadership PodcastListen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyFor all our social media and other links, go to: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/the_vibes_broadcastPlease subscribe, like, and share!

Author / Speaker Leadership Trainer & Coach Rahul Sharma Speaking Podcast Social Media / Coaching My Other Podcasts + Donations https://bio.link/podcaster Storehttps://www.podpage.com/speaking-podcast/store/ Donations  https://www.podpage.com/speaking-podcast/support/ ==================== Bio of Rahul: Rahul is a Virginia resident who is a native of Ujjain, India. He believes in positive mind-talk and is passionate about transformation. As an alumnus of Pune University and Bowling Green State University, he is a highly sought-after speaker and leadership trainer. With 20+ years in Corporate America, he inspires others towards excellence and high-performance. Unafraid to challenge the status quo and run the marathon of life. What we Discussed: - How we can help children be comfortable in Public Speaking - His Speaking Journey Started while doing his MBA - How Speaking also helps with Listening Skills - Les Brown Speaking course - Why Reading helps in debates and creating speeches - Stage Crusher Course that Rahul took - How the Coaching Course help him as a Manager - His New Book 'Habits4Miracles' - Finding Silence - The Meditation he uses - Social Media that he finds works best for him and more How to Contact Rahul: www.mindtalksmatters.com www.habits4miracles.com https://www.facebook.com/Preparewithrahulsharma https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahulphr/ =============== Speaking Podcast Social Media / Coaching My Other Podcasts + Donations https://bio.link/podcaster Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/speakingpodcast/ Store https://www.podpage.com/speaking-podcast/store/ Donations  https://www.podpage.com/speaking-podcast/support/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/roy-coughlan/message

In this episode, we talk about the festival of Mahashivarathri.We converse with Sheela, a Shiva bhakta and a working mother and have a freewheeling discussion on not just Maha Shivarathri but a lot more.General InformationSubscribers are requested to look for The Hindu Parenting notification emails for new podcasts/posts in their email promotions/spam tab and personally move these into the main inbox. Thereafter all posts will be delivered to their main inbox. Thank you!For questions that you'd like us to address, please use the form below:Hindu Parenting QuestionsFor comments and suggestions, please use the comments tab or write to us at contact@hinduparenting.orgPlease note that questions will not be answered on email.Do subscribe to our substack and follow us on our social media handlesTwitter: hinduparentingInstagram: hinduparentingTelegram: t.me/hinduparentingFacebook: facebook.com/groups/hinduparentingTranscriptRekhaNamaste!Welcome to the Hindu Parenting podcast. As we pointed out in the previous episode, ours is a celebratory culture. Almost every day in our calendar is filled with a celebration of nature or episodes from our rich itihasas and puranas. Our ways of celebration are equally rich and diverse. Today, we will be talking about the festival of Maha Shivaratri. So, when does Shivaratri occur according to the Indian calendar, traditionally known as the Panchangam? The 14th day or chaturdashi of Krishna paksha just before the new moon marks Shivaratri every month, making it 12 Shivaratris in all, but the Shivaratri that falls on Krishna paksha chaturdashi in the month of Magha, or Phalgun, depending on the specific panchang is called the Maha Shivratri. To discuss this festival, we have Sheela, a Shivabhakta, and a working mother. Shalini and I will be talking to her about the festival and how she celebrates it as a person from the Lingayat community. Namaskara and welcome, Sheela.Sheela: Namaskara Rekha, Shalini. Thank you so much for having me on your podcast.Rekha: It's a pleasure to have you on our podcast. Shall we dive right in? First, can you help us understand the significance of the festival? And what are the stories behind Shivaratri?Sheela: Sure. As we all know, the Shivaratri is celebrated every month or there is a Shivaratri every month, or day before the amavasya is considered Shivaratri every month. But in the Magha maasa, we celebrate Maha Shivratri. It is believed that when the samudra manthana happened, there was amrita and visha that came out of the samudra manthan, after the churning of the sea. So when the poison had generated, it caused a lot of problems even to the God. So Shiva offered to consume this haalahala is what they call it. So it so happened that when he consumed it…Shalini: Sorry, what is called haalahala?Sheela: The poison or visha, what we say. Vish, that is called haalahala. Okay, so amrita and haalahala, is what it's called. Shiva is the Lord of the world, is what we call Jagaddodharaka. So for the uddhara of pruthvi or this sampoorna loka, he came forward and said that he would consume that and dissolve that so it doesn't affect the whole world. So when he consumes this haalahala, when it's flowing down his throat, Parvati comes and holds his throat so it doesn't enter his body system. So that's how his throat has turned blue. So if you if you see the picture of Lord Shiva, it is always shown that his neck is blue in color, that's the reason he's also got the name Neelakantha. We can relate this to a story like how in the villages, if a person is bitten by a poisonous snake, he is kept awake for 24 hours. So that is what happened when Shiva consumed the haalahala, all the devas and devatas and the devis kept him awake by singing and dancing and performing different activities. This kept Lord Shiva awake. So that is a reason that we perform pujas on Shivaratri. So in the same way they did not eat anything. It's it's also…you can think this way; like if the head of the family, okay is unwell, can we eat anything? We won't be in a mood to eat because he's unwell. So that was one of the reasons they did upavaasa. Upavaasa also has an explanation for the word. “Upa” was, it said that, “at the threshold of God”. Vaasa means “living”, right. So at the footsteps or at the threshold of God's presence is what is upavaasa, they say. So, that was one of the reasons why they do upavaasa. And why they do jaagarane. They stay awake with the Lord, to help him overcome this, this reaction of the poison, okay by keeping him awake, because once a person sleeps, it may damage the whole system. And that was one of the reason why they keep the person who consumes or who has been bit by sneak awake for 24 hours.Shalini: I think you should come again on that upavaasa bit. Because vaasa, as you said, That's understood that you're talking about the abode of somebody, or where somebody stays, what does upa mean?Sheela: Upa means near and vaasa means to stay.Shalini: Okay, you're staying near the God who has consumed this haalahala. And you're keeping vigil for that person, with him. Right?Sheela: Along with him. Yeah, any fasting is called upavaasa. So you're close to God, it means that you're close to God.Rekha: Okay, so the purpose of fasting is to be close to God, not just to simply abstain from food. The whole purpose behind any kind of fasting upavaasa that we observed for many of our rituals and festivals is to not eat and thereby stay close to God think thinking of our devi or devata? Whichever occasion.Shalini: Right. This is very interesting, what we use the term upavaasa is to denote fasting, but the word itself does not have that meaning at all. Actually, I think it's an interesting word. It just occurred to me when you said it.Rekha: Yeah, I'm thinking it may have something to do with the proliferation of two meanings. You know, Sanskrit is a language that, that has different meanings for every word. So when you say, yeah, so in some way, I think what we are referring to by using the word upavaasa must be its underlying meaning, not the on the surface meaning of just staying away from food, but the underlying reason for it. So that has become coming into usage.Sheela: I would like to add something to this is when you're doing something that you want to achieve, or something that you like to do, or enjoy doing it, you're focused on it. When you're focused on something; imagine a child that likes to play, okay, doesn't think of food or anything, who's enjoying doing the whole act of playing, will not think of food or anything to drink. The game. Shalini: Very interesting point that you know, because when all focus is on some activity, you really are not concerned about food, drink anything. You're concerned only about what you're doing. So I think that's a great point.Rekha: Especially all of us definitely know how hard it is to drag a screaming child away from play to eat.Shalini: That's, that's absolutely true. Yeah. Sheela: So all of us become children when it is the creator that the supreme energy, soShalini: That's very, very nice way to put it. Yeah. So, Sheela, Shiva is worshipped in many forms, okay. I mean, you see a picture of Shiva on on his vaahana which is Nandi. Sometimes you just see a picture of Shiva with Parvati and their children, but the most common one is the form in which he is worshipped as a linga. So, why do you think that Shiva is represented as a linga?Sheela: Okay. Like, we all know energy does not have a shape. So, Shiva himself has no shape is what they say.Shalini: Yeah, I mean, Linga also actually means just a representation no in Sanskrit? Linga is the sign,Rekha: Yeah, the representation of Shiva linga. Linga is the word in Sanskrit word for a sign. So Shiva is represented as a linga and a linga is column of light with no beginning and no end. And when you worship Shiva as a linga, it just means you worship him as this unending, infinite source of light and fire. It's supposed to be a column of fire with no beginning and end. And interestingly the Jyotirlingas are well known to all practitioners of Hinduism. So the Jyotirlingas are supposed to be manifestations of this column or pillar of light, it's also called as sthambh. So the manifestation of the stambh in 12 different locations across India is the story behind Jyotirlingas. And some of the Jyotirlingas, where Bhagwan is represented as a column of light is places like Kedarnath, Mahakal temple in Ujjain.Shalini: There is Trimbakeshwar in Maharashtra, also Bhimashankar in Maharashtra too, I think, yeah, then I think Somnath is also one of the Jyotirlingas right?Rekha: They say that these are all swayambhu forms of Bhagwan because the Jyotirlingas are swayambhus which means that they have manifested by themselves without installing. So that is the significance of the 12 Jyotirlingas.Shalini: So Sheela, Rekha has been saying that, you know, a column of light, fire. Actually, Shiva is always represented in this fiery form. There's always a kind of very intense energy associated with him, you know, why is that?Sheela: Yes, as I mentioned, in the beginning, Jagaddhodharaka. So, he is believed to take away all the negatives from the creatures of his own creation, right. So he has created this world is what we believe. So in this world, whatever negatives that are there and that's the reason we go to any temple, okay? To gain energy from them, we don't go there to ask for something, we just try to, it's like, we are recharging our energies, okay. So, every time when we talk, we always say, think positive be positive, okay. So, it is believed that Eeshwara or Jagadeeshwara or Jagadoddharaka draws all the negatives. So, when he is taking all of the negatives, like how he consumed the haalahala, he is considered to be you know, his system is they say that he's very hot. So, any shaivaite if you ask them… He is believed to be abhisheka priya is what they say. If you go to any Shiva temple, you will see that there are drops of water falling on the Shivalinga that is there in the sanctum. It is said that the Shivalinga always needs to be cooled down like, you said Agni or fire that he's holding in his system has to always… you have to cool it so, that's one of the reasons why these water drops keep falling on the Shivalinga. And even if you can connect that to your family as such, it is believed that eeshanya moole in vaastu is what they say, in a house where the north and east coincide is called the eeshanya corner Okay. So, in that corner, even now in certain houses, they follow this ritual of or custom of keeping a vessel of copper or any vessel that has water and so, it is believed that when you keep this water which has to be changed every day, and the vessel has to be clean, and you refill the water, this signifies that like every house has an owner, so to keep them calm or the whole setup of the house to be calm, it is believed that when you keep water there it keeps the whole house in a positive energy or positive environment.Shalini: So that vessel is supposed to absorb all the negativities that arise in that space and imparts the positivity. Sheela: Yes, because that corner is believed that is where Shiva is residing and that is one of the reasons they especially that corner if any house as that corner of it is good to make use of the space to keep at least a small vessel of water.Shalini: So what are what are the abhishekams that Shiva basically likes?SheelaShiva is as I mentioned is abhisheka priya and like how they say Vishnu is alankaara priya. So Shiva is abhisheka priya and you can just do abhisheka with water, nothing else. The least could be water otherwise, just panchamruta abhisheka is what they do normally. Or as we all know, he puts vibhuti, the ashes. So, since he's fond of vibhuti, so vibhuti is another thing but otherwise just by water. Me being a Lingayat, there were times when I used to not get flowers when I used to live in certain places. Even now when I do puja, since we have to do puja to our linga that we wear, every day it is said that we have to do thrice a day but with all the lifestyle that we have, I ensure that at least once in the morning, soon after my bath, I do the puja. I just apply vibhuti and the sandal paste and I just pour little bit of water and that is what is sufficient to keep him happy.Shalini: It's very interesting. All the things that you mentioned, they're all coolants also. Water is a coolant, vibhuti is a coolant, sandalwood paste is a coolant, panchamruta is a coolant. So, I mean it's very consistent. Okay, if they say that he absorbs all the negative energies and so gets heated up and needs to be cooled. All the things that you're using to do abhisheka with for him are also coolants you know, so there is really no inconsistency in our practices. It's really beautiful to see this.Rekha: Just as Sheela pointed out, abhisheka priya and alankaara priya! What are these two? You know, Bhagwan Shiva is known as abhisheka priya and Vishnu, any Avatar of Vishnu is supposed to like decoration, flowers, all the beautiful and aesthetic things. Whereas Shiva is more from an ascetic tradition. So Shalini, do you remember the discussion we were having when we discussed what it means to be a Hindu? And choosing one's ishtadevata?Shalini: Yes, absolutely.Rekha: What Sheela has just said, ties into our devis and devatas having different personalities, you know, one liking the decoration aspect, one being more ascetically inclined, and how beautiful, how naturally diverse the tradition is and how we can choose an ishtadevata, depending on what resonates with our personality..just wanted to point that out.Shalini: Exactly, exactly. That's what I'm saying. It's very consistent, you know, the theories, the practice, everything is consistent. It's for us to discover and appreciate it. It's really, every conversation that we have makes me more and more appreciative of the depth and profundity of our traditions. It's simply amazing. Okay, Sheela, while you were growing up, what was a typical festival day like? How did you celebrate the occasion of Maha Shivaratri?Sheela: Alright. And as a child, what I can remember is, we wouldn't get to eat anything that's made with rice or we wouldn't eat any cooked form of the rice. And my parents used to fast without having any grain. Okay, if we felt hungry, the food that we used to get would be fruits or anything that is made with wheat, and we would try our best to cooperate with our parents by not asking for any food because they are fasting themselves. So it wouldn't be right asking, demanding for something but then it was always a treat to have chapati because that was that is I'm sure even now, like my children, they like to eat chapati. It's not rice. And the whole day from morning till evening, they wouldn't eat anything. And again, they would have bath in the evening and all of us would have bath. And then they would do the abhisheka at home by chanting Rudra or simple Om Namah Shivaya is what we could chant. And then once the puja is done in the evening, around 6:30 or seven o'clock, I'm sure they used to even check for the right time when they will do the puja. And then once that is done, followed by phalahaara is what it's called. Any upavaasa they say phalahaara, it's phala, ahaara; you can have fruits if you want to break your fast or you can have a snack which is made of wheat. Normally in our house, my mom used to always make something with wheat, that would be upma. That was the common thing that would be made. And then we used to get to eat dry fruits and all with which we could eat any fruit if we feel hungry after we break the past. But there are some people who will not have anything at all. They may just have juice sometime, tender coconut is considered to be cooling. So they consumed a coconut and there are certain temples, like there's a temple near our house where I live. There on Shivaratri they have the tender coconut abhisheka. Elaneeru abhisheka is what they call it. So, they will be there they perform this on Shivaratri. And on that day, any temple that you go, a Shiva temple, they will serve you with prasada which will either be dates or it will be some snack which is made of wheat, like upma, is what they give in that temple also. So, there are a lot of devotees who contribute, they volunteer to sponsor the prasada on that day. So it is from morning till the next day morning that they keep, like, you know, puja keeps happening. But this elaneeru abhisheka happens till the evening, then there is another puja again, then there is a different alankaara of vibhuti that they do. And then it is followed by the bhajan and all that that they do.Shalini: Yeah, so you you stay up all night? Or that was the practice, maybe it's not so anymore, but people would stay up all night, right? Yes. And what what would you do? I think you mentioned why we stay up. Because we are also keeping vigil along with the Lord so that, you know, he doesn't fall asleep and swallow that poison, which could affect him. So I think that's why we stay awake. But what would you do staying awake?Sheela: So once you break the fast at home, when we used to break our fast, the next custom was to take us to the temple. So in those days, we had to walk a lot to go to a particular temple that my parents used to visit. So they used to be two, three Shiva temples that they used to take us to. So we used to walk after this, go visit… the farthest temple would be the first place that we would visit. So on our way back, we would go to another temple and then a temple that is much closer to where we used to stay then. Once we visit the temple, the next thing that would happen is to keep us awake for some time, they used to play a movie. So it was a standard movie. I remember two, three years, it would be the same movie. It used to be Shiva Purana story where, like Parvati is dreaming of being married to Lord Shiva, like all of us know the story, right? So the parvata raja story. And this was a movie that used to be played there. And that would go on for probably till midnight, till one o'clock, we used to stay in the temple. And then we used to walk back home. And you will see people all around that community moving around, so it wouldn't be like it is night. So we would come back and we would sleep. I really don't remember if my parents used to stay awake, but when we get up, they're awake again. So in the morning, that's how it used to be.Rekha: This also shows the importance of community right? But for having a community it would be much harder to motivate children to stay awake or to take part in these festivities. But having a connectivity makes it so easy.Shalini: Yeah, and you're right because there are plenty of families also who are taking advantage of big community celebrations in places like Sadguru's Isha plus, I think there is Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living, they also have a whole night program for Shivaratri. So, I think there are opportunities to do things as a community. And then of course, there are the temples also, which always I think do full night programs on Shivaratri, yeah,Rekha: Yeah, there are so many temples that have all night programs. So, you know, even the littlest ones can be taken to these programs, there are cultural events. And I have noticed the very little ones who come to see, like a music performance or a dance performance done by the older children and they get fascinated and they they beg to they ask their parents, can I also start learning so you know, these kinds of things are facilitated when you start having them participate. In India it is actually quite easy to find a local Shiva temple that has all night programs.Sheela: In villages, normally they follow this jaagarane ritual very devotedly. There are plenty of temples which will have singing, there'll be some people who will be telling stories and be narrating stories. So they ensure that they are awake and there will be small children, they are the ones who will be the most energetic because it is believed on this day. They say that you can gain a lot of energy, especially for saadhaks who are looking forward to achieve something or to do some saadhana. They say that this is an ideal day to do your upavaasa and your jaagarane. So small children definitely enjoy the celebration, especially the jaagarane because it's, it's something unusual, they let them stay awake the whole night.Rekha: Speaking of all night activities, and jaagarane, we can see how the performing arts play a major role in the life of a practicing Hindu. Shiva in his form of Nataraja, the king of natya is just so relatable for kids, don't you think? It is just such an active beautiful, aesthetic image and that's one easy way for kids to connect this whole thing of performing arts and Shivaratri. And then performing in a festival, staying awake at night and performing in a festival..Shalini: dancing the night away with some rules and we cannot have any sort of dancing. ButRekha: That's true. Terminology is so important. Coming back to terminology which we touched in the very first or second podcast. So, dance is not simply dance for us. It is natya. Music is not simply music. It is sangeeta. Practitioners of classical dance, the gurus who make it a point to mention this. I remember meeting one of the renowned gurus and he had specifically said what is dance? Don't use the term dance. It is natya.Shalini: yeah, I think that's that's something that we have to consciously do every day, you know, shed a little bit of the English, start using our own words, then the associated meanings also will come to us. And I think we'll all be better for that.Rekha: Maybe we can also stop saying gods and goddesses and say devatas and devis, and..Shalini: yeah, devatas and devisSheela: I would like to add something to this devi and devatas, devatas and devis. When you're referring to a couple they will always say Srimati and Shri, they will never say Shri and Srimathi. Unlike in English, they'll say Mr. and Mrs, no?Shalini: Wow! That is something that's a very, very interesting point that you brought up.Sheela: Even if you see, when you see an invitation, a wedding invitation, it will always be Srimati and Shri. So, the importance of a woman or the respect that is given for a woman is shown from not now, but from the ancient days. So they always give a lot of respect for a woman in Indian culture. Everywhere.Shalini: Little things no, that we have not actually paid attention to but it makes a world of difference. You always write Srimathi and Shri. You will never write Shri and Srimathi. It even sounds wrong, you know.Rekha: That's because we've grown up hearing it said - Shrimathi and Shri, Devi and Devatha, it just flows so well. You notice that Shri itself means Lakshmi, right? Shalini: Correct. Correct. I was going to raise that too! Good, you raised that Rekha.Rekha: Can this word ‘Mr.' ever mean “Goddess"? Think of how preposterous that sounds!Shalini: ‘Mr.' can never have a feminine element in it, no? Rekha: Just like how Eve was fashioned out of a rib of Adam!Shalini: Correct! Very very interesting point. Things that we generally tend to not notice. Ok Sheela, as a Shiva Bhakta or a family of Shiva Bhaktas, how do you initiate a child into the practice?Sheela: In our community, we have a custom that we follow. Its a part of community rituals, when a child is born, we do a ritual called Linga dharna, which we do on the 11th day after he or she is born. And we call the pandit of our community to come and perform this ritual, where a child is tied a linga. In our house, my daughter also got this linga dharana done when she was born. As a child she used to always ask - you know children are curious, they like to always do and be a part of every ritual and later on it fades off.. but my daughter just a couple of years ago also used to ask, whenever she saw us doing puja. She used to ask, “even I want to do linga puja”. Even we as children were supposed to wear it every day, but because of our lifestyles and we move out and go to different places, we aren't allowed to wear this as there is a ritual that you need to follow and do puja everyday to the shiva linga. Shalini: Meaning that if you wear the linga you have to do the puja everyday. So if you are not able to do it, you should not even wear it - that's what you are saying, right?Sheela: I wouldn't say to not even wear it but you need two do justice right? It's called atma linga, it's close to your heart, so it's almost like the god within you. You are worshipping the god within you in the form of linga so you keep it close to your heart and that's how you wear it in the Lingayat community also. Not everybody wears it, but if you do, you should keep it close to your chest, and you have to perform the puja thrice a day - morning, afternoon and evening also. We used to get an opportunity to do the puja for this linga whenever we used to do rudrabhisheka for Shiva on Shivarathri day, so we used to also get to do the puja, apply the bhasma and the gandha and all that. So we tried the same thing with my daughter when she wanted to do the puja. We got her to hold her linga and we taught het to do the puja and she used to like do it even after Shivaratri for some days. Since she used to ho to school, I used to give her an option that she could do it on her holidays, so she would consciously ask for the Shivalinga to do the puja. That is what we do over here. Normally on Shivaratri as we keep chanting Om Namah Shivaya as we are reading the shloka or the Rudra or the different Stotrams that they read for Shiva. Each house follows each way of doing puja. We make her sit with us and put the bilva patra on the Ishwara. All the lingas are kept in a plate after the abhisheka is done and we start chanting Om Namah Shivaya and we get her also to put the bilva patra on the linga.Shalini: Bilva patra is the leaves of the bilva tree no? which is also something that Shiva likes very much.Sheela: Yes yes. Its called bilva patra or bilpatre or bel in Hindi so that's how we get to be a part of the puja. Somewhere even when they say, “I don't believe in all this”, slowly as they grow up, as the transformation happens, children will get drawn to it when it is inculcated in them as young, small children or even as teenagers. Children need to be told why this is done so once you get a justifying explanation you start believing.Rekha: Sheela, so if a child cannot do the ashtotram by himself or herself, they can chant Om Namah Shivaya 108 times right? As a way of worshipping the linga, isn't it?Sheela: Right, right. If you can chant 108 times, good. If you can't, you can keep telling how many ever times you can chant. So there's nothing that you have to count for 108 times. If you can chant when you are doing the shiv puja every day for how many ever times, good for you, because all of us have time constraints, right?Rekha: And this mantra is incidentally called the Shiva panchakshari mantra, right?Sheela: Yes.Shalini: I think we've had a very, very enlightening, interesting, enjoyable conversation and we have talked about more than just Shivaratri. I think our listeners would enjoy this podcast as much as we enjoyed putting it together, so with this we come to the end of this episode. Thank you Sheela. Thank you for joining us and sharing so many experiences, and thank you Rekha, and we will meet our listeners once again in a fortnight's time. It's going to be yet another festival, the festival of Holi and we will be speaking to another guest about Holi. Until then namaste. Keep well. 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In this episode, we talk about celebrating Indic birthdays so that children feel the joy and excitement of personalised connection with Hindu history and culture. We converse with the founder of Janmatithi.com (also indicbirthday.com) to explore the differences between the Gregorian calendar and the Indic calendar. We also touch on the ways in which celebrating birthdays according to the Indic calendar will help us connect to Hindu dharma.Show Notes0:06 Why celebrate Indic birthdays2:00: Vasco da Gama and the Indic calendar5:00: The European calendar vs. the Indian calendar11:30: How to use the website and find your Janmatithi19:00: What is a tithi?23:11: The Indic lunisolar calendar, the male and female energies of Shiva and Shakti, eco-feminism as a movement.29:00: Indic calendar celebrations - the benefits and joy32:00: Midnight celebration - how did it start? GMT vs the ancient Ujjain Meridian34:24: What can a parent do everyday to enhance connection with the Indic calendar?39:50: Listener questionGeneral InformationSubscribers are requested to look for The Hindu Parenting notification emails for new podcasts/posts in their email promotions/spam tab and personally move these into the main inbox. Thereafter all posts will be delivered to their main inbox. Thank you!For questions that you'd like us to address, please use the form below:Hindu Parenting QuestionsFor comments and suggestions, please use the comments tab or write to us at contact@hinduparenting.orgPlease note that questions will not be answered on email.Do subscribe to our substack and follow us on our social media handlesTwitter: hinduparentingInstagram: hinduparentingTelegram: t.me/hinduparentingFacebook: facebook.com/groups/hinduparentingTranscript[0:06] Rekha: Namaste. Welcome to the Hindu Parenting Podcast. Today's topic is of particular interest to young parents and children. We are going to be talking of birthdays. Today we celebrate birthdays that sound like 21st December, or 3rd March. But as followers of Sanatana Dharma, we celebrate our gods and festivals on days that sound like Krishnaashtami, Ramanavami, Buddha Poornima, or Mahaveer Jayanti. So how do we reconcile these ways of arriving at birthdays and festivals? Was there a time when we used to calculate and refer to our birthdays differently? The question for us - do we know our Indic birthdays? Can we find our child's Janmatithi? To help us understand the difference and tell us some interesting anecdotes along the way, Shalini and I will be talking to Suraj-ji, founder of Janmatithi.in or Indicbirthday.in. Namaste and welcome, Suraj-ji.[1:11] Suraj: Namaste Rekha-ji. Namaste Shalini-ji, thank you for having me here. And thanks for hosting such a wonderful platform, especially for parents who are looking for a cultural connect for their kids.Rekha: It's a pleasure to have you. Let's start with - why should we bother knowing our Indic birthdays? What is in it for us and our children?[1:29] Suraj: Indeed. So, today if you go and ask any kid when is the birthday of Jesus Christ, he knows it immediately. He'll say it is December 25 from the top of his head, but ask the same kid, what is the birthday of Shri Rama or Shri Krishna? Do you know when they were born? They would not be sure about it, they will start scratching the head and wondering... they would not have an answer like...Sri Rama was born on Chaitra Navami and Krishna was born on Shravana Ashtami. These things are really a question mark for us. Why do kids not know this? One of the reasons is because we have lost our connect with the Indic calendar and the Indic calendar connects us with our culture. If we look back, even the ancient Indians, they excelled in astronomy, they devised astronomical calendar which is based on science and has undergone minimal change since millennia. If you look at the English calendar though, it is rather arbitrary, you know, it was not even standardized till 17th century. Only after 17th century they borrowed some techniques from India and synchronized their calendar. So what was the need for our ancestors to devise such a advanced calendar at such an early age? It was primarily for navigation. Those days, Indians navigated across the world. And the complex calculations and accurate calculations were needed for this. In fact, there's a story that goes that, you know, Vasco de Gama discovered India as per our books, but the story goes that he couldn't have reached India but for the help he received from an Indian called Kanha! Vasco de Gama, when he came, he actually came only through the shores, he did not venture into deep sea. He came to Africa and then from there on, an Indian called Kanha actually navigated him along with his boats to India. So Vasco de Gama documents this, he says that he could see boats which are much larger than his boats. And also, he incidentally says that the person there was navigating us through his teeth. So this was very weird.Shalini: What! [4:00] Suraj: Yeah, so the story is very interesting. So the teeth actually represents - it's represented by a word called kau. A kau is what Kanha was referring to. And his reference was a polestar, this local dialect, he was using a device and he was measuring the altitude of the pole star from the horizon using a wooden board, and the thread was held by his teeth. So when Vasco de Gama saw this, he also heard the word kau and he had a memory of kau being used for teeth, the word kau being used for teeth as well. So he presumed there is some relation between teeth and navigation. Shalini: How ridiculous![4:36] Suraj: While Kanha was going very advanced, he was looking at the pole star and he was measuring. So this kind of highlights the difference of understanding of the Indian perspective of astronomy and navigation, compared to that of a western mind. You know, the navigation and understanding of astronomy was defined by the calendar, the calculations of the calendar. That's why calendar is very important for for us in that context.[5:00] Suraj: And if you go back from the English perspective, as I said they had like no well-defined calendar before the 17th Century. They had a lot of errors, while Indians had this continuous calendar since millennia. And that's why going back into history, we can look at these lessons.[5:25] Shalini: So when was this calendar standardized? And why? And what was there before, before this calendar was standardized?Suraj: So if you really go back to ancient times in the European continent, they had a very harsh winter. So they actually did not count the days during the winter. They did not care about what happened outside, they were indoors, only the first 10 months were important for them after that they really did not calculate time.[5:55] Rekha: So timekeeping took a break for two months?! Is that possible? Suraj: That's right. And it was causing a lot of issues for them. They could not predict festivals correctly, they had trouble getting the winter solstice date correct. And they had nobody to tell them.[6:14] Suraj: So then, in those days, a lot of information came in from the Indian subcontinent, especially through the Arabs. So that's how they evolved their calendar over time, while India was already having all this knowledge. Indians were working off advanced trignometrics, right? This was the situation in India, while in the West it was much different. Now the calendars were then driven by the Emperors and the church. So like, Julius Caesar was dominating the Julian calendar. And Augustus also came in so Augustus kind of said, “Okay, August month should be mine!” That's how July and August have, you know, 31 days, because they are named after Emperors while February is deprived of two days, 28 days, because that there was nobody to..(laughs)[7:00] Shalini: So it was the whim and fancy of some Emperors that they decided to name months after them and use it, you know, in any which way they wanted - 31 days for each of them, and depriving poor February of two days. Suraj: Correct. Once in four years, he turns his head up. But that was much later. And then came in Pope Gregory. So Pope Gregory was the one who defined the Gregorian calendar in the 17th century, the kind we use these days.Shalini: This is what we use today, right? [7:37] Suraj: That's right, that came into practice in the West, in the western continent, around the 17th century, 15th to 17th century. So those days, if you announced the calendar, it doesn't happen immediately. It takes years and centuries to implement it across, for the knowledge to spread. So yeah, that was when the Gregorian calendar came in. And also a point to highlight here is that in Indian calendar, we have the concept of tithis, and the tithis are like the 30 tithis in a month. So the tithis are like days. And it's always 30. So it is consistent across months, it is not like some Emperor told I want something which is better, and it doesn't change. It is much more secular in that sense. While this is more religious, right? Even decisions are driven by the church, Pope Gregory announcing something. And also..[8:26] Shalini: So what adjustments did Pope Gregory make exactly? What did he do? Suraj: So initially, there were.. let me go back one step back as well, if you see, I told about the 10 months, right, so the 10th month was supposed to be December. That's why the year ends at December. And there is Nava. November is nine, Nava. And December is dasha - ten. So that's, that's where they ended the year. But much later on. when they did much more connections, and around the 15th - 16th century, Pope Gregory and with him it was basically some scientists and people who came together and then Pope Gregory announced that we should skip 10 days for the correct date to come in. So around 5th October to 15th October. So we've talked about 5th being one day, and the next day was 15th October! They skipped 10 days in between. [9:24] Shalini: Really?! This is so random and ridiculous and arbitrary. They just skipped 10 days? you know, those 10 days came and went came and went, but they never got recorded. The date changed from..what.. October 5 to 15th?[9:42] Suraj: That's right. That's it - 5th to 15th around that time. So after 5th, the next date was 15th, that's right. So they didn't have October 6, or 7th or 13th.[10:03] Rekha: you know what I find very interesting here? So we have the “secular” calendar that follows the planetary positions, the sun and the moon, you know, the heavenly bodies and everything. But what we are following thinking that it is secular is actually the Christian religious calendar. Is that correct? Suraj: That's absolutely correct. Yes. So we base in fact, the start of the calendar itself as AD/BC, that was based on the birth of Jesus, and every year starts around Jesus birthday. So you know our birthday i.e English birthdays today, are religious birthdays as it is based on Jesus Christ and his birthday.[10:45] Shalini: But today I think they have changed that no? Now, it's called the Common Era. But yes, you're right. While we were growing up, we called it AD and BC, which was, you know, after Christ and before, so, yeah, absolutely. But it's taken, this change probably happened in the latter half of the 20th century, perhaps, right, this movement from AD to CE common era. [11:14] Suraj: Yeah, they have tried to correct a lot of things. But I can come to that, at some point where many concepts of India were very, very advanced. And now the West is trying to catch up on that. So they are copying us still, but not giving the due credit. [11:30] Shalini: Okay, great. So we will, we will discover those by and by, you know, yeah, sure, sure. Maybe, maybe not in this podcast, but maybe in a future one. Because, you know, what we are diving into is a very vast subject. I don't think it will end with one podcast. Anyway, so now that we know how scientific and culturally important it is knowing our Indic birthdays, how can we find our Indic birthdays? You have your website, right? Maybe you can tell us a little bit about how to navigate your website and how to find our Janmatithi using your website. Suraj: Sure, so my website name is indicbirthday.com or indicbirthday.in . The other domain also which points the same website is Janmatithi.com or Janmatithi.in. You can go to any of these and it will bring you to the same website. So on the main page, you can enter your English birthdate, that is your current, whatever birth date, the year of your birth, and then you need to put in the time of your birth then you can if you are born in India, the default timezone is the Indian timezone. You can choose a different timezone if you are born somewhere else, but remember, it's a place of your timezone of your birth, not the timezone of your current place. So, if you're born in India, it should be and currently in US you have to put the timezone as India, because it refers to the birth time and year.Shalini: And suppose one doesn't know the exact time of birth, how important is that?Suraj: It is okay to have an error of about a couple of hours, the reason being we are calculating janmatithi which has a range of around 24 hours - 20 to 24 hours. So it is okay to have that error. So, once you have put this in three inputs, you just say get janmatithi and it will throw you the detailed timings of your birthday for the current year. So it will tell you when to celebrate it in the current year based on the English date reference. And it will also tell you the Indian calendar Indic month and Indic tithi, Indic day that is - and the paksha. So these details will also come up so it can then be saved. And it will go into database in your login. You can log in and then save that birthday and you can share it to your family. They click on the link and it will reopen for them. So it is quite elaborate. We have done a lot of features there to be able to save and share the Indic birthdays.Shalini: I see. So how long have you been working on this website? [14:28] Suraj: It has been a few years now. It's been four or five years, and I have a regular job. So we have been evolving it over time. And with the help of some freelancers. And amazingly, I've got a lot of help from very cooperative freelancers, friends, my family and also there was this help I got from a German collaborator. He was working in a university in Germany. In fact, he was also connected with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at some point. That's where he was knowledgeable as well. And he can give me a lot of knowledge on the Swiss ephemeral data library, the software library, which gives the planetary positions used for calculating the Janmatithi and Nakshatra, Rashi all those things.[15:23] Shalini: Okay. So you have put in a lot of effort into building this website. So, I think we should encourage our listeners to definitely visit this website janmatithi.in or janmatithi.com or the same thing as Indic birthday.in or Indicbirthday.com. So I think we should, you know, support really hardworking people like this who are putting in time and effort apart from a steady job otherwise to make things like this. Rekha: Wonderful. Thank you so much. Suraj ji![15:57] Suraj: I would like to also add that you know, this tradition is, it is I'm sure this is meant to happen. That's why I'm just the means it's happening. It it is a very living tradition of Janmatithi in many cultures - if you go to Gujarat, they celebrate, they call it tithi anusaar birthday. If you go to Kashmir, it is call koshur - they have a name for this. They call it koshur birthday. In ISKCON, they have this tradition very actively followed. Art of living has their Ayush Homas. Ramakrishna Mission celebrates Vivekanandji's and a list of saints birthdays (janmatithis) published and so it is a very living tradition, even today, and just that we did not have this information out there. So I was really searching for it and decided to develop it myself.[16:42] Shalini: Very nice to hear this. Yeah, really. Okay, so how did you first develop an interest in this concept of Indic birthdays? [16:52] Suraj: Yeah, that's a very interesting story for me. It is a very personal story as well. My father, his name is Krishna. And he was born on September 2, that is his birthday. And that particular year, apparently, it was Janmashtami when he was born. Now, we didn't know this for a long time. But recently, just before we started on this exploration of the website, we had a few years before that, we had this discussion that you know, that will celebrate your birthday, it was a special some anniversary, and he told that okay, but let us do it on on Janmastami because that is very special for me. So we asked why, you know, why is Janmastami special? So then he said that Okay, I was born on Janmastami. And we had this celebration at home, when I was a kid that I ended up, you know, asking him then that “oh, your name is Krishna and you're born and Janmashtami that is a very nice coincidence!”. [17:45] Suraj: But actually, the story is that he since he was born on Janmashtami he was named Krishna, I didn't realize it because of I myself was so disconnected from this concept of Indic dates and months that it didn't strike to me. So then the second question came in “Oh you were Krishna”. So, my grandmother's name is actually Sita and since he was born on Krishnaashtami, she felt it relevant that we should keep his name as Krishna and that was her basis for naming him Krishna. Now, subsequently, the first part was answered that his name is Krishna for that, but what is ashtami? Krishna Ashtami is as it is commonly known. So delving into that we got that it is the name of the tithi on which it is celebrated. So Ashtami stands for ashta, which is eight in Sanskrit. So this was also a revelation for me because all the birthdays if you see Rama navami is based on a name-tithi combination. I found it very beautiful. And I extended the same to my website also. So if you actually add your name in the website along with that birthday, it will give you your personalized birthday name, which says- For example, my name would come up as Suraj Shasti, that kind of thing. [19:06] Rekha: That's a beautiful way to attract children to make them feel special, I would say. Shalini: Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah. So Suraj ji you've been talking about tithi, tithi so many times and in the English calendar, I think the equivalent is a date, date versus tithi. Now, can you help us understand the difference between the two? [20:00] Suraj: Sure. So, when we say a date in an English calendar context, it is a Civil day. So it starts at around midnight of the Greenwich Meridian time, but whichever whatever we've studied. Now, in the Indian context, we start the day at sunrise - that is point one. And the other thing is, when we say tithi, what do you mean by tithi? Tithi is actually the 12 degree movement of the relative angle between the moon and the sun when you see it from the earth. Okay I hope you understood what I'm saying.Shalini: Maybe you should make it simpler for all of us.Suraj: Sure, a simple way to represent it would be a lunar phase, you know, when you say there is a full moon and then the moon slightly goes on waning and then when it goes waning, there is a shift of some amount and that shift is what is measured. So, that shift is due to the relative position of the moon and the sun. When we put it into when we put it into degrees, it is a 12 degree movement, which is called as one tithi. So, a New Moon is a tithi, then it is pratipada, which is the first tithi, then dvitiya, tritiya, chaturthi, panchami, sashti, sapthami, ashtami, navami, dashami, and so on till the next event, which is the new moon and then again the count starts - pratipada and so on. Shalini: full moon? you started with new moon. So, I think you mean full moon and then again..Suraj: Either way works. So, but an important thing to consider here is that in the month can be started with the new moon. And if you start the month with the new moon, you will have first the waxing phase, which is the Shukla paksha. So, it is becoming brighter, that's when the full moon comes in. And once the full moon is crossed, it is the waning phase which is the Krishna paksha till the new moon occurs again. From the first new moon to the second new moon is one Indic month and between this whole cycle from one new moon to other new moon, you have two pakshas, which is Shukla paksha and Krishna paksha, each paksha is divided into 15 tithis. So, these tithis is what we are representing by numbers, and that is the 12 degree movement Shalini: Does a tithi correspond to a 24 hour day? Suraj: Correct. Tithi is similar to a day in duration, it is about 20 to 24 hours. And as I explained, it is the 12 degree movement. So when you measure it, it will come more or less in the duration of a day, but not exactly. It's a complicated calculation. That's why we have the website, you can go there and you can check it out, but I don't want to put too much concepts right now. Shalini: Sure sure. Interested listeners are free to explore Janmatithi.in for more information. Okay. So, going by whatever you have spoken of before, it looks like our calendar is rather complex, takes into account the Sun, the Moon and the Earth's position with respect to that.[23:11] Shalini: Is there a name for this calendar and are there different calendars across the world? Can you throw some light on this? Suraj: Yeah, this the Indian calendar is called the lunisolar calendar. So, this not just belongs to India, it is the whole Indian subcontinent, which is based on lunisolar calendar, which lunar when we say it has like the moon and the sun combined energy, while the West, so I'm putting it into two cultural aspects here - the West and the East. So, the West has even culturally, if you see they have a dominance of the male god, there is only one God, which is a male god, there is no female God there in their cultures right? While the Eastern cultures have a concept of female divinity as well, this is very representative of the culture, we have the female energy also considered in all aspects, including the calendar. So the male is generally represented by the sun. So there is the Sun which is Shiva and the moon which is Shakti. Now even Dr. Sanjay Rath, who is a famous astrologer has spoken about this. He says, if you are following the body as per only the sun then you're a fool. Your real birthday is when[24:30] Shalini: Why? Suraj: (laughs).. He says the real birthday is only when the male and the female energies come together. Otherwise you cannot be born. So on the day of your birth, the sun and the moon formed the relationship so there is the male and the female Shiva and Shakti which came together to form the relationship and you are born. Now every year when you have the same relationship of the sun and the moon, only then you can celebrate your birthday. So, that is your real birthday. That is when you're cosmically aligned and anything you do - any poojas you do or any auspicious any, you know, blessings which come to you are more connected to you through the cosmos only on your real birthday, your lunisolar birthday. So, this is a very beautifully put by him. [25:20] Shalini: Oh, it makes it makes eminent sense. You know, you cannot, you cannot take birth with just one energy. Right? You need both. So, are you saying that Western calendar follows only the path of the sun and not the moon at all? [25:42] Suraj: Exactly. And it's just the solar reference, which is considered there. And as we discussed, just lots of discrepancies in terms of how the days are aligned, but also this aspect of and also is referring to the way the Western culture has adopted a lot of Indian concepts, right, we were talking about now, they are talking about, you know, correcting the mistakes. So, they are talking a lot about feminism now, while India was already a lot feministic in their outlook. We gave voting rights much before the west gave, right? [26:21] Shalini: That is true. I think after your explanation, I think Indian parents would really want to take a serious re-look at how they're celebrating their own as well as their child's birthday. No? you can't be celebrating just one energy, you need both. So, if if your birthday according to the English calendar is taking into account only one energy, you are not born, you know. So, I think Indian parents after this very enlightening point that you've made, I think would really take a look at celebrating Janmatithi, you know instead of birthday.[27:10] Rekha: Something that I had read before regarding the Somnath temple in the Dvaraka and how it brings together the male and the female energies. Suraj ji, would you know anything about that - it has something to do with the same Shiva Shakti that you talked about. Correct?[27:30] Suraj: Correct. So, in fact, Krishna, Bhagwan Krishna was a very early feminist. And he built this Somnath temple at Dvaraka. So Soma, when you say Soma, right, it means the moon, and it's a Shiva temple. So, it brings together both the energy of the moon and the sun, the Shiva and Shakti both together there. And it serves as a reminder for us not to forget this concept. In fact, only now in the West, there is this movement of eco-feminism which is coming up and they are lately adopting, co adopting these things and ecofeminism places a lot of importance on the moon also. And they would actually agree with what we are putting how we are putting the calendar and they would say yes, we should be more towards the moon giving also importance to moon equally since they are very patriarchally driven, and as well give importance to nature, which is again, something which we bring a lot from the from the east. So ecology and feminism comes together. And it's a developing concept there while we have been having it so why not we celebrate and cherish that right?Shalini: Absolutely, without a doubt. [28:52] Rekha: So Suraj ji, you're a parent, a father yourself. Do you think it's possible to incorporate this way of thinking in the daily life of young family? What has been your experience trying to incorporate Janmatithi into your you know, birthdays and daily routine?[29:16] Suraj: Yeah, absolutely. It is.It is very much possible and we have experienced a lot of evolution. I am a father of two daughters and my elder daughter was actually born on Vara MahaLakshmi and it was a dwadashi. So, we make it a point to celebrate both these days, it we celebrate it on Dwadashi as well as on Vara Mahalakshmi and apart from this my - after developing and studying about this concept, I realised my wife was born on Mahavir Jayanti. So Mahavir Jayanti has also become special and we started - my wife started reading up about Mahavir, about his teachings. And my mother in law we realised was born on Vasant Panchami. That is a festival which we usually overlooked, but we started celebrating it. It's become a special day for us as well, now. Shalini: Lovely, lovely.[10:05] Suraj: Similarly, like even the concept, you know, these names of days that we have given.. my friend called Pragya, she is celebrating her birthday on Pragya Dashami, she was born on dashami. She never knew about this Indian calendar concept, but she has been celebrating it, looking forward to double celebrations. So (laughs)..we make it a point to meet together and celebrate. This has been across my family and my friends. And they have been beginning to understand also. My wife was not so much aware of the Indian calendar now understands when the month changes, when that's how similarly, the seasons, the rutus, how they are calculated, we are all beginning to start to look forward to Indian festivals and celebrate our birthdays with that. And we are more aware of…[30:57] Rekha: Great point! Being aware of Indic calendar makes you really well connected to nature and the cycles of nature. So that's another important reason to keep in touch with the Indic calendar. Suraj: That's right, that's right. Yeah, I would like to bring one more point here this not just the calendar dates, it is also how we celebrate has changed. As you said now, we have more festivals, we are more aware of it. So we started doing on the Indic birthday, we do not blow out the candles like - mostly what you see kids today at midnight, they are blowing out candles and they are causing darkness. So an Indic birthday can be celebrated by lighting lamps, you know, or doing an aarti, for the birthday girl or boy, we can do even daanam you know, donation for the underprivileged. So these aspects also can be brought in into the Indic birthday. And we don't, you know, kind of blow out candles, we celebrate in our own way, which is auspicious to the Indian culture. [32:12] Shalini: Yeah, this this business about the midnight celebration. I think I read somewhere about you know, why this midnight celebration started. But I'm not able to recollect completely. Can you tell us a little bit about that? Do you have any idea of that? Suraj: Yeah. So the midnight celebration is actually a borrowed concept, if you see the Midnight is based off the Greenwich Meridian right, the Greenwich meridian, which is around near to UK, that is about five and a half hours behind the Indian meridian, the original reference of our ancient India was the meridian which goes through Ujjain, which is the center of India. And that is where the Mahakaal Temple is. So this was actually the original reference of the whole world. And the concept was then borrowed. And they back-calculated, okay, five and a half hours before Ujjain is Greenwich, so it's about know, some sometime before sunrise, so many hours before sunrise. So when it's midnight at UK or Greenwich, it is actually sunrise time in India. So it's 5:30-6:00 ish in India, which makes more sense that the start of the day for Indic cultures, we always say sunrise is a time when the day starts. So it's a colonized way of looking at things when you if you see only midnight as a start of the day. [33:46] Shalini: So actually, a person celebrating their birthday in in London is actually celebrating the Indic way, right? If we reconsider Ujjain Meridian as our primary meridian, then the person celebrating at midnight is actually celebrating according to Ujjain meridian, and it's the break of day. So that's that's an Indic way of celebration for a Londoner, but I don't think it's correct for Indians to do that way. Right? We have been adopting their style of celebrating at midnight.Suraj: We should do it in the morning. So then it's correct as per our timezone. Shalini: That is correct. Yeah. Yeah. This is very interesting.[34:24] Rekha: I was thinking it would be very helpful if we started thinking about the tithi every day of the week rather than just on birthdays. So do you have products like maybe a desk calendar or a wall calendar that parents can use to keep track of time so that it becomes a habit in the family?[35:00] Suraj: Thanks for bringing this point. So one of the problem which we face today is although we are interested in this information, most parents may be interested but the kids do not get this knowledge visible and clearly available to them in a physical way, we don't want them to go online all the time right? So, we actually wanted to we are putting together a view of the calendar, which is from Indic months perspective, and that is also available on our website, if you go to the monthly calendar and that would provide a much clearer understanding of the Indian months and the Indic days, this can be put, we will come up with our printed calendars and that can be put we also coming up with an app for the same for a website, it is under development and there can be many concepts whether it can be toys, so this the thing is that if we bring it into the physical world and we celebrate on a daily basis, then it makes more sense. For example, recently there was this birthday of a famous Emperor Krishna Devaraya, it was on Pausha Krishna dvadashi so nobody noticed it because it is on the Indian calendar, but not on the English calendar. So we are losing that connect to what's happening. But if somebody goes and realizes that Oh, I was born on Sri Krishnadevaraya birthday, I was also born on the same Indic birthday it'll create a connect! Kids you know, they will always pay attention when you say it's a birthday. Ask them “is your birthday important or is Diwali important”, they'll say “My birthday is more important, it is more special.” And if you are born on a historic day, then you would want to know more about it. So the kid will go and read up about the cultural aspect - who was Shri Krishnadevaraya, what is his history, it completely connects us to ancient times..say even from Ramayana, Mahabharata, which is getting disconnected, and it makes the day even more special. [37:00] Rekha: I would also like to see Indic birthday cards that maybe children can share, you know, if you have things - like you just mentioned Suraj Shashti for example. And just imagine how it would be if a child receives a special birthday card on that day connecting her to the culture and to the special day. There are so many possibilities, let's hope that this becomes a movement and we inspire all the parents to go ahead and celebrate two birthdays. We can continue to do the calendar birthday, but let's also celebrate the Indic birthday and let's remember to make that an extra special birthday for the child so that it stays in his mind for a long time. And it connects him to his culture in a very deep way. So another idea you know - I'd like to have your input on this - is to have a game of quiz with kids to make a list or to have them make a list of tithis. So much is in common, I mean, we commonly know all these things already. Like we know Vinayaka Chaturthi, we know Basant Panchami, we know Ratha Sapthami, Ramanavami, Vijayadashami..so any tithi that you can name like right from Ekadasi to different tithis, we have some festival or the birthday of a god associated with it already. So this can become an exercise for kids to play some kind of a quiz game or for parents to help children collect this kind of information and make it really interesting for them so that maybe in a few years, we can see a lot of knowledge about these aspects in Indian children. That's my hope. Suraj: Yeah, as Rekha ji said, every tithi has a festival associated to it. So there is you know, Vivaha Panchami in fact which is the wedding anniversary of Rama and Sita. It is celebrated. We have Vivaha Panchami, so anniversaries also can be added! Shalini: That is so nice! Suraj: There is Skanda Sashti (six) for Lord Skanda, Ganesh Chaturthi is four so you can have this quiz. Till Dashami Ekadashi trayodashi and Naraka chaturdashi is Deepavali.Rekha: That's beautiful! Suraj ji, we have a question from a listener, Shreya. She's asking us, “Is Sankranthi celebrated according to Hindu calendar? If it is, then why does it fall on the same dates in the English calendar -like the 14th or 15th of January - every year?”[40:00] Suraj: Yes. So, the concept of Sankranti is based on the solar cycle. So we have 12 Rashis covering 360 degrees of the movement of the Sun in relation to the earth and this 360 degrees is divided into 12 rashis. When the sun moves from one rashi to another it is called a Sankranti. Since we complete one whole solar cycle in a year, it is somewhat similar in terms of the calculations of the modern Western calendars, I say again emphasize ‘modern' because Indian calculations go much more back from ancient times. But the modern calculations have come closer to the same accuracy. That's why Sankranti dates kind of match with the English calendar dates. [40:25] Rekha: Okay, so Sankranti is calculated according to the solar movement. And that's why it coincides with the English calendar dates every year. Suraj: That's right. Rekha: Thank you. That was great information. Shalini: So I think we've had a wonderful time. And this is definitely not going to be the last of our conversations. I'm sure we will be getting in a lot of questions from listeners also, because I think we've spoken enough for our listeners to be excited and curious about this subject. And I'm sure many have a lot of questions. So we will definitely have you another time on the podcast Suraj ji. But for now, I think we must come to the end of this episode. Suraj: I would like to add one final quote, which I read somewhere in Singapore in a zoo, it makes sense here. Well, it says that, in the end, we will preserve only what we love. And we will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught. So when we teach our kids these concepts only then can we take this and inculcate it in our daily life.[41:39] Shalini: That's a fantastic quote. And I think we will end with that. Thank you. Thank you, Suraj ji, and Rekha, thank you so much as always for being a wonderful host and we will look forward to meeting our listeners in another fortnight from now. It is once again the turn of a festival in the coming fortnight and we will be discussing Shivaratri with a parent. So until then, namaste and be well.Namaste. Get full access to Hindu Parenting at hinduparenting.substack.com/subscribe

Is Bjp's Hindutva card become stronger after PM Modi inaugurate Mahakallok corridor in Ujjain? My Instagram Page - www.instagram.com/politicsarca/ My Facebook Page - www.facebook.com/politicsarca My Twitter Page- twitter.com/politicsarca #politicsarca #ujjainmahakal #mahakallok #pmmodi --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/politicsarca/message

Special guest McNullity returns to discuss Alignment with Bogusnoog, and what should have been a short It's Not Easy episode turned out way longer. We look to build a case for the importance of Alignment by discussing micro examples (part 1) and macro examples (part 2) that show just how interconnected everything is. In this part 2: We talk about the pyramids, orion's belt, magnetic ley lines on the earth's crust, and why many monuments and important structures like old churches, castles, temples, centers of power were built along these lines across the planet?Parts 1 & 2 come out together, so check them out!Let us know what you thought: Instagram: @_ThyGap Twitter: @ThyGap Vero: @ThyGapEmail: mindthygap@gmail.com 

Ranbir and Aalia could not visit Mahakal Temple because no one can have a darshan of Mahakal without his will. Sanjay Dixit looks at the interesting event as the Govt. has said that they provided all security.

Ranbir Kapoor, Alia 'stopped' by Bajrang Dal activists from entering Ujjain temple; ‘his beef statement…', India proposes 10-point formula to address challenges UN peace missions face, This Country Fines Apple $2.4 Million For Selling iPhones Without Charger and other top news in the bulletin.

Bharthari was actually the king of Ujjain who renounced his kingdom and gave it to his younger brother Vikramaditya. He did so to take up the path of salvation.  But still, he feels lost on his journey. Listen to this episode to know how he meets guru ji.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sikh_history_sakhi/music: Arms of Heaven by Aakash Gandhi

On Cock & Bull today, we are joined by Sriraam Padmanabhan, Kajol Srinivasan, and the Amit-Shah-Doppelganger - Abbas Momin. Cyrus is angry today about the VIP movement in South Mumbai which is set to take place in the afternoon today. The panel discusses topics of the day - Justin Bieber revealing he has 'Ramsay Hunt Syndrome' with one side of his face completely paralyzed, Microsoft shutting down Internet Explorer, Abbas and his online love 'Sarah Lamah', and the Ujjain minister who says he shed 15kg weight after Nitin Gadkari promised development funds of Rs 1,000 cr per kg of weight loss. Tune in for this and much more.Check out Cyrus Says merch: ivm.today/3PLKo1mYou can follow kajol srinivasan on Instagram at @lolrakshakYou can follow Sriraam Padmanabhan on Instagram at @sriraampYou can follow Antariksh on Instagram @antariksht: https://instagram.com/antarikshtYou can follow Abbas Momin on Instagram @antariksht: https://www.instagram.com/abbasmomin88/Do send in AMA questions for Cyrus by tweeting them to @cyrussaysin or e-mailing them at whatcyrussays@gmail.comDon't forget to follow Cyrus Broacha on Instagram @cyrus_broacha(https://www.instagram.com/cyrus_broacha)In case you're late to the party and want to catch up on previous episodes of Cyrus Says you can do so at: www.ivmpodcasts.com/cyrussaysYou can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcasts App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

https://alara.at/show/ https://alara.at/show/upma2/ Please join Upma Shrivastava and me as we talk about Astro Healing with Colors and so much more, as well as live Q&A and processes. On this call Upma joins us to discuss: -Twelve zodiac signs are governed by seven planets -Seven colors of rainbow signifies seven planets -Seven chakras indicates seven colors -Seven chakras are governed by seven planets -Benefits - To get good health, love, relationship, peace and harmony in family, increase confidence, solve property issues, to get desired job, increase business, good fortune, have good and helpful social network and align with spirituality. The Illustrious “JyotishShastracharya” and “Jyotish Rishi” awards for excellence in Astrology have been endowed to Upma along with the prestigious “Vaastu Ratna” award for her contribution in the field of Vaastu by All India Federation of Astrological Societies. Her articles were published in "Economic Times" too. Upma was born and brought up in "Ujjain" gurukul city ( Rishi Sandipani ashram) of Lord Krishna. She has learned paramparik Jyotish from Rishi ashram. She is a prominent astrologer in Northern India who is known for accurately interpreting the future of many of her clients. Her experience of over 21 years in Astrology, Numerology, Vaastu and Reiki enables her to have impeccable insights into the life of her clients. As a result, she has garnered immense prowess in predicting key events in a person's life just by analyzing the time at which the client has approached her. Upma believes that Astrology, Numerology, Vaastu and Reiki are intrinsically intertwined in nature. Her deep knowledge of Astrology is complemented by her expertise in Vaastu, as well as Numerology and enhanced by her para-psychic abilities gained through her Reiki Meditations. As a spiritually gifted soul, she is a natural mystic. An astrologer who firmly embraces the conventional wisdom but is not afraid of the more contemporary and progressive approaches towards astrology, Upma is truly a strong advocate of convergence of astrology and technology. #alaracanfield, #awakentohappinessnow, #healing, #support, #energy, #podcast, #live, #video, #transformation, #consciousness, #love, #healingenergy, #thealaracanfieldshow, #spotify, #youtube, #podbean, #consciousliving, #joy, #empowerment, #wellness, #spirituality, #spiritualawakening, #awareness, #harmony, #innerpeace, #energyhealing, #2022

The lost city of Lord Krishna. How can an entire city just sink to the ocean floor? What really happened to Dwarka, often know as the lost city of Incredible India. Let's take a deep dive, pun intended, into the lost mythical kingdom of Dwarka in Gujarat, India.

The lost city of Lord Krishna. How can an entire city just sink to the ocean floor? What really happened to Dwarka, often know as the lost city of Incredible India. Let's take a deep dive, pun intended, into the lost mythical kingdom of Dwarka in Gujarat, India.

Learn how to improve your writing- https://www.skill91.com/s/store/courses/description/Art-of-Reading-Writing-Effectively Use code 'FIFTY' to get 20% Off. A fun episode with Dostcast OGs Ritin and Aaks. On the occasion of completing 50 episodes of Dostcast, they bring out the original vibe with lots of bakchodi and stories from their school time. Timestamps 0:00:00 Introduction 0:04:03 Right way to smoke Cigars 0:08:47 Ritin's KBC story 0:10:33 "Khaana Khaake Jaana" 0:14:41 Crazy stories from school 0:22:37 Guilty pleasures of life 0:25:06 Dostcast started with a '30 days challenge' 0:26:00 Crypto-currency, Bitcoin and NFTs 0:33:01 Intriguing stories from Indian mythology 0:39:15 Short films, movies, and web series 0:51:03 Disgusting way to drink alcohol 0:56:40 Bhasmasur Aarti and Ujjain stories 1:00:22 "Gaali mat do" 1:09:18 'Kuta' not "Kutta" 1:17:42 The tragedy of Ghajini 1:19:01 Aaks is an Actor 1:24:22 'Roast' in birthday party Follow Ritin on- Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/pahaadicheetah/ Follow Aaks on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/akkshrm/ Listen to the audio version of the full podcasts at - Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/70vrbHe... Google Podcast - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0... Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast... == This is the official channel for Dostcast, a podcast by Vinamre Kasanaa. Connect with me Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaatir_yt/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/VinamreKasanaa LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinamre-k... == Credits Producer: Hrithik Talwar Editor: Yatharth Bhavsar/Tanishq Bajpai Thumbnail: Vishnu Sarraf

Deities, Beings or Raw Energy?  Tune into this episode for a magical carpet ride over to India, where we meet Shiva and Kali! Special guest, Amit, shares his deep understanding of and experiences with Shiva and Kali, the Hindu traditions and even India's caste system. Learn why Shiva and Kali are inextricably linked . . . and how they invoke both creative and destructive force energies. Kali shows up with severed heads or as a goddess of wealth and . . . ahem . . . even viruses (yep, that last part is real), while Shiva hangs out in cremation grounds, covered in ash and counts the ghosts and demons as his friends.  Shew! We resonate deeply with these two powerful, nonjudgmental forces, and we're certain you will too.  Sit with Shiva, come dance with Kali . . . if you dare!   PS. Spellings of certain words and places mentioned by Amit .... see the longer list below for his VERY generous links and explanations for the deeply curious.   PPS.  Somehow "yoni stones" came up.  Listen in!   ************************** Contact us! Email us anytime at magicalmysticaljourneys@gmail.com Like our Facebook Page Follow us on Instagram Finally, see everything that we do at http://magical-mystical-journeys.com/ (and sign up for instant email notifications) ************************** Amit's generous sharing of resources and videos: Following are some links to see Kali and Shiva being worshipped in various forms across India. These deities have been designed, constructed and consecrated according to prescribed “shastras” (Science treaties/technology).  Dating back to ancient times (per legends), they are treated as live/powerful energy beings. Many public and secret rituals are followed on a daily basis to maintain the powerful energy form. The temples around them have been built and rebuilt, due to natural wear and tear, repeated invasions etc, but the consecration remains.  Everyone has access to their powerful energies, but the “sadhaka” (the seeker) needs to prepare oneself to be able to receive. It's like radio or TV transmissions. You need the dial/antenna to be tuned to the frequency they are broadcasting.I am including links and live streams from temples of these various deities, that I mentioned during our chat and also some photos. For more information on the deities and temples, my recommendation is to use the temple's own website rather than Wikipedia. Systems in these temples are still catching up to technology so their websites may not work optimally or there may be other issues. I am also attaching popular depiction for each of the deity in links: Kali as “MahaLakshmi”, deity of wealth and prosperity, located in a city called Kolhapur, in the western part of India.Following the website to the temple and a live stream from her temple: https://www.mahalaxmikolhapur.com/ https://www.mahalaxmikolhapur.com/shri-ambabai-mahalaxmi-live-darshan.php Kali as “Saptashrungi”, as a deity with 8 hands who defeated the buffalo headed demon Mahishasur. This temple is located in a town called Vani, near the city of Nasik, in the western part of India. Following the website to the temple and a recorded live stream, video is pretty long, where her entire morning worship and decoration is shown: https://www.saptashrungi.net/home.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFzAJcaA68Y Kali as “Naina Devi”, the eyes of the original Goddess Sati, whose body parts fell, in the story I narrated. This temple is located in a town called Bilaspur, about 220 miles from New Delhi, in the northern part of India. Following the website to the temple and a live stream: https://nainadevi.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdUGWCi4hzE Kali as “Kamakhya Devi”, worshipped as yoni (vagaina/vulva), of the original Goddess Sati, whose body parts fell, in the story I narrated.The name Kamakhya literally means ‘She whose title/definition is Sexual Desire.' Following the website to the temple. No live stream available.http://www.kamakhyadevi.org/ Shiva being worshipped in a consecrated “Linga” (in an oblong smooth stone) as “Kashi Vishveshwar” (The lord of the worlds). This is a really ancient temple, located in an ancient city called Kashi/Benaras or Varanasi. About 500 miles east of New Delhi in the north eastern part of India. Following the website to the temple and a live stream: https://www.shrikashivishwanath.org/ https://www.shrikashivishwanath.org/online/live_darshan Shiva being worshipped in a consecrated “Linga” (in an oblong smooth stone) as “Mahakaleshwar”(Lord of time and death). This is a really ancient temple, located in an ancient city called Ujjain. About 500 miles south of New Delhi in the central part of India. Following the website to the temple and a live stream: http://www.dic.mp.nic.in/ujjain/mahakal/default.aspx https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNXnHLHHlpY Who is Shiva? Talk by a spiritual master (Sadhguru) I follow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fMRxtDFYM0About God! Another talk by above master (Sadhguru): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Kiyc9R4wE

Mr. M walks down memory lane to the time he went to Ujjain,  India. There he and his friends decide to visit the Kalabhairava temple on a day where it pours and pours. ‍What happens next...Do check out all episodes @ waysidestations.com!If you enjoyed an episode, do share with a loved one.‍If you loved this episode, check out other interesting episodes as well @ waysidestations.com!

In this episode I am speaking to artist chitrkaar Akshay Ameria who lives in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India. You can see his work on Instagram- @akshayameria . blog - https://axaykafalak.blogspot.com/

देखिए महाकाल की नगरी उज्जैन की रहने वाली शुभी श्रीवेदी की कहानी। दोस्तों ये कहानी गायिका शुभी श्रीवेदी के खूबसूरत संगीतमयी सफर के बारे में है। जी हां ये एक ऐसी गायिका है जो अपनी मधुर आवाज़ से हर जगह खूबसूरत समा बाँध देती है। ये एक ऐसी म्यूजिकल फॅमिली से है जहा इनके नाना नानी सभी शास्त्रीय संगीत के बहुत अच्छे ज्ञाता है और ग़ज़ल गायक भी । तो घर में संगीतमयी माहौल में पली बढ़ी शुभी की भी बचपन से संगीत में ही विशेष रूचि थी। बहुत छोटी उम्र से ही इन्होने संगीत की तालीम लेनी शुरू कर दी। और फिर ग्वालियर घराना, राजा मानसिंह तोमर म्यूजिक एंड आर्ट्स युनिवर्सिटी से 8 साल का डिप्लोमा डिग्री कोर्स किया और संगीत में विशारद हासिल की। इन्होंने अपने गुरुजनों से ना सिर्फ शास्त्रीय संगीत सीखा बल्कि ग़ज़ल, सुगम संगीत की भी बहुत अच्छे से तालीम ली है। साथ ही स्टेट लेवल पर आयोजित होने वाले कई म्यूजिक कॉम्पिटिशन की ये विनर भी रही है। पूरी कहानी पढ़ें: https://stories.workmob.com/shubhi-trivedi-arts-entertainmentवर्कमोब द्वारा #मेरीकहानी कार्यक्रम के माध्यम से एक नयी पहल शुरू की गयी है जिसके ज़रिये हर कोई छोटे बड़े बिज़नेस ओनर्स अपनी प्रेरक कहानियों को यहाँ सभी के साथ साझा कर सकते है। क्योंकि हर शख्स की कहानी में है वो बात जो जीवन को बदलकर एक नयी दिशा दिखाएगी, और ज़िन्दगी में ले आएगी आशा की एक नयी चमकती किरण। #प्रेरककहानियाँ #गायिका #संगीतमयी #म्यूजिकल #शास्त्रीयसंगीत #संगीत #ग्वालियरघराना #गुरुजनों #ग़ज़ल #सुगमसंगीत #म्यूजिककॉम्पिटिशनजानिए वर्कमोब के बारे में: जुड़िये वर्कमोब पर - ये है भारत का अपना एक प्रोफेशनल सोशल नेटवर्क। जोश और जुनून से भरी प्रेरणादायक कहानियां देखिये। मजेदार प्रतियोगिताएं खेलिए, उनका हिस्सा बने, लाइव जुड़िये, और भी बहुत कुछ पाए वर्कमोब पर । यह सौ प्रतिशत बिलकुल मुफ्त है। जाइये इस लिंक पर - https://stories.workmob.com और देखें ढेर सारी प्रेरक कहानियाँ। हमारे ऐप्प को डाउनलोड करें: Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.workmob iOS: https://apps.apple.com/in/app/workmob/id901802570

In Episode 3 of Echoes of India, we'll begin to follow the extraordinary career of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha. How did one person, emerging from the forests in the 5th century BCE, become a prophet, leading thousands of people in one of the most important religious movements in human history? How was he perceived in his time? And as one of the many preachers and renunciants wandering around the Gangetic Plains, what did the average person really think of Siddhartha Gautama and his ilk? Anirudh is trying to bring the history of South Asia alive though hard research and great storytelling. Please him out on this labour of love at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/akanisetti Notes and sources will be available at https://www.anirudhkanisetti.com - sign up for updates!Follow Anirudh on Instagram @aniryuddha, @cholabhaturaempire, or @connectedhistories for more irreverent, critically-researched content on South Asia's incredible history.You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: IVM Podcasts - Apps on Google Play or iOS: ‎IVM Podcasts, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at https://shows.ivmpodcasts.com/featured

Following the previous interview with Gundecha Brothers, who dedicated their lives to continuing this style of music, we present the part II of the talk, where among other interesting insights, the main topics covered are:The importance of Sanskrit and the connection between Dhrupad and this language, the three notes used in the Vedic chanting style, and the difference between mantra chanting and mantra singing.Dhrupad claims the distinction of being the oldest form of Indian Classical music heard today, its origin can be traced back to the chanting of Vedic hymns and mantras. The birth of Dhrupad as we know it today coincided with the Bhakti movement and consequently was more devotional in nature. It was rendered in temples facing the the Divinity full of devotion and bhaav, this was the genesis of what became known as Haveli Dhrupad/Sangeet. Dhrupad is a body of spiritual and mystical knowledge to be practiced with devotion (Bhakthi) and dedication (Shraddha). It is primarily an act of submission to one's inner spirit, not a tool for entertainment.The Gundecha Brothers  from Ujjain, India are classical vocalists of the Dhrupad genre of the Dagar Vani (a tradition of classical Dhrupad of 20 generations tracking back to Swami Haridas.) From 1985 to 2019 the duo consisted of brothers Umakant Gundecha and Ramakant Gundecha and were awarded the Padma Sri for art for 2012. Following the death of Ramakant Gundecha in 2019, his son Anant began to perform with Umakant in the Gundecha Bandhu. They also run a Dhrupad institute outside Bhopal, India, where they teach students from all over the world according to the guru–shishya tradition, or parampara ("lineage"), denoting a succession of teachers and disciples."Dhrupad is the search of the ultimate, the search for a true sound, the eternal sound, the sound of the cosmos. Dhrupad is Nada Yoga - the yoga of sound. It is the best way to get yourself into a calm, peaceful state of mind." Umakant Gundecha"In Dhrupad, we sing the notes in their pure form. Both the performers as well as the listeners experience the life energy in these notes. Dhrupad is therefore really about going deep into the essence of everything, including oneself. You can see yourself through Dhrupad." Ramakant Gundecha

The multicultural musicians and dancers of Yarra Valley and Melbourne, with the support of 'Boite', celebrated life and paid tribute to the artists of Ujjain, India. The event showcased a vast range of cultural influences with traditional sights and sounds. Music director Dr Sarita McHarg talks about the project and its connection with Ujjain, India.

Ujjain mahakaleshwar राजा चंद्रसेन और श्री कर की शिव भक्ति

#dhrupad #udaybhawalkar #indianclassicalmusic Watch an Indian classical vocalist Pandit Uday Bhawalkar interview. He is an exponent of dhrupad gayaki. Visit our webssite - www.raaggiri.com

While excellent newsletters on specific themes within public policy already exist, this thought letter is about frameworks, mental models, and key ideas that will hopefully help you think about any public policy problem in imaginative ways.Audio narration by Ad-Auris.  India Policy Watch #1: Jabki Dimaag Khaali Hai (While The Mind Is Empty) Insights on burning policy issues in India- RSJThe sound and the fury surrounding all that’s happening in India now is quite maddening. Any kind of meaningful analysis risks drowning in it. In any case, there’s no analysis possible any more in India. There are only positions. We have fallen in love with the culture of intellectual nihilism. All arguments start with a bad faith assumption. And before you end it, you are tagged with toxic monikers and a litany of half-truths in the garb of whatboutery. And they bookend any discussion between two ‘argumentative’ Indians these days. We cannot say we didn’t see it coming. It is easy to cast democracy into a vessel that channels the passions of the majority. You can ride those passions to the levers of power. But it is another thing to govern and meet the aspirations of the demos. The easy way then to cover for failures is to continue fighting some mythical ancient regime or entrenched enemies who are undermining your efforts. This is imagined victimhood. When this becomes a political, social and cultural defence to any challenge, intellectual nihilism follows. Facts don’t matter then. Only faith does.We are in a tight spot today. To come out of it requires leadership, farsighted policymaking capabilities and a consensus on the path to nation building almost at par with the task we had on hands right after independence. This isn’t easy even with the best of intentions and capabilities at your disposal. Instead, I fear we have real constraints in thinking our way clearly through this. Acknowledging The ProblemThe economy wasn’t in a great shape going into the pandemic in April 2020. The twin balance sheet problem and the shock of demonetisation meant a modest 4-5 percent growth was beginning to look the best we could do. The national lockdown and the impact of the first wave has meant we will end up with about an eight percent decline in GDP in FY20-21. The general consensus within the government early this year was India had seen off the pandemic and a V-shaped recovery is well on its way. This second wave has set us back again. So, where does that leave us on the economy? There are a few factors to consider here:Unlike wave 1, this time the impact has been felt more directly by the consuming class. This is evident from conversations with friends and colleagues, social media posts and the case counts. People have been scarred and sentiments have taken a hit. More importantly, people will wait to get vaccinated before lowering their guards. The lessons of complacency seem to have been learnt. The talk of wave 3 and its likely impact on kids have only queered the pitch. Vaccination to about 50 percent of people looks unlikely before the end of 2021. This would mean when the wave 2 subsides, there won’t be a quick bounce back in terms of increased mobility and consumption spends. There will only be a gradual return to any kind of normalcy. Unlike last wave, this wave has impacted the hinterland. The extent of the impact is difficult to ascertain but the ground reporting from rural UP and Bihar has been heartbreaking. Rural supply chains have been disrupted and the expectation that rural economy will hold out like last year are misplaced.Much of the heavy lifting last year to support the economy was done by the RBI through monetary policy. There’s a limit to that and it seems we have reached the end of it. The fiscal room available to the government is quite limited. It is worse than last year. The fiscal deficit is the highest it has been in a long time. Yet, the government will have to come out with some kind of a stimulus soon. People are hurting. But where will the money for stimulus come from? Expect more headline management like the Rs. 20 lac crores Aatmanirbhar Bharat package announced last year.Exports could be a silver lining considering most of the developed world will be back on growth path by next quarter. The challenge is how well are our businesses (especially SMEs) positioned right now to take advantage of it. It is difficult to be an export powerhouse while simultaneously dealing with an unprecedented health crisis impacting the workforce. The consensus growth projections for FY21-22 have already been lowered from 11.5 percent to 9-9.5 percent. My fear is this will slide down to 7-7.5 percent range by the time we have seen through wave 2. Since this wave is unique to India in terms of spread and impact, our economic performance, deficit and the future prospects will be an outlier compared to most of the world in FY22. We will have to keep an eye on the sovereign rating given our circumstances. There’s a danger lurking there. Given these, it is evident we will need to bring together our best minds across government, administration and industry to navigate these waters. But that will require to acknowledge we got things wrong to reach here. This isn’t likely going by precedence. It will also be interesting to see how Indian industry and capital responds to this. Of course, the public stance, like always, will be cheerleading the dispensation. But it is no secret that private capital investment has been stagnant for most of last decade. Indian capital doesn’t put its money where its mouth is. It is far too clever for that. As 4-6 percent growth (if that) becomes the accepted norm for this decade, it is likely that Indian industry and the wealthy will try and conserve what they have instead of taking risks. There are other second order social implications that might arise out of another ‘lost decade’ of tepid growth that Indian capital will be worried about. They might continue to prefer a ‘strong leader’ given these concerns. It is also clear now that any recovery will be K-shaped to begin with. The formal, organised and larger players will consolidate their gains and grow at the expense of the informal and smaller players. This trend has been seen over the past 12 months. The stock market, divorced from the real economy, already knows it and it is reflected in the performance of the benchmark indices that represent 30-50 top companies. This structural shift to an oligopoly in most sectors is evident. This will allow the state to control capital more easily as markets turn less free. In any case, the benefits of aligning to the political dispensation are already evident in the list of richest Asians. So, the industry will be more than willing to be subservient. These aren’t the best of conditions for releasing the animal spirits of enterprise. The Absent Media And OppositionIt isn’t difficult to foresee the challenges outlined here and to set up a policy framework to address it. There are two problems here. First, the centralised nature of governance in the current establishment precludes any acknowledgement of missteps or an honest assessment of the problems on hand. Second, the conventional outlets of holding the government to account, the opposition and the media, are mostly absent. Large sections of mainstream media are owned directly by the industry who would rather cheerlead than ask tough questions. Many in the industry and the media may even be ideologically aligned to the establishment. The opposition is fragmented with regional leaders often holding their own in the assembly elections. But any kind of national mobilisation to politically counter the party in power is not in sight. The PM continues to be popular despite the wave 2 failings. The political genius of the PM has been to dissolve the natural fragments of region, caste, or even, language, that precluded over-centralisation of power in the past. The Lok Sabha elections will continue to be presidential in nature for the foreseeable future. So, any real political opposition will need to contend with this. The other source of opposition, class, has disappeared from Indian politics for long. Students’ unions are politicised along party lines and have no independent line of thinking, trade unions have no teeth and farmers movement is splintered despite the protests we see against farm laws. The near absence of media and opposition has meant policy debates and discussions have suffered. There’s complacency and lack of rigour in policy making as has been evident in the past many years. There is no price to be paid for policy failure. And any failure is quickly papered over with some kind of narrative.The Surrender Of ElitesLastly, let’s turn to the elites. The section that often tends to have a disproportionate share of voice in the polity. The institutional elite have either been co-opted or they have thrown in the towel in the face of an overwhelmingly popular establishment. Universities, courts, bureaucracy, police and what’s referred to as civil society can no longer be counted on to be independent voices that will uphold the tradition of the institutions they serve. This isn’t a first in our history. But, remember, the last time it happened the consequences were terrible. That should, therefore, give us no solace. The other set of elites are those who have provided intellectual scaffolding to this dispensation over the years. Loosely put, this group would identify themselves ideologically as either conservatives or belonging to the right. I have articulated their grouses in earlier editions. It runs the spectrum - the resentment with a liberal constitution that was not rooted in our civilisational values, the anger at the radical act of forgetting our history that the Nehruvian elites thrust upon us in their wisdom, the overbearing state and the failures of leftist economic policies during the 60s-80s that held us back and the deracinated deep state (“Lutyens Delhi”) that apparently controlled the levers of power regardless of who was in power. In the past seven years it should have been clear to them these grouses aren’t easy to set right nor will their elimination lead to any kind of great reawakening in the masses. The intellectual articulation of a political philosophy that’s suited to the modern world while addressing these grouses isn’t clear yet. Instead, what we have on our hands are thuggish attempts at settling imaginary scores and continuing degradation of scientific temper in the hope it will usher in a modern version of our glorious past. If these intellectuals want the supposed UP model of today to be what India of tomorrow should look like, good luck with that ending well. I have been reading the great Hindi essayist, historian and scholar, Hazari Prasad Dwivedi over the past few months. Dwivedi was an intellectual powerhouse who was deeply rooted in the Indic tradition and philosophy. A great Sanskrit linguist who spent a lifetime studying the Sastras and writing beautiful expositions on them, Dwivedi should be more widely read today. His essays, their themes and his arguments, betray no trace of western enlightenment influence. He had a clear-eyed view of the richness of our heritage and its relevance in the modern age. In his anthology, Vichar Aur Vitark (Thoughts And Debates), there’s an essay titled ‘Jabki Dimaag Khaali Hai’ (“While The Mind Is Empty”) published by Sachitra Bharti in 1939, which is often quoted by Pratap Bhanu Mehta to make a specific point about our current obsession with our glorious past and the identity crisis among Hindus. As Mehta writes:This identity is constituted by a paradoxical mixture of sentiments: a sense of lack, Hinduism is not sure what makes it the identity that it is; a sense of injury, the idea that Hindus have been victims of history; a sense of superiority, Hinduism as the highest achievement of spirituality and uniquely tolerant; a sense of weakness, Hindus are unable to respond to those who attack them; a sense of uncertainty, how will this tradition make its transition to modernity without denigrating its own past; and finally, a yearning for belonging, a quest for a community that can do justice to them as Hindus. This psychic baggage can express itself in many ways, sometimes benign and creative, sometimes, malign and close minded. But these burdens cast their unmistakable shadow upon modern Hindu self-reflection, often leading to a discourse on identity that Dwivedi memorably described as one, where the ‘‘heart is full and the mind empty (dil bhara hai aur dimag khali hai).’’ The passions that have been fanned to animate the majority cannot lead to nation building in the absence of intellectual rigour and clear reasoning. The problem is once that genie of passions is out, it is impossible to put it back in the bottle. Its demand will never be sated.I will leave you with an extract from Dwivedi’s essay (my mediocre English translation follows):My translation:But when the mind is empty while the heart is brimming over, there cannot be any possibility of an engaging exposition of the Sastras. Otherwise, there isn't any reason to be anxious about a race whose writ once ran from the shores of River Vaksh in Central Asia to the end of South Asia, the imprint of whose culture transcended the Himalayas and the great oceans and whose mighty fleet once controlled the waters of the eastern seas. It is true that this mighty race is a pale shadow of itself today. The sons of Panini (the great Sanskrit grammarian from Gandhara) sell dry fruits and heeng on streets today while the descendants of Kumarjiva are involved in the basest of trades. Yet, there's a hope that there must be a semblance of that glory still running in the veins of this race. And it will show its true colour some day. But then I wonder. After all, a tree is known by the fruits it bears. The state of disrepair that the Hindu society is in today must trace its cause to that once glorious civilisation of the past. How can that tree be so glorious when its fruits we see all around today are so terrible?There was indeed an age of prosperity for this race. That is true. Those verdant streets of Ujjain, the gurgling sounds of river Shipra and the celestial music of the kinnaras still echo in the Himalayan valleys - these memories remain fresh in our minds. And amidst these riches, our eyes can clearly see the attack of the Huns and the defiant stand of the Aryans, the numerous rise and fall of empires, the thunderous roar of Vikramaditya. The glories of Magadh and Avanti were unparalleled. Its elite could wield the sword and the brush with equal felicity. They could fight fire with fire and let their hair down when they wanted. But things changed. The elite suppressed the masses; they paralysed the polity. The chasm within the society began to open up. The elites immersed themselves in the pleasures of the material world while the masses were tied down to scriptures and their orthodoxy. One took refuge in merriment while the other was often lampooned for their outdated beliefs. And the fissure in the Hindu society widened further. Over the centuries every invader used this to their advantage - Huns, Sakas, Tartars, Muslims and the British. They divided us further and they ruled. Today that Pathan dry fruit seller asked me if that beautiful house belonged to a Muslim or a Christian and could scarcely believe it could be that of a Hindu. And I wondered if the chasm continues widening everyday. But then the Sastras don't bother about such identity issues of the Hindus and I lack the courage to intellectually confront this issue any further. When the mind is empty and the heart full of passion, isn't it enough to have even mentally contended with the existential conundrum of our race.            Matsyanyaaya: A Cautionary Tale on the ‘Israel Model’Big fish eating small fish = Foreign Policy in action— Pranay KotasthaneFull diplomatic ties between India and Israel were established quite late in 1992. Even so, this bilateral relationship has quickly grown into a robust and multi-dimensional partnership over the last three decades. This is a welcome development. Israel’s technological prowess finds many admirers in India. In casual conversations, this admiration often escalates into a desire for emulation — "see how they tackled terrorism, we should learn from it", or "we should also have mandatory military service, like Israel does", or "why can't India kill terrorists in Pakistan the way Israel assassinates Iranian nuclear scientists?" The latest round of Israel-Palestine conflict should, however, force uncritical admirers of the Israel model to update their Bayesian priors. A side note before I begin: what model Israel adopts is its own problem and I have neither the competence nor the inclination to challenge its approach. Every conflict today has its own set of initial conditions and a long and bloody path-dependent history. I am only interested cautioning people who seek to transpose Israel’s strategy to an Indian context. Here are my four strategic insights from the Indian perspective for those in awe of the 'Israel Model'.#1 Force alone cannot end insurgenciesEven an overwhelming superiority in force structure is insufficient for ending insurgencies. The US experience in Afghanistan and the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict both demonstrate that insurgencies are not easy to dislodge. Neither the Iron Dome nor the ‘Mother of all Bombs’ can fully deter an insurgent force from retaliating in the future. Force can, at best, modulate terrorism but it can't end insurgencies. Ending insurgencies also requires co-opting rival elites and making compromises with insurgent factions. More the disproportional use of force, more elusive such dealmaking becomes. #2 Assassinating terrorists can be both ineffective and high-costFed on a diet of Hollywood movies, the assassination programmes of Mossad and Shin Bet are admired by many people in India. Every terrorist attack in India raises one question: if Israel can kill Iranian nuclear scientists, why can’t India kill the likes of Hafiz Saeed? This romanticisation of an extensive assassination programme misses the fact that such operations have often been strategically ineffective. Praveen Swami’s take in MoneyControl on Israel’s assassination programme highlights this point well:“From 1971, when a new Palestinian resistance emerged in the West Bank and Gaza, both targeted assassination and sometimes-indiscriminate civilian killing were deployed on a growing scale. Forty-man covert assassination squads, code-named Rimon, or Pomegranate received target lists from Israel’s internal intelligence service, Shin Bet for execution.The killings formed the backdrop to the rise of terrorism, culminating in the savage massacre of Israeli Olympic athletes in Munich in 1972. Mossad responded by unleashing Operation Wrath of God—arguably the best known of all its efforts—which, over the course of twenty years, used covert teams to target their alleged killers across Europe and the Middle-East.Leaving ethics aside, the gains from Israel’s tactics are controversial: Rimon’s killings didn’t deter the outbreak of the First Intifada in 1987; indeed, it could be argued to have radicalised an entire generation. Even leadership-decapitation operations, like the 1988 assassination of Palestine Liberation Organisation second-in-command Khalil al-Wazir, did little to change the course of history. Arguably, Israel’s anti-PLO operations only served to open the way for more dangerous Islamist groups.”Another unintended and yet anticipated consequence of such an approach is the potential of domestic spillover. If a State repeatedly uses assassination against State enemies, how long before it becomes an acceptable method against domestic anti-national ‘enemies’ ?A key cognitive dissonance is at the centre of democratic statecraft — in the amoral world of international relations, the grammar of power applies while in a liberal domestic realm, rule of law explicitly restrains the primacy of power. This delicate balance is tougher to achieve in a State with an extensive assassination programme. A secondary consequence is that conflicting parties become incapable of compromise and dialogue and resort to acts that further aggravate the situation.#3 People matter more than territoryThe Israel-Palestine conflict is a visceral conflict over a piece of land. Such is its history and deep-seated animosity that today, even localised fights over pieces of neighbourhood land have the potential to trigger a full-scale arms exchange. The lesson for India is that the desire for territorial integrity should not override the primary goal of peace and prosperity for all Indians. Take the instance of India’s land border with Bangladesh. In the 2015 Land Boundary Agreement, India gave away more land than it got back from Bangladesh. In a strict sense, India’s territorial integrity was violated. And yet, it was a prudent decision because, among other things, it put an end to the abomination called a third-order enclave — a piece of India within a piece of Bangladesh within a piece of India within Bangladesh. The hitherto uncertainty over the border had led to a denial of basic services to Indians in such enclaves.#4 Excessive use of force is counterproductive in the Information Age Despite its clout, the international narrative has gone against Israel over the past month. International coverage has portrayed Israel as the aggressor. The armed attacks by Israel were broadcasted widely and the bloodied faces of Palestinians led many countries to pressurise Israel for a ceasefire. The key lesson here for India is that information age conflicts will be global by default. In the Industrial Age, state suppression could be covered up; that’s no longer the case in radically networked communities. State use of force against non-combatants is almost certain to receive instant condemnation from other countries. This further calls for prudence in using force.In sum, there’s a lot to be gained for both sides from a stronger India-Israel partnership. But a blindfolded emulation of the Israel Model will do far more harm than good.India Policy Watch #2: Vaccine Inequity Insights on burning policy issues in India- Pranay KotasthaneVaccine inequity — you are going to be hearing a lot of over the next few months. It is a hydra-headed term being used in a variety of contexts — some make sense and others don’t. Let’s explore all its facets.#1 Vaccine inequity in the international relations contextCanada, UK, EU and other rich countries are hoarding vaccines for its citizens. Citing inequity, repeated calls have been made by concerned citizens, groups, and WHO for releasing these hoarded doses.However, equity is orthogonal to the amoral world of international relations. Equity presupposes morality but when the international relations operates on the principle of matsysnaaya, every country is on its own. Calls for vaccine equity then may well make some countries donate a few token doses from their hoarded stock to ward off future criticism but it is unlikely to cause a significant shift in national stances. Instead of asking for vaccine equity, appealing to national interest will work better. At present, India is perhaps not in a position to cause pain to a state that doesn’t offload its excess supply. But it can definitely promise to deliver benefits to countries that do. A lowering of tariffs on some goods or conceding on a less-important point in a trade negotiation in exchange of vaccine donations, has higher chances of securing vaccines from abroad.#2 Inter-state vaccine inequityState-wise allocations have also come under fire on the grounds of vaccine inequity. This is not surprising. Neither is it solvable to everyone’s satisfaction. The paradox of distribution, in Deborah Stone’s words, is that “equality often means inequality, and equal treatment often means unequal treatment. The same distribution may look equal or unequal, depending on where you focus.” Till there’s supply scarcity, equalising distribution across states is impossible. Regardless of the formula used, it will be contested on the ground of being unequal by states that don’t fare well on a particular formula. In such a case, the goal should be distribute fairly and not equally. In the current circumstances, the fairest way out is to transparently declare a formula for distribution of vaccines from the union government quota and simultaneously allow states to procure additional doses on their own. #3 Digitally inflicted vaccine inequityGetting a vaccine appointment requires you to have a phone, an internet connection, and the ability to read English, and that this is unfair to people who have access to none of them. This is the vaccine equity dimension I sympathise with most. The CEO of the National Health Authority dismissed these concerns in an Indian Express article thus:“Imagine the chaos if online appointments had not been compulsory. Vaccination centres would have been swamped by people, creating not only law-and-order issues but also risk of infections. Invoking the digital divide, as the authors do, is premature and misplaced, for the vaccination drive is evolving as it unfolds, and data is the torchlight for correcting the anomalies.”“CoWin provides for on-site registration of people without access to the internet, smartphones or even a feature phone. Out of the 18.22 crore doses administered as on May 16, only 43 per cent have been administered through online appointments, the rest availed of on-site registration. Self-registration is just one component of CoWin. On-the-spot registration, walk-ins, registration of four citizens on one mobile number and use of common service centres for assisted registration underline the inclusive nature of CoWin.”Of course, what he hasn’t mentioned is that walk-in registration and appointment is not available for 18-44 age group. It would be fair if a predetermined percentage of vaccine slots are opened up for walk-in registrations. Even cinema halls allows on-spot movie ticket bookings in addition to the online-booked ones; surely our COVID-19 vaccination drive can accommodate for this requirement. Further, some centres can be dedicated for walk-in registrations. As the supply constraint eases, this problem should become less serious.#4 Income inflicted vaccine inequityThe argument here is that since the rich, formally employed citizens can get themselves vaccinated through their employers, the employers must in turn vaccinate low-income earners for equity reasons. This is a flawed argument. A government-run channel providing free vaccines is a better alternative. Mandating the private sector to cover up whenever the government fails is morally repugnant. It is precisely the kind of thinking that has allowed us to give our omni-absent state a free pass.A reminder to end this section. Given that vaccines have positive externalities, the primary goal of the vaccination drive should be to give jabs to as many people as soon as possible. Doing so in a fair and transparent way is the best that can be done for equity. To prioritise equity over speed would be counterproductive. The option is to choose between two suboptimal outcomes. After all, confronting trade-offs is the what separates better policymaking from the worse one.HomeWorkReading and listening recommendations on public policy matters[Audio] Dr. Rajendra Prasad Memorial Lectures series, 1969: Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi on Guru Nanak: Personality, Concerns and Objective. Wonderful speech combining history and philosophy. [Article] An excerpt from a promising new book on ending counterinsurgencies. Get on the email list at publicpolicy.substack.com

Ein Beitrag zum Sanskritwort: Ujjain Hier findest du: Sanskrit Wörterbuch Seminare zum Thema Sanskrit Seminare mit Sukadev Seminarübersicht Yoga Vidya YouTube Live Kanal Online Seminare Video Seminare Yoga Vidya kostenlose App Yoga Vidya Newsletter Yoga Vidya Online Shop Schon ein kleiner Beitrag kann viel bewegen... Spende an Yoga Vidya e.V.!

Ein Beitrag zum Sanskritwort: Ujjain Hier findest du: Sanskrit Wörterbuch Seminare zum Thema Sanskrit Seminare mit Sukadev Seminarübersicht Yoga Vidya YouTube Live Kanal Online Seminare Video Seminare Yoga Vidya kostenlose App Yoga Vidya Newsletter Yoga Vidya Online Shop Schon ein kleiner Beitrag kann viel bewegen... Spende an Yoga Vidya e.V.!

S2/EP4 - In this special episode, Indian Genes speaks exclusively to Mohini Jodhpurkar & Piyush Khopkar.Mohini Jodhpurkar- 1st year PhD student in Dr Jim Bell’s lab at Arizona State University. There, she serves a student collaborator on the Perseverance rover’s science team, specifically working with the MASTCAM-Z instrument onboard. Currently, she’s working on investigating a part of Jezero Crater (the rover’s landing site) in depth and preparing for the rover landing mid-February! She has worked other martian and lunar projects besides that, including revamping old Apollo mission maps with newer high-resolution imagery. When she’s not doing research, Mohini loves to read, write, and make music!Piyush Khopkar - originally from Ujjain, MP, India. He did his Bachelor of Engineering from Mahakal Institute of Technology, Ujjain and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Unversity of Missouri-Columbia, USA. He currently lives in Boston, MA. He is a software engineer by profession. He is passionate about Space Exploration. He is part of the MOXIE and the Mars 2020 Science Team. MOXIE is one of the instruments aboard the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover. He is also an active member of the NASA/JPL's Solar System Ambassador's program.

Over the past two weeks Madhya Pradesh has been witnessing a spate of such communal clashes, during fund collection drives organised by right-wing groups for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. There been reports about chanting of provocative slogans that lead to violent clashes in Ujjain, Indore and Mandsaur. In fact, a viral video showed a mob attacking a Mosque in Mandsaur district, where people were seen mounting a saffron flag atop the dome. But despite such incidents, there's been reports of fresh violence in Rajgarh district, as people gathered outside a mosque bearing saffron flags and wielding hockey sticks while chanting slogans. In several of these episodes, eyewitnesses claim that the police remained "mute spectators"; in one case, authorities even razed down the house of a Muslim daily wage earner.But curiously the MP state government's focus amidst all this seems to be on punishing stone pelters. On 3 January, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan announced that his government is looking to implement stringent laws against stone pelters that will include a provision to auction their assets to repay for any damages. For the most part of his political career, Shivraj Singh Chauhan has enjoyed the goodwill of his people, maintained a peaceful status quo in the state, and garnered praises for his graceful political demeanour (which is said to be lacking in the BJP's new guard), but is his response to the violence in the state suggesting a shift towards a communal rhetoric?Producer and Host: Shorbori PurkayasthaGuest:Kashif Kakvi, MP-based JournalistJaved Alam, MP-based Journalist Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Bang FuzzListen to The Big Story podcast on: Apple: https://apple.co/2AYdLIl Saavn: http://bit.ly/2oix78C Google Podcasts: http://bit.ly/2ntMV7S Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2IyLAUQ Deezer: http://bit.ly/2Vrf5Ng

Kumbh Mela happens at the time decided by an astral clock, following the movement of Jupiter in the sky. We popularly know Kumbh Mela to take place at Haridwar, Prayag, Ujjain, and Nashik but the river festivals happen at almost all rivers across India at a pre-defined time. It is fascinating how the movement of pilgrims maps the movement of astronomical bodies and everyone participating just follows them like clockwork. A fascinating talk with Dr. Hari and Dr. Hema Hari of Bharathgyan, who have authored many books on Indian Civilization. Do check out their website for their books, videos, and courses - https://bharathgyan.com/ Read More - https://www.inditales.com/must-do-things-at-kumbh-mela/ and https://www.inditales.com/kumbh-mela-all-you-need-to-know/

I traveled in Madhya Pradesh through places like Mandu, Maheshwar, Ujjain, Dewas, Bhopal, Bhimbetka, Sanchi, Gwalior in 2018 and 2020. I go into detail about the nature of these tourist places and tell you about my observations. Tune in for more.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/haryanvipodcast/message

  “In the Rajatarangini Kalhana mentions that Vikramaditya, the emperor of India, whose capital was Ujjain sent Metrigupta to be the ruler of Kashmir, which was included in the empire of the former… The above slokas mean to this effect:- “After the completion of three thousand years in Kali (101 B.C.),for the destruction of the Sakas and the propagation of the Aryan Dharma, by the command of Siva, from the abode of the Guhyakas in Kailasa, a personage will be born (to Gandharva Sena, the king of Ujjain). The father gave the child the name of Vikramaditya and rejoiced. Even as an infant he was very wise and gladdned the hearts of the parents. At an early age of five years. he retired to a forest to do penance,. Having spent twelve years in meditation, he achieved spiritual eminence and returned to his city called “Ambavati” or Ujjain. On the eve of his ascending the throne adorned with thirty two golden statues, came a learned Brahmin and he delayed the coronation ceremony with a purpose to teach the king a history consisting of several episodes, wherein the rights and duties of a monarch are enumerated. Then the Brahmin taught the prince all the rights and responsibilities he owed to himself and to his subjects and gave him a befitting and an efficient training worthy of an adventurous Sovereign. Afterwards, in Kali 3020 year or B.C. 82 Vikramaditya was crowned king. Then he expelled the Sakas and drove them as far as Bactria, conquered the whole of Bharata country from Setu to the Himalayas, and received tribute from the feudatory kings…   In the west the other bank of the Sindhu River; in the South the Setu; Badarinarayana in the Himalayas formed the North limit and the city of Kapilavastu, the boundary in the East. These were the limits of Vikramaditya's Empire. Another sloka states, “By the grace and command of Siva, Gandharvasena's son, Vikramaditya reigned as Emperor, for hundred years. His son “Devabhakta” after ruling for ten years, was killed in a battle by the cruel Sakas.”(Kali 3130 or 29 A.D.)..   Vikramaditya.   Parthian invaded Sub-Continent in around 55 BC which brought Vikramaditya Vardhan's Invasion in entire West Asia (Modern Day Middle East). The victories of Babylon, Persia, Turks led him again to the Arabia and sounded the hour for attack on Arabia. When he conquered Arabia, he did so to cheers from the Jewish and Arab  Community, who welcomed him as a liberator. He showed great forbearance and respect towards the religious beliefs and cultural traditions of other races. These qualities earned him the respect and homage of all the people over whom he ruled. The victory over Arabia expressed all the facets of the policy of conciliation which Vikramaditya had followed until then. He presented himself not as a conqueror, but a liberator and the legitimate successor to the crown. He took the title of “King of Aryavrata and Liberator of the Arabs, Turks and Jews”. Vikramditya had no thought of forcing conquered people into a single mould, and had the wisdom to leave unchanged the institution of each kingdom he attached to the Aryavrata Crown. Vikramaditya was upright, a great leader of men, generous and benevolent.  He spread the Vedic Culture in the land of Arabia. He also reconstructed the temple of Brahma and Mahesh and placed a Jiyotarlinga there. Several other Vedic Temples were made in Babylon, Persia and Turkistan.  For the first time they got a King that cared for the inhabitants of his Empire. Arabs, Kurds and Persians saw him as ‘the annointed of the Lord'. After the 4 year of Wars that saw whole west Asia under the belt of Vikramaditya Empire he stayed for a year in Arabia till the Mahadev Temple was not completely reconstructed. He built admirable highways, and developed an excellent postal system both of which allowed him to receive rapidly information from his provinces. https://ramanisblog.in/2014/12/27/vikramaditya-date-his-world-kingdom/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ramanispodcast/message

20201122 Mukunda's Arrest by the Toll Collectors @ Mayapur, India © JPS ARCHIVES 2020

Kaalakaalaha - One who is death even to the god of death Yama. Kaala also means time. Kālakāla means one who is greater than time . Kālakāla is the form of Shiva who kicked Yama, to save his devotee Maarkandeya. Lord Shiva's power over death is clearly proved by this incident . kālaḥ = He who counts or accounts. In the form of Citragupta, Śiva keeps account of the merit and sin of individual souls as well as the result of those karmas kālaḥ = Of the nature of time. The flow of events like birth and death that result from factors like time are considered ‘time’ itself. Another meaning of the word kāla is, ‘the factor that causes association with the body (and such limiting adjuncts).’ Time is a form of Śiva only. karma-kāla-vit = He who knows precisely the right time for all activities/rituals. Śiva alone is the one who controls time and He surely knows in exact form the important time points such as darśa or amāvāsyā. kāla-kaṭaṅkaṭaḥ = He who covers even the māyā that envelopes Yama, the god of death. This means Śiva has māyā under His control. In the time of mahāpralaya ( the great end ) all the worlds , demigods , demons and all other beings dissolve in the Lord and at last the god of death is also dissolved. Kaale kaalaha - At the time of dissolution of the Universe, Lord Shiva becomes death for everyone. This form of Shiva is worshipped in one of the twelve jyotirlingas. He is worshipped in avantika pura (Ujjain) as Mahākāla. The greatest time and death. Jagat-kāla-sthālaḥ = He who makes Yama His eating plate. Yama is jagat-kāla, for he devours the world; he causes death to all. Śiva is Yama’s Yama. Please support this channel by pressing the subscribe button or the bell and support Chinmaya Mission Mumbai projects taken up by Swami Swatmananda, through generous donations. Contribution by Indians in INR can be made online using this link: https://www.payumoney.com/events/#/buyTickets/Gurudakshina For Foreign contributions please send a mail to sswatmananda@gmail.com Subscribe/Follow the Audio Podcasts @Chinmaya Shivam Available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Podomatic, Amazon music and Google Podcast FB page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinmayaShivampage Insta: https://instagram.com/chinmayashivam?igshid=1twbki0v3vomt Twitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayashivam Blog: https://notesnmusings.blogspot.com LinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/swatmananda Copyright of all images are with the respective owners. We thank them for their efforts which has helped our cause of sharing knowledge selflessly with maximum people.

Podcasts are available only in telugu for now and the aim of these podcasts is to spread the hindu devotional knowledge to the upcoming and the present generations in the simpler version.

Mahakaleshwar is considered & celebrated as the King of Ujjain. People have a bond of love & devotion with him. Even a autowala chants Jai Mahakaal before starting the auto & chants the same after recieving the charge in Ujjain. Mahakaleshwar temple is one of the 12 jyothirlinga Temple (Holy temples in Shaivism) & is located at the bank's of Shipra river where Kumbh mela takes place  every 12 years. He is also the Kuladevata for the Kuru dynasty( Pandavas & Kauravas). Mahakaleshwar is considered the king of ujjain & no one, even Vikramadithya too ruled ujjain by staying at the boundary of the city. This episode of Holy Tales with Himanshu Sharma will tell you about the devotee whose worship got Mahadev in Ujjain forever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Live with Ujjain, India

Uttar Pradesh gangster Vikas Dubey, charged of murdering eight policemen last week. Was arrested from a temple in Madhya Pradesh after an almost week-long hunt involving the police across three states. Vikas Dubey was arrested in Ujjain around the same time two of his sidekicks were killed in separate encounters in Uttar Pradesh. His closest sidekick, Aman Dubey, was killed yesterday. Vikas Dubey was caught around 7 am when he was apparently trying to enter the temple from a back gate. One statement says he was purchasing prayer offerings to take inside the temple. When the shopkeeper recognized him and warned security guards. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/latestnewssuno/support

Bhopal, July 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) Former UP DGP Arvind Kumar Jain said that it seems that gangster Vikas Dubey most probably planned his surrender at Ujjain’s Mahakaal Temple in Madhya Pradesh and disclosed his identity to…

A city that has been at the centre of India’s educational development. A religious city that believes in miracles and witnesses them manifesting in their lives. Ujjain - the city of mysteries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/nascent_carbon/ Crime Branch CID of the Tamil Nadu police has cracked the sensational train heist case in which ₹5.75 crore cash assigned to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was looted from a moving train a couple of years ago. The unprecedented robbery occurred on the Salem-Chennai Express on the night of August 8, 2016. A gang broke into the parcel van containing ₹342 crore of soiled but usable currency, and took away ₹5.75 crore. The stolen money was in ₹500 and ₹1,000 denomination notes that were later demonetised. The gang cut through the roof of the train making an opening measuring 2 ft by 1.5 ft. CID has arrested two men in connection with the crime. A hunt is on for others. Investigation revealed that the men took away cash from the compartment and wrapped them in their lungis. The two were identified as B Dinesh (38) and R Rohan Pardi (29) from Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh. The gang leader Moharsingh is currently lodged in Guna Central prison in Madhya Pradesh in connection with other crimes. The five-member gang travelled on the rooftop of the train and cut a hole in the roof of the cash compartment between Chinnasalem and Vriddhachalam railway stations. According to a CB-CID press release, two men entered the compartment through the hole, broke open the wooden boxes and took the cash. They wrapped the money in lungis and passed it on to three other men on the rooftop. The release said that while the train was reaching Vriddhachalam railway station, those on the rooftop handed over the cash bundles wrapped in lungis to other gang members who were waiting at the trackside and all of them fled the spot. On August 8, 2016, a cash load of currency was transported from Indian Overseas Bank in Salem to Reserve Bank of India in Chennai. A railway parcel van VPH 08831 was attached to Salem - Chennai Egmore Express train. The train left Salem junction at 9.05 pm and arrived at Egmore at 3.55 am on August 9. The parcel van was opened around 11 am by RBI officials and they found that Rs 5.78 crore had been stolen from the van after making a hole in the roof. Government railway police, Egmore, registered a case on August 9, 2016 and the case was transferred to Crime Branch CID two days later. CB CID officials said a special team was formed and it traveled throughout the country and collected information from informants who were set up at various places. According to the tip-off, DSP Krishnan of CB CID and his team visited Ujjain and Guna districts in Madhya Pradesh. They collected technical inputs, detailed analysis of various scattered pieces of information were put together and the suspects were tracked. Dinesh and Rohan Pardi were arrested on their journey to Chennai on Friday. The criminals from Pardi group were involved in various cases across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The network of members stay on the roadsides or near railway tracks raising temporary shelters. They work as daily wage workers and street vendors and they spot the scene to commit crime, the release said. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abhishek-tiwari007/message

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor in Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh died of coronavirus infection on Sunday, confirmed the Lok Sabha lawmaker from the region - Anil Firojiya. In a statement issued on social media, Firojiya said he is pained to inform that Muzaffar Hussain, a local councillor and leader of party's minority cell, has succumbed to death days after contracting the coronavirus infection. Muzaffar Hussain was representing ward number 32 in Ujjain as the elected councillor. He was active since the past few days to distribute food among the unemployed and needy section of the populace in Ujjain, said civil activist, Dr Anand Rai. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/latestnewssuno/support

In this episode, Rocky, Mayur, Abhinandan and Prashant sit down to talk about their journey across Madhya Pradesh and its vivacious food culture. They start their journey from Gwalior where they went to Bahadura Ke Laddoo, which prides itself for having served breakfast to some of India’s biggest hockey champions, including the great Dhyan Chand. From Gwalior, they head to Ujjain where they talk about what makes the Ganga Aarti in Ujjain better than the ones in all the other places in India. Heading from Ujjain to Indore, Prashant talks about the Sarafa Bazaar and the greatness of its malpua, chaat and other delicacies. The team also talks about the “Ghamandi lassi” and the story behind its name. Moving on to Morena, Rocky talks about its famous gajak and the process of how it's made. Abhinandan reminisces about Rewa’s “indra-aahar”, a royal preparation that Rocky and Mayur were served at the palace of the king of Rewa. Discussing their travels in Bhopal, Rocky,Mayur and Abhinandan talk about a tiny little place called Jameel Hotel across Chatori gali which, according to them, serves the best biryani in the country. They also discuss their encounter with the “real” king of good times in Jabalpur, the food at Khundra Chaurasia Dhaba, and the joy of discovering authentic Korean and Israeli cuisine in Orcha. For more trivia and behind the scenes moments from Rocky and Mayur’s travels across India, sign up for the HOMP newsletter. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ujjain is truly the land of mysteries. Unexplained subjects that demand attention and investigations. Sudarshan is here to reveal some of the them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of TalkCXOLife, we have with us the swift, agile and moderately risk-averse (well, he's an insurer!) Sanjeev Mantri, Executive Director, ICICI Lombard in conversation with Sunayana Nair.  Sanjeev is a seasoned banker, spearheading the marketing initiatives of the retail division at the largest private general insurance company and is credited with the very many innovative solutions and strategies introduced especially in the SME and also the rural banking markets over his two-decade-plus experience in the BFSI sector and the ICICI group. mercurial wit had us in splits as he conversed about his lively, simple and bit of a notorious childhood spent just on the outskirts of the ancient city Ujjain, his move to Mumbai, the funny anecdotes about his childhood, especially his relationship with his mother who, as he puts it, ‘had to be within his diameter.  Now, let’s sprint away!

In this episode Sanjeev Mantri, Executive Director, ICICI Lombard, (in conversation with Sunayana Nair), reveals fun and lesser known facts about himself in this routine 'rapid-fire' series. This is all about fun!  Listen to know Sanjeev is a seasoned banker, spearheading the marketing initiatives of the retail division at the largest private general insurance company and is credited with the very many innovative solutions and strategies introduced especially in the SME and also the rural banking markets over his two-decade-plus experience in the BFSI sector and the ICICI group. He is equally known for his obsessive penchant for running and playing tennis, in spite of the very many injuries that consistently plague this sports freak who loves to be on the go, can laugh and cry easily and whose mercurial wit had us in splits as he conversed about his lively, simple and bit of a notorious childhood spent just on the outskirts of the ancient city Ujjain, his move to Mumbai, how he loves to run and talk, how his biggest worries often revolve around choosing between running and tennis the next morning and his firm belief that he is a part of the design than being its creator! Now, let’s sprint away!

This is the Highlights edition of the conversation between Sanjeev Mantri,  Executive Director, ICICI Lombard and Sunayana Nair, Editor CXO Life.  Sanjeev is a seasoned banker, spearheading the marketing initiatives of the retail division at the largest private general insurance company and is credited with the very many innovative solutions and strategies introduced especially in the SME and also the rural banking markets over his two-decade-plus experience in the BFSI sector and the ICICI group.  He is equally known for his obsessive penchant for running and playing tennis, in spite of the very many injuries that consistently plague this sports freak who loves to be on the go, can laugh and cry easily and whose mercurial wit had us in splits as he conversed about his lively, simple and bit of a notorious childhood spent just on the outskirts of the ancient city Ujjain, his move to Mumbai, how he loves to run and talk, how his biggest worries often revolve around choosing between running and tennis the next morning and his firm belief that he is a part of the design than being its creator!

In this episode of TalkCXOLife, we have with us the swift, agile and moderately risk-averse (well, he's an insurer!) Sanjeev Mantri, Executive Director, ICICI Lombard in conversation with Sunayana Nair. Sanjeev is a seasoned banker, spearheading the marketing initiatives of the retail division at the largest private general insurance company and is credited with the very many innovative solutions and strategies introduced especially in the SME and also the rural banking markets over his two-decade-plus experience in the BFSI sector and the ICICI group. He is equally known for his obsessive penchant for running and playing tennis, in spite of the very many injuries that consistently plague this sports freak who loves to be on the go, can laugh and cry easily and whose mercurial wit had us in splits as he conversed about his lively, simple and bit of a notorious childhood spent just on the outskirts of the ancient city Ujjain, his move to Mumbai, how he loves to run and talk, how his biggest worries often revolve around choosing between running and tennis the next morning and his firm belief that he is a part of the design than being its creator!

What was life in an ancient Indian city like? What were its sights and smells, and what kind of eccentric characters would it have been home to? Join us on a walk through Ujjain, one of South Asia's oldest cities, to find out. Notes and sources are at https://www.anirudhkanisetti.com/home/episode-20 Or get in touch with Anirudh @AKanisetti on Twitter or @aniruddhadevaraya on Instagram! You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app. You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

Vashikaran, an old ritual which is used to make people fall for you to do anything. In this episode I travelled to Ujjain to know the paranormal reality of this kind of black magic. Listener discretion is advised. Explicit content. Only for listeners who are 18+. This episode is not meant hurt anyone's feeling or belief. It's my experiences and expeditions. Believe it or not, it depends on you.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks with Priyanka Dalal from the blog MapRoute Travel Blog. Priyanka is a digital entrepreneur and traveler and on this episode she shares her experience of falling in love with the Kumbh Mela! Today's destination: The Kumbh Mela! Nearest Airport: Allahabad Airport, IXD Nearest Railway Station: Allahabad Junction Prerequisites - Be prepared to be a part of large crowds and lose your personal space! It is better to book accommodation beforehand, specially if you are going to be here on the days of the Shahi Snan! Packing - Pack light, and be ready to rough it out! Time of the year - Jan 15 - Mar 4, 2019 Length of the itinerary: NA Itinerary Highlights: Priyanka talks at length about her experiences from the previous Kumbh Mela at Trimabakeshwar, Nashik and Ujjain. History and legends of the Kumbh Mela what to expect at your maiden Kumbh Mela Important days of the Kumbh mela - the Shahi Snan days Activities during the Kumbh Mela - discourses, holy dips, temple visits, processions Interacting with people at the Kumbh Mela - From Naga babas to foreigners and devotees from around India Useful advise for solo travelers Links: Links to blog posts: Priyanka's Travelogue : My Kumbh Mela Story @ Trimbakeshwar, Nashik Priyanka's Travelogue : Ujjain Simhasth Solo at the Kumbh Mela Priyanka's podcast Photo by Jose Aragones on Unsplash Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter Facebook Instagram Website email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or voice or google search "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" website - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo

What makes Ujjain searchable? When did you last use a thesaurus? Does all search presuppose a structure, & can this structure be implicit? Is labeling necessary; when? How can one say if a text is structured? Are we all unique; but are we all also searchable because we belong to ‘groups’? Are all search problems matching problems? Is all search correlational? Can we search in different ways and find the same thing? Can different documents/texts/languages be coherent vis-à-vis each other? Is the final arbiter eventually the (human) searcher? Are you able to walk into any ‘library’ and use it with ease straightaway? To what extent can one determine (or estimate?) the identity of an unknown decomposed dead body? Does everything revolve around bones? Could our footprint give our face away? Are fingerprints gendered? How do we identify bird species? Why is image (or, even, sound) search difficult? How much can one disguise oneself? Could one search ambiguously and without, precisely, knowing what one is looking for? &, what kinds of searches are likely to remain very difficult in the future? SynTalk thinks about these & more questions using concepts from forensic anthropology (Dr. Kewal Krishan, Panjab University, Chandigarh), computational linguistics (Prof. Amba Kulkarni, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad), & information sciences (Prof. Stephen Robertson, City University of London, London). Listen in…

Giani Kirpal Singh Ji (Boparai Wale) a student of Sri Maan Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji Bhindranwale discuss the concept of dreams. They share a story about the King of Ujjain and his dream. As well as a story of Emperor Aurangzeb and the dream he had of his brother Dara Shikoh.

QA: Haridwar Shivir Ujjain Apr : Pujya Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu Question Answer

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