Tag Archives: Mythology

~ What is Yajna (Fire ritual)?

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Yajna (Yadnya or Homa) , means Spirit of self-scarifies not motivated by attachments to the results, is a Fire ritual of Sanskrit prayers and mantra chanting by offering herbals in the Holy Fire (Agni). Yajna ultimately consists of self-less action done with the devotion of spirit and without regard of the fruits of those actions. It tells the happy acceptance of all our actions.

You will find it during Hindu Wedding or Festivals where Host couple or individual or families together performing this ritual. Watch following clip to understand what is Yajna, which is also described in brief below as text.

Significance of Yajna:

Vasana (Behavioural tendency) –> Lasting Mental Impressions –> Action —> Desire –> Product of Attachment

So ,life becomes a less productive cycle of “Desire/Ego –> Actions –> Vasanas–> back to Desire/Ego”.

Yajna –> overcomes Vasanas and thus breaks the above cycle.

Yajna brings inner satisfaction to those who perform them , but also helps condition of mind to reach a stage where it is ready to receive ultimate spiritual truth.

5 types of Yajna To Be Preform in Daily Life:

Although, Yajna can be done many ways , here are 5 great Yajnas (Panchmaha Yadnya) to be performed by individuals regularly (which are mentioned in the clip below):

  1. Brahma (Self) Yajna : Mediations/ Spiritual Studies/Understanding Vedic Wisdom/Vedas/Reading Mantras & shokas every morning/ Chanting Gayatri mantra at early moring

  2. Deva (God) Yajna: Self scarifies or Giving / Performing Havan or Homa /Sandya / Agnihotra

  3. Pitri (Parents) Yajna: Appreciating and respecting those who helped in life

  4. Atithi (Guest) Yajna: “Athiti devo bhava”i.e. Treat guest life God/make guest comfortable

  5. Balivaishwa DeV (Helping those who are in need) Yajna : Self-less action

What is Yajna?

Yajna Photos:

Live a life of Yajna, dedicated to the service of others and realize most humbler and spiritual you!

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Hindu Brahmin (Priest) Performing Yajna

 hindu-wed-yajna-giyajna-agnihotra-gi

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Image credits: “en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agni” , “en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnihotra”and “en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yajna”

Sources: Wikiepdia, Youtube, HinduStudentAssociation Clip, google search, and other links mentioned in the post.

~ Family Vs Money : New Significance of Laxmi (Money) and Saraswati (Wisdom) in Life

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Traditionally in India, Saraswati (Wisdom/Knowledge) was given more importance than Laxmi (Money). Also, Money was considered as “one of the important things’ and not “the most important thing” in life.  Watch amazing insights about this change in paradigm about ‘Laxmi’ Vs ‘Saraswati’ on society and families.

As per Hindu Mythology , Laxmi (or Lakshmi) – Goddess of Wealth (Money) and Saraswati – Goddess of Knowledge/Wisdom.

laxmi-saraswati-giSome of Incredible Vedic Wisdom shared in the clip below are :

    • Laxmi (Money) , Alaxmi  (Dispute/Discord) and Saraswati (Wisdom/Knowledge), which Goddess(es) is/are living with you decides your Future or Destiny!!

    • Laxmi (Money) always comes with her INSEPERABLE sister Alaxmi  (Discord/Dispute/Lack of Harmony). To balance this YOU MUST please goddess Saraswati (Wisdom)!

    • You have to go to Goddess Saraswati (Wisdom/knowledge) she won’t come to you (Deserve first then Desire)

    • If you have Saraswati (Wisdom) Laxmi (Money) will definitely come. But, If you have only Laxmi (Money); Saraswati MAY NOT come to you!

    • What Sanskar (Good values) you receive during your upbringing (parents/ guardian/Society) will decide your beliefs about 2 Goddesses – Laxmi & Saraswati

    • “Money has become Currency for Love”, so there are disputes/discord in society!

    • If you ONLY have Laxmi (Money) and No Saraswati (Wisdom) , Dispute/Discord/Sorrow is CERTAIN!

In recent years, India has seen many family property disputes and law suits filing within family. Why is inherent property (Money) is so important than Family/close Relationships? Understand this issue knowing culture and mythological wisdom and try to find the real cause of this behaviour.

Dr. Devdutta Pattanaik, a Mythologist, successful author and Business Consultant, was interviewed by Simran Bhargava in ‘One life to love’ TV show at NDTV Good Times channel. See clip below,

Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik on Property Disputes in Family ,Money & Wisdom

More about Dr. Devdutt Pattnaik, Visit : devdutt.com and @youtube

My other Related posts:

Image credit: “en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakshmi” and “en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saraswati”

Sources: Google search, Youtube, Dr. Devdutta Pattanaik, NDTV Good Times, Wikipedia and other links mentioned in the post.

~ Significance of Nataraja Pose (Dance of Shiva) in Today’s Life

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Beautiful short clips (four) on Significance of Cosmic & Divine Dance of Lord Shiva (called Tandava) carved in the form of famous Nataraja (also means King of dance) Statue pose, which also depicts source of the cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution of the Universe (life).

Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik is a famous Indian Mythologist and Author of many books on Mythology & Spiritual Philosophy. His wisdom has helped many to understand the ancient mythological stories and their scientific/practical significance today!

Watch Significance of Nataraja pose by Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik

Dance of Shiva – The Birth of Nataraja

Dance of Shiva – The Two Aspects of Shiva

Dance of Shiva – Impermanence & Dance

More about Dr. Devdutt Pattnaik, Visit : devdutt.com and @youtube

My other Related posts about Mythology and Business management:

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‘Nataraja’ Statue – Dance of Lord Shiva

Image credit: “en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nataraja”

Sources: YouTube, CineMatixFilm Youtube clip, Google search, Dr Devdutta Pattnaik talks and his website, TED talks, Wikipedia and all other hyper-link mentioned in the post.

~ Ideas for Innovations from ancient Mythological stories

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In this interesting TEDx talk, Mr. Nitten Nair talks how Indian Mythological stories could inspire for future innovations! He has also drawn similarities between few recent innovations and ancient Indian mythological stories. More specifically, he talked about following ideas from Hindu mythology stories that are similar to today’s innovations:

1) Test Tube Baby /IVF/ Cloning Techniques

It is written in Mahabharata epic that Dronacharya [Drona means pot, (Aa)charya means wise man/teacher], famous royal Guru/ teacher of 5 Pandavas  & 100 Kauravas  ,  got  birth in pot. Did people in this era developed methods like  Cloning or IVF or Test tube baby birth? There are references (See this recent study report: Kauravas were cloned  ) in  Mahabharata that 100 Kauravas born together through same cloning or IVF or pot babies  from blind king Dhrutarastra   and Queen Gandhari.

Some other references are available:

2) Lord Vishnu Dashavatara (10 Incarnation)

Amazing to know that these 10 avatars of lord Vishnu actually interprets a human evaluation cycle  from aqua life to today’s fully developed human beings!

3) Sanjay  telling Live commentary to Dhritarashtra

It is like telling Live commentary through satellite, which we have now developed successfully.

4) Lord Ganesha and Karthikeya Story

Inspires us to understand each other’s perspective.

5) Ravana had a Pushpak vimana plane/Aircraft with all on board services

6) Monkeys (animals) were used in Ramayana era to fight just like we have dogs, whales, dolphins , Birds, etc

7) Ram Setu (Adam’s Bridge) mentioned in Ramayana   (Man- made bridge built between India and Sri-lanka). Now it is proved with latest technology and satellite images (reference- Here), that this man made bridge does exist between India and Sri-lanka under the Indian ocean. It might have submerged due to constant land-sea changes during earth’s rotation. As we know, Sri-lanka and Australia island had gone away from India/Indonesia slowly due to earth’s rotation.

More references and bridge images:

Sounds quite interesting! Its good to read and understand  ancient Indian mythological scriptures and epics such as Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Mahabharata, Ramayana, etc to look for ideas. Who knows; someone would come up with new innovative technology inspired from these ancient scriptures.

I have also written another relevant post on similarity of Indian Mythology story of “Samudra Manthan” for universe creation and “Big Bang”Theory. Also, it is surprising to know that all these scriptures were written in Sanskrit language. Same Sanskrit language is now found to be useful for computer applications. See my previous post on recent research which shows that  Sanskrit is the best language for computer programming and artificial intelligence. Thus, this proves that  ancient inventions/discoveries/mythological stories can help us to innovate future technologies.

Watch this short but interesting talk below:

TEDx talk by Mr. Nitten Nair – Innovation, Inspiration & Indian Mythology

Read my other relevant posts:

Image Source: “en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kurukshetra.jpg”

Sources: TEDx talk, YouTube, Google search, Wikipedia and various other hyperlinks mentioned in the post.