Bhishma was forced to participate and be on the side of the Kauravas in the Mahabharata War due to several factors rooted in his vows, his sense of duty (dharma), and his loyalty to the throne of Hastinapura. Here are the key reasons: Vow of Loyalty to Hastinapura: Bhishma had taken a solemn vow to protect and serve the throne of Hastinapura. This vow was made when he renounced his claim to the throne to ensure that his father, King Shantanu, could marry Satyavati. By this vow, Bhishma committed himself to the welfare of the kingdom, irrespective of who sat on the throne. Obligation to the Kuru Dynasty: As a member of the Kuru dynasty, Bhishma felt an obligation to support the ruling king. At the time of the war, Dhritarashtra was the king, and his son Duryodhana was the crown prince. Bhishma's duty to the Kuru lineage and the reigning monarch bound him to support them. Respect for Dhritarashtra's Authority: Despite knowing the unrighteousness of Duryodhana, Bhishma had

Atideshavakya is a statement of analogy by an authority. The Nyayayikas accept upamana (comparison) as an independent and irreducible Pramana (source of valid knowledge). Upamana, according to the Naiyayikas, involves atidesavakya, sadrishyadhi and vakyarthasmriti. Atideshavakya means an authoritative statement of analogy. We acquire the knowledge of an object previously not known on the basis of atideshavakya. Atideshavakya is an authoritative statement showing the relation between a word and the object it denotes. According to early Naiyayikas, the description of an unfamiliar object is suggested in terms of its similarity with some familiar object of experience. To illustrate, when we are informed by an authoritative source that ‘gavaya’ or ‘wild ox’ is an animal resembling the ‘cow’, we come to know the denotation of the world gavaya, though we have not yet seen the animal before. Upamana thus consists in relating the object, not known before, with the word denoting it, on th

Aranya Sashti is observed on the sixth day of the waxing phase of moon in the month of Jyeshtha (May – June) as per traditional Hindu calendar. Aranya Sashti 2024 is June 12. It is dedicated to the forest God and also to Goddess Sashti and Kartikeya. There is a popular belief that those who observe Aranya Sashti will be blessed with children. Women observe a partial fast on the day and perform pujas in a forest or under Kadamba Tree. Goddess Shasti is worshiped on the day and offerings are made on a traditional hand-fan. Women only eat fruits on the day. In some regions, women tie a thread around the wrist. The prayers that are offered on the day are the Aranya Suktam from Rig Veda. In western parts of India , a cat along with Goddess Shasti is worshiped on the day. Legend has it that once a married woman stole food and blamed it on a cat. To take revenge, the cat stole all the children that the women gave birth and placed them in a temple dedicated to Shasti. Finally,

The Vadapalani Andavar Temple, located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is renowned for its spiritual significance and the practice of Arul Vakku, a form of divine prediction and guidance. This practice traces back to the temple's founder, Annaswami Nayakar, whose prophetic words and spiritual insight earned the temple its fame. Origin and Impact of Arul Vakku Annaswami Nayakar was a devout worshipper of Lord Murugan, also known as Andavar. His journey into the realm of divine prediction began with a profound experience at the Palani Murugan Temple in Southern India. After a transformative Darshan (sacred view) of Lord Murugan, Nayakar encountered a captivating image of the deity. Though unable to purchase it initially due to lack of funds, a divine intervention followed. The shopkeeper, having dreamt of Murugan instructing him to offer the picture to Nayakar, presented it to him the next day. This event marked the beginning of Nayakar's journey with the divine image, which he broug

Aticara is an astronomical parameter. This is a technical term in Hindu astronomy/astrology connoting the variation in the speed of the planetary movement covering the zodiacal distance with respect to the sun. The literal meaning of Aticara is ‘acceleration’. Aticara in Hindu astronomy is a measurable figure. It is established that in the band of the zodiac, the sun moves at the rate of roughly one degree in one day, while the moon takes the average rate of 108 minutes to traverse through a degree in zodiac. Mars moves at the average rate of one-and-a-half days per degree and Mercury moves at the rate of an average of one-and-a-half degrees per day. But on account of its closeness to the sun, and due to the solar influences, its motion is not steady. Thus, Mercury experiences forward and backward motions with reference to the sun. In this process, a faster movement of the planet in covering the zodiacal distance in an accelerated movement occurs for Mars and Venus also. The accele

The name "Vrikodara" is a significant epithet for Bhima, one of the Pandavas in the epic Mahabharata. The term "Vrikodara" literally translates to "one who has the stomach of a wolf" (with "Vriko" meaning wolf and "Udara" meaning stomach or belly). This name carries rich symbolic and metaphorical meanings that reflect Bhima's character and attributes. Voracity and Ferocity: The primary interpretation of Vrikodara is Bhima's voracity, both in terms of his immense appetite for food and his insatiable hunger for combat and justice. Just as a wolf is known for its fierce and relentless nature, Bhima is depicted as a warrior with an unquenchable thirst for battle, always ready to fight against injustice and protect his family. This ferocity is seen in various instances throughout the Mahabharata, such as his brutal slaying of Dushasana and his relentless fight against Kauravas. Strength and Tenacity: Wolves are symbols of strengt

One can never control the sexual instinct — which has its roots deep within the psychophysical personality — through physical means alone. The majority of the troubles produced by the sex idea originate more at the mental than at the physical level. Unless something inside us responds to outer stimuli there cannot be any physical reaction. Therefore, the problem lies inside us more than in anything we generally call the ‘object of temptation’. Hatred towards the opposite sex or fleeing away from the world is not the means for rising above the sexual instinct. Hatred is nothing but negative attraction. It is subjective change that is required. Many a time we give to certain images stored in our memory a disproportionate sense of reality. As a consequence, their attraction acquires such strength that our conscious mind becomes confused. At that stage, we do not even want to think of the unreality of those images. We forget that images are only images; they become in us real persons, re

Tithi in Panchang – Hindu Calendar on Monday, June 17 2024 – It is Shukla Paksha Ekadashi tithi or the eleventh day during the waxing or light phase of moon in Hindu calendar and Panchang in most regions. It is Shukla Paksha Dashami tithi or the tenth day during the waxing or light phase of moon till 2 :54 AM on June 17. Then onward it is Shukla Paksha Ekadashi tithi or the eleventh day during the waxing or light phase of moon till 4 :30 AM on June 18. (Time applicable in all north, south and eastern parts of India. All time based on India Standard Time.)  Good – Auspicious time on June 17, 2024 as per Hindu Calendar – There is no good and auspicious time on the entire day.  Nakshatra  – Chitra or Chithirai or Chithira nakshatra till 12:48 PM on June 17. Then onward it is Swathi or Chothi nakshatra till 2:52 PM on June 18. (Time applicable in north, south and eastern parts of India).  In western parts of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, north Karnataka and south Rajasthan)

The story of King Dasharatha accidentally killing a young ascetic, Sindhu, in the Krittibasi Ramayana, the Bengali version of Valmiki's Ramayana, offers a poignant and tragic episode that highlights themes of fate, repentance, and the consequences of actions. In the original Valmiki Ramayana, this story is based on Shravankumar. Here is a more detailed account of the story: King Dasharatha's Fateful Hunt One evening, King Dasharatha went on a hunting expedition. As the sun set, darkness enveloped the forest, and visibility became poor. The king, renowned for his skill in archery and particularly for his ability to hit targets by sound alone, prepared for a hunt. Nearby, a young ascetic named Sindhu, the son of Rishi Andhaka, was at a stream, filling a pitcher with water. Each time he dipped the pitcher into the water, it made a distinct gurgling sound. Dasharatha, mistaking the sound for that of a deer drinking, readied his bow and invoked a sound-seeking missile. The arr

The Hindu Concept of Transmigration: Becoming One with the Object of Final Thoughts Hinduism, one of the world's oldest and most complex religious traditions, offers a profound and multifaceted understanding of life, death, and the journey of the soul. One of its core teachings is encapsulated in the idea that "Man goes and becomes one with that very being on whom he rests his thoughts at death." This concept, deeply rooted in the Bhagavad Gita and other Hindu scriptures, suggests that the thoughts and intentions at the moment of death have a significant impact on the soul's destiny. The Philosophy Behind Final Thoughts In Hindu philosophy, the mind and consciousness are believed to have a powerful influence on the soul's journey. The Bhagavad Gita, a central text in Hinduism, states in Chapter 8, Verse 6: "Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail." This teaching underscores the importance