Tomorrow is पञ्जा त्रयोदशी । Panja-trayodashi. It is a day when the sacred of the Vajrayana tradition are put on public display. Representations of तथागत दिपाङ्कर । Tathagata Dipankar, भगवान अक्षोभ्य । Bhagwan Akshyobhya and देवी तारा । Devi Tara in gold, silver, bronze, wood, stone and cloth. Scrolls and manuscripts: of rolled palm leaf,…
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Happy Krishna Janmastami! Sri Sri Krishna is a source of inspiration for many traditions of thought. To a politician, He is the very example of the master practitioner and His utterances always relevant in the conduct of statecraft. To those interested in sustainable management principles, His expressions, collated in the भगवद गीता . Bhagwad Gita,…
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गाई जात्रा । Gai Jatra. Why this day is called so is a mystery. For, the featured honoree today is the male gai, the bull, वृषभ । vrishabha. He is being commemorated for his role in granting safe passage to the recently departed as they proceed on their journey into the nether worlds of the…
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Our mid and late teen children did not grow up fearing enemies, ghosts and pestilence. Hence, explaining the need to wear a protective amulet as the central feature of the रक्षा वन्धन ceremony has always been a challenge. What’s the point, they’d ask, as they awaited their yearly appointment with the ब जू । बाजे…
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Guru Puja and Kwati Prasad In the tradition of the आगम । aagama, of which the temples of Sri Sri Tulaja Bhawani are the most noticeable public examples in Nepal Valley and associated geographies, today is the day for the पू छा । पवित्रारोहण पूजा। Pavitrarohana observation of the Guru. The aim of puja is…
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For mothers, श्रावण । Shrawan is the designated month for conversations with Bhagwan Shiva. The topic is children and the partners with whom they have perpetuated the gene pool. Good health for them, the mothers ask, and life to span a century each. On the receiving end of an unselfish mother’s entreaty is the महामृत्युञ्जय…
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नाग पञ्चमी को शुभकामना । Nag Panchami Greetings The prayer in the video below is, in effect, the recitation of a property insurance contract. The words invoke Sri Nagaraja to ward off lightning, fire and like calamities from befalling on our physical dwelling. The terms of the contract are simple and specific. We pray; you…
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As the joyous celebration of Goonla gets underway, we pray to श्री श्री प्रज्ञापरामिता ।Sri Sri PrajnaParamita. She is the personification of wisdom. Of the wise–the perfect among whom are recognized as Buddhas, She is the Mother. Wise-wisdom; child-mother; Buddhas (yes, in the plural)-Sri Sri Prajna Paramita. For the full text of the Stotra, please…
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Gathamuga Greetings! गठामु चह्रे । Gathamu chahare | Ghantakarna chaturdashi | is the official start of the aagamic ritual calendar. (The most famous आगम । aagama is the तल्जू माजू । Taleju, which temple served, for a long period of time, as the national aagama. We, the people who brought Taleju to Nepal Valley, worship…
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My second prayer, as a child, was to Sri Sri Saraswati. I ask Her to reside at the tip of my tongue. She hasn’t so far, as those who listen to my incantations can readily attest. My hope is that you have better luck. May Saraswati-mata power your intellect and imbue your speech with charm.…
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