The Shiva Mahimna Stotra composed by Pushhpadanta, is considered one of the best among all Stotras (or Stutis) offered to Lord Shiva.
It has 43 beautiful verses.
From today onwards each day will share 4 verses !
महिम्नः पारं ते परमविदुषो यद्यसदृशी
स्तुतिर्ब्रह्मादीनामपि तदवसन्नास्त्वयि गिरः ।
अथाऽवाच्यः सर्वः स्वमतिपरिणामावधि गृणन्
ममाप्येष स्तोत्रे हर निरपवादः परिकरः॥ १॥
O, Lord Shiva, remover of all types of miseries, what wonder is there, if the prayer to you, chanted by one who is
ignorant about your greatness, is worthless! Because, even the utterance ( speech ) of Brahmaa and other gods is not able to fathom your merits ( ie, greatness ). Hence, if persons with very limited intellect ( and I am one of them ) try to offer you a prayer, their attempt
deserve your special favour . If it is so, I should not be a exception . Hence, (thinking like this ) I begin this prayer .
अतीतः पंथानं तव च महिमा वाङ्मनसयोः
अतद्व्यावृत्त्या यं चकितमभिधत्ते श्रुतिरपि।
स कस्य स्तोतव्यः कतिविधगुणः कस्य विषयः
पदे त्वर्वाचीने पतति न मनः कस्य न वचः॥ २॥
O, Great God, so great is your majesty that it cannot be reached by speech and mind . Even the Vedas also, having
become surprised, confirm your greatness by only saying `Neti', `Neti' (not this, not this) while describing you . Who can praise this type of greatness of yours? With how many qualities is it composed? Whose subject of description can it be ? And yet even then whose mind and
speech are not attached to your this new Saguna form?
O, Paramaatmaa (Greatest Soul), as you are the very creator of speech of the Vedas, which is like highest type
of nectar and as sweet as honey, how can even the speech of Brahaspati (Guru, or spiritual guide of gods) surprise you ?(ie, the speech of even Brahaspati is worthless before you). O, Destroyer of Three Cities of the demons, thinking that my speech may become purified by this
act, my intellect (buddhi) has become prepared to sing your greatness.
O, Giver of Boons, your greatness is the cause of creation, maintenance, and destruction of the whole universe;
this is supported by three Vedas (ie, Rigveda, Yajurveda, and Saamaveda); it is distributed in the three qualities (ie, Satva, Rajas and Tamas) and three bodies (of Brahmaa, VishhNu and Mahesha). Such is your greatness but certain stupid persons in this world are trying to
destroy it by slander, which may be delightful to them but is really undelightful .
॥ योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः ॥
On studying the first sutra of Yoga darshan ‘Atha Yogaanushasnam’ one wants to know ‘What is Yoga?’To understand Yoga in entirety one must know what is mind, vritti and nirudh. The original and the actual meaning of Yoga cannot be understood without
understanding this.
Let us first know what is mind- in simple words mind refers to the land where our thoughts are born, formed and remain firm as sacraments. This mind land is of five types.
1. Kshipt- restless state 2. Vikshipt- distracted state 3. Mudha-confused state
‘Having examined the worlds that can be obtained through ‘karma’, a brahmin has to attain complete dispassion & should recognise the fact that the ‘Uncreated Whole’ cannot be attained through action. Therefore to know the Truth, the seeker should, in the traditional manner, take
a bundle of ‘Samit’ (sacrificial banyan twigs) & with all humility approach a Guru who has deeply imbibed the essence of Upanishads & is established in Brahman.’
(Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad - 1-2-12)
In the Gita Bhashyam Acharya explains the meaning of ‘Pandita’ as
worlds (ie,the whole Universe), what is his gesture ? What is his body ? What is his plan? What is his basis (support)? What are his means (instruments,resources) ? These are the useless questions raised by some stupid critics, in order to mislead people, against one (i.e., you)
This hymn is composed by Sage Patanjali, (the author of योगसूत्रम्). It is remarkable in completely avoiding long vowels(ā, ī, ū, ē, ō, ai, au). Where ever a heavy syllable is needed, Patanjali employs an
anusvara (ṅ, ñ, ṇ, n, m) in stead, and occasionally other consonant endings. So visually the hymn does not contain feet like का, की, कू, को, कौ do; or horns like के, कै, को, कौ do. This is an astounding feat given that every fourth syllable needs to be a heavy syllable (guru).
As a result, you will hear the nasal sound anusvara every fourth syllable! Also not very coincidentally, Patañjali's name itself does not contain legs or horns!
Đ word 'Sankranti' literally means 'movement'.
Almost all Hindu festivals are dependent on the position of d moon; however,Mākāra Sankrāntī is based on the position of the Sun.
There are twelve Sankrantis in a year. These are twelve days in a year when the Sun moves from one constellation to another. From Makar Sankranti, Sun starts moving towards the North direction which is also known as Uttarayana.
The sun on this day ends it's southward journey,
that is dakshinayan, and starts moving northwards ie uttarayan, Hence, the festival precisely denotes the movement of the Sun into Makar zodiac. Uttarayana is regarded as the period of Divinity.
On the day of Makar Sankranti festival, the duration of the day and that of the night
Bhogi- The Festival of Bonfire
The Pedda Pandaga - పెద్ద పండగ
Another Hindu festival whose rituals showcases that we are not only Culturally Unmatchable but also Scientifically Ingenious ;
‘Parama Pujaniya’ are our ancestors & elders who laid these for us.
Let's look at 3 important rituals associated with Bhogi Panduga :-
~ Bhogi Mantalu
~ Bhogi Pallu
~ Muggulu
Bhogi Mantalu :
Mantalu is the telugu word for Fire, On Bhogi day, early morning before sunrise, a bonfire is set in front of the house. This bonfire is called
'Bhogi Mantalu' in Telugu. this is set either ndividually by each household or set at the community level. Dry Cow dung cakes, Cow ghee, Banyan, Peepal & Neem tree wood were used in Bonfire, This holy smoke will purify the environment by their medicinal properties.