Our sense of self-worth or self-esteem must come from within. The word self means that. But many depend on things, people and situations to feel enough or worthy. Psychologically If we are not enough without it, we will not be enough even with it. Things, people and situations are temporary and perishable. They come and go. Our self-esteem must not be derived from having or not having them. If they are there, good. If not, does not matter. Life of many great achievers in different fields proves that they were successful, not because they had some things or degrees or power or people or position etc with them but because of the right mindset and attitude of self-reliance. They never allowed anything or anyone or any situation to define who they are. How can we cultivate this attitude?1. Identify and Focus on your strengths. 2. Do not ever compare and feel lesser. 3. Develop WOW attitude - With or Without. If a car is there, wow. If now, wow. If someone praises us, wow. If not, wow. 4. Let your values, ideals and emotions define you as a person. Not things, people snd situations. Hold on to inspiring values, ideals and emotions. 5. Remember that a Goal and its achievement is always to manifest our potential and make a positive difference. It is not to define us. We are not greater because we achieved something or lesser because we did not. 6. Redefine success. Its mot merely achieving the goal. It is much more. A dharmik goal achieved with a dharmic means, manifesting potential, enjoying the journey, evolving oneself and others is success. 7. Failure does not mean that we are inferior or weak. It possibly indicates we have to put more efforts or do things differently. 8. Study Vedanta and know that Infinity is our True Nature. The individuality is only a role we are playing. Its not the Reality. Stop giving it so much importance. May we be enough with ourselves and not with anything else. Please support this podcast by pressing the follow button 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://bit.ly/gdswatmanDonors outside India who would like to offer any Gurudakshina/donation can send an email to [email protected] with a cc to [email protected] to get further details.These podcasts @ChinmayaShivam are also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Podomatic, Amazon music and Google PodcastFB page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinmayaShivampageInsta: https://instagram.com/chinmayashivam?igshid=1twbki0v3vomtTwitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayashivamBlog: https://notesnmusings.blogspot.comLinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/swatmananda

Mahashivaratri Greetings from Shulpaneshwar Mahadev. Shula of Bhagavan represents 3 aspects mentioned below. May Bhagavan Shulapani help us to go beyond the bondage of 3 Gunas: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas;3 states of a consciousness- Waking, dream and deep sleep;3 desires: for progeny, fame, wealth 3 aspects of time: past memories, future anxieties and tension in the present;3 vedic fires3 Lokas: Bhuh, Bhuvaha and Suvaha May Bhagwan destroy the evil tendencies within and without us. Har Har Mahadev. Shubh Maha-Shivaratri 2023

10 things i am doing on Shivaratri tomorrow. Sharing with you here:1. See the form of Lord Shiva with the eyes and internalise it by staring intensely followed by visualising it with eyes closed. This is called Traataka. 2. Read Shiva Puran with the eyes and mouth loudly. 3 Hear the glories and stories of Bhagavan.4. Chant Shiva Stotrams and mantras like Om Namah Shivaya and Mrityunjaya Mantra. Loudly first and then softly. 5. Offer abhisheka and bilva leaves to the Shivalinga with the hands. 6. Walk to the Shiva Mandir with the feet. 7. Do Upavaas. If possible without water(Nirjal). If not, with fruits alone and no cereal. If that is also not possible, then eat cooked fasting food but once only. Fasting ensures that our pranas move upwards and help us in deepening our spiritual practices. 8. Remember Bhagwan throughout the day as much as possible. This is the true meaning of Upavaas. Upa- Near. Vaas - stay. Stay close to the Lord mentally. 9. Surrender to Bhagwan and accept HIS will. Prostrate with this bhaav or emotion. 10. Meditate on Shiva-Tattva as one’s True Self - Chidananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham and wake up. This is the deeper meaning of keeping awake on the Shivaratri night. It is to transcend all finitude and go beyond the BMI(Body-Mind-Intellect). One realises Shiva then. Which of these Sadhanas or any other sadhana will you do on Shivaratri? Share in the comments below? 

Here is the 3rd and last verse of Shiva-Pratah-Smarana Shlokas written by Adi Shankaracharyaji. It is sung twice. Once to hear and second time to repeat. It invokes Shiva in His Formless Nature as Pure Consciousness - Nameless, attributeless and as the Self. Contemplating on it we can wake up to realise the Self. Knowing the Self is the only way to freedom and experience of Supreme Happiness. May we discover Shiva as The Self. Happy Shivaratri Week. Om Namah Shivaya. Har Har Mahadev. प्रातर्भजामि शिवमेकमनन्तमाद्यंवेदान्तवेद्यमनघं पुरुषं महान्तम् ।नामादिभेदरहितं षड्भावशून्यंसंसाररोगहरमौषधमद्वितीयम् ॥३॥Praatar-Bhajaami Shivam-Ekam-Anantam-AadyamVedaanta-Vedyam-Anagham Purusham Mahaantam |Naama-Aadi-Bheda-Rahitam Shad-Bhaava-Shunyam Samsaara-Roga-Haram-Aushadham-Advitiiyam ||3||Meaning:3.1 In the Early Morning, I Worship Sri Shiva Who is the One without a second, Who is Boundless and Infinite and Who is Primordial,3.2 Who is Known only by Understanding Vedanta, Who is Sinless and Faultless, Who is the Primeval Original Source of the Universe and Who is the Great One,3.3 Who is Free from the Differences of Names etc and Who is Without the Six Modifications(Conception, Birth Growth, change, decline and death),3.4 Who is the Medicine to Destroy the Disease of transmigration and Who is the One without a second.

Here is the second shloka on Lord Shiva, in the Pratah-Smarana series or the Morning-remembrance series प्रातर्नमामि गिरिशं गिरिजार्धदेहंसर्गस्थितिप्रलयकारणमादिदेवम् ।विश्वेश्वरं विजितविश्वमनोभिरामंसंसाररोगहरमौषधमद्वितीयम् ॥२॥Praatar-Namaami Girisham Girija-Ardha-DehamSarga-Sthiti-Pralaya-Kaarannam-Aadi-Devam |Vishva-Ishvaam Vijita-Vishva-ManobhiraamamSamsaara-Roga-Haram-Aussadham-Advitiiyam ||2||Meaning:2.1 In the Early Morning, I Salute Sri Girisha (Shiva), Who has Devi Girija (Parvati) as Half of His Body,(symbolising Consciousness and matter or balance of head and heart)2.2 Who is the Primordial Cause behind the Creation, Maintenance and Dissolution of the Universe, (The Supreme Consciousness, which is the basis of all creation, not inert matter or 5 elements)2.3 Who is the Lord of the Universe and Who Conquers the World by His Charm, (there is nothing greater than God and more beautiful than God)2.4 Who is the Medicine to Destroy the Disease of transmigration and Who is the One without a second. (The only cure to the disease of finitude and ego). Happy Shivaratri Week. Om Namah Shivaya. 

How we begin the day makes all the difference. If we begin the day invoking auspiciousness, love, peace, truth etc, we have set the tone for a great day ahead. Shiva personifies all the above and much more. Remembering Shiva as soon as one wakes up is one of the best ways to begin the day. What we invoke, we become that. Invoke Shiva and become Shiva. We learn 3 morning-verses written by Sri Adi Shankaracharya in this series of 3 reels. Each line is chanted twice. Once you can hear and second time you can repeat. Here is the first one. प्रातः स्मरामि भवभीतिहरं सुरेशंगङ्गाधरं वृषभवाहनमम्बिकेशम् ।खट्वाङ्गशूलवरदाभयहस्तमीशंसंसाररोगहरमौषधमद्वितीयम् ॥१॥Praatah Smaraami Bhava-Bhiiti-Haram SureshamGangaa-Dharam Vrshabha-Vaahanam-Ambikesham |Khattvaanga-Shula-Varada-Abhaya-Hastam-IshamSamsaara-Roga-Haram-Aushadham-Advitiiyam ||1||Meaning:1.1 In the Early Morning, I Remember Sri Shiva, Who Destroys the Fear of Worldly Existence(fearlessness to meet the challenges of the day) and Who is the Lord of the Devas(Our senses), 1.2 Who Holds River Ganga on His Head(symbolising Service), Who has a Bull as His Vehicle(symbolising righteousness) and Who is the Lord of Devi Ambika(symbolising deepest love),1.3 Who has a Club and Trident in His two Hands(to destroy negativity), And confers Boons and Fearlessness with His other two Hands and Who is the Lord of the Universe,1.4 Who is the Medicine(Self-Knowledge) to Destroy the Disease of transmigration and Who is the One without a second(Non-Dual Truth).Imagine beginning the day remembering the above qualities and the very goal of life - Absolute Freedom, Supreme Happiness and Complete fearlessness! How beautiful it is! Try it! Happy Mahashivaratri week. Om Namah Shivaya. P.S: First video shot in Kowli Village and second one shot between Aashravaa and Akaalkuwa, while on Narmada Parikrama. 

It is said that the name of the Lord is more powerful than the Lord. Hence we should continuously chant and remember the name of Bhagwan. It is a mantra. It is not an ordinary word. The more we chant name, the more the mind gets purified, unified and ready for meditation. Mantra Japa is a simple, yet most powerful technique to do this. When we offer Abhishek to the Shivalinga it symbolises the conscious mantra Japa that we do for sometime in the day, just like the Abhishek that we offer is only for sometime. But the mantra Japa must continue throughout the day. As the sadhana deepens, the mantra goes from the conscious mind to the subconscious mind. The pot above the Shivalinga symbolises this remembrance of Bhhawan and continuous drops of water keep falling on the Shivalingam symbolising that in and through the whole day Subconsciously we remember Bhagwan and our feeling is that our actions are dedicated to Bhagwan. In fact the mantra goes deeper, from the waking state, even into the Dream state, where our subconscious mind is fully active. Japa now becomes ajapa japa or an effortless continuous thought flow of the Divine Name. A point comes where the devotee realises oneness with the divine in absolute silence. All duality vanishes. Mantra, devotee, God all merge. This is Shiva. Absolute Consciousness alone. May Bhagwan leads to this state of Shiva. Om Namah Shivaya.Happy Shivaratri week 2023. 

YAVA - You Ask Vedanta Answers was a series of talks held on life, relationships, work, values and application of Vedanta in different aspects of life.Please support this podcast by pressing the follow button 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://bit.ly/gdswatmanDonors outside India who would like to offer any Gurudakshina/donation can send an email to [email protected] with a cc to [email protected] to get further details.These podcasts @ChinmayaShivam are also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Podomatic, Amazon music and Google PodcastFB page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinmayaShivampageInsta: https://instagram.com/chinmayashivam?igshid=1twbki0v3vomtTwitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayashivamBlog: https://notesnmusings.blogspot.comLinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/swatmananda

YAVA - You Ask Vedanta Answers was a series of talks held on life, relationships, work, values and application of Vedanta in different aspects of life.Please support this podcast by pressing the follow button 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://bit.ly/gdswatmanDonors outside India who would like to offer any Gurudakshina/donation can send an email to [email protected] with a cc to [email protected] to get further details.These podcasts @ChinmayaShivam are also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Podomatic, Amazon music and Google PodcastFB page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinmayaShivampageInsta: https://instagram.com/chinmayashivam?igshid=1twbki0v3vomtTwitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayashivamBlog: https://notesnmusings.blogspot.comLinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/swatmananda

YAVA - You Ask Vedanta Answers was a series of talks held on life, relationships, work, values and application of Vedanta in different aspects of life.Please support this podcast by pressing the follow button 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://bit.ly/gdswatmanDonors outside India who would like to offer any Gurudakshina/donation can send an email to [email protected] with a cc to [email protected] to get further details.These podcasts @ChinmayaShivam are also available on Spotify, Apple iTunes, Apple Podcasts, Podomatic, Amazon music and Google PodcastFB page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinmayaShivampageInsta: https://instagram.com/chinmayashivam?igshid=1twbki0v3vomtTwitter: https://twitter.com/chinmayashivamBlog: https://notesnmusings.blogspot.comLinkedIN: www.linkedin.com/in/swatmananda