Mythological Stories In English

Mythological Stories In English

By Aditi DasReligion & SpiritualityHinduism
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Mythological Stories In English episodes

  • S3 Ep2: Gayatri Mantra

    The Gayatri Mantra is a Hindu hymn dedicated to the Hindu Sun God, Surya. It is considered one of the most powerful and sacred mantras in Hinduism. The mantra is typically recited in the morning and evening by Hindus, and is also recited during religious ceremonies and rituals. The mantra is as follows:

    "Om bhoor bhuvah svah - Tat savitur varenyam - Bhargo devasya dhimahi - Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat"

    It roughly translates to "We meditate on the glory of the Creator; Who has created the Universe; Who is worthy of Worship; Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light; Who is the remover of Sin and Ignorance; May He enlighten our intellect."

    Here are a few steps you can take to incorporate the Gayatri Mantra into your daily practice:

    1. Set aside a specific time of day to recite the mantra. Many Hindus recite the mantra in the morning and evening, but you can choose any time that works for you.
    2. Find a quiet and comfortable place where you can sit and focus on the mantra without distractions.
    3. Sit in a comfortable and upright position, with your back straight and your eyes closed.
    4. Begin reciting the mantra slowly and clearly, focusing on the meaning and spiritual significance of the words.
    5. Repeat the mantra 108 times, using a mala (a strand of 108 beads) or counting with your fingers.
    6. As you recite the mantra, try to let go of any distracting thoughts and focus your mind on the words of the mantra and its spiritual significance.
    7. After completing the 108 recitations, take a moment to sit quietly and reflect on your experience before continuing with your day.

      8. It's important to note that the mantras are believed to be powerful and should be treated with respect, it is said that a teacher or Guru should be the one who should initiate a person into the recitation of mantras.

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      3 min
    8. S3 Ep1: Mantras

      A mantra is a word or phrase that is repeated as a form of meditation and concentration. It is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation." Mantras can be in any language, but are often in Sanskrit, a sacred language of Hinduism and Buddhism. They are used as a tool for spiritual development and to invoke the blessings of deities, spiritual teachers, or specific qualities such as compassion or wisdom.

      In Hinduism and Buddhism, mantras are typically used in conjunction with other practices such as yoga, meditation, and puja (worship). They can be recited silently or out loud, and they can be repeated a specific number of times or as many times as desired.

      Mantras can be used for a variety of purposes such as purifying the mind, gaining spiritual insight, and achieving a sense of inner peace. They are also believed to have a powerful vibrational energy that can affect the mind and body in positive ways.

      Mantras can be divided into three categories:

      1. Vedic Mantras: These are the oldest mantras and are found in the Vedas, the ancient Hindu scriptures. They are used for ritual and spiritual purposes.
      2. Tantric Mantras: These mantras are used in tantra, a form of spiritual practice that seeks to elevate the individual to a higher level of consciousness.
      3. Buddhist Mantras: These are used in Buddhism and are often associated with specific deities or concepts such as compassion or wisdom.

        4. It's important to note that reciting a mantra without understanding its meaning or without proper guidance from a qualified teacher, may not yield the desired results.

        3 min
      4. S3 Ep1: Mantras

        A mantra is a word or phrase that is repeated as a form of meditation and concentration. It is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation." Mantras can be in any language, but are often in Sanskrit, a sacred language of Hinduism and Buddhism. They are used as a tool for spiritual development and to invoke the blessings of deities, spiritual teachers, or specific qualities such as compassion or wisdom.

        In Hinduism and Buddhism, mantras are typically used in conjunction with other practices such as yoga, meditation, and puja (worship). They can be recited silently or out loud, and they can be repeated a specific number of times or as many times as desired.

        Mantras can be used for a variety of purposes such as purifying the mind, gaining spiritual insight, and achieving a sense of inner peace. They are also believed to have a powerful vibrational energy that can affect the mind and body in positive ways.

        Mantras can be divided into three categories:

        1. Vedic Mantras: These are the oldest mantras and are found in the Vedas, the ancient Hindu scriptures. They are used for ritual and spiritual purposes.
        2. Tantric Mantras: These mantras are used in tantra, a form of spiritual practice that seeks to elevate the individual to a higher level of consciousness.
        3. Buddhist Mantras: These are used in Buddhism and are often associated with specific deities or concepts such as compassion or wisdom.

          4. It's important to note that reciting a mantra without understanding its meaning or without proper guidance from a qualified teacher, may not yield the desired results.

          3 min
        4. S1 Ep27: Balram - The God of Strength and Valor
          Balram is an ancient Hindu deity and is primarily known for his enormous strength and valor. He is the elder brother of Krishna who is an avatar of Lord Vishnu. Balram himself is known to be the incarnation of Adi Sheshanag, the million-headed serpent on whom Vishnu resides in the ocean of milk Kshirasagar. Sheshanag holds all the planets on his head and is known for strength. He is inseparable from Vishnu. Hence when Vishnu descended as Ram in Treta Yug, he incarnated as his younger brother Lakshman. In Dwapar Yug when Vishnu takes Krishna's avatar, Shesha incarnates as Balram.


          Birth of Balram
          The region of Mathura was ruled by an evil king named Kansa. He was a cruel king who could go to any extent to retain his powers as a  king. One day one of the sages in his region predicted that the eighth son of Kansa's sister Devaki and Vasudev will be responsible for Kansa's death. This made Kansa extremely insecure. He decided to kill his own sister. Devaki's husband Vasudev pleaded with Kansa to stop and assured him that he himself will handover all his children to him.  Kansa agreed upon the only condition that Devaki's children will be killed as soon as they are born. Kansa ruthlessly killed the first six children born from Devaki's womb. The 7th child was conceived and Devaki knew that this one was special and surely possessed divinity. This made her more anxious and tense. She didn't want to lose any of her children now and prayed to the Gods for help. This is when the Gods decided to take Vishnu's help. Vishnu instructed Yogmaya to forcibly take the fetus from Devaki's womb and implant it in Rohini's womb. Rohini was one of the 8 wives of Vasudeva and she stayed in Vrindavan with Nanda and Yashoda. This divine child was Balram. Another story states that when Gods went to Vishnu to seek help to end evil on Earth, Vishnu plucked two of his hair, one black, and one white. He said that these two shall end the evil forces on Earth. The white hair was Balram and black was Krishna. Balram is also known as Shankarsana as he was snatched from Devaki's womb and placed in Rohini's.


          Childhood
          Balram grew up in Vrindavan with his younger brother Krishna. He and Krishna were inseparable. They grew up in Nanda's house who was the chief of cowherds. Together they set on a lot of adventures and killed a lot of demons. Balram also killed demons like Dhenuka, Pralambha, Dvivida. 


          The killing of Dhenukasur, the ass demon
          Once Krishna and Balram visited Talavan. Talavan was famous for its palm trees. Krishna was mesmerized by the scent of the palm tree fruits. Balram shook the trees vigorously and the fruits started falling down. The sound of fruits falling caught Dhenuka's attention. Dhenuka along with his other demon friends saw Krishna and Balram. Dhenuka attacked Balram and kicked him badly. Balram got furious and killed him on the spot


          The killing of Pralambhasur 
          Pralambhasur was a demon sent by Kansa to kill Krishna and Balram. Once when Krishna and Balram were playing with their cowherd friends, Pralambha disguised himself as one of the cowherd boys. Krishna divided the group into two halves for a game. Krishna and Balram headed both the groups. The losing group had to carry the winner group on their back. Balram's group won. Pralambha who was playing from Krishna's side had to carry Balram on his back. He decided to run off with Balram and kill him later on. However soon Pralambha felt weak carrying the mighty Balram on his back. Balram realized Pralambha's intentions and killed him immediately.


          The killing of Dvivida - Dvivida was an ape demon. He was a close friend of Narakasura. When Krishna killed Narakasura, Dvivida got furious and sought revenge. He created havoc on Earth. He tortured men and women and imprisoned them. He even insulted Balram and started pelting stones at him. This made Balram furious and he ended up killing the ape demon.


          Balram's marriage to Revati
          Balram got married to Revati who was a princess and the daughter of king Kakudami. Their love story involved time travel. Kakudami was a king in the era of Sat Yug. Revati possessed a lot of skills. She was so good that her father could not find a suitable match for her. Kakudami decided to visit Brahma and seek his help. He along with Revati set on a journey to Brahmaloka. When they met Brahma and discussed their problem, Brahma told them that time runs differently on Brahmaloka. One moment on Brahmaloka counts to million years on Earth. He told them that their whole Era must have been finished by now and even their great-grandsons and daughters would have died by now. Brahma told them to go and take help from Krishna on Earth as Dwapar Yug had started. Kakudami and Revati went back to Earth and as guided by Brahma met Krishna. Krishna then asked Balram to marry Revati. This is how Balram got married to Revati. Together they had two sons and one daughter.


          Balram in Mahabharat
          Balram is associated with extreme strength and valor. He is also known as the Lord of farmers. He uses a plow as his fighting weapon. He is also known by other names like Baladeva, Balabhadra, Haladeva, etc. He was a teacher to both Duryodhan and Bhima from the Kuru dynasty and taught them how to use a mace. Duryodhan was a Kaurav and Bhima was a Pandav. Balram loved both of them equally as both were his dear students. At the time of Mahabharat, he decided not to fight and remain neutral as he was friendly to both sides. He decided to go on a pilgrimage and return after the war. After the war, he went back to Dwarka and spent his later years there. He was a part of the Yadu civil war which ended the entire Yadu dynasty. In the end, he went into a meditative state and discarded his earthly body, and returned to Vaikuntha (Vishnu's eternal abode)
          8 min
        5. S1 Ep26: Rama - The Supreme Personality
          On the occasion of Ram Navami, Mysticadii team wishes you all a very happy and prosperous Ram Navami. May this auspicious occasion bring a lot of positivity and happiness in our life. Lord Rama is one of the most worshipped Gods in our Hindu philosophy and on this day he born on Earth.  Lord Rama is the 7th Avatar of Lord Vishnu who was born during the period of Treta Yuga. He was an epitome of perfection and grace. The purpose of this incarnation was to free the world from the tortures of Demon Ravana.  The evergreen Hindu epic Ramayana is the timeless story that is full of twists and turns and just like a good game it keeps us excited and engaged till the end. Most of us have already heard about this legend from our parents and grandparents; however there are some interesting facts attached behind the main story. Let us learn about the same.

          Rama as we all know is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who is part of the Hindu trinity (Brahma – The Creator, Vishnu – The Preserver and Shiva – The destroyer). Lord Vishnu is responsible for ensuring that Cosmic balance is maintained and also teaches mankind that in the end Goodness shall always win over Evil. He teaches us the same through different stories. For the same he descends from his planet (Vaikuntha Lok) and comes to Earth in the form of an Avatar. During the Silver Age (Treta Yug) the world was under the captivity of a Demon king Ravana. Ravana was a staunch devotee of Shiva and through great penance had acquired superhuman abilities. He was an extremely learned man and was very intelligent. He ruled the Three worlds and his kingdom was known as Lanka where he stayed with the demon clan. Ravana was full of arrogance and pride and is considered himself to be the most powerful individual in the Universe. To end his tyranny Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi (Vishnu’s consort) incarnated as Rama and Sita. Goddess Sita was Lord. They both were born into Royal families of Ayodhya and Janak and got married to each other after attaining youth.  Rama being the eldest son in his family was the rightful heir to the throne of  Ayodhya. However his stepmother Kaikai didn’t let that happen as she wanted her son Bharat to be the king. She sent Lord Rama on exile for 14 years. Goddess Sita being his wife and brother Lakshamana accompanied Rama and they went to stay in a forest for 14 years. This is when Ravana kidnapped Goddess Sita to take revenge from the Lord. Ravana’s sister Surpanakha has seen Rama and Lakshmana in the forest. She was attracted to both of them and wanted either of them to marry her. When the brother’s denied she tried to harm Goddess Sita and that is when Lakshamana cut her nose. This made Ravana furious and he wanted to take revenge. He kidnapped Goddess Sita from their hut in the forest and kept her as a captive in his kingdom.  This is when the battle of Ramayana happened when Rama with the help of Lord Hanuman (incarnation of Shiva) fought against Ravana and killed him. Along with Sita all three worlds were freed from his clutches.

          As mentioned this story depicts that no matter how bad the situation is, in the end  Goodness will always prevail over Evil. When Vishnu incarnated as Ram and Lakshmi incarnated as Sita, his gatekeepers in Vaikuntha Lok, Jaya and Vijaya incarnated as Ravana and Kumbhakarna (Ravana’s brother). As per the legends once the Four Kumaras (also known as Sanat Kumaras) visited Vaikuntha Lok. The four Kumaras were sons of Brahma and though matured in age had decided to be in a childlike body for their entire life. When they visited Vaikuntha Lok and wanted to see Lord Vishnu, Jaya and Vijaya (the gatekeepers of Vaikuntha Lok) didn’t let them in. They thought them to be immature children and hence did not want to disturb Vishnu. After a lot of arguments between the Kumaras and the gatekeepers, the Kumaras lost their temper and cursed both of them to lose all their powers and become mortals. Engulfed with fear Jay and Vijay ask Vishnu to remove the curse. Vishnu says that the curse can only be removed when Jay and Vijay incarnate on Earth. They can either incarnate as devotees of Vishnu for 7 lives or incarnate as demons and enemies of Vishnu for 3 lives. 

          After that they can permanently live on Vaikuntha. Jay and Vijay could not live away from Vishnu for 7 long years and hence decided to be born as demons for 3 lives. In the 1st life (During Satyug) they were born as Hirnanyaksha and Hirankashipu. Both the demons were killed Vishnu in the avatar form of Varaha and Narasimha. In the 2nd life (During Treta Yug) they born as Ravana and Kumbhakarna and were killed by Vishnu in the avatar form of Ram. In the 3rd life they were as Shishupala and Dantavakra and were killed by Vishnu as Krishna Avatar. So this was the behind the scene story.

          JAI SIYA RAAM!!!
          7 min
        6. S1 Ep24: Samudra Manthan - Unity in Diversity!!
          Samudra Manthan or Sagar Manthan is one of the most celebrated stories in Hindu philosophy. It teaches us that in times of distress people regardless of their race and differences have always come together and fought in unity. For those of us who have not heard of this story do give it a read.


          Long ago when one of the greatest saints of earth rishi Durvasa happened to meet Indra, the lord of heavens, he presented Indra with a sacred garland. The garland was made of flowers that were very dear to Lord Vishnu and were offered to Lord Vishnu during his worship. Indra didn’t pay much respect to it and made his elephant Airavata wear it. The elephant threw the garland away. This enraged Durvasa and he cursed Indra that he and his entire race will lose all their prosperity and power. They will even become mortals because of Indra’s arrogance.


          The curse started showing its effects and the Gods started losing all their powers. They were defeated by the Demons time and again and Demons started to rule the world. Grief-stricken they decided to visit Lord Vishnu for a solution. Due to this curse on Gods, all the fortunes of the world had submerged into the Ocean and darkness fell upon the entire world. The fortunes had to be churned out of the milky ocean however this could not be done by the gods alone as it required a lot of strength. Vishnu asked the Gods to collaborate with the Demons and churn the ocean. But why would the Demons agree to team up with the Gods? The Gods went and told the Demon clan that the churning of the ocean will bring out the nectar of immortality (also called Amrita). The Gods told them that if they helped them to churn the ocean, they shall also receive the nectar and hence become immortal. The Demons agreed upon hearing this. The stage was set and the team was ready but now they needed equipment to churn the milky ocean. Mount Mandara was used as a churning rod and Vasuki,(the serpent god who aboded on Shiva’s neck was used a churning rope. Mount Mandara was huge and because of its weight, it began to sink in the ocean. This is when Lord Vishnu in the form of Kurma (Turtle) came to their rescue and supported Mount Mandara on his shell. 


          The Gods and Demons continued churning the ocean back and forth for several thousand years. The continuous churning resulted in the release of the following


          Goddess Lakshmi, Apsaras or Divine nymphs, Kamdhenu (The wish-granting cow), Airavata and other elephants,  jewels,  the Moon-god, Kalpavriksha (the divine wish-granting tree), Bow and arrow. Along with all this, even Halahal (poison) sprang out of the ocean. The poison was consumed by Lord Shiva before it could destroy the world. Goddess Parvati held Shiva’s neck so that the poison could not go beyond his neck This is why Lord Shiva is also called Neelkantha. Finally, the God of medicine Dhanvantari sprang out of the ocean. He carried the nectar of immortality with him. The clever demons got hold of the entire nectar and they tried to escape from there without giving it to the Gods. This is when Lord Vishnu took an avatar as Mohini the enchantress and seduced the demons to an extent that they agreed to give away the nectar to her. Mohini made all the Gods and Demons sit opposite to each other and started pouring the nectar one by one. She gave regular water to the demons and gave the entire nectar to gods. Vishnu knew that if demons were given the boon of immortality they shall create havoc on earth. Hence Mohini decided to cheat them. However, Rahu (Demon King) got suspicious and disguised himself as a God and sat with the Gods when the nectar was being distributed. He somehow managed to cheat the Gods and got to drink the nectar of immortality. When Lord Vishnu realized that Rahu cheated this way he cut Rahu’s body into 2 halves, Rahu being his head and Ketu being his body. 


          Finally, after this episode, the gods got back their powers again and balance was restored.


          Samudra Manthan teaches us the power of unity and teamwork. Teamwork and collaboration is necessary and the only lesson we need to learn here on this planet. Only when our body cells work together as a team we are able to survive here. The hands, the legs, the mouth everything works together to feed the stomach. Similarly only if all the species on earth work together in collaboration we will succeed as a planet. The planet existed before mankind. If mankind decides to act irresponsibly and disrespect the planet we shall be kicked out of the planet just as the Gods were cursed. Hence time to act responsibly and live in harmony with all the beings here!!




          6 min
        7. S1 Ep23: Parashurama – The Warrior Sage!!
          According to Hindu philosophy every time there is a misbalance on planet earth and the negative energy overpowers, Lord Vishnu descends as a human avatar to fight against evil and restore the balance again. An avatar is a highly gifted and charismatic human being who seems to be from the future as he is endowed with special powers that normal humans do not have. His mind works at its full potential unlike other humans hence empowering him with supernatural powers. It is mentioned in our Hindu texts that time and again Lord Vishnu has incarnated on earth whenever there is a great decline in the human condition. Our scriptures mention 10 avatars of Lord Vishnu who either have or will descend on Earth to provide ideological guidance to mankind and help them sail through the period of unrest and transition. 


          In this article, we will discuss in length about Lord Parashurama who is believed to be the 6th avatar of Lord Vishnu. 


          Parashurama was born to sage Jamadagni and Renuka. He was born in the hills of Janapav (in Indore M.P). They lived in a hut. His father being one of the greatest sage was gifted with a wish granting cow named Surabhi. Everything was good until one day a cruel king named Arjuna ( not to be confused with Mahabharata's Arjuna) got to know about the holy cow. One day when Parshurama was not in the house, the king barged into their home and forcefully took the cow with him. When Parshurama got to know about the same he went onto fight the king and happened to kill him during the fight. This enraged the warrior clan and now they all of them wanted to kill Parashurama.

          Now, this was the time when the warrior or the Kshatriya clan had started misusing their powers as they wanted to rule the world. They tortured helpless people and made everyone serve them. Parashurama being the enlightened warrior was born with the sole purpose of ending their tyranny. He killed the entire warrior race one by one. By destroying the cruel kshatriya warriors he restored the cosmic balance once again. Lord Parashurama has been mentioned in both Ramayana and Mahabharata. 


          In Ramayana, he comes to test Rama's integrity and morals when Lord Rama participates in Sita's swayambar. When Parshurama is convinced that Rama is not like the other cruel kings he lets him go. 


          In Mahabharata, he is shown as a guide or teacher to Bhishmapitama and Karna. He is the one who teaches them how to fight battles. Lord Parashurama as a Vishnu avatar coexisted with the other avatars as Rama and Krishna. 


          He is also considered to be one of the immortals gods who will stay on earth till the end of Kaliyuga and will appear again in the times of distress and need with other Chiranjeevi avatars like Hanuman. 


          Now the question is that will this be a person who will come to save mankind or a mass awakening in humankind in the form of a rise in their consciousness? Will, there be a savior to save us or we shall become the saviors ourselves... 
          4 min
        8. S1 Ep22: Parvati - Goddess of Creative Power and Divine Energy
          "Sarva Mangala Maangalye, Shive Sarvaartha Saadhike, Sharanye Tryambake Gauri, Narayani Namostute"


          Meaning - Goddess Parvati is the most auspicious. She is the divine companion of Lord Shiva and grants every desire of a pure heart. I honor Goddess Parvati who loves all her children and I bow to the great mother who resides inside me and has given refuge to me.


          Before the creation of the Universe there was only one God Sadashiv He was complete as Shiv (consciousness) and Adishakti (energy) both resided within him. However for creation Lord Brahma was created. Lord Brahma was failing in his duty as he needed Adishakti (feminine energy) to reside inside all the creatures. This is when he went to Lord Sadashiv and he agreed to part with her for creation. However Lord Brahma knew the grief of separation and promised Sadashiv that he shall surely return AdiShakti to him in the form of Sati when Shiv will be born as Rudra in the world.



          However as we all know Shiva Sati's story was a shortlived one as Sati killed herself because of her father Daksha's arrogance and hatred towards Shiva. She could not handle her husband's humiliation any further and decided to burn herself. She declared that in her next life she will be born to someone who will have immense respect for Shiva and in that life she will unite with Shiva again. This is how  Sati ended her life and was born as Parvati again in her next life when she marries Shiva again. 


          Goddess Parvati as we all know is Lord Shiva's eternal consort. She is the representation of Adi Shakti (Energy) that resides within us in the form of Kundalini Shakti. Goddess Parvati was the human form of divine Adi Shakti and was the daughter of King Himavan and Queen Menavati. She was born on Earth with the sole purpose to unite with Lord Shiva. Right from childhood she had immense devotion and love for Shiva. King Himavan and Queen Menavati were devotees of Vishnu and could not understand the reason for Parvati's attraction to Shiv. King Himavan was the ruler of Himalayas and the Nagas were planning to strike war with him as they wanted to rule the Himalayas. This is when Sage Dadichi who is a staunch Shiva devotee requested King Himavan to let Queen Menavati and Parvati stay in his ashram as they will be safe, hidden in the forests. Himavan decided to let her queen and daughter stay with the sages till the war finishes. Hence the early years of Parvati's life were spent in an ashram with a lot of other Shiva devotees. The enlightened sages knew she was meant to marry Shiva once she grew up. While staying in the ashram the sages taught her everything about Shiva and his teachings. Queen Meavati was not very happy with all this. She considered Shiva to be a homeless sanyasi and thought that her daughter Parvati being a princess should only marry a prince and not some hermit. On the other hand Parvati was so devoted to Shiva that she could think of none but Shiva all the time. Queen Menavati tried her best to keep Parvati away from Shiva and his devotees but she failed miserably. After few years king Himavan came back after winning the war against the Nagas and then took Meenavati and Parvati back with him to his kingdom. This is when Lord Vishnu himself meets Himavan and tells him that Parvati was meant to be Shiva's wife and that he should get them married as soon as possible. Himavan and Meenavati after knowing the truth finally agreed to accept Shiva. 


          However the biggest challenge was to convince Shiva to marry Parvati. Shiva after losing Sati had completely lost the capacity to love a woman again. He did not want to go through that pain of separation. He surrendered himself to meditation as he did not want to be tied in the worldly relations again. When Lord Kaama tried to evoke the feeling of love in him, he killed Kaama with the fire of his third eye. He rejected the plea of all Gods and Goddesses and declared that he shall never marry again. Shiva and Parvati's union was essential for the world. The world during that period was under the captive of Demon Tarkasur. Tarkasur had a boon that only Shiva's son could kill him. Hence to free the world from this demon's clutches it was necessary for Shiv and Parvati to marry and have a son who can kill Tarkasur.


          Parvati was hell-bent on marrying Shiva and decided to please him through strict penance. She worshipped Shiva for thousands of years. She abandoned her royal life and started staying in the forest like a yogin. After years of worship Lord Shiva was pleased with her devotion and finally agreed to marry her. Parvati and Shiva got married and had two sons and one daughter. Their son Kartikeya then killed the demon Tarakasur and freed the world from his clutches. 
          6 min
        9. S1 Ep21: Ganga - The Goddess Of Purity
          Goddess Ganga is the divine personification of river Ganges.  She is the holiest of all the rivers and forgiver of all the sins. It is believed that bathing in the holy Ganges can free one from all his sins and help the soul attain Moksha or salvation. She is worshipped by Hindu devotees and is the embodiment of purity. She is depicted as a beautiful Goddess sitting on a crocodile. The crocodile represents her Vahan or vehicle. 

          Let us know her story in detail.

          Goddess Ganga was born King Himavan and Queen Menavati who were parents of Goddess Parvati as well. Hence Ganga was the elder sister of Goddess Parvati. Goddess Ganga deeply loved Lord Shiva and wanted to marry him. However Lord Shiva was married to Goddess Sati. After Sati’s death Ganga approached Shiva and requested him to marry her. Shiva told her that he cannot think of anyone else as his wife as he loved Sati. However pleased with Ganga he gave her a boon that she will remain pure till eternity and will be known as the embodiment of purity. Also her presence will remove all the sins and negative karma.

          Ganga was very sad as Lord Shiva did not accept her as his wife. Meanwhile a demon named Tarkasur was creating havoc across the three worlds. He had become invincible as he was gifted with the boon that no one could kill him. Only Shiva’s son will be able to kill him. He was also disrupting the purity of Heaven (abode of Gods – Swarga Lok). To regain the purity of Heaven Lord Brahma wanted Ganga to reside there. He requested Himanvan to let his daughter stay in the heavens. Ganga agreed and left for Swarga Lok. She pledged that she will return to Earth only when Shiva will call her.
          Goddess Ganga stayed on the planet of Heaven for some time. However when Lord Indra (King of Heaven) insulted sage Brihaspati, Ganga left the planet of Heaven and decided to reside in Brahma Lok (Planet of Brahma). She resided there until she was again called back to Earth by King Bhagiratha (Ancestor of Lord Rama)
          Meanwhile on Earth, there was a king named Sagara from Raghu Kula dynasty who ruled the planet. The king had 60000 sons. King  Sagara after defeating the demons decided to perform Ashwamedha Yagya to restore peace. The Yagya required a horse as a part of the rituals. However Lord Indra was scared that this Yagya will make Sagara very powerful and Indra might lose his kingdom of Heaven to him. Filled with insecurity  Indra decided to steal the horse. Indra stole it and tied the horse in the ashram of sage Kapila. Sage Kapila was not aware of this as he was in mediation for several years. Anxious Sagara sent his 60000 sons in search of the horse. When the sons found the horse in Sage Kapila’s ashram, they thought that sage Kapila had stolen it. They assaulted Kapila and shamed him. This broke Kapila’s Tapasya. The sage opened his eyes for the first time in several years and looked at the sons of Sagara. With this glance, all sixty thousand were burnt to death.

          The souls of Sagara’s sons remained as ghosts as their last rites were not performed. Years passed this way. King Anshuman who was the nephew of those 60000 sons got to know of this tragic tale. He went to sage Kapila and begged for forgiveness so that his uncles could attain Moksha. Kapila said the only way possible was to immerse their ashes in Goddess Ganga as only she can purify them. This is when Anshuman started meditating on Brahma to bring Ganga back on Earth. However neither he and nor his son Dilip succeeded in pleasing Lord Brahma during their lifetimes. Dilip’s son Bhagiratha took a vow that he shall get Goddess Ganga back on Earth and free his ancestors from this endless pain. Lord Brahma was pleased with his worship and agreed to his request. However Ganga did not want to go back on Earth as she had pledged that she will return only when Lord Shiva will call her. Bhagirath then worshipped Lord Shiva. Shiva got pleased with his worship and decided to hold Ganga on his head so that she could flow through his matted hair. This pleased Ganga and she agreed to descend on Earth again.

          While on her way to Kapila’s ashram where the ashes of the 60000 sons remained she flowed through a cave where sage Jahnu was meditating. Her flow disrupted his mediation and in a rage he swallowed her. When the Gods requested Sage Jahnu to let her go, he calmed down and let Ganga flow through his ears. That is why Ganga is also known as Jhanvi (daughter of Jahnu). She flowed through the ashes of Sagara’s sons and they were relieved from their sins and hence attained salvation. Ganga stayed on earth after that. Whoever bathed in her water was purified from their sins.
          Ganga later married King Shantanu (ancestor of Pandavas and Kauravas). Shantanu was the ruler of Hastinapur. Once on banks of Ganga river he saw Goddess Ganga herself. He fell in love with her beauty and proposed her to marry him. Ganga agreed however she told him that he should never question any of her decisions or else she will leave him. Shantanu agreed and they got married. The couple had 7 sons after the marriage. However Goddess Ganga did not want her sons to live as prisoners in the mortal body. She killed all of them the moment they were born to free them from human suffering. King Shantanu did not object to this decision of her. However when the 8th son was born, Shantanu did not let her kill him. Ganga left Shantanu, taking the child with her after that since she told him that he should never question her decisions. This son was the mighty Bhismapitama and he was an important character in the battle of Mahabharata.

          It is predicted that by the end of Kaliyuga Ganga will dry completely and return to Brahma Lok. Most of the holy places in India are situated near the banks of Ganges. The holy river continues to accept everyone and purify the mortals.


          8 min
        10. S1 Ep20: The Buddha - The Enlightened One
          India has been home to several mystics across centuries. These visionaries and spiritual leaders have been contributing extensively to the field of spirituality, religion, philosophy, and other metaphysical studies since ancient times. The Buddha was one such spiritual leader who even though born as a human acquired the status of God during his lifetime. The enlightened one single-handedly managed to establish the foundation of Buddhism, a religion that holds 


          7 percent of the world population today. Buddhism is a subsect that originated from Sanatana Dharma and shares a lot of common ideologies with Hinduism. Like Hindus the Buddhists also believe in the concept of Karma, the afterlife, rebirth, and many more. However, the big difference between these two sects is that Buddhism doesn't accept the idea of a permanent soul. Hinduism promotes the seeking of self as they believe that a permanent entity known as the Jiva or soul is transferred from one body to another until one achieves Moksha. On the other hand, Buddhism promotes seeking selflessness. According to the Buddhists, everything in this cosmos is changing every single second. Hence there is nothing permanent like a soul that exists within us. However, at the time of death, there is a stream of consciousness that is transferred from one body to another. This stream of consciousness is also changing every moment. Hence Buddhism supports the idea of rebirth but rejects the concept of reincarnation. Buddhism as a religion is very well organized and is based on a set of laws and practices which are:


          1)The 4 Noble Truths
          2)The noble 8 fold path


          Anyone abiding by this set of rules and practices is bound to achieve Nirvana which is our ultimate goal. Nirvana is a state of nonexistence where our stream of consciousness or energy merges with the universal consciousness and our individuality ceases to exist. 


          The Buddha was born to a king named Suddhodhana and his queen Maya Devi. Some scriptures suggest that Suddhodhana was a king from the Solar Dynasty (Ishvaku) while others suggest that they belonged to a community named Sakhaya who hailed from the northeastern part of India. The Buddha's birth name was Siddhartha Gotama. Queen Maya Devi had dreamt of an 8 tusk elephant entering her womb on the day she conceived Siddhartha. The prince was born in the city of Lumbini (in Nepal). As a ritual after his birth, a lot of astrologers were invited to his naming ceremony. The astrologers predicted that the prince was an extraordinary being and would grow up to become either a very great king or a great spiritual leader in the future.


          Suddhodhana being a king himself wanted his son to become the heir of his throne. He decided to keep Siddhartha away from all the miseries and sufferings one experiences in life. He ensured that the prince never left the royal palace so that he is not exposed to the harsh realities of life.  Siddhartha grew up and got married to a princess named Yashodhara. They also had a son and named him Rahul. Destiny had different plans for Siddhartha. One day he decided to get out of the palace and see his kingdom. He had never seen the outside world and desired to do so before taking up the throne officially. On his way, he encountered certain sights that changed his mind completely. These sights are known as the 4 divine sights. The first sight was that of an old man. Siddhartha had never seen an aged person and was unaware of the idea that everyone gets old. When he questioned his charioteer, he told him that everybody gets old and that it is the law of nature. The next sight was that of a diseased person. Siddhartha was unaware of diseases and ill health. The charioteer again informed that once we grow old our health deteriorates and we succumb to various illness and diseases. The 3rd sight was of a dead body. Siddhartha was unaware of death too as he had not seen a dying person before. the 4th sight was of a holy man basking in peace and joy while meditating. 


          These 4 sights led to a transformation inside Siddhartha's mind. He was no more interested in leading a royal life and now searched for a deeper meaning. He wanted to understand the nature of our existence and became the seeker of truth. He knew that he would not achieve his goal by staying inside the confinement of his royal life. Hence he decided to abandon everything and start living as a monk in the forests. Siddhartha left for good and never came back thus renouncing worldly life.


          Soon Siddhartha started practicing and training under spiritual masters like Alara Kalama and Udaka Ramaputta. He reached the desired spiritual goals under them. He was then asked by the masters to join them. However, Siddhartha's quest remained unanswered. He had understood that meditation and going within was the answer to his spiritual quest. He now understood that death was not the end and that afterlife is based on Karma. People are born on different planets heavenly or hellish based on the actions they committed on Earth. However, he wanted to know the way to end this cycle once and for all. He wanted to achieve the Nirvana state. This quest made him dig deeper. He left his masters and started practicing austerities alone deep inside the forest. He worked on his breath, stopped eating, and practiced severe austerities. However very soon he realized that this strict way of living was not possible for the majority of mankind and something easier was needed. He needed to figure out a middle path between fancy material life and strict ascetic life. This quest led his fellow practitioners to leave him. They thought that Siddhartha did not want to pursue the ascetic life and was now searching was easier alternatives.


          After a lot of wandering and trying different techniques ,one day Siddhartha decided to sit under a tree and meditate. He pledged that he shall not open his eyes until he received full awakening. This was the famous Pipal tree now known as the Bodhi tree where Siddhartha achieved enlightenment. This place was Bodh Gaya in Bihar. Today this is a world heritage site and people from all across the world travel to see this sacred tree. Siddhartha achieved his awakening and now wanted to share the same with his masters. However, both the masters were dead by now. He then decided to share his wisdom with his fellow practitioners. Siddhartha traveled to  Sarnath to meet them. His friends initially did not believe him. However, all 5 of them agreed to listen to him. This is when Siddhartha gave his 1st sermon. Soon after this event one of the 5 was awakened and hence became the 1st Arahant (awakened being). Very soon all 5 received enlightenment. They dedicated themselves to Siddhartha and crowned him with a new name "The Buddha" (The enlightened one). They now decided to form a committee and spread this new-found knowledge to all. This is how the foundation of Buddhism was laid. 
          The Buddha simplified his learnings for the world by establishing the 4 Noble truths which are :


          1) Suffering is the main constituent of our existence in this world


          2) Suffering is caused due to our endless desires and attachment


          3 )The way to end this suffering is to end our desires and lead a detached life as this will lead to Nirvana


          4)The way to achieve this is to follow the noble eightfold path 


          The Noble eightfold path is 


          1)Right View - This illustrates the cause and effect theory. Our every action is bound by a reaction and hence we should choose our actions wisely. Hence our perspective towards life should be chosen wisely.


          2)Right, Intention - The intent behind every action lay the basis of its consequences. Hence our Intent should always be right and virtuous


          3)Right Speech - One should refrain from foul language and defaming anyone 


          4)Right Conduct - We should take ownership of our actions and hence act wisely always


          5)Right Livelihood - The way we earn our living should be righteous and not by cheating and harming others


          6)Right Effort - The efforts we put out to achieve our goals and earn our living should also be righteous and not foul


          7)Right Mindfulness - Our mind is the key to our existence and hence keeping the mind pure and healthy is of utmost importance. One should abstain from habits that makes one ignorant and absent-minded. Every action should be committed with complete mindfulness and alertness.


          8)Right Samadhi - To achieve the ultimate goal which is Nirvana one should practice meditation and sadhana. Meditation is the only way to achieve this state which will help us break through the matrix and end the vicious cycle of birth and rebirth.


          Buddhism today has spread worldwide and people from all across the world have embraced it with open arms. The Hindus consider Buddha to be the 9th incarnation of Lord Vishnu among the Dashavatara.
          12 min

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