Mothman

not even single Shiva bhakt here.. knows what I'm talking about?

Hello admins, I have seen many of the posts in several sections that are quite long and the font isn't user friendly to read. The posts look like like cluttered making them really difficult to read. I would really appreciate if you change the font to a better one with some default spacing between the lines. Second thing is that lots of users do alot of copy-pasting from other sources and there seems to be a problem with the forum scripting. I have seen in many posts..some errors of xml missing data and the markers used for indentation. These things make the posts really difficult to follow. Please look into this. Thanks alot in advance Regards, realdemigod

Hello All, I'm from b'lore and I go to the Lord Shiva temple here almost every Monday and attend the aarti at 7:30 in the evening. One of the bhajans played..most of the times is 'Om Jai Shiv Omkara' - a male version and I learnt that it was sung by someone Babaji or Bawaji I'm not sure. The temple attendees say the bhajan is from 70s and is not available outside and I'm struggling hard to get that bhajan. I have tried several places but no use and I don't even have a clue who the singer is but this aarti bhajan is quite different from the usual one sung by a lady. The male version mesmerizes you...it's like some real god praising Lord Shiva. I would really appreciate if someone at least gives me the name of the singer. Please reply. Thanks alot in advance. Regards, realdemigod

I got the problem fixed.. had to go through FAQ section to upload my picture...you can delete the thread..thanks

Dear krishna_susarla Please find the following verse from Bhagavad-Gita rudrāṇāṁ śaṅkaraś cāsmi vitteśo yakṣa-rakṣasām vasūnāṁ pāvakaś cāsmi meruḥ śikhariṇām aham Prabupada's translation: "Of all the Rudras I am Lord Śiva; of the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas I am the lord of wealth [Kuvera]; of the Vasus I am fire [Agni], and of the mountains I am Meru." The verse sumeet posted actually correlates to this verse. For the lack of time I'm not posting verses from other sources but if you think rationally all the scriptures lead to only thing - Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are same. At the time of necessity and the need for a particular duty the Supreme Personality of Godhead manifests himself as Lord Vishnu or Lord Shiva or Lord Brahma. Let's not stick to just one source and drive our views based only on the particular source. I don't recollect from which Upanishad the verse is from..but it essentially states that "when Goddess Parvati was praying to Shiva, the Lord told her that he loves Veera Shaivas and Veera Vaishnavas equally". Supreme Lord does not discriminate the devotees by the Lord or demigod they pray to. I totally believe that both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are one and the same. I know this is a bold statement but it's my own faith. I have so many personal experiences to come to this conclusion but you might not find these as proofs for the statement I made. Whatever your heart says just follow Hara Hara Mahadeva Shambo Shankara!

insightful post, it has reinforced my faith in Lord Shiva!

Hi everyone, I plan to get a tattoo of Lord Shiva. I tried google but wasn't satisfied. Could anyone suggest a good site for Lord Shiva tattoos or site with good images of the Lord which I can have as tattoos. Thanks alot in advance! Regards, realdemigod

I don't have any favourite mantra. I personally feel the mantras for Lord Shiva are very powerful to the ear while the mantras for Lord Vishnu are soft and mellifluous. Neverthless, "Om Nama Shivaya" and "Hara Hara Mahadeva Shambo Shankara" are on my lips all the time!

Hello bhaktajan, good work. But the resolution isn't quite friendly to the eye. Zooming actually blurs the text.

Don't believe in any astrologer. For some, being a lakhpati is great and for some it's nothing, they think being crorepati is real rich. So alot of money could be anything. For career.. most of the people don't know what they want to do for really long after they start working. It's quite normal, do something for living at the same time..think what you want to do which will make you happy, peaceful and rich if you are interested in being rich.

Hello admins, I'm unable to upload a profile picture. I don't see any option to do it. When I click on the display pic.. it brings back me to my profile page. Pls help. Regards, realdemigod

very insightful thanx

Kankana - Every body has problems in their lives. Only ppl with no problems are actual lying dead. Problems make us what we are. Don't expect a miracle to happen if you sit around doing nothing. Look at the solutions and act on them rather worrying to death. Don't believe the astrologers for simple reason the only person who is interested in your success or happiness is you alone! Regards, realdemigod

Hi all, I'm unable to get newsletter which I used to get every fortnight or so till the beginning of this year. When I checked, my e-mail is still in the newsletter list. Moderators, pls fix this problem. The newsletters were so interesting and full of knowledge. Pls reply if any of you are getting newsletters periodically. Regards, realdemigod

Thank you bhaktajan. Though I'm not fully convinced with the idea of inundation, I really appreciate your efforts and the direction you showed. I will also keep looking for answers. Thanks for the poster.

bhaktajan - Thank you for your reply. In your post shouldn't it be 360 per year and 360*100 per Brahma's life time or am I missing anything? But I'm still not convinced as - In Padma Purana sage Pulastya as asked by Brahma goes and tells Bhishma that Brahma is happy with the penance Bhishma was carrying and asks him for any boon. When Bhishma says that he wants to know how Brahma created the universe, sage Pulastya tells him about the creation of universe. (Pls find the excerpt from Padma Purana below) "Pulastya replied--- During the initial phase of his creation, Lord Brahma created the Mahattatva first of all. After that he created the three types of Ego from the Mahattatva---Satva, Rajas and Tamas. These three types of Ego are the origins of all the five sense-organs, organs of action and all the five basic elements--space, water, fire, air & earth. An enormous egg came into existence with the permutation and combination of these five basic elements. Within this egg exists the whole universe including the mountains, islands, oceans, planets, deities, demons and the human beings. The layers of water, fire, air, space and darkness envelop this enormous egg. These elements are once again covered by the 'Mahattatva', which in turn is enveloped by the 'Prakriti' (nature). Lord Vishnu himself does creation in the form of Lord Brahma and also takes various incarnations to protect the mankind. At the end of the Kalpa, it is only He, who annihilates in the form of Rudra. After the end of Kalpa, he takes rest on the back of Sheshnag for the full period of deluge (I have skipped out the chronology as I mentioned a little in my first post) After the night is over, Lord Brahma again commences his creation. So, this process continues for the whole period of Brahma's life span, i.e. 100 yrs. Bheeshma requested Sage Pulastya to describe how Lord Brahma created life in the beginning of the present Kalpa. Pulastya replied--- At the end of the previous kalpa when Lord Brahma awakened from his sleep, he found the whole earth submerged in water. He meditated on Lord Vishnu, who took the incarnation of 'Varah' and retrieved the earth and established it in its original position. Lord Brahma then created all the four worlds--Bhurloka, Bhuvarloka, Swargloka and Maharloka and divided the earth into seven islands" So I'm still confused as it clearly states that Bhishma asked sage Pulastya to tell him how Brahma created the universe in this present kalpa - if there is partial annihilation why does Brahma have to commence creation again the next day? I would request users to pour in their wisdom as I'm really trying to know the truth.

Hi All, I'm not sure this is the right place to post queries on Bhagavad-Gita As It Is. Since it's Hare Krsna forum, I'm taking the liberty to post my query here. I was reading 9th Chapter from Bhagavad-Gita As It Is and found the meaning of verse 7 very misleading. sarva-bhūtāni kaunteya prakṛtiṁ yānti māmikām kalpa-kṣaye punas tāni kalpādau visṛjāmy aham A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami says - The creation, maintenance and annihilation of this material cosmic manifestation is completely dependant on the supreme will of the Personality of Godhead. "At the end of the millennium" means at the death of Brahmā. Brahmā lives for one hundred years, and his one day is calculated at 4,300,000,000 of our earthly years. His night is of the same duration. His month consists of thirty such days and nights, and his year of twelve months. After one hundred such years, when Brahmā dies, the devastation or annihilation takes place; this means that the energy manifested by the Supreme Lord is again wound up in Himself. Then again, when there is need to manifest the cosmic world, it is done by His will: "Although I am one, I shall become many." This is the Vedic aphorism. He expands Himself in this material energy, and the whole cosmic manifestation again takes place" - Courtesy: Bhagavad-gita As It Is - Macmillan 1972 Edition - prabhupadabooks.com Now my query is if you refer to Padma Purana - Shristhi-Khand: A kalpa is Brahma's one day - 1000 cycles of 'Chaturyugas' which is equivalent to 4.3 billion solar years. In the daytime he commences his creation and by night everything gets annihilated and the whole universe is devoid of life during his night time which is again 4.3 billion solar years. Again he commences creation in day time and this continues for all his life. But Prabhupada says universe gets annihilated only after Brahma dies completing his 100 years which is not coherent with other Puranas. Also if you take the literal meaning of kalpa-kṣaye - it's only after the end of one kalpa or one millennium of 'Chaturyugas' which is again one day of Brahma. Also I read in some verses from earlier chapters in Bhagavad-Gita As It Is where Prabhupada says Lord Krsna descends on earth once in every day of Brahma to restore the dharma and it's logical and coherent only if the whole universe gets created in a single day of Brahma and gets destroyed by night. Please help me in understanding the correct chronology of the cycles and also the rationale behind Prabhupada's translation of verse 9.7 . I would really request users here not to be biased or offended but think rationally in answering my query.

Hi, I came across that reciting Chaakshushopanishad early morning before sunrise..rather at the time of sunrise..improves vision greatly. Could anyone confirm this please? I'm thinking of doing it. Regards, realdemigod

Hi, nothing comes up in search results no matter what I try to search ..any keyword.. please look into this. Regards, realdemigod

ranjeet... can you guide to me an authentic source?

cool.. that's was quick, thanx alot!

Hi everyone, I have been to an ISKCON temple once and fortunately I attended the first puja of the day. I heard an english opening song (a female singer) when the curtains are raised and when the god Krsna is shown to the devotees. I loved the song. I tried alot to get my hands on the song but in vain. Could anyone please suggest me the name of the lady or any site from where I can get the song. I would really appreciate it. Thanks, Mothman

Hello Everyone, I'm new to this forum and this is my first post. I'm really glad to see there are still so many ppl out there who are interested in rich heritage, vedic knowledge and spiritualism. I have a question. I have started reading Shiv Maha Puran and the war between Brahma and Vishnu is quite inconsistent with different sources, so is the pillar of fire or Shiv Linga itself. 1) In one source it says Brahma born from a lotus that evolved from Vishnu and trying to know his origin Brahma started to fight with Vishnu. 2) And another source cites as once Brahma was walking and Vishnu ignored him which caused anger in Brahma and fight started eventually. Also when they are fighting in one source it's given that Shiv Linga appeared and they decided to find its limits while another source says a pillar of fire (Lord Shiva himself) appeared when they were fighting for which they both tried to find the limits. Now, I'm really confused which one is the authentic version. I'm not so good at sanskrit .. can't verify myself.. . Please senior members and any pandits around help me out. Thanks, Mothman