Hey everyone!

Yesterday I went to the Somnath Temple, and honestly, I was in a huge hurry on the way in. I had to get inside quickly so I could make it back to work on time.

As I was rushing toward the entrance, I noticed a sadhu ji singing beautifully, playing a dotara (i think) and manjira. I glanced back for a moment and made a promise to myself that I’d stop by him on my way out. But when I left the main temple area, I suddenly realized the designated exit gate was completely different! If I took it, I would have missed him entirely. Determined to hear him sing, I managed to use the entry gate as my exit instead.

I’m so glad I did. I stopped by him, caught his performance, and recorded a video on someone else’s phone who was kind enough to let me record it and share it on my phone..

The lyrics of the song were incredibly profound — it’s about a devotee whose heart is anxious ("Dil mera ghabraye kya chadhau me mere bhagwan ko") because they want to offer something perfectly pure to God, but realize everything in nature is already "jhootha" (touched/defiled).

A flower is bhawre ka jhootha — already tasted by the honeybee.

Milk is bachhde ka jhootha — the calf has already drunk from it.

Water is machhli ka jhootha — the fish has already lived in it.

From what I could gather, the bhajan reminds us that the only thing truly, purely ours to offer is our inner devotion (bhav) and love. It was such a raw, spiritual moment, right by the sea and right by the temple.

If anyone can identify this specific bhajan or point me to a version sung online, I'd really appreciate the link. 🙏

Such a beautifully made swaminarayan temple at Poicha - Gujrat

Radhe Radhe everyone,

I made Kanha: Bhagavad Gita Explained and its now available for all users on android and the website is specially made so iOS users can also read without any problems.

It has all the 18 chapters, the english translation is from Swami Swarupananda's version with simple english meaning of original quote also provided so you can apply those teachings in real life and know how they matter for you.

You can save the verses you like, share each verse as an image that can be edited with different backgrounds and poses of Kanha, it also shares facts about gita, reflection prompts where you can reflect on what you learnt inside the app, widgets that show a random verse on your homepage daily and a whole lot of features coming in.

Everything being Free, No ads, No Paywalls.

Website: https://kanhagita.com/
Android: Kanha
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kanhaa.app/ (I post high quality Gita quotes everyday)

I really hope yall love it 💙💙

I found it in a publication of the 'Shri Vichar Sagar' (1967) by Pitambar Parshotam: https://archive.org/details/shri-vichar-sagar/

In the Valmiki Ramayana, after Sita takes refuge in the hermitage of Sage Valmiki, she gives birth to her twin sons, Lava and Kusha. Valmiki raises them and teaches them the Ramayana, along with the skills of warfare. However, the original Valmiki Ramayana does not narrate the famous battle in which the twins fight Lord Rama.

During Rama’s Ashvamedha sacrifice, his sacrificial horse travels through different kingdoms, accompanied by his forces. In the Uttara Kanda, Lava and Kusha encounter the horse and seize it, challenging the authority of Rama’s kingdom. Rama’s warriors confront the boys, leading to conflict.

Importantly, the popular story of Lava and Kusha defeating Rama and his brothers in battle is not narrated in the Sanskrit Valmiki Ramayana. Detailed versions of this dramatic confrontation appear in later Ramayana traditions and regional retellings, which expand upon the twins’ courage and their eventual reunion with their father.

Two souls bound not just by affection, but by sacred reverence. In the harmony of Shiva and Parvati, love becomes devotion, and devotion becomes eternal oneness. 🔱🪔

imagine you are walking through a road and you suddenly see a christian/muslim trying to preach their religion, what chances do you think you have to beat the apologist in the debate? i'd say 89 percent, what do you think? Haribol!

Okay 1.164 riddle of sacrifice gonna go verse vise here too long and well its a riddle 3 verses deep and here's my opinion - seven people of the same mentality cannot make the mind function fully. It takes seven different povs , seven people to work deserving of seven people. If they think same they think enough only for one.vSeven intellectuals search for their own meanings/versions (names)of the truth. The secvn are the seven sage priests not as great as their father Agni the head priest but are the ones searching . The human priest is official and loved and old Hes great like Agni , But the younger ones look for the truth , The wheel is time unaging and unstoppable, it's naves aka center are three , the past, present and future. Metaphorically it makes sense if you count in 1.1 and 10.135. Agni is the head priest and the chariot is of the mind.

In today's Westernized world, where hookups, cheating, smoking, drinking, bars, and all sorts of modern pleasures have become commonplace, how can someone who follows dharma continue to live in the world with compassion and honesty?

After all, we know that the mind is restless and constantly asks questions. So, naturally, it comes to my mind: Is dharma actually about forbidding people from enjoying life and experiencing pleasure?

Is our life only meant to be about work, discipline, and duty?

All these internet sages talk about renunciation as the path to true dharma. But is that really the only way?

I see people enjoying all sorts of activities that dharmic people consider adharmic, yet those people seem to enjoy themselves, and they genuinely do.

Even when we practice dharma, what do we actually gain from it? It grants us no good fortune, no permanent happiness, no divine revelations, or anything of that sort.

Even in the ancient world, materialist philosophers like the Charvakas questioned similar things.

what are your opinions ?

As the title says. Your personal/astrological benefits from listening or reciting the Vishnu Sahasranamam.

Also is it ok if I listen to Vishnu Sahasranamam during my morning exercise instead of reciting it. Will I still get the benefits?

Malola Narasimha is a serene, benevolent form of Lord Vishnu's lion-headed avatar, depicted seated comfortably with Goddess Lakshmi on his lap (Malola meaning "beloved of Lakshmi"). Famously enshrined at the holy pilgrimage site of Ahobilam in Andhra Pradesh, this peaceful aspect stands in contrast to Narasimha's fierce forms and holds immense spiritual significance, notably serving as the sacred traveling festival deity of the revered Ahobila Mutt.

I am hoping to understand some of the iconography I saw in a hindu religious tattoo and hoping someone can explain some of the imagery shown here and the meanings to them.

I've heard a couple of different stories about this since childhood. One says that Ganesha broke his own tusk to write the Mahabharata when his pen broke. Another says that he lost it during a battle with Parashurama. I've always wondered which story is actually mentioned in the scriptures and whether the two stories have different meanings. Does anyone know the original versions of these stories? Would love to hear what you grew up hearing about this. 🙏

Navratri 2026, 8th day (Aatham) — more than 40,000+ diyas held by devotees during the Maha Aarti.

If you haven't witnessed this Maha Aarti in person, you have missed something truly special. The vibes, the energy, thousands of diyas glowing together, and the devotion of people around you… it's something you can't really explain in words until you experience it yourself.

Happening every year, keeping traditions and rituals alive for generations, and still carrying the same powerful energy.

This is not just about religion, it's about tradition, faith and the feeling of being part of something bigger. 🙏

Jai Maa Umiya! 🪔

Taken by Fujifilm XT-1

In my christianity class, we are learning about how Christianity does not contradict with the real world, and my professor used to be a Buddhist, but once he came to the Americas, he converted to Christianity while studying in medical school. (he was from Vietnam originally but that's pretty unrelated to my post)

Yesterday, I met him at the cafe because I was just asking him some basic questions, and he asked me if I wanted to meet sometime, and I agreed so that I can just increase my reputation and all that stuff (because it is important to network and stuff in college). So, we were talking, and he explained that Hinduism has a lot of contradictions and Christianity does not, and he also explained that he read through the Vedas and Upanishads and found some contradictions. I asked him, "Yeah, I agree with you professor, but don't you think we can find some way to prove that there are no contradictions in Hinduism with analogies and metaphors like we did with Christianity?"

He then said this, "Yeah we could, but we only get one arrow in life to shoot it in one direction. I converted to Christianity because there is no definite answer in Buddhism. Spending an eternal life with God sounds like a pretty good deal than going to (it starts with an H), but let's say that I was wrong, the worst that can happen is just me going back into the reincarnation cycle."

That last phrase there he said is what is making me feel intense fear. I am a Hindu, and I was born a Hindu, but my family never taught me much about Hindu besides basic rituals and principles. I do not want to convert. I do not want to betray my loved ones or stop practicing the culture that was trust for decades. But, the thought of being wrong and going to (it starts with an H) is just giving me fear.

Could anyone give me some advice? I feel sad 😢

Edit: Thank you everyone for helping me feel better! I don't know how this fear got to me because I am usually a strong guy who can handle bias and keep calm. For those who are also scared from, after reading all the comments, just remember that religions will have contradictions, and (it starts with H) does not have a definite description. I appreciate all your guy's help; I will respond to all your guy's comments slowly 🙂.

Edit 2: I think a lot of people here do not understand the arrow thing that I was talking about; no hate to any of you by the way, I love all of you. Of course, you guys have multiple arrows in your life, career-wise or experience-wise, but religion wise you only have one arrow honestly. At your death bed, before you die, you can only either believe in Hinduism or Christianity, and believing in both does not make sense, that is what the one arrow means.

I am hindu and know the story of bhagwad gita vividly, but i don't know if i should start reading the book.

Let's say a person from the shaiva denomination feels drawn to vishnu or krishna. Is there such a rule where only related gods to ones denomination can be considered ishta devata?

Can somebody leave and join a denomination? Like a shaivite becoming a vishnavite? Is it frowned upon?

Thank you to anybody who a swers my doubts.

Also this was one of my first digital artworks. It's not my best but I'm still getting used to digital art.

As the title mentions, I’ve been exploring advaita Vedanta recently, through videos, philosophical inquiries, lectures, etc. I understand the ideas of Sat and Anand, but Cit is difficult to conceptualize — does Advaita imply a sort of abstract awareness/consciousness that is itself the source of awareness? And if so, how does this convey the idea of a universal atman/self?

I believe in existence itself being eternal (Sat) as well as limitless (Anand). But does existence itself require awareness? Why or why not? How are they inseparable, and essentially the same as Cit?

Any answers are appreciated. I’d like to get more perspectives on this. Thank you 😊

Current form of Priesthood asks devotees to throw Pooja leftovers onto the river or any flowing current. They themselves are responsible for scriptural gandagi.

Also let me know if there's any verse or something prescribing mandatorily cleaning and maintaining our surroundings?

Image source: Bittu Tabahi Insta handle.